Sooooo Cute!

Since Monday, I don't know how many times I've heard, "They're sooooooo cute!!!"  They are indeed and you'll have to put up with some kitty pictures over the next six weeks before we give them away.  Any takers?  They are sure to be well loved on and comfortable with human folks.  :)

Such tiny balls of cute fluffiness!

Spring Concert

This evening we attended Johanna's spring band concert.  She has enjoyed learning to play the flute this school year and has progressed very nicely.  She loves to practice and it's enjoyable listening to her as well.  Good job, Jo Jo!

Dishwasher Duty

This is just a funny that I want to remember when I look back and cry that the kids are no longer home to empty the dishwasher for me.  :)

For some reason or other the kids think it's fun to stand in the corner with both drawers pulled out to put away the silverware and larger utensils.  They've all done this, even Ami gets up on a stool in the middle to do her chore this way when it's her turn.  Michaela has outgrown this method, opting for more grown-up ways now.  It just makes me smile to see them doing chores in their own fashion and making a mundane task more fun.

They grow so quickly.  Johanna was only one when we moved to this house and was barely walking, unable to reach our higher than normal counter tops.  

(Johanna at 3, still too small to reach the silverware drawers.)

Japan

Although it's been over a year since the devastating earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan, there is still a great need.  My sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and  Chad, moved up there last fall from Osaka for roughly a year to be among the people there.  They have been joined by a couple of families who have felt led to move there permanently.  They have had hundreds of volunteers come through and help.  It seems to be an overwhelming task, yet each house that they help clean out, each bag of food they share, each life that they touch has a lasting impact. 

Here is a video put out by an organization that has come alongside Chad and Jennifer and their team to help.



Chad and Jennifer have huge hearts for the people of Japan, and especially now for the people of Ishinomaki.  I would ask you to pray for their stamina and strength as they continue to wholeheartedly serve those that they live among. 

We love you, Chad, Jennifer, and cousins.  We are so proud of you!

Awwwww....

We have three new kittens!  The kids have anxiously been awaiting this day as they've watched Twix grow larger and larger.  Mid-morning, Michaela was excited to announce that Twix was having contractions and kept meowing loudly.  We all rushed out to the garage to see for ourselves.  We had to wait about 45 minutes, but then we all got to witness the first kitten being born!  So neat, and something I will never tire of. 

Yes, the kids tried to work on school in the garage while waiting for the REAL science lesson.  Twix had no privacy, but lots of cheerleaders during her labor and delivery.

First was a black male.  I'll spare you the gory photos I took.  It was quite a learning experience for some!  

About 30 minutes later a grey male was born.  Twix kept moving around quite a bit, but finally settled in the second of two cat boxes.  The kids were very anxious about whether or not Twix was doing a good job.  I had to keep encouraging them to let nature take its course and that God gave Twix the instincts she needed to be a momma cat.

Third was a white male.  The three of them are too adorable and will surely be receiving a LOT of attention.  This all sure made school interesting today!  The older three remember our other cats having kittens several years ago, but this was a first for Ami and Elijah.  So glad it happened during the day and when we were home!

Another Visit to the Oak Tree

I don't think any tears were shed this time as we revisited the oak tree to bury Ginger, Benjamin and Michaela's pet rat.  It was pretty obvious that she had been suffering for the last two or three days, so we were all happy to see her out of her misery.  Maybe she died of a broken heart after Midnight died, or maybe she was just living on borrowed time, having outlived her life expectancy of two years.  Nonetheless, no one was particularly "broken up" this time, especially not Marshmallow, who came to join the burial and claim her triumph over the rat that had taunted her through the window.

 (Our two neighbor girls were over playing and joined us for the burial.)

So, this little chapter of our lives with rats is over....for now.  We told the kids that we could discuss the possibility of more rats at the end of the summer.  It's been a good experience for them.  They've had fun with them, and have learned to work together when it came time for the weekly chore of cleaning the rat's home.  They've faithfully collected their money together each time more food needed to be purchased.  I have to agree that the rats made much better pets than hamsters.  They are indeed much more social and fun, so if your child is begging for a hamster, and you can get over that long tail, consider a rat instead.  :)

Bringing Ginger and Midnight home, Feb. 2010:

 It didn't take long for our outdoor cats to discover the rats:

Looks like torture, but Ami really did like the rats!

RIP Ginger and Midnight:

Prayer Update

I just wanted to give an update on some people for which I have requested prayer.  Thank you for allowing me to share these special people with you!

First of all, Elijah's buddy, Joseph, no longer has a family pursuing his adoption.  :(  We were so saddened to hear this.  For a variety of reasons, the family that wanted to adopt him is no longer feeling in a position to do so.  Joseph's birthday is this next week.  He will be 13, and only has one year left in which for an adoption to be completed.  I trust that God has a plan for this young boy's life, but the thought of him never having a forever family breaks my heart.  Please pray that Joseph will not run out of time to be adopted!

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have a HUGE praise!  I asked you to pray for my childhood friend, Elizabeth.  She was battling cancer and was in a very scary place.  Yes, I said WAS.  Liz met with her oncologist and they diagnosed her with having had a mild stroke!  Whether the other doctors had misdiagnosed her, or God healed her, I don't know.  But this I know, God answered our prayers to rid her of the cancer!  She still has some side effects and is not at her strongest, but we are ever so thankful that she does NOT have cancer.  Praise Him!

In other GOOD news, my dad has been doing an amazing job of keeping up with his self-imposed prostate cancer eradicating diet.  His blood test levels are down within normal range and the doctor's have given him a good report.  Thank you, Father!!

While I'm on a roll....Benjamin's next oncology appointment is next Friday.  We have been vigilantly doing self exams on his leg, as prescribed by the doctor, and have no concerns at all.  This will hopefully just be a simple follow up meeting with the awesome Dr. G.  The plan is to have another MRI and CT scan in three more months.  We are so thankful for the healing that has taken place and that Benjamin's current prognosis is good.  

Ahhh....

....this is the life.  Yesterday Johanna rocked me like a baby in our new hammock.  I'm loving it!  We used to have a tiny hammock tied between two trees, but long ago it made its way to the dump.  We've always been longing for another one, until recently when some neighbors were giving away a hammock frame, so all we had to do was order a new hammock.  Good grief, those things aren't cheap, but after being on it just once, I decided it was well worth it!

Now learning to get out of this huge hammock without flipping yourself to a hard landing is a bit tricky! 

Oh, the Possibilities!

Michaela was thrilled to receive two large bins full of fabric from our neighbor!  She has really enjoyed the sewing course she's had this school year.  Over the last few years she has frequently sketched her own designs, and this year she's put together several things on her own.  It's fun to see her creativity and to see her enjoy this hobby that counts as school.  :)  We can't wait to see what these piles of fabric transform into!

Disney World Favorites

All those long hours in the van on the way home gave us time to discuss our favorites from the trip.

We all had different park favorites, although we enjoyed them all.
Chris - Epcot
Jocelyn - Animal Kingdom and Epcot
Michaela - Hollywood Studios
Benjamin -  Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom
Elijah - Epcot
Johanna - Animal Kingdom
Ami - Magic Kingdom

Our favorite queues were at Expedition Everest and Toy Story Mania:

Best night time finale:
Unanimous for Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios

Favorite character we met:
Chris -  Donald Duck (he's loved him since he was a little guy)
Jocelyn - The princesses, they were so in character!
Michaela - Captain Hook
Benjamin - Mickey Mouse
Elijah -  Mickey Mouse
Johanna -Jasmine
Ami -Jasmine and Mulan

Favorite ride:
Chris - Captain EO
Jocelyn - Expedition Everest
Michaela - Tower of Terror
Benjamin - Tower of Terror or Rockin' Roller Coaster
Elijah - Expedition Everest
Johanna - Soarin'
Ami - Tower of Terror

Favorite show:
Unanimous for Lion King

It's fun to come home with new experiences and memories made together.  We now have some new inside jokes and quotes that have already been repeated many times.  I'm just recording them here for posterity.  :)

"There's a great big beautiful tomorrow."
"Please remain fully and completely seated."
"Just keep swimming."
"I'm going to put on my animal spotting glasses."
"We're going in!"
"Processed beef"

 (Our awesome safari guide with his "animal spotting glasses.")

Another funny, ever have those nights when you go to bed after an event and lay down feeling like you are still skiing, skating, or whatever you had been doing a lot of that day?  Well, our first night home we had major lightening and thunder.  I woke up with a start very confused and thinking that I was on some sort of ride that was dark with bright flashes of light and very loud noises.  :)  I think each of us has had some sort of dream after a week full of rides and entertainment.  Hopefully none of us will have a recurring nightmare of being stuck on the Carousel of Progress that seemed to never progress.  Ever been on that ride?  Seriously, we were stuck, and it just kept repeating and repeating.

Thanks for letting us share our Disney memories with you.  I'm sure I'll post about it again here and there.  It was definitely a once in a lifetime trip for us!