Jonah's Eight!

Jonah turned 8 on December 8th in 2008.  

He's smart, handsome, very gifted athletically,(he's never tried a sport that he wasn't good at), sensitive, nurturing towards Ezekiel, manipulative, difficult, sly, crafty, quite witty, humorous, and a wonderful conversationalist.  

When he was born it was sincerely the happiest day of my life (so far).  Perhaps I shouldn't say that, but it was.  I had been terrified of dying when he was born because I'd almost died when Jackson was born.  I went into the operating room for my C-section at 8 am on December 8, 2000 wondering if I was getting ready to go to heaven.  I know that sounds ridiculously dramatic, but I'm serious when I say that I wondered if this time around I wasn't going to be so fortunate.  Obviously the Lord knew of my terror and anguish and he used my two year old son Jackson to comfort me.  I was packing my bag to go to the hospital, praying while I packed. Jackson, who was playing with some cars down by my feet, looked up at me while I was packing and said: "Mom, it's going to be OK." 

"What's going to be OK?" I asked.  He just repeated "Mom, it's going to be OK."  Then, he went back to playing with his cars.  

God had used the mouth of babes to speak to one anxious mama.  He still speaks to me through my children.  He speaks to me through His Word.  He speaks to me in my spirit.  I'm so grateful that He still speaks!  

Jonah's birth healed a part of me that had been deeply wounded 2 years, and 9 months earlier.  Jonah was a joy as a baby.  He was so easy!  He was by far the easiest baby of my four boys!  He was always happy.  Jonah is a mama's boy, and to put it simply I'm crazy about him!!!  He loves me in such a special way.  He's very quiet about it.  One wouldn't notice if they weren't really looking, but in the times when no ones around, he comes to me, checking on me, opening up to me, complimenting me, just loving me.  He's so tender about it.  He won't even do it if Marshall's around.  He's a private person.  Most people in his life really don't know him very well because he doesn't let them know him.  He's guarded.  I'm not all together sure why, but he just is.  He doesn't reveal anything that he doesn't have to.  He's SO precious to me!  He's a treasure, and now.................he's eight!

The dreaded family photo!

Well, I didn't have the patience to try to get a good family photo in time for Christmas cards, but I did still want to get one.  So, I forced my family to dress nice, and smile for me this morning between first service & second service.  We took a gagillion pictures and got a couple of decent ones.  Its so much easier to get good pictures when you only have adults or only have ONE child in the picture.  I included one of the really bad ones, as I feel that it better represents reality.  Just tryin' to keep it real.  Here are the results:

A Surprise Hot Chocolate Evening

My parents surprised the boys by coming by Sunday night so that we could all enjoy some hot chocolate together.  It was such a nice treat for all!  We played the "question game" that Ethan created.  We laughed A LOT through the game.  It was such a fun time.  However, I never cease to be amazed at how chaotic it is to try to do anything with four children who all want to talk at the same time.  It was a loud evening...........a really lovely evening.  After the kids went to bed the adults had a wonderful time talking and cherishing each other & our conversation with one another.  How grateful I am that I have two parents who are still married to one another!  They're so much better together!  As we talked my dad shared about how this is the first Christmas where he hasn't had a deep sadness in his heart.  It's taken a lot of healing, a lot of counseling, a lot of work, patience, and determination to be whole for him to reach this point!  I'm so proud of  his desire to be a healthy, whole, man of God.  Here's some pictures from our evening.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel,

Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives!  You make us laugh a lot.  You're so cute & so much fun to be around.  Thanks for being so flexible and easy.  Thanks for be so tenderhearted towards anyone that's hurting.  

We love you!!

Love,

Your Family

My Ethan

My little Ethan has been struggling so much lately.  I've been storming the gates of heaven like only a mother can, that is with a mother's heart & passion for her child's well-being.  I've been seeing breakthroughs, and I'm so grateful to God!  I'm so grateful that even though I can't be with my child 24,7, God can and IS!!  Then it got me thinking about all the little ones of the world that don't have a mama praying for them.  

Moms, this is a call to action: Ask God to give you another child (that's not your own) to pray for.  Once God gives you a child to pray for, pray for them as though they were your own.  Call out God's power over their life.  Unfortunately, every child does not have a mom that is fervently praying for them.  Moms, lets starting praying for them!!

My birthday gift from God

After we went out to dinner for my birthday last Monday night we came home and washed the car as a family (per my request).  As we worked on the car this sunset developed into a stunning piece of art.  Then it dawned on me, it was my birthday gift from God!  I took some pictures of God's gift.  It only seemed right.

The Pumpkin Patch

Ezekiel & I went with Ethan to Cobb Ranch Pumpkin Patch for his field trip.  It was nice.  Here's a few pictures....

The Cutest #40 that you've ever seen!!

Jackson is playing football at Fresno Christian this year.  It's REALLY cute!  I love watching him play.  He loves playing.  It's been fun for our family.  It's been a huge commitment though!  He practices from 5:30-7:30PM Tues, Wed, & Thurs. nights.  With games every Saturday night & most of the games are out of town!  It's dominating our time right now, but seems to be worth it.  Jackson is making some good friends on the team and that was the whole reason that we decided to sign him up to play.  We're thankful for some good boys who've invited him over and are hanging out with him at school.  He even spent the night with a friend (for the first time).  I just thought you'd like to see some pics of him in his football attire.

Avila Beach

Last Friday we decided to drive over to Avila Beach for the day.  We really didn't get a family vacation this Summer or last Summer.  We were missing the beach. I guess our year at Hume was kind of like a year-long vacation, so don't feel too sorry for us.  Nonetheless, we wanted a day at the beach before everyone started school.  We had such a delightful time as a family!  Marshall & I are having so much with our boys.  They're getting so big & so caring for them is not nearly as hard as it used to be!  Honestly, now they serve us a lot.  It's been such a great time lately just enjoying the people that they are becoming!  To those of you who still have real little ones, just know that the training you do now DOES PAY OFF!! 

We had a blast together........some more memories to add to our mental files.  It was good.  Thank you, Lord, for my family!!

Ethan's SIX!!

Dear Friends & Family,

Thank you for all the presents!  I used the money that you all gave me to buy Prince Caspian action figures from Target.  I love playing with them.  I've wanted them for a long time, but its a good thing that I waited until now to buy them because  I ended up getting them on sale which saved me a lot of money.  I still have $75.43  leftover!

Hunter, Pop, & Ma, Uncle Ryan & Aunt Karle, Rod's, and Mom, Dad, Jackson, Jonah, & Ezekiel, thank you for going out to breakfast with me too!  That was fun.  

Sara, thank you for remembering to bring me a birthday present!  I was glad that you remembered to bring it, and I was glad that it was money.

Hall Family, THANK YOU very, very much for the streamers, and the sign, and the cake, and the toys, and the movie.  That made me so happy.  I really liked it all, and I'm never going to forget it.  You are so nice to me!  It was a great birthday at Hume Lake!

I love all of my friends and family.  You are special to me.  

Love, Ethan Joseph Hamm