Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Gardening with Uma
The girls planted a vegitable / flower garden with Uma. Both girls had their own tee-pee for thier beans to grow on. They marked whose tee-pee was whose by the garden ornaments that they are dancing with in the pics below. So cute!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
A Difficult May / June 2010
I debated about whether or not to write this post. My intention for writing it isn't depressing all of you who didn't know about our loss. My intention is honoring the very purpose of our blog: recording our family's journey to loving God and other's. While our last month has been excurtiatingly difficult, we still know that this experience will make us more like Jesus, the One our lives is all about.
In mid-April Lelia was telling both Tom and myself that, "Mommy has a baby brother in her tummy." Niether of us understood why she was saying that. Two weeks later, on April 25th, the day before my birthday, we got the positive pregnancy test that confirmed we were indeed having another baby. We were so excited, we really wanted another child and God gave us one the very first month we began trying!
About 2 weeks after that I asked Lelia where her baby brother was, (patting my belly). She said in a sad voice, "I don't have a baby brother anymore." We didn't understand why she was saying that until another week later. I woke up one more and knew, it was over, we were not going to meet this baby during out time here on earth. Strangly, the first thing I thought was that I would be able to help other women through something very hard after all of this was over.
That morning I was in the car taking the girls to a friend's (the Cantor's) house so that I could get blood work done to confirm that I was miscarrying a pregnancy. As we pulled into the Cantor's driveway Lelia said, "Mommy, the baby is crying?" I said, "What baby, Honey?" She said, "The baby in your belly?" I was speachless. I just simply didn't know what to say. It wasn't until Friday that the tears came...and came....and came.
Interestingly enough, one of Lelia's favorite new songs is Blessed Be Your Name. Part of the song goes like this: "You give and take away, you give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your glorious name." I wish I could say that I have succeeded in saying those words to God all the way through this time. I have not been perfect. Have I questioned why this had to happen? Absolutely. However, I know that God loves me and I also know I just don't see everything as clearly as He does. He knows what I need far better than I do.
In mid-April Lelia was telling both Tom and myself that, "Mommy has a baby brother in her tummy." Niether of us understood why she was saying that. Two weeks later, on April 25th, the day before my birthday, we got the positive pregnancy test that confirmed we were indeed having another baby. We were so excited, we really wanted another child and God gave us one the very first month we began trying!
About 2 weeks after that I asked Lelia where her baby brother was, (patting my belly). She said in a sad voice, "I don't have a baby brother anymore." We didn't understand why she was saying that until another week later. I woke up one more and knew, it was over, we were not going to meet this baby during out time here on earth. Strangly, the first thing I thought was that I would be able to help other women through something very hard after all of this was over.
That morning I was in the car taking the girls to a friend's (the Cantor's) house so that I could get blood work done to confirm that I was miscarrying a pregnancy. As we pulled into the Cantor's driveway Lelia said, "Mommy, the baby is crying?" I said, "What baby, Honey?" She said, "The baby in your belly?" I was speachless. I just simply didn't know what to say. It wasn't until Friday that the tears came...and came....and came.
Interestingly enough, one of Lelia's favorite new songs is Blessed Be Your Name. Part of the song goes like this: "You give and take away, you give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your glorious name." I wish I could say that I have succeeded in saying those words to God all the way through this time. I have not been perfect. Have I questioned why this had to happen? Absolutely. However, I know that God loves me and I also know I just don't see everything as clearly as He does. He knows what I need far better than I do.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Blue Angels
The Blue Angels watching crew...Megan Gott, her mom and the boys and Kristen and her boys. 
Ahhh, earplugs...the girls LOVED it once they had those in. 
It was a little warm. Can you tell?The Cantors - Farewell!
Our last Ladies Night with Sarah Cantor (3rd from the left) at the Cheesecake Factory. I'm not sure what I'm going to do without her...cry a little, for sure, and then adjust. You are going to be soooo missed, Sarah, but you won't be rid of the Clarke family! We'll be visiting :) 
Our last Jon Cantor-lead worship time at small group.
The Armacosts and the Gotts
Passing the torch...Jon Cantor will be leaving the worship to Matt Holley who will be opening his home with wife, Amy, for our group to continue.
Our Trip to the PA Homeschool Conference
Mim and Grandpa Bob took care of the girls while Tom and I went to the CHAP homeschooling conference in Pennsylvania. It was a great time in learning more about homeschooling as well as deepening our relationships with God and each other. We are so grateful to Tom's folks for being willing to take the girls for two whole days by themselves. The picture above is of their trip to the Hershy Zoo.
The girls had a blast at our hotel's indoor heated pool. It was so fun to watch and take part in ther joy...Sedona was terrifyingly unafraid of the water...swimming lessons might be in order!
One of our many ice cream eating adventures with the girls, Bob and Mim. The hardwood floor in the hotel seemed like the safest place :)
Grandpa Bob and Mim's Visit in Annapolis
Pictures are finally up from our wonderful visit with Mim and Grandpa Bob. We spent some time taking walks and playing at the playground. The girls forgot what it was like to eat vegetables while they were here and really got used to ice cream after every meal. They were spoiled rotten just like grandparents are supposed to do with their grand kids. It was so wonderful to see the joy that the kids got out of this time as well as the grandparents. We had a lovely visit with them! Thank you, Mim and Grandpa Bob!
Last Pictures from Baltimore
After Jack's immune system was up and running again I was able to bring the girls up to Baltimore to spend the day at the Baltimore Aquarium with mom. I took this picture of the fountain because it was very close to thier condo and I'm sure will be a well remembered landmark that they saw every day. Jack is doing beautifully and so happy to be home in Annapolis...and back to work in Virginia, if you can believe that! 
This picture was from a few days before they moved back to Annapolis. Jack was already on the upswing. He had enough immune system to even see the little germ-bags...er, um...I mean the kids :) HA!
Well, the transplant is finally over! Jack came through it better than most and his attitude was amazing. This picture was from mid-trasplant while Jack was in the hospital with mouth soars that they wanted to keep an eye on.Mother's Day Gifts
This year we made Mother's Day gifts for both of the grandmas. The girls each painted a magnet ($1 each at Michael's and that came with the brush and paint) and painted and decorated a picture frame (each item including the frame was $1 or less). We put a picture in the frames of Sedona sitting on top of Lelia tickling her. The turned out so nicely and I think both Tom's mom and my mom loved them. We had such a fun time making them and even more fun watching them being opened. 
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