Don't worry T&T...

...we're taking excellent care of your children while you're away.  See?

It's all fun and games...

'Till someone takes a dirt clod in the face.

Oh, dear.  Good thing I was there to comfort her make someone hand her a towel.

Gotcha!

I don't know much that could make a boy more happy!

I suppose the girls liked it okay too.  :)

I wish that I could show you the hilarity that ensued when Buzz stripped them all down and sprayed them off with the (COLD!) hose.  :)  I don't think they've ever been more happy to get into the shower!

Now if only I could convince them that the baby monitor only works one way... these kids seriously need some walkie-talkies!

After school snack

So glad that the weather is warm and the grass is green so that you can enjoy your picnic, little love.  Kisses to you!

Questions remain

Even as I typed my last post, celebrating the healing that has been given to my sister in law, my mind was never far from those who remain in the midst of suffering.  There are so many people who do not get their miracles in this life.  Pain, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual, abounds in this world.

Some of you know of the spiritual journey that I have been on for the last year and a half, some of you do not.  For those of you who don't know what happened, tragedy struck close to home when friends of ours very suddenly lost their young son.  I have been angry with God.  I have questioned why he allows so much pain in this world.  I have wondered how good he could really be if he is capable of stopping the hurt and yet chooses not to do so.

Slowly, very slowly, I am re-learning the character of God.  The lessons ingrained during my childhood have whispered truth to me in my pain and questioning.  I remember that God hates the sin and pain that fill our world and that in his perfect time he will restore creation to what he intended it to be.  I have come to peace with the fact that God will carry me through the hard times without necessarily delivering me from them entirely.  I have come to terms with submitting to his sovereignty.  I can clearly see his hand moving to guide the circumstances of our family's life.  I am grateful for his provision.

What I had forgotten was that there is this whole other dimension to God's character.  That he is merciful, powerful, loving, and kind.   I had forgotten that he might reach out and grant beautiful and miraculous healing. I had forgotten the power of prayer.

There are still many questions, many hurting people.  I don't ever want to make light of that fact.  For now though, in the midst of my questioning, I am finding tremendous joy and peace in rejoicing with my sister and rediscovering my saviour in this new light.

How could I not sing his praise?

To God be the glory...

...great things he has done!!!

Six and a half years ago I awoke from my pre-night shift nap to find a message on my phone that my dear sister in law had been in a car accident several hours away.  Not knowing the extent of her injuries, but knowing that she was in pretty bad shape, we made arrangements to leave town immediately and drive the six hours to where she was hospitalized.  We were in shock to see the condition of her car, her body.  But we rejoiced that her babies, who had been in the car with her, were without injury.  We rejoiced that although her back was broken, she had movement and feeling in her legs.  We rejoiced that although she could have been lost to us that day, our sister was alive.

The next several months we watched as she quietly endured several surgeries, painful therapies, and endless restless days and sleepless nights.  We watched her struggle with not being able to hold her babies like she wanted.  And sadly, six months after her accident, we helped her move half way across the country.

It has been a very long and painful journey for my sister friend.  She hid it well.  Very few people knew the real pain that she was in.  Even the things that she had shared with me during long tearful talks had failed to fully open my eyes to her circumstance.  It wasn't until we moved here almost 11 months ago that we were able to see first hand what her life was like, how much she continued to suffer.

But now... but now!  As of two weeks ago, our sister, our aunt, our friend has been healed!  The very next day after she posted this on her blog, she awoke a new woman.  Words cannot express the joy that we feel or our gratitude that God has chosen to answer the countless prayers that have been raised on her behalf!  I hope that you will click here to read her account of what happened, as no one can tell the story better than my sister herself.

We are delighting in the lightness of her step and the sparkle in her eyes.  She and her family have been set free from the oppression of pain! 

To God be the glory!

Fat...

...and happy...

...in the most wonderful way!

One more...

Because the kids are cute.

And because I'm missing the flowers in my yard.

Look who...

...finally learned how to roll over last week!

She's not a big fan of being on her tummy, which means that I've been having to rescue her during her naps and even in the middle of the night.

She'll get used to it.

See?