Connection Through Prayer

I would love to introduce you to Israelle...here she is with her blessed parents on a recent photoshoot I did as a gift for them here in Red Deer.  This little girl and family has been in the heart of our prayers for a long while...I can't even remember when we started praying.  I know our inital prayers that were Peter and Theresa would be blessed with a baby through the adoption process...God heard, God answered, God moved!  We have seen and been part of God's wonder through a lot of their last year. 

The reason this wee girlie is so special to my heart is that she is so near to Abigails age and I have never felt a strong connection to anyone as I have to her through prayer.  I have never experienced the power of connection through prayer as she and her family faced so many hospital stays and so much medical stuff.  **I can't quote correctly all of the things that Israelle has medically had to endure and continues to live with as it is way beyond my comprehension and I know I won't get the terminology right and all that jazz**

I do this know...a miracle was had here in more way then one...Theresa and Peter have their very own little girl to tuck into bed every.single.night.  The doctors were left asking "whose heart is this?" the day before she was scheduled to have open heart surgery (for the second time) as it looked way too good to be Israelle's broken heart and they SENT.THEM.HOME.  Can you imagine?  You think your baby is going to have her chest cut open AGAIN to repair her heart AGAIN and the doctors are left wondering "what has happened here...this baby's heart looks fine"  GOD IS WHAT HAPPENED THERE.  God is what is happening there.  God is still what is going to happen there.  Amazing stuff.  I am almost in tears as I repeat the story to you from a couple of months ago.

 You just never know why certain people come into your life, or what place they will have.  All of this started as a result of Theresa finding my name on the Creative Memories Consultant finder as she and her mom were looking to buy some products.  Next thing you know we are given the opportunity to provide hope to a family who has gone through a tremendous amount of heartache and hospital stuff, and prayer to the Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty Healer, Name above all Names...our God.

The smile on this little girls face warms my heart and I am so blessed to know her and her family.  

Around here...

Around here...With the season of Spring comes new activities and lots of good times enjoying the outdoors!

 Aidan plays inline hockey 2 evenings per week (he is the yellow guy) and Big Daddy Gies is coaching his team again this year.  Last night he got 2 goals in his game...way to go Aidan!!

Is this what everyones house looks like that has boys?  The boys thought it was fun to shoot the Toy Story guys with the new Nerf gun that Asher got for his birthday....boys boys boys!  I can't help but laugh and take a photo :) 

 Serious outdoor trampoline fun!  This happens every.single.day.  Lots of jumping, smiles, laughter, backsies, hockey, flips, crack the egg...and since we have boys...even a little bit of wrestling.

The newest trampoline game that even Abigail LOVES...ring around the rosie...yup huge smiles the second everyone "falls down" and even in anticipation of the falling down...what is it about that game that kids looooove??  Well friends, it IS safe and fun for the whole  family :)

I had to share this photo...Ashers first soccer practice.  He has been asking to"play soccer" since last year when Addison played and more specifically when Addison received his orange TimBits soccer shirt.  He very much wanted his own "soccer shirt."  So finally, he gets his own soccer shirt.  He is on the red team in the U4 division (he was pretty pumped as red is his favorite color).  So the first practice was interesting to say the least...as you can see Asher is on your left in the photo...one coach is picking one child up off the field, the blue coach is trying to "push along" a little blue player who has his head down and there is our sweet Asher...standing completely opposite to the soccer ball action on the right of the photo and staring off in a different direction all together.  Oh he makes us smile.  I really feel for the coaches...they are volunteers who are introducing 10 four year old kids to the game of soccer....hopefully tonight runs a little smoother....or not.  At the end of the "practice/game" Asher was sitting beside me on the grass drinking his water bottle and he says "I good at this team mom."  Yes son, you are good...very very good :)

Stay tuned for more about Addisons soccer, swim lessons and some cool things God is revealing to us :)

Our April has come and gone...

Wow...this time of year seems to go so quickly.  Here is a photo recap of our past month...

 The bikes come out of the garage...we started with quite a bit of snow at the beginning of April and ended with most of the snow being melted away...

 Aidan and his neighbour friends bring out the long boards...gotta clean 'em up and get 'em out there...

 Wes celebrates his 33rd birthday with his boys and sweet girls (I am there too...can you see me in the mirror?)  Home-made carrot pineapple cupcakes with filling and cream cheese icing...

 Papa Helmut introduces Abigail to "ring around the rosie" and it renders squeals of delight...

 Palm Sunday brought 3 friends from our Life Group getting baptized at our church...amazing...

 New life for Chad...thank you Jesus!

 Abigail learns how to use a fork and wants to eat independently all.the.time....

 Waffles on Good Friday at Grandma Barbs...yummy...

 Walks to the park...this little girl LOVES being outside...

 Easter at Grandma Linda and Papa Kens house...all including an Easter egg hunt in the front yard...Aidan in Athabasca visiting family with his dad...

 Easter Sunday choir...amazing joy experienced with heartfelt sincere worship with other believers...JOY like I have never felt...

 Asher celebrates his 4th birthday...he LOVES airplanes

 Our couple getaway to Banff for 2 nights...

Abigail helping Aidan with his homework and distracting him with kisses...