Please Pray . . .

For my uncle, Jim Nusser, who has been battling ALS for 14 years.  He was taken to the hospital with pneumonia last week.  He is in ICU.  

Dance Class Vids

In Memory of Sophie Jane

I lost a special friend today
the kind you can't replace,
and looking at her empty bed
I still can see her face.

I know she's in a special place
our Lord has for such friends,
Where meadows, fields & flowers
help make them strong and whole again.

I know she's watching over me
She'll be with me when I cry,
So with one more kiss on her beloved head
I told my friend goodbye.

I Love My New Phone

Here are some pictures I took with my new phone this week.  Enjoy!

Annie, with her little bow, ready for church.
Emma, ready for church
Another picture of Annie's bow.  Don't ask how I got it on there.
Emma and I decided Annie needed a ponytail too.  It's hard to see but it's there.  

Annie's ponytail.
Annie playing peek-a-boo.

Sick House

This is a video of Emma making Annie laugh the other night.  They really are very sweet together.  We have all been sick this weekend and I think I'm getting it.  I guess it's impossible to avoid.  Emma spent a good deal of Thursday in the bathroom, then Annie started throwing up on Friday, Emma started throwing up last night and went until 5:30 Sunday morning, Kurt slept on the bathroom floor last night because it was more convenient, and, the washer has been running non-stop since Friday.  I've literally gone through 3/4 of a bottle of Lysol since Friday.  Now, I'm just spraying everything that will stand still.  Emma's been pretty pathetic.  She's been running a low-grade fever but has literally laid on the couch all day today - so not Emma.  She keeps asking if she ate too much dinner and it made her sick.  Annie's finally recovering but still tries to go full-steam.  She'll be playing and all of a sudden just lay her head down and whine.  I'm not sure if I'm just worn out or I'm getting sick.  Anyway, enjoy the video & pix.

Here's Emma and Annie sleeping in the living room today.  They both felt awful (obviously, since the voluntarily laid down and slept) but I thought it was so sweet that they were holding hands while they slept.  

Annie fell asleep in the pack-n-play on Friday.  She's always without a sock.  I can't explain why.  The kid never can keep her socks on.  I guess she gets it from me.  

Black Pine Animal Park Video

Here are some videos that we took at Black Pine yesterday.  It was in the 50's but windy.  The girls really enjoyed seeing the animals.  It's important to remember that this is not a zoo but an animal refuge.  All of these animals are either rescued exotic pets or retired show animals.  Not all of the animals were out yesterday and the park is in the process of some renovations.  It is an ethereal experience to stand next to nature's most magnificent creatures.

We took this when we first got to the park.  We were in the wood, watching the bobcat, when we heard the lion start to roar.  

This is the bengal tiger.  She was very restless and was watching the little kids very closely.  She was chuffing while we were watching her so I'm guessing that was a good sign.  

This is the "black panther".  I tried to zoom in to get his spots.  

Here is the lion.  He also seemed a bit restless but there were some female visitors that were antagonizing him.  Hearing him roar was indescribable.  

Black Pine Animal Park

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