O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches...that is, if I could actually see them!

-Sarah Kay

A Kalahari Thanksgiving

After a quick lunch at Appleby's, we arrived at the Kalahari around 1:00. Thankfully, our room was already available, so after quickly unloading the car and changing into our swim gear, we headed down to the water park.

Marie and Josh immediately took off for the big slides while Cindy and I took Sarah Kay over to the "little kids" section, which is brand new for this year. With absolutely no fear of the water, Ms. Sarah played pretty hard throughout the afternoon. Knowing that we were going to have a huge Thanksgiving dinner buffet on Thursday (and let me tell you...it rivaled just about anything you'd see in the Vegas hotels), we ate at the resort's pizza parlor Wed. evening and then headed back for some more swimming/ hot-tubbin' till the park closed at 10:00.

I got up around 5:00 the next morning to work out in the fitness center and then meandered over to the lobby to read a bit, which would have been quite pleasant (big overstuffed leather sofas/ roaring fireplace) had it not been for this utterly annoying talking moose machine whose recording continued to ask whether you wanted your fortune told. Half tempted to plow my bum leg through it's showcase, I instead moved to the other side of the room and read until 8:00. The kids were already up and ready to go for another day of swimming.

Our story begins before time began. God, wanting to show his love, must create people who can choose to accept or reject his love. In order for them to truly choose to be a part of his kingdom, they must be able to reject him and create kingdoms of their own.

-opening scene of Kingdoms

Pastor Herb, Kent (pictured here with my son), and the Straight Street singers should all be so incredibly proud of their production. Just the thought of directing 140+ kids (grades 1-6) is amazing...but they pulled it off magnificently.

Josh's very first "theatrical speaking role" came right after the Tower of Babel was destroyed as he stepped up to the mic and- as only a method actor could deliver the line- belted out his much anticipated two word soliloquy..."Oh, no!" I'll never forget the night when I picked him up from rehearsal- he was so excited that he was chosen to say an actual line, albeit a short- but nevertheless- extremely significant line. (at least in my eyes)

The kids had great audiences both performances but appeared to really nail the show Saturday morning as you could simply tell the the leads really got comfortable with both their lines and songs.

Josh's favorite tune from the show (not surprisingly the one leading up to his infamous line) was Build a Tower, but his favorite part was when he got to play one of the fierce Babylonians and rush on stage to seize/ capture the poor, helpless Israelites. The scene pretty much rivaled anything you'd see in Braveheart...

I couldn't be more proud of you, little man!

Princess and the Pea

Little Sarah Kay's first bed...

Rehabin’

Just when I thought I had seen all the cool toys at physical therapy, out came the “ACL torture rack” this morning. I joked with the Doc as to whether they confiscated this thing from descendants of the Inquisition. Still not being able to completely extend my leg, they strapped my thigh to a robotic table. Then, with a remote control, I could raise the table…tightening the strap along the way until I could feel an intense stretch to my knee ligaments. I got to do this 30 times with 10 second holds. Way too much fun for 7:30 a.m.

The game plan is to continue physical therapy through the holidays, and then go “solo” at the YMCA. I’m going to shoot for the Canal Place 5K run in early May as my comeback run…as well as our first Boettler Park sand-volleyball match later in the spring.

Working Hard? Hardly Working?

The two were given the simple task of raking the yard on Saturday...not sure how many leaves actually made it into the trash bag, however...

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