Kara's on her way to recovery :)! Doctor was pleased with the progress on her healing - even though the tonsils still look HUGE to her mommy :)! She had a sweet, helpful heart today - she wanted to help make ALL of dinner (we even added some chocolate mint pudding that wasn't on the menu :). She also had lots of fun ideas like painting toes :)! And she seems to have acquired a contagious laugh through this ordeal - amazing :)! At lunch today, Jeff would just look at her and she would burst into laughter :)! These are such rewarding parenting moments ;)!

Kara came down with strep throat on Saturday night. Sunday around 1am Jeff took her in to the ER with a 104.4 fever and vomiting blood. The verdict along with the strep was a bleeding tonsil. We go in to see our regular doctor tomorrow to see if more needs to be done about the tonsils. She's feeling much better, but still has her moments of needing lots of love from Mom and Dad. (picture of Kara trying on her winter gear - we're getting ready :)

We had another great night of our Friday Night Outreach this last weekend. We are again SO grateful for the big help our kids have become. Keith and Jacob have been taking turns pairing up to help a friend and playing with Simon (along with jumping in and playing, too). Our lesson this week covered the days of creation. Most of those attending got to come up to the white board and help Jeff draw clues for each day. Everybody loved it when Jeff traced Jesse and filled him in with hair, glasses, . . . to remind us that God made man and each of us :)! Jeff had Jesse hold his own hand when the masterpiece was all done. Everybody had fun with that and wanted to each have their own turn to be traced.

I think we figured out this might have been our first attempt at carving pumpkins! The boys really enjoyed the carving part, but the moms were the brave ones to get our hands in the gunk (they did do quite alot of the scooping of gunk, but not as much actual handling of it ;)!

Fall weather has been very mild around our small corner of Montana. The rest of the state seems to be under snow. We're grateful for a few more days to get use to taking Hazel for walks and doing lots of fetch playing.

Our transition into the world of pets has been spectacular. We did get a note in our door Thursday morning saying, "Please be courteous to your neighbors and don't let your dog bark." We didn't even know she had been barking, but realized while we were gone to church Wednesday night she had barked at the back door constantly. Our neighbor is quite a lab expert, though, and gave us great advice. A friend loaned us a big travel kennel, and Hazel snuggles in there with a blanket, toys, a bone, and (the favorite) Jeff's sweatshirt. (and the kids love to get in, too) She does great with this set up and continues to be a sweet girl with everyone in the family. As you can see, Simon is quite fond of her.

The Orts have now entered the land of pet ownership!!!!!!!! We all went on Saturday and picked out our Hazel at the Animal Shelter. She is a 3 year old chocolate lab and is oh so gentle and sweet. She came home to our house today around lunchtime and enjoyed a snack, a bath, a walk, and much fetch with her new pink and green ball (picked out by Kara). She was thrilled when the boys came home, as were they. More fetch commensed, and she spent most of the afternoon watching the kids play outside. She has found a nice dirty puddle to roll in, so the bath effects are quickly wearing off ;)! The kids are all excited to finally have a pet. Simon is excited from far off, but is a little nervous up close to her. She quickly nuzzled up to Jeff. He had to go out for a few hours this afternoon, and she whined at the door and hopped to see out the window for several minutes. Kara and Simon and I settled her down with lots of loving. We look forward to many days of fun with this new "friend" :)!

Our Friday Night Out event at church had its kickoff this weekend. The Ortlings are such sweet helpers - preparing for the event and jumping right in while we're there. Even Simon has a blast being carted around by some of the girls. It's been neat to see several families from our church and community come to serve with us, too! It was big fun and wonderful to reunite with many friends which we hadn't seen since Camp Promise (some since last Spring's outreaches). Enthusiasm was high and we had a great time! We plan to meet the 17th and 31st of this month, as well. Our times are full of rowdy games, fun crafts, yummy snacks, energetic songs, and interactive Bible lessons. Come join the gang!!!

Turn the Flathead Pink!!! Our close friends the Cormiers had a special mom/grandma go through the challenge of breast cancer last year. We praise the Lord with them that she survived this battle. We joined them this weekend in some kickoff events for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Keith, Jacob, Kara, and their friend Garrett (of the Cormier clan) all turned their hair pink before school on Friday (Kara's pink highlights had faded onto her nap pillow by the time our picture was taken Fri. afternoon). They are still sporting reddish scalps after showers this Saturday morning :)! We were bummed that the BIG pink ribbon we drew on their driveway in sidewalk chalk got washed away by the rain, but the ones drawn with spray paint in their yard have made it through the rain nicely. Much rejoicing as we celebrate this with our friends!!