Cast of characters

We have an amazing babysitter. I know, because only someone amazing could convince Caleb to be anything but a shark for Halloween.

Instead, she took my children's obsession with The Wizard of Oz books, and planted an idea for a truly amazing family costume.

Levi only wore his costume because he loves lions. He completed it with a roar that was simultaneously ferocious and adorable. Cowardly, he was not. But cute as a button...that he pulled off with ease.

Abby was Dorothy Gale of Kansas, with silver slippers, not ruby ones, because that's what the book Dorothy wore. She had to have one braid slightly looser than the other, because that's the way Dorothy's hair was when she landed in Oz. Thankfully for me, my mom was kind enough to make me this awesome Dorothy costume when I was a senior in high school. With a few alterations, it was just right for my own little Dorothy. Last time I had to make her a Dorothy costume, she was much smaller, and much more wiggly.

2 month old Abby

Caleb's tornado costume came together with some leftover copper wire I found in the garage, some Halloween webbing, and a little duct tape. I'm not sure there has ever been a more appropriate costume than 5-year-old Caleb dressed as a cyclone. Oh, and he went trick-or-treating without shoes, because, well...he's a 5-year-old tornado, and I wasn't paying attention.

And Jacob got to be the Scarecrow, because it was a heck of a lot easier to stuff straw in a shirt and hot glue some patches to his jeans than it would have been to try to make a Tin Man costume. He was, perhaps, the most adorable Scarecrow I've ever seen. If I do say so myself.

And because it's not Halloween without a pumpkin, we carved ours into a bioluminescent angler fish. Because we're homeschoolers, that's why, and we let Caleb pick the theme this year.

Happy Halloween from the family of fish!

Triumphs of His grace

"O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise,

the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace!"

We traveled to the hospital again today for what would turn out to be Levi's final appointment with hematology. 

He had his blood drawn, ran into one of his favorite nurses, snagged a free pumpkin on his way out, and then we went home to wait for the call, again.

And when the call came, the doctor's exact words were "No follow up is necessary."

What that means for us is that this stupid snake thing is done. Behind us. Over. See ya later, alligator.

As far as the medical community is concerned, Levi is fully recovered.

And for that, we will praise and glorify God alone. 

Thank you to all who have prayed with us for Levi's recovery. Your prayers have been answered!

"Many, Lord my God,

are the wonders you have done,

the things you planned for us.

None can compare with you;

were I to speak and tell of your deeds,

they would be too many to declare."

--Psalm 40:5