Lula Lake Falls

Life has been abnormal for us these days.....SO very much to be thankful for but none the less abnormal. What was suppose to be a "normal" event turned into the BIGGEST whirlwind our entire family has ever been in {well except for my mom who has had too many tragedy's occur in her lifetime}. I will blog another day about the progress of my sister but for now you can keep up with her through her Caring Bridge site here. She is on the up & up & so life for us is returning to our normal crazy!! A couple Saturday's ago instead of the obligatory {but dreamy if you're an adult!!} nap post church & too much lunch we decided go explore some new territory! There is a new free Chattanooga outdoor magazine & Jon was reminded through reading an issue that we had never been to Lula Lake Falls! It was truly just what we needed. Stuffy hospitals can get......well just that. TOO STUFFY! So some good out of doors air is just the medicine we needed!!

I've said it before but it's worth repeating.....being outside is good for our family....we can explore & run & yell & splash & laugh & jump without the usual "stop that" "don't do that" "don't' touch that" "be quiet" 's that "normal" indoor life can bring!

buried "treasure"

daddy:daughter 1:1 time

puddle jumping

a little teaching on earth shifting

a dreamy swimming hole.....but no swimming allowed

I LOVE a good hike when the girls are feel adventurous & their own curiosity keeps them moving

beaver home? probably not but looked like it to me!

most of the hike found us canopied under trees

the beautiful Lula Lake Falls.....& this is NOTHING compared to some months!

outdoor hand washing

growth

beautiful slime

this screamed.....COME SWIM & THEN REST HERE {in warmer months of course!}

natural rock graffiti

mule & her plow

we could have explored longer but droplets turned into a down pour & we had to turn back.....

Jon pulled out some of his old skateboard moves!

......which the oldest niece found just as fun!

This is definitely a place we will be coming back to!! Even if it rains!

There was a Starbucks on our way home & decided some warm drinks would help our cold wet bodies....or singing & dancing in the rain! Either way we all left happy.....a good day spent outside!

PRAYERS

I'm not sure who visits this site these days.....those who do probably already know the news. But for some reason if there are a few stragglers who pop in here we are begging prayers for my baby sister Karlie!! Monday night she went into the hospital for a scheduled induction to have her sweet baby Mackenzie Grace! Minus gestational diabetes, which the Dr's had under control, she was in good health & all was well with baby!! By Tuesday around 6pm she had only dilated to 3cm & her Dr felt it was time for a C-Section due to her slow dilitation, almost like this was the baby's way of saying I can't come out vaginally! This was not emergent, it was a very controlled & un-rushed setting. We were just getting ready to roll her over to the OR & she was complaining of not being able to breath or cough. In less than a minute she coded {NOT BREATHING & NO PULSE}. I'll spare you some of the grueling details but they had to shock her 5 times & finally got a heartbeat after 14 minutes of her being down. She & her sweet little Mackenzie are both on a ventilator & intubated. They are on a cooling protocol which lowers their body temperatures significantly to protect their brains. We are uncertain of the outcome for both of them but we believe God is HUGE & He is the ALMIGHTY HEALER & GREAT PHYSICIAN! Karlie's life of getting to this day is a miracle & I believe that God is not finished with her yet! She has a story to tell! SO PLEASE WE COVETT YOUR PRAYERS!! Any & all prayers!! PLEASE! We started a Caring Bridge site so that everyone can follow along in her process!!

Christmas Day.....

a month late....or at least blogging about it a month late! Hoping this is not indicative of my year to come!

Santa did his thing......

& 2 happy girls were the end result!

This one & her LOVE for Toy Story!

This one & her LOVE for crafting!

Even excited about their momma made gifts....makes me happy!

The girls get to shop at school for family members prior to Christmas.....Kayden got Jon an orange hat & Emery got him a wooden puzzle.....I love the thoughtfulness that goes behind each purchase & the sheer joy they see in watching the receiver open up "their gift"!

After opening gifts & a quick bite to eat we headed over to Jon's parents house were the gifting continued! It was a rather rapid gift opening this year & my pictures were scarce.....sometimes though when I let go of the pressure to capture every. single. moment. I find I am ever more present in the moment & those times are worth the lack of pictures in the end!

2 little girls received their 1st EVER electronic device.....& their grandparents went BIG!

I-Pads!! I'm still struggling with today's technology ways.....I know I need to give in somewhat but it is a HUGE struggle for me. I'll leave my soap box at that.....they're happy ladies!

It was a VERY relaxing day surrounded by family.....so relaxing this momma took a 2 1/2 hour siesta!! There aren't too many days I can admit to that!

We came home to try & squeeze in 1 more viewing of Polar Express before the magic quickly disappeared! The lengthened-relaxing-soaking-up-this-time-with-my-babies was wonderful! A gift in and of itself!

Christmas came & went extra fast this year......such a let down every year when it's over. I do love to pack everything up & feel that sense of de-clutter but we are all left with a bit of sadness too! Oh well.....the train continues to speed on & all too soon it will be Christmas again!