Stop Trying

How many times I have seen my own short comings, failures and weaknesses and thought “I will do better.  I just need to try harder.”  I don’t even realize that I am thinking it really.  I think that it is our sinful nature to think that we “can”.  It’s easier to think this then to realize that we can’t.  
I hate I can’t’s.

I don’t like it when something gets in my way, like this fallen tree that was in the way of our 4 wheel road!  We had places to go, things to do and see!  (LOL at myself by the way)


The LORD is really speaking to me right now that I need not try to do better but I need to give up trying to do it myself.  Sounds good, not so easy.  I’ve been contemplating Jesus’ words in Matt. 11:28-30...today more so verse 29...”Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”


I believe that for me, the struggle in my soul highlights the problem in my heart - dependence.  “Dependence on Jesus is a prerequisite for obedience.” (from the One Year Devotion).  I really do “want” to be obedient, yet the dependence thing is a hard one for me.  I am trying to obey in my own strength and by my own understanding.  I guess if I am honest, I am afraid to trust and completely rely on the LORD.  Self sufficiency seems more “do-able” and controllable.  


This post is going to be a little different than some of my others, because I am honestly looking at my own heart and sin and sharing it here.  I don’t really “have the answer” right now.  But I do know that the LORD is whispering to me.  I think better when I process my devotions like this.  


What is the reason for our being overly burdened?  Am I resisting dependency on the LORD and feeling overwhelmed with my own independence?  Am I obsessing about the problems, and denying Scripture’s command to cast my anxiety upon the LORD?  (Phil 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:7).  Am I thinking that I am sufficient in myself to accomplish God’s purposes in my life?  


I “know” that only He is sufficient, yet, I am not trusting in it.  It seems safer to know it, and not put it to the test.  


Jesus says “My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:30).  
“Lord, I confess that I am afraid to trust You.  I am afraid that if I “cast my anxieties on You”, You wont really care, and might not take care of them (the way I am hoping for anyway).  Please forgive me and help me to find rest in dependence and trust in you.  Help me to take up the yoke of Your Son, Jesus, and follow Him. Amen."

Help Me LORD...

...to parent these little people, to love them and to teach them Your ways.  

Guide me when I’m not sure what to do or say.  Give me patience and help me to remember that they are still little and in need of nurturing and training.  

Forgive me when I become angry with their foolishness and impatient with their childishness.  














There are some things with my new little son that I am truly unsure of what to do, how to help, teach and train him.  




















Lord, I don’t like not knowing what to do.  I’m sure You are laughing a bit at that since You did make me and know that I like “a plan”.  




I will keep seeking You with my whole heart because I love you, LORD, and I love them.”

 And today, help me to see them with eyes of love, appreciation, and to give them the grace that You have shown me.

Amen

Christmas shopping.

A shopping day with nine children can be pretty hectic, but no more then usual! Today me and Dad are getting all of our presents together for Christmas and birthday's! Thank you all for your prayers for Keshawn's arm. He is doing much better and being as much a little stinker as always =).  Here is a pictures of him with his cast. He wouldn't smile and open his eyes for me.Haha.

  

Kalyn and Mom are still going through some problems so please continue praying for them. Below are Pictures of my three latest sewing projects, a long silk dress,

                                                                      A green peasant shirt   

And a new pillowcase with a doe embroidery.

Keshawn

Keshawn is doing wonderful, they got the bone set and put it in a cast and sling thank you all for your prayers. Mom and Kalyn have made it to Beijing and are doing great. They will continue to Guangzhou on Sunday, Which will be Saturday here. Again thank you all for your prayers.

Several Times This Week

Several times this week I sat down for a few seconds to write about this week, but we continue to have slow and “no” internet working here from about 4:00 p.m. and through out the evening.  Of course, this is the time that I usually have a few minutes to sit down and write since Steve is home.


Sooo, 
here’s the quick of it all before I must run down stairs and then I hope to follow up better later this afternoon;
-Hear once from Kalyn and they are all doing great.
-It’s been a hard week for a few of my little ones...I really need the LORD’s guidance for Aiden’s sensory things, and a few of the others have been very argumentative and “tender”.  By Wednesday, I was really wore down and tired...you know - the emotional stuff that makes you feel fuzzy minded and just “heavy”.  I love Aiden so much!!!  And I know the LORD has given me a special job to mother this little guy, and that He (God) will provide what I need to do that job.  Having said that  - well, after working with the yelling, fighting, crying, screaming, throwing, and heart wrenching “I’m sorry, Mommy”, only to start it all over again - EVERY day and almost EVERY minute, and then - well, the other things...
I don’t mean to complain - 
Yesterday I actually looked up “tired” and “burdened”  and “weary” in the Bible - ha-ha... I know, that is pathetic isn’t it.  And the LORD did give me a wonderful verse that encouraged me and a wonderful post from another mother that I will share later.  I can’t share this verse right now because my Bible is down stairs, and I am upstairs sitting with above mentioned child who is sitting here with me (for probably obvious reasons-his world has HAD to become a small circle around me).  So God knew how much His WORD would encourage me! Which is good, because,
-We had a dr.s appointment for Caresse.  I have been concerned about the leg that she has had two surgeries on.  It seems to be growing crooked.  Her AWESOME dr. confirmed that it is and that she needs a surgery right now to insert a plate into her knee to see if that will stop it from becoming worse and potentially “crippled”.  Poor Caresse, who has had 5 surgeries, skin biopsies, and so much pain in her leg sat there and cried and cried!  I couldn’t figure out why she was THAT UPSET.  When the dr. left I found out the problem.  She got upset when she heard that she needed a plate inserted into her leg and she heard that the dr. was going to numb it...my poor darling daughter thought that she was going to have to be AWAKE for the surgery and that they were only going to numb the spot.  Good Grief...I WOULD be crying in terror too!  After she found out what was going to happen, she was only “a little” upset.  On the drive home though it began to sink in that she had to have another surgery, be on crutches again, and hopefully be up and walking well by Jace’s wedding.  So her surgery is June 24th if you all would please be praying.  
-It’s funny - the above made me think something...special needs is talked about (rightly) a lot in considering to adopt a child with a special needs.  By adoption definition, Caresse is a “special needs” child. There is a difference though.  Caresse was born into a family and a culture where she could receive the medical help that she needs.  So many parents and children do no have that option.   Special Needs doesn’t have to be a “life sentence” for a child.  I love Caresse of course, and will do what I can for my child, and when we adopt a child into our family, if that child has a SN, our thoughts are not focused on that, but on the fact that he or she is our child and we will do what we need to do to help them.  I am so grateful to so many of you who have adopted SN children...you shine a light in a scary place.  May the LORD lay more of those precious children who wait on the hearts of others who can help them with the challenges that they face just because they are poor and live in a country where they cannot receive the medical help that they need.  “Special Needs” is not “who” they are, but just a beautiful situation for the LOVE of Jesus to shine into the lives of precious ones who are looking for help and waiting. 
AND that is the “quick” update - LOL.  Aren’t you glad I didn’t write out the long version.  
AND also, here is that site that I mentioned above that has encouraged me so much this week.  I will be spending time reading and meditating on the verses that she mentioned...
AND by the way, I love you guys!  Thank you for visiting our blog, for praying for us, for listening to me when I just need to chat.  Thank you for sharing our lives with us.  I am SO GRATEFUL for you all.  

Pray With Jesus

Pray with Jesus - from Elizabeth Elliot devotional A Lamp For My Feet

"Because I am "of the earth, earthy," I find that my prayers for the people I love are mostly bound by very earthy concerns--Lord, help P. to find a good wife, show G. which college to attend, provide money for W.'s house and E.'s car, help T. with his book, give X. a better job. It is meet and proper to pray for such things, but not to pray only for such things. There are prayers of far more lasting import which we must also learn to pray. We can find words for those in the prayer of Jesus for the people He loved:

1. that they may be one;
2. that they may find his joy completed in themselves;
3. that they may be kept from evil;
4. that they may be made holy by the truth;
5. that they may live in Christ;
6. that they may grow complete into one;
7. that they may be with him;
8. that the love which God has for Christ may be in their hearts.

If we learn to pray that kind of prayer, it will perhaps amend the "lesser" prayers.

Lord, teach me to pray. Open my eyes to see beyond the earthly to the heavenly. Let my primary concerns be heavenly ones, that your kingdom may come on earth, your will be done in me and in those I love. Teach me to pray with Jesus, for his sake. Amen.”

I am home with two little boys this morning while the rest of the family has gone to church.  I am still sick.  I am feeling frustrated at being sick for so long now.  I have been to the dr. and so far they are coming up with nothing much...a virus, an allergic reaction, hormones, etc....

It is amazing how quiet it is with “just” two boys, and one of them is a two year old...LOL.  The high here in Colorado today is suppose to be 30, with chances of snow later.  Guess we will put off making that green house for Caresse till later.  We have a pair of doves that have made the front yard trees their home.  I love hearing the “cooing” and I have been hoping that they are sturdy enough for this unusually cold May.

I haven’t been taking very many pictures lately...guess I have gotten in a rut...

Steve and I are moving along with studying our Created To Connect information.  Seems like so much some times.  Time and time again I find scriptures that speak the same things to me as the information that I am studying.  I will try to start getting that together to share a little better in the future.

Faith And Crying Out

With persistent determination she went yet again to the one who could give her the justice that she was seeking.  As a widow, she had no one to listen to her needs, and no one cared about them.  The man that she continued to badger for help didn’t care either; he neither respected God nor people and was himself an unrighteous man.  However, it WAS his job, so she was not going to let up.  She was desperate to get help against her opposer.  And even though he would probably refuse again, she would persist.  After all, where else was she to go for support?  
She did finally wear down this unrighteous judge, and he gave her the justice that she was seeking just to get her off his back.  

You probably recognize this story from Luke 18:1-8.
A few months back our pastor talked on this portion of the Bible.  And I have been thinking on it some more. 
 Jesus is not comparing the LORD to this unrighteous judge, but does use this story to get a point across.  
“And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? (verse 7)  Let us encourage ourselves and each other to cry out to Him for what we need; cry out to Him day and night.  Always pray and not loose heart!!!
What about faith?  In verse 8 Jesus ends this parable with something that might be easily missed...”Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”  
Persistent, constant prayer and crying out to the LORD is part of our faith!!  And though, the widow could not be sure that the judge would ever help her, the LORD has promised to give us our justice and to give it speedily!!!! (also verse 8).  
I want the LORD to find faith in me when He comes, so I will remember that part of my faith is exercised as I persistently cry out to Him for what I need, and not lose heart that He will answer.    
Take your needs to Him today, tomorrow, and on and on, and with determination CRY OUT TO HIM, because He cares for you.  I don’t have to promise you that, HE already did!!!

Who Do They Belong To?

A Prayer taken from Isaiah 44:3-4
“Father God, I ask you to pour out Your Spirit upon my children and that Your blessing would be upon my descendants.  I pray that they would spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.  And that they would declare “I AM THE LORD’s”!!!” Amen

Offering Up My Lack

"It’s been hard to see at times, but I’m beginning to grasp that God can do much more through my weaknesses than my strengths.  When I offer up my lack, whether it is money, wisdom, or time, there is much more room for God to make up the difference.  ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt. 5:3)”

The above was spoken by Rwandan genocide survivor Eric Irivuzumugabe  from his book “My Father, Maker of the Trees - a book worth reading!!!!

What Eric spoke in the above really caught my attention.  

My prayer is to glorify the LORD in my life.   And I must also offer my lack up to HIM and trust Him! 

I feel lacking most days...lacking in something or other.  I really am beginning to embrace my lack though because those very deficiencies bring me to the LORD over and over.  It is Him I must trust, not my ability.  It is His Wisdom I must pray for, not mine. 

It is His strength, His knowledge, His counsel, His guidance, and His purposes that I must continue to pray for.  

Let’s give Him our lack and faithfully continue on in the good work that He has given us to do.

Hello!

How are ya’ll this morning?

Is there anything that you would like me to be praying for today?

Prayer Today Please!!

Would you please be praying for our adoption right now.  Things I can’t put here, but;
-praying for favor.....
-paperwork approval....
-meeting Ch@ approval....


Funny, just last night, I was awake for a while, which seems to be the normal for me lately.  So I prayed and talked to God.  I was confessing some “poor me” attitudes and negative feelings and just asking the LORD for wisdom and help with some things.  
I began to remember some Bible verses I had just read and here is what I felt HE spoke to me....


SORRY,
I have to get down stairs!  I know this is cruel to not finish this thought,
however, I do want to go ahead a post this part so ya’ll can start PRAYING!
I’ll finish up as soon as I get the children settled with school...
loves!!!!!!

Goin’ On A Date (And Chris...Wait For It - LOL)

Kalyn helped me clean out my “baby” for a date.  This date is even better because I get to spend it with my real Love, Steve and baby Keshawn.  We are meeting my parents and my bother and sister-in-law (Kim and Karla) at Durango.  My parents celebrated 50 years of marriage 2 years ago, however, because of the surgeries that mom has had on her leg we have put off our (Kim, Karla, Steve and me (or I?  what is the correct grammar here? Sorry!)) gift to them.  Our gift was a rented house in the beautiful mountains of Colorado for a week of play with us.  Ha-I especially like the “us” part.  My parents are awesome; they have always said that their favorite people to go on vacations and play with is their children.  
So, of course, I wanted my baby nice and clean for the “date”.  Thanks Kalyn for helping me!

Speaking of Kalyn - she picked on poor innocent Kiana, and it ended in a water fight  - HA...you would have to know Kiana to know that she was no where near innocent!  She mercilessly teased Kalyn, and well, Kalyn got her!

AnnnnyWhoooo (I have wanted to say that, because, well, it sound funny to me)...would ya’ll please be praying for Corbin.  He had a sonogram on his kidney’s today.  He has had problems with “holding it” and we are trying to find out what is going on.  
Also, please pray for Kalyn and the children next week while we are gone.  We have a lot of friends near by to watch and help out, however, we are praying that the children have a great and restful week together!!!

Oh, and Chris, the name of the game is Brainstonz by McWiz.  It is simple and fun.  

What An Adventure!

What a time Caresse and I had in Texas. After our 10 hour drive we arrived safely to my parents home.  The next morning EARLY, we were on our way to the hospital for mom's surgery. We knew that it would be a difficult and painful surgery and it was.  After 4 1/2 hours the dr. felt very proud to have removed the broken titanium rod and replace it with a new hip prosthetic.  We were all so grateful (especially mom and dad!!!!) to have this surgery behind them and we are all hopeful that she will be off crutches for the first time in 3 years!  We are all praying for a wonderful recovery and strength to return to her leg. 

Jace and Karlie came from Dallas.  Jace is an amazing cook and he and Karlie provided breakfast and supper for us each day, except one when Caresse made us yummy Blueberry muffins. Jace and Karlie also spent time doing fun things with Caresse so that she wouldn't have to sit in the hospital to much.

On the 3rd, we were able to Skype with Kalyn in Mexico and sing happy birthday to her.  That was so amazing to see her and hear her from so far away.  Things where they were became dangerous, so they had to fly out Monday and they are all safely in the USA again. 

It rained for three days and on the 4th it flooded in the city where my parents live.  Their house overlooks a lake and all of the docks were under water.

The dam to the other side of the lake was blocked off because it was too dangerous to cross.  

The boats just floated above the docks that you can't see here.

Jace, of course, found a fun flooded road to splash through. 

We had to crossed this flooded section of the road to get to the hospital where mom and dad where. I followed Jace in my little car and prayed!!!

We made it to the hospital and had a celebration party for my parents 51st Anniversary. 

And guess who is feeling TONS better...yes, my sister (in-law), Karla.  Thank you all for your prayers. We are all thanking Jesus.  She has not felt good since before December. It was so nice to get to spend time with her.
We are back home safely and Keshawn is pretty mad at me for being gone.  I am trying to make up with him...LOL. 
I had a dr. appointment this morning and need to go to therapy for a very painful sciatica pain in my back and leg. 
And Kalyn will be back home this weekend.  
I was so glad to get to be with my parents and other family. 

Here!

We arrived safely after almost 9 hours of travel, Taco Bell, Pepsi, trivia cards, and a lot of wind. 

We leave in the morning at 4:30 (isn't there a law against that). The good news is mom is first for the day.

The prayer request - the dr. continues to express that this could be a long and difficult surgery. 

Jace and Karlie are on their way and will be here later tonight.  I am looking forward to seeing them.  Off to be for a little bit of sleep.

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts for our family!!!

Surgery Soon!

Mom (Gommy) will have a hip replacement surgery next Friday, July 2nd.  The new dr. that she met with today feels that her only option is this extreme and "tricky" surgery.  However, the hopeful news is that finally, three years after the accident, she will walk without pain and without crutches. Mom has lived the last three years with several surgeries and two different rods placed in her leg with the hopes that she would recover. However, the damage to her leg was just to much. So now, the idea behind this surgery is to replace the hip and the leg bone below it that was broken. The dr. was clear that this would be a hard and tricky surgery...first off, they have to remove the broken rod, and then do the hip replacement surgery. I will go to Texas on Thursday so that I can be there.  Please prayer over this surgery.  And thank you all for your faithful love and prayers for my family.  I am so grateful that the surgery is happening over the 4th of July weekend because Steve is off and able to stay home with the children. With Kalyn in Mexico, we do not have the child watching help that we normally do.  AND, GUESS WHAT, while my mom is in the hospital, my parents will celebrate 51 years of being married!!! 
Thank you all for asking and caring! We are so grateful. 
Alia is doing much better also. 

I got an email that Kalyn had arrived safely in Mexico last night. We have been enjoying the warm weather here. Time to get us all ready for the day....

Boy, I'm Having a Time....(And So Are My Parents)

Well, first.
I have some little ones who are giving me a pretty hard time this week.  Really bad, disobedient and angry attitudes, lots of tattle-tailing. I have been praying and seeking the Lord.  Late one night, while I was awake, I was thinking of one in particular and asking the LORD what to do.  I remembered a verse in Jeremiah 10:21 "For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the LORD....". This really fits in this week with the book study that we are doing over at Jills, Praying The Names Of God.
We are studying the name of the LORD, Yahweh Roi, The LORD Is My Shepherd.  I want to be wise and "inquire of the LORD" in all areas, but especially as Steve and I shepherd our family.  My prayer this week is to faithfully shepherd my children, and I know that I cannot do this without the counsel of the LORD.

By the way this child is not one of my "hard" ones this week, I just thought it was really cute. Anyway, one of my favorite chapters in the Bible is in Ezekiel 34, especially verses 15-16 "I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the LORD GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice." So that night when I prayed for my little one, what did I hear...that my little sheep will stray, and I must bring them back to what is right with patience and kindness. One of the sins of the faithless shepherds in Ezekiel 34:4 is force and harshness "The weak you have not strengthened , the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them."


And now second, 
Mom met with her Dr. this morning about her leg.  She needs to meet with another Dr. next week. Without going into all the details, please pray. Right now, they are not sure which surgery will be best and not sure that either of them will completely give her back full use of her leg.  Let's pray that our Shepherd would strengthen what is weak, and bind up what is injured and that complete recovery of her leg would happen for HIS GLORY. 

 She's got a lot of little ones to keep up with after all.  And as she would say, "The LORD be glorified in ALL things!" 

Fear by Kalyn

Kalyn called last night and one of her brand new teeth had broken off. Of course, this isn't suppose to happen! So we are praying that we can find someone down there in South Texas to fix it before they need to enter Mx. 
Kalyn wrote me this morning and I want to share what my little girl is going through.




"Hey mama,

I started this a few days before I left home. I finished it last Sunday, and when I was writing it I thought, 'there is no way that this poem expresses my feelings.' I was writing it as if I was saying it but like it didn't mean that much to me personally. And then tonight when you called me and I got off the phone for a few minutes I felt every emotion that I describe in this poem. It's called Trust.

Trust

Why should I have cause to fear?

Is not the Father of the Universe here?

Does He not walk beside me?

Is it not by His son’s blood that I am free?

Then why is my spirit faint?

And why does my strength wan?

Dark clouds gather

Waiting to break loose and my dreams to shatter

I am cloaked with doubt and fear

And my vision is no longer clear

I feel lost and alone

No material thing I own

Can help me or give me bravery

All I want to do is flee

I close my eyes as tears fall

Is this the road to which I was called?

Or have I strayed from the way?

And now in silent misery I must lay?

No, lies!

Life is always filled with ifs and why’s

What was done wrong and done right

What was hidden in darkness and what was brought to light

So many questions about the past

And if in the future our souls will last

Dare I move forward on this road?

With fear and doubt as my load?

How can I trust that He will provide?

And that from my call He will not hide?

Trust, a single word, a single action

That can cause so much hesitation

Dare I trust?

I know that to truly live I must

There is only one reason why

I would walk this road were so thickly my devils fly

For You

And that is unshakably true

The first step is taken

Leaving all I have been

My trust has been placed

And I know that my trust shall not go to waste

I pull the cool air deep inside me

And face my destiny

I feel a new presence on the wind

That brings my hesitation to an end

Fear in my heart yet remains

And I know there will be days when it pours and rains

But I choose You to follow

Through thick and thin ups and lows

Hold me close, wrap me in Your arms

Engulf me with who You are

The dark clouds gather

And I open my arms to You in surrender.

I love you mom,
Goodnight,
Kalyn"

We all face times where we stand before fear, but we have a choice in our response to it. 

Please be praying for Kalyn and for us. 

Jace, Kalyn and Keshawn at the lake

Out Of The Loop

Just a day after we found out that my parents and niece were safely home, we traveled to Texas to spend a week with my family.  Thank you all for your prayers for Dandy, Gommy and Tiffany!!! After listening to their story, we are all sure that they were able to get home because of prayer. They drove on roads that were closed just after they passed due to the mud slides. All the countries around them were closed due to the cyclone. There was a small window of time that they could get out of El Salvador and they did, when so many others where left stranded. 
So much had happened this week, but we have just got home from south Texas and still need to bath 9 children. I will write more tomorrow...
but the most urgent prayer needs for now is:
-my mom's rod in her leg has broken and her dr is out of town till next week...she is in a great deal of pain, and her bone/rod is now starting to stick out in the side of her leg...regardless of her pain, she will tell you "PRAISE THE LORD", several dozens of people in Guatemala found their SAVIOR while they where there. 
-My sister (in-law) is still VERY SICK, and not sure where to go now for help. 
And a cute picture of my mother with my daughter, Kalyn, who is now gone till the END of July....

I am so blessed by my family and I pray that we each learn from each other how to strengthen the foundations of our families and bring glory to our LORD through them! 
Tomorrow dear family and friends...I look forward to catching up with you each. Pray for me please...I'm off to bath 9 children now...

They Are Home!!!!

Dandy, Gommy, and Tiffany made it safely home last night!!! Praise the LORD. Thank you all for your prays for my family. May we all continue to pray for the people and Guatemala and the surrounding areas who are living through this horrible time!!!

Volcano Is Erupting Again...

Here is another report from my dad...

"HI

 

WE ARE IN GUATEMALA CITY STILL PLAN TO LEAVE TO GO TO EL SALVADO TOMORROW, THE VOLCANO IS ERUPTING AGAIN NOTHING IS FALLING YET AND IT IS STILL SAYING MORE RAIN

AND THAT WE NEED TO LEAVE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE MORNING.  PRAY THAT WE'LL GET OUT OF HERE TOMORROW BEFORE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS.

WE ARE WORKING AT THE ORPHANAGE TODAY SHOVELING ASH FROM THE VOLCANO, WE ARE 8.5 MILES FROM THE VOLCANO AND CAN SEE THE SMOKE AND ASH.

I'M SO PROUD OF TIF SHE IS WORKING SO HARD AND WITH SUCH A GOOD ATTITUDE WE LOVE HER. SHE KNOWS HOW TO WORK, SHE LEARNED WELL.

 

GOD IS GOOD KEEP PRAYING

LOVE

MOM & DAD"

I want to thank you all for your prayers for our family.

We went with some friends on a beautiful hike yesterday. I started feel yucky very quickly after we began our hike. I just thought may be I was feeling bad because I had forgot to eat breakfast. We hiked UP the two miles to the lake with me going very slowly. I thought I was better after our lunch, but coming back down proved me wrong. Skipping the yucky parts, I really wasn't sure I would make it back down the trail. We went home and I went to bed. Today, I still do not feel so good. And I can tell you it is horrible to get sick up on a rocky, difficult trail. I was thankful for our friends who carried the baby and helped get the other children up and down the trail; and for my sweet friends and husband who helped get me down.

I have no pictures of our day....sorry. 

But I can show you some cute boys!!!!