This is Marian posting for Hannah.
They took Asa back to TX Children's Hospital in Houston by ambulance. Hannah rode in the ambulance with Asa and Kevin followed in the van. Asa's white blood cell was up again and the enzyme count of that one enzyme that I can never remember the name of was also elevated (15,500 fyi Sarah) When Asa first woke up from his nap earlier today the pain was pretty bad and Hannah didn't waste any time. She had him at the ER pretty quickly and even though it was really crowded they admitted him right away. Bloodwork was completed within 2 hrs. (This was fast compared to last time) The 3 hours we spent in the ER Asa struggled some with pain, but not nearly as bad as last time, and there was no pain medicine given. The doctor went ahead and ordered it in case Asa would need it in the ambulance. So that's what I know for now. Thanks so much for praying. Also, last time some of you sent emails through the hospital website, and I know this was a great encouragement. And even after Asa came home, the hospital snail mailed those emails that came after Asa was released. So I'm going to paste that address below again. It's real easy to do. I did it with each kid and it took about 10 minutes. Average time 1 minute 10 seconds per kid). And the hospital takes each email and puts it on its own individual 5x7 post card. They are very cute, and I know that Asa, Kevin and Hannah loved them all. Thank you so much for your prayers. Well, motherhood and "aunt hood" are both calling. Thank you so much for your prayers.

The website is: www.texaschildrenshospital.org/parents/patientgreeting/default.aspx

Happy 16th Anniversary Baby!



16 things I love about being married to Kevin:

1. He loves Jesus.

2. He knows how to tell a good story.

3. He makes me laugh. . .really laugh. . .like girly, giggly laugh.

4. He is a great father and a wonderful uncle.

5. He is loyal. . .to his family, his friends, his job, his favorite teams & NASCAR driver.

6. He has a great, dry sense of humor that throws off even his closest friends from time to time. (I'm talking to you Franklin. Quit laughing Matt, you're not immune either.)

7. He gave me roses for our anniversary.

8. He tells me I'm beautiful, even after all these years.

9. He still believes in working hard and protecting and providing for his family.

10. He smothers our children with love.

11. He knows how to play a good practical joke.

12. He can handle the grill.

13. He looks great in camo shorts and hiking boots. (That's for you, Heather!)

14. He changes poopy diapers.

15. He washes dishes and does laundry.

16. He's a stud.

I love you Kevin. You are the love of my life and I cherish our days together. I'm thankful that God brought us together when He did and I look forward to what He has in store for our future.

WE ARE HOME!


Asa is doing much better. Thank you to everyone who prayed, sent e-mails, babysat kids, made meals, sent presents, cards, and notes and the countless other things the body of Christ did to take care of us. I am unsure of how to write about it yet, because it all seems surreal and overwhelming. But to quote my husband who said from the very beginning of all this, when we didn't know if Asa would come home with us or not, he said(choking back the tears and through his clenched jaw), "Hannah, God is good. No matter what happens. God is good."

And so that is what I want to convey here. God is good, no matter what, God is good.

8 Things You Don't Know About Kevin:



1. Kevin was quite the prankster in college. He has never met a building he couldn't get into or a lock he couldn't pick. He once broke into my dorm room and left me a card and some presents that I didn't find until I woke up the next morning.

Another time he broke into the library on campus (by climbing in an upstairs window)to accomplish some kind of prank and was met inside the window by the Librarian who asked, "May I help you?" He came up with some "story" about having to copy some info. from a resource and then said Librarian "helped" him find the book and then let him make copies before letting him back out the front door.

Once he and a bunch of his buddies took all the hot water handles off of the girls showers in one of the dorms. I think it took 3 or 4 days to get that one straightened out. It wasn't pretty with all those girls walking around without having their showers. Kevin and his co-horts had to do "time" for that one and got stuck re-painting the lobby of the guys dorm.

Whenever there was an eventful prank on campus, the dean of students, Dean Krall, would head to Kevin's door first. Dean Krall would always say, "Did you do it? If you didn't, you know who did." I am sure that Kevin has gotten credit for things he didn't do just because of all the things he did do.

2. Kevin was in Jr. ROTC when he was in high school and was the 2nd highest ranking officer in the state. I always thought he would join the army and become a ranger.

3. He can play the drums.

4. He worked in the grocery business for 12 years before joining Best Buy. He loves grocery stores. Whenever we go on vacation, he checks out all the grocery stores within a 10 mile radius of where ever we stay.

5. Kevin acquired the nickname, "Smokey", from a close friend in West Virginia, because he used to smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day. Thankfully, he doesn't smoke anymore.

6. Kevin is an only child, but when he first went to college, he and his cousin, Brad, told everyone they were brothers. When they finally tried to "come clean" that they were only cousins, people didn't believe them.

7. He proposed to me in a hot air balloon, on a morning of which, I was sure, he was going to break up with me. THAT turned out way better than I expected. ;)

8. I think if he had to choose one person he could meet, on this side of heaven, it would be Mark Martin, the NASCAR driver.

Anna-Kate's Winter Ballet Recital. . .
took place last Saturday morning. Here are a few shots from the event:

Anna-Kate with her hair braided AND in a bun. . .that is WORK my friends.


The boys got a front row seat (from l to r: Joshua, Colin, Addison, Austin & Micah)


Anna-Kate with her teacher, Miss Victoria.


A couple of the girls in the younger class. First is Emma and then smiling Fiona.



Next we have Lizzie and Bella in action.


From left to right: Veronica, Bella and Anna-Kate (Bryn is sitting in the doorway)


Of course Aunt Mar took one of all of our kiddos together.

I love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer:
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From His temple He heard my voice;
my cry came before Him, into His ears.
The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because He was angry.
Smoke rose from His nostrils;
consuming fire came from His mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under His feet.
He mounted the cherubim and flew;
He soared on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him--
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Out of the brightness of His presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
He shot His arrows and scattered the enemies,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at Your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from Your nostrils.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
He rescued me because He delighted in me. . .

. . .You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With Your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
He enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me Your shield of victory
and Your right hand sustains me;
You stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
I crushed them so that they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
You armed me with strength for battle;
You made my adversaries bow at my feet.
You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them--
to the LORD, but He did not answer.
I beat them as fine as dust borne on the sand;
I poured them out like mud in the streets. . .

. . .The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men You rescued me.
Therefore I will praise You among the nations, O LORD;
I will sing praises to Your name.
He gives His king great victories;
He shows unfailing kindess to His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.

Psalm 18: 1-19; 28-42; 46-50