Summer Time!

Life is busy in the summer. It actually amazes me how busy we get in the summer. We homeschool so we are home all the time anyways you would think it would slow down when we take a break from school but that never seems to happen! But I love it! We start our summer with a last minute road trip out to Seattle for Addie's appointment (original plan had been for Addie and I to fly with my dad). It was a great trip. We were able to stop and do a lot of sight seeing, hiking, and looking for animals as we went. We hit up the Badlands, Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore, Custer National Park, Bighorn, Yellowstone, & Grand Tetons. Total of about 100 hours in the car in 10 days. The kids were amazing! They really enjoyed seeing the buffalo, elk, bears, big horn sheep, antelope & other animals. The boys loved it! We were so glad to be able to make Addie's appointment such a fun time for everyone! My parents also joined us and that was a big help with the boys. When Mike & I took Addie to the all day appointment in Seattle they were able to take the boys around the town.

Of course all trips have a few bumps along the road. Our first came the first night at the Badlands. We were coming down from a trail that had taken us up one of the rock formations and I was carrying Addie. I slipped and Addie hit her foot. She started crying and withing minutes her foot was black & blue and swollen. If you touched it, it was floppy. She cried the whole way down, the way to drop off the boys & my mom at the hotel and part of the way to the hospital(which was 35 minutes away). On the way there we started praying for her and had others praying also. When we got to the hospital the bruising was completely gone! They did an x-ray and nothing was broken! She was a little scared of anyone touching it for a couple days but she was fine! We know that God touched her!

The appointments went great. We were able to meet with a nutritionist, geneticist, upper orthopedic doctor, lower orthopedic doctor, occupational therapist, physical therapist, rehab doctor & rehab nurse. They were all very pleased with where Addie is at. They had few new ideas for us like adding a seat to her walker, some more hand exercises as she grows, trying a multivitamin, and a different genetic test to see if there is a genetic cause for her arthrogryposis. It was a good mix new ideas and confirmation that we had done everything necessary for her and were on the right track! We left feeling pleased with had went and so thankful for the doctors and therapist God had lead us to here.

The rest of the summer since coming home has been full of birthday parties, play dates, therapy sessions(we did another 3 week round with Addie's good arm casted and therapy 3x a week), and family time! We are leaving today to go visit my cousin and Addie is getting her first haircut! Life is busy but we are so thankful for how we can see God's hand weaving through each place and thing we go through. He has grown our faith and continues to allow us to use our story and Addie's to share about Him with others. I was just sharing with a lady from church this week how in James 1 it talks about considering our trials pure joy because the hard times are what grow our faith. One of the things I have realized is that with or with God you will face hard times. James 1:2 says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, WHENEVER you face trials of many kinds." It says whenever not if, not maybe you will, but WHENEVER. The trials are going to happen to all of us but with God not only does he walk you through the trials so you are not overwhelmed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." But more than that He redeems them! The trials are not useless as a Christian. Our faith grows through them as we are tested. In the trials we can see the miracles like we did at the Badlands and then He redeems those moments and brings His glory through them Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Then we are able to share what He did in our own life with those around us that are hurting. We have our own testimony to share because He is a personal God. He desires a personal relationship with each one of us. A chance to meet our needs individually in a way that will bring us peace and Him glory! So as my life story shows we don't have to fear when the trials come but instead we can rejoice in His goodness and His plan! Isaiah 41:10 "
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."