May Days ~ or DAZE!

So now that we are pretty much half way through June...I figured I would update on the month of May.  Oh what a busy month that was!  I feel like I am still trying to "settle down" from it.

As you may be aware, this has been Seth's senior year of High School, and it seemed that May was a very busy month for the family of this Senior...and the Senior himself!

On May 5th was his Senior Prom ~ I did post on that...remember????

Then on 5/8 ~ Jordan reminded me of this sweet date...5/8/12, and yes I did a post on that too (5 = Brandon, May, 8 = August, Jordan, 12 = December, Seth).

But that is where life just got so busy, and there was no time for posts!  So let's begin a "recap a day"!  So starting tomorrow...I WILL do that!

But for now, I am "reminiscing" and trying to "be still".

Happy Wednesday to YOU!

So MUCH!!!!

WOW...half way into August and the days have been so busy! I feel like I hit the ground running every day. And it has been like that since the end of July. But aaaah...we are starting to slow down a little now (at least I am believing that).

The end of July took us from the fair straight into the busy days of August. On August 3rd, our 7th year of Brandon living in his eternal home waiting for us brought some emotions bubbling up a bit harder this year than in years past. BUT it is GOOD! We had a fun day at a drum corp show in West Chester, and it was so fun laughing and spending the day with some of my favorite guys. The "little"s stayed the night with my parents...and apparently they got started on a special project (more on that).

Then on 8/5...of all weeks to have to be at AI DuPont hospital, I had to take JD up for his post op appointment. And YES...that was very hard! BUT GOD!

8/9 was JD's actual appointment for the tubes to be placed in his ears. Steve prayed us through that, and just when I really thought I was going to "loose it"...the "silly juice" that they gave JD made him silly x's 10! We were laughing so hard at him we had tears running down our cheeks. So yes...even in that...BUT GOD!

Then the very next day on 8/10 I went away for the BEAUTIFUL ONE conference that my sweet husband blesses me with every year. I am so overjoyed to have a husband that shares my heart and the direction that God wants to lead us as a family. That he is able to take the time to be the one there for our children, and has learned how to do his little princess's hair! And I am so thankful for my mom that helped him out when things got a little hectic, and then they could all have a yummy dinner at her house! I am SURE Steve liked that as well! (smile)

And then my sweet husband and good friend Chuck (Laurie's husband, and Hannah's dad) had a most wonderful meal prepared for my friend Laurie, Hannah, and myself when we got home on Saturday evening! And THANKS to CHUCK...I found out my husband could cook A LOT more than SOUP! So you know what that means! haha.

And then there was Monday, 15, August 2011. The "Little's" are now a FOREVER part of our family. It was our ADOPTION DAY!!! It seems so surreal but yet purposed all at the same time. We have a new son...Jedidiah Joel Hastings, and daughter....Desi Michele Hastings. WOW...we truly know that Brandon had MORE THAN a vision for our family when this thought entered his heart and mind 8 years ago. And we fully believe that God surely let him see his new sister and brother. We are so amazed and humbled by all of God's faithfulness in our continual journey of life. As i sit her typing this, I am reminded that LOVE ALWAYS WINS!
Thank you God for LOVING US THIS MUCH!

Love,
Steve, Dawn, ^I^Brandon^I^, Jordan, Seth, Joel, & Desi Hastings

Where did September go???

What a busy month. Start of school...College, High School, Preschool, & Nursery School. From my 21 year old son, down to the new little 16 month old girlie. We've had football games, swim practices, drum line practices, Praise Band practices, appointments, BIRTHDAY PARTY for a special 4 YEAR OLD, 18th BIRTHDAY PARTY for my neice BROOKIE COOKIE, visits from my College son, Honor Roll Ceremony for Seth, and playing outside on the nice days while they last. WOW....can you see I'd really like to find that SUPER VITAMIN????

The adjustments have been going smoothly, we pretty much have a routine in place and it is working. However...a little "kink" in the routine when my back decided to go out! Never in my life have I had this happen, and never have I experienced something for so long a time that makes even the slightest of chores almost impossible. BUT, I have the most amazing helpful and wonderful husband! It made me appreciate him all over again. Seriously, single moms....don't know how they do it. And my mom was one for 7 years before she met my Stepfather...~YAAAY ERIC ~ THANK YOU GOD FOR GIVING US A WONDERFUL STEPFATHER! So you single working mommas truly are SUPERWOMAN!!!

Well...that is just a brief update on our month. Busy, but good...God continues to heal our hearts, and we still get those little kisses and hugs from him, and I'd like to think from Brandon as well....definitely these two new little ones seemed to be "handpicked" by Brandon (SMILE).

~ Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Isaiah 55:6 NLT...the thing is....I found that the Lord is ALWAYS NEAR...he never leaves me!

Busy

This has been a whirlwind week with Jordan. But we had so much FUN in Florida! Steve will be one tired boy along with Jordan by the time Monday rolls around. Jordan flies back to Seattle today, so he will have one day to recover before classes again on Monday, and Steve has been on a Men's Ministry Team since Thursday. He will go back to work after being off all week, and being in between here and Florida! But it all is good, and most definitely worth it!

I am sad to see Jordan leave again, but he is anxious to get back and finish out the year, and then be home again by June. So really...not too much longer. These next two months will probably fly by.

This time of year also leads up to all of those memories 5 years ago preparing for Brandon's transplant, and then how our summer was and ended. I so do not want to get "caught" in grief, and miss out on the good stuff during what is my most favorite season. I also want to continue to seek God in all things, I know that he has never left me, and I am still so grateful that this is my life. But God knows that there is that one thing I would change....but I firmly believe that Brandon would want nothing changed. He is just that heartbeat away, waiting for us.

Everyone have a great weekend. Maybe after all this busyness, I will post some Disney photo's......maybe.