Small and happy prayer request

Small and happy prayer request

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Hi Friends,

Would you pray for Rebecca and I? We have been invited to speak to a group of 150 student athletes at Duke tomorrow night on the topic of community service. They love the idea that one person can make a difference and Rebecca's story starting when she was just 11yo is a sweet one. (Those new to my blog - Rebecca started making and selling bracelets shortly after Eliana was born to raise money for other babies with heart problems so that they could get help like Eliana did. She has to date raised over $8000 for Duke Children's Hospital.)

We will be sharing our story (with pictures). Would you pray for us and for what we will say. And for my sweet girl who is very nervous about speaking to a crowd that size.

After sharing, we will be leading/teaching them to make some jewelry. They will be helping to make some things to build up her inventory. The idea of trying to lead this many is a little daunting too. I'm not going to worry about it - but am trying to plan and prepare as much as possible.

We are working on wrapping up details and really need to practice a little on what we will be sharing. Any prayers you want to offer for us would be appreciated. I'll post more details either tomorrow night or the following day.

I'm sorry I haven't been around to post much. I am reading and praying for y'all.

Love

Leslie

PS  Our week-end was great and I'll hopefully be posting more on that later tonight or tomorrow! 

Walk to Cure Diabetes

Tomorrow, Nov 7th, our family will be participating in the Walk to Cure Diabetes.  This is sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. 

Joshua has been looking forward to this walk for many months.  We started talking about it when he was in the hospital.  He is familiar with "walks" because we go to the local Buddy Walk (supporting Down syndrome) each year. 

Here is a note from Joshua.

I think the walk is going to be fun.  I hope that the JDRF gets more money so that they can find a cure for diabetes.  I hate diabetes.  I don't like getting shots and pokes.  I want to be able to have food whenever I want it.

I know that money is tight and that there are many worthy causes.  I do feel the need to share this one though as it is important to us and many other families as well.  If you are interested in sponsoring Joshua, please go to this link.

http://walk.jdrf.org/

You can type in his name Joshua Nelsen and state and his page should come up for you.  Our team name is "Joshua's Fan Club" which should also show on the site.

Blessings

Leslie

FIAR Co-op: Pumpkin Runner

We had another great co-op day last week.  I just haven't gotten around to posting about it.  It is always such a treat to spend time with friends and have fun learning in the process.  We had a beautiful day and spent it all outside. 

So what did we learn about today?  Well, pumpkins of course. 





We had a few more experiments on density and learned that all pumpkins float no matter the size or weight.  



One thing that I thought was really interesting was watching them turn in the water so that the stem was facing down.  I'm not sure why they did that, but all of ours from small to large turned in the water like that.  (Can you see that the large one is in the process of turning?)



We also learned about the human body.  We talked about joints (and had a neat visual) of how the joints can break down (ouch that one was a little close to home!).  They also learned about the bones in the body.



They came home with a neat project to label the bones as well as a skeleton to put together.  (The black dots are velcro to which the names of the bones can be attached.  There is a copy of the same sheet with the answers behind it so that they can check their work.) 



After learning about the body, we talked about the style of running done by the man in the book who "shuffled along" and won the race!  The children had several rounds of running a course.  What a fun course too!  It was through the woods and the path had pumpkins all throughout as well as pictures of various Australian animals. 



Lastly, the children learned about hot air balloons and why they float.  They made their own hot air balloons from a trashbag.



They used hair dryers to fill them with hot air and then watched them rise! 



We had a yummy snack of pumpkin muffins and granola.  While they were snacking the children watched the "dancing raisins" experiment.  More on the experiment here. 



While the other children were learning about pumpkins and such, Daniel again had his private nature study class with his sweet friend Miss Lynn.  He so looks forward to these days!



Thank you friends for another wonderful day!  I'm blessed to be a part of such a creative and sweet group of friends!

Love
Leslie

Updates and a look at our week ahead

Things are busy here - no change there.  Just thought I'd do a quick update. 

Yesterday, Eliana met with the cardiologist.  She was very displeased to be there.  She fussed at EVERYTHING!  Fussed about blood pressure (so they didn't even try), fussed about having her height and weight taken, fussed about having her temp taken.  You get the idea.  She was fine until someone else wanted to touch or look at her.  Her ped told me this was an appropriate developmental stage.  LOL

Her EKG went well and it all looked good.  Her physical exam was also good.  Based on her size and how she is doing (and maybe a little on how she was acting?), the cardiologist decided not to have an echocardiogram done.  He wasn't sure the sedation would be effective on her due to her being on the cusp size-wise and I don't think either of us thought she'd be still for an unsedated look.  I was fine with that and so we were able to go home a little early.

Joshua went with us and he wanted to play a little in the outside play area.  It was a beautiful and chilly day and he and Eliana had fun playing.  We hadn't ever stopped at this play spot before as it has always just been Eliana and I. 





I'm thankful for a good report on her heart. 

Someone had asked for more details on  Daniel as my earlier post was a little vague.  I talked with a nurse today trying to follow-up about our referral.  We haven't yet heard about a new appointment and she is hoping we'll hear something by Thursday.  We should be scheduled for the first available time slot.  The doctor's notes on Daniel are "optic nerve pallor".  Basically it means the color of his optic nerve is pale and not the color it should be.  It's in just one eye and is noted as "prominent".  I have to confess that a quick google search (I know, why do I do that?) does not make me feel good about any of these words.  I just want our little boy to be fine.  I really just want nothing new to be diagnosed here!  I don't want to worry (I know it does no good), but it can be hard.  I do best just trying not to think about it.  Some days it is just too much, kwim?

Our week ahead is a full one.  I'm coordinating a field trip for our FIAR group.  It's to a new place and I need to work on final details to get it all ready.  We'll be doing some outdoor survival with the older kids and other nature topics with the younger ones.  The weather is predicted to be beautiful so I'm looking forward to a fun outing.

Both of our boys are scheduled to play in the State Championship games of the Homeschool Football League this week-end!  Rebecca also has a soccer game in between the boys' games.  This will be the last of our "Sports Saturdays" for awhile.  (Rebecca has one more game, but it conflicts with our homeschool group's Family Event.)   

As of this evening, Joshua decided that he wanted to miss his last game so that he can participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Walk for the Cure which is the same time as his game.  This is something he was interested in doing and we have talked about since he was in the hospital with a new diagnosis.  The game though was not something he wanted to miss - until now.  So, we need to make plans to join in the walk.  I really don't know much about it and we have not done any fundraising either.  I think that we will just go and experience it.  I think it will be really nice for Joshua to meet someone else with diabetes. 

Rebecca and I have been invited to do a presentation at Duke next week about community service.  We'll share some of our story and lead a class in jewelry making to about 150 student athletes.  We'd love prayers as we prepare.  We are excited about this opportunity and want to make the most of it. 

We are also preparing for our homeschool group's largest event of the year coming up in about a week and a half.  My job is organizing and coordinating.  It is a really fun event which is done cooperatively.  This year our theme is The Gullywasher (a Five in a Row title).  I'm looking forward to it.

Well, it's late and I need to get some sleep as the morning always comes faster than I'd like for it too.  Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragment to me.  I appreciate it.  This has been a hard season of life and I'm in a struggle.  I feel as though I've been buffeted by challenges on and off for quite awhile.  I am trying to rest and trust - though it has not been easy.  I have never been as aware of the spiritual warfare going on around me as I am now.  I'm thankful that I know the One who has already won the battle.  

With love,

Leslie 

State Fair

We were fortunate to be able to go to the Fair on a beautiful sunny day - and with friends too!  Rebecca had entered two items in the fair and was very excited to see if she had placed with either of them.  We went to a few other exhibits on our way to see her items. 

How exciting it was to go to the case and find that she had indeed gotten ribbons - two blue ribbons!  Congratulations!!!  You did a great job Rebecca!



The first ribbon was for this beautiful jointed doll that she made. 



The second was for this food made from felt.  It's a blueberry waffle breakfast.  The waffles are sitting on a waffle maker (really cute).  The meal also includes sausage and a fruit cup.  It's so cute!



My children have enjoyed this exhibit and look forward to going back each year.  You start with a basket and then wander through the garden areas of things that grow in NC.



The children are able to pick and gather various fruits and vegetables.



When their basket is full, it is weighed and exchanged for some money.



You can use this to buy a bag of goodies - including an apple and some peanuts.  Eliana loved her apple this year.  I love seeing her eating it on her own!



The DMV hosts a driving safety experiential exhibit. 



They also gave out "clickers".  (Really loud and lots of ours have disappeared thankfully!)



Of course we had to see some animals and the ducks and chicks were the cutest!







Bumper cars are the favorite ride for my family.  Just look at their faces!













I was able to do something really fun too!  There was an Artisan Bread class.  We thought it would be short and we would go in and enjoy the beginning of it.  My friend Rebecca and I and some of the kids (5) started out in the class.  Well, it wasn't a short class and so the kids drifted out.  Rebecca and I stayed because ...

it was fun and interesting and I was chosen to be a volunteer.  :-)  One of the first jobs was to cut and weight the dough.  I've had some practice with a scale and this was fun. 



The chef from Neomonde Baking Company was hilarious!  It was a lot of fun learning the techniques and making the bread.



Doesn't this look yummy?  Oh, and did it all taste good!  We made a pumpernickel with raisins and walnuts, a whole grain and focacia.  It was all delicious and I was able to bring a loaf of each home (and sample it there too). 





It was a fun day filled with lots of sights and sounds.  We were worn out by the end of the day and ready to go home to rest.  I'm thankful that we were all healthy and able to have a fun day together.  Hope you are able to enjoy a fun fair where you live!

Blessings
Leslie

20 Years Ago

I had typed up an entry and our computer froze and lost it.  So for now, I'll just let the picture speak.



I love you sweetie!

Leslie

New prayer request

Actually, two requests. One for me and a bigger one for Daniel.

For me.  I'm not sure what to share and will just say that I just feel weak and hurt.  At times, wondering if God is even hearing my prayers. I *know* He does - it just doesn't feel like it when there is no answer.  I really want to walk in the path He has for me and hearing nothing can just be painful.  Does this make sense?

My feelings are not pretty. I know that. I know that the Bible says God loves me. He hears me. He is with me. He has a plan for my life for good. I just would like to feel it too. Or maybe I just need to trust more.

Could you also pray for Daniel? This is such a deja vu request. Today we went in for a routine eye appt. When the looking got longer - I knew. Something was wrong. I just prayed for the dr to be able to know clearly what was going on. Like last year, she saw problems with his optic nerve. (He had an MRI on this very day last year and all was fine.) Well, the problems are different and still not "normal looking". He is going to be referred to a neuro opthamologist at Duke.

I didn't ask what this could mean. Didn't want to do that in front of him and wasn't sure I wanted to know. Did a quick google search though on the specialist and what they do as well as her description of the color of his optic nerve. We don't see any other symptoms or signs of problems, but she wants someone else to check him out to be sure.

We will probably get the referral within a week and then have to wait a month or two for the appt - sooner if there is a cancellation.

I was calm when she told me and now it's late and I need to go to bed. Could you pray that there is nothing wrong with our little boy? Alternately, if there is something wrong that they would find it quickly and that it would be fixable.

Thank you for your prayers.
Love,

Field Trip - Historic Oak View County Park

Today was field trip day.  It was a beautiful, sunny day - just perfect for an outing with friends.  We visited Historic Oak View County Park.  This is a 19th century historic farmstead.  Our larger group was split in half and we then toured the grounds.  We viewed the home from the outside only.  The left side of the house is the original house (1855) and is built in Greek Revival style.  The right side of the house (Colonial Revival) was added on in the 1940s. 



There was a lovely gazebo in the front of the house.



We went into the kitchen, a separate building behind the house.  We talked about things that we used and done differently than today. 



The children helped start the making of butter by using cream in a jar.  (Much easier than using a churn, though mine have liked doing that in the past.) 



Next, we went outside and the children had the opportunity to try using a washboard to clean some clothes. 



Three children at a time were able to wash clothes.



Eliana loved this.  Of course, she loves anything with water!  Her wonderful big sister was helping her!





Just thought this was a fun picture of Isaiah and Joshua with their buddy Joe.



The cash crop for the plantation was cotton.  Until the boll weevils came through destroying cotton in the US.  They switched then to pecan trees.  The children were able to go into this  "field" of cotton and pick one. 

 

 

I know you can't see it, but I love the he wears a Down Syndrome Awareness bracelet on his right arm.  :-) 



Getting the seeds out is hard work.



I think this is a really pretty plant.  Feels so soft too!



Next we went into an old barn and learned more about cotton. 



The children twisted cotton to show how it strengthened the fibers. 





We saw an old gin,



a huge bale of cotton and even a boll weevil.  (It was much smaller than I had imagined.) 

 

Eliana loves hanging out with her friend!



The children learned about artifacts.  We were told that to be an artifact it had to meet these three criteria

*must be old

*must be made by humans

*must be used by humans.

The children were given several artifacts and then tried to figure out what they were used for - and it wasn't as easy as you might think!  Two of the items are in the next two pictures.  See if you can guess how they were used. 



 

After figuring it out, a spokesperson from each group shared with the rest of the group what the tools were used for.  Did you have a guess?



The first one is a tool used to remove the nails from horseshoes.  The second is to scrape away the hair and skin from a pig in order to have clean meat.  (yuck!)

We stayed for a picnic lunch.  There are large grassy areas (where the pecan trees are growing) that are an ideal spot to picnic and play.  Daniel loves hanging out with his friend Miss Lynn!



We played for a short time in the museum.  There is a really cute hands-on children's area.  Eliana loved the dress-up. 







A beautiful fun day.  I had fun hanging out with my children and my friends.  I'm so thankful I have the opportunity to do these fun things!

Blessings
Leslie