When God spares a life...

THERE ARE RULES WHILE PLAYING... AND, SEVERAL RULES WERE BROKEN... WHICH IS WHY SOME OF THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED!

Excuse the messy bed, but this is the RAILING I am referring to. You might see some drawings on the bed and wall... this was my two year old's doings. Well, except the obvious decor I did myself.

This is the dresser I am referring to. Those scarecrows DO NOT belong in Faith's bedroom. Hmmm, someone has taken some of my living room decor. That is a flannel board behind the dresser, in case you are wondering. My kids like flannelgraph.

We've had some close calls these days.

Faith nearly was hit by a car while we were riding bikes the other day.

Charity was sitting on the railing of the top bunk another day, flipped off, and I believe she landed on her head.

Hope decided to climb up Faith's set of dresser drawers to get something on top, and the huge dresser fell right on top of the little gal and pinned her underneath. She's bound to be bruised up this morning from that (it happened yesterday).

I had a close call a few weeks ago while trying to follow Ron in separate vans... he heard the near crash (never a pretty sound to hear screaching of tires along with honking, knowing your whole family was in the van about to be hit). We didn't get hit, but I was very upset. It was just way too close.

I guess I just need to say "Thank You" to Jesus for protecting us so many times from injury or worse. How my children have escaped serious injuries from their recent incidents is amazing!

So, when God spares a life, YOU SAY THANK YOU!!! OVER AND OVER!

Okay this next pic has nothing to do with the post. But, I want you to notice a few things. Do you see the stripes on my paint? That is what happens if you pour bleach into a cabinet and it runs down burgandy paint. :-( Something that definitely needs fixed!

Next, notice the mouth wash and electronic thermometer... they don't belong in the kitchen. That's life here.

Lastly, notice the candle. Got it yesterday from Secret Sister. I was longing for a new candle, as my some of my others were basically used up. This is a very nice candle from Wal-Mart. It has three different scents. I came home from church last night and lit it. Got up this morning and lit it again. I am in love. I also got a cute Fall welcome decoration.

Sorry about the quality of these photos. I still am using a broken camera, and can't tell what they look like until I put my disk in the computer. Here you will see kinda what material Faith chose for her curtains. Excuse the mess. She said that the material reminded her of Joseph and his coat of many colors. I must agree. They are simple curtains, put up with large shoe laces. Our walls are soft and rods tend to tare off the walls. Little children don't always do well with that.

My prayer for the day

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Philippians 4:8

Life might not be what I have dreamed it ought to have been... but, it is time to open my hand and say, "Lord, my dreams are yours now. Wash away the pain of disappointment, bitterness, rejection, and shattered dreams. Help me be a missionary whereever you plant me. If I never get to do the things I longed to do, I will still serve You. You are good. The one thing I cannot live without is knowing You... Just help me to know You and live in You. And, may my family know you, too. Help to have a thankful heart. Help me walk in the light. Make me a sweet wife, mommy, and friend. In Jesus Name, Amen."

Oh, WOW!

Rachel, we so need to print this pic on a mug or something!

Okay, Charity's smile looks painful, but look at Hope's pop-out blue eyes!

Look, I think me has found another new hobby. This was fun to do! I found out about this website Picnik off of another blog. Love it! What do you think?

Big weekend photos! Warning, some are a little embarrassing!

We had a BIG weekend this past week. Ron's birthday, the Conklin family reunion (my mom's parents... they are long deceased, but this represents their children and families), and Ron preached at a church in West Portsmouth again. By Sunday, the children were fit to be tied... let's just say I am really embarrassed by how they acted... but, we press on. I wonder why when it is a day when Ron is supposed to preach, that the kids get some crazy behavior. Sigh. I do train these children, by the way :) I wanted to cry. The other days, they did quite well, minus Faith's on-going stomach problem.

My poor family, I gave them no warning. I hope they don't shoot me for this! Above is my Aunt Janice. Below I totally caught Aunt Patty off guard as her thumb was in her mouth... it was sooo funny, we joked about it after I snapped the picture!

It was BEAUTIFUL weather!!!

These poor people, I just went around shooting random pictures before most of them even knew what happened.

Rachel, what were you thinking about? Brett, maybe?

I couldn't believe how much older my cousins' children were! They don't stay little for long.

There was a whole lot of food goin' on. There are some really great cooks in this family!

Dad even made it out to the family reunion.

My sister and me... okay, I just realized we both dressed in orange... must be the fall mood. You wouldn't believe the people who say we look alike... hmmm, what do you think?

Mom and me!

I think Wes' family was the only one not represented.

We popped in on Ron's Grandma with no warning!

I think this picture is cool for some reason.

Getting a decent picture with three wiggly children can be tough!

Ron with his Grandma. Ron had married his Grandpa and Mary. His Grandpa passed away a couple of years ago. We haven't visited his Grandma Mary in a loooong time. It was good to see her for a few minutes this weekend.


Okay, so I did tell you a while back that I was making table covers with burlap, so you will see some of that on here. I think it really bring out the autumn mood.

Decorating the top of my piano is fun. I used to like decorating the top of my fireplace at our other home, but my piano will do here.

I made this wreath last year. A year of storage did a bit of damage, but it is still usable.

My Mom gave me these little Indians. Cute. There are three of them, and this weekend just makes me think how those little guy remind my of my three little ones.

Cheap decor!

Outside our door.

I have been making rice sacks for us. The girls' were made out of these cute tights that were outgrown. The cuteness lives on as a comfort item. Just pop them in the microwave for a minute or so, and they feel so good to those sore spots, and also relaxing. It creates a wet heat, and I LOVE them!!!

Dad with the children. The leg that has no child on it is the one that has the issue. These are difficult days for him, but he is getting around a little with a cane. I enhanced the photo, so everyone doesn't look so pale.

So, there are more pictures of these autumn days to share, but I must stop for now. It was nice reuniting with some "down-home" family, friends, and church folk! Love to all!

Happy 35th Birthday, My Love!

Tomorrow is Ron's birthday, and it will be the 1st birthday in recent years that he has not been in or at a hospital. Woo-hoo! Three years ago, I think he was going for a diagnostic test... maybe the biopsy, I think. Two years ago, he went into The James on his birthday for his first stem-cell transplant using his own cells. Last year, he was LONGING to get out of the hospital for his birthday, after his double umbilical cord stem cell transplant. This year, he belongs with us, his family! We cannot really afford to give him a party or buy a nice present, but I think being out of the hospital is pretty exciting. The kids are going to make him cards, and I might sew something special for him... someone told me about something that I think would be neat to make for him and each of the kids... cool thing is that it is not a difficult thing to make. I plan to make a cake, too, and have the house looking as tidy as we can manage (that in itself can make a hubby smile).

Now, on to the 35 reasons why my love my hubby:
1. He loves and serves Jesus (not half-heartedly).
2. He works hard.
3. He provides well.
4. He is protective over his family.
5. He is a strong man in so many ways.
6. His smile and laugh are sooo cute.
7. He is handsome.
8. He loves his family.
9. He is a man of prayer.
10. He is a man of faith.
11. He dreams big.
12. He likes to purposely spend time with his children.
13. He in faithful to tell the children stories from the Bible.
14. His beautiful blue eyes.
15. He does very well at balancing time spent at work, in ministry, and with with family.
16. He puts up with me.
17. He bought me a rose for Sweetest Day.
18. He calls me often while at work... he seems to have an addiction to me.
19. He is a holiness man.
20. He is a man of conviction.
21. He has children that can just about go crazy when he comes home.
22. He took me to Taco Bell after church last night, just cause he knew I needed to socialize (other church folk showed up, as well). You might have to be a mama to understand the need for outside of the home conversations... like a breath of fresh air, it can be!
23. He supports me in that I am the teacher of my children.
24. He works hard to keep up with bills so that we don't get behind... and, he keeps us out of debt.
25. He preaches well.
26. He cares about those in jail or hurting.
27. He does well keeping up with calling.
28. He likes to take his children fishing, etc., and make special memories with them.
29. His children adore him.
30. His big hand holding mine.
31. He's so cute when he plays the guitar at home with his kids.
32. He can fix things.
33. His phone calls that say he can't wait to see me when he gets home ;-)
34. He is forgiving, giving, and living :-)
35. He's MY husband!

I love my big guy! Happy birthday, Ron!

Recent happenings

Well. there was some exciting things these days.
My little 4 year old asked Jesus to "wash away her sins and forgive her"... it was totally precious! She is also suddenly grasping her pre-school lessons now. She is supposed to have her first piano lesson on Tuesday. So exciting!
Yes, that does mean Faith is about to start her piano lessons again as well. Unfortunately, Faith still battles stomach pains and frequent moments of feeling unwell. Seems that the fevers aren't as frequent though... that is good. Not sure what to make her situation. She is pressing on in her first grade work, and one of her favorite things to do is riding her bike.
Hope is still 2... very much acting it, too! She is a trip... she is sooo Ron! It was fun the other day, when she was jumping on my back and acting like I was a horse (ouch!!!), then she got off. Well, Charity hopped on my back and Hope was not happy about that. She was like, "That's MY Mommy!!!!" She's a little selfish about sharing me with her sisters. She is still my dangerous child and a major eater! It is a challenge keeping her out of the refrigerator. I found her chomping on raw bacon the other day!!! Gross! I pulled the stuff out of her mouth and rinsed it out, and lectured how one can get sick doing that. Not sure it will stick, but I have punished her so much recently for stuff, my nerves are unravelling! The other day, she was grabbing cases of glasses at the eye doctor and running with them, and each time I smacked her hand and told her NO, but foolishness was bound up in her heart, and she had to try me at least two times... I was so frustrated, since I had clearly told the children not to ouch anything in the eye glasses shop without permission. It was as if she was purposely trying to frustrate me. I could just imagine having to pay for those glasses... we certainly can't afford THAT right now!!! Anyway, she received a much needed moment of discipline once we got into the van, then I prayed with the youngesters. Oh, these terrible twos! She really is cute and precious, and she will be brought under obedience, she just chose a very stressful moment to challenge me. Sigh!
I suppose you can guess I am getting new glasses. I have to go another appointment to see a glaucoma specialist... I have been borderline for a while, but my opthamologist wants a second opinion to see if I need drops now. nice. Something about the picture of inside my eye didn't look as bright as they like... guess I ought to read something about glaucoma, at least figure out what it is, since it is something they have been watching for maybe 2 years, I think.
Life is busy and there does seem to be a theme in our home of miracles and faith. God has always taken good care of us, two of my children have asked Jesus into their hearts, and I am trusting our third will once she gets to understanding more, and if she survives her eating raw meat out of the refrigerator. I am so looking forward to what God has for us next. I am overwhelmed with His patience and love for us!
Well, I have company that is supposed to come tomorrow after the evening service, so I need to get my house in order... I am exicted that someone is actually coming to my house!!! HA! Maybe I need to invite people more often! I like company! Especially if I can get the laundry off the couch!

Correction!!!

Okay, I made a mistake, Ron didn't shoot that deer with a gun, it was with a bow... it is NOT gun season... I just assumed he used a gun, and forgot that it wasn't that season yet... It struck me just a moment ago, so I asked him, and he said, "NO!" He wouldn't do that! Ooops! He was legal, don't you worry about that... I just made a wrong assumption.

Great big, ginormous miracles...

What can I say? That has been the Cook family's life these days. Who would have ever believed it possible that my husband would be in remission right now... that is, unless you believe in miracles. There have been many hope moments for us... the rainbow (a story Ron can share), the Scriptures, the amazing way some puzzle pieces and words of others fit together though they were coming from hundreds of miles away (another great story), and the faith of so very many who have prayed. My faith has been a rollercoaster about Ron's healing... knowing that even if he wasn't healed, God is still good. Always has been, and always will be. But, today topped the cake when we heard from the James that a blood count that had been off, was negative now... it's just fine! Other counts that most would need help on at this point, are just fine! It is a miracle! And, we are rejoicing! Another condition Ron has had since his teens seems to be cured as well!!! WOW! Now, we are going to take his back pain to the Lord, Who DOES hear! Who knows best, and cares! Thank You, Lord! Help me in my unbelief!

I know you all are waiting so anxiously...

as if I am THAT popular... my little blog and I! HA!

Well, I guess there are those out there hoping for a good update.

Well, it has been the time for sicknesses for little Faith. She just has had a time with sicknesses, especially Scarlet Fever, tummy problems, recurrent fevers, chest pain, headaches, etc... you would think being home schooled she wouldn't get sick very often, but somehow it has hit her hard this year.
Cool thing: The sick child has not been sick as to stop her from being determined to learn! She is busy in school, taught herself to ride her bike without training wheels, and has announced to me that she wants to be a doctor... well, it's a missionary, firefighting, and doctor type of desire. She says she wants to help people. She's in for alot of school if she goes for what she wants to be! She likes her doctor and cried the other day that she needed her because she didn't feel good. She is a smart little gal, and certainly has heard enough medical stuff to spark an interest. Her spiritual growth has been enormous! You wouldn't believe the things she says and asks... they seem deep for a six year old! Some questions are hard for even an adult to grasp. She has a very sensitive conscience.
Charity says she wants to be a nurse, and Hope says she wants to be a baby. Too cute!
Hope still isn't potty-trained, and Charity is absolutely hilarious in her ways... not sure how to explain Charity... she kind-of reminds me of myself as a child. She seems "dingy" in a very cute sort of way, she has a sort-of hyper-activity, and over-exaggerates her emotions. She can make you nearly laugh and cry in a single moment. She is a bit stubborn and a bit shy, yet if she is comfortable enough, she is very loud... everything is loud... her voice is loud, and she repeats herself over and over to make her point... yep, she's a Sarah child... poor kid.
Hope is a Ron child. I think she is going to drive me nuts. She is into everything. Very busy. Very busy trying to get into trouble and trying to do daring things. What is more thrilling than jumping off furniture, drawing on walls, and getting into the refrigerator or some one's purse at any moment someone isn't watching? She has this passion for the refrigerator... a love to eat. She loves to tell on her sisters and get them in trouble. Actually, she likes to tell on Daddy, too. If he does something she doesn't like, she has told him, "I'm going to go tell Mom!" Help us! These terrible twos!!! She sure is talking just fine now! She is learning alot, too. She finally figured out how to peddle that tricycle! Oh, she really loves sports-like activities... give her a pool and a floater, and she'll dive into the pool, not realizing that the only reason she doesn't drown is because of her floater, and the adults nearby watching this fearless child. Give her a trampoline, a bike, skates, a big swing, a big teeter-totter, a tall play-land, or whatever... she has to have something to conquer, or she just might tear the house down. Now, she does have one fear... BUGS! She will go frantic over the tiniest little bug. And, she fears my "your in trouble, little girl!" mode.
Well, since you likely don't know this... my swallowing problem was FINALLY figured out... yeah! It's eosinophilic esophagitis... cute name, huh? It is an allergic thing. Like asthma, my esophagus closes and causes the choking, and got that heart burn. Now to fix that deal. Stopping drinking coffee was a good step... I haven't had it in WEEKS!!! Tough decision. I really like coffee. Now I have other things to surrender, but it takes commitment and conviction to stick with it. Gotta figure out my allergies, too.
Good news, too, is that my half of a thyroid is working just great! I don't have to go to the thyroid doctor anymore. Yeah! That was a goal of mine this year, to get rid of the nodule I had... well, that was done early this year, and it went really well... I am trying to focus in some on my goals I had for this year... several have been accomplished, but many have not... I set pretty high goals sometimes.
I accidentally stabbed myself a few weeks ago with a screw driver in my gusto of sewing curtains and hanging them. I was adjusting a tension rod with the screwdriver and it slipped and stabbed between my fingers... ouch! Just a small whole, but I needed to get a tetanus shot. That shot was HORRIBLE! My arm was begging for mercy the days following, and I had flu symptoms! Blaaa! But, you know that I got lots of sewing done in the days leading up to that, but that tetanus shot does have a way of taking away the gusto. I got caught up in the burlap fad, and think this is the PERFECT time of the year for burlap... it seems so autumn-ish! It was fun to work with. I am not a perfectionist when it comes to sewing, so I can handle the mistakes I made. I made table covers, a door curtain for Faith's room (she doesn't have a door), and generally, had a blast doing it. Faith picked out material she liked for her bedroom windows, and I sewed simple curtains for her. Very bright colors.
I would love to share pictures with you, but Ron has the camera. Believe it or not, Ron went "hunting"recently, actually it was a lying down in and resting in a camper thing while holding a gun. And, he shot a deer! He couldn't drag it, he has a back situation. So, his friend did that part. Ron took the camera today to get some picts of his prize. Not a buck, but it is meat for our freezer! By the way, he is resting much to allow that back injury to heal. He isn't doing anything strenuous this week. Pray it heals quickly, as he would like to go back to work next week.
Well, now, you are probably longing to hear about Ron's latest report! Well, OSU told him... drum roll, please! ........ You are in clinic remission!!! Oh, yea, and they said, "Go, and live your life!" Spots that were shown on the PET had actually decreased in their intensity... meaning, it appears like things are doing what they ought. Yeah! I still struggle with panic when he gets a new pain, and my emotions are majorly roller-coaster like. So, one moment I am bubbling with excitement, and the next I am dwelling on uncertainties. If you have the book "Streams in the Desert", you SOOO have to read yesterday's devotional! Wow! If you don't have that devotional, save your pennies and get it... then, read October 4th's devotional!
Ron has gotten to preach in quite a few churches these days. Good for him! He has recently gotten a "promotion" in his jail ministry and can go in whenever he wants, I think, and he doesn't have to be behind glass anymore. He now can also hold services there. Yeah!
We are done for a few weeks with Children's Church, while another family in our church does there rotation. It feels strange being upstairs in the main service on Sunday mornings. I kind-of miss those youngsters down-stairs, but it is nice to get a break and be able to brainstorm.
Today, we have a viewing to go to and a funeral tomorrow. A dear lady in our church passed away. She was 91. Margaret Wick will certainly be missed!
Well, now, trying to cram in 40 days worth of words in one post is probably going to bore you stiff. Hopefully, I can get some pics on here soon, so you can SEE what has been going on.

Scarlet Fever!!!

I am momentarily breaking my blog fast to report breaking news and to request prayer! Faith has Scarlet Fever!!! If you look it up, you'll know what it is... Strep throat, red, sandpapery rash, etc. Not cool!!! You don't want it. She got to be used for teaching a Medical Student at the pediatrician's office... poor student seemed startled at the doctor's diagnosis... I already knew what it was, because she had the "classic symptoms", as the doctor called them. She has more symptoms, like the white coated, strawberry tongue, headache, red lines in the fold of her elbow, and she had a bit of a fever the other day. Her throat pain and the itching of the rash are her main complaints. My guess is that she MIGHT have picked it up at Play-land or in Children's Church.
I am not going to catch you all up on other news yet, cause I ain't done with my fast :-) Just breaking in for urgency sake.

Blogging break

I am going for a blogging break here... for about 4o days. I need time to refocus and keep on target with teaching school, home-making, spiritual growth, mental recuperation, and physical fitness. So, if you don't hear from me for a while, don't panic... hopefully, I have a full report to give you when I return with great progress made. I enjoy blogging, but it just needs to take a backseat for a few weeks. Hope to catch up with y'all in about 40 days! Check back in around Oct 5th, okay! Don't quit praying, alright?!

I think I'll diagnose myself with...

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder...
Perhaps that is why I lack the normal emotions a gal would have if her dad just had his second surgery to try to get all the cancer, with yet a possibility of a need to amputate his leg... not sure about that last part there... sounds wild. You think I would cry, but I guess I am numb. What is up with that? Sometimes I just can't cry anymore... am I warped or something? I just think... hey, let's see what else I can do to dress up my house! There seems something wrong with my numbness. I think about Ron's scans next month and I just am not sure what to expect... part of me says, "Girl, where's your faith?" Then, part of me says, "Sarah, you know that the one physician said it was only about a 25% chance Ron would be cured with that transplant he had, and statistics are really against him." Then, come the thought, "I STILL cannot get over the thought that Grandma is GONE! How I treasure her memory!" My brain is whirling tonight... gotta get the house cleaned, got to teach in the morning, really ought to dress up this place, I really need to loose a whole lot of weight, what if the kids or me is next with some terrible disease, why am I so addicted to coffee, does my life really matter to anyone, what is God's will for our future, will my dreams ever come true, and I really ought to go brush those children's teeth before they fall asleep tonight. How could I think so many things at one time? Cause it's just one of those big news kind of days, but I can't seem to feel the pain... it's like I am on some emotional tranquilizer or something. It's really weird, if you've never been there. I would rather not feel the pain right now anyway. My dad might be able to walk again, even though he is missing muscle, that is with rehab and with limitations. He is 54 years old. Not exactly an old man there... definitely not. Sigh.
Well, on the happy side, I am excited to say, the curtains are well on their way to being done, and I have come up with an inexpensive way to address the laundry area situation. Faith started school early this morning and was done by noon! Woo-hoo! I was really happy about that deal! I'll have to get picts of my progress on here when I get the projects done. I have some more ideas how to make my mobile home a beautiful little place to be, and it is gonna require my handy-dandy sewing machine... I am in love with that machine these days!!! So thankful my MIL bought it for me a few years ago... it has blessed me time and again! I am also gonna need some paint... but, by and by, this home is gonna be cute. Trailor walls can be tricky though, cause they aren't so tough... kinda soft really. So, some decor just wouldn't work here.
Well, that is a bit of what is goin' on in my world... had a nice weekend vacation with my family... more about that later!

Home decorating and organization ideas?

Got three questions for those out there with creative thinking...

I live in a mobile home, okay. We have no laundry room... we have a laundry closet (with the washer and dryer and an above cabinet for supplies). I seek for ideas how to beautify an un-hidable laundry area. I want ideas that will actually make it pretty. Color scheme in kitchen is burgandy/red, blue, and white.

I would like to award Faith for each reading book accomplished (we are talking a hundred something page books, generally). What do you think would be some incentive for a six year old? She already LOVES her first reading book and reading it is exciting enough, but I think a child who must read several hundred pages ought to have something exciting to look forward to.

One more thing for today: I would like an idea for making curtains for Faith's room. Look at the earlier pictures posted. I am aiming for brights and whites. Her comforter is bright pink, green, and I believe there is yellow in it. Her favorite color is pink. If you have run into any material that would look great with this, where was it? Maybe you know of a link to a curtain design that would look cute.

Hope to share picts of what we decide in the future here.

I think we on the mends!

I do believe Faith is getting well. Yay! I feel like I have been torturing her the last few days, but it seems to have been effective. I hope that virus never visits our home again!

Seems funny that I wrote one post about screening calls and another wanting calls. Actually, if one calls during breakfast, lunch, or after-school hours, that is cool... not that you have my schedule on your refrigerator or something... ha! I haven't actually gotten my schedule exactly to perfection myself... we are just getting into the swing of things.

Now, that two year old of mine is giving me quite the hassle during school hours... today she colored my carpet with chalk while I was teaching the other two. I might just go crazy if she keeps doing these things. Sigh.

Well, that is about it.

Bad news first, then the good... how's that?

Well, guess the old diagnosis of a fatty tumor wasn't quite right for my dad. The pathology report came back from the Mayo Clinic saying that that he had liposarcoma. I guess it is low-grade and they are going to do another surgery in about a week to make sure there isn't more. My understanding is that they think they can get it with surgery. So, there was a bit of the ugly C in that that tumor after all. Sigh!

Today, I took Faith back to the doctor due to EXTREME pain in her left side, and we are working on this situation here... if this doesn't resolve, she will need an ultra-sound to find out what is causing her problem. Poor girl, she has been through the wringer. I hate seeing her so sick. I am, however, weary of the pediatric appointments. It is embarrassing to have to come every week for the last three weeks because her symptoms have been so crazy, from 105.0 fever to extreme headaches to severe pain in her side to constipation... I can hardly wait 'til she is all well again! I think our new course of action here, though, is working... it's not very fun, though.

Ron preached in West Portsmouth on Sunday night. It was sooo fun to be back "down home." SOOOO many memories there! In the morning, though, we were at our church in Dayton, and we had about 28 children in our class ages ranging from 3 to 12! It was a powerful class, and I felt like God really was helping. Some children could be heard repeating after me to give their hearts to Jesus! Doesn't get better than that, my friends!!! Couple of kids came up to me after class to tell me that they had recently gotten saved... one at a camp, and one while having devotions with her big sister!!! Praise God! This teacher was tickled to pieces to hear their reports! I have a fantastic group of kids to work with! This Sunday, we won't be there, but we will have some folk filling in for us. We are to be back in Southern Ohio preaching at another holiness church. I LOVE hearing my hubby preach! If you think he is fun with the kids, he is just as good, if not better, preaching to the big guys! I enjoy the little people... big people sometimes make nervous. I can be myself with the children and they are rather cute! They are so tender, and you just never know what might happen in class... keeps life interesting! Big people sometimes sleep in church, clip their fingernails, twiddle with their cell phones, and doodle on paper... in Children's Church, it is not considered rude to say, "Okay, little Johnny, you need to put your toys under the chair and look up here. Little Susie, we are looking for quiet seats, so you best be not whispering to your neighbor!" You just can't do that to the big people without offending someone... although, I am sure there are ministers out there who wish they could.

As for me, I am up late cleaning house, and just finished listening to an episode of Unshackled! Can never tire of hearing how people's lives are transformed by the power of Christ Jesus! Well, I guess I had better get goin'!

That's that... the good and the bad... and, oh, yeah, I also had a fantastic time with my three little treasures at Carriage Hill Metro Park on Saturday... it was a blast! The highlight was playing in the shallow creek and watching the huge frogs. The animals on the farm are always fun to watch. We especially loved watching a calf show off for us... it would hurry over to the fence to where we were, then when we would walk away, it would run and jump around, as if to say "Look what I can do!" Soooo cute! Gotta love baby animals... they have little cute lambs, too. Now, it did storm while we were there, so that made our 3 hour adventure a bit more interesting. I can never seem to tire of that place. I would love to spend entire days there. Maybe we could have school there sometime. How fun would that be! We could study Science where Science is happening... the various trees, plants, bugs, animals, landscapes, etc., right there all around them... beats being stuck in a desk, in my opinion! Wonder what folks might think to see a family with their backpacks full of textbooks and crayon boxes sitting in the middle of a field or in the woods or maybe by the lake or creek, studying their lessons... who cares? I just think I might do that! Sitting inside all the time is too depressing... the walls start closing in on you. Kids need the fresh air and room to move, don't you think? There are also history lessons to learn at that place, too. If you live anywhere near Dayton, you just HAVE to go there... even if you have no children... I am convinced that when you live in the city, you have to find a country place to go to, just to get out of the crazy-ness!

Well, I guess I really ought to go now... have a good week... and, if you think of it, pray for my Dad's cancer situation and for my little girl... pray our home treatments we are giving Faith will "fix" her issue, as much as she hates it! If you want to know all the crazy things we have done to help Faith, you will have to call me and ask... I simply am not going there on my blog... besides, that will give you a reason to give me a call. When the phone rings and it is not my hubby or close family member (or, a sales person), I might just fall over! Calling on the phone and saying Hello must be out of style these days when there is Facebook and all. Kind of miss those voices, and even visits... those are out of style now, too, I think. Too bad. There is nothing like knowing that you are cool enough to just sit with and drink a cup of coffee... but, this is a fast-paced world. Since my Grandma passes away, I guess people's presence has become more special... you never know when they just won't be there to hug or touch, to eat with, to smell their scent, to hear their voice, to cherish their smile, to know they love you with all thier hearts 'cause they just tear up when they see you at their door, or their waving as you leave, saying, "Come back anytime. You are always welcome here!" That's how going to my grandparents house was. That was the old-fashioned way of lovin' people... I rather like it. Blogging is fun, too, but real people are the BEST!

Alright, I really ought to go now! Good night, my lurkers!

Dramatic story number 2,349,689 for the year!

The burnt surge protector... how do you like all the stuff in the background? AAAAUGH!

Got to get down to find the problem. So thankful for the guys who were willing to risk it.

The guys who were out here to work on it today.

Getting us GROUNDED!

BURNT!

The burnt carpet

The room where the smoke was... Faithy is lying down here, cause her tummy was hurting. Excuse the naked dolls. We just recently painted this room pink for her. I love a freshly painted room. Someone "back home" hand quilted that blanket on the wall for her when she was a baby.

I would like to make some curtains for her room, as I just did for her sisters' room.

Last night we had an electrical situation happen, and it resulted in a gas worker under the house getting shocked and our house filling with the terrible smell of burnt wire. Faith's bedroom was a cloud, and it was later discovered that the computer's surge protector was burnt clear through, there is a black area of carpet, and a small amount of the computer desk. The poor electricuted guy seemed fine, though he recounted his story to me in a way that makes me never want to become the "ground", as he says he became. He said he was glad it was him and not my children, and that it happened during the day and not at one in the morning (something about a short or something wrong with our electric... I have noticed something didn't seem quite right with our electric here. So glad God protected us... they shut all the electric off when they realized the house was smoked... who knows what might have happened if they hadn't. When the guy under the house was being shocked the lights in the house went crazy... like lights went bright while others went off, and back and forth. Poor guy! People were working on it last night and this morning... our house is now grounded... that is a good thing.

Now on to something fun. I have a fantastic Secret Sister this year, and she is royally spoiling me! The other day, she got me Bath and Body Works and peppermint patties... I was sooo excited. This Secret Sister seems to know just what I like, but I don't always get for myself... she has gotten me fantastic candles (they are the expensive ones, too... I check the bottoms to see what kind they are, and one of them was like about $20!) She even got me stuff for St. Patrick's Day... now that is dedication!!! I wish I was such a good SS! I always know that when I open that bag from my SS, there is a treasure inside! She has good taste!If you could read the bottom of this candle, it was like $19.50! It smells wonderful!I was in love with these bowls and they were great for my kitchen! They are red, and my wall is more burgandy, but it still looks fine to me.

The basket below and the star candle below were also from my SS. The bouquet is from my sister's wedding, and I just put up that calander/memo board... a great help organizing homeschooling and life. Notice all the 7UP on the counter... we got it for when Faith was sick, but she preferred ice water. The little calander encouragement book on the deep freezer was also from my SS.

I bought hot sticks the other day, and they worked nice on the girls' hair Wednesday night, but I think they sweated some of the curls out and the humidity was not on our side, I guess... but, these picts were taken before they went off to church. Faith and I didn't go, but I took her after church to be annointed. I believe the Lord has touched her. She seems to have improved so much... she still has tummy pain, but I think we are done with the high fevers! Thank you, Jesus!

Hope and Charity's hair.

This is Faith dressing up... thought it was hilarious... I made that mask in high school!