Special Gift Delivery

Months ago (5 to be exact) I went into labor 3 weeks early, which for me is full-term.  We had no clue some special terms would be given to him.  There was no prenatal warning, nor to be honest would I have wanted one.  In fact, our doctors in Barbados said he is so active, for sure has nothing wrong with him medically.  Then, our doctor in the states said he saw no signs of anything since he doesn't have the traditional foot gap most DS kids have.  

A few hours after checking in at the hospital under COVID measures, (no guests allowed and masks donned- sorry, I hate masks, I really do get headaches after wearing them.  And so trying to labor is hard enough and then add a mask on that keeps slipping off.) Anyways, he came super fast and they whisked him away and the nurses keep whispering and all was so quiet.  We kept asking if he was okay and no one would really answer.  I finally asked if I could hold him, and when they laid him on my chest, and I saw his different shaped ears and his almond eyes....I knew.  

I was terrified, worried for the future, scared of the unknown.  I leaned over to Brice and said, "He doesn't look just like us or like our others.  Something's wrong." Brice patted my hand, said it's fine, he's fine.  He's always a rock and from day one was in love with our newest little guy.  But I looked up to the doctor and nurses and said what I didn't want to know, "He has Down syndrome, doesn't he?"  And they said.....we think so.  That's it, nothing else was said and they asked if they could take him to run some tests.  And I knew then without further tests, he did.  I just didn't know at the time that DS can bring so much joy, laughter, and add so much more to all our lives than I ever imagined or prayed for.  At that moment, I just wanted a healthy baby that I knew how to raise and nothing to be different.  I wanted safe and not to be stretched and I am so very thankful we have a God who wants more than that for me and all of us.

I have always wanted a big family and babies!  Obviously we love them (we have 6!).  Brice kept agreeing but after 5 he was ready to be done, but agreed we could have one more to even up the JV with our Varsity.  He loves our kids, but he looks forward to the days when they are raised and he and I can travel and do post-kid things too.  I can't believe in those first few moments of Rusk's birth, I thought....what have I done, I should have stopped at 5.  Now, we will always have him with us and never have time for ourselves.   I'd give anything now to go back and yell or whisper to my just given birth, high hormonal body that lay sobbing on the hospital bed that life with Rusk added in was going to be amazing and not to be scared.  I hope to one day be able to help in educating hospital staff how to sweetly congratulate a parent that her child has been given a new baby, instead of scaring them and saying nothing.  Because that is what he was - a brand new baby to be celebrated.  

The hospital was small - ran several tests and told us his heart was enlarged and he needed to be sent to a bigger hospital for more tests.  So within a few hours of a new world, he was taken by ambulance to another hospital and they discharged me early to go be with him.  Barely walking and my eyes so swollen they couldn't even open up a slit, we left there.  Honestly, those first 24 hours all I remember is sobbing, choking, wailing, praying.  I recall someone mentioning my faith was weak at that point and honestly all I remember was feeling God's arms around me and crying out to him.  We could not have went through everything without the Lord in our lives is all I know.

After that each appointment and each Doctor's visit there were and are so many high's and low's.  In fact, we think that will be a given from now on.  We were told his heart was enlarged, and after several echo's and cardiologists, he has a hole but it can be addressed later.  News came of him having another disorder, but those tests came back falsely positive.  Then, we were told he was blind, to later discover they were cataracts.  Surgery removed them and he can see so well now!  And then just this past week, he failed hearing in the right ear and after more extensive tests, he can hear fine.  Whew, being thrown in the ringer or stampeded on by bulls is what some days feel like for sure.

I am not just saying this - if you don't know anyone in your life with DS - find someone.  I didn't.  And man, was I missing out.  Our little guy is still just a teeny thirteen pounds, but his smiles are pure heaven.  DS kids tend to have low muscle tone and be floppy, so he just is super scrunchy and contented and loves to be cuddled.  Ask me and you can get some of those cuddles, for sure!  And I can tell you way more facts and lovable things about him too.  I didn't have anyone in my life with DS before this year really and I can't believe how much I missed out.  We now have newer friends in our lives with DS that are older than Rusk,  and it's been a blessing to see their excitement and sweetness and also extreme stubbornness:)  We have so much to look forward to in years to come.  In fact, another dream is to add another little DS buddy to our family through adoption, but that's another story and maybe another husband since mine is on kid overload.  

Now, I look at our gift and think I will miss so much if he ever leaves us...

and those almond eyes that opened and scared me so much that first day of life

I am in so much love with...

and I am so very thankful God made him just the way He is 

and while I want to protect him from ugly things in this world, 

I also want him to meet so many to change the world so everyone can see that 

Different is Amazing too!

 

Yesterday I was on my way to church, a bit hurried as usual.  I hung the laundry in my husband's old sandals and rushed the kids to the car, realizing the girl's dresses they had only been wearing for 20 minutes were stained from breakfast.  Guess the extra minute I was trying to save not putting on bibs, didn't actually save time after we quickly changed into clean dresses.  Do 2 and 3 year olds do anything quickly?   

And then we arrive at church, and I grab the bag for entertaining the kids in service (services here last a lot longer than the typical 1 hour services in the States).  And grab the girls out and look down at my feet...

I still had my husband's old sandals for church on.  Here people dress their best for church to wear their best they have for God.  This was definitely not my best or even my mediocre.  

 I panicked for a second, and then realized while I may get some weird stares, no one is gonna dislike me for my strange shoes.  We were all there to worship and fellowship.  So despite hurriedness, mistakes, and forgetfulness I hope you had a great day of worship, fellowship, and rest.  

(A fun pictures of our the future worship leaders in our church.)

So much thankfulness

     Over and over I see God's hand providing.  A giver sends $120 and it is exactly the need the school has this month for an unexpected expense.  Prayers answered when we asked supporters to pray for a specific request.  These things have happened so many times I have lost count and memory.  I really need to write them down.
   This past month 3 huge miracles happened.  Literally I still can't stop thanking God and don't think I ever will.  Not just thanking God for His saving grace in these matters, but for his care and provision. I am also praying that in knowing of His care,  if these situations had gone the other way and not turned out well we would still be praising Him for His love.  But today we are saying, "Thank you, Lord and praising Him!"
   First, while repairing a dangerous situation on campus a work team member fell 30 feet with debris trapping them.  This person walked away with nothing broken!  Only God!
   A few days later, one of our students disappeared.  After hours of searching, prayers, and fear of the unknown he was found.  We honestly did not see how he could be found alive, and He was!  Prayers he can continue to get help he needs.
   Lastly, some of the power went out in our home one afternoon. When an electrician could get here the next day, he said,  "God was really watching over this house."  He said whoever had installed the wires had done them incorrectly and they had all melted together  and it should have caused a big fire.  But in this case, it just turned it off. He said only God could have done that.  
   We are so thankful and will continue to share of God's goodness to all.  And we are especially celebrating this week of Jesus death for us and more students graduating to go out and share His extravagant love!
 

    As much as I would like to, these stories are limited in detail to protect those they happened to, so please feel free to message me or ask me more about God's hand in this.   This is a public post, so to protect people and the school I have kept details vague.

Culture Surprise

     Even after 12 years overseas, some things are still different for us.  Culture is defined as the customs of a particular nation or people.  So even though we have been here for a bit now, things are still different than what we would assume or even do ourselves.

    Just yesterday one of our off campus students surprised us.  She sent her 2 children over with a note saying it was one of their birthdays and her child wanted to have her birthday with us.  Cake, juice, napkins, even a candle were sent over with the kids.  (If you know me, I may have panicked the first minute thinking - what?  Birthdays take planning, time, getting a gift for the birthday girl).

   So we went with the impromptu party :). We sang, we ate, and then we asked the birthday child to tell us 9 things she loved for her 9th year...

    She listed them in this order
 - Hanging with our kids
- Getting this special cake
- Having this special birthday together
- Her mom
- Her dad
- Her brother
- Her dogs
- Her friends
- And again this party :)

Again humbled just to be in the moment and enjoy them.  Not to stress over endless details.

P.S. I didn't even take one picture of the party since we were enjoying it, so this is a just a random picture of the new dogs on campus.

Ten Idea Blessings for Missionaries we loved!

     After 12 years on the field, it's still hard to say you "thank you" adequately for all we have been given.  God has supplied our every need.  We praise His name through His goodness through so many dear people.

    Several questions were asked of me over the last year.  How can we help our missionaries physically with care packages? What can we send them?  What have you cherished that was sent to you?  So, in just a few seconds I easily thought of this list.  I could easily list hundreds of  more things of people praying, giving, loving.  So, if you are looking for a unique way of loving and encouraging from afar here are a few ways we have been:

1) One of our home churches pays half for church camps and activities for our kids to attend.  Even though it is not the home church we are currently are at throughout the year if we are back at the time of camp it sure is a blessing for the kids to be able to attend.

2) Another church found out what our favorites were and brought 6 different gifts for each, so that way at different holidays or birthdays we would have gifts to spread out and give.

3) Supporters brought school supplies and gave curriculum we were studying.

4) Sweet loved ones gave us vans, car seats, and their gas card to use when back in country since we have no vehicle and this saved so much and allowed us to visit more people when back.

5) Dear ones sent care packages via teams coming to visit of favorite sweets we miss, cooking spices we can't get here, favorites of Sports teams, pictures, personal notes, new books to read, sweet prayers, favorite verses to hang, and Holiday decorations (this was special as sometimes missing Holidays, time with family, and the changing of seasons can be bittersweet).

6. A prime membership - this was such a blessing in being able to ship books and items to groups when coming.

7. A travel bag - a special person would got us a travel bag knowing ours get used so much.

8. When back on furlough we are on the road a lot so a couple gave us a gift card for fast food and bags with snacks & travel toys for a fun treat on the road.

9. Some have had us over or treated us out to food we miss - like American, Italian, Mexican. And getting to run around (one family thoughtfully took us to their blackberry farm where the kids go to run, eat delicious berries, and not have to be cooped up in chairs after the 10 hour car drive) was huge!

10. People checking in and updating us on them and what we can pray for and letting us feel like we are still remembered.  But they also specifically asked about us and let us know what they were praying for our particular needs.

Thanks for Prayers

     So many of you wrote and prayed for Brice - thank you!   After finally collecting tests, he did not have cancer.  Results did say advanced COPD, but we are thinking it was a misdiagnosis  and answered prayer as after several months he is feeling great again and all signs are gone.   Just wanted to update and thank you - we have the best supporters and friends!

Dec. Update

   Life is good and God is greater.  We can't complain at all - we have food, healthy kids, great students who show our kids what Godly students are like, sunshine, warmth, and life in Christ!  Several wrote and asked (so some must read this blog:)  about Brice and his breathing.  It is still the same.  We ran many tests here (3 were lost and even though they lost they ask you to pay again- each test is $200US).  So, they ruled out cancer and will just await to her what is causing it when back in the States in May possibly.  Thank you for praying and loving us so well.

Daily life with the girls- now Gree walks- that baby stage went too fast!

School for now goes so well - these 2 littles are the best of buddies and love hanging out while we work.

Naiyah entered a writing contest here on "Bringing Joy to Barbados"  and she won 2nd place!  Now if only she can keep that joy with her brothers every day:)

At the same time as the contest the boys played in the annual kids tennis tournament here and Beckett made it to the semi-finals.  Here he is consoling his brother after losing. 

Even though, Thanksgiving is not a holiday here - we still celebrated with staff and students and some fellow Americans here.  And the girls got into the pie Naiyah made...

This kid peeled all the potatoes- 40 pounds for Thanksgiving!

We are so thankful for so much!

These students love and teach our kids so much - they are great role models!

My biggest and littlest helpers!

Since Brice was sick, I entered a 1.5K swim in the open ocean with these 3...with no training- 3 of us finished!  So, if anyone wants to come down next Oct to join us - it was pretty intense and fun!

We enjoy our teammates :)

And love doing life with them.

One of our staff ladies (above) is a very gifted musician, so she gives the kids - even Kensington music lessons and in exchange we make her dinner one night a week. We definitely got an amazing deal!

So, here we are in December - it went way too fast!  We baked cookies for the elderly and caroled to them last night.  We'd love to hear from you this season.  Have such a Merry Christ filled Christmas!