Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Nature Trail

When we moved into the apartment here in Virginia a piece of me missed our backyard in Clayton, NC where we could look out of our living room window and see nothing but creation.  


Living in the apartment we don't have that particular view, but I do love the river birch outside the kitchen window.

Sam and Zoe by the river birch

About a month ago the kids and I were playing by the "big rock" and discovered the beginning of a path.  Always up for an adventure, we followed along and found the trail leads through the woods, often alongside a creek, and encircles the apartment complex.

  
the big rock



 On Saturday we walked the path together again.







the girls
the boys














What a gift
 to have a place to go 
and enjoy 
one another's company 
as we walk 
down this path together.



Lydia and Luke spending time together last night.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Luke's Perspective

Luke is 5....
     but he really wants to be 10.

self portrait



Luke likes to snag my camera from time to time~
I like looking at the world from his point of view.



Here's a few of his snap shots.




Great Wolf souvenir




catching his big sister by surprise ~
doesn't appear she wanted him in her room.
She says, "cause my hair looked bad!"


thermostat








stuff piled on the book shelf











Zoe's chew toy








Sponge Bob


pillow pet

Sam's favorite socks

flannel sheet







Luke's favorite cap


Zoe's sweet sleeping face

















Zoe awakened by the "click" of the camera


















school bins and basket of library books

Hughey ~ Luke's sleep partner












NOTE TO SELF: take the time to see life from Luke's point of view.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Girls' Road Trip ~ Never thought an MRI could be so much fun!?!



On March 10th Lydia and I traveled to Chapel Hill, a 2½ hour drive in the Tundra. We like to think of the Tundra 
as our big, white steed.  
How else would two princesses travel? 

I ♥ my GPS!

 The evening before her MRI we were able to do what gals do best...

shopping and going out for dinner!

Dinner at P.F. Chang's
shopping

Pic taken at Streets of Southpoint


Later we checked into the Chapel Hill Marriott.


We made a friend with the sweet lady at the front desk 
~ Kavita from India. 
Glad we took the time to talk and get to know her.
We are now facebook friends and she is following our blog. :) 
Lydia and Kavita

Our room with  
two queen beds 
was a perfect place 
to retire 
for the evening.  
  


The next morning we got a quick breakfast and headed to UNC for Lydia's appointment with Dr. Gold.  The clinic goes above and beyond to make the hospital experience "fun" for the kids. Lydia loves raiding the book cabinet.  A mother who lost her child to cancer (the boy loved reading) collects and donates books for the kids who come to the clinic to be able to take home as many as they want.  Lydia brings along a backpack and I become somewhat of a pack mule for the remainder of the day. I ♥ her excitement over books, so lugging around her newly acquired library is a pleasure.

 Lydia was examined by Christy, the nurse practitioner. 
Dr. Gold came in to see us as well.  
Both agreed that on exam she looked great!

the patient ~ patiently waiting
Lydia was able to get her IV placed without any difficulty or anxiety.  A recreational therapist read her a book while the nurse placed the IV. Afterwards we walked over to the MRI suite.  Lydia requested I wait for her in the waiting room while she had her MRI done.  She reassured me that she could do this on her own.

 She believes Genesis 28:15, 
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go".
  
Trusting Him casts out worry. 

Watching her put on this kind of trust 
and 
live it out 
brings true joy to this mother's heart!  

(What good is our theology if we don't live it?)

After the MRI we ran into an old friend of mine in the hallway ~ her daughter was in the PICU.  It was great to catch up.  She and her husband told us about a great little diner to try for lunch and 
boy, were me and my girl getting hungry!  


quick snapshot of us leaving Chapel Hill ~ of course, on our steed!



Lunch at 501 Diner!
GOOD EATS!






This is what happens when you let a 7 y.o. choose the table ~ center of the counter!
Great spot to enjoy all the sights of the diner.
view of the kitchen 

  






The owner of 501 Diner
This was the temptation directly to my left


CooL Art ! 
at
501 Diner



A retired pilot was encouraged by his wife to find a hobby.
He began creating these unique windmills.
♥ the humor of this one!









The artist who created these pieces
once worked for Sesame Street and Nickelodeon.








Of course,
Lydia was inspired to create her own art!
Showing her art piece
























Lydia advertising her new favorite restaurant


It was a great experience!  Never thought an MRI trip could be so fun!

As we were making our way back home Friday afternoon
Willie called to tell me that Christy had called to inform us of the MRI results...

the tumor remains stable, no change from previous scan.

All praise to God !