Another collision and a night in the ER

What a weekend we just had. Danny fell on Friday night and injured his leg - but we didn't notice the swelling, redness and warmth of the injury until Saturday night as it became increasingly more painful for him to walk on. We were concerned about a blood clot as those are some of the symptoms and his doctor said he needed to go to the ER and get an x-ray right away.

Six hours later, at 3:30 a.m., we crawled home and into bed. To put it in the words of Matt, "So, you have a bruise?" haha yep, a bruise. We spent 6 hours in the ER for a bruise. Which, don't get me wrong, I am thankful for. I am glad there was no fracture or deep vein thrombosis. I just have to remind my husband that, in the words of the nurse at the hospital, Saturday night out in the ER does NOT count as a date!

So, we grabbed a few hours of sleep, and got up to some hungry children. Danny and I decided to go out and get subs for everyone for lunch. On the way home, we got in another accident. We were absolutely incredulous - I couldn't believe that I was in two accidents in a ten day period! This one was worse (for me). We were hit from behind by a car, who was then hit behind by a truck and pushed into us again, so we had two definite impacts. I must say that getting hit from behind was far worse and more painful than hitting someone head on.

So, let's take a count here. My van is in the shop being repaired. Matt's car has been broken down in the driveway for a week and he is driving a borrowed vehicle. Danny's Pilot now needs to go in the shop for repairs. We had vehicle misfortunes in Florida...

Honestly, I have to admit that I am very nervous about driving. I have some carpools to drive this week, and I am just not sure how that will go. I am going to have to work this through and learn to trust the Lord in all of my ways. I know that nothing happens outside of His sovereign will. We will persevere and learn to drive again!!!

Van Collision

This is the result of a collision that the kids and I were in last Thursday. We were on our way home from writing class and a young, teenage driver cut in front of me and then slammed on his brakes. (we have later come to find out that even though this wasn't my "fault", it is my fault!! Because I hit HIM, it is my fault, regardless of the circumstances. ) Other than the insurance ramifications, I don't really care whose "fault" it was - it was not an experience I want to repeat!

God was so good though - within 10 seconds of the crash, two policemen (who were right there at the time of the crash) were at our window checking on us, telling me they had already called the tow truck, and telling me what to do next. I felt completely helpless and would not have known what to do if they hadn't been right there. I also was driving a carpool so I had another child with me - NOT a fun call to make - "by the way, I have your child and we have just been in an accident"!! I called Danny, and he made that call for me...

In the end, the kids thought it was a fun adventure!! Crashing, riding in the tow truck to Starbucks where they got a special drink , all the attention from the police, and getting to miss their next class!! (we were on our way to art)

We are currently without a vehicle and hoping to line up a rental for me to drive. The van had a lot of damage but was not totalled, as we originally thought.

Thank you, Lord, for protecting us!!!

Florida vacation 2009

January 1st, 2009, we left for Florida!! It turned out to be one of the FUNNEST vacations we ever had, and we did NOT want to come back to the dreary, wintery, cold weather in Maryland after all the sunshine and palm trees... Here are some of the highlights:

Jacob at Downtown Disney with a lovely skeleton...

Ryan speeding on a go-kart in Old Town

Another Downtown Disney shot - they had the most amazing Lego creations!

The whole family plus Sherry, Matt's lovely girlfriend, at Epcot! Matt and Sherry were with us on the trip for the first five days - we had an absolutely wonderful time with both of them and we were so sad when they left... they both had to get back to work - boo hoo...

Ryan taking a picture of him and Sherry with his new camera!!

One of the highlights was a trip to the Kennedy Space Center

The view out to the back of the property we stayed at - it was very beautiful and peaceful, except for the alligator that came out of the water right behind the house...

Our last night there, with a soak in the hot tub...

At Medieval Times, Hannah was thrown one of the carnations by this knight, and so of course, we had to get a picture of them together. Talk about feeling like a princess...

Hannah with her flower

Thank you, Daniel, for all your work to plan, pay for, and execute such a fun time for all of us. The break was greatly appreciated, and we made memories that will certainly last a lifetime.

Temporarily gone, but hopefully not forgotten!!

So much has been going on in our lives these last months, that getting to post something on my blog was, unfortunately, last on the list of priorities... we have had a Christmas Tea for the PC ladies, Christmas shopping, construction on our home, leak repairs, more Christmas shopping, a night at Ford's Theatre to see Christmas Carol, baking, constructing Gingerbread houses, a night at Olney Theatre to see Peter Pan, a wonderful Christmas Eve service, more Christmas shopping, tile installation in our kitchen, Christmas Day, a New Year's Eve celebration, a fantastic vacation to Florida, Christmas returns, and the arrival of my parents for several months.

Amidst that, we have had speeding tickets (hmhm, ahhh, Danny that is), lost phones, running over a dog (soo sad!), pulled teeth, doctor's appointments, movie nights, family nights, college decisions, grieving friends, broken down cars, stressful days, and many days of laughter and love.

I sincerely hope to get back on track with blogging and not lose the recording of our family happenings to look back upon some day!! Thank you to all of you who bore with me patiently - I will most certainly try to be more faithful in the future!!

Happy 11th Birthday to My Girl

Happy 11th Birthday my dear Hannah! I am so exceedingly blessed to have you as my daughter! When God chose to give me just one daughter, He picked the absolutely perfect one for me! I have had SO MUCH JOY in my life as a result of your personality - you are perpetually cheerful, very funny, full of energy and optimism, you are kind and compassionate to everyone. You love the Lord and that is very apparent in your humility and grief over your sin. You are responsive to your parents, you are teachable, you are bright, you are simply one of God's most wonderful creations.

Dad and I love you far more than you will ever know... We have loved you, cared for you, prayed for you, and held you as one of the most precious of all the gifts that God gave us. We love you gently, tenderly, and long to guard you all of our days from any evil or harm or sadness. We know that these days will come to you, but we know that your trust in the Lord will sustain you all the days of your life. His love will guide you, comfort you, and be your greatest joy. We entrust you to Him with every breath you take.

Hannah as a sweet happy baby!

Hannah and Daddy! Oh, these days seem so long ago...


Ever since Hannah's first birthday, Danny has give her a rose for each year. This picture is obviously her second birthday. I LOVE this picture...

Hannah at three as a princess!! Well, she still is a princess to us, and always will be.

Pretty in pink!!

One thing Hannah has a passion for is animals - she loves Ginger, our dog, and especially loves her bunny! She was deeply grieved last February when she lost her first bunny, but now she loves to care for her new bunny Ella! She has been hinting at either breeding her bunny or getting another one, but Dad is a hard sell on either one...

Hannah at eight, with her eight roses.

Hannah with her first bunny Marshmallow.

Hannah at nine

Hannah and I on her tenth birthday.

Hannah, I cherish the memories I have had with you. Your days as my little girl are slipping through my fingers, and you are growing up right before my eyes!! Like I tell you every day "Just stop it!" haha If only you could... I will always see you as my little girl, but I am thoroughly enjoying the friendship that is blossoming between us as you grow up. You always make me laugh (especially at the grocery store, and anywhere for that matter!!), and you are always encouraging me. I have to say that you are the biggest encourager in my life! You always see the bright side of things, and you always find positive things to say to me when I least deserve it. Your love is completely unconditional, and so many days I feel I don't deserve to have you for my daughter.

May this next year be a full and happy one for you - may you find new joys, new friendships, new ways to nurture all the gifts that God has given you.

I love you Hannah Elizabeth!!!

Happy 11th Birthday

Happy Anniversary Danny...

My wonderful husband - I will never forget the day that you asked me to be your wife. Your proposal at the Kennedy Center absolutely took my breath away - I couldn't believe it was true - I was going to be with you for the rest of my life! You were the one I had always dreamed of, the one I had waited for so long... You won my heart with your kind and gentle ways, the way that you served me, the way you pursued me, your compassionate, sensitive heart, and let's not forget about your beautiful blue eyes!! I knew I wanted to be your wife, and I knew I wanted YOU to be the father of my children...
Our wedding day was a fairy tale come true. I was the princess, you were my prince. I will never forget coming down the aisle and starting to tremble uncontrollably as my Dad comforted me with his firm grip, and then seeing nobody but you at the end of that aisle. The tears were flowing down your cheeks before I even took one step, and by the time I got to you, there was nobody else in that room. It was just you and me, and I was no longer nervous about being the center of everyone's stares.


The song you sang for me completely melted my heart, and I will NEVER forget it... I can't believe still that you actually got through it. I cherish that moment forever. Then there was the moment that we leaned toward each other for our first kiss - not just as husband and wife - but our first kiss ever. It was magical. The world disappeared again, and it was just you and me. Thank you for leading us to that point where we were able to come before God, having walked out our relationship in complete purity. That first kiss felt like the blessings of a thousand lifetimes were upon me.


And then, when we walked to the back of the aisle, and your brother said "welcome to the family" I once again couldn't believe that we had actually done it! You had actually married me! You didn't find a reason to get out of it! haha

Our first dance was also completely magical. Again, I felt there was nobody in the world but you and me... what an amazing feeling, being so in love with my handsome prince and dancing with him in my beautiful dress... I wish I could re-live that day over and over...


Thank you for many years of absolute joy, passion and romance. You have been a faithful, kind, serving, gentle husband. You have loved me when I did not deserve it, you have served me when you didn't feel like it, you have always put me first above yourself. God blessed me beyond measure the day he made you my husband...

May we have many many more years of love, romance, happiness and passion. May our marriage and lives glorify God continually, and may we never take each other for granted. I love you so much, my dear darling Daniel...

Fall Happenings

It has been a long time since I have posted anything - life for the Dustins has been very full and busy. School is taking up most of my day this year and so there is very little time left for anything extra. We have managed to squeeze in some fun fall memories though! These were the kids costumes this year - Ryan as Peter, High King of Narnia, Hannah is a Renaissance lady, and Jacob, of course, is a very handsome Indiana Jones!

I am not sure who the big hairy guy is in the back...

We managed to carve some pumpkins this year as well.



"The leaves crunch under my feet as I walk, the wind blows ever so elegantly. The leaves rustle in the wind after turning into that reddish-orange color. The steady fall of Autumn leaves, falling to the ground. It's all just so beautiful". This is what Hannah wrote as a description of fall... she summed it up so well.

A couple weeks ago Danny took the boys on a camping trip for the weekend and Hannah and I stayed home and did some home-projects, decorated for fall, and went to hear Carolyn Mahaney's message on beauty. We watched HOURS of Jane Austen movies while we crunched on a huge bag of Cheetos. We had a lovely tea, and thoroughly enjoyed our "Jane Austen, home-decorating, beauty" weekend!!! This is a tradition now in the Dustin family - this being the second year in a row we have done this - boys go camping, girls stay home. It is really a tradition we hope to continue forever, even with in-laws and grandchildren.

Hannah and I went to Butlers Orchard and gathered pumpkins.

Meanwhile, the boys were at their campsite battling spiders, cold weather, rain, and rubber beds. Let's just say that I am glad that this is a "boy only" weekend...

This year Danny bought a special game to play in the cabin if it rained. Let's just say they played HOURS of this new game!!

Happy Fall everyone!!!