Happy Birthday To Our Oldest!

Stephen was the one.

The one who first made me a mom!

The first of many children in my life.  He had me to himself for 9 years before we had more!

The one who first filled my heart with a love that only your child can make you feel.

The one who first gave me the somber reality that I was responsible for another life, their well being, care, education and upbringing.

The one who first filled that little niche between your neck and shoulder that only a newborn fills when held.

The one who first gave me a joy, that only a parent feels, when their child does the amazing things they learn to do.

The one who first started filling my mind with special family memories of our own.

The one who first started showing me so much about myself from a child's eyes. (Kids will repeat anything you know!)

The one that first said the sweetest "I love you mom" ever to me.

The one who first made my heart rejoice with their happiness and ache when theirs ached.

The one who first brought out my mamma bear feelings of protection for him.

The one that first broke my heart by saying something in a hurtful way that only our children can do.

The one who I made mistakes on as I learned how to be a good parent!

The first one I home schooled!

The one who was the child of my youth.

The one I grew up with.

The first one to help me navigate the teen years with.

The first one I learned that I had to leave them in Gods hands and trust.

The first one I became friends with.

The first one I saw graduate.

The one I first had to let spread their wings and leave the nest.

The first one to come back to visit and have holidays meals here at the house with.

My life was full of firsts with this son of ours.

He is the one I am so happy and blessed to be mom to.

Happy birthday my oldest son!  I love you fiercely and pray for you fervently!  May the Lord God in heaven have His mighty hand on your heart and life as you live and grow in Him!

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Love, Dad, mom, Antonio, William, Carolyn, Zeke, Elizabeth, Billy, Timothy, Kinsley and Anna-Kate  

A Year Older! 2018

Happy birthday to one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life!  I have the privileged and am blessed, to call him son.  Happy Birthday William!

It was hot that July.  I was a bit over due.  I was so uncomfortable.  Every day I woke up hoping today would be the day.  I thought William was going to be born on the 4th.  I was hoping William would be born on the 4th.  I was praying William would be born on the 4th. God chose for him to be born later than that.  :) 

When he was born, all the days of discomfort were a distant memory.  All that I had just went through was forgotten.  He was here, healthy and loved. 

Little did I know, as I held him for the first time, all the struggles we would face together and what a sweet, happy and obedient little guy he would always be.  Autism has been a challenge but you have relied on God to help you be successful and thrive.  Praise God!

Such a blessing to us from the moment I found out I was pregnant.

William has never been a moments trouble and has and is always as helpful as he can be.

He is always asking if there is anything I need him for or if there is anything I need him to do. 

William and his first personal dog Will.

If I am struggling or trying to make an important decision, aside from praying about it,  he is one of the first people I ask his opinion about it. 

His dog Will and he were inseperable and such good buddies all through out his childhood.  It is ashame that dogs live so  much shorter than humans.  So good and loyal.  So hard to say goodbye to.

As he is wise and grounded and always has a unique perspective about things.

 William and his second personal companion dog Dixie.  She has been a wonderful and loyal dog for him.

 I am always finding selfies of William on my phone that he takes for me to find later.  :)

 GED graduate!

 EAGLE award winner for our district and public speaker/representative for them!

On a mission trip out west!

As with all our children I have seen God do miracle after miracle for him and in him.  I have had the privilege of seeing God stretch and grow him into a godly young man.  He reminds me so much of his dad.  Tim and he are very much alike in so many ways.  The fruit of the spirit just comes naturally to these two men.  I always feel very cherished by them both.

William wanted a special cake from my sister this year and as always she came through with flying colors!  Thank you Aunt "S"!

William, Your dad and I could not be more pleased with all the hard work and effort you have put into your life and education.  We could not be more happy for you in this very exciting time of your life.  We could not be more grateful that God entrusted us to raise you as unto Him.

May God have his hand on you your whole life.  May you follow His lead and guidance at every turn.  May you seek His face in all decisions you have to make and may you be blessed in your life as you live and grow in Him!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Love, Dad, mom, Stephen, Antonio, Carolyn, Zeke, Elizabeth, Billy, Timmy, Kinsley and Anna-Kate!

June 2018 - Catching Up!

I have done a lot of birthday posts lately.  I try not to share much of what is going on here in a birthday post and keep those posts focused on the birthday I am sharing about.  So today, I will do a bit of a catch up post.

Tim and I recently had to go somewhere that required us to dress up a bit.  A rare photo of us together dressed up.  :)

In March we had a scare with Anna-Kate.  She woke up one morning disoriented and within a few minutes started having seizures.  She had never had seizures before.  I rushed her to the pediatric doctor and they sent her, by ambulance, to our closest children's hospital.  They kept her over night, hooked up for EEG and video monitoring.  It was very scary but extra concerning and upsetting, as she is my youngest and always so healthy.  When all was said and done, it was because of low iron.  Since getting her home, placing her on iron supplementation and kale smoothies daily, she has had no other issues.  I had no idea that could even happen or that her iron had gotten low, as we eat so healthy here.  They said it was just the way her body does not metabolize iron properly.  Possibly because of bio-moms drug use while pregnant.  So, it was an easy fix and something to keep a close eye on, Praise be to God!

The children have discovered that having camp outs in the living room is fun!

 They have enjoyed lots of playground time, swimming and several fun outings.  We recently went to the aquarium.

Timothy and Billy

My own little butterfly in the butterfly room!

Daddy and his baby girl!

My two oldest still at home!

I pair these two up a lot together on outings, as Kinsley is so verbal that Elizabeth does not try to get away with anything. Elizabeth has come a long way and is doing much better.

Carolyn and Zeke participated in our county's Special Olympics!

Last year Zeke was one of the torch runners this year they both were but I could not be in both areas of running at the same time so did not get a picture of Zeke. Here is Carolyn carrying the torch.  She said it was very heavy!

Zeke likes to run so he was in some running events.

Carolyn was in 1 running event and the softball throw.

My special winners!

The Nichols cheering section!!

We had ballet recitals!

Kinsley did ballet in the winter recital and tap in this one!  She loves it!  It is so good for her from a therapy standpoint.  :)

My beautiful young lady!  Both my older girls are so graceful compared to me.  :)

On her way!  Almost showtime!  She does jazz and ballet on point!  Now that takes grace and incredible core  muscle strength.  What a miracle I have seen in her since she was born.  No one would ever believe all her diagnosis and what she can do now!  Her calves are solid rock muscle.  I tease her and tell her that they are no longer calf muscles but cows!

We had three batches of baby goats born!  Can you believe out of 8 goats born this spring only one was a girl!

 I have been gardening!  We have already been through and enjoyed strawberry season and cherry season.  We are just begining blueberry season and am currently enjoying squash, tomatoes, peppers and mulberries!

Some of my garden areas and our invaluable guardian dog Yellow.

I took some of our children to the special needs Hawaiian luau party in town!

Antonio had a wonderful time!

They all did!

I have never taken Timmy to a dance before.  Boy, did this boy dance and dance.  What joy came pouring out of every cell in  his body!

Antonio is on week six of a good spell.  It is the longest good spell he has ever had.  He has had a few small outburst but nothing like the weeks of misery in the past three years.  We are fervently praying for his complete healing and that we never have to go back to that dark place for him again.

My sweet William is growing up so much.  He is currently away on a mission trip for 10 days.   Yippee! for him...ouch for me!   I am tired and ready for his return.  God has helped me to get everything done that needs doing in his absence but I am ready for a rest and for him to be home.  We pay him to do so much around here.  I have been slowly making other arrangements for many of his responsibilities as he is growing up and moving on with his own education and path in life and we need to be able to function without his help around here.  One very special thing that happened last month for him is that...One  year ago, he was in the GED program and participating in the graduation ceremony as a graduate.  This year at that schools graduation program, he was the Keynote speaker.  As he is the EAGLE award representative for 2018.  What a difference a year can make.

The other big thing going on here is that Tim's parents move in tomorrow to live with us permanently.  Please keep us uplifted in prayer.

God is so very good and I feel we are shifting into a whole new season of life for us.  I never know if God will bring more children into our lives or not...but as of right now I have no infants.  The only one in diapers is Antonio.  This fall I will be home schooling three of the four youngest.  These early years of homeschooling are very time consuming, so I am clearing my life and days of as much clutter as possible.  Trying to really simplify our life, so I can pour into our children what they need in their foundation to be successful.  We do a lot of hands on homeschooling, so we get messy and have fun. I am looking for a nurse/sitter to come and help me (mornings) with Antonio five days a week.  I am not able to do Antonio's morning care, long term, with out help, now that William is in college and is not always available to help.  I guess what I am saying, is that my life is shifting to be busy in other ways than it has been in the last four or five years.  Out of intense baby/therapy/appointment mode, to stay at home and really do some things at home that need just as much diligent attention.

Psalms 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

May God pour out his abundant blessings, health and peace into your lives.  May He lead and guide you in all areas, showing you His path for your life as you live and grow in Him.

Blessings,

susan