Our Story

Our church is doing a series right now on being "Fearless"....this past weekend the sermon was about being "Fearless in the Face of Overwhelming Challenges." For some reason, they thought of us.

If you click here...you will see the sermon. Paul does a wonderful job with this topic...and if you hang in there for about five minutes, you will see a video that tells a little of our family story. Thought you might enjoy!

It is a blessing to have a church family that loves and supports us. We would love for you to join us!

Thank you note

Dear Benjamin and Mason,

Thank you so much for our delightful date last night while Daddy took Claire and Cate to the Daddy-Daughter Dance. What a wonderful choice you made in picking the White Chocolate Grill for our date -- you have great taste! Mason, I have to agree with you that we could have used a second Blondie....that was delicious! (Apparently the best thing Benjamin had ever put in his mouth! ha)

But my dear boys, more than the food, I want to thank you for the absolutely wonderful dinner conversation. You have such precious manners, delightful sense of humors, and you honored me with the time you gave me last night.

You are amazing young men. In today's world, where having a negative attitude seems to be a perfected art, your smiles, your laughter and your love of life are a light for all to see. Thank you for sharing them with me -- you are such a blessing!

I love you -- more than you will ever understand,
Mommy

P.S.
Daddy had an amazing night out with his girls, too!

They are back...

My big kids are home. Safe. Sound. And spiritually strong.

I can not quit smiling. Hugging them and rejoicing that all my chicks are back in my nest!

The week was good for them. In spite of some obstacles, they grew in their walk with the Lord. We understand that for summer camp to be attractive to jr. high boys and girls, there has to be an adventure component that isn't necessarily compatible with my boys' abilities. But understanding it and navigating through it are two different things. I am proud of Benjamin and Mason. By all reports they participated when they could and cheered, photographed, watched when they could not. By their own accounts, the worship was the highlight and they both received the blessing of time committed to serious praise of our mighty God!

For my sweet girl, the obstacles were the same that are there for all 12-year-old girls -- other 12-year-old girls. But when faced with some unkind criticism that would have crumpled her mommy, my brave girl prayed that God would help her not have hurt feelings so that she could focus on her relationship with Him! What a blessing!!

Cate and I were likewise blessed by our week together! We swam, read books, played and even fit in a museum! The Phoenix Children's Museum just opened last summer -- we had fun exploring it! Cate had a blast and we'll have to return!

Performing a puppet show for Mommy -- and making sure I'm watching!!

The museum's decor made me smile -- this was a wall of plastered shoes...complete with birdies made of socks!!

Cate loved the Noodle Forest! (though it made me a little crazy....I couldn't find her in there!)

The art room at the museum allowed for all sorts of artistic exploration -- after painting a house, Cate is making jewelry from coke bottle caps!

But the biggest blessing of all is being all back together! We are off for our pre-surgery trip to Disneyland tomorrow and looking forward to some serious dedicated family-time!! Now, that will be a blessing indeed!!

Still getting lessons from camp...

My 12-year-olds left for camp this morning. Without me.

They have been to camp before. Never without me.

As I sat with Cate after leaving them at the church (After prying myself away. Forcing myself into the car. Slowly driving out of the parking lot in case someone came running after me saying they NEEDED me at camp....), I had a serious talk with God.

As I poured out my heart, I realized this was a trust issue. And to be honest with you, I tend to start explaining myself to God whenever I am convicted about a trust issue. Today was no different. I reminded God that my boys have Cerebral Palsy and can't do some things for themselves. I needed to do them. God reminded me that my brother Len and the boys' leader, Scott, were not only well aware they were well-prepared to meet all the needs presented.

So, I moved on. But God, I am supposed to keep them safe. Last year at camp, I trusted you with their care...but I was there in case of any emergencies. I was there to keep them safe. I am always there.

And almost audibly, I heard God say, "NO, Carol, I AM always there. And this year is no different."

Ah.

What a blessing to rest in the ever-presence of our creator, our savior, our friend, our great protector. And what a blessing for my trio to be at camp growing in their knowledge of our awesome God!

My girl and her kickie ball...

Cate is all about the pink. She loves her dolls. And insists on dresses and bows. But this girl has always. Always. Loved her ball.

For the last year, she has talked about "kickie ball" and wanting to play. So when we saw a Soccer Camp was being held for preschoolers this week at our church (Christ's Church of the Valley) we signed her up!

Oh my, she had a blast -- CCV's staff, Coach Harry and Coach Nick, were amazing with these kids. For one hour each morning, they taught this group of 3 to 6 year olds how to kick, pass, and play kickie ball! (Well, they actually did call it Soccer...)


She grinned the entire way through! She loved every minute!

Learning to kick -- she was concentrating, and doing her absolute best...

And then they "played" a game...oh, there is obviously some competitive genes in there...she ran and ran and chased that ball and when she scored....well, she really liked the cheers so she ran even harder after that!

I love this shot of my little princess and her ball. She insisted each day that since I was FORCING her to wear shorts, she needed a bow or flower in her hair...

But the sweetest part of the camp for me...there was a prayer at the end of each morning. Heads bowed. Thanking God. Because after all, it IS about more than just a game!

Dangers of being a Disney family...

Yesterday was Palm Sunday -- the celebration of the day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and the children sang "Hosanna", praising him while laying palm fronds down on the ground for his donkey to walk upon -- a "green" red carpet!

Cate came out of her Sunday School class carrying a beautifully colored palm frond. As always, I asked her what she learned. She was extremely talkative:

Cate: "Leaves."

Me: "Really, what about leaves?"

Cate: "How the kids put them on the road for the donkeys to walk on."

Me: "Really. Why did they do that?"

Cate: "It was a parade for Jesus. I asked if Mickey was there, but our girl said NO."


Hmm....oh, there are blessings in celebrating the arrival of our King! And one day, this sweet girl will understand that it is a celebration even without Mickey Mouse. Imagine.

Little things

The trip to Mexico has made a lasting impression. We can't quit talking about it. We are all dreaming about it. And our prayer life has been changed.

On Sunday of our trip, Paul Wilson, one of the pastor's of our church, opened the morning devotion by reading a passage of scripture from Matthew. As I put him to bed Sunday evening, Benjamin shared how much the scripture touched his heart. He had been limited that day in what he could do to physically help build the house. Instead, he spent time passing out the "dulces" in his belt and entertaining the children -- and the adults as we took our breaks sitting beside him! He told me at bedtime that he kept hearing the scripture in his head all day and knew that what he was doing was being used by God as much as what the rest of us were doing!

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me,'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and cloth you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' " Matthew 25: 34-40 (NIV)

Daddy and his girls...

Heat up the rollers, the girls are going to a dance! The annual Daddy/Daughter Dance was held last night at our church. Wade was out of town all week and literally flew in for the occasion -- he drove straight from the airport to the church, changed in the restroom there, and whisked his girls off to a lovely night of dinner, dancing -- and Ice Cream!!

We knew that if there were any flight delays, Dad would never make it...but we still spent the afternoon getting everyone beautiful! Cate was very excited at this hot roller stage...

But really did not like it much when the rollers came down -- "I don't like my hair like this. It looks silly." (She has a mind of her own this three-year-old! Yep. She does.)

Claire has so much hair you really could use TWO sets of rollers...but we make do! She loves to have her hair curly so this was a fun night already!

We had fun shopping for their dresses -- though, can I just share that I had mistakenly had visions of them matching...or at least being color-coordinated. But when we walked into the first store, Claire picked up a pink dress and so Cate looked at her and said, "I want a blue one." Period. (Did I mention that she has a mind of her own?!) And she went right to her section and pulled this one down. Silly me. I thought I might have some input.

So they dined, they danced and they had some wonderful time with Daddy....right up until that single-minded three-year-old announced that she wanted to go home and see her Mommy! (Pretty adamantly, or so I've heard!) I think next year Dad might have to take them on separate nights!! (At least then it won't matter if they are color-coordinated or not!)

And while we weren't fancy (goodness knows we had used all the fancy on those little girls), the boys and I had a lovely dinner out at our fave, Chili's! The conversation was constant, the food was yummy and we were pretty excited to have a dinner date of our own!!

Children are a blessing. Oh, they are!

Not your typical Valentine...

The five oldest Shraders had an adventure this weekend (that means sweet Cate had to stay with Uncle Len...but he spoiled her rotten so we won't feel too badly for her!)...we drove down to Rocky Point, Mexico with our church, Christ's Church of the Valley, to build a house. Build a house!

I want to share so much of the details with you -- I do. And yet, I am at a complete loss as to how to begin. Me...at a complete loss for words! ha But I have pictures, and emotions, and if you'll excuse my rambling, I'll try to share about a weekend that left me feeling like a piece of taffy -- stretched, and pulled, and doubled in compassion, love, and faith!

We arrived in Rocky Point, Mexico Friday evening and were out at the site of our sweet new friends' home early Saturday morning. This is where Hector and Odelia and their little two-year-old Lesley were living. The Mexican government leases the land to them, and they are required to find the "house". No one in the barrio (neighborhood) has electricity or running water. A few have built outhouses for the bano (bathroom) but Hector and Odelia didn't even have that.

This is a shot of the next door neighbor's home. Our hearts were so torn -- we were excited to be helping this family but wanted to help all we came into contact with during the trip. The poverty level was so high -- and these are homes FOUR hours from our door. Only four hours.

Because this was a spur-of-the-moment trip (we jumped in last minute to fill some holes left by cancellations), we didn't have a good handle on what Benjamin would be able to do. He found tasks to help with in spite of a wheelchair that wouldn't drive on the sandy terrain. But his real strength, something we could not have done without, was the beautiful job he did of breaking the ice with the children who came to watch us work. His "tool belt" was full of "dulces" (sweets) and it didn't take long for that word to spread! He loved passing out candy to all the sweet children...and even made a special little friend, Ocedes, who seemed to have a fondness for him and kept wandering back to his side.

Mason was as usual, a worker bee! He tried his hand at everything from adding the fiber to the concrete (and a prayer for a strong foundation for the house!), to holding the boards steady while they were sawed in two, to overcoming his personal fear of heights and going up for some work on the roof! This kid even helped dig a five foot deep hole that Hector can now take the scrap materials from the house and build a bano!

Claire was also a hard-worker -- she tried her hand at every task imaginable but found her favorite to be building friendships! She was very worried about her limited knowledge of Spanish but soon discovered that love is easily conveyed! Her heart was touched as the young girls she befriended have so very little and yet were so happy!

Wade was excited to jump in wherever needed -- he poured the foundation, he built walls and yes, every first aid emergency fell to his expertise! Before we left, he spent time with the organizers of the mission we were working through to discuss plans for a medical mission trip! I will be excited to see how God uses the new passion he has given Wade for the people in Mexico!

As for me, my love for the people of Mexico is nothing new. Nor is my knowledge of the poverty level at which they live. My own "dulce tia" (sweet aunt) introduced me to that when I was 15 years old and she took me home with her to her mission field in Montemorelos, Mexico. I spent a month there that forever changed me. I promised those dear people that I would return. It took far longer than I ever imagined but this weekend, I felt like I was keeping my promise. I learned how to mix concrete (my shoulders are still aching), how to hammer a nail (Wade is delighted! He had tried and tried to teach me in the past!), I learned how to apply stucco (not nearly as easy as they make it look on HGTV!) and I learned most of this while being followed around by my own new amigo, Jorge, Hector's youngest hermano (brother). This little boy of "ocho anos" (eight years) was glued to my side because I always let him use his hammer! (Yes, I am a pushover in every language!!) And so, my favorite words became "Aqui, Jorge" and that sweet boy would go to town!!

But perhaps the biggest lesson I learned this weekend came from the mouth of this young mother who was getting a brand new home. I used my limited Spanish to ask her how she was -- "Como esta, Odelia?" And she smiled her beautiful smile and said, "Contento."

Oh Father, that I would learn to be contento. That would be the biggest blessing of all.