I've been better but never more grateful

So… I have been sick since Jan 11th.  Super awesome year anyway. I guess.  Mostly because I’ve learned a bit from bed, and learned I should have been in bed a bit sooner.  I’ve learned a bit of grace and hopefully how to be a better friend to those who must learn to live with life long limitations.  Our bodies betray us and our lives and the live of those around us go on without us.  That is humbling.  But it is a gift.  My Uncle once told me that all of our time is “free time” - we absolutely choose what we will do with every minute.  But so often I think I HAVE to scrub the floor, or finish a project. I think I SHOULD run or read to the kids.  But I forget I CAN. I generally have the health and strength to do so.  That is a miracle.  I don’t want to forget the miracle tomorrow when I am well. And I think of Jacob when he wrestled with God and God changed his name and threw his hip out of socket.  He walked with a limp the rest of his life… his ancestors refused to eat meat from that area.  Jacob was asking for a blessing… but perhaps the blessing was simply that God let Him live and gave Him a constant reminder that life is blessing enough.  Life is too much blessing really.  We get more blessing in each day than we can absorb. So friends… family… who live with pain… who live with bodies that betray you. I am sorry. I prayed for you this month.  And I won’t forget.

So life went on... and

They are gutting and remodeling a bathroom at Bethesda

We fit 13 people in the mini van.  We used to not be so grateful that we are a two minivan family. Now we are. Well.. I AM. :)

Here's the unidentified rash that started the whole health mess.

We were gifted some sweet Saudi clothes

And Chinese clothes...

And as we say around here, "We don't have a bag any more!"

Painted sunflowers for Kansas Day. And in case I haven't chronicled this anywhere - Mrs. Crawford is AWESOME!!!!!

John decided to stay at Bethesda.  Yeah!!! Remember... gratefulness for what we have just doesn't run in our bloodline.

We celebrated Lunar New Year with... dance

And dumplings...

And said goodbye to our Alice...

My mother is trying to learn Korean.  It's incredible really.

(Oh and the kids are taking Mandarin)

And Grammee played a whole game of Monopoly on a snow day... that was incredible too!

I don't know if the audio on these things will work or if the motion will just give you headaches... but I thought I'd give it a try.