What a day!!!

Well, we are getting ready to leave for the annual pastor's short course. It's been a morning around! one fiasco of a morning here! We didn't get packed last night because of things that came up... so we are packing this morning. that hasn't gone bad, however, we have had some bumps still! For instance, accidently dumping our entire lunch in the sink and starting over! Ug! Wow! We are excited to go through. So, here's to a great week! If I am able, I'll post some pics this week! hugs to all! ~Mindy

Isaiah 41:13

For I am the Lord, your God,

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you,

Do not fear;

I will help you.

I am thankful that we serve a God who is big enough to be there. Big enough to love us. Big enough to hold our hand. I am fighting fear like crazy right now. Fear of the future. Fear of what we are about to find out about the kids. However, He is my great I AM and is holding my right hand. He is my helper!

Free stuff...

I have a lid to the Pampered chef round Deep dish baker. (the large one, not the new mini one). If you are interested in it... it is yours for free! :) Just let me know. ~mindy

I often wonder...

This morning, I was thumbing through my Bible. Wanting to read but not sure what to read. I came across this verse:

Ephesians 2:21,22

In him the whole building is joined together

and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

And in him you too are being built together

to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

I look around our world today and I wonder why more people don't know Christ. As we drive into Cincinnati, we go through a neighbor hood that is actually frightening. This time though, I was heart broken. It was 90+ degrees outside. Many were out with their children trying to get by with the heat. Looking for shade. Looking for a safe place to rest in the heat. And I wonder just how many of them know about the safety in Christ. That He is our refuge and He is our strength.

I sit back and I look at the body of Christ. I look at my own life and I wonder when I walk through places, when I encounter people who are lost, when I see the broken, or when I talk to someone who is confused, do they see it in me? Do they see that I am a dwelling of our most high God? Is there something in me that begins to answer their questions? Do they see something in my life that makes them hungry to draw nearer to God?

As of late, I have been really broken for those around me. yes, we are going through our struggles, but putting them in perspective, they are nothing compared to the world around us. I pray that my life is shown as a dwelling place of God. More so, I pray that the body of Christ as a whole is able to draw together, over come the obstacle of individual opinions and beliefs and become a dwelling place of God. It isn't about a building or the name of the church you attend, it's about what this verse says "YOU TOO ARE BEING BUILT TOGETHER TO BECOME A DWELLING IN WHICH GOD LIVES BY HIS SPIRIT..." If we could just lay down our own desires and beliefs... if we could just let God mold us and have total control... there would be no question... the nations would meet Jesus! My prayer: God help me lay down my own desires and let you build me up!

GI visits

Joey's GI appointment went fine. They have decided to go in and put a metal clamp in their to seal off where the G-tube once was. This is done inside his tummy so they go in by scope. It is a small enough hole that the clamp is the most non-invasive and quickest to heal from. So, that will be done during the time that he has his MRI/MRS, muscle biopsy and skin biopsy (aug. 17).

The rest of our trip was non-eventful. We were glad for that! Thanks to all for the prayers and encouragment! ~Mindy

Well morning all! Joey did great for his CT scan yesterday. Came out of the anesthesia just fine! He sat straight up, wripped his IV out of his hand and yelled to leave! Guees he decided he was done with it all!

Our trip has NOT been with out drama though. Kind of comical when I stop to think about it. Even with our best efforts, the meat we brought to put in our spaghetti was spoiled. Didn't realize it until we mixed it in and took a bit! Ick! So... we tossed our whole pan of sgetti and when looking for food. Drove all over. Finally decided on a taco bell/pizza hut combo place. Pizza sounded good to me and the rest one tacos. Imagine this... they were out of breadsticks. So I ordered my pizza... they were out of pizza. I felt bad for the buy behind us... they were out of change... so when he paid... he didn't get all his money back! Go figure!!!

Then it stormed something fierce last night. We lost power at 2 a.m. and didn't get it back until about 830 this morning. It was so hot in here the rest of our food we brought went bad. So much for trying to make this a low cost trip! We see GI this morning and then we get to head home! yeah!

If you are a twitter fan, you can follow my updates at www.twitter.com/mompfohl or face book, www.facebook.com/mommypfohl I update from my phone there if you are interested!

Hugs and thanks to all! ~Mindy

He is the LIGHT...

Well, we seem to be very much back in the muddle of medical crisis right now. It's a hard one to swallow and a hard one to face after an entire year of very little bumps! I have been doing a lot of praying and asking God what is going on. I've been confused, hurt, a little angry, lonely, scared and even struggling to talk about the reality of what we are seeing at home.

If you will notice, I have changed the scripture on my blog header. It talks about how God is our light and HE turns our darkness into light. Sunday in church while worshipping. I began to cry and think about what the kids are going through right now. The tests, the up & Coming surgery, etc etc. And I was overwhelmed with sorrow. I began to question God. And I heard Him speak. He said "I am who I am."

I stood there for a minute silent in worship... then I put it to practice... God is who He is in the face of tests, He is who He is in the face of possible Mitochondrial disease, He is who He is in the face of surgery... No matter what we are facing, God remains the same. The God who gave us a good year is the same God who is with us in these hard times with the kids health.

I don't know what we have to face ahead of us, but I'm holding to the promise on my header... We feel we are in Darkness right now. the fear of the unknown... struggling to understand... but this scripture holds a promise for all in darkness.... HE WILL TURN MY DARKNESS INTO LIGHT. So, I wait and I watch in total faith that the sun is gonna shine and we will ALL see the work of God's hand again!

prayer request...

We are asking you to pray for Joseph. He had a very bad day yesterday. He was asleep more than he was awake and when he was awake, he was very tired and his body was floppy. This has not happened for a long time.

We have been in touch with Genetics in Cincinnati. They feel that it is all about the heat and Joey's body can not regulate the way ours does with the heat. So, he is now on restrictions and added fluids through the summer.

Please pray that he gets back to his baseline before Thursday. If he is lethargic or floppy at all, they can not move forward with his CT Scan. It would be unsafe because the anesthetics would be making him more floppy and could cause severe air way issues for him.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Visits from the Pfohl side...

I'm playing catch up tonight! Grandma Pfohl and aunt Sherry came to visit Friday... here are some pics of the kids having a great time with new gifts!

Trying out the new spidey scooter.


Very proud of our new princess scooter...

giving it a run around the drive...

Check out the kiddie Pool Mamaw Pfohl brought...

Putting it to good use.... ahhh... cold water on a hot day! :)

Last week...

Well, here are the pics from the last night of Kids connection last week. Hope you enjoy them! We sure had fun!

Joey and Gracie (Abby's buddy) dancing together in the aisle.
Gettin' down with his bad self! ha!

Chef stand on word and his Chicken Leggs.

Check out the peppers on his pants! Ha!

Made some pizza and talked about how the Dough was molded by the chefs hands into a pizza and we are molded by God's hands into who we are supposed to be.

Broom races... Ready... set...

Go!!!!!!!!!!

The beach boy

Singing songs together.

He is the potter and we are the clay... We are all the works of His hands!

Kids Connection...

My parents have a childrens ministry called Kids' Connection. We have been going to this every night at the union City Church of the Brethren. Mom and dad travel around to many churches with this ministry. The kids are having an absolute blast! To learn more about Kids' Connection, you can visit www.kidsconnectionlive.com

The cousins gearing up for fun. Logan, Abby & Joey together.

Starting with some adventure!


Joey and Uncle Jimmy enjoying time together before starting...

Oh so intreaging!!!

Mesmorized...

Hiding from the water sprays! yep, They spray water at kids Connection!

The scientist... what's he gonna do this time?

So proud to be here!

reading her new Bible from Kids' Connection

Praising Jesus...

Can Willy Fix it fix it???

He did it! He fixed the machine!

Hooray for Willy fix it!

Little orchan Andy for a visit! We played slug that bug!

Oh dear!

Many came forward to ask Jesus to be in their hearts! So touching! God works so mightly in kids lives through exciting skits and loads of fun!

Praise Jesus together!

Joey checking out his Bible.

Leading in song...

Logan saying his Bible verse with Praisin raisin.

Abby and Mamaw. Miss Abby was so excited to be there!

Long day...

I have great pictures from all the fun we had tonight... but my camrea is in the car! So, tomorrow, i will share them. For now, this is a pic of Joey at Occupational therapy today. They were working with buttons, zippers and clasps. He was really into it with concentration! cracked me up! They are just wonderful there with the kids and so sweet with sissy and help her to be a part. Love it!

3rd day down!!!!

Well, Daddy left treats for the kids to get every day while he was gone. Target has an awesome dollar section. So, this morning... we got water color paints! So fun!!!

Joey found it very fascinating to squish the paint!

abby was very precise and immitated by making the same numbers with the color she was using.

Last... I just wanted to demonstrate for you what it's like when you just love hot dogs so much you can't control yourself! Ha! Mr. Joey was stuffing it as fast as he could! Wowsers!!!

So cute!!!!

My Friend shot some pics of the kids at the park today. I thought they turned out awesome! Just wanted to share! ~Mindy

It's Monday!!!

Joey had physcial therapy and speech today. It was a great time! Miss Abby got into the act...

All dressed up for bubs therapy...

Joey is following the leader (sissy) on his trike the the gymnasium.

Joey dressed up for therapy too! What a hat that he picked! Ha!

Well, I would say we have day 2 under our belts of daddy being in New Orleans. We sure miss him but we are surviving! We met up with some friends at the park here in Farmland. It's itty bitty for those of you who are NOT locals! I forgot my camera! so... no picks of that! But the kids had a GREAT time. Too fun and too cute! Tomorrow... no set plans yet. Playing it by ear! Have a great night every one! ~Mindy

Fun at Aunt "T"s house.

We had a fun cook out at Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Christi's place! Great time!

Demo of how to race the boats...

Look at me uncle Jimmy...

My brother apparently trying to go to his happy place....

The cousins playing together... and Joey giving some one what for! Ha! Go little man! You tell 'em!

Yumm... dinner time!!!!

Hey look! I dunked my butt!

Oh man! This burger is just too good!

Are you serious??? You want me to be seen in these trunks? Oh mom!!!!