BaJab's big appointment!

And I will CHOOSE JOY

Yep, I had to say that today --- LOTS!

I tried to make the most out of trip to GR today.

It is an hour drive so I only wanted to do it once this week.

Thankfully, I was able to get Elizabeth's 1 year update with the social worker right before the doctor appointment for BaJabs.

Unfortunately, we will be making the trip again tomorrow!

Social Work appointment went GREAT!!!

Unfortunately, for Elizabeth her rash REAPPEARED when we arrived in GR and she was an itching queen!

SO,

After that appointment we went to Target for some meds.

Meds taken and off to see Dr. F across from DeVos Children's Hospital.

Cast off -- pretty easy :)

X-rays! -- EASY!!!

Healing is going wonderful and right on track!!!

Pins out!!! HORROR!!!

No numbing -- YIKES!

One -- well, it came out but it was SOOOOO hard.

AND

So, long!  I totally didn't expect it to be that big.

 Just cleaning it!

We were calm -- I thought they were going to numb it next!

 Immediately, she was hurting!

AND

I thought it would be quick!

Beginning of the pulling with LOTS of crying -- Matt quit taking picts. after this!

Well, the 2nd pin was not sticking out of the skin anymore --

AND

They could not get it to budge ---

SO

Back to GR tomorrow for surgery.

Yes, it is quick -- 

BUT 

we have to go through the pre-op stuff and recovery.

Surgery at 4 ish -- a few hours before and few hours after.  

All in all another long day tomorrow!!

Mr. Mark from prosthetic's joined the appointment.

He molded her leg for her NEW long leg.

AND

this was easy -- once she relaxed -- 

with mommy's dark chocolate M & M's and a fun new Yahtzee game the Dr.  gave her!

 Getting the leg ready!

 Dr. F helping Mr. Mark keep BaJab's leg straight.

These men handled her so good!

The mold slipping right off! YEAH!  Just the way it is SUPPOSE to!

YES -- it will be ready in 2 weeks!!!

No 'new' cast because tomorrow is surgery -- she will be casted at the end of surgery.

Hmmmmm.....what color this time?????

2 more weeks in a cast.

Finally, done  -- 

we stopped for a snack and got home late!

Please pray for tomorrow!

She cannot eat after 7:30 AM --

Just in case we can get in earlier!!

Thankfully, my mom could come down in the morning so I could go to school for a few hours.

Matt and I will take her down to GR in the afternoon.

Pray for safety and EASE with the meds AND getting that last pin out!

BaJab's and I had a talk tonight about CHOOSING JOY!!!

AND

How God made her special -- He made her KNOWING she would have to go through these things -- and HE gave her lots of strength and braveness.  

YEP, HE doesn't give that to everyone -- JM and My Darling would cry too much -- hahahaha

Pray especially for her to be brave and have NO pain!

  

Happy 1 year Elizabeth!

WOW -- can you believe it?!

I can't :)

Elizabeth has been with us for an entire year!

She is nothing short of

AMAZING!!!!

1 year ago a VERY scared little girl was handed over to us.

It took about an hour to calm her and convince her we were 'ok.'

I was so thankful for the ipad that extremely hot day!!!

She easily made the transition into our family with very few meltdowns or issues.

She is very forthcoming about the orphanage.

She misses some of her friends and REALLY wants them to get a family.

She LOVES my cooking -- "Momma, this taste soooo good!"

Her English is coming along -- she understands so much!

She loves music, her American Girl doll, playing games and puzzles.

She LOVES sledding and doing things outside -- 

AND

Her love for Hello Kitty --- well, it's still there :)

God has given her the best personality!

She is funny and easy going --

She easily takes a joke and can totally dish it. 

She has the biggest smile and is flashing it often.

She is extremely patient -- even when she has to say the same thing to me 5 times -- because I CAN'T understand!!! 

She tells me over and over again how much she loves me -- oh, how that melts my heart :)

She is a ready helper --

She is making HUGE progress in school --

although, she prefers to be social rather than academic.

She is growing -- LOTS!

Her shoe size is going up!

She is getting taller --

AND

most important to her

LONG HAIR!!!

Her waist -- is still tiny 

Her hands and arms -- TINY

Thankfully, her scoliosis seems to be healing -- ALMOST GONE!

She LOVES her 'new' leg which she is on her 2nd because of her growth.  

She does well in OT for her arms and hands.

Yep, she still has more surgery ahead -- but in the last year we have seen so many changes because of her leg

AND

LOVE!!!!

Can it even be the same little girl???

Of course, we had a Gotcha Day celebration!!

I tried a new dish -- it was a success.  All loved it -

It was a hot chicken dish.

Beef and broccoli,

homemade crab ragoons -- 45 of them!!!

Eggrolls, fruit and angel food cake for dessert.

Elizabeth got a little wooden doll dressed in the authentic dress for her providence.  She also got a gloss bottle with the monkey (her animal in the Chinese Zodiac) including her name in American and Chinese and her gotcha day.

It was a beautiful sunny day to celebrate our Elizabeth's family day!

And they are home :)

Matt IS home!  

Almost exactly on schedule.

Thankfully, the snow and bad weather was gone as they made their way home!

Thank-you Lord!!!

God did AMAZING things with this team!!

YET

Our family was THRILLED to have daddy home!!!

AND

Daddy was happy to be HOME!

Although, he was very tired!!!

BUT the girls didn't care -- they still stuck right next to him.  Love the pink blanket!!

He came with gifts!  All were happy with daddy's choices!

 Showing the jewelry he brought back from House of Hope.

 Shirts for the boys.
JM was thrilled with the volcanic rock daddy found, as well!

 One of the necklaces that the women at House Of Hope make.

Purses made by some of the locals. 

Saturday was a day to spend just being close to daddy!

Sunday

The team presented what was done in Nicaragua.

I loved hearing all that was accomplished.  Each area of ministry gave a report.  It was amazing all that was done.
God did some amazing work through the hands and hearts of our people.

 Hanging drop ceilings.

Putting together LOTS of ceiling fans.

Painting!

Bathroom plumbing!

And of course all of the building/welding Matt, Dave and Dolphie did!
And
Lots of wiring that was accomplished, jewelry and beads sorted, children played with and taught about the bible -- and so much more!

I especially love hearing and seeing how God changed hearts!  
There are so many hurting people AND so many people with so little.
God has blessed us!

I LOVE this picture :)  My sister-in-law, Audrey is getting some help carrying the BIG thermos.  

One teammate stated, "I could of been born here (Nicaragua) and been living like this -- with so little."

It becomes obvious how good we have it and how much we have been given thus giving us the ability to help others!

Again, THANK-YOU Lord for the opportunity for these people to serve YOU in this way!!!

James 1:27

New International Version (NIV)

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Thursday/Friday morning Missions Update

Nicaragua Mission Trip 2013

UPDATE

The LAST day :)

Thursday's Plan ---

TO FINISH ALL OF THE PROJECTS

Matt's priority 

 to get the pearlings welded

and

to finished the roof on the building.

AND

They finished --

EARLY even -- like 12:30

WOW!!!!

He was able to put finishing touches on the picnic table and move it -- 

YES, it weighed a ton!!

He spent the remainder of the day cleaning up 

and

helping the remainder of the team finish their projects.

Just about everything was finished!!! 

What an AWESOME answer to prayer!

They had a pizza party with all the kids and residents of HOH.

Matt said that each age group of kids were able to come up to our group and say their thank-you's.

Some of the women residents did as well.

This was also a time when Brian C. was able to give his testimony.

Right before leaving HOH the team gave all of the children the backpacks and teddy bears that SRBC provided.

Oh, that would of been fun to see :)

The team got back to the Mission house after 7:00.

They had their meeting time as a team

AND

started the job of packing/weighing up!

Matt is coming back MUCH lighter.

He left one of the suitcases

all the tools he brought --actually all the tools that SRBC provided were donated to HOH

AND

some of his clothes/shoes for some needy men.

Matt did make a trip to the store to get more coffee -- YEAH!!!

When we talked last night --

He was tired and so was I

So, it was a quick 12 minute phone call -- with only 2 dropped calls using SKYPE!

We had a regular day at home --- hahahah

All of us went to school -- no sickies

BUT

I did have to pick up the girls from school -- which makes a race to their school after my school ends!

My mom made dinner -- split pea and ham soup with a wonderful salad.  All I had to add was fruit -- 8 cut-up kiwi's and drinks. 

YUMMY -- Yes, ALL the kids love this! 

The boys had a band concert --

which we raced to right after dinner.

BUT

The girls were tired and Lauren so graciously came and stayed with the girls while I went to the concert.

I made all the arrangements for everyone on Friday --- as District Festival for Band is Friday -- Of course, each boy at a different time ;)

I fell asleep RIGHT after Matt's call.

I woke up at 1:30 in the morning 

and crawled into an EMPTY bed -- which I was thrilled about. 

UNABLE to fall asleep.

So, I read.

WOW!!!

What a surprise to get TWO phone calls this morning!!

BOTH schools 

SNOWDAY!!!!!!

We are so excited!

Matt texted me shortly after that to tell me they were loaded up and leaving for the airport.

AND

He said, 'I LOVE YOU!!! Can't wait to see u guys!'

Only a bit longer!

UPDATE:

They have JUST landed in Miami.

A text and a REAL phone call from Matt :)

They have about 2 1/2 hours before they board the next flight.

Please pray for continued safety today as they have ONE more flight --

to Chicago later today 

AND

drive home late tonight.

The weather is NOT great -- 

Wednesday Update -- Missions and Family :)

Praising God that I had a

SNOW DAY TODAY!!!

Unfortunately, my children did NOT ....

BUT

BaJabs had a parent day -- a time where a parent/grandparent comes in for EACH child and there are activities set-up for you to do WITH your child.

Well, my mom was scheduled to go with BaJabs --

Thankfully, because of the snow day I got to go be with her.

It was such fun!!!

The school activities lasted a couple of hours then I came home and 

GRADED LOTS of papers for school.

YES, I used my day off to DO school work!!!

The school also decided to KEEP the scheduled district meeting ON.

So, after I picked-up the girls from school, dropped of MD's FFA stuff at the high school, stopped at the  post office, went to my mother-in-laws house (YES, she made me dinner AGAIN :)) and dropped all the kids off at home

I went to the meeting --

I returned home at 5:30 --

UNFORTUNATELY, a bit sick.  

I think I'm coming down with something -- trying to ward it off!!!

Boys to church -- girls home with me.

Boys MISSED their ride home 

BUT

P. Josh saved them -- and brought them home -- LATE but they made it.

SO --  all in bed 

AND

Finally, Matt called!!

Nicaragua Mission Trip 2013

UPDATE

The SRBC Team!

Skype was cooperative tonight -- only 2 kick-offs

AND

I got to see more than his nose :)

This call was sooooo positive -- and I LOVE that!!

There were MANY answers to prayer today!

ALL 4 trusses went up WITHOUT any problems.

Actually, they went up in about 1 1/2 hours.

The 3 locals were a BIG help.

There are some funny stories working with these locals ;)

A Dave R., a local and Matt did lots of welding.

This is ALL a big answer to prayer!

No complaints about the weather :)

There IS more welding to finish the trusses tomorrow but all doable!

Most everyone is finishing up nicely with their projects. 

YES -- more answers to prayer!

Cabinetry is coming to an end.

Drop ceilings in rooms.

LOTS of painting by Trish and Margie -- BLACK paint

Yes, Margie turned colors :)

Cement work done.

LOTS of wiring accomplished.

I did NOT get an update on the plumbing BUT he did say ALL the projects were doing well!

Tomorrow things will be finished up.

They will sheet the roof of the building.

They will be done ON TIME --

BECAUSE

they are having a pizza party with the kids at HOH.

OH -- and today they had an ice cream party for all of the kids at the end of the day!!!  The kids LOVED it :)

Matt has sent me numerous pictures of the kids!! 

Oh, my LOVE!!!  

Although, I do feel uncomfortable publishing them on the web.

BUT believe me they are adorable and loving being with our team!!!

Matt said it will be difficult saying good-bye for many of them because the kids have become their buddies.

The women have been working/spending time with the kids after school doing fun activities.

Extra prayers for all of them around 5:30 tomorrow!

Also, found out tonight that many kids need uniforms and sponsorship for Christian school.

A uniform for a girl is $26 

and

 an ENTIRE year tuition to Christian school is $126.

It is safer for a girl to be in a uniform because it shows she belongs to something.

I know MANY if not ALL of the people on the team are giving money for one or the other of these options.

Matt and I talked about it tonight.  BOTH options are wonderful!!!

Amazing what a little amount of money can to do to change a child's life!!!

Again, everyone was safe today!

They had a GREAT meal!

12 of them went to a local mall this evening to 'check it out!'

Yes, they are TIRED!

They have been working HARD!

No EXTRA burns :)

Ummmm.... there are a few with tummy issues ;0

Prayers ALL this straightens up before traveling Friday morning.