A friend in need...

See this girl?

I heart her.

Her name is Jenny.

She's one of my best friends. Has been for almost 25 years or so. She was the Matron of Honor at my wedding.

She's the strongest girl I know.

You see, Jenny's sweet baby boy Kanon was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 when she was newly pregnant and we knew he probably wouldn't live very long. She made it to 31 weeks and her doctor told her last Thursday it was time to deliver him.

So, on Saturday, March 26th at 8:19 a.m. Kanon William Laisle entered this world. He was perfect. Jenny had wanted all of us to meet him, so we were there...in the waiting room....ready.....there.....just like our friends do. We always show up and we are there for each other. We got a chance to meet this precious boy, kiss his forehead, and his mommy and daddy and family members got to love on him for almost an hour and a half. Which is quite a miracle.

Jenny and Rory handled everything with such strength and grace. I am in awe of their bravery. They are such amazing parents to Kaden (their four year old) and to Kanon. I am honored to be their friend. I am blessed just to know them. My life is better because of them.

There were so many many things that happened that reminded me that our God is a sovereign God. I know I talk about sovereignty a lot, but I truly believe that our days are numbered and known before we were even born. And like I have said so many times before as well. God is good ALL the time.

Jenny and I have talked in length about Heaven, God, our faith...and we are certain that our babies are now together in Heaven.

There were a couple of things that happened this week that reminded us of just that.

Like for example....Jenny has an app on her I-Phone called "Jesus Calling." It's a 5 minute Daily Devotional. You can go back to a certain day or skip forward to a day. When Jenny found out that Saturday, March 26th would be Kanon's birthday she skipped forward to read that day. And guess what the Bible Verse was for Saturday? Isaiah 40:31.

Wednesday morning while Renzi was taking Jackson to school he noticed that Jackson was talking to himself in the back seat.

"Whatcha talking about buddy?" Renzi asked.

"Just talking about the dream I had last night," Jackson said.

"What did you dream about?" Renzi asked.

"Oh! It was so great. I dreamed that Isaiah and Kaden's little brother were in Heaven! They couldn't see me, but I could see them! They were laughing so much and they were wrestling with each other!" Jackson replied.

Jackson saw me crying the other day and asked me about why I was upset. My parenting belief is that I should be upfront and honest with my kids as much as possible. So I told him that I was sad for my friend Jenny because her baby had passed away. I also told him that it was happy tears because Kanon was now in Heaven with Isaiah and that's a good thing. That was Saturday. And he had this dream Tuesday night. Oh the innocence and honesty of a 3 year old.

So this week we have all been helping Jenny and Rory prepare for the Memorial Service for Kanon. I have pushed myself to really try to step up and help take the load off of their shoulders. Cause she did the same for me almost a year ago. She did so much for us during the time we lost Isaiah to help make our lives easier. And that is just what we have all been doing this week. Stepping up to help out our friend in need. It's what we do.

I have such an amazingly unique group of girlfriends from high school. Some of us have been friends since kindergarten and some we have met along the way. We are all VERY VERY close and I don't think that is the norm. I am so proud of each one of them and I am even more proud of the women they have all become. These girls are such good people. There are so many wonderful traits about each of them and our friendship, but one of the things I love most about them is the way we rally around each other when one of us is in need.

I witnessed this first hand last year during the time we lost Isaiah and I am seeing it again during this time that we rally around Jenny and her family.

I love this quote and I think it sums up our friends so well.

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. ~Henri Nouwen

Today we will celebrate the life of Kanon William Laisle. We will be surrounded by friends, family and God.

And Jenny and I will marvel at our friendship, our oldest boys friendship here on Earth and our youngest boys friendship now in Heaven.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Lee Anne

Oldschool Picture Alert!

Renzi just sent me this picture and I had to post it. Look what young pups my sister-in-law, Ginny and I were!!! This was probably sometime around 2002? So I was 12. Haha, I wish! :) Love you Ginny!
-Lee Anne

Location:Oldschool picture!

The "Isaiah" Tree

What a wonderful reminder that Spring is here. This is a picture of our "Isaiah" tree in our front yard.







It was given to us last year by Mary Lippert and the wonderful people at Giant Partners after Isaiah died. We weren't sure where exactly to put it so I told the wonderful people from Oakleys who delivered the tree to pick a spot. And what a spot they picked.

They planted the tree in the exact spot where Isaiah used to play in our yard this time last year. Here is a picture that Renzi loves. He was pulling in the driveway and everyone was so happy to see him!





Look at this cute picture Renzi found of the boys in the wagon almost exactly a year ago. I love how Isaiah is just smiling away and how Jackson is grinning at his brother so adoringly.





While getting out of the car this evening I looked up to see my beautiful "Isaiah" tree blooming. A reminder that spring does come again. I am so thankful for this tree, especially as we creep up on a year of him being gone. Things like the tree always make me smile and remember him and I always want to do that. I'm not sure how I am going to be doing in the next 2 months as we come up on a year of my sweet babe's death and his 2nd birthday, but I hope all of you who read this will please say a little prayer of peace for our family. We always appreciate prayers. Much love!





-Lee Anne

Taebo Jackson

Renzi was out of town again this week, so Jackson and I headed up to the lake house. In an effort to burn some energy while it rained, I pulled out my old Taebo DVD's. Jackson loved Billy Blanks. Here is a video of him and his taebo moves. As my friend Jackie says, you can hear me encouraging him during the video a la Billy Blanks. Oh...and you can also hear me yell at our dog Annabelle. Or as Jackson likes to call her, "Knock it off Annabelle." He told the Vet's office the other day that was our dog's name. "Knock it off Annabelle." Oh sheesh. I really gotta watch out what I say outloud! :)

Blessings!
Lee Anne

Gerald

While running errands today, Jackson proclaimed his new name to be Gerald. So, Gerald it is.

Happy Wednesday!


-Lee Anne

This guy....

Please excuse my singing...I'm not good at this song...but Jackson is! His Bieber Fever continues....

His new favorite thing to do is you tube Justin Bieber videos and take my computer in his room and practice singing and dancing. Of course, I totally spy on him.

It's so stinking cute. I keep trying to get a video, but he always catches me.

Got to learn to be sneakier!!!

The Picture that Defines My Marriage

This picture pretty much sums up my marriage. :)

He's gone on a business trip to Ireland this week and I miss him so much already! Jackson told his dad that he had "eberyting unda contrawl," so at least I am taken care of. Come home soon babe! Love you!

Thankful Heart

Phillipians 4: 4-13

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, REJOICE! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

I am having a thankful heart moment so I thought I would post some of the things I am thankful for in this moment.

• Sweet Jackson saying the blessing before every meal and taking charge and wanting to bless the meal that he and his buddies were having together last night. Oh how my heart melts and fills with pride!
• A snuggly kiddo first thing out of bed when the coffee is hot and the morning conversations are just beginning.


• My husband washing my car for me. He does this a lot. My car is a pit. And he doesn't complain about it ever, even though I KNOW it drives him bonkers. He just takes my car and gets it cleaned out for me most every weekend.


• Sitting in church with my kiddo in Sunday School, and my husband and mother-in-law all sitting together. It's so nice to hear God's word and have family with you.


• Running at Lake Hefner. I'm back at it again. Took a little hiatus from running but I am back! I love Lake Hefner because it is pretty...but mostly cause it's flat. And this girl does NOT like to run uphill.


• The conversations my hubby and I have while driving. We solve the world's problems for everyone and ourselves while in the car. :)


• My precious Jackson's school. He has learned so much and I am in awe watching him grow and learn so many amazing life lessons and school lessons. I had the chance to observe his class two weeks ago and I think I cried at least 6 times. Watching him solve problems and interact with his friends and teachers was such a blessing. I am so proud of the little boy he is!


• Date nights with my husband. Always fun, always needed!
  
• God choosing ME to be my babies' mommy. What an honor and a blessing that the sweet Lord would bestow on me.

What are YOU thankful for today?

Lee Anne

Target Addiction

I've mentioned this before but I have an addiction to the dollar section at Target. So many fun things in one place!!! And for someone like me who isn't the craftiest person around, it's a dream!

This week I found all of these cute flower pots with the seeds and dirt included and I thought it would be a fun project for Jackson. I was right! He had a ball putting all of this together and every hour he comes running in to wherever I am asking if he can "go check on his baby flowers to see if they are growing." And everytime he checks on them he exclaims, "they grew!!!"











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Guess who I had lunch with yesterday?

The Pioneer Woman herself, Ree Drummond!!!! Ok, so maybe it wasn't just her and I....but I was lucky enough to get to sit at her table!!! And let me just tell you...she is just as lovely as she seems. What an honor it was to sit with her and chat.
Thank you Connell Brannan for the invitation!!!!


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