~Three of the sisters gather eggs at Grandma's. They love this chore!~
~These pictures were taken here last fall, when the little girls and our son were finally given the O.K. by the courts in California to re-locate here to our son's legal residence, Washington. We had a quick visit and rejoiced , and then they were off...over the mountains , 6 hours away, to live with our youngest son and his wife on 10 acres in Eastern Washington, with horses, sheep, lambs, dogs, cats, kittens, and a school in which they are not only thriving, but flourishing. It is amazing what a stable home life with WHOLESOME activities and a calm routine can do for a child. The little girls were all showing physical signs of severe stress. Eczema, hair loss, emotional extremes, asthma and just plain fatigue. All of these problems have cleared up and are gone!
~I have always taken for granted that most parents will do what is best for their children and loved ones....and that personal desires of parents would take into account the well being of little children God has blessed them with. That a parent would venture forth into a life not only completely indifferent to what is best for their children, but embrace with abandon a life style that is , in the kindest words I can muster...dangerous to children physically and morally...and I mean that in every sense of the words, is beyond my comprehension....but frighteningly common.
~Through our son's battle, nay...war, to save his daughters I have come to hear many, many stories resembling ours. And I am concerned that no matter how much legislation and money thrown at the problems...there is an epidemic of derelict parents willing to allow little ones to suffer for their ( parents ) lack of real love and care. I suppose there always have been parents like this, hence foster care , orphanages, abuse and abortion. CPS seems to be unable to adequately deal with known and provable cases, let alone stop horrible cases of abuse until it is too late...but really, they must also be overwhelmed and demoralized by a court and legal system that will willingly return children to such parents.I don't have answers, only a million more questions I won't ponder here. Our only hope has been to take our petitions to God and rely on the comfort He and our family and friends have given.. thank-you all so very, very much for your well wishes and prayers!

~She lost a tooth! Tonight she ( above ) called us to tell us she lost another tooth! The little girls and Aunt Breezy built fairy houses out of sticks, leaves, rocks, etc.,, to see if they can tempt a fairy to move in and then maybe they will see one! I think they are planning on putting the tooth in the fairy house for the tooth fairy ! But the tooth will not be put out for the tooth fairy until their Daddy comes home tomorrow and sees the tooth!
~The little girls played outside today , and this one went with her Uncle on his horse shoeing rounds. She LOVES horses! When they called tonight they were setting up the Monopoly board to play a long, long game with Uncle Daniel and Aunt Breezy. I could hear them giggling in the background.
~
The day in court ?Well, things went O.K. It took ALL day, the judge had to retire to his chambers to read a heap of stuff and so we did not find out until 5:00 how things went. For awhile my heart had sunk very low when our son called before noon to recount the hearing thus far.....however, this judge really, really read through the files. Guess what...many do NOT! Although the judge did not do as I in my wisdom would have wished, things went mostly in favor of our son, which means in favor of the girls.The sisters are safe for now. Our son needs to go back to court the end of next month. So, we'll see. You know, real life court room dramas are not fun . But throughout the day I reminded myself God is in control, and my trust is in Him..even if I cry and fret every so often about this trust thing.
~Thank-you all so very much for your prayers and well-wishes for the little girls!~
"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes."Psalm 37:7 " I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be continually in my mouth." Psalm 34:1