...the rest of the story

As Detroit legend Paul Harvey says.. this is "the rest of the story."

We enjoyed our quick trip the Florida, it was a lot of fun! Our boys did awesome in the LONG car ride. We had a car accident on the way home, but were so blessed that everyone had just slowed down from 70 mph, and the car in front of us swerved to the left, and we only clipped him. He decided we just pay for our own damages. I forgot to get photos of the hole in the bumper (still there) and broken headlight (fixed). After that we saw three other accidents within miles of ours. I don't think I like Birmingham traffic....

This concludes my photos from our trip. For more pictures see HERE, HERE and HERE. After graduation, Philip and Joia generously rented a boat from base, and we had fun tubing! It was my boys first time on a boat and tubing. It was a BLAST! We took turns in groups while everyone else stayed at the park and ate at the pavilion, playground and beach area. It was a nice spot that we could pull the boat up to.

After cleaning up from our fun day, we headed for dinner to the YUMMY Five Guys Burgers and Fries then to Baskin Robbins ice cream. We all left the next morning.

First time on a boat!

Isaac & Jeff

The rest of the boat ready to ride

Dalton & Daddy

Easton and Daddy

Quinton (wearing Mariah's pink life jacket) & Jeff

Isaac bravely tried it himself!

Keenan, nap #1

The other boat load of people

Quinton & Mommy

Watching Uncle Dan & Dalton

Easton fell asleep in this pose!

... and Quinton fell asleep...

... and then Keenan (nap #3)

Last run. Philip enjoying the challenge from Dan. "See how fast you can throw me off!"

In air a few times

three side rolls and he is off!

Me and my Godfather :) Love him!

Moriah and Aunt Jessica

Thanks for the great time, everyone!!!

Beach vs Pool

Well folks, I am quite behind. I hoped to get these posted before my trip last week, but was not able to get to it. I had an AMAZING time, but more about that later :)

I posted about our Florida trip HERE and HERE. Below are more pictures of our beach and pool trips. It was so much fun!

Silly boys ready to hit the beach!

Shuttle ride to the beach (or "space shuttle" ride as my boys called it)

Aunt Kathleen with the Blogging Queen :) (Joia) & Moriah

Easton checking out the waves

My bestest, Jessica

All the kiddos

ages 9, 5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1

Checking out the beach

Keenan, Isaac, Reagan, Hudson, Moriah, Dalton, Quinton, & Easton

Quinton

Dalton

Our family of 5

I was devastated that my boys were not going to see the ocean, then was thrilled the oil was not there! However, the June Grass was there, so we ditched the ocean *sad face* and jumped in the condo's amazing pool!

Easton filling his pail in the kiddie pool

Splashing Moriah

Keenan

Easton now filling his bucket in the splash area

Swimming with Isaac, Reagan & Hudson

my cousins Jessica & Isaac

Isn't Hudson adorable?!

Hudson & his Mommy

Dalton

We spotted a male model on the bridge!

(hey, Matt... can you step out of the way a second?)

Hudson & his Daddy

Jeff, our towel guard of our 128 checked out towels

It was a BLAST!!! Ok, one more post later about our lake experience.... more fun to come!

Eli is home!

I first mentioned little Eli's story HERE. His mom has been updating the Facebook group HERE (if you want to join!).

She has made some amazing updates that has just made me incredibly happy for them! First, little Eli was approved to work on his treatment in his HOME TOWN, rather than driving 3 hrs to Kansas City once a week! How amazing is that???!!! They were discharged last week to head back home and that is now their home base. He also had been getting very sick on one type of medicine, and they were able to switch it to another type and it seems to be working better. His sister recovered from her cold and was able to complete their family life at home.

As you can see above he is celebrating the 4th happily with his mom (taking the picture), his dad and his sister!

I know that they still have a long road ahead of them, and their family is relying on the Lord to help them through this process. Please keep them in your prayers!

What can you do???

I like how The Message translates James 5:16a: "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with."

Here are some items you can pray for specifically:

• Eli's painful/difficult times to be easier on him and his family
• Financial help for medications (just ONE of his home medicines are $75 each time they get it)
• Favor with insurance to allow their hospital to be considered "in network". Right now they are "out of network" and are starting to get some REALLY scary bills. However, this is the only pediatric oncologist in Missouri
• Rest for the family all around, renew their faith daily, and rejuvenate their lives

Thank you for praying for sweet little Eli!

Edit: for those of you in the Springfield, MO area, please check out this fundraiser for Eli. Eli's Trike-a-thon (click on the link).