We Went From Snow to 75 Degrees.......11 days to Go!

"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature". Mark 16:15

Just in case you have forgotten or if you did not check out my last post which was 6 days ago, it snowed. All of the pictures on the post were of the kids playing outside in the snow on Monday. The pictures you now see were taken yesterday, Saturday. We went from several inches of snow to 75 degrees in 6 days! That is crazy weather. It feels at least 80 degrees today. Shane took the first available opportunity to put on one of his "muscle" shirts.

This has been quite a week. I have been pretty sick most of the week and finally after John threatened to kill me to put me out of my misery if I didn't go to the doctor, I relented and went on Thursday. Truthfully, it was not the threat that got me there. It was the fact that Shane started running a fever and coughing on Wednesday. I did not want to wait for the weekend and find out that he needed a doctor so I made an appointment first thing on Wednesday morning. We both were diagnosed with bronchitis and both are on antibiotics. I am feeling better except that I have a troublesome cough that keeps me up at night. John and Jeremy are both starting to get sick also. I am praying that it goes through the family and is long gone by next week......because we all know what is happening next week!

So, other than being sick, let's see what else happened this week......Susie went to the ER on Tuesday night. Praise the Lord she was fine and was home by 1:00 a.m. in the morning. Her 4 kids had a sleepover at Sharon's house for the night. Of course, I was too sick for them to ask me to help out. Thursday night, Susie went back to the ER but this time it was with Cody. He ended up being admitted for a twisted bowel. He was discharged late in the evening on Friday. Three of Susie's kids had a sleepover at Aunt Sharon's house on Thursday night!

I had to travel to Lynchburg on Saturday for a job fair for work. I really didn't feel up to it but it turned out okay. God always gives me the strength and help to do what I need to get done.

Our annual missionary conference started today (Sunday) and we will be at church every night through Wednesday night. We have 5 missionary families represented. Sharon and I will be feeding the missionaries, their families and our Pastor and his family tomorrow night. Thank goodness we are very experienced at cooking for 20 or people at a time as our family gatherings usually have 20 - 25 family members attending.

We are going to wrap the week up with a trio birthday party on Saturday for Shane, who is turning 4, Cody, who is turning 7, and Buddy, who is turning 51. It will be at our house and it will be a nice way for everyone in the family to see us prior to us leaving for China next Thursday, March 19th! Can you believe that we only have 11 days to go? I can't believe it. It almost seems surreal about now.

So, since I have shared all the "not so good" happenings for the week, I need to share the blessings also. Truly everything that happens is of God so we should even consider our trials as blessings. We are blessed to be sick now and not as we are leaving for China. Thank you Lord for having the wisdom to allow our bodies to succumb to illness now and not next week. Thank you Lord for watching over Susie and Cody and returning them home to their families. Thank you Lord for the phone call I received on Wednesday evening from John Anthony and allowing me to talk with him and Melissa. Thank you Lord for returning my second child home safely from college for his Spring break. Thank you Lord for keeping me safe as I traveled to and from Lynchburg. I know I am not the world's best driver and I need all the Lord's help that I can get when I am traveling alone. Thank you Lord for the wonderful family and friends that are always here to support us. I really could go on and on with the things I have to thank Him for.

So as we go through this next very busy week and do the final preparations for our trip, I ask if you all would pray for our family.

I'll post the birthday party pictures before we leave to say "see you all in China"!