Pictures and Ramblings

T had great fun taking photos of Lil' Cowboy. I liked this one in particular. It is probably the first photo that we have that he is not smiling in and yet his eyes look so...content.

Goose, always willing to help, was recruited along with some other young men to form cookie dough and cut cilantro for the night's dinner.

Oh yeah...we were in Illinois for a purpose...Goose visiting some of the guests at the Covenant Presbyterian Church General Session luncheon.

Goose, Lil' Cowboy, Brown Sugar, and I all arrived in Peoria around 2am. We had driven from North Platte, Nebraska to Peoria. We would have gotten their by midnight but there was one huge detail missed in the directions that were given us and so we ended up on the other side of the city. Since we got in so late, I stayed in bed while Goose went on to Presbytery and the other kids went to a wildlife park.

L's oldest daughter came with her dad to the Presbytery. Daisy was incredibly happy to have her friend there.

J McDonald carrying Brown Sugar on a nature walk.

While the kiddos were at the park I enjoyed an incredible morning of rest. The view was incredible. But, it was a delight to see all the kids come back and finally meet the other McDonald children. They were busy getting ready for the ordination service/dinner/dance. Boo with J and M McDonald. We met M last year when she came out to Presbytery as it was held at our church. Boo and M became fast friends and pen pals.

K with Daisy and Miss M. All prettied up!

A getting her hair done by big sister.

The girls in their finest Regency gowns.

What do I like about being a Presbyterian? Good wine, wonderful fellowship, family, and dancing! It is beyond fun dancing the Virginia Reel with little and big people.

T, the oldest McDonald at home loves photography. I say she has an incredible eye. She had so much fun taking pictures of Brown Sugar and Lil' Cowboy. I love this picture.

Have you ever spent time around girls who sang psalms and genuinely had a good time? These girls had "fun" by serving us great food and drink, helping with the little ones, and cleaning up the house all the while trying to sing in harmony. What a blessing!

We had the priviledge of meeting T's fiance before he left to go back to school. They were dear and also helped watch the little ones play.

G and Daisy...love this one.

Dr. RC Sproul Jr was also a guest in the house. He had the kids attention Sunday morning at the breakfast table. You should have seen these kids...they were mesmorized.

I had an idea that Miss M liked photography but had no idea that she had such an eye for it. This is one of a few that I thought I would show and tell.

And, here is another one.

Stacy had a moment to hold Brown Sugar. She was an incredible hostess who not only had over fifty people in her home but also helped take are of the odds and ends of a General Session that hosted over 170 people. She truly is a Passionate Housewife...and a sweet friend.

Just right out the back door there is a beautiful pond/lake. Goose took E and C out on a boat ride.

There were seven Patriarch Wives at church on Sunday morning. Patriarch Wives is a yahoo group that I have been a part of for over five years now. Stacy and her husband started it several years before I joined. From Left to Right: Heather (Arizona), Jean (California), Me, Sheri (Illinois), Jayne (Canada), and Stacy. We were missing Rachel who had to leave right after church. I have two more PW's to meet in person and one to visit with that I met last year. Do I get an award for meeting the most PW's in one year?

I take responsibility for these adorable pictures...

This is from Stacy's side yard. What a view!

What a happy crew! They just planted the McDonald Garden. Goose even helped work on a chicken coop and help tear up the front yard for the "stinky" guy to come and flush out the sewer system.

We left today with much sorrow. We had such a wonderful week with the McDonalds. It was packed full with lot's of fellowship and fun. We would have loved to stay longer but the schedule was calling our name. So, off we drove today through Illinois, Indiana, a small portion of Ohio, and on into Kentucky.

We arrived at our destination about 9pm (we lost an hour due to time zone changes) and were greeted to a site right next to a babbling creek (my favorite kind of location - I just wish we could stay longer). For a moment I was thinking about staying another night...who can beat $25 for full hook-ups? But, we must press on so that we can join the Centerville, TN church for worship on Sunday.

As we were setting everything up for a good night's sleep Brown Sugar had difficulty breathing. I must admit that I went into panic mode. After the fourteen mile drive to the hospital and a call to a friend I calmed down enough to realize that what I really needed to do was pray. Why is this not always my first thought?

We prayed before going into the ER and I felt like my money and time would be better spent if I found a Walmart and bought some cheap medicine. As we drove away from the hospital Stacy called me letting me know that William had woken up from his nap with the same problems. After talking for a while I realized that maybe she has croup. I have never had a child with this so I am not certain but we have been drowning her in some homeopathic cough syrup for the past couple of hours. I am up in the wee hours of the morning listening to her breath so I can catch any problems she might have.

It has been a rollercoaster of a day. I woke to the news of Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter being killed which made me break out in uncontrollable tears. I understand his sorrow and pain right now. Oh how I miss Eric. The pain seems so unbearable at moments and I have started having those gut wrenching pains again that just make me want to scream. I especially get these feelings when I look at pictures and realize that he is not in any.

So, it will be a sleepless night but I can rest tomorrow while the kids are in the museum. After that we are headed to Tennessee. By the way, Kentucky is a beautiful state. I sure hope I can come back here and spend more time poking around.

~Lazyd