Prayers for Healing

Saturday night, my sister Laura, her husband, two boys, and a friend were involved in a car accident. After swerving to avoid a 4-wheeler that turned in front of their vehicle, they lost control and rolled several times. Laura, her friend, and the boys were brought to a local hospital and released after having their cuts and bruises treated. My sister's husband, Aron, was med-flighted to a hospital in Wichita, KS. He has several broken cervical vertebrae and a severe cut on the back of his head. Praise the Lord that after meeting with a neurosurgeon yesterday, they determined he doesn't need surgery. He is going to have more tests done today to try to determine the source of pain in his shoulder and abdomen.

Please pray for Laura, Aron, and their boys, Gabriel (5) and Micah (3). We are all so thankful that their injuries are not more severe than they are, but it looks like it's going to be a long road of recovery for Aron. We know that our God, the great Healer, hears our prayers. So please pray with boldness and persistence for miraculous healing because we know that we can "ask and it will be given to you..." (Matthew 7:7)

A Fun-Filled Week

Today is Daniel's birthday, and although I don't have any pictures to post (yet), I've been up for awhile (guess who was too excited to sleep in!). So I thought I'd post a few more pictures from our fun-filled week at cousin Faith's house. We're going to be so sad to leave, but we're getting excited to go to Wisconsin to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Pausma and all the Pausma aunts and uncles and cousins.

Norah with sweet Faith Daniel wanted to play on the slip-n-slide all the time, but it was usually too cold for him to go more than a few runs down the slide. (Sorry the picture is sideways.... I thought I rotated it, and now I can't figure out how to change it!)

On Thursday we went to a park. My cousins, Lisa and Michelle, and their kids, along with my aunt Jesse (their mom) who all live in Illinois were able to join us. It was great to be able to see them all again!

Daniel is up to something, as usual! (and I think he has a grape in his mouth!)

Norah with her cousin, Micah

An Outing to the Aquarium

Although we wish Scott could be with us, the kids and I are having a great time with Scott's family this week! On Tuesday, we went to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The kids absolutely loved it; and everyone slept very well after such a busy, fun-filled day!
All the kids were troopers throughout the whole day; Norah is a little tired here, though!

Here is Daniel (I love Daniel's face here; it's a perfect representation of HIM!) with his cousins Blake and Faith.

Scott's mom, my sister-in-law, Lori (along with her two boys, Blake and Micah), and my sister-in-law, Chris and her daughter, Faith, were able to along with us.

Daniel and Calvin are transfixed by a dolphin swimming right in front of them.

The kids had fun dressing up like penguins and playing in a little penguin play area.

Surprise!

This picture says it all... amazingly, we managed to surprise Scott's dad (and mom) for his 60th birthday! It took a lot of planning and coordination with Scott's sisters, but we did it!

Scott's mom was surprised too!

Hugs all around...

Grandpa with all 6 grandkids

Norah was having fun feeding Grandpa his birthday cake.

Then she decided she wanted some cake for herself.

Norah on the wooden horse at Grandma and Grandpa's house

After a wonderful weekend, Scott had to go back home, but I am planning an extended vacation with our family. I'm really enjoying our week with Scott's family so far... more to come!