Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

I love it when we accomplish activities through our day which are meaningful but also enjoyable.

Case in point:
Wednesday, July 12th.

Tot and I had our school time, and she finished her summer assignment: A newspaper article on James and the Giant Peach

Tatum and I then went to SBC to meet with the Special Needs Pastor to get a feel for volunteering with our special needs friends. Tatum is INTO IT, and so we will begin in August to help in that room. SO exciting!
While there, she wanted to buy a few devotionals, so I got her this book from Bob Goff. Love Does was a bestseller a few years back about how to be the hands and feet of JESUS to others…actions over words.

When we got home, she ventured off to sell some bracelets, sold three, and made a new friend, 6-year old Cosette.

Could it get better? YES!
Every day around 1:30, Tatum and I have a quiet read together. She peruses my library for a new book, and she came upon Dallas Willard’s Divine Conspiracy. Sheesh. A very mature book! (I don’t think this will last long with this monstrous, theological treasure!) OK, Tot! She honestly just loves to read adult books.

The rest of the day was filled with resting, swimming and then a great Hay dinner with my HHH. Beautiful.

Family night! Yes, we thought we’d make a night of it at the good ol’ bowling alley, but first, Tatum wanted to get her stimulation overload over with.

Driving, cup throws, and Ninja fighting. Oh the joy!

Finally HHH showed up and we got our bowl on!

LET’S go make some HAY!!!

WE got “squirreled” by seeing there was a Photo Booth!
Hay silliness.

Ok…well, which one you like?
Back to finish our game.

Who won??? HHH!!!
Tot, you did great.

I love you HAY family!

Four years ago today, Daddy adopted Tot as her FOREVER Daddy!
We celebrated today.

Tatum loves to draw for him.

Daddy couldn’t wait to give her his present!
First, of all, the biggest gift to each other is the PRESENCE of him in her life. They are adorable together as they play, gelling their relationship.

Basketball! What a way to play!
It’s coming, Tot! Stay tuned.

It’s like an itch that I have to scratch…..and it lingers inside of me all day long….waiting…waiting…waiting to be fulfilled. WRITE, Steph, Write!?
Why do I do this? It helps me process my thoughts, allows me to remember the details, and memorializes a process of my thinking or doing. It’s a MUST, yet it gets pushed to the wayside so often because…well, life gets in the way.

And sadly, for almost 4 years, my life has been used up by dealing with my G.U.T…and I AM SO DONE!

But let’s take a look at the power of reflection: In education, they call it “building background knowledge..or activating it.” Why? We do this to prompt our memories to inspire our nows and plans. It gives us the ability to take the knowledges or wisdom we acquired and USE IT to aid in what we are experiencing now and the of course add to it!

The beauty of this summer, however, has been an opportunity to reflect. Tatum started it, you see, by pulling out the blog books from her babyhood and on. We started from DAY 1. Gosh, I forgot so very much, and it’s been hard to see my old self as I mourn the energy and silliness I had in me. HOWEVER, God has given me perspective on how the fruit on Tatum’s tree has blossomed (not in spite of but BECAUSE of being down for a while). Also, I see how I was BEFORE Doug and now WITH Doug. I’m so much better and stronger and even more grateful than ever.

Having these books, and keeping such detailed memories has allowed me to see the process of sanctification AND for Tatum to see each and every day how much she is truly loved. We will read, “I will never let a day go by where I don’t tell her she is a GIFT and a BLESSING.” Well, fast forward 10 years, and guess what? I have kept my promise. I continue to fight the GREAT fight of parenting with an INTENSE amount of love and dedication to discipling her.

Thank you, Father, for the GIFT of being able to love on Tatum, Doug, and now, myself as I heal and grow into my best self.

I LOVE YOU BEYOND MEASURE!

Tatum and I have so much in common. Sadly, I never wanted her to have my microbiome! I finally ordered a stool test for her, and sure enough, she has an overgrowth of candida and way too much negative bacteria. So…..no wonder she feels nauseous daily, lacks any hunger, and often has loose or hard stools. NEVER did I wish this upon her!

Well, she has had to give up gluten and dairy, and with that comes much woe’ing! Oh, woe is me and woe is this and woe is that. Woe Woe Woe to the no no no of almost her whole diet!
Enter ME! Yes, this is my specialty: Take something perhaps unhealthy or “not allowed” and turn it into a masterpiece of deliciousness!

So, daily, we would have ice cream or some cookie, but NOT NOW, she would WOE. Tot, let’s make lemonade out of lemons and make something ok?

Avocado cookies. Wait….WHHHHUUUUUUUUUUT? Yep, they have all delicious ingredients in one morsel of cookieness.

1. Avocado
2. egg
3. cocoa powder
4. dark chocolate chunks
5. coconut sugar ( I substituted allulose ….supposedly a new alternative to stevia which doesn’t affect the microbiome)
6. baking soda.

VOILA!

How do they taste? The batter was way toooooo tasty, so???

They taste even better with coffee. Yes, I give her a bit everyday for fun (foamy coconut/almond milk on top)

Heaven.

Such is life and lessons: Let’s focus on the GOOD; on the YES’s; on the I CAN’s. (and not on the missing tiles) AMEN, SISTER!
We are going to CONQUER these gut issues, girl. I LOVE YOU!

In the meantime, Dr. Ruiz has a P.O.A (plan of attack)

They did such a nice article on us!

She’s doing better every week, and what else? IT’S FUN!
And thanks to my sister – in- law, Dolly, Tot is receiving a plethora of book ideas for reading. XO

And her timed Division!! Getting better DAILY!
She’s so ready for 5th grade. XO