Chicago Part II

Part II of our whirlwind tour of Chicago....

Shelby is obsessed with watching cake making shows. One of the shows features Cake Girls out of Chicago. So, in the midst of an air show and the flood of Cub fans leaving the game around this part of Chicago, we were on the hunt to find the Cake Girls store. And find it, we did. The things we do for our children... the traffic was unbelievable. All we did was drive by. Totally worth it.... when you're 11.
Family Tattoo.... for real? Are there families that go and get tattooed together?
There's a Thunderbird!

I do not know where the mental block occurs but me and maps DO NOT get along. The funny this is.... I LOVE MAPS! I seriously could look at them all day long. And, I love geography. But, put me in the passengers seat and ask me to read a map AND get the driver some place... and... it's over. I am pretty sure Paul is always ready to divorce me in these high stress situations. I just can orient myself with the map. I need to always be heading North to read it. Really, if I just did the exact opposite of what I think I am supposed to do, I think I'd be fine.
I love pictures like these. What does that say about me? Never mind, don't answer. By the way, I like the alley not necessarily the dumpsters.
This is 3 of my children on the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier. Doesn't it look like a sweet innocent little ride? Well, it wasn't! Why? Because I am in the story and if I am in the story, there is ALWAYS a situation.

So, there was this drunk couple behind us in line. You could smell the alcohol a mile away. Their voices were slurred as they announced that we had the most beautiful children and so on and so forth as we waited to board. They were seated in the car behind us, this drunk up-to-no-good- couple. They were early to mid thirties and once inside their little car... they got busy. It was going no where good... oh, but it was going somewhere. Without going into a lot of detail so I can keep my blog PG-13... once we were on the down swing of the ride and no one could see inside their car... I am pretty sure, ok, well.... positive that they did "the deed."

And, that's all I am going to say about that!

My children after riding a XXX ride. They look like they lost their innocence, huh? Actually, only the oldest really got it.

We were not able to leave Chicago until about 9 pm. We drove straight home arriving in our driveway at 2:30 am. It was a short, unforgettable trip. We could have stayed, but I didn't want to get up and.... you know, do all it takes to get every home. And, we had to get home.

Some of our favorite people in all the world were in town visiting from Nashville, TN. We never miss an opportunity to hang out with them.
As much as I don't want to say this... poor Jackson was sick with a fever so he was cold and wearing his robe. One of my two favorite men in all the world in the above picture called him Hugh Heffner. SICK! Why did I laugh so hard at that?
I don't ask. I just do what I am told to do. They thought they were so funny!
Ryan and Chelsea Jones. Are they an ugly couple or what? Seriously, two of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Ryan married Chelsea about 15 months ago. We don't know her like we do Ryan.... but we know she is special. Because there is NO ONE like Ryan Jones and you have to be equally as amazing to snag him. He is one of the most personable, genuinely polite, engaging gentleman you will ever meet. I am not kidding. You have to spend a few minutes talking to him to understand, but once you do... you'll never forget him. I think he's on his way to do big things. I'll fill you in as they unfold. It is a privilege to be friends with them... we love them! And, P.S. a little Jones will be joining them in April! YEA!! Poor kid... the gene pool he/she has to deal with....
Ryan desperately trying to get a kiss from Em:-)

P.S. We are not doing a summer training program in Chicago... but, I have a pretty good idea we are going to be shipped somewhere next summer. Don't worry! You'll hear about it.

Chicago Part I

I went to Chicago this weekend... yeah.

Thursday night I got home around 9:30, put the kids to bed and then sat down with Paul to see if we could find a hotel room in Chicago... for the next day. Hey, don't ever accuse me of not being spontaneous!

We were supposed to go to a friend's house on Norris Lake this past weekend. However, the beginning of the week delivered the bad news that their boat was going to need a new engine. That tripped got scratched.

Paul's job has been asking us to do a summer training program with college students in Chicago (hard to explain summer training programs). We thought maybe we should go on a fact finding mission and check out Chicago. We need to give them an answer and so it seemed this would be a good weekend to investigate.

For the record, let me just say that I am a huge fan of summer training programs for students. I am not a huge fan of summer training programs for the wife of a campus ministry guy who leads the summer training program. For the most part, the wife tries to figure out what to do with 4 kids in a strange city all summer while her husband works.

How do I know this? I have already done 2 of them. We spent 10 weeks in Myrtle Beach when the kids were 1, 3 and 6 and 10 weeks in Myrtle Beach when the kids were 2, 5 and 7. While there were lots great things that came out of those programs, great students we met, great memories and most importantly... great things that will impact lives for Jesus and for eternity... it was a very lonely, exhausting time for me. I have no desire to do another one.

I am just being honest.

Back to the finding a hotel....

There weren't any hotels available. Uh, could it be that it because Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the US? Could it have been the Air Show in Chicago this weekend? I don't know.

We had just decided we'd go Sunday and stay until Monday. Paul went to brush his teeth and I yelled, "I'm just gonna try Priceline real quick! I'll put in a ridiculous amount!"

30 seconds later....

"We're going to Chicago tomorrow!"

I put in $125 for a 4 star hotel and we got it.

That was at 11:35 pm.

We were on the road by 8:30 am armed with one suitcase for a family of 6. Yes, one suitcase! And it was not a very big one at that.

I feel very proud of myself for that.

We got stuck in traffic getting into the heart of Chicago, but that wasn't really a big deal. The Thunderbirds were practicing for the air show and we got to be the audience. We all loved it!

We found our hotel and put our one suitcase and 20 pillows in our room. THE CLAMPETS TAKE CHICAGO! I'm not kidding about the pillows! It was ridiculous. We had so many pillows I was embarrassed. We could have opened up a pillow shop! It was kinda my fault. I ALWAYS bring my pillows and those people I live with always try to steal them from me. Every time we take a trip, I say, "If you want pillows you need to bring them. You are old enough to do that now!"

They brought their pillows alright... all of them!

About 4:30 pm, The Clampetts leave their 4 star hotel and all their pillows behind to take on downtown Chicago. We decide to first catch a bus and take it all the way to the Hancock building.

I know this is going to come as a real shock to those of you who really know me, but I do not belong in a big city.

We hop on this bus trying to drag the big ol' honkin stroller in with us... hello tourists. We are all standing. I am holding Emme; Paul is wrestling the stroller. The bus, of course, is very crowded. All of a sudden, I hear some lady talking and I am pretty sure she's talking to me, but I can't really tell. She has a hat on with some scraggly hair sticking out from under it and she has on these HUGE black sunglasses. Their not stylish sunglasses. As a matter of fact, I thought for sure she was blind... until she started yelling at me. "There's a seat right there. You need to sit. You have a baby."

I was like, "What is going on?? How does this lady know I have a baby?" But, being ever the peacemaker, I promptly sit.

I'm still trying to figure out what's going on when she turns to me and says, "There's a seat open behind you. You need to have your daughter sit there."

I am still thinking she's blind and I am desperately trying to figure out how she knows all this is going on. I know when one loses a sense the other senses become hypersensitive, but this is bordering on downright freaky.

So, I tell Shelby to sit.

Then, she starts talking again.

The man behind you is going to get up in a second. Have your son sit there. Then all your kids will be sitting.

How on earth does she know that man is going to get up in a second? My head is spinning. Some crazy lady it talking to me. And, what's worse, I am doing everything she tells me to do. I am glancing nervously from kid to kid to kid. Meanwhile, some big man gets up and she grabs my arm and says, "Look! He's asking for money!"

Yep, he sure is!

Then she starts telling me about this man that sat beside her once and started rubbing her leg. She said, "I started yelling, 'WHY ARE YOU RUBBING MY LEG! STOP RUBBING MY LEG! THIS MAN IS RUBBING MY LEG'." She continues, "Then he got up and went and sat by a young girl who was probably 13 years old. I mean did he really think I was going to let him get away with that?" So, I started yelling again.

All I can think this whole time is... how in the world do I get myself into these messes? Does anyone else have things like this happen to them?

My thinking is interrupted by this lady yelling, "BUS DRIVER!! I NEED A ________ STOP!!!"

"DID YOU HEAR ME! I YELLED IT THE OTHER DAY AND THE DRIVER DIDN'T HEAR ME. I NEED A _______ STOP! "

I don't know what kind of stop she needed. I never got the word. I was just so thankful she was getting off the bus.

We made it to our stop and I was done. Let's go home! This has been a great experience, but the answer is 'no'.... I can not live here a whole summer. The Holy Spirit has spoken. As a matter of fact, we can no longer do campus ministry because I need a couple of really strong drinks right now.

Paul never listens to me though, so we continue on this insane adventure.

Instead of strong drinks, we settled for real smoothies made from real fruit! Yum!

Even Emme was paranoid! Can you see the look in her eyes?
After the smoothies, we went to The American Girl doll store. Gracie begged for one... to no avail. She has 2 or 3 at home... from Grandma and a dear friend. She never touches them.

This is Jackson at the American Girl Doll store! He was hating life!

We went into some other stores and walked and walked and walked. It was a LONG way back to our hotel. We finally decided to rest and we sat down to watch some street performers who were getting ready to do a dance. It was hard to see from the front, so we moved around to the back. The kids sat on the stone planter that was behind the performers. The show had just started and we were all really into it, when all of a sudden this African American drunk, homeless man... who was holding a new, unopened can of been came over and grabbed Jackson by the arm. My eyes grew as big as saucers. I started yelling, "Paul! Paul!" but he can't hear. I look back and notice that he now has Jackson standing... Jackson with the fear of death on his face. I started yelling at Paul again. We both look back and now the homeless man is sitting in Jackson's seat... watching the performance.

We left the performance.

Surely now my husband will take us home... right?

Nope!

We walk and walk and walk some more. We walked at least 3 miles. Now is 8 pm, we are in a city full of restaurants and we can't find a place to eat. I not kidding. We found about 48 7 11 stores, 86 Starbucks, 24 Subways Sandwich stores... but good heavens, where are the restaurants?

Finally about 9pm, dehydrated and exhausted we found some really authentic Italian place. We drank about 15 gallons of water and ate. Jackson laid down on the bench in the restuarant and fell asleep. Then we walked some more back to our hotel. It didn't take long for everyone to fall asleep. We were exhausted.

In the morning, one of my favorite people and best friends in all the world, trecked downtown to spend the day with us. My friend Gina, her husband, Nick and their son, Anthony... who we all call Arthur (long story!) The live in a Chicago suburb.

They had passes to the Shedd Aquarium which allowed 4 adults and 4 kids admission. So, we all went to the Aquarium.... free.

While at the Aquarium, thanks to Facebook, we ran into some people we have not seen in about 14 years. Ready for this story?

I'll make it quick.

In my church youth group, I grew up with a guy named Danny. He was 3 years older than me and I had a big crush on him. Paul grew up and dated a girl named Jane from his church.

On our first date (mine and Paul's) we were talking about his college, Bob Jones. I told him that I only knew one guy who went there. He asked who it was and then about died because I told him it was Danny. He and Danny were roommates Paul's freshman year. How weird is that? Well, Danny ended up marrying Jane's sister, Jenny and Paul of course married me. So, Danny married someone Paul grew up with and Paul married someone Danny grew up with. Did you follow that? If not, it's ok... The point is... we met up with them at the aquarium in Chicago. They live in Columbus, Ohio.... weird, huh? All because of Facebook status and phones.

This is a picture of the kids outside the aquarium.
Paul loves to visit any kind of local dive when we travel so we went to Al's. GOOD FOOD!

Gina and her little family had to head home to go help out at church after eating, so we went exploring.

One of my Favorite Summer Memories

I honestly have no idea what to do in the summer except go to the pool. We live there, especially during swim team season.

I remember doing the same thing almost everyday when I was little. It never got old. And, it's never old to my kids.

I've told them about my pool. I told them how we used to walk to get there. The pool was by a wooded area and there was a little path from one of the roads that lead up to the sidewalk to the pool. I can still see the tire marks in the dry dirt from the kids that road their bikes there. As a matter of fact... whenever I see tire marks in the dirt, the kind that were made in the mud and then dried, I think of Union Pool.

I remember walking home from the pool after spending several hours in the heat and in the water. I was always worn out. For some reason, I always came home, took my suit off, wrapped myself in a blanket, laid on the couch... naked if not for the blanket. I would watch Tom and Jerry and eat ice cream. I used to love to let my ice cream get soft and then swirl it around and make a thick ice cream soup with my spoon.

I love that memory.

However, I regret sharing it with my children. I can not even begin to tell you how many times a summer they ask me if they can lay on the couch naked, eat ice cream and watch Tom and Jerry.

I always tell them "no". As I sit here writing this, I am thinking maybe I should just let them do it one time and get it over with. They'd never forget it. You might read about me in the newspaper the next day, but at least we could all have the same memory of summer.

I just hate letting them watch Tom and Jerry as a sibling group. They don't need anymore ideas. I already feel like I live with Tom and Jerry. They just go by different names here... Gracie and Jackson.

I don't really know why I just told you that story.

********************UPDATE ON JANAE*****************************

Janae is home now. She had a surgery last week. They took out some lymph nodes and a biopsy of the lung. The biopsies came back clear for cancer. They are now waiting to see if they come back positive for the autoimmune disease.

The surgery was very painful. They had to make a large incision in her side because she's so skinny ( I have the SAME problem...haha). Her lung collapsed once and that was very painful. She is still in some pain but she looks 100 times better. She's getting around well and laughing, even though it's painful. She is in great spirits.

Please pray that her heart heals itself completely. Also pray that her body would respond to the medicines. I love watching the Great Physician work His magic!

Let's Revisit August 2008

I thought it would be fun, at least for me, to repost some of the events of this time last year. It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by. August 7, 2008, after all we had been through last spring/summer, was one of the best days ever! Just read about it below!

Please sing the words Hallelujah as sung in the chorus of Handel's Messiah!!!

Because, guess what???

WE ARE GOING TO CHINA!!!!!!

2 years, 7 months, 7 days, trip after trip to FedEx,

lots of prayer, buckets of tears, and hundreds of phone calls later.... we finally got to hear the words we've have dreamed about... your travel approval is here!!!!!!! You can go get your daughter!

The dates still need to be confirmed but it looks like we will leave about August 27. Approximately 24 hours later, we will seeBeijing, China

We will tour there for a couple of days. Then we will fly very south to Nanning in the Guangxi province (it borders Vietnam).

It is there that a stranger will hand us one of the four most precious gifts we have ever been given!

Then, we will fly to Guangzhou where everything will culminate in an oath at the US Consulate on September 8. Bringing us back to the good ol' USA about September the 10th. When that plane touches US soil, Emme will be citizen of the United States of America!

I have very few other words at this point. I am overwhelmed with God's goodness. 3 years ago this was a dream that, to be honest, I thought it would always be a dream. God has so far provided every single penny we needed. When we started, we barely scraped together the application fee. And, although through some of the last few months God seemed absent, he really had me in the palm of His hand protecting me. From what, I don't know. I may never know this side of Heaven. But, as I watch things come together now, he was taking all my desires and putting them in a beautiful package. Sometime soon, I'll unwrap it for you.

Until then, I'll give you a sneak peak.

Adoption draws together people who are on the same journey. I have been blessed to have been given several friends to encourage me. Friends I have never met in person, just communicated with online. One of those dear people has been a lady named Sharla. I want Sharla to be my neighbor and my REALLY good friend. I'd settle for just having her in the same city. Or, heck, the same state would be okay too! Anyway, I just wanted to share the email she sent me tonight. She always makes me cry when she writes. I followed her on her journey to pick up her precious daughter, Abby just a couple of weeks ago. (Followed her online. I wasn't stalking her.) I cried for two weeks reading her posts! To me, she has been a glimpse of heaven on earth.

Hi E-mail, wish you were near, friend!

I was SO EXCITED to see your announcement on RQ! What wonderful news!! I can’t wait to follow your journey, I know it’s going to be amazing because the “enemy” has tried so hard to de-rail it. God must have something incredible in store for you and your family and this precious child.

I love Habakkuk 1:5, “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”

I can’t wait to watch and be utterly amazed!

Hugs,
Sharla

My mini Taylor Swift

I have a mini Taylor Swift....

..... only she doesn't have blond curly hair

and

....... she can't play the guitar (yet)

and

........ she doesn't have any award winning songs

and

......... she doesn't have a tour bus

and

......... she doesn't live in Nashville

and

.......... she's never won a Grammy or a CMT award

and

........... she doesn't make a lot of money

But, other than that, she's just like her.

She even taught herself to play one of her songs on the piano... but only with the right hand: she's still working on the left.

And, she has been writing her own songs for as long as I can remember. Some of them are so good, I ask her where she heard it. Some of her songs... um, not so good.

I found one she wrote. Unlike my blogging friend Sharla, I don't ask my kid's permission to share their stories. Giving birth earned me the right to share.

I found this song laying around the house one day after I heard her singing it:

Big in the country

Small in the city

Cause I'm a small town girl

Not makin much money

Bare foot and a hoodie

jeans and pigtails

oh yeah

Chorus:

Seems like everyone thinks small town girls won't make it too far

They say they don't make much down on the farm

Well, I think it's fine and

It's all mine

Lovin just what I do

Oh, it's true

Small town girl

Four kids and a husband

Gettin lots of lovin

All so beautiful

Two kids have freckles

Others have dimples

Oh, so special

Can't get enough of watch'n em grown up

And it's all so sweet

Somethin' you just can't beat

Repeat chorus

I don't even know what to say about that. I am not sure where she's getting all her.... information/experience. She's home schooled. I pretty much know where she is 24/7.

Anyway, here is the piano piece she taught herself.

Lost... my sense of humor

Janae

I always like to see who I am praying for...

Before I went to bed on Wednesday night, I put up a post that said I didn't have the heart to write anything this week. And, then I thought, "Well, that's depressing!"

10 minutes later, I took it down.

Besides, it showed that all I was doing was focusing on a bad situation instead of focusing on the One who could do something about it.

So, here's my struggle. I feel like I have been in a rut for a couple of years now. I haven't felt good about myself. It's a struggle to exercise, even though I feel so good when I do.

Well, along comes my friend Amber who invites me to this Zumba class. I didn't want to go but I thought going once wouldn't hurt. I went to the class and realized, " This does something for me"... yeah, I know I am focusing on me. That's part of the problem, but this is my therapy session, so I am just going to keep writing. Besides, it's not the whole problem.

I feel like it was pulling me out of the rut. I was losing weight. My spirit was uplifted. I had a new perspective. I was making some new friends.

And, there was just something about the person leading the class, Janae, that drew me to her. I am not a sappy, mushy person... but I just sensed something different about her heart that I hadn't sensed in someone in a long time. I knew I wanted to get to know her.

We began having conversations back and forth through email and I was so excited about having a new friend.

Then, she gets sick with what everyone thinks is pneumonia and she can't get over it. Something I said got her to go to the hospital where she was given a pretty grim prognosis. I don't think anyone is sure about damage to her heart now, but I think the doctors are pretty sure she has a rare autoimmune syndrome. Thankfully, it looks like it is treatable, but she has a long road of recovery ahead of her.

But, here's the point. Janae felt God continually nudging her to start this exercise ministry. So, she did. It's very successful. I bet sometimes there are 75 people there. (Maybe more, maybe less. I am not good at estimating numbers.) Our paths cross... and then now....

I feel like everything has come to a screeching halt.

It's times like these when I really have to question God. Thankfully, I don't think he minds.

I have been really, really sad this week. Sad for Janae. Sad for her girls. Sad for her husband. Sad for all the people part of her ministry. And, yes sad for me.

HOWEVER....

I felt God really wanted me to take that depressing post down. So, I did. Because here's the thing... God is not surprised by any of this. He didn't fall off the throne. He is still in control. And, he is still good.

Focusing on the problem and being depressed about it doesn't help because it shows I have no faith.

I just happened (haha if you walk with God, you know nothing just happens) to read Psalm 3:2-4 "Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God. But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears and answers me out of His holy hill."

I also read this commentary: When we are depressed, it seems everything around us is falling apart. We lose strength; our heads and hands and hearts all begin to hang down. Even our eyes and our voices are lowered. We become downcast because we are looking at our problems rather than at the Lord.

Psalm 24:7 the psalmist says, "Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of glory may come in."

Choosing to live in hope and joy does not mean you will not face any more disappointments or discouraging situations; it just means you have decided not to let them get you down. Instead, you will lift up your eyes and hands and head and heart and look not at your problems, but at the Lord, who has promised to see you through to abundance and victory.

I don't always understand God's ways and how he moves and why. After all, his thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his way higher than ours (Jer 29:11) But I do know this, God is described over and over and over again as being a God of mercy, compassion, love, grace and forgiveness. If that is true, I have to trust him, right?

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is in the business of healing people. His word shows us that all through the Old Testament and New Testament... which means he IS STILL healing people. I should know. I am married to a man who had a 3% chance to live when he was 12.

Psalm 121:1

I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth.

I know this is the most scatter-brained post ever... but just a few more things to ponder.

Matthew 7:7-8 says
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

It seems like there are varying degrees of making a request to God. We can ask for something. We may ask once but then never really persist. We can seek something, and when we seek something we tend to look with more persistence that is required from an ask. And, then we can knock, forcefully, waiting for someone to come to the door and open it.

When you look at it in the light of these two parables.... seems to make things even clearer:

The unjust judge- a lady goes to the judge and goes to the judge and goes to the judge until he finally gives her what she wants... because she keeps asking.

Luke 18
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "

6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

The guy who wants bread in the middle of the night. He goes to his neighbor to get some, but the neighbor says, "I'm sleeping. I am not coming to the door!" BUT, this guy really, really wants bread and so he keeps asking until the guy opens the door and probably throws some bread at him (at least that's what I would do:-)

Luke 11:5-13
5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness[a] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

I don't know what to make of all that, but it makes me know that I will keep asking and asking and asking God to heal Janae completely. And, I pray it is according to his will.

SOOO, I am going to go look to Jesus.... and then.... I am going to try to find my sense of humor and come back this weekend or Monday.

Please keep praying for Janae!

Girl Drama

HERE'S AN UPDATE ON MY FRIEND JANAE:

Janae is kinda of enigma right now. I think they are unsure of what actually might be wrong with her. She is in isolation. For the doctors or her husband/mom to come in, they have to suit up... they come in with oxygen tanks and the whole bit. She said she feels like a freak. In order to fit the bill, she said she was going to put a bunch of weird makeup on so that she looks like one. I told her that she would have a whole new set of problems. They would then have to move her to a new floor... the psych ward. I think that changed her mind.

ANYWAY......

They are testing her for a bunch of things. In the meanwhile, they are unsure if she even had pneumonia. They are unsure about the virus attacking her heart. I think they are throwing around the idea of an autoimmune disease- treatable one. She had a tube rammed down her throat today to get a sample of ... well, whatever it is your supposed to get out of the lungs. They may have to biopsy her lungs??

So, I don't really have any concrete news, however, she sounds better and she said she feels better. Since they are still checking her out for the virus that attacks the heart... I can tell you that her numbers for how that virus affects the heart jumped significantly and after talking to a cardiac nurse (friend of mine), this is a really good sign. Same friend- predicted a full recovery if in fact that was/is the problem.

The bottom line: She's doing better, but she's not out of the woods. You can't stop praying!! Ask God to give the doctors wisdom.

***********************************************************************************

Why is that boys can beat the tar out of each other one minute and the next minute, they're like, "Hey! Wanna throw the football?"

I think it's because guys are like waffles. The compartmentalize everything. On the other hand, girls are like spaghetti. It's all intertwined and messy.

Guess I better learn how to deal with the girl drama. After all, I did pray and ask for all these girls.

The drama has hit the 8 years old, Gracie. I am not going to go into a lot of detail about the story because I think it might be so boring you'd grab an ice pick and start going after your own eyes.

But, I have to tell you about the response of her little friend Kaylin when Paul asked Kaylin a question.

First of all, let me just say that Kaylin is an adorable little girl. Curly blond hair, great personality... we really enjoy having her around. Since there had been a little problem, when Paul saw Kaylin, he said, "Kaylin, can I ask you a question?"

She said, "Sure."

"Everything ok with you and Gracie?"

Oh yeah!! Gracie's in my top 5!"

"Your top 5?!?! Well.......who else is in your top 5?"

"Well, Grace Isaacs, Grace Roop, Grace Mays, Grace Eisenhower, and Grace Meineger.

"Your top 5 is all Grace's?"

She tilted her head to the side for a moment, pondered the question and then said, "yeaaahh!"

It was clear it had never occurred to her that her all the girls in her top 5 were named Grace.

So funny! When I named Gracie, Grace, I though I was being so unique. Clearly not!