March 15, 2014 -- Hopeism

The other day, while driving the girls to school one morning, this conversation occurred. . .

Hope:  "Mom, what do you think I'll be when I grow up?"

Mom:  "I don't know honey, but I sure can't wait to see what God has planned for your life!"

Hope:  "I sure hope that He wants me to be an author and an illustrator!"

Mom:  "That would be fan-tas-tic!!!"


I still remember clearly asking Hope at 4 years old what she wanted to be when she grew up. . . she responded quickly and simply with this, "Whatever God wants me to be!"  We are so very thankful that from such a young age, God has impressed on Hope's heart that her life belongs to Him and she trusts Him explicitly with her future!  How He has prepared her for the circumstances that have come into her life robbing her of so many abilities. . . yet, nothing can take away our ability to rest in the hope that our Saviour gives!

March 2013 -- Fun Hope-ism

We never cease to be amazed at the sense of humour that God has given to Hope, even through her awareness of the daily challenges that she faces.  So it is a great delight for me to continue to share with you what we have coined, Hope-isms!  And as you share in a smile or laugh with us, please also remember with us, that although Hope is beyond special to us as her parents and such a joy to all who know her, the greatest joy is in the God who lovingly created her, fashioned her with uniqueness even in the midst of a severe brain injury, and most importantly is merciful and faithful to do a work in her heart!  May God be glorified in her life now and always!!!

Trev was getting Hope ready for school one morning.  He turned to grab the deodorant to put under her arms, without saying anything to indicate that this was what he was doing.  When he turned around, deodorant in hand, Hope was laying on the her bed with both her arms stretched high above her head, ready for that deodorant!  Trev was surprised and curious as to how she knew that he was grabbing the deodorant and so he asked her a question and received a GREAT answer. . .

Trev:  "Hope, how did you know that I was grabbing the deodorant?  Did you use your sense of smell, your sense of hearing, or your sense of sight?"

Hope (with a big grin on her face):  "Daddy, I used my SENSE OF HUMOUR!!!"

September 27, 2014 -- Hopeism

Even now as I begin to share this little story with you, I am starting to chuckle again. . . I don't know why I found this so funny, but it was the best belly laugh I've had in a really long time. . .

Chicago Trip Recap and Thank you!!!

We just wanted to give you a recap of our time in Chicago and offer some huge thanks to those who served our family so incredibly during this time.  I already shared with you God's immense travelling mercies on our way to Chicago.  Those continued on the way home as well, with the worst circumstance simply being our Trader Joe's cookie butter, one a treat for our family and the other a gift for Hope beloved educational assistant, being confiscated in security as not allowed on board!  : (  We were sad, but the phrase we've coined for such disappointing or frustrating circumstances was still indeed true. . . "it's not the end of the world!"  : )  But boy we wish we had thought of opening it and each having a quick spoonful to try before it hit the garbage can!  ; )  Lesson learned for next time. . . make sure you check peanut butter or peanut butter-like substances when flying!  : )

Hope-ism July 7, 2013

The girls and I were on our way to church, driving the 20 mins that it takes to get there and reviewing their memory verse for Higher Ground Children's Ministry that morning.  Gabi had her verse down perfect and Hope was still struggling with it, and getting a little frustrated.  I encouraged her to remember that with her brain injury, this was a lot harder for her to do, but how awesome was it that God was slowly healing her and giving her the ability to not only speak it but memorize verses again!  I encouraged her that she could continue to ask The Lord for His help as He would delight to help her hide His Word in her heart, because that would honour and glorify Him.  I also mentioned that what He cared most about was not that she said every word perfect but that her heart understood the verse and knew what it meant.  So I set out then to talk them through the verse and discussing what each part meant as we went through it!  It was a great discussion!

Here is the verse. . .

July 2, 2013 -- "Steely" Determination!!!

We had our sweet little nephews staying with us.  So we took the kids to the local splash park and playground. It was very sweet to watch Gabi push Hope around in the jogger stroller that was given to us by the Woolsey family, and see Hope enjoy a bit of splash park fun. Her temperature regulation is still off as even in the 30+ degree weather (Celsius), she was freezing after just a couple minutes.  So she would come back to her daddy and I, get covered with a towel and warm up. . .

Hope Loses a Tooth

"My mind was left behind!"  A Hope-ism for how to deal with pain!

To view Hope's comical commentary on losing a tooth, click on the following link. . . 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFav69xqeuI

Hope-ism. . . June 18, 2013

We are daily blessed with the sweet and/or funny things that Hope entertains us by saying.  We are also often amazed at the depth of her understanding, especially when it comes to the things of The Lord.  Here is a conversation that Hope and I had today while driving on our way to school. . .

Learning Heart Lessons

Learning Lessons

I have another Hope-ism that turned into a good heart lesson for me and I would love to share it with you for a couple reasons. . . first because I love to see God's truths go forth and I pray that it will encourage you as The Lord continues His faithful work in our lives, and secondly, because I love to give you a real picture of the weak and sinful self that I struggle with all for the purpose of showing how great our awesome God is to save, love and continue to sanctify a wretch like me!

Let me start with the story. . .

May 20, 2013 Hope-ism

This past Monday, Trevor was outside trying to start our lawnmower for the first time this year in order to mow the backyard. Hope was also outside in the backyard, sitting in her jogger stroller and enjoying some fresh air.  

The lawnmower would not start.  Trev, thinking perhaps some water had gotten in the line, kept starting it over and over, but it continually would just die a few seconds later.  After about 15 minutes of listening to Trevor try to start the lawn mower, over and over again, Hope said this to her daddy. . .

"Daddy, I've got three words for you!"

Laughing, Trevor asked, "Oh really?  What are they?"

And Hope answered, slowly and spaced out. . . 

"IT'S. . . NOT. . . WORKING!!!"

: )     : )     : )     : )     : )     : )     : )      : )

Smart girl!  We still have a lawn mower that is not working, even after grandpa's visit the next day!!!  : )   Ha ha!!!

My Favorite Hope-ism

I have a few things I'll try to share tonight! Let's start with my favorite Hope-ism for this week:

After returning home from school, I asked Hope how her afternoon at school was. This was her reply:

      "It was delightful! I had a very happy day of life!"

I am determined to use that most wonderful response the next time someone asks me how my day was!!! : ) Love it!!! Love her!!! Love LOVE the awesome God who has His gracious hand over her!!! : )

HOPE UPDATE and a Hope-ism

Hello dear praying friends and family! Hopey began another unwell bout this past Friday and it lasted through today, so a bit longer than the last few bouts. She was "off and on" all day, but seemed to end on a good note, so praying that tomorrow will mark a new day of talking and feeling better as well as normal eating and drinking!

Just for Fun Post

Me again. . . hee hee. . . this is going to be a "just for fun" post. I'm going to start trying to remember some of the fun things that Hope is starting to say and share them with you now and then. . . just for fun!!! Cause we have a LOT of laughs in this house with a witty daddy and a Hopey that takes after him and seems to have very much retained that wonderful quality! So here is my fun Hope-ism to share this week!