It's Saturday afternoon and the sun is out...

but the only ones who have any energy left to enjoy it...are under the age of ten!

We are sitting and reading, then talking, then sitting and staring blankly.  It has been such a full week.  We are physically tired but spiritually encouraged.  The weather is beautiful and the grill will be doing the cooking tonight.

Funny to me!

 "Mom? What's this for?" he asked with a wrinkled nose.

 It is a phonebook that was delivered to our front porch today.

Sometimes...you just do without your coffee...

because you never know what morning rush hour in thick fog will be like!  And you will still have to stop at a gas station with a less than desirable level of cleanliness...even though you didn't have a sip of anything!!!

You know that your daughter is nerved up about the day and you don't want to make her feel bad that she can't enjoy her favorite beverage!

There are signs all over the radiology department that discourage you from making other patients desire that which they cannot have!

So...you distract yourself with a suitcase of treasures brought from home, reading and studying, and visiting with your new Child-life friend, Nihlu.

You get to watch your little doll get a new little doll to practice giving an iv...because the Child-life friend saw the change in Alisa when it was confirmed there would be a need for an iv for contrast.

You know that being uncomfortable due to lack of caffine is just a small price to pay for the anxiety and pain of the poke that your little doll will endure.

You know that you have 45 minutes of waiting to grab something after your little doll is under the watchful care of the radiologist and able to watch a movie during the scan!  After having to wait over an hour because of another patient's needs, we had gone past the desire for coffee!  We had Pepsi!

You don't feel so bad when she comes out with a juice and two snacks...and then shares one with her Daddy.  We waited long enough this time around to see Dr. Frim for Alisa to be "starving".  But it was worth the wait...we got to talk and giggle...and we learned that the cyst hasn't grown since October!  There will always be some cyst material in Alisa's lowback.  We will watch it for ten years!  We will do two more scans at six months apart.  If there are no changes, we will then have a scan once a year.

We were able to grab a cup of coffee as we walked past the food court area on our way to the car.  Our goal..."Get out of the city before the late afternoon/evening rush hour!!!"  As we drove away...I finally stopped holding my breath and let a few tears free.  Alisa...fell asleep!

Daddy came through in granting Alisa's request for eating Chinese food with chopsticks at "her favorite" Panda Express over I-90!

You see the change on your little doll's face as each hour passed...and you know...that you can make it home to make a great pot of Tim Horton's coffee...and truly savor each drop!

God is good.  We are thankful...for His protection and for the prayers of our family and friends!

"Lift Him up, Lift Him up!"  I've been singing it all day...since about 3:30am!

"I am, I am your Father, child, I know you by name. I am and I'll never change!"

He said, "I AM, I'M the bread of life, you'll never go hungry.  I AM your water and you'll never thirst again. I AM, I'M your father, child, I know you by name. I AM and I'll never change!"

   He's the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  He's still the same as He was back then.

Just like He raised the dead and He caused the blind to see,

He'll work miracles if you'll just believe!

We are filling our minds and hearts with encouraging words in song today, like every other day.  We know the miracles we see now are different from those in the Old and New Testament.  But we know God steps in answers the prayers of His people.  Today, this song is ministering in ways we can't even begin to describe...in so many different areas of our lives.
Tomorrow, we make the drive into Chicago for Alisa's six month MRI scan.  We are trusting God once again!  We are asking for a clear reading of the scan.  We are asking for no trouble spots.  We have no reports of pain to give!  We know that God is still working in our lives...and we are reminded every day what He has done!  Would you pray for protection as we travel to Comer's Children's Hospital in downtown Chicago tomorrow morning?  Ted, Alisa, and I will make the trip.  Ashlynn and Teddy will keep Grandma company.  We leave at 6:00am.  Scan at 9:00am.  Appointment with Dr. Frim at 11:30am.  Pray for Alisa that she would not be overly anxious...should they add the iv contrast again...I suspect they will.

Jeremiah 33:3

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

We've read this verse many times.  We have taught the children the song.  We are once again learning to call...and wait...expecting God to show us great and mighty things that we don't know...and can't even fathom.
He promised He would answer!  We are trusting Him for His wisdom and that perfect plan.

Of flying stuffed teddy bears, bent lamps, and late night talks in the familyroom

It was a wonderful, yet spiritually challenging night!  We fellowshipped long after the service was over and then came home for a quick snack before bed...while we watched the last game of the Final Four.  It took awhile for the kiddos to settle down and they chatted while we started to unwind.  Due to a flying teddy bear across a dark room and a loud crash, we had to turn the game off and have a chat. 

When all was said and done, we learned once again that our children are struggling with the issues of life...just like we are!  What a privilege to hear them respond to what they are being taught and try to impress it upon each other!  Hence...the flying teddy bear...in the dark...toward a sister...which hit the lamp instead of its intended target.  What a picture for this Dad and Mom!  How often do we lash out or react in anger to the truth that we are being given?  We need to listen to Godly advice and instruction when it is given.  God gives us people around us that can build us up or tear us down.  We should be grateful when those closest to us are there to build us up...even if we don't like what they have to say!

We try to keep things in balance around here!

A treat from Daddy for our Sunday morning!  We enjoyed a full day and wonderful start to our week of special meetings at our church.  Already, we have been challenged and encouraged!  The DeGarde and Weigle families are with us.

We had the opportunity to take lunch to them today.  We packed up a picnic style lunch.  Fruit always tastes better on sticks!  And it wasn't for dessert.  We added our favorites...brownies and cookies!

For our morning snack, there wasn't even a wrinkled nose at fruit...because it was on a stick!  Besides...the rest of the donuts were eaten at breakfast. 

Our Alisa

"Mom, I thought you had a headache. Do you still have it?" asked Alisa. 
"Yes, I was hoping that by eating some lunch, the medicine I took would work better and help it go away!" I said.
"Maybe your head is just stressed from thinking too much!" she explained.
"Yeah, Mom, so don't think!" yelled Dad.  "After this week, I'm guessing, our girls will probably never have to worry about headaches," he mumbled to me.

Dad had a good idea...

but it made us get up and get out of the house.  We were feeling like slugs.  I mean...I was feeling like a slug!  We went to one park...with the rest of the area families whose Dad's had the same great idea.

So we took a drive and went exploring.  We found another park...by the river...that offers a place to fish!  We will go back for a picnic and fishing...when it gets a tad warmer...and the wind isn't out of the north.

It was a beautiful...and relaxing Saturday!  We are well rested for tomorrow and the week of special meetings at our church.

Friday Night Fun

Teddy was bound and determined to "take down" Aunt Sara.  I'm not really sure who won...

because Daddy attacked his little sister.

Playing this game with three little loves sure changes the dynamic of the game!

It was a fun family gathering with lots of good food!  Aunt Kay made wonderful cupcakes and Oreo truffles.

Time with family is always sweet and full of noise!

Happy April Fool's Day!

Our brood enjoyed some sweet treats from Grandma!

Conversations

Our substitute teacher has stepped in and has been diligently working with our students who have been struggling with Arithmetic.  It has come to light recently that they haven't been "tuned in" to their teacher during review time!  Imagine that!?!  So...when we don't "Work while we work..." we have been working while we'd rather be playing!  There have been a few bumps along the road and a few walls that have been hit...yesterday afternoon...being one of them.  Sometimes students respond better to substitutes...and their cool incentives!  It took seven problems to acquire three stars.  A star is given for each problem done correctly without the help of the teacher.  Three stars mean the work is complete. 

"Is there a dimension of her brain that isn't firing right now?" asked the poor teacher.  It is getting close to that time of her life that it may be, possibly, busy doing other things.  "The problem I asked was...5 goes into 6 how many times...the answer that was given was 2.  What do you say to that?  I said nothing...then asked it again.  She looked at me like she had no earthly idea." The poor teacher was beside himself after the work session.  I smiled and nodded, "It happens!  There are some days when our brains can't work mathematic equations.  I used up all my brain energy typing out your paper today.  I know that feeling well!"  He groaned and then said he was asking the Lord to help him see the other side of the education process.

Later...another conversation made us laugh...out loud.  If only it were this easy!

At supper as we talked over the events of the day and just chit-chatted, Ashlynn made the comment, "I wish you could get smarter in Math from eating chocolate!" 

"Wow, Ash, you'd be really smart 'cause you like to eat chocolate!  You always pick chocolate." said Alisa.

And as for Mom...why...she'd be a genius!