Up date on Shonni in Texas

Steve here. Just got off the phone with Shonni a few minutes ago. She is very tired. Been a long couple of days with very little sleep and lots of emotion. Her mom is doing well post surgery. The surgery was 4 1/2 hours, 2 hours longer than planned due to the old pin in the leg being broken (titanium no less) and they had a hard time getting it out. The surgery was hard and difficult, but all looks like it went went. Her mom is tired and on meds for the pain. They had to wake her every 30 minutes to due exercises for her lungs and the leg.

Shonni is planning on being at the hospital all day tomorrow and tomorrow night so her dad can get some rest. Tomorrow will be a big day as they need to get her sitting up and continuing with the post surgery rehab. All hoping this will get her mom walking pain free and without crutches after three years.

Me and the little ones are holding down the fort. Yesterday was the park, today the library, lunch at McDonalds and the store. Tomorrow it is back to the park and the Big R (at the request of Kiana because they have free popcorn ont he weekends!) We are all of our days planned out, including the meals, until momma returns. Last night was stir fry and tonite hot dogs!

We ordered more chicks today to replace some of the ones the fox got. Will make sure all the holes int he fence stay sealed.

Kids all miss momma and keep thinking she is going to return at anytime, even though I tell them it will be a few days. They are all doing well, including the baby. Only Boo (Landon) is having problems with a alergic reaction to something, we just don't know what. He gets big, red,  itchy welts on his back and legs if we don't keep him on Benadryl.

Thanks for all of your prayers. We will keep you updates as we get more news!

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!!!

Headin' South

Caress and I are leaving early in the morning for Texas. Gommy (my mom) will have her hip/leg surgery Friday.  Steve will be home with the little ones....that is 8 under 10 years old. Not to worry though. He is a great daddy and loves to spend time with his children. I am sure that Kiana, Landon and Garett will also be a big help to him.  
Please remember my mom and dad this weekend and pray for healing through this surgery!  
And guess what Sunday is (Yes, the 4th of July), but also my parents celebrate 51 YEARS of marriage! 

"We love you so much!!! Thank you for your devotion, love and amazing faith. My life is every day richer for sharing it with ya'll."


And guess what else happens on the 3rd.

This sweetheart turns 17 on the 3rd, while she is in Mexico. We miss her, but have heard that she is having an amazing time!
"I love you baby, and think of you all the time. My home is missing your special smile, sunshine and laughter (especially, when I hurt myself). Happy brithday!"

What Is Today? Tuesday?

Do you ever have weeks where you "forget" what day it is? That is how I feel right now. I always get like this in summer because we are on a different and more relaxed schedule then during Autumn/Fall. The children have enjoyed sprinkler playing today.

I really do enjoy working on the girls hair. It's a little like art to practice different styles. Some styles work and some don't. Landon helped feed Keshawn while Garett and Kiana enjoyed their piano video from Dandy and Gommy - "Piano For Life".

Here's the final results from today.

Keshawn was really upset when we wouldn't let him chew on grass and stuff...."sorry baby".

Just cause she's cute....I told her she looks "Swedish".  Of course, Steve's family is straight from Holland, so she obviously took after his side of the family. We just say that my side of the family is "Texan". That pretty much sums it up.  I do think that she has a "Texas size" attiude...LOL.

Thankfully, it doesn't take long to make Keshawn happy again.

I'm relieved to have the girls hair finished. The lego's from yesterday are picked up, laundry is caught up and tomorrow is hair cut day for me and packing. 
Time to go make some yummy Sweet and Sour Chicken for supper.

Sometimes, Only Pictures Tell The Story....

I have 3 days to get my family ready for me to leave them for 5 days...including Keshawn, which I am already having serious problems leaving. It's just not right, but it is the best thing. I need to get two girls hair done so that daddy doesn't have to worry about that.  I started with the shortest and therefore, the hardest-Joeliana.  I was getting some hair makeover from Alia while I worked.

Every few years we introduce a new group of chicks to our flock of chickens so that we have a pretty steady flow of eggs, and I just love having my chickens outside the window to look at. I really enjoy them. Our baby chickens had just been released to be with the rest of the flock-a total of 33 chickens. Something happened that has never happened in 13 years. A fox finally tore through our fence and we woke up on Sunday to a carnage of feathers and chewed off heads (again, no pictures). We lost over 3/4 of our flock of chickens. It really did sicken me for those poor chickens, and for the money that we had just lost.  Also we have KILLED (not sure how) a total of 5 fish in 5 days. Oh well...Garett asked if we could cook them...NO!!!!  Only the ones I catch on purpose!!

Kiana has been trying so hard to learn how to braid her sister's hair.  She practiced braiding and beading Alia's hair before I need to get the serious job done in the next 2 days. This will be hard because I cut my braiding finger and it is now infected....sorry not pictures of that. 

Here is the labored finale of Joeliana's hair. I really stuggled trying to braid her short hair in a way that Steve would not have to worry with. I sure hope it last, at least until next weekend. 

Caresse, Kiana, Landon and Garett have really started pitching in more with Kalyn gone. I appreciate their help so much, however....

when I saw these all over the down stairs....

...and this mess in the school room...

...and saw this little guy laying on the couch sick....

well, I wished for her.

Kalyn is having an amazing time in Mx. We all miss her, but I am so glad that she is getting to experience missionary live with our precious friends that are totally family to us. So, this is one of those days that I don't really have much to say, but I'm thinking of you each. 
Landon is crying and not feeling well, so I must go to him. Sorry that I don't have anything better to write about, however, this is our life today.  I am thinking of you all.

We Call Him Baby Dinosaur!

When Steve saw these pictures, he said Keshawn must be thinking "I'm just pure cuteness"!!!! That is why he is a GREAT Dad to his children...he enjoys them so much. 

The Antidote to Worry?

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."  Psalm 20:7
HaShem - The Name....just saying it invokes reverence in my spirit. 
HaShem is The Name that we are studying in our book, Praying The Names Of God, this week. 
It seems like such a perfect time, what with mom about to have surgery. 
I was convicted by the above Psalm many years ago, when the LORD asked me what were some of the "chariots" and "horses" that I was placing my trust in. Some on my list were;
-Steve, money, good health, friends, my own abilities....

And then, as I confessed and repented, the LORD really burned into me that my greatest hope for my future was to "trust in the name of the LORD my God".


See, when I am depending on someone else (my "chariot" or "horse"), I must control them (it) to get the end that I want. Of course, in my heart I know this is foolish, and so worry comes in big time!
On the other hand, when I choose to trust in The Name, I have confidence in Him and have hope for my todays and tomorrows; hope for the troubling situations that I may face; hope for the people that I love; hope for what I cannot see.
"That's why He tells us to trust in His Name, to count on His ability to see the future and prepare us for it-whatever may happen." (taken from Praying The Names Of God).


Worry and try to control or Hope and rest in peace. 
Today, may we all stand strong, not because we trust in our "horses or chariots", but because "we trust in the Name of the LORD our God."!!!!! Proclaim (say out loud) this truth to your troubles and trust AND HOPE.