We spent the week down at my dads, since Dave has been gone all week. It was relaxing for me and so fun for the girls. They rode trikes, took turns on Myrtle (the swing horse) played in the "pool" (which is their hot tub), and got to watch cartoons! We even got to pick strawberries one morning, which they loved.
Last night, Selah got to open presents from pop-pop and grandma and have a little cupcake and ice cream...her birthday is next Wednesday!
Dave left early this morning for a week long business trip. So, my mom and I took the girls to a Memorial Day parade today. Mckenna and I have been reading a book we got at the library about a boy who goes to a parade on Memorial day and about what the the day signifies.
As soon as she woke up this morning, she said to me, "mom I know what today is...it's Memorial day!" Both girls were excited as they love parades...and it was a beautiful day for one.
I read this earlier today and it filled me with anticipation for what we have to look forward to in heaven. It filled me with hope that Alivia's short life and all this pain was and is not in vain. Yesterday I was laying on the couch, looking up at all her pictures. I was brought back to my last days with my little one and was recounting even the last time I held her...my eyes welled with tears. It was one of those hard moments. So, as I read this quote this morning, it made me wonder if one day we'll find out about how Alivia's life and death has effected others in ways we never knew about here on earth.
Randy Alcorn tells this story in his book, Heaven:
"Occasionally we hear stories that provide a small taste of what we'll learn in eternity. One morning when I was speaking at a church, a young woman came up to me and said, 'Do you remember a young man headed to college sitting next to you on a plane? You gave him your novel Deadline.'
I give away a lot of books on planes, but after some prompting, I remembered him. He was an unbeliever. We talked about Jesus, and I gave him the book and prayed for him as we got off the plane.
I was amazed when the young woman said, 'He told me he never contacted you, so you wouldn't know what happened. He got to college, checked into the dorm, sat down, and read your book. When he was done, he confessed his sins and gave his life to Jesus. And I can honestly tell you, he's the most dynamic Christian I've ever met.'
All I did was talk to a college student on an airplane, give him a book, and pray for him. But if the young woman hadn't told me what happened later, I wouldn't have had a clue. This made me think about how many great stories await us in Heaven, and how many we may not hear until we've been there a long time. "
Some of Selah's cute sayings lately:
* Upon watching me eat a tuna sandwich with lettuce on it, she asked, "mom why you eating salad on your lunch?"
*"Momma, it's a beautiful summer for wormies!" (her love for bugs continues).
*Selah came up to me, gave me a great big hug, and announced, "Mom, I'm your baby wormy."
While spending some time with the girls outside today, I had the random thought, "what would I do if someone gave me/I won $500 today?"
And I'd love to know from you, what would you do if someone gave you/you won $500 today? The only stipulations are that you have to spend it on yourself/family and you have to spend it in a week.
For me...
1. I'd spend about $150 on a Flip video camera. I've wanted one of these for some time to capture more memories of my girlies.
2. Around $250 of it, I'd invest in some nice perennials and plants for my gardens. That sound like a lot, but they are pricey and I LOVE flowers.
3. The last $100 I would use to take my family out on a nice day trip somewhere...where we could built lots of fun memories, have lunch out and enjoy a day of life together!
So, I want to know...how would you use $500?
Mckenna took to sewing today for the very first time. I was stitching together some curtains for our basement apartment and she was begging me to try. So, later I taught her some basics on some leftover scraps. She did great...and she loved it!
Her very first stitches.As Mother's Day approaches, I have found myself facing very bittersweet emotions. I've come across reminders of the reality that this day will be with only 2 of my 3 girls. Simply put, it makes my heart sad. I don't think I thought about or even expected these emotions...a few random thoughts and circumstances seemed to bring them on. It's a reminder that this grieving process is a long one and brings waves that are often unseen.
BUT, my heavenly Father knows this and continues to provide amazing, timely grace and mercy for each of these hard days....
Christy, thank you for stopping by with the sweet gift, all wrapped up as only you can do. You continue to amaze me with your thoughtfulness and care. It's hard to put into words how much all the things you've done mean. Ya know, I've wanted an apron just like this! I love it...it's simple, vintage and makes me want to take a trip to Anthropologie.
Jenni, thanks for the timely quote and email this morning. I love the thought that our babes have been ransomed from sin and death. Oh the blessedness of redeeming grace!
"Your parting is not for long. This ruined body will be raised, and all its ravished beauties more than repaired. As for my other loved ones, whom I see exposed to disease and death, I know that death cannot touch them unless my Heavenly Father, who orders everything for me in love and wisdom, sees it best. So that I can trust them, though trembling, to His keeping, and be at peace. Our little one is now a ransomed spirit...this is a hope inexpressible and full of glory. As we feel our deep anguish, our hearts bleed. But as I ask, 'where is the soul whose beams gave clay all its beauty and preciousness?' I triumph. Has it not already begun, with an infant voice, the praises of our Savior? Perhaps one of the loving angels that bore home his spirit has been teaching and training him to heavenly manhood. Perhaps he has been committed to our sainted father, or to my wife's sainted grandmother, as one of their redeemed posterity, to keep and train till we can embrace him again. At any rate, he is in Christ's heavenly house and under His guardian love. Now I feel, as never before, the blessedness of the redeeming grace and divine blood, which have ransomed my poor babe from all the sin and death which he inherited through me."
Tonight's menu was simply Chicken Caesar Salad. But I wanted to try to make my own dressing. I am not one to usually buy bottled dressing and we usually just use good 'ole olive oil and vinegar. It's cheaper! But that won't do for caesar salad. So, I looked on the internet for a good dressing. It seemed that every one I found had mixed reviews (as does every thing that is reviewed on the web). But after not finding one that seemed just right, I decided to add a little from this recipe and a little from that one. What I came up with, we ended up really enjoying. It was simple and flavorful. So here it is. If you end up trying it and adding an additional ingredient or 2 to spice it up, let me know!
I broke away from the traditional Caesar Salad of just romaine lettuce and added some cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and thin strips of red cabbage.
Yesterday marked 6 months that we've been missing our little girl. At one point yesterday tears flowed as I considered the degree to which I love my little one and how much I miss her. I tried to imagine what she would be like at 7 months old.
Dave was gone a few nights last week. One of those nights, I watched a movie after I put the girls down, to pass a few hours before going to bed. In this movie a mom is separated from her baby at birth. The baby's name just happened to be Alivia. The mom lived a good portion of her life without her little one. But at the end of the story, she is reunited with her. As I sat watching this particular scene, I just cried as I considered the day when I'll be reunited with my own Alivia.
I have still been reading Randy Alcorn's book, 50 Days of Heaven. It's hard to put into words how much I have benefited by gaining a better and deeper understanding of what Heaven will be like, particularly the new Heaven. It has left me with a longing for it that I have never had before. So, after watching that movie, I imagined living life in an unblemished, sin-free world, unhindered from fears and evil that is now so real to us. And I imagined enjoying that with Alivia by my side...FOREVER.
I got this note from a dear friend this morning. Yesterday I was thinking about Alivia quite a bit and remembering what life was like with her. How I miss her. It blesses me beyond words when I continue to hear that others are praying...and remember.
"Still praying for you and I definitely talk to Ky about Alivia, he remembers her and so do we."
Thanks, Michelle, for your continued care, prayers and thoughtfulness.
While in Hawaii, I found myself reading this Psalm over and over again. It was a feast for my soul and, I think, adequately summed up the previous number of months up till that point:
Alivia Sandra Castro would have been 7 months old today. I've experienced much grace today and much joy. Here are some random thoughts...
I wanted to look at some pictures today, but seem to have lost my disk of all her pictures...my memory still is not good (hence, why I can't seem to find that disk), but I have found it's getting better! Good thing my sister has all of the pictures!
Even in the midst of missing my baby girl, God has been continuing to sustain me and help me make lots of steps forward in day to day duties. I have, once again, come to enjoy cooking. Something as simple as thinking ahead a day in advance about food and preparation was impossible for me a few months ago. However, I find myself doing it again. I'm grateful.
It seems that the girls seem to remember Alivia more and more as the days fly by. Mckenna talks about her, and even Selah loves to point out her pictures. Every night at dinner and when Mckenna goes to bed at night she prays, "God please take good care of Alivia." I love the fact that she remembers her and loved her so much. I think both girls have a greater love for babies than ever before as well. They point them out everywhere and show so such affection for the little gifts of God all around.
And Dave and I, as well, have a greater and increased love for babies and children than we have ever experienced before. They are indeed precious gifts from God.
On top of Mauna Kea we saw, what was probably the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen...
With my back to the sun, the moon was crystal clear in the sky
Here is the sun, getting ready to make it's descent. You will notice in the bottom right corner, a piece of equipment for the telescopes.
In this picture, you can vaguely see more of the equipment and telescopes that sit atop the mountain.
The sun is...
going...
going...
almost...
GONE!
A few last pictures as we descended down the mountain.
After watching the sunset on top of the mountain, we headed down to the visitor center to look through their telescopes. With the naked eye alone, the sky was amazing. This was the moon!
Read more...
One of our favorite events of the trip was driving up Mauna Kea (which means, White Mountain) and watching the sunset. On the Big Island, there are no bright lights at night. In fact, the island is quite dark after the sun goes down. This is because the 13,803 feet high summit of Mauna Kea houses the world's largest observatory for optical, infrared, and submillimeter astronomy. The telescopes on top of this mountain are massive. We took the scary ride up (it's steep and a bit treacherous) to the very top of the mountain to watch the sun set. After that, we quickly drove back down to the visitor center. You don't want to stay up there too long because it's extremely dark after the sun goes down and the road is partly unpaved and steep. After dark, there are portable telescopes at the visitor center (at the 9,000 foot level). We were able to look through these and see incredible shots of the moon and even Saturn.
I have so many pictures of Mauna Kea. I'll first share some of our drive up to the top of the mountain.
We first had to take the long trek on Saddle Rd. It's a very remote road, with no gas stations and not much sign of life. So, often car rental companies forbid you taking cars on this road because if you get stuck, run out of gas, or break down....they don't want to make the long haul to bail you out. BUT it was beautiful!!
Before long, we started our climb up the mountain. Our ears started to pop, and you could feel the temperature drop.
The sky was so clear and you could see the moon in broad daylight.
We quickly were above the clouds and the views were breathtaking!
Once on top, we got out and could feel the dramatic elevation and temperature difference. Some of us were lightheaded and had a headache. I went running up the road to take a picture and quickly was out of breath after a few yards. It was in the 70's when we left our hotel. By the time we arrived at the top of the mountain, it was in the 20's and there was snow. CRAZY! Here is Dave holding a handful of snow!
The very top of the mountain.© Blogger template Shush by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009
Back to TOP
