Thanksgiving in Michigan

We did it!! We did it!! We honestly went on a 12 hour road trip with a 26 month old, 5 weeks old, and dog in a 5 seater vehicle...it can be done. I was very stressed out about this trip and I was very unprepared for it, but we pulled it off. The trip itself was pretty uneventful, though a lot of work! We stopped 3 times each way, every 3-4 hours to feed Elle and when we stopped L.D. was incredibly busy getting gas in the car, getting food for everyone, changing Clare's diaper and taking Bella out. Each stop lasted about an hour no matter how fast we moved. We made both trips in 12 hours and usualy its an 11 hour trip, so we did really well, but we did decide a bigger vehicle will be purchased very soon.

Now the vacation....or family traveling I should say...LD and I decided it was not a vacation by any means. Of course it did not go as planned, but it was a huge blessing in a lot of ways. Before leaving we knew hospice has been called in for LD's grandmother and the family had gathered, so we were prepared that she would pass at some point during our trip. LD was able to spend 2 days with her and with his family before she left this life on Saturday evening surrounded by her children and grandchildren. The next two days were spent at visitation and the funeral, of course not a fun time, but we got a lot of time with family we would not have otherwise seen and we were thankful to be a part of all that was taking place.

A funeral home is definetely not a place for a two year old, but we made the best of it. At one point Clare asked about grandma and I explained that she went to live with Jesus and she was resting peacefully. I, in my motherly wisdom and concern was trying so hard to explain it correctly without causing Clare any confusion and the next words out of her mouth were, "Want to touch her?" She tried over and over throughout the evening to "touch her" and we all had to laugh at her sweet innocence.

We did have a great Thanksgiving dinner with LD's family and spent a few days with my parents at their new home in the country, right next to a little pond. Clare caught her first fish with daddy and papa and had no fear as she held it up for a picture. We decorated Grammie's Christmas tree, had Christmas with cousins from both sides of the family and got to love on Auntie V who had flown in from Vegas. Elle's big highlight of our trip was the day before we left she showed off her first grin, followed by lots and lots more!!

This Thanksgiving we are thankful for God's perfect timing and for the blessings He is continually pouring over our family!

Praise report about Vanessa!

We are so thankful for a faithful God who continues to protect Vanessa and guide her as she fights this battle! Just wanted to share the news with you!!

Faithful Family and Friends,

Thank you barely seems like the appropriate words for the embarrassing amount of encouragement I've received from you over the past few weeks. I've been overwhelmed with care packages, encouragement, and unceasing prayers. After speaking at a Women's Breakfast a few weeks ago, I realized what an opportunity I've been given. It was after I finished speaking and sharing my heart with the women that I saw a miracle take place in the room before me as women shared with tears in their eyes that they too were fighting a battle. An amazing young woman in the room shared the same physical battle of cancer with me, yet I realized just how big the giants that each of us are up against on a daily basis truly are. Gathered around one another in prayer, I watched God take this challenge in my life and transform it into a platform to change the "what is" in our lives to the "possibility of what could be" in Christ. WOW - as I spoke the words I realized just how many moments I've been given as possibility!

I have never doubted the power of prayer, yet when I get to experience the fruits firsthand it always blows me away. This afternoon I received a phone call from sharing that my test results came back showing NO leukemia and NO cancer within my lymph nodes! What a faithful God! What this means moving forward is that we will continue with the steroid treatments I am currently on until my doctors appointment on December 14th to re-evaluate the progress and growth.

Thank you for your faithfulness to intercede on my behalf each and every day! I ask that as you pray for healing, that you would specifically pray for me to be a good steward of this opportunity and platform I've been given to shine the light into the lives of others!

With gratitude and love,
Vanessa

Elle's newborn pictures

Our most amazing friend and photographer (and HUGE blessing to us!) Christine at Dimples and Curls Photography came over last week to get newborn pictures of Elle. I had no idea what went into a newborn photo shoot and I am amazed and the work that Christine and her mom Millie do! They came to our house and were there for 6 hours patiently waiting for Elle to fall into a deep enough sleep to position her in the ways they had in mind. They had a little heater so she wouldn't get cold, so many cute props and a sound machine to keep her sleeping. My mom and I watched in awe as they worked with her, rocking her head or patting her to keep her sleeping while they moved her. It is like watching art just to watch them work!!! Here are a few shots they are INCREDIBLE!!! I am so excited to see the rest of them!

We are so blessed that these two precious girls are our daughters!

Of course there are a few shots of Clare and a great "sisters" shot too!!

Look a like sisters

A friend of mine recently sent me a picture of two brothers when they were both first born and their baby pictures looked identical. I wish I would have thought to take a similar picture of Elle to see how much her and Clare really look alike. I thought it was such a great idea so I found two pictures where they are the same age and they look just alike!! The funny thing is Clare doesn't look that much like her baby pictures...she was a chunky newborn with a round face and now she is a little peanut without much meat on her bones and its really changed the way she looks. But the two of them look just alike in their baby pics. See if you can tell who is who :)