Cuyuna Lakes Pump Track and Discipline....

Or the latest and greatest invention for our boys! Our community has added this track just 1 mile down the road from our house so last week I woke up with the great idea that we would skip school and walk down there. It was a good idea, just not that day. It had rained and rained the day before so all the wonderful clay dirt that was brought in would not dismiss itself from our tires. The kids tried for a few minutes to continue to ride, but to no avail. They were stuck, their tires were stuck, and there were a lot of tears. So, we went home with the hopes of hot cocoa and hot baths, but got neither. We had some discipline issues on the way back that required some pain staking removal of their treats. We are working on not whining and complaining in our house and that is precisely what happened all the way back! Anyway, we had some good soul searching coupled with the reminder of God's grace and mercy towards us whose tendency is to whine, complain, and question the goodness of God when we get mud in our tires!

Acts 16:23-25 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them in prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

You can pray for us in ministry and family this would be our attitudes in this season. We aren't being thrown into prison, being beat, or having our feet shackled, but we are tired. We are somewhat discouraged and tired and are trying to decipher what is "normal" tiredness and when is it weariness that needs to be tended to. Will you pray for us in this area?

Also, we have had some health issues with Jordan that came out of the blue. She is normally one of our healthiest kids but about five weeks ago started having some minor leg bone pain. It progressed to the point of her foot swelling last week and not being able to feel it. We brought her in to the clinic and they did some tests and determined she needed to be seen down at Gillette's hospital (I think that is what it is called) so Eric brought her down on Thursday. There was a series of events that happened like miscommunication from the insurance company that changed the course of events through out that day and it ended up being a very long day. Eric and Jordan did not get home until Friday mid day and with no real conclusions. She is still in  pain (they did send her home with some pretty good narcotics, but we have been praying through how much we want her to take of those) and we have another appointment today to see if we can find anything further. She is in a walking boot and on crutches, but has maintained a great attitude towards us and her siblings despite the unknown. I will update more after today when we hopefully find something out. We would love your prayers for patience and trust as we wait for answers. The longer this goes on the more anxious I get and I am sure this plays in to some of our tiredness.

Love,
Miriam

P.S We did end up taking the kids down to the pump track on a nice day when the dirt was hard and our boys have not stopped asking to go back. They loved it and I think I will to as it will be a great place to take them to and tire them out. And it is free!