Praise God!!!

We are so excited to be able to tell you that God is already healing Lafe's eye!!!!!!!!! God is so good!

We got a good report yesterday at the opthamologist appointment. There is some function in that eye already without any treatment. Hum! Wonder how that happened???!

He will have to have his right eye patched for ONLY 2 hours everyday. We will be able to do it in the afternoons after school.

And..... we got GLASSES!!! Remember, we were told glasses wouldn't work. And, they wouldn't have with the other prognosis, but because God is already healing that eye, glasses will work!!!!

Our follow up appointment will be in March and we will be having Joseph evaluated at that same time.

I can't tell you how incredibly blessed we are for having friends and family who have been on their knees right along side of us lifting our precious son's name to our Father. We thank you for loving us and comforting us through all of this.

The best part of the entire appointment was the moment that David and I looked up to find this sign:
It says: "As Christian physicians, we welcome the opportunity to pray with our patients and their families. Please let us know if you would like us to pray with you."

I have worked with these physicians in the hospital when they come to see our premature babies. However, I have never been in their office. I knew that I loved them, but I didn't know this about them.

We did ask Dr. Packwood to pray with us and guess what he prayed for..... Complete Healing!! He also asked God to help him see God's work through the process of Lafe's healing.

I told David there's nothing like getting a big, fat, tangible sign saying "I'm Here!!!!" We know that God is walking through this with us, and we are so excited to have so many witnessing his healing power with us.

Funny

I've had a lot of people asking me lately how Lafe is handling the news about his eye. He really doesn't say much about it. There is an occassional comment here and there, but mostly just little questions about going to see the new doctor.

I've been wondering myself how he's feeling about it or if it's really something he thinks about on his own without us mentioning it.

Well, yesterday David and I both found ourselves laughing so hard when we heard him saying

"Oh no!!! Not my good eye!!! I just poked my good eye with my pencil." He was very upset that he had hurt his "GOOD" eye.

For some reason we found that really funny!!! I guess you have to find something to laugh at in times like this. I think he's possibly THE FUNNIEST kid ever!

Lafe's Halloween Party

I'm the room parent for Lafe's class. First time thing for me!!! I had a blast planning his party and I believe we all had a blast during the party.My Helpers (minus my sweet husband and the man taking the pictures)

We ate cupcakes and fruit

Decorating our bags as pumpkins Final Product Mummy Wrap Game They loved wrapping Mrs. Hastings!!!It was so fun and I can't wait to do our Christmas party. In between snacks and crafts and at the end of the party we read a couple of Halloween books. They loved it!!!!

Lafe's Eye

Real original title for my post. I know! But, I'm not feeling it lately.

I wanted to post this to ask everyone to be lifting Lafe's name up in prayer for us. We were notified by the school nurse a couple of weeks ago that Lafe had failed his vision screening twice in his left eye. No problem! I made an appointment with our optometrist for the following week. That was last Thursday.

We did NOT get a good report. The optometrist told me that his diagnosis is not good. He wrote down a prescription of 20/200 in that eye. However, he is not really using the eye at all. It is essentially non-functional at this time. The doctor said he has had this lazy eye since birth. The problem is that it never crossed which is not good. Had his eye crossed, that would have meant that his brain was at least trying to get him to use that eye. Plus, we would have seen a problem much earlier than 6 years of age.

So, we will be taking him to a pediatric opthamologist on November 11th. I am anxious to hear what our treatment options are. According to our optometrist the difference in the eyes is so much that glasses will not work. There is not surgery to be done because the muscle is not involved at all. Therefore, he believes we will be patching the right eye in order to try and force the brain to receive and process signals from the left eye again. If we regain some function in that eye, they will probably correct vision with a contact lens. That sounds really fun with a 6 year old.

I know we serve a MIGHTY GOD!!! And, I know that he is fully capable of restoring function in that eye before we do anything treatment wise. That is my first prayer. If that is not His plan, I am simply asking you to ask for some function in that eye! Also, please pray that God can decrease Lafe's anxiety. When he realized we were possibly going to need to patch the good eye he panicked and begged us not to cover it because he wouldn't be able to see at school. Yuck! I explained that the doctor and Mrs. Hastings (his teacher) would work on this with us and we will do whatever he needs to keep learning. That seemed to put his mind at ease a little.

I go through moments of complete peace and then there are moments of absolute guilt. I know that Lafe didn't say anything to us because he never saw the right way. Had it been a change in vision he would have told us. However, he didn't know that he was seeing differently than you and I. I know all of this, yet, I still have Satan telling me I should've known and done better, faster. Please pray that I can fight off these horrible messages from him and feel the peace and comfort that I know is from God.

And, don't leave me a message saying what one lady said to me at Ladies' Bible Class today. I know I have to consider the source, but her words hurt and have been in the back of my mind all day. She said "I can't believe that there are 2 nurses and 1 doctor (my dad, a DENTIST) in your family and y'all couldn't figure out this was wrong until now???!!!!" She tried to joke and laugh it off, but it HURT!!!! If you are thinking those things, just don't say anything to me at all.

I will keep you posted.

My Mommy Said Not to Put SNAILS in my NOSE!!!

Growing up we always sang a silly song that goes:
My Mommy said not to put beans in my ears, beans in my ears, beans in my ears.
My Mommy said not to put beans in my ears. Beans in my ears.

(it goes on to other parts of the body and such)

Well, today we had our first incident with someone putting something up their nose! I can't believe I've been a mother for 10 years and this has never happened!!!!!! However, I'm very thankful.

All three of the boys were playing outside yesterday. They found a frog, crickets, and snails. I'm telling you this living with a creek in our backyard has brought the critters!!! My boys are LOVING it. (we won't talk about the snake from a couple of days ago)

Anyway, so this morning they were outside before we left for school. They once again found snails. Joseph had a little one that he has carried around with him all morning long.

I noticed him about an hour and a half ago picking at his nose. That might sound normal for a 2 year old, but he NEVER picks his nose.

So, I said "Joseph. We don't pick our noses. Do you need a tissue."

He looked at me with his big, beautiful blue eyes and said "YES! Get it out!!!!"

I thought that must be some mighty big booger for him to be so upset. Then, it clicked!!! OH. MY. GOODNESS! He had that dumb snail in his hand!!!!!

I said "Did you put that snail in your nose??"

He said yes and then began crying. I was afraid he would suck it even further up in there. I finally got him calmed down enough to cover the opposite nostril and have him blow it out! GROSS!!!!! Other than a little blood that followed, he is fine.

When I asked him why he did it, he said "Because I wanted to." Great logic!!!

Family Retreat

Our Family Enrichment Committee (that David and I both serve on) just planned and carried out a Family Retreat for our church family. It was so much fun!!! I wish everyone could have been there. Those that couldn't, truly missed out! Here are some pictures of our weekend. It was full of free time where we played together, laughed, and bonded in ways we are unable here at home. Our weekend was blessed with a fun Hootenanny. That was fun to see all of the incredible "TALENT" we possess at Pleasant Ridge!!! I can't wait for the next one, and I hope that more people will come. We, as a committee, were pleasantly surprised by the turn out we had for our very first retreat. Our expectations were met and then some!!!

Yes, that is my dear husband and Rob Fisher riding a tandem bike!!!

New House!

I am posting some pictures of our new house now so my Grandmother won't shoot me. I love you, Grandma. She's asked me several times now to get these on here. I honestly don't think I've looked at a computer in over a week!!! These are pictures of the house before we moved in and before it was cleaned. I'll post more pics when all of the decorating is complete and boxes are out of the way. Maybe next week some time!!!! These are not in any order. Blogger is being stubborn!!!

Breakfast Nook (love the window seat!)

Playroom/TV room

Master Bedroom

Lafe's Room

Joseph's Room

Wade's Room (will be painting soon! there is also a sheriff's badge and a lasso painted. he said it is humiliating!)

Wade's Room (love the bookshelves and window seat)

Guest Bedroom

Living Room/View from Stairs

Formal Living/Study/Craft Room

Formal Dining

The Kitchen

Front of House

Moving

We are one week away from closing on our house now. We will close next Friday and move in on Saturday and Sunday. Yikes!!! I'm really excited. I have pictures to post of the house. Things are a little disorganized around here while we're packing everything and getting ready to go. So, bear with me. If I don't get them posted until after we move, don't hate me!!!!

Here's the Commercial (See post below)

WARNING: Viewer Discretion is advised.

Is anyone else bothered by this????

Have any of you seen the new Jack-in-the-Box commercials? It's advertising a game they are playing with the peel away stickers on their cups. It is called Jack's Big Ripoff.

In the commercials Jack is walking down the sidewalk and random people rip their clothes off of their bodies and throw them at Jack. It leaves grown adults standing there stripped down to their underwear. Women in bras and panties and men in boxer shorts. Is anyone else APPALLED that this is on TV when our children might be watching?????????? I am seriously considering boycotting eating at their establishment. How about you?

Or what about this?

This would look nice on any back porch! Don't forget to see the post below!!!

Free, Free, Free!!!!

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Date: 2009-05-21, 8:44PM MDT

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Ever want a good quality stump you can rest your feet on, relax on, or even eat on? Then we have the best item FOR FREE just for you. Today only come and get your free, newly removed stump. You even get the dirt attached for NO CHARGE. Just cant get any better than this. Please let everyone have a chance for this, serious inquries only. Have a great day, have fun and keep shopping on Craigslist!

Craigslist...ain't it great?

Found this ad on craigslist...seriously considering for the new house? What do you guys think? Please give us your opinions- good or bad!!! Be honest!



Yard Swing
Date: 2009-06-08, 10:47AM CDT
Real nice yard swing for sell. Real comfrotable. Might have a few dog hairs on it but they will brush right off. Green all-wheather cover beside fence is included
Tikee torch not included but will sale for 25.00.

New Blog

I just wanted to encourage all of the women from Pleasant Ridge who read my blog to visit our new blog. It is specifically for info about events for women, encouraging and lifting each other up, sharing fun things like recipes, etc. There is a link to the right in my list: PR Women's Blog. Please go visit and leave a comment.

I am on the Women's Ministry Committee. We came up with this idea awhile back. After advertising in the announcements that we needed someone to get it started, Vicki Thompson jumped at the chance. So, please let her know what a wonderful job she has done and get the word out to all the women you know that it is there!!! Thanks!

World Turned Upside Down!!!

Sorry for being such a boring blogger. We are having a GREAT summer! I love having my kids home with me. I am dreading school starting. I like to be on our own schedule and be able to do WHATEVER we want to do WHENEVER we want to do it!!!

We are currently in the process of selling our house and buying a new one. Our house went under contract last Thursday and we have found a house now that we are about to put an offer on. Please be praying about this for us. We will be closing and moving the first week of school!!!!!!!!!! Yikes! Not great timing, but God's timing.

It's funny because over the last 5 months while our house has been on the market I've seen a lot of homes come and go that I really liked. I was beginning to feel like there wouldn't be anything available for us when it came time. I prayed HARD that God would take care of us and have the perfect house ready for us when our house sold. The house we are putting an offer on has only been on the market 11 days!!! He saved it just for us!!! Prasie God!

We are very excited, but this whole process has been so daunting and my emotions are whacked out and my body is exhausted. I'm ready to get everything going so that David and I can enjoy our vacation next week for our 10th wedding anniversary.

Oh, yeah! We've been married 10 years as of July 3rd. Is that not crazy? And, we are going to New York City for a few days to celebrate! I don't want to be completely consumed with the whole house situation while we are there. So, that's something else you can pray about for us.