This girl is totally my kid...

I was just getting Evie dressed (yes, at 1 PM. I know, I am the mother of the year). I was having a hard time getting her jeans buttoned over her gi-normous cloth diaper booty. So I said, "Evie, you're too chubby."

She responded, "Yeah. Suck it in."

I've trained her well. :)

Evie's first fat lip and some cute videos...

Evie and I were playing in the living room tonight. She was running across the room, crashing into the couch, giggling hysterically, running back to me, giggling hysterically, etc. etc. And it's funny... even as she was doing it, and even as I was laughing at her silliness, I could *distinctly* hear Denise Goodale's (my mom) voice in my head: "It will only end in tears." (This was her mantra in my formative years.)

And it did, when Evie tripped on the rug on her way back to me and bashed her face against my knee. Lots of tears, lots of "real" blood, and one decidedly adorable fat lip.



Evie likes to remind me often, just in case I would be inclined toward forgetfulness:



I'm not sure I could say the same thing about myself, but I am pretty sure Evie is smarter than a fifth-grader (or at least smarter than your average 17-month-old). :)

Superstar!

Yesterday, Evie and I went to the Hands-on-House, a super fun children's museum a few miles away from us. We have a family membership, so we go fairly often. It was almost empty yesterday, which is perhaps why she had the courage to dress up like a giraffe (with kitty cat face paint) and use the pretend microphone to sing her ABC's on the little stage. She's getting to the age where she KNOWS she's a little ham, and she loves to "work the crowd". I sure do love that girl.

Pray for Hannah

Hello bloggy world! I interrupt my state of blog-o-sphere silence to bring you the following:

This story has been heavy on my heart lately, so I thought I would ask for your prayers for this sweet girly. Hannah Garman is a four-year-old in our town. She is also the niece of some of our friends. Christine, Hannah's mom, was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was pregnant with Hannah. She passed away two years ago. About a month ago, Hannah was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an extremely rare-- and terminal-- form of brain cancer. Even with aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Hannah is not expected to live to see next Christmas.

The outpouring from our community has been tremendous. Hannah thought it would be fun to see how many cards and letters she could get in the mail. Yesterday alone, she got more than 600. Tonight, several of the local emergency management agencies banded together to give Hannah her own "card parade". I counted more than 100 police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, etc. all en route to drop off a special delivery of cards to Hannah. As Evie and I stood on the hill beside our house and watched them drive by, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed... yes, with grief for this incredible family... but also with hope. We're in political and economic times when it is hard to see past ourselves. But the suffering of a child is a pain that is universally felt; cause I am pretty sure-- as much as we try not to-- it's not too hard to imagine our own children in such circumstances.

It is my prayer that this outpouring will result in more than just bouts of goodwill and warm wishes. The entire community is riveted on this family, the media has picked up this story... it is my prayer that the Lord will move graciously and powerfully on behalf of sweet Hannah. That as this town watches, they will see the power of our God move mightily. That when doctors and medicine have spoken "death", we will hear Jesus speak "life". Oh God, have mercy.

If you would like to send a note to Hannah, they can be mailed to:

Hannah Garman
259 N. Reading Road
Ephrata, PA 17522

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