The Children's Chapel singing

Can you find my three children? No, they are not the monkey :-)

Well, I was just too tired...

to stay up past midnight last night to do laundry, so now I have the mountain to attack. Today has already been beyond busy... mowing the lawn, pulling weeds that grew while we were gone, pruning bushes, getting about everything out of the one van and vacuuming it out (there was a whole lot of stuff in that van, including the tents we didn't have to use... Yeah!), making meals, making sure kiddos got baths, going to the park with Ron and the children, making sure bunny was stocked with plenty of food, fresh water, and treats (started that yesterday... Ron's parents checked up on her at least once while we were away... I had left enormous amounts of food for her, but she is quite an eater for a dwarf bunny), caught up on some phone calls to family... not calling anyone for about a week or using a computer was good for me, and making sure devotions was one of the first things done today cause I sure couldn't make it through this busy day without God's help... my feet hurt from it all.
Now, it's laundry time, and it is yuck!
I love camp... but the clean-up is quite the chore... I still think it is worth it all!

We are back!

Not that you missed us, but we were away at Beulah Grove Bible Methodist Family Camp... we got back today. Ron went on to our church tonight, but I stayed home with the girls... they ate some cereal, soaked in the bathtub... needed that in a serious way, played in their room, fought and got in BIG trouble with Mommy, and are back to playing again... I am getting caught up on the computer and thinking about allllll the work that lies before me... laundry... and, yuck!... it is bad! I am thinking about actually washing it in the middle of the night tonight.
We had a wonderful service this morning at camp, then we had lunch, and went to the ground-breaking ceremony, and then, wrapped things up with our packing, and went home... all the girls slept on the way home! They had a fantastic week at camp! The McCreery family and their church worked hard teaching our children. I joined nearly every Children's Service, and watched what they did. Got some ideas, and was able to see what my children were being taught... they used AiG materials and Racheal's materials together, and it was really well done... the props were great, the skits, songs, and all were outstanding. I was really impressed, and most of all, the children have learned more about the Seven C's of History, learned Scripture, and were able to be in services where God's presence was there. It was alot of services, but these kids were excited to be there.
They played soooo hard this week, made friends, and got chewed up by mosquitoes. They came home smelling like camp, but with fantastic memories. Horrah for camp!
Check back later for pics of them singing in the kid's choir this morning... even Hope sang! She was really cute. Faith now loves Racheal McCreery deeply... she just admires her.
The kids would be soooo exhausted by the end of the day, that they couldn't even go to the evening services sometimes... they would just have to be showered and put to bed. Two services a day and all that playing would wear them out, so we let them skip the third service (adult) sometimes, because they just needed sleep so badly. It was worth it all! Looking forward to next year's camp!!! The girls hoped we could live there... HA!

Sarah's Not-So-Professional Photograghy

After tweeking around with the previous pictures, this is what I got... enjoy!

Don't worry, friends and family, you didn't miss her graduation... these are pre-graduation pictures. I am hoping to have her graduation next month. Got to get the date and place set.

Faith with a picture of herself as a baby. How time passes! I am so proud of her.

These were actually some roses Ron got me for our anniversary. I plan to tweek with these pictures to make them look more professional so they can be printed and given out.

The sun was causing her to squint.

The trailor behind Faith belongs to my nieghbor who actually has a Doctorate and does some sort of research... I think it has to do with the neurons in the brain. She teaches Physiology, I believe, and travels to meetings, so we don't see her all the time... but, she is very sweet and loves Jesus. I feel good about her being our neighbor.

I am looking forward to tweeking with this picture... I love it!

seven years ago

I said, "I will"

Ron,

I still will... though there be mountains to climb, and battles to be fought... I will be your gal.



"For better or for worse"

We are aiming for the better :-)



"For richer or for poorer"

Well, I reckon we are neither really... we have never be without our needs met and we have nice things. We have a nice church, family, friends, home, our Cook-mobiles, lots of extras, and precious memories... guess we are leaning toward the rich. Mansion is promised in the future... yep, we're rich.



"In sickness, and in health"

Well, no one told me sickness would come so early... thought the bad C came mostly to those who had lived to raise their children, enjoy at least 30 years of marriage... but, I have found it comes to any age... babies, children, teenagers, young adults, middle ages, retired, and elderly... it really doesn't matter... I have met people of many ages who have had a meeting with the big C. But, Ron, I am stickin with ya! I know you've been sick. I made a promise, and I plan to stick with it!



"Until death, us do part"

We still kickin... so we're still stickin

I had alot of fun with my guy today. I surprised him by decorating his van while he was at work. Wrote on windows, put balloons in the van, and a card... the girls helped with the balloons. He was so touched when he discovered his "Happy Anniversary" decor on his vehicle. His co-workers liked it, too, I guess. It was soooo fun. He was all smiles when I saw him later.
He got me roses, a card, and fried chicken... I really like chicken... he is allergic to it, though.
We went fishing, and he caught fish like nobodies business, but I struggled to catch one tiny little fish that wasn't even worth keeping. The girls swam. This was at Caesar's Creek, where the girls love to go. I tend to worry about the girls drowning, so they had on floating swimming gear. I think learning to swim without the gear will have to happen in a clean, clear pool, like at their Mimi's house... I get grossed out trying to swim in lake water... can't stand the nasty stuff under my feet and the thoughts of what is in the water. I am a paranoid woman.
We got doughnuts and that was mmm-mmm good. Later, we had the funniest "service" here at the house I have ever been. The kids were absolutely hilarious! Faith had me almost rolling on the floor... she was acting like she was giving some sort of testimony how she had these diseases in high school, and got well... something about blood going in a square then was in a circle, something about ribs, putting on pressure, cancer, cholera (but, she called it something else), and how her mom asked her what school she wanted to go to, and she chose high school... then, church school... What a wild story she made up!!! And, poor kid... what other children pretend they have cancer... yuck!
Then, while Charity was doing her part in the "service", she was hugging and tipping the pulpit (the kitchen trash can), and talking about a bright shadow, I think... it was something like that and making up some weird "dream." She led the "song service", and we had to sing Christmas songs!!!
Hope sang songs, stood on her head, hopped around, and tried to play the piano.
I laughed. Then, I laughed some more. Finally, I was in urgent need to go to the restroom from laughing so hard.
Ron did the Bible story. He had to be the normal guy.
WHAT AN ANNIVERSARY THIS WAS! Was very special, even with the difficult reports I received from my folk, about my grandma's being put into an induced coma. My heart was so sad, but I went ahead and tried to make it a happy time.
The girls and I also stopped by Ron's parents' house to drop off a gift for his mom... today was her birthday, as well. I loved it... we were so spontaneous today, and just popped in wherever we wanted... the girls and I. It was fun surprising people with love.
Seven years ago...
Oh, how seven years can change a person! Challenge one to see who they REALLY are deep inside, and how much can actually happen so quickly. One just never knows. But when one plus one equals one... how interesting life gets.

another note today...

My grandma is doing aweful... she had to have surgery the other day, then got pneumonia... she had to have her appendix, etc, removed.
Dad was diagnosed with Crohn's. Been having a time with it, too.
So, when I said it was storming in our world, I wasn't kidding!
I can't wait for a little wave of cheer to breeze my way... oh, camp is coming up... now to THAT I am really looking forward! :-)
Please, pray my family gets well soon. It breaks my heart to think of my precious grandma so sick.

The UPDATE on Ron...

Well, I know some folk have been waiting... as have I, for an answer to Ron's testing.
There was actually a scare last week that had our nerves unravelling... or, at least mine. There was something showing up on the PET scan on Ron's neck, but at the same time, he was developing a nasty sickness. The debate was on... was his cancer returning? Well, he had a CT this week, and it seems that it very well could have just been the inflammation or infection from whatever sickness he has... PETs can show inflammation and infection, as well as cancer. He has a nasty sickness with rattles and coughs up stuff... it is hard listen to such noise in his sleep. He has to take some meds for it, but hopefully, he will be well again soon. There are some areas that are mentioned in the reports, but nothing the doc feels should be of concern right now. The next scan is to be in 3 months, if no symptoms appear before then. SOOO, it seems that it is still possible that Ron does not have cancer right now. There is perhaps HOPE... and, dreams to fulfill.
In the meantime, my heart is breaking for the ones I have met in recent days or have heard about... a 22 (?) year old who was just sent to an oncologist, another young girl whose boyfriend was just diagnosed with leukemia and his sister died of leukemia, and, of that young lady, J, I met who has Hodgkin's disease... this world is sooo full of pain and sadness... I am glad that this is not all we live for... we have the hope of Heaven... an eternity without sickness, pain, death, worry, tears, or grief... if we know Jesus Christ and believe in Him. What a comfort! Being the hypochondriac that I am, I fear I might be next... every pain, bump, sweat, itch, or whatever, sends me into a panic. Okay, the deal is that I want to raise my little ones... and, I don't know if I could handle what these cancer patients go through... that bone marrow biopsy looks like it would be excruciating. Ron is a trooper when it comes to pain.
It is a happy day, really... there is hope for a cure!

While I am waiting...

We are waiting on more test results for Ron.
Faith has been sick and has seen the pediatrician, is on antibiotics, and may have more appointments to come.
Charity and Hope have had their physicals. By the way, for those of you who have asked, Charity did have her hearing checked, and it is normal... guess she just talks really loud because she can, and has selective hearing... ha! Hopefully she will grow out of that.
Charity has learned how to fasten her OWN seat belt... hurray!!! If you think that is no big deal, then maybe you've never had to stretch all over a van trying to fasten seat belts. Now, only Hope needs help fastening up... though I still sometimes remind the girls that it must be tight.
Faith was such a big girl at the doctor this week... no screaming or crying when being examined... you would have to remember past appointments to appreciate the improvement. She truly has grown up so much. I can see her maturity in many ways, but then she does silly things lately, too, like trying to suck her thumb and talk with a baby's voice... even caught her with a pacifier the other day! Guess it is part of her make-believe world. She is a character sometimes... but, I also am seeing her grasp concepts she has heard all her little life, and it is making sense now. She plays hard, loves to swim, ride bikes, roller blade, fish, jump rope, play dollhouse, do crazy things to her little bunny, Princess... poor critter!, jump on our miniature trampoline, draw, hang out with her little friends... old and new, dress up and act, sing, make music, read books, and go places with Mommy... but, still on her top priority list is her Bible story time at night with Daddy. She is a big help to me. I am so blessed to have her as my little girl.
Hope has learned that three letter word that we just love to hear... NOT! The big word "WHY". Why this, and why that. Why, why, why. Doctor wanted to know about how well she eats... well, she eats just about anything... including non-food items... ugh! She loves to eat. She is really into the new miniature trampoline... she will laugh and jump and laugh and jump on that little thing! She cracks me up! She told me after her immunization yesterday, "I cared shots!" Meaning "I am scared of shots!" At least she didn't scream as loudly as Charity... she about blasted us out of the room, even when they just pricked her finger to check her iron levels... you would have thought they were killing Charity! Hope cried when they gave her a shot, but not like they were abusing her, just like a normal "That was scary and that hurt... hold me, Mama" kind of cry. Charity's was a "Don't touch me, You're killing me, send out for the police force, everyone in this building needs to know the injustice of all this infliction of pain, and I am calling my lawyer!" type of cry... no, she did not say those things, but she may as well have... be glad you weren't there!
On another note, I met a young lady last night that I would like you all to pray for... she has the same kind of cancer Ron has battled... Hodgkin's lymphoma. She has a large mass on her neck, but cannot start chemo yet, because she is pregnant. She is stage 3, and has to wait several more months before she can start treatments. Please, pray for her and her precious little baby. What an honorable thing to do... to save her baby, at her own risk... that takes love and courage. Pray the cancer will not spread during her pregnancy, and the baby will be healthy, and the mommy will be cured with the first line of treatments... the ABVD... same as Ron received at first. Hodgkin's is said to be 93% curable in it's early stages, and still has a pretty good prognosis in the later stages. To protect her privacy, I will just give the first letter of her first name... J... So, please, pray for young J, and her precious baby... she also has another toddler, as well. I hope we'll be keeping in touch, and maybe she will even visit our church. We have a fantastic church and they have been there for us during Ron's Hodgkin's battle, as has many other churches! I trust all you believers in Christ will lift her up in prayer today!

storms

We are in a storm right now... and, I don't just mean the downpour of rain and thunder, which we are experiencing as well, but things are hard to understand right now.
We have heard enough bad news in the last 48 hours to make one think... um, well, let's see, how about "AAAAAAAAAAUGH! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY!" and throw themselves against the wall... but, then again, guess that wouldn't really help matters.
So, we are in a storm... not getting into details right now, due to the fact that the "details" aren't certain, and I just am not going there right now. But, curious, how's the weather at your place?
Sleep sounds glorious right now. Just might indulge myself with a rest. ZZZZZZ

God cares...

about sad little girls and their dolls! Been lookin' for a replacement doll, and thought I would check out the thrift store and even prayed when I went... what do you know, but that we found a Dora doll, simular to the one she had, but bigger for like $1.99! Charity is in love!!! She has already been carrying her around all over the place, bathed with her, and ate with her today!!! She is thrilled to pieces! Mommy is relieved to save so much money! Saw one smaller than she got at Wal-Mart for like $20... was actually a little tempted to buy it, but thought that God might have a better deal for me at the Valley Thrift Store, and did He ever!!! God cares about little broken hearts. Thank You, Jesus!
On the down side of this "togetherness" with her new doll... she is so into this "real" buddy, that she takes her to the bathroom with her... today, she sat her on a potty in a public restroom, cause this Dora needed to potty, according to Charity... YUCK!!! Talk about germs!!! Dora got a bath tonight... Mommy made sure of that!
Other news must wait. Until then, pray.

Frustration over a doll!!!

As if I don't have better things to do, I have been searching for Charity's doll online... wouldn't be a big deal if the manufacturer still had them... might only be a 13 dollar doll, but, instead, looks like I might have to pay about 40 dollars to get one just like it right now... I think we shall have to pray that hers will be found! Can you imagine paying 40 dollars for a doll that originally cost 13 dollars?! Why does her favorite doll have to be a discontinued doll? And, WHY am I making a big deal over it... well, I got her liking another one of her dolls, but when emersed in water, the water stays inside, since it is hollow. Dora was a solid doll, that did not retain water, so she could bathe, swim, or whatever with the thing.
Faith was crying earlier because she wants her "teacher"... meaning... Sister Stroup. Guess my piano lesson today wasn't as special as what she received from her former teacher. The Stroups are moving to the Cayman Islands, so I am now Faith's piano teacher... which is humerous, indeed. Sister Stroup is a fantastic piano teacher, gentle, and very loved by my children. I don't think I will miss the long drive every Thursday, but I will miss the Stroups and the fun the kids had going there.
Guess what?! Ron and I have a very special surprise for Faith... she has learned sooo much this year, and really deserves a trophy for her work and helpfulness... we plan to get her one, too! But, in my closet lies a very much prayed for item... for which a little girl has looooonged! A 1/10 sized violin! It is sooo tiny and cute! I can hardly wait to present her with this gift... she deserves it! Now, I need to figure out how to teach her something I know absolutely NOTHING about! She has an ear for music, but I am not sure that will make her learn this thing! Another thing to pray about. I want to give my children an open door to develop their gifts!
Ron is at OSU having tests done... PRAY!
An answer to prayer is that one of our vehicles now have AC!!! Praise the Lord! It was incredibly hot travelling without it! My poor kids would cry from the heat! I had thought we might have to get another vehicle, but, it was just a hose thing! Yeah! Thank You, Lord!!!

Around the next curve...

This week is a "pins and needles" kind of week for me... Ron's PET and CAT scans are tomorrow, as well as an appointment with the dermatologist. I have been extremely nervous about this week. It is like waiting to see if armed man will pull the trigger or not. Holding my breath almost as we wind this corner! It has been about 8 months since the last stem-cell transplant and since he has had chemo or radiation... that is a very long time, perhaps the longest span of time since he started this battle with Hodgkin's disease. He has had about the ultimate treatments that people get for this lymphoma, I think, so it has been hit hard... now the question is... will this be remission or not? What is around the next curve? Is the road straight, bumpy, dead-ended, smooth, or are there just more curves? I just hold my breath and cringe.
Pray for us especially this week. We need Jesus' help! We want His will to be done!