BUSY BUSY BUSY

SOOOO... we had a baby, and then.......

We suddenly got SO busy.... 

We live for chaos of some sort in this house. I tell people it keeps me young and always keeps things exciting. July has come (and almost gone) and we have been so "normal" that I hadn't updated caringbridge or my personal blog. 

Braxton's last clinic appointment went very well, and today he had another one month check and he is at 6 MONTHS post chemo. Oh!!! it's so exciting to be counting UP now instead of down to the last treatment :) 

We are not taking any moment for granted. 

On the 4th of July we met up with some friends and although it was raining we went to the Dayton Air Force museum and finished out the rainy night at Joe's Crab Shack on the river... it turned out to be a really fun time. We laughed and ate good food and made memories. 

After the 4th we have been traveling far and wide. We went to Gatlinburg, TN for a week with Nana and Papaw and had the best time. Braxton loves his one on one with them, but it made it super exciting that Aunt Stef came too and brought 2 of Braxton's favorite people, Charlee and Garrett. The cabin was always bustling with ninja moves, and noise, noise everywhere until the wee hours of the night.  Thanks so much Papaw and Nana for the trip.

At the Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge

Cabby loves his Nana

Cabby and Nelleigh Belle... those 2 are a hoot together

With the best papaw EVER!!!

Then after Gatlingburg, we were home for 2 days and then we went to Tulsa, OK for 5 days for PEAK (a youth church event with young people from all over the country) we felt that at his age it's important for Braxton to see all the people that love and serve Jesus just like he does. Needless to say that Alex, at 6 weeks old, is WELL traveled now. 

Love my family

This past weekend we went to a youth meeting that is about an hour away in Noblesville for 3 days. The kids had a blast getting to see all there little friends that, for the most part, they only see a few times a year. 

This week, we are all SOOOO excited (probably me more than anyone) Gammy and Aunt Ginny and Liam are coming!!!! Braxton's 6th birthday is this weekend and they are coming to celebrate with us. I may just kidnap them and keep them from leaving. 

Braxton has also been to the urologist this month. We are trying to get his night time bed wetting under control. So we are trying some new things, working with his fluid intake and the things he drinks and we are going to try the alarm. Hopefully we will see some results in the coming weeks. 

So this weekend we are going to have a Ninjago LEGO party at the splash park and have a SMALL sleepover and just have FUN!!! Because being a cancer SURVIVOR, deserves to have a SUPER FUN BIRTHDAY.  

I have been very thankful this week, a little teary but over all thankful. I am so blessed that we get to celebrate another year with Braxton. We are super thankful that he is a SURVIVOR and I will never, ever take that for granted. God has been so good to us. 

AND then on Monday next week..... BRAXTON STARTS KINDERGARTEN!!!!! We have been school shopping and he has his book bag and lunch box and today he was able to get a few of his booster shots (he was NOT happy about this). 

So, the Adkins family is trucking along, enjoying the rest of the summer and all the fun things that we have planned. Again and as always thank you for all the prayers and thoughts. 

Tests always lead to TESTimonies......

Imagine for a moment, a young girl, she lives a life surrounded with the sounds of domestic violence. A life never constant. Yes, her mother is good to her and she really does try to give her the best life. The mother believed that she was doing what was in the best interest of the children. 

Imagine this girl at about 15... she is at a crossroads in her very young life. Does she follow the "friends" that she has made in school. Does she stay in a world of alcohol, drug abuse, parties and misfit friends or does she go the other way, the way that, a still small voice is calling her. Now the decision is up to her. Her entire life she has sought out that "place" she was meant to be, seeking God in so many areas, seeking something to believe in, at one point looking into dark things. At an all time low she was depressed, on several different medications to help her get up and to help her sleep. No will to live at all.  She had no respect for herself as a young woman. She was alone in this world in her head. 

One day she decided she needed to do something productive with her life before she ended up so broken that the pieces could never be put back together. 

Then one day someone invited her to church... a different church. 

This girl was me... 16, broken, and seeking God with all my might. Some people are born with an understanding of God and what He expects of them. From the day that they are born they are raised on church pews. Hearing the word, having it placed in them on a daily basis. Being reaffirmed everyday that Jesus DOES love them and that they are special in the eyes of a mighty mighty God... My children are some of those children. I say that with such a humble heart. 

I never want to forget for a moment where God has brought me from. There was a time in my walk with God that I let my mind be filled with other ideas of what I THOUGHT was right. Then, in that time, I looked at all that God had given me, I looked at my husband, my children, my church family. My support... MY GOD.... and I knew that I had to live this life for HIM. That's what HE wanted out of me. 

When Braxton was diagnosed in 2009, our faith was for sure tested. Many parents may say, why my son, what did we do wrong? We have served God with our whole hearts, why must we go through this trial? I did for a moment. I can remember bargaining with God, almost yelling at Him to let me stand in my son's place and then I heard that still small voice that I heard as a teenager and I was reminded that it rains on the just and the unjust and that this was my trail, our trial to face. We had to get through this moment and that it would pass. I know that I would not be a good mother if I didn't want to take it from him, but something kept telling me that this was not my testimony, it would be Brac's and that while we faced this monster together, our testimonies would be different. 

When I was pregnant with Braxton I asked God to take Braxton and use him anyway that he saw fit. Make him what He wanted. Braxton is only 5 and I don't know what God's plan is for him, but I do know that as he grows he will having an amazing testimony of how God healed his little body and walked with him through that storm. I hope that as he grows up he is never afraid to share Jesus with those around him. 

I am not as bold as I would like to be but I want to be better. I want to share my faith with those around me. Share this beautiful truth that saved me in so many ways. Time and time again. 

I pray daily that God makes me better, that I am more bold and open about my faith. I want my daughter to look at me the way that I look at some of the older saints that I know. I know that I have a testimony different from all those around me. 

I know that I serve a miracle working, wonder working God. He makes a way when it seems impossible. He brought us to Indiana in a month! At first I had my doubts. I was scared of the unknown, I was worried financially and for my family. But you know what.... we are doing WONDERFUL. My marriage is stronger than ever. We are closer as a family and Eron's shop is doing remarkable and to God we give all the glory. 

God is so good and with every new day I am reminded. Braxton is CANCER FREE, my children are healthy and happy, we are doing OK. We have a roof over our heads and our bellies are full. We are so blessed. 

Ok, My Tuesday ramblings are over, I just felt that I needed to share how wonderful God has been to me.