Proud Moment

   One of the things that Dutch and Madison have enjoyed while living here in Bradford Co. is being part of the RTL Little League program. Every summer that we've lived here, Madison has had the priviledge of playing on a team. Several years he made the All-Star team as well. And while being part of All-Stars takes up much of our summer due to practices and games, it is definitely a highlight for both Madison and Dutch. I don't go to nearly every game, just because juggling Gracie and Mariah... well, you know, chasing babies while trying to watch a game can be rather... interesting, to say the least. But this past Friday night, laden with snacks and drinks, a small picnic table and four new containers of Play-doh (Gracie LOVES PLay-doh)- we did set out to watch a home game. And to make a long story short... Madison's team lost. But I want to share with you his "warm up" song and the song that gets played right before his at bat on home games. It's called "Lions" and is sung by Skillet (who ever dreamed we'd like a song by them). :)

  See, every player gets to pick "his song" and the announcer will play a short clip of it just before the player bats. When asked what song he wants, Madison's response was- "I don't have a song." Say what? Madison the kid that loves music... no song?? It turns out that he was too shy to say it because most of the songs the kids picked were classic rock or country so he was a little afraid his would be out of place. But his dad spoke up for him and said, "Yeah, he has a song- it's called "Lions" by Skillet." It is a really great song... I"ll post the lyrics here, but you need to pull it up on YouTube and listen to it... it might become your new favorite.

 

Lions

Skillet

Today we live, today we breathe
Today we know that we are strong when we are weak
Today we trust, we overcome
Take every chain that kept us slaves and throw em' off

We're not waiting for permission
We defy our inhibition
Like our middle name is "fearless"
Unafraid

 

If we're gonna fly, we fly like eagles
Arms out wide
If we're gonna fear, we fear no evil
We will rise
By your power, we will go
By your spirit, we are bold
If we're gonna stand, we stand as giants
If we're gonna walk, we walk as lions

Today is ours, it's always been
Before we face the fight
We know who's gonna win
We live by faith and not by sight
We don't want safe and quiet
We don't wanna run and hide

This is not an intermission
It's our time, not gonna miss it
You've already called us fearless
Unafraid

 

If we're gonna fly, we fly like eagles
Arms out wide
If we're gonna fear, we fear no evil
We will rise
By your power, we will go
By your spirit, we are bold
If we're gonna stand, we stand as giants
If we're gonna walk, we walk as lions
We walk as lions

 

Oh, everywhere we go
The battle has been won
We know you've gone before us
So, we take it hard in faith
With every step we take
We know we'll rise victorious

If we're gonna fly, we fly like eagles
Arms out wide
If we're gonna fear, we fear no evil
We will rise
By your power, we will go
By your spirit, we are bold
If we're gonna stand, we stand as giants
If we're gonna walk, we walk as lions
We walk as lions

 

Anyway- the point of this blog is to introduce you to this really great song (that you all probably already heard and I'm just behind with the times;)) and to just tell how proud I was when he got up to bat on his second or third at bat... and a little clip of this song played and he stepped up to the plate and ripped his first All-Star homerun!! What a proud moment!!!!!

I lost 30 lbs since Christmas...

  Sometimes ya just know it's time to change your eating and shed a few pounds. I came to this conclusion after 7 people asked me at my dad's viewing when I'm due...😂😂 I wasn't pregnant... my baby was 6 months old. So I decided that after the holidays I would do things differently... 

  I'm writing this blog to motivate and encourage others. Losing weight doesn't have to be dreadful. I'd love to share with you some simple things that can make a big difference. Here goes.....

WATER

Start you day drinking an 8 oz. glass of water. Keep drinking water throughout the day. Do it BEFORE you eat.

SUGAR

Cut way back on your sugar consumption. Cut out sweet drinks even orange juice. Learn to say no to the things that spike your blood sugar.

EAT

Eat less more often rather than stuffing yourself a couple times a day. Eat the right foods together, don't eat fat & carbs at the same time. Eat none starchy veggies instead of potatoes. I love roasted veggies (broccoli, green beans, Brussel sprouts etc.) w/ butter or oil and seasonings made in the oven at 425 deg. rather than cooking them stovetop. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

You can eat a lot of tasty food and you don't have to live on rabbit food... and still lose weight. I ate meat, cheese etc. but I learned what food to eat together and cut out the ones that were wasted fillers.

EXERCISE

Exercise is an important part, though it is my least favorite. But even a little bit is better than none at all. A simple 7 minute workout that you pull up on YouTube can make a difference. Just make a start!

DON'T

Don't focus on the food you can't have. Don't see it as a diet but rather just choosing healthier foods. Don't get discouraged and give up.

Get determined. Make small changes a little at a time. I promise that as the scales starts dropping, your confidence will start building and you'll be unstoppable:).

Now please excuse me while I go finish my beloved roasted broccoli...

The Decision

  It's official-- The Fisher family will be leaving The Haft in January of 2018. As I took a stroll outside the other night from the Barn to our house, I wondered how we could ever leave this place? The moon was bright and shining on the pond. The stars, which always seem brighter here because there are no street lights, were softly twinkling. The peepers were peeping... these are all the sights and sounds of this mountain life we've come to love. 

  So why are we leaving? Well really it's because we're sensing that that is what the Holy Spirit is telling us to do. Two yrs ago, we committed to stay a total of 5 yrs at which point we would discern if we were to stay longer or not. As we talked about the future and staying longer, neither one of us felt like that's what we are to do. We've always said that our time here is only for a season. 

  So with the decision made to leave when our 5 year term was done, we began to discuss where we would move to. The number one option that seemed to make sense was to move back to Lancaster in the house next door to my recently widowed mother. Is Lancaster Co. where we really WANT to be? Not exactly, but we feel certain that that's the next step for now. And there are things that we as a family are definitely looking forward to in there- particularly things the that kids want to pursue. They are excited about the opportunities and options they'll have at their fingertips.

  We don't know exactly what it will all look like...?? The job or ministry role Dutch is to take on in this next season is yet to be determined. We have purposed to take our time and not rush into anything. We hope to take some time with our kids in 2018 to do some traveling and sightseeing. We haven't made the trip to Florida as a family for several years so we hope to do that as well as take a trip out west. We'll consider the first year back a Sabbatical year from full-time ministry.

  How do we finish well here? We want to put everything into these last 9 months here so we can walk away with the satisfaction of knowing that we put our all into this place until the very day we left. We are grateful for the opportunity we've had to be a part of this great ministry. We have learned so much!! And we do look forward to serving guests, and hosting retreats through the remainder of this year.

  We know well though, that when the day comes to say good-bye, it will be hard to leave this place, this life, this community... but the Holy Spirit will lead us, of this we are sure!!!

There Is So Much More

  Ever question what life is about? Do you wonder why we spend our whole lives working, saving, spending, and accumulating "stuff", only to die and leave it all behind? I have these questions and many more sometimes.

  I've come to the conclusion that life is about "so much more". This life on earth is only one kingdom- but there is another kingdom!! This earthly life is only the beginning of what God has in store for the rest of our lives (and for your 411- heaven is way more than what we've been taught!! but more on that another time). But anyway... We would be foolish to only focus on the earthly kingdom and the earthly stuff when we can participate in the things of the heavenly kingdom. And it is possible to partake of the heavenly kingdom while we are still earth side. People who are seeking a real relationship with God, where they speak to Him and He actually talks to them too, are tapping into another kingdom. They are able to see into another realm. And that to me is super exciting because I find the thought of living here, only to leave it all, a little depressing. The idea that there is so much more and the fact that we don't have to wait till we die to begin experiencing it, is fascinating to me. It is what motivates me, and drives me to a deeper relationship with Abba Father. The Christian life is mucher more than knowing ABOUT God, its EXPERIENCING Him. It's being "seated in heavenly places". Yes!!

  If you question what this life is all about... it might be time for you to go deeper. Because I promise you... "there is so much more"!!

Your Story

  We've been around enough of people in the last 5 yrs and heard so many stories of brokenness and pain that I can honestly say nothing surprises me anymore. We've heard about abuse, we've heard people's deepest secrets, their fears and their addictions. We've had the privilege of praying with, listening to, and walking with these people. We've seen captives set free and we've witnessed demonic deliverance. We have learned ALOT. 

  EVERYONE has a story, some are more broken then others. Everyone deals with their brokenness differently. Some people shut down emotional, and lots of people go into survival mode, others become religious. And in their brokenness they hurt other people. It's actually kind of a crazy cycle. The devil loves it. He loves to set people on a course where they will self destruct. If he can just get you to believe one lie... he can do a lot of damage. 

  The awesome thing is that God is in the redemption business. He can take a mess and turn it into a message, he makes beauty from ashes. Your mess, your story does not need to define you. God is a God of grace- grace that we can't fathom. You can be restored, set free, and victorious. There is hope!!  No sin is too much, no story too broken for our big God. Chances are that God wants to use your story, your brokenness & your healing journey for His purposes. No one has more authority to speak into another person's brokenness than one who has been there themselves. 

  If you are struggling with an addiction, if you have carried a secret for many years, if you just long to be free- find someone that you can confide in. Start walking toward healing & freedom, and then watch what God does with your story. 

  

I'm coming back to blog again....

  The Lord has been telling me over & over lately that I need to start blogging again. I keep asking Him, "How do I find the time"? He says, "Make time". So I'm going to try to do just that. 

  One of the issues I have with blogging is how as a blogger I put thoughts, ideas etc on paper and I start to feel like people hold me to a certain standard. So here's my disclaimer- just because I tell you bits and pieces of my life does not mean that I, in any way, shape or form, have it "all together"! In fact, most days I don't have. I may possibly share a victory or triumph with you one day, then fail miserably at it the next. 

  My blog is meant to motivate and inspire. It a place where I can put thoughts and ideas on paper, but please keep in mind that it is only a very small piece of my world. Don't spend your time comparing your life to mine or assume things about me from the little tidbits I share- I only aim to encourage you and share ideas, God stories, and etc. to help you on your life journey. 

  I hope to post once a week, but we'll see how this mother of six does with that goal. At this stage in life with a 3 year old (very typical, yet somewhat "special needs" child) and a 9 month old baby, I don't get much more done than drinking my morning coffee and chasing little people. One day I referred to my life as "beautiful chaos"... and that about sums it up right now!! But I'm convinced that life is what you make it... and the perspective with which you see it. So I'm choosing the high road, choosing to be grateful... ha, that's easier said then done. The truth is that there are days I get extremely frustrated and raise my voice ALOT at my children. I'm thankful for God's grace and that His mercies are new every morning. 

  So before I close this little "I'm coming back to blogging" post, here's my little encouragement for the week-- to anyone out there that is stuck in a rut- don't give up, don't keep making agreements with the enemy that says you don't have what it takes… don't buy the lies!! Be an overcomer!!

Christmas Letter 2015

The King of Kings was born in a BARN- a smelly, damp animal barn. Think about that!! Poor young Mary was nearly nine month pregnant when she made that long trek to Bethlehem. Here we are so busy picking out the perfect gifts to put in our plush, already cluttered homes. We are trying to create a magical season that is far removed from the way it all began over 2,000 years ago. Don’t get me wrong… I LOVE this season!! But it struck me recently, the reality of what really took place that December night in Bethlehem. As I pondered, I realized I really do want to make this season celebratory, but keep it revolved around things that really matter. Jesus- the Saviour of the world was born that night. The greatest gift ever given!!

  Here’s a quick family update though I’m not sure much has changed from last year….

  Dutch & I are still Directors at a ministry called The Haft in Bradford Co. PA. Our job ranges from administrative duties, to prayer ministry, to facilitating retreats, to cooking for groups, to keeping the outdoor wood furnaces burning, to everything in between. If you ever wonder if we’re just sitting in the hills of the Endless Mts. twiddling our thumbs, guess again!! J

  ShaLyn- will be a teenager in a few months. I’d say she’s already showing signs of it. Her responses some days have me shaking my head and asking, “Where is my cute, little, innocent Shay.” Besides the teenage drama though, she really is a gem. Super capable, motivated, & for the most part quite responsible. She’s in her 7^th year of homeschooling! She has used the Abeka Academy DVDs the last 3 years, and LOVES it. She says she’s moving to Pensacola, FL. someday to attend their college. We’ll see about that!! Her bucket list of things to do/become in the future continues to grow. I’m excited to see just what it is that the Lord leads her to in life.

  Madison- the child that keeps our house from being overrun with girl drama. He keeps me updated on all things football. He “plays” football by himself every day down in the basement. Its all imaginery, of course, but it keeps him entertained for long periods of time. Most of the time he’s the easy going child. I really do love his personality. A big highlight for him this year was the November Youth for Jesus retreat we had here. He had an encounter with the Holy Spirit like never before. He said that week was the best week of his life!!

  MaKayla- the middle child!! For some reason she has this idea that the older kids pick on her- that may or may not be true;) I am finding that she does have a really tender heart though, and far too often it gets hurt. A highlight for MaKayla and I this year was taking a quick trip (with my mom & sis) to TN. to surprise my oldest sister, Anne, for her 50^th birthday!! MaKayla felt so honored that she got to go along. All the other kids, except Gracie, had to stay home with dad. MaKayla thanked me several times on that trip for “picking” her to go along.

  Gabby- the child that made me question my parenting ability. Need I say more?? She’s little and feisty, and has a lot of spunk. She tells me she’s going to go to gymnastic when she’s 8!? I’m guessing she’d be a natural. One of the hardest things for Gabby is when the other kids are doing school and Gracie is napping- Gabby gets sooo bored. She follows me around, asking me to play games with her. A mama can only do that for so long…

  Gracie- turned two on Thanksgiving Day and SHE IS WALKING!! It was sooo long in coming!! She finally managed the art of balancing herself despite the fact she only sees with her one eye and only part of that eye has vision!! What an incredible brain she has (we all have really!), to be able to piece together her little world and do most of the things a typical two year old can do. She climbs onto the kitchen counter, the bathroom counter, and out of her Pak N’ Play. She is the most loveable, cuddliest child you can imagine.

    A family highlight this year was a camping trip we took to a campground not too far from here. We had our first experience camping in a camper!! That suits me much better than a tent. We all agreed it would be fun to take an RV and travel for a few months, picking campgrounds as we go, sightseeing, etc. We chalked it up as a dream we’ll pursue in the future.

  Overall, we have had a good year! Every year brings with it it’s challenges & surprises- perhaps the biggest surprise for us this year was finding out that we are having Baby #6, due to arrive the end of May!!

                                                                                                   Celebrating Jesus!!!

          dutch, rosa, shay, matt, makayla, gabby, gracie

   

If you ever get invited...

  Oh my!! It has been a LONG time since I blogged!! But it has never been far from my mind. I often find myself thinking, "I should blog once again"... so here I am- I'm about to blog about something I've become very passionate about!!!

  We just got home from South Carolina where we helped to minister at a "Mystery of Marriage" retreat. This retreat is one we also offer here at The Haft twice a year. This marriage retreat is focused on soo much more than MARRIAGE. Believe it or not at every single one of these retreats the body of Christ is exemplified because we dare to be real and the Heavenly Father does amazing things as we share, cry, & LAUGH together. By the end of the week, we all become more like a family then a bunch of individual couples.

  I think one of the things I love about these retreats is the way they stretch me. The spiritual growth that comes out of it is incredible. I recommend anyone that is stuck in a rut, wanting more of "Spirit filled" walk with Jesus, and just hungry to be more intimate with the Father, to attend one of these events. So many believers walk around with a lot of head knowledge, but it is the experiential encounters that fill us with a passion to continue on the journey. Those who EXPERIENCE an encounter with The Father are never the same.

  Yes, a week is a long time. And yes, asking someone to care for your children for a week is a long time!! I'll be the first mama to admit that putting my children in someone elses care is not one of the things I do well. But the invest in our marriage and spiritual growth is so worth it!! I believe our children benefit first hand from this investment. When husband and wife are walking in agreement, and leading a "Holy Spirit led" walk of life, it gives the kids a better foundation for their own future. I know kids have to make their own choices to choose to follow God or not, the parents walk won't save them- but I believe we as parents can directly impact those choices.

  As I wrap up this post... we are actually gearing up for another Mystery of Marriage starting tonight here at The Haft. It runs from tonight to next Saturday. Please keep us in your prayers and should you ever find a "You've been invited to a Mystery of Marriage" letter in your mailbox, consider joining us. And if you've never received a special invite but you're interested in attending one, please let us know....

Putting Heart & Soul Into Our Kids

I have this idea- what if every parent made their family their mission field? What if they made it their goal to raise good moral children to love God, themselves, and others. What if they took parenting REALLY serious? And instead of being focused on themselves, or being busy in their little world, hanging out with their friends, spending too much precious time on the internet, dropping the kids off at babysitters so they can go do their thing w/o the "inconvenience" of the noisy kids, using any means of electronics to be their babysitter... and on and on- what if instead they would stop and see that the little people who have been entrusted to them are a high calling from God and are their responsibility to RAISE?? By raise I mean- teach, admonish (sounds like a word from the Old Testament;)), train, say "No" to sometimes, love, spend time with, set goals with, and talk about things in life that REALLY MATTER.  If we all saw our family as a mission field, wouldn't we need less counselors?? Wouldn't there be less Pastors burned-out? Wouldn't there be less crime? Less bullying? We need counselors because children are growing up neglected, and Pastors are burning out trying to help families that are falling apart, and people are being hateful and committing awful crimes because they are screaming for love and attention.

Okay I realize my message comes a little late in life. America's moral decline has already created such chaos in families that a large percent of this generation is not even capable of raising a family, because they haven't been "raised" themselves. They been neglected, beaten, threatened, mis-treated, and basically destroyed by their busy, uncaring parents or relatives, and "raised" by Hollywood and a plethora of other sources that the enemy has devised to destroy their mind and soul. I get it that my message is a little late. I realize for a large percent of America- it's, it's, well it's almost too late.

But what about the rest of us? Let's bring this back and take a look at those of us who were raised differently then what I described above. I know a lot of us, particularly ones that read this blog, were raised in good homes, functional ones at least. What about us? Are we taking the raising of OUR FAMILIES seriously? We have so much to offer our kids, and our kids are the next generation!!! You can say I'm always talking about the family, and you can write me off completely if you tire of my rants, but it is SOO important that we GET THIS!! If we want children that are going to walk with Jesus (not just know ABOUT Him), kids who are going to stand for Him no matter what they face, and who are not going to get sucked in by everything that the world has to offer- then we better rise to the occasion. We better do things differently. We had better fall to our knees, and parent like we mean it!! I'm not saying I have a certain formula that will create foul proof kids, BUT I know the Word says, " ...a child left to himself, bringeth his mother to shame." Prov. 29:15  In other words if children aren't taught restraint, self-control, and taught that the world doesn't revolve around them, there could be problems down the road. We live in self absorbed world!! Kids need to be taught truth and righteousness at home- not just grow up on Veggie Tales and Sunday School... (not that I am opposed to either of those) but somehow it seems we count on "things" to teach our kids instead of us as parents. There are MANY things out there, some are ever so subtle, that are vying for our kids hearts, focus, and devotion. And it is way too easy to just succumb to whatever gadget works to keep the kids "happy" or "quiet" so we can get our work done.

I also realize that we only have a short time frame to shape our kids and then comes that point where you have to trust God and trust that you did your best, and you have to let them fly. They will have to CHOOSE to embrace to live out what you've taught them. That's why it's so important to put heart and soul into raising and teaching them when they're young. Don't let movies, Hollywood, video games, phones and app, computers and internet be their teachers. Be involved in their lives and their world from little up. Limit the time they spend in front of screens. Pick and choose YOUR friends so your kids will have a godly influence. Be willing to say "No" to things in your own life sometimes if they have a negative influence on your family. Do things to strengthen your marriage so your kids see what it means to make a marriage last. Teach your kids truth. Talk to them about hard things, real life things. Teach them that the world doesn't revolve around them. Give your kids every chance to not only survive, but THRIVE in a crazy world!! And I do realize that the outcome of our children is not solely in our hands, but I'm calling us forth as parents to stand up, to lead, to be strong in the Lord. It takes sacrifice, it takes gut, it takes heart & soul.


Disclaimer: I do not profess to have "THE ANSWERS", nor do I think I myself have it figured out. I am a parent in the thick of it, in the heat of the battle along with you. My goal is to inspire, encourage, and motivate others to not give up. I am a fellow soldier, and I'm cheering for you as a parent.

Staycation

  Dutch and I decided it was time to take a day off. No internet, no phones (cell and 2 landlines were turned off), no screens, no working at the office or the Guest Barn... we wanted a day to spend time together as a family w/o distractions- so on Sunday March 15 at 4:00 pm we UN-PLUGGED. Now a PERFECT "stay"cation (that's what we decided to call it, a vacation right at home) would include quality time together with NO whining and complaining, and NO sibling disagreements etc. This one wasn't perfect in that sense, but it was relaxing. On Sunday evening we did some art projects, and started a puzzle. On Monday morning we slept in a little longer than usual. Then Madison helped me make a eggs, scrapple, and pancakes. And because our art projects were still on the table, we threw a tablecloth on the floor, sat Indian style and ate our breakfast- all part of creating memories. Monday was a glorious day weather wise too, so we took a walk together on one of the shorter Haft hiking trails, played some games and relaxed. It was a really enjoyable 24 hrs.
  Here are a few things I learned.... 1) We ALL need to take a break once in a while!! What we did together as a family- can be done by anyone, all you have to do is a little planning, set a date to do it (a Friday night in to Sat. or whatever) and then stick with your plan!! It's like a mini Sabbatical;), but seriously sometimes families need to be intentional about BEING together, not always DOING together. I'm not saying you should just sit around looking at each other, we did DO stuff together in these 24 hrs., but we were all certainly more present since nobody had any gadgets to distract them. 2) Another thing I discovered is that technology is robbing us!! Again don't get me wrong, technology is amazing, BUT it is a distraction!! I've been asking myself lately if it's really worth it?? Is it worth it to carry my smart phone in my pocket all day and hear every single notification, text, or email that comes through at any given time of the day? Do I really need to be a slave to my phone? Nobody NEEDS me to respond ASAP. Sure, they expect me to, because we live in that era where we reply almost instantly, but really what would happen if I left the phone untouched all morning and only checked it at certain times of the day?? Again as I write this post (and all my previous posts) I am mostly reflecting on what God is speaking to me about, and convicting me of. I don't expect anyone else to make any changes based on my blog, I only write my thoughts and musings. For myself, I have committed to less texting, checking FB, etc. I have been leaving my phone in the bedroom where I charge it and only checking it at certain intervals of the day instead of having it in my pocket all day. I will add this- so far I have loved this new approach. The only time I've made exemptions for having the phone right beside me are when I'm working in The Haft office, it is works better to have my phone next to me as I respond to Haft related texts, emails, etc. 3) The third thing I learned was that kids love to hang out with mom and dad and have their FULL attention. And do you know what else? They don't need long, expensive vacations to faraway places. In fact, sometimes, distance adds to the stress of a vacation. Kids want YOU!! And QUALITY time! They want YOU to be PRESENT- not you half distracted by your phone, ipad or other device. And while faraway places are fun and exciting- kids love vacation at home if they get to be with you.

If Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy

  We've all heard the saying- "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy... and guess what...  I believe there's some truth to that. Recently I've been so convicted about how my mood sets the tone for the whole family, whether I like it or not. And add to that that the way I start my morning sets the tone for my entire day!! Sooo therefore if I wake up and I feel a step on behind from the get go, or if I feel overwhelmed first thing in the morning... I'm probably going to respond negatively to nearly any situation that arises and just like that I've set the tone for 5 other people in my house (well make that 6 since hubby's office is in the basement and the way me or the kids are feeling usually affects daddy as well). Wow! That's a lot on one's shoulders!! So whether I want to set the tone in my home or not is not really the question, the bottom line is: as a mother I do set it. I have the ability to create peace or calm, stress or chaos, joy or sadness, positive or negative. Why? Because my ACTIONS are being WATCHED and my WORDS HAVE POWER- power to bring life or death!!  Proverbs 15:1 also talks about the WAY in which we respond has an affect on people... "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." So it's not just what we say, but HOW we say it... softly or harshly. UGH! I don't think I signed up for that much responsibility when I took the plunge into parenthood...
   Being a mother is job that needs to be taken seriously!! It doesn't have to be a burden, but it needs to be something that we are doing with help from a Higher Power. But since I tend to "wing" things, I find myself trying to "wing" mothering too. I find myself trying to snag an extra few minutes of sleep in the morning instead of getting up before the kids to have quiet time with The Father. THAT is usually my first mistake of the day!!! Despite the fact that I KNOW the importance of "turning to Jesus" first thing, and I KNOW what a difference 5 or 10 minutes of prayer, before my feet hit the floor, can make... I LOVE to sleep a little longer in the morning... but is it worth it?? Is it worth it to sleep longer, skip my quiet time, drink my coffee on the go, AND try to juggle breakfast... all the while kicking myself for starting my day like this AGAIN? Every time I do this, the frustration mounts, I snap at my kids to get moving and get started with school and wa-la... I have once again succeeded in creating a tense, hurried, frustrated atmosphere!! I'm speaking to myself people!!! I'm being transparent here!!
   As a homeschool mom I have flexibility... I CAN sleep a little longer if I choose to, and sometimes I do. BUT I am keenly aware that often times my lack of discipline causes me to be stressed or frustrated, thus causing that kind of atmosphere in my home, and ultimately creating children who respond to each other in ways I never dreamed "my children";) would.
   Am I ok with the role we mamas play on a regular basis? NO! I told my kids recently that "It's not fair that we can't just have a day where we can be grumpy and it doesn't effect everyone else!!" I said, "Just because I'm talking in this tone of voice doesn't mean anyone else can!!!" But it doesn't work that way!! We can't tell them how to act, we have to model it. And I know we can't always be happy, all the time... but the truth is- a mamas attitude affects her entire family.

Be Inspired

I love to inspire others- Not just to new heights spiritually, but in everyday living, in parenting, in homeschooling, whatever it may be… I love to pass on ideas and tidbits that I’ve gleaned over time. So here is a multi-subjected blog post, meant to inspire you—

ON FOOD CREATIVITY-

  A few months ago, we were given lots of groceries from a food distribution group called “Blessings of Hope”. Some of the items were real “gems”… foods I use on a regular basis and they were very useful. Other items needed some creativity to get them used up. For instance, boxes (and I mean lots of them) of Choco Rice Krispy cereal. While my two little girls actually like these for breakfast, my other kids do not. And I’m not a huge fan of starting out the morning with that type of breakfast, SOOO how could I make use of these boxes of cereal?? Two ways- Crunch Bars and Granola Bars… both recipes call for Rice Krispys and choc. chip. So we omitted the chocolate chips and used the Choco Rice Krispys instead. It worked great and saved me the step of melting the chocolate chips! Pretty cool.

 Another item was Philadelphia cream cheese. But it was not regular cream cheese, it was “brown sugar and cinnamon” or something along that line. You can use a certain amount of that on bagels, etc. but after bit you need to get creative to use the last few tubs of it. I decided to make the “Cheese Danish” that calls for Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, cream cheese and a few other ingredients. The recipe calls for original cream cheese, but we used the “brown sugar and something” brand instead. It was actually really good, in fact, I might choose to make it that way every time.

  The last item that called for creativity was- “Pillsbury BLUEBERRY Buttermilk Biscuits”. Again you can eat a certain amount of these as biscuits to compliment some foods, but when you have as many as we had, you’d better think of other ways to use them. We chose to make “donuts” out of them. Pop them open, cut each biscuit in pieces (we cut them in 6ths), and fry them in hot oil (I actually used olive oil for this, but vegetable works too). They are good to eat just like this, BUT to take this over the top… toss them in some powdered sugar. YUM!!

 

ON HOMESCHOOLING-

 I am probably one of the most laid back homeschool moms!! By this I mean, I don’t grade every paper or test, I don’t do everything by the book, and I don’t have everything organizedJ. Don’t get me wrong, we start school every day by 8:00, take a break at 10:00, eat lunch at 12:00 and wrap everything up (most days) by 1:30. We have a structure, BUT we try to keep it simple and have fun. If my kids are getting the concept, and understanding the principle being taught I am satisfied.

 Here’s a fun idea for spelling tests once in a while… you can purchase a kind of crayon that’s made to write on glass. If you have a glass patio door or a nice big window in your house that your kids can write on, allow them to do their spelling test on that instead of writing it on paper!! Keep it fun. Keep it simple.

 

ON CHILD TRAINING-

  I don’t have this one figured out yet, but thought I’d share a couple creative training moments that took place recently…

Madison will tell you he’s not a “people person”. Don’t make him answer a knock on the door or the ringing phone, instead he’ll just go find mom. Phone calls sometimes get missed because he doesn’t get to mom on time and people are left knocking on the door because mom is nowhere to be found at the moment. So in an effort to “train” Matt in these areas, we got creative. I told him that we were going to do an “answer the door” drill- I knocked on the schoolroom door and wanted him to stop his school DVD, take off his headphones, and come to the door. I asked him to open it and ask me what he could do for me. Well, Matt’s stubbornness (wonder where he gets that??) (his dad of course;)) kicked in!! He attempted several times to follow the action steps I had laid out, but he would half drag himself to the door and mumble when he opened it. We went over this several times, until he got it right. The funny part is- older sister was standing in the other doorway watching this go down. She was smirking. And brother was not happy about it. Her being there watching did not help brother’s attitude or stubbornness. I could have made her go away, but instead I told Madison to stop worrying about her, complete this exercise, and I would deal with Shay later. And that’s what we did… Madison finally came to the door the way I had asked, opened it and in his most grown up voice asked,- “What can I do for you?”. Bravo! And as for Shay... She stayed to watch… but THEN Shay HAD to stay LONGER!! Yep, I told her since she liked to stand in that doorway smiling so much, she could just hang out there for a while until I came back and told her she could go. Well, the first time I came back, (probably 5 minutes later or so), I asked if she was still having fun?? She said smartly, “YEP”!! I said, “OK wonderful, I’ll be back later”. She groaned realizing I was out to make her regret her smart reply. I left her there a while longer, and let’s just say that when I came back the next time, she readily agreed that standing in the doorway isn’t everything its cracked up to be:) and she was ready to do something better with her time. Both Shay and Matt had a training session that they wouldn’t soon forget:).

 Now I don’t always do those kinds of things, but some times when I want to make a point in a creative way, I come up with a creative idea. Another area we had to drill Madison recently was to answer the phone. It was his habit to bring me the ringing phone… and right when he got to me, he’d push the answer button and hold it to my ear instead of just answering and telling the person he’d get his mom or dad. Let’s just say we missed a few phone calls this way, and then we’d have to call people back (which isn’t terrible, but slightly annoying). So the last time (notice I said last time, because he doesn’t do it anymore) he did this, I made him return the phone call. We have caller ID so I knew who had called. I told him to call the person, tell them that we missed the call because he wouldn’t answer it, and that he would get whoever it was that they were calling to talk to. Again Matt got stubborn!! No way! He was NOT going to call them back. Guess what, mom can get stubborn too. I told him he wasn’t doing anything the rest of the evening until the phone call was made. About 60 min. later, when he finally decided to make the call, he got the person’s answering machine, he said- “Hi Dave, this is Madison. I’m sorry we missed your call because….” And he proceeded to tell why we missed the call, and that his dad was indeed home if he wanted to call back. Lesson learned. Guess who answers our phone without hesitation now?? Madison. :)

 You can say I’m mean or crazy, but like Dr. James Dobson says, “Parenting isn’t for cowards”!!

 

Be blessed.

 

Extraordinary Things....

I always like to blog about the extraordinary things that happen in our lives. Mostly because we all enjoy a God story now and then, and also because writing them down helps me to remember and to be thankful for them. So here are a few special things that have happened to us in the past few months...

If you recall in one of my previous blogs, I mentioned that our Suburban was at the garage and needed some unforeseen repair work done to it, and it was going to cost more than we anticipated. Well, to start with, we are so grateful that the problem was detected before we picked up the Suburban, before we took it on a day trip- BECAUSE the issue was brake related. I'm so thankful that we were not going down a mountain road only to have our brakes quit working on us!! So we are thankful for God's protection!! Also, friends of ours that visited that same weekend had felt led to give us $1,000... that covered the extra expense of the brake repairs BEFORE we even got the bill!! So again God was taking care of our needs.

Another cool story is that I got a FB message from a friend saying she had had a dream that our kids needed shoes. She said she felt a little funny telling me that she would buy our kids each a pair of shoes, but she really felt the dream was something that God wanted her to act on. The amazing thing is, that a week before she messaged me, we went to a church outing. The weather had faded from summer to fall and I knew it would be pretty chilly since we were going to be outside. I said to Dutch, "I need to go shoe shopping, all we have are flip flops for the little girls". We went to the outing in flip flops and yes, it was chilly!! I knew for certain that I needed to get shoes in the near future, then I got this message on FB!! What I love about this story is not only that God provided shoes, but the obedience of the one that gave them. Many times the Holy Spirit prompts us to do things, and sometimes they put us out of our comfort zone, but its so important that we obey that voice. When we follow through on the things He lays on our heart, we learn to trust that inner voice and we become a vessel He can use.

Here's one more little story- a few weeks ago I planned a day out. I was meeting some ladies friends from Lancaster, in the Selinsgrove area. Selinsgrove is about exactly half way from here to Lancaster, so it makes a great meeting place plus there are lots of stores there to shop. The one we were headed to was a particularly large re-uzit store. Community Aid is the name of it. But the store itself has nothing to do with my story!!! So anyway... of course since there's a Starbucks in the area my first stop that morning was to grab a "Tall White Choc. Mocha Non-fat w/ Whip", notice I said "tall" and not "venti" this time. Wow, I'm changing my ways!! Ugh, bunny trail again!! Back to the story- enroute to the store that morning, my dear ShaLyn informed me that my coffee was "on her" that morning- meaning she was buying it for me. I thought it was sweet of her, and I asked if she was planning to have one too. She said "Nope, I'll pass, I just want to bless you with one this morning". When we got to Starbucks, I placed my order and Shay started counting out her change, (she's like her mama, she justifies these things by using pocket change instead of dollar bills:)) when we pulled up to the window to pay, the cashier was laughing. She took my money and said, "For some reason the barista made two drinks for your order, do you want the second one free"??? Ummm, why sure we do, thank you very much!!! So, my daughter who of course drank the other coffee, saw her giving come right back to her!! She was so in awe of it. We thanked the Lord and went on our merry way!! Sidenote- Now, I realize that our kindness does not always come back instantaneously, but it does come back sometime... that's a promise!!

Mystery of Marriage

  Mystery of Marriage. Wednesday evening 6:00 p.m. - Sunday 2:00 p.m. Sounds long. Too long- too long for the kids, too long away from work, too long for a retreat. BUT. If you're looking for more than just a marriage retreat, if you want to hear some really good teaching, if you want to "go deeper" with God, grow closer to your spouse, and if you want to find out what "church" really is- you may want to consider attending our next "Mystery of Marriage" in May 2015.
  Last week we had such a wonderful time as a group. Sharing, laughing & crying together. We learned to "turn to Jesus" early in the morning before we were even fully awake. We shared communion together and were reminded that we were not to examine ourselves to see if we were worthy to take communion of our own righteousness but rather dressed in His robe of righteousness. Hallelujah!!
  Every couple shared a piece of their story, their life journey- because we ALL have a story. Our lives have been shaped by that story, the good, the bad- all of it really. So we give couples the opportunity to share their story, and to say what's on their hearts. If they have something they want to work through, we pray with them. We try to be sensitive to the working of the Holy Spirit at all of our retreats, so while we have a schedule, we are also flexible.
  A few highlights of the week were- the one couple renewed their wedding vows, the formal dinner on Friday night, the one couple felt a powerful move of the Spirit while praying together in their room the one afternoon, the good laughs (especially about the one couple's honeymoon trip to Alaska), and so much more.
  Without sharing too much personal info about the people's lives that were here, I wanted to give you a glimpse of the exciting things God is doing. We have another one of these retreats schedule for May of 2015. Please let us know if you or someone you know is interested in attending.

Stories, updates, and more

  Many things happen on a daily and weekly basis around here that I never take the time to write about. And I know we all have things like this... little everyday things and even big "God" moments that we are in awe of but never take the time to share them. Today's blog is a compilation of events, updates and God moments that have taken place since the last time I blogged.

The Ministry-
 God has been using this place of rest to touch so many people. There is a steady flow of guests coming and going. And we, as an on-site team, interact with nearly all of our guests at some point. It might be anything from sitting with them for several hrs. through a "counseling" session, to having a meal together, sitting around the campfire together, or spending some time in prayer. It varies so much- the people, the needs, the time spent... but one thing that doesn't change, it is evident that the Holy Spirit is at work here. (I know there are people on-site (and abroad) who are praying on a regular basis, and that directly affects the Kingdom work being done here). Many people testify to feeling a peace while they're here. We praise the Lord for what He is doing!!

Highlights-
 The experience that one of our most recent guests had while spending time alone at The Garden Cottage, brought a renewed sense of joy and awe at what God can do in a person's life when they are ready to surrender to Him. "David" (name changed to protect identity) came here in desperate need of something, and in his heart he knew what that something was. He knew He wanted to find God in a real, tangible way. He had been raised in church, but said he had never really connected with God in a real way. When he arrived here, Dutch and Dan were actually praying with three brothers and their dad that had come for the day to work through some tough "guy" issues. Dutch invited "David" to join them down at the barn. One of the brothers experienced a major breakthrough and he had a desire to be baptized. Hey why not?? Here's someone who has a revelation, all the stuff he's known in his head finally reached his heart and he wants to outwardly show what just took place inwardly. So we headed to the pond. All the while "David" was taking all of this in....
 "David" told us later that what he saw that afternoon and evening with the brothers and their dad, and the baptism and all- seemed real to him. And that was what he was looking for- real Christians. He also told us that when he sorted through what was going on in his life, he had a desire to be baptized as well. To make a long story short- "David" connected with God during his week here, and to see the change that took place was awesome!! He was excited to go home and live out what God had started in his life, knowing, of course, that this was only the beginning of the journey. Challenges would lay ahead of him, but change had come and he left here different than he was when he came.
  To add to the story, "David" returned last weekend, bringing with him his wife because he wanted to show her the place where God had started changing his heart. He also wanted to be baptized. After church on Sunday, we, along with quite a few of the folks from LHF Fellowship, headed to the Loyalsock creek to allow "David" to publicly confess that he believed in Jesus as his Savior and was ready to die to the old, and walk in the new!!! It was so refreshing to see his excitement about what he had found, his hunger for truth, and his desire to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit in every decision he makes!!!

Shay & Matt-
 ShaLyn had mentioned earlier in the summer that she had a desire to be baptized. We talked about it some, but didn't make any official plans. We knew she was ready, but were waiting for the right opportunity. When, LHF Fellowship, the church we attend up here, held an outdoor service here this summer, several people were baptized in the pond that day. If Shay had known ahead of time that that was planned for that day, she said she probably would have done it then. So when the decision was made to baptize the one brother (from the story above), we asked her if she wanted to take this opportunity and be baptized as well!! It only took her a minute to decide- YES!
 We also gave Madison the option of being baptized since he had made a commitment to Jesus a while back and we knew that baptism was something he desired as well. He also decided to get baptized. So on the evening of Sept. 9th both Shay & Matt took the "cold water":) challenge for Jesus. They were baptized in the name of the Father, His son Jesus, & the Holy Spirit- they made a public statement that they had died to self and the world and were ready to follow Jesus!

Gracie-
  The last time I posted about Gracie, we were scheduled to have a surgery to put tubes in her ears. Well, that appointment happened to be scheduled on a very busy week here at The Haft, and I could not see pull everything off. I cancelled the surgery!! So as of now, Gracie does not have tubes in her ears and the surgery has not yet been rescheduled.
  As for her overall progress- she is really doing well. She has been healthy! She is learning to get around!! She doesn't venture all over the house like a typical child her age that can see far and wide, but considering her seeing handicap she is doing QUITE well. She pulls herself up on furniture, she interacts with her siblings, she half crawls, half scoots with her head and makes her way from one area of the room to another. She is very social with us her family, but when others talk to her she often puts her thumb in her mouth and lays her head on the shoulder of the person carrying her. We've discovered recently that she loves to be outside. She also loves when we sing (more on that below).

"Holy Moments" w/ Gracie-
  Gracie absolutely loves when I sing to her. I have started recently to intentionally sit on the rocking chair at some point in my crazy day and just rock her and sing. I really love to sing to begin with, so now I finally found someone that really appreciates it.:) I often sing old hymns that I grew up singing in church- Amazing Grace, Just As I Am, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, and many more. Gracie simply positions herself, head tilted, and looks directly in my face and watches me for as long as I'm willing to sing. And you know what? Time stands still!! And Gracie and I worship together. I refer to these times as "Holy Moments". I have no doubt that this child will sing and worship in a powerful way one day. I also told the kids recently that if Gracie can't see well in the physical realm, she will certainly see into the spiritual realm. It will be exciting!!

The Suburban-
   I find myself writing this blog right at the same time we get a call from the garage where our Suburban is once again having work done to it. And the repairmen says to Dutch when he answers the phone- "I'm afraid you don't want to hear what I have to say".
  Our Suburban has served us well in that it has made many trips back and forth to Lancaster and beyond, but this vehicle has not been without its many problems. Every garage visit, or so it seems, is not a small deal- it has had rust issues, therefore causing many parts needing to be replaced. When we purchased this vehicle we would have told you that God provided it at just the right time since we needed something on rather short notice (back in 2011 when we moved to the Haft the first time). We were not planning to trade in our minivan (that never caused us any problems) until plans changed and we realized we couldn't use a truck from Twin-Mar Const. to haul our trailer back and forth. We had to have a vehicle that could pull a trailer and we knew a car dealer that had this Suburban on his lot, so it seemed like the perfect fit. We purchased it a week before we moved North. If any of you recall- the very first weekend we were planning to head back to Lancaster, this same Suburban had a major leak in the gas line. We didn't know it then, but that was one of many issues we would have with it.
  I say all of this to say- pray for us that we have the wisdom to know what to do? Do we continue to fix it? Do we trade it in? I still believe God provided this Suburban, but I certainly question why it has had so many issues.
 And one more thing- we had planned to take a family day tomorrow, go off-site to Cabela's, and celebrate Madison's 10th birthday. Now that the vehicle is not fixed, we may have to change all those plans, which would be disappointing for all of us... so if you think about it, say a prayer for the Suburban situation.

The Rest of Us-
  As for life in general, and how we are doing overall? We are blessed, and most days we're excited about what God is doing in our lives and the people around us. Of course, we feel completely overwhelmed some days and even get burned out. We appreciate all the prayer support we can get!!!! We love hearing from our friends whether it's through FB, email or phone calls.
PS- And we're looking for someone to come serve here at The Haft with us. Is God calling you????

Be blessed!!
 

The latest on Gracie's eyes....

   If you put your fingers on your eyes and held them closed part way, you would get an idea of how much Gracie sees. At our most recent visit with the ophthalmologist, the Dr. explained that at 8 wks along in the womb, the part of the eye that forms at that stage of gestation, simply didn't develop like it was supposed. So when he looks into Gracie's eyes, what would typically be a healthy eye, is in Gracie's case- undeveloped tissue. They call this coloboma. In her case, the coloboma is extensive, meaning that over half of her eyes are of no use to her. She would be considered "legally blind", but let me clarify that a person can be "legally blind" and still see something. So let me try to say this in a way that makes sense- Gracie can see, but the vision she has is not even half of what you and I have. And I don't know how clear or blurry it is. No surgery will correct it. Glasses may be a help down the road, but that is yet to be determined. Only a miracle from God will correct Gracie's eye sight.

   It breaks my heart when I think about how little she sees. I do, however; choose to pick out the positive things like- she could be completely blind, but she's not!! or the fact that this is all she knows from birth so her brain and other senses will make up for her poor eyesight. I believe she will use her mind to do amazing things!!

   As for our medical expenses with Gracie- someone asked recently what kind of coverage we have for all of Gracie's Dr. visits etc. Several months ago we were told by "Early Intervention" that we would most likely qualify for the PA Medical Assistance Program. We weren't sure at first if we should apply or not, but after asking several people and talking to parents of special needs children that are part of the program, we decided to apply. And because of Gracie's diagnosis she qualified. The next step was to insure that the Dr.'s we've been seeing were on the list of caregivers on the program. Thankfully they were, so all of Gracie's medical bills have been paid by the state or by the sharing program (Samaritan Ministries) that we are apart of. We are so grateful for this!! So for us personally, the only expense that we've had (and trust me it does add up) is the cost of travelling back and forth to Lanc or Delaware (DuPont Hospital) for her appts and check-ups. We try to make our trips count, and work around other plans or events that we may already scheduled to go to Lanc. for. Unfortunately, it doesn't ALWAYS work out that way.

   We appreciate all the prayers on our behalf. And for all who truly care. It is our desire that Gracie's story, and her life be a testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness. Continue to believe with us for miracles for Gracie's life!!!!

Gracie: A Wildflower Child

  Someone once referred to their special needs child as a "wildflower child". And I can't think of a better term to use to describe our Gracie. When I think of a wildflower I think of a flower that grows differently then a typical annual that you would plant in your flower bed. Wildflowers are so pretty, yet they grow in different places, and under different conditions.

  Gracie is now 7 months old. And yes, she is growing and learning things at her own speed. In a lot of ways she's like a typical child, and yet, there are ways, because of her vision issues, that she is developing slower (and sometimes faster) then other children her age. I did not realize how much the human mind learns by seeing until I was given a child who only sees "in part". For instance, what would drive you to sit up, and put your head in space, if there was nothing to focus on or look at? It's kinda scary putting your head up not knowing completely what is around you. Wouldn't you choose to roll or scoot around on the floor too, where you can "feel" what's around you? This explains why Gracie learned at a very early age to "feel" her world by putting her butt in the air, and her head on the carpet. It "feels" safe. So one of the areas we are working on with Gracie is sitting- teaching her to feel comfortable with her head up, even though she can't see completely or feel what's around her.

  Observing Gracie, the things she does and doesn't do, and why she does or doesn't do them has been so fascinating to me. Not that I have time to sit around all day and watch her :) but when I do spend quality time interacting with her I'm amazed at her world!! She, for the most part, is a happy baby. In ALOT of ways she is MUCH more content playing with toys, being in her saucer, and just plain down entertaining herself then what our Gabby ever was!!! (thank you Esther Riehl for the saucer, it has been good for strengthening her back and teaching her to hold her head). She explores the floor by rolling, scooting and almost crawling... she plays in her saucer and "feels" the different toys, she watches her own hand and she LISTENS. She knows when I walk in her bedroom to get her out of her pak n' play after a nap- not because she sees me too well, but because she hears and senses that I'm there. If you watch her eyes you will see her "scanning" a lot, when she does this, she is tracking with the vision she has and processing with her mind. I can almost "see" her little mind working sometimes.

  As for Gracie's over all mental development... I can't tell you exactly where she is at compared to a "typical" 7 month old. She seems, from my view point, to be doing things on time. She seems to understand and interact with us. From what I've read of children with CHARGE syndrome, their mental ability varies from child to child, and a lot of the ones that are delayed mentally become that way because of their overall health conditions and from spending months in the hospital due to physical complications. Gracie is very fortunate to have had no hospital stays or surgeries.

  What is next on the "to do" list for Gracie with her ears and eyes?? She has a follow-up appt. with the ophthalmologist (eye specialist) on Aug. 1st. I don't know what this appt. entails or what we'll find out. The first time the ophth looked in her eyes, he didn't give a lot of hope of future development. He made it sound like the hand she's been dealt is not a good one when it comes to sight and that this all happened in the womb already so it wouldn't change as she grows. BUT people have been praying for her and her eyesight, SO that means things could change. It will be interesting to see what they say at this follow-up visit!! And as for her ears- the fluid is still in her middle ear, and it is affecting the quality of hearing. This causes her to not pass her hearing test. This means Dr. O'Reilly will be putting ear tubes in, which will help the fluid to drain. They will put her to sleep to do the minor surgery. While she's asleep anyway, they will do the ABR test again to get a good read on her overall hearing. Now, I can tell you that she hears! She jumps at noise, she sleeps lightly and hears me if I walk into her room while she's napping- but how CLEARLY she hears, we do not know. Does it sounds muffled like we're talking to her under water? If so, this could affect her speech development. So again it's one of those things that we "typicals" take for granted, but for the "wildflowers" they need some assistance in some of these areas. Of course, my prayer would be that the fluid would disappear and none of these tubes, tests, etc. would be necessary, but on the other hand I do not want to be negligent. There is always the fine line of what does God want us to do in this situation?? I'll never forget what another mother of a special needs child once said about believing for healing versus accepting this to be God's will, she said- "I don't know if this is something that God wants me to cry out and ask Him to heal/change my child or is He asking me to accept this?" In other words, does He want to increase my faith and want me to see a miracle and completely heal my child or is He asking me to love this child just the way he/she is? I've come to the conclusion it's both- God wants us to ask for the miracle, believe for it, but ultimately He wants to change me by givng me the opportunity to love a wildflower child!!!!



PS-  We appreciate your continued prayers for Gracie's healing, for us as we make decisions, for the Dr's that are working with Gracie, and for safety as we travel to and from her appointments.

PSS- And to the mama who referred to her special needs child as a "wildflower child"- we don't know each other and you might never read this blog, but if you do: "I hope you don't mind me borrowing the term. I don't know if you coined it yourself or heard it somewhere else, but it is a brilliant way to describe a special needs child!! And by the way- I know that your 'wildflower child' was picked for a Heavenly bouquet... I'm sure she's blooming beautifully there among all the others who have gone on before!!"

Gracie update

  Last week I took Gracie to see Dr. O'Reilly, the ENT at DuPont, concerning her ears. This visit was necessary because she didn't pass her hearing test several wks ago. If you remember from one of my earlier posts, I mentioned that the Dr. that performed the hearing test said she felt like things were developed inside the ear, but the reason she didn't pass the test was because of fluid in her ears. So the test last wk. was a follow-up visit to see if we should put tubes in her ears to drain the fluid build up. However, when Dr. O'Reilly looked in her ears last week he said- "She only has fluid in one ear."
  To which replied- "Well, we do have people praying for Gracie, so maybe that's why the fluid disappeared in her one ear."
  His response- "Yeah maybe that made a difference. Probably depends who you have praying though."
  Me- "What do you mean by that?"
  "Well", he said, "If I'd (meaning himself) be the one praying it probably wouldn't make a difference. Him (meaning God) & I aren't really on good terms right now."
  I said something like- "Oh! Well, you might want to work on that."
  And he replied, "Yeah, I've been trying."
  The conversation was lite and mostly said in a humorous, joking way, but basically he was saying that he doesn't have a relationship with God right now. I do hope that every encounter like that on our "Gracie Journey" can plant a seed in the lives of the people we come in contact with, and will spark an interest in them coming to know Jesus in a personal way.

  As for the next step w/ her ears- Dr. O'Reilly wants to see her again in a month and possibly redo the hearing test before going ahead with tubes. That means another trip to Lancaster in June, but this time we won't have to go to DuPont- we can get an appt. with this same Dr. at Dr. Morton's office in Strasburg.
  I also want to mention a little about Gracie's over all progress. She now has a therapist that comes out once a week for an hr. We work mostly with her on her vision. I can tell you this- Gracie can see to some extent. Even though her eyes don't always co-operate for her, she does have a certain way of holding her head and you can see that she is tracking things. The therapist put it this way on Wed. when she was here- "she has low vision, not no vision." We are grateful for this!! Even though we don't know exactly what or how much she sees, we do know that her world is not completely dark.
  And her motor skills- wow! she gets around. She entertains herself for long periods of time by being on the floor, standing on her feet with her butt in the air, her head on the floor and scooting around like that. She also gets herself in the crawling position, but she hasn't actually crawled yet. She is also working on the sitting position.
  Gracie is so lovable and cuddly- we love her dearly. Thank you for praying for Gracie and us!!

PS- "thank you" to my sister Sue for going with me to DuPont last wk.!!

Chocolate Lab Puppies

For Sale - Choc Lab Puppies

For what it's worth I decided to post this on my blog. :)

We have choc lab puppies for sale.

They're registered ACA- they're English choc labs.

Currently 7 wks old. Ready for good homes on June 1, 2014.

1st round of shots and wormed.

6 females

4 males

Asking $650

Many people say to advertise them on Greenfield Puppies but I was hoping to sell them w/o doing that:) :) so if you know of anyone looking for a puppy send them our way!!

570.363.2405

 

 

PS- I'll be posting a Gracie update soon...

She's strong

I'm posting this video for those of you who don't have Facebook. Hopefully you'll be able to watch it. This is the kind of stuff Gracie has been doing on the floor for a month already. She spends a lot of time exploring on the floor.