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Does your grandpa eat ice cream like my grandpa eats ice cream?

I think that there was some frozen yogurt underneath there somewhere.

My Grandpa Obenchain had a birthday this weekend and we took him out to celebrate at U-Swirl last night. It was fun to watch him select his flavors and toppings.  He's very eclectic...and still a kid at heart.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

We love you.

Redeeming the Mundane Minutes

I will be the first to admit that I was not completely thrilled to have Marc spend his Christmas bonus on an iPad.  Sure, it sounded fun...but completely unnecessary.  I didn't want another electronic gadget causing quarrels among the girls, tempting me to waste time on the internet, sucking away hours of precious life, etc.  Now I will be the first to tell you what a blessing that little machine has been around here.  It has redeemed HOURS of mundane activity for me...while getting ready in the morning, while folding laundry, while cooking meals, while mopping the floors and so on.  These days, I can't wait to have a mundane mommy task to do!  That's because I know that I will get 10 minutes of good teaching from the likes of John Piper, Steven Cole, Timothy Keller, Francis Chan, etc.  Over the course of a day I can easily listen to at least one whole sermon.  That's time and money well spent spent, don't you think?!

(Words with Friends is pretty fun too!)

PS. Thanks to any of you who prayed for little Kirstin.  She was released from the hospital this week and is isolated at home, still taking oral antibiotics.  I wanted to give you an update from her mom and grandma:

Andrea wrote ... Today we went for our final Dr. visit for now....in a few months we will be meeting with the neurosurgeon and an ear specialist. We are encouraged as Kirstin's blood work looked good. A few days ago she started rolling over again, yesterday she sat up, today she wanted to crawl a bit on a bed etc. It is so exciting to see her regain her strength. She is a very sweet baby. The 3D pictures of her fracture are unbelievable...it is hard to believe all our baby has gone through but God is good.
Kirstin's Grandma wrote ... Little one year old Kirstin (at home) sat on her own yesterday, has already crawled a little, smiles often, is content and peaceful. Her personality is still not the same but we are so happy for her progress. Thank you Lord and thank you to all who have prayed and been part of her medical care. So many things for which to be grateful!!!!

Please Pray for Kirstin

After dropping my Facebook account over two years ago, I felt compelled to reactivate it this week.  I had heard (via another blog) that one of my dear friends from high school was in a difficult situation and needed prayer.  I couldn't get any other information and I knew that all the details and updates would be on her Facebook page.  I was right.

My Mom has given me good advice when bad things happen:  "Go to the Throne, not the phone."  I have done that.  God has not let this friend out of my mind and I have been praying constantly for her.  But now I'm also going to the phone - or in this case, to the blog reading world.  Please pray for my friend Andrea Higdon, her husband Kristjan and her children...especially baby Kirstin.  Kirstin turned one last week, but she was in the ICU for her birthday.  I still don't know what happened, but about 10 days ago she suffered a major fracture on her skull.  That sounds bad enough, but really the fracture is not the issue at this time.  Since the injury, Kirstin has had a persistent high fever, low appetite and partial facial paralysis due to an infection of meningitis.  She has already had a blood transfusion, a couple of CT scans and is receiving antibiotics and nutrition intravenously.  She is really fighting for her life!

Andrea and I were missionary kids together in Brazil.  Her husband went to Master's while I was there.  Andrea and Kristjan have been living on the beautiful island of Madeira - off the coast of Portugal - for several years.  Kirstin is in a local hospital that is terribly understaffed.  The nurses are kind, but the doctors have not provided the best of care.  You can imagine how difficult this must be for Andrea and KJ as parents.  Please pray for:
     1.  Healing for Kirstin - that the antibiotics would work, no new infection would develop and that the fever would go away.  Pray for her tiny body to sustain all the pokes and prodding.
     2.  Strength for Andrea and KJ - They split their time between the hospital and their three other children  at home.  Thankfully, Andrea's mom was able to fly over there to help out.
     3.  Good Doctors - That they would be kind, thorough and competent in their care.
     4.  God's glory - The Higdon family is being watched by many people on the island and at that particular hospital.  Pray that even in this horrible trial, they would maintain an excellent testimony for the God they love and serve.  Pray that their faith and hope would remain strong.

You can read more general information about them at their website, here.  Thanks for praying for them!