Cale’s Mantra.

We are slowly moving forward with Garth’s recovery.  He is still in a lot of pain.  We went back to the doctor to talk to him about the whole procedure and to get some  answers to our questions.  After quite some hemming and hawing, the doctor finally admitted that there was a “chance” he perforated the muscle when he went in with the scope.  That would explain the intense pain Garth is having in one area.  Pray for him as he has a long way to go.  We will be leaving the country on Aug. 8^th. 

My Dad was able to get us tickets to take the kids to Timber Ridge Water Park at Grand Geneva.  So Monday was full of trips up and down the slides.  It was great fun to say the least.  Cale had a mantra the whole time that went like this:  “I can do it…I don’t need help…”  As his Mom however, I knew better.  There were a few situations where my hand right under him to catch him saved him from some bumps and bruises.  It made me think about God and how He deals with us.  There are many times I think I have the same mantra to Him.  “I can do it fine on my own, God.  If I run into trouble, then I will call you.”  But, being God, He knows better, doesn’t He?  His hand is always there.  And He saves us from many bumps and bruises.

I wonder how many more troubles I would be spared if I was holding His hand instead of pushing it away…

Love,

Rachel

He’s home!

We brought Garth home from the hospital this afternoon.  He seems to be quite a bit better.  We will know for sure how his system is working once he starts eating.  Thanks so much for praying.

While he was in there (Tues. – Sat.) we celebrated my wonderful Dad’s birthday, Wyatt got his cast off, and my sister and I took the kids bowling.  It was such a hoot!  I haven’t laughed that much in awhile!!!!  Thanks Eena!  Wyatt bowled with his left hand and even got a strike!

Cale had so much fun going to the hospital to visit Garth because a few rooms down was a patient from the jail.  So there would be a different officer outside his room on guard every day.  Cale would sit and chat with the officers.  You could hear him, “Hi.  My name is Cale.  I am four.  What is your name?  How old are you?”…”I live on the other side of the world in Indonesia.  Where do you live?” and on and on and on…How funny!

Love you all

Rachel

Here are some pictures:

Update on Garth

An update on Garth.  I brought him home from the hospital yesterday morning at 10ish.  He was pretty uncomfortable throughout the day becoming increasingly worse at night. Finally at 2 am I took him back to the ER.  They said that he had something called Ilious (sp?) which means his stomach and bowels were pretty much shut down.  That pain along with the pressure from the gas, the discomfort from the drain port and surgery, and now the doctor is saying he may have a bowel obstruction-so he was not a happy camper!  He has an NG tube in and his Doctor said there is a chance he will be in the hospital until Saturday.

I am going to see him in a bit and can update more.

Keep praying!

Thanks

Rachel

Garth

In a little while I will be going to the hospital to pick up Garth.  He went in yesterday for hernia surgery.  It was supposed to be in and out but he wound up having to stay the night.  The pain was higher than anticipated and he had to have a drain plug put in.  I talked to him this morning and he said that he is doing a bit better.  Keep his recovery in your prayers.

We are hoping that he will be back to his old self by the time we leave the country Aug. 8^th so that he can help me with the luggage and the kids.  I love Garth in this cap!!!!!

Also pray for my Mom’s cousin.  Her son, Christopher, was in the Marines and was just recently killed.  He was only 29 and had just gotten married in December.  Please pray for the whole family as they deal with this great loss.

Thanks

Rachel

Coming Home

At the moment we are driving just outside of Chicago on our way back from a week in New York for a family reunion with Garth’s family.  It was a wonderfully splendid time of “catching up” with those we haven’t seen in awhile.  Garth’s Dad, and his wife Priscilla, live on Keuka Lake and have a beautiful bed-n-breakfast there. (Tudor Hall).  Friday was Priscilla’s birthday so we were all able to celebrate that event together.  Her son Eric even flew in from Poland to surprise us all.

The kids had great fun in the water, going off the rope swing, tubing, riding in the pontoon boat and the paddle boat, splashing in the hot tub, and playing games with cousins.  It was such a special time.

We had plans of spending part of today with our kids in Chicago, but when we stopped to park we noticed that our back tire was very low, almost flat.  The man at the gas station said that it would be hard for us to find a station that could fix the tire since it was Sunday and most places are closed.  We went into one building to use the bathroom before we got back on the road and got stuck in the elevator.  You know me, I pulled out the camera and took pictures.  Poor Emma.  She was so scared!  She was crying.  Then there was Wyatt-who doesn’t help the situation by saying to everyone, “I hope we don’t die in this elevator!”  That made her cry harder.  We were able to push the call button and a security man came and got us out.  Such excitement!

Hopefully we will make it home on this tire.  If not, it will just add to the adventure.  And you can be sure that I will be taking pictures!!!

Love you

Rachel

And some pics from Arlington National Cemetery:

D.C.

I think the Indonesian heat has followed us to Washington D.C.  But even the 100 degree temps didn’t stop us from gallivanting around like tourists.  After stopping in Harper’s Ferry, we arrived at Garth’s sister’s in Virginia on Tuesday, then spent the next three days showing the kids downtown D.C. - the Smithsonian’s, the monuments, memorials, and the Vietnam wall.  The following day we went to Arlington National Cemetery.  It was a very exciting time for all of us, especially for the kids.  They were remarking on how the pictures from their history books were “coming to life.”  We had a very touching moment at the Vietnam wall when we met a man looking for the name of his father.  His father had been killed when he was only three months old and now he was there with his son to pay tribute.  They asked Emma to do an etching of the name to take home as a keepsake.

Our time in Virginia has been full of dinners with family and meeting up with “old” friends.  What a precious time it has been.  Garth was even able to go back to the two quarries he used to work at and visit with some of the loader operators there. 

Right now we are on our way to New York for a family reunion with Garth’s side of the family.  His Dad and stepmom have a beautiful home that they have turned into a bed-n-breakfast.  It is always a special treat to be there.

Here are a few pictures:

Fireworks

After a fun weekend of fireworks in Elkhorn, Lauderdale Lakes, and Lake Geneva we are now getting ready to leave for a road trip.  In an hour or so, we leave for Virginia.  Garth’s sister is there so we will spend a few days with her and show the kids D.C. and then travel to New York to see the rest of Garth’s family for a reunion.  I am sure it will be a wonderful time of catching up with those we haven’t seen in such a long time.  We are all looking forward to it.  Pray for safe travels and good attitudes during those long car rides.

During the fireworks this weekend, I noticed something.  There was this one firework that burst forth and then stayed lit as it drifted away.  The other ones exploded open and then died out into smoke.  This one however stayed lit for quite awhile as it traveled across the sky.  It caught my attention.  I was thinking about how that can be a picture of what I want for my life.  In church on Sunday the message was fantastic!  Our pastor talked about how we each are carrying around this burden that we need to give to God to be free.  I came home from church ready to make a difference, to let my light keep shining, and immediately went right back to my impatient self like smoke in the sky.  In our own strength we are fireworks that disappear and fade away.  With the strength that comes from God, we are bright lights that stay lit and catch people’s attention.  That is what I want.

Hope your Fourth was fun!

Love

Rachel

The Cabin

We have had an amazing week!!!  Our family all went up north to a cabin that my Grandfather built when my Mom was a little girl.  The cabin has so many wonderful memories for me since it was a part of my childhood as well.  What a treat to take the kids there so they could make memories of their own.

During the day you could find us swimming, hiking, or swinging.  In the evenings fishing, playing games, or enjoying a beach fire.  When the sun went down we looked like a family of monkeys checking each other for ticks.

One of my favorite moments of beauty there is at sunset when the wind dies down and the lake is as still as a mirror and you can see the reflection of all the trees in the water.  I love to sit on the end of the pier and listen to the loon call out, and watch the beaver make a trail behind him in the water and listen to the whippoorwill sing in the trees.

The kids are wishing we could reverse time and go back up there.  Interesting they feel that way…there was no internet, no phone, no TV…just God’s gorgeous splendor and family!  I love when those are the things that touch my kids’ hearts.  As my Mom said, “Family time at the cabin-priceless!!”