Keeper Journal #6

This week we are striving to have an atmosphere in our house that is peaceful, God-centered and a refuge for our family and friends and all who enter. I know that the mom is the one who really sets the tone for the rest of the family. I've experienced it first hand. Sometimes if Ter comes home and I'm in a bad mood toward the kids, then he quickly takes my cue and starts barking too. Sometimes chaos just can't be avoided - not with seven people under one roof, but I do want home to be a place of refuge and a place where my family can go and know that they will be understood and loved. A place where they can unwind and catch their breath from the demands of the world. What's the atmosphere of your home? Ask your family what they think about home. You just might be surprised!

Home Journal - Arm Update

Is life CRAZY or what!? I got L a doctor appointment this afternoon. He said that L would have to have his bone reset tomorrow morning. Of course, L started crying when he heard that (poor guy). He was nervous about possibly having a shot and wondering if he would wake up from the medicine. The doctor tried to assure him telling him it would be fine and that he'd done this kind of thing lots of times before, but to a kid who's never done it before, it wasn't too helpful. Anyway, we go in tomorrow at 7am and have the surgery at 9 and he'll come out with a full arm cast. So, back to this afternoon...we left the doc, got in the car, turned the key and ...nothing happened. Yep! The battery died. L and I both prayed about the arm and the car and then we had to call Ter, who was at home watching the rest of the kids. While Ter and entourage were on their way, L and I headed for a treat at QT on foot. That perked up L's spirits and he decided he had something to be thankful for for this day after all. :) Ter finally arrived and got the car running so he drove the car to the dealership while I followed in the van. Well, we were in the turn lane for the highway when the car died again. There happened to be two guys walking on the side of the road and Ter yelled at them to help and they ran over and pushed the car onto the access road for us. We decided to go ahead and call a tow truck. Ter would stay with the car while I took the kids to Granny and Papa's house (my parents). When I got in the car and told the kids, they were ecstatic! L said, "This day just keeps gettin' better and better!" Little Betty #4 shouted, "Sweet!!! We going to Granny house? Awesome!" I dropped the kids off, picked up Ter and then we went back to our house to pack. Then got back to my folks house about the kids bedtime. Dull moment? I don't think so. CrAzY...beautiful. 

Home Journal - Emergency Room

You just never know what will happen in a day. Thankfully God does, and I know Him.

Ter and the three older kids were at the homeschool co-op field trip to Advanced Metal Recycling while I had the younger two at home napping and watching a show. I was trying to get a little something done for school when Ter called and told me #2 had fallen and broken his arm really bad and that the ambulance was on its way to pick them up and take them to the hospital. He'd call when he knew more. After praying myself, I called our parents and our prayer team and started getting stuff packed into the car - not knowing what to plan for. Ter called me back and said they were headed to Hillcrest, so I hussled everyone in the car, called my mom to meet me there so she could watch the babies, and made it to the hospital just after the X-rays had been taken. Ter and L were both crying when I got there. L just wanted me to put my face against his and rub his hair. I whispered into his ear and he seemed to calm down after that. The nurse gave him more pain meds and the doctor came in to tell us about setting the bone and so on. It was a clean break of both his bones on his left forearm. They could set it right there in the ER. The nurse gave him a drug that they said would knock him out for a few minutes and he wouldn't feel or remember a thing. Then they got to setting the bone. Well, L wasn't asleep and he remembered everything and he felt it! So much for that medicine! But he was his usual talkative self the whole time - even through the tears. Once the bone was set he was ready to get the IV and cords off and get outta there. He was even talking to the old lady who was a patient in the room with him. Finally, the discharge papers came and we could leave. Needless to say, he was a much less bouncy Tigger than when he started the day, but we knew he was going to be fine. Now he's resting and hopefully will stay asleep for the night.



Thanks for everybody's help with the kids and car and praying and whatever else needed to be done on the crazy afternoon! God showed up and we are thankful.