The Sweetest Week

Our week has been quite fun and also emotionally taxing.  We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the sweetness of Jesus and the way He has used so many of you to build us up, encourage us and come right along side us.  I have sobbed no less than 5 million times this week from pure thankfulness.  Every day it’s somebody new or some group of people reaching out to us in the kindest of ways.  We have received donations for Everett’s medical bills, gift cards, dinners, sweet gifts, people sharing his story and asking other’s to pray with us and even the young lady working at an arcade gave Everett a stuffed rainbow donkey piñata he was toting around.  Every night I sit on the couch in exhaustion and thankfulness.  I hope I never ever get over the wonder and goodness of God.

We have lived it quite up this week.  My best friend Ashley flew in from Florida to meet Everett and when Ashley comes to town it’s like a party for the kids.  Right before she arrived Hudson said, “I like Ms. Ashley.  She’s the one who first introduced me to an arcade.”  And that about sums fun Ms. Ashley up.  Hahahaha.  At the wave pool she bought a round of icees for everyone.  She went to Target and bought all the fun snacks, drinks and treats to have at the house for the kids.  She took them to Dave & Buster’s to play games and cash in on prizes.  She even did yoga with them in the morning and activities while I ran errands.

She has cleaned our house…even our bathroom…gasp…washed dishes, help feed kids, given kisses & hugs, curled Harper’s hair, swept the floor and cried right along side me every time I break down.  Maybe my favorite moment was when the young lady at Dave & Buster’s so kindly gave Shuai the rainbow stuffed donkey piñata…which BTW was like 800 tickets…Ashley cried.  And then I cried too.  We told the lady thank you about 20 times and cried.  She grabbed my hand and said she was thrilled to do it.  Ashley was just as amazed as me.

Sidenote:  He’s currently sleeping with the rainbow piñata donkey.

We’ve had dinner with Andy & Becky this week.  They have been such an amazingly sweet source of encouragement to us and Shuai.  He is so comfortable with them and my heart swoons as they speak mandarin to him.  I know hearing his first language is such a comfort.  There was pizza and salad and watermelon and rice krispy treats and fun drinks.  At the end of the night I just breathed easier.

PS:  Hudson prepared “delicious play-doh turds” for our dinner.  We are a classy bunch indeed.

The wave pool was a must for us…as always.  My other friend Ashley is in management there and we love getting to see her every time we go.  I watched as she scooped Everett up in her arms and carried him all the way out to our car when we left.  It was the sweetest.  Jen & Campbell also joined us and then we found our friend Brea and her kiddos there as well and instantly it was a party.  Everyone has just lifted our spirits straight upward this week.

We hit up our dentist office again.  I actually did not cry in the dentist office this time, but had a full blown sob in our car.  You guys, it was scary looking.  I know it was because I caught a glimpse of my face in the visor mirror.  Alas.  Harper and Hudson both got stick on mustaches from the dentist and I laugh every time I look at these pictures.  Hudson totally looks like a cleaned up Hulk Hogan.

We took a trip to Joanns with a gift card to purchase fidget spinners, but they we’re out.  Instead we bought candy, a butterfly wind chime craft and a stuffed dog.  Our purchases did not extend past the checkout line goodies which lured us in.  We are why that area is stocked full of treats and tchotchkes…we are totally their target audience…and we fully bought in this time.

Ashley took all the kids to Dave & Busters.  I went to keep eyes on Amon and Everett…our littlest had a visit.  They walked in and just oohed and awed.  They played games galore.  They ran here and there and then there and here.  Ashley showed them all the ropes and handed out game cards like she was the boss.  Then they cashed in on all those wondrous prizes with their tickets.

And our oh so talented and sweet photographer Cheyenne captured our family yet again.  We were suppose to have photos with Cheyenne in July, but it’s likely Everett and I will still be in Ann Arbor plus I honestly don’t want to look back with regret if something does, God forbid, go wrong.  Cheyenne is crazy busy and works so hard and has the sweetest family of her own, but she willingly obliged to come photograph us asap and I could not be more thankful.

After taking our pictures we hugged and cried.  She is so much more than a photographer and she has been taking our pictures since Harper was 4!  She sent me some pictures the same night and tag lined them “Be prepared to cry your eyes out!!!!”  And she could not have been more right.

Extra bonus for our week:  Our coneflowers are in full bloom and they are my favorite.  And we found out Shuai and his best friend’s home are going to let the boys facetime with each other before Shuai’s surgery.  Brooke and me have sobbed over this.  I stood in our laundry room as I listened to Brooke’s message and just cried my ever loving eyes out.  It’s too too much.  Only God does this kind of thing and handles these details.

When I sit down and actually think about boarding that plane Monday I want to vomit.  It makes my stomach just churn, but then I think through these past few days and remember Who holds us all.  He is such a good Father.  He has blown us away over and over again.  He has reminded us ever so tenderly and sweetly and lovingly of His grand care.

Now for the weekend.  Movie night and celebrating Everett’s bestie and watching them see each other for the first time in 3 months.  I can’t think of a better weekend to kick this next week off with. Thank you again and again for praying for Everett.  I hope so much you know how genuine those words are.