It only took Kelly and I 3 whole months to finally get pictures of these two together! It's not just getting them together though...its getting them both happy, fed and rested at the same moment. It was short, as you can see in the final shots, but we did get a few happy pictures.
As the saying goes, "how time flys." Indeed, but we have loved every day of these 3 months. Happy 3 months, little one. How we love you.
I met Birgitta about 10 years ago. She came to America to be an aupair for one year. Over the the course of the year, the Lord did a great work in her heart and she became a Christian. During that year, we also became great friends. It was sad to see her go, but she and her now husband, Emil, come back every 1-2 years for a visit. We always look forward to the time, although it's always way too short. This year they brought another couple with them, Mattias and Miya. They were so sweet! Here are a few pictures of the last night we got to spend with them.
Birgitta and me
Introducing her early to our love for reading! Hoping she will love books as much as her sisters do.
We just had some dear friends arrive yesterday to stay with us for a few days. Emil and Birgitta. They brought another wonderful couple with them. This week has been busy, but wonderful! Dave has been gone, but we have experienced much grace. I even managed to paint my powder room amidst getting ready for our guests, enjoying this outside nice weather, and caring for the girls. More later on our time with our friends. Gotta run and make breakfast!
Read more...I decided to post an email string that occurred today. I find that I don't post as much these days on grieving. That is for a number of reasons. However, I wanted to post some kind words that came from a friend and my response to her. I'm doing so because I am aware of a number of friends around me who are walking through their own trials. And I think the following words so adequately give testimony to the kindness or our Lord, His active involvement into every detail of our hard times, our thoughts, and our emotions and His commitment and promise to uphold us and see us through.Let me tell you, I needed this reminder! I have felt lonely, inadequate as a mom, wife, homemaker, and weary the past number of days. I've been missing Alivia and have been more aware of circumstances than I have of who God is and how great He is, not just to save my soul, but to uphold my soul all the days of my life. This email was a reminder of God's specific care for me.So, I pray for all those of you whose days are characterized by hardship right now. May the following words remind you of how acquainted the Lord is with us, how He can sympathize with our sufferings and how much He knows and and will care for us through them...And, Cara, once again...THANKS! I'm in tears again as I read your kind words.
Hi, Heather!
Just wanted to say hi and let you know that you've been fresh on my heart the last couple of days. I don't have any big word or even a verse to share, but I think of and pray for you often, love reading your blog and seeing those beautiful little girls, and continue to remember your Alivia with gratefulness and tears. I only got to meet her once, so in my mind's eye she is always that tiny pink and white bundle with a perfect, baby face, wrapped in a blanket and snuggled sleeping on your shoulder. I look forward to meeting her again in Heaven some day, where she will be a veteran worshiper at the Throne. How much I will have to learn from her then!
Much love,
Cara
Cara,
*Tears.* Thanks so much, my friend! Well you have been sensitive to the Spirit and for that I'm so grateful. The past few days have been particularly hard for me and as I sit here I am once again aware and reminded of how the Lord knows and He has and is providing for my every need. Your email could not have been more timely or more meaningful, Cara. Life has been particularly challenging with meeting the needs of 3 little ones (as you very well know :), I've been weary, exhausted and very emotional and weepy (I think my hormones have been a little wild the past few days). On top of that I have just been particularly missing our little one no longer here, wondering what she would look like toddling around and what our family would be like with her. It's an interesting and hard dynamic, knowing that if she were here, Addie would not be, so in the Lord's sovereignty I rest. Also, sleep has been restless for me the last few nights, adding to my drama of emotion. And Dave left this morning for a business trip this week.I just say all that to encourage and thank you, Cara. The Lord could have put me on your heart, you prayed, and then stopped there. But the fact that you would take the time (which is precious, I KNOW) to sit and write to let me know, is...well, means so much, dear friend. The Lord used it to strengthen my weak and weary soul and I will come back to it this week, I'm sure, to read and be refreshed. Thanks, as well, for continuing to remember Alivia and us, in general. I was just thinking last night how losing her has taken so much out of us and has rocked our world in ways that probably only the Lord knows about. And we still have not recovered...I am learning it takes so much time and our hearts will never be the same until heaven. Once again, I say that to communicate how much the Lord has used your care!I continue to be so grateful for you, Cara!Love,Heather
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This week has been an exhausting one for me. With almost every evening filled with something, getting to bed after 11pm, baby up 1 or 2 times and then needing to get up early to get Mckenna ready for school, I have been weary and tired. Sooo, yesterday after lunch, I fed the baby and got her settled and was feeling that if I could just close my eyes and put my head back on the couch for a few minutes, I would feel so much better. So, that's what I did. I told Mckenna and Selah that I was needing to rest on the couch for a few minutes and to go play for awhile. Over the next 45 minutes or so, I heard tons of running around upstairs, laughing and much activity. I could only imagine what they were getting into or doing, but no one was crying or screaming and I was getting a little shut eye before the next round of craziness began. After awhile of listening to this, I pulled myself off the couch, and went upstairs to see what they had been up to. I expected to round the corner and see the playroom in disrepair, but it was not bad at all. Then around the corner came my 2 big girls. And this is what I heard, "mom, don't we look beautiful?!"
Both girls had gotten dressed up in their Princess dresses (which is not unusual and happens every day around here), but this was unusual... Mckenna had "decorated" Selah's hair.
This past Saturday, I found Dave and the girls on the floor, having some morning art fun!
A few days ago, my mom passed on some info. to be about a new paint out. Between this and my recent visit to my absolute favorite store, The Old Luckett's Store, my mind has been spinning with all the things I want to paint and refinish.
I am constantly amazed at what goes on in my little toddler's mind, by the things she says. On the way to pick up Mckenna from school today, Selah and I had the following conversation:
Selah: Mom, I don't like the snow anymore?
Me: I like the snow!
Selah: Why mom?
Me: Because it's so beautiful.
Selah: Well, I don't like it... Mom, you can brush your eyebrows.
I just laughed out loud!
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Just the recipe for a sore little throat...
Dave sent me the following email, containing a quote that he had read, while he was away on a business trip this week. He mentioned that this is something he needed to remember. Well, I need to remember it too, but sadly all too often I forget. While a more biblical definition could probably be assigned to the emotion "frustration," I think it's so good nonetheless.
We regularly give lots of thanks around here for little girls...especially this one lately. What a gift she continues to be to us!
This year it came in the form of a smile. For the very first time, Adelyn smiled yesterday...a big grin from ear to ear. My heart just about melted at the sight. Today we took a little video of her...
Adelyn Smiles from Heather Castro on Vimeo.
Read more...The Plunneckes left us this past Thursday, after having been here for almost a whole week. After the initial dump of snow they decided to ride out the next one with us. So glad they did!
Blizzard 2010 from Heather Castro on Vimeo.
Read more...We just got word this morning that friends of ours, Jordan and Tali Kauflin, have entered into a very difficult trial. Their son, Jack, has been diagnosed with leukemia. Please join us in praying for them, for sustaining grace and supernatural strength to walk through this trial.
As I mentioned earlier, Dave was gone all last week on a business trip. All I can say is that I was so grateful to have him home. We so missed him. I lost count how many times Selah would call our from her bed, through the tears, "When is daddy coming home?" She did not feel well at all and just wanted her daddy. Precious and heart-breaking.
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We have had quite the adventure over here at our house for the past number of days. All I can say is we are making quite the memory with 8 kids and 6 adults, under one roof. We did not have internet until sometime yesterday. It's been constant action here and I have not had a spare moment to go through all the pictures and video I have taken, not to mention write an update of all this craziness and fun. Mark just figured out the issue I was having in getting my old photo software on this new computer. I look forward to using it as I go through the pictures we have taken over the last number of days....but who knows when that will be!
"We have many cares - our children, our business, our homes. Frequently, we do not bring these cares to God, feeling that they are too little to mention to Him. This is absurd! Have nothing else to do with such a sinful silence. Tell it all to Jesus. The Lord tells you to cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7). Tell Him! Why carry your sin, your need, and your care? Why not have greater desires and broader expectations? After all, Jesus says, 'According to your faith let it be to you' (Matt. 9;29).
There are times when the angel of mercy flies around the homes of God's people and brings an abundance of precious blessings. Sometimes while we sleep, the angel of mercy hovers on soft wings, but there is no empty container in which to pour the blessing. Later the angel visits another home, where in their prayers the residents set out a number of empty containers. The angel fills the containers from the supply of overflowing mercy, and when the petitioners awake they find an abundance supply of rich grace.
Some have feeble wishes, small desires, and slender prayers, or hardly any prayer at all. 'You do not have because you do not ask' (James 4:2). Others have large desires, earnest prayers, great faith, and large expectations. God gives according to your faith." - Spurgeon
This was a good read for me this morning. This week Dave is away on a business trip, Selah has come down with a fever and baby has been doing what newborns do best - waking up lots to eat! I love holding and cuddling her, but it is exhausting when it's in the middle of the night :). All that to say it's been an exhausting and very demanding week. As I read this Spurgeon quote, I realized how much I run from one thing to the next, often without praying and petitioning the Lord for help. He wants to hear me, he desires to help and wants me to lift up in prayer, even the most mundane of requests. He cares about the housework I have to do and wants to give me strength to do it, he cares about my lack of sleep and desires to give me rest of soul and mind and body, he cares about our house that I am seeking to keep warm (with our wood stove) and will provide the help to load wood, he cares about my little one who is sick right now and desires to give me the grace to care for her. How often I forget this. I want to be one who has set out lots of empty containers for the Lord to fill with grace. I want Him to be glorified through me and my dependance on Him, as evidenced through many prayers being lifted up.
I was convicted this morning of how quickly I ran to the medicine cabinet last night to get tylenol for Selah and didn't even take a moment to pray for her. I want to rely more and be humbled by the fact that I need the Lord for EVERYTHING.
I think Dave's favorite Christmas present this year came from the Ploons. Mark created the following gift certificate for Dave. I came across it yesterday as I was cleaning up the counters and it made me laugh all over again.
Mark found the picture somewhere on the internet and came up with wording for the "fine print" all on his own (with the help of another handy gift card).. And I think it's pretty Hilarious! Mark printed it out on his printer and after taking a picture of it, it's even more blurry. So, for your enjoyment, I'm including the wording of the "fine print" below:
"Get one (1) free game of golf at Laytonsville Golf Course with this lame faux-free-golf-day coupon during the period stated on the front. Includes equipment rental, libations (a'la lager), and balls (golf), and caddy (since the source of this coupon got no game). Membership rules apply. Don't ask me what that means - I'm copying off another coupon. Valid with other offers, assuming our wives are OK with it. This coupon may not be exchanged for cash, sold, transferred, or reproduced. Actually, I guess it can but that would be embarrassing for all of us. If lost or stolen or marred by certain little individuals not aware of this coupon's lame value, don't sweat it."
Thanks, Mark! Dave is all too excited that you are going to take up golf and give it a try.
Contrary to what I might have said 16 months ago, lots and lots of laundry is a blessing to me these days and I don't seem to mind it. When Alivia was born 16 months ago, it seemed like the laundry exploded! There was so much to do. Then when we lost her and I started doing laundry again, I found myself crying through the loads I would do. There were no more little baby pieces to wash and the laundry seemed to get done much faster.
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My girls had a good case of cabin fever yesterday. I picked up Mckenna from school midday and when we got home, they begged me to ride their bikes outside. Mckenna has always rode this little tiny bike with training wheels. It's really too small for her, but as of last summer/fall she was still too scared to try the new used big girl bike we had for her.
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This post is an attempt to just say "thanks" to all of you who have emailed, stopped in, made meals and left messages checking up on me over the past number of weeks. As many know, life is busy with a newborn, so I have not been the best at returning calls and emails...but every one of them has been a blessing and encouragement to me.
It seems there is a baby boom among my friends for the past few months. So, I thought this recipe might come in handy for anyone looking for some extra calories when nursing.
Addie is 4 weeks old today. I can't believe how big she is getting. I'm trying to savor every day of her littleness while it lasts. Here is a video clip from today, with some random pictures mixed in from the last few weeks.
Adelyn Alivia - 4 weeks (with pictures) from Heather Castro on Vimeo.
Read more...Selah has become my little helper with Adelyn in the mornings. She usually informs me very early, "momma, baby stinks." So, after baby gets breakfast off we go to the bathroom sink for baby's bath. Selah helps me wash her, get her dressed and then cuddle her back to happiness. Today she even started to show Addie how to play dress up!
A dear friend recently commented to me on facebook that, "cuteness grows way too fast." I love this saying and will probably find myself using it a lot in the days ahead when I choose to seize the moment to pull out my camera or flip, even when there are undone tasks all around me.
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My little nephew, Wyatt, is 5 weeks old today. And he is a cutie! But over the past couple of days he has gotten very sick and was admitted to Shady Grove hospital today. He was diagnosed RSV (respiratory "something" virus). It's common in children and the symptoms are simply that of a cold. But in infants it can be very serious. They have him on a nebulizer, oxygen and an IV. They will be monitoring him for 24 hours and looking for signs of improvement. If there are not any by tomorrow afternoon, they will run more tests and do some x-rays. Please pray that there is no bacterial infection settling in and that the treatments they have him on will help him begin to improve overnight. Please pray for healing.
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