Home Sweet Home with the Sedas: May 2017

Oh. My. May! What a month and we are not even done yet!

We got an early May present though!

Meet the newest little member of our family

Grant Christian Covington

He's just perfect!

At first we thought he looked like Katie, now maybe a little more like Will. But he could't go wrong any way. He's a doll that's for sure.

How time's have changed.

Yes, where is Aunt Nan?? Well, we thought he was coming the weekend prior. Nope false alarm. But Kaimi did have to stay in the hospital as the false alarm was pretty real. I had a work trip that week...and pretty much a few hours after I landed I heard he was coming for sure. My luck.

Look at the sweet little face and hand!

Good job Mommy!

Maddie LOVES her cousin "Gant". He has already made it into her daily prayers, which can be a hard list to make. Maddie has told us she loves "Gant" but does not want her own brother or sister. Haha. Smart girl. Robert says I have brain washed her already.

A few pictures from the weekend before...when we thought Grant was on his way.

Yep, and there I was, stuck in Sin City. Ugh, I felt like I needed a shower when I got home just being in that place. I did enjoy the fountain light show at the Bellagio however.

Robert did come up and join me, or else I would have never left the room, haha. I had never been to Vegas before. It is an interesting place, I'll leave it at that. Good to see, maybe once, but checked that off and likely won't be back and less for work again.

Yep, good old lists. The story of my whole life. I just cannot quit them.

Can I get an Amen?!

I chose one slot machine to play...I chose this and I'll bet only Dad can see why.

The summary of our winnings.

Yep, Robert loved Vegas as much as I did.

But he sure was a good dinner date.

This is actually where I spent most of my time. It was a pretty good conference.

We sure did miss our third muskateer! You can tell she was very homesick.

"SNOWFAKE!!" "Reunited and it feels so good." But hey, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Opening up some Vegas souvenirs.

Hey, we agree Maddie, good to be back in our own beds!

with our own Boos.

The next weekend since I had not met Grant yet we headed East.

How do I not have a picture with him?!!! Hey, when I was holding him I for sure was not holding and looking a phone I guess. :)

The view. Check out their new pool, what fun they had!

Haha, this cracks me up. The Covingtons are little fish and there is Maddie, on her favorite tanning ledge, eating an ice cycle. #thegoodlife

Nana and Grant. I am not sure he was ever put down.

Babies + Sun + Swimming + Food = NAP TIME

Then we headed to a birthday party for Lilly, Maddie's friend from Primrose.

This is Maddie and Hazel, her bestie.

Silly Girls.

The next weekend it was Mother's Day.

Friday night we celebrated this sweet little girl. Makayla turned 8.

Sweet church friends.

Maddie and Jessica.

We then headed back East to go see Katie's recital and Will's baseball games, Katie's soccer game...and of course to get more snuggle time!

The girls first headed to Katie's rehearsal.

Yes, they had not seen each other in forever (like 30 seconds since they got out of the car).

This little guy is and absolute dream. This is how he behaved the whole day. Talk about a good litle fan.

Mommy and Grant.

Sweet Ballerinas.

Katie did so well this year! This was my favorite costume and dance. She nailed it!

Monkey see.

Monkey do.

Headed out to the soccer fields.

These two were great little fans. Sonic fries and chicken nuggets helps a lot.

Only 4 months apart these two.

Then out to the ball park.

We got to watch Will's team real in the Championship title!

Woohoo!

Ring Ceremony.

These curly head cuties were good little cheerleaders.

Check out that bling.

Well, Nana was not up to coming for the weekend. It's been a long two months.

I honestly don't know what to say.

All I have to keep believing is that God has us under His wing and that he has plans for her and us.

How we miss the health of our Nana. Words cannot describe. I have wept, pleaded, and wrestled with God. But in the end, I will surrender to His will.

I was driving down the road this week listening to Bible school radio and I heard a guest speaker, her name was Joni Erickson Tata.

I was able to record a small part of it. But I know that God needed me to hear it.

Joni is a quadriplegic, she has been since the age of 16.

She noted that someone told her 10 words 2 weeks after her life changing accident that forever changed her life, for the better.

"God tolerates what He hates to accomplish what He loves."

I have said that probably now 100 x since I heard it in my head.

God tolerated the ultimate, most haneous crime, the murder of his only begotten Son, to accomplish what He loves most, our Salvation.

God hates quadriplegia, God hates cancer, and I know that God hates what is happening to my Mama. But, I have to believe it is for something better than I or we can comprehend at the moment.

I ask WHY...I was a child who asked that, I ask that daily in my own profession and I have certainly asked it in the last year and a half about my mother's sickness. Then I realized that people all through the bible asked "Why?", even Jesus himself asked God, "Why have you forsaken me?" So I know that it is in us to question. But in the end, the above 10 words tell me that I may not find out completely in this life, it may be in the next...but it is all for His ultimate purpose.

Romans 8:28-29, yes, I hear you.

So yes, mother's day this year was bitter sweet. As the old saying goes... "You are only as happy as your saddest child", well, lately, I feel as though I am only as happy as my sickest family.

To my sweet mama.

Her arms held me through the years, no matter how big I grew; her shoulders were there to bear the weight of sleepy or tearful eyes and carry burdens so we did not have to; her heart gave/gives Christlike unconditional, unwavering love. To know her is to love her, my mother, my hero, my friend.

I had a very nice little celebration that Sunday.

How I love this little girl who loves me so.

Daddy and Maddie coloring while I drank some coffee. What a nice morning!

My heart.

I may be in trouble.

After church we ate at Me and Maddie's favorite. I even had a lemon cookie as a treat to myself.

The afternoon I had a good view.

But this perhaps was the best thing of the whole day. Haha. Yep, she is my gift from God, a snuggle bunny!

I found this picture several weeks ago. It made me tear up.

Sweet Lisa.

I know she is dancing in heaven. I can still hear her laugh. I meet women daily who will have to tell their daughters that have cancer. Cancer took her life way too young.

Cancer has no discrimination. It takes all colors, all ages.

I again reflect back to the 10 words above.

I have told at least 3 patients those words this week. Yes, God has a plan.

My bright-eyed and bushy tailed little beauty.

She even gets me ice cream and a spoon to eat with her at night.

And now can clean her own play room! Can I get an amen.

She helps Daddy water the plants...

Delivers mail.

Loves having her hair styled.

And still loves to take pictures with her Mommy.

She is my Safety Sue who can now buckle both top and bottom parts of the car seat.

She loves to write and work with me.

She is such a little helper at home...and school it seems.

She loves her Nana, Papa...and Boo.

...And has so much courage. This kid did not even flinch when she got two shots.

She is all girl.

She even likes going to the doctor...because she "wants to be one when she grows up so she can work with Mommy." ( I melt)

Maddie had a little growth spurt this time around
40th% for weight (33 pounds)
50th% for height (40 inches)
She also passed her hearing and eye exams with flying colors!

This is what you get for NO TEARS, ALL SMILES when you get 4 vaccinations.

She also loves primrose and her teachers.

My Maddie. You are my gift from God. I am so grateful for the title "Mommy".

Some School Shots.

She LOVES Boo...and loves Peek a Boo, too!

Cinco de Mayo celebration at Rosa's!

Cheers to the weekend...and to butterfly rings!

Some Sunday Pictures.

This week we helped teach the 2 year old class so we needed to get there a little earlier than usual. I asked Maddie to go get herself dressed and she came back with her necklace on and everything! Though we did have a little struggle trying to pick out a bow.

Sooo, that left a few minutes for a photo shoot! :)