Update and a great vacation suggestion...

Our lives have been pretty consistent since my last post, however, God has given us some sweet hugs along the way…  Grace was only up for an hour in the middle of the night last night (that is equivalent to a thousand hugs from God), I have met (in person and online) some amazing people that have also been blessed with a Downsy Doo (the thought of Grace having so many sweet friends to grow up with makes my heart smile), I've been helping coach Abby's cheerleading team (they are so stinkin' cute), my Mom is visiting for a long weekend, and despite Abby looking like she got in a fight on Thursday…

Abby's mug shot…  My poor sweetie!

 … the eye poke incident that happened at school (it was an accident of course) didn't cause a black eye or serious eye injury (which I was afraid of because it looked really bad on Thursday and Friday), Praise the Lord.

After Andrew's basketball game today...

One thing that has continued to loom in the back of my mind is when, and if, David and I will ever have a date night again.  I will see friends on Facebook post date night pictures (which I promise I love and have no bitterness toward because I think it's fantastic to feed your marriage, so please keep on posting) and that is when I'm quickly reminded that we haven't had a date night since September (besides the nights that we were both in Boston and Grace was fully sedated, so we would go grab dinner together) and I don't know when it will ever happen again… actually I do know!  Times when I find myself discouraged, feeling like we will never have another date night (without our favorite date crasher in toe, I'm reminded that it WILL (Lord willing) happen the last week of June when we go to FAMILY CAMP!!!!

Speaking of Family Camp…  If you have ever considered or dreamed about a family vacation where you can maximize your family time, couple time, laugh a lot, do outdoor activities (horse back riding, zip lining, play in the lagoon, wake boarding, water slide into a refreshing pool, etc), meet some of the most amazing families that you could imagine, have your children of all ages led by THE MOST God honoring, fun, generous, thoughtful, and selfless college students (the counselors), and above all experience rich family worship, devotions, and adult sessions that focus on how we can be better parents, spouses, etc, then Family Camp is a MUST DO for you and your family!  It is so hard for me to talk about Family Camp because it is impossible to communicate how awesome the experience truly is.  I guarantee that you and your family has never been served or loved on in the way that only the Pine Cove staff and other families/campers can.  I have learned that whether you are in a state of brokenness, like I was when we attended Family Camp for the first year, or in a state of uncertainty, about how on earth is it going to work logistically or financially, like I was our second year (I couldn't wrap my mind around going with a 10 month old with special needs, a broken heart [Grace was just 3 months out of her second surgery] and a germaphobe for a momma), but we went and God showed up and showed off in a big way.  Please check out this link to read about and see pictures from the emotional roller coaster and awesomeness that ensued as we set out for Family Camp the past two years, Family Camp Highlights!!!.  Even if you are experiencing a mountain top type of season in your life, Family Camp will bless your socks off too…  I promise.

Family Camp is never far from our minds because our sweet kiddos make sure to do the chant/cheer (thanking God for our food) that the counselors do before every meal, EVERY SINGLE night before we eat dinner (even if we are at a restaurant, although they have learned to do it in an "inside voice" in restaurants instead of at the top of their lungs like at home :-).  We can't wait for Family Camp this Summer and we pray that if you think for a second that Family Camp would be a good fit for your family too, that you will pray about it and take the plunge :-).  To sweeten the deal, Pine Cove is offering a discount if you sign up on Monday, February 3rd.  Use the coupon SGMBLOG for $15 off Camp in the City, $25 off Overnight Youth Camp, and $100 off Family Camp!  If you are interested in more information, please check out their website at http://www.pinecove.com/family-camps/

Sweet Village, Grace has her last dose of clonidine tomorrow and then she will officially be off of all narcotics!!!  Will you please pray that she would make a smooth transition, and that her vomiting and sleeplessness at night would cease?  Also, Grace has a cardiology appointment on Wednesday where she will have a sedated echo.  Will you please, please, please pray that her heart continues to amaze everyone and looks super duper healthy?  

THANK YOU for your fervent prayers and faithfulness to us on this journey!