Pie

Today we made a vanilla cream pie and a banana cream pie.  Well actually the girls did-- but I supervised.  ;)

Julia normally is the one who does most of the baking in the family, but I felt that it would be good to have Annalyn do one of the pie crusts since she has expressed an interest in helping out with the cooking more.

Galina is a natural beauty with her gorgeous blue eyes and curly brown hair.
I think she looks cute in a hat too!

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Today I took Dennis to his physical therapy evaluation.  I was pleased to learn five or six new exercises to help him gain strength on his right side and to work on stretching his neck which leans to the right because of his torticollis.

On the way home Rachel and I talked about all kinds of things.

During our conversation she asked if it was just the biological kids that would get money when John and I died.  This question was sparked by our many conversations about Sasha who still talks to his mother when she calls (drunk), but has absolutely no relationship with her.  Sasha is in the hospital again from a fever and sore throat-- with no one to care for him.  If only he had the money to buy Ibuprofen or Tylenol.  If only he was taught to try home care before rushing to the hospital.  If only he had family that could care for him when he was sick.  If only.  If only.

And Rachel thought she might be left out.  Perhaps treated differently because she wasn't one of our biological children.  I took this opportunity to pour into her all the reassurance that I could think of.  I could see yet another burden lifted from her heart.

What a special moment.

But back to Sasha.

He is like a son.  A son in law. 

At least that is the plan.

It pains us to hear that he is in the hospital again.  Prayers please.

Here is a story that happened during his stay at River of Joy this summer.

  Told by David, the founder of ROJ-- "We had a wonderful home church today. One prayer answered today was a simple prayer but it strongly impacted Sasha. I sent him to the little store nearby for tomatoes. He searched through all three stores in Mezhgorie and nobody had tomatoes...came back and tossed down the money...telling me he was unsuccessful. I said, "OK then lets pray them in." We asked God to send us tomatoes. They came in the hands of one of our church group. We were having an apologetics discussion later with Dr. Wilson Turner. Sasha said,"I know God exists! I saw Him today! He sent us tomatoes when David prayed."

This story made my day when I read it.  Here is a young many whose faith is fairly new with all of life's curve balls thrown at him day in and day out.  And yet he is choosing to hope... to see... and to declare that God is a part of his life. 

This little hospital visit is merely another curve ball.

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 Have you voted today?  It would make my day!

Hey.... that rhymes.

Circle of Moms-- Smiles and Trials