" A mans steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way? Proverbs 20:24

Friday, December 20, 2013

Christmas letter 2013





Another year has come and almost gone and God has been busy in our little family. Our adventures this year included the usual trip to Walmart and if I am feeling really brave I will take the kids out to eat (by myself).

    I did take them all skating this year, which proved to be very challenging. Many lessons were learned and the biggest one was, don't take three kids (including one who is overly dramatic) who cannot skate, to a public skating rink on Christian Music night. People are watching how you handle all three of them as you drag them out the door kicking and screaming. I am sure they all gathered in prayer as we left to give praise to God that we were gone then skated around the rink to the Hallelujah Chorus. When we came home from the skating rink we were greeted by my much aggravated husband and a toilet in the front yard. That, however, is another story for another time.

   Other than that ,the Taylor family has pretty much stayed home and focused on the newest little blessing that joined our family on November 3, 2013. Jacob Matthew Taylor, came three weeks early and weighed in at 8 lbs and 7oz and was 20.5 inches long. He resembles his big sister, Anna with his blond hair and blue eyes. He is already quite spoiled and loves to be snuggling someone at all times. With his arrival we realized that everyone now has a date for Home School Prom.

  
Anna is still attending “Taylor Home school” and is in the 2nd grade this year. She is learning new things and proving to be quite the little reader. She loves to spend her time either reading or doing anything crafty. Math is her worst enemy but she is learning to conquer it a little at a time. She is especially good at handing out orders to her younger siblings. Her father and I are confident that she will graduate this year top of her class.

   Jaden turned the big 5 this year and spent his birthday riding his new bike. He later became very brave and learned to ride it without training wheels. He is the newest student at “Taylor Home school” as he entered kindergarten this year. He is learning to read and doing quite well at putting his letter sounds together. He loves to write his name and math seems to be his best friend as he enjoys doing it each day. He has put on more dramatic performances then I can count with most of them being in public for all to see. When he grows up he wants to work with his daddy or be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. 

  Ava turned 3 this year and loves to love. She has got a spunky, head strong, personality all her own and you can't help but smile when she enters the room. This year she has conquered potty training. This has made mommy very happy. She also loves to help with everything. While mommy was in the hospital having Jacob, she proclaimed, “Mommy when you were gone I was totally helpful.”


  Jim Bob continues to work very hard long hours at the family business. We are so grateful for his willingness to provide for the family in this way. And Emily stays very busy with the children and home and school. She still cringes every time she is asked the question, “so, do you work?”

   As most of you know for the past few years we have been seeking many doctors to resolve some medical issues that the kids have been dealing with. God closed that door for us this year. After seeing many doctors and several test later, at Cincinnati Children Hospital, we were given our answer that we had searched for, for 8 years now. Anna, Jaden and Ava have a secondary carnitine deficiency and it is genetic. This news was delivered to us when we were 3 months pregnant with Jacob. So we are watching him very closely for symptoms and monitoring his blood sugar levels to make sure they are not getting too low. Medication was given to the other three and has helped them greatly. This condition can affect major organs and we were told that with the medication we shouldn't have anything to worry about. However some damage had already been done to Jaden while we fought for someone to help him. Thankfully it was just muscle damage and we are working on building back his strength. We were commended by the doctor on our persistence to find an answer for them. He told us many times it is misdiagnosed as a virus and when they do find what it is, then it is too late. God has really been at work during our eight year journey. We don't know what is causing their body to be deficient in carnitine, and we may never know. For now, God has closed that door and until He opens another one we will praise Him in the hallway. 



We hope and pray this letter finds you all well and in good health. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a New Year full of blessings.


Jim Bob, Emily,
         &
The Taylor Tots

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