Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!

Our Miracle came to visit for Easter!
So, we did all the things we normally do when Christian comes up. (and then some ...)


 First off, he and Paul Paul planted some potatoes. 



Then there was the family egg dying activity - you know, art at Nana and Paul Paul's.


I just couldn't stop grinning - the whole time the Hall family was visiting! BLISS 


My beautiful daughter, Jenn preparing the egg dye for our impatient little fella ...


Our handsome and ever so patient son-in-law, Victor - who sacrificed relaxing for Easter weekend to drive all the way up here and back to Atlanta in about 24 hours so he and his family could visit with us for a few hours.  Incredibly generous in my opinion.


And the miracle man in his 7 year old splendor.  PRICELESS.


Our beautiful eggs - we are SO good!  They were great with brunch also!


Physical therapy for Christian includes a bit of karate action - so intense!


Paul Paul and Christian got up bright and early and went geocaching Sunday morning! This bridge was to be crossed to get to the treasure!  AND he did it!!!!


But, before they went there was an Easter basket to attend to!!! One happy kid!!!


Yahoo! King of the mountain!


More bridge time! Yikes!


Climbing with the best of them!


Skipping rocks - apparently he is well versed, now ready to practice.


More with the bridge - you have to go over AND back!


Serious business, this geocaching!


Makes you need to take off your shirt!  That, and the fact that it was simply GORGEOUS outside and warm!! WARM!!!


We are so delighted to see Christian jump to the sky 


And run like crazy down a hill, up a hill, and around a hill


Finally brunch on the porch! Told you it was gorgeous! No coats required! Life is good!


Some other people ... ha!


Sulu, thinks he hiding!!!


 We have tulips blooming ---- and green stuff sprouting! Gorgeous, I tell you!


But this beauty wins the prize --- a Jane Magnolia bloom from Ms. Title's yard.  Gorgeous.
It's official, We are blessed.
So many wishes for your blessings too!
Paul & Cheri

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Miracles!

 It's happening FINALLY!
We are beginning to see some signs of spring and with it - COLOR!
The beautiful pure and quiet landscape of all white is beginning to burst into COLOR and songs brought to you by birds and such!
With this comes much JOY!  And a fresh look at life.  I'm quite sure that is why there is SPRING!
And with it many blessings and shouts of gratitude!
We made it through the absolute hardest winter I have EVER lived through.
No, it wasn't just the weather this year. 
And now, we are greatly blessed and deeply grateful!


This little guy has kept us giggling and on our toes! Here he is, thinking he can go for a ride in the car!
He's gobs of fun and some where around a year old now!  He had a close call with an illness last week, bad mouse or something.  He's ALL better now though, and left us a sacrificial bird on the doorstep to show his gratitude.  Oh, the joy of outside cats!

 The cherry tree is beginning to blossom! It is simply gorgeous! Hopefully it will get to fully bloom as we are expecting some frost tonight.  Old man winter is truly hesitant to leave us.  I told him he could come back next year.  I even baked him brownies and kissed him goodbye.  I hope he gets the message and lets our beautiful blooming plants do what they are meant to do!


I think Sulu figures if he can't sit up front, maybe he can ride in the back seat!  He's a clever/curious/toddlerish boy, our Sulu!


Here he is helping me do our taxes.  Need I say more? I'm still working on them.  Sulu's eyes are the most beautiful blue in the world, but they ALWAYS photograph red.  Boo!  He's quite the looker!  But the "big boys" don't think so - STILL!  I will be glad when the warm weather stays simply for peace in the house amongst the feline population!  Gracious!

This beautiful woman is my daughter, Jenn.  She just celebrated her birthday last Friday.  I am so very proud to call this lovely lady my daughter.  She is gorgeous inside and out.  She is smart.  She is successful in her career and in her personal life.  She is loving and God fearing.  Jenn has an amazing testimony to the healing power of God.  She is a wonderful wife to Victor and an incredible mother to her and Victor's son, Christian.  She is a lovely daughter and has always made sure I know she loves me inspite of our differences in whatever they may have been/are.  She's been generously tolerant of my free spirit and gypsy-esque ways.  She is a sweet and priceless friend.  If I had a thousand pages to fill with the things I love and admire about Jenn, it wouldn't be enough. So, I will just say, Happy Birthday to the most beautiful, thoughtful, loving daughter any mom could ever be blessed with.  I love you, Jenn.

This is my son-in-law, Victor and his and Jenn's son, Christian.  Victor just celebrated his birthday Saturday before last.  Victor, you've come a long way, man! This man is a precious, loving, living and willing disciple of God.  He has worked his way through a virtual jungle to come out on "this" side and be able to share his enlightened thoughts and beliefs through his own "remixed" words to all of us about the word of God.  He offers a "Soul Food" article several times a week that sends my brain whirling with thought and self examination.  I am just as proud of Victor as I am of my very own blood children.  He is one strong man, with his own testimony of healing.  He is a good husband and a very devoted daddy.  Victor, happy birthday to you.  I know this year will be the year you are given the gifts you need to "make it all happen" as is in God's plan.  I love you too!
Christian, our grandson!  Most of you know everything there is to know about him.  But just as an update, he is doing SUPER! He will be released from his daily rehab program next week and sent on his way back to his regular school! Just so you know, this in itself is a MIRACLE.  He is excited to be back with his buddies and his regular world, albeit a tad changed now!  Christian was very instrumental in healing a lot of "junk" in amongst all of the families involved during his illness.  Thank you, buddy!  We will keep all things as they should be in honor of your wishes and sacrifice.  We love you Christian!
I have begun working out with Jillian Michael's (shred in 30 days) DVD because Paul & I have all plans to run a race in honor of ECMO in September.  ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) is the lung by-pass procedure which saved Christian's life, well along with voluminous other factors.  The ECMO team of Children's Hospital of Atlanta, Egleston has a reunion in September every year.  We all plan to attend this year.  Hopefully, it will be a great gathering of all kinds of miracles (included miracle will be me running a race - but that's another story!).  Christian was the 801st patient to receive ECMO.  The run I personally run will be in his honor, but there will be others there running in honor of all ECMO patients and technicians.  I can't wait!  Hope it's a nice day!  Fall in Atlanta is beautiful too!
This entire blog today was brought to you by miracles.  Don't you just LOVE spring miracles!?!
Count your blessings!
Happy Wednesday,
Paul and Cheri