Radiant Six

                                                    Happy Birthday, Ella Grace!

Update on My Dad

My Dad continues to be in critical condition. He is suffering from kidney failure and an extremely severe case of ketoacidosis. This condition is their main concern right now. They've gotten his blood sugar down below 200, but the difficult part is lowering his blood sugar without getting it too low.

My Mom was able to get to the hospital yesterday to see him, but she is now having serious health complications not related to the current abdominal surgery she is recovering from.

When it rains it pours, and what would we do without the knowledge that the rain is coming from His loving Hand?

A multitude of thanks for your prayers....

Love,

Prayers for My Dad

My Dad was taken to the hospital this morning with a blood sugar of almost 1000. Because of my Mom's recent surgery, she was not able to go with him. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, comfort for my Mom, healing for my Dad, and for fresh supplies of God's grace for them all.

Thank you.

Sew On, My Girl, Sew on

***This is our 700th post!***

I have feared this machine for the longest time, and if God, in His humbling kindness had not blessed us with four daughters, I probably would continue to avoid IT.  I have convinced myself that my brain is incapable of grasping the workings of a sewing machine, but there is a time for everything, and yesterday was the time to put those fears aside and just TRY. 

I watched sweet Whistler take to this machine like a fish to water, and I realize she'll be teaching  ME. Her enthusiasm blessed my heart, and I thank God she's so excited to be learning these skills!

Endless thanks to Miss Caity for getting us started, ever so patiently, in the midst of hug attacks from the Three Lovables.  We can't wait for the next lesson! And thanks, too, to Caity's Mom who is so graciously sharing her daughter with us. I'm also thankful for a husband who says, "You really need to spend a couple hours a day practicing what you're learning." :)

My most favorite picture. Caity's hand on Whistler's. Older servant's heart teaching and guiding the younger one. Such sweetness!

Whistler's first piece of work!

We had to pry the Lovables off Caity.

Whistler's second project. She would have kept going if we had more fabric. Now I'm wishing there was a fabric store nearby! This could be trouble. :)

This Morning's Sunrise

Friday Flashback~Mountain Photo Shoot, 2007

You Make Nine Shine!

Happy Birthday, dear son! We love you!

A Drink of Water, Reaches Up Style

When I asked Reaches Up to give Cap'n a drink of water, I should have known by the look on his face and the syringe in his hands that he was up to something.

He was determined to convince Cap'n that there was a better way to drink water than out of a cup. "The mega-syringe adds adventure to it all," he told his baby brother.

Cap'n managed to keep a straight face (it does come naturally) as Reaches Up promised his brother full access to a half-gallon container of ice cream if he would just try this crazy scheme.

Who could turn down that bribe? Cap'n steps out of his comfort zone for the prize of an extra-large dose of frozen dairy.

Not liking this approach, Cap'n literally has to put a stop to it. Reaches Up's plans were foiled, and Cap'n didn't see his ice cream for another two days.

Stay tuned for more adventures from Reaches Up and Cap'n: Big and Not-So-Big

Useful Soldiers

It’s been a long time since Little Big Man had anything to say on our blog, but he shows up with a great quote from his morning Bible study.  

“Even the death of the body puts an end to our opportunity and capacity of glorifying God in this world, and serving the interests of His kingdom among men by opposing the powers of darkness and bringing many on this earth to know God and devote themselves to Him.  Some have maintained that the joys of the saints in heaven are more desirable, infinitely more so, than the comforts of saints on earth; yet the services of saints on earth, especially such eminent ones as David was, are more laudable, and redound more to the glory of divine grace, than the services of the saints in heaven, who are not emplyed in maintaining the war against sin and Satan, nor in edifying the body of Christ.  Courtiers in the royal presence are most happy, but soldiers in the field are more useful; and therefore we may, with good reason, pray that if it be the will of God, and He has any further work for us or our friends to do in this world, He will yet spare us, or them, to serve Him.”

~Matthew Henry, Commentary on Psalm 6