Awesome love!

After spending time away from the girls last week, it gave me an appreciation of how much I really love and care for them. I miss their stories and their action around the house. It fills my heart to know that others also enjoy their company as well. I love hearing how much other adults love my girls. They are such a blessing to others around them.

I am so thankful that they are lovers of God and that He is deep inside their hearts. I pray throughout time that they never lose that love.

There have always been challenges in my life and this week will certainly be no different for me. I have much to do and little time to get it all in. The bulletin must be done by Thursday, there is also the orthopedic surgeon to be seen about Chris' knee, there are normal household things to be done and by friday night I have to be ready to present instruction in prayer at the church. Doesn't seem like much but my mind is just in a fog at the moment.

Yesterday, I think I learned something from the Sunday School class. I walked away knowing that I am not up to standards when it comes to my time spent at prayer and study, but that God still loves me anyway, I just have to keep at things every day.

My brother did call me and he is doing well in the wilds and is still safe. Also my grandpa is doing much better. No more of the ICU experiences for now, just healing.

Love you all and have a great day!

Happenings

Well, there has certainly been some big surprises in my life lately. My grandpa, who is near and dear to my heart, is back in ICU right now w/a small bowel obstruction and urinary tract infection after his fall. If that is the worst of things, then I'm happy for that. I know that after things have cleared up all will be ok no matter what happens. I am learning everyday how to deal with so many new things in life.

I can't say I am not concerned, because I am. I am also concerned about my girls who are away at camp. I'm sure they are having a blast! Then there is my husband who has to see the orthopedic surgeon next week because of his knee pain. I know that all things will be taken care of because God is faithful in all things just that we must believe it and confess exactly what we want from our mouths!

Anyway, a little bit more info from this side of things here today.

God Bless and love you all

Love and Mercy

Through this weekend, I have discovered that God has so much love and mercy for me. Not just me alone, but everyone. I truly am blessed when I think that I am in the midst of all life's greatest trials. I have suffered nothing compared to most in other countries. I don't know or understand what it is like to have literally nothing to clothe yourself or to eat or have clean water to drink or bathe.

I am truly blessed to have a God who cares so much for me that he uses others to help me out of times of despair in life. There is so much running through my head right now, all having to do w/things that can go wrong. I am trying to remember that it all will not make a bit of difference if I have so much 'stuff'. My true love and life comes from the Heavenly Father who loves and cares so much for each and every one of us.

Managing to get the girls off to church camp was pretty fun. Both for them and me. I was anxiously watching them pack and prepare everything for departure realizing that they are growing up so fast and that there will be so many changes coming in life over the next few years. I don't know if I am looking forward to it or now but, it will happen ready, or not!

The remainder of this week will be spent at home with one child who has his nose buried in his GameBoy. What an invention that is! Anyway, much in life is filled w/anticipation and anxiety. I just can't let the worst of it get to me at all. So, it is w/great joy that I am alive today and have God's greatest gifts of love and mercy!

Bless you all

Oh my!

Wow, I know it has been a couple of days. To update on how things are going here. I have started going to the gym each morning at 6 am. Wow! I am surprised I can even function at that hour let alone exercise. I'm glad to have some friends who will be supporters for this new endeavor. I am sore but think I am making some progress. Weight loss will be one of the many goals for this time frame. I need to be in better shape and hopefully lose weight as a benefit.

Chris has had an MRI on his leg and we should get the results sometime next week. Hopefully it will be nothing big. Been praying hard for a big healing, who knows what it will be. It is all in the hands of God now.

Got a call the other day about my 94 yr old grandpa. Seems he was on a roof and managed to fall through it and broke 3 ribs. He will be in the hospital for a couple of days to monitor for pneumonia. Have been waiting to hear any more news about him. He needs to be moved out of ICU to be able to be released home. I have been expecting things for a while and it makes me sad but yet it gives me some way right now of knowing that he certainly is more alive than anything else...That's a good thing!

The girls will be gone to Church camp next week. They are looking forward to a good time away from their brother. I'm sure that they will have an absolute blast! Joshua is looking forward to some time by himself in the house. He will probably just be bored because there won't be another kid around here at night or during the day for him to talk to other than the adults in his life - his parents!

My brother will be out in the wilds of Alaska for 6 weeks doing some field work for his job. Have been praying that he be safe from all the animals out there. Black bear and moose especially. They will be around where he is going to - miles and miles from civilization. I think that he will have some others around for company, but the wilderness is nice.

Anyway, things this week have been crazy.

Love always and God's Blessings to you all.

Precious moments

There are so many times of life when we want things to go a certain way. Well, lately I have been doing a lot of talking about how things will change for me over the course of the next couple 3 or 4 years. I didn't think I would begin to realize just how much time has come and gone for me.



As we left our oldest at the volleyball seminar (her absolute passion in life right now), I was beginning to think of how things would really change for me. I didn't want to admit to myself how much I would really miss her around. The house seems a little more empty than normal w/out her hanging around reading, texting and just being a normal teenager. I love this girl w/all my heart from the day she was born until long into the future. I see that she will be always on the lookout for things to make her life more complete and fulfilling. She wants to be a grown up individual. Oh, how I wish that many days she were still just that small toddler who would climb into the full laundry basket of toys and throw each and every one of them out before making herself completely at home just sitting in the empty basket and we all had a really good laugh.




Then, I get the call from a friend about a little 2 year old. My heart sank as I waited in anticipation to only find out that someone had lost the most precious thing in their life - their own daughter. The memories that were made in that short time of life and the many things that will be missed because of something as painful as death! I wasn't asking to feel the way I do, but I realize now that only God has the most perfect timing in everything he does. I know we must all struggle w/loss on some level, but there can be nothing more permanently separating than that. How lucky I am to be able, at this moment of time, to share in joys and sorrows and adventures w/my own children. Because who knows what tomorrow holds. Only God has that future in store for each and every one of us.


Peace and blessings,

Many times

I have much to say at moments in my life. Sometimes I just don't know what to say or do about things going on every day. The girls are having a load of fun playing games w/their new friend upstairs and the dog wants to be in on their play time too. What a kid she can be.



Katharine, the oldest, is growing so fast that I can't possibly keep up w/her from day to day. Today she wants to play volleyball and impress the coach, tomorrow it is play time at the pool w/her friends and forgetting that she already had plans. Jessica is just a typical teen acting too much like myself and sometimes I really just want to pass out the information and hope that she is able to take it all in w/out an attitude.



Joshua is just a boy who doesn't 'think' that he has many other things to do in the day other than watch TV and play his gameboy-pokemon. I guess they all have their things. Then we are off the Evansville on Wednesday to take the oldest to Volleyball Camp. I sincerely hope that she comes back a much better player and has learned so much that she blows them all away w/her talent. I know how much she loves the game and is very involved in all things volleyball.



Chris, the hubby, is watching his usual dose of Monday night wresting. I am not a guy and I truly don't understand any of the fascination w/this show that is much like a modern-day men's soap-opera. Oh well, at least he has something to keep him occupied.



Being in such a small town is so nice when you can go sit on your front porch and not have to worry about who will walk by and say hello. You can actually just know who those neighbors are and how things are going in the community. Yes, every place has it's faults but this is so nice here. Anyway, the times are nice and I am appreciating even the most humid of moments of weather (w/out the sunshine at every last turn!).



God Bless and have a great day!

Happy 4th!

Hey, happy 4th of July everyone. Today has been a different day. First time that I can remember that it has rained on a day of celebration like today. Have spent most of the last two days preping strawberries for Jam, whole frozen, pies, shortcake, sorbet and eating whole. Found a really good deal at the local store and just couldn't pass it up.

The dog has been an unusual bunch of whininess because we have had some extra company today w/the kids friends over playing. Feeling like a real domestic goddess this weekend. I think I have spent all waking moments in the kitchen cleaning, cooking and cleaning again. Even made some home-made chicken dumplings for supper tonight. Have been having fun overall.

The girls are busy watching videos of the camp they will be attending at the end of this month. Josh is trying to have his first-ever sleepover at the neighbors house and I am just left contemplating my dog! LOL

I have contemplated many things in my life and wonder what is in store for me. But, find myself saying that if I really knew what was going to happen, I probably wouldn't necessarily want to face it. Just want my husband to be happy in what he does and how he does it. If that means he goes further in his career, then that is where he will go. If not, then what? Well.....we might just sit a while on that one.

Can't wait until company comes in late August. This will be interesting. Just wish that I could have my dreadfully-awful bathroom remodeled! It will happen sometime in the future, I know that it will. Maybe my company will do other things around the house that need to be done, but I want them to enjoy their visit, not think they are coming only to do my stuff that needs to be done. I know that my dad won't mind, but I do. I feel as though when company comes they come to visit, not to work!

Keep safe and have a great time watching the firework!

Times of refreshing

Today was one of those days when you sit back and realize that life is so chaotic that we can't control it at all, even though we try to. There is much to be said about being a stay-at-home mom when the ones that you are taking care of are growing up too fast.

So fast that, even the dog has realized when things aren't as they should be. I have come the relvelation that time is too precious and I need to make more of an effort to be better fit for myself and to be around longer. I need to make the ardous change of actually getting out of bed in the morning and taking that walk around the block w/the dog who whines at the site of her leash! What a treat to have someone appreciate you that much. Sometimes her love is almost better than anyone elses. But, I do love everyone of my family members, with the exception of my husband who I love differently, equally.

The kids get into fighting over nothing and I see that it becomes a problem for those involved. They have to learn and grow with guidance. I am thankful that I have sense enough to have a loving attitude (most of the time) in dealing with these issues.

I am thankful for the many moments that I can sit and talk with friends and just share a piece of myself and who I am. I try not to be mis-understood, but it does happen and I must ask for forgiveness because my mouth will sometimes just speak louder than I intend and keep repeating myself. I don't like that about myself one bit and need to work on that.

I keep praying that God will use me and my talents in some really big way, but I must also have faith to believe that even though I don't see it immediately, there is something in each and every one of us that is special to Him.

There are times in my life that I just want something 'normal' from my husband's job. I realize that it probably will not be for quite some time and hasn't been for the last 14 yrs. So, I live with it until he decides that he needs to change something about it. I will be supportive of him in all that he does because he is my husband and I believe all marriages need nothing by work, love, time shared and moments of uninterrupted dates!

For today I will try to work on finding my time for devotions. This is where I will find my time of refreshing! Love and Grace to you all....