Losing a Friend

It was definitely the Lord but I woke up last Monday morning with just a heaviness for Justin and Misty.  I came downstairs from working out and Logan and I were just talking and laughing about Justin.  We told a few stories about him and then I picked up my phone to see texts from several Boerne friends saying that he was really bad and not going to make it through the day.  Oh so hard.  Logan was able to type a long message that was read to him before he passed away.  This man fought and fought hard.  I kept praying and hoping that all of a sudden he would just get better.....that God would just miraculously heal him.....that all the doctors would just all of a sudden find a cure for him!  But it just wasn't God's plan for Justin.  He saw the best of the best doctors and tried basically everything he could do but his body was just very sick.  He had more diseases than I can even remember or name.  But what a life he lived and in his later years was all lived for the Lord.  Logan was able to walk alongside him in Boerne when he was really searching and trying to figure out what God was all about.  They would meet up for breakfast or lunch and sit and talk about the Bible.  He would ask lots and lots of questions to Logan.  He was searching and trying to figure it all out.  He was never afraid to ask anything....there was no fear of embarrassment or dumb questions.   He just legitimately wanted to know truth.  He finally came to a point and put his trust in Christ.  Awhile later he was actually baptized by our pastor in the river.  It was an amazing and joyful day.  So Logan literally got a front row seat to see his friend and buddy change his life and start living for the Lord.  He began having such a boldness in his walk.  He wasn't afraid to tell you EXACTLY how he felt about something and how it was going to be.  It was so refreshing to be around someone that honest and open.  So after several months of us getting to know their family he was diagnosed with all the diseases.  At first it didn't even seem real but as time went on he started seeing more evidences of all of it in his body.  We moved from Boerne about 2 years into his sickness.  For Logan, I know leaving Justin was one of the hardest things he had to do.  When you walk with friends through hard times it is gut wrenching to have to walk away from that.   It has been neat to watch how the Lord has brought just the right people alongside their family though to care and love on them in a unique way.  And I will say as hard as it has been to keep up with people long distance Logan and Justin were able to do it.  They would do Voxer a lot and just send texts back and forth.  Justin encouraged Logan in ways that no one else could.  It's that honesty of his again.....he would just straight tell Logan like it was and not hide anything back.  Over the last year it began to be very hard to read them because he was just in so much pain and weary.   We know he is healed and in the presence of the Lord now.  We are so grateful he isn't hurting but just ache that he is gone from us here.  We traveled down to Boerne last Thursday morning for his funeral and to be with Misty.  Thanks to my parents we were able to leave all the kids here.  It was so good to be there and be in Boerne.  It was fun to talk about Justin and just remember his life.  His wife Misty is a rock.  You can't even imagine what all she has faced this last few years.  I can't and don't want to even know.  The Lord has given her strength upon strength to walk through it all.  They have 3 boys....Bryce, Brody and Braxton.  They are what pushes her heart to go on and get through the hard times.  She is gifted at writing and she shares it all on her blog www.keepingupwiththemcelhannons.blogspot.com if you want to read it.   So if you think about it please keep praying for their family.  The Lord is and will be carrying them through but it's just hard to not have a daddy and husband.

Caleb Turns 5! Ninja Turtle Party and Baseball!!

Caleb turned 5 on Sunday.  He is quite obsessed with Ninja Turtles so it was pretty much a no brainer for it to be the theme of his party.  

We of course had pizza to eat like real Ninja Turtles!!!  And of course Aunt Mel made an amazing cake!!  Caleb told her exactly what he wanted :)

My cute Ninja Turtle

all his buddies!!  and actually everyone got to come!

Lucy was getting some special attention from her Aunt Mel.  Looks like some chocolate cake might have been involved too!

So Logan designed an obstacle course in the backyard....fighting Ninjas off with their pool noodle swords, climbing the wall on the playset, walking across hot "lava" (orange spray painted grass) on big logs, traversing on the elevated ropes, shooting down cups with water guns, knocking down cups with balls, and then finally crossing the finish line!  The last thing was a water balloon launcher.  One of the dads was the target and it was a lot of fun.  I mean how can there be water balloons and it not be fun!?!?!

His big brother was really great at helping him open all his presents and telling him exactly how each one worked!  Just so nice of him.  ha ha.

We all dressed in green for the party...Lucy was already in her pj's at this point but she did have a green shirt on too!

He woke up Sunday morning to his door and chair all decorated.  He loved it.

He had to eat some leftover cake on his actual birthday!  But somehow my "5" candle got thrown away but I scrounged up a "1" and a "4" so we practiced our addition.  Weston kept saying that he was "41".  I am so thankful for our Caleb.  He definitely is one-of-a-kind and with that some times he is still such a mystery to me.  He feels VERY strongly at all times so with that comes a lot of emotions. He is the best helper out of all of our kids and will just do stuff without even being prompted!!!  What in the world?!?!  He has a very compassionate heart and is always very in touch with how others are feeling.  He is my one to tell me that I'm pretty or he likes my shirt.  He is definitely the one to give lots of hugs!!  And most of all he loves to talk.....basically nonstop :).  Even though there are many fights and arguments, he really has grown close to his oldest brother this past year.  It's neat to see that relationship changing and growing.  He loves Jesus and has a very soft heart toward the things of the Lord.  I know the Lord has big plans for him and can't wait to see how it all comes to be.  This is a big year for him because he will start Kinder in the fall!

Baseball and soccer have kinda been part of our world lately.  We're either at one field or the other.  Tyson put on Weston's hat the other night on the way to his game.  Pretty cute!!  He'll be playing before we know it!

Weston has been doing great....3 for 3 the other night!  He gets really bored in the outfield but that's ok....he enjoys it for the most part I think!

Oh and someone else had to try his hat on too.  I think she's a fan of her big brother!!!

Easter, Lucy Dancing, and Swimming Pool Already!!!

Well we tried undies for a few nights bc his diaper at night had been dry for weeks.  As soon as we did undies he had ONE good night and the rest weren't good.  So we'll try again in a few weeks.  

cutie pie :)

yes, that's a bruise....a really really big bruise!!!  it lasted forever and partly it was my fault.  but she still is cute even with the bruise!!!

Lucy loves her kitty :)  But not sure if Stormy loves Lucy :)

So it was like 90 degrees the other day and the boys begged to break out our ghetto pool.  So we did and they actually got in it and played!!!  Lucy tried it for a little while too :)  Her in her little swimsuit.....oh goodness.

Weston had an Easter egg hunt at school for his Easter party.  It was more like an Easter egg pick up. They were just all laying on the ground :).  He didn't care though and had a great time!

A friend gave me this bunny costume when her girls outgrew it.  I was just doing it for fun but it was pretty darn cute when i got it on her!!  Maybe i'm partial and she's just cute in everything!

This shows Lucy's dancing moves.....or move I should say.  She gets her move from her Mama. 

Easter morning....yes, this is about the best we got!!!

maybe a little better after church.....

Lucy was digging in the girls' Easter basket :)

She did not feel very good all day on Easter so she really just wanted to be held most of the day.  We took her to the doctor the next day and she had double ear infections :(

It was just my nieces and our kids to hunt this year but it was still a lot of fun!  It had rained quite a bit so it was a bit soggy.