Happy Birthday Christine!

I'd just like to let it be known, I really hit the jackpot when I married Matt. Not just because of the amazing man he is, but because of the truly wonderful family of which I became a part. And when it comes to in-laws, (whom I would have accepted regardless, since I was so enamored with their son) I couldn't have done better.

In honor of her birthday (a week ago now), I'd love to share just a bit about what I love most about Christine Harms, my dear mother-in-love.

Mom, thanks for truly blessing Matt and I to be our own couple. I've never felt that I had to earn your approval or win your love. When I married Matt, you were part of the package. A cheerleader, supporter, encourager, wise counselor, and godly role model. Thank you for praying for us, and telling us so. Thank you for carrying our burdens in your heart, following our highs and lows without offering too much advice and yet always being ready with a word of support, love and blessing. Thank you for buying us green things, and not being offended (or showing it) when in my distractedness I let them die. Thank you for cleaning our SF apartment top to bottom so it would be spic and span for the new tenants.

Thank you for celebrating each of our daughters and loving us by loving them. Thank you for the countless hours you spent in Elizabeth's hospital room, not crowding me out, but available when I needed you. Thanks for driving up to the city to give me a break once a week...I miss our Mondays! Thank you for affirming me as a mom and wife, building me up reminding me of the really important things. Thank you for making such an effort to KNOW your grand-daughters and prioritizing trips to see us.

You are a wonderful example of a Titus 2 Woman...godly, gracious and wise. I am so thankful to have you in my life. I love you!

Love, Sara

Hope and healing

We've been waiting for spring around here. It's cold one day, warm the next and besides the trouble that creates in wardrobe selection, it seriously messes with our minds! We keep hoping, knowing it's coming, but are disappointed each time winter rears its chilly head again.

When it comes to Elizabeth's health we are determined that "spring" is here to stay. She's doing so well. She is still eating well and maintaining her weight, (Praise God!) her therapies are paying off and she's gaining strength and dexterity. She and Ruby are pretty similar now in their physical abilities, and because their balance is about comparable (though Ruby is definitely stronger now) they enjoy the same kinds of play. I think I forgot to mention it, but we ended up having tubes placed in Elizabeth's ears at the same time she had her January endoscopy. That has been a tremendous success and we're thrilled with how wax-free and healthy those little ears are. We're hoping to take Elizabeth to a Turner Syndrome clinic this Spring or early Summer. We'd like to have her evaluated by someone who works with a high population of girls with Turner's and has a grasp of the whole picture. I frequently feel like I'm missing some information on how she ticks and would love any insight we can glean about her overall health as well as development.

On a sweet note, for the first time this week Elizabeth was able to tell us when she didn't feel well. She started feeling crummy around lunch time and told me so, saying, "I don't feel well. I'm sick." Sure enough she took a 2.5 hour nap and was feverish when I woke her up. She ended up spiking at 104 and we were praying for it to be a simple virus. (Sadly we couldn't even give her Tylenol or Motrin because of her liver and bleeding issues, so the poor dear had to sweat it out.) I asked her if she wanted to pray that God would heal her, and she said yes, and immediately squinted her eyes and prayed, "Dear Jesus, Heal me. Make me whole." and some other things I didn't understand. Then she looked up and said, "I'm healed." We put her to bed that night, still feverish, and when she woke up the next morning, the first words out of her mouth were, "I feel better!" Sure enough, no fevers all day, and no snot for the first time in weeks! She truly was healed!

In light of Grandpa Harms' cancer and Elizabeth's health, I frequently ask God to give me more faith to not only believe He CAN heal, but that he's GOING to heal. I certainly don't have it all worked out yet, but it's really encouraging to watch Elizabeth's childlike faith...the kind of faith I'm supposed to have, in action. I believe Lord, Help my unbelief.

That's one way to make them "princess pj's"