6 Months

Jeff will often say to me, "Guess what we were doing 26 years ago today?" of course I never have any idea, but he can usually rouse my memory by his accurate details, and delight my heart with a wonderful memory.
However I do remember 6 months ago today, and this marks the day I had my ASD closure. It's been one of the most trying times of my life, only bearable because God was so evident. I'm really not one to dwell much in the past, and I get teary if I think too much about it. I don't understand how or why I am even alive, but I am ever so thankful and to God be the glory! God protected me before anyone else on earth even knew I had a hole in my heart. No one else even knew to pray, it was God alone.
I wonder how I could have ever kissed all my children goodbye, not knowing if I would ever see them again, as Jeff rushed me to the ER 90 miles an hour. Had to do that 5 times. I would not want to relive any of those moments again, the pain and heartache seemed too much at times, but I never felt He wasn't with me.
But just in the past couple of weeks I was put on a new medicine and I am so happy to announce that I feel good! Not great, not quite back to normal, but not in pain from my chest or migraines. And I haven't lost my vision in 6 weeks so I think that is behind me - praise the Lord!
We have gone back to singing at the piano at night, whistling and lights don't bother me so much, and I feel like I can function better and be a better wife and mother. It's amazing, and I never want to take for granted or miss a moment that God has given me! My heart is full to overflowing with thanksgiving and praises, and appreciation for all the ways we have been ministered to by His people!
So I will continue to trust, continue to praise, and continue to serve the Great Jehovah, creator of heaven and earth, you and me, as long as He allows! Rejoicing in every day!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Act 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore.

Arbor Week

We had a family project of planting trees. It was Dad's planning, but we all participated in the planting process. We had an automatic post hole digger so that was a huge help! He is 16 and runs on food! Robbie dug all the holes and everyone else helped in the process of planting, screening and mulching. It took us 9 days. We had so much fun! Emily was saying how much fun it's going to be to play hide and seek in these trees. Mom said, "Oh, honey, your children will play hide and seek in these trees!" Robbie said how neat it will be to show their children that they planted these trees when they were knee high, "That was back when we could walk!". We talked and laughed, shared jokes and stories, moaned, made great memories, and as a family worked together to accomplished a huge task.

Then we all got poison ivy from the mulch we put around the trees. And on top of that, Ben got the Chicken Pox, again. He had them when he was 8 or 9 months old, but just a mild case. When a friend called mom a couple of weeks ago apologizing for exposing us to it we thought nothing of it, "No worries, we've all had them!". But his spots were very different from the poison ivy the rest of us had, and it was exactly 2 weeks after his exposure. Our counter has held an array of every itch remedy imaginable!

Part of the 363 trees:

The two cherry trees:

The peach tree over 6' tall:

The fruit trees we planted 2 years ago.

Lydia Faith

Megan writing here ...

I spent about 45 minutes of uninterrupted time with my 2-year-old sister yesterday. I hadn't done that in a while. It was fun, though. We played with my rabbit for awhile, then we went over to the swing set. She comes up with the funniest things.

"I don't yike (like) it when people come ovuh (over) and play basketball. They should go inside.... But wabbits don't have any hands to play basketball."

Why she cares if people came over to play basketball I haven't the slightest idea. :)

"Can we go to my fwing now?"

I tried to get her to pronounce 'swing' for a few minutes but apparently she liked 'fwing' better. So we went over to the 'fwing' and ... 'fwung'?

Lydia: "Can you fwing on you's belly?"

Me: "Nope."

Lydia: "Is it too hard?"

Me: "I'm too big."

Lydia: "Oh."

~~~

I never got around to actually finishing this blog post the day it happened, so here's a bit more to add to it. :)

~~~

Last week:

Lydia: "Can I take my baby outside?"

Mom: "Sure."

Lydia: "I appreciate you."

~~~

Today:

Lydia: "So, how are you doin'?"

Me: "I'm doin' good; how are you doin'?

Lydia: *sweet little grin* "I'm doin' better!"

Joey's Birthday!

Joey turned 7 a couple of weeks ago!






Joey's favorite sweatshirt says "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" ... and he certainly is! Joey loves practicing piano and playing outside. He also loves reading and playing outside with his brothers. We love you Joe-man!

The Eye's have it

20 children and three mothers congregated in the Kunkel family's garage armed with scalpels and hand wipes. The object - dissect a bunch of cows eyes, and hopefully learn something in the process.

To read Megan's more detailed account of the dissection go here.


I LOVE Emily's face here! :P

This blog needs heeeeelp ....

Look, people, I'm just hoping to get up pictures from Joey's birthday before Ben's this weekend, 'kay?

Pictures I have galore, but getting them on this blog seems to be a bit of an issue. So here's a few from the 600 I snapped this weekend (no, I'm not kidding)

Happy Wednesday!

Megan