One of our favorites around here is Tim Hawkins. When Jeff lets the kids pick what "video" (Youtube clips) they get to watch, you can guarantee one of the kids will choose something of his.
He is a Christian.
He is funny,
and they even homeschool their four kids.
Which make him some good, clean entertainment.
After watching some of his youtube clips we decided to look and see if he was going to be in the area.
He was actually in the Denver area on a Saturday night, but the early show was sold out, but on the following Sunday evening he was in Colorado Springs.
Road trip!
Thankfully we were smart enough to get there early enough that we got decent seats. Wouldn't you know, at the beginning of May, we were dealing with freezing temps and snow, but the church was letting us in 1 1/2 hours before the show started.
Pre-Show
He is even funnier in person then in video.
After the show, the kids said, "I don't care how long we have to wait, we have to meet him!"
One thing I remember my mom saying when I was a child is,
"It is only by God's grace that you girls will turn out good."
(That may not be the exact quote, but you get what she was trying to say.)
As a mother now, I fully understand her point and the truth of it. I have failed in so many areas, and I royally mess up.
...(As a matter of fact, as I am typing this, on the Saturday morning before Mother's Day, I am using the van as my office and taking advantage of Chick-fil-A's free wi-fi!)
PMS + uncooperative kids = a blow up = mama needs a time-out = mama using the van as an office in the CFA parking lot!...
Back to my point, I pray and plead with God that his grace and mercy will cover our family and where our parenting falls short.
I want to thank my mother and mother-in-law, for the years of work, worry, tears and laughter, in raising Jeff and I. I know that they continue to cover Jeff and I and their grandkids in prayers, and only God knows where we would be without them!
I shared about my "get-away" here, and I ended up getting home 1 1/2 hours earlier than planned.
I was exhausted!
Tuesday (April 20), prior to the trip, I noticed that Tanner's left calf was smaller than his right. I took note, but didn't dwell on it.
Wednesday (April 21), while sitting in life group, I noticed that Tanner was limping and it looked like his left leg might actually be shorter than his right. Because Tanner is sensitive/fearful of his health I was very cautious of not bringing attention to it, but I whispered to Jeff to kind of look and watch as Tanner was going about his business.
Thursday (April 22), Jeff used a cord to "measure" Tanner's calves and he estimated that his left calf was 1/2"-1" smaller around. I decided to call and set up an appointment on Monday. Jeff was hesitant but I then brought up the fact that both of his sisters had problems with their hips when they were kids.
Jeff then decided to do some investigating. He called his mom and both of his sisters to find out the "whole" story. They had S.C.F.E. (pronounced skiffy), and it stands for Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis. This is what we were looking for.
When I got home on Saturday (April 24), Jeff was sharing about how he about "freaked out", or "died" every time that Tanner would jump off of his bed, the top bunk, or when he'd run down the stairs, or wrestle with his brothers, etc. Me, being the ever calm, never fearing, person that I am (Ha! Ha!), reassured him that Tanner is fine, and that he's been limping for several days and he'll be OK.
I then came down to the computer and looked at the links that Jeff found on SCFE. I marched right back upstairs, and suggested we take him to urgent care to get some x-rays. After some debate, we decided that we were going to go ahead and do that.
We called around to find someone who could stay with the other kids, which Kevin and Marty (LOVE THEM!) were so kind to come over and stay here, which they were also beat from the weekend.
We got left around 7:30pm, sat in the lobby for an hour, set in the back room for quite some time, and then finally got some x-rays. They came back with no signs of SCFE, which is good! but the dr. said he needed to see an orthopedic dr. We finally got home about 11:45.
Monday (April 26), I already had a babysitter lined up for Tanner's appointment I set up with the pediatrician, but we decided there was no need to take him there since we were going to take him to an orthopedic dr. I prayed for God's favor, that we may get into the specialist that day, so we could take the other kids to the sitter, and so we wouldn't have to wait. My prayers were answered and we had an appointment set for 2:15.
I then got a call around noon from Children's Hospital, asking if we changed insurances. After a phone call on their part and a phone call on my part, we were informed that our health insurance had lapsed on April 1. That was a shock!
So the appointment was canceled, and we are still in the process of trying to figure things out. We are just praying for healing of Tanner's leg and we are keeping an eye on it.
Lucky for Tanner, I did have my camera, so I did get some shots of our evening at urgent care.
New Hope's women's retreat was held in Colorado Springs this year at...
After a rough trip down to the Springs, through hail, torrential rain, and a tornado warning, it ended up being a great get-away for me. I was able to relax, read and nap. (When I wasn't worrying about Tanner.)
Where we met.
Where we slept.
I was a "group facilitator" for our discussions. I think we had a good discussions throughout the weekend.
There was a big group, or is it herd, of deer that were always around the "campus". As I sat on my bed, I could look out the window and watch them.
"As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after thee." That is what went through my mind all weekend.
We were warned about a bear in the area, and I hoped to see it, I got up early to look out at the trash can he was known to get in, and this is what I woke up to and saw.
~Beauty~ even if it was the end of April!
This is the closest I came to seeing the bear.
Because of the weather, the campfire was rearranged, and we had a "campfire" of candles.
We offered our prayers of incense up to God,
and then we had the "Lord's Supper", which was a juice box and bread.
Of course, we still had to do smores.
We closed the night off with some watching movies, some doing makeovers, and some playing games.
The finale... the group picture!
Someone grabbed a nun/sister, to come out to take the picture, and the poor thing had at least a dozen cameras to use, but she was a hoot and kept us all laughing through the process. It was a great weekend, and even though I has lots of relaxation, I came home pooped!
When I began blogging I didn't really know where my blog would go. Would it be inspirational or controversial and thought provoking, or would it be more like an online diary of my daily life.
Now that I've been at it for a time, it seems that my blog is more about my family. What we do, what my kids say, and things about homeschooling.
On occassion, I might write something inspirational, or thought provoking. I sometimes share my struggles and what God is teaching me, but it is mainly about my family and those I love.
Come and join my family. Leave comments and talk with me. May you find something here that blesses you.
Let me introduce you to my family...
My Love, Jeff
Preston
Tanner
Landon
Kaylie Joy
My Sisters
It was us three girls growing up. You'll hear me often talk about Theresa (the eldest) and Tammy (the youngest). Yep, I'm the "middle child" and that may be why I have a blog...
