Monday, May 22, 2017


What a Week!

So this past week was full of excitement.  We had a few crisis but keep reading because it all worked out in the end.

On Friday I headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things for the weekend.  I walked in and a man stopped me and asked me if I was active duty.  I said no but my husband is.  He then handed me this card.  I was totally confused and he said, "here is a Commissary card for $50 of groceries enjoy!"  I was totally shocked!  I felt like I won the lottery.  I asked him why and he said, "it's for you... enjoy!" I thanked him a hundred times and just couldn't believe it!! I was so excited!!  It totally made my day!!  I rushed home to tell the kids!  

 A few weeks ago Owen went on a youth retreat and returned home with a terrible cold.  About 20 boys shared a cabin so it is not surprising he came back with a cold but boy it was a doozie.  We were at the doctor twice with sore throats and ear aches.  Owen's cold was passed to Meg.  Well, when Pascal returned from the field and the cold was passed to Pascal.  After battling it for a week he headed to the doctor because the cold seemed to have gone to his chest.  He walked to the clinic and I didn't think much of it, thinking the doctor would send him home with some decongestant.   I get a text on my phone a bit later from Pascal saying it looks like he needs to head to the ER. At this point I was a little concerned thinking this must be some cold.  So I pick him up and off we go to the ER.  In the car he explains that the doctor did a chest x-ray and they saw "something".  That "something" could be a pulmonary embolism.

A PULMONARY EMBOLISM..... wwhhhaattt!!  So we spent time in the car praying all the way to the ER asking God that whatever showed up on the X-ray God would heal him from.  We asked God that he would just remove and restore Pascal to complete health.  We drop Pascal off at the ER and then the kids and I spend the next 5 hours... wondering what was going on.
 We found a little park and the kids played while I sat and prayed and prayed.  I called family and asked everyone to PRAY!!
 Pascal had his cell phone so he texted us and kept us posted on things while they were running test.

 It was a long 5 hours of waiting!!




 We believe in miracles and I am thrilled to say after 5 hours at the ER we left with Pascal and a clean bill of health.  In the end they didn't think it was embolism.  God is so good! We believe that God was in charge and that he took away whatever they seemed to have seen on the x-ray!  Hooray crisis #1 over!

On Saturday morning we left a 2:30 AM to head to Smokey Mtn.  where the Charleston Pipe Band was competing.  We arrived at 8:30 and were getting dressed from the back of the car when look what happens!!  The sole comes completely off my shoe!  Crisis #2!!  Can you believe this?  Well, considering that I got them when I was 16 it is not too surprising but right before competition. WHHAATT!!
 So I decided to tape them
 The tape got me through a few hours but as I walked the tape stretched.  So in the end I had to just take the soles off!
 Pascal was up for solo competition.  He took home first in one event!!  Go Pascal!!



 My turn!


 Getting tuned up
 I'm the short one!  Here we are on the field competing!

 And we took FIRST!!!!!  Hooray ...All the while wearing shoes without soles!!

 Owen and Meg leading us off with our trophies!!
 Pascal competing
 They took first too!!  Hooray



 The state of my shoes at the end of the day!!

I like to call these "Piper ballet flats".  They barely got me through the day and I avoided gravel at all cost!  But I made it!!  The funny thing is.... they were super comfortable.
 After a long day of piping we headed to this little cabin!
 Meg and Owen relaxed in the hot tub




 What a weekend!!  So thankful in the end it all worked out Shoes, ER and all!

Our butterfly bush is in full bloom
 and look what is hiding inside the bush...we are so excited to get to watch this nest.  As of this morning there are four eggs!
 Meg got a new swim skirt!  A huge shout out to Amy who sends us amazing packages!!
 boys and the beach... need I say more
 I laughed when a guy asked Pascal if he would help him get his sail up.
 Smokey Mtn.  was a long drive can you tell the kids got bored?
What a weekend!!

Sunday, May 14, 2017

What We've Been Up To

 Beach time!
 Replicas of Columbus' famous ships, the Nina and Pinta came to visit Charleston.  The kids and Pascal went to check them out.




 The kids also enjoyed the yachts parked near by

 This picture made me laugh the wind makes it look like Pascal put on a few pounds!
 Meg baking! She loves making pancakes


We were super lucky to get to take part in a Skype interview with retired Colonel Gail Seymour "Hal" Halvorsen.  He is best known as the "Berlin Candy Bomber" who dropped candy to children during the Berlin airlift from 1948 to 1949.  Owen read his book and we loved hearing his story!  He was wearing his uniform.  Such a special guy what a Hero!!




 Have you heard about the Kindness Diaries?  It is a Netflix series our family really enjoyed!  We found it fascinating and it brought up a lot of cool conversations with the kids. Well, Leon came to town and we got to hear him speak!  If you haven't heard about it, check it out!  The kids really liked meeting him.  I was super impressed that during the question and answer time, Meg raised her hand and asked him where Kindness One was?  Watch the show and you'll understand her question!




 He signed his book for them!
 The boys headed off to an air show so Meg and I went to see a movie on post and we had the place to ourselves!!  We saw The Resurrection of Gavin Stone - two thumbs up!! We really liked it!!


 We see this guy's car on post all the time and we think it is super cool.  We keep hoping we'll run into him so we can talk to him.  
 Meg cooking with her buddy at Mimi's.




We are stocking up on goodies for Mimi when she comes. The store on post marked these goodies down to 6 cents!


Pascal will be leaving us shortly and will be gone ALL summer.  I found this picture on the camera and felt like it really sums up how we feel about that.  We are dreading him being gone.
I've got my work cut out for me in keeping two kids busy during the very HOT, HOT days ahead of us.  
If you are reading this blog you will probably be visited by us.  The Reber Clan will be looking for adventures and that includes YOU!