Please Pray!

A very close friend of ours died in a plane crash a few days ago. Please pray for his family; his wife and four kids, who just lost their husband and dad.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.
Psalm 46:1

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
Revelation 21:4

...ANOTHER Hospital visit...

On Saturday Carrie started complaining that her stomach hurt. She was lying on the couch all day, and threw up once. We figured it was just the stomach flue since I had a light case a few days before. She fell asleep on the couch that evening and we all went to bed, thinking nothing of it (even joking around saying, "Hmm... maybe it's your appendix, Carrie..." and then laughing). Since I had mine out in April, the chances of her having the same problem a few months later was too ridiculous to be true.

About 3:30 the next morning we heard her yelling for help. She was lying on the floor in the living room and crying and moaning in pain. She couldn't move much, and definitely couldn't walk. Dad picked her up and he and Mom rushed out the door, into the car, and to the hospital.

Her appendix had ruptured. The doctors went right into surgery (which lasted about 2 and 1/2 hours). Good news: she is recovering, though very worn out, and still in a lot of pain. Last night was her second night in the hospital, but we think she'll be coming home this afternoon.

When I was at the hospital with Carrie yesterday, the surgeon came in and said, "If this was a contest... Carrie won!"

Camping Trip

On Monday morning we flew in to a cabin on a lake for a couple days. Carrie and I have been busy this summer with a babysitting job three days a week, working (frantically) on a drama for a VBS program next week, teaching piano lessons, and other jobs, so it was good to get a break and spend time with our family.

We had fun fishing...

...hiking...

...swimming...

...and boating.

Carrie got some good pictures of wildlife...


Our friends saw a mama bear and cub, and later we saw this one.

...and a whale... :P

Yes, this picture was staged. :) We found a bunch of little frogs and Carrie put one on a lily pad for a picture.

...packing up to go home...

(It takes a lot of stuff for a family of eight to go on a three day camping trip: eight sleeping bags, eight pillows, extra clothes, lots of food....)

The 4th!

Happy 4th of July! Carrie took this picture as we were watching the fireworks in town. She got some really amazing pictures!

After church we went to our grandparent's house for lunch, then walked down the street to watch the parade.

...eating fresh lumpia while waiting for the parade...

Sam loved the parade, though some of the sirens and loud music gave him a little scare. He is such a sweet little brother. Here is his "smile-for-the-camera" smile. :)

In the afternoon we had a bunch of friends over for a picnic.

We set up tables of food in the "new house" and had hamburgers and lots of yummy salads and fruit...

I got out my guitar and Carrie and I sang God Bless the USA.

Emma and her friend Hannah at the picnic...

We went in to town late that evening to watch the fireworks in town. Here, we lighted some sparklers as we waited for the fireworks to start.

God bless the USA!!!

Building Project... Part 2

Here are some pictures of our recent work on the house.

(for "Part 1" pics. click here)

On Father's Day, some friends and relatives of ours came out to help put up the trusses.

The girl's job was to hand the trusses up to the guys, who were working on the roof (or rather, soon-to-be roof).

the boys, hard at work doing... umm... something useful... I think

Here, we just put the plywood up on the roof.

We figured this was our once-in-a-life-time chance to get a pic. of Dad sweeping the roof! :P

Dangerous? No, of course not! Why would Emma be standing in the window slot leaning on our make-shift board-walk if it was dangerous?

...so far so good...