Some roller-coasters aren't that fun...

June has been quite the emotional roller-coaster for us! In May, Jon was approached about a possible promotion opportunity in Salt Lake City. He interviewed during the first week of June and received an offer. We wrestled with the decision for quite some time. Jon and I discussed, prayed, asked advice, and finally came to the decision that he should take the position. So I am happy to announce that Jon will be the next Operations Manager for Ferguson Salt Lake City, which is a HUGE branch out west. It is a great honor, and I, along with our extended family, am very proud of him. We will be moving during the last week in August, so that he can begin work the day after Labor day. Ferguson will do all of the moving and packing for us, which is wonderful!
Speaking of packing, I am actually taking a break from that right now. We are heading up for our annual summer visit. All four of us are driving up to Smith Mountain Lake. Jon gets to stay for a whole week before flying home to work some more. The kids and I will stay on at Nana and Papa's for two more weeks before Jon flies back into Richmond. We will be heading to Williamsburg to Grandma and Grandad's before proceeding to the outerbanks for a Schumacher family beach week. This year, we will be staying at the new home of Jon's sister Wendy and brother-in-law Geoff, who recently purchased a vacation home in Duck. We are very excited about our vacation!!! We were almost afraid it wasn't going to happen.
Brighton has been sick for a couple of weeks. Without getting into too many details, her little stomach was very messed up. We took her to the doctor after a few days of not getting better. Her pediatrician sent her to a Pediatric Gastorentolgist on the southshore for more tests. He at once, suspected C-diff (a superbug that people get following a course of antibiotics). However, she tested negative for the C-diff toxin. After many many phone calls to the doctor, many sleepless nights, and hours of prayer, I am happy to say that our little girl seems to be getting better. She has been taking a probiotic, and the doctors seem to think that her body was lacking good bacteria causing inflammation in the colon. Thank you so much for all of the prayers. She has truly been wrapped in prayer, and it's so amazing to know that so many people have been praying for her--even people we've never met!
I have posted the only pictures that we really took in June. During the middle of the month, the kids and I participated in Vacation Bible School at our church. It was sad to think of this as our last one in Louisiana and with our church family. We have truly been blessed at Faith Presbyterian Church, and VBS was another huge blessing for the kids and me. I was given the opportunity to do some acting. I played Mary, and each day I was able to teach the children the lesson for the day by telling stories about Jesus and interacting with my neighbor in Nazareth, Eugene (aka Charles). It was a lot of work, but it was very rewarding. Brighton spend the mornings with her best friend, and favorite 84 year old, May May. She was able to participate in a few of the activities, but May May kept her and a couple other two-year-olds plenty busy. Will loved VBS! He learned so much, and he never gave away that Mary was actually his Mommy except once ;) On Thursday during the week, Ms. Pam had a reptile expert come to the church to show the kids turtles and snakes. Will and Brighton both got to join in on that fun. Will had some mixed emotions and seemed more scared of the turtles than the huge snake! This month has been full of ups and downs for sure, and we are sooooo ready to take a vacation!!!

Brighton LOVES her May May!

Brighton walked right up to the turtles to try and feed them. Will was more hesitant, so my friend, Nikki helped him find some courage.

But when the big ones came out, he was back in Nikki's arms!

The kids got to see how long an anaconda is by lying next to a real anaconda skin...gross!

Ms. Pam (children's ministry director) helped Will pet the python--I couldn't go near it!

Mary and Eugene (me and Charles) stayed very busy rehearsing and teaching the kids. In the next picture are some of my favorite church people, Flora Neff, and Frank and Lynn Fury. Charles Macgowan is in the background too.

There was a program for parents on the final day of VBS. I didn't get the best pictures since I was hiding in my Mary costume at the back of the church.

It was a very rewarding week, and we had a great time with our church family!