Charlie is talking up a storm these days.  I just wanted to share some of the cute things he has said recently.

On the topic of Best Friends

One Day:  “Holden is my best friend.”

Another Day:  Mommy is my best friend.”

I overheard him say (to himself I guess):  “Woody, Buzz, Gracie - Best Friends”

Jokes

Not sure where he has learned knock knock jokes, but he had Corey laughing all weekend with them.

Then tonight at dinner, “Knock Knock Who Is There? Birdhouse”  I say, “Birdhouse who?”  His reply, “Yes Sir”  —- followed by lots of laughter!!!  I guess he got his joke telling skills from his mama!!!

Beware of Danger

I was organizing coupons in Charlie’s room while he was playing with puzzles this afternoon —-

He yells out, “No Mama”  - I turn to look (and get on to him) and he says, “Coupons are dangerous”  I am not sure what sparked it (probably the coupons in my lips I was sorting) but he was quite worried!

Charlie, Direct Descendant of Adam

Charlie is obsessed with names of animals, people, etc.  He asks, “Whats his name?” about every puzzle piece, stranger we meet, tv character.   Problem is he remembers their names and calls me out on it when I give them a new name.

Mommy, Daddy

When we ask Charlie what our real names are - this is his reply:

• NeNe - “Dan Parmer”
• MawMaw - “Karen Parmer”
• Papa - “Frankie Cottle”
• Grammy - “Marianna Cottle”
• Chad - “Daddy Cottle”
• Me - “Mommy Cottle”

Upon meeting new people

“Woody Buzz Tiny Big”  - Charlie says this everytime we see a new person (he especially likes to say it to people in check out lines)!  I then have to interpret with “Charlie has 2 kittens.  There names are Woody and Buzz Lightyear.  We rescued them when they were tiny, but now they are big.”  We have made a lot of friends-hehe!!

I love having a Two Year Old!!!! 

I love the Mighty Magic Mini Popsicles for Charlie.  They are made with fruit juice and are bite size.  They are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.  Charlie has one every night on our walk and I don’t feel guilty giving him one.  I think 3 make a serving and he has never had more than 2 at a time.   Anyways - they really cut down on the mess and the waste (Charlie could never finish a regular popsicle).

Anyways - They are half off at Kroger, making a box of 30 - $1.84!  Kroger is the only place I have found them so far and since they are such a good deal - I wanted to share! 

Happy Summer!

Charlie and friends enjoying the Minis

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”  Romans 12:15

In one of my recent “hard to sleep” nights I was reading and trying to sort out the past week, when I read this verse and I have been thinking it over since then.  How do you balance the two?  How do you go on with your life when friends/family/even strangers world’s just got turned upside down?  How do you pray for hurting people without your own heart hurting?  How are you happy for one friend and heart broken for another?  Or is this what we are suppose to feel?  Is this what loving people feels like? 

Chad has put me on “computer restriction” before because he felt like I couldn’t take anymore heartbreak.  I think he thinks that every time I get on the computer I cry (just about true).  The computer brings so many hurting people into my living room.  I feel like if they can live it - I can pray for them and hurt along with them.   Isn’t that what we are called to do?   But I have got to find a way to do it where I can handle it a little better (for my family’s sake at least).   I have always been so tenderhearted - just ask my family.  You could count on me to cry about everything.   I thought I would have outgrown it by now!!!

My heart is breaking for Frank and Sarah and their families. I can’t seem to get it out of my mind.  I have talked with many of you and you feel the same way.   Please continue to remember this precious family in your prayers. 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:18

My New Favorite Song - Such a good reminder of God’s love for us!

Tomorrow marks a day of goodbyes for 2 families.  Both will be hard, but in different ways. 

The Nalls Family is leaving for Mozambique tomorrow.  I know they are having mixed emotions. I know they are ready for this mission God has called them on and are antsy to start serving, BUT the goodbyes are so hard.  They plan to serve as Career Missionaries to the people of Tete.  They will not be stateside for the next few years -WOW!!   Please remember them and their precious families as they set out for a life of Service.

Sweet Anna Kate Lee’s service is tomorrow morning at 10 am.  Of all goodbyes in life, this has got to be the hardest kind.  Please pray for her precious parents and their families as they say goodbye tomorrow.  Tonight’s visitation was touching.  Sarah and Frank were holding up so well and I know they were blessed by all the people who came to love on them.  Anna Kate looked like a doll.  I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life.  Holden and Caroline were blessings to the family and to those in attendance tonight as well.   (PS- Charlie and Holden were happy to see one another)

I want to thank all of you for your prayers, comments, emails, and messages.  I am going to make a copy of all of these and pass to Sarah for a keepsake.  I know she will be touched by the kindness of those who don’t know her. 

And before you go to bed - Kiss each of the precious little ones (and big ones) good night and thank God for another day of memories. 

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

 1 There is a time for everything,
       and a season for every activity under heaven:

 2 a time to be born and a time to die,
       a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
       a time to tear down and a time to build,

 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
       a time to mourn and a time to dance,

 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
       a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

 6 a time to search and a time to give up,
       a time to keep and a time to throw away,

 7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
       a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 8 a time to love and a time to hate,
       a time for war and a time for peace.

I just got the call that Anna Kate did not make it through her surgery.  I am so sad.  Chad and I are at a loss for words, but I wanted to let all my faithful prayer warriors know.  Please be in prayer for her parents Frank and Sarah and their families. 

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

 

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  2 Corinthians 4:16

 

This morning at 10:30 Little Anna Kate will go for a biopsy of the tumor on her brain.  They will rush the biopsy to the lab and decide what to do next (this should take about 30 minutes).  The doctors wil remove the tumor if possible and if not they will develop a plan to shrink the mass.

Please, please pray.  What a precious child she is to our Father and we trust she is in His hands.  Pray for the doctors and nurses during the surgery.  Pray for strength for Anna Kate (she is so tiny) as she goes through this draining surgery.  Pray for strength, comfort, and peace for her family as they wait this morning.  PRAY for a MIRACLE!

I will update as I hear anything.  I am so appreciative to those of you who are praying for this stranger.  God is listening . . .

Keep Praying friends for Little Anna Kate.  What a fighter she is!  They finally did the MRI and found a tumor on the left side of her brain.  They think she was probably born with it (she is just a month old).  They are going to let her rest tomorrow and do the biopsy Friday.  They will immediately send the biopsy to radiology to determine what to do next.  If possible they will operate then to remove the tumor.  If not they will get a game plan for shrinking the tumor.  Please, please pray!  As a mother my heart is heavy beyond words for this family.  They are living every mother’s worse nightmare on top of the sleep deprivation/hormones from having twin newborns. 

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.   Hebrews 4:14-16 the Message

I need all of my prayer warriors to start praying.  We have a family friend whose newborn has a mass on her brain.  Anna Kate Lee is at Egelston where they have put a shunt in to relieve pressure.  She had several seizures during the night and even stopped breathing once.  Please pray for Anna Kate, her twin sister Caroline, big brother Holden (he’s not even 2 yet), and her parents Frank and Sarah (emerson) Lee.  Pray for wisdom and discernment for the medical team as well.  I will keep you updated as I hear  . . .

Me holding Anna Kate with Sarah and Caroline at the 4th of July Parade

Chad and I took Charlie to the Doctor today.  He has had an enlarged lymph node for several months.  At his 2 year check up in the Spring, the Doctor wasn’t worried about it, but she said to watch it for growth and firmness and to come back if it wasn’t gone in several months.  Well it hasn’t grown, but it is still there so we wanted to get it checked out.  The Doctor today said she couldn’t see anything that gave her concern, but wanted to do a strep test - just to be sure — and sure enough he had strep throat.  I’ll have to say it is the first time I have ever been thankful for Strep Throat, but it sure beat the alternatives (plus Charlie feels great)!!!