Hanson Crew

This is our weekend plans...driving up to Minneapolis with Nate, Lisa and Issac. The kids are going to have a blast with grandma Peggy and grandma Sue all weekend. We'll see how Jonathan does with us at the conference...

Well it is that time again...the mail starts coming each day. Birthday Club offers we signed up for throughout the year and forgot all about. Birthday advertisements and discount tickets/certificates to help plan your "big day." We are lucky enough to have two children's birthday's one week apart, so it is especially noticeable right now. Joshua will be 4 in Oct and is still very easy to plan for. It is all about the cake. He picks the character and I do the shopping or planning to try to make the cake. Ashlyn though is in her 3rd year of "friend parties". You know where you have to invite everyone she knows and have all the crafts, games, and planning. We are just in the beginning stages of trying to keep this is a minimum. We are thinking of doing a Rainbow theme this year at Grandma Sue's house (to enable a bigger guest list). We are thinking of having each girl wear their favorite bright color for a fun photo, playing an m&m scaven...

So on Friday night, the crew grabbed a $5 Little Caesars Pizza and headed out to find another Letterbox. The box was hidden in Maple Woods park, which is nestled in a nice neighborhood north of the river. We were unsuccessful finding the box, but really enjoyed the hunt! Missouri isn't as flat as people think. The trail reminded me of Colorado Mountains in a way (once you got high up on the trail of course and were covered by trees and roots). The kids loved it (minus Jonathan who was being pushed through a very bumpy trail in the stroller while trying to nap) and we got very close to finding the box. It was the same placer who hid the other box we had to look for twice, so we plan on coming back again sometime for another try. The folks here in KC who are reading this should go give this trail a try with your kids. It's nothing to fancy, but would be really fun evening walk. It is off Hwy 1/Antioch up past 72 nd street. I can email you directions if you are interested... A...

I am sorry it has taken a while to give an update on the little baby boy we know who was born a few months early (see original post ). We got a recent update and wanted to share with you a couple pictures as well as some info. He is doing very well... He is 4 pounds 15 ounces and is 16 inches long. The best news is he is off the ventilator and the c-pap and is now on a nasalcanula (probably not spelling that one right either). This is the last step before he breathes on his own. He will also being nursing in a couple days. We are planning a baby shower for him the first week of October and it looks like he will be going home around that same time. His parents are going to take a class for dismissal next week. Needless to say, everyone is excited. Thanks for your prayers.

Well I am not sure if it was the wonderful women's fellowship breakfast Saturday morning or the 99 Balloons video that has me a little emotional this morning. I praise God for the all the blessings I have in my life today. Someone at church yesterday said that many of us have conquered big trials in our past, some are going through hardships now, and some will face suffering in the future. Many of the women who shared with us yesterday have gone through a lot or are going through tremendous suffering today. I fear my family will face great hardship in the future since we have not had many trials together yet. Please pray for us and praise the Lord for the blessings he has given us. Here are a few that quickly come to my mind: Our church family at Faith Community Church Our extended family, especially John's mother and all she does for us This week, medicine and God's provision for our family The ability for Deanna to stay at home all day with the kids God's Wor...

I got this video link in an email from my friend Missi today and it made me cry. I had to share how God has blessed this family (and me) through their suffering. http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/570/99-Balloons