A much needed summer rain

A couple days ago, a hard summer rain popped up.  In the middle of a drought.  After record breaking rainfall amounts and a massive flood in the spring.  Just a few short months ago.

We were all sick of rain and wanted it to stop more than anything else.  It did stop.  And didn't come back for a long time.

So, when it started to fall, I kicked the kids out.  It was so refreshing.  Cool.  Life giving.

And these kids squealed and giggled and loved every minute of it.

They made "Yellowstone geysers" with their chalk and the puddles.

And a couple even stripped down to their undies since their clothes were sopping wet.

++Thank you, God, for the refreshing rain you sent our way and for the JOY you brought my young ones who danced and skipped in the gift of rain you poured down upon them!++

A Second Need For Stitches

So, this is old news to many of you, but we had to record it here on the blog diary....

We had some lovely guests over for dinner a couple months ago (Neil's parents) and before we even sat down to eat, Rose ran over to grandma.  She tripped on her own feet, fell and smacked her head on the leg of the bench her grandma was sitting on, and split open her head.  Oh man, oh man, oh man, the blood squirting that proceeded was unreal.  I just grabbed a towel and held it up against her head.  When I pulled it away the first few times, it continued to pour forth.  So, I had to just keep applying pressure for a while until it stopped bleeding.  And you could just see a gaping wound, in the shape of a letter Y, go figure!

It was obvious that an ER trip and stitches would be needed.  Thank God that Neil's parents were over and able to stay with the rest of the kids, so we could head on in. 

Rose was so sweet.  On the way to the hospital, she kept thanking me and telling me she loved me.  I never left her side and it was proof that God brings special graces in moments of need like this one.  Our dramatic whiny girl was an absolute doll and calm as can be!  God's presence was with us indeed!!!  Our little princess needed 7 stitches and will have a scar to last a lifetime.  May she always remember that she is a beautiful daughter of the King! 

So the summer of 2017 will be known in our family history as the summer of stitches. Started with Mario whittling himself and ended with Rose trying to take out a bench. 

Here's a little comparison of the healing so far.  This is a picture of Rose just a couple days after the accident with stitches in...

Here she is right after the stitches were removed (a week after the accident)...

And here is a recent picture (a little over two months after the accident)...

Wordless Wednesday: Totus Tuus Shaving Cream WARS

My Baseball Stars

Last week ended our baseball season for the summer.  Our two middle boys, Max and Pookey, begged and begged to play baseball.  We ended up saying "yes" and giving it a try for them, just so they had that experience to play, if only for one season even.  They were blessed enough to have their uncle coach (for Max) and uncle and father coach (for Pookey) and both of them had a cousin on their team.  That made it extra fun for everyone - including ME since I got to sit and jabber with my sister while watching their games.

Of course, both boys LOVED it and want to play next year too.  We are not going to promise them though.  They'll get plenty of opportunity to play baseball around the yard.  Plus, we tend to choose sports that can include more siblings.  It's just easier for our family that way since we have some many young ones so close in age.

Here are some pictures from their wonderful season.

*** MAX on the Indian team ***

*** POOKEY on the Oriole team ***

++Thank you, God, for our time this summer at the ball diamond and fun with family while there!++

Meet "Chirpie"....

....the frog.  (or toad?)

This goofey kid would live outside if we let him.  He would run around all day barefoot too.  He's our kid who will find sticks to play with every time he gets a chance to go outside, along with some sort of living creature.  Just this last weekend, he found "Chirpie".  Personally, I don't run around finding frogs and making them my "pets", so I was kinda shocked that they do make this sweet chirping sound.  From a distance, the frog/toad sound seems more like a croaking, but this guy was a chirper.  Maybe it was because we were up close?

++Thank you, Lord, for your presence in all of creation and the love Max has for the great outdoors.++

Swim fun!!!

Last week, we had high temps (in the 90s) with super high humidity.  Might as well have been freezing temps though, since we were stuck inside because of how miserably hot it was outside.  There were even heat advisories out for our area.  So when my sister called and asked us all to come over there and swim for the evening, I immediately said "yes!".  Swimming is the only outdoor actity to do with weather like that.  And, when you swim past 6pm, you don't even need the sunscreen.  Win!!  So, we swam til it was too dark to see and the light up water toys weren't enough.  We ended the evening with kids watching a movie and grown-ups playing cards.  What a blessing it is to have family so close - both physically and as friends.  Love my sisters!!!

The "hostess with the mostest" - my beautiful sister!

My parents, although they didn't swim, joined in on the fun.  My dad got to chase pool toys that flew out.  And, my mom got to help snuggle and love the babies.  

We had a butterfly that befriended us and would not leave.  He kept landing on our heads, arms. shoulder, and finger!  Super cool!

My sister's sweet baby girl got to swim for her first time.  Have I mentioned that she is the first girl after three boys??!!!  She's a princess, no doubt!!

Yoda even got to take a dip.  Of course, the siblings couldn't keep their hands (and lips!) off of him.  He's just too stinkin' cute!!

The two babies and their daddies (and the nasty beer those goofey daddies drink!)....

And, I even got a picture of myself!  Selfie time!!!  Or is it even a selfie with others in the pic?  Ah - who cares!  (Don't you just love the reverse camera options on your phone?)

And another one of sweet baby, Yoda.  9 months olds now!!!

++Thank you, God, for family, fun, and swimming to be our relief with the high temps last week!!++