Following the Falkins: August 2014

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Dog Tales

"Why are you taking a picture of us, Daddy? What could be more normal than a boy reading books about dogs to his dog?"

Monday, August 18, 2014

Everyday when I drop Anna off at gym, one of the things I say to her as she's heading into the team room is "Don't let it beat you"--just a little phrase between the two of us that she understands to mean not to let the high beam, the high bar, a difficult tumbling pass, or whatever it is that she might find challenging that day get the best of her/frustrate her/steal her joy. Today (her first day to return to the gym after Thursday's beam injury), this little phrase definitely took on a whole new level of meaning.

I loved seeing how eager she was to return, not rattled by the events of Thursday. Her unthwarted, passionate spirit reminded me of Eric Liddell's words, "God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure." Gymnastics, (even with a cast) is her haven...her passion...where she feels the pleasure of God within her. And yes, Christina F., she's definitely more determined than ever to show that high beam who's boss!

She came home with a sweet surprise from her teammates!

Her night was also made by a special delivery from her cousin Jenna from Ft. Lauderdale.

She's definitely feeling well loved!

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Toes Above Your Nose

And so it happened this week--I received the dreaded "Your daughter just fell from the high beam" call from the gym on Thursday, and two hours later, Anna was rolling out of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Urgent Care with her first gymnastics team "badge of courage."

The next morning at the orthopedic's office we received the official diagnosis of a "chipped tibia, a hairline fracture in the growth plate of her fibula and a sprained tendon." Six weeks in a hard cast is the plan.

Definitely Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino with extra caramel drizzle worthy in my books!

Anna has enjoyed visits from cousins and gym friends as well as cards and cookies from church friends.

And since the doctor has ordered for her "toes to be above her nose" as much as possible, the movie watching limit has been thrown out the window for the weekend.