Lots of updates

Mardi Gras Girl! Ella wasn't able to go to a birthday party for a friend in her class but his brother came to Ben's party and gave her these party favors. She told me she was Mardi Gras girl and if she zapped her hands at me she could throw me around the room. I suggested she zap her hands and make the house be clean.

Max and MT with one of the toys he got from his party. Nerf guns with vests to mark their targets.

Because Mark Thomas's birthday is on December 1st, putting a party together for him is always so difficult for me. The time of year is just so busy for our family so this year we decided to do a combined party with Ben, since his birthday is at the end of January. The store I work at owns the only skating rink in town so we booked a private party for two hours and they each invited several friends. They had a great time and I'm thinking it was one of the easiest parties I've ever put together. So maybe this will become a yearly event.







The boys took this picture of Whiskers and thought it was so hilarious that her eyes were green. They laughed and laughed, to the point of it not being funny to the mom in the house.

Mark brought home some interesting gifts for the kids this time. He visited a store where he could purchase custom made scrubs and lotions so Ellas was dying to try hers out. Quite the beauty huh?

While Mark was gone working on his doctorate we had many eventful days. I was sick the first week he was gone. So thankful that I had taken a week of vacation from work because all I did was lay on the couch. The second week went better but it was pretty crazy getting all 4 kids out the door each morning and getting everything done in the evening. One evening I went to get into the program on my computer where I keep all my financial info and realized that the file wouldn't open. I spent almost an hour online with a Quicken rep only to discover that my files had somehow been corrupted so all of my data was lost. I was nearly in tears. I got up from the computer and turned the corner only to discover that while I was lamenting over the programing error, Max had made dinner for everyone. He can really be such a help when he wants to.

Ella went to a Build a Bear party two weeks ago and came home with "Mini Ben". Out of all the girly things she could have chosen, she picked a dog and dressed him up like a boy scout and named him after her brother. She even had Mini-Ben put on his birth certificate. When I asked the other two boys how they felt about not having him named after them they looked at me and said, "we don't care." Such kindness in their hearts.

Mark went to his first youth lock in and slept the better part of the next day on the couch. Isn't he so cute?

Over half way there

Well we're over half way into our tour at home without Dad. Mark left last week for his two week stint in Austin to work on his doctorate. He goes for two weeks in January and two weeks in June. I took the first week off from work just to be able to relax a little while the kids were at school. My relaxing turned into laying on the couch almost every day because I had a cold that just now seems to be on it's way out. I watched several movies on tv and napped more than I have in years so I guess I can't complain.

I know Mark feels like we can get along without him just fine, but that's simply not true. We miss him terribly. The kids ask me every day, "how many more days until Dad gets home?" and when people ask them where their dad is, the little ones will say, "he's at pastor school." I can't even begin to list all the ways I miss him. I always take on new appreciation for single parents with multiple kids. I really do not know how they do it. Actually, I do, but not long term and without a supportive spouse that always returns home. Hurry home Mark. We'll all be here waiting for you!

Cancer Sucks

It seems like when I was younger I heard about cancer every now and then. Maybe someone you knew, knew someone suffering with a horrible form but now it seems like cancer is everywhere and affects the least likely people at the youngest of ages. This week someone I went to high school with passed away at the young age of 31. Only married 4 years and full of life. She fought for 10 hard months but lost the battle. We ran in similar circles and played on the tennis team together but did not know each other that well. I've kept up with her journal for the last few months and was so impressed with her bravery and strength. Please pray for her family as they remember her tomorrow at her funeral and pray for strength and courage to get through the coming days. Her name was Megan.

I also received an email from my mother in law this morning that my sister in law's mother was going in for a cat scan today for a mass that was found on one of her lungs. The scan may not be that clear because the dye burst one of her veins today, very painful I was told, and they're not yet sure if they'll get a clear enough image to give them a diagnosis. Prayers that the scan is clear enough to read and that the news is positive would be greatly appreciated.

As Megan said several times, "Cancer Sucks." May you rest peacefully on this new journey.