Update (Toben)

Just checking in. Here's what's gone on for the last week:

Joanne's folks are off on an adventure to visit dear Cousin Francis in Memphis. I think she is 96 and still sharp as a tack. Talked to them yesterday and they were in Hot Springs Arkansas. They get back this weekend.

Joanne got her foot x-ray yesterday. There is some concern that she either has some ligament issues or perhaps a small hairline fracture in a couple of her toes. Her bone density is really low having spent so much time in a cast. The doctor should look at the x-ray in the next couple of days and will get back to us. Hoping for an answer that is actionable because her toes really hurt!

Splurged yesterday and got Joanne a mani-pedi. She told me I might want to bring a long something to read as it might take a little while. It ended up taking two hours! But she felt pampered and very pleased so it was worth it. Took a couple of us to work on her left hand as it wants to curl in on itself but the nail tech was very patient and we got 'er done!

We had a stray cat adopt Emma this week. Emma named her Leslie--I have no idea why. But anytime your kid names an animal you're in trouble. Leslie has hung around for the last week and she is scaring our baby bunnies so we carted her off today to the Buddy Center (Dumb Friends League) in Castle Rock. She is a very sweet cat but...

...we have to protect our bunnie family that lives under our deck. They have been with us since we bought the house and we really treat them like pets even though they aren't domesticated. We feed them some veggie scraps and name them and generally enjoy having them as neighbors. Couldn't have a cat around messing with their turf!

Went to estes Park last week with my mom and dad and Bethany. They rented us a house just outside of town that was perfect! Dad, Beth and I got to go on a beautiful hike. The last half mile was snow field. I did OK on the way up but came down on my rear! Slipped, fell and got snow up my shorts where generally you don't want snow to be! After I stopped and stood up I did a very interesting dance to get the snow out of my pants! But still the weather and the scenery were amazing!

Emma and I got to go fishing. Day one: no luck. Day two: we landed a small trout. But that's all it takes to satisfy Emma and results in a win for her in her battle against the little trout on what she has claimed as "our fishing spot." Joanne and Beth sat by the river and enjoyed the great outdoors and cheered us on. It was so beautiful and I know Joanne enjoyed being out and about, especially in such a beautiful spot. Hoping to get some more time up there this summer but they are re-doing the roads in Rocky Mountain National Park and traffic, even on a slow day, was a nightmare! This summer is going ot be a hot mess for visitors.

Got our initial financial aid offer from Denver Christian. Not good. I have exchanged some emails and we are going to see if there is something more the school can do. In the meantime we are trying to talk to the girls about other options but it would be heart-breaking not to be a DC family any more. That school has been amazing for our family and we love it dearly. I will keep you posted on what happens next as a number of you have expressed interest in helping out (for which we are deeply grateful and humbled).

Sister Kristen was supposed to have a garage sale last Saturday but wouldn't you know it: we woke up to rain and temperatures in the low 50s! Not good garage saleing weather! So she is going to give it another shot in the next few weeks--maybe even this weekend. I'll post on that if it's going to happen that soon.

Emma has her awards ceremony tomorrow at school--she is getting the Presidential Academics Award for maintaining a high GPA all year. She will be thrilled! It's a secret so no one tip her off. I am pretty sure she doesn't read the blog so we're OK on this end.

Audrey has Middle School graduation on Friday and I will be speaking. I am going to talk about all the things I wish someone would have told me when I was 13. THe list is LONG but I think I have narrowed it down to a few categories. Feel free to leave a comment about what you wish someone had told you at 13.

Then it's SUMMER BREAK! I am so excited for the girls to be home this summer. Last summer was a weird one because Joanne was just home from the hospital and we were still reeling and trying to figure out life. But things are more stable now than they were then so we should be able to provide a better experience for them including daily trips to the neighborhood pool!

Whew! I guess that's about it.

Prayer requests:

1. Pray that we can find some relief for Joanne's poor toes. Anyone who has ever broken a toe knows how painful it can be to get around and that's what Joanne lives with 24/7. So getting and answer and a solution would be a big deal.

2. Pray that DC comes through with the financial aid we need to keep the girls there.

3. Pray for safety for Joanne's folks as they make their way back across the country. So glad they got to have an adventure and now just need them to have a safe return!

Toben

 

 

Comments

[cheryl]

Thanks so much for the update on your precious family. Fun to hear about bunny families, fishing trips, and graduation/awards ceremonies. The things life is made of! Your family is continually in my prayers. And...everytime I drive by the intersection of County Line and Yosemite, God puts you all on my mind.

Life is such a mosaic of good and bad, joy and pain, strengh and weariness...our family has experienced it too. So very hard..yet a blessing, at the same time. Enjoying each moment, for what it is... Trusting His mercies will be new every morning.

Again, thank you for sharing your families journey. Please know that we haven't forgotten you and very much enjoy the updates. Praying for answers for her pain/toes...provision for DC tuition and an incredible, memorable summer full of special little (and big) moments!!

Cheryl Veenstra

[Dionna]

It's great to see an update on your family. I'm glad you are getting to enjoy the outdoors and some down time as well as pampering time! That does so much for the heart and soul!

[Sara]

I think you need to make some tough financial decisions.
DC is already struggling with unpaid tuition bills of about $1M.
Is this the only option for education?.
The stress of trying to pay for DC might not be worth it.

[Morgan]

Have you thought about public school, charter school (these are actually free public schools too), or even an online school (Connections Academy)? It sounds like Denver Christian is an important place to you, but the girls can retain their friendships from there after school and on weekends while getting educated for free somewhere else during the week.

[Tena Tell]

I know you're concerned with your children making another significant change, as would I. Some people may be turned off because they don't get the need to pay for a private education when one is offered free. Of course public school is a viable option, but what I think some readers may not understand is the traumatic adjustment it is emotionally, socially, and culturally, to go from a christian environment to a non christian one.

It's an adjustment most children have a very difficult time with. (I speak from personal experience.) While many children make this transition smoothly, I doubt many have faced the many past and ongoing challenges your children have. So... I completely understand why y'all wish to keep them in a loving, christian environment--one they are accustomed to. I'm not saying it's better--at all--it's just vastly different. I am a Catholic school elementary teacher and every year we have families that return to our school after attempting to transition to the public school system.

I understand and respect your wish to keep your children in a stable, familiar environment while your family is still searching for your new normal. If it doesn't work out the way you hope, I know you will all pull your strength(s) once again and persevere with loving grace.

[Kim Feth]

Covering the prayer requests.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC

[Shannon O]

I'm believing that God will provide all that you need to pay for your girls tuition. I would not be offended at all if you used a ChipIn on your blog to raise the additional money needed. If this is where you believe that your girls need to be, then God will provide. We so often do not receive because we either don't ask or try to fix things on our own without waiting for His provision (trust me, I know). I have been studying Beth Moore's "Believing God", and I know that I often don't have faith the way that I should. Your family is an inspiration as you travel through the difficulties in life, and this is just one more opportunity to praise Him and believe. I know that we will all be amazed as we watch His provision take place. And perhaps it won't come through Denver Christian but another source. Just keep your eyes focused on Him and be amazed.

Mark 11:24

[Michelle From Australia]

Thank you so much Toben for taking the time to update. It is much appreciated. Our little family will continue to pray for you all but especially for your prayer requests.

God Bless you all.

[H]

I made a donation to go toward the girls school but didn't have a chance to put that in the comments. Made the donation through paypal. I know God will provide for these girls!

[Paige]

Both of our children have gone through private school. When we started we were easily able to afford the tuition. In fact one year we paid half the tuition of someone we heard would not be able to stay because of financial reasons. Later things became difficult but we struggled through with help from the school and family. We knew that it was important to provide the stability that the school provided for our kids. Maybe if they had different personalities it would have been easier to make the move. When I first read about your struggle, I deeply wished that we were in a situation to help financially and was so glad when you shared that others were. Please accept the help. I have been on both sides and believe me, the blessing of helping that other family was well worth the money that we gave up. And while it has been humbling to accept help, I am thankful that God has provided.

[Jennifer from HI]

Thank you for the update! Wow, so much going on... Congratulations to Emma on the fish and more so for the award!

Also OUCH on Joanne's toes! I used to think it was funny for Shaq to complain about a broken toe... until I hurt my toe pretty bad. It can be excruciating at times, especially frustrating for walking around and I'm sure Joanne would love to walk around with ease. I hope it heals well and gets better!

KEEP GOING AT IT JOANNE!

[Marian]

Please consider posting a video of your speech. We have a 13 year old daughter but we are in Kentucky. Would love for her to benefit from your words of wisdom.

[Marian]

Prayers for you and your family.