Firefighting

Mike, Herchel and Aprill strap on waterpacks and become volunteer firefighters for the Beaverfork Fire Department to help save our property.

A wildland fire came within a few hundred feet of our house yesterday and even closer to Mike and Aprill's house, burning up part of their front yard.















I had noticed that it was a little smoky outside just before lunch, and I thought that someone nearby was burning leaves or trash, so I dismissed it. Then after I finished feeding the kids lunch and cleaning up the kitchen, and when I looked out the front window again, the smoke was so thick that I could not see the trees just across the road. Moments later, emergency and service vehicles began arriving by the dozens. I got the kids shoes on and we walked down to the road, fearing that Mike and Aprill's house was on fire. There were lots of people and commotion (firefighters, EMT's, sheriff's, Forestry Commision, etc). They would not let me get very close, but I could see flames shooting up just beyond Mike and Aprill's front fence. We ran back home and I called Aprill and both Mikes and they all headed home from work (no doubt in a state of panic). The commotion continued as they unloaded a backhoe and began digging trenches and pushing down trees on the Garretson's property (just across the road from us) to make a fire break. One of the firemen assured me that they were protecting the structures and it would soon be under control, and that neither of our houses would burn. Aprill and Mike (Hill) and Mike(Garretson) all arrived within a few minutes of each other, and by that time, the officials did have it pretty much under control; although they did send Mike and Herchel into the woods adjacent to our house with water backpacks to keep the fire from spreading onto our property. Aprill strapped on a pack and began spraying down hotspots on the edge of their property (after she convinced the guy filling the water packs to let her have one - after all - she was just a woman!) I had Faith and Jesse to keep up with, so I just went and got my camera.



It was a scary situation for a little while for all of us. It serves as a reminder to me that the hand of God is always working in our lives. Some days it goes unnoticed, but not this day. We are thankful for his protection and that he continues to be mindful of us.

Hair do's (and dont's)

Notice Faith's hair back in September. This photo was taken a few days before her self inflicted hair cut, which, at the time was devastating. (After a little time and perspective it really wasn't that big a deal, I guess.)











Now 4 months later, her haircut has really shaped up into something very cute, don't you think? Her bangs still need to grow out a little, but it's going to be a great style for gymnastics and dance classes.





I didn't really get any good pictures of her just after she cut it all off, but most of you probably remember how bad it was, especially the patch of "bristles" she created in the very front! For a couple of months after she cut it, we would often get comments from people when we were out like "Oh, look at that - she gave herself a haircut, didn't she?" Most of them went on to add something like "I remember when mine did that; she was about her age". So for anyone who has not reached the stage yet - a word of advice: Don't think that those plastic coated preschool scissors won't cut hair!! And be very careful when they start working on those scissoring skills and fine motor control - give them plenty of opportunity to practice on paper and other suitable materials!















Speaking of haircuts...........

Aunt Becky - we Need you!.....

What a couple of shaggy-haired boys! I think there are ears in there somewhere?!

Simple Pleasures

These are the moments that I live for.






Finding pleasure in the little things in life....feeding the goats, on a warm January day (Is this really January?)



The other day I was bogged down in bills and paperwork - trying to make sense of all of the medical bills, trying to figure out who i could pay and who would have to wait, realizing that my knee injury and surgery was costing us about nine thousand dollars, after our crappy insurance company had paid their measley part and cohorted with the various medical providers to figure out the best way to "stick it to us". In a moment of sheer frustration, I looked up from the pile of bills in front of me, supressing the urge to scream......and realized..... looking out the back door.... that it was a bright beautiful day outside. I recalled the verse in Matthew about taking no thought for tomorrow and decided I was tired of these financial worries. I grabbed the kids and some stale bread and headed down the road to feed the goats. The kids had so much fun, and so did I, and forgot all about those stupid bills. I realized as I watched Faith and Jesse romp and laugh and play, enjoying God's creation, that my life is truly blessed. So I want to remind everyone to stop and smell the roses....or feed the goats....or whatever it takes to put it all in perspective!

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment?....But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therfore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

The Lewis' Return

It's official - the Lewis family is moving back to Conway!! We are so excited!!!! We always hoped when they moved away almost 4 years ago, that they would eventually find their way back home. I'm excited for several reasons (purely selfish, of course):

• I'll have someone to go shopping with me who will give me an honest answer to "Do I look fat in this?"
• The kids, especially Hunter, have really missed both of the boys
• Faith and Jesse are going to love having Ethan around to play with them
• My kids will get to have haircuts on a regular basis again (the big guy at Wal Mart salon just doesn't compare with Aunt Becky)
• Mike and I might get to go on a date once in a while, since Becky is always happy to spend time with our kids
• The entire Lewis family is going to be such an assett to our ecclesia - Kenney and Ethan are such good boys and will be positive roll models for our younger kids
• We will again have the same Spring Break so we can finally plan a ski trip together (OR an island getaway- if Becky and I could talk some sense into the others)
• Planning for Christmas and Thanksgiving and birthdays will be easier
• Ethan is almost old enough to drive AND babysit!! How cool is that?
• lots more little things too numerous to mention-all equally selfish

Now if they could just sell that monster house of theirs. Guess we'll all just have to be patient. I don't mind waiting. I'm just thankful that God has worked it out for them to come back. It's what we've been praying for. I know that at the same time that we are rejoicing; there are some in Fayetteville who are saddenned by the news. I do feel bad about that, but you never know what the future will bring. Perhaps this will bring our 2 ecclesias closer together and unite our 2 groups in some way according to God's plan.

Christmas morning pics

Okay, as soon as I catch up with myself, I won't be adding a new post everyday!

The kids all loved their Christmas gifts.
Hunter got an electric guitar and amp (he has been taking lessons for a couple of months). Jesse got a magic talking kitchen (yes, I know that's a girls' toy - but he loves it).


Faith got a bicycle and rides like a pro already....




...her Aunt Becky has her all decked out in princess gear.

New Year's Eve Party

We had a great time with friends and family on New Year's Eve.
Games were played - Taboo, Scene It, and even a Spaids tournament....

.....songs were sung.....

.....the kids toasted the New Year with sparkling red grape juice....



...and a good time was had by all.

Happy 2006!

Reason to celebrate

We had a party at our house Dec. 23rd to celebrate the Garretson's closing on their house. They have rented the property next to us for almost 5 years and our friendship has grown more meaningful with each passing year. We are so glad that they get to stay. It was "if-y" for awhile. We love you guys! (Homies!)
















Kenney & Becky and the boys came to stay with us for 5 days over Christmas break. We had a really good Christmas and we enjoyed having them. Chandler spent Christmas with us too.



















Mike got to hang out with his old friend, Dave Yates and his girlfriend Jill. We had not seen Dave in years, so we're glad they came. Mike knew Jill from highschool too, but I had never met her. I really liked her and hope we'll see more of them.

Change of Pace

Mike takes advantage of a carefree,
unscheduled Friday night



This is the first Friday night in several weeks that I have not been preparing for some sort of holiday party, either at our house or somewhere else. It's kinda nice to just veg in front of the t.v. and play in the floor with the kids. I don't even care that the carpet has not been vacuumed today cuz I don't have 40 people coming over this weekend!! See posts that follow for photos from the holiday parties, etc.

Thank you, God

Well, this is not what I intended to be the first entry in my new web log, but it's all I can think about.




Yesterday there was an accident at our house that has had a huge impact on all of us; myself and Hunter especially.



Faith and Jesse were playing happily in the living room as I sat in the recliner downloading some pictures onto the computer. Hunter was in the kitchen peeling an orange. I was fairly engrossed in what I was doing when I heard a loud crash followed by screams from both Faith and Jesse. I looked up to see that the television was on the floor (it had fallen from where it sits in the entertainment center), Faith was running from the room, and Jesse was lying on the floor next to the t.v. I immediately dropped the computer to the floor and crawled over to Jesse and began feeling around for any broken bones. I was examining his legs, since they were the closest to the t.v. set when Hunter said in a very shaky voice, "Mama , there's blood", pointing to Jesse's head. The panic and fear that came over me at that point is indescribable. I realized that my 2 year old child had sustained some sort of head injury from a falling television set and his scalp and hair were covered with blood. I yelled at Hunter to bring me a towel. After a few seconds (that seemed like forever) I located the site of the bleeding - (the gash that you see in the photo above) and began deciding on a course of action. I knew he would need stitches and was still worried about head trauma. I began shouting out intstructions for Hunter as I held pressure on the wound. "Hunter, bring me another rag", "Hunter find my cell phone and bring it to me then go find Faith and make sure that she is not hurt" "Hunter, go get my purse and my car keys and get your shoes on quickly" Hunter ran around doing every thing I told him to, crying and trembling and repeating "okay, mama", "okay, mama". On the way to the emergency room, Hunter held the rag against the wound to control the bleeding, as I instructed him, and tried to keep the edges pushed together (it gaped open to about the size of a quarter and was very deep - all the way to the skull). Jesse had stopped crying and had become very still and quiet. We all said prayers out loud in turn that Jesse would be okay. By the time we checked in at the emergency room, Jesse was talking - reaching up to his head and saying things like "bonk head.....ooooh, dat heavy.....dat big one" So, skipping to the happy ending, Jesse got 9 stitches in his cute little baby head and is doing fine with no signs of brain trauma. Having worked with brain injured children (one of whose injuries resulted from climbing on the t.v. stand), I am well aware of how very bad this could have been. I am still thanking God every few moments for sparing Jesse from serious neurological injury, or worse. He has added such joy to my life and has completed our family - it is unbearable to think about what could have happened. He has been getting lots of extra hugs and kisses from everyone in the family. I think that Hunter has been very traumatized by this whole experience and we have been doing lots of talking and "de-briefing" about what happened. Despite his fear, Hunter acted like a true hero, and I am so very proud of him.