since it's nap time...

I thought I'd update the blog with a few thoughts.

First, thank you for your prayers for Alana Feliciano. So far, she remains in stable condition and we continue to pray against infections and against her body rejecting the new organ.

Second, I have an address for Hope and Alana while they are in the hospital over the next 6 to 8 weeks. If you'd like to send them a card or care-package (I hear there's a Dunkin Donuts on the premises, which is a favorite of Hope's), it's important to use the address exactly has I have it below. Alana's birth name (Kevelin) is still in the process of being legally changed, so don't be confused.

Mount Sinai Hospital
Kravitz Childrens Center

Patient: Kevelin Taysaco-Rosales, 6th Floor

1184 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10029

They have also set up a website of their own to mark Alana's progress and prayer needs as they arise. Please check out their webpage. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alana_kay

And finally, I thought I'd let you know how well Ethan has been doing on our little outings! You'd have to watch him in order to fully appreciate what I'm gonna say, but he's simply amazed when we go out.... just taking it all in. His bubbly personality gives way to caution & awareness, and his eyes barely blink! He's just soaking it all in - and gets pretty exhausted by it all - but it's so exciting to him too! We've been to Starbucks, the Yankee Candle Village, BabiesRus, the mall, and today we went to a restaurant for the first time (the Rainforest Cafe inside the mall). He was such a good boy! Sat in his highchair - for the first time out at a restaurant - and just couldn't get enough of all that was going on around him. Now, we sat in a table quite a ways away from other people, still keeping some precaution, but he was so intrigued! If only I could get him to eat... oh well... that's an on-going struggle that I'm tempted to have an anxiety attack over, but I'll give it to the Lord again. But anyway, I digress... For me personally, I can't get enough of this new change in our lives. I'm sure this will sound ridiculous, but I actually "feel" like a mom when I get to take him out places with me, and put him in cute outfits and hats... it's so much fun! He's not used to it yet (and I have my awkward moments, too!), but it's just so good for both he and I to take in the world around us. And, health-wise, he's done great! No fevers, no colds... no signs of illness. Praise God for that immune system doing it's good work!

I'm so thankful to the Lord for His distinct role in my life. I've been thinking about that more and more lately. Every day, He's there. Waiting for me, protecting me, answering prayers, putting me in line with His will for my life. Opening doors for my good. Closing doors for my good. Protecting my family. Giving us reason to have joy. Giving us reason to trust Him. I've tried to just stop and focus on all of that lately. It's really overwhelming to think about and absorb. He's truly in all of the details. If I step out of the way, hand over the reigns, He not only takes care of things, but He arranges things in such a way that it's better - profoundly better - than if I had foolishly dared to do it on my own. He loves me. Loves me more than I can even comprehend. And He's gracious to me. Gracious and sweet in ways I could never earn or deserve. And He loves the people in my life, even more than I do and treats them with the same grace and mercy.

It's truly amazing. I'm a skeptic by nature, and it's hard to convince me of things sometimes, but of this I'm fully convinced - I do not want to live one single minute without Him in every facet of my life.

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten...

And you will praise the name of the Lord your God,

Who has worked wonders for you.

Joel 2:25-26