Children are a Reward

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward."

Psalm 127

We are so blessed to have Jackson. Children are a wonderful blessing from God. Why does our society not really see children as blessings, but as burdens? We are always trying to figure out ways for us not to receive this blessing. Every time I read the Old Testament, women were crying out to God for Him to open their womb. It seems like many of our women today are crying out for God to close their womb. Isn't it God who opens and closes women's womb?

We have already seen God's protection over Jackson's life through the fire. I feel sure that God has great plans for Jackson, and I already know he will reach many people. I know he will show and tell people of the life changing message of Jesus Christ dying on the Cross for their sins. I know God has protected him, not for my sake or for Jackson's sake, but for God's sake, and for God's glory. I am truly thankful that God gave me Jackson and I pray daily that I will do as Hannah did, to give Jackson right back to God for His ministry whatever that may be...

Just a Thought

“I long to be where the praise is never ending
Yearn to the will where the glory never fades.”

After the fire, and losing a lot of my material possessions, I really started to think about if I was living for this world or for eternity. If I am really living for eternity, it would not bother me that much if everything in my house was destroyed (which was not the case). We cannot take it with us when we die, so why do we get attached to our stuff? Another question I keep asking myself is why, when something cannot get clean from the fire, do I get upset? Is it because it took me forever to find that white jacket? Or do I secretively love that white jacket? Am I really longing to be with my Savior in heaven for eternity? Or, am I storing for MYSELF treasures on earth and not treasures in heaven. Just a thought…. Would it really be the one of the worst things to happen to you, to loose your stuff in a fire? All it boils down to is stuff.

Many Faces of Jackson, 10 months old

This is my first cousin, Christopher's little girl, Lawson. Isn't she beautiful?

9 Month Check Up

Dear Jackson,

This is how your 9 month check up went, yes we were living in Columbia during this time

• Dr. Burchell said you were perfect! ( I think I hear her say that to everyone)
• You were 50 percent in height ,29 inches
• However, you were 30 percent in head size and height….but she said that you were not too fat and not too thin
• You weighed in at 20 pounds
• The doctor said since you are really 10 months, you need to be eating 6 jars of baby food a day! That is at 6 oz jars each….sorry mommy has only been feeding you about 3 jars
• The doctor said that at 1 year you do not get your nutrients from the milk but from food so that is why it is important to begin eating a lot of good food and that you should have 18-24 ozs of whole milk a day when you turn 1 year.
• You only had to get your Polio shoot and Mimi was with us so you did not cry for too long
• You will now be eating food first when you eat breakfast (8 am 1 jar or pears and lots of cereal---trying for 2 jars here), lunch (12 pm squash and sweet potatoes usually---trying for 2 jars here) and dinner (6pm, apples, mac and cheese, and veggies---trying for 1 jars here).
• You love to look at me and say "daddy" and recently you love to say "boom boom"
• You love to hug (mainly me) and attempt to kiss me and your daddy
• You love to wave at yourself and hold your hand while you are doing it
  
• You have my appetite, but your daddy’s ability to stop on the dime when you are full….when you are done you are done

I did not think it was possible, but I love you more and more each day…wow just think about how much our wonderful Savior loves us.

Love,

Mommy

Update on Jackson, 9 months

Last week we went to Spartanburg for a week and for Gigi's birthday. It was wonderful because my dad was off for the week and could really help out with Jackson. I slept in my sister's room and they took care of him all morning long (Charlie came up Wednesday night). It was a wonderful restful week. My parents are such a blessing and boy do they love Jackson. Aunt Sandi came for Gigi's birthday and she is so good with him. She read to him and he listened for so long! I was able to go to Marshall's and the Polo outlet shopping, and got some great deals for me and Jackson since some of our clothes where destroyed in the fire.

Major Praise! He has gotten so strong that I could not lay down on the bed with him, without him trying to get off the bed when it was nap time or bed time. He is so strong now, I cannot hold him down on the bed. So, while we have been here with Charlie’s parents, HE JUST GOES TO SLEEP AFTER WE LAY HIM DOWN! It took a while but we put about 7 passies in his bed and lay him down with his blue bear and he goes to sleep. This had been the hardest aspect of Jackson’s day. Every time we would lay him down he would cry for like 30 minutes and then it would take another 30 minute for him to catch his breath. If God blesses me with another child, I will not lay the baby down with me no matter how much I want the baby to take a nap at a certain time. It is hard but letting Jackson self sooth has been a wonderful blessing for him and everyone. The first day or so he cried a good bit, but I would go in there and make sure he had a passi and lay him back down. By day 3 he was only crying a couple minutes, and now he gives everyone a night night kiss and holds his bear real tight and then goes to sleep, it is a miracle and God gets all the glory.

This is his schedule still 9 months (almost 10 months)

7:30 am wake up

8 am Diaper Change, Eat 6 ozs, usually 3 tablespoons of oatmeal cereal and half a jar of stage 3 gerber pears

8:30 am Watch Mickey Mouse Club house

9:45 am or 10 am Nap till 11:30 ish

11:45 am Diaper Change, Eat 6 ozs, the rest of the pears and stage 3 Squash

12:30-1:45 am play with toys especially this toy where he pushes it while he walks

1:45 or 2 pm Diaper Changes, Eats again (I know) 6 ozs. The rest of Squash and either more cereal or pears

3:15 pm or 3:45 till either 5 pm or 6 pm Nap

5:15 or 6 pm Diaper Change, Eat 6 ozs

6pm-7:30 pm Go aside take a walk, go out to eat for not a long time (teething biscuits or wonderful) He only like to play with tupperware in his high chair

Baths are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays

7:30 or 8 pm Diaper Change, Last bottle usually he eats 8 ozs here

9:15 Bed!

I know he still eats 5 times a day but I cannot get him to just eat 4 times a day if anyone has any suggestions I am all for it. He does take 2 good naps a day which is a huge praise. He will not eat more than 6 ozs when he has all that food. Also, any advice about starting whole milk when Jackson turns 1, I am all ears!

We are going Wednesday for his 9 month check up and shots even though Thursday he will be 10 months. I will let you know what all the doctor says.

One Pure and Holy Passion

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me on magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You

To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your dicsiple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after you
To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in the truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you

Lord to know and follow hard after you
And to grow as your disciple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you

Update on Andrew, July 7th 2007

TUESDAY, JULY 03, 2007 03:17 PM, EDT

I'm so glad that Andrew was able to report to you all personally. It was a surprise for me as well. :) He is continuing to do well. Last week was a busy week for him. He took some driving classes to learn to drive with his hands (which he was very excited about!). He also has been doing a lot of intense therapy. He walked from the physical therapy room to the occupational room with a walker all by himself! He is the very first person with his level of injuries (hip disarticulation and above the knee amputation) to ever have walked out of the physical therapy room on legs! What a blessing! The prayer requests continue to be the same. Please pray over his hands. Just pray that God will continue to heal them. Also, continue to pray for wisdom for his doctors as they make critical decisions regarding his surgeries coming up next month. Thank you all so very very much for your prayers. I really wish (and know Andrew feels the same) that we could thank every one of you personally. I know you have really taken Andrew into your hearts. Thank-you! ~Katherine

MONDAY, JUNE 25, 2007 04:51 PM, EDT

Hey y'all, This is Andrew typing here. I am continuing to get stronger every day through therapy, and I have especially been encouraged by my improvements in learning to walk again. I have worked harder here than I ever did during my Academy days or infantry training, yet I can credit these improvements only to the grace that God provides me each day. God is so good! I would like to thank all of the individuals, families, and churches that have prayed specifically for me throughout this entire ordeal. I truly believe in the power of prayer and I am so grateful for the prayers lifted up for my sake. I ask that when you pray for me, please also pray for those wounded veterans that do not know Christ. I don't know where I'd be without my faith.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2007 08:01 PM, EDT

Andrew's doing great. He told me that he's gaining strength this summer so he'll be ready for several big surgeries that are coming up in August. Please pray over these upcoming surgeries. One will be the colostomy reversal. Pray that everything will heal in such a way that he'll be able to have it reversed soon. He will also have to have his right ear surgery redone. His intestinal emergency that happened a few months ago (that sent him back to the ICU) caused so much pain and vomiting, that his eardrum burst again. They will redo this right side and look towards hopefully fixing the left side next (which is his worst side). Mom asked that I ask for prayer for his hands. His left hand is starting to show signs of improvement. He's beginning to feel some numbness on his pinky. This is great because he is left-handed! His right hand still needs a whole lot of improvement. He can still use his hands for basic things. He just can't do things like play the guitar etc. (which he loves). As he has been practicing his walking, his phantom pains have worsened a bit. He is on the maximum dosage of medication for phantom pain. Hopefully, they'll be able to figure out another remedy to help with this. Because of the walking on prosthetics, his brain thinks his legs are still there. I'm just so thankful for how far he has come. When I talk to him on the phone, he's sounds great. He's enjoying the small improvements he makes daily. He continues to be thankful for what he has instead of what he doesn't have. I am thankful to have that example in my life. Thank you all for your prayers and support! ~Katherine

Jackson or Kelly?

Here are some old pictures of me and my younger sister from the 1980's. Doesn't she and Jackson bear a striking resemblance?