HUGE blessings!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So my Buddy plays the cello.  So far he's played a 3/4 size cello and loves it.  Problem is he keeps growing!  :o)  And soon he will need a full size cello.  This has weighed on us greatly.  A few days ago we were at the local music store picking up a new string and of course - we went and looked at the used cellos just to see.  They were $3100+   This is why it's been weighing on us.  I was worried Bobby would be this big 17 year old hunched over a miniature looking cello.  On our way home my bro-in-law called and told me this obscure little music store I'd never heard of was going out of business.  It just so happened that when he told me that I was sitting at a red light - DIRECTLY in front of where the store was!  Coincidence?  I think not.

We went in and I asked about strings, a banjo . . . (they didn't have any - but someday!!!!! I will find one!)  :o), and a few other musical-ish things.  Then on a whim I asked if they had any used full size cellos.  He said he had one but it was pretty beat up and didn't have a bow.  I asked to see it anyway.  When he unzipped the case . . . we were both speechless.  It was beautiful!!!!!!!!  The neck had been repaired at one point - but didn't affect the quality of the instrument.  I later looked online to see if it was a huge deal and several luthier's websites said it didn't matter.  So anyway - I took a deep breath and asked how much.  We both heard him start with a 7 and our hearts sunk thinking he was about to say $700 . . . and then he finished w a 5.  Seriously!  He did!  $75!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And then he went in the back and found a really nice bow he just threw in too.  I can't believe how blessed we were!!!!  We got it home and it has the most beautiful tone too it.  It is amazing!  I looked up the maker and it's not factory made - but luthier made.  A couple days later we went back and my Mom found a hard cello case for $50 (which online used for the same kind is $350).  Now it will be protected in a better case too!  I just wanted to cry I was so relieved and felt so blessed!  Bubba is so happy he has been playing and playing - which we love!  He is really really good!  He doesn't play like a 6th grader that's for sure!  So proud of how hard he works!

Fun Old Summer Pictures . . .

OUCH!!!!!!!!! Seriously!!! OUCH!!!!

So Bubba was so excited when his friends from church called to go play laser tag at the local pizza/bowling place. They were there about 30 minutes when he fell and hit his head on one of those metal railings like they use when you're lined up for a roller coaster or something. It happened so quickly that he didn't have time to put his hands out to break his fall. They immediately brought him home and we went straight to the ER. They did a CAT scan and everything is a-ok. The doctor said: "We checked his brain and nothing was there!" That was the comedic relief we needed - although the doctor was so embarrassed when he realized what he'd said. We all thought it was pretty funny though - even Bobby!

But bless his heart - he does have a concussion and he's still in quite a bit of pain - but he was so brave and such a trooper about the hospital. It's not his favorite place at all. I am so incredibly grateful everything was ok. There aren't words that seem appropriate enough to actually express how deeply I mean that. A lot of worries go through your mind as a parent - and Bobby had a lot of questions on the way there about what might happen that I honestly didn't know what to tell him. Thankfully we didn't have to worry about any of that. He said the CAT scan was a little scary. They wouldn't let me go in with him and it seemed like an eternity for both me and him - but I guess it was only about 10 min. One of his school teachers had recently told the class all kinds of horror stories about when MRI and CAT scans go bad! (Thanks a lot!!) But he made it through just fine! Phewph!

The picture below is while we were on the way to the ER. It's the biggest bump I've ever seen - so if it might make you queasy don't look. I think my Bubba was most upset because he was doing a great job at laser tag and they were going to play a second round and then go to the park and he had to miss all of that. Poor guy! It looks like he'll probably end up with double black eyes as it drains and heals. He looks a lot better today. The area is swollen and tender - but nothing like yesterday - thank goodness!

Who is that masked mammal?!?!?!?

So rumor has it that our school attic houses a little family of raccoons. While I've never seen them personally there is strong evidence they exist. Coming back after summer vacation we noticed considerably less fish in the fish tank and a dead one on the floor with bite marks on it. A quick review of the security cameras showed a mama raccoon sneaking out at night - climbing on top of the fish tank - lifting the lid - scooping up fish and flinging them down to the floor for her babies to eat! All mama's have to feed their babies!!!