Merry Christmas!

We've had a fun Christmas Eve. We decided to open presents tonight so the boys could go hunting in the morning. Everyone had so much fun.

The kids love to wrap odd things up from their rooms or around the house. Or they make things to give to each other. It's great. Tonight I got a pencil holder & a house made out of pencils. They wrapped them all up themselves and are so proud of them.

After the presents we played Parker's new Uno Attack game with many fun squeals of delight as it would shoot out cards at other players.

Kamrie broke two bones in her foot last night playing tug-of-war (more & more details are coming out with exactly how this happened. something about chloe being on the top bunk trying to pull kamrie up with a blanket & chloe let go. kam fell backward, landing on top of her foot.) with Chloe, so she's been limping around a bit today.

She's not casted but will wear a post-op shoe for several weeks until it is healed. Of course, being way out here in Imperial means there isn't a small enough shoe for her to wear. Thankfully we have connections to an orthopedic clinic in Kearney (thanks Mom). So, she'll be in it tomorrow after we get there.

She is feeling pretty good, just taking tylenol & ibuprofen. I'm thankful she's not in a lot of pain.

This year has been full of blessings. I pray God has blessed your family as he has ours. May tomorrow & the whole Christmas season be filled with the wonder of the gift of redemption from Jesus Christ.

Mexico Video

Jared put together this awesome video about our Mexico trip. Thanks so much Jared!

There are about 500 other pictures (at least) that I may post a few at a time...

Christmas Break 09

Tomorrow it begins.

Children home for a full 2 weeks of vacation. Throw in a couple of family celebrations, doctor appointments & it'll be a full 2 weeks.

We're looking forward to spending time with the Bond family right after Christmas-at the Holiday Inn waterslides! Then for New Year's we'll be with the Dillan family. The boys are looking forward to hunting with their cousins & sledding (if there is still snow?).

My foot is healing. It is still very black & blue. I can only see my toes since Dr. Raska changes the bandages. It was in my post-op reading material about 7 times "DO NOT CHANGE THE BANDAGE. IF YOUR BANDAGE COMES OFF OR GETS WET CALL OUR OFFICE OR COME TO OUR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY."

It was actually kind of disgusting when I saw it last week for the first time in his office. My entire foot was discolored, top & bottom. But it is feeling better every day. I'm looking forward to regular exercise again. And so are my jeans, since they have been feeling extra-stretched lately.

We've enjoyed the kids' programs the last couple of weeks. They had fun singing & putting on plays. It was especially nice to see the elementary students getting to do a lot of actions & instruments during their performances. You could tell they were all having a good time. And each day they would come home from school excited about something from music class.

I'm planning to spend a bit of time going through all the photos from Mexico soon, also. Between the 12 of us we took about 500 pictures (at least) so I need to filter through them a little.

I'm going to start paperwork on getting Hunter's passport because next time I go to Mexico I hope to take him with. It is an experience every person should have. The opportunity to do some good for others but even more, be educated on our role in world missions.

Will there be a Christmas letter this year? Hmmm. I don't think so. At least not before Christmas.

darvocet

when i took a darvocet friday after coming home from the dr. i didn't think they made me sleepy. but last night & today they've been knocking me out. it was kind of nice. i took one before bible study last night & the group kept making comments about darvocet & how i was out of it.

today though, i've switched to tylenol. i think now that i've laid in bed ALL day & slept off & on through movies, i've slept all of my medicine off.

i'm feeling great. no pain at all in my foot. i'm hoping to see the dr. tomorrow in oglalalla for my 1st post-op visit. then maybe i can ditch the crutches.

it's sounding like a bit of snow may keep us from venturing too far from home, though, huh?

cordless drill

we have this black & decker scrub buster thing to clean showers & stuff. but it just isn't all that powerful.

but the dewalt cordless drill is. just pop the scrubber onto the drill instead of the one it came with.

i'm telling you it works magic on yucky showers.

don't tell brad. :)

Quarantined

Cooper is quarantined at home with H1N1. And you sure wouldn't know he's even remotely sick. He was playing like normal today, just a cough here & there. I'm sure it has a bit to do with the Pediapred.

Yesterday his respiratory count was 60 per minute & was retracting, so we headed to the E.R. His lungs showed a little fluid. But he responded quickly to a breathing treatment while we were there.

Our counter looks like a drug store right now with all of Kamrie's medicines for allergies & breathing, Cooper's 3 he's on right now & vitamins (hey, I'm trying to keep us well).

I can understand why the flu spreads so fast. Really if we hadn't known that Cooper had been exposed to H1N1 recently, we probably would have given him breathing treatments & maybe wouldn't have even had him tested.

He's pretty hard to convince that he's sick as he's outside riding his bike. I'm glad he's feeling so well, but wonder when he won't be contagious.

Morton's Neuroma 101

Here's what I have:

So, Dr. Raska is going to take it out. Watch out for me on crutches after December 4.

We're Home!

We're back from Mexico & had a great experience. Most things were not necessarily fun but we did enjoy our time there. If that makes any sense. I can't even start to put the trip into words just yet (other than the blogs I've posted on the other site). My mind is full right now of things I learned & things I need to change. My heart has been softened toward people who haven't had the opportunity to hear about God's plan for their life.

Check the other blog!

I'm refraining from being on facebook or on this blog this week, but please check the other blog on www.mexicocaravanministries.com for what we're doing each day.

We miss you Hunter, Parker, Kamrie, Chloe & Cooper. Did you get your deer Hunter? :) Thank you Pete & Paulette for caring for the kids!

Mexico Blog

We'll be blogging about our time at Mexico Caravan Ministries if you're interested in reading about our time there.

I'm going to start packing myself & the kids today. Tomorrow & Friday I'll be gone, so I've got to get a lot done today.

Thank you for your prayers as we've been preparing to leave. We're waiting in expectation for how God will work IN us & THROUGH us while we're there.

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3

My memory verse for Mexico. I've been praying for God to work & will wait expectantly for answers. I love it that He hears us & answers us.

No More Safe Distance Here

Today's Life Journal Bible reading that touched my heart was, again, Mark 14:54. I know I've chosen this verse in the past also to journal about. Although it hit me in some of the same ways, God showed me a new perspective on it tonight. Isn't that just like Him? Living & Active!

Mark 14:54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

Seriously, he warmed himself by the fire? With the guards? What hit me last time was that he followed him at a distance (the message reads "a safe distance"). He wanted to be there yet not TOO close. Not actually close enough the guards could see where his loyalty lay. He sat & casually warmed himself WITH the guards at the fire.

My prayer today is that I don't follow Christ at a safe distance. I need to be right there beside him all the way. I can't just sit where it's comfortable "warming myself at the fire." I need to listen to God's leading & do the things He wants me to do even when it's not comfortable. Even when I may have to take a stand & offend the "guards." I can't blend into the culture so no one can see where my true loyalty lies. I need to dig deep into His word & grow deep spiritual roots.

It's my prayer for you also.

12 Days

Brad & I will go to Tijuana, Mexico, in 12 Days with Mexico Caravan Ministries. There is a group of 10 of us going from our community.

We'd appreciate your prayers for us as we prepare to go.

For open hearts-for us to be willing to let God do what He wants to do in us while we're there.

For safety-as we travel & while we're there.

For financial needs-we're going to roof the Mexico Caravan Ministries Dormitory while we're there, so we're trying to raise money to cover those costs.

For our children-as we leave them in Brad's parents' care. For health & obedience.

I'm very anxious to go, I know that I have a lot to learn about reaching out to others in true need.

We'll be receiving spiritual training while we're there as well as learning about world missions. In our "spare" time we'll be able to build a shelter for a family, get a previously-built shelter prepared for a new roof & replace the roof on the existing dormitory. While the men are working on the roof, the women will be able to go purchase items to give to families in need.

A bonus for us will be the children we'll see while there. There are always children at the worksites as well as in the homes we'll be visiting. We're packing lots of candy & trinkets to give them! And we'll be able to give out the turtles the church's kids made during Crocodile Dock. We're going to visit an orphanage toward the end of the week & give the turtles out there. I know I'll want to bring all those kids home with me!

I'll also take plenty of photos while there so you'll be able to "experience" it also.

Oh, side note: we'll take 1 shower while there. Yikes! We will leave on Sunday the 15, shower on Thursday the 19th & return home on Sunday the 22. Maybe you'll be glad you won't see us until after we've returned. I'm counting on it being in the 50s-60's while there so we won't be sweating like crazy!

I'm sure we'll have stories to tell...

Mission Accomplished

looking from our front door, the red door is lori's.

the girls on their way home

running through puddles

kamrie all smiles

chloe & her bangs

kam's hair from the back as she puts cookie dough on the pan

i think they are pretty pleased, don't you?

Girls on a Mission

Kamrie & Chloe just left to get their hair cut. They really, really wanted to go by themselves. So, I called Lori & told her they were on their way.

We'll see what they come back with!

For those of you concerned about them going by themselves, Lori's is just across the street from our block, I can see the back door from our house. They did have to walk around to the front of the block to get to the front door, but Lori called me as they got there. Aah. I love life in a small town.

Costumes 2009

Costume fashion show. Which one should I wear?? Chloe wanted to be "Woody" but I said it was too small. She said, "It's capri's!" Cooper wanted to try the Pooh outfit on so he could "drink honey!"
Marley & Spiderman a.k.a. Cooper. He wore Spiderman in the morning & was a Fireman in the afternoon. What can I say? He's a boy of many talents.

See the boy with the Jumbo Afro? That's my Hunter! There's also a mustache under there, but you can't see it because of all the hair.
I don't think HUnter could hear Parker sneak up behind him because the Afro was covering his ears.

Coop buckling up for the fire call.

Fireman Cooper digging for his Fireman Flashlight. Duck tape made his coat just like Daddy's.

Clown Chloe. Remember when the Bond kids all wore that Clown outfit for their Kindergarten Circus? Yep, it's the same outfit!

See our retirement plan? Parker's going to be a Nascar driver someday & support us all!

Lovely Miss Kamrie

Kamrie, or shall I say, Queen Esther? I keep telling her to put her adorable glasses on & she says, "Princesses don't wear glasses." Can anyone name a princess that wears glasses so I can encourage my little princess to wear hers??

See Spiderman (Colby) & the Fireman (Cooper) holding hands? They held hands all the way around the gym during the costume parade. It was so cute!

Clown Chloe & Fireman Cooper

Chloe's Kindergarten Class with Mrs. Cupp

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Any kind of pumpkin, gourd or other type of squash was perfectly lined up around Cox's Ponds. Isn't it a pretty sight?

Dillan Kids & Grandma Bond
All of the kids' favorite was this huge tank filled with corn to play in. I just kept thinking: allergies!! Especially when Parker put his head into it.
Kam in the corn.


We got to take our friend, Rodney, with us to the Pumpkin Patch this year. Here he is with Chloe playing in the corn.

Check out Chloe's bling! She's got a ring, 2 bracelets, a watch, a necklace & 2 flowing scarves in her hair. Nothing out of the ordinary for our little Chloe.



Sonja & I's attempt at getting a recent Dillan/Burpo Kids Photo. We were missing Parker & Cassie, though! Notice the kids are totally into it & all smiles. (Can you hear sarcasm in that sentence?)


We had fun with my Mom for the weekend while my Dad was hunting with his brothers. Thanks for staying with us Mom! We were riding the hay rack ride to the corn maze here. I told the kids next year we won't be doing the maze. There are lots of other "family friendly" activities to do instead that don't have the negative "spooky" features.

Cooper & the Not-So-Spooky Tree

Hunter Safety

Hunter took Hunter Safety last week. He was anxious about taking the test but passed with flying colors--he only missed 1/50. It was a three night class, so the other kids would hear him talk about going to Hunter Safety.

So, Cooper said, "When is Cooper Safety?"

And Kamrie later asked, "When I take it will they call it Kamrie Safety?"

I can see why it was a bit confusing for them.

Harchelroad's Fire

I'm praying for safety of the Firemen & others as they battle a fire at Harchelroad Motors.

Remodel Progress

We're making progress, albeit slowly, but progress indeed. We have the table, chairs & pew in the trailer ready to move to storage, the carpet almost totally torn out & windows ordered.

So, for now we're eating off a card table & folding chairs. Maybe that'll help us hurry up & get it all done!

I'm going to take out the rest of the nasty living/dining room carpet right now. But I should probably document it so I can really appreciate it being gone when I see the pictures later, huh!

By the way, here's my new friend as I'm taking out old carpet:

Cutting it up into haulable-sized pieces is a breeze with it!

scarecrows

i got to help 4 kids in chloe's class create a scarecrow for the pumpkin patch today. it was a lot of fun. i remember getting to help parker make one also.

since they just studied johnny appleseed, we made a johnny appleseed scarecrow. but wouldn't you know it, i forgot my camera! hopefully we'll get pictures at the actual pumpkin patch.

the kids had fun & so did i. we got done in time to go play on the playground for about a 1/2 hour, too, so that was a bonus.

cones

we've been satisfied customers of jj's cones several times lately. where else can you go to get a refreshing treat for merely 50 cents?

Punt, Pass & Kick

Hunter, Parker & Kamrie had a good time at Punt, Pass & Kick on Sunday. It was practically Kam's first time at throwing or kicking a football. She did great though. Hunter ended up 3rd in his age division & Parker ended up 2nd in his. They all did a super job.