God's Children

We had Elliana dedicated at church this weekend. It was a special time... yet quite emotional. More so than I expected. It made me realize once again... that these children I carried inside me, prayed for, hold in my arms, cover with hugs and kisses, laugh and cry with... truly belong to GOD. He has merely allowed us to borrow them for this allotted time while they are here with us.
I know that I desire for God to have His way in their lives... whatever that may be. They are each such precious gifts, and I treasure every moment spent with them.

Lord, help me to Honor you in all I do... Help me to be the mommy that you desire me to be for these children, these precious gifts... from you. As we testify before You, our church, our family and friends, ... we give Elliana back to you.. We desire to raise her to love you and serve you with her Life. We look forward to leading her to Christ and teaching her about your amazing love for us. Bless her, pour out your Grace into her life, and use her to touch the lives of others. Let Elliana be a beacon of light and point those around her to you. Do not let us take simple things for granted. In the tired, frustrating, and difficult moments... remind us of the blessing and the gift she is. Give us wisdom, patience, and strength to love her as You love her.

Thank you for each moment we are given to be her parents and care for her, this side of Heaven. Thank you for answering our prayers for this beautiful little girl. Thank you for our precious, beautiful, princess, Elliana.

My GIRL....

Have I mentioned how much we are enjoying the "girly things in life these days?! ....

We decided she needed a few more frills....

A few weeks ago we had Elliana's ears peirced.

She did so well... and they look sooo cute!
For Easter, Mommy couldn't resist this adorable bracelet... cause every princess needs jewelry!! Precious...

I LOVE having a little GIRL!! Thank you Jesus for my beautiful Elliana, a true "answer to prayer"...

My little "Crafter"

Lately, Nathaniel has been so into crafts. Almost everyday he will ask me if we can make some crafts! He loves coming up with creative things to make and give to family members.
The other day he asked for beads... After getting the bucket of beads and a few pipe cleaners I let him go create....

As he progressed he became very proud of his work... "Look Mommy, it's getting tall!"

A little later he ran over and told me that he had made a beautiful bracelet. "It's for you Mommy, cause I love you." (heart melted!) "Yes you may wear it today, it matches! you may wear it anyday!"

Do you love it??!! I DO!! And it so conviently matches everything! Such a special gift from a very special boy.. one I happen to love very much! Thank you Nathaniel!

Brayden's Name Gallery

I added a link to Brayden's Name Gallery which has been started. I will upload pictures as I recieve them so please continue to send them to michellezieg@yahoo.com. Check it out!! Thank you to those who have participated in this special project to honor and remember our precious Brayden.

Wordless Wednesday...Beauty of Spring

NOT ME! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can normally head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing each week. "I created Not Me! Monday for the purpose of confessing our shortcomings and imperfections to each other since, after all, we are all only human!" (MckMama's words) Every Monday, you can find more "Not Me! Monday" at her site.

McKMama has had a higher calling this week. As many of you know she has been spending endless hours by the side of her precious Stellan, who remains in the PICU having heart problems. Please continue to pray for this family. In honor of McKMama and her McKMuffin some fellow bloggers have decided to take care of the Not Me Monday for her. So hop over HERE to the Cline Family Blog to see what others have NOT been up to this week. ~Stellan Style


Although not many read this blog, I couldn't resist adding my part to NOT ME! Monday. I love reading all the other post's on monday's and have wanted to join in on this project. So.. Here we go...
My week NOT for Stellan...





I most certainly did NOT spend ALL week checking my computer for updates, messages, and pictures of sweet Stellan and the McKFamily, nope NOT ME!

I did NOT try to come up with clever ways to explain who the McKFamily is and how I know them so that everyone could lift them up in PRAYER, and tell everyone about how special this precious family is. Including my husband who though thinking I'm nuts.. did NOT begin asking me daily how Stellan was doing.

I did NOT join Twitter and begin following Jennifer just so I wouldn't have to wait to get to my computer to hear how things are going. Nope! NOT ME! and My phone was not attached to my hand all week so that I wouldn't miss a single Tweet update from McKMama!

I did NOT tell all that I know the story of Stellan and pleed for prayers, calling all to flood the throne of Heaven on behalf of Stellan. I did NOT join facebook groups, post pictures, dedicate my status to Stellan and spread the news to ALL my facebook and blog friends... and certainly did NOT begin following many new Bloggers to keep up with everything.

My heart did NOT break for this Family and no tears fell as I did NOT weep for this sweet mother who is such a blessing to others, and for this innocent little boy who is going through so much. The begging and pleeding were NOT to my Heavenly Father to spare this family from the grief and pain we've had to endure this past year. NOT ME!
Father, we continue to lift up this Family to You. Put your arms around precious little Stellan. Bring your amazing Peace and comfort to McKMama and PC and their MSC. Give Grace and Your Will Be Done...
"Now to HIM who is ABLE to do immeasurably MORE than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph. 3:20-21"

Now... to lighten things up a bit I can't resist sharing the events that did NOT occur this morning as I tried to get this blog posted.....

I did NOT leave 2 young boys outside unattended...... with a tool table full of water... and a bucket of dirt...

To create a HUGE muddy MESS!...

Of course I then did NOT toss them both into the tub to get cleaned off....

And NOT put them both to bed for naps

So I could FINALLY finish this blog! ... Nope!, NOT ME!!

(And naturally I did NOT go from yelling at them, ...to laughing... to taking pictures of this dirty event! Certainly NOT wanting to capture these moments forever... )

Brayden Name Gallery- I need your Help!

OK so many of you have heard me recently talking about little Stellan and his McKMama. I read McKMama's blog on a regular basis and she is a blessing to many. God has given her a gift for writing, as well as photography and she shares her life adventures, advise, and MSC with us on a daily basis. Little Stellan is still in need of prayer, he is in PICU with a heart condition called SVT. A central line was put in yesterday which should help in being able to get him the IV med's that he needs to convert his heart to a Normal Sinus Rythm which is what he needs. Please continue to lift him and his family up in prayer.

Something that was done while McKMama was pregnant with Stellan was a name gallery. McKMama asked everyone to send pictures of Stellan's name so they could be made into a collage for his room. So much creativity went into this and it is worth checking out! click here to see Stellan's Name Gallery from last summer.

SO.. This is where I need your help.. I LOVE this idea so much that I would like to create a Name Gallery for Brayden. I love His name and when I hear or see it I am filled with thoughts and memories of my precious Brady boo. I would love to have a gallery of pictures with his name as a memory.

I know people don't often know what to say or are afraid to say anything about Brayden. It is still difficut and we miss him terribly everyday... but I LOVE to talk about my baby boy. I love to hear/see his name, and I love it when others remember him. Does it sometimes make me emotional? Do I cry talking about him? Yes.. Many times I still do. That is part of my grief journey.. and it is Ok. Please don't feel bad or hesitate asking questions or talking about Brayden.

If you would like to participate and help me create this gallery please send your photo to michellezieg@yahoo.com. Be creative! Need ideas? check out Stellan's Gallery for some! Please let me know where it was taken and/or what was used for his name.

Thank You! I am so excited to see these pictures!!

Blessings!

Michelle

Brayden's Mommy