Please pray for Steph

Our friend Steph is 16 years old. She is fun to be around and is very likeable...if you ever get the chance to meet her you will discover how great she is! Steph is a part of our youth group and has been our friend for the past 3 years. Unlike most 16 year olds, Steph has been fighting cancer for the past year and a half. It all started when she was having leg cramps during track practice. They took her to the doctor thinking she might have a pulled muscle or something and discover that she has cancer in her leg and very small cancer spots on her lungs. She goes through a very strong chemo treatment and is in the clear. In fact, we held a party for her at church because she was in remission and she had made it through her chemo treatment and was cancer free!!! I wish that was the end of the story and we could say she went back to track practice and lived happily ever after, but only 3 months later does she go in for another scan to find the cancer rapidly growing all over her lungs. Then for months she tries a series of different chemo treatments and none of them are working...all the while the cancer is growing very quickly. During this time the cancer did not respond at all to her chemo treatments. Then something happened. There were lots of prayers lifted up for Steph at Faith Quest. And later I found out from Steph that she was losing hope...she felt like she might be dying...but she realized one day that she hadn't been praying. So she decided to start praying to God every day that He would help her. That's when she started a new chemo treatment. God was good and heard all of our prayers, and the chemo worked. Her cancer has now shrunk significantly. But it's not gone yet. It's not over yet. We have one last battle against this cancer. Tomorrow, January 4th, she starts her LAST treatment of this particular chemo...it's the LAST dose that she can get of the ONLY chemo treatment that has been defeating her cancer. I wanted to tell you this so that you will pray for Steph. She starts tomorrow January 4th and gets this chemo treatment for 5 days. Will you please pray every day for Steph? We really need God to kick this cancer in the butt once and for all. Please remember Steph. And I promise that when all is said and done that I will tell you the outcome as soon as I find out. Thank you for praying!

Here is Steph and her family at her Make a Wish trip...she got to meet the Grey's Anatomy cast and watch them film an episode!

The fun we had

I think there are a lot of reasons why Christmas always ends up being a good time. The excitement and laughter of family getting together is part of it. And of course there is always a good old fashioned baby-tickling that can be fun. Watching your nephew dress up in his new Superman costume...
Or maybe it's the guys doing the dishes after Christmas dinner...

Family - together playing games, eating good food and enjoying eachother's company...

And it could be your baby sleeping from takeoff to landing that makes Christmas travel so perfect...

The sparkle and glow of the Christmas trees, cousins playing together, Family Feud and Phase 10 until late in the night, eating excellent food, it's all of these things and more that made Christmas so special this year. I hope that yours was filled to the brim with family and friends!

Technology

So I was thinking the other day that when I first went to grade school, my friend's mom was the secretary and she did all of her work on a typewriter...I know this because we often played on it after school! By the time I was in 5th grade we had computers in our classroom and played the original Oregon Trail game. That was awesome! In 7th grade, we had a computer lab and that's when I learned how to type and make a basic excel worksheet. It wasn't until my Freshman year in college that I signed up for an email account. And I finally owned my very own computer after my Junior year of college. I say all this to say how quickly and how amazing technology progresses.

I can only imagine what technology will be like when my baby goes to school...power point presentations for show and tell and who knows what else.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

There's just nothing quite like having snow. Every season is so beautiful for its uniqueness...spring flowers, summer sun, autumn leaves, and snow in the winter! We had snow over Thanksgiving and it was glorious! It gets quiet, things slow down and it takes you back to snow angel days! I love snow!

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for...
Relationship with God
The best husband
Sweet son
Family
Friends
A loving church
Warm home
Refrigerator & cupboards full of food
Good health
The beautiful state of Washington
Starbucks coffee
Running car
Clothes
Target
Rain
Trees
Turkey & Cranberry sauce
Van Morrison's music
A good book
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Fresh baked cookies

I sometimes forget what I am thankful for. This was a good reminder for me to sit down and think of specific things God blesses me with. What are you thankful for today?

A typical day in the life of me...

Every day, many times each day, my son gets his little counting colors music train out and hooks it up. Here is how the full volume song goes (minus the catchy little music):

The music train is on the track
Singing a song
Clickety clack
The music train is ready to go
Get on board hear the whistle blow
Red car with one teddy bear
1! We're having fun! (grrrrr)
Orange car with 2 shiny bells
1 2! They ring for you! (ding ding)
Yellow car with 3 fuzzy ducks
1 2 3! Quack for me (quack, quack, quack)
Green Car with 4 little drums
1 2 3 4! Play some more (drum sound)
Blue Car with 5 square blocks
1 2 3 4 5! At the station willow ride
The music train is ready to go
Get on board hear the whistle blow!

I go around singing this song when I am in the shower, driving in the car, while cooking in the kitchen. I can not stop singing it! I am guessing some of you out there have a similar toy story. I'd like to hear about it...

Superbaby

Should you find yourself in dangers way, call superbaby to save the day. I realize he only has his little scooter to rescue you, but never underestimate the speed of him on his machine! He can pull books off shelves in a flash and stir toilet water in the blink of an eye!