Blessings and Prayers

 This time of the year is so crazy so this will be short and sweet...

For so many years my heart would break as I watched kids participate in all of the fun activities that are a part of growing up as Alex missed out while sick in the hospital or not able because of his health...imagine not going to camp or having sleepovers or prom or homecoming or graduation. I could go on and on. He missed it all. This first semester of school has been the answer to so many prayers, not the least of which was that I prayed Alex would make amazing friends. Friends who could see past the meds and the ostomy and the tubes and just see Alex for the fun-living amazing young man he is. That prayer has been answered tenfold. This Mom's heart is so full of joy as I receive snippets of the fun he is having and selfies from school. 

My Ms. Moo keeps me on my toes... between school, dance, art, children's choir and the barn we are constantly on the go! She is at an age where I really enjoy my time with her. She is kind, helpful and fun. I love watching her go after what she loves and push through so much pain and feeling bad and anxiety to just live her best life. This week she got to ride a horse she has been asking to ride for several months. She was really happy, and it went so well that we decided to let her ride this horse once a week. I love watching how far she has come in her riding and how well she can read the horses and adapt. She is most herself at the barn with her horses and her people. The "family" we have created see her true personality in a way that few do. I love that she knows she is loved and trusts them enough to just be herself. What a gift! And her connection with the horses is magical. The horses sense how much she loves them, and they appreciate her quiet demeanor and soft touch, and they respond to her in a way that is different. We jokingly call her the horse whisperer, but it isn't far from the truth. As was the case with Alex, while the kid's health issues have caused us to do things a little differently, I am forever grateful that we have been "forced" into a life that demands togetherness and I get to witness all the special moments in my kids' lives. 

Moo taking care of her best girl!

Maddy and Kenny

Moo and Cooper with their World Champion jacket!

While we are choosing to focus on all the blessings in our life, we could use some prayers as well. Maddy is currently sick with a fever. We could also use some prayers as our "old lady" Mia (our yellow lab) was at the vet on Wednesday. She has some stuff going on. We will follow up in a few weeks. We are praying it is just an infection as we can't bear the thought of another loss.

Thank you for being a part of our lives.

Ali