The First Year

Today our beautiful little gal celebrates her 1st Birthday. It doesn't seem possible that a whole year has gone by. We are changed completely here in the Adkins home. I'll let you see for yourself in pictures all the changes that Maddie has gone through in the last year.

Our Beautiful Maddie is growing and changing and developing! We are even more excited today than we were a year ago to have her as a part of our family. She brings laughter and fun and lots of pink into our home. We love you Madison Anne. Happy 1st Birthday!

I like to be Helpful

With a family of 6, it's important that we help each other out. We are learning what it means to be helpful.

Below Eli is making sure Sissy doesn't fall.

OK, he got a little more into the camera and forgot what he was doing.

Nathaniel can be helpful too.

Eli likes to hold sissy's hand. We just have to teach him that he can't take off while she's holding on.

Yesterday I witnessed the older 2 boys teaching Eli to play baseball. This is a first. Last year Eli was content to just be outside when his brothers were. Now he wants to be involved in what they are doing. I was proud to see that both Ronnie and Nathaniel were willing to teach him and be helpful.

So we are learning to be helpful around the Adkins home.

Helping Out

On Sunday evening, Maddie, Eli and I packed up and went to see Pap and Grandma (my parents). Mom's 6th treatment was Monday morning and I took her. Dad is finishing up his finals for IWU and then he will be done for the summer. He is also on a scheduled sabbatical as of Saturday. (the Sabbatical was scheduled before mom found out she had cancer - isn't it Amazing how God works).

So, I was looking forward to going to treatment with mom. I hadn't been and I was anxious to see how it all worked. I had heard about Ryan's (Ron's brother), but never actually went with him either.

Part of me wanted to take a picture of mom sitting in the chair receiving the medication (just to document this journey), but I wasn't quite sure if that was appropriate. It was interesting to me though and I found myself wondering about all the other people receiving treatment. Again I was thankful that we are going down this road with Jesus by our side.

Monday morning before we left I cleared Eli to go see Grandma in her room. I knew she would be finishing up getting ready (make-up and such), but I didn't even think about the fact that her wig wouldn't be on yet. He was slightly taken back, but simply exclaimed, "you look like a boy". Once she covered her head he felt better about it. They even looked at the wigs! So here is what Eli would look like as a girl. We were always told when our boys were little that they were too cute to be boys - well, I'm not sure about that, but I do think he looks a little like his Adkins cousins! Doesn't mom look great!?!

While I took mom to treatment, Eli and Maddie got to stay with some friends of ours. Ms. Connie and Anna. Anna is about 5 months older than Maddie and Eli absolutely adores her. He was so excited to go and play at Anna's house.

We are thankful that Connie was willing and available to keep the kids. They all seemed to have a great time. Thanks again, Connie and Anna.

We also stayed Monday night and did a little cleaning on Tuesday before coming home. We had a good time with Grandma and we are so thankful for how well she is doing.

Thank you Jesus that Mom is doing so well. Thank you that we know you as our Personal Savior and we don't have to go down this road of cancer and treatment alone. Thank you!

Musically Inclined

All of my boys seem to have a love for music. They love to sing (although not all 3 boys are gifted in that area) and to praise Jesus (they are all gifted in praising Him).

I remember when Ronnie was still growing inside me - I would go to and from work and play music of kids praising Jesus in my car. Sometimes I would sing, sometimes just listen, but he heard it nearly every day for 9 months.

Now I can't say I was that faithful with the other 3, but they did listen to a lot of music before birth and even more since being born. So they all have a love for Praise music especially.

So I wasn't at all surprised when Maddie found her way to my mom's piano. The boys always asked to play and this past week she was right behind them.

She's "singing" in this picture and accompanying herself.

This one is my favorite. I sat her up there and she just put her head up in the air and started singing away. Isn't she adorable. She's praising Jesus!

I'm not sure how the duet will work out, but I'm thankful that my kids love music. I would love to get them lessons, but for now I will just expose them to all the music I can.

Surprise Visit

For some time now, my mom has been commenting that she hasn't seen Ronnie and Nathaniel since this whole treatment started. So we decided to remedy that. On Wednesday they had received tickets through the school Tin Caps Reading Program to watch a Ft. Wayne Tin Caps game (Ft. Wayne's minor league team). Daddy was going with them. Since that was pretty much all that was on the schedule for school that day we got permission for the boys to meet their school at the field. Then Ron picked them up on Tuesday after school and we all headed to Grandma and Pap's.

Below are a few pictures from our trip.

Eli loves to read with Grandma.

Pap and the boys.
Ready for the Tin Caps Game.

Making cookies with Grandma.

The boys all had a good time and I think Grandma enjoyed it too. She did pretty good with the first round of the new medication. Sunday night, Maddie, Eli and I will go back so that I can take mom to chemo on Monday.

We appreciate all your continued prayers for my parents!

Picnic Weather

Last Thursday was an absolutely beautiful day. The only objection I had was all the noise coming from outside. The construction workers were once again right in front of our house. I had all the windows open and the dust was flying. Eli was pretty much glued to the window to watch the "big construction workers".

So, all that in mind, we decided to eat our lunch outside. Eli was so excited he could barely contain himself. He raced back and forth between me (loading the picnic basket) and the window (because he wouldn't want to miss anything).

Soon we were outside and enjoying the construction work close up - and the beautiful weather too.

I took, what i believe to be, some great pictures, so I thought I would share them with you.

Really, can she be any more of a cutie?

I love this grin, even with Jelly all over it!

Eli even got to enjoy all the chaos while he ate.

Yes, I think Maddie is contemplating whether or not Eli is distracted enough to share his sandwich.

I love it!

So we enjoyed our first Picnic of the year this past week - we are looking forward to MANY more.

Breakfast with Family

I mentioned that my sister and her girls came last week for a short visit. Well we got up on Thursday and while Ron got the boys on the bus, the rest of us loaded up to meet family (Mom and Dad and Granny and Gramps) at Cracker Barrel. But not before I snapped one more picture of Maddie and Elsie.

Elsie and Grandma Neff


Pap realized Maddie was beginning to take some steps.

Eli loves this game! Here he is counting the pieces.

Gramps tried to help out, but I'm pretty sure Eli would rather just count them and take them in and out.

A few minutes to sit on the porch and enjoy the day!

I love family time!

A Fun Visit

This Wednesday my Sis and her two daughters came for a quick visit. The picture below was literally taken less than 5 minutes after they arrived. Elsie Jayne absolutely loves Maddie.

Elsie, Maddie and Lucy

Aunt Jo got some reading time in.

And then a little friendly competition. Aunt Jo and Lucy against Ronnie

The others enjoyed watching all the construction outside out windows!

I told you Elsie loves Maddie, below she is reading to her.

Lucy is such a happy little gal, isn't she cute?!

My sis celebrates her 30th birthday today. Happy Birthday Jo! While she was with us we celebrated. I made a cake for her, but the boys are use to me making a "speciality" cake. (Like a tractor, a football, Elmo, etc). So when I showed them the cake they said it was "a tire". So below Aunt Jo and Elsie pose with their tire cake. (It is actually very fitting for all the miles they are accumulating over these months in the states).

It pays to be the daughter of the birthday girl, Elsie took several tries, but finally got the candle out.

and she loved the "Tire Cake".

So we had a great visit with our cousins and Aunt Jo. They will come back in late May for a little bit of a longer visit and another birthday!

Spring is in the Air

Yes, spring has arrived, and so that means yard work.

and sharpening mower blades (know not the best stool is being used - he managed to stay upright though)

It also means, Garden.

and outside play time.

For some it still means being inside to avoid the winds, but at least she can yell at her brothers out the window!

Yes, spring is in the air and we're so thankful it has come.