Monday, September 29, 2008

Updates and Pictures

Kids on the Carousel at the zoo. Micah did not want to get off....ever!
The girls on the Dionosaur!

The gang looking at the fish. Micah kept saying "whoa, wow..."

Kylie got to feed the giraffe out of her hand. So fun!

Kylie's "rock star" birthday cake. Didn't turn out too bad.

Kylie with her groupies!
Happy Birthday Morning!

Thank you Grandma Patty and Grandpa Steve!
Did Grandma Nita and Grandpa Matt seriously get me underwear for my birthday?
Oh - and a princess nightgown too - amazing! Thanks guys!


This one is for you Grandpa Matt - A Biker in the making!

Caleb and his dart gun (which we have three of now) - makes for great family "bonding!"

As you can see, it's been a busy month. Birthdays, the Zoo, getting settled it - I can't believe it's almost October! The weather is finally starting to cool down here and we are spending a lot of time outside riding bikes and playing in the yard. The kids are making friends in the neighborhood - there are two sets of 3 girls the same age as Kylie and Macey that live within three houses of us , and a 4 year old boy just down the street for Caleb to play with. It's fun to watch them develop and branch out.

We took Micah to an orthopedic specialist for his arm a week or so ago. The Doc disagreed with our Dr. in Seattle at opted to cast Micah's arm to see if it would set/grow into place as he developed. After the initial x-ray that same day, he realized he had casted the arm in the wrong position. So, they sawed (yikes) the cast off and it ended up hurting/burning Micah's arm. At that point, as two slightly distressed and unhappy parents, we discussed the info further and decided to seek a 3rd opinion to see if we can have two specialists agree. After researching hospitals a bit, we have an appointment at Duke Medical University (about two hours away) on Nov. 4th and a Genetics appointment at the same place the day before. We have a bit more peace about this decision. The hospital is highly rated and our phone experience has been really positive so far. If you think of it, please continue to pray that we will listen and hear and know what decisions to make concerning his care.

We are continuing to attend Morning Star Church. As we make more friends and connections, it is starting to feel more normal, more like home for the time being. I still deeply miss the closeness and intimacy of my friends at The Bridge, but know that this is where God has us for right now. I'm excited to see what He has set out for us to learn and receive and give and do...both at the church and in our every day life. Bring on the adventure!!!

Until Later -- D-

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

9 years ago today...



9 years ago today...
I had not slept at all the night before
I threw up my strawberries and cream oatmeal in the morning
I spent a torturous day working in the JC Penny's Junior Department
I sat through a seemingly never ending worship set
I watched the most amazing man in the world approach me and say these words
"I think someone stole my heart and I'm thinking you might know where to find it..."

Thank you, Jason, for nine years of joy, adventure, love, passion and excitement...for 8 1/2 years of marriage and four stunningly beautiful children. Thank you for loving me in the truest way - for being patient and kind and putting me and our family above yourself. Thank you for listening to God and being a gentle, wise leader. I love you....

D-

The comfort of the South...

I have heard it said that those who hale from the south find comfort in small things. Warm summer evenings, a tall glass for cold sweet tea, the slower pace of life, and the sound of Cicadas chirping in the trees. Whoa -- hold it there - what? The sound of what? The night we arrived in South Carolina, Tyler picked us up at the airport and kindly drove to his home. When we stepped out of the van, we were greeted by a mildly deafening noise - Jason and I were sure that someone was sawing something in the woods- after all, they do live in a new construction area. But, at this time of night...something didn't add up. Nope - no sawing here, just the bugs...just the cicadas. Ahhhh...freaky - it was SOOOO loud. Then, this weekend when I was clearing off the deck I saw this little guy - he is dead - but still kinda creepy:


And definitely NOT COMFORTING!

In more wholesome, and less buggy news - the local Chic-Fil-A had a family/princess night. If you dressed up, you got a free kids meal. Cool, free food, I thought! AND - they had free horse drawn carriage rides. Game on! I thought it'd be a fun night out, the kids would get to dress up and ride in a carriage - short, sweet, we go home. Think again! I have never seen so many princesses in my life - all in one, very small, space. The kids had a blast and didn't complain about having to wait almost an hour for a carriage ride...enjoy the pics! (Oh - Caleb wants me to tel you that he is "the dragon guarding that castle" - just in case anyone was wondering)...



Friday, September 12, 2008

Kindergarten, scuppernogs and buggies

I know, it's been a long time since I've updated. Things have started to settle down a bit here and feel a little more normal. Kylie has gotten into a good routine with school and is loving the social aspect of class and excelling at the academic parts. It's been interesting to see the evidence of favor in her life. There have been two "drawings" that they have started up in since the beginning of school. One was for the "Queen/King of the day" and the other for the letter "expert." She has been the first one drawn for both of these. She says something like "I was hoping and praying that it would be me, and my wish came true!" Gotta love it! It's been a challenge for me to let her go every day and not have that constant influence on who she plays with and what she does. We're wondering how to give her a sense of independence and self but still keep her well grounded...letting her make her own choices while still guiding her. It'll be a fun journey!

Caleb is really coming into his own with Kylie gone during the day. It's quite a novel thing for him to be the oldest...and it fits him well. Micah and Macey are quickly becoming playmates and enjoying one another. Macey is quite the social butterfly. Think Kylie 3 years ago and mutliply it - by a lot! She will talk to anyone, anywhere about anything. Micah has developed into quite the ham and is saying "I love you," "thank you," and his all time favorite "Daaaaaa," (for use whenever Jason is in earshot).

You may be asking about the title of this blog about now. What is a scuppernog, you ask? A couple weeks ago, I was at a fruit stand hoping to find some fresh cherries for a pie. (Oh, how I long for some cherries from the Gabriel's orchard...nothing even close here). They were out - no surprise- but they did have a HUGE crate of scuppernogs and muscadines. Playing the out of towner perfectly, I asked the guy next to me. He said in a very souther accent -- try one, they make good wine. Turns out they are a bit like a grape and a cherry in one. Not the greatest, but they do apparently make AND sell scuppernog wine...I've only seen it at Wal-Mart, though. I think I'll wait on that one. Speaking of Wally-World, when you get something to push your groceries in here...it's not cart, it's a buggy - just ask the locals!

I think I wrote about my neice, Ana, a couple posts ago. She gets to come home today - yeah! She has officially been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. She will most likely start a type of dialysis that uses the lining of the stomach instead of the kidneys to filter out the toxins in her body. Not the best diagnosis, but it could be way worse and God is still so good! Here is something my amazing sister-in-law (ana's mommy) wrote and the news letter from the church that my brother pastors with his insights. Ana and her brother Aiden are so blessed to have them as parents. Please continue to pray for them and for a miracle for Ana's little kidneys...

I wrote the above about an hour ago, and just had a thought to share:
Something D said in his newsletter a while ago struck me, and God has been letting it marinate in my brain since then. God is more interested in our character than our comfort. (paraphrase) It occurred to me just tonight that the places in scripture where God speaks about goodness or prosperity probably have nothing to do with our view of goodness and prosperity.
I have often taken comfort in verses like the following:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"...He who trusts in the Lord will prosper. Prov. 28:25

I have been thinking of these entirely backwards. God isn't speaking of my view of my "good" nor is he speaking of worldly prosperity. My view of "good" is that my daughter would be healed, and my view of prosperity is a comfortable living. I'm a good 'baptist' girl and I'm reluctant to admit that I have viewed this verse about prosperity in this way (we try to get as far from the 'name it claim it' thinking as possible,) but I think if we're honest, we have probably all done it in some way or another.

God's view of "Good" is that he would be glorified. If more glory would be shown in her illness than her healing, then i need to be just as fervently praying that he would be glorified in her illness. Dare I say... more so.

My prayer tonight was for God to show me HIS view of goodness and prosperity.
-And-
That he would help me deny myself and learn to be full of joy in what he calls good.

Maybe God is calling you to join me in this petition.

Thanks for indulging me in my ramblings. Not that you had much of a choice, I've already typed it, and curiosity probably propelled you to continue reading. All I have to say about that is HA HA HA :)

luv u all,
k

Kennewick Baptist Church September Newsletter --

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24
Jesus spoke these words after delivering His most famous discourse, the Sermon on the Mount. In that message He painted with a broad brush and covered everything from revenge to fasting, from marriage to humility. Plainly put, He talked about life and said that the wise man is he who not only hears God’s truth about life, but then puts it into practice when given the opportunity. Head-knowledge must be translated into the language of our hearts, which can then be used to renovate our lives.
Over the past few weeks God has given me ample opportunity to “put into practice” truths I thought I’d known before. It’s one thing to say I trust the Lord with my family, and another thing altogether to sit alone in an airplane as my daughter is airlifted to another hospital because they’re unsure if she’ll make it through the night. It been easy in the past to say I will rest in the Lord when things were going smoothly, but it’s a different story when that “rest” must be chosen in the midst of jumbled emotions, muddled thoughts, a cluttered heart, and an impersonal ICU room.
My point is not to highlight my situation (as many of you have faithfully traveled this same road . . . and paths much darker than mine), but instead to state the realization that even our deepest trials can become fertile ground for profound growth. I am increasingly convinced that God is much more concerned with our character than He is with our comfort . . . and that He allows trials to intersect our lives in order to bring us to points of decision: will we be faithful to live out what we say we believe?
The storms of life will blow and the waves will buffet our hearts. There is no escaping this fact. However, when the forecast looks bleak may we come to see that God is placing before us another opportunity to not only “hear” His words, but to live them!
So as you go through this month . . . with all its ups and downs . . . remember what God has said, remember what He has called you to do and who He has predestined you to be, and then be wise and live like it. May God bless you richly as you live for His glory . . . even on stormy days!

Blessings - Dustin