Aggie's birthday weekend!

Aggie couldn't have planned a better party weekend if she'd done it herself! Grammy, Bump, Katie and Jaxon came to visit on Thursday. Friday, Aggie's birthday, started out with a brand new soft blanket from mommy which she wore around the house most of the morning. She played with family all morning (PARTY!) then at night got to go to Family Fun Night at the school (ANOTHER PARTY!)

And what does every five year old girl want for their birthday?

A chance to get their daddy in a dunk tank of course!
This was by far the highlight of the evening for the Cook kids!

Of course there was also the fun inside the gym-

the cookie walk, crafts, duck pond, and face painting! (PARTY!)

Saturday was a family day- we went to Donner park (PARTY!)

Returned home for Peter Pan cake, mac and cheese, and presents- in that order!
Then of course scooter rides and even a pinata! (PARTY!)

Happy fifth birthday Aggie Sue!

We sure love you!

a day in the life of the cook kids

Every so often I try to do a "day in the life" project- I carry the camera with me everywhere and chronicle even the most normal, mundane parts of our days. I aim to have a snapshot of what life was like during this crazy period of time- I know so many things that we do everyday will be forgotten about in time. I envision us watching in the future with lots of "OH I forgot about that!" and other things.

This normal day started out at 530am for me (Ok that's a little earlier than normal but Eldon is teething.) After getting up with him every hour during the night, he got up wanting to play at 530 and I just gave in. He stayed up for a bit while I drank my coffee then passed out on the carpet and slept soundly for a good hour. Figures!

Our morning was busy as usual, getting the kids around-school for Lorraine and chapel for the rest of us. We attempted to be a little less conspicuous at chapel this time by sitting in the balcony... I don't think it helped! Marcus just has NO clue what "quiet" means! We attempted to go to the playground afterwards but it was too wet even for me with puddles under the swing and everything.

Once we got home my "day in the life" video project idea fell completely out of my brain for a couple hours. The kids played while I baked cookies for family fun night. Of course the helped by licking bowls and spoons clean when I was done!

Naptime comes none too soon, around 1230 lately, and I got my blessed few hours of peace and quiet. I worked on a present for Aggie's birthday, sent a few emails, and did some housework.

Lorraine comes home from school at three and usually wakes up the house as she tells me about ALL the AWESOME things she did at school! (like RECESS and STORY TIME and PLAYING WITH HER FRIENDS!!!) Daddy came home and worked on the scooter with the boys while I played with the girls and Eldon inside. I am amazed that he got the scooter working. It is the very same one he used to drive to work BEFORE he had his driver's license! It's a little smelly, but of course the kids thought it was just great!!! Notice the pictures of Lorraine and Marcus by the GTI- they were "hiding" while daddy was gone- Lorraine was attempting to teach Marcus the meaning of "quiet!" I don't think she had much more luck than I usually do!

After the scooter ride came dinner, baths, and of course, dancing. Their favorite CD at the moment is Laurie Berkner's "Rocketship Run."

Of course there was some resistance at bedtime as usual. After Aggie's several pottie trips, making sure the closet door was shut and the hall light was on, setting up the girls bedtime stories on my ipod, wrestling Marcus and Seth into bed, getting out clothes for the next day, and locating the various blankets and buddies that each one needs to sleep, our house was quiet again.

No, it wasn't really- actually it was full of muffled giggles, bangs on the walls, whispers, more giggles... but after 8pm I am off duty, so I just pretend I don't hear!

Thank you Lord, for normal days!

heavenly reflections

Yup, this is the kind of conversation we enjoy with our sweet children all the time....

Aggie: “Daddy, will there be potties in heaven?”

“No honey, I don't think you'll have to worry about going potty in heaven.”

With a little panic in her voice she says, "What do you mean there won't be potties?!”

“It just won't be necessary honey.”

“But daddy, I'll really REALLY have to go pee!”

“I don't think so Aggie.”

“Fine then,” she says, “I'll just go on the grass!”

Seth, who's been listening, laughs and asks “what if you have to go poop?”

Aggie, disgusted, yells, “NOOOO Seth!!! I will just really really have to go pee and I will go on the grass!”

surprise!!!

We sure surprised Mary Anne last week!

Happy thirtieth birthday Mary Anne! I hope you know how much we all love and appreciate you!

Remember our troops

As September 11 rolled around again, we were once again reminded as a nation that there are those that hate us, hate freedom, hate everything we stand for. We have not forgotten where we were that awful day, and today we remember the tragedy and the commitment we all made to fight this evil at home and abroad. I am again grateful for those in the military and their families- those who do not need an anniversary like this one to remind them of the threat of terror because it is what they try not to think about every single night as they go to bed- those who every day bear the burden of protecting our freedom.

I remember when we were one of those families in 2004-



Seeing these pictures reminds me how much I missed Josh that year when he was in Iraq, and how Lorraine and the rest of the family missed him, especially as we welcomed Aggie into the family that year. Yet how proud we were of him for simply doing the work God had given him to do. I praise God for sustaining us through those difficult times, and pray that he will sustain others who are bearing this same burden today.

Dear Father
Thank you for this great nation. Thank you for the freedom and prosperity you have given us here in America. Help us to value those great gifts, and to remember that whatever our vocation, we are all citizens of a country like no other. Keep our eyes open for ways we can serve our country, and help us all to take our citizenship seriously- it is a great gift from Your hand. Bless those that serve our country full time in the military today, especially those that are currently in harms way. Give them strength, courage, and determination as they protect and defend the USA. In Jesus' name, Amen.

2 months ago today...

Two months ago today Aggie rarely went a single hour without a seizure. She was exhausted, unable to socialize or to learn, and having trouble completing daily activities.

Two months ago today we could not let her out of our sight. We had to constantly be ready to catch her, to see if she was breathing, to stop her from wandering down the stairs or out into traffic. Any and every public situation was full of enormous stress for these safety reasons.

Two months ago today we were afraid for her life. The seizures that made her stop breathing and turn blue were coming more frequently and lasting longer. We were using her rescue medicine on a weekly basis- it felt like we were pulling her back from the brink of death every time. But, we wondered, for how long?

Two months ago today we released our little Aggie into the hands of the Lord and those he has blessed with surgical skill.

Two hours ago, today, we were pracing a song in spanish. She is learning again!

Two minutes ago today she was getting too loud as she played with her siblings. She is socializing again!

Two months have passed with no seizures, and not a day goes by without loud, heartfelt praise to the Lord from those who know her. To see her riding a bike, twirling around the yard, running and laughing and talking.... God has truly blessed her and all of us!

Thank the Lord and sing His praise!

Tell everyone what He has done.

Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His Name!

He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy

With shouts of thanksgiving!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Speaking of unruly and downright uppity politicians

Hoosiers, this is our Representative hard at work...

Rep. Baron Hill
Like the others, he seems to have forgotten that he works for us!
I contacted him- if you'd like to click here

We desperately need open and honest debate among the politicians. If politicians cannot answer our questions without teleprompters, or if they will not allow their on-the-spot answers to be shared with their voters, we have no choice but to distrust them.

Quote of the weekend

Aggie and her Uncle Quinn (aka Uncle Geek) love to tease each other.

The other day they were walking along and Aggie tripped. As she hopped back up Quinn laughed and said “Geeze Aggie, walk much?”

Agnes immediately made a fist and hit Quinn, yelling, “NOOO Geek, I'm not a 'walk much,' YOU'RE a 'walk much!'”

Yep, that's Aggie on the tube with her Aunt Katie! Moments like these make me praise the Lord for her great health!!! Still no seizures!

on getting sidetracked....

It is so easy to get sidetracked. It's so easy to get distracted by the little things; doing laundry, cleaning the house, checking emails, It's easy to become a passive parent. I hardly notice when the kids start pushing the boundaries, until one day I wake up and realize that my kids have become completely unruly and downright uppity.

And for their sakes, I realize I must get back to basics, and become an active parent again.

It is so easy to get sidetracked. It's so easy to get distracted by the little things: raising kids, working, paying the bills. It's easy to become a passive citizen. I hardly noticed when the government start pushing the boundaries, until today, I woke up and realized our politicians have become completely unruly and downright uppity.

And for the country's sake, I realize I must get back to basics, and become an active citizen again.

Goodbye snuggles

Squeezing in the last few minutes with Nana- she leaves tomorrow morning! What an awesome week we have had! I will share stories and pictures when I am able!

!

Aggie is heading up to MI with Nana so that she can spend some one on one time with Grammy Pammy. It has been a LONG time since she has been allowed to go by herself. Praise the Lord (for the millionth time!) for her good health!

Praying for safe travels for you Nana- and Aggie!