We have passed a milestone in our family.  My youngest Owen has lost his front teeth.  He didn't pull them out, they were accidently knocked out by his brother's leg while wrestling .  For me, I think this stage is more emotional than when he stepped on the bus for Kindergarden this last year.  I was so excited when all my kids got their first tooth and then as more appeared their little smiles started to change, each one different and special.  Now my youngest' smile is growing up into a bigger boy smile.  Soon he'll get those grown-up teeth coming through that will be beginning signs of what his big boy face will look like.  I'm sure God delights over us as He watches His children grow and pass milestones in our faith, getting rid of the old, replacing it with new life "new teeth" in Owen's case, ready to take on new exciting things in our journey.  Let's not miss our chance to experience the fullness of God in our lives as He can only fill the void and the gaps in our life.  

 

 Well, we've had about a week without Disney Channel and we have seen much improvement already!! She is adjusting well.  We had fun family time at the "Great Wolf Lodge"  in Washington. A new hotel/water park.  

 Tomorrow my #1 list of "to do's" is to drive down to our cable company and hand over that little box I pay for each month to get such wonderful choices of "fabulous" entertainment.   You see our soon to be 10 year old daughter is bright, beautiful, fun, loving, polite and has a lot going for her.  The problem is those qualities seem to be getting overshadowed (most the time) by the 32" square magnet that she plops down in front every spare moment she has.  The biggest problem we've noticed is her being so impressed with the attitudes of these pre-teen *"fabulous" cast of the Disney Channel teen actors, which we unfortunately are bombarded with everywhere we turn even outside our home ( I'm sure that was a Hanna Montana hamburger she was eating today).   It all is going to crumble in her little world tomorrow when she finds out that our TV only gets news and Reading Rainbow but we're hopeful this will only bring out the best in our little pre-teen and we'll look back knowing as parents we did the right thing.   She is a great girl and doesn't even know how impressionable she is, and we want her to be "fabulous" for the positive things God has for her.  We'd appreciate your prayer as we raise our daughter and boys in a world that is constantly stealing their attention away from a Christ like eternal perspective, to a more materialistic "all about me" perspective.   I'll keep you posted, and as always would love your comments and if this is something you've dealt with.  
p.s.  I will miss HGTV and Paula Dean on the Food Network.
*"Fabulous" is a popular song on High School Music

 I went to visit a boy in the hospital this week who is 6 years old, bald, going through chemo, spending most of his days in a hospital bed and waiting for surgery to remove his leg. He misses home, he misses normal, he has no idea yet that he will be missing his leg in a matter of days. I peeked in to see him and his daddy sound asleep. As I walked away from his door not wanting to wake them I was struck at how many rooms were on this wing of the hospital. How many kids are sick, the wing that said "school age", the wing that said "pre-k", "babies". This is one hospital, one floor, one city. My heart broke for these families that in a matter of a moment and one Dr. appointment, their world turned upside down. How can families endure this without the hope of the Lord and His mercy and plan for our lives.

In the deserts HE is there. I urge to visit my "Sweet Peas" and ask you to pray for the kids on there. All these kids are connected to my circle in some form. Friday a young vibrant 10 yr old diagnosed w/ Leukemia, today waiting for results. I can't understand the why's of life, I only know that I'm more thankful and grateful each day for the little things, and try to complain less about the minor things. By the grace of God go I. I know that no matter what tomorrow holds, He knows and will get me through it. Keeps life in perspective.. Hug your kids and thank the Lord even for the trials as they help us all grow closer to Him. courtney