Chloe is SIX!

We had a wonderful day on June 26 celebrating Chloe's sixth birthday.  It was a hot, sunny day--perfect for summer activities--and very reminiscent of her birth in Thailand six years ago!  The day began with our traditional birthday breakfast, spread out above--Pineapple Blueberry Upside down cake, cheesy scrambled eggs, and sausage.  Yummy!  We pulled out the same decorations we've been using for the last few years--the girls don't seem to mind always seeing the same paper banner and happy birthday confetti; they think it's fun!

Chloe had requested "A cake in the shape of a rainbow" so I started with a funfetti cake mix baked in a 9x13, trimmed it to resemble a rainbow, and then topped it with icing and fruit of the colors of the rainbow!  Strawberries, peaches, pineapple, blueberries, cherries, and blackberries!  (I meant to add kiwi for green but forgot to buy them...and as it turned out the cake had no space anyway!)

We had a few structural difficulties since the fruit, with its moisture, wanted to slip off the edges...but boy did it taste wonderfully!

Happy Birthday sweet Chloe!

Now you are six!

Our funny girl with her funny faces!

The girls had been begging to go to the splash park at the zoo as a special outing, and it seemed like Chloe's birthday was the perfect day for it!  There were lots of kids, but it wasn't totally crowded, and the girls had fun trying out the water.

There's my birthday girl!

Clara Anne can model for the camera too!  She was whooping in delight at the variety of ways the water was splashing her!

However we forgot one crucial element in planning this outing--none of my girls like to have water splashed in their faces!  After some initial delight, the splash park became not as fun as it could have been and we decided to cut our trip short and head to the pool next time.  :)

The day ended with a special birthday dinner and watching a movie as a family at home (we had happened to borrow one from the library called "In the Womb" which seemed appropriate, both for Chloe's birthday and the upcoming baby!).  It was a great day celebrating our sweet Chloe.  

It's hard to believe that this cutie-patootie little blonde baby is now a tall, curly headed six year old, but that is what happens to babies--they grow up!  We are so thankful for Chloe and who she is as a person.  For a long time she really struggled with her emotions--being sensitive, getting moody and sad over small things (like who got the green cup at lunch), and getting upset at her sisters.  But over the last year or two, through prayer and training her, the Lord has really helped her improve!  She is still sensitive, but often turns that sensitivity towards others--i.e., is aware of others' needs and desires and quick to meet them.  Instead of struggling with moodiness or melancholy, she is now my most cheerful, willing, sweet helper.  She has an adorable giggle and a generally sunny spirit which is a joy to be around.  We love you Chloe and are so thankful for your life!  May Jesus keep you close to Him all the days of your life, and may you find great joy in serving Him!

An update on all things baby

It's official!  I'm having a baby!  Just kidding...you knew that already.  But, the date is drawing closer (July 25 is my due date) and I hope that by the end of the month we will have met our new little one.  Here's some baby news to share as we look forward to that exciting time...

I'm generally feeling fine, but have had lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions, often when I'm on my feet.  The weather has been HOT (92 degrees at 9:15 tonight when we were on our way home) and so I am trying to stay cool and hydrated.  Baby girl seems to be head down (has been for weeks) but sometimes spins from side to side.  For the longest time she was lying with her spine along my right side, hiccups on the lower right, kicks and jabs on my left.  But just a few days ago she shifted and is now seemingly on the left side and kicking on my right.  So amazing!

We watched a National Geographic video the other night called "In the Womb" and it was simply astounding.  It just makes me marvel at the Lord and His creative power to see all of the processes that have to happen just perfectly in order for a new person to come about.  It was worship inspiring!

I feel "almost" ready for the baby to come...though I actually have quite the list of things I'd still like to accomplish before she gets here, I know that probably all of them won't happen.  We've been trying to get lots of exercise, especially walking, but in the heat the last few days it hasn't been possible.  Maybe after the weekend it will cool down slightly.  The high tomorrow is supposed to be 106!

Christin asks every day, "Does the baby feel SO heavy, Mama?" and loves to put her ear to my belly to see if she can hear anything.  The girls are fascinated by the movement they can see and feel--it makes everything seem more real!  I am thankful that they have only shown excitement about the new one's arrival.

The doctor says all looks good--we haven't had any "guesstimates" as to her size but I hadn't gained any weight in the last two weeks (though baby seems bigger) so that was encouraging to me.  I hope to not have another almost 10 pounder!  I am so glad to still be sleeping in my own bed and not having to pack up our family; that is a big relief.  The comforts of home are truly comforting when you aren't feeling 100%!  I'm thankful especially for a comfy bed to help get as much rest as possible and A/C to keep things cool!  Though, I'm not above resorting to an ice pack on my feet to keep that swelling down!

So, a few more weeks and we'll be meeting our new little girl!  Her clothes are all ready, my bag for the hospital is partially packed, and her little room is ready and waiting.  I am determined not to get stressed if she doesn't come on time, so we'll just wait and take things a day at a time!  In the meantime, I'll keep on slowly working on my list of things to do and the girls and I are doing some school here and there as well, plus trips to the pool whenever it fits in.  I think the next month will go quickly!

Trusting the Lord for the perfect timing and safe arrival of our new little girl!

We loved Camp!

It was so refreshing to be out at the Cedarmore camp last week for our Mission Adventure Camp!  John had just finished his last class for the first year of his PhD studies, and then we packed up and were ready for a week away!  The weather was absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed our time with the kids, counselors, and parents.  Here's a glimpse of what our week involved:  Above, Clara Anne is fascinated with the landscaping rocks at this climbing wall where we sat one evening to read our current family read-aloud: North!  Or be Eaten by Andrew Peterson.

The other girls sitting with Daddy as he reads and adds in all the fun dramatic voices...

Look at that beautiful sky!  I still appreciate it so much after so many years of smog overseas!

There's my sweet four year old...

One evening the activity was bazooka ball, where you have a gun and get to form teams and shoot each other with soft green balls.  Clara Anne and John had lots of fun!

Chloe, Christin and I watched from the sidelines.

Pretty rough and tough, don't you think?

Every afternoon we enjoyed "canteen" where the girls could have a fun snack...it was fun to introduce them to "Push-Ups," a favorite snack I enjoyed as a kid.  This is in the dining hall.

We went from canteen to the swimming pool!  The afternoons were warm, sunny, and miraculously, not humid!  We had a great time swimming in the outdoor pool  (spiders and waterbugs notwithstanding).

Towards the middle of the week, the girls started to make some friends, even though the girls at camp were older than them.  The sad day came when they wanted to sit with their friends at meals instead of with Mommy and Daddy!

Having fun...

Finding flowers in the Kentucky woods...nobody minds if you pick all the clover you see!

This night there was a relay race that Clara Anne joined in on...spinning around a bat, tossing a frisbee, running with a water balloon balanced on a spoon...all important skills for life, you know!  She loved joining in with the bigger girls.

Camp wouldn't be camp without a camp fire!  How fun to roast marshmallows and make s'mores!

Perfectly golden brown...

And then suddenly we were at the last day.  Worship time...

Signing autographs...

And some final dancing and saying goodbyes.

It really was a wonderful week.  For our family, the timing couldn't have been better.  It was so refreshing, encouraging, and relaxing to be together and out in God's creation after a very busy year of studies.  We loved sharing with the kids about work overseas and had a great time just being there.  I will confess it was really nice not to have to cook for a week!  The beautiful weather was a special blessing, and we all got a few naps in during free time as well.  We pray that the Lord truly used this time for His glory, to encourage and inspire the next generation about doing His work wherever they are!

34 weeks and counting!

 We just returned from a week at camp in the Kentucky woods!  It was a wonderful week, full of worship, activity and time outdoors, with some naps thrown in for good measure.  We all truly enjoyed it but the girls especially had a wonderful time.  I uploaded all our photos tonight and will post them soon, but in the meantime here are two VERY current ones--just taken last night!  Me in all my baby glory at 34 weeks and two sweet sisters, ready to welcome her!  Clara Anne is actually in this picture too, standing just behind my right shoulder in dark purple leggings and a purple shirt.  She was waiting to join in on a fun relay race with the other campers.

Baby girl Wind at 34-plus weeks!  She'll be here soon!  I am really going to enjoy NOT having to pack up my whole family and travel internationally for this birth like I did a few times before!  It is such a blessing to be able to stay home all the way until the baby is actually born!  So thankful for that.  Baby girl is measuring right on track and has been head down now already for a number of weeks.  Hopefully she'll stay that way.  Now that the semester and this camp are over, our next major event is to welcome this sweet little one!  We're all getting excited!

Adventures in Gardening

This spring we decided to convert our back patio (the walkout from our basement level which is enclosed by a wooden fence) into a "Secret Garden."  The girls love the story of the Secret Garden and this one is truly secret since it is not visible from the street but only from inside the house.  It is right off our home schooling area and though it is a very small space, probably 3 feet by 5 feet, we thought a few pots of herbs and some hanging pots of flowers would fit into the space nicely.

To get inspired and ready for our gardening, we made a trip to a big home improvement store, and were just amazed at the garden section!  So many choices!  So many beautiful flowers and thriving plants!  Wow, you could really spend a lot of money on landscaping!  Thankfully we didn't need too many things, since our space is so small.  But we still walked away with five hanging baskets and five potted plants!

The first task was to clean out some of the "junk" that was there and make the space ready.  We did some organizing in our storage space in the basement so that John's bike and the grill, which were both previously stored outside in that space, could fit inside instead.  We pulled some weeds (there is a cement slab in the middle but dirt around the perimeter) and then laid down some pretty white rock over the dirt, to prevent more weeds.  Next John drove several shepherd's hooks into the ground and we were able to also hang an iron bar from the fence to hang a bird feeder on.  We thought it would be wonderful to be able to attract some birds to our little secret garden.

Finally all was ready and we started to place the flowers.  Two baskets of purple wave petunias, two of varicolored impatiens, and a strawberry plant quickly took their places hanging from shepherd's hooks.  The pots of mint, parsley/oregano, basil, rosemary, and a tomato plant were then added.  The sights and smells were a true transformation of that little space!  I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I'll have to do that soon!

Everything bloomed well for awhile but now some of the plants haven't been blooming as profusely; I think I need to do a little fertilizing.  Any suggestions on this?

I also have to report the demise of the bird feeder.  Initially we had bought a pretty cheap bird feeder, intending just to try it out and see if we could get some birds to come and eat.  But you know who came instead?  Yes, big, fat, greedy squirrels.  One morning John went downstairs rather early and found a fat, happy squirrel perched on what was left of the feeder--the squirrel had managed to break the feeder apart, spill the majority of the seed, and then was eating up the evidence.  John shooed him away and we cleaned up the mess, determining that we needed a different, squirrel-proof feeder.

I found a new one that was supposedly squirrel proof not long after, and was eager to try it.  For about a week we gawked in delight as the birds came, shyly at first and then more confidently, to have a little snack just a few feet from our window.  Unfortunately, they also made a mess--spilled seed, cracked some seeds and spit out the hulls, and pooped on the other flowers out there.  We were mostly attracting sparrows, and then we noticed that the sparrows started to get greedy too--6-8 of them would come at once and fight each other for the spots to feed.  The spilled seed was really making a mess in that small space, and I was having to sweep up every day from the silly birds!  The final straw was when we refilled the feeder and within two days, it was mostly gone or spilled from the feeder, and still not a different bird in sight except for the sparrows.  So, we made the tough decision to remove the bird feeder and let the birds go back to fending for themselves.  It was just too small of a space to have birds occupying it too.  So, farewell sparrows!  It was fun while it lasted!

Our secret garden (complete with a lock on the inside of the wood fence) has already brought great delight to us all, and I've especially enjoyed picking fresh basil, rosemary and mint to use in recipes.  And, now we all have a bit more motivation to spend time in the home school room, with such a lovely view in front of us!  Clara Anne has even gone out there on occasion for her reading time.  I'm thankful for our quiet little garden spot, and hope that I'll be able to keep everything thriving and healthy.  The girls love their watering responsibilities and take it very seriously to care for the plants.  Next time I'll show some pictures of the Secret Garden!

Packing, Moving, Changing

No, not us.

You might think that since I've been absent from my blog for so long, we must have a good excuse, right?  Like...moving?  No, no good excuse...just the busyness of normal life, keeping up with my girls, helping my husband, and keeping on with home schooling, house work, ministry opportunities, etc.  But, there has been plenty of change going on in other parts of our family!

For one  (a BIG one), my mom and dad are moving!  They had an offer on their house out of the blue this spring, but weren't sure what would happen with Dad's health.  I am so thankful to say that Dad is doing better--much better!  He has been on this dopamine-based drug since late March now and though it didn't have the immediate effect they wanted, he does seem to be getting better week by week.  By that I mean he is more responsive, he is getting up out of bed and keeping a more normal schedule, he seems more interested in life and the things that are going on around him, he occasionally initiates conversation with my mom or asks a question, and generally is just more involved and engaged.  Praise the Lord!  We are so thankful to see some glimmers of his personality come out again.  I was on the phone with him for a few minutes the other night and he sounded almost totally normal to me.  So very thankful to see this progress!

When it looked like my dad was doing better, my mom started to consider seriously the idea of moving.  Then, two hailstorms in a single weekend convinced my mom that she was ready to be done caring for the lawn and yard work, and that moving to a smaller, simpler, maintenance-free place was a great idea.  And, within a few days of selling their house they were able to buy a condo that met all of those conditions!  It is only a few blocks away from their current home and will be an "easy" move in that sense.  But, the work of packing and moving is always somewhat stressful, especially when downsizing, so we are praying extra hard for Mom and Dad these days!

As well, my brother Mark and his family, who had spent the last year here in Louisville, have now moved back to Minnesota.  (In fact, hopefully they've arrived by now...they were driving today!).  They made this decision over the past few months after Mark felt that being a full-time student was not for him.  They are seeking the Lord for the next step for their lives, and trusting His good plans.  We will miss them dearly!  It's been such a joy to see all five girls (their two girls are placed just older and just younger than Clara Anne) interact and have so much fun together.  And it's been such a blessing for us to have family in town, after being overseas for so long.  So, we are thankful for the season that we had and praying God's rich blessings on them as they transition in the next weeks and months.

As for us, we're not going anywhere until this baby is born!  :)  Actually, that's not entirely true--we will be speaking at a camp for girls during the second week of June, right outside Louisville.  But otherwise, we will be here for the summer.  John is feverishly trying to finish up the work due for his modular classes which will begin next Monday.  He has had an amazingly busy semester, but has done very well and has felt that his classes have been very valuable.  His big news is that he is officially a new adjunct professor for Liberty University!  They have an extensive online program and so he will be able to teach from home, which is just wonderful--using his gifts and experience, all from the convenience of his home office!  The only wild card is that they cannot predict exactly what they will need him to teach.  We are hoping for two classes in the fall to  help our finances!

I am feeling well with baby getting bigger and bigger.  She is quite active and makes me laugh sometimes with her dance moves, hiccups, and jabs here and there.  She's been head down now for a number of weeks and hopefully will stay that way!  I have about 8 weeks to go--due date is July 25.  I've been seeing a chiropractor to help keep my spine healthy and prepare my body for labor; that's been very helpful.  We're getting excited to meet our little girl!  The walk-in closet that will be her bedroom is all ready for her (except for diapers) and until that little bassinet is occupied, I'm enjoying sleeping through the night.  :)

Well, lots more I could say but I'll finish just by saying, "Thanks for reading!"  I hope to be posting more soon!

Love these pictures!

I was thinking of my dad a lot today, and praying for him, and remembering all the things I love about him.  That led me into looking at some older pictures...and I thought I'd share these priceless shots that were taken in June, 2010, just before we returned to Asia. 

 This is my dad--loving his family, soaking up time with his grandkids, and wearing his Trinity t-shirt, of course!

 Everyone had fun making a silly face--except little Christin who maybe wasn't sure what was going on!

 Saying goodbye...

Chloe giving her famous kisses where she grabs both sides of your face and PLANTS one on you!

Aren't these just priceless pictures?  Go and grab your camera now and take some pictures of your loved ones!  It's worth it!  We are praying that we may see more and more of Dad's personality return in the next days and weeks.  I'd love to see huge smiles like these on his face again! 

Thankful for the wonder of modern photography...and the memories that it preserves.  Love it!

Wonderful News!

I just couldn't go to bed tonight without sharing some wonderful news that we received today about my dad.  The last few months, since his time at Mayo Clinic in December/January, have been relatively uneventful.  Generally he wanted to stay in bed, had no interest in the normal activities of life, and interacted very little with my mom.  She took excellent care of him, helped him with grooming and made sure he was eating well, but otherwise was not really able to engage him.  The occasional smile she would coax out of him "didn't reach his eyes," as she said. 

[One exception that was significant to me: I had called in early March to talk to Mom one night and Dad answered the phone--something he hadn't done for months.  I then talked with him about whatever I could think of, asked him a few questions, got a few one-word responses, and then told him some stories about the girls.  I shared how I had been starting to feel the baby move, and to my amazement, he replied.  "That must be good...to feel that sign of life there," he said.  That was the longest sentance he had spoken to me in several months.  I was so encouraged!  But later that seemed to be an anomoly--he hasn't answered the phone or wanted to talk since that night.]

Just last week they had some follow-up appointments at Mayo again, and there was some good news--the spot on Dad's thyroid that had been suspicious had shrunk in size, so no evidence of cancer there.  But another doctor who saw Dad wanted to hospitalize him, in order to get to the bottom of the difficulties Dad is having.  Are his problems primarily psychological (depression) or neurological?  That was the main question.

So on Monday afternoon of this week, Dad was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Rochester, affiliated with Mayo Clinic, and the doctors began to observe him as well as do some tests.  Over the last few days we've gotten some more news--the doctor who is overseeing Dad's case is quite sure of his diagnosis of abulia.  Abulia is a disorder that (as I understand it) comes from damage to the frontal lobe of the brain.  The doctors believe that during Dad's heart attack in January of 2011, because the heart attack was so sustained over several days (when Dad was stranded in our local small town because of a blizzard--they could not get him to the larger city to do the surgery he needed to stop the heart attack), there was a lack of oxygen to the brain that caused this damage.  The frontal lobe is what controls personality, social interactions, appetite, and many other factors that match up with the symptoms Dad is having. 

What does all this mean?  And why is it good news?  Well, first, it is a huge relief to have a diagnosis that seems accurate.  We just did not feel that the Alzheimer's diagnosis, given in September of 2011, was quite right.  Of course we as family are not doctors, but there just seemed to be so many things that didn't line up with that.  But this is especially good news because abulia is treatable.  The treatment is slightly risky in that they will try to flood his brain with large amounts of a dopamine-based drug (similar to Ritalin) that will stimulate his brain, and that will also put stress on his heart.  But they will be monitoring this, and IF his heart can take the chemical stimulation safely, there is a very good chance that Dad could regain some normal function again, particularly in the area of social interaction, life management (grooming, etc) and personality.  I am holding all hopes loosely, because we just don't know how his body will react, and there are no guarantees, but I am still encouraged and hopeful!

So, Dad will be in the hospital for the immediate future while they attempt to give him this "brain bath" and watch his progress carefully.  We are so very thankful for the Lord's providential care until this point in time--even bringing them to this particular hospital and helping the doctors put the pieces of the puzzle of Dad's case together. 

Mom is doing well and feeling encouraged, but prayers for sustaining grace and help are always appreciated!  Please pray for my dad as the next few days are critical, watching how his body responds to the treatment.  We surrender him again to the Lord's hands and trust His good plans.  Rejoice and pray with us!

A Far East Reunion

During the month of March, we had the wonderful opportunity of having a little Far East reunion here in Louisville, because two of our former teammates are on a stateside assignment and spent some of their time in Louisville.  They planned this on purpose, to be here at the same time, and it was wonderful that their plans actually came to pass!  We loved getting to see and spend time with everybody again!  Life has changed for all of us since we were last together, but the Lord is still faithful and good.  There's just something wonderful about being together with friends that really know you...the laughter comes easily and the fellowship is sweet.  Love these folks!

 Most of the crowd managed to fit on the couch to watch some funny youtube videos...we thought about busting out the 80s music in honor of our friend Brad, but didn't quite get that far!

 Christin and Savannah have always had a special bond, mostly because Savannah is so sweet to her and takes care of her!  They had fun together that night too.

 And, Becky and I had to show off our prego bellies.  There's a baby in each one! 

 B is about 10 weeks ahead of me...here I am about 20.5 weeks. 

 Climbing on Uncle Brad is always good fun, and he puts up with it remarkably well!

 The lovely M ladies.

 Dear, sweet friends.  So thankful for our friendship, it's hard to believe my daily life doesn't include seeing these ladies anymore...but still thankful. 

 There was a gathering about a week later to congratulate Brad on finishing his phd as well as say goodbye to the M family.  The kids had a blast together!

 One final hug for Alex, the one Clara Anne still insists she's going to marry...  (one of many girls who have been convinced of this!)

 And Becky and I said our goodbyes a few days later.  It's bittersweet--knowing the Lord's plans are good, trusting His ways, and yet having to say goodbye to dear friends is hard!  We are so thankful that we could have a little reunion here, the Lord is so gracious to let that all work out.  Hearts were encouraged, much laughter was shared, and the Lord's name was praised for this time together.  And who knows, maybe there'll be another Far East reunion sometime!

This life we live

Isn't it amazing that God gives us this gift called LIFE?  Spring air is flowing through my wide-open windows, the earth is coming to life again after the winter season, and my heart is full of thoughts of life and gratefulness to my Savior for another day to serve Him.  The fact that I am still alive, that I am preserved from serious illness, car accidents, tornadoes, or other calamaties; that my body is working well and even sheltering another little life...I am struck tonight by the miracle of the life that we have been given.  How much more the gift of spiritual life that Jesus freely gives to all those who will humble themselves and ask!  What a great salvation we possess in Christ!

Last week we were able to see clear evidence of the new life within my womb, and she is a girl!  Though she didn't cooperate during the first part of the exam and held her little legs together very modestly, she finally got jostled around enough that the ultrasound technician was able to get a good look and confirm, "It's a girl!"  Baby girl was doing all manner of cute things during the exam...sucking on her hand, having the cutest little hiccups, and then at the end of the exam we have a perfect profile picture of her lying on her back, hand to her mouth, and legs completely extended over her head--with her knees right at her nose!  The outline of her tiny calf and thigh are just perfect!  We were amazed and joyful to find that all looks well with our little one; she is right on track for measurements and is giving me little fluttery jabs even as I type.  The girls seemed to take it in stride that they have another sister--no cheering or anything, more of an attitude of "well, of course it's a girl!  What else would it be?"  What a miraculous process it is when the Lord knits together a new life.  We are praying for the rest of the pregnancy to go smoothly (I'm 22 weeks on Wednesday) and to be holding our new little daughter in our arms around the end of July.

I've also been contemplating life lately as a good friend from college recently had a daughter born still at 33.5 weeks.  She has been blogging quite a bit about her process, read and pray for her if you feel led.  My heart has gone out to her; though I can only imagine her grief I have been helped already by the way that she is handling it with godly grace.

As I write, my dad is back at the Mayo clinic for another round of tests.  His health has stabilized somewhat in that the weight loss has slowed down and he has seemed a bit more interested in life--rather than just wanting to lie in bed all day, he is getting up a bit more.  However, the bowel and bladder incontinence remains and he has also had frequent seizures which have led to several falls.  Thankfully he has not injured himself seriously by falling but has gotten some bumps, bruises, and gashes on his face from these incidents.  I am praying for the Lord to sustain his life and help us to find more ways to help him.  Or, as Chloe frequently prays, "Lord, thank you that Grandpa will get better."

And, tomorrow is a bittersweet day for our family as we remember again the birthday and passing of my dear older brother Dan.  We may try to watch the video of his life again as a family, and remember what a great work the Lord did in him and through him.  Even though the years pass, you never forget.  The sharp pain is gone but the longing of our hearts to see him again still remains.  Praise the Lord that death has NOT won the victory and that we will worship Jesus with Dan again in heaven.  Thank you, Lord. 

Though we had an unusually mild winter this year, spring has still been a welcome guest.  The dogwood, redbud, and magnolias are in bloom here in Louisville.  The daffodils and tulips are in full array, and the trees are greener day by day.  New life is springing up and the smell of spring is refreshing to my soul.  Wonderful!

Thoughts of life and death are intermingled with the daily and mundane, isn't that always the way it is?  So even as I contemplate and treasure these thoughts in my heart, talking them over with my Savior, I must still finish the dishes and get the floor vacuumed, complete the math lesson and help the girls treat each other with kindness and gentleness.  Lord, may I do it all with your grace!