Blog worthy for sure!

So... I know I've been out of the blog loop for nearly a couple of weeks and have missed blogging about all sorts of things like:  New Years, A great visit from my family, progress on the new home, our ANNIVERSARY, Epiphany and more... BUT after a recent visit to a little boy who has captured all our hearts, I knew it was finally time to pick up my very tired pregnant body, drag it over to the computer and finally write about something worthy.

I think most of you have been following the happenings of little Dominic Pio and if you're anything like me, have fallen in love with him.  Perhaps you also have been saddened and heartbroken when he or his family suffers and have rejoiced in his healing and have been inspired by the example of his whole family, but especially his mother, Mary who has shown us all such an honest, beautiful, and REAL example of the "unconditional love" and "strength made perfect in weakness" of a mother. 

(here are a few photos of them together)

"I love you so much, Mommy.  Thank you for taking such good care of me!"

Well... my ankle was finally well enough to try for a quick trip up to Boston to visit these wonderful people in person.  This past Sunday Shaun, Ava and I enjoyed our Epiphany with them and were certainly able to see how Jesus can make himself manifest in the face of a little baby... only this time, instead of the innocence staring back at the magi... his face looked like this...

Ava was introduced...

 

"What's your name?"

"I'm Ava."

 

"I'm Dominic"

 

"I like your nose!"

and since she's been praying right along with us and blowing kisses at the computer screen whenever a post was made on him...

She was happy to finally do the honors in person.

(I think he liked it!)

She LOVED him and pushed him ALL over the hospital, singing with daddy and protesting if someone else wanted to push him instead.

"Come on Dominic... I'm gonna take you for a walk"

"It's ok, Mrs. Mary, I've got him!"

"Let's go this way..."

"Now this way..."

"How're you doin up there?"

"This is my Daddy.  He's a good singer!  Just listen to him." "...sing to him Daddy!"

 

Back...

and forth...

Back...

and forth...

ALL over the place...

"You still ok, Dominic?"

 

"ok, let's keep walking!  I'll sing you a song... Daaaaa-daaaa Daaaa-daaa"

And kisses and kisses and more kisses for him...

When I finally met Mary, I felt as though I'd known her forever.  With some people you just "click" right away, and honestly it makes sense because her son was put on my heart as if he was my own.  While he's been sick, they have been the first thought I've had in the morning, the last one I've had at night and many whispered prayers throughout the day had the names Dominic and Mary wrapped in them.

It came time for us to go and we parted as new friends brought together by heartache and grace.  Great "cement" for beginning or old friendships.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers as God's plan is always perfect and always best even when we don't understand it, but when we don't understand it, it can be a heavy weight until the fog lifts and his will reveals itself.  Pray for Mary's and her family's strength and Dominic's continued recovery (and while you're at it, if you can remember young Megan who was a patient in the hospital with them and still struggling as well, that would be wonderful.)

Many blessings (and blog posts) to come!