Vistors from the North

My parents have been here this past week. They arrived on Christmas Evening in time for dinner and left just this morning. It was a fun-filled week, with playing, shopping, walking, eating good food and the like. They will be missed here until next time.

My Little Lady

After facing a hard realization that her hair would never be "as long as Rapunzels", in the true spirit of the movie Tangled, got tired "of always having tangles". After a discussion of a possible solution to the problem she resolved she "wanted short hair". We looked at some pictures, and she settled on this do. I got my shears out and a good U-tube video and got to work. I was so thankful it turned out so cute. I had plan B in order, we were going to head to town and find a salon, but no need it frames her darling little face perfectly.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas friends! If I had gotten around to sending a card it would have had this picture on it, but I didn't so here's a Merry Christmas Post.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I've had such fun celebrating advent with the children this year. It has really been refreshing to anticipate the birth of Christ in this way.

I've been thinking how amazing it is that God's people were waiting for their savior all that time and then................... HE CAME!!!! What a blessing to be alive after the coming of our Load and Savior. I'm so thankful!

On another note; these are festive I thought.

The children decorating.

Hosea's handy work.

The final touch.

We call this our redemption man tree.

Cardiology all clear

We saw the cardiologist today since her new muscle diagnosis can affect her heart. She had an Echocardiogram and EKG of her heart, and everything check out good today. They will follow her annually to check for changes. I am thankful for a good report.

Silliness

Mike and I went to an ugly sweater Christmas party for his squadron. We won the contest! It was a loudest cheer crowd vote of about 50 people. We are so proud of our dressing up skills:)

Rolling

Yesterday Aggie did several rolls from her back to her tummy! Very exciting. Before she would do one here or there, but hasn't since surgery. She did several yesterday and again this morning. I am so thankful to God for this little step of developmental progress. She only has one direction mastered, but is working on the other. Just thrilling, that's all.

A good word

Quote from Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss.

If only my attitude matched this daily.

"Here's a sweet fragrant mouth to kiss. Here are 2 more feet to make music with there pattering about my nursery. Here's a soul to train for God, and the body in which it dwells is worthy of all it will cost, since it is the abode of a kingly tenet. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer of all of them. To whom while I minister in Christ name I make a willing sacrifice of that little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings have left me. Yes my precious baby you are welcome to your mothers heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, her tenderest cares, to her life long prayer. O how rich I am, how truly blessed."

Mikes head all clear

Mike had his MRI yesterday and saw the Neurologist today. He looks good in radiology terms. He's been having exertion headaches and migraines. They plan to "break the headache" with some medication, he hasn't been taking anything. Then he could be back in the cockpit as early as next Thursday. Thankful for a happy ending.

My Babies

We took the kids to an old local mill last weekend to try and get some nice photos of them for the grandparents, and us. I was thankful we got a few good ones, some patience and determination paid off.

Hosea was himself, a ball of energy. Smiling was not a chore for him, but catching him not in motion was a trick, the kid had ants in his pants. I had many blurry ones.

Shiloh has learned the art of the fake smile, and capturing a real one was the most difficult task of all. But alas one came.

Aggie was the most cooperative, she was thrilled to have everyones attention all at once.

Tacky Christmas Attire

This year I've been invited to two Christmas parties where the instructions are to wear "Tacky Christmas Attire". The first was a girls only party and it was a blast. I got 2nd place, thank you local thrift stores for making this possible. This Sat. is #2, and Mike will be joining in on the fun. I don't know why dressing up is so exhilarating, but it sure does bring out the silly in me. Mike allowed me to leave early for the party so I could finish up some Christmas shopping, I wore my outfit to 4 different stores and the looks and comments I got were quite amusing. I would get back in the van and chuckle. He he!

Trip up North

Just some fun Pictures from our trip earlier in the month.

The Aquarium

The children's request

It was so nice to see beautiful Fall colors.

Grandma took Shiloh to the American Girl Doll store in Chicago and Shiloh picked out her Christmas gift. She picked a lovely Hawaiian girl with beautiful long hair.

We also played in some leaves at the grandparents house.

I was thinking......" that's not right"

So I was thinking on Monday I wonder when Mike's MRI would be? Then it reminded me that no one ever called about Aggies MRI. Then I thought........ that's just not right that two people in our home need an MRI..... Geesh!

Now that I have your attention. Last Sunday Mike got sudden intense headaches with exercise on two occasions, so sever he thought it wise to stop. He has never really gotten much of a headache, so naturally this was alarming enough for us to think going to the ER would be wise. He had an CT, which ruled out an aneurysm and tumor. The MRI was closed, (which shows a clear picture) so they decided to schedule it for later, (thank you military hospitals). The MRI will rule out a slow bleed in his brain. I'm not a doctor, but it's not looking probable that this is the problem b/c he would probably be dead by now if it was. They told us today, 5 days after the event that his MRI will be next Tuesday, 9 days after the event. He is not allowed to exercise, an of course not allowed to fly. He will have to get the MRI, see a neurologist and then get cleared back to flying by a special flying Dr. made for such permissions. As alarming as this may sound to some, i think it has not caught us off guard in that way at all. I find myself thinking "really?, OK... whatever". Since sunday we've had a kiddo with a fever that is now gone, and a totally different one vomiting, which has ceased. I had the same thought as previously stated with each episode. I am finding myself struggling with bitterness/resentment. I'm totally over all this medical drama that seems to follow us. I am trying to think of things to be thankful for, we have so many, and be characterized with contentment, but truthfully I'm finding myself a bit feisty. I'm really wrestling with my sin. I know in Christ I am not hopeless and victory is mine, but not responding to my feelings and responding in truth as been difficult.