Brennan's 1st Birthday

This was taken at Brennan's birthday party, three days after the official day. Cake seemed to be a hit =)


















This is Brennan on his birthday. Our two youngest had had surgery that morning, but I really wanted to see the The Boy on his day. I enjoyed visiting him that evening for a bit.

A Thought, Part Two

On Sunday nights our preacher is going through Genesis. Tonight we studied chapter 12 in which God tells Abram to go up from his home to an unknown place. Again, like Noah, he simply went when told. It occurred to me as Abram's prosperity was discussed, that his obedience was only part of a chain reaction of good and right. It was God Who really brought about prosperity and blessing because *He* gave the orders. Sure, we participate through our obedience, but God is all wise, and as a result, doing His will is superior to our own. Our absolute obedience, even when we can't make sense of the order, logically or emotionally, is essential for our own well being because God is sovereign. No amount of rationalizing or excuse making from our meager selves can register any competition for the wisdom of the Master Planner and Creator.

A Thought

Tonight we listened to a sermon about the account of the flood. The point was made that the story is told with no detail of Noah's thoughts or feelings. We just don't know anything about that. It was also mentioned that we really know very little of the realities of the human experience during the whole thing; that in fact, when we retell the story, we often embellish with conjecture of our own imagining. Surely it is hard not to ask all those questions about the building of the ark and the many logistical curiosities on the ark - for a year, no less.

I wondered tonight, though, about "why" God is so brief about things that we would've spent much space and effort telling. I might suggest that it could be our emotional response *should* be based only on what God revealed: that men were evil, that mass destruction was the consequence, and that Noah was righteous enough to be spared by God through his obedience as God instructed him.

If I concentrate on that - on just what is recorded for us - I find myself feeling grief over such a tragedy. How devastating it surely is for God to watch His masterpiece be maimed to the point that He just wants to scrap the whole thing. The point was made tonight as well that we don't see Noah speaking at all until after the flood account is complete. He simply obeyed all that he was commanded.

My other response is admiration for Noah's trust and radical obedience. Even greater is the awe as we see God spare of small piece of the masterpiece in order that He might start all over, knowing that men will still be evil.

It's surely interesting to imagine what all may have transpired that is not recorded, but I think it was good to reflect tonight on just what God shared and no more. Our immediate and complete obedience *is* required. No arguing. No watering down. No excuses. Period. The flood is also a very stark reminder of how ugly and destructive our sin is and how generously merciful God is to fool with us at all, let alone that "it pleased the Lord to bruise [Jesus]" for us. Isaiah 53:10 .

Surgery Day (cont'd)

Surgery Day

I am feeling so grateful! I asked God to allow both kiddos to be healthy enough to keep the original surgery date. I am grateful for His blessing in allowing that. Both children did well.

Nancy had thick, gluey gunk in both ears. It was so thick that the normal suction wouldn't pull it through. The doctor had to get out the larger suction tool. Her adenoids were (expectedly) huge. She will have a hearing test in four weeks to check for success.

Jason's retraction pocket had not grown in diameter but had markedly in depth. It left the eardrum flimsy and weak. Draining the ear and placing the tube should allow the eardrum to return to normal. His other tube was removed and replaced to give both ears the same calendar. The doctor thought, from observing the ears, that he would need multiple sets of tubes. That is common with a cleft palate. We had hoped for uncommon, because he has been atypical in so many ways so far. Oh well. I am so grateful that his hearing is better than normal for a child with a cleft and that he is doing so much better than was predicted in his early months.

All the pictures are before surgery except the wheelchair one. Nancy must have been wiggly as both her solos are blurry. Oh, it was so nice to have one bed for both before surgery. It eliminated the need to be in two places at once. There was only a brief (seconds) time when we needed to be in two places afterwards. I was grateful that the hospital staff was so accomodating. God certainly blessed us with a great outcome and an equally good experience. Thanks to Him!

The Grandchildren

Joseph's Endeavors

While I was sick (for several days) we got a bit of snow. Joseph wrote a message for me in the snow.
Joseph recently found a dead coyote on our property. It was cold enough then to have frozen it. He decided to make himself a rug. With the advice of experience, he successfully skinned, cleaned and preserved the hide. He now has some fine tuning to do with cleaning and aesthetics. He has devoted several hours to this project in "typical of Joseph" style.