After a very productive first year of homeschooling, we were all ready for an extended break over the summer. We kicked everything off with cleaning out closets and gathering items for our neighborhood’s annual yard sale. We used this as a time to clear out some clutter and raise funds for Shafer’s medical account. The kids got involved and wanted to help raise even more money, so they baked some homemade goodies and made some fresh squeezed lemonade. Shafer especially had lots of fun as he greeted customers, delivered product, and thanked them for their business. It was such a blessing to watch him hand out prayer cards and ask numerous people to “Please pray for me!”

We enjoyed a wonderful week on Monteagle Mountain at our friend’s beautiful lake home. This has become our annual getaway with my mom, dad, brother, and his family for a time of relaxing to include fishing, canoeing, grilling out, swimming, hiking, playing lots of games, and sitting by the fire eating s’mores till the early morning hours.

Next, we headed to Atlanta to the Mark Price Basketball Camp for Shayli and Sharayah to improve their shooting. The girls learned a lot and were so excited to meet an NBA All-Star and sit under his teachings. Their skills certainly improved while they met many new friends and had lots of fun! The week ended on a hard note as Shafer had to be hospitalized at Emory University Children’s Hospital at Egleston. The Lord provided great friends to care for our other four children while we were with Shafer for three days as he received treatment for another severe UTI.

Our next destination was Nashville for Shafer’s monthly labs and clinic visit. Labs confirmed that his kidney function is now down to approximately 50%, due to the repeated urinary tract infections. It is so vitally important for us to try and figure out what is causing the reoccurring infections in order for his kidney function to improve.