i love......

the ever-present

(except when she's sick)

*sparkle*

in her eyes! 

bowling

this week we went bowling with our awesome care group!!

once again i was snapping pictures on my phone!

some of them are blurry as phones don't have a shutter speed to change to freeze the action :)

& i didn't get a group picture :((((

but we had fun.

(even though my score was an "all-time worse ever" & of course scott's was an "all-time highest ever"!??)

thank you....

...for all of the comments/emails/cards in the mail/
scripture verses/text's/phone calls. 

encouragement everywhere i turned this past week. 

& truly i felt the prayers. 

more than once my little "j" girl had an unusually happy demeanor

& i just had to smile & thank God.

i could "sense" that people were praying!

Sunday afternoon "Phillies-watching" on the couch

hard-hard-hard-

...that's how things have been with Jyla.

(so when sweet moments like the one above come along...i have to pull out my camera.

i want to remember the sweet times.)

i limit how much i express the "hard-hard-hard" parts on my blog because i want to respect jyla.

both now & for when she is older & would read this.

it isn't new challenges...nothing has really changed....

there is a very thin line of creating safe & healthy boundaries for her

& then also giving her TONS....(like every single ounce that i can find) of love.

my sin (impatience & anger) is SO glaring in this situation.

i am completely grateful that Jyla has such a wonderful daddy.

he is able to hold her & kiss her & hug her & hold her & kiss her & hold her & hold her :)

when i am physically worn out & needing my space.

he is able to gently remind me of the big picture

& simplify the moments that feel like crisis...(& sound like it)

her "moments" are usually always at home

& then when we are out & about she is angelic...which is good...

but also hard for me to explain our reality to people..

i know she is a child-

i know that ALL children have similar & sometimes "hard to parent behaviors"

but we have a unique situation due to her past...things that arent' typical in biological children..

& it makes it hard when others in an attempt to encourage say "it's normal...my child does such & such sometimes too."  i just want to scream...NO-it's not the same. 

it is SO 100% different.

pity is NOT what i'm seeking...just wanting to be real & express that behind the sweet moments that i sometimes capture & put on my blog...there are also very weak moments....

when all we know for sure is that God will strengthen us & cover our parenting with HIS grace.

Thanking God that HIS mercies are new every morning & GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS!

& ps- thanks mom for your help & support yesterday!

more sun!

Scott had a food show in Atlantic City earlier this week so we

(Jay/Becca/Hannah/Scott/myself/Addie & Jyla) all went down for the day. 

Us girls stayed in OC while the guys went to the food show.

It's always good to be in OCNJ!

Even if it's only for 24 hours!

(especially when the sun is shining)

biking on the boardwalk is the *best*

*little girl-big beach*

*jumping*

!!Kohrs!!

Ice Cream Par-tay!

cutest little thing you ever did see ;)

FL favorites

(all of these pics were taken on my phone...

it was just so much easier to carry around then my big camera is)

Eating breakfast at Yoders!!!

sweet rolls & mickey mouse pancakes.

 

Scott flew home for the Gordonville Sale 

Playing with Madison 

One of my new favorite restaurants!! 

 

sand castles with gpa 

my sick girl (bronchitis) & i spent the day in urgent care.

=( she had a fever for 4 days straight...kinda put a damper on things for me.

Dinner on the City Pier with

Grandpa & Grandma Krieder

& Grandpa & Grandma Stoltzfus 

Phillies Spring Training 

(dear Addalie still had a fever here, but she wanted to go to the game) 

Breakfast on Grandma K.'s porch 

Skinny's-a *total* dive but Scott's fav.

 

mmm...i just LOVED running on the beach in the mornings!

*bliss*

Ginny & Jane's-

a very cool cafe where we ate bfast. 

even the bathroom was cute :)

a fun Date Night!!! at St. Armonds Circle  (thanks K & K!)

 

                                                     Orange Milkshakes by the pool.

The beach at sunset 

 

 crazy grandpa!!