Great Wolf Lodge

Thank you Munga and Gramma (and Groupon) for a fun overnight getaway to Great Wolf Lodge!

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Metal Mouth

We have officially entered the world of orthodontics for our children.  And believe it or not, it began with the youngest of the bunch.  This summer when Luca lost a baby tooth we immediately saw there was no gum left for the adult tooth to drop in.  Our dentist advised us to get an orthodonist's consult as soon as we could.  So with our extended stay in the States that is what we did.

Poor Luca, he has an upper jaw that is super small and narrow.  Not only that, but his pallet is more narrow than his nasal passage way and his tongue cannot rest on the roof of his mouth.  No wonder he has a lysp!  He functionally just cannot pronounce certain sounds.  And this could all be a major factor in contributing to his eating difficulties and texture extremes as it is hard to retrieve food from the cavernous roof of his mouth or chew well.  The x-rays showed his teeth stacked on top of each other with nowhere to go on top.  It all started to make sense to us when we saw what should be a normal mouth.

For the past 3 weeks we have been trekking to and from the orthodontist to get x-rays, impressions made, spacers replaced multiple times as they broke or got pulled off when he snuck a piece of gum and fitted for expanders.  The doctor said he could expand both the upper and lower jaw at the same time in order to complete the process before we leave for Italy, although, this is not normally practiced for the comfort of the child.  However, we do have one tough kid and he is a fantastic patient--so proud of Luca and for being so brave!

Assisting in making the puddy for his mouth impressions

Yesterday both expanders were placed in his mouth.  We have to crank the upper appliance twice a day and the lower twice a week.  The goal is to expand his upper jaw by 1cm in three weeks for new bone to grow.  Yikes!  Jonathan and I made a deal, that he would do the key turning and I would do the cleaning.  Sounds totally fair to me!

Not quite sure what to think

Pray for Luca that he will soon adjust especially to eating.  He is a bit sore right now and food gets stuck up above his expander when eating.  Being a texture boy, that really bothers him to the point he doesn't want to eat much.  Jell-O and yogurt cannot sustain him over the next few months!  Last night when he was eating bread he kept insisting that we "crank it", as if the cranking would get the food out. He has a super soaker that washes out the food--hopefully I can figure out a way to not drench ourselves everytime with that tool!  Pray also that this process will prevent future orthodontic work, because we have two more kids in line with their own unique issues.  There goes the college fund!

Fall Colors

And this is what we miss most about a Midwest fall when in Italy...we are soaking it all in this year!

The Power of Music

Have you ever heard a song that can carry you back to a certain place, time and memory? Ever listen to a song with tears streaming down your face? Ever listen to a song that brings healing and hope? Music is powerful, especially when it draws us closer to our Savior. God speaks to us through His Word and I am so thankful for that especially during these past months of heartbreak and uncertainty in our ministry and empty hearts needing to be filled. I am also thankful for the ministry and power of music that has encouraged our hearts recently.  Just thought I would share a few songs from our new favorite albums by The Glorious Unseen "Tonight the Stars Speak" and "The Hope that Lies in You"


 

And another amazing album and artist is Andrew Peterson's "Light for the Lost Boy", made all the more powerful if you have ever read The Yearling (which Jonathan just did and so I take his word on the added impact).

Good Reads

One of the great blessings of our delayed return to the field (and the kids being gone at school all day) has been the time we have had to sit and read.  This is a unique period of time, but one we are soaking up and taking advantage of, as at least for me, finding time to read in Italy is a bit more difficult.  We are trying to keep our book collection in check by making weekly family runs to the public library.  However, there are just some books you know you want to keep on your bookshelf to read over again.

Jonathan is plowing through his stack of books.  For those who are curious here is what is/was on his nightstand:

I just completed two great books and would highly recommend both.  The first is by Holley Gerth,
You're Already Amazing.  The subtitle is "Embracing who you are, becoming all God created you to be."  I'm sure I am not the only woman who struggles with their identity from time to time.  I let my identity be tied to what I do or who I wish I was, instead of finding my identity in Christ.  This book was a great reminder about how God has uniquely created and gifted each one of us.  In many ways this was a good pep talk for me.  Holley not only addressed the theological side of the issue of identity but also was very practical.  There are many excerises in which you can complete to help you discover your strengths and weaknesses and how to create a life purpose statement that incorporates your uniqueness to most effectively be used for God's glory.  Sometimes I do struggle with thinking I need to do more and be more, but those ideas are often formed and influenced by the world's standards instead of God's.  There was definitely some timely encouragements about rest and refilling that really stood out to me in the book as well.  I am a reader of Holley's blog and have been blessed by her godly insight and encouragements to women.
 
The second book is by Andi Ashworth, the wife of the recording artist, Charlie Peacock.  The book title is Real Love for Real Life: The Art of and Work of Caring.  My hubby found this book recommendation on the blog The Rabbit Room.  I loved this book!  It was such a powerful and inspirational read that discusses the role, motivation, misconceptions and biblical mandate given to all Christians to care for others in their home and community.  This book is not just for the tired mom who feels they are doing something less important in the world because they stay at home.  God has called each of us to care for and show hospitality towards others and Andi really hit the nail on the head with this book.  I would recommend this book to both men and women--for husbands to gain a better insight into the work of being a wife and mother, to challenge your family in ways of practicing hospitality, and to encourage a life of giving and also receiving in different seasons of life.  Andi is very open with her personal struggles and dealing with burnout, which I really appreciated.  This was a great and encouraging read for me and I hope it will be to you too!