Salt Lake City

Last weekend Brett and I went to Salt Lake City to visit John and Carol Gililland who are our teammates in Mali. They came home the same week we did. John had a MRI done soon after being back due to some migraine like symptoms he had been having. They found a grade 3 glioblastoma brain tumor. He had surgery to remove the tumor and actually finishes radiation this week. This news definitely changes the plans they had to return to Mali. They are hopeful to return for a few months in December. They have been a HUGE blessing to our family and we have LOVED them being in Mali. We are trusting the Lord for complete healing and for many more years with them in Mali.

So we went to Salt Lake City where they are getting treatment and we found this guy walking around....

Actually, for those who don't know, that is Jake, another teammate in Mali who lived in SLC before going overseas and he happened to be in town at the same time. So it was a mini Mali reunion!

                                 Me with the birthday girl, Carol. You would never guess her age.

Because we were on that side of the country, we decided to go over to Seattle to meet with the family who funded the pediatrics building. It was an incredibly short visit (13 hrs total which included sleeping) but it was really great. We had a wonderful dinner with the donors and workers from Medical Teams International.

This was our hotel which was lovely. We came in on the only sunny day they had had in weeks. It was beautiful but I told Brett I kind of felt jipped since it was supposed to be cloudy and rainy in Seattle. Thankfully, it was cloudy the next morning! :)

                 Brett took these pictures of the lily pads which covered certain areas of the water.

                                                        Just thought it was beautiful!

Pullen Park

We got to go to the new and improved Pullen Park the other weekend. Quite nice with all the oldie goldies that are fun. Like the boats that go around in a tiny little circle. 

Not surprisingly Silas wanted to ride on his own while the older two road together. He likes all the driver seats to himself. :)

I don't know why this screams America to me but it just makes me full of pride. Supporting the country while you enjoy a nice little boat ride. I mean, that is what it's all about, right?

                                                       And let's not forget the train ride.

I have to say it was kind of sad (but in a good way) as the three boys all sat together. No baby to hold. No little kid who was afraid of the tunnel. They are all so big now. They didn't need us which was just fine as I got to sit with my hubby.

Random

This is Silas. He goes against the grain often with a frown on his face. :) But he has a smile that melts your heart and can charm you into doing anything he wants.

 The older Silas gets, the more he looks like Dawson to me. When we were at the beach a month ago now and Silas was running down the beach, it reminded me of D just a few years before. Sure they are their own person but they are definitely brothers, in looks and personality. Good thing they have the sweet glue of Kenan in the middle to keep them together.