when I was 2…

Olivia likes to refer to things in the distant past as happening, “when I was 2.”  She used to do lots of things she can clearly remember now… “when I was 2.”

A few weeks ago, we were at Clint and Marianne’s for the first extended Orr Family reunion we’ve had since I’ve been an Orr.  I think someone said it was the first in 30 years.  Anyway, one of the fun things we did was take a walk in the family cemetery.  Several of us scattered around the cemetery, reading dates and names of Orrs who had lived and died; some of them I knew, most I didn’t.   Olivia skipped around the headstones, the hot sun on her blonde head, stopping every now and again to stare at the stones with their etching, and ask me a question.  As we stood in front of one that reported the death date as 1843, or something close to that, she said, “That was the one I knew when I was 2.”  She said it very firmly – as though she knew without a doubt it was the truth.  It made me laugh.

I’ve been reading Charlotte’s Web to her and the twins.  We’re at the part where the old sheep just told Wilbur that the farmer is fattening him up for Christmas Dinner – and Wilbur is horrified, of course, and runs around squealing and crying.  So yesterday, Sophia asked me why people want to eat pigs for Christmas.  Why not some other kind of animal?  Why not the goose?  I told the girls that some people do in fact eat goose for Christmas Dinner (remembering a funny story about a friend’s stolen Christmas goose).  Olivia piped up and said, “I did.  I had goose when I was 2.”

She definitely did a lot of things when she was 2.

Most of them she still remembers.

 

Her 2nd birthday.  Very.. girl in the world but not of the world…

other things she did when she was 2..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gratitude

  It seems like we are regularly given opportunities to teach the kids about gratitude.  This past week and a half it has been about the air conditioning, or lack of it, in this very hot and humid weather.  After the first day, when we reminded them that God has provided a clean, safe, beautiful home for us even if the AC is acting up, no one murmured a word of complaint.  We told them that some people will never experience the luxury of AC – and endure much hotter temps than this.  We only have to endure it for a very short time.  During family prayers, we’ve heard a lot of words of thanks for giving them this “trial” of no AC. 

We’ve talked about trials often – especially this last year as the kids are getting older and it becomes more real for them.  Our Spurgeon devotions have been very helpful in this way.  Here is an excerpt from today’s:

“Changing circumstances often causes the anxious believer to ask, “Why is this happening to me?”….Is this part of God’s plan for me?  Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven?  Yes, it is even so.  These trials are for the testing and strengthening of your faith- they are waves that wash you further upon the rock- they are winds that steer your ship more quickly toward the desired haven.  Do not think, believer, that your sorrows are out of God’s plan;  they are necessary parts of it.  Learn, then, to “count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds.”  James 1:2”

 

We had been talking about place settings for our etiquette time today.  The kids each took turns setting a proper place setting with fork, knife, spoon, napkin, and plate.  So after reading the devotion above, the Lord inspired me:  I picked up the plate, handed it to Noah, and told the children that this is what God does for each of us.  He gives us a plate – filled with all manner of things – things desirable to us, and things that seem not so desirable.  And no matter what is on it, we should accept the plate eagerly, with a thankful heart, knowing He gives it to us for our good and His glory. 

When you are given a plate with something unexpected, maybe even something you really didn’t think you needed (or wanted), ask God to help you to “Consider it all joy…”  and take the plate with a heart of gratitude. It is being given to you by One Who loves you and takes care of you.

Fun on the Fourth

  Our parade wagon – bedecked with bunting..

Some of the girls and their friends waiting to follow behind the wagon on their decorated bikes – A couple of dads walked/jogged behind them.

 

  Waiting to get the show, er I mean, parade on the road..

 

After the parade, we went to Mom and Dad’s for the day.  Their neighbors kindly invited us down to swim since they were out of town.  We had FUN!!

  Olivia    Sophia               

 

 

                          Isabella Luke

 

Noah  Kate Alix

 

Cousins

Happy 4th!!

Hope you all have a wonderful, fun-filled day!  We’re going to the parade, actually riding bikes and in the wagon for our church in the parade – so we’re all pretty excited about that.  Then a day of fun with all the cousins and Grandma and Grandpa!  Lots of good food and we’ll be swimming at Mom and Dad’s generous neighbor’s beautiful pool today!  The kids are all ecstatic.

I’ll post pictures soon!

praying for Sophia

A friend recently asked me about Sophia and how she is doing – especially since that blue episode.  I was glad she asked, and I realized others might also be wondering how Sophia has been.  So here is a little update, a copy of what I sent my friend. 

You are so kind to ask about her;  thank you. Sophia is doing well.  She hasn't had another blue episode, praise God.  She had an appointment this past Monday with her pulmonologist - a regularly scheduled visit.  After she did her blowing tests, I talked with the doctor about them.  They measure how much air she is able to push through her lung in a big breath.  You may already know that the left lung has 2 lobes, while the right lung has 3.  Since her right lung is gone, the tests reflect the air going through the left lung's two lobes.  The test measures the ability in the upper lobe - which has larger, thicker bronchioles, and then the lower lobe, which consists of 23 "generations" of smaller, skinnier branches.  The 2 numbers for Sophia's upper lobe are in the 50's and 70's, while the lower ones are in the 30's.  The doctor's goal is to have all the numbers in the 80's, but she said she's not sure that is possible.  A normal child with 2 lungs would have all four numbers around 125-130. 

It really brought home to us how compromised she is on a day-to-day basis, as far as her ability to breathe is concerned.  In fact, when she had a virus last month, her lower numbers were 22.  But, God has really made her such a strong little girl in so many other aspects.  She is very skinny- but all muscle!  The girl will most likely never need to say no to chocolate chips.  :)

After the dr. visit, thinking about the numbers and about Sophia made me want to get down on my knees and thank God - for giving her to us, for taking care of her so well, for His kindness to her.  She doesn't know how different her "numbers" are - that she has to work so much harder to breathe.  She's just living life - and very happily at that!

But it does give us a good picture of how important it is to pray for her continually - and reminds us of how thankful we are when other people pray for her, too.  Thank you!

If you are one who has faithfully prayed for Sophia… Thank you.  I really can’t tell you how much we appreciate it.