We got some sunshine on a rainy day!

and today's forecast...rain, then some more rain, and finally rain
Family activities scheduled for today...an outdoor field trip, tournament game, homecoming parade and game - NICE!

Julia and Andy enjoyed a field trip to the apple orchard and got muddy but did not have rain. Julia met Johnny Appleseed, learned about producers and consumers, and learned that if you rub an apple on your arm it gets shinny -(this last bit of information she told me herself).

Julia is mining for gems here. This is how I found Julia when I got home from work---apparently, this nap started in the car on her way home from the apple orchard. Those field trips will wipe a girl out!

We had to be there early for the parade, but as usual we were late. Zach was greeted by chants of "ZACH! ZACH! ZACH!" and then a huddle around him.

Naturally, Julia had to climb something. I didn't get a picture of her in the tree, but I caught her on the sign.

Wyatt found a bug and was thrilled to hang on to it and show me.

Wyatt and Julia await the parade with a bag ready to collect candy. They wound up with too much candy.

A tournament game was scheduled for the field hockey team this afternoon. If it hadn't been rained out, these girls would not get to participate in the parade. There was much disappointment over that, so you can imagine their delight at being there.

not sure why Zach is away from the pack at the end of the parade

so the rain held off for the parade....the game was another story....left early after Andy got tired of Wyatt splashing mud on people as he stomped through the puddles

a few of my favorite things

While driving home today, I heard Steven Curtis Chapman's newest release. Heaven is the Place clearly describes those things he misses most about being with Maria and looks forward to doing again when they are reunited in Heaven. When he spoke of having his daughter cuddle on his chest, I was reminded of some of my favorite things. The past two weeks have been stressful, and I have felt that I could not catch my breath. I found myself snapping at Savannah this morning and saying that something on our schedule must go, and I offered up my Bible study on Wednesday nights as the only thing that can easily be axed. I know that this would not be a good idea as this promises to be a powerful study, and I know I need it. I am simply overwhelmed right now. So, I heard the song and thought that I would simply list some of my favorite things on the blog today because this could be fun. Yes, I should be cleaning or doing laundry or going to a parent meeting....think I'll skip that meeting tonight.

and here they are, not necessarily in order

• worship
• Revelation Song
• seeing something happen that can only be described as a miracle
• laying on the couch with a baby snuggled up on my chest
• sleeping late
• having a toddler tell me something that is clearly important or scolding me and then walking away leaving me with no idea whatsoever what was said
• a freshly bathed baby lathered in Johnson's Baby lotion and dressed in clean pajamas
• Hershey's Nuggets -esp. toffee
• date night
• nights out with my girlfriends
• hugs
• Julia's laugh - truly the best sound in the whole world
• listening to Zachary encourage his teammates after games and practices
• Savannah's kisses goodbye in the morning
• Wyatt's grin when he is delighted
• watching anyone who is thrilled about something
• sinking my feet in the sand with a cold beverage in my hand, my husband at my side, my children playing in the surf and watching the sunset
• laughing with my family
• seeing my church family
• Bath and Body Works - Spearmint Eucalyptus, Butterfly Flower, and Jasmine Vanilla
• catching up with old friends
• a 7 or 8 year old's grin when both front teeth are missing
• pictures - esp. of people
• Andy's sense of humor

These are a few of my favorite things -- simple pleasures - mostly cheaper than Oprah's list.

Incredible, Inspirational, and a hit right between the eyes!!

At this point you must be thinking, who is this blogger who disappeared for a few weeks and then comes back to post three times in two days?

I can't resist but to share this post from this amazing blog- possibly the most inspirational blog I have ever read! If you scroll to the bottom of my page, you can find the full blog by clicking on "the Journey." Prepare to be amazed by the way this very young woman (I think she is only 20) says "yes" to God. Be warned it may just change your life.

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/2009/08/be-warned-i-always-re-read-things.html

figuring it all out

It has been crazy busy here, and I have much blogging to do and many pictures to share, but I will simply try and organize my thoughts here with a few bullet posts.

• Zachary continues to play and love football. Recently, he earned an offensive tackle position. He loves playing the defensive line and was thrilled with the opportunity to play on the offensive line too. Unfortunately, it is much too tiring to do both, so he is back to just the defensive line. In his game this week, one of his opponents said that Zach is the strongest player he has ever had to face. Wow!!... such a nice compliment and great sportsmanship from that player
• Savannah --After a rocky start to school, Savannah has finally settled in to the routine. She is making new friends and enjoying school more each day. Field hockey keeps her busy. She played three games just this week and got to try her hand at goalie in two of them.
• Wyatt--Knowing English greatly helps Wyatt to actually like school this year. He is anxious to learn and proudly spelled "September" for me just the other day. Wyatt still eats constantly and has run out of food money at school because he was eating breakfast at home and at school every day and buying extra items at lunch. We have ended that little spree for him as he got busted big time when the notice arrived indicating that he had no money left in his account. There were some lies on his part that needed to be addressed, so this has not been pleasant, but he is learning. Wyatt plays soccer and is anxious for the last game and a trophy.
• Julia is also playing soccer, and school is going rather well for her. I will conference with her teacher this week and get the real scoop, but Julia seems to like being a big kid. I will leave you with one of my favorite recent quotes from Julia. "I can't sleep because my cough keeps waking me up to play."

I haven't forgotten the blog and will return soon with pictures. Andy and I are hanging in there and reflecting on the fact that last year at this time, we were in a much more difficult spot, so we are grateful for the reprieve even as life continues on twists and turns that aren't always fun and pleasant.

Miracles

This is a very cool story about the Great Physician, and it is so amazing that I don't think I will ever forget it. However, I must make a disclaimer statement before I begin. To protect the innocent and privacy, names have been changed. This is not my story...just the story of God and and an amazing boy.

We know of a family who faced devastating circumstances less than one month ago. They found themselves in the hospital with their 13 year old son who was very ill. He flatlined for 20 minutes, and for a few days his prognosis was quite grim. Peter was fighting a life threatening bacterial infection. When we thought the news could not get worse, we learned that he had Leukemia...and we all waited and prayed. Oh, did we ever pray!-night and day-...you see Peter is a classmate of Zachary's, and you might recall that this class lost a classmate this summer. It was unimaginable to think that under these strange circumstances, they might face that type of loss again. All accounts point to one great kid in this Peter, and we would soon learn that God has quite a plan unfolding in his life. Peter was fighting for his life, and his team of prayer warriors was growing and growing. After 9 days of prayer, we learned that a CT scan done of his brain came back completely clean. As I read the e-mail that brought that amazing news, I sobbed. My oh so sensitive son said, "Mom, are you crying!?" My response..."you have no idea how big this miracle is." The very next day I didn't really even know how to pray. Sure there was the prayer request list laid out before me in an e-mail along with the praise report from the scan, but I simply prayed for a miracle, and that was the day Peter awoke. For 10 days he had not spoken to his family, for 10 days they kept a constant vigil at his bedside as grim faced doctors came and went...doctors who were amazed by the CT scan, and then he awoke. One week later after a steroid treatment, Peter's cancer was in remission.

I have heard of miracles. I have read the stories. I have been amazed, but I honestly can't remember miracles this amazing hitting so close to home. I am convinced that if you ever meet this amazing boy, you will know this full story whether you meet him next week or in 20 years. Amazingly enough, the word on the street is that this little bit of information I am sharing here is only a part of a story full of miracles and God's fingerprints all over the place.

Peter still needs prayer as he continues to heal, but isn't God just cool??!!