Mark, Jennifer, Ethan, Emily

This blog is about our family, who have dealt with the loss of two sons with Muscular Dystrophy, the adoption of a son diagnosed with Agenesis of Corpus Callosum and the birth our a healthy little girl. It's a crazy life, but we are loving it.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

What a busy weekend we had. Our little town had a parade that we go to every year. This year, Ethan got to ride in it with his Cub Scout group. Mark & I watched while Emily waved at everyone & caught candy.


Here is Ethan & his finished cubmobile. Thanks to Paw Paw and all his hard work on the paint & even adding Ethan his own cup holder.




Lots of other stuff happened but I'm too tired really busy tonight to blog about them. I'll end on this note.

My first baby's birthday was yesterday. Chandler McKenzie would have been 10 years old. That blows my mind. It doesn't seem like it has been 10 years already. I wonder what he would look like. I wonder what he would act like, would he be into sports or a bookworm. Would he be outgoing or shy? Would he still have a head full of dark curly hair?

I love you Chandler McKenzie Stroup. Happy 10th birthday. I will see you again soon.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day

I hope everyone had a good weekend and a very happy Father's Day.

For all the men at our church, I made these...

The boxes were filled with an assortment of mini candy bars.




And for my dad,who has had a mustache for as long as I've known him, I made this & filled it with his favorite candy...


Did you know there is a website out there dedicated to quotes about mustaches? Yeah there is, baby!! I found a quote and painted it on the cup. His cup says "A man with a mustache is never alone." Deep thoughts, huh?



Ethan got his cubmobile this weekend and our job was to fix it up.


Here, Emily ran out in her Spongebob pajamas to get a ride from her big brother.

It went from bad...


To fab! Thanks to my dad, who helped Ethan paint it! Ethan gets to ride it in our little towns parade next week with his cub scout group. I'll post pics of the finished project one I get all the decals on!






Last but not least, I actually decided to decorate my little table in our entryway for the 4th of July holiday.

Maybe I'll keep it up and decorate it for each holiday. Heavy on the maybe there.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Sunday Afternoons & Amish Cookies

I found a new blog I'm loving and while reading it I came across a new recipe for cookies that looked amazing. You can check the recipe here.

 So I started off with this.
Add a little All Southern Gospel Radio... (Which you can find here)


You get this...


And BAM...


Now that's what I'm talking about! Amish Monster Cookies, yum, yum & and yum!

Friday, June 10, 2011

A Little Rambling

I treated myself to lunch out today. I spent all morning long freezing in my office and I wanted to go somewhere and warm up. Being in central Texas, it doesn't take long to warm up outside. So, I decided to have lunch at Taco Cabana because they have a covered outdoor patio. So I bought my brisket tacos and headed outside to the patio. On the other side of the patio was a family that looked like a dad, a mom, their little boy (probably around 3 years old) and a set of grandparents. 

So there I was, just chomping away on  my tacos & chips & queso. The family on the other side was chatting away, and I couldn't help but overhear some of their conversation. Apparently, the little boy was recently in a play at his school and he was playing a firetruck. The mom was telling the grandparents that the little boy went on stage like a pro and waved to her from the stage and proceeded to sing the cutest firetruck song. Then, she told the little boy, to sing the song for the grandparents. And like a pro (I guess mom was right), he stood up, sang his ABC's and then he DID sing the cutest little firetruck song. Everyone on the patio clapped and the little boy just grinned from ear to ear knowing he had an audience. 

It was funny. I smiled because that little boy was too darn cute. And so was that little firetruck song. Then, there is was. That little pang in my heart. Why was that there? Where did that come from? Then it hit me. Oh, because my little Max would have been that age. I also should have a 9 year old.

You know some days I'm ok. Then something little, simple, out of the blue will hit me. My two boys are gone. Yes, they are in Heaven. No, they are not suffering or in pain. No, they don't have a g-tube or have to be suctioned out or have to have oxygen anymore. Yes, they are with the greatest parent a child could have. But... sometimes I hurt. Sometimes I cry.  Sometimes I think why, why me, why them, why us, why such a short little life?

Then, God does something amazing. He comforts my grieving heart. He reminds me of the two little ones I DO have here. He tells me I will see my boys again and spend much more time with them in Heaven then I ever could on earth with them healthy. 

Next month my Chandler would have turned 10 years old. I blows my mind that I would have a 10 year old. My Max would have been 3 in September. Here are some pics in honor of my heavenly boys.


Here is my Max
Sweet Max







Here is my little Chandler-bear
Everone has bad days. Everyone has "why me?" moments. I have them often. But I'm glad that I also have God to comfort me, speak to my heart and love me. Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Day of Smiles & Tears

Today was a really awesome day. I went with Ethan on his field trip & then went to Emily's Pre-K graduation. My kids are growing up so fast. Seems like yesterday Emily was born & Ethan was just mommy's little guy. *Sigh* Tomorrow I'll wake up and they'll both be stinky little teenagers. *Double Sigh*


Until then...

Ms. Watts 2nd grade class 2011
Ethan & his wonderful teacher!
The class at HEB
Emily's Pre-K Graduation
Emily with her teacher, Mrs. Sandy
Me & my ladybug!
Daddy & his little girl
A+ Daycare Pre-K class of 2011