5 for Friday...

1. I am so thankful for successful surgery for Drew! He is really doing well and has even become a willing participant in putting in the eye drops. For the first time all week, I was able to put them in be myself. It usually requires one person to hold him and one to put the drops in.

2. Jarod has had a good first full week of school. I really like his teacher and I love his room. It is about twice as big as his room last year. He has a "meeting" corner where the teacher reads Magic Treehouse books. Very nice! Back to school night went well. I'm looking forward to helping out some in the class!

3. Andrew will be going back to school on Tuesday. I know that we are both ready to get back into routine. Andrew is getting so active. I think he's bored. School is needed for both of us right now.

4. We are heading to Indy for the long weekend. My birthday is Tuesday and so we will celebrate with my family. We have talked about going downtown to the canal and taking a paddle boat on the water. andrew has been fasinated with boats recently, so that should be fun for him.

5. My friends have been so wonderful this week. Kris made us dinner. Jennifer called several times to check on me and Drew. Daniss, Laura and Cathleen were kind of enough (and brave enough) to help me put Drew's drops in. What a blessing to have friends like that!

Thank you Jesus for all your blessings during this crazy and tiring week!

Thankful Heart

I am so thankful this week! God was definately with us as we prepared for Andrew's surgery. He allowed us to go to the surgery center at the perfect time to take a tour, take pictures and let Andrew get a feel for the place. Nurse Linda was just wonderful. She talked to Drew and let us take as much time as we needed. On the day of surgery, everyone in that surgery center was great. Our pre-op nurse was so kind and let Andrew basically pick his "room". He went right to the big chair that he had seen the week before. Linda had left notes for her about Andrew's fears and things we had talked about. That was cool! Our only major hiccup was having to give medicine to Drew right before surgery. Linda carried him to surgery and came to check on him later. I feel so blessed! Having eye surgery is not something that I want to do again, but knowing how well the staff took care of Andrew and his parents, I would go back there in a heart beat if I had too. I think I might take some cookies and a thank you card over there!

This was our great nurse, Linda. She walked us through when we came to visit and she was Andrew's surgery nurse. She carried him to surgery. I love her!

This is Dr. Dykstra. He is so good with Andrew (and Jarod too). I am so thankful for a dr. that looks out for the best interest of my kids!

5 for Friday (one day late...)

I'm thankful...

1. That Jarod loves school. He has had a great start to the school year! He loves riding his bike home from school and really likes his teacher. I think it's going to be a great year!

2. For parents that live close enough to come and help out when they can. My mom and dad are coming up Sunday night to help take care of Jarod while Andrew has surgery on Monday.

3. For a God that is in control. There's nothing I can do while Andrew is in surgery - except pray! God has already gone before us to the surgery room and knows what the outcome will. I am thankful that I trust in that and fully rest in His arms.

4. That we get to spend the evening tonight with good friends. We are having a cookout with former neighbors. The kids will have a blast playing together and the adults will enjoy good conversation and fellowship.

5. For e-mail! I can write to my best friend in PNG whenever I want! I miss her, but I am thankful that she can be back in the states next summer. I think our phone bill will be higher than ever, though. We haven't talked in years!

Andrew's Open House

After Andrew and I dropped off Jarod at his first day of school, we headed over to Andrew's preschool for an open house where I fill out paper work and Andrew can play and get familiar again with his classroom. Andrew was fine when we pulled into the parking. Fine when we walked in the building. Fine when we went to the office to sign in. But as soon as we started walking down the hallway toward his classroom, the lip started to quiver and big tears began rolling down his cheeks. He was bawling by the time we reached the room. We walked in and he saw his teacher right away. He ran over to her and I thought, "Oh, how sweet! He's going to Mrs. Lange for some TLC and hugs." Oh, how wrong I was! He went over and kicked her in the leg. He was just mad. So, what could have been a really wonderful moment, was nothing more than a little boy letting his teacher know what he really thought of school starting.

State Fair fun

I took the boys last week to Indy. We wanted to have a last hurrah before school started. One of the highlights was going to the State Fair. Sharie, Kylie and Trent were able to go with us.

It was a great day! I wish I would have gotten pictures of the kids feeding the baby pigglets.

So cute! Jarod was such a great helper!

What other way is there to get to the fair? But by train, of course!


Aunt Becky and Kylie

There was a pretend farm in the kiddie area that was intended to show children what it is like to work on a farm. Kylie was so excited about the pink tractor! The kids were even "paid" for the crops and their hard work. They were able to then go to a store and get a real treat!

Here's the crew: Andrew, Kylie, Trent and Jarod

I think God's telling me something...

As I was driving home from Wal Mart this afternoon, I passed a church that posts witty sayings on their welcome sign. Today it said, "Worry is a waste of imagination." I had to think a lot about that one. I do worry a lot! I am fearful often. I do waste my time on thinking about a situation. I've never thought about how being worried doesn't allow me imagine all that God can do in the situation. I worry about all the human stuff that could happen.

I also read Amy's blog this morning and her fear of sending her son off to school. I've been reading about fear in the Word. In 1John 4 it talks about that because God is love, there is no fear in love. I need to dwell on this and let it just saturate my spirit.

We are entering 2nd grade with Jarod and another year of preschool for Drew. I am excited about all that they will learn this year, but I am also worried and fearful; with Drew especially. There is so much unknown for his life. There's not going to be "normal" for him like I know it.

But through all of this...I am confident that God is teaching me again to rely on Him. I need to imagine all the possibilities for Drew and redefine "normal". I need not to be fearful, but rejoice for all that God will accomplish in my boy's lives.

God is good!

5 for Friday

1. I love The Friendly Fox on the corner by our church. It is so comfy in there and a great neighbor fixture that I hope stays around for a long time. They make great carmel frappes.

2. This week has been a pretty lazy week for us. We didn't have a lot of committments or appointments. We hung around the house a lot! I really like being able to stay in my p.j.'s until noon if I want!

3. Jarod's school registration was this week. That in itself is not something I am necessarily thanikful for. But I am thankful that he attends a wonderful school. It's a smaller school than a lot of the others around us. It makes me feel like Jarod's safer there. The teachers have been there for a while. so I feel like they know what they're doing.

4. I love Kohl's! I can usually find some great bargains there. I did a lot of back to school clothes shopping there this year. Jarod is now in a size 10 jeans and size 5 shoes. Clothes get more expensive as the kiddos get older and bigger. I'm thankful that Eric has a steady job and that we can afford to get new clothes each year for the boys.

5. I am so thankful for this weather!I really don't like being outside when it's humid and hot, but God has brought us some beautiful sunny mild weather this week. I love being outside with my boys when it's like this. They love it too!

God is so good! I'm so thankful for his unfailing love. I mess up so often, but God continues to love me and show me his faithfulness daily!

Early trick or treaters

This afternoon I heard the doorbell ring. I answered it and to my surprise and delight were the kids from accross the street all dressed up in costumes. They giggled as I mentioned to them that they were a little early for Halloween. But I told them to wait and went to grab some lollipops. (One should always have some on hand for those early trick or treaters.) The kids just laughed and yelled down the driveway, "She gave us candy!"

Made my day!

Five for Friday

I am thankful...

1...for 5 day clubs. I kinda went into this with a critical eye. I wasn't sure what to expect. What I learned was that these teen love Jesus and want to share it with kids. They teens that came to our house were very well prepared, talked with the kids before and after club, and were energetic. We had a nice shade in the backyard, so it never got extremely hot and most of my neighbors that we invited came every day. I pray that what was taught will dwell in their hearts for years to com.

2...for digital scrapbooking! I am in love with this!!!!!! I have done more pages on the computer in one week than I have completed in 6 months with regular scrapbooking. I don't have to lug everything out of my cabinet, get it all set up, cut, crop, glue, re-position and make sure that my handwriting is not slanted off the page. I also don't have to worry about little hands getting all over everything. I can also complete an album and then wait until I have the money to order it. What a cool concept!

3. to Laura. She took Andrew during the hour of my 5 day club. It was just going to be a lot to handle with him here and me wanting to be with the other kids. So, she is now know lovingly as "Laura friend".

4. ...for little God moments this week of summer school for Drew. One morning he walked up to his teacher, took her hand and said, "Miss Patty!" Then he looked at me with a big smile and said, "Bye. Bye." I was thrilled!

5.... for my new niece. Curt and Jill had their baby girl this afternoon. Her name is Adelinn Grace. I can not wait to meet her!