Wilson24-15: July 2015

Strawberry Shortcake Scones

So this happened this morning. My mom is the Queen of Scones, and I think these may have earned her stamp of approval.

I was surprised to hear Annie singing to herself yesterday - not so much that she was singing - but that she was singing one of my favorite Rich Mullins songs, and I didn't know she knew it! We have to work on the lyrics a little, but her version works pretty well:

O God, You are my God
And I will never be You

Annie's Surgery

Annie had a tonsillectomy earlier this month. She hasn't been getting sick, but her tonsils were so large they were impeding her speech and palate function. We're just about done with the recovery process right now, and she has really been a trooper.

Surgery week was made more interesting by the fact that Dan's alternator went out about three miles from the hospital. Annie and I waited about 30 minutes for a cab (and surgery was delayed about 90 minutes) while Dan waited about an hour to be towed back home. My vehicle was out of commission from a parking lot accident the previous week, so we were without any means of transportation. We're thankful for a good friend who loaned us her car for a few days.

We're happy to be past the Popsicle stage and hope she'll get the all-clear for most foods and activities at her appointment on Monday.

We got to have Nurse Nancy again! She took such good care of Annie at her palate surgery and once again wowed us with her great compassion and care for our whole family

Railmen - Drum Corps 2015

Dan had a lot of fun brushing off his Drum Corps chops again this year. The Railmen All-Age Corps was able to do an exhibition performance at the Drums Across Nebraska show this month. It was a H-O-T (heat index about 110 degrees) weekend, but just about every group that took the field managed to give me chills as they performed.

The Academy performing an amazing Mary Poppins themed show

Children's Museum

We spent a fun family day at the Omaha Children's Museum before Annie had surgery this month. I think Dayna went for the face paint, Annie went for the princesses and Dan went for the Legos.

St. Louis

It was gray. It was drizzly. But we managed to make it to the Gateway Arch. The girls enjoyed the "egg"like elevator that took us to the top. The views may have been better on a clear day, but it was still a great experience.

Kentucky

We were able to catch our breath a little on our return trip. Charles and Karen - family friends of Dan's parents - were gracious enough to let us stay at their home in Louisville for a couple of days. They were fabulous hosts - driving us around to see the sites and treat us to some pretty amazing local homemade ice cream. Louisville has a lot of great memories for Dan, as his grandparents lived there for many decades. It may likely be a destination city for us again in the future.

Dan's Grandparents' house

Churchill Downs

Touring a candy factory

Visiting the cemetery where Dan's grandparents were laid to rest

North Carolina

We didn't do a lot of sightseeing in North Carolina. But we did have a wonderful visit with our dear friends and former neighbors. The girls were so excited to see each other again, and we were thrilled to be able to have some adult conversation with their parents! I wish we only had a street to cross to visit each other instead of half a country - but I'm so glad we were able to see them again and see firsthand how richly God has blessed them in their new home and ministry. And the Fourth of July couldn't have been more perfect than a day at a neighborhood pool party/barbecue with overcast skies and temperatures in the mid-eighties.

Seeing "Inside Out"

Mount Vernon

What an incredible privilege to walk where President Washington walked, climb the stairs and touch the banister he touched, see the room where he took his last breath, and even see his teeth! I didn't quite know what to expect of Mount Vernon, but it was worth the trip! Even better that we were able to spend the day with our China friend Jill and her sweet boys Riyan and Gus. Annie and Riyan were adopted at the same time...we met in a crowded play room at the China Hotel in Guangzhou and have been friends since.