Bumble dog

This is us at the church's Trunk'n'treat event. Maybe next year we can dress up a real child :) Don't get excited people, we're not pregnant. Some of the cute little girls got the biggest kick out of calling her bumbledog... pretty creative.



One of our friends was the "discount" girl from progressive. We thought that was a really good idea. She just went around saying "discount!" Wish I would have thought of that;)

Weekend away

Chris and I just spent a wonderful weekend away at a friend's lake house. (Thank you so much for those people who so generously share what they have with us). It was a much needed escape. We cooked together, baked cookies, watched TV, walked outside in the crisp fall weather, took naps, studied the Bible, and watched a movie. Doesn't that sound awesome? I could have handled about a week more, but I'll take what I can get;) I want to express how thankful I am for the blessings God has given me. We have had a rough year in terms of witnessing suffering in people we love dearly, but I know that I have so much to be thankful for. First, we have Chris's mom and she continues to recover... praise God. I am endlessly grateful for Chris. He is an amazing husband and he teaches me so much about how to love others and how to love God, and mostly how God loves me! Thank you Lord!

This sounds silly, but this weekend I was also really thankful for Emory. She is so much fun and always gives us something to laugh about. This morning Chris and I were waking up (actually how it happened was that I woke up to the sound of Chris calling my name in progressively louder tone until I responded and he asked if I was awake). When I opened my eyes, he was looking right back at me, and as I was laughing about that, a third face appeared, also checking on the status of "wakefulness" of me. Emory just looked back and forth with her face about one inch from each of ours as if she was asking, so what are we going to do today? huh? huh? huh? Later, Chris took a deer head off the wall to show it to her and she became so terrified... I've never heard her bark and growl so viciously... she might be a good protecter after all. Even when Chris put it back she kept looking at it and barking. In the other room she wouldn't stop looking up as if she know thought wild animals sprung down from ceilings. Poor thing. But it was really funny.

Dance party with the Strines

We've been getting to spend more time with Amanda, Daisy, and Grant lately and LOVING it. Amanda is an awesome sister-in -law, and the kids are so much fun... they keep us laughing non-stop. The first couple pictures are of a dance party we had at our house with the kids. Daisy Strine can really break it down (so can Daisy Jones- they would make quite the dance team, those two). Then we had some fun time at the dog park. As a side note, if you are thinking about taking small children with you to a dog park, make sure they finish their ice cream cones BEFORE getting out of the car (they were quite a hit with the dogs :)

The next night Emory had some girl time at the park together, and I was feeling sorry for myself because I was missing Chris, so I took pictures of me and Emory like I would have of me and Chris if he was there. The result was pretty funny. My lab friends think she looks like big bird in that picture. She is pretty big!

Here is a little teaser to peak your interest in our next post: Last night, Chris came home with a bumble bee halloween costume for Emory. She looks ADORABLE in it! Pictures to come!

DC and back to Lubbock

Yesterday was Chris and my first anniversary. We had planned a trip to DC for the weekend, so we left Lubbock on Thursday, spent thursday evening with Ryan and Cheryl Touchton and Justin and Bethany Bagwell, and then left for DC on Friday morning. Ryan and Cheryl kept Emory for us which made me feel SOOO good because they are taking really good care of her. I think she likes being with them more than us! They work in the yard and she loves to be outside with them and then they take her for long walks in the evening so she is worn out and ready to go to bed. We had one really good day in DC. We were able to make our whitehouse tour which was really cool (no cameras allowed so I have no pics of that). The next day we went to the mall where we took the pics of the Washington monument bellow, and then we went to the Smithsonian museum of American History, where of course, Chris took a picture of Obama on the presidential timeline. We were in the museum about 30 min when we got a call that Cindy was doing really poorly, so we headed back to the hotel and made arrangements to get to Lubbock ASAP.

We are in Lubbock now in the hospital waiting room. Since we have arrived, we have gotten some good news. This morning, her lungs looked better, and her body on the whole seems to be making positive steps towards healing. It's like she hit rock bottom and then has since started to finally heal. We just aren't sure how long it will take, but we are thankful for every bit of good news that we get. They are hoping to wean her off the ventilator in the next few days. Please continue to pray, because the power of God is working in her body and He is listening to all these prayers that are being sent up.

Jesse and JoAnne Long are a couple that live in Lubbock and found out about our situation. They have truly been a godsend. They offered for Chris and I to stay with them last night. They found out that it was our anniversary so when we got to their house, they had set up our room with champagne glasses, sparkling cider, two pieces of cake, and a note that said Happy Anniversary Chris and Sarah. It was so sweet and much needed. This morning they had set out homemade muffins, strawberries, cereal and coffee and juice. They also cooked lunch for our whole family. I'm so touched by their kindness, and I really hope that God gives me the chance to minister to somebody else the way they have ministered to us.

A Marathon Not A Sprint

We are sitting in the Lubbock airport today, about to head back to Atlanta. It was very hard to say goodbye to Cindy yesterday. We talked to a nurse for a while last night and she said the main thing was that Cindy didn't give up. We have to keep telling her that she will be fine and encouraging her to fight. More than anything, she needs strength of will... she needs to be filled with conviction that this thing isn't going to get her. We will take our trip to DC and Chris will most likely come back to Lubbock after that. Recovery is going to be a long road. I think if we look at it as a marathon and not a sprint we are in the right mindset.

Keep Praying...

We are still at the hospital today. Cindy's condition hasn't changed too much. We are thankful that she hasn't regressed, but we are anxious for her to improve. The doctor checked in with her this morning and said that her blood oxygen levels hadn't changed too much, so she is still on 60% oxygen from the ventilator. The x-ray of her lungs looked better than yesterday, so they seem to be healing. We have to stay on these nurses about giving her her medicine on time, it's hard not to get frustrated with them when she is clearly in pain and feeling distressed. Chris's younger siblings, Tiffany and Levi, are on their way here tonight and we are excited to see them. We've gotten many calls from Atlanta and all over and each and every one is DEEPLY appreciated. I don't know how people get through this without the support that we are so blessed to have. Thanks to everyone who has helped take care of Emory while we were gone (Kelly, Niki, and Sky, Justin Bagwell, and John Neiland). This was a huge weight off our shoulders. Thanks to everyone for praying and loving us. We are trying our best to stay positive. Chris and I are supposed to leave tomorrow so we can make our flight to DC on friday. This weekend is our anniversary and we had planned a trip to DC to celebrate.

It's hard to feel good about going with Cindy so sick, and we have struggled with what to do. Thankfully, we can always be just one plane flight away. Keep praying...

Pray for Cindy

Please pray for Chris's mom, Cindy Nicholson. She is very sick right now, and Chris and I are with her here in Lubbock with Paul, Amanda and Cindy's parents, Ken and Patsy, and her brother, Kenneth. We are very thankful to be here with her.

She is in the medical intensive care unit with a condition called ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome). Her lungs need a lot of rest and care to heal from this. That's all she needs... time. So we are gathering around her so she knows how much she is loved and we are trying to encourage her to help her have the strength to kick this thing, which we know she will with God's help. Mostly, we just take turns sitting with her and singing, praying, reading the Bible, talking, or just being there. She is an incredibly strong person and has a very strong faith in God's power. I know that God will take care of her the way she has taken care of so many of His precious children.

I am so grateful to have her as a mother-in-law. I've learned a lot from her and I look forward to learning a lot more and to watching her love on Chris and my kids... loving kids seems to be the very thing God created her for.

Please pray for her very speedy healing. Pray that God will restore her body and her spirits. I know he is here with us, I know He helped us to get here in such a timely manner, and I know He has been with Cindy every step of the way. Lord, please heal Cindy very soon!