Unpacking the Heart

It has been a long time since I have posted anything.  I have had the longing and desire to post, but for the last year this has been "Elliott's blog" and not so much my own.  Where I love my child and I know that you love seeing her pictures and learning about her, there is so much more going on in my heart that I need to get out. I am being called to be more present for my friends...specifically my mommy friends.  This last year of being a mother myself has changed my perspective in ways I never imagined possible.  In this last year I have rejoiced with friends who found out they were expecting or who have given birth, I have cried and mourned with friends who have miscarried or lost their sweet children.  No parent should ever lose a child.  Ever.  I really want to do more with/for my mommy friends.  I want to grow deeper in faith with them, learn from them, laugh with them, and be a better parent because of them.  Mommy friends should know that I pray for you daily.

20 years ago today I lost my sweet Grandmother, Mary Brockman.  It is hard to believe that I am old enough to remember any thing that happened 20 years ago.  I am sad that I never got to know my grandmother as an adult.  I hear stories about her now and think of what a neat woman she must have been.  I am even more sad that she not only didn't get to know me in my adult years, but she didn't get to meet my sweet girl.  I hope that she would have been proud of the woman I have become, and that she would have laughed at the sweet humor that Elliott Grace possesses.  Granny is greatly missed here on Earth.  Tomorrow Elliott will meet my only living grandparent...Papaw.  I am so excited for them to finally meet.  Pictures soon.  FYI...if you are counting....10 days until Elliott's birthday.  sniff.  sniff.

So, a few weeks ago a good friend (who happens to run an adoption agency) posted a picture of a sweet boy in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) asking for our prayers.  My heart stopped.  Then shattered.  See for yourself: This is a little boy (yes, he is wearing what appears to be girls clothing...).  In this picture he weighs somewhere around 2.5 pounds.  My friend says this is one of the worst infant malnutrition cases that she has seen.  She called this little boy "Joshua", although he is technically nameless.  Joshua didn't have much hope as the chances of survival for a child in his condition in the DRC are slim, to say the least. Even if Joshua survives, the medical care and attention he will need is staggering.  I immediately began to pray for this boy and all who may come into contact with him.  A few days ago, my friend posted an updated picture and status: Joshua is up to about 3.75 pounds!  What a small miracle!  This sweet boy has been weighin

This last month has been so fun!  Really!  Elliott is developing such a neat personality and sense of humor.  She has settled into a new routine (yes new moms and moms-to-be...they change! ).  This new routine has allowed her to be such a happy baby when she is awake and I love it!  She is crawling and scooting everywhere!  Yesterday she figured out that when she is crawling she can follow mommy throughout the house.  She had so much fun!  She is happy to play independently, make a big mess, and dance.  :)  We went to the beach this past month too...she wasn't so sure about that.  She doesn't like the sand....at all.  Nope.  No toes in the sand for my girl.  The waves in the ocean were pretty fun though.  She has definitely become "Daddy's Girl"....much to Mommy's sadness.  She now has eight teeth!  Things Elliott Can do: *Crawl everywhere. *Scoot on her tushy *Dance *Sit up independently in the crib.  *Unpack her diaper bag.  Such a fun gam