AP: Matt Chandler

Associated Press has just published an article on Matt Chandler's progress and response to his brain cancer.

Also, Mark Driscoll has a link on his website to another article about Matt.

Where's the chapstick?

My mother introduced me to this video and I think it was funnier watching her reaction. I posted this for you, Mom!

Andrew's surgery

My sweet little boy is home recovering from surgery. What a trooper he has been! We arose early Thursday morning to have him to the hospital by 5:30 AM for surgery that was scheduled at 7:30 AM.





We passed the time by watching a little television and playing Hi Ho Cheerio.

Mitch's parents joined us right before Andrew was wheeled into the operating room so it was a special time to surround him with faces he loved. His surgery actually started ten minutes early but lasted longer than we had originally thought. He was back into his private room around 9:20AM and, after Pop prayed for his recovery and healing, Andrew slept the rest of the day. His pain has been minimal, thanks to Tylenol with Codeine.

This is where Andrew stays all day, except to rise to go the restroom. We take his bandages off tomorrow....I hear screams a'comin'.

I am so thankful my mother was here during this time. Her being here has allowed me to come and go with our other two children, make a grocery stop, take a brief walk alone, and not cook! She has invaded my house with her amazing cleaning and organization skills so I now have order in my kitchen drawers, folded and sorted clothes in the boys' dressers, and totally clean and folded laundry!!!! Do you know the last time I had all the laundry clean, folded AND put away?!? I can't either.

Luke is doing better after his root canal and is taking the antibiotic like it's candy. I, however came down with a stomach bug this afternoon as I was at the park with the two little ones. Exhausted, I laid down with Andrew early evening and we slept for four hours, hence why I'm up at 2:30 typing this post. Also, Mitch has hurt his back so he is sleeping the night away with pain meds. Except for Abigail, we are all a bunch of sick folks!

I have purposefully not been too specific about the type of surgery he had but it had to do with his male parts so it might be helpful not to ask him too many details about the incisions, etc. HA!

Time lapse US Airways Flight 1549

Amazing time lapse video of US Airways Flight 1549 as it lay in wait in the Hudson River.

Posted on Kontain.com - [Flight 1549] from David Martin on Vimeo.

Poem of Blur

I know that it's been quite a while

since my fingers typed a post.

But these past few days have been a blur

So it's my bed I'm wanting most.

She took a moment to herself

How did you spend your Saturday?

Today was a busy day!

First, Mitch took the boys to Lowe's for the Build & Grow workshop (we've only attended Home Depot's workshops in the past) where they made a Tic-Tac-Toe game by hammering the box ends together to form a casing for the game pieces. I think the boys really enjoy this hammer pounding each month but I think the biggest highlight of that time is getting to be with their Daddy.

I know Luke looks angry (?) and/or sad (?) in this picture....can't tell you why. He's never been fond of the camera.

Following the time of heavy construction, our family drove 30 miles north to meet up with my brother and sister-in-law at Callaway Gardens (admission is free through the end of February) where we had a picnic, walked Einstein (their dog), fed ducks, and visited the Butterfly Center. It was far colder than what we expected so we didn't stay at the gardens for long.

Next, I took my brother and SIL to The National Infantry Museum that's located in our town (where admission is ALWAYS free!). I've been to this museum four times and I must say that I enjoy it more and more each time I visit. I've still not read every plaque on the wall or caption under every photo but it was neat to be there with my brother, a former Marine (I know that different than Army, ok?) because I knew he would have a true sense of appreciation for the sacrifice military men make.

My beautiful sister-in-law is pregnant and I suspect she played the role of "good sport" today since she NEVER complained of nausea or dizziness. I had a feeling, though, that she didn't feel so swell as we walked the garden paths and museum hallways. Thanks, Kristi, for loving me, loving my children, loving my brother, and loving your extended family! I'm so thankful for you and for the time we shared today. I'm so glad y'all drove down, ate steak with us, brought Einstein, and took that leather recliner out of our garage!

Videos of amazing rescues in Haiti

Barbara has posted many videos of actual rescue footage of trapped people in Haiti.

I'm overwhelmed by the video of a wife who was trapped for days and, when discovered, sent a message through the rubble to her husband that, "even though I might die, I will always love you." The husband began frantically digging until, with help from a team, she emerged singing praises to God.

I've noticed a trend....you've seen it, too?

Just a few fun tidbits about my husband

This is my wonderful husband. Always super busy with work, typing on his keyboard, writing a sermon, reading his online Bible, doing our family finances, answering emails, initiating friendships, following up on tasks, etc.

Sometimes he does those things while he watches Jimmy.

Or after taking a break from reading one of the various titles he's checked out from the library.

Having warm feet helps him to concentrate.

And he didn't seem to mind me jumping around the room, taking these pictures while he multi-tasked. What a man.

Greatly in need

Makes me want to leave it all and go.

4 Babies (One year of life)

I heard there's a movie coming out in April about the first year of life of four babies from four different parts of the world (USA, Japan, Mongolia, & Namibia). I can't wait to see it!



Thanks, Barbara!

She (we) made cookies!

Abigail and I have every Friday morning together, just the two of us. I try incorporate one learning activity during this time that allows her to do most of the "work". I mean, she loves to help me unload the dishwasher (no knives!), throw the clothes in the wash (no colors with whites!), scrub the potties (no, not really), vacuum the carpet (it's all about the self-propel feature), and sweeping the floor (don't step in the trash pile!) but those tasks aren't as fun when you do them everyday, right Abigail?

This past Friday, we made cookies for the teachers at the boys' school. I had no cookie dough (Chrissy ate it all - yeah I just called you out, CM) so we used an easy cake mix cookie recipe I found online.

Latest from Matt Chandler

He's gonna post once a week. Here's WEEK ONE.

Churches helping churches

There are churches helping churches.

They, Mark and James, ask for prayer as they lead their team into Haiti:

• Pray that we can get into the country and are able to travel safely.
• Pray that we are able to get the plane full of medical and relief supplies effectively distributed to those in need.
• Pray that we can serve where we are needed, as reports indicate that so many pastors are dead and churches destroyed that those Christians seeking to grieve and serve need much support.
• Pray that we can forge some solid bonds with the best local churches and international relief agencies on the ground.
• Pray we can get some great stories on video about what God is doing in order to help encourage God’s people around the world to be generous and help those in need.
• Pray we can get great photos and other video footage to give away online, to give to Christian agencies who could use it to help get the need out, and to give to mainstream media outlets showing the difference the church and God’s people are making as well as all that remains to be done. There has been a great deal of great media coverage, and we want to add to it some of the stories of God’s people doing God’s work to encourage more of God’s people to support that work.
• Pray for the ongoing generosity of people around the world sending in support and supplies.
• Pray for the complicated task of getting supplies to needy people when roads are not passable, and only a quarter of the country’s roads were paved before the earthquake.
• Pray for the hearts, minds, and souls of the people, who are reportedly 80 percent Catholic and 16 percent Protestant, while roughly 50 percent also practice voodoo.
• Pray for the rebuilding of the city of Port-au-Prince as prior to the earthquake it was the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with 80 percent of people under the poverty line and 54 percent in abject poverty with a Gross Domestic Product per capita of only $1,300 with two-thirds of the labor force not even having a formal job.
• Pray for protection for disease, as the spread of hepatitis A and E, typhoid, malaria, leptospirosis, and dengue fever is a reality as conditions worsen.
• Pray against civil unrest that would further promote chaos.
• Pray for the government, which has lost many of its buildings and leaders.
• Pray for the safety of the people, since some of the jails and prisons are now emptied and dangerous criminals are running the streets without police patrol to contain them.
• Pray we get home safely and can take what we learn to help encourage churches and Christians to strategically pray and give of their resources for the long haul, as this will not be a short rebuilding effort.
• Pray for the children as roughly half of Haiti’s population is reportedly children.
• Pray that Christians will help bolster the remaining churches in Haiti and support the planting of many more Jesus-centered churches so that the people of Haiti can see the gospel rise out of the devastation.
• Pray for us as as a plan is forming for churches helping churches in places where war and disaster have struck.

Write your representative, PLEASE!

I have a close friend who faithfully writes letters to her state representative, requesting anything that God lays on her heart to speak about and stand behind. I've often thought of writing one of those letters myself but have stopped just short for whatever reason.....laziness, apathy, uneducated on the issue, thinking my request would never be read, and fear - you name it, I've felt it.

Oh, how my heart aches for those precious little children left orphaned in Haiti. There were U.S. -Haitian adoptions already in process when the quake hit and now there is a possibility that, due to lost paperwork, the adoptions might not "go through". I've emailed my state representative TONIGHT to ask that he help in granting the necessary passports and visas to those children whose adoption is already in process. If you'd like to do the same, please do and then tell your friends, blog about it, update your FB status, and pray. The reports are saying that due to overflowing orphanages, most of the children left without parents will become street children. If only I could snap my fingers and fill my house with these precious lives!

The state department has answered my question,"Can I parent the orphaned children?".

The best gift

This past Christmas, we agreed (Mitch's side of the family) to only purchase gifts for the five grandchildren. It was a lot of fun watching the little ones open presents that were chosen specifically for them from their aunt, uncle, and grandparents.

I didn't realize it, but Andrew and Luke noticed that the grown-ups didn't open anything for themselves. They have never mentioned this fact until tonight at bedtime. After closing the boys' bedroom door, I heard them call me back in for something.

LUKE: "Mom, we want to tell you something."

ME: "Ok, what 'cha wanna say?"

ANDREW: "Since you didn't get to open up anything at Christmas, we wanted you to know that you still got the best present of all. Us."

Really, it didn't sound haughty at all! They were genuine in knowing that family is always more important than any material possession. My heart melted and I knelt down beside each of their beds and told them how much I loved them and how God wonderfully created them.

Smiles, kisses, and hugs followed. That's an awesome way to say goodnight, huh?

I couldn't help posting this picture....she's so cute!

Pants on the ground

Ok, if you didn't see this, you should have.

Overflowing

I am so tired of plunging toilets.

It's either our house plumbing that needs some attention or I need to stop feeding my children so much food. Ewwwww.....

Today was warmer than yesterday

We spent TWO hours outside this afternoon! It was still cold but not as cold as it was yesterday. The children enjoyed playing with the neighbors, painting a computer box, bowling, bike and scooter riding, and hitting the tennis ball in the street. This is a memorable time of their childhood and I want to help them remember it in the pictures I take for their future albums.

Next photo session on the agenda is to begin taking pictures of the inside rooms and outside of our house. This is the only house Abigail has ever lived in and is probably the first house Luke remembers. Andrew remembers our previous residences, but barely. I read this post today and thought the idea was special and would make for an interested few pages in their scrapbooks.

Barefoot shoe?

My husband went to college of a full cross-country scholarship. He misses those running days and has recently begun going to the local park after work in an effort to "start it back up". He read this book and decided it was time to start investigating a new running shoe. Mitch is one year from turning 40 years old...maybe I'll purchase these ugly shoes so he can prepare for the next decade.

Crafting with friends

Oh my....my children LOVE their next door neighbors, I & G. I think I hear everyday, "Mom, is G home? Can I go over and knock on their door?". Having wonderful, friendly neighbors is certainly a joy and I'm thankful my children have them as friends. Their mom, T, has also become a sweet friend of mine. She's my emailin' buddy (right, T?).

So, if I get the opportunity, I like to snap a few pics of our kids with their friends. I invited them over one afternoon to watch a movie, snack on some popcorn, and make a craft. With the cold weather, we'll probably be doing it again sometime soon.

This is how cold it is in Minnesota!

Piper at Angola Prison: Q&A

Piper answers questions at Angola. So encouraging!

Tears in my eyes

Do I mourn for the loss of life or for the state of my heart? Both?!?!?!? 6 Year Med writes about recent activity she tended to on her job as a doctor in the ER.

"i heart faces" photo contest

Happy Birthday, i heart faces!

i heart faces is celebrating their first birthday by having a photo contest with the rule that all entries include the i heart faces logo in the photo somewhere. Hesitancy is always my friend when it comes to entering these contests but this blog has taught me so much about photography and I simply want to participate to show "the love" in return. This will make my second entry since the birth of their blog and I hope to enter more photos in the future since I now have PS Elements 8 to help improve my photo editing skills. It's a major work in progress, I tell ya (my photo editing skills, that is)!

I have always loved this picture of Luke and I knew it would have the perfect spot for the i heart faces logo. The winner of the contest will win a cool 18-200 Tamron Lens! You should visit the i heart faces blog and see all of the other amazing photos that have been entered in the contest.

I am submitting this photo into the I Heart Faces logo photo contest. By entering, I am granting I Heart Faces LLC permission to consider my photo for use in the marketing and promotion of their website.

Need that small gift for a Valentine?

I know it's only January 6th but wouldn't you like to get a head start on buying that sweet little somethin'-somethin' for that special person(s) in your life? Megan, a wife and mom living in the city of The Arch, contributor to my favorite magazine, and multi-talented craft queen, is making some adorable zip bags full of love. Oh, the possibilities of what I could put in one of these bags is endless....let's see.... makeup, a gift, small toys, pencils/pens, Phase 10 cards, Memory cards, scrapbook supplies, stamps, notecards, etc..... I'm sure many more items will come to mind the more I think about it!

Go on over to Megan's blog and see how cute they are for yourself!

Speed Racer

Our sweet neighbor friend got a go-cart for Christmas and he let Andrew enjoy it one afternoon when outside in the windy cold.

He's getting it

Today in the car, Luke said something that cracked me up:

LUKE: (looking out the window along our drive to meet friends for lunch) "I think it took God a lot of time to build all these houses and buildings."

His statement reminded me that he "gets" the second question of the children's catechism:

Q: "What else did God make?"
A: "God made all things."

I Need You Now

I love, love, love this song. I can't embed the video due to copyright rules on YouTube but you can go here to see the video if you want. The song is far better than the video. I love the harmonies.

Homemade playdough

Today was the last day of the holiday vacation. Tomorrow starts the routine of packing lunches, picking out school clothes, doing homework, and playing hard at school. So, we spent most of today in the kitchen making homemade playdough, cutting paper, stamping, and painting. All three of my children said that making the playdough was their favorite part of "craft time".

Recipe:
2 cups flour
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. salt

Combine and mix well. If consistency is dry, add water as needed.
Add food coloring of choice. Store in airtight containers or sealed bag.
This recipe made enough for each of my children to have a little over a cup of playdough for themselves.

Chehaw Wild Animal Park

We like to take advantage of our annual membership to the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums so we decided to FINALLY stop and visit Chehaw Wild Animal Park that we pass at least three times a year (on our way to and from my mother's house), but have never visited. My sister and her daughter went along with us and I'm so glad they did! The kids loved the animals and we were very impressed with the park itself. The playground was 'DA BOMB and we were surprised to find that the park also had a professional 18 hole frisbee disc golf course, a BMX Bicycle track, and a long walking trail....all of this in Albany, GA!

After loading the pictures above, I think I posted more of the humans than I did of the wild animals. Well, Mitch might be considered a little wild.....roar!