Buckets of Rain

Yesterday was Luke's 3rd birthday. We dreamed of that day for so long... the first time we got to celebrate his birthday with him!! I read Psalm 68 the other day... 

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling...

You pour out rain in buckets, O God."

It made me think back to the months and years that we asked God over and over for children. One Bible story that brought me so much encouragement during those challenging days was the one of Elijah praying earnestly for rain after experiencing 3 years of drought in 1 Kings 18. Elijah believed and never gave up. I was in a Bible study with friends who reminded me "Your rain is coming... don't give up."

While celebrating Luke's life yesterday, I felt like I was being showered with those buckets of rains. God's blessings and answered prayers and grace just pouring down on us. I loved celebrating that little boy! Thank You, Jesus.

We had a crazy houseful of friends and family and energetic little boys for his "dinner & a movie" birthday party. We ate hot dogs, mac & cheese, and cupcakes. The kids watched Toy Story 2 in the basement with popcorn in hand. I love that Luke is surrounded by so much love and so many buddies... Jachin, Bo, Khalib (his friend from Edget orphanage in Ethiopia!), Cohen K, Eric, Titus, Malachi, Ezra S, and our new neighbor James. We missed his other friends-- Caleb, Jacob, Jameson, Jackson, Weston, Cohen J, Arie and Ezra J, but we're thankful for them too. Such a blessing!