Big Week

Saying that this is a big week for my side of the family is stating something a little too simply. I'm not trying to over-dramatize anything, but really, it's a very eventful and emotional week in several ways.

For instance, yesterday my mom had surgery to remove cancer. Today I'll be spending the day with her, helping her out as she recovers. We won't know if it's completely gone or the results of whether anything had spread to lymph nodes for a week. So we're waiting. We're praying. We're hoping. We're joyful. Her breast cancer was caught early, and we're blessed by the technicians and medical minds that discovered the abnormalities and for the development of mammograms.

Here's my little plug, even though Breast Cancer Awareness Month is over: Get your yearly mammogram. It literally may be the difference between life and death. I believe that it may have been the difference between my mom having a pretty minimally invasive surgery with a few weeks of radiation and a fight for her life.

In two days, my sister is leaving our country to go to her daughter's country. There she, her husband and oldest son will see things that they have never seen before. The most important: the newest member of their family. The baby girl that they have been waiting for, praying for, doting after and gazing at in pictures will be in their arms. Fears of flying, and anxiousness about the whole trip are plentiful, but to finally meet this little one, almost 5 months old now, is too sweet to even grasp. The pain of leaving her there is too heart-wrenching to comprehend.

While there, they will see poverty up close. They will get to understand the land that their daughter comes from better. They will see the orphanage that she is in. They will most likely get to see the church where she was graciously placed to be found. I can only imagine the emotions held in the hearts of my sister's family as their adoption journey continues and is in the final stretch.

So yeah.

Big week.

Pumpkin Painting

Silver Foxes and a Spirit Flame

We were finally able to go to one of our niece's soccer games, and it really paid off because Cassidy scored two goals! Way to go!

Also, we went to see our nephews, Zachary and Noah, play football. Norah was there to cheer them on (sort of).

First Day of School! First Day of School!

Remember when Nemo bounced over and over again on and around his dad chanting "First day of school!"? Well, that wasn't how the first day of school was in our house, but the kids were pretty excited to get going.... and a little nervous.

Norah started kindergarten, and we're really excited about where she is. We really like her teacher and her school and her principal- everything! We think that this year will be a great experience for her, and we are looking forward to how the Lord will use her school experience to grow and learn in new ways. She has been very nervous starting out, but it is good for her to be stretched. We're praying that her anxieties and worry ease and that she will learn to trust in the Lord.

Haddon is at the same pre-school as last year, but has a new teacher. We're praying that this year will go well and that his new teacher will become a wonderful ally as we help him speak more and communicate more and move towards being in a typical classroom setting. He's also meeting with a speech therapist once a week. During those times Casey or myself can learn more tools and skills to help Haddon progress his language development.

 Norah was a bit nervous. You can see it on her face! Poor dear!

 One final hug from dad... and a little nudge! Go on Norah! You're gonna do great!

No fear. No worries. He owns this school.

When we dropped him off, we just walked right in, and that was it. He's a champ!

The Only Time We'll EVER Wear Green and Yellow

We are orange. For those of you outside the state of Oregon, that means that we root for the Oregon State Beavers. With that said, we still cheer for a team in green, white and yellow... but NOT the University of Oregon's Ducks. No.

We are cheering (literally) for Team Upward!

Upward Sports is an organization formed to reach kids with the gospel through sports. This year our home church is hosting flag football and cheerleading, and Norah is a cheerleader! Check out the fun that we get to have every Saturday.

Two Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed: Part Deux

Two Little Monkeys Jumping Dancing on the Bed,

Nink shook her bum while H stood on his head.

Mama grabbed the camera, their Dad, and said,

"Quick! Let's watch our monkeys dancing on the bed!"

The Big One

The Oregon State Fair is a big fair. This year there was a dinosaur exhibit, and so we headed out to enjoy the sights and smells (well, some of the smells) of Oregon's Big One.