The Lady Crusaders

Freshman Volleyball!!



I got myself in to big trouble for posting about football and not mentioning that
Hannah is playing on the freshman volleyball team at school. She is having a great time and improving daily it seems.

The team is 2-0 and there is another game on Friday.

The girls had practice and try-outs in mid August before school started so Hannah had made some friends before the first day of school. That was a very good thing for my sometimes timid Hannah. She is loving volleyball and plays at the net to block and hit (eventually to spike it down the opponent's throat, did I just type that?).

We are having to learn a lot about the game. I played in high school but boy have things changed. I'm old school, that's for sure. No more play until the first one reaches 15 and you can only score when you serve. Oh, and the serve can tip the net and still be in play. What?

* they play to 25 pts.
* you can score a point on the opponent's serve
* the serve can tip the net, as long as it is in
* rotation is weird and I haven't figured it out
* the varsity teams uses a libero and I don't know what that is except she wears a different color jersey. Great.

I am very proud of Hannah!! She is having a great time learning the game and all the other stuff you learn about life while participating in a team sport.

GO CRUSADERS!!

Bald is Beautiful!

Picture by Michael Schennum for the Arizona Republic



I called the newspaper today to compliment this man on his amazing photograph. Everything about this picture is awesome; the subject, first and foremost, the angle, the black and white choice, the positioning of the firemen and the pleasant looks on their faces. It deserves an award. Can you tell I'm impressed? Sorry for the poor quality, I had to scan it.

Go to this link, scroll down and click "Shaving their hair for cancer awareness". It is a short video and the beautiful picture is at the end.

The Peoria firemen raised over $2,000.00 that day for the Phoenix Children's Hospital.

It was a tremendous blessing to be there on that day to see so many men willing to shave their heads in honor of Josh and others who have cancer. A female fire fighter even did it, you'll see that in the video.

Josh and his family appeared on three local newscasts on Friday night and then 4 big pictures in the Sunday paper. Josh is like, so cool and famous :-)

Please continue to pray for Joshua. He checks back in to PCH on Thursday for his third round of chemo. He will have to stay one week.

NCS Crusaders

I thought the bag was cool and then I turned it around!










Wow!! That's really cool.





James is playing on a 7/8 grade tackle football team representing his new school. We know 3 of his coaches and they are wonderful Godly men who all have sons on the team.

This is a new experience for us. James has never played organized football, we didn't do the Pop Warner thing. He is in great shape and the coaches are teaching fundamentals so he is having a blast. He is making nice friends and we are getting reacquainted with old friends from our old church.

He is a lineman right now.

I'll try to get a picture of him in his full pads. That starts on Wednesday. Pray it cools down a bit.

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For my family in Wisconsin

"Want it; desire it; earn it; take it."
Vince Lombardi

"Maybe winning isn't everything, but it sure comes way ahead of whatever is second."
Vince Lombardi

Fine Art Wednesday?

Sunflowers
by Shari White



I think I figured it out!! I had too many mega whatevers of pictures on my blog so I went back and deleted several and now it works. At least for today, it works. Isn't it pretty?

PS Two posts in one day! Wow.

In The Oven

Granola!

Dry ingredients
6 C. rolled oats
1 1/2 C. raw sunflower seeds
1 C. wheat germ
1 C. oat bran
1 C. wheat bran
1 C. dry buttermilk powder
1 C. raw slivered almonds
1 T. cinnamon

Wet ingredients
1/2 C. high grade maple syrup
3/4 C. honey
1 1/2 C. canola oil
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Mix wet ingredients in a blender and pour over the dry ingredients. Mix well. Spread evenly on to lined baking sheets. Bake 1 hour stirring every 2o minutes. Do not brown.

While hot add:
1 C. raisins
1 C. dried apples
1 C. dried cranberries

Cool. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy with yogurt :)

I try to buy mostly organic ingredients purchased at Sprouts.

I make this for Josh and his family. It is his special treat after dinner.

Five things on my mind...

Today I will answer yesterday's 5 things that were on my mind.

Summary: God is good.


Did Josh have a good night?

Not only did he have a good night he is doing extremely well. He finished his 2nd round of chemo and was released from the hospital on Monday night. His body is handling it beautifully with only a few little blips here and there. The little blips seem to be related to the spinal tap so Mike and Stacey are working to take care of that. Josh has a spinal tap every week. They have to watch his spinal fluid very carefully, his type of cancer loves spinal fluid. So far, none has been found. Praise God. Josh's parents believe it is God at work in his life and body. They also continue to juice carrots, parsley, apple and beets every single night. (funny, I had a dream about that last night). Dave and I are seriously considering buying a juicer. Probably the Omega.

Glory be to God!


Will Danielle be taken off the waiting list and get in to school?

God saw fit to allow Dani into the Christian school yesterday at 1 pm. School starts on Monday. :) I had a hard week...we were offered a position at the satellite campus (opposite direction and away from her siblings) on Wednesday and with much prayer we decided to turn it down in hopes that something would come up at the main campus. It was a risk because they do not allow transfers during the school year. I was willing to homeschool so it didn't matter that she didn't get in right away, I was counting on someone moving or not liking the school. Not only did God get Dani in to the school He gave her the teacher she wanted. Isn't God kind?

Are we making the right decision for our children?

Thank you, Donna. I believe we are making a good decision for our family. NCS is a very nice place.

I need to start exercising/walking, please cool down!

Yes, cool down!!

Why is there no milk in this house, how did that happen? :)

Got this taken care of by 8:50 am. Also grabbed some o.j. and eggs.

Copy Cat

From Donna's special place, 5 things....


Five things in my freezer:
ground beef
strawberries
pizza
Eggos
chicken

Five things in my closet:
shoes
purses
hats
clothing
BB gun


Five things in my car:
garbage
empty cup
pens/pencils
cds
toys

Five things in my purse:
Burt's Bees lip gloss
wallet
cell phone
peppermint gum
mints


Five things on my mind:
did Josh have a good night?
will Danielle be taken off the waiting list and get in to school?
are we making the right decision for our children?
I need to start exercising/walking, please cool down!
why is there no milk in this house, how did that happen? :)



Donna has also been doing Fine Art Friday.

So again, I copy her....it's a compliment

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Why can't I post pictures to my blog? I've tried on both computers. It loads and then it says 'done' and when I click done it doesn't show up in my post. UGH. I can't blog without pictures, I'm just like that.

Imagine a bouquet of sunflowers against a brick red background. It's lovely, really it is. I just can't show you.

Happy Birthday Sarah!!

Today is Sarah's 8th Birthday!

Sarah is sporting a brand new pink bike.

She has requested poppy seed chicken for dinner and yummy undercooked chocolate chip cookie bars with icecream for dessert. And she's getting it....all of it :)

She will get to open a few more presents after dinner.

Sarah is a precious gift from the Lord and she is my "princess". Sarah is my little false labor baby. I labored for days and even went in to the hospital once at 3am and then it all stopped and I had to go home. We made her come out a few days later. :-) She weighed 9lb 3oz at birth but now she is my petite one, wearing only a size 6 or 7 slim. She has blue eyes that will melt your heart and a heart as good as gold. She truly is a gift and a joy to our family.

We love you Sarah Hope!


Blogger won't let me post pictures for some reason, I try again later.

Grace

He Giveth More Grace
By Annie Johnson Flint

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Listen here

"Grace and peace be yours in abundance."
1 Peter 1:2b

"...my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Cor. 12:9a

and finally

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;

he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Deut. 31:8

THE lightning strike

The lightning struck only 50 feet away from where we were standing. Lauren (3) and I had just made it down the stairs and we were walking in front of the only open window in the entire cabin. The noise and the light came at the same time and I was frozen in my steps. Never in my 40 years have I heard such a crack. I was completely terrified. Poor little Lauren could feel MY heart racing against her closely pressed chest. We retreated to the downstairs bedroom to compose ourselves for a few minutes and pray that this would please.just.stop!! When I could move again we ran back upstairs, passing the horrible open window, to be with the other 5 kids and I made James help me gather pillows and blankets so I could join the 6 kids upstairs for the rest of the night. The lightning struck a tree only 50 feet away for our cabin in our neighbor's yard.

It pleases Janice to no end that on that trip (4 days) I got almost no sleep. The thunderstorms came precisely at nap time and at 2 in the morning. I was TOAST by the end of it all. Two of my little girls become Cling On's during T-storms so I had constant companions :)



The lightning struck at the tip top of the tree but here in these two pictures you see the lower parts of the tree and where it went in to the ground.

This and That

Hi! All is well, just very busy.

* Josh is doing so well! His first round of chemo has been a breeze (that should be an oxymoron). His blood counts were shocking yesterday, in a good way. Stacey credits the vegetable juicing and the Flor-Essence tea they are drinking. The doctors might start his next round early so he can "get this over with" before the cold and flu season sets in...thank you for praying and be sure to praise God for His many blessings :)

* I spent 4 days last week up near Flagstaff with the kids and one cousin. Almost got struck by lightning (not kidding, I'm still scared), saw 5 beautiful elk, 1 bold blue jay, a fluffy bunny and the power of God in a big way in the form of thunder storms. I'm humbled.

* Our little classical school closed in June. We are putting 3 children in the local Christian school. I have mixed emotions; a little fear and a lot of relief. I'm ready for stability and consistency in my children's education. I have been very busy with all the paper work, school supplies (love buying them) and uniforms etc.

* I keep starting the Fat Flush diet, usually every Monday ;-). I have stopped drinking DC again and I don't have a hard time staying away from sweets. I even like the cran water. I have a hard time eating something completely different than what I've cooked for my family. Last night we had grilled pork chops and delicious, sauteed zucchini with onions and tomatoes. That was a good meal my whole family could enjoy, I need to find more of those.

* I am heading up to the cabin again on Thursday and Dave will join us on Friday when he can sneak away from work. This will probably be our last trip before school starts. I'm looking forward to the cool temps and pine air. I am in my element up there and Chili's is only 25 minutes away :)

See ya later!
Janet