Now THAT Was Scary

All the kids were in bed with their doors mostly closed, and Aaron was in the shower. I had my eyes closed for a while praying, then had to go downstairs for something. Just before I walked out of the door I saw a flying shadow of something larger than a moth. The kids have let in plenty of flies, wasps, bees and ladybugs before, but this was a bat!

I slammed the door to our room and didn't know what to do. Aaron would never hear me yell through our bedroom door all the way to the shower. But I did it anyway - "Aaron, there's a bat in our bedroom!!!!!!!" The kids were very entertained by this in their rooms. I'm glad I didn't freak them out.

After a few minutes, he sauntered out brushing his teeth, cool as anything, with the bat gone. Aaron had let him out by taking out a window screen, but before that he was marveling at what an amazing creature the bat is, as it flew around our bedroom. Believe me, that was nowhere in my mind.

Yes, it was a little hard to fall asleep.

Chemo Song

There is a difference between 6 year olds and, say, 56 year olds who are going through chemo treatments. Six year old boys make up songs like, "Kimosabe needs some chemo" when they're walking around the house. They do not take it very seriously.

Some of Nathan's other latest songs he makes up out of the blue are:

"Grandmas and Grandpas are always old" to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle
and "Grandpa's In The Hamper" in a 70's era tune

No offense, grandparents, I don't know where he gets those lyrics.

How To Celebrate?

As Nathan's year of chemo will be coming to an end in September or October, I've been thinking lately of how we can celebrate. It really is an occasion to celebrate, and a time of thanking God for getting us through this year. I asked him if he wants to have a big party and invite everyone. He said, "Well, you'd have to do a lot of cooking, and that party would just be a lot of talking, and then we have to clean up the house. Why don't we just go to Heritage Square (an amusement park)and then come home and have almond butter and crackers?"

O.K. so we have a different idea of partying. The important thing is to do something that's special to him. I'd welcome any fun ideas.

The next MRI is scheduled for August 12th. The nurse told me at the last visit that,no matter what, they will not go past a year of chemo, but will just monitor the tumor with MRI's every few months. These weeks before Aug. 12th will drag slowly for me.

He Slept Through It

Last night we had the most dramatic weather ever, and Nathan and Melissa slept through it. Strange lightening lit up the sky, then all of a sudden the wind became very strong. Then it was like someone opened a marble storehouse up in the sky and dumped them all at once for 20 minutes straight. The noise was amazing. Just a little north of us there was a tornado and golf ball sized hail that did damage.

Nathan was up before his sisters, as usual, and greeted them when they woke up with a bowl of hail stones he had gathered. You can't do that every day in July.

Barefoot in the Hail

When you're a kid, you don't mind going barefoot or bareheaded while it's hailing. Dania and Nathan collected some bean-sized hail. They always put them in the freezer, for a keepsake, I guess. After some time in there, I think, what's the purpose of leaving hail balls in the freezer? And I chuck them, hoping no one will miss them.

Look, Ma! No Training Wheels!

He finally got it! Nathan so much wanted to be off training wheels when his Papa was out visiting a few weeks ago, but he missed the show. Just a few days ago he was riding like a turtle afraid to flip over, but now overnight he's going as fast as his sisters. And he's suddenly become a really fast runner. Something's changing in there.

Whoooo Wheeeee!

Update on Kirk

What is impossible with man is possible with God. Kirk's doctor said that he would most likely have to have 5-6 more surgeries on the vessels in his brain before he can have surgery to remove the tumor. Having gone through just one brain surgery with Nathan, I get weak-kneed just thinking about that, and can't imagine going through it six times in a row.

Please pray for a miracle. Kirk had a rough night last night, and he has a long recovery road between each surgery. And it will be a long road for Rima. It is in these times that the Lord accomplishes so much good in our souls, and strengthens our faith in Him.

If it is on your heart to contribute to their financial needs (which are many), please email me and I can help you get it to them. It will be an encouragement to see God's goodness put on display as He cares for this family in every way.