Waiting and Preparing {7 Quick Takes}

Another letter of acceptance (plus another presidential scholarship offer) arrived in the mail for Zachary from our alma mater, the University of Puget Sound, in Tacoma, WA.  With a few more letters of acceptance (or denial) still 'in the mail' Zachary will wait for the dust to settle before entering into final decision making mode.  The suspense is thick!


After more than a week out on his own, Ezra stopped by the shop to collect a few belongings, and let us know he's staying with a 'friend' from school.  Automated school attendance alert phone calls come more frequently now, announcing Ezra's sporadic absences.  His Job Corps departure date (March 20) still stands, but only time will tell if the opportunity will be actualized by the now independent Ezra.  We continue to pray, and ask your prayers, too.

Nesting boxes inhabited, Joseph and Peter continue to apply the final touches on their new pigeon loft.   Enoch helped apply a coat of paint on the exposed parts before this weekend predicted to be filled with rain.  Joseph and Peter also painted each others' exposed parts.  Go figure. 

Zachary with SHS varsity swim coach Don at the end-of-season awards ceremony

His final varsity swim season behind him, Zachary continues to train almost daily with the local club team, a great way to stay fit and connected with the guys.  The hot tubbing time after practice nearly doubles the time spent at the pool, and includes extraordinary challenges like, "I wonder if your reflexes are fast enough to stop this ball if I throw it at your face (from 3 feet away)."  Not so much; ouch.

With Ezra's departure comes the opportunity to re-vamp the downstairs disaster family room, and the dreams and possible re-designs are flowing.  From projector-assisted multi-computer gaming stations, to an indoor racquet sports facility, the ideas are... extremely creative.  Tim started with a systematic purge of the out-dated and rarely visited lower bookshelves, and in only moments filled several boxes for taking to a donation station.

Celebration dinner for Apollo's successful heart surgery

We hosted dinners for ten under seventeen (first seating) plus two over forty (second seating) in celebration of Apollo's successful heart surgery.  What a great joy to have been able to offer some tiny bit of support for his family during his hospitalization and recovery.

Our traditional lenten observances coupled with awesome liturgical events has made this solemn time of preparation for celebrating Christ's Resurrection at Easter especially meaningful.  Extraordinary Form High Mass in Seattle at North American Martyrs with Archbishop Sartain, an evangelically charged mission given by Brendan Case at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Everett, weekly Stations of the Cross, daily Mass, adoration and frequent confession make for a powerfully re-charging spiritual renewal. 

Visit Jen @ Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes Friday.

Praise God {Apollo's Surgery Success}

Apollo's heart surgery today was a success!
Thank you everyone for your prayers.
Praise God!

Please continue to pray for Apollo's speedy and full recovery, and for no complications with his drainage tube.

Prayers Please {Owen and Apollo}

Owen and Peter 

Among our closest circle of family friends from home schooling and Scouts are two amazing little boys, each of whom needs all of our prayers in a big way.   Owen was born (blue) at his rural home after his mom and dad were sent away from labor and delivery and told to come back later.  He came back later alright~first by ambulance, then airlifted by helicopter to a Seattle hospital for urgent life-saving care.  In his first days of life, the medical staff hinted that his parents might as well remove his life support, since his chances of having a 'normal' life were very slim.  Look at this little guy!  Praise God his parents  resisted temptation were appalled at the insane suggestion to end his brand new life based on unfounded fears of his 'normalcy.'   Today Owen and two of his big brothers are our guests as his mama has prenatal care for a sibling on the way and I am reminded of what a blessing Owen is for all of us who have witnessed his family lovingly caring for him and his special medical needs.   Please pray for an end to his seizures and that he will grow strong and healthy, and for his family...

Ezra's littlest brother Apollo will be having heart surgery in a few weeks to repair a double aortic arch.  Apollo nearly died at birth due to complications with a prolapsed cord.  His daddy saved his life with the help of his mom's clear thinking in the midst of an absolute emergency birthing experience.  Tirelessly advocating for Apollo's health for over a year, knowing that something just wasn't right, and going to great lengths to research and uncover the truth about his condition, his parents saved his life again in pushing forward until the right tests revealed the double aortic arch a few weeks ago.  Please pray for Apollo's successful surgery, full recovery, that he will grow strong and healthy, and for his family...

Big brother Connor, Owen and Peter 

Apollo {Prayer Request}

Ezra's sister, Keziah, kisses baby brother Apollo on the day he came home from the hospital.

Today Ezra's youngest brother, Apollo (11mos.), is in hospital with RSV and pneumonia.  He's suffered some difficult days in his young life, not the least of which was his traumatic birth.
Please join our prayers for Apollo's full recovery, and for his family's peace and comfort at this difficult time.

St. Apollo, pray for Apollo and his family.
St. Philip Neri, pray for Apollo and his family.