Cedar Point

Every year, for the past several years, my
husbands parents generously volunteer to
take all us "kids" to Cedar Point. All of us (this year we only had 13...last year I think we had 21) pile into their motor home & head to Sandusky for the day. We always have a great time & this year was no exception. We had blue skies & sunshine! Caleb & Moriah each rode their first grown up size roller coasters! Moriah started out with the Blue Streak & loved it. Then we moved on to Disaster Transport, with great success. By the end of the day Caleb also tried his hand at Disaster Transport (twice) & conquered it as well.
We got to see a show & the kids were pulled on stage, which they thought was a riot. Caleb was the "wolf" & Moriah was chicken or something like that...anyway, they had a great time.
Trevor & I were not void of amusement either as we waited in all the long lines to ride the Magnum, Millenium Force (my fav), Maverick, Power Tower & the like.
Thanks Dad & Mom!

Circus

We took a family outing to Barnum & Bailey Circus
when it came to town last week. It was a lot of fun. The kids
were totally amazed at some of the things we saw. Dad was
amazed yet again with Bello & his amazing ability to do all of
the acrobatics the other stars do, while in full clown get-up.

9/11

I got this in an email from a friend and I felt it was worth sharing today as we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice 7 years ago today. I hope it touches your hearts as it did mine.

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'
You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.'
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'
I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan ... I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.'
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
God

Praise!

I have a "praise" to share...Trevor has been feeling a lot better the last couple of weeks (after about 5 months of not feeling well at all). He had an MRCP on Monday & a Dr. appointment on Tuesday. The Doctor said that while he didn't have the full report yet, the radiologist indicated that his pancreas did not appear to have a lot of damage. He feels that, especially since Trevor is feeling better now (which could last days or years) that any invasive treatment would be far worse than the symptoms. He has given Trevor a different dose of anti-nausea medicine to help manage on the days when that is an issue. As many of our friends & family know, we were expecting to head off to U of Indiana or Mayo clinic this month in search of answers. At first the news was a little frustrating as we just want to be able to "fix" it! However, after digesting this information, we are both grateful that his pancreas is holding it's own and are confident that we can manage this without seeking additional treatment right now. We have to remind ourselves that while he has struggled with this consistently for the last 5 months & regularly for the last year+, he had been nearly symptom free for a whole year before that. We are grateful for the health he has right now & will continue to pray for many more symptom free days.

Moriah Kay!

Okay, I have known for quite some time that my darling daughter has a naughty streak. It has reared it's not so adorable head many many times in our household, but this latest deception I feel I must share (out of humor & a plead for prayer). One thing my daughter HATES is to be laughed at unless she is intentionally being funny. She will hold a grudge if she feels like you are making fun of her, so if you know her & read this, PLEASE do not mention it (unless you like having a 5 year old dislike you & cry a lot when you are around). That said, here goes...

Last week school started off on Tuesday with no problems. Wednesday she came home & said she got a Yellow light. Yellow lights are disappointing, but expected (Caleb got 4 in a row in Kindergarten) and usually they bring about improvement in bad behavior (fear of the "I know what's next if I don't straighten up..."). The rest of the week went off without a hitch with green lights both days. Monday night we get an e-mail from the teacher...we never signed & returned the RED light note from last Wednesday! Moriah actually took the note out of her backpack, placed in our outside trash container and boldfaced LIED, saying she received a yellow light. Never once did she indicate any remorse or nervousness. She thought she disposed of the evidence, so it was all taken care of. I am dumbfounded at her forethought & deceptiveness (she is 5 right? Not 15 as I have sometimes been accused of calling her).

Pray for me my friends! What am I in for? If she can already lie without batting an eye and have no conscience about it, what am I going to do? Pray that her heart will be open to the Spirit. There is a battle raging inside of her. Pray that Jesus is the victor. I have to keep reminding myself of my long term goal. My goal as a mother is to raise Godly, respectful ADULTS. My job is to carefully train them along the way. Kids will be kids and their behavior needs to be carefully and consistently dealt with (I am trying:)

Proverbs 12:22 "The Lord detests lying lips, but rejoices in those who are truthful." is a theme verse in our house this week!

American Idol Concert

Yes, I know what you're wondering...Is that Tami & Nikki with the 10 finalists from American Idol's last season? Of course. They were all just dying to pose with us;) LOL
Well, thanks to Nikki (& PopTarts) I had the opportunity to go to the American Idol Summer concert tour and act like a school girl (jumping, screaming my lungs out, the whole bit). What a blast! My pal Nikki got tickets fro her B-Day and lucky for me she was lookin' for another A.I fan to join her (Thanks again Nikki & Steve). I had a GREAT time!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

I cannot believe that the summer is officially over! School has begun and so my kiddos are on the go. Moriah started Kindergarten (I can't believe it!) & Caleb is now in 2nd grade. They both came home from the first day wound up like nobodys business. It took me two hours to get them calmed down (it probably didn't help that Grandma "LouLou" was there to welcome them home. We celebrated their first day with a trip to the beach that night (it was the hottest day of the year).

Labor Day

Every year for Labor Day weekend my extended family has a HUGE get together. Many people camp & some just show up for dinner on Sunday (this year we served around 100). My cousins wife Paula & I put it together this year with help from Butch & Kelly who willingly let us set up camp in their yard & put their teenage sons to work on our behalf (many thanks). We had a HO'Down theme this year & Paula had some really hilarious games she put together including a pie eating contest (a miniature version which Moriah & Riley joined in on below), barrel racing, cowboy relay (way to go aunt Sukie-above) & a fry pan throwing contest that I narrowly lost (5points) to my cousin Cassie. We had great weather & I got to enjoy the comfort of my In-Laws motor home instead of a tent (Thank you Mom & Dad). By the time we made it home on Monday I was exhausted! I will maybe sign up to do it again in another 10 years;)