Happy Birthday!

Yesterday 8/5 was Sonnys 3rd Birthday. My baby is growing up! I felt bad because I had to work, day 3 of 4, so I couldn't spend all day with him. But he did come sleep with me for a while, so I didn't feel as bad. I think he enjoys his naps with me. Joey made steak for dinner because it is one of Sonnys favorite meals. We didn't give him a whole steak, we just gave him small peices of ours. And I can tell that some of you are rolling your eyes and laughing at me, but IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAY! We would have given him a whole steak if we didn't think it would make him sick. We didn't really have any gifts for him, just some snacks and steak. He also broke one of his toys, he tore the bell off of it. So I attached the bell to one of his straws, he was in heaven. He LOVED it! I can't wait to be off on Thursday, we can spend some nice quality time together! I do feel obligated to say I am equally excited to be off so I can spend some nice quality time with my husbano! I really start to miss him after working 4 in a row. And I have really been tired these last couple days. It has felt like I am on my 4th when I am only on my 2nd or 3rd. But I will survive.

Tonight I showed Amanda W. the video about Eliot Mooney. Most of you know how much I love that baby and his family. I have never met them but I feel so close to them just because I have read every entry of thier blog. Eliot was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 at 30 weeks gestation. When he was born the doctors said they didn't think he would live very long, if at all after birth. Well he did, he lived for 99 days and every day they celebrated a birthday. When I read the blog it fills me with hope. It makes me realize how much little stuff doesn't matter and that some people are just simply amazing. Those are the only words that I can find to describe the Mooney family- Simply Amazing. Their blog is http://www.ninetynineballoons.com/. If you want a whole lot of tears, laughter and hope- this is the blog you should read. I want to share with you one of the entrys that really tugged at my heart strings. Matt Mooney is the author and he is one of the best writers I have ever seen.

Eliot passed away on 10/26/06. This entry was written on 12/13/06. Tell me what you think.
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For the first time that I am aware of, I did that which I had asked for the previous week. I tell you just so you know, but also in the event that you prayed for such. The memory of Eliot brought first a smile. May more of the same come.

Genesis 32 recounts an unusual story. A heavenly WrestleMania, if you will:

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” … Then he blessed Jacob there.

Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.

This story, strangely, was the first scripture that came to my mind upon finding out about Eliot’s diagnosis. I would love to insert some great epic reason for why that was the case, but the truth is- I had no idea why.

I assume from the story that this “man” is some sort of heavenly being. Particularly what sort of being is not important to me just now.

Here’s what I do see. Jacob got his blessing. He wanted it, asked for it, fought for it, and received it. But that is not all that he got.

Jacob left this encounter with a limp. Not a sermon often preached. However, Jacob’s story of blessing could not be told without the follow-up that he was never able to walk right again. That’s the funny thing about God, the blessing doesn’t always come as we expected and although we receive the blessing, we're left to limp along.

Eliot was a blessing. We’ll never be all right without him. But he was well worth the limp.
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I sometimes get a little nervous because I am so drawn to stories similar to these. I can't help but wonder if this is God preparing me for a child with a deadly genetic condition. But as Joey says "You can't worry about that, all you can do is hope for the best. If thats what is planned, we can't do anything about it". Joey is also very resistant to the thought of anything being wrong with any of our children. (If we ever get pregnant :)