Ronnett Tusime- front and center

Saw this done in the World Vision catalog this month by some supporters. They had taken their sponsored children and pinned a string from their locations to each other and back to the supporting people. DUH! I thought, I have a map on my wall too!!! So here it is. It sure does draw more attention to the sweet girl we support. I love that.  SO blessed to sponsor a child.

and I am praying earnestly that soon I will be able to put my favorite pre-fielders the Duryees, in their new map spot in Spain

the autumn leaves. . .fall by my window. . .

Trinity and I went out today to gather branches for the thankfullness tree we are doing in our home this year. The whole path was covered in huge maple leaves. Here are some pics from our fun little walk. I can't get enough of my goofy girl!

 them some big leaves

 "and then I was like, 'What? There's a leaf behind my head?' "

 peekaboo!

 ah smiling. much better Trin

 the beginning of our Thankfulness Tree

 leaves!

 she looks weird here. . .the pose I think

 doofy. about right. 

 gack! I'm sorry Trin, but that is totally what my chin/neck do too. you can thank me later.

 my best "I'm a giant!" angle

 She and Nee Nee made the hat

 Yo Yo! 

 she always wants to take a silly face pic. Well here it is, for all eternity. Serves you right if you hate this when you are 18!

 my fave

 me a little exasperated with ms. silly pants

 exasperation continues =)

Fall!? This is the Evergreen State. . .

(a Trinity quote)

Happy Halloween.

well all it's been a busy end to the month of October! My brother who was diagnosed last year with Acromagela (only 3-4 new cases per million every year) came over the mountains from Spokane to meet with a surgeon specializing in removing pituitary gland tumors. After two plus years of varying symptoms we were happy to have a diagnoses but the treatment options were limited and the medicine route they were planning to take just didn't seem to work out. We were all praying hard and wondering why he wasn't getting any relief and why the red-tape on the meds never seemed to clear up. Once it was made clear that even meds would not be a long-term solution he made the aforementioned trip to Harborview in Seattle to get an evaluation. The surgeon and endo he saw were confident that taking the tumor out was the solution so two weeks later (last Thursday) over the whole family came for the procedure! Friday was the pre-op, my mom was here to to help me watch my niece and nephew and to go back and forth from the hospital if needed. Then we spend the weekend enjoying ourselves just hanging out. Monday Zack and Mishael headed for the hospital with mom not far behind. He was supposed to go into surgery at 10ish but it got pushed back to 1:30. He was done by 3:30 but they didn't get to see him until 8. He came through it with flying colors and returned to our house Tuesday and stayed another 24 hours through Wednesday (Halloween) because they said if anything happened it should in the first 48 hours. Praise God nothing happened! It is CRAZY fast to have gone from twiddling thumbs to having the tumor removed. Mercifully, these tumors are almost always benign and Zack could possibly be cured of Acromagela! It's such a blessing. He will have to come back for a 2 week and 6 week post-op where the cure will be confirmed. Now we are just telling him to rest up! I see God's hand all over it. So extra kids and surgeries made for a whopper of an end of the month but you won't hear me complain. Here are some pics from our trick or treating. The kids had an amazing time with their cousins and our trick or treating with our dear friends the Donothans was bittersweet as they prepare to move to Texas this month. We will miss you guys soooo much but this isn't goodbye! Disneyland 2013! maybe. . .

 lookin good for having your brain roto-ruetered

 Halloween shirts

 "CAR" nee-nee, 'Car"

 I mean seriously. . .

 ognore the ugliness of the left side, admire the adorable ruby fairy

 ARgh??

 Trick or Treat!

 sweetie