Pre 4th of July Celebration

We heard about a family community celebration in Hardeeville SC on radio station 103.1 ... and being the adventurers that we are, we went. God was good and the rain held off. We got there a little after 4 and the boys spent the next 4-1/2 hours in the inflatable jumping pit and the water slide. We also went over and started playing volleyball. Once we attracted more kids to come join in volleyball... Malachi and I went back to the water slide ... it was getting sweaty hot! (An example of good diversion tactics!) The rec center had 6 volunteers that didn't show so ... mom to the rescue! I started helping Alexis, one of the rec organizers, with the water slide and by the end of the evening I knew over half of the kids' names. It's amazing how all kids are so eager to get even just a little bit of notice and praise. They got into a competition to see who could tell me something new they liked about me. God is so faithful in giving back more than what you give out. Proof once again He loves us all! By the end of the evening I was pretty wet myself. With the exception of 2 little boys and a trio of 2 girls and 1 boy (which made me Praise God even more for the 2 amazing sons He has loaned to us) the evening was a very enjoyable time. It was a wonderful small town celebration with a dynamite fireworks show. We got to meet several families, had some wonderful food and free seedless watermelon.Word got around that Randy & I had stepped in to help and we weren't even from Hardeeville SC. Needless to say we had several of the local officials come meet and thank us. Jason Rogers, the City of Hardeeville's Public Information Director even came over and interviewed us. He's going to let us know when/where we can go see what they ended up using. The cameraman had already gotten several pictures of the boys on the water slide and all before the interview but once he knew our story he ended up getting even more footage/shots of just our family. The boys were excited that we are going to be in the local media and YouTube. PTL! Once again a fine example that God provided for helping us teach our sons by action the amazing things God does in our lives if we just open ourselves up to being led by Him and the blessings/rewards He gives.

Mighty 8th Air Force Museum

Today was Randy's day off ... or at least it was from work!!  We went by the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum to check it out today.  One of the bronze busts in the lobby was of a commander atPanama when Randy was there with the Army.  The boys thought that was cool.  There were two older gentlemen from the UK visiting that had a lot of fun with boys when we were looking at the planes.

Frisco's vet visit

Wow! What a day. Today we got to take Frisco to the vet for his next set of shots and some tests. The boys were all excited and even Molly got to go with us. We got there early so we walked around the Petsmart store while waiting for our turn. Since it was "vaccination" day we didn't get to go back with Frisco. Malachi was not to pleased with that as we are a definite hands-on family and are always there for whatever procedure is done, animal or human. At the first little peep out of Frisco Malachi hugged me tight and started crying. When Frisco got his shots he really started yelping -- loud enough that even I could hear him ... Malachi cried even harder and Josiah & Molly moved closer to us. Made me even more aware of what awesome sons we have. Guess I'm going to have to spend even more time praying for my sons and their wives that God has selected for them ... as tender hearted as God has created my sons I'm sure this mom is going to be spending a lot of time curled up in God's arms crying for the hurts of my sons. Good thing I know God loves them even more them me! Needless to say tonight Frisco is very tender and yelps whenever we touch his front shoulders. Malachi is still very sensitive to his feelings and tears up knowing Frisco is hurting even though it is from preventive care. Thus, it's snuggle time for us tonight and Malachi will probably sleep down here on the coach tonight. Hope you remember to take time to snuggle and appreciate a special someone who as been gifted to your life. There's no guarantee of tomorrow. I'm getting ready to wrap my arms around my special sons and absorb this time with them.

Fun with Friends at Whispering Pine

Here's some pictures of our time we spent at our Whispering Pine campground. Our 5th wheel backed up to the lake. It was very pretty and the neighbors were great.

Randy's Boo-Boo

God's protection is ever apparent! (Don't look at the pictures at the bottom if you are squeamish at all.) Randy was helping to take down a wall and it ended up getting him. Thus a trip to the emergency room and a call from his friend to start my day at 7:34 am. Since Josh & Randy are such pranksters Josh wasn't able to convince me that Randy really was hurt until I talked to him on the phone and heard the hospital noise in the background. Josh had already suspected this and had sent a picture to my phone to try and help validate. Needless to say, I got the boys settled and went to the ER.

.

When I got there they had put an IV in Randy's hand (after blowing his arm veins) and administered some pain meds that made him pretty loopy. He tried to tell me what had happened but he was having to fight the meds to focus which was making him very shaky so I told him just to tell me later. After that he woke up 2 or 3 times surprised to see me as he had forgotten that I was there ... he obviously wasn't feeling any pain!! I was there when the doctor came and cleaned it some more, prepped then closed the laceration. It was approximately 7 inches long and took 21 staples to close. Thanks to my medical experience he thought it would heal better if I would drain it instead of putting a drain in. So, I get the joy of inflicting pain on Randy in the name of healing while I do dressing changes!! (Just kidding on it bringing me joy!) Now just to keep him from overusing his arm, tearing out the staples and inflicting more damage to the muscle.

.

It could have been a LOT worse though. Am especially glad that I had prayed God's protection over him that morning. Here's a picture of the laceration once cleaned and one with the staples. Don't look if you are sight sensitive. If I knew how to get the pictures off of my phone I would load the first picture Josh sent but it's pretty messy so it's probably a good thing I don't know how to do it right now.

. Thanks for all your prayers that are helping to keep us safe. They are appreciated. . Here's the pictures!

Keller's Flea Market

On our way home we made a final stop at Keller's Flea Market as we had been told by one of our store owner friends on Tybee Island that they had ... funnel cakes. What a fun place. The boys loved the pet area, mom loved the produce options and "Beverly's" one of the full-time vendors obviously owned by no one else but ... Beverly! Randy just loved being there with his wonderful family (Hey, at least it sounds good!) The boys were bummed that the funnel cake place was already closed (we were there close to closing ... great time for deals on produce though!). This would be an amazing place to be able to come with our Watkins products and even our Aqua Chi. Maybe we'll have to come for a weekend or better yet, pray for someone that is needing extra income or a full-time income that we could sponsor and help get going here. Guess we'll just have to put it in God's hands! Oh the possibilities!!

University Of GA Aquarium

Once again it's Randy's day off so as a family (plus Daniel Newsome from the Campground) we headed with the Fetters family to the aquarium. It was a small aquarium but full of information and things to see and do. The nature trail was a lot of fun. We hiked out to the end of the pier stopping off to watch the tiny crabs scurry below. There was a storm moving in but we decided to take the long version of the trail and saw some amazing trees, plants and roots. We were rewarded with our risk. The boys actually got to play Tarzan and swing on one of the large roots hanging by the trail. I don't know how to get the footage added but will do my best to try. Unfortunately in the excitement of the boys getting to do this in real life I didn't think about keeping the camera in the horizontal position and unless someone can tell me how to flip it, you'll either have to twist your neck to view it or turn your monitor screen on it's side ... but in my books it's worth it. We are so blessed to be able to go and see these things with our sons instead of having to wait and do it with our grandchildren if God hasn't come by then. God was so faithful that it waited until we got loaded up in the truck before the down pour came. And boy did it pour! We were driving across one of the coastal waterways and couldn't see anything but water blowing across. Fortunately we were able to eventually drive out of the storm. It was just a bit scary. So glad Randy was driving! What a great husband/father we have ... yet another blessing.

Happy Father's Day!

Randy had to work Father's Day so we celebrated on Saturday by going to South Beach at Tybee Island GA then Sunday the boys gave him his presents after work and they went fishing at the lake behind our 5th wheel. All in all it was a good day. Thank you God for blessing us with a wonderful Dad for our family.

Below are the words the boys came up with for Randy's name...

.

Really fun,

Adventuresome,

Narly,

Dude.

Yah!!

Life has become a Beach

Well I think our van is definitely programmed for Tybee Island South Beach and it only took 2 days!! We are having so much fun and meeting so many wonderful people. We have parked ourselves north of the pier, south of the pier and all the way down at the south point where the kiteboarders hang out.  Mr. Dave has become one of our favorite beach friends. He has taken time and explained a lot about the kiteboarding sport to us. I think we are sold, now just to pray for guidance on how to come up with the money to get a set up for our family.

Josiah has decided that he would like to take lessons even if that's all he gets for his birthday (I wonder if he truly means that)...but he still wants a party too especially if God provides a location with children like He did for Malachi's!

        

Whispering Pines Campground

We just thought we were moving to Savannah Oaks RV Resort ... God obviously had other plans and we find our home temporarily located at Whispering Pines RV Park in Rincon GA (just outside of Savannah). Once we got our home in it's spot and somewhat hooked up we were off to find a bite to eat and take the boys to the Atlantic Ocean at Tybee Island South Beach.

.

What an experience! The boys were so impressed with all the white sand dune and the warmth of the ocean water. Being the stern parents that we are we, obviously allowed the boys to "experience" the Atlantic in their clothes. (Who was I to object, we were in Randy's truck!!)

.

Before we had gotten to the beach my Kansas landlocked sons wanted to celebrate Father's Day with Dad on Saturday back at our RV Park's Lake instead of the beach. Once their world was opened to the experience of the beach their desire of how to spend Saturday had quickly changed and the beach was the only option.

.

It was hard leaving all our new friends and family in Perry but the beach has helped sooth the parting. God is faithful in ALL things!

Newest Addition to the Wendt Family

Malachi is proud to annouce he has a new puppy!!

After much discussion his name has finally been confirmed as

Frisco Brown Wendt.

He is almost 9 weeks old. Weighs in at about 1 lb and is about 8" long.

He is a chihuahua/doxie mix.

Molly, Josiah's 11 yo beagle, is a little jealous at the moment but hopefully will accept the new member to our family.

Navajo Family

What a blessing! During our time back in Kansas which we ended up spending the majority of working on cleaning out the horse barn in Derby but God blessed us with getting a chance to see some of our Navajo family who were coming through to a mission conference in Kansas City. Thanks to my brother we were given a heads up so we could make sure and have things ready and be home (as we had planned on taking mom & dad to our favorite Chinese place for supper) for Tim and Ruby James' surprise visit. And boy was it a surprise. I was afraid Randy & I's constant looking out the window every time someone drove by would give it away, especially after it had gotten late and they still weren't there. It was even a bigger treat when Ruby fixed Navajo Fry Bread for Navajo tacos ... which is my personal favorite when we are out there. Driving half way across the United States to come home was a good thing and Tim & Ruby's coming from AZ/NM making fry bread made it even better espeically since we didn't have drive the additional 12 hours to get it!

We also got to attend church at Vineyard thus getting to see friends there. Some of our friends were out of town so we missed spending time with them but were thankful for those we got to see. Josiah's friend Stephen got to spend the afternoon/evening playing with the boys.

And yes, my wonderful husband chose to wait and leave Thursday after I was able to take my parents and go eat at the Golden Garden in Andover. No one makes Kung Pao Chicken like Vanna's husband does ... now just to get the recipe!! Unfortunately Randy ended up missing eating lunch with us as Randy had to meet up with Tim & Ruby to give them something they had left behind. Fortunately his favorites are not as hard to find as mine.

We finally had everything packed and ready to go but not until ... our amazing Randy was getting a bit antsy .... late Thursday evening. Saying bye to Gma & Gpa was really hard to do and as we were loading up driving out of their driveway Josiah's dog, Molly, threw up (which suspiciously looked like Aunt Ruby's Navajo taco but definitely did not smell like it!) all over the backseat and floor. Needless to say with the obnoxious odor that came with it all four of us came flying out of the truck! Grandma & Grandpa weren't sure what was going on but it didn't take long for the aroma to reach them ... instant understanding then. Thanks to Watkins Organic Cleaner (http://www.myfathersblessing.net/) and Watkins Pet Odor Eliminator we were able to get it cleaned up and on the road again. That was until we got to Tulsa, OK where we ended up getting a room as Malachi wasn't feeling well and started spewing through the night. After a sleepless night for mom (Dad's army training sure did help him in the sleep department!) we got a late mid-morning start off toward Perry GA. Needless to say with the late start, Malachi going from vomit to diarrhea and the 1000+ miles we had to go we ended up having to drive the rest of the day and through the night to finally arrive in Perry, GA Saturday morning at about 8 AM. What a relief to get everything situated and in for a nap ... and just in time for the bug that Malachi had to hit Randy on Sunday. Life is so full of humor if we just choose to look at it that way. Which at this point, was all we could do!! Good thing God is directing our lives!!