Hope...is a good thing

Sunday morning (10:30am), January 5th Catherine will share Battley's testimony of hope at our church FBCJ Madison Campus.  Please come or tell someone you know if they might want to hear a condensed story of Battley's life and our hope for her.

Because I'm a whimp when it comes to speaking, Catherine is stepping up Sunday.  I've recently started thinking about hope and what I might say from a man's perspective if speaking (on-stage).

Prison movies are "movies for guys who like movies".  Escape From Alcatraz, Cool Hand Luke and Shawshank Redemption are some of my favorites.  Most men have probably seen Shawshank Redemption as it airs on TNT at least once every two months.  BTW it was nominated for seven academy awards.

When Catherine and I discovered our unborn daughter had this chromsonal abnormaity, incompatible with life, we needed hope.  However sometimes the statistics and even doctors offered little hope.  It's like we were surrounded by stone walls and Red was telling us, "Hope is a dangerous thing. It will drive you insane".

Well we had hope and found more hope.  Much of what Battley has endured is miraculous and is a direct answer to prayer.

Fast foward to the day we discovered Battley was not in heart failure.  Can you remember Red reading Andy's letter where he says "Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.  And no good thing ever dies"?

Well, when Andy finally greets Red on the beach in Mexico...this is how I feel everyday when I come home from work and scoop up Battley into my arms.

update

We are still here!  It's pretty hard to find time to blog these days.  Mr JM is keeping me on my toes!  I just wanted to share a few exciting things that have been going on.

Battley is doing very well with her therapy.  She is actively playing with toys now.  This is something that is huge for her.  She wasn't interested in even looking at toys when we started therapy in Feb.

She is also doing lots vocally now.  For example: if I say "I love you" she will make a 3 syllable sound back to me.  Last week she actually said "I LOVE YOU" to me and to my mom.  I didn't get it on video, but I'm working on it.  She has also done a few other signs...we work on these daily.

The BIG news here is that Battley was accepted to the Little Light House.  This is the school we had her on a waiting list for.  We went for an evaluation last week and are praying about it.  Please help us pray for wisdom to know if this is the right time for her.  We have a week to decide.  She would start Jan 7th if she goes!

C

Oh and we didn't do a Christmas card this year so that is why I posted a pic of all 3 kiddos.  It was just too much this year.

Merry Christmas 2013

JM

Look who has his picture added to the blog now!

C

Time Flies!

JM is already 1 month old!  I have no idea how that happened!  It's busy here so I probably only have a minute or two while both are napping!

These 2 are totally in love!  This pic was from last night.  

JM: 11lb-4oz

B: 14lb-4oz

B and I do her exercises/therapy during the day when daddy and bro are away.  Since it's just me, it's hard to hold her up and take a pic.  One day we got H to take a pic while she was sitting up all by herself for a few seconds.  This gal totally amazes me.

And just to get in one of H, here are H and B when they got home from church...I have strong feelings about taking B to church, but that post will have to wait for another day.

C