A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words....

We had a great and grateful Thanksgiving! Leni was still pretty sick but you will see her here....giving voluntarily her Thanksgiving prayer which brought tears to our eyes. We are so very honored to be her parents!! Scroll down for more moments from our day:)



As everyone gave their prayers of thanks.....we weren't suprised to see the response we got here:)

This is a daughter. Can you guess which one????

More soon!!!!

What We've Been Up to.....and a BIG Thank You!

Last week, I was sick....then Leni got sick. Everytime the weather changes my Leni has trouble with her asthma and although it's so much better with each passing year...it's still difficult when it hits. She spikes high fevers which triggers breathing issues...etc...then it's a circle of meds, no sleep, trying to find the right combo of breathing 'stuff' that will work...and so on. In addition,I went with a friend to the hospital for some diagnostic testing that ended up being much more involved than we initially thought. The bright spot was that Mel had the opportunity to go to a friend's wedding 'way out west in Montana:)' so we had the pleasure of having Cade for a while as well. (He was awesome and keeps us in hysterics with the things that come out of this little man's mouth!!)...All this brings me to....someone I want to thank OUT LOUD. While I was at the hospital a certain someone that thought she was remaning anonomous...came over and cleaned my house for me. Yes...she did. I was floored. And embarrassed....because if I HAD KNOWN she was coming I would've been better prepared and done the "pre-cleaning" thing. Katie's Thanksgiving Feast was also the same day at her school and we had been in a mad rush to get outta here. So...THANK YOU MEDANA for the way you so unselfishly lay down your life for others (in this case us) even though you have so much on your plate these days. Medana is the mom to 4 fabulous kids including the newest...7 month old Sadie. I can't believe she even thought about us with all she's juggling in her own life.:) I do need to say that the Cox family's testimony of God's grace in their lives is evident in all they undertake and we are so grateful to have them in our lives! Medana is and will continue to be one of my earthly heroes because of how she's chosen to honor God with her daily walk. So much wisdom from this girl at such a young age (young to me:)). Last week serving our family was another example of how daily she chooses to 'take up her cross' and follow God's leading. Thank you Medana! We are very, very grateful!

Leni is still pretty sick and we are up almost all night. Please pray for her quick recovery from this episode. I lay with her last night and around 4 am as she was struggling to breathe....and I was feeling a little sorry for myself...I felt God tell me that he had plucked this little one 'from the fields of the fatherless' knowing there would be hands to hold her in the night.. as asthma continues to be a struggle. My self pity turned to gratefulness that God has chosen me to be Leni's arms in her time of need. What a privledge to do God's work as he calls!

Now...back to prep for all that are coming over tomorrow:) Happy Thanksgiving!

Guess Who This Is????

Isn't he cute?? This is baby Cade at his first 4th of July. We had been home with Katie about a month and a half and actually celebrated her 1st birthday this day as well. Why this pic today? Because I was tagged by Debi...and now I get to tag 5 people. I choose Mel Vanlue, Kathy Peschau, Vickie Eastham, Gisele Brown, and Medana Cox. Have fun!

Here are the rules: Go to your pictures file...choose the 5th pic in the 5th folder... post it...then tag 5 more people. :) Have fun!! This was my pic and it's a great one!!

Be sure to check out Debi's new blog here. It's to serve married couples by giving date night ideas ....and offering spritual encouragement. Thanks Debi and Tom:) for doing this!!

The Girls New Business Venture...

Move over Mz. Rose (our hairstylist:))~ These two are after her job! Dressed in outfits only a mother could love....these two monkeys decided Daddy needed a new "do" and gave him ponytails, hairbows, and an assortment of other accessories:) while he read the Wall Street Journal yesterday.He was very patient and let them have fun as only a seasoned Dad can/would. I did notice however, the Dad didn't leave his hair "done" for work today:) Can't imagine why not!!?? (Me thinks Katie needs to be on TLC's What Not To Wear...she has on 2 more layers under the tiger suit just fyi....and changes clothes no kidding...like 5 times a day. :))

Mama's Little Turkeys...

Every Wednesday we go to a class at our library which has proven to be a highlight of the week. Today the girls made these adorable Thanksgiving turkeys! Can you tell which little Turkey we have here?

Entertainment by Eloise....again....

While I'm running around like crazy because tomorrow's super busy... all 3 girls have to be in different places by 8am...I am packing lunches, getting clothes ready...you know the routine. SUDDENLY LOUD SHRIEKING OCCURS WITHOUT CEASING...from upstairs. What you ask? Whatever could it be?? Oh, you know. It's only Kristin with a toddler toilet seat stuck around her head. Really, really stuck. She's wet. Embarrassed. Loud. With a toilet seat now adorning herself like a necklace. Why? Because she can. All work came to a standstill while toilet seat was removed from 5 year old's head (with LOUD sound effects of course). Once again...drama to it's fullest brought to you by a cute little blonde who must do the impossible to make life ....interesting.:) And...after the drama calms down....we laugh. You gotta.

If you have one in your neighborhood:)....

Run...don't walk to your nearest Sea World and see all they've done for the holidays! They've definitely 'raised the bar' this year with their entertainment! The P.C. were mezmerized with the Polar Express ride....the Shamu Christmas show and as you leave the park 'real falling snow' which they tried to eat ....then found out it was soap bubbles.:) The Shamu show was especially awesome...as they have a live Sax player who did carols and concluded with 'O Holy Night' :) and the end of the show is live music with a rendition of 'Joy to the World' which brings the house to its feet. The vocals were absolutely incredible!! I was very happy and excited to see that Jesus is very much a part of this show (and you can ignore the other fill in stuff as you see fit:)). More pics to follow from Dad's camera. These are a few from my phone:) And...yes...I've been a bad blogger lately. Just not enough hours in the day:)



The Joy to the World Finale

Santa with a very, very loose tooth that she won't let anyone near:)


Eating 'Falling Florida Snow':)

Katie was especially animated today:) Here she is sitting on the Polar Bear at the Polar Express:)

And....there's a guest 'Chef' in the Kitchen tonight!!

Julie suprised her mom tonight with the announcement that she and Leni would make dinner:) Can't turn down that offer!! What was the menu?? Pork chops with sauteed apples/onions and rosemary (straight from our garden) in an amazing creamy cider sauce....Greenbean (fresh from the garden)and red potatoes in a dill/dijon vinagrette dressing...corn muffins...and CHOCOLATE cake!! We just might let Julie go to the highest bidder....but then ...nah...no way.:) I think we'll keep her:)

Peek-a-Boo Pocahontas and Her Mostly Companion....

The oranges are almost ready Auntie Michelle:)....Kristi-Loo is quite the gardener as we pick 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. of green beans every other day....we have 48 tomatos growing at the moment and 14 cucumbers....and one very cute watermelon. The squash and zuchinni have been a pain in the **** but overall....we've had great success!
Then, while Leni was home assisting the "Chef"... Pocahontas and her mostly companion make a teepee village on the 'property'. This is what they were doing when Katie hurt her head last week. They decided to try again:)

The Destiny Foundation's Annual Founder's Breakfast:)

"When You Walk With Jesus You End Up With the Poor"

Last Wednesday we had the opportunity to participate in The Destiny Foundation's Annual Founder's Breakfast in downtown Orlando, run by Scott and Tammi George.(FYI, Tammi is my childhood BF:)) Yes...I don't get up this early for too many people:) but it was so worth it!! As I've said before, Scott is the Medical Director of Destiny and also serves on the board. The Destiny motto is "giving not just a hand out...but a hand up." Their goal is to service the working poor in Orlando in medical, food, and job assistance not just once...but ongoing as people get on their feet. A large majority of those they serve are working, single moms. We heard testimony after testimony that brought tears to our eyes of those that have been helped this last year. One mom had 3 small children and had been physically abused by ?? and had no one else in this world to help her. She spoke of coming in to Destiny....getting food, medical care, and help in finding a day care for her children so she could return to work. As I cried from my seat....I realized how trivial my trials are compared to hers. My own husband was hit by a car on April 29 of this year....and as I listened this past Wednesday to testimonies from these single moms...I again became acutely aware of how if it were not for God's mercy and intervention on that day in April...I could be one of these single moms struggling to meet the needs of 3 little girls and also be the breadwinner. I identify with these women in ways now I never could before. Scott serves in a free clinic run once a month on the Destiny property and comes home with story after story not unlike the previous one. He told me that to volunteer his time for a few hours once a month is really no sacrifice, but to those who come into the clinic for help....that visit with a doctor is everything to them. How we take for granted the opportunities we have in this affluent society...yet if we only look around we will encounter many, many out there who are in desperate need of both a savior...and tangible help. If you want to read more about The Destiny Foundation...and I highly, highly recommend that you do:) you can go here . Take a moment and read about the incredible work they're doing on our own city streets and pray for it to continue, and for new opportunities to develop!! Much is happening!:)

Add One More and You Get...

this! We have Cade here tonight and adding just one more makes this place very Jon and Kate Plus Eightish....as if it wasn't already. Katie was VERY quiet for a while and we found her sitting at their Princess Vanity coloring her face with blue marker.:) She told us she was making herself very, very "BEEUTIFULL!!" Yep. She's feeling much better, thank you! (see below post..)
We've got to wash all this off for school tomorrow so we don't have to explain blue marker and turnip greens!

Trauma Mama Drama and Turnip Greens:)

We've had a few days of trauma and recovery. Again. On Monday, Katie and Kristin collided over a 'race to the teepee' they were building. Katie went face first onto the cement and couldn't brace herself. Yeah. Ugly. Picture Katie SCREAMING and Kristin SCREAMING and the mom/Julie/and Mom Jo watching giant blood-clot thing form on Katie's head. It was a scary moment. I started yelling for ice over the ruckus....and Mom Jo ran inside only to bring forth ....a bag of frozen turnip greens. Now, those of you from the south will understand the need for turnip greens in freezer...(I personally think they're disgusting) but they fit the bill in this case. Our poor little Katie with bag of turnip greens on her head soon was evaluated and over the next few hours found to be ok. Her head is gross looking and will be all week. Kristin felt so bad about the whole thing she cried for hours telling us how sorry she was that she had hurt Katie. (this in itself is a big deal for those that know Eloise:)!!) and now....today....things are somewhat back to normal. And yet again... On we go! Sorry. No pics. Too yucky.