All in Perspective

3 members of my family have a rough stomach flu all at the same time and I'm considering myself very lucky.  It's all in how I look at it right now.  Some very good friends of ours were involved in a terrible wreck Sunday night and it makes the stomach flu look like a walk in the park.

This is the write up from the paper.

A three-car accident late Sunday killed one person and sent nearly a half-dozen others to the hospital.
The crash happened just before 6 p.m. on K-14 north of XXX in XXXX County.
Investigators say the driver of a pickup lost control on a slush-covered road, skidded across the centerline and collided with another car.
The pickup driver, Michael Mason of Geneseo, was killed.
Six members the XXXXXX family from Lorraine were in the car.
Mark, 36, has relatively minor injuries. Lucy, 37, was taken to Hutchinson Hospital with serious injuries. Courtney, 6, Anna, 10, and Ella, 3, were taken to Wesley Medical Center in critical condition. Carter, 6, was treated and released.
A third vehicle tried to avoid the accident scene, but struck the pickup. It was driven by Chris XXXXX, 59, of Frederick. He and his passenger were not hurt.

Thankfully the whole family is healing up and will all be released from the hospital soon.
I'm so thankful that God had his hands around each of the members of their family and the outcome turned out like it did but I'm sorry for the family of the other man. 
So today while I'm cleaning up sick for the millionth time, I'm reminded of how blessed we are to have our family and remember that the flu is short lived and in 36 hours these 3 will be done, I have already had it and we will only have the youngest 2 to catch it.  My glass is 1/2 full instead of 1/2 empty tonight.

Josie is so tender and loving towards her....swords.  She's so funny!

We are back in the swing of things since Christmas.  There's not much new going on as of the last few weeks so I'll leave you with a Wesley quote.

"Mom, can I go sky diving today"?  Um no!! "Well then can I go in the pool"  NO Wesley it's winter!  "You NEVER let us do anything fun"!  Yup I'm mean that way! 

Eric won his wrestling match by pinning the other kid today.

                                              Dad is stretching him our for the next match. 

Howdy Partner

More pictures of Christmas

                                                     Some of the Elf's handy work. 

Josie going out in the snow.

                                                      Tyler riding behind the golf cart.

                                  Tyler decorating the gingerbread house. 

                                          Eric decorating the gingerbread train

  For this dynamic duo, it's all about how much candy you can get on one piece of gingerbread. 

                                                 The train is plowing thru snow

I think Tyler would say, its a good thing we had 2 to decorate.  Thanks Grandma and Papa and cousin Morgan. 

                                              Some more of the Elf's handywork

He is one ornery elf!

Josie making cookies

Welsey baking also

Eric

Josie on Christmas morning

Tyler was pretty excited about his spy car

                                               Josie and her Elmo that plays music

                             

  Wesley and his beloved Lego Pirate set

                                                        Josie and baby "Grace"

                                                                        Sing Elmo

                                                                          buddies

                                                                            Wesely

                                                                            Eric

                      "Hey Mom, Grace and I are just hanging out with a little Angel Soft."

                                               Almost all of one side of my family. 

  Grandma and all of her Great Grands.  This was the last pic of the day and needless to say there were a few kiddos done with pics by this time. 

                                       My Mom and a lap full of Grandkids ready for bed. 

Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas. We got to see a lot of family and had a really good time with all of them. This year was so different. Last year we had met Josie but knew that she was spending the day in an orphanage away from us. This year she was tearing into her presents and enjoying the music as church. What a joy! The boys were so excited for Christmas to get here and are a little dissapointed it is over. They enjoyed their Elf that came to visit. Tyler and Eric had programs at school and all 3 boys participated in their program at church. 

 

Josie with her Russian baby doll ornament. 

Eric at the school program

                                               Wesley really enjoyed Santa this year. 

Josie enjoyed Santa from a distance or in Mama's arms.

                                          Tyler really didn't want any part of this picture. 

 

Tyler in their school program. They were all supposed to wear pj's but since he is kind of a dress up guy he didn't want to be seen in them so he and his teacher compromised.

When Eric was waiting for his turn with Santa he pulled a chair off the rack they were selling and had a seat.  He then didnt' sit on Santa's lap but rather talked to him from his seat. 

                                         Tyler finally decided maybe he would talk to Santa. 

                                            Christmas with Grandma and Papa

                                                          Wesley loves his new boots 

                                                             Josie's new dress

Wesley and Josie at their program at church.  This was during practice and Josie found "Jesus" and had nothing to do with the singing.  There was a naked baby in a manger to tend to. 

                                                                Eric at the program

                                                     Tyler doing his "king" dance. 

                                                          

                                               Josie watching the program with Papa

 Eric knew this song so well he did it with his eyes closed.  :)  Actually he told me later that he had his eyes closed the whole time so I wouldn't take his picture. 

                                              

Tyler singing his solo