Catching up

We made it thru all the wedding planning and then the big event and now we are just catching up on life and getting used to what is now our new normal. It has been tough having Shyloh gone, especially for a couple of our kiddos. The week she was on her honeymoon we had originally planned on going camping and none of the kids wanted to go because Shyloh wasn't here. We ended up just hanging out around the house and working on a few projects here.
One of the first things on our list to do was to re-bid chores. Chores are bid on an RHIP basis. That stands for Rank Has Its Privilege. Since we didn't think Shyloh wanted to come over every Saturday to help with Saturday chores and we didn't think she would want to come clean our bathroom as well as her own, we had to re-bid. Everyone has bumped up a bit, even Poppet, who now is in charge of keeping the toilet paper stocked.
Shelbie is now the new "top dog" around here so I expected to see her bid out of a couple of her less pleasant duties but she surprised us by sticking with cleaning the "farm area" each Saturday. That includes cleaning the chicken coop and the bunny cages.
Shaylah has bumped up to alternating making dinner with Shelbie and Shayden is now in training to take over making breakfast. We'll see how that actually goes. What looks good on paper doesn't always pan out in real life.
Since Shyloh and Jeff have returned home we have managed to have a day at the lake with them, Micah, Lynette, and Grammy. Last weekend we went camping with Micah and Lynette. Jeff and Shyloh joined us too. We had such a relaxing time just hanging out with each other. Uncle Micah took the boys on several "snake hikes". Have I ever mentioned my extreme fear of snakes? Well somehow I now have three little boys who love snakes. (Thanks Micah!)
Last Friday Jeff and Shyloh joined us for a trip to the ocean. The weather was wonderful! We hung out at the beach and played in the water, caught sand crabs, and had fried chicken. Then we cleaned up and headed to the Monterey Aquarium for member night. Love, love, love having season passes there. (Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!)
We are slowing returning to a new normal without Shyloh. We are so very blessed to have her and Jeff live so close. We have still seen her daily since they have come back from their honeymoon, even if only for a few minutes. She is very sweet about inviting one or two of her siblings over to visit with her while Jeff is at work. It makes it so much easier for their little hearts as they miss her so much. This week Poppet and Lolly got to go over to her house. She came and picked them up and I heard all about how much fun they had watching a movie, eating popcorn, and playing with "Lolo's" new kitty. Shyloh looked a bit tired when she returned them home several hours later. Yesterday Shyloh called up and requested Shylie for the afternoon. Shylie was a bit unsure of her new surroundings, but after she was introduced to ice cream she was fine. ;o)
I am sad that summer is already coming to an end. It just wasn't long enough this year. Now it's time to shift gears and get ready to open the windows and enjoy the smell of fall in the air,chilly nights, hot chocolate and apple cider, time hanging around the bonfire, and cozy evenings by the fireplace.
Hopefully we get the wedding pictures back soon and I can get some up here. (I know you are probably waiting for those Papa and Nana!) Until then here is a slide show of pics from our month.

The girl and her dog

Thanks for all the prayers for sweet Herbie. I know the Lord heard the very sincere prayers of a little girl for her puppy, and healed him. Herbie is doing very good. Poppet finally got to hold her puppy this morning after a week of not being allowed to. It was a sweet reunion!
Last Friday Herbie threw up and we just thought he had gotten into something that didn't sit well in his tummy. By the next morning though we realized that something more was wrong, by that night we knew in our hearts that he had parvo. Sunday morning we took him in to the vet hospital and they confirmed it. Parvo has a very high death rate, usually within the first three days. The Lord put some wonderful people in our path who had personal experience with parvo. We worked round the clock on this little guy and yesterday he finally seems to be over the worst. This morning he even wanted to eat so we made him a scrambled egg. He loved it! He can't eat much, even though he is starving and would love to pig out, his tummy is very raw and torn up inside. Throughout the day he has been having many small meals of egg, plain yogurt, and ground beef. He is just skin and bones after this so we will be spending the next week slowly trying to pack on some weight. We are just so happy he is doing better! He is definately going to be a pampered pooch for a while!


Poppet finally has Herbie back in her arms.

Prayers for Herbie

Poppet's little puppy, Herbie, has parvo. Today is day five. He's looking a little better today and even started to eat a bit, but is still throwing up ocassionally. We would still appreciate your prayers. He's gone to the vet for a couple of sub q's of fluid, but other than that we are treating him at home. He requires round the clock care. We have to give him his medicine and electrolytes every hour round the clock. It is very tiring, especially when you only get about three hours of sleep every night. Please pray for Herbie to beat this.


-Shelbie (for all)

The Wedding

We made it thru crunch week! I was a bit concerned how I would do health wise with so much stress but I survived! The week was full of late nights, (2,3, and 4am nights) lots of last minute preparations, lots of tears as we came down to the reality of Shyloh moving out, and trying to enjoy every minute in the midst of the most stress I think we have ever dealt with.
We are in awe of just how much work a wedding is...and we have 8 more! We got all of Shyloh's things moved over to her house this week. That was tough. As we watched the girls' room empty out we realized that "this" was really happening and it wasn't a dream.
Thursday we started decorating the church and had the rehearsal and dinner. When we got to the church there was already a group of ladies working on things. I had no idea and felt so blessed that we had sweet friends that loved Shyloh enough to give of their time so freely to help us. I am not creative at all and was so thankful that there were women there that are so gifted in this area and made her wedding so beautiful.
Jeff's family hosted a wonderful rehearsal dinner at his mom's church. We had yummy "straw hats", (a.k.a nachos) rootbeer floats for dessert, and some nice relaxing fellowship. We went home and started pedicures, rolling hair in rollers, and last minute prep. We didn't get to bed until 2:30 am. I still hadn't hemmed Shaylah's dress and we needed to somewhat clean our house because we were hosting a bbq Saturday for family and Jeff and Shyloh were going to open their gifts.
The next morning we headed back to the church to finish setting up then off to get Shyloh's hair done. We were supposed to be at the church at 4:00 with pictures starting at 5:00. Shyloh's hair appt lasted much longer than planned so we didn't arrive at the church until 4:30. We quickly did make up, hair on the bridesmaids and flower girls, and then got dressed. It was then we realized that Shyloh' hoop was missing. We looked everywhere for it and then Duane had to run all the way back to Shyloh's to look for it there. He found it and then got stuck on the freeway in backed up traffic due to an accident. By the time he made it back and she was dressed it was 6:30. Scratch pictures! :o(
The ceremony was beautiful and Shyloh looked stunning! Jeff and Shyloh gave Duane back her purity ring. They did a Quaker marriage license, took communion, and had their very first kiss in front of God and all of us. Duane and I cried through out the whole service. It was beautiful! The next day we had a bbq where Jeff and Shyloh opened their gifts. We originally planned to have our out of state family over but when Jeff and Shyloh found out that Papa and Nana would be at our house they didn't want to leave town yet. We ended up using the opportunity to have our family and Jeff's family over to watch them open gifts so Papa and Nana could be here for that. After gifts were done we loaded them up and about six vehicles caravaned over to see Shyloh's house.
Watching Shyloh and Jeff drive off was tough. We all held it together until they left then the rest of the night was scattered with tears.
We truly are happy for her, but her gain is our loss. Everywhere we look is another remembrance that life has changed and she doesn't live her anymore. Today has been a mellow day of cleaning up and packing up things that were borrowed and have to be returned tomorrow. The girls have been cleaning their room and moving things around to get ready for Poppet and Lolly to move in there this week. Duane is on vacation this week so there will be a couple of day trips and projects around the house.
Off to watch a movie with my family..."Father of the Bride". Boy, are we gluttons for punishment or what?

(Pictures to come soon)

Shyloh's bridal shower

The reality of what is going to happen in the next two weeks really set in today when Shyloh had one of her bridal showers today. It almost felt sereal. We have been planning and preparing for her wedding but somehow it still felt like a bit of a dream and like we had plenty of time.

Shyloh glowed and looked simply beautiful! This is my girl who has been planning her wedding since she was 10. Seriously! She has only had one dream in life...to be a wife and mom. All girls dream of this but she has always been so very serious about this. When we would talk about what she was going to do after school she would tell us that she has prayed about it and doesn't feel led to college but rather to spend the next season of her life preparing to be a godly wife and mom. Now she is about to start putting into practice what she has been praying and preparing for.

Annie, Shelbie, and Shaylah put on the shower for her. It was beautiful! I know Shyloh felt so loved by them and all the people who showed up to it. Next weekend Jeff's sweet sister is hosting a shower for her too. I don't even want to blink because before we know it we will be watching her say "I do".