Prayer Requests

My 8 year old cousin, Stone, was killed in a car wreck this past week. They live in Colorado. His mom and sister were also in the car. Alahna, 12, is in critical condition. It breaks my heart. Please pray. It makes me hug my baby boy a lot tighter.

Second of all, we are in the process of working through things with Mark's family. There has been a lot of lies and nastiness. A lot of it continues, but we feel it is important to love and forgive and are trying our best to do that regardless. Please pray for us, as we wish for this situation to be fixed and everyone to just love each other. It's quite a doosy, though.

On a similar note, I recently attended a training regarding interview techniques for sexual abuse victims. I found out some really shocking statistics that I want to share. I would cite the source, but it's at work. Let me know if you would like it. The studies were done with children who alleged sexual abuse which was later substantiated (proved true due to evidence). The studies show that 77% of those children later recant their stories and adamantly deny the abuse ever occuring. Is this because it didn't actually occur? NO. This is because the children see the consequences of having told, consequences like having their family angry with them, still having to be in contact with the abuser, fear of retaliation, fear of having to leave their family or be placed in foster care, or simply because denying to themselves that it happened is the only way they can cope. And these are the kids that have the courage to tell at some point. So can you even imagine all of the children that are never able to tell? Another fact is that in many families, there might be several siblings but only one who is a victim of abuse or neglect. This is so heartbreaking that I can't stand it.

On a random note, Izaiah is the most precious child in the world! The other day I was frustrated with him about something, and he said, ''Mommy, all I want to do is just make you happy.'' God help me because now I am comPLETely wrapped around his little finger!

Late Pictures

This is what Mark did all break. He loves his new laptop.

Everyone on Christmas morning

Izaiah helping Mama G make breakfast

Izaiah and Uncle Dave

He likes his bubbles "like a marshmallow"!

Cousins!

I never posted pics of our trip to Searcy for Thanksgiving. Izaiah had a blast with all my little second cousins. They were precious.

Kayla, Sophia, and Izaiah

Right after Thanksgiving we got to meet our new sweet baby neice, Jillian Kate. She's a doll. Izaiah loved her, but couldn't understand why she can't play with him yet :)




Mark's sister, Danielle, had her baby right after Christmas and we got to go see her just a few hours old. Little Aniyah Sky is so tiny! Izaiah was smitten. Actually, so was Mark. And as for me... what do you think? :) All these girl cousins. Izaiah's the only boy cousin. How long will that last? Anyone?