Clay . Kimberly . Olivia . Elijah

Cutest Cupid Ever

2012-02-13T16:41:00.007-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sweet Smile

Sweet Cheeks!

I have the power to do what with this?!

It's pink.

Mr. February...Elijah Lee

Suffering Well

2012-02-12T17:22:00.004-06:00

Many of you know what's been going on with Robyn and Bryan and their babies, Asher and Titus. This morning, Robyn and Bryan came to church (it had been a long time since they were able to do that because of being on bed rest, etc.). Watching these two yesterday at Titus' funeral and then again this morning just blew me away. I mean, I knew they were strong, but really? They are the perfect portrayal of "suffering well."

Paul says in Philippians 3 that "⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

With so much hurt in this world, it's so easy to slip into that selfish mindset of "Why?" forgetting that we are such a small piece of the larger puzzle. Our pastor told us about the analogy of the stain-glass window. We have our noses pressed up to it and can vaguely see the joyful, lighter colors and the gloomier, darker colors but only when we step back to see the entire design can we truly appreciate how God uses ALL of the colors and moods to create a beautiful picture that glorifies Him.

My sister-in-law, Erin, who is in Zambia wrote this today:

God took Emma today. Emma was 14 years old. She was born with aids and she had tb. She had ensiphylitis and meningitis. She was so, so so sick. She was beautiful and had so much personality...She loved for me to sing the lord is my shepherd to her. Her sponsors in the states loved her very deeply and when they saw her this summer they carried her little frail body to participate in the activities that the other kids were doing. They prayed fervently for her healing.
A friend reminded to me tonight that Emma did not die alone. She had a voice and god heard her cry of help and used family legacy to give her a childhood she would never have had. He took her, an orphan, and gave her a family. 100 children and 20 mommies who love her deeply. she was loved and she loved them. My Ellie prayed for her every night when we got back to zambia and saw how sick she was...Her sweet precious little body is no longer broken. She is with her saviour. I got to the hospital not long after she passed. It was awful, tragic and painful. I cant really put into words yet what it was like. That place is AWFUL. There is a stinch that you never forget. It emanates death. The realities of a life in a third world country being ravaged by aids and extreme poverty hit you hard in the gut. We were in the parking lot sending the great aunt home and talking to our family legacy zambian staff and There were two other women who ran out wailing. They had lost someone and were crying out in their native language why me, why is this happening to us? When Emma was in the picu, children were dying everyday. There would be beds filled and then emptied, not with healing, but death. We got there and her auntie was weeping. We gathered around her and held her and cried. I was overcome even more for the other moms and aunties that were there. You could see their eyes wondering if death was coming for them next. Her little body was still warm. But she was at peace and she wasn't begging me to take her home and to not leave her there. She was ready to go home... He did. I am heart broken. And I am so beyond thankful that she is home with her shepherd. I am so sad that the effects of this sinful world ravaged her precious body. My heart is so heavy tonight and i can't keep from crying. My god brings restoration. That is the phrase that keeps coming to my mind. God has restored her body, she is whole. She died with silver toe nail polish on her toes and i imagine she is dancing on them now, because she can.

I know that God is affectionately embracing sweet Emma and baby Titus. I had this beautiful picture in my mind right when Titus died that God was just sweetly holding his little body and giving him tons of kisses. Like Erin said, our God is a God of restoration. He is good and does good, even though we only see the smallest pieces of the stain-glass window. Life is hard and at times, it really sucks! However, I have to constantly remind myself in days like today (reading Erin's email and mourning the death of baby Titus) to rest in God's providence and know that He is bigger. He is better. He has a beautiful plan. He loves us more than we can even imagine. These are the truths that I hold onto.

So let hope rise,
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light,
And every eye will see
Jesus, our God,
Great and mighty to be praised.

God of all days,
Glorious in all of Your ways.
Your majesty, the wonder and grace,
In the light of Your name.

With everything,
With everything,
We will shout for your glory.

With everything,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.

*This is my new fave song (#1 on my playlist that's playing now): With Everything by Hillsong. We sang it at church this morning:)

God's Newest Angel

2012-02-03T02:15:00.000-06:00

Just got home from the hospital seeing Robyn and Bryan and Baby Titus. Please read below and continue to pray for Baby Asher and this sweet couple! This was one of the hardest things that I've ever witnessed in my life...holding a precious newborn baby who has already gone to see our Lord...seeing Robyn and Bryan weep over this baby but in the same breath, sing praises that he is being held by God right now...their faith and super-human like strength are remarkable! Thank you so much for your continued prayers:)

Bryan said...

Thank you for all of your prayers. Titus Bauer Adams (Baby A) went home to be with the Lord shortly after he was born. He put up a major fight but his lungs weren't developed enough to make it. Asher Mark Adams (Baby B) is putting up a major fight and breathing on his own. He is 1lb 2 oz. but he is doing well right now. Robyn is still in the recovery room and trying to wake up but she's in a lot of pain. Please pray for her heart as we tell her about Titus. Please also pray that Asher continues to do well and survives. Please pray against any infection or birth defects. He has a long road ahead of him but he is a fighter and we believe that he will make it. Thank you again for all of your prayers. Our hearts are breaking right now but we appreciate all of your love and prayers. This is not the outcome we believed would happen but we know that God has a plan and that He is good!

Breathing in God's Grace

2012-01-20T16:05:00.011-06:00

2012. A New Year. More time given to us from God.

This never fails to baffle me. Our pastor always has us stop everything we're doing and just listen to our breathing. The only reason why we are alive right now is because God wills it. He is the one who tells our hearts to pump and our lungs to fill with air. Everyday is another day of things to do, errands to run, meals to make, the list goes on; but I rarely stop and just praise God for allowing me to breathe and allowing me to have one more day with my family and friends.

This has become so much more evident to me through the trial that Robyn and Bryan Adams are going through. Robyn's on strict hospital bed rest at 21 weeks with her twin boys holding on like the little warriors that they are. One has little to no fluid in his sac. We've affectionately been calling him Jack Bauer because he has moved across the cervix as if to block it so he and his brother will not get out until they are good and ready! Everyday Robyn and Bryan and thankful for one more day with their boys and by God's awesome, unimaginable mercy, they have had almost 3 weeks with them since she had gone into preterm labor.

This verse below has become very real to me, because not only is every one of our breaths given to us by God but also our faith:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.~Colossians 1:9-12

I am honored and so thankful that God has given me another day to see these faces:

and yes even this one (but just barely!)...

Photo Card

2011-11-16T08:05:00.001-06:00

Joy Love Family Christmas

Create personalized Christmas cards. at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

The Dallas World Aquarium..so fun! :)

2010-03-16T22:48:00.005-05:00

March 2010

2010-01-27T10:39:00.006-06:00

She's officially walking! Yay! :)

Piano Piggies :)

Whew....

2010-01-05T22:18:00.013-06:00

Whew...
Having Olivia's birthday 2 days after Christmas is going to be tough! Not necessarily stressful but just a lot of back-to-back things on the agenda...however, we survived and I can't believe that Clay and I are parents of a one year old!! She has grown up so fast..today, she picked up her baby doll and said, "Ba-ee." So cute! I posted some videos below so you can see what a big girl she is. Enjoy! :) Here are some pics from and birthday also!

Olivia says, "Too much excitement..I'm all done!"

Check ME out

2010-01-05T21:32:00.001-06:00

Click here to view this video

Olivia's New Red Rocking Horse

2010-01-05T21:31:00.001-06:00

Click here to view this video

Mmmmmm...

2010-01-05T21:30:00.001-06:00

Click here to view this video

september2009 (167).avi

2009-10-28T22:24:00.001-05:00

Click here to view this video

She's everything I didn't know I needed

2009-10-25T18:29:00.013-05:00

A good friend of mine was telling me about her 1 mth old son and mentioned that he's everything she didn't know she needed. This brought me to tears because I realized how true that is. Clay and I are always asking ourselves what we did before Olivia was here and thinking about how much more lovely our life is now that she's in it. The fact that God has given her to me to let me be her mother and to let Clay be her dad reflects how much He loves me. I am so grateful for everything that He has blessed me with and know that if I died tomorrow, I have known what overpowering joy and love feels like. This is such a good feeling! My prayer this week is that I can be pleasing to God the way Olivia and Clay are pleasing to me! Here are some recent pics!

Olivia's "firsts" this month

2009-08-21T11:57:00.012-05:00

First Shopping Cart Ride as a big girl!

First Cheerios

First Hand-holding Experience with our neighbor, Samuel

First Highchair Experience

and lots of bubble blowing and scooting!:)

The latest...

2009-08-13T10:53:00.018-05:00

Well, I know I should be better about posting, heck..I'm a stay at home mom now and should have lots of time on my hands, right? Somehow, my days are still getting filled up! I have decided I should by stock in laundry detergent seeing as how often I use it! My most enlightening thought as a mom...whoah, if I love Olivia this much, I can't even fathom how much God loves us!

Anyway, the latest is that Clay has been working his tush off between the fire station and the ER at Lewisville Hospital. I'm about to start my Research class at TWU here in a few weeks. Olivia is growing at an enormously fast rate which scares me to death! Can't believe she's almost 8 mths... Here are some recent pics! (Hope there's enough for you!)

Precious Girl:)

2009-04-24T16:54:00.007-05:00

4 Month Update

2009-04-14T09:40:00.016-05:00

This just keeps getting better and better! Olivia has grown to be such a smiley, hilarious little girl and her daddy and I are loving every minute of it. Here are some new pics:

Welcome Olivia Michelle!

2009-01-05T13:06:00.014-06:00

Our sweet Jesus has given us a baby girl and Clay and I couldn't be more thrilled! Olivia Michelle Lee arrived December 27th at 12:39am. She weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz. and was 19 in. long. Praise God the delivery went very smoothly! I started having consistent contractions on Dec. 25th, but stubborn as I am, refused to go to the hospital on Christmas day. Clay finally made me go the next day and when we arrived at Dallas Presby at 2pm, I was already at 3cm. After they broke my water, I jumped to a 6 and wasn't to a 10 until 10pm. My dad arrived from California just in time so that I could see him before Olivia was born. I was the only one, besides my best friend Sara, that thought I was definitely having a boy and was so surprised to see she was a girl, I burst into tears! Mommy's girl

Olivia LOVES Mercy!

Wee! Swinging into the New Year!!!

Daddy's New Flame

Precious baby girl

All cozied up

Sweet Chub

We are so blessed to have this little healthy baby girl who not only is a great eater, but a great sleeper as well! Nursing is going as smooth as it can at this point and Clay and I are loving every second of being a mommy and daddy. Please continue to pray for this transition in our lives and praise God for his truly abundant blessings that we have received in Olivia.

Getting Ready for Baby

2008-12-20T09:08:00.003-06:00

Wow! I'm actually able to breathe again and get back to joining civilization. It's been a long time since I've posted partly due to finishing my semester at TWU, teaching my 2nd graders, and getting all of our stuff out of storage and into our new house (see praise to the left).

I'm now 38 weeks pregnant with 2 more wks until my due date...ah! We still have no idea if it's a boy or a girl...although Clay finally admitted he thinks it's a girl. This conflicts with me thinking it's a boy, so who knows??! I'm going to the dr. every week and the past two weeks I've been 90% effaced and a half cm dilated. The baby is healthy (thank you, Lord) and is weighing a little over 6 lbs. and measuring 19 in. My dr. predicts we'll probably have him/her right after Christmas. I've been feeling great besides the "alien-like" moving going on inside my stomach and I've been super anxious to meet this little baby.

Please pray that whenever I go into labor (preferably when Clay is not on shift at the firestation- although my sister and mom have been staying with me then), that God have his hand on this little baby and keep both of us healthy and somewhat calm.

Clay and my sister are going to do the best they can on getting the word out whenever it happens so keep praying and stay posted.

Love,
Mommy-to-be

Almost to my 3rd Trimester :)

2008-10-05T11:48:00.000-05:00

Wow! I'm almost in my 3rd trimester and definitely starting to feel the discomfort of being pregnant. I'm exhausted and out of breath a lot! This baby is kicking non-stop, day and night. Here are some pics that Clay took of me this week at 26 wks pregnant (6 1/2 mths). The monumental moment that we are still waiting for is the morning I wake up and my belly button has popped out! It seems like it's going to happen anyday now! :)

Big Belly!

2008-10-05T11:46:00.001-05:00

19 wk Sonogram Video

2008-08-16T15:52:00.003-05:00

Just click the play button to see Baby Lee squirming around! :)

Our "Babymoon" in Jamaica

2008-08-16T15:27:00.007-05:00

Clay and I wanted to go on a trip just the two of us before the baby gets here so we went to Jamaica for a week! Here are some pics!

The Baby Bump!

My handsome husband

Yumm.....drinking fresh coconut milk

Our last night in Jamaica

Baby News

2008-07-22T16:21:00.000-05:00

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." ~Psalm 139:13

Clay and I are so excited to be expecting our first baby. We count this as a huge blessing considering the trials we've been through getting to this point. Our baby is due in early January and we are waiting to find out if it's a boy or a girl. Which one do you think it will be? Take our poll on the left!

Here's our 12 week and 15 week sonogram pictures of Baby Lee.

15 Weeks: Beautiful Baby

12 Weeks: Wow!