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the unexpected

Don’t you love getting unexpected mail?
I do. It is the best.
I love mail so much that I even asked a few of my friends to mail 
me their Christmas cards instead of putting them in my 
church mailbox and saving a stamp…I was joking…sort of.
I have pretty great friends because they actually did!
And when the UPS guy knocks at your door it is an even better day.
Especially when you live in the country and don’t get many visitors. 🙂
Levi got a surprise package for his birthday a few weeks ago.
We were so excited to open it.
And even more excited when we found new books inside.
Carrie, a sweet friend I have “met” through blogging, 
sent Levi her favorite boy books.
She has three boys…so she would know.
There was one for me…Wild Things.
And two for Levi…Little Boy and The Jesus Storybook Bible.
Levi is really into books right now.
He thought his present was great!
Little Boy is such an adorable book. 
I have heard great things about The Jesus Storybook Bible.
And I can’t wait to read Wild Things.
Do you have any books that your boys love?
She also sent this cute gray corduroy hat from Old Navy.
I tried so hard to get Levi to leave his hat on for a picture.
We wasn’t so sure about the hat.
I told him how cute he looked in it.
But he still wasn’t diggin’ having something on his head.
And then he was done with the hat.
(It looks like he had some leftover food in his mouth too…nice.)
Thanks for the thoughtful gift Carrie.
We love it!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
One more thing today…
Carrie is also sweet Kate’s aunt.
This family desperately needs our prayers right now.
On Tuesday Kate’s family received devastating news after her latest MRI.
The MRI showed new spots on Kate’s brain.
I can’t imagine the agony and pain Kate and her family are feeling 
right now as they decide what the next step in her treatment should be.
This is the kind of unexpected that you never want to hear.
Definitely not the news they were so hopeful for.
After getting to know Carrie a little through e-mails and 
following Holly’s blog, I feel such a connection with this family.
My heart aches for them.
I am begging the Lord to give the McRae’s a lifetime with their sweet Kate.
Will you join me in praying for Kate and her family?
You can read more on Holly’s blog here.
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  • Stef - I will be praying for Kate. Praying for God’s healing hand to be upon her and His comfort and unknowable joy to be IN her during all this.

    The hat is so cute on Levi. He gets more handsome every week!! Also, yes, we love surprise gifts. We moved away from both families 18 months ago and so old fashioned snail mail has become more and more popular. The kids love it.

    The Storybook Bible is our favorite!! Our 6 year old son is beginning to be able to read by himself from it and I love hearing him read it in his bed at night.ReplyCancel

  • Sarah - I love unexpected mail too! We will be praying for Kate.ReplyCancel

  • Krystal - We like “I Love You Stinkyface” lolReplyCancel

  • Townsend Crew - I’ve been praying for this sweet family since you posted this prayer request last year. My heart is breaking for them all! Thank you for again using Cora’s life for so much good: to bring prayers to another family in need.ReplyCancel

  • Danise - I follow a couple of families on CaringBridge and Kate’s post was the most agonizing post from there in the last few days. We have met a few families through my son’s illness (a blood disorder, not cancer) and every story is unique – uplifting and devastating all at the same time. Borrowing (and paraphrasing) from St. Jude’s hospital: Be thankful for the healthy kids in your life and pray, pray, pray for the those who are not.ReplyCancel

  • leiGh - We LOVE the Jesus Storybook Bible! Praying for little Kate.ReplyCancel

  • L ~ S - I love getting mail! 🙂 Adorable hat!ReplyCancel

  • Nicole - We have the Jesus Storybook Bible and my two older kids (7 and 4) absolutely love it (especially the 4 yr old). It is so worn out we’ve taped it together. I love how they describe every story (old and new testament) as a way for God to come into our lives and rescue us through His Son. Many of the stories bring tears to my eyes. Enjoy!ReplyCancel

  • Rebecca - Oh, how I love books!!! My list could go on forever. One of our favorites is Dear Zoo. We just love it!! It’s very cute and great for learning animals. A close second would be Lemons Are Not Red. We first checked it out of the library, and we liked it so much that we wanted a copy of our own. I had to order it though, because I had no luck finding it at any of our big bookstores. And if you are ever in need of a great Christmas book, Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree. THE BEST!! It is so cute.

    Praying for Kate, and thinking and praying for you, Joel, Levi and your families this week also.

    Hugs from Michigan.ReplyCancel

  • Jane's In The Jungle - I saw the news about Kate on another blog, how devastating. I immediately sought the Lord in prayer.

    My boys loved any books with trucks and tractors…especially John Deere!!ReplyCancel

  • The Schilling's from Cimarron - JEss,

    I have been following Kate’s blog since you gave it out. I know I feel so sad for them and will continue to pray for them! LOVE all the photos of sweet Levi! He is sooooooo cute! I still just want to squeeze those cheeks! Love to you all!

    AMIEReplyCancel

  • CherishedHearts Vintage - Prayers for Kate. Such a sweet face.

    As for the UPS man. I scream when he unexpectantly knocks on the door. Don’t know who is more frightened, him or the dogs!ReplyCancel

  • Amanda - Yay for unexpected mail!

    I’m so glad that Levi got that Storybook Bible, I had been wondering if he had it. We are absolutely loving it here – we read from it every day! I’m not sure who is loving it more – me or the kids! Some days I beg them to come read it with me. I can’t even believe how it gives even me such a better understanding of the way God unfolds his plan throughout history. It may be for kids – but it can speak wonders to us adults too!!!ReplyCancel

  • Kelly @ Sufficient Grace Ministries - super cute hat and great books. I will definitely pray for Kate and her family…

    I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to move, so I don’t know the exact title…but one of my favorite boy books is a devotional by Sheila Walsh for boys. It has the word warrior in it. And, it appeals to a boy’s warrior heart. Very cool.

    Blessings…ReplyCancel

  • Lora - Unexpected mail is AWESOME! I have three boys and I would safely say that they all LOVE “Goodnight, Gorilla” and it’s really a great book because it doesn’t have a lot of words, but the illustrations are great! We also love “I love you, Stinky Face” as someone else recommended.

    My family has had it’s share of cancer and I still can’t imagine what Kate’s family is going through at this time. She will be in my thoughts.ReplyCancel

  • Lora - This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyCancel

  • Trish - I lol’d about the food in his mouth! I am saddened by the news of Kate… brings tears to my eyes.ReplyCancel

  • EricaG - First, prayers coming for Kate!

    The Jesus Storybook Bible is so fantastic. It is an absolute favorite in our home. I’ve even shared portions of it with my Sr. High Sunday School class. The writing is fantastic, and the narrative so beautifully demonstrates how Christ is woven through the whole story of time. You will love it!ReplyCancel

  • Sarah - “I’ll Love You Forever” is my favorite mommy-of-boys book. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • laney - …so many many people are praying for our sweet little kate…now through your blog more are praying today than yesterday!ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - When my boys were young they liked the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” series and the poem books by Jack Prelutski, especially “The Baby Uggs are hatching”.ReplyCancel

  • Leah - Jess, I just bought the Wild Things book a few weeks back! I’ve only delved into parts of it (mostly the preschooler and discipline parts), but I think it will be an awesome insight on graceful ways to raise and nurture a boy…

    Thinking of you all this week…ReplyCancel

  • Sue - Oh my word, Jess. I know you have mentioned Kate here before, but I’ve never been to read their story. I have spent all morning in tears as I read their story and looked through their photos. What an unimaginably tough journey to have to travel. They must feel so desperate. Thank you for sharing with me again, I will be regularly checking up on Kate’s progress and will keep them all in my thoughts…

    Loved the pictures of Levi, he’s such a cute, happy little guy.

    Take care,
    Sue xReplyCancel

  • TimandCeri - Prayers said for Katie here. (I will have to read her story while I am not at work later this week) As for one our our fav books. I bet this one would be RIGHT up Mr Levi’s alley. And I bet you would have a fun photo shoot idea spun from it. It’s called Not a box. http://www.amazon.com/Not-Box-Antoinette-Portis/dp/0061123226 my son LOVES LOVES it. We have been reading it to him scince he was about 6 moths, and now he “reads along with us” And of course we have our very own box that lives in our living room. 🙂 We also love the Lama Lama books although if you do them read them through and think about some of the things that is in there. It’s harmless but all the sudden my son was saying things that I didn’t like, and it wasn’t until we were reading it that I discovered it was from the Lama books.ReplyCancel

  • Drea - your little ones are so adorable, i enjoyed my 1st visit to your blog…

    http://www.dreawood.comReplyCancel

  • jen christians - Praying for you today, and remembering sweet Cora…ReplyCancel

  • Carlotta - I bought the Jesus Storybook for my boys about a year ago maybe? We’ve read it all the way through almost twice, using it as part of our bedtime ritual.

    There were may times that it brought tears to my eyes just by speaking profound truths about God’s love and plan for us in the stories. God really used this straightforward storytelling version of the truths in the Bible to penetrate my heart. My boys enjoyed it too. Especially the Tower of Babel. Take care!ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - Oh my. So sweet dear Jess. Seeing Kate, brings me to tears. Thank you for your compassion and kindness. Much love to you – and little Levi is just too scrumptious for words. Rock on little Levi! Love – Carrie M.ReplyCancel