Safari Park

My first outing in 3 months, and it was wonderful.  We used our annual passes for a few hours at the Safari Park:

Bats:

(The photo’s supposed to be upside down )

African Tram ride:

 

We learned it’s very rare for a giraffe to lie down… they have the highest blood pressure of all animals, so they get headaches if they lie down.  Also, cheetahs sleep for 20 hours/day and giraffes sleep for 20 minutes a day.

Getting a glimpse of the gorillas:

Lorikeets:

Now those are some big ears:

Rachel’s head hurt after being in the middle of all this soft animal love #overwhelmed:

Every day is a gift from the Lord:

Seasonal Garlands :: Fall 2013 (delayed)

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

This greeting comes to you over 2 months late, but just in time to wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

We had a rough Fall… I was doing laundry one day and tweaked my back, resulting in a bulged disc in my lower back.  See?  Laundry is evil… don’t do it!  Ha!

The devoted Mr. Garland, my parents, and so many other friends and family jumped right in to help with the kids, meals and everything else!  I was helpless (and felt pathetic), laying flat on my back for nearly 2 months. Sitting at my computer was the last thing I wanted to do.

We did our best to remain thankful through the worst of it, but it’s so much easier to be grateful on this side of the injury.  Hooray for epidural injections and pain meds. 

What a wonderful season now, we continue to be thankful.  Every day that I get to simply stand up (and bend over to load laundry into the dryer, yeah!!) without pain is a GIFT straight from our Lord!

Summer highlights…

Josh and Zac head to the pool at family camp:

Jeff and Rachel on the ropes course:

Sarah and I get silly:

Visiting Jeff’s dad Fred and sister Julie (with dog Louie) in Littleton, CO:

Colorado Sullivan Family reunion crazies:

Horseback riding cousins in Breckenridge, CO:

Back at home:

Josh and Sarah boogie boarding:

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving… we are grateful to God for you!

October

Caramel Apples with Grandmom:

A night I will remember for a long time… fish n chips n chowda at the harbor at sunset.  Jeff and Josh:

Dad and Sarah:

Mom and Rachel:

Rachel and Mom playing puppets:

My dad has been taking the boys to an afternoon karate class for the month of October (flash deal).  The boys have loved it (the instructors were excellent), and it was so nice to have my dad here to take them (so I could rest):

Pearl snuggles up with friends:

A new toilet in da house… one that hopefully won’t leak down into our dining room!

Yeah, it’s a little sad that we get excited about a new potty.

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Duck Pond hike with Mom and Dad:

Josh and me bein’ goofy (notice I’m being a good girl, lying down):

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Mom and Sarah in their cute hats:

Time for my partial epidural injection… Fun!  Right??? 

It took a while for the injection to start working… my back pain shifted to sciatica down my right leg.  It felt like my leg was on. fire!  for 10 days! 

I’ve never truly enjoyed ice packs, but frozen peas were my leg’s 24/7 companion:

I’m still fighting this disc bulge… please continue to pray for guidance for us?  It has been a tough season. Hopefully it will be over soon.  God is faithful!

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Riley’s Farm – Revolutionary War CFS Field Trip (Dad took the kids):

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Safari Park with friends:  The Cliff, Castaneda and Garland Families = 13 kids total!  Awesome!
Once again, the Super Grandparents covered for me so I could rest.

Palm full of toad:

My friend Signe with a sweet Lorikeet:

A fantastic day for all.