Prelude to the Heart Doctor

 

Kyung-Yeon

9 May 1997

Yesterday was quite warm, nearly 70 degrees! The girls got out the swimming pool and all three were out there dipping their toes in it and squealing!

Last night we had our first confrontation. Kyung-Yeon decided not to go to bed when I said. She was pleasant about it, just brought her colors and coloring book out and sat next to me at the table. I told her it was time to sleep (using hand motions) and she looked outside at the still-light sky and said, “No.” I insisted gently, and she went, making a face at me.

When I went in to pray with the girls, she pretended to be asleep, but as I left she opened her eyes. She was angry.

This morning she came straight to me and hugged me for a long time, then hugged me again. I think that was the “I’m sorry.” Today we are back to being cheerful. On the way home from taking the kids to school, she fell asleep in the car. I guess I wasn’t wrong about her needing sleep.

We will try out helping in the classrooms today with an extra little person along.

 

12 May 1997

Here it is day seven already! We had a lovely weekend. The weather was delightful and the three girls played really well together. Garry went up to the Herringtons’ property to cut wood. We almost ran out this year. When he came back, he mowed the lawn (except the part under the pool) and I did the trimming and weeding.

Kyung-Yeon took a shower Saturday night, and then poured baby oil on her hair! So she looked just as greasy on Sunday morning as she did on Saturday afternoon. She went to Sunday School with Nicole, but refused to go with her for second hour, so I kept her with me. Her church manners are sorely lacking, but she lay down on the pew and went to sleep. When it was time for evening service, she was not happy about being back at the church, but she didn’t fight us about it, just let it be known that she didn’t like it.

Last night was very special. I got the best Mother’s Day gift! Nicole was baptized. After the service, many people commented to me about what a precious child she is and how articulate. I even had one request for a pre-arranged marriage with a son!

Her name sounds like Kyoung Yawn, so Garry and Amanda have started calling her “Yawny” and she seems to like it.

Tomorrow we go to Dr. Rittenhouse, the heart specialist. He will set up the date of the surgery, and we will be able to plan around that at last.

Today we go shopping. Kyung Yeon’s grandparents gave her $150 to spend while she is here and she has been anticipating this day. She even learned the English word “shopping”! I will take her to the great American shopping center, K-Mart!

 

13 May 1997

I took her to K-Mart and then Fred Meyers yesterday. She bought gifts for her family: kitchen towels for her mother, a tie for her father, matchbox cars for her little brother, and wallets for each of her grandparents. She bought wrapping paper and wrapped them all as soon as we got home. For herself she bought a Barbie and a change of clothes for her, a beach ball with Mickey on it, a hand-held electronic Cinderella game and batteries, and two pencils. As I drove the cart through the clothing section she said, “No, no, no, no…” the whole time.

Last night she finally got homesick. I knew it had to come. She was sad at bedtime and brought pictures of her family to me. We looked at them together and talked about them. Then we tried to call them, but they weren’t home (it was just after noon in Korea) and only her grandfather was at the family restaurant. She spoke to him and then he talked to me. He speaks excellent English. No one had given them our phone number, so they couldn’t call us! I gave it to him, and at 4:45 this morning he called us! Kyung Yeon’s mother wanted to talk to her. Garry told him we would awaken her if they wanted us to, but he said, “No, when would be a better time?”

Just as we got home from taking the girls to school this morning, the phone rang and it was her mother. That little sad face brightened up and then burst into tears! They talked for about 20 minutes and when she got off the phone, Kyung Yeon was back to her old cheerful self again. I hope they will call regularly!

Today we go to the heart specialist. The interpreter called yesterday and cancelled, so I had to quickly find another. The father of a third grade boy at Grace agreed to meet us at the Seattle office. His English is very broken, so I am a bit nervous, but I know God is in control.

Learning this Korean

[Part 4 of a series on the experience we had as foster parents.]
 

8 May 1997

We are well-pleased with our little Korean girl so far. She is unbelievably cheerful. She giggles at the slightest provocation. This morning her corn dog (yes, for breakfast - Koreans don't have any breakfast foods; they eat the same foods for all meals) anyway, her corn dog exploded in the microwave. She laughed and giggled the whole way through eating what was left of it. Now she has taken my broom outside and is sweeping off the porch where we cleaned the bird cage this morning. I would have left it there for the rain and birds to take it away. 

The doctors' visits yesterday were encouraging. They each found nothing of concern aside from the obvious heart difficulties, so the surgery can be scheduled promptly. Both the dentist and the pediatrician said that this is none too soon for her. 

Garry and I watcher her try to play outside with Nicole and Amanda. We realized how many times her parents must have done the same, with an ache over her inability to keep up. She tires out just walking to the mailbox and back with me, and must sit on the couch huffing for several minutes. But she doesn't whine or complain, just does what she must. She brings me her hands periodically and wants me to rub them, helping the circulation. They get so cold and swollen! It must hurt. 

One surprise yesterday was the discovery of large scars on her chest and back, down one side, indicating a previous surgery. Later I will probably find out what that was. I actually feel somewhat better, in that we are not receiving a perfect-looking little body and returning a scarred one. Her parents have been through this already. 

I have learned five new Korean words. I already knew that "on-yong" was hello and I can count to seven - hahna, duel, seth, ned, dahseth, yahseth, illgo. Yesterday I learned these:

    ooma - mom

    abba - dad

    mool - water

    ahnee - no, not

    yogi - here, there

    harmony - grandmother

    hangool - Korea

Amanda got citizen of the month yesterday! That is a big reward for her change in attitude this year at school. 

Nicole is on a bit of a down-swing right now. Possible explanations are hormones, illness, or the "last performance is over" blues. She did extremely well in her three parts in the last school performance on Friday and received many adult accolades this week. Another possibility is some angst over Kyung-Yeon. 

Garry needs another root canal. The next opening is in June. 

God is blessing and we are enjoying the benefits. Healing the Children wants to send me to Korea with Kyung-Yeon when she goes home. But the timing could be at the same time as my Grandma's 90th birthday, and I won't miss that for Korea. We will see how God works it all out. 

She's here!

 [Part 3 of a series on the experience we had as foster parents.]

6 May 1997

Kyung-Yeon is here! She is cute as a button, if you're into buttons. So far she seems cheerful, flexible, inquisitive, and outgoing. Min-Ok (our first Korean foster child) used to walk around our house picking things up to look at them; Kyung-Yeon does the same. 

We drove out to Sharon's house in Snohomish to pick her up. We pulled into the driveway just as they did. The interpreter didn't arrive for an hour after that, but we all got along fine without her. Kyung-Yeon understands some English, which is going to help a great deal. 

She is indeed turning blue, although it just looks like she is cold around the edges, the tip of her nose, the line of her lips, the ends of her fingers. She is a stocky-built child, just shorter than Amanda, but probably weighs 10 pounds more. 

She is fearful of the heart surgery - who wouldn't be? - but not resistant. 

Nicole and Amanda are playing with her - playdough, Legos, dolls, swinging. Amanda seems to be more attached to her than Nicole. Both girls admit that their fears are completely gone. 

Nervous Preparations

 

5 May 1997

It has been a difficult but rewarding day.

After I sent the girls off to school this morning, I went to work on the house. I thoroughly cleaned, with special focus on Amanda's room Mid-morning, as I was typing Garry's notes, the school called saying that Nicole wasn't feeling well.  No temp, but an upset tummy.

I picked her up from school and brought her home, and then we talked. She was fretting over Kyung Yeon's arrival, as I anticipated. 

Healing the Children called with the news that the media won't be at the airport. That was a relief. They still want to cover the story, so we will probably hear from them later. 

I worked on getting translators lined up for Wednesday's doctor appointments, but wasn't successful. Pray that someone will be able to interpret for the dental appointment in particular. It is the most vital one. 

Amanda came home from school and showed her usual signs of stress, too, so the three of us sat down together and talked seriously, working through the whole situation. We prayed for Kyung Yeon and her family, and Nicole cried a long time, in sympathy for her leaving her parents. 

By the time Garry got home, we were all doing better. Shortly after that, our friends the Herringtons drove up. Dave has had some chairs that were given to us, attempting to fix them. He said at the door that the chairs weren't repairable. We weren't concerned about them. Dave and Judy said they had some replacement chairs for us! 

When we went out to their van to get the chairs, they were still in boxes! Yes, these sweet people had bought chairs for us. As we unpacked them, Dave asked Garry to come to the van again. This time they brought in the matching table! They are beautiful, made of a light wood that looks like oak. The table barely fits in our dining area, but we aren't complaining! 

We begged for the story, but they told us to give God the glory. It was perfect timing, as I was beginning to doubt that we should be taking another HTC child, doubting that we really knew what God wanted us to do. 

A day to remember. Tomorrow is likely to be another one.

[2021 NOTE: We still have and love that table and chairs, 24 years later!]

Kyung Yeon

 [Here begins a series about Kyung Yeon in 1997.]

1 May 1997

We are foster parents with Healing the Children. This coming Tuesday we will get our second HTC child. She is an 8-year-old Korean who needs heart surgery, and is scheduled to stay two months. I am not much of a babysitter, but Garry and I both have felt this is something we must do. It relates to all those ads one sees of starving children in far-away places, but you wonder how much actually reaches the child if you donate. This way we know that the child is the main beneficiary. 

The last experience was difficult, but also a growing time for our whle family. This time we anticipate being shorter, but perhaps more intense. 

It has been exciting preparing for Kyung-Yeon to arrive. I bought a garage sale bed for her that exactly fit the space we had available in Amanda's room. That led to a connection with a Christian school teacher in nearby Everett, who is having her class prepare a welcome basket for Kyung-Yeon. One of my tasks has been lining up Korean translators (my least favorite task) and God has been faithful to bring several willing women my way. Two go to our church and another one lives here in Arlington. 

Yesterday we went as a family to get teh first of the new hepatitis shot series, protecting ourselves. Afterward we had dinner at the Olive Garden, comforting one another! 

Nicole and Amanda were quite enthusiastic about having another foster sister initially, but now are growing nervous, understandably. Sharing your living space with a stranger is a frightening concept. I anticipate that this girl will be quiet, at least initially. My understanding is that she is lethargic and her hands are turning blue because of the malfunctioning heart. I hope that will give my daughters a chance to get accustomed to her before she is energetic after the surgery! 

"What if" Amanda

 What if my parents moved, the bus was late that day, they got impatient, and left me? 

What if a spider under my bed ate all the bedbugs, grew giant, and ate me? 

What if a really big eagle picked up the car we were in and started flying away with us? 

What if burning your finger meant you would die soon?

What if every time you smiled you had to go potty? 

    --Amanda, age 8

I'm Glad

 I'm glad there's chocolate,

    Fish 'n chips,

Starry skies and onion dips,

    Soft, worn jeans,

    And crispy fries,

Goods-down quilts,

    And butterflies.

I'm glad there's kittens,

    Candleglow,

Sunday comics,

    Fresh white snow,

Daffodils and barbeque,

    But most of all,

I'm glad there's you. 

Someone is Watching

 Old Testament characters didn't know their words and actions were being recorded for all mankind to read and evaluate. 

If Jonah had known ... would he have gotten on that ship? 

If David had known ...  would he have taken Bathsheba?

If Joseph's brothers had known ... would they have sold him into slavery? 

If Moses had known ... would he have killed the Egyptian?

If Sarah had known ... would she have lied to God? 

Even though, as far as we know, our words and actions aren't being recorded for posterity, I think we forget that someone is always watching us. II Chronicles 16:9 says, 

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

 After a very long list of faithful people, Hebrews 12:1 says they are "a cloud of witnesses." 

Not only that, but people around you are watching you. Your children watch you. Your neighbors watch you. Your siblings, parents, friends... they all watch you.  Everything they see in you is measured by a standard, and we all fail. But our goal is to be able to say with Paul (I Corinthians 11:1), 

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

 

 

 

 

Changes

March 10, 2013

I might have to move. Again. I’ve accepted that.

Yesterday, my family asked me why we are not considering overseas opportunities.

Because I’m selfish, that’s why. OK? I like my comfortable living space, driving to stores and putting purchases in the trunk, reading signs in town, and having steady electricity in my home.

Since November, I’ve been helping my husband look for work anywhere. Well, anywhere INSIDE the USA. Maybe the Caribbean, if need be. Alaska and Hawaii are OK with me. And so far, we have had very little in the way of success at finding that next job. He has had a few phone interviews, but the follow-up has been the letter of “we chose to go another direction.”

So yesterday, they asked me. Selfishness isn’t really a good answer to the question. Because my family is all on the west coast of the USA, I say. Yes, and how often do we see them? Truthfully, about once every two years. And I slowly realize, I have no reason at all to tell God I won’t go overseas again. It’s not comfortable. It’s downright wrenching. And then I let go.

Well, mostly let go. I enter the favored website and put in all our combined qualifications, and then I carefully select two opportunities I might like. One is in the Caribbean. I go on with my Saturday, feeling much better. And praying for a job in Puyallup or Uhio. Or the Bahamas.

Bahamas

Sunday morning, I check our email. That should be safe on a Sunday. And there is an inquiry from a school in Bangladesh, a request that we apply. That is by no means a done deal. I’m not packing. But my heart is challenged today, to consider it, seriously and prayerfully consider moving back to an inner city, with its poverty and the amazing opportunities to share hope and joy in a dark world that knows it is dark.

Bangladesh

Every grandmother thinks her grandbabies are the smartest. But mine actually are. Olivia is absolutely remarkable, even though we are a whole country apart. And Derek amazes me daily.

Derek and Garry do this cute little interaction throughout the day. One of them makes a sound, like “La, la, la!” and the other one echoes it. They might be in different rooms, and one will call out, “Ba, ba, ba!” and the other echoes.

We Skype with Aunt Michele since she moved to Baton Rouge, and Derek always checks behind the computer to see if, just maybe, she is back there. He remembers things she taught him, like blowing kisses and sticking out his tongue, and he does them at the phone whenever she calls.

I feel so privileged to have been a part of every day of this little guy’s first year. Here’s to more!

Family Reunion

The original six of us, and my favorite picture from the reunion so far.

Fuller Family Reunion 2012

I go to Family Reunions with expectations. I shouldn't, and I know I shouldn't, and yet I do.

This time, I expected to play games, talk a lot, listen a lot, laugh a lot. I expected to catch up on everyone's lives, hear all their stories from the past two years and their plans for the next two.

And I expected to show off our delightful, cheerful, easy-going grandson, Derek.

Derek didn't cooperate, and that affected ALL of my expectations. Stories were told, and I was upstairs with an upset baby. Games were played, and I was helping figure out that Derek didn't react well to local water being put in his formula. And our cheerful showpiece was arching his back and screaming. Often.

By the time people began leaving, Derek was almost back to normal, and was really enjoying his second cousins. Our drive home was incredibly easy. He was cheerful the entire 8 hours. It was amazing. And today, he is delightful again.

So much for my expectations! I don't know how my brothers and their families are really doing. I didn't hear their plans. I did play a couple of games and helped a little with a puzzle. But it wasn't the week I expected. Looking back, it was a good week, though. I wasn't at work, I was hearing the voices and laughter of people I love dearly, and I got lots of hugs.

It's fuzzy, but this is my mom and her first great-grandson.

Six months old. Our little guy has been with us six short/long months. He is still the most cheerful, easy baby I've ever seen. That's not to say he doesn't have his moments - the occasional frustration that leads him to let loose a scream - but for the most part, if you pay attention and give him something to do or think about, he is calm. 

It's spring, and we often sit outside in the evenings now. Sometimes someone joins me, but most every night it's Derek and I. We listen to neighborhood dogs and he tries to bark back at them. We watch birds land in our little trees and then fly away, and he follows them with his eyes until they are FAR away. He loves it when I imitate the bird sounds. 

He hates it when the military jets fly right over our house, and is frightened by any loud, mechanical sound. They make him cry and he appears to be afraid. A sudden, loud cough in a quiet room has the same effect on him.

Pounding on things and hearing the different sounds they make seems to fascinate him. He likes to try different objects on different surfaces. I'm not sure if that makes him a scientist or a musician! Or maybe it just makes him a little boy...

And his favorite song is "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy." Isn't that silly? But it makes him smile and bounce every time I sing it. So I do. I love to make this little guy smile. His second favorite song is, "Ho-ho-ho- hosanna, ha-ha-hallelujah..." And he will actually make the "ho ho ho" sound to ask me to sing it. 

Someone visited recently, someone who really would rather Derek had never been created. That broke my heart. I know it wasn't the ideal way for our grandson to enter the world, but oh, what a precious treasure he is, what a gift from God! And I just couldn't get past that. I know I need to forgive that person, just as God has forgiven each of us because of what Jesus did. I will forgive them. But what a sad thing to wish for. Don't wish away my little sweetheart. He's a bundle of joy in my life. 

"...He-he-he-he saved me; I've got the joy of the Lord!"

Nothing like it at work

In my entire workday at the credit union, there is absolutely nothing as rewarding as the moment after I have come through the door at the end of the day, and Derek sees me. His whole body starts to quiver, his legs pump the air wildly, and his face lights up with a huge grin. I say, “Hi!” and he says, “Uh uh uh uh!” and hold up his arms. It’s wonderful.

There is also, thankfully, nothing in my work day quite like baby kisses. I kiss his cheek, and he turns, mouth open wide, and slobbers the side of my face. While I do love the sentiment, I am not fond of slobber, so it’s a bitter-sweet moment for me. 

So much of this I would miss out on if Derek and Amanda didn't live with us. The blessings far outweigh any inconvenience or cost. 

Contemplating the future

Derek is almost four months old. He will be seven months old before most of my family (parents/siblings) get to even meet him. That’s a shame, because he is so fun these days!
He smiles, laughs, holds toys and puts them in his mouth. He looks around and tries to see everything, but Walmart still overwhelms him into a comatose stare that leads to a nap. He knows where I usually sit, and looks for me there, and comments when I’m not there.
When he’s tired, he snuggles his face into my armpit.
Today, he got upset because I buckled him into a baby chair while I made dinner. He looked me in the eyes and howled. I looked him in the eyes and told him, “I do NOT do what you want because you throw a fit! When you are calm, I will get you out of there.” Granted, he doesn’t understand me yet, but a few minutes later he was calm, and reached for me, so I took him out. Hopefully he is learning which behavior gets rewards.
Olivia and Derek make me think about the brevity of life. My birthday is this week, and I’m contemplating how much longer I’m likely to live, barring the unforeseen. Because I have medical insurance, I’ve had every checkup a 50 year old woman is supposed to have in the last few months, and there isn’t anything wrong with me that a little exercise wouldn’t fix. So it’s possible I’ll live to be 90-something, like the grandmother who gave me this body type.
That means Derek could be about 40 when it’s my turn to go. Olivia would be 42. I could possibly meet their kids.
What will my life be like for the next 40 years? Will I live in this house, in this town? Will I finally visit Thailand, and maybe live a year or two there? But then, I would miss so much of the grandkids’ lives. I already miss far too much of Olivia’s. She doesn’t know me at all, doesn’t know how much I love her, because we just live too far away. But as she gets older, she will understand better, gifts and phone conversations will become more meaningful, and visits will be remembered.
The future still holds a lot of love.

Routines

Our little boy is such a creation of routines and signals. He is eight weeks old today, and in those short weeks he has learned so much!

“Sleep, eat and poop” is what many say is all a baby is good for. Those are definitely three of his four routines. He sleeps beautifully, sometimes five hours at a stretch during the night. But generally, he knows that in the evening he gets fed, then has some Grampy time. Sometimes a bath punctuates the evening, and more Grampy time.

Then it’s Grandma time. I get him ready for bed, and we turn down the lights, put on a good nature documentary, and snuggle together for a bedtime snack. There is burping and more snuggling, and then I put him in his crib. Sometimes he is already sound asleep. Other times, he smiles at me and closes his eyes. In any case, he knows it’s bedtime, and all is right with the routine.

But oh, you mess with his evening routine, and he lets you know. Amanda kept him out late one night, and he came back all wound up, not ready for bed until he had Grampy time. One night I went to bed early, and he fussed about not getting Grandma time. And tonight, just as he and I settled into the big armchair, Amanda turned off ALL the lights. He let out such a despairing cry! That’s not the routine! I didn’t get my snack yet! He makes me laugh.

His fourth routine is my favorite: awake time! He giggles and coos and smiles at us. One dimple dots his left cheek. His lips and tongue try to imitate ours as we talk and sing to him. He can lie in his playpen for 45 minutes, looking at the toys and patterns and lights in the room.

All of this will change too soon. He will grow up, sit up, stand, walk, talk. He should. He must. But for today, I just want to cuddle him and enjoy this time and these smiles. They are the best part of my day.

Perfect

Derek Alexander Robert Eugene Symmes was born on 11/10/11 at 6:03 PM. He weighed 8 lbs 8 oz and was 21.25 inches long. His APGAR score was a perfect 10.
Amanda is healing well, but definitely doing the post-partum emotions. Nursing is difficult, but improving slowly. Derek screams, a high, piercing scream, any time he isn't absolutely happy. So we have long, quiet hours, punctuated by sudden wild screaming... and then gas. Or a feeding. Or a diaper change. And sometimes it just takes some walking and bouncing or sitting and rocking to get him calm.
Even with all this, Amanda said last night that this is better than being pregnant and itching intensely. Good perspective!
As for the birth itself... that story needs to wait until I've had some sleep. Short version is that she had over an hour of hard contractions and was NOT pleasant to be around. And then they gave her drugs and an epidural, and the rest was a piece of cake. Seriously, she giggled when they told her it was time to push.
I think he's adorable, but the photos don't seem to show that. Maybe I'm just prejudiced?

39 weeks

Aren't they beautiful together? This really has been a textbook pregnancy. The little glitch here in the last two weeks is called PUPPP, and basically means itchy red bumps all over her belly. The up side is that the doctor won't let her be pregnant more than two more weeks. She is nearly done, one way or the other.

The church ladies gave her a shower. Friends and family have also showered her with love and gifts. Our little Derek is well-provided for! Just today, he got a bathtub in the mail, something we still didn't have! God must love this little guy.

So do I.

2 weeks, or maybe 4, but no more

That's right. Baby due date is just over 2 weeks away, and Amanda's doctor says he never lets a mommy go more than 2 weeks past her due date. That means that in the next 2-4 weeks, there will be major changes in this household.

Sometimes I think I'm too old for this. But the truth is, I'm selfish. I like our patterns and habits, and I recognize that most of them will change. I'll still go to work and come home, but most of life before and after that will be different.

I know little Derek will bring great barrels of joy, but I also know that he will bring a grumpy Amanda for lack of sleep, and less "me" time, and simply all around another person in the house to be concerned about. And other than the grumpy-lack-of-sleep thing, it's all good.

Purity

“How can a young man keep his way pure?” (Psalm 119:9)

For the second time in the six months that our Amanda has been striving to live a godly life, a young man has severely disappointed her – and us. For the second time, a young man has proclaimed himself to be learning to walk with God, desirous of keeping his ways pure, and then turned around and demanded absolute impurity from Amanda. Praise God, she has held to the truth and the way. She has pushed away the men who tried to turn her from the path of righteousness. But how much of this kind of disappointment can a young lady take?

Is it possible for a young man to keep his ways pure?

These two men have told her that it is not possible, in today’s culture, to remain pure. They have insisted that impurity is inevitable. I am thankful that their true hearts were shown before commitment was made, but I am sad for my girl, that she is not finding young men who are keeping their way pure. I continue to pray for that one man, the right one, who will lead her in the paths of righteousness, love her deeply, protect her and guide her and enjoy her. We haven't met him yet.

Is it possible? Yes, it is possible. “By living according to your word.” “By guarding it according to your word.”

The only way for a young man in today’s culture – or ANY culture – to keep his way pure is to immerse himself in God’s Word, and live it. Guard it.
The same goes for a young woman. And for a grandma, too.

Gifts and growing

When people ask me how I like my new house, my answer is, "We're learning to get along." I'm not sure I can explain it any better than that, but I'll try.

The weeds are finally pulled from the yard, at least the 2-foot tall ones. There is some grass seed we are watering in the front. A couple of trees will find residence in the back yard this week. And we are going to cover the icky back deck with a plastic coating.

Inside, we have fewer boxes and more order. And internet access.

But the sweetest blessings lately have been the gifts God is bringing to our daughter, as her love for Him increases. She is discovering things like, "Mom, did you know that if you make time for the Bible every day, you have plenty of time to do everything else?" and "The more I give to God, the more He gives back!" This morning after church, I saw her make a beeline to a new couple, to make sure they were greeted. She knows what it's like to be ignored.

And the blessings have been pouring in. A crib with Mickey Mouse sheets and a mobile. Two high chairs, one with a fancy fish-themed play area attached. Hand-knit and hand-quilted blankets. Twice as many baby boy clothes in size 0-9 months as one boy could possibly wear, enough to give some away to another single mom, along with two of the blankets and some smaller sized maternity clothes.

Then came a rocking chair that exactly matched the red and black theme in Amanda's room. A cash gift that paid off her credit card bill completely. A bassinet with heart-beat and water sounds.

Our Sunday School class has planned a baby shower for her in about a month.


Somebody loves her. I think He loves her a lot.