When Trials Become Blessings

Some recent changes have transpired within our family - best described as both exciting and difficult. I'm still quite not ready to openly talk about these specific life events but I did want to let you know that we're all doing great and surviving the triple digit heat here! When I feel ready, which will hopefully be soon, I will document these family changes. But right now, I just need to adjust and get over the "deer in the headlights" feeling. Life tends to throw us curve balls from time to time. We are given situations that we have to learn to get through. I felt that I owed my readers an explanation of why I haven't been blogging as much this month (even though I keep this blog primarily as a family journal so I don't have any pressure to write a certain amount of posts) - I've just had to take a step back for a bit and take some time to reflect and get things done. I'm foreseeing August being just as busy as this month - or even busier due to the changes! Thankfully, we have some upcoming events that we're looking forward to:

• John graduating with his Bachelors!
• Beach Trip!!!
• School starting soon...this year for both Aubrey AND Jocelyn! :)
• Soccer, piano, choir, xylophone, activity days, story time at the library and school activities.
• And Andrew will naturally keep me busy - as usual. Climbing is his favorite game at the moment.

After re-reading all of the upcoming events and activities we will be involved in, I don't think I need to worry about finding myself a hobby! A sanity check? Yes!! The kids will have me beat!

{My kids after church ended. Andrew's saying "cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!"}

One more exciting thing before I wrap up this post...Andrew went to nursery at church for the entire class for the first time. I can't believe my sweet, little 19 month old Andrew is now old enough to be part of the primary. We went in the the nursery a few months ago to help out with one of the teachers. Of course, he did relatively well since I was in the classroom with him. But this time was a bit of a different story. I was walking down the hall to get him from nursery to find him being held and comforted in the hall with his teacher.

When I initially took him to class, he clung to my leg pretty tight. But the teachers in there are husband and wife and they do an awesome job and got him distracted pretty quickly. I took this as my opportunity to leave and let him get acquainted with his new sunday school class until he turns 3. (Which he will then go into the primary as a Sunbeam.) Apparently the first 30 minutes after I left went fine and he especially enjoyed snack time. But after that point, it all went downhill. Blood and all! Well, I think he either bit his mouth somehow or it could be from his eye teeth breaking through. It's also smack dab in the middle of his normal nap time. So they just walked the halls to pass time. As soon as he saw me walking towards him after church was over, he had the biggest puppy dog face and pout and reached out for me. It was kinda sad but sooooo cute! He'll adjust to nursery. I'm sure of it. He thankfully wasn't as near as difficult as Jocelyn was in the nursery. She clung to me every time I tried to go - every Sunday! And cried most of the class time too. So I know after a few Sundays, it will be part of Andrew's normal routine to be there with his friends learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

{Andrew's 1st Sunday going to nursery! Such a big boy!}

Chancellorsville Battlefield

Okay. Just so you know, this summer has been quite the deal for us. HOT, boring at times and how should I put this nicely...I'm tired of my kids fighting and me playing the ref every 2 seconds of the day. Thankfully, we have a lot of fun times to balance it all out! Our beach trip in August really couldn't come soon enough! I have a feeling that once Fall is here, everyone will be jumping for joy! I will be Fall's biggest fan!

But with that said, I have still tried to find fun adventures to take my kids on. After being stuck inside for a couple of days, we broke out and traveled to another battlefield in the area we had yet to see since moving to Virginia. Despite the heat (which was why we didn't want to escape and go anywhere for those few days) - I just HAD to get them out of the house and get some fresh air and get their wiggles out.

So since we've seen the Fredericksburg Battlefield sites (many, many times!) I thought it would be neat to venture out to a neighboring battlefield in Chancellorsville. The history here is amazing! Unfortunately, I don't remember ever learning this stuff in high school. That may be why I'm so interested in it now. It's all very fascinating to me. And I'm glad my kids enjoy it too! There was a 30 minute video inside the Visitor's Center that I opted to save for another day (ie: help with the kids!)...so we spent our time around the building to see the information signs they had posted and walked along a short trail to Jackson's monument.

Next up, we hopped back into the truck and drove a section of the driving tour to see the other surrounding battlefield sites. Of course when we got to one area with the cannons, all the kids wanted to do was climb on them like they were a playground. Clear indication we needed to go to the park - and soon! :) After reminding them that we treat history with respect (no more climbing!) we took off for lunch and to give Andrew a much needed nap. We're definitely returning to see the rest. And then we'll have only Wilderness Battlefield and Spotsylvania Battlefield next to visit and then we will be finished touring our area battlefields!

Luray Caverns

Before my Mom came to town to visit us for the holiday weekend, we planned to take her on a fun trip to Luray Caverns. This was the first time for our family to go there as well and it was a great experience. (Besides the windy roads there and back!) We passed by Shenandoah National Park - and we will make it a point soon to go back that way and see what it has to offer. From what I hear and see, it's a pretty place!

We got there in an hour and a half, parked the truck and loaded up the younger kids into the double stroller and headed for some grub (and mints for my Mom who was feeling carsick) before our tour through the caverns started. We ate lunch at the cafe: grilled cheese sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs and chicken burgers. After John got our tickets, he asked if strollers were allowed as there was speculation that they weren't. Thankfully they were - or I don't know how our one hour trip walking through the caverns would have gone with two little ones. It probably wouldn't have. It all worked out but it was really hard work getting that double stroller (and the kids) up and down these long and awkward stairs, and various parts of the cave. :)

Right before our self guided tour began, we were all handed headphone sets to tune into recorded information at each flagged stop. The things they have come up with - it blows my mind sometimes. "Punch in 101, etc. into your device to hear about this area of the cavern..." No official guides needed. Pretty interesting! With it being a warm day out, inside the cavern was relatively comfortable - in the low 70's. But they say on average down there it's about 54 degrees.

I was a little concerned at first how Jocelyn and Andrew would do on the long tour, but they surprisingly did well and didn't get too antsy. I think all of the lights inside the cave kept them interested and curious. Jocelyn kept saying, "Wow...this is sooooo cool!" :) Aubrey generally stayed behind with my mom and took in the views together while John and I stayed occupied pushing the stroller and taking pictures. After the tour came to a close, we exited into the gift shop. How conveniently done, right? We let the kids pick out 1 souvenir each and my mom treated us with some yummy huckleberry & yogurt covered pretzels.

On the way back home, Andrew took his much overdue nap and we all enjoyed a sight seeing of a baby bear crossing the highway outside of the Shenandoah National Park area. I know this may come across as funny to some of you, but at first, I thought it was a wolf or a dog. Okay. So I'm not out in the wild very often! I thought for sure with it being a baby bear though, that the mama bear wouldn't be too far off! But a friend of mine mentioned that in the summer, the mama bears tend to desert their young - something I wasn't aware of.

Going inside the cavern brought back memories of the other times I've gone through caves: Timpanogos Cave in Utah as a teenager and Oregon Caves as a child. All were neat experiences and now I can add this one to the list! (Not that I plan on going through anymore caves!) :) I'm so glad we were able to go to the caverns with my Mom in town. The kids sure had a blast being with Grandma too! And with it being such a long day trip, it actually turned out being really fun and relaxing and not crazy and stressful. I took a ton of photos...so enjoy!

{At the start of the cavern tour, there was a marking where the cave was first discovered in 1878 by a tinsmith and a local photographer.}

Luray Caverns is the most popular caverns in Eastern America and an internationally acclaimed destination.

This U.S. Natural Landmark beneath Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is 400 million years in the making.

{Dream Lake is the largest body of water in the cavern - the deepest point not being more than 18-20 inches. The lake creates a mirror image of the stalactites hanging from the ceiling.}

{Pluto's Chasm was the main horizontal channel in the caverns as water dissolved and eroded layer upon layer of limestone during the formation of these huge chambers over 400,000 years ago. This chasm is over 500 feet long, and is 70 to 90 feet in depth.}

{Titania's Veil - This shimmering white formation is pure calcite, the result of spreading crystalline deposits. These deposits, commonly called flowstone, spread laterally coating walls or ceilings.}

{Located in the Cathedral is the Great Stalacpipe Organ, the world's largest musical instrument. Stalactites covering 3 1/2 acres of the surrounding caverns produce tones of symphonic quality when electronically tapped by rubber-tipped mallets.}

{Totem Poles - chambers sculpted with countless stalactites and stalagmites.}

{My Mom and Aubrey}

{The Wishing Well}

{Granite}