*Sniffle*

Little Lady has been kinda fussy the past few days. And a little bit picky about food. And really tired. Hello cold season...

Last night my decision to savor every moment was put to the test. She was beyond ready for bed at 8... so down early she went. By 11 she was up every few hours sniffling and coughing waking up exhausted and wailing till I came for her. She snoozed on my chest for a bout 45 minutes at midnight while I stared at the ceiling. Unable to fall asleep, I bucked up and reminded myself that even these moments were blessings. I decided to savor the time with the weight of my sleeping, fleecy pajamaed little girl snuggled on top of me. Those little baby moments are fading fast. I thanked the Lord and prayed for her and just listened to my two favorite people breathe.

...Then I tried to shift and up she was crying and sneezing. The next 2 hours were spent up and down from the couch and walking around the dark house. She didn't cry, just snuggled tight and stared at all the lights from the oven clock, windows and microwave. I actually enjoyed my night.

She never snuggles as she is always too busy looking around... So it was a rare moment. It was pretty darling. By 2:30 she was ready to go to sleep... Up a few more times, but slept for a few hours.

Today, I am pretty wiped out, but I am still glad for the night I had. By making the decision to enjoy the moments and be thankful, an otherwise frustrating night became a sweet one that I will remember for a long time.

Six Months, .5 years, Half Birthday

Today, Leilei is six months old. I am blown away with how time has flown.

Everyday she gets bigger...

And cuter, if possible...

And I fall more madly in love with her.

Leilani, I am so thankful for you.

Thank you Lord
For six months with our little girl.
For six months of Character Building.
For six months of learning how to sacrifice and serve.
For six months of laughter and joy.
For six months of awe and wonder.
For six months of learning about love all over again.
For six months of excitement over all the little things.
For six months of rediscovery.

For six of the greatest months in my life.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

Blessed Blessed Blessed. And Compassion International

Leilani will be 6 months this next week and so far, I have not needed to buy her a single outfit/onsie/hat ect. I have once or twice, but she was never in need. Through the generosity family and friends she has been given enough new clothes and hand me downs to last well beyond her entire first year. I am so thankful for the love of my people! She not only has the bare necessities, but her little drawers are overflowing with fun things to wear, even baby chucks! Ahh! So fun.


Her cheeks continue to fill out, she is never short of food or care. There are many loving arms that want to hold her, and safe, clean places for her to play all day long. What an incredible blessing. I am inexpressibly thankful to God for allowing me to live in a place and time where I can look at my little girl and make plans for her future. I know that she will be fed tomorrow and that she will be warm and safe through the night. I know that she has access to the best medical care if she should ever need it, and that everyone around her loves her and watches out for her.


It is a sobering thing to read about the poverty and desperation facing millions of families worldwide. Destitute mothers carry their babies, not knowing where their next meal will come from, aching as they listen to the cries of their sick little ones. The arrival of another baby is not a time for joy and celebration but a time of fear and sadness, knowing that they are unable to take care of the new tiny life that has entered their world. I can not imagine holding my baby and knowing that she may not have a tomorrow. Of fearing for her survival every night.

Compassion International is helping to clothe those cold little ones, fill those hungry tummies and heal those hurting bodies. Compassion reaches out to the broken where they are and not only heals the physical hurts, but brings them to the One who can heal their hearts. Poverty says "There is no tomorrow." Jesus says "I AM tomorrow." Compassion is at work all over the world bringing hope and joy where there was only despair. Through Compassion, we have been given the opportunity to help make a difference. Food, clothing, shelter and education can be provided with only $38 a month, but more than that, these children and families will come to know the love of their Savior. Amazing.

Ryan and I sponsor two children in Ethiopia and Bangladesh. They have families, and parents who love them. I am so thankful to be able to help meet their needs, and to help two mothers, all the way across the world, sleep easier knowing that their babies will be taken care of.

My thoughts and emotions on the subject have not been very well expressed today, I am afraid, but I hope that you will pause to be overwhelmed with me. Give thanks for your abundance today, but don't just be content to keep it to yourself.

"The King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." -Matthew 25:34-40

There is nothin better...

than a clean, sleepy baby, all zipped up in her pajamas. Bedtime has become one of my favorite moments of the day. When it is lights out, all is still, snuggled as tight as we can get, I feel like I could pop with how much I love my drowsy pile of chubb. She nurses quietly to sleep, her arm and legs wrapped around me as she grips my thumb with her free hand. These moments of peace after a full day are such gifts. Tonight I was all too aware of how quickly they will fade, how rocking to sleep will eventually end... But for tonight, I held her and was so thankful.

Thank You Father for Leilani.