Summer: Week 11

August 20 - 26

This week was so much better.  The temps cooled off to the mid-70s and I was feeling a lot better.  I got more sleep and had more energy to do stuff.  We spent the majority of our time outside!  Two neighborhood friends came back from being gone all summer, so the kids were delighted to have playmates back.  In addition to bike rides, parks, play dates, and Mt. Tabor walks, the highlights of this week were: movie at Academy Theater, a trip to Horsetail Falls (for Ezra's eternity day), OMSI, and a music night at a friend's house.  1 week, 2 days until school starts!  :)

Memories

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory . ~Dr. Seuss

I wrote more intimately about my thoughts today on my other blog and you can read that HERE.  I wanted to keep the family blog limited to how we spent this commemorative day and not all the inner reflections that go along with it.  We went to Horsetail Falls in the Gorge for a fantastic hike and found a lovely spot to spread some ashes.  It was a beautiful day!

Oh, Ezra James, how we miss you.  But, we know you are crowned in splendor and are among God's elite in eternity, with our Savior, Christ Jesus.  And someday, we will join you, as we continue to seek Christ and serve Him here on earth.  Happy Eternity Day, sweet boy.

Summer: Week 10

August 13 -19

It was HOT in Portland this week.  It hit 100º a few days.  And the rest of the time it was in the high 90s.  Doesn't sound so bad to someone who lives in AZ, where its like that 6 months a year, but here, where most houses (including ours) are not equipped with air conditioning, it is intolerable.  Our house has been so hot.  I got a total of maybe 20 hours of sleep over the past week.  I've been cranky and the kids have been antsy, not being able to be outside much.

This week marked what would have been Ezra's 5th birthday.  Peter was out of town for his grandfather's memorial (which was actually held on Ezra's birthday) and I wasn't feeling well, so the day was very low key. Just singing Happy Birthday and having some cake.

Other highlights of the week were: swimming, play dates, indoor rock climbing for J and Peter, and even a sleepover with our friends in Washington!

Here are some photos from the week.

5

That's right.  Hard to believe, I know, but Mr. Ezra James would be turning 5 years old today.  Crazy.  Of course, the scenarios of "if he were still here" play out in my mind.  Much more frequently then I want them to.  So many possibilities had things turned out differently.  It's pointless to dwell on them, because the fact of the matter is, he is gone.  And if he had survived, we have no way of knowing what his life would have been like.  How much medical dependence he would have needed.  Sometimes, my imagination gets the better of me and I contemplate how things would have been had he not been born in August, but in mid-October, when he was due.  And born completely healthy and "normal".  But, then, I realize, he wouldn't have been "Ezra".  He would have been a different child.  Ours still, and loved just the same, but not the little baby intended for us, whose life was carefully planned out by our gracious God.

I think about what a huge milestone 5 is for a kids.  It represents a lot of things.  One thing I think about is school.  Ezra would have been starting kindergarten this year, if he were here.  But, I contemplate what that would have looked like for him, given his circumstances.  Our lives would be so drastically different if he were still with us.  We probably wouldn't be in Portland and I would not be on my way to getting a BSN.  As God would have it, this is where we are and Ezra is where he is--with Jesus.

Happy 5th Birthday, sweet Ezra James.   We miss you and love you, more than you'll ever know.

Summer: Week 9

August 6 -12

Unfortunately, my health deteriorated this week.  I was hoping to be able to make it two full years without a flare-up, but it appears now that won't happen.  (I made it 23 months, which is the longest I've ever gone since I first started having symptoms in 6th grade.)  Plus, it was quite warm, even at night, and with no A/C, it made our house super hot.  I lacked sleep for the second straight week.  So, once again, we had a mellow week, except for a trip to the Coast, which was planned several weeks ago.  Even there, it was very low key.  We visited the Aquarium in Newport, spent some time at the beach, and did some walking.  The Oregon Coast is truly one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.  Maybe one day we'll retire there.  Other things this week: bike rides, play dates, and "Love Portland".

On another (sad) note, Peter's grandfather passed away early in the week.  He flew back yesterday for the burial and gets back tomorrow night.  We were thankful to have been able to see him last month, though he had been in a fragile state then, and we knew it was most likely the last time we'd see him.  He is now reunited with Peter's grandmother and is no longer in pain.

Here's hoping for a better week this week.

It was really difficult to choose which photos to post this week, since we had so many great ones from Newport. I posted all of them on Facebook and I tried to put a slideshow of all 120+ here, but the music wouldn't play so I dumped it. Those not on Fb will have to deal with only seeing a small snippet of our Newport trip. Plus a few photos from Love Portland.

A visit to the Aquarium

Jellyfish awe

Smiling sting ray

Shark attack

We all live in a......

♥♥♥

Wave jumping

Sunset from our hotel balcony

Ez

Family

Medallions 

Love Portland

Painting

Imago love