vacation stories

WARNING***this is long and detailed to help me remember our visit***

Much has changed since I last wrote on Sunday afternoon. After a walk with the boys and Grammy, my cell phone rang at 7:23 pm. It was Pam telling me she was having her baby at 8:00! She sounded scared. I was shocked. Last I knew we were anticipating a March 31st delivery. Circumstances changed, and my littlest niece was born at 8:33 pm on Sunday, March 16th. She is 10 weeks early but doing so well! Her name is Sadie May. Pam went downhill fast, and what happened during the next 12 hours about changed our family forever. I have never been up all night pleading with God before. I prayed so much that night--by myself, with my husband on the phone, with my mom, and with my sis-in-law Sarena on the phone. I prayed and I read scripture and when I could no longer pray, I sang. Sometimes I spoke lyrics, other times I sang them quietly to myself and to the Lord. My mind could not, and would not, wrap around the fear of losing Pam. God knows the numbers of our days; He has them all mapped out. I was praying that Pam's days were not meant to end that night. God's sovereign plan included sparing her life, and I cannot describe how I felt when I heard that she was stable in the ICU. Many, many praises lifted up to God!!! "Oh God will make a way, where there seems to be no way...."

In the days following that big night, I have been able to stay in touch with family and friends who prayed for Pam and are still doing so. I will see her and little Sadie soon! I trust that God had me here on vacation for a reason. The boys and I have had so much fun! At home I think they would have been swallowed up in all of the uncertainties. Here, we have been partying. :)

Monday we went to Awana headquarters and I think they would like to play there all day long, everyday if they could. Air hockey, derby car track, totes on the shipping lines,...they were entertained! Aaron's first comment when walking in was, "Wow, look at that huge hamper!" (It is a LARGE hopper full of bubble wrap hanging from the warehouse ceiling) They all rode around in totes. Seeing where their Awana awards come from and knowing Grammy works there is neat for them. Kaleb scooted along in a chair with wheels from one end of the warehouse to the other. He called it his wheelchair! That night we celebrated St. Patty's day at IHOP. We all had breakfast for supper except Aaron. The boy does not like pancakes, waffles, or french toast. Never has! He loved his burger.

Tuesday we went to the firestation to visit Grampy's work. Another fun place for 3 boys to play! They rang a firebell, climbed on fire trucks, and toured the sleeping quarters. Kaleb liked the talking fireman cookie jar: "Step back, get away from the cookie jar" Aaron liked the candy dish. Braylen liked telling us he went to work with Grampy last summer when he visited on his own. After the firehouse we went to see "Horton Hears a Who." Cute movie! Stadium seating with lights all over each step--the boys LOVED it. They had to walk to the top of the stairs before we left. Kaleb even loved the bathrooms. He walked in and said, "Wow, this is a HUGE bathroom!" to everyone in there. I wanted to wear a sign that said, "Yes, we live in the sticks, and this is the biggest bathroom my 6 year old has ever seen!" After the movie we had a snack at Dunkin' Donuts and went to buy new shoes. Kaleb was undressing the mannequins and my mom had to point that out. Then he ran around in his socks and slid on the wood floors, saying he was practicing for baseball. After all that excitement, and a walk to the hobby shop and christian book store, this mommy had had enough fun for one day. :)

Wednesday we drove to St. Charles to visit my grandma. When we got to her condos, Aaron said, "Wow, your grandma has a huge house!" I think he kept wondering where all the space was once we were inside her place. I was SO PROUD of my boys that day. They don't know my grandma or aunt well at all, and yet they were happy and polite and not shy at all. That is pretty amazing for Kaleb and Aaron. Usually when they don't know a family member like that they are withdrawn and whine to me that they want to leave. Not this time! We stayed for a few hours. Braylen and Kaleb sprayed water on the squirrel that likes to eat the birdseed on grandma's balcony. Aaron invented a game to play in a bedroom with Kaleb and they entertained themselves. Kaleb and Aaron took turns coloring. I'm telling you, this visit was blessed by God. The boys even wrestled on Grandma's living room floor and nobody got hurt and cried. Grandma was thoroughly entertained, and they let out some energy!

Today (Thursday) we ventured out to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. 2 hours was enough fun for me :) Thankfully it wasn't that crowded and each boy traded in their tickets for a toy they liked. They each had their favorite games. Kaleb: jet ski. Aaron: "jet ski like Kaleb", but also anything that earned him a ticket. Braylen: ski ball and basketball. After that whole experience we went bowling!!! It is a new bowling alley and of course NOTHING like the one back home. Again, the boys were amazed. :) Bright lights, no smoking thanks to Illinois law, clean and new; it could not have been better! My score could have been better. But that is not new. :) Grampy had 194 points or something high like that. Grammy: 101 Braylen and Aaron: 84 Kaleb and Mommy: 62. Yeah! We went home feeling like we'd conquered the world with all the fun we had today. The boys raked leaves (yes I know it's March), played basketball, and ran around like wild monkeys. Snow is coming tonight :(, but at least we had today to celebrate the first day of spring on a day that felt like spring!!! Tomorrow is our last full day here. I'd better rest up for it. :)