I see...

the way he loves her...
...and I see the way she loves him...

...and I know that few people in his world or hers are loved as much as this.

I can't tell you the way it blesses my heart to watch how much he cares about this little girl. Blake is an amazing guy and his baby sister made him all the more amazing the day she came into his life. I often wonder what he thinks about all that she is facing. I wonder who he will become because of the impact she has had on his life. I wonder what God will do with him in this world because of the heart He has given him. I wonder what will happen to my son if the day ever comes that this little girl leaves our home for heaven.

I see how tender and patient and compassionate Blake is with Ashley Kate and I have witnessed those exact same character traits of his when he encounters other children like Ash. I watch him interact with children his same age that have minds the age of our Ashley and I know that without a doubt God has changed my son through the life of his baby sister.

In the end all that truly matters is that some how, some way, this journey our family is on leads to God receiving the glory. In the lives of Dave, Blake, Allie, and myself. We have to figure out how to praise Him through the pain the same way that we give Him praise through the joy of Ash's life. I'm not sure how to do that yet. I don't know exactly what that looks like. I just know that Dave and I will be who they take their cues from and I pray we are able to be the example they need us to be.

In the mean time, I'm grateful for days like this where he has the opportunity to love on her and she has the opportunity to love him back. They are busy teaching each other (and me) an awful lot.