Basketball and Burial

The beginning of March found us a couple hours from home at a homeschool basketball tournament. Our games started Thursday at 8:30a.m. and lasted through Saturday afternoon.

Mature Miss graced the court a few minutes as a sub, but mostly enjoyed watching her teammates play tough. They placed 5th out of 8 teams in the Jr High Girls A Bracket.

Our Young Man got a little more playing time during his 3 games, even popping off a shot or two. He is more of a nimble, intense player... after he admires the fancy shoes of all the ball players! ("You know, the guy with the such & such brand and certain colored sneakers on?" "Um, no...didn't notice that, I guess.") The Jr High boys also placed 5th.

Their 1st year playing as 7th & 8th graders has been a little rough in regards to adolescence, comparing skill levels, and fitting in. However, our whole family enjoyed the interaction with the other team families at games and at this end of the season Hurrah.

Pizza party and two nights at a motel with a pool makes everyone happy! And if your friends are there...double delight! The littles got in several times throughout the course of our stay, and even the big kids swamped the hot tub the second night. Never mind that it was not heated and out of order! 

They learned a fun new game called link and generally congregated in the courtyard to enjoy each other's company.

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I regret to type that a few days before the big tourney we experienced another miscarriage. Just 6 months after our 4th little boy arrived too soon to survive. For some strange reason we had chosen not to tell our children about this pregnancy, and so it wasn't quite as devastating for them, initially.

At the risk of being misunderstood, I'm showing a picture of our miniature Titus Accepted fully developed around 11 or 12 gestational weeks. We have seen all 5 of our miscarried babies, cords, and placentas. We are still puzzled why we continue to experience this, but greatly reverence God's miracle of birth and just how perfectly He forms each soul in the womb.

We placed tiny Titus under the ground in the canopy of the cedar trees. Waiting for the day when we will meet him and see him as God designed him to be. 

It's been a sad time for us, 

but we rest in knowing God will work it all out each faith step of the way.