Happy Birthday Addie Rose!!

Today is Addie's 8th birthday - Happy Birthday sweet girl! What a gift you are to Mommy and Daddy. Eight years ago today Rob and I became parents - what a ride it has been thus far. I had a difficult delivery and didn't get to really see Addie until after the doctors had told us that they thought she had some characteristics that go with Down Syndrome. Sure enough, the next day the chromosome study confirmed that she did have Down Syndrome. I can remember as if it was yesterday the doctors telling us that it was a fluke - to not be afraid to have other children, etc. I also remember very clearly the Holy Spirit whispering to me "I knitted her together, she is fearfully and wonderfully made, she was not hidden from me" (Psalm 139: 13-16) - I knew that my sweet girl was no fluke. She was created exactly as God intended for her to be. It was a bittersweet time, but I also remember feeling a peace like I had never felt before. I wasn't so surprised that this little bundle with special needs had happened into my life - I had always felt a strong calling to adopt a child with special needs. I had even talked with Rob before we married to see if he would be open to that - I had it all planned out. We would first have 2 or 3 children, then we would adopt our sweetie with special needs. I would think how wonderful it would be to have the older siblings help with the therapies, etc. Well, obviously God had another plan of how that would all go. Usually the case, isn't it? I told Rob tonight that he should have run like crazy when I started talking about all of that before we were married - ha! He didn't have much comment :). Now, 10 years later - here we are with what I guess you would call 2 children with special needs. Okay God - definitely more than what I signed up for here :). Well, one thing is for certain in all of this - He has blessed us with two very precious children. I remember after Addie was born I had several sweet mothers of children with DS call me to encourage me - their advice was often to not sink into depression and miss out on her. I didn't really relate to these moms because I didn't see Addie as something to be depressed about - she was my beautiful baby girl. I often wondered how I would be able to minister to other Mom's since I might not could relate to them - shortly after Addie's birth God spoke to me through the following scripture - it made me realize that when we travel such roads, we are to help those who follow see the hidden treasures in the darkness. This scripture has once again become so precious to me as I struggle to see those treasures in this dark time with Ryan - I know they are there becasue we have His promise. "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name .." Isaiah 45:3

Anyway, Addie had a really good birthday party last week - then tonight we took her to Logan's. She wanted "teak and tato" and she loves the big "bee - haaaa!" that they do -actually yee- haa!, but she thinks they say bee- haa. It is really cute :). She keeps us laughing. People always ask if she is as sweet as she seems (I know any mother reading this with a child with DS is just smiling that smile :)) - she is precious, but come live at our house for a while - it can get quite interesting. I remember hearing one mother say that her child with DS could melt her heart faster than any of her other children (she had 5!), but could also make her blood boil lots faster than her other children - Addie was just a baby when I heard her say that and I thought it was just terrible that she would say that. Eight years later - I completely get it!! These sweet angels do have horns- just ask her teachers, Ms. Anderson and Mr. Ipp :). No doubt about it though - she does have a HUGE heart for Jesus that just blows me away. I am so thankful to be her Mommy! I love you sweet girl!

Please keep Jackson Ashley in your prayers - he is in Vanderbilt Children's for his chemo. His website is www.ourlittleengineer.com
We finally got to meet Jackson and his Daddy at the clinic - he is a cutie and full of energy!