a prayer request

We have friends, from our church back in California, that are asking everyone they know, and don't know, for prayers for their unborn baby.  Please, if you have a moment, lift up their little one in prayer.

Here is their most recent Facebook update:

"Hello all. Many of you saw a few weeks ago that Brett and I are pregnant. We're now 14 weeks and 3 days and we need your prayers. This week we discovered that our baby is developing abnormally. The baby has developed a large cyst on her back and neck and has fluid building up inside of her. Medic

ally, the cysts are referred to as cystic hygroma. The fluid build up is due to the lymphatic system not functioning properly. This could also be indicative of another developmental abnormality called Turner Syndrome. All that to say, the prognosis is not good. Based on the ultrasound, they don't expect baby to make it into the third trimester and probably not past 20 weeks due to the increase of fluid. And that's why we are posting: to ask you to pray for a miracle. We believe in God, we believe in His son Jesus, and we believe He listens to the prayers of his children. We believe He does miracles and we believe He weeps alongside us, just as He did with the family of Lazarus before He raised him from the dead. So, will you join us in petitioning God for a miracle? Will you pray and ask Him to heal our baby so we can meet her in March? It doesn't have to be a fancy or long prayer. I mostly just pray all day "Lord, heal my baby" and I know He hears me. And perhaps the best prayers I've heard have come from our 3 year old, Jack, who just says what he is thinking and talks to God like He would talk to any of you. Please consider joining us with this simple prayer and ask everyone you know to join us and do the same. I know some of you don't believe in God or have doubts. I ask you to consider praying too and see what God does. Every day the baby keeps growing is a gift and we are so grateful. Join us in praising God and praying for a miracle. Ask your church, Bible study, friends, family, everyone and anyone to join us in prayer. Repost this if you want. Feel free to message me with any questions. We would be happy to answer. -Brett Garvin & Liz Garvin"

Brett, Liz, and Jack would be so grateful for your prayers.

vacation thrift store finds

I'm pretty sure this is the last post that is vacation related.

Whew.

Sorry if I dragged it all out.

But not only do I post all this to share with you, but to document it for myself.

It's like my very own electronic scrapbook.

Anyways,  here's the last of it...

I wanted to share my Idahoan thrift store finds!

I found this teal and ivory zig zag afghan in an antique store in downtown Coeur d'Alene for only $4.50!  You can't buy the yarn to make one for that cheap.  Total steal.

I picked up these two vintage quilt blocks at an antique store in Sandpoint, ID, for about $6.50 a piece.  I love that every time I look at them, I will be reminded of the beautiful, little city on gorgeous Lake Pend Orielle.  They are soooo soft, and hand quilted.  They've already been washed and sewn into pillow covers for our bed; I just need to pick up some 16x16 pillow inserts.  They might be my favorite find of the trip.

I found some really great vintage-y pillow cases at a Hospice Thrift Store in Post Falls - two of the golden stripe (for $1.50) and one blue floral (for $.50).   One of the striped pillow cases was sacrificed for the back of the quilt squares to make the pillow covers.  They look pretty darn cute.

A perfect little mug for twenty-three cents.

All of my finds look so pretty together.

Callan got lots of books on this trip.  He got this (nearly complete) set of books from Goodwill, in Post Falls.  Both Travis and I had these as kids, so, clearly, our kiddo needs to have them, too.  :)

And you can't go wrong with $2 Dr. Seuss books (antique store prices), The Stinky Cheese Man for $3 (hardcover, antique store price), and a random $.10 book for when he's a bit older (thrift store price).

And I picked up a sweater, plaid, button-down shirt, and zip-up hoodie for Callan.  All in great shape.

The thrift store prices were pretty fantastic and hard to beat.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be craving a return trip to each of these stores in a month or two.
But I certainly won't be craving the 1630 mile road trip to get there.

vacation, down-time

Here are a few more pictures from our vacation...down time around the house.

I'm not sure where they fit in throughout the week, so here they are, at random.

Good times.

vacation part 6 - last day in Idaho

On our last full day in Idaho, we did a little independent exploring, from our friends.

When their little guy went down for a morning nap, we headed out to a nearby park. 

Falls Park, Post Falls, Idaho.

Post Falls.

Callan wasn't too thrilled about trying to get a family picture in front of the falls.

After the park, we headed back to Coeur d'Alene for one last wander downtown, and to walk the world's longest floating boardwalk (3,300 feet long).

The views of the lake, from the boardwalk, were pretty spectacular.

We followed the Mudgy & Millie Trail for a bit.

Callan and Mudgy & Millie at the base of Tubbs Hill (the trail head).

Callan and Mudgy & Millie at the library.

Coeur d'Alene sure is a beautiful city to visit.

Lots of shops and restaurants downtown, a beautiful lake and beach, with lots of lakeside activities, tons of parks and family friendly places to explore.

We'd love to find our way back there, one day!

This vacation was just what we needed.

Time away from Oklahoma, making memories with friends, and exploring someplace new and exciting.

We are already thinking about next year's summer vacation!

vacation part 5 - shopping & the park

Well, I guess I should get back to sharing our Idahoan vacation with you.  My parents were here visiting last week, so I didn't spend much time at the computer.  I'll share a few favorite moments from their visi,t at some point, but let's get through our vacation first.  


Picking up where I left off...


The day after the 4th of July brought us girls a treat.

Tiffany and I headed out to a few local thrift stores ALONE.

Shopping without Callan by my side is rare, but shopping with a girlfriend is like finding a diamond in a cereal box.  It just doesn't happen.  So, needless to say, I was thankful for this time.   I'm always in "mom mode", so to let go of that for just a few hours was refreshing.  We left the house around 10 am and were back by 1 pm.  It was a beautiful 3 hours spent browsing 2 fantastic antique/thrift stores.  And I couldn't have asked for better company.  

Once Tiffany and I got back to the house, Travis and Phil headed out to a local shooting range for a little guy time.  The kids went down for naps, so we enjoyed some quiet time.  After the guys got back, we had dinner, and then decided to walk down to the park at the end of the street.  

Q'emlin Park is a beautiful, little park with a beach front, playground, picnic areas, hiking trails, rock climbing, and fishing spots.  

98% sure that these are huckleberries.

I just LOVE towering pine trees.
I'd live in a little cottage nestled in a grove of them, if I could.

This dandelion was, seriously, the size of a grapefruit.

No, I didn't blow it.

But I totally should have.

Little miss being a brave explorer.

Callan, almost always with one something in one hand, and another something in the other.

He makes me smile.so.big.

We enjoyed some time on the swings before heading back up to the house for the night.

Swinging with his pinecone, of course.

His stick was in the stroller, ya know, for safety reasons.

It was an enjoyable, low-key day.

I'd love to wrap up every day exploring a park just like this one.

Good company, beautiful surroundings, a chill in the air.

Darn near perfect.