They're Back!!

John's parents are missionaries in São Paulo, Brazil. They are wonderful, loving people and we have been blessed by their presence with us a lot this year. As John's health has required additional support at home, they have come to lend a hand. They were here from the first of December until the end of February. They were home only a few short weeks when this recent valley appeared and we felt the need for their return. They are at this moment en route by plane to O'Hare, here in Chicago.

Anticipating their return, I thought I would share a few of the things I look forward to about their visits. When the Fawcetts are here, I feel like I live in a hotel. The only thing that is missing... and I mean the ONLY thing, is a little mint on my pillow at night.

I hope you enjoy these snapshots in the lives of the Fawcetts at the Fawcetts.

These are the tell tale signs that Bill and Mary have arrived!

Playing with the children.

Attack of the Sea Monster

Celebrating Birthdays

Making treats for a Tea Party.

Butterfly sandwiches are a must!

Home Repair

Fixing Charlotte's Kitchen

Hanging Pictures

Washing Dishes

A Shiny Sink to make The Flylady Proud

Complete Home Organization! Tupperware lids labelled to match containers!

All kinds of new appliances.

Thanks for the new toaster and convection oven...

and the phone system.

The many aspects of good nutrition

Organic fruits and veggies for cooking and juicing.

The Breakfast of Champions

Veggies prepped for juicing

The nutritionally savvy can find a way to make a delicious pecan pie using whole wheat flour, organic pecans, Sucanat and brown rice syrup. Mmmmm.

And then there are the vitamins.

Vitamins are a big deal with the Fawcetts. As a kid, John could swallow 16 at a time.

The vitamins are piled in groups.

Bill makes daily vitamin packets.

We find these packets of vitamins on the table each morning.

And then there's the laundry. My laundry hamper gets lonely with no dirty clothes to keep it company.

I have never seen a stack of ironed pillowcases. Have you?

My linen closets are stuffed and orderly. Not even Martha Stewart can boast a linen closet like this!

I wasn't kidding about the mint on my pillow. Doesn't that look inviting?

Did I ever tell you the story about making our bed when we were first married? I made our bed and then John came in and "taught" me how to make a bed. "There is an art to bed making, you know." I burst into tears and felt he could feel free to make his own bed ever since! Hospital corners are a big thing with the Fawcetts.

If you want to keep things moving along in ordering a home and caring for an ill person, make a list for morning and evening chores.

Another sign that the Fawcetts are in town is that one of Mary's four siblings often makes an appearance. Because Mary lives out of the country, her siblings try to see her when she is in the states. The above photo is her brother John. The photo below is John's twin Bobbi and her husband Dave.

Last, but certainly not least in the Chicago area is snow shoveling.

Here is Mary helping me dig out in order to get the van into the driveway. It is comical that I have a picture of Mary shovelling. She did it this one time and poor Bill, who probably shovelled fifty times, didn't make the photo shoot!

We love you so much Bill and Mary, Mother and Daddy, Mimi and PawPaw.

Thank you for everything and welcome... home.

Celebrate February 29th While You Have the Chance!

Bill and Mary Fawcett at Egg Harbor in September 2008

One week ago I mentioned that Bill and Mary Fawcett had extended their stay in order to continue their support of our family. At that time we agreed upon several milestones that would tell us all when they would be "free" to go.


1. John could sleep through the night.


2. John's job at Wheaton College would be over.


3. Radiation would be complete.


All three of those things have happened this week. At this moment Bill and Mary are on their way home to Sao Paulo, Brazil. We all felt a bit mixed about their going. It is hard to say good-bye after a 3-month stay in which so many peaks and valleys have been shared. And yet, we all felt the assurance of the Lord that this was the right time. Please keep us in your prayers as we adjust to being a family of four again.

Many of you are surprised, I'm sure, to hear about the end of John's work at Wheaton. The College was gracious in their handling of John's disability benefits, and yet the allotted hours did come to an end. Lord willing, we will receive 60% of John's income through Long Term Disability. We will have the same health insurance for 30 months. We have felt cared for... and sad... and loved... and scared... and supported... and lonely. If you would like to read John's thoughts on leaving Wheaton after 21 years of employment, you can read his latest post at http://johnfawcett.blogspot.com/2008/02/time-to-update.html.

PRINCESS PARTY: NO BOYS ALLOWED

Tuesday, February 12th is Charlotte's 5th birthday.

We had a Princess Tea Party for her yesterday.

John was the King and crowned the princess before lunch. I was the Queen and also played a herald on my trumpet. Charlotte told us later that receiving her crown was scary.

Charlotte and I had a lot of fun planning it. We went to resale shops and bought cheap old jewelry for the princesses to try. Charlotte picked out $.50"stemware" for the Princess Punch. We got pink feather boas, glittery scarves and plastic rings.

Princess Gillian looking over the jewels.

Charlotte's room was transformed into a royal dressing room complete with 12 pairs of shoes, 4 wands, 15 dresses, 6 hand bags and 4 shawls!

Princess Gillian enjoying her tea.

I have never been in a room with so many lovely princesses. The girls were a true delight. I could tell they felt loved and honored as they sipped their tea, powdered their noses and received manicures.

Princesses Grace and Annalise

Princess Emily and Queen Sally giving a manicure.

Princess Madeleine Serving Tea

Princess Annalise Applying Make-Up

Charlotte said she LOVED it. She especially loved the gifts, she said. She also liked the canopy over the table. When she saw the tea tables she beamed, "Wow! A party is a PARTY!"

The Princess Tea Table

Princess Linea

Princess Caitlyn

Charlotte with my Mom who made the sandwiches for the adults.

Mimi and Charlotte showing off the lovely tea sandwiches Mimi made.

Charlotte chose the menu and Mimi made the tea treats. Turkey butterflies with red pepper, grapes, egg salad stars, cheese on blueberry bread, red and green apples, carrots with ranch dressing, cinammin toast.

Puppet Show: The Paper Bag Princess

Homemade Ice Cream

Golden Layer Lemon Curd Cake with FIVE candles! Make a wish!

Happy Birthday Princess Charlotte! We love you! King and Queen (Daddy and Mommy)

(Considering all the drama described in the next post, you can see why planning and doing this party was a welcome distraction for me!)