Fourth of July!

I can't believe it has been a week since Grace's accident. She is doing really well. On Friday July 4th we had a beautiful day at the lake in bond park. We went on a paddle boat and fed the ducks. We also went to the park and the kids complained of the heat. That night we went to our church picnic and had a blast and then decided to go to Regency park with thousands of people and were just about to watch the fireworks when massive lightning started going off. So everyone stampeded back to the cars. We were parked really far and I had to carry the baby...We finally made it to the car and had to drive home in the worst weather. When we got home the power was out....all of the kids slept in our room. The neighbor set off fireworks. It was very nice to be safe and watch the fireworks from our window through the rain and thunder. The kids kept saying "birthday America." And Ella for some reason thought Mark and I were getting married. As much as I have told her that we are already married she wants us to get dressed up and get married. I cannot figure that one out. Matea has been walking around calling herself Dr. Princess. She wants to be a doctor and a princess. The kids started school this week. Jared went on staggered entry today(won't be there fully until next week). Tonight we discovered that he had no underwear on all day. That was a slight oversight on our part. He was already dressed when we got up. Now that the kids are speaking more english everyday we found out that the scars on Ella's stomach are not from a skin rash but from falling on a fire when she was little. THe homework at school is overwhelming and the kids are still learning to read, yet Grace has really hard homework in 4th grade. They are all going to the same school and taking the bus. We are very happy about it. Matea starts school in the fall (just in time for them to be tracked out).

My girlfriend's Ethiopian baby needs prayer. He was sent to the hospital today. Please pray for him to get better soon.

Blessings,
Deanna