The Whirlwind Continues

No photos this post, the reality is lately we are just putting one foot in front of the other with all that has been going on around here. Work and home continue to be really busy with lots going on.  As for the ministry God is really moving there and opening up some doors that are really blowing our minds.  More to come on that later.

So Grace went this past week to Wake Forest, at Baptist for her annual visit.  She is continuing to do really well and we dont' have to go back for another year. So this was great news.

Olivia had an appointment at dermatologist and we are trying a medicine for her that we are praying will keep her from another surgery.  So this is hopeful!

Jonathon took his SAT for the third and final time to see if he can bring his scores up a little.  Testing is not his thing so this is never any fun.  We will move forward regardless with the results and begin to think about his college career in 2013 - still blows my mind!

I am not sure if I posted or not but Christian fractured his back in two places, not real sure how he did it, we assume baseball and are speculating it is from a run in he had as third baseman with the catcher going for a fly ball this summer and the other done during a slide into home plate.  Hard to say because these types of fractures you don't realize you have until you get pain.  Which he only seem to get if played a lot of baseball.  So he got fitted for his back brace last week and will get it this week.  He will wear it and be out of baseball for 3 months!  This means any physical activity gone - so this required coming off two baseball teams for the fall and reworking his schedule at school since he has weight training this quarter - fun stuff right?  NOT!  Never a dull moment.

This week brings more doctors appointments:
1. Logan's follow-up on orthopedic for his collar bone
2. Christian's back brace
3.  Olivia has her MRI on her back and brain and neurologist appointment

I will be glad when I can spend a lot less time at the doctor's office and I can put that money into something much more fun - like a much needed VACATION!

A Fun Day at Tiger World

The kids were out of school on Friday and Olivia has a project to do on how animals take are of their young so we decided to take a trip to a new place - Tiger World.  It is a really neat place about 30 minutes from here that takes in rescues, injured animals and animals on verge of extinction.  The lions, tigers, leopard, jaguar - all the cats were gorgeous.  They even had some cubs that were adorable.  Olivia is actually doing her project on one of the monkeys they had there because the baby, was with its mom.  They had a baboon that had the kids hysterical, he put on  a real show. A neat place.  Here are some of my favorites.

 

Allie, Jonathon's girlfriend, and Grace watching the baboon

 My absolute favorite of them!

 

The whole gang.  My friend Jeni and her two girls came along with us too.

 Allie taking Olivia for a piggy back ride

 

Jonathon had two girls along for the ride, Grace and my girlfriend Jeni's daughter Karissa

This was another one of my favorites. The kids look so happy and Jonathon and Allie look a little too natural!

an adorable couple

 

 

The Good the Bad and the Ugly

The past month has a been a blur, you know one of those periods in your life you sit and reflect on afterward and whether it was good, bad or ugly you know without the hand of Jesus gripping a hold of yours you could not have made it?  Let's see just to hit some of the highlights that I can share, there are more but to protect some I am going to leave it at the list below:
1.  Grace had an allergic reaction to a bug bite and her whole calf turned blue - yep a trip to the peditrican and a round of antibiotics which she is still taking.
2.  Logan had two teeth repaired that he broke in a swimming pool accident and came home that afternoon after the dentist appointment and fell on his ripstick and broke his collar bone.  He just came out of the sling but is not released for physical activity and lost his fall baseball season.
3. Some unnamed battles with some of my boys - a battle that required much spiritual sweat, a battle we haven't won yet, but I know the ending and I am holding on to that truth!
3. My aunt passed away suddenly at the age of 63 which has rattled my uncle, her two sons and granddaughers as well as the rest of the family.  I was asked to speak at this funeral.  It was an honor and God moved but it was an emotional time.  A time though where heaven invaded earth.  The funeral was the same day that I came home from our retreat.
4.  Which brings me to the good.  God moved in an incredible way no matter how many arrows Satan shot my way this month.  I still picked up my sword and battled.  God showed up in such a powerful and personal way and blew our minds with how "crazy" he was, radical, just sold out in love with his daughters.  We had 37 women attend.  Women from their 20's to 60's; 15 different churches; 8 different denominations; several unchurched; all coming together as the body of Christ.  All touched by the hand and heart of God Almighty.  God took me upon the mountain this weekend and allowed me to rise above the valley where I had been, filled me up and set me back on solid ground to continue to walk this season out.  I am in awe of Him!  Testimonies and pictures to come soon to our website, www.oaksofrighteousness.info  Our next retreat will be in the Spring of 2013 for teen girls 13-18. 

Look Who Lost Their First Tooth

Melted My Heart

Okay so Donna Laurie the Director at Eagles Wing where Olivia lived in China posted this video today.  It was a video she put together of all the children adopted this year with pictures of them now that they are with their forever families.  This was to show those that loved and cared for our children how well they are doing...So touched

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ogWvt8h5nB0#!

It's That Time of Year Again

We hit the field again this weekend for the beginning of th fall season of baseball.  I only have Christian this season since Logan still healing from his collar bone break.  Christian's playing on two teams though so we still stay hoping.

 

My Ballerinas

I decided this year to let the girls try dance after experiencing gymanstics for 2 years for Grace and Olivia a couple months.  This will let Olivia's back be fully healed and just give them exposure to something new.  They were so excited. They are even in two different classes due to age and had no problem with that eithr.  So precious.

Grace

Olivia