In Christ Alone our Hope is Found

Josh got 4 needles this morning at 8:15. I really do despise vaccines. I have done them all for my kids, but I always just took my time. Josh missed his 12 year old needles. In order for my boy to go to school, he needed to get them. Since we don't have a family Doctor, we went to the Health Unit. They were kind and I was thankful that we didn't have to pay the $200 it would have cost. They keep income in mind. Josh's arms are super sore. Poor guy. Did you know they offer the HPV vaccine to boys?  I thought it was just a girl thing. We didn't get it. I am thankful they didn't push. Here is a pic of the kids before we went to Michigan Adventure yesterday. We met Jen at her house. Dee Dee and Ethan didn't get to go, but they had to be in the picture too! (o: I think Naysi  (beside Josh) and Josh have the same eyes. But they both don't get it from the side that they are connected.( I can't figure out how to write that sentence.) (o: Ethan was stil...

Can you please pray for my kids, especially Josh and Micah? They are really hurting. Josh doesn't show it  much, and Micah doesn't share either, but Micah's red rimmed eyes are very telling..  This is so hard for them. They are experiencing lots of last things. Tonight is Micah's last baseball game. Josh had his last sleep over with the kids from our homeschooling group last night. They threw a big good bye party for him. It is a great group of kids that Josh will really miss. Nad is sad that her good friend Mia is on holidays, so she couldn't have one more sleep over. I told her that Mel and the girls will come for a giant sleep over after we have moved. Yes Mel? Siah announced he is "act-u-ally excited to move". His cousin and good friend Keagan is coming over on Thursday. He got to play with Trent on Sunday. So he is all good. I was prepared to explain that Keagan and Trent will come to visit just like Mia will and we will come here to visit ...

Today, Josh and Micah had a regular eye appt. Because of Micah's history, the Doc was super thorough with him. I really appreciate that. Micah's eyes look perfect. Although we found out that he is a little color blind. That makes me laugh and Micah thinks it's cool.  But they found a little bleeding in the back of Josh's eye. The Doc pushed for blood work to make sure it's not a symptom of a bigger problem. We are going to do that next week, just in case. Since then, I talked to a very trusted eye Doc (O:, who assured me the bleed is most likely from Josh getting kicked in the head by Natalie yesterday. He flew and was dizzy afterwards. So in God's providence Josh had an exam today. If he wouldn't have had it, we wouldn't have known. I see this as a test that I completely failed. I froze for a bit this afternoon. Leukemia is the worst case the Doc gave me and it kind of put me over the edge. I didn't rest in God's faithfulness. I just imagined an...

Today Josh is 14. WHAT???? I have a 14 year old. That sounds nothing but strange and may just age me 10 years! (O: I remember clearly being 14. It really isn't that long ago is it?I am also realizing, that in just over 4 years, depending on what he decides and where our family is living, he could be leaving us. That makes me open my eyes real wide and spurs me on to use and enjoy this time we have left with him. Josh was born 10.5 months after we got married. Looking back I can't believe how young we were. No really.Crazy. Josh is the only one of our kids that has moved around. When I was about 26 wks pregs we moved to Hamilton. Ken got his first teaching job at this school that was more like a 1 room school house. He taught grades 6-8.  I think they were Penecostal. It was interesting, but I was much too young to realize just how different it was. Everyone must have thought we were nuts. Looking back I think we were. (O: But God gave us peace, so we went. We lived in a...

I am only 2 days late posting this! (O: So my big boy is 13. It is hard to believe that I became a mom 13 years ago. Where has the time gone? It really does make me realize how young we were when we had Josh. In another 13 years he could be married with kids. Yikes! I love these two pictures. They are so real. The messy hair, dirty clothes and dirty faces are what they look like after a busy day of school and play. I love how Grace is looking at Siah!  Everyone is reading the card that Micah made Josh. Micah looks mighty pleased! Naddie just gave her card to Josh. Josiah has a happy birthday hug for Josh. Siah is super sincere. I love his heart. These two kids are my 2 Pennings kids. The others are more my side of the family. Happy Birthday Josh. We love you and are so thankful for the 13 years the Lord has given you! We pray that we will be blessed by your presence for many more!

So it seems that the little kids get all the attention on this blog. I think maybe part of the reason is that Josh does not love getting his picture taken, thus it doesn't end up on the blog. I do like the word thus very much!  I think if I would ask him if he would mind if I would do a post just about him, he would probably roll his eyes and ask why. But I know that he secretly wouldn't mind. At almost 13, he LOVES Grace. I found him the other day in the playpen with Grace. She loves it when the kids do that, but I have never seen Josh do it. I got the camera out and the first thing he said is, "You are not going to take a picture of this are you?" Hehee. I had to. It is so cute. He is such a love. He will be a great dad some day. That is a great quality in a man. He has a great example! Do you see the slightly perturbed look he is sporting because I got the camera out?   Josh..... I love you boy!