Flexibility Is The Key To Success

Flexibility is the key to success.

This is something Blake says often!

We have purposed to train our children to have responses that would be in line with these words.

More is caught than taught, so I was repeating these words over and over in my head as I drove my husband to the hospital Tuesday night.

He was diagnosed with a severe case of pneumonia, pumped full of some fluids and antibiotics, and released back into my care.

To be the person I wanted to be when we arrived at the hospital, I knew I had to have a spirit of praise and thanksgiving!

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So I started telling Blake, who was practically unconscious in the passenger seat next to me, ALL that we had to be thankful for!

You all should try listing your blessings sometime – it works wonders for your spirit!

Even in the midst of a very, very rough week!

This bug has spread quickly through our home.

It is a bad, bad bug – leaving one Mama a little nervous about how high fevers can really burn.

I am thankful to say that the Lord has answered my constant prayer that He would see fit to keep me well so I can take care of everyone else.

Thank you, Jesus!

Along with Tate being sick, he is still the ring master of an all night circus….every night.

I have been trying to teach him that he should not be awake until the sunshine wakes up.

There is a hamper at the end of Tate’s bed, right under the window.

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I moved it one day to do laundry, which Tate did not realize, as he leaned out of his bed thinking it was there so he could pull on the shade to see if the sun was shining yet.

At 11:49 p.m.

He promptly fell out of bed and landed on his head.

You don’t want any child to fall from anywhere and land on their head – but most certainly not a four year old with a shunt in his brain.

Scares me to pieces this dimply boy.

Most everyone was eating again yesterday, so I made some mean soup and sauteed greens for lunch.

I am not kidding when I say there was about 20 cloves of garlic in between those two things.

We were quite smelly after lunch!

But foods have healing powers! Especially garlic!

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We also have a blanket that Kayla made years and years ago that we call the healing blanket.

Whenever anyone is sick, it is the first thing they ask for!

It doesn’t have any healing powers, but it is just so cozy!

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Speaking of Kayla, in the midst of all this sickness, she and David have been banned from the farm.

We need them all healthy for Baby K’s arrival!

Baby K is due in one week!

Isn’t she SO cute! (thanks for the photo, Kay!)

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Things are looking up today – we have more kiddos on their feet than not, and Blake left to work for a little while.

The leftover coughs are fierce, though.

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Grant was the latest victim and went down yesterday morning.

If it goes like it has for everyone else, he should be sitting back up tomorrow sometime.

Here is a little peek at two littles and their opinion of being sick –

I will take a cuddly week at home any day – I just wish everyone was not so sick!

So far, our new normal is full of a lot of flexibility!!

Have a happy weekend, everyone!!

About That Date

So, about that date with my hubby.

Feeling 17 again backfired big time!

Tate has slept all night long, without any fear at bedtime, since the very first night Blake put him to bed in China.

Blake and I were not here to put Tate to bed Friday night.

He went to bed perfectly for Addie!

But he has been up over and over and over again all night long every night since….and it started Friday night after we got home from our date.

I am pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that we were not here.

Bummer!

We still have a piles of smiles here though!!

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This post may or may not make any sense!

Based on how much sleep I have had the last three nights!

We did widen Tate and Eliza’s world this weekend!!

Even with the rough nights, it went very well!

Saturday morning we went to a work day at church.

Tate helped outside, but I kept Eliza inside because it was super windy and cold.

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We were able to go to church on Sunday! The littles did perfectly!

We enjoyed lunch and fellowship here at the farm afterward!

We had the privilege of two of David’s sisters staying with us!

Tate had very appropriate behavior around them!

I am so tired…so all these exclamation points look good!

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We had a great week last week too!

I texted this photo to my Mom one afternoon, because these two told me they had their bags packed and were going to Grandmas!

My Mom texted me the next day to tell me my children were lost – they never showed up!

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Kayla helped me make up some rollers with essential oil blends in them!

We have been using some oils for many years now, but recently have started using them a lot more!

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The gas truck visited and filled our LP tanks!

That kept two busy little ones in one spot for a little while!

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Addie and I have been having fun in the kitchen, as always, making some new things!

These grain-free lemon drop cookies were super yummy!

I may have had one! Or seven!

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I made a pumpkin pie smoothie one afternoon!

It was SO good!

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Mint melt-aways!

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And soup season is in full swing! YAY!

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The littles like to play games before bed!

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I had to pull over to take this photo as I was headed down the ridge one evening!

It is just simply too gorgeous on this ridge!

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Tate has learned SO much in 10 weeks! He recognizes all of the letters of the alphabet!

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For some reason, the food on my plate and the water in my jar always looks better to Tate than his!

However we can get nutrition and hydration into our little man works for me!

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Mr. Tate, you may not be sleeping well at night right now, but we love you SO much sweet boy!!

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Now if you all will excuse me, I am going to take a nap before I go to bed!

Have a great Tuesday, everyone!!

Date Night

For the first time since before the guys left for China in July, Blake and I both left home at the same time and had a date night tonight!

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As I was getting ready this afternoon, I felt like I was 17 again and we were going on our first date!

I love doing this thing called life with you, honey!

Thanks for making me always feel like I am 17.