One comes home and one leaves home

Thank you for praying for Daniel.  He's home now and doing well.  The doctor called it an acute pancreatic attack with no known cause.  All Daniel knows is that it felt awful, and he hopes it doesn't happen again.  So thankful that he is feeling better,  and thank you again so much for praying.

Friday, we dropped Timothy off at West Coast Baptist College.  That was NOT easy!  Elijah and Samuel went with us.  Samuel thought the 3 hour orientation that we sat through was "college".   After getting Timothy all settled in his dorm, we walked together to the car.  I told Samuel to say good-bye to brother.  He looked at me and said, "I thought college was done?"    When I told him Timothy had a lot more college to do and when he suddenly realized that Timothy was not getting back into the car with us, he said, "We aren't going to have 12 children anymore?  Only 11?"    As I looked at 5 year old Samuel, a flood of memories washed over me.  Wasn't it just yesterday that I started Timothy in Kindergarten?  Did I just take him to the park, push him on the swings, watch him bat a ball to his brother, and help him match his clothes...wait...maybe I still do the last one. :)     So proud, so excited, and soooo missing him!   Thankfully he's only a phone call/email away and most importantly, always in the loving care of our Lord!

Lancaster, CA is hot, dry, windy, flat desert.  Just like Baja Sur....we felt right at home.  This coming week, Timothy will register for his classes and begin looking for a job.  We continue to pray for the Lord to protect, guide, and provide for Timothy's every need.   

It's strange how there are still 13 people in this house, yet it feels sort of empty today.  Our table is a little less squished.  Somehow I managed to dish up 14 plates for lunch today.  I promised I counted 13.  At least I thought I did.  This will take some getting use to.  I'm looking forward to Christmas this year more than ever.  

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."  III John 4

Please pray for Daniel....he's in the hospital

I know it has been awhile :)  Most days I get a comment or email letting me know we are being prayed for and thought of and missed.  And I am so grateful for those prayers and the care of so many.

We are all doing well...well, except for Daniel who's in the hospital right now.  He's been out of town working and got a severe case of pancreatitis.  Thankfully, he's working with his brother in law and he got him to the ER early Tuesday morning.  They thought at first he was having a heart attack, but later determined it was abdominal and the tests pointed to his pancreas.  He's stable, but in a lot of pain, and on a complete fast in order to let his pancreas heal.  He's about 3 1/2 hours from us.  I just want to be with him, and am hoping to get down there by this evening.  Please pray.

  Timothy and Elijah graduated this year, and last week a dear friend of mine, who is also an amazing photographer, got together with us for a photo shoot.  We hadn't had a family picture taken in 3 years, so this was so special.  She took individuals of the children, shots of the brothers, the sisters, Daniel and I, and several of Timothy and Elijah for their Senior pictures.  Sweet pictures, fun pictures, and everything in between.  I think we were out there for about 3 hours.  I can't wait to get our disc and will be sure to share some with you all when I get them.
 
Timothy is heading to Bible college this week.  If Daniel's still in the hospital, I'll be driving him there myself.  I'm so very proud, excited, sad, and missing him all at once.

We started our new school year last week, but are taking a break this week with Daniel's situation and getting Timothy ready to go.  We'll start back up, Lord willing, after Labor Day and am excited about another year to learn and grow together.

The path has been long and hard, but there are so many beautiful sights along the way.  We appreciate your prayers so much.  God is so very faithful and so good!