The Elisha Foundation

The first weekend of January we broke new ground for our family.  We attended a 3 night retreat at Cannon Beach, OR with The Elisha Foundation.  There were 12 families of special needs children there, Greg Lucas of Wrestling With An Angel was our speaker, and it was a life changing weekend for our family.  His book is a quick read and we'd highly recommend picking up a copy and reading it before you pass it on to another family.  It's amazing.

I honestly could write pages and pages about the retreat, but will instead give you a few of the major things we took away from the weekend and then give you some pictures of our time.

- God doesn't just allow disability, but He ordains it.
- Miles' disability is not a punishment for sin in my life or Eric's life.
- Miles (already!) has a ministry that God has prepared for his life....regardless of his ability to understand and/or communicate with others.
- (this is the "DUH." one...but it's a great reminder for all of us)  My walk with Christ is more important than my marriage.  My marriage is more important than Miles and his unending list of needs in life....however pressing they may seem.
- We are not alone in the struggles we face as parents of a child with special needs.
- We are equally disabled in God's eyes- Miles' disability is just worn on the outside most the time.
- The divorce rate among couples with special needs children is 80%.  SO, when you see a family at the store or the park or school with their child, say a quick prayer for them.  It's a rough road that isn't talked about much.

Okay, that's literally just a snippet....on to pictures!

 Do you love how "I live in the Northwest" Eric looks here?  It cracks me up.  ...at least we fit in, eh?....

 Aww.....I love us.

 Admiring the ocean.

 Janelle.   I should write an Ode to you, Janelle.  Janelle served our family with total reckless abandon this weekend.  I didn't hear her complain once about our crazy-tired children or Miles and is nasty diapers or our sleep deprived nonsensical talk every evening at dinner.  She was with us from the time we left our room in the morning until the last child closed their eyes in the evening.  She prayed for us, served us, loved our children, cleaned up after us, answered for us when we were too tired to know if we wanted soup or salad....she is a rockstar.  Then we cried like tired little babies when we drove away on Sunday.  She probably thinks we're totally nuts.  (She's only half right.....)

 Maggie, just moments after she went for a full body swim in the Pacific Ocean. in JANUARY. with HER COAT ON.  My oh my.

 Family picture take 1...

 take 2....

 take 3...

 take 4...

 take 5...

 and take 6.

Winter Catch-Up

Christmas photos?....on my parents computer....(wanna send those this-a-way Dad?  Thanks.)
BUT, I do have some pictures to share...so here they are in no particular order...

Miles and a LOT of bubbles.  I'm sure he had a rash from all the suds the next day, but it's worth it sometimes...

Maggie got skates for Christmas this year.  Here she is trying them out for the first time in the beautiful Chico sunshine!

Sam got a skateboard.  He was in 6-year-old-boy-HEAVEN.

Miles "reading" Hop On Pop

Half Marathon, Halloween....and an Egyptian

I ran my second Half Marathon in Mid-October in "the 'couv".  We skipped church (*gasp) and headed over the river to Vancouver and I managed to beat my previous time by just a few minutes- which is a miracle looking back on the day.  I was over two weeks into a NASTY cold which earned me four prescriptions at the doctor two days later.  In her words, "You are REALLY sick, you know....". 

 Sam carved his own pumpkin this year.  Top to bottom, ALL ON HIS OWN.  He was super proud of himself.

 Miles (carved by Daddy), Maggie's lady pumpkin, and Sam's all-on-his-own pumpkin.

 A very happy Miles.  He was OUTSIDE in his PJs, which he thought was simply hilarious.

 Do you like Sam smashing Miles' face so he'll look at the camera?  What a nice guy.

 Surprise!  Maggie got Kindergarten Student of the Month in October.  She got to go up during their assembly and receive her award.  She got it for "being a good helper".  No shock there, she IS one of the best helpers I've ever met.  Good Job Mags!

 We had a Ninja Turtle (Leo, as Sam called himself) and Rapunzel this year.  We were able to squish Miles into the Zebra again, so we did.  ;-)

 This is Sam.  If you ask him what he is doing, he will say he's being stairs.  If you ask us, he's walking like an egyptian.  Darn semantics.

"The Itse Btse Spider" by Margaret Moffat

October!

Eric and I went on a date.  (wow!!)  We went to go see a few thousand birds fly down a chimney.  Yep, you read that right.  Wanna read more about it?  Click here.  It was very cool, we're going to take the kids next year.

 Sam and Miles spent a lot of the summer running around shirtless, they are little boys after all....  Eric calls it "Lord of the Flies" and asks them where their Conch is.

 I'm providing after-school care for a friend of mine this school year.  Here is her son, Lucas, with Sam.  They are a year apart in age and sporting multi-colored foam facial hair in this picture.

 Sarah is in third grade, but so far she has been very gracious to Maggie and they've enjoyed their craft sessions in the afternoons.  They're sporting foamy 'staches too.

 ...and last but not least: Miles.....wearing the geeked out Harry Potter glasses.

Is October almost OVER!? Oopsies.

Well, here's all the good stuff you missed while I wasn't blogging in September...  ;-)

Eric and I ran Hood to Coast again.  I LOVE it.  I think I might have an addiction to the sleep deprivation and pain that comes with it.  I just love it.

 We hit the Oregon State fair with Eric's parents.  Here's a picture of Sam touching a pig and not crying.  It's a state fair miracle!!

 Maggie asked if she could have this donkey.  (What?!)  No.

 We anticipated going FAST.

 ...then we did.

 Gotta get that fatty watermelon in too....  We were able to pull a LONG day at the fair this year thanks to Mom and Dad Moffat assisting with Miles in the afternoon.  It was very VERY fun.

 Maggie and Miles bonded over popsicles.  Aren't they cute?

 We spent Labor Day at Wildwood Park with some friends.  Miles was happy the entire time simply because he was outside.  We joke that we're going to buy him a yurt someday....someday it may not be a joke.

 Happy, dirty, sandy, tired family.

 The twins TURNED SIX.  Am I old enough to have SIX year olds?!  I am?  oh.  Here's Rapunzel in her dress that Grandma Viertell made her.

 We coached (and are still coaching) some soccer...

 This pretty much sums up Miles' opinion on soccer.

 Honest, Sam doesn't share Miles' opinion....although his face would lead you to believe otherwise....

 Okay, more birthday pictures.  Here's a very happy girl opening her EMILY doll.  VERY.HAPPY.

 Very happy boy with his Hex Bugs.  These things are just super cool.  (Do you like my party-pooped parents in the background?)

This one is for you Great Grandma & Grandpa Viertell:  Here is Sam's dinos he bought with part of his gift card.  He still loves them.