My salsa girl is back!!

My beautiful Hannah - I am so grateful to the Lord for what He has done in healing her over the last months!  She is feeling so much better!

For the past couple of years, my poor girl has been so fatigued and in pain that she could barely do anything.  Getting out of bed some days was a major accomplishment.  Walking around a little made her exhausted, and it was a big ordeal when she was downstairs with us more than she was in bed.  Doing school was out of the question.  Exercise was impossible.  Being upbeat and making us all laugh only happened on good days.

All that has changed.

She still has some days that are better than others, and can still struggle with fatigue.  But yesterday my "salsa girl" was back in full force!  It was amazing!  She got up early, did a ton of schoolwork, ran errands with me, took Indy to get groomed, came home and went running with Jacob, then proceeded to take a shower, straighten her hair (which she hasn't had strength to do in months), then do a ton more schoolwork, and then ask - "can we do something?"  

Yes!  She is coming back!!!!

Creation Museum

Last weekend we had an amazing trip to visit the Creation Museum in Kentucky.  It was worth every minute of the drive - what a FANTASTIC representation of creation, the amazing work of God, and how science proves the Bible.  There is an emphasis on Creation vs. Evolution - what a great way to solidify this truth - the word of God is used as the starting point and final authority.  It was refreshing beyond words to be in a public place and have God be glorified!!  How incredible to be in a museum and not have to explain to the kids over and over how what is taught in schools today about evolution is all wrong and that God is the author and creator of all!!

This is the front of the museum, which is set amongst lush gardens with fountains and beautiful bridges.

A replica of "Lucy", the supposed "proof" that man evolved from apes...  the "missing link"...

There were incredible life-sized displays from accounts of the Bible. 

Somehow, this door was the thing that most struck me while we were there.  (If you can't read it, it says "The world's not safe anymore")  It just exemplifies exactly how I feel as a mother - I want to bolt my kids inside and shield them from all the wrong and harmful influences in the world that try to tell them that there is no God, that we all happened by chance, that pursuing the pleasures of the world is okay.  It is our temptation as parents to do just that - lock them in.    Instead, we are trying to prepare them to defend their faith, for the assault on it will come as surely as the sun will rise and set each day.

Here is Jacob and Indy at the hotel - we took Indy with us on this trip - he did a great job and was a perfect pooch!  It was fun to bring him!

Below is an example of the types of things you can read at the museum...

Jacob at shooting practice

Jacob has joined the Antietam Junior Rifle Club as a member of the competitive precision shooting team.  This is an amazing sport that we are just learning all about!  He has practice every week, and then competitions interspersed in there, with at least one a month once he is ready for that.  This is the same sport that you see in the Olympics - it is really so much more intense than we thought - but Jacob loves the discipline of it. 

 This is the club where he practices each week - it is a drive of over an hour each way from our house.

 This is the view I get when I watch the team shoot.  Those targets are awfully small and far away!   Jacob seems to be a natural at it... 

 Here is Jacob working with his coach.  This is an incredible man who has given up the position of shooting coach at the Naval Academy so that he can work with this team - he has been doing it for 38 years!!  

 Listening intently...

 They stand under this awning to shoot, but it sure gets hot out there.  In the winter they shoot indoors.

On the way home last week we got behind an Air Force Protocol Aircraft/Drone of some sort being transported down the highway (you can see it way up in the front) and it was soooo cool to see.  It took up two lanes and with all the police escort we weren't able to get close to it, but it was neat even from far away.  

Jacob's last days of class 10th grade

In the last couple of weeks, Jacob has had his final classes for the year.  I know he is rejoicing!  It was a challenging year but he came out with all A's again - so proud of him!  I took these pictures so that I could remember the sweet moments of driving to pick him up, week after week, excited to hear how class went.  I will definitely miss these moments some day...

This is him walking out of Mrs. Ellis' class - the science teacher he has had for three years - and he will never have her again!! Sooooo sad!  Fortunately for me, Hannah has her still...

And his last day at MCI, carrying out all his art projects for the year.  I KNOW he is glad this is over...

Hannah's Artwork

Well, these photos need no explanation.  Hannah has been working on some watercolor at home in her art studio (her bedroom!) and coming out with some amazing, amazing paintings.  I couldn't be more proud of her - her artwork brings such pleasure.  I am always amazed at what talent God has given her to enjoy and glorify him with.  

Ryan Turns 12

On April 29th, Ryan (my baby) turned twelve!  I can't believe it.  The days with my children are flying by.  We have them but for a moment more, and then they will be gone...

Okay - enough sad stuff.  Ryan's birthday was extra fun and special this year and I don't want to take away from it!

He had a Stargate birthday cake... (pumpkin of course)

Danny took Ryan and the boys to a shooting range in Baltimore that turned out to be a blast! (no pun intended!!)

 No, Jacob and Grandpa are not star-gazing with cookies on their foreheads.  When the boys got home, we played a sort of "minute to win it" type of game - where there were many challenges which had to be accomplished in one minute or less.  We had teams and we kept score to see who would win the grand prize.  It was a BLAST!  Grandma and Grandpa were here, and so it was hilarious watching all of us and them try to perform silly challenges.

Here is Jacob trying to do the cookie challenge.

And Ryan trying to flip pencils into a cup...

But alas, as predicted, Jacob and Hannah won the grand prize!  This included a nice little plastic gold trophy, some candy, and some money... 

Catching Up - Starting with Florida

In March, we went to Disney for about nine days and had one of the most wonderful family vacations we have ever had.  I don't know why, but it just seemed to be more fun than usual, and we had more family "moments" that seemed special.  I absolutely adore this picture of Jacob and Hannah.

And this shot of Jacob is incredible.  He is so photogenic, I don't think he could take a bad picture.

The only down side to the whole trip was coming out of Epcot late one night and finding our rental car looking like this.  That was not fun.  Danny had to stay to take care of it (while we took a cab home) and he didn't get back to the house until nearly 3 a.m.