Christmas Eve

It is now 12:48 am, Christmas morning 2008. All of our family and friends have gone home except for Ryan H. He and David are in the den watching Criminal minds.... a terrific show.
Steve is asleep as is most of everyone else. This will be the first time Steve has had to work on Christmas day. Erik, Miriah and Jacob will be coming over tomorrow morning early so we can be together before Steve goes to work.
I wish Tim and katie could have been here, maybe next year? Right now it's very late, and I'm tired. Here are some pictures from tonight to all the people I miss and love.

computeritis, birthdays and Christmas

Okay, for the computeritis... I have so not wanted to be on the computer lately. I haven't written the emails that have been on my to do list, sorry to Sue, Teri, Katie, Tim, Mom P.,and anyone else I haven't written. It's not my fault, really. It's the computeritis.
But now, today, I'm cured. Adam did it. He said he'd been to my blog, and since I wasn't in many pictures, he took some of us decorating our tree tonight. Thanks Adam! So, I'm starting back with Erik's birthday, and will do better. Promise.

Erik turned 22 on the 21st; we had all the gang over for seafood chowder, stir-fried beef and german chocolate cake. I missed making a german chocolate cake for you Tim on the 6th. Juneau is amazingly warm and sunny. You should move back.
Anyway, I'm so happy to all my sons alive and healthy, now you all go and give me grandkids.

Shelly had a birthday on the 2nd, and I made more soup... cheesey ham and potato this time. It was nice to have her here for it, just wish John and Josh could have been here. Only 2 weeks till John comes for Christmas. Yay!

We got our tree the day after Thanksgiving, which was wonderful too. Steve's Mom and Helen came this year, and we almost all fit at the table that Steve made for the day-thanks to a big piece of plywood. Lots of food and pie. :-)
Back to the tree... I decorated all last weekend, and Erik, David and I just finished putting the ornaments on the tree. I'm so glad that Erik wanted to come over and help with our tree. :-) My house is all finished, and it's only Dec. 4th. A record for me. David asked me today, "Hey, when are you gonna start making cookies?" Later!

How about some pictures?



Obviously, decorating the tree. This was David's first time to put the bear on the tree. :-))))

Oh my gosh, does he look like Dale or what?

Adam singing for us at Erik's party.

Such a cute girl!



Shelly modeling her first knitted hat, the first one I ever made. It looks so good on her!

God is good

Today is a beautiful day, the sun is peeking through the clouds and it's chilly.  Our wood stove is heating our house nicely and the house is quiet.  I'm just about to go to work, but wanted to send out an update on Erik. 

Steve and I went over to his apartment yesterday, he is doing better.  He's taking less pain meds, so he hurts more, but his appetite is coming back.  I may get him hooked on some of the tv shows I like... they don't have cable so I took him season 1 of Criminal minds; I love this show.  He texted me last night asking if I realized that the guy is Ineago Montoya from Princess bride.. and that everytime he sees him he thinks " hello, my name is Ineago Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.  Isn't if funny how one role determines how we remember someone?By the way, his real name is Mandy Patinkin.  

Anyway, he likes it.  

Onto God's amazing faithfulness, some of the correctional officers at the jail were donating leave hours to Erik so he can get a paycheck, but the higher ups said that Erik couldn't receive them since he was so new on the job.  Well, one of the Sargent's kept pushing and working on it, Thank you Sgt. Busby!, and last night they set a precedent and said that Erik would be able to get them.  So he's going to get a paycheck for all this time he has missed work.  We are all so thankful to how God works.  I'm so amazed how He continually watches over us.  I mean I know He does, but when I keep seeing it it makes me realize how I can take Him for granted.  

now I must get ready for work...

but before I go,   HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY SUE!!

A nice Sunday

Erik and Miriah made it home by 10:30 on Friday night.  He was hurting really bad from the flight and being in cars, but at least he was back in Juneau.. although at that point he wanted to be back in the sucky hospital bed.  :-)  They were able to borrow Miriah's Dad's recliner, so Erik can be somewhat comfortable.  Considering what he's been through, he looks pretty good, but he can still use all the prayers he can get.

We've had two lovely sunny days, thank you God!  Today at church Brian has finally started teaching out of Revelation.  It should be quite interesting. 

I just spent the afternoon rearranging my bedroom, then putting it all back again. Hey, at least all of the floor got swept! 

Now I just want to watch a movie and knit. What to watch????? 

Till later...................

Erik is on an airplane right now!

So I got a phone call today while I was cooking supper, it was Erik calling from a car. He and Miriah were trying to make a 7:00 flight home to Juneau. I wasn't expecting him to be released since he was doing so poorly today, but release him they did. YAY!
Miriah said that one of the orderlies at the hospital just gave them a walker as they were leaving so they don't have to buy one. God is so looking out for them. :-) I am so anxious to see him and talk to him. Here are some pictures of their car after the tow guy came and got it.

I can't have just a smashed up car as my photos, here is a pic of Erik and Miriah I took recently.
And this is me, modeling my new hat. It looks better on Shelly, but I still love it.

an update on Erik

I am continually awed by God's goodness to me and my family.  My Erik is still in the hospital in Seattle, but is doing so much better.  On Sunday night the doctor's had scheduled Erik for surgery to remove his spleen.  Before they could get him in for the operation, someone came into the ER with a more urgent need for surgery, so they got Erik's OR.  By the time it was available for him, his blood counts were up so the doctors decided to wait.  He now is out of ICU, in a regular room and not in need of having his spleen removed.  Miriah just called me and said that Erik stood up today and walked in place for 5 minutes.  He got dizzy and tired, but he did it.  :-))))  The doctors said that he could possibly come home on Friday.  He is still in lots of pain, and will be for quite some time.  They are also still watching him for signs of pneumonia.. but he is better!  What do people who don't know God do?  How do they cope?  Without God there wouldn't be hope.

birthdays and God's love

Well, yesterday was my 48th birthday. It was mostly a wonderful day. Shelly bought me some lovely large sunflowers, and a vintage green bracelet. We went to Erik and Miriah's for dinner.. she made Guatemalen tacos and rice, and an apple pie. It was wonderful. Shelly, Kate, Caleb, Jacob and I were there, and we all had a nice time.
The day ended with Steve and I at the hospital with Erik again. Miriah called me around 9:30 to tell me that Erik had been in a car accident and was at the ER. I thought she said he was fine, but was complaining of a hurt wrist. So I was content to wait till Steve got home from work to go and check on him. Turns out it was his ribs, back and head that hurt. He has a skull fracture, a damaged spleen, and 3 broken ribs. When we got there Karla and Miriah were praying for him, and Brian Ewing came shortly after. I was struck this time how much he looked like Dale, and had the memory of seeing Dale in the hospital in Dallas, but then I remembered that God is faithful to protect and care for Erik, and is always with him. God is my strength. Erik was medivacted to Seattle since they have neurosurgeons, and is in ICU right now. Miriah called and said that his head injury hasn't worsened, but his spleen is still bleeding. They are saying that he will probably have to have his spleen removed. Again, all I can do is pray for him and trust God. Erik couldn't remember the accident yesterday, but it is now coming back to him.. he remembers swerving to miss an animal in the road and hitting a patch of ice. We'll see what the insurance company says about the car.
To end on a happy note, here is a blurry picture of all us at Erik and Miriah's house last night.

updates in October

I can't believe it's almost the end of October already. The last time I posted it was the middle of September! I've been sick off and on, and my computer died. Luckily Mick was able to wipe the hard drive and put everything back on. I had backed up most of my pictures, so I'm good there. I did however loose all my email addresses, so everyone should write me an email so I can have them again. Especially you Tim!

Kate started going to the Christian school in town, she seems to like it much better. I'm really quite boring tonight, so I'll just jump to the really exciting part of October......
Larry and Kelly got married on the 24th! It was a beautiful wedding, and I am so lucky to have another wonderful daughter in law. We had Erik and Miriah, Larry and Kelly, and Ed over for enchiladas last night. Sadly, Jacob didn't make it, and sweet Susan went home to Arizona on Tuesday. I miss you! And of course no Tim and Katie. At least we had all of them here for Erik's wedding. So, how about some wedding pictures??





This is when Larry saw Kelly for the first time. :-)
The proud Dad

Ike

I'm sitting here watching Fox News... Hurricane Ike is about to hit Galveston Island. I'm seeing all the places I have been, the places Shelly and I went to, about to be covered with water. Galveston is the beach we all went to when I was growing up. What will be left? I can only pray, and have faith that God is in control. Shelly is missing her John, and I am missing him and my Dad. We love you and are praying.

Echo Ranch Family Camp

Echo Ranch Family Camp is something Calvary does every September. It is always such a blessed time.. even though it always rains. This year we were blessed to have an unbelievably beautiful Saturday. It did rain on Sunday, but it was beautiful in it's own way. Here is a sampling of what went on. I took 645 pictures! Steve and I on the last day, just after lunch I think.
Sherri and Asher!
Getting ready to hike out in the rain on Sunday, Sherri and Keely.


I wish you could tell just how beautiful it was here, the clouds and mists in the trees were amazing.

I fell in love with this little colt.
We were so blessed with a gorgeous day on Saturday, that is Lion's head mountain in the background
the canoe on the left is Ashleigh and Dan Ewing.
On the last day before we ate, we all formed a circle and sang the doxology. It was a highlight for me.
Kate and Daisy doing flips..
Micah has adopted Kate as his own.
wow. isn't she beautiful?
My boy.
Preparing to go on the SkyTrolley
Asher! I have so many more....I know you are shocked.
I love the way the woods look with the sun in them..we don't get to see it this way very often.

I love these kids!

On the hike out to camp


Early morning devotions on Saturday

And yes, I have more of these.