Tooth Fairies, Tornados, and Time with Friends!

Life has been eventful as usual here in our world. Let's start with the events of yesterday...

Madeline had a very loose tooth. Now, she's been wiggling this tooth for a couple weeks now, but yesterday, it was time. She knew, I knew, even Timothy knew...the tooth was ready to leave its home of seven years to make room for its worthy, slightly larger, replacement. Even though this is the fifth tooth that Madeline has lost, she was stressing. She wiggled it and cried and asked me if I remember if it hurts or not. She asked me to wiggle it but then would shy away when I got close.

So, I decided to get out the camera. Surely if I let the "queen of (at least my) camera" make a show of it, she'll settle down. Well, I didn't want to sit there wiggling for twenty minutes, so I asked Madeline to let me check how wiggly it was before I started rolling. Well, I gave it a wiggle....not a tug, I promise....and out it popped. The video shows the crisis that ensued. She is not breaking down because she missed catching it on film. No, her crisis is that she didn't realize it had come out until I showed her, and she was not emotionally prepared to be separated form her tooth.

You may think I'm kidding, but this morning when she woke up with a dollar under her pillow, she told me she misses her tooth and begged....literally begged....to trade her dollar back to the tooth fairy for her tooth, so she could have it to bring back "old memories." No joke.


Well, as most of you know, Madeline's tooth loss has not been the only newsworthy event in our small town. Last Thursday night a tornado swept through Nappanee and left much of the community in shambles.

Our Thursday night started out typically enough. I got the kids tucked in bed, and Mike ran to Chili's to pick up an order of mushroom jack fajitas for us to split while we watched The Office. (This is quickly becoming our Thursday night tradition.) After this Thursday, I can say that the antics of Jim Halpert are just not as entertaining when they are repeatedly interupted by Stormtracker/Doppler Radar/ Viper Weather Reports. Yes it was raining, and yes it was windy, but come on....it's date night at our house! As we sat in our living room at the conclusion of the show discussing our frustrations, another weather report came on, this one saying a tornado had been spotted. The cities in its path were listed, as well as the times it was expected to hit. "The tornado will hit Nappanee at 10:18pm" they said. I looked at the clock-10:16. I looked at Mike. We both ran to the kids room, scooped them up, and headed for the basement.

We were more than fortunate. Our home was untouched. God was certainly protecting our family as the winds ripped apart buildings less than a mile from us. For those of you who have been to our home, you know just down the street from us there are several fast food restaurants, gas stations, factories and other businesses. Here are some pictures of their current condition.




In addition to our safety, God blessed us in the fact that the kids have handled everything remarkably well. Timothy slept through the whole storm, including the mad rush to and short stay in the basement. Madeline woke when we brought her downstairs, but we were able to keep her calmed down by praying with her and remembering verses about God being with us and not needing to fear. She even remembered that I had told her once that the weather we get usually goes to Grandma and Poppy's next (in Ohio). She decided that it would be good for our family to pray for their protection also, since the storm could visit them when it left us. (I love that little girl!!!)


When we woke the next morning, we were without power, our water was running, but on a boil order (How do you boil water on an electric stove with no electricity....anyone? anyone?), Nappanee was declared to be in a state of emergency and Mike was pretty shook up over the loss of Taco Bell, but in reality we were blessed and happy to have gotten through it unscathed.


Mike's boss called and let him know that he didn't need to come in for the day, and we packed our bags and headed up to visit our friends Sang and Song in Michigan. (A trip we'd been planning long before this all hit.) Sang was my lab partner in organic chemistry and then we studied together again through physics and in preparation for the MCAT. When we introduced our husbands, they hit it off right away, and the kids have enjoyed the benefits of our friendship as well. (Translation: another adopted aunt and uncle to spoil them not-quite-rotten!)


Below are some pictures from our weekend. They have a home right on a lake, and it was beautiful! What a retreat from the stress of work/school/the storm. We grilled out, ate out, waded and boated on the lake, and just enjoyed our time together. Definitely something we need to do on a more frequent basis.

Here is Song with the kids on Saturday morning. The view from their living room is breathtaking. The fall leaves were amazing.
Madeline and Timothy on the way out for breakfast. I wish they were always this happy in the car!
Madeline teaching Sang a game she picked up at school while we wait for pancakes.
Some pictures of the kids playing down at the lake.



My husband is hot!
Out on the boat!

Well, this is what's been going on in our world. Hope you enjoyed the update.

Feeling grateful and very blessed!

-shannon

P.S. I just remembered that I should probably mention the letter I received from IU School of Medicine last week. I was accepted! Thank you so much for all of the prayers that are being sent up for our family. We are so blessed to be lifted up by so many. I know that your prayers make such a difference, and I am inexpressibly grateful for both your prayers and words of encouragement!