Plants in Jeopardy! And other news...

I have several ideas for things to share with you running around in my head, but I thought tonight I would just share about our day because it was fun, and also interesting.

The first exciting news is...it snowed!  Well, it actually happened yesterday, not today, but around here it was very, very exciting, so I thought I would add it.  The kids went outside, and we actually got a little bit of accumulation--enough to throw a few snowballs!  We had a fire going in the fireplace, and this year I have decided to break my cardinal rule of not playing Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.  There is just something about the first snow that still makes me happy to this day.  But then.....I get over that reeeaaally fast.  And I would not mind if we did not see any more snow at all, thank you.

 

In other news...Cassandra and Sarah tried a new nail polish color.  Sarah's got done first, and then she kindly returned the favor so nicely, don't you think?  And, notice her HAIR...Yes, she is wearing BRAIDS!!!!  : )  : )

This is the kind of scene that I come across sometimes around our house.    Makes me happy. : )

We got a hot tub!!  Hubby found one for a good price on Craigslist.  He has always wanted one, and now his dream has come true.  We just got it the other day, and tonight, Sarah got in for the first time.  Now our water baby can enjoy the winter.  (And no, the water is not that hot.  It is safe for kids!)  : )

And yes, we finished another unit in our humble little home school.  Tonight we played....Plants in Jeopardy!!  Do you recognize Alice Trebeck?  She is looking lovely, don't you think?  Love that hair-do.  We had three very clever contestants, and they won quite a bit of money.  I believe Mr. Jacob in the middle seat there was the winner with $3,700.  All three of them are experts at the subject of plants, I can assure you.  The show was recorded in front of a live studio audience including a little girl and a dog.  I hope you got to see it.  Oh, you missed it?  That's too bad. 

(Oh, and those messy shelves?  All part of my little ploy to help you feel better about yourself.  You're welcome.)

And in other news, although I don't have a picture to show you, I took Sarah to the Ear Nose and Throat doctor today.  A couple weeks ago, our pediatrician had suggested we go get her checked because her voice is very unusual.  If you know her, you know right away what I am talking about.  It's low and kind of raspy. She's been called everything from a COPD patient to a robot, to an elf.  It's so cute, though, and we love it about her, and we just assumed it was just her normal voice since it has been that way since we got her.  Anyway, the doctor said that sometimes it could signal that there is a problem.  Maybe there was some damage to her vocal chords along the way before we got her, or sometimes acid reflux could be going on without any noticeable symptoms.  So, we went today, and he had to numb her nose and throat and stick that rubber tube with a camera down there, which was not fun...but he found redness and swelling, and little bumps.  All signifying irritation from acid reflux!  She has never once complained or seemed uncomfortable at all, so we were shocked!  So, we will be having that treated, and then we will see how her voice might change.  That will be very interesting... 

And that was our day!  Tomorrow we are going up to visit my wonderful second parents.  If you remember, my father-in-law has cancer, and very recently we were given bad news about the severity of it.  He starts aggressive treatment for it on Monday.  We would so appreciate it if you would pray.  If you didn't already see this post, you could read it now and see what kind of person he is.  Thank you so much.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Introducing...my wonderful second dad!

After my earlier post, I thought now would be the perfect time to introduce you to the man I am honored to call Dad.  (Yes, I also have my own dad that I love so much as well.  Hi, Dad!)

When I got married, I not only married my wonderful husband, but I also gained the privilege of being grafted into his family. I can honestly say that I could not be more blessed! My father-in-law was a building trades teacher in a public school system for at least 30 years . Each year the kids would build a house and auction it off at the end. He used that time not only to teach kids how to do a job and do it right, but he also gave them opportunities to learn more about Jesus if they wanted to. (After school hours, of course.) He also spent a lot of time wrestling with and working with his three sons, being a deacon at his church, and teaching adult Sunday School classes. When he retired from his teacher job, he slowed way down....NOT. He just started spending lots and lots more time helping Scott's oldest brother who is the director at a Christian camp. Finally, he and his amazing wife just up and moved there to help full time. I'm not sure how many hours he spends cutting grass, power washing, weed whacking, building, and everything else under the sun each week.



He is hard-working (and that is the understatement of a lifetime), kind, loving to everyone, playful, the best grandpa you can imagine, and the best dad and husband. All three of his sons asked him to be the best man at their weddings.  Oh, and he plays piano and has been writing songs! He can barely get through singing them without tearing up, just thinking about how much He loves the Lord. He is committed to God and spending every minute he can serving Him. When I see him with the grandkids, encouraging them to give everything they have to the Lord, and giving each one of them undivided attention, letting them all know how very important they are and how much he loves them, I am just overcome with how blessed we all are to have him.


And since a picture is worth a thousand words they say... Here is our dad and grandpa. Enjoy.

Enjoying life together

Never too big...: )

 Splashing with us

Helping with projects

 Unveiling a big surprise...

 Always wrestling...

 At the zoo

 Checking out something interesting

 Camping and fishing together

 Never complaining that these boys never lest you rest...; )

 Always loving our kids

 Giver of 4-wheeler rides...lots and lots of them

 Helping our kids learn the importance of working hard

 Father and sons working together

 You're never too old to sit on  Grandpa's lap

 Expert snuggler.

 Everyone loves Grandma and Grandpa...oldest to the youngest

 Still a kid at heart

 Time out for fishing

 Never too old to hold Grandpa's hand

 Singing for Jesus

 He's been a horsie, I don't know how many times...

 After so many years, still happy in love

 Enjoying God's creation

 Dad and two of his boys

Simply the best

 Sarah loves her grandpa

 Cassandra does too.

 Always there for us

Letting them know what is most important

No need for words.

We love this man!  Thank you for praying!



In everything give thanks....

Cancer.

Have you heard that word much lately? 

Our daughter, our friend, and now our precious father-in-law....have heard that they have these ugly cells lurking in their body. 

Two Sundays ago, my father-in-law went to the ER with severe stomach pains.  A CT scan showed enlarged lymph nodes behind his stomach.  They hoped it might be an infection, but the doctors were almost certain it was cancer.  That Tuesday he had a biopsy, and yesterday he had an appointment with an oncologist confirming that he does indeed have Lymphoma.  It is at an advanced stage, but thankfully, they are saying it is highly treatable.

Sooooo.......here we go again. 

I am left wondering, what in the world is going on with all this cancer?  I've heard it said, well, people are living longer now, so that is why we are seeing more cases.  But these cases are not in really old people! Most cases of cancer I've heard about lately are people that are really not old at all.

Maybe the devil has asked permission if he can use it to wreak havoc, and God has said yes...knowing that He can use it in amazing ways to draw people closer to Him. 

I have no idea.  But what I do know is, no matter what is the cause of all this cancer everywhere, God has already used it in my life so profoundly.  With each new diagnosis I hear, I am reminded how very much we NEED God.  We can think we have it all together.  Make our plans, go about our busy lives, keep all the plates spinning...and so easily forget that quite literally, we can do nothing without Him.  He will never show us His power if we are always contentedly relying on our own puny selves to make it through.  Especially here in cushy America, we are in desperate need of reminders of who is the real Source of power.  We honestly and truly need HIM. 

On facebook today, one of my friends reminded me that we are called to be thankful for EVERYTHING.  Even cancer, cancer, and cancer again is something to be thankful for when it keeps us on our knees, leaving it in the ultimate Healer's hands once again.  He is so good...so loving...so worthy of all our praise.  I will admit, I did question Him.  I can't understand for the life of me why He would choose one of the most loved, most godly men on this earth to battle this awful disease.  But we do not have to understand. 

We only have to trust.

We are praying for our beloved father and grandpa and our dear mom and grandma.  If only you could meet them,  you would know how blessed we are to have them, and honestly, how blessed is everyone who knows them or who is touched by their lives in some way.  Please pray for them and our whole family as we stand together with our sweet Jesus to fight cancer again.

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of  God in Christ Jesus, concerning you.-- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I'm BACK!!!

Hello, everyone who might still be checking in to read my blog after what seems like a long absence on my part...

My boys and I just got back from sunny Arizona where my parents live!  I love my family so much.  I loved every second of being with them all.  My two brothers and I all live in different states--different from each other and my parents, so it was such a treasured time all being together even if for just a little while.  I do wish Scott and my girls could have been there, but in some ways it was kind of nice.  A little break from toddlerhood days for a while. 

Waiting for the plane...First plane ride.  They were really excited!

Thanksgiving Dinner at my Mom's house.  Yummy!

My mom had a million presents for everyone. 

We went to a fun park nearby.  This is my sister in law with most of the kids.

Loving Arizona!

Ben loved Bella, my brother's dog so much.  I think I need to get him a little dog.  (We already have a big one!)

Here we all are...my brothers and their families and us!

Hunting for scorpions at my dad's house.  They did find one!

My dad treated us to the Natural History Museum.  Loved it!

And he also treated us to the science museum.  Here is Ben's favorite part--a stomach that made belching and other lovely gassy noises...

Spending time with cousins we never see. 

We climbed half way up a mile-high mountain with my dad.  So much fun!

This is what we came to Arizona to do...swim!

Aaaaah...Hot tub!

Ben said it was the BEST day of his life. : )

We said good-bye to this...

And we said good-bye to this...

But that's okay.  We came back to the snow!!  And the boys played outside all day. : )

We had a wonderful time, and Scott and Cassandra did fine with Sarah while we were gone.  She is still doing great, by the way!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!!