Wishing You A Merry Christmas

Taking A Break

... because real-life is hectic just now ...

A Thanksgiving Prayer

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank Thee for this place in which we dwell; for the love that unites us; for the peace accorded us this day; for the hope which we expect the morrow; for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth, and our friendly helpers in this foreign isle.

Let peace abound in our small company. Purge out of every heart the lurking grudge. Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Offenders ourselves, give us the grace to accept and to forgive offenders. Forgetful ourselves, help us to bear cheerfully the forgetfulness of others.

Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind. Spare to us our friends; soften to us our enemies. Bless us, if it may be, in all our innocent endeavors. If it may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come, that we be brave in peril, constant in tribulation, temperate in wrath, and in all changes of fortune, and down to the gates of death, loyal and loving one to another.

As the clay to the potter, as the windmill to the wind, as children of their sires, we beseech of Thee this help and mercy for Christ's sake. Amen.

By:  Robert Louis Stevenson

One Thousand Gifts: Multitude Monday

681.  Gracious and knowledgeable paramedics.

682.  The University hospital.

683.  A wonderful med-student-resident in the ER.

684.  Modern medical technology showing the damage.

685.  Less damage than “last time”.

686.  Swallowing improving to about 75% of normal.

687.  Speech clearing slowly but surely.

688.  Eyes beginning to work together.

689.  Cherubs flying solo … working together.

690.  Dear friend L.E. sitting in the hospital, wrapping us in prayer and love.

691.  Thoughtful loving friends bringing meals and fun to the Cherubs.

692.  Tipping to the right side – but able to walk again.

693.  Leaves blowing in the wind.

694.  Gentle rains …

695.  God’s protection … the clots didn’t do massive damage …

696.  A flood of tears one morning … a cell number … a new beginning.

697.  Waking with a purpose … a direction …

698.  The courage to go there … butterflies in our tummies, not knowing … but trusting in Him.

699.  A gentle prod from a dear friend to go on … to speak … to take that last HUGE step …

700.  Healing tears … washing away bitterness and guilt … a flood.

701.  Hugs from dearly missed friends …

702.  Love given in spite of ourselves … and renewed.

703.  Eggs from the barn … warm toast with jam …

704.  Raking and blowing leaves with Cherubs – hard work keeps stress in check.

705.  Dust on his walker – he’s not needing to use it as much as before as his walking improves.

706.  Lighted candles at dinnertime.

707.  Freezer full of farm-raised beef.

708.  Daddy hugs … courageous Cherubs … hope.

709.  Movie night … as a family.

710.  A wonderful family doctor, who knows us, and truly cares.

711.  A new plan … for studying His Word … and a renewed commitment … as a family.

712.  Courage to trust that He will guide us … courage that’s been lacking lately …

713.  He continued to call to us, even as we went our own ways for a while … His love for us never left … never  …

714.  Autumn breezes.

715.   Sled hill freshly mowed; anticipation of fun winter days coming.

To learn more, or to participate in One Thousand Gifts: Multitude Monday, visit Ann Voskamp's Holy Experience.

Update On DadToCherubs

Well, he's making progress. 

His swallowing is improving bit by bit, and his walking is a bit better day by day (although he still uses the walker a bit, esp outside and away from home). His speech is definitely clearer, but it's still a bit slurred and becomes more slurred as he gets tired. And thanks to a great doctors appt yesterday, I think he got the first decent night's sleep he's had since the strokes on 11/4. 

Now we just need physical therapy to start.  We've given up on getting speech therapy and occupational therapy in addition to PT (all ordered to be done "at home" by the hospital when he was discharged) -- apparently he "lost" those when he physically went to the doctors because his meds weren't working well and because his clotting factor was reallllllyyyyy high.   All I can figure is that our insurance company feels it can take better care of him from afar than his family doctor --- and that's why they want to manage his care ?!?!  Ugggggg.

THANKS FOR PRAYING !!  DadToCherubs is on the mend.  Our God is AWESOME.

Update on DadToCherubs

Good morning.

I just wanted to let you know that DadToCherubs was discharged to home from UT on Tuesday, after having strokes on Thursday night.

He is learning to walk again with the help of a walker, and is working through some speech-vision-hearing and a few other motor issues including continued swallowing-issues.  But all in all, it could have been sooo much worse. 

Home nursing and home physical therapy should begin in a day or so … and of course DadToCherubs’s determination to get better will help, at least as long as he doesn’t push too hard.  HA !

I have to say that it was truly wonderful to sit at the dining room table last night for dinner together, again … being one of those token-few families that eats together at the table every night.  After all of the excitement, the discharge process at the hospital, the drive home from UT, the longgggg walk into the house from the car ... and just the “homecoming” … well, it was  exhausting for DadToCherubs … he slept most of the night through (and is still asleep at 930am).

The children are thrilled to be able to see him with their own eyes  … it’s quite a scary process, a sick parent, to go through for a child … esp because our 3 older children well-remember last time.  They all pitched in and worked together as a team this past week while Kevin was in the hospital … we are both so proud of them !!

Thank you so much, everyone, for your thoughts, prayers, kind words, and help. 

Thank you L.E. and family for being there for us … again.   

Thank you for the delicious meals, B family, E family, and M family.

Thank you J.B. for standing beside DadToCherubs yesterday, just in case, as he walked that longggg path he chose into the house … that “safe” feeling meant so much to us.

Thank you McK family for taking the girls to 4H … and to the B family for offering to take the boys to Scouts.

Thank you R.G. for being out back-up plan for horses, and for A.B. for coming to assist Cherub 2 with horse-chores.

We have quite a challenge before us as DadToCherubs makes progress and begins to heal …. But we know that God has this all under control.

He has truly blessed us beyond measure … and we stand in Awe …

Please continue to pray … for healing, for recovery, for strength, for PATIENCE, for guidance …

We’ll keep you posted.

Urgent Prayers Please

DadToCherubs has had another stroke (Thursday night).  

Right now, he is stable at the University Hospital on their neuro/stroke floor … with confirmed small strokes in cerebellum, and a multiple TIAs suspected in brain stem.  Overall he’s doing pretty well, considering … we’re just watching and waiting to see what issues resolve, and which we have to work on … and he’s on monitors while we wait/hope/pray that he’s not going to have a bigger stroke before the heparin can thin his blood / any potential clots elsewhere.

It has been roughly 5 years since his last strokes, and the docs had hoped it was all under control.  However .... 

Please pray for him ... for the docs and nurses and therapists who are treating him ...

Artist Study

Autumn Leaves

Artist: John Everett Millais

1856

Today ....

Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival

Today, be sure to hop over

and enjoy the newest edition of the

Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival.

Multitude Monday: One Thousand Gifts

681.  Girls + friends + sleepover = Lots of Giggles and Smiles.

682.  Dear friend coming to check on our injured horse.

683.  Successful last horse show of the season for SVHC.

683.  Volunteering for 4H Fundraising.

684.  Rain.

685.  Bareback pads for comfy riding.

686.  Herd order sorted out – peace prevailing.

687.  Soft eyes, two ears up – happy horses.

688.  Friend’s recommendation for Dr. S (vet) as our vet is away.

689.  Dr. K.S.’s visit for Applejack’s eye – lots of meds, and a hopeful prognosis.

690.  Dumma’s surprise weekend visit.

691.  Watching my mom smile while hanging out with Button.

692.  Hearing my mom say “Yes, MY little pony.”  She loves her Button.

693.  Cherub 2 napping on Applejack’s back – a beautiful bond has begun.

694.  Smiling Cherubs while learning to work with our horses.

695.  Fall cleaning completed ahead of schedule.

696.  Polar Bear Play Time (our 2 Great Pyrs playing together)

697.  We are “in the swing” of our school routine now.

698.  Fun camping trip with Scouts for DadToCherubs and the boys.

699.  Protection of L.E. (dirt bike accident, hospital, minimal injuries, home resting).

700.  Freezer stocked with farm-raised beef.

701.  Basket filled with  fresh apples.

702.  Orchard Grass Hay – loving the soft scent !!

703.  Homemade bread baking – is there anything that smells better ?

704.  Coffee in the morning.

705.  The fall colors are b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.

706.  Acorns, chestnuts, pecans --- pockets full of fall.

707.  Local fields and haying time.

708.  Nearing the end of lawnmowing season.

709.  Enzamatic Therapy’s Beef Liver Extract.

710.  Our new Homeschool Group.

711.  It’s almost Election Day.

712.  Aloe plant on the window sill.

713.  Sweet, silly cats … laughing Cherubs who love them dearly.

714.  The honor of praying for our vet (Dr. M) who is in Africa, serving Our Lord.

715.  Applejack’s eye seems to be improving, bringing great comfort to Cherub 2.

For more information about the Gratitude Community, visit Ann Voskamp's A Holy Experience.