Meet Bob....

One day Joel and I went to the grocery. We were all alone, it was early and he was fascinated by all the food.

"Can I have a chocolate donut grandma?"
"No problem of course you can. "

We went on to find chocolate milk, and" round colored balls" that really were cereal.
Traveling to the check out we came across the toy section.
We found a bear...with a soccer ball?
Joel was delighted because he knows what soccer is since they play it where he lives, and this bear was really special because he had a coat and hat.
"Can I have him grandma?"
Not willing to stop the joy I responded,
"Of course, but you have to name him. "
Without hesitating Joel said, " BOB".
The remainder of the week he hung out with Bob, and shared him with whoever would look, but in the end he had to leave Bob because there was no room in the suitcase.

I have been doing good since they left...
I washed the little white socks, and put them away
I cleaned up the crushed gold fish in my car...
and I put away the little blue coat....

But this morning...this morning I came across Nemo in my DVD player..I bought it just for him.
I found a little plastic dog in my brief case that we had played with at the hospital...and then...... I found BOB.

A wave of sorrow washed over me,and it paralyzed me for a minute or two.
I know that it is grief tugging at my heart, and I fell to my knees.

GOD.....then peace began to surround the sorrow that gripped my heart, and
as I let it in I found rest and comfort so that my grief was set aside while I begin to think of my
many blessings....

Thank You LORD, for the time we had together, and the memories made.
Thank You LORD, for the many blessings and the answered prayers.
Thank You LORD, for the finished book of Luke, this month.

Thank You LORD, that You understand this POM

Then I got up and continued on with my clean up...
God is Good

Thanksgiving ...Let us Rejoice and be Glad

We all know that Thanksgiving is an American holiday. Its not celebrated in Vanuatu, but the missionaries often get together and celebrate. While Michele was here she asked for turkey, dressing, and cranberries. The girl is so easy to please:)
Thanksgiving is the perfect time for this POM to take the time to give God thanks for His many blessings.....

• I thank You LORD for Erik and Michele and their commitment to You
  
• I thank You for my precious grandchildren
  
• I thank You that though I am a long-distance grandma, my grandchildren know me and they love me.
  
• I thank You LORD for the health of their family in spite of the difficulties they have experienced this year.
  
• I am thankful for the health care that they do have available there
  
• I give you praise that Erik survived his health scare...we acknowledge that You gave us a miracle.
• I love Your Bible and I thank You for it.
  
• I thank you for the Ni Vanuatu people
  
• I thank You that Erik loves Your Word and treats it like the treasure that it is
  
• I thank you for the visit that I had to Vanuatu this year
  
• I thank You for the kids house, and the truck that breaks down more than it runs:)
• I thank You Lord for the new internet access, and our new skype access
  
• I thank You for Vanuatu and the beauty and culture of this place
  
• I thank You for Michele and Joel's visit and their safe journey back
  
• I thank You that you word promises that those who endure will be given the crown of life, continue to give them endurance
  
• I thank You for prayer and Your many answers
  
• I thank You my LORD for Your mercy and faithfulness
  
• I thank You for the translation process, and for the scripture that has been translated
  
• I thank You that is Your Word and the work of the Holy Spirit that will change lives
  
• I thank You for the missionary team in Vanuatua and the love they have for one another
  
• I thank You for the postal system in Vanuatu
  
• I thank You for the new malaria spraying that is being done by the Australians
• I thank You for the joys and sorrows of being a POM because it causes me to seek Your face
  
• I PRAISE and thank You LORD that You are worthy and that with Your blood You have purchased men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Rev. 5:1

Its good to pause and give God thanks for His many blessings....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEL

JOEL IS 4 YEARS OLD....

Joel is having his birthday party today. They are playing pin the coconut on the tree, and
Throwing water balloons, a little duck duck goose, and ring around the rosie.

He got a chicken for a present:)




Bet he loves being the center of attention.

This little guy is a treasure.....



Erik just finished translation checking on the book of Luke...
It is finished...Praise the Lord.

First Things First....

Joel left for Vanuatu when he was 2 months old. I remember cuddling him and thinking that when I saw him again he would be walking and talking, and it was true, the next time I saw him he was 18 months old in Vanuatu. He was talking and running.

This trip was his first time back to the USA. He experienced many new things. He took most of these experiences in stride. Over the week there were a few things that seemed to give him pause and he reacted strongly.

"Eehh, Eehh," he kept repeating. What is that noise, Grandma?"
It took us a minute to realize what he was so fascinated about...
" It is a car horn," said Michele.
"Does daddy have a horn?"
"He probably does, but it doesn't work."
" Do you want to hear Grandma's horn?" I asked.
"Yes, Yes," he responded wiggling in his car seat.
Over the next few days he would make his noises in the back seat , and I would respond by honking my horn much to his delight.

Taking him to the department store without a cart to restrain him was a challenge. Once in the front door, he took off and I found myself in hot pursuit just trying to keep up with him.
Suddenly he stopped abruptly in front of a sparkling red artificial tree.
"What is that?" he asked.
He had never seen a Christmas tree before.
Starting from the bottom he touched every ball and branch that he was able to reach.
While Michele shopped, he stopped at every tree throughout the store, touching each one.

We were going out the door when the mannequin in the ladies department caught his eye.
He ran up to her and peered under her dress, and then looking up to her head he gasped in horror.
"She has no head, Grandma. They cut off her head."
Funny I hadn't even noticed. Who needs a head when you are wearing a Vera Wang designer dress?

One day we were in the drive thru at McDonald's. It was taking a while when Joel asked,
" What are we doing Grandma?"
" This is a drive thru. We pay at the first window, and then at the second window we get my coffee and your chocolate milk."
He didn't say anything until later in the afternoon when he told his Grandpa all about the windows and getting his chocolate milk.

A few days later I found myself trying to explain to him why Wendy's only had one window instead of two. He accepted the difference once he realized that he would still get his french fries if they only had one window.

He liked the zoo, he talked about the big big lion for days. He seemed especially impressed by the carousel with the tiger that went up and down when he sat on him.
There were many many "American Firsts" for Joel.

I had to chuckle when I got an e-mail from Michele upon her arrival in Vanuatu.
"Joel is already American, we were doing our errands and he was hot and thirsty. He wanted me to stop and buy him a coke! He never would have asked that 2 weeks ago. He would have asked for a coconut or water."

Hmm...and I was concerned how he would respond...

God is close to the broken hearted. ....

Okay I admit it the awesome 4 year old was right. I finally cried.
I didn't cry going through the grocery store this time, but I had to take some deep deep breathes as I went by the chocolate milk and the fruit loops.

It has been to painful to vacuum up the smooshed gold fish in the back seat of my car, but I didn't cry, I just ignored the mess.

I didn't cry when I found those little white socks in the hallway. I've been stepping over them...Maybe I will wash them tomorrow.

Then today,I finally cried on the way home from water aerobics. Last time I was there Joel was with me. We swam together after my class.

I'm okay...just a little sad.
Felt good to cry...
I treated myself to a Pumpkin latte, and regrouped.

Maybe I will feel like cleaning up the gold fish tomorrow.

My Ways are not Your Ways...

Today I find a pair of tennis shoes
A tiny pair of socks in the hallway,
Two monster trucks on the table,
Red sweats and a shirt in the living room...

"Grandma, are you going to cry?" Joel asked me as he snuggled in my lap
two days before his departure.
"Why do you think I am going to cry?" I asked.
"Cause you love me and you will miss me when I go home," he responded innocently.

How can a 4 year old be that perceptive?

Well today, he is on his way home...probably arriving in Fiji as I write this, but
Truth be known that after two weeks of non stop doctors appointments,
shopping,
sight seeing,
eating, and packing.
I am to exhausted to cry, and at the same time my heart is to full and
happy to cry.

Twice, in two years God has allowed me to participate in helping
my son's family with medical issues. These times have allowed me the
opportunity to get to know them better and for them to know
me better. We laughed together, cried together, and prayed together.
I don't know why these things happen. It's expensive and stressful
to come all the way back to the USA for treatment.

Maybe it's the enemy. We all talk about that possibility, but
what I know for sure is that what the devil may mean for evil God can
use for good. We don't need to understand completely.
Instead, I am thankful because we are a blessed family.
I am reminded again that God's way is not my way...
So today, I will give Him my exhausted trust, and thanks.

They should be arriving back in Vanuatu very soon probably
very exhausted....

Updates.....

I tell you...really and truly and its not just cause I'm his adoring grandmother, but this boy is so cute.
"Joel you are so cute," I said this morning.
"No grandma, I'm just funny," he responded.
I've been so blessed to spend this time with him and his mommy.

Some updates: Joel's test results came back very good. There is no sign of the infection and no sign of any damage from the previous infection. Not sure what is causing his symptoms, but for now we are very thankful and will wait and see what develop.

Got my skirts all finished...I made 23... I am sending them back with Michele. They are so cute
hoping for a group picture.

Lord willing and if the snow doesn't pile to high they will be leaving tomorrow for their South Pacific Island....They are missed at home...Praying for a safe and easy trip.

I will share more later about the week and my feelings. For now I'm going to enjoy the last day with my grandson. He is playing the tool boy right now :)

Test Day...

Waiting our turn at Children's Hospital
Trying out a new game...waiting...
Checking out the machine...
Joel was not going to lay still... so....
Sleeping was the only alternative...he handled that quite well.

After a nice nap and a snack Joel got dressed and .....
Away he went in a wheel chair....to meet Grandpa Carrow
Michele's dad had meetings in town yesterday...funny how God does things huh?
We all had a good time...
Test results will be back later in the week.

What Is Happening?

We have had a busy week going non-stop.
We take Joel in tomorrow for a bone scan.
Because of his age they will be sedating him.
This test might give us a better idea what is happening.
Joel seems fine right now, he is running and walking without
a limp or pain.

We have got all the Christmas shopping done. I am sending
it with Michele, along with the village skirts, I still have 5 to
get done. Michele thought of 3 tiny ones we forgot.
It was fun to have Michele here to help pick out the things
the kids would really like, because she is taking it along
I can wrap each present. That will be fun.

Joel is going to be 4 on Nov. 25, but they will probably be back in
Vanuatu by then.
Erik continues work at home, and they are missed there.
Every night we Skype Joel misses his daddy and brothers and sister.
He has never been away from them.

Today we spent time with my other grandchildren...Joel got to play with
Toby , the cousin closest to him in age. This is the first time they have met.
He was fascinated by the 4 wheeler, the cows, and the big dogs. Their golden
retriever is huge compared to the village dogs.


The Lord is good to Us...
I look forward to getting this test done and the results back.

The Lord is good to Us...
Michele's father is in town for business meetings, he will be
staying the night with us, and spending time with his daughter and
grandson.

The Lord is good to Us...
The weather has been warm and allowing us to get around
easily taking walks and playing on the playground.

The Lord is good to Us...
We have been able to contact and speak to doctors easily and
quickly, and they have very quickly set up tests to meet
Michele and Joel's needs.

The Lord is good to Us...
For this time together....I am thankful.
I have enjoyed every minute of it.

First Time ....

Joel had his first bath ever. He liked the bubbles .
He saw his first squirrel today. He was so excited.
There is still snow on the ground so he got to touch snow for the first time.
It is cold was his reply.
He got his first taste of grapes...he wasn't impressed.
He met his cousin for the first time. They are close in age and seemed to hit it off.
So many firsts.... and tomorrow is a new day.

Unexpected Blessing....

Well I haven't written for a while...
I took a trip to Seattle to see my new little niece, and she is a cute one.
I have been busy with my skirts..I have 3 more to do:) I should make
it by end of the week.
We had a major snow storm last week that kept us in for 2days. Its not
unusual to have a snow in October, but a bit unusual to have this much
snow in October.

And then totally unexpected on Sunday, I got a skype from Erik saying
that Joel's leg was starting to
bother him. If you recall in April of this year he was hospitalized for the same symptoms
this time the doc in Port Vila decided he needed to be seen in
USA or Australia. Amazingly, Michele and Joel arrived last night.
What a treat to get to hold my sweet grandson tonight. I had no idea last week
that we would get this time together.

We saw a specialist today, and they could find nothing serious in xrays, but
they are going to do more extensive tests. He is walking and not limping today
and there is no pain.

Yesterday as I shopped, for some reason I cried in Walmart trying to decide
what food to buy him. Every time I put something in the cart, I thought about the
many things they do not have available that we have here, and I was
overwhelmed. I could not decide what to buy and what not to buy.
Seems silly now...

In the night I mourned over the fact that he left at 2 months and now
he is 4 ,and he has no idea about the USA...How would he respond?
Seems silly now...

He is fine and taking it all in stride.
Took a 14 hour plane ride without complaining.
He is sitting in the car seat without complaining.
Is wearing tennis shoes without complaining
Had x rays done today without complaining.
He is enjoying eating McDonalds french fries.
Watching the cars on the highway.
Picking a toy in Wal mart.
It's like he has always lived here.

What a blessing to have them here even under these circumstances.
Pray for wisdom as the docs try to figure out what is wrong.
Pray for finances...plane tickets on such short notice are so expensive.
Pray for future tests...they might be a bit uncomfortable.

Amazing isn't it?