State Fair Shots

Grandma and Grandpa Casto were here for the performance and loved it! It was a special treat for Kayleigh to have them in town. Living 12 hours away, we don't get too many opportunities to share events like this with them!

Here's a video of Kayleigh singing and dancing. When they come out on stage, she's the one in the middle.




This is Kayleigh's best friend, Andrea, singing. She played Emily Arden in the musical and was PERFECT for the role!!



The entire musical cast did a great job!!

Our Daughter Is a Cooch Dancer!!

Kayleigh is in Reagan High School's performance of "State Fair" by Rogers & Hammerstein this weekend! She plays the part Jeanne, a floozy, cooch dancer! We're so excited for her - this is her first singing and dancing role.. but it's so very strange to say that we're so proud of our floozy, cooch dancing daughter!

If you live in the Winston-Salem area, the performance runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the high school starting at 7pm. We'd love to see you there!

Hebrews 13:5 "Never Will I Leave You, Never Will I Forsake You"

Ya know... We hear a lot of things like "there's always something going on" when another stumbling block gets thrown our way. Yes, there is always something going on, but we deal with it! Believe me... we couldn't make up this stuff if we tried!!

Ya see... in the 18 1/2 years we've been married we've been through a LOT... and I do mean a LOT more than most people deal with in their entire lives!!

(You can click on the bold words for more information.)

• Premature births of both our girls
• Paige spent several weeks in the NICU because of Bradycardia
  
• Devin was in the hospital twice on the same day for 2 different things! Stitches in the bottom of his foot early in the afternoon, Brown Recluse Spider Bite that night!
  
• The girls both have had tonsils taken out
  
• 4 sets of tubes in Chase's ears alone
  
• Kayleigh had Labrynthitis
• Consequently, Kayleigh deals with horrible Tinnitus... or ringing in her ears
  
• Kayleigh has an Acoustic Neuroma
• Paige is followed by oncology for Lymphangioma's in her neck
  
• Mike went through 4 years of seizures and no one can tell us why
  
• Devin has broke his leg TWICE and tore a major tendon in his foot
• Chase had Kawasaki Disease not once, but TWICE and consequently now has Autoimmune Heart Disease
  
• Kayleigh struggles with Hypoglycemia every day
  
• Chase battles a PDD-NOS with "mild developmental delay"
  
• Multiple bouts of pneumonia and croup in all of the kids
• Kayleigh has Raynaud's Syndrome... her feet turn almost black at times!
• Most recently, just Thursday, we learned that Paige has a moderate to severe hearing loss
  

This list is just what's in our immediate little Lyons family... it doesn't include everything that our family's have been through over the years.

And, believe me, this isn't what we would ask for if given the chance. But, it is the life we've been given, and we make the best of it.

Our God never promised life would be easy... but He did promise that He would be there for us every step of the way. Joshua 1:9 says "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." When we start to feel overwhelmed and we stop to pray, a sense of peace takes over and we know it will be ok.

So, next time you hear of something going on in our life, instead of automatically assuming that it's just something else for us to complain about, how about stopping to pray with us for strenght, comfort, and guidance; and know that our Lord has us in His grip, and we'll be ok.

Time Is Going So Fast...

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It's now been seven years since she left us that beautiful Palm Sunday morning. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her... my best friend, my teacher, y hero, my confidant... my Mom. I'm still wanting to pick up the phone and call you, I'm still wanting to spend an afternoon shopping or baking with you, I still long for you each and every day!

But each day gets better a friend once told me... because each day, we are closer to being reunited again at the side of Jesus.

Love and Miss You soooo much!

Frail..

This is stolen from my husband's Facebook status, where late last night he posted:

"It's been a pretty rough few weeks, and I've found myself at a crossroads for many portions of my life (work, school, church, and many milestones/changes at home that are rapidly approaching.) I spent a better part of my evening just listening to this song over-n-over again. It is incredible for resetting your mind..."

The last few weeks he has lost 2 family members, only a day apart, and my brother-in-law is very very ill, seemingly losing his battle with Wegener's Disease. We were able to visit with another Grandmother while we were home for the funerals - though she is doing well, she is so frail and we know that our time with her is shorter every day. Our kids are growing up so fast, before our very eyes! Devin goes off to college next year, Kayleigh the next. Mike's job is very unstable as the word of technology takes over his business, possibly forcing him out of a job in the next few months - so we are again looking at college options for him. Even though he's seemed so strong through it all, he wasn't... like the rest of us, he is "frail".

For him, this video helped him "reset" a bit...

I watched it this morning, and I listened to the words... I had to watch it twice through the tears. Mike is such a rock through times of trial, rarely shows his feelings and sometimes I wonder how much he really feels because he is so very strong on the outside. But - like all of us - he hides in the shadows, he hides to protect his family.

When we stop hiding from God, fall on our knees and acknowledge His strength, His power, and His love over us... life seems to get easier and things are so much more clear!

These are the lyrics to Jars of Clay: Frail

Convinced of my deception
I've always been a fool
I fear this love reaction
Just like you said I would

A rose could never lie
About the love it brings
And I could never promise
To be any of those things

Chorus:

If I was not so weak
If I was not so cold
If I was not so scared of being broken
Growing old
I would be...
I would be...
I would be...

Blessed are the shallow
Depth they'll never find
Seems to be some comfort
In rooms I try to hide

Exposed beyond the shadows
You take the cup from me
Your dirt removes my blindness
Your pain becomes my peace

[Chorus]

...frail

He's Alive!!!

She Will Be Missed...

(Judy and her Mom, Grandma Eschbach)

Around 11:30am this morning, Mike's Grandma Eschbach (Judy's Mom) was called Home. She was a wonderful lady who was always so caring with our family. When Mike and I started having kids, she was always Grandma Eschbach and the kids enjoyed going to her house when we'd be in town. They never felt like "step"- grandkids and for that, I will always be grateful.

Grandma Eschbach will be missed so much! But we rest comfortably knowing that she loved the Lord and is in His grip now. We look forward to the day we see her again!

ENOUGH ALREADY!

The last week for our entire family has been... well... just plain sucky!

My step-sister's husband, Earl "aka Hot Rod", was diagnosed with an advanced Wegener's Disease last Tuesday after falling very ill on Monday and being rushed to the hospital. Here we are a week later and he's weaker, his kidneys and organs are failing him, he's in tremendous pain, and it is looking very very grim as he gets sicker each day. One week's time and he's fighting for his life!

Then, this Monday, Mike's grandmother was found on the floor in the middle of the night. Once in the hospital it was determined she had pneumonia, as well as emphysema, her fall was probably from very low oxygen saturations. She has gotten worse every day this week, and tonight our family is at her side as she slips away.

Early this morning, another cousin on Mike's side of the family died of a massive heart attack and barely 55 years old!

About 45 minutes ago we heard sirens in our neighborhood... they stopped at our neighbor's a few houses up where Chase plays all the time. Their son, also named Chase, has been very sick the last few days and unable to play. We're not sure what happened, but they put him in the EMS where they worked on him for a good 15 minutes before leaving. Our Chase is worried sick about his friend, on the very night we told him that his Grandma is dying tonight.

Oh... Wait... it gets BETTER! Our last phone call to check on Grandma, we got news that my mother-in-laws uncle has only a few weeks left also!! We don't know the details, only that he is very sick.

Our entire family is physically and emotionally spent! The hardest thing as parent is comforting our kids when they are so very upset over the loss and suffering of loved ones.

Through all of this, we hold on to our faith that our God has us in His grip. My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 66:13: "As a Mother Comforts Her Child, So I Will Comfort You..." We need Your comfort, Lord, We know You are near.

World Down Syndrome Day

Today is March 21st... World Down Syndrome Day! This date was chosen because Down Syndrome is a triplication of the 21st chromosome.

We have a good handful of friends who have amazing, sweet, loving children who just happen to have Down Syndrome. Look at these sweet faces that Kayleigh captured on camera when she did her Reflections Project and send a special prayer up for them, and all others affected by Down Syndrome!

What Goes 'Round... Comes 'Round!

Well... after feeling MISERABLE for 4 days and a Minute Clinic visit that was an hour of my life wasted, I went to MY doctor's office on Friday afternoon. Turns out - their strep test was POSITIVE and I had a lovely sinus infection brewing, huge tonsils, and a bit of an asthmatic type of cough going on that the doctor got to witness! So, he put me on steroids and antibiotics.... 24 hours later, I'm finally feeling a little bit of relief!

But... while I was AT the doctor's office, he asked me what took me so long to come in. I explained to him I went to the Minute Clinic thing on Wednesday night, and I told him how awful of an experience it was. He pressed for more details, so I gave him the WHOLE story! He then asked me which Minute Clinic I went to, so I told him. Then wanted to know who the NP was. I couldn't remember her name, but I told him she didn't speak much English. He smiled and said "oooohhh... that's Elena... I'll have a chat with her. I'm her supervisor!".

HA!

Turns out, my doctor is the Supervising MD for the Robinhood Road Minute Clinic!

What goes 'round, comes 'round, Elena! Maybe next time she'll use a bit more clinical judgement and a bit less computer clicking!

Don't Waste Your Money!

I've been dealing with a horrible sore throat for a few days now, and today the white blistery spots started. I have a history of tonsillitis and was actually scheduled to have my tonsils taken out a year ago, but I chickened out last minute. So - for me - it's not rocket science to figure out what's about to happen!

So, tonight, I gave in! I've hard all the rave about the new CVS Minute Clinic's so I thought I'd head down there thinking it would be an easy in and out, with a simple diagnosis, especially considering my history.

Started out simple enough... you enter your name into a computer and sit and wait your turn. I only waited about 20 minutes, for a walk-in I was pretty happy with that. A nurse practitioner (who did not speak English well at all) greeted me and took me into her little office. She immediately starts asking me canned questions from the computer and she clicks my answers... hardly any eye contact at all. Once she's done she says "the computer says to do a rapid strep test". I told her that was fine, but I was certain it was tonsillitis and started to tell her my history - she cut me off saying "the computer gives us clinical guidelines we have to follow".

Uhhh... excuse me? The computer is your clinical judgement????

So I let her do the strep test - she shoved the thing half way down my throat and left it there so long I ended up grabbing her arm to take it OUT of my throat! Kid you not! She runs the test and then shows it to me saying "one pink line is negative, two is positive, you only have one so what you have is viral".

Again - at this point she still hadn't even LOOKED at my tonsils! She's working based on what the computer told her to do!

She starts to click something on the computer and I said to her - it's the tonsils that are a mess, so she finally looked. First she asks (after she looked) do you even still have your tonsils? SERIOUSLY!?!? She then told me.... and I quote.... "you do have a lot of them, but your white blisters aren't large enough for me to click as a symptom" and she turned to go back to letting the computer spit out IT'S diagnosis...

"sore throat"

By now I was ticked and I told her so! Told her that it was a complete waste of my $35 copay and I'll call my own doctor tomorrow - to which she asked me if my own doctor prescribed meds based on what I thought was wrong. I very sternly replied - and I quote again "no, but she DOES use her own clinical judgement, something that you clearly don't know how to do!".

She was ever so kind as to print off the what to do for a sore throat sheet, and sent me on my merry way!

Now - I'm sure that if you have something that can be simply diagnosed with a test (i.e. strep, flu, etc.) that it's fine. But if there's any clinical judgement involved at all - don't waste your time or your money at Minute Clinic!

First Time On Stage...

This weekend was the first time the new youth praise band was on stage during regular services. They sang "Hosanna" during the offering. Kayleigh's nerves were high, but they all did a great job!

(ps - Kayleigh's the one on the far left of the video!)

Poor Andy!

In the short week we have lived here, Andy has already learned that he LOVES to go for an afternoon walk in the neighborhood to see his friends too! Tonight, as he was going down one curb to cross the street, his back hip gave out and he tumbled forward. His paw got stuck in the sidewalk crack and the next thing we knew there was blood everywhere! We got him back home figuring we could fix him up... but it was clear there was no stopping the bleeding so off to the emergency vet we went....

Turns out our poor pup has some sort of bleeding disorder we didn't know about! Yeah - I know - write a book of all the crazy stuff that goes on in our house! After two hours of waiting for his foot to clot on it's own, they ended up having to turniquet his leg for nearly 15 minutes AND cauterize it to get it to stop bleeding!

So for the next 3 days, no walks for Andy. To top that off, to go outside to potty he has to have a plastic bag over that foot (he HATES it!). Add to that, we get the joy of trying to get him to take antibiotics twice a day for the next 10 days and a pain pill each day for the next 3 days!

Poor pup!

A Tour of the Main Level...

Here's a quick photo tour of the main level of the new house...


First, this is looking into the dining area and kitchen from the family room...

Part of the family room... beyond those french doors is the "formal sitting room" that we are using as an office.

Just another view of the family room...

And yes, another view of the family room!

Up to the 3rd floor... lots and lots of stairs! Man do we get a workout every day!

This is the view into the family room from Mike's office.

Lots of blank walls in there still! We haven't decided how to decorate it yet.

From the center hallway looking through the dining area into the sunroom.

Andy's room.... aka the sunroom! Andy LOVES it out there! The ceramic tile floor is cool for him, but he gets all that sunshine!

The mostly finished kitchen. The blahh valance over the sink will be replaced with something a bit more colorful!

This was intended for a formal dining room, but we're turning into a 2nd living area for the kids to have their movies, video games, etc. They love it!

Looking down the center hallway out the front door.

Thank you for stopping by!

Lent Is Here...

We were Catholic for many years, and although we are no longer practicing Catholic and we attend another Christian church, there are some beliefs of our Catholic background that still mean a lot to us. One of those beliefs is the idea of giving up something for Lent to glorify and Honor a God who gave up His LIFE for us!

We talk to the kids each year about why we do this, and we all decide on something that we can "give up". One year I gave up pop (yeah, that didn't work out so well!), Mike has given up cursing (a few time), and Kayleigh even tried giving up MEAT one year! This year we haven't really talked too much about it other than to toss around thoughts here and there.

Until today... A friend sent this, and I think it's what we've been looking for all along

Give up complaining - Focus on gratitude

Philippians 2:14&15 – Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure…

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.


Give up bitterness - Turn to forgiveness

Ephesians 4:31 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


Give up worry - Trust in God

Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… who by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Matthew 6:33 – But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.


Give up discouragement - Be full of hope

Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you: he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.


Give up hatred - Return good for evil

1 John 2:9 – Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.

Luke 6:27 – “But I tell you who hear me; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”


Give up anger - Be more patient

Matthew 5:22 – But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.

Proverbs 15:18 – A hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.


Give up gossiping - Control your tongue

Psalm 34:13 – Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

Proverbs 21:23 – He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

I hope that this helps you during this Lent and Easter season to remember why we celebrate Easter, how much our God loves us, and ways that we can glorify and honor Him!

How Cool Is It...

Newsong on Stage

Our kids LOVE to sing and dance to worship and praise music!?!

My friend, Jenni, and I took our kids to the Winter Jam 2010 concert in Greensboro last night. Once there, we met up with another good friend, Kristen, with her husband Scott and son Ethan.

Kristen and Ethan

It was so worth the 45 minutes standing in a crowd of thousands in 30 degree weather, plowing through to find your own seat as others rushed to find and save theirs too, then being herded out like cattle after the concert!

Juli, Paige, Chase & Jake... FREEZING!

Seeing them all smiling, dancing, and laughing made it a great evening! It was way cool to see everyone of many religions praising and honoring a God who loves us ALL!

Juli, Jenni, Paige, Chase, and Jake

By the way... Devin went to... but in the crowds of thousands I had no clue where he was to get pictures!

Paige's April Snowman!

Paige had a project that initially sounded like it was going to be quite a headache. You know, one of those projects they assign to kids that the parents end up doing! She had to use a cube, sphere, cylinder, cone, and rectangular prism to make a snowman. And, if that wasn't enough, the snowman had a month them... hers was April.

She spent one of our snow days going through the house finding everything she thought she could use. I wrapped them all in white tissue paper, and she did the rest! Her original plan was to put a small Easter basket on the arm and put an Easter egg in it, but she was having trouble with the stability and being able to carry it. Daddy to the rescue... the ended up using an old Easter basket!

The kids will be having a snowman parade at school tomorrow and then their masterpieces will be displayed in the Media Center for a while. She's mighty proud of her Easter Snowman and so are we!

Snowboarding For the First Time

With school out the last few days... Devin was SURE he was going to be "amazingly bored" (his words, not mine!). That was until a friend of ours from church invited him to go snowboarding and skiing for the first time ever. Now, if you know Devin AT ALL, you KNOW that this was a big risk for him... which bone would he break, how was he going to get hurt?!?

Yep - somewhere up at the top of this hill Devin is FLYING down on a single snowboard. BUT, he shocked us all and came home uninjured... absolutely exhausted to the point where he can't even stand up on two feet and carry on a conversation.... but uninjured!

He had a blast with the Muellers and came home thanking us over and over for letting him go. He even gave me a big ol' hug! Love that kid!