Near the end of August (during the time of the computer crash) Cole broke his leg. The boys had been out in the woods building a tree fort when Trent chopped off a piece of wood from a branch and it flew and hit Cole in the leg, fracturing his growth plate just above the ankle. I will not be receiving the Compassionate Mother Award this year I guess because I let the poor kid crawl around for 3 days before I finally thought maybe he wasn't kidding and he really did break something. X-ray's confirmed that he had fractured the growth plate and he was fitted with a splint, cast and crutches. 
Cole just kept on smiling and he never complained about it once.
His mother brought home a puppy in hopes of showing him how sorry she was.
We made our annual trip down to the Shriner's Hospital in September for Grace. Six years ago we brought Grace home from India at 19 months old with bilateral club feet. It is amazing how fast time goes! Normally club feet are treated at birth with casting or even as simply as reversing the shoes on a child's feet. Being that Grace had no medical care for her feet they had become severely twisted by the time she got home. When she would try to walk she would actually walk on the top of her feet. 
Within the first month of her homecoming we had started doctoring at the Shriner's Hospital in the Twin Cities. Before Grace came home I had done quite a bit of research on club feet and found that if surgery was need for correction there was often times pain that continued for the patients entire life. I specifically asked God to correct her feet without the surgery.
7 months of casting, several parasite treatments (parasites were what actually saved her from having any surgery ~ who would have thought we would be thanking God for parasites?!) an investigative surgery that resulted in only an achilles tendon release on both heel cords, no foot reconstruction, another few weeks of hard casts, and 4 years of braces later, we now only have to visit Dr. Aadalen and Chaz every year for a check-up. She was the second oldest child that they had treated for club feet using the Ponsetti method that did not need surgery for correction. One of these days I'll take the time to finish writing our 
Whew! We made it through a great week of Vacation Bible School! Being Alexis and Trent were involved in the skits, and I was a teacher and assistant director, we were at church on average 5 hours a night for 5 nights in a row. Not to mention being at church for a couple of hours each the 2 days before, and the whole day of building the hut. Talk about begging God for patience! But there were so many fun memories made! And, hopefully, so many seeds planted in little hearts of the mighty things that God has done.
My faithful assistants (whom I couldn't have done it without:). 
She saved the week by bringing her "We're Going on a Lion Hunt" book, and the "fast or slow?" Welcome song.
And I can't forget to mention Rob and Uncle Jim who even helped a bit with all the little squirrely ones.
One of the highlights of the week was going out for games with Jungle Jerry! Lots of wild, fun, crazy safari games.
And, of course, attack Bruce was enjoyed by all! We're gonna see if we can rent him out. Maybe a package deal for all the tired moms??
And, glory to God, I survived one of my worst fears (and actually enjoyed it:). I was in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies on Friday because the director was gone. The peace was from God, and it was fun to hear the kids singing and watch them do the motions to the songs.
Trent helped me to construct the signs. 
As we prepared for the week I began to realize how again we had immersed ourselves into the learning of a different culture, their ways, lifestyles, dress, homelife, religions, beliefs, culture, environment, etc., not to mention all the fun we had with painting, sawing, constructing, hammering, and designing. It's amazing how much learning goes on all the time without even trying.
When the sign up sheets came out for Vacation Bible School a few weeks ago I deliberately procrastinated and did not fill mine out. I left my position up to where ever God wanted to use me. Humbly being happy just bringing animal crackers if that was what He wanted. My given title(s): Pre-K teacher, decorator, and assistant director. I could not be happier! I have longed for just such an opportunity for quite a while, and am thrilled to be working on all the preparations! We are having a safari/jungle theme with The Lord's Prayer as the week's verse. Oh the ideas that flow!
Rob even had the day off to help:)
With rain, and mud, and boys, naturally next comes a mud fight. I think Micah lost:)
But, just for the record, Cole and Trent did help him clean up afterward.
And he was smiling!
Even if he was covered in mud from head to toe.
And he did get a few good throws in there, too.
What are big brothers for, if not to cover you in mud??! 
