Austin Update

Please keep sweet Austin in your prayers. After consulting with docs in Chicago, they have decided that he will have surgery at Riley tomorrow to place a central line and to do a bone marrow test. He will start round 1 of chemo tomorrow following surgery.

God is faithful..... God is good!

Superman!

One of my super sweet, supermen did NOT want to have his picture taken. I'll leave it to you to figure out which one.....

Thankful Thursday....

Today, I am thankful.....

1) That Deb and Cathy are visiting this weekend! Can't wait for fun times..... and excited to have a date night with my hubby while they are here, too!
2) For the fact that my kiddos aren't always fighting. I COULD be resentful about the fact that sibling rivalry and bickering is alive and well in our home.... HOWEVER, I am going to CHOOSE to focus on the fact that SOMETIMES, they play really, really well together!
3) For rest time/nap time in the afternoon. I couldn't get through this last leg of pregnancy without it, I'm afraid!
4) For Skype..... it's amazing to be able to chat with and SEE family and friends.... FOR FREE!
5) That our deck is almost finished!!!! Hip-hip-hoorah! It's amazing! I'll post about that someday soon!!!!

Have a great day! Much love!

Please pray for Austin.....

I love this little guy. I love his family. I REALLY love his momma, Ang, who is one of my dear, dear friends in Indiana. Our little buddy, Austin, just found out that the cancer is back. Y'all.... I believe that God is BIG ENOUGH..... and I believe that He hears our prayers! Would you please join me in praying for a marvelous, complete, miraculous physical healing of this precious child? Would you please join me in praying for continued miracles in his precious family and in the lives of those whom they touch? The testimony and faithfulness of this family is unmatched.... yep, I love 'em.

Specifically, would you please pray TODAY that God would grant Andy and Ang wisdom and peace as they make treatment decisions for their little guy? Thanks....

For more specific updates about Austin, check out his Aunt Becky's blog or his Caring Bridge site.

Our sweetie can ski!

As I mentioned in a previous post, Aaron learned how to water ski on Winona last week. He was so proud of himself and since Scott and I both grew up skiing, we were so excited for him to join in the fun, too!

He started the week on the "zip sled"....


But was already up on skis by the end of that day. This video was taken by my little sis after Scott and I had already headed back to NY at the end of the week.... we hear that he even circled the bay four times without wiping out! Pretty darn good for a little guy who is new at this!

Bummer....

.... why haven't I ever been invited to a wedding like this? Or heck, been in a wedding party like this?!! :)

Happy Monday, everybody.....

Hi all. I'm back to the blogging world..... but just a few tidbits for today.....

- We had a fabulous trip to Indiana. Scott preached his heart out..... and brought the Word to LIFE for many. It brought me SO MUCH JOY to hear his messages.... and about 20 kiddos came to Christ last week at Camp Adventure! I have joy beyond words this morning....
- My house is quiet this morning. Baby and I have been wide awake since about 4:30.... baby is back to sleep now, and I may do the same for a bit BECAUSE....
- My boys are still in Indiana with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Debby, and Zach (my nephew). The whole crew will be coming to NY tomorrow, but for today....
- I am working on my "nesting list"! I am anxious to purge toys while the boys are gone in an effort to make room for baby and baby's toys (and necessities!) This article was quite timely for me at 5:00 AM this morning!

Can't wait to post pictures and videos from the trip! Aaron even learned to water ski on Winona Lake this week! It was a precious, fantastic week.... definitely filled me up! Loved it..... love you, too!

Thankful Thursday...

Today, I am thankful....

1) For cool opportunities. Scott is preaching at a church in Fort Wayne, IN on Sunday and all week at Camp Adventure to about 150 middle school students. He has really been missing teaching/preaching, so it's amazing that this opportunity came about. And also awesome that we get to join him for a week in Indiana. Can't wait to get back to C.A. (where we met.... where he got saved.... and where he proposed to me!!!) and can't wait to be with the fam, too!
2) For a great, great time camping last week. It really was amazing!
3) For the fact that we finally found an auto mechanic in NY that we feel like we can trust and isn't ripping us off. On that note, this pregnant momma is TRULY thankful to have working A/C in the van again!
4) For the fact that we caught the fact that we really needed new brakes BEFORE we left for Indiana.... our last mechanic neglected to mention that detail when checking out the van. Lovely....
5) For THIRTY great weeks of pregnancy!!! Baby is so active, and I think that I can feel just about every movement now!!! It's hard to believe that we'll be looking into this sweet little one's eyes in LESS than two months!!! Praise God!

Have a blessed day! Love you!

Hello, Summer!

Well, some days have felt like summer, anyway.... no complaints about the cooler summer at ALL from this 30-week pregnant momma!!! The boys and I have been enjoying every minute.... just a few pics of the fun....

What a week!

Last week was amazing! My older sis, Dawn, and her family (Shawn, Abby, and Zach) came camping in NY, and we were able to enjoy a lot of wonderful, relaxing, quality time with them! They stayed on Lake Ontario at Four Mile Creek State Park for the first part of the week with their friend, Hope and her kids.... and Aaron joined them for overnights in the camper while Scott, Isaac, and I stayed in our own beds each night. Then, after a visit to our house, they moved on to Letchworth State Park and very generously allowed us to stay with them for two nights (and being that I am 30 weeks pregnant.... they even let me sleep in the camper instead of the tent! Hoorah for me! Thanks for staying in the tent, Zach!) Letchworth was GORGEOUS..... it's known as "The Grand Canyon of the East" and definitely exceeded our expectations. We loved it there and are already excited to go back!



And, just a little video from the trip.... trying to get the Jiffy Pop to POP! Needless to say, we laughed A LOT this week....

A little lesson in growing up....

We've been so blessed the past couple of weeks.... do you remember this post with our sweet, little tree?! Well, a sweet, little robin decided to build her nest and lay her eggs in this sweet, little tree. Just outside our front door.... perfect for us to watch the life cycle of a robin's egg and the baby bird that emerges! We googled it and read that the eggs had to incubate for 2 weeks.... and then, the babies will fly away in 2 weeks as well. They DID all hatch at exactly the 2 week point.... and they will probably fly away this weekend while we are gone. Momma (and Papa?! It seems that there is a whole bunch of them looking out for these babies....) swoop at us every time we take a peek, but I hope that they are getting the picture that we are just friendly, nosey neighbors!