HOME

We are home!

It's been a journey these last couple of days. The doctors were able to identify the species of malaria Noble has
and treatment has begun. We're praying for a full recovery!

From Noble's energy and smiles today, you wouldn't even know he's been so sick.

It's amazing to see him running around, laughing, being himself.

It makes a mama happy.

From here, we're just going to keep an eye on Noble's enlarged spleen (a side effect of the malaria). It occupies half of his abdomen! Poor guy. It should start to go down now that the malaria is being treated. We're praying for that. We're supposed to remain cautious for a while (as cautious as a three year old can be I suppose) as we don't want the spleen to rupture with any abrupt contact or falls. Let's just pray it goes down and down from here.

The medical care and the love and support we received during this trial were incredible! For every person who showed care for us, thank you so very much! God brought us great comfort through so many!!

 

We're reminded of the brevity of life, the preciousness of it. We're reminded to LOVE more each day. We're praising God for the healing process that's already begun for our Noble. And, we're thankful for God's love poured out to us all through the body of Christ these past few days. It's really good to be home.

"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Colossians 3:14-15

MALARIA

It was a long day at the hospital...especially for Noble, but the love and care from so many kept our spirits up. Our sweet boy does in fact have a severe case of malaria. His fever peaked at 105.2 today. Poor little guy! He is in the pediatric ward for tonight, but based on the lab results, they may transfer him to ICU tomorrow. He has been such a little trooper and an ideal patient.

 

Noble is such a sweetheart.

The look on Noble's face was priceless when they wheeled his chicken tenders and french fries over to his bedside. It was as if he was asking with his eyes, "Are you sure this is all for me?" He was SO excited about his meal!

Noble is such a kind and tender little boy with excellent manners. It's easy to love and respect his beautiful heart. We're so thankful that God has blessed our family with such a special friend in Noble. We love him immensely!!

We will know more tomorrow...for tonight we rest and praise God for caring so lovingly for Noble and for us today.

Each day we have is a gift.

May we all cherish every hour God allows us health and life and may we use our time wisely and for His glory while we can.

"Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:14

WHEN IT RAINS...

...it pours sometimes. That's sort of how we're feeling today. God remains on His throne, however. Nothing can come our way apart from His sovereign will. We believe it!

"The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,

and his kingdom rules over all."

Psalm 103:19

Our precious boy, Noble, has had sudden high fevers off and on for three days now. When they come on, he is debilitated. When they pass, he is totally normal. It's been strange and awful for him. Similarly, our other little buddies from the DRC have experienced episodes like these and it has turned out to be malaria. We're wondering if this could also be the case for Noble.

Today he began vomitting and was in and out of awareness. Clearly, something is wrong. He is in the ER with his Daddy and two big sisters who wouldn't let him go without them. He is in Good Hands.

Before he left, he raised his arms to be held, a good sign. He reclined in my arms before going. I'm holding onto that moment right now as I wait for updates and pray. It's interesting to realize just how very much I love this child God blessed me with not so long ago. Noble is very special. He is mine and I'm his. Thank you, Lord, for Noble!

 

My heart cries out to God for healing for our son. My heart cries out to God for another dear friends' son who is sick with malaria in the DRC right now. Though Noble is in an advanced hospital teaming with the best medical care America has to offer, my heart rejoices for our little buddy in the DRC because I know that the only thing he (and Noble) really need is Jesus. If God chooses healing, then there will be healing, with or without medical care. It's as simple as that. HE is all we ever need.

So, I sit here (on my couch) and I wait for news from the ER and I pray. I lift up my boy, so small and frightened and I praise God that he has a family who loves Him. I thank God as well for our little friend in the Congo. We know that he too has a family who loves him and is praying for him just the same.

We're asking for miracles and healing, Lord. We've read that's what you do. We know that you can. We trust you with every ounce of faith we can muster. Will you?

Thank you for praying with us for our Noble. Please pray for our friend's little boy too.

We await God's perfect plans and trust Him entirely.

 

He is faithful.

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."

2 Thessalonians 3:3

TAILBONE TALES FROM THE COUCH

Well, here I sit...doing my very best to remain inactive. Ummm...that's IMPOSSIBLE.
But, at least less active I must be because unfortunately, I have injured my tailbone.

If you want to feel really, really lame...then you can be like me and fall out of a hammock.
(It's OK...plenty of people who love me a lot have also laughed when I told them...not naming names here.)
I too still laugh (and cringe) every time I picture the scenario. Sadly, it hurts to laugh, so I suppress.
Anyhow, add some concrete under that broken down hammock and what we have is a serious situation of lameness.

Duhhhh...

So, there I was, all geared up for the BIG relax when the thingy broke, my tailbone too, and what's left in the wake is a whole lot of couch sitting. SO not fun...and SO very impractical with eight little ones who need me. How in the world?!

However, if a silver lining is to be found, we've discovered ample opportunity to practice servantheartedness around here these last few days. I'm praying we all learn quickly what God is teaching us through this and that He, in His mercy, restores us to "normal" once again. Until then, I'll be couch-bound as much as is possible for someone like me, enjoying the extra snuggles and hugs, figuring out just how much I can accomplish from down. Pray for me??

The view from my couch lately :)



 

(For the record...she didn't spill it...she just cleaned it :))

"Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

DRESS UP HISTORY

We're always looking for ways to make learning fun and interactive, conquering the stigma that "school" equals sitting at a desk all day hammering through textbooks and worksheets. Not that textbooks or worksheets are bad...we use them too, but if I were a kid (or the adult teaching my kids) I'd much rather learn (and teach) in creative ways.

Hence, dress up history. Our costume closet wardrobe is stocked with time period learning fun. The kids of all ages LOVE it!!

They always have...and I hope they always do!

 

We love historical fiction and we're always reading as a primary method of learning. I'm constantly encouraging the kids to open up our Big Book of History (from Answers in Genesis) and see where their history reading plugs into the BIG picture.

It's a great resource!

 

What a blessing to see siblings big and small putting their learning into action, playing together on an ordinary school day, traveling back in time, letting their imaginations lead the way, cooperating with one another...

to name a few of the many reasons why we homeschool!

 

 

It's true that learning is always more fun when you (literally) get into it! It warms my heart to listen to them play, it's a privilege to have them home, and I can't imagine a more interactive way to "dress up" learning good old fashioned history than what the kids are up to today...dress up history.

 

 

"Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy."

Psalm 33:3