Age 1
Age 2
+of+Daddy%26R.jpg)
Age 3
Age 4
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Miracle #3
In the summer of 2003, Mike's brother and his wife and two kids flew up to Idaho for a visit. We borrowed a Suburban and drove up to Canada--Banff, Lake Louise, Radium Hot Springs, Kootenai and Yoho National Parks, Wapta Falls, Emerald Lake, and even Whistler Mountain in Jasper, which is way up there close to the Arctic Circle. Well, closer than I'd ever been, anyway. We had a great time, and saw bears, big horn sheep, elk, glaciers. Jessica and Mikayla were 5 and 3, and as we hiked and climbed, one of them usually ended up on my shoulders. On our last day, driving home, we found one more waterfall with rocks we just had to climb on. But as I got out of the car, I started cramping like I was either about to be sick or start my period, so I stayed down close to the car (and the porta-potty) while everyone else climbed, and it went away. I spotted a little, and figured my friend "Martha" was about to come for her monthly visit. But she never did, and I took a pregnancy test, which came out positive. Mike and I were happy about it, but at the same time...this was exactly how our last pregancy had started. The one I lost at 11 weeks. Because of the spotting, and the cramping, I was certain the baby was dead. I don't know how to put into words how little hope I had. I only told those closest to me, and set up a doctor's appointment for when I was about 9 weeks along. I knew my Dr. would do an ultrasound, and I prepared myself to see no little flash of heartbeat on the screen. Thankfully, my big brother Mark had faith for me, and told me all along that he knew this baby was going to be alright. I wanted to believe him, but didn't. He kept praying and believing, and that day at the dr's office, I watched the screen with dread, then was amazed to see something flashing!! I asked, "Is that a heartbeat?!" and my dr (the same one who had seen my through before) joyfully answered yes!! Oh, how I cried. For joy, for relief, for shock, for shame that I hadn't believed, and for gratitude for those who had. It turned out that the spotting was because I had partial previa, which meant I had to stop carrying Mikayla (remember that trip to Canada!) and Mike got to take over vacuuming (yaay), and by February, that was gone! But also in February, after fasting and drinking that sucrose water stuff, I was driving myself to the hospital to have blood drawn, on snowy and icy-but-I-didn't-know-it roads, and got in an accident. Thank the Lord, again the baby and I were okay! Finally, on March 30, 2004, little Rebecca Ann was born. It was the least dramatic/traumatic birth of all! Mostly because the hospital we used FINALLY invested in a continual drip epidural thingy--again, thank You Lord! ;) The next day one of our students was holding Rebecca as I was taking a shower with my Mom's help, when she suddenly yelled, "Grandma!!" Mom went to see what was going on and Rebecca was blue. They ran her to the nurse's station, and the nurse grabbed her and ran down the hall to some machine that pumped her stomach. It happened 4 times before we went home from the hospital. I was more nervous to take her home than I had been with my first-born! But it never happened again. Every time I look at my Rebecca, I marvel at God's grace, His protection, and His healing hand. I could so easily not have her...but I do. I get to hear her say she wants skabetti for supper, and ham and an apple for breakfast. (?) I get to see her brown eyes just like her Gran's, and curly hair like me. I get her kisses and hugs and cuddles. I don't deserve it...but God is so good to me. Thank You, Father!
Age 1
Age 2
+of+Daddy%26R.jpg)
Age 3
Age 4
Age 1
Age 2
Age 3
Age 4
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Easter celebrations
What a great Easter we had--beginning with Palm Sunday! Palm Sunday always makes me miss our church in Idaho. Every year they would order palm fronds from a florist to pass out to the children, who would walk up and down the aisles waving them while we sang Hosanna songs. It's a special memory. We didn't get to do that this year, but that afternoon our church did have a preschool egg hunt, and look at the excitement on Rebecca's face! 
And check out those shades! 
We enjoyed seeing our friends, and there were so many eggs I even let the big girls in on the fun. 
The girls and I had a low key Spring Break while Mike and the students ministered in Savannah--just played and cleaned house, took care of some procrastination. And by Friday night, Mike and my Mom were both here! On Saturday she helped me get ready for Easter. The next day we "opened" our Easter baskets, 
had a great Sunday School and worship service, 
had a nice lunch (with Matt's favorite potato casserole, Jackie--we missed you!), and had our own egg hunt in the backyard before vegging & watching basketball and August Rush. 
That night was the third and final presentation at our church of the "Living Last Supper," which told the life of Jesus and then set up Da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper and froze on the scene before finishing the story. It was very good, and we were all cheering when Jesus came out of the tomb! Jessica and Mikayla were in the miracle scene and Jesus blessing the children--so precious. 
Last night at the BCM English Club we talked about Easter and the resurrection, and had an egg hunt for the students--their first one! They were like kids, having so much fun. It was a good time, and they heard the most important story of all. It was a good Easter season.
And check out those shades! 
We enjoyed seeing our friends, and there were so many eggs I even let the big girls in on the fun. 
The girls and I had a low key Spring Break while Mike and the students ministered in Savannah--just played and cleaned house, took care of some procrastination. And by Friday night, Mike and my Mom were both here! On Saturday she helped me get ready for Easter. The next day we "opened" our Easter baskets, 
had a great Sunday School and worship service, 
had a nice lunch (with Matt's favorite potato casserole, Jackie--we missed you!), and had our own egg hunt in the backyard before vegging & watching basketball and August Rush. 
That night was the third and final presentation at our church of the "Living Last Supper," which told the life of Jesus and then set up Da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper and froze on the scene before finishing the story. It was very good, and we were all cheering when Jesus came out of the tomb! Jessica and Mikayla were in the miracle scene and Jesus blessing the children--so precious. 
Last night at the BCM English Club we talked about Easter and the resurrection, and had an egg hunt for the students--their first one! They were like kids, having so much fun. It was a good time, and they heard the most important story of all. It was a good Easter season.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Old Washington Jonquil Festival
On Saturday, my friend Holly and I took our kids to Old Washinton State Park (the "Williamsburg of the South") to the annual jonquil festival. How many of you use the word "jonquil"? I always did at home, growing up, but depending on where we lived I also called them daffodils, narcissus, paper whites, etc. I'm not sure if they're different varieties or if it's a regional thing, but it's nice to be back where people know what I'm talking about.
Anyway...we didn't see near as many jonquils here as we did last year at Wye Mountain.
See...
Old Washington:
Wye Mountain:
(Here's my favorite from Wye Mountain.)
But I loved seeing the historic buildings, like this hen house,
And we're definitely going to come back on a day less crowded to do the tour.
I also loved the HUGE magnolia tree the girls played under.
If I'd had money to spend I would have loved the arts & crafts booths and carnival food! The girls had fun on the bouncy castle ride and being with Kate and Grayson. At the end of the day, I had that out-in-the-sun-but-not-hot buzz, and had enjoyed a relaxing time of visiting with my friend and watching my kids have fun. Thank you, Lord, for happy days!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Well, she has seen her sisters lose teeth...
(Background: Mike's brother David lost a finger as a preschooler in an accident that would make you shudder.)
The other day Rebecca was sitting in a chair studying her feet. When I walked by, she looked up and said, "My toe is peeling." I absentmindedly answered, "Oh, hmm. Okay." She followed me into the laundry room to say, "It's going to keep peeling 'til it looks like Uncle David's finger!"
The other day Rebecca was sitting in a chair studying her feet. When I walked by, she looked up and said, "My toe is peeling." I absentmindedly answered, "Oh, hmm. Okay." She followed me into the laundry room to say, "It's going to keep peeling 'til it looks like Uncle David's finger!"
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Happy List
I haven't added to my happy list in a while, so here's #38:
Jumping on the trampoline with all 3 girls on a warm spring evening...in the rain!
Jumping on the trampoline with all 3 girls on a warm spring evening...in the rain!
Monday, March 17, 2008
The first of all the posts floating around in my little head...
Excel-lent 80's Party!
Thursday night we had an 80's party at the BCM, with big hair, Ms. PacMan, and the best music ever!
We had a big hair contest, with the guys styling the girls' hair to look like pictures out of a magazine.
Then we switched!
Brandon, Mike's semester missionary, brought his PS2 so we could have a Singstar tournament. I must say I rock at that game. After winning on "Hold Me Now," "Come On Eileen," and "Eye of the Tiger," I forfeited my winning position in order to take the girls home and put them to bed. It was really fun. And interesting to see the real words to some of those songs I sang all the time as a teenager--yikes!
I thought I should win some kind of prize because I actually wore something purchased in the '80's...my obu bsu sweatshirt, which I wore casually tied around my neck.
Thursday night we had an 80's party at the BCM, with big hair, Ms. PacMan, and the best music ever!
We had a big hair contest, with the guys styling the girls' hair to look like pictures out of a magazine.
Then we switched!
Brandon, Mike's semester missionary, brought his PS2 so we could have a Singstar tournament. I must say I rock at that game. After winning on "Hold Me Now," "Come On Eileen," and "Eye of the Tiger," I forfeited my winning position in order to take the girls home and put them to bed. It was really fun. And interesting to see the real words to some of those songs I sang all the time as a teenager--yikes!
I thought I should win some kind of prize because I actually wore something purchased in the '80's...my obu bsu sweatshirt, which I wore casually tied around my neck.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tag--I'm it
Etta, of J Boys' Mommy, a fellow OBU alum and minister's wife, tagged me for "7 random facts about myself." I was tickled to be tagged, but coming up with these (without sounding stupid) was harder than I expected. So I finally gave up on not sounding stupid, and here goes:
1. I really enjoy playing flag football. Or at least I used to; I haven't actually played since college. In jr high I made a touchdown! For the other team. But in college I played intramurals for the BSU team and for "The Generics" ('cause none of us were in "social clubs") and I was a defensive lineman. So fun.
2. I adore Laura Ingalls Wilder and everything she wrote. I've been to her house in Mansfield, Missouri, and saw Pa's real fiddle and Mary's ninepatch quilt! My fantasy vacation is to get to go to all her houses/museums. Am I a nerd or what!
3. I also have always been fascinated with all things Jewish. Probably because of my Sunday School upbringing, combined with Jewish friends growing up in the Navy and the kind of books I like to read. We even have our own little family Passover Seder, ever since watching a demonstration by Jews for Jesus in Idaho. I didn't realize how often I even say "oy" until I heard Rebecca say it, as she was standing up. Incidentally, Jessica checked a picture book out at the library today called Across the Alley about a Jewish boy and a black boy who become friends. It is beautiful. Brought tears to my eyes.
4. My contacts say -4.25 on the side. I asked my eye dr if that means I have 20/425 vision, and he said, "Oh no, it's worse than that." Mike says I'm blind as Patch. (Our friends' blind dog.) Thank God for modern eye care!
5. I have naturally curly hair that I fought for years (I've had professional hair sytlists cry out in frustration trying to style my hair) until I finally let it do what God created it to do. It still drives me crazy, but "The King is enthralled with my beauty."
6. I have 2 older brothers and my childhood nickname was "Squirt."
7. Occassionally I have vivid, realistic dreams, usually about spiders, that I think are real even after I wake up. I have jumped out of bed, turned on lights, tried to hit them, made Mike look for them, and insisted that "it's real this time, I saw it." But (thankfully) they never are.
So now I get to tag 7 people...hmm...just keep in mind I'm a very passive tagger. No pressure, just play if you want to!
1. Tami, The Hanson Adventures--the newest addition to my faves list
2. Jackie, The Mungers
3. Lacy, The Mike and Lacy Show
4. Joanna, Thus Far Has the Lord Helped Us
5. Meredith, Life at 7000 Feet
6. Holly, Crown Laid Down
7. Margo, My 5 Blessings
Angie, I would tag you, but since you're coming to the States in about 2 WEEKS!!!, I thought you might be a little busy. Can't wait to see you! Of course, Lacy's about to have a baby, so I don't know what I'm thinking. :)
1. I really enjoy playing flag football. Or at least I used to; I haven't actually played since college. In jr high I made a touchdown! For the other team. But in college I played intramurals for the BSU team and for "The Generics" ('cause none of us were in "social clubs") and I was a defensive lineman. So fun.
2. I adore Laura Ingalls Wilder and everything she wrote. I've been to her house in Mansfield, Missouri, and saw Pa's real fiddle and Mary's ninepatch quilt! My fantasy vacation is to get to go to all her houses/museums. Am I a nerd or what!
3. I also have always been fascinated with all things Jewish. Probably because of my Sunday School upbringing, combined with Jewish friends growing up in the Navy and the kind of books I like to read. We even have our own little family Passover Seder, ever since watching a demonstration by Jews for Jesus in Idaho. I didn't realize how often I even say "oy" until I heard Rebecca say it, as she was standing up. Incidentally, Jessica checked a picture book out at the library today called Across the Alley about a Jewish boy and a black boy who become friends. It is beautiful. Brought tears to my eyes.
4. My contacts say -4.25 on the side. I asked my eye dr if that means I have 20/425 vision, and he said, "Oh no, it's worse than that." Mike says I'm blind as Patch. (Our friends' blind dog.) Thank God for modern eye care!
5. I have naturally curly hair that I fought for years (I've had professional hair sytlists cry out in frustration trying to style my hair) until I finally let it do what God created it to do. It still drives me crazy, but "The King is enthralled with my beauty."
6. I have 2 older brothers and my childhood nickname was "Squirt."
7. Occassionally I have vivid, realistic dreams, usually about spiders, that I think are real even after I wake up. I have jumped out of bed, turned on lights, tried to hit them, made Mike look for them, and insisted that "it's real this time, I saw it." But (thankfully) they never are.
So now I get to tag 7 people...hmm...just keep in mind I'm a very passive tagger. No pressure, just play if you want to!
1. Tami, The Hanson Adventures--the newest addition to my faves list
2. Jackie, The Mungers
3. Lacy, The Mike and Lacy Show
4. Joanna, Thus Far Has the Lord Helped Us
5. Meredith, Life at 7000 Feet
6. Holly, Crown Laid Down
7. Margo, My 5 Blessings
Angie, I would tag you, but since you're coming to the States in about 2 WEEKS!!!, I thought you might be a little busy. Can't wait to see you! Of course, Lacy's about to have a baby, so I don't know what I'm thinking. :)
Monday, March 10, 2008
I got my camera back!
And developed my disposable one. See if you can tell which pictures came from which camera...
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
FYI
*It's 60 degrees and sunny today. So much for snow!
*Jessica's friend Emily was on the Little Rock news twice last week...and today Mike heard her story on K-Love! She met her goal of $8000 (yay!) and has set a new goal of $360,000!!! If you haven't bought lemonade yet, go here and try some! It's the best I've ever had. (You can also watch her interview from there.)
*It's been a month since the tornado hit. Did you know it was an F-3/4 on the ground for 123 miles/2 hours? Without lifting? It's the second longest in the history of the U.S. The longest killed hundreds of people--thank you Lord for warning sirens!
*Brock and Bodie Thoene started a new study on their website today, called "Spiritual Warfare: The Battle is Already Won!" It includes daily Bible readings. Check it out!
*Jessica's friend Emily was on the Little Rock news twice last week...and today Mike heard her story on K-Love! She met her goal of $8000 (yay!) and has set a new goal of $360,000!!! If you haven't bought lemonade yet, go here and try some! It's the best I've ever had. (You can also watch her interview from there.)
*It's been a month since the tornado hit. Did you know it was an F-3/4 on the ground for 123 miles/2 hours? Without lifting? It's the second longest in the history of the U.S. The longest killed hundreds of people--thank you Lord for warning sirens!
*Brock and Bodie Thoene started a new study on their website today, called "Spiritual Warfare: The Battle is Already Won!" It includes daily Bible readings. Check it out!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Snow Flurries?!
If it makes my friends in Minnesota, Colorado, and Idaho feel any better about our spring weather...we're having snow flurries today! It's about 35 degrees. My mom and brother, 3 hours north, got 3" of snow, and her friend in Russelville got 14"!!! In Arkansas, in March. Crazy! Must be that global warming...
Update on my previous post--I forgot to mention that on Monday the 18th Mike and I had our first date since moving to Magnolia! We ate supper at a little restaurant on the square downtown, called Mule's Cantina. It has wooden floors with peanut shells all over it, and great hamburgers, decent steaks. We only had a little over an hour, and then had to go to the Conversation Club, but it was still nice.
At last night's Conversation Club 5 internationals showed up, all guys. Pray that more will come, and that they will come to know Jesus.
Update on my previous post--I forgot to mention that on Monday the 18th Mike and I had our first date since moving to Magnolia! We ate supper at a little restaurant on the square downtown, called Mule's Cantina. It has wooden floors with peanut shells all over it, and great hamburgers, decent steaks. We only had a little over an hour, and then had to go to the Conversation Club, but it was still nice.
At last night's Conversation Club 5 internationals showed up, all guys. Pray that more will come, and that they will come to know Jesus.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Whew!
Wow, this is the first chance I've had in a while to sit down and catch up on reading and writing. Life with kids is a whirlwind, isn't it! Here's a run-down of our lives since the middle of Feb:
10-Mikayla's Hawaiian birthday party--5 squealing little girls in coconut bras and plastic leis & grass skirts doing the hula and the limbo
11- Upward practice
12-FUEL (every Tuesday night churches provide supper at the BCM for the students, followed by a brief talk by Mike leading into our small group Bible Studies--him with the guys, me with the girls)
13--Church Valentine Banquet
14--BCM Valentine Banquet
15--Passion (I know, isn't it funny? I love telling people Mike had Passion the weekend after Valentine's Day. The Conference. In Dallas. Without me! And it was an awesome time spiritually for all of them.)
16--Final Upward games, and playdates for all but me and Rebecca
17--Church as a single mom, Upward Awards Ceremony
18--Internationals Conversation Club. 2 showed up. Chetan and Punit. They said everyone else probably forgot, so we got email addresses and hope more come tomorrow night.
19--FUEL
20--dentist appointments in the morning--Jessica now has an orthodontist appointment coming up...AWANA that night
21--Source (BCM's weekly worship time)
22--We drive to Houston for Mike to give his sister some help taking care of their Mom. We stopped at the Woodland's Mall on our way in to spend $20 in Buildabear gift certificates we had been saving up from birthdays and club points. Every girl got an "outfit" and an accessory and we only went $7 over! ;)
23--The girls and I went to the Houston Zoo. And actually got hot!! It was a fun day. The best parts were seeing 2 otters chasing each other, fighting. Or playing. Or getting to know each other. It's hard to tell. I also enjoyed seeing the 1 month old baby giraffe, and a maned wolf chase a tapir, and seeing the zookeepers get out a binturong on a leash, so we could see it up close. This is a binturong.
10-Mikayla's Hawaiian birthday party--5 squealing little girls in coconut bras and plastic leis & grass skirts doing the hula and the limbo
11- Upward practice
12-FUEL (every Tuesday night churches provide supper at the BCM for the students, followed by a brief talk by Mike leading into our small group Bible Studies--him with the guys, me with the girls)
13--Church Valentine Banquet
14--BCM Valentine Banquet
15--Passion (I know, isn't it funny? I love telling people Mike had Passion the weekend after Valentine's Day. The Conference. In Dallas. Without me! And it was an awesome time spiritually for all of them.)
16--Final Upward games, and playdates for all but me and Rebecca
17--Church as a single mom, Upward Awards Ceremony
18--Internationals Conversation Club. 2 showed up. Chetan and Punit. They said everyone else probably forgot, so we got email addresses and hope more come tomorrow night.
19--FUEL
20--dentist appointments in the morning--Jessica now has an orthodontist appointment coming up...AWANA that night
21--Source (BCM's weekly worship time)
22--We drive to Houston for Mike to give his sister some help taking care of their Mom. We stopped at the Woodland's Mall on our way in to spend $20 in Buildabear gift certificates we had been saving up from birthdays and club points. Every girl got an "outfit" and an accessory and we only went $7 over! ;)
23--The girls and I went to the Houston Zoo. And actually got hot!! It was a fun day. The best parts were seeing 2 otters chasing each other, fighting. Or playing. Or getting to know each other. It's hard to tell. I also enjoyed seeing the 1 month old baby giraffe, and a maned wolf chase a tapir, and seeing the zookeepers get out a binturong on a leash, so we could see it up close. This is a binturong.
24--We go home after lunch.
25--Everyone but me gets a cold. But we do get to stay home!
26--FUEL again. We took some of our high school and college yearbooks to help them prepare for the '80's party coming up. Funny!
27--AWANA Bible Quiz in El Dorado--This was our first time to see Bible Quiz, and our little Jessica and her partner Avery got 4th place in their group! It was fun. And we got ice cream on the way home.
28--Thursday is library day for homeschoolers, but our librarian called the night before to let us know she wasn't going to be there. I just had to throw that in because I've never known a librarian to do that before! Small town perks! It was also Source night again, but Mike was so sick he hardly knows what he said.
29--Homeschool Coop day. We did "testing" for Presidential Fitness. It was very laid back, but we got a nice little booklet with good information on how to keep kids fit. I want to use it and get us more active. We also had 3 pine trees cut down, and were planning on cleaning it up ourselves, but with Mike sick, he decided to pay them to do it. YAY! They didn't do the back yard yet, and the girls are delighted because they've been climbing and hiding and making playhouses. They're a mess--scratches and pine sap all over themselves.
March 1--We stayed home on a Saturday!! It was wonderful. I cleaned all my floors and did laundry and ironed. The girls played on the pine logs.
2--We went to our own church! Together! This afternoon Mike and Rebecca are napping and the big girls are climbing on the pine logs and playing Barbie, and I'm doing this and sorting hand-me-downs to get ready for spring. Our Japanese magnolia is in full bloom, there are daffodils blooming all over town, and our yard is covered in Spring Beauties. I love changing seasons!
So throw in school and work, and there's more information than you ever wanted to know about how the Sandusky family is and what we've been doing with ourselves. This Wednesday we're heading to Conway & Little Rock for a few days, and after that I should have my camera back! Then everyone can have what they really want on this blog--pictures of the girls. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)