Juggling the Joys of July

With Stephanie and Ben still in Paris, Bob and I continued to have Emma, Paige, Bennett and Tanner at our home in July, 2019.  We kept a pretty full schedule with the kids and tried to help them enjoy their summer vacation without mom and dad. Stephanie made sure her kids had all kinds of fun supplies sent to us from family and friends who wanted to do something to help their family.  Water balloons, games, a water table and a stomp rocket were among the toys that were greatly enjoyed!  Thanks to everyone who helped out!

The Children's Museum is always a fun place to spend a day.  

We dressed up for Chick-fil-A's free food day.  We painted and hid rocks, found indoor play places,  ate at Burger King, went to the Heritage Museum, played tennis, made things at Home Depot, and wore ourselves out!

  

 We went to a morning 4th of July Parade in The Woodlands, and that evening we got together with our next door neighbors, the Scoffields, to light some sparklers and shoot off a few fireworks.

Ben was finally medically approved to be flown via commercial airplane with a nurse at his side and Stephanie on board, and they arrived in Houston on July 10.  He was admitted to Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands where he would continue to be evaluated and treated.  Stephanie was back for only a few days, as she had to return to meet with the movers and sign off on the packing of their belongings.  Chelsea, Thomas, Michael and Kristin and kids came to stay with us that weekend and welcome Ben back to the good old U.S.A!  We were all certainly grateful for Ben's steady improvement and for the opportunity to be together!

The first thing Stephanie needed to do was buy a van, so she and I spent a day in Houston at Texas Direct Auto doing just that. That weekend, we went with cousins to the park in our neighborhood,  swam in our pool, and went to Market Square in The Woodlands.

By the week of July 14, I was exhausted!  I needed some time to catch up on church and other responsibilities.  Our children had departed and Stephanie went back to France.  Thankfully, Ben's mom, Kathy, and his sister, Anna, flew in from Idaho to give me a break.  They took the kids to stay with them in a nearby hotel and were able to visit Ben at the hospital and attend to his needs.  They were truly an answer to prayers and stayed into August to keep Ben company!  By the time we left for South Padre Island for a reunion with our immediate family, I was somewhat rejuvenated and prepared for a week on the beach with our entire family (except Ben).