God Answered Our Prayers...Exciting News!!!

Our littlest granddaughter arrived this afternoon. Bria Marynn surprised us by coming quickly....her mommy was still visiting us at lunch!!! Here are just a few snapshots we managed to get. She was still a little upset about the whole ordeal when we got there....but she sure is a sweetheart!!

Mommy had the special touch

Only 1 1/2 hours old - don't they ALL look amazing!


Papa strikes the best pose w/ Bria!!

Nana enjoying both little bundles


Auntie Alyssa and Rowan got there as quickly as they could :)

Proud Daddy!!

Oh right, the rest of the story... Bria was 8 lbs 2 oz and was 23 inches long! She's almost caught up to her little cousin Selah. We pray you will always be close little buddies :) We love you soooo much!!!

Show Me Your Glory

I don't know why but the words to this song have been playing in my head all day today. So much so that I decided to change our blog title. I have no other words right now....

I caught a glimpse of Your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I've ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I'll never be the same

Show me Your glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your glory
Majesty shines about You
I can't go on without You, Lord

When I climb down the mountain
And get back to my life
I won't settle for ordinary things
I'm gonna follow You forever
And for all of my days
I won't rest 'til I see You again

Show me Your glory
Show me Your glory
I can't live without You

Lyrics and Music by Mark Lee, Marc Byrd, and Third Day
From the recording: Come Together, Track #3.

Celebrating the little men

Well we got to celebrate two little birthdays yesterday. Gideon turned one on the 14th and our little sunshine, Rowan, turns two today!! How time flies when you're havin' fun, right!!
Here are a few pics from the 'little' party.

Gideon seemed content to just sit in his wagon
until auntie had to snap this picture! Sorry buddy - you're just too cute!!

Rowan had a blast on this tire swing.
Papa first tried to put him on the traditional swing but he wanted
nothing to do with it (inside story here)
Then papa put him in the old tire swing and
he couldn't get enough, "High!"


Madeline just giggled with delight when it was her turn
on the swing and Mac sure seemed to enjoy being able to give her under ducks
I'm not sure who was more excited!


And cake too!!??
This was just the best day, huh Rowan?
Here's wishin' you many many more happy happy days :)

JUST FLYIN' BY....

Does anyone else feel summer's just cruisin' by?!! Makes me sad because it's always WAY too short and I don't feel we've been able to just relax and enjoy it yet. Les took a week of his holidays to work on the church reno project and has spent several evenings there as well. I know he enjoys it and is glad to do the work, but my selfish nature too often kicks in and I must confess I haven't always been a happy camper while he's been away....nope....I've been feeling sorry for myself and haven't always responded the way I should have, especially when I look at our 'not going anywhere' projects. If I could just clone my man!! Ok...I think it's just time for a little R&R.
This weekend was Sonshine Festival in Willmar, Minnesota, which we were so hoping to go to again this year. It's just a great weekend of kickin' back in your lawn chair and listening to as many great christian concerts as you want to take in. The lineup of bands was amazing!! But, with everything going on....yard work....church renos....family visiting....Dad sick....BIL sick...there was just no getting away :( I guess it was good we were home though since the raspberries were ready - I absolutely LOVE raspberries and have so many yummy recipes I can't wait to make. This last year we ran out of raspberry jam and frozen raspberries (for smoothies, etc.) WAY too quickly! So, thank you God for blessing us with a good crop of berries!!!
Dad is in the hospital and is doing better - he's actually glad to be there and isn't demanding to go back home (yet ;) His pain is getting under control now. They didn't cast his leg as it would make caring for him so much more difficult that it already is. The fracture is healing well though and as long as he doesn't try anything silly, should be ok. He was real excited when my sister delivered a new scooter for him to try out while in the hospital. The scooter he has now is just too dangerous and was the cause of his fall and fracture to begin with! (long story)
I finally found some time today to go for a much needed haircut, which I had to reschedule twice already. Came home to find some old friends had dropped by so we spent the next few hours just visiting and catching up on family news. I liked the fact that they felt free to just drop in. We used to do that much more with family and friends, but somehow now we feel like we have to wait for an invitation. Bring back the good times!!!
Ok...quickly....little Selah is two weeks old already and is doing so well....Rowan is going to be turning two this week and my dearest is turning 49 (can't believe that) on Monday!!! So, all those of you who are waiting for an invitation to come by for some cake....DON'T....just stop by if you like :P
Late again! Time for bed.

Broken and Bruised....

Sure would appreciate some prayer for my dad. He hasn't been well for a number of years, struggling with different health issues, I think the most difficult being his diabetes and how it's affecting his legs and feet. Many would find themselves feeling queezy if they had to do his daily dressing changes, as my mom has done for a couple of years (hats off to her!)!! Thankfully he now has a home-care aide who comes and does this every day. Besides the open ulcers on the bottoms of his feet that just don't want to heal, although they have improved greatly from where they were, his legs are swollen and purple and, well, I don't know if I can adequately describe how they look.
We also just found out he has a broken fibula (from when he fell two weeks ago!!) They did take x-rays the morning he fell but for some reason no one was informed (and I'm guessing not even the doc who was attending him). Bad case of falling between the cracks?!!
He also has difficulty breathing with all the heat and humidity and has little strength to cough up all the phlegm that doesn't ease up. Two weeks ago he had some type of episode which we strongly suspect was a mild stroke. Whatever it was he felt it coming on but refused to let us take him back to the hospital. He's just so tired (literally he's exhausted) of being poked and prodded and in pain.
It's sad to watch your parents aging - to see a once-strong-once-proud man reduced to sitting all day in a motorized chair - it's sad when reality says things probably aren't going to get any better - it's sad when unnecessary pain is added to an already hard life - when dignity plays second fiddle to everyday functions - it's sad when our health care system seems insufficient (or maybe inefficient) to help those who find it difficult to help themselves - it's just plain sad!!
So, please pray for this man - for my dad. He'll always be my dad. And definitely add my mom to those prayers as this isn't easy for her to watch and deal with either. She's a much stronger woman than I think I will ever be.

Sara