Being Together



Joel - Kindergarten



Hannah -4th Grade



Elizabeth - 6th Grade




David - 8th Grade

We are now in our second week of school for this year.  Thankfully, it has started off pretty well.  But, having the kids gone more than they were during the summer always makes me think.  You see, many parents can't wait to send their kids off to school.  Honestly, I miss them.  Joel and Hannah are only at the Learning Center one day each week, but it is sure different without them home.  

David and Elizabeth are at school 3 day each week and complete home study on the other two.  As our children grow up we raise them in growing independence and know that being away from Mom and Dad is part of that process.  It is healthy for them.

However, I believe it is even more healthy to spend lots of time with your family and your parents.  I don't feel like I have enough time as it is to enjoy my kids and to train them.  Training takes a lot of time.  We are not to yell up our kids, or just let our kids grow up, but to train them.  Training is a process of showing and modeling to our kids how to live.  It takes a  lot of time and patience.  Sometimes I have it, and sometimes God is working on me, too. 

As I being this school year I find myself greatful for all the time together that homeschooling allows us.  It is truly a gift to be able to invest large amounts of time into our kids.  What a blessing!

End of Summer Thoughts

I love summer.  I love being with my family an making memories.  We've had a really fun summer, and I'm sad to see it end.  There is something exciting about a new school year, too, but it comes with quite a bit of organization and preparation for a homeschool Mom, too. 

This summer we've spent lots of time in our pool and had friends over.  The kids have enjoyed riding bikes which was kind of difficult in our last couple houses.  We were blessed to go to a Fields Family Reunion in Oregon at the end of July.  We extended our roadtrip abit and saw 3 of my roommates from college days and took a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory.  We've settled into our home a bit more and worked on getting back into some family routines that were neglected in our year of transition.  David started a little business and Elizabeth, Hannah and Joel completed the Library summer reading program. 

Next week our lives get back into a schedule in a hurry.  I'm ready for it in some ways, and in others I would love a few extra weeks of summer.  However, I am thankful for the fun we did have this summer.

Last night I sat on the driveway with our kids and watched the world go by.  We played a guessing game of what color the next car would be and Melody waved to all the dogs and people passing by.  We watched airplanes, birds and lizards.  The kids puttered around with various toys.  But the best part for me is that we just WERE.  We were sitting, relaxing, enjoying one another and not feeling the need to do anything or go anywhere.  I'm not so good at that.  We need to do that more often.  Even when the school year begins. 

Just being and enjoying each other.  Sitting and enjoying the world God made for our pleasure.  Those are the moments to really live for. 

Making Strides

Melody has made a lot of progress in the past few weeks.  It was fun to return to PT and show them what Melody can do after they hadn't seen her for a month. 

More and more we're finding Melody up on her knees without any help.  She loves being able to reach more things. 

 Melody is now standing independently, once we help her up.  She stills sticks her bootie out too much, but we're working on it.  Her legs are getting a lot stronger. 

She is now crawling on all fours!!  No more army crawl, at least not all the time.  She is much stronger and can hold this position for long periods of time.

 Melody even had to show off her crawling abilities when we were taking girl cousins photos. 

 Melody really enjoys playing on my computer.  Well, pushing buttons anyway. 

And playing the piano is lots of fun as well as it gives her a chance to kick her legs.  The video shows that better. 

A Treasured Gift

A couple of weeks ago we had the privilege of having the Coats family here for a mini-reunion.  We had such a wonderful time together.  This was the second time my entire family was able to gather since Mom's cancer diagnosis.  It was a sweet blessing to have that treasured time as I didn't know if my Mom would ever see our new home. 

While my parents were here, my Mom gave us the book she has been compiling on our family's years in Yemen.  We were blessed to spend 5 years in Yemen when I was in elementary school.  In addition to the life-changing experience of living in foreign country, we were able to travel the world.  During that time Mom kept journals and sent frequent letters back to family in the USA.  From those she made this book, complete with hundreds of photos. 

We are having fun reading through it, remembering the adventures we had in the 70's.  The biggest down side is my children asking when we are taking THEM to Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, Africa, etc.  Some things we remember and others we don't remember at all.  In fact, I think it should be stricken from the written record that I EVER owned a cat.  But, it is there, in Mom's book. 

This book is a treasured gift.  A complation of family memories.  But, more than that, it a reminder of a Treasured Mother and Treasured Parents who allowed us to have so many experiences.  To see that world literally and through Jesus' eyes.  To travel the world with three little kids when people thought they were crazy.  I believe it shaped who we all are today and gave us eyes of love for the people of the world.  I treasure that. 

Getting Pushy

I know, some of you are thinking, you're pretty pushy already.

However, having a child with special needs means sometimes you have to get pushy. 

It means you have to decide what you think is best for you child.

It means you have to listen to all the "experts" and form an opinion.

It means you sometimes have to demand (nicely of course:) that which you feel is best for you child.

It means you wrestle with whether to get pushy or not. 

This week we are researching, discussing and praying about whether it is time to get pushy. 

It is not always easy to know what to do.

The whole process is very emotional and therefore exhausting for me. 

On Wednesday we will take Melody to spina bifida clinic. 

We will see several doctors, but especially her Orthopaedic doctor.

We will hear what he has to say after reviewing Melody's x-rays. 

We will see whether he is willing to sign the prescription for RGO braces for Melody. 

Then, if he is not willing, we will have to decide whether to get pushy.

At this point, I really believe the braces are what Melody needs.

Melody's physical therapist and orthotist (the brace maker) feel this is what she needs.   

I want to be open to more information the doctor may have that might change our minds. 

We want to ask good questions and make a good decision. 

If you think of us in the next few days, pray that we would have the wisdom whether to get pushy or not. 

Melody News

Just a quick update on Melody.  Today she had x-rays of her left hip.  She saw the Orthologist a few weeks ago and he is concerned that a muscle is too tight and is not allowing her left leg to align with her body properly.  This is an issue as I believe she needs a brace to help her stand, as does her Physical Therapist and Orthotist.  Putting Melody in a brace without solving the muscle issue, could result in damage to her back as when you put her leg in line with her other leg, it tweaks her pelvis out to the side.  At least that is the theory.

Sitting Pretty in her Favorite Chair

Melody's next Spina Bifida Clinic is on June 15th, and we'll see the orthotist again then and hear his thoughts after viewing Melody's x-rays.  I am really praying she doesn't need surgery, but we will go that route if it is what is best for her.  Pray for wisdom for the doctor and us.  We think that her hip is also out of the socket again as one leg is now longer than the other, which wasn't true a few months ago.  We will find out from the x-rays, but I doubt there is anything that can really be done for that.  It may just be something she lives with.   

We call her Destructo.  This is a pretty typical scene these days.



Thirteen

On the 29th David turned 13!  A teenager in the house.  Sometimes it is hard to believe.  It seems like just yesterday that he was born and now he is taller than me.  I've finally admitted it.  

David and Mom on his birthday

Kevin and I are so proud of the young man David is becoming.  We are looking forward to watching him grow through the years ahead.  He is thoughtful and sensitive and such a help to us and his siblings.  He can make Melody laugh like no one else.  What a delight to watch your child grow not only in stature, but in maturity and wisdom. 

Birthday Cookie

We've had a lot of fun celebrating over the past few days.  We enjoyed lunch at John's Incredible Pizza Company at David's request and our traditional chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.  We also got the bikes that have been in storage fixed up and David and Elizabeth have been enjoying riding bike. 

Chocolate Chip Pancakes - Yum :)

John's Incredible Food

And sometimes he's goofy, too.