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hi walrondfamily


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walrondfamily

The busy-ness of Life......

Okay...I've said it before and not ashamed to admit it once again-----

I'm just about the worst blogger!!  

I am ALWAYS, ALWAYS playing catch-up!

I honestly don't know how some folks manage to take care of the house, manage their children---even teach them, take care of themselves AND keep up with a blog!  I know they must be extremely organized folks----definitely an area I am constantly working on.  However, after 7 months----wow----I'm going to do a fast catch-up on the amazing highlights of these past months and the blessings God has given us!  You have been WARNED....this is a loooooooooooooong overdue update!


I see I left all hanging after Shane's last trip to Boston.  His heart cath went very well in February : )  They widened his pulmonary arteries a bit to normalize the blood flow in his lungs to 60/40 for the right and left which flipped it from a 40/60.  Shane bounced back quickly.  We flew to Boston on a Monday, cath Wednesday, home on Friday!  Shane is finally off Lasix and only has his daily aspirin! His speech is very good now, too.  I think we understand about 80 % of what he says.  He started preschool a couple of weeks ago---the same one Olivia attended.  Most of you know we homeschool, but this was a great choice for us on several levels.  Shane needed to learn that mom will always come back!  This has been the biggest hurdle for him so Olivia and I pack up her books(and stuff) to have kindergarten down the hall from his preschool class : )  His teachers are amazing : ).  They have been so gracious and encouraging to both Shane and me.  This also gives Olivia and I some uninterrupted one-on-one time!

So now for our events of the past 7 months...................

Happy Family Day--One year on March 19, 2013

A very special quilt for our boy made by a very 

special friend!  Thanks, Eva!

Two of our sweet grand pups visiting with us---Lolli and Poppy---while their parents take a much needed vacation before the arrival of our little granddaughter!

An Easter picture....cheesy smiles and all!

 Someone....turned 4  : )

 Lauren graduated from high school : ) 

 Shane took swimming lessons.

 Olivia finished preschool!

Someone got the chicken pox : (

We are GRANDPARENTS!!!!!!! We welcome our little Junebug, Elleanor : )

another post to come on this!!!

  Isn't she a beauty!!!!!!!

Poppy and Lolli love you so much!

 Our girl gave her hair away...again for the fourth time....

Some more of our precious ones after long distances and a providential meeting!

We celebrated Olivia's Family Day # 4...WOW...she asked for a Joy cake! : )

 Josiah is off to Belmont as a Junior !!

From this to this in one year : )...oh and new glasses!

Celebrating ***33*** years with God's most gracious gift to me!!

"Surely you have granted him unending blessings

 and made him glad with the joy of your presence." 

Psalm 21:6

Back to Boston!

Originally Shane was scheduled for a routine heart Cath on February 1st but a cold caused us to reschedule. So we arrived in Boston Monday and had out PreOp yesterday at 7:30 am. e still has a lingering cough but we trust the team that said Shane was clear to have his Cath.

They will do a thorough check as this is the first Cath since Shane's repair, look at the functioning of connections and the valve they put in, check heart pressures in all chambers, dilate the pulmonary arteries and look at how this affects the VSD patch. Could take anywhere from 1- 4 hours depending. From here the doctors can better gauge Shane's future treatment . Of course they give you the good, bad and ugly about the procedure, as always. We know Who held Shane's heart as it was formed and He holds it still! Prayers appreciated... For me too as I'm trying to fight off a cold! Thank you!!

We arrived at 7 am this morning! Yay, we were first on the board. Shane got a dose of "happy juice" at 7:30 and was wheeled back at 8 am. Got one update and from the Lab that he is doing great! Another expected in an hour.

Here is a picture from Monday after a plane trip and 3 train rides! Shane crashed on the way back from Trader Joes!

 

"As for God, his way is perfect:

The Lord’s word is flawless;

he shields all who take refuge in him.

For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength

and keeps my way secure."

Psalm 18:30-32

 

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The Season of Giving to help the least of these...

Okay...I need to update once again on family things...especially because we got some exciting news on Thanksgiving!! 

However, I want to push this to the forefront.  I mentioned in my last post about Kayla's and Lauren's(our daughters), deep desire to help build and raise funds for the Sangaalo Baby Cottage to provide resources for much needed medicines and everyday necessities.  Damalie and her husband, a young couple with two small children, have taken on the task of welcoming orphaned and sick babies into their home living out the life Jesus called us all as Christians to live---"caring for the least of these".  They have sold their belongings in order to accommodate and provide for as many children as the Lord places with them by building the Baby Cottage....and they trust He will meet every single need!  If you have not already done so, please consider their ministry.  Voices for the Voiceless has partnered with them and you can read Damalie's amazing story here. 

Please read Kayla and Lauren's letter below and go on over to their blog! 

Hello Family and Friends,

               Hope you are doing well! Lauren and I are wrapping up our fundraiser for Sangaalo Baby Cottage in Uganda, with only a couple days left of raffling. If haven't had a chance to enter the drawing, there is still time. We will be drawing a name for a Gift Basket tonight, and after the weekend, we will be drawing a name for the Kindle Fire 2 HD! We have raised about half of our goal of $1,000, which is awesome! For $10, you can get your name in drawing -- every $10 after that is another name in the hat to increase your chances :)  If you still want to enter, or maybe just increase your chances for the big win, you can visit our site at:

borderlesshearts.wordpress.com

You will see the latest photos of our Gift Basket giveaway! At the very bottom of the page there will also be a donate link where you can enter to win (you don't have to have Paypal, just a your debit or credit card). If you'd rather mail a check or cash, email us here or at borderlesshearts@gmail.com and we'll send you an address. All proceeds will go to either building the new Cottage for the babies, or providing food, clothing and medical care, as many of them arrive with malaria, HIV etc. A small portion will also go to another orphanage in Uganda to help their feeding program :)

We love you! We hope that you have a wonderful Holiday Season -- we have been so blessed this year by your prayers and support.

Love you,

Kayla and Lauren

As you can see there are incentives!!  Give BIG to bring hope to little "Kings and Queens" such as these : )  Thanks be to God!!!!

Sangaalo Baby Cottage

As many of you know, two of our girls went to Africa this summer and came home with a God-given fervor to make a lasting difference there...not wanting to remain unchanged with life as usual.  While in Uganda, Lauren and Kayla met an amazing woman, Damalie, who has chosen along with her husband(unusual there) to take in "the least of these"...all infants--more than a dozen!!  They also have two biological children.  God has miraculously provided them land to build a children's home---their desire.  Kayla and Lauren want to help them with the funds to build it : )  

Please consider following their blog and helping to fund this wonderful cause--Sangaalo Baby Cottage!

They have offered some very interesting incentives as well!  

http://borderlesshearts.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/giveaways-with-a-cause-aka-prizes/

Here are a few pictures of the little ones in Damalie's care... 

Our Father is all about rescuing His children!

"You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;

    you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

¹⁸ 

defending the fatherless and the oppressed,

    so that mere earthly mortals

    will never again strike terror." 

Ps 10:17-18

Olivia-ism

Olivia makes a picture and rolls it up to give to me.

Olivia:  "Here, Mom.  Sign this paper."

Mom: "Ok. "(I promptly put my signature on the paper)

Olivia: "No, Mom.  Not like that.  You're supposed to put an  X."

Hmmmm.

Home Sweet Home

Sorry ...should've posted earlier!  We made it home late Sunday and it was so wonderful!

Our yard was decorated with balloons and a sign welcoming us back...thanks so much "P" family!! Your help while we were away and your warm welcome is more than we will every be able to reciprocate!

Tom, Lauren and Olivia arrived in Boston on Friday night after 15 long hours in the car!  We spent Saturday sleeping in and then walking around Boston.  Saturday evening we took the T into Cambridge and met the Judges for dinner at Tupelo!  The food was good...the company was great!  It was fun catching up between pre-school meltdowns.  A great treat for my birthday!  Dinner and then Home!!

Here are a few pictures from our final days in Boston.