Reading to Pappy (last post continued)

Conversation with Pappy

Since my dad's brain injury, most of you know, he has been unable to talk.  He can say a few words here and there, but for the most part, he doesn't really speak at all.  Sometimes on special mornings he'll be in a very alert mood when he wakes up.  On those mornings we call to Sam and see if he wants to come in and "talk" with Pappy.  This morning's conversation was especially funny.  

Side note:  When Samuel gets in trouble and has to be disciplined, we've been working on 

repeating the entire scenario to be sure the disobedience is corrected the second time around.  

Sometimes we'll say, "OK.  I'm going to go out of the room and then I'll come in and tell you to 

do blah, blah, blah, and you'll say, 'Yes, Mommy/Daddy.'"  Then we'll repeat the whole process, 

and Sam will answer correctly and obey...well....at least that's the plan =)  

So.....this morning when we called him in to talk with Pappy, it went like this...

Sam:  Hi, Pappy!

Pappy: Hi.

Sam:  Why'd you get up so early today, Pappy?

Pappy: *silence*

Sam:  OK!  Let's try again, okay?

Pappy: OK

Sam: Hi, Pappy!

Pappy: Hi.

Sam:  Why'd you get up so early today, Pappy?

Pappy: *silence*

After a few more times, Samuel decides to do a "retake" (like we do with him).

By this time we're totally cracking up.  My poor dad, forced into this never-ending conversation! =)

Sam:  OK, Pappy!  Let's try again.  (in a very instructive, teacher voice)  I'm gonna go out of the room and then I'll come back in and you can answer me.

By the time it was over, we convinced him to sit up in Pappy's bed and read him some books.  (pictures to come)

Breakfast

Even though she has a few teeth, Kara still chooses to swallow things whole. You would think a banana would just slide down, but she takes such big bites! So funny!

OUR FRIENDS, THE SEELYS

I just wanted to write a quick post to our friends, Dan and Karis. Two weeks from yesterday they will be leaving for their first term in Cameroon, Africa. When we moved to Virginia Beach for seminary, Dan and Karis were our first friends. Neither one of us had children, so it was school, work and friends that made up our lives. From the beginning we knew that we would get along great. Travis knew Dan and Karis from college, but not all that well. They were always just one step ahead of us through seminary and then into the process of choosing a mission board and beginning deputation.

Dan and Karis, you are so special to us. Even though we've spent lots of months away from each other since we moved to Pennsylvania, you have always been very close in our hearts. We have prayed for you so much these last months as God has answered your great desire to send you to Cameroon. We admire you and your faithfulness to the Lord and the strength and determination you have shown to make it through long years of seminary away from both of your families. You spent many Christmases alone in Virginia, while we were close enough to travel home for every one. You waited for the pregnancy of your precious Kayla, whom we prayed for. And then the Lord blessed you abundantly with ANOTHER baby! We are so glad to call you our friends. We don't know when we'll see you again, since our furlough schedules will probably not match, so it could be many years. We cherish the times we have had with you as a couple and now the few times we've spent together as families. We love you, DAN, KARIS, KAYLA, and KRISTA! =)

WAIT

I receive a newsletter for women in ministry. It's called "Reflections from the Fishbowl". In the June issue there was a wonderful poem that I shared with my mom. We really enjoyed it. So maybe you will too.....

WAIT
by Russell Kelfer

Desparately, helplessly, longingly I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...
and the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers. I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word."

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no', to which I'll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God,
"So I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine....
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run."

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.
You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of my Spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seems terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still..."WAIT".

Cool Museum

We've been away for the last two weeks doing a couple Vacation Bible Schools. The second week we stayed with a GREAT family...Steve and Elyse Richard and boys (5 of them, actually!) =)
After a busy week at Bible school, they treated us to a really cool museum. I wish we could show here what an awesome place this is. It's called Strong Museum of Play. I've never seen such a cool place! It's located in Rochester, NY. We spent the morning playing together. Samuel couldn't contain himself; he was SO excited. If you ever have a chance to go, it's definitely worth the time and money. THANK YOU, RICHARDS! We had a GREAT week with you (and we're already suffering from the lack of delicious cookies at our house!)

Zach and Zane (twins)

Zach, Zane, Luke and Micah



Sweet Luke

Elyse and little Isaiah



Kara is definitely Daddy's favorite girl!

Everybody hugging Clifford

Lunchtime!

Zach

Zane

Micah

Our Wonderful Friends (Steve and Elyse)

VEGGIE TALES

Sam's been cracking us up lately with his renditions of Veggie Tales.  He's really into "Dave and the Giant Pickle."  (a spin off of David and Goliath, in case you couldn't tell from the title) =)  Anyway, the other night on the way to Bible School, he was quoting in the back seat something from one of the "Silly Songs with Larry."  Bob and Larry are talking in Spanish for some reason and one of them says, "No Comprendo??!!!  I'll show YOU no comprendo!"  Well, Sam was saying, "No Comfriendo??!!  I'll show YOU no comfriendo!"  It was hilarious!  I have big plans to post a video of Sam playing Dave and Travis playing the Giant Pickle....so stay tuned!