Tubing on Grand Lake

The sweet, gracious family that let use their lake house for our family retreat also gave us access to their boats, tubes, wake boards, and wave runners. Here are a few pics of the TUBING. And let me just say " I ROCKED IT! Aw yeah... Aw yeah... I still got it goin' on!"




Yep... that's me up there ^^^

And here are a few of everyone else! The kids had a blast! Especially the boys, trying to see who could stay on the longest. Nathan held the record for awile... Drew always complaining Nate was kicking him off. We were like "Yeah... whatever Drew!!" Then Bryce dualed with him, and we noticed Nathan WAS in fact putting his legs all the way to the other guys side... and nudging him off the edge!! At one point Nathans legs were on TOP of Bryson's legs! It was hilarious to watch. That particular ride Nate fell off and Bryce was the champ. And of course we gave Nathan a VERY hard time, and told him that we now know his trick! The kids loved it!









And... a few more of me because I feel like bragging a lil' more. Aw yeah... Aw yeah...

Classroom, Pupils, and Me

Here's a few pics of our new school room. And here are a few pics of my kids being goofy. We learn alot in here... and we laugh alot.












Me and my cushy teacher job. This is job satisfaction. For today, anyway. Er... for the moment, anyway.

School of Fish

What a lucky day... we happened to be learning about FISH in our science book. The kids were just a little bit excited. You know... along down the way on the chain we are studying.... from Vertibrates to Cold-blooded to FISH.
We read our pages and talked extensively about the characteristics of fish. They knew most of it just from the hours and hours and hours they have fished in our pond over the summer so far, but connecting the dots and getting more details from the book was great info.
Charis had the grand idea that once we finished studying and learning about it, they could all go out and fish together. They hoped to catch some fish and check the fish for scales, for the clear slimy substance on the fish, (to see that catfish don't have scales, but the bass and perch maybe do), and maybe even to see if there were any parasites on the fish. So they went out to the pond, and just a few minutes later Bryce had caught a catfish. How fun... THIS is one of the many reasons why I LOVE learning at home!!

ps. Well... they didn't catch a fish with scales. Hmmmm... maybe I will send them back outside to fish a little longer. You know... for research purposes

pss. the catfish was not out of the water long... we made sure he swam away.

psss. we are having salmon for dinner tonight.

E-mail from Dad and Janice... 1st weekend at MD Anderson

(Janice typing)
For years, I have looked for an old friend that I met in Bible School. Could not find her. She was a Haitian Missionary and nurse. Last week, I got a lead as to her new last name. I Googled her and found her in South Dakota. She was connected to a Hospice Center, which I now know, she owns. I called the hospice at 5:30 yesterday and her answering service put me through to her. It was wonderful to renew our friendship!!!! I told her what Tom is going through and then I started taking notes. She told me exactly how to help him. He has suffered for 2.5 weeks with a terrible headache that was increasing which causes nausea and he does not want to get off the sofa. She said narcotics will not help this pain, he needs Dex (anti-inflammatory). She told me the dosage. I called the ER and got the doc to call it in... he was willing to help. He had his first dose at 8pm last night. He has not had any narcotics since. Praise God! Now that was around the elbow to get to the thumb, BUT GOD!!! Yahoo!
Now that was me, now Tom wants to talk...
(Dad typing)
Janice had told me a year or two ago (one of few times we were talking about motorcycles) about this motorcycle club that came to Florida every year to their church and stayed at their house each time. She described them a very big, burly, tattooed, biker dudes..... one always, upon arrival, walked to the back yard and got a drink out of the swimming pool !! Keeps down the parasites you know. I have many times noticed their members around wherever I go--- it’s an international motorcycle club called the "Tribe of Judea"--- they are reformed bad boy and girl bikers. I've even thought that I might someday want to join one of their chapters.
Yesterday, Janice told me that she knew the overall head of the club and his wife from their visits to Florida and she thought their headquarters and church was here around Houston. I asked her to find out, as I thought I would like to attend their church today.
We attended with Daniel and Tasha this morning..... the attached photos are from the service.
The pastor (and head of the international club), during his sermon, stopped, walked down straight to me, asked my name and said he knew I suffering from a major health problem and needed prayer, which he did right then..... later at the end of the service, he and his wife and two other men (one with a cancer diagnosis from February and now is cancer free) prayed for me again.
Told them I intend to come back "on MY ride" sometime but they might not appreciate as I suspected they are all Harley guy/gals)..... they said that me and my Beamer would be quite welcome anytime.
Been walking and sitting with my head up all day without any narcotics..... new meds from Janice’s old friend and complements of her ER doc friend.
Hopefully, tomorrow, we will get appointment with pain management people and schedule for chemo.
Good to let you know positive things.
Love you guys, Dad

First Day Of School, 2011-2012

I was still dreaming, I think, when Charis crawled into bed and whispered excitedly "Mommy!! This is our first day of school!!" I rolled over and hugged her and said "I know! Are you ready?" She was, and so was I. She wanted to help me make breakfast so we made oatmeal and set out frozen fruit cups. Selah and Bryce woke up shortly after... no wait... Bryce was already out fishing at the pond... but Selah woke up and Bryce happened to come in just in time for breakfast. For a split second I thought he might complain when I said "Hey Buddy! Time to come on in and start school." But he said "Okay!" So while I dished up breakfast, the kids got their bibles and our Devotional book (that we will read from each morning to start our day). We had a wonderful breakfast together reading and talking about God answering our prayers.

Afterwards we moved to the couch and did some science, learning about invertebrates, vertebrates, cold-blood animals, and what it means to "classify" something scientifically. We had fun classifying a handful of pens and pencils. Then they did math for a bit. Both kids are doing 3rd grade math this year. Together we started memorizing/learning vo-cab words (Wordly Wise) and they had some chapter book reading time.

After a morning of good learning time, I took them to Panera for a sweet treat to celebrate our first day. Over some bagels and cinnamon rolls, we all filled out a little questionaire I made up quick before we left. Questions like:

"Every day my favorite thing to do is_______"
Bryce and Charis said "FISH"
Selah said "homescool and spend time with friends and family and soccer."

"God is awesome when______"
Charis said "he gives me food!"
Selah said "When he answers prayrs."
Bryce said "He helps us get through things"

"If I could have 1 wish it would be______"
Bryce said "That we could go back to the day were Grandma Vicki wase alive."
Charis said "That my brother and sister are nice!"
Selah said "that nothing would go on bad with cancer."

"What I love about my family______"
Bryce said "when we fish together"
Selah said "is when they are so fun and my family rocks and a lot of more stuf"
Charis said "our hom and tha bi me toyz"

"When I grow up I want to______"
Selah said "be a cook or a soccer player"
Bryce said "be a snake handler"
Charis said "be a sientist"

And maybe my favorite question of all...
"Today is our 1st day of school. I like to home school because______"
Charis said "my Mommy techez me"
Bryce said "my Mom teaches me. Sometims I get a little bored."
Selah said "of my teacher because she is so nice. And my brother and sister. We have so much fun all year."

Well... no pressure at all... but sounds like they love that I'm their teacher. And if we can enjoy being together, and keep it exciting, and have fun all year... then I think we will have succeeded. Here we go...

Grandma Rada's Garden and Summer Stand

The kids and I visited my Grandma Rada today. She is my Grandma ~ my Mom's Mom. I love being around her... it's so much like being around my Mom and it brings back floods of memories while we are visiting her.
After giving her the update on everyone in the family, and after she popped Charis' toes, and after she played Chinese Checkers on the floor with the kids, we went on a tour of her gardens. This 100+ heat for days and days now has been hard on her and the gardens, but the kids did get to harvest some tomatoes, cucs, and an okra. She grows veggies to sell to lake neighbors and guests. Mostly though she cans jellies, jams, veggies and fruits (and some in ways I've never even heard of). She bakes pies and desserts and breads and has them frozen, ready for people to buy. Every summer she sets up a stand in her front yard. People just stop in and buy them from her right off of her little stand. She said she canned and sold over 48 jars of pickled okra alone so far this summer, $4 a pint.




Grandma Rada's gardens




And this is a picture of her creepy looking scare-crow. Or Scare-deer. I don't know what it is... but it's freaky looking. She says it scares the birds and deer away. I don't even want to know what the neighbors have to say about this as they drive by, ha ha! Oh well... God love her! And I don't think I should ever tell Tasha that she said "I named her TASHA after Daniel's wife!"

Finishing His Life Out with a Passion for God

I don't even know how to begin this post. I have sat here and typed several attempts at an introduction for this blog post. I stare at it, and then hold down the delete key. I'm not sure if it's because it hurts too bad to put it out there... I'm not sure if I'm worried that it appears I may not have enough faith... I'm not sure if I feel like I've had my share of telling and explaining and venting and rationalizing and grieving about my Mom and her cancer, and now here I go all over again, but about my Dad this time... In any case, I find me and my brothers here in this same spot again. Deja vu. And only 3.5 years later. This time preparing ourselves to say Goodbye to our Dad.

A few months ago Dad was diagnosed with tonsil/throat cancer. Due to the rarity and nature of that particular cancer, the treatment options are limited, and the chances of getting rid of it are slim. After some chemo and cyber-knife radiation, sadly the cancer has spread all over his body. It has moved in aggressively and the Doctors told Dad there is really nothing they can do for him at this point, at least no options here in Tulsa. They are giving him a "few months" to live. He does have an appointment scheduled at MD Anderson in Houston in a couple weeks, and Lord willing, hopefully they will have a treatment fitting for Dad that will give him more time with us.

This weekend my brothers and their families all came to town to see Dad and to have the opportunity to be together as a family (deja vu). A sweet family in our church blessed us with their hospitality and offered us their lake home for the weekend. Together we had an amazing, sad, wonderful, fun, surreal, story-telling, prayerful, emotional, sentimental, painful, beautiful, memorable time together.
Dad wanted us to have communion together as a family. We listened to some of his favorite hymns from the group Selah, then we all dipped our crackers in the juice, partaking of the Lord's supper together as a family. Dad prayed the communion prayer. Hearing him pray like that immediately brought back memories of him praying the communion prayers at church long ago when he was an elder and leader in the church. He thanked God for his grace. For loving us and desiring us, even when we don't deserve it. He thanked the Lord for the sacrifice that he made on the cross so that we get to have life in heaven when life on earth is done.

Dad told us that what he is living for now is to have a Passion for God like he's never had before. He wants to finish his life out with that passion. We laid hands on him, and my brothers and I prayed for him. Janice prayed for him. We prayed for his healing and the treatments and medicines to give him more time. We prayed for his strength. But mostly, my brothers and I thanked God for giving us the kind of Dad that we got. We thanked God for the love our Dad has for each of us. We thanked Him for the times he was hard on us. We thanked God for our Dad's wisdom and understanding and example of what a Father's unconditional love feels like, and how that it has made it easy to understand God's love for us.

In the midst of the storms, we find the ability to be thankful at our core. I can't explain it logically. Maybe because it's ingrained in us... the understanding of it runs through us... its called FAITH. Faith that no matter what happens, God is taking care of us. No matter how painful, or how concrete, or how out-of-our-hands the situation is, God is here. I can find rest beyond belief just in knowing that. And while for the time being, "passion" isn't one of the feelings I can find with-in myself, I will watch in wonder and awe as my Dad is finishing his life with it. And as always... his example to us will no doubt leave a lasting impression.


Daniel and I talking and laughing with Dad

Dad, Janice, and the grandkids...

Dad and Ella

Dad and Brynlee

Turkey Mountain Tatur Run

Alan and Selah did a run last Saturday. Through wilderness trails. On Turkey Mountain in Tulsa. They ran the 4.1 mile loop on the terrain. And they loved it! It was a fun time for just the two of them. I think they ran another 1 mile loop before I came to get Selah to take her to her indoor soccer game. Alan stayed behind and waited to get her medal for her, and he ran another 4 miles while waiting, so 9 for him altogether. Wow.

My Kids Rock ~ Just Sayin'