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Today was such an exciting day, a couple of months ago T-Man wrote a letter to President Bush after he had visited our state. We had actually seen him and what an eventful day that was. Well, today in the mail he received a package from the White House. In this package was a letter addressed to T-Man, thanking him for the letter he wrote and encouraging him to continue learning more about current events and past history of our blessed country. Also, he encouraged T-Man check out the White House web site for children to learn more about our goverment. There was also a picture of President Bush boarding Marine One ( his helicopter). T-Man was so excited. I am going to place this letter and picture in a frame, this is such a positive for him. He is a young boy that struggles with self-esteem issues, and this is just a highlight for his week! |
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Thank You all so much for all your prayers and kind words inregards to my dad and our family! Several of you mentioned that there is a cure and that is with Jesus. It is when I am in the middle of the storm that I forget those simple things. I sure did need to be reminded of the "Great Physician". It is so true! I do know that dad is so worried and Saturday he told me he was plain MAD! All I could do was give him a hug. My sis and I try to remind him that "each day is a blessing". Though, we remind each other too that we are not living in dad shoes. Though, it sure feels like it! My kids could sense the emotions of whats been going on! So, I sat down with them and told them that "Papa's" cancer was back. They were upset and wanted to pray right away, they know what can happen with cancer patients. We are VERY up front with them. I'll never forget the first time when T-Man asked if Papa would die, my first response was to say "oh no" but, I told the truth and I think at that moment is when I faced my own reality of this! The positive is I know where dad is going!
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Well, we sat down together as a family my dad,mom,sis,my hubby and myself. My brother in law was away on a business trip. This is how we deal with issues in our family. The doctor is wanting my dad to wait 3 months and retest his levels. Dad's are low enough that a body scan would not pick up any "new" cancer spots. In 3 months if his levels peak again then he will take a drug that would lower testosterum(sp) which this type of cancer feeds on. The doctor did say that this is NOT a "cureable" type of cancer and prostrate cancer "normally" goes to the bones,especially the legs. The doctor did say that some men even though they've gone through prostrate surgery will have higher PSA levels. Well, the sad part of all this is my dad had a "best" friend that went through this same type of cancer and dad was with him from beginning to the end of his cancer journey. My dad is now thinking on that and also I know in his mind he is dwelling and focusing on the statement of right now there is no "CURE". I am at peace with what the doctor has shared with us. He did tell my dad that if he wanted to start the drug now he could. But, in his opinion he would like to see dad wait 3 mnths,to see if his counts rise or maintain. Well, thank you for the prayers. I sure have felt them the past few days. |
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I look at this man and see a tower of strength, someone that has been through so much in his life time. As a young boy he was passed around from family member to family member. Having such a dictator as a father. Even though he was not raised in a christian home this man saw that there was more to life than anger, bitterness and drinking, that was displayed in his home there was the cross where he could lay his burdens. He knew faith was the answer. Well today the cross and his faith is going to get him through life's hardships one more time. This man is my father. The man that has always showed me what dedication to "FAITH,FAMILY,FRIENDS" and determination can do for you. A year ago around Thanksgiving my dad was diagnosed with cancer, after going through surgery and radiation treatments and a year of blood test we thought we were in the clear. Well, last month his level were elavated, so he was to test in 1 month well today we got the call that his levels went up 3 pts again. Tomorrow he sees his doctor.
I am a worrier, and I know that I should not be but, honestly I am selfish and I want my "daddy" to be here always. I want my kids to have "PAPA". You ALWAYS think that life's issues happen to everyone else, BUT when it comes time to have to fight the battle I find how unprepared I really am. This is when I realize how much I struggle with TRUSTING GOD and LEAVING it all at the cross! |
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Most of us look forward to Spring! I know I do. So today I awoke thinking OH YEAH SPRING......ya right, today I awake to sleet, snow,37 degrees and wind gust of 15-20. Just last week we had 80 degrees and tornados. WEIRD! Most of the schools in our area are on Spring Break. Yesterday at church I heard SO many moms complaining about their kids being out of school and the comment that gets to me is"What am I going to do with these kids all week?" I thought how sad. I wanted to say.... "how about sitting with your kids and letting them know what a blessing they are, gee golly have converstion ect.... Why do so many parents look at God's children as a burden? |
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I have made some changes and I think that the kiddos are really enjoying it! I use to "homeschool" to meet my needs. Weird I know. God has been working on my heart and has really made me realize HOW important it is to work with my kids instead of against. One night after "Bubbie17mnths" had a complete melt down "AGAIN", I went to God and I prayed, then I found myself praying over Bubbie, and out of my mouth came..."God help me to be the mommy that Bubbie needs, help me to see what he is needing in his world not mine". Those words hit me HARD. After that I went to T-Mans room and Boo's and prayed the same thing. I always thought that I was a really involved and focused homeschooling mom. God has really pointed out some areas that I NEED TO WORK ON! Today, at breakfast the kids asked if they could fix the eggs and hashbrowns my first thought was OH THE MESS, out of my mouth came "SURE". Then when I saw the kitchen instead of going "the mess", I waited until after we ate and I said "hey lets work together to get breakfast cleaned up".
During breakfast I asked the kiddos what they really liked that I did during school, it all came back to, me reading to them and asking questions. Again that takes extra time and I know that, that is one area that God is stretching me in, slowing down and giving that extra energy to the kids. What is AMAZING but I know that it is God's doing is that I have been very drawn to the history curriculim "Beautiful Feet". It will take my time but, that is what my kiddos need. I have see a softening in my childrens faces when, I step back and focus on the moments for teaching. For Bubbie, well I have been stoping what I'm doing to accknowledge his needs instead of him always hearing "just a minute". God is good and boy does he know how to stretch this mommy. |
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Lately there are been so many things happening in my life that has truly caused me to be so angry with God. I have been SO hurt by friends, circumstances with people and questionable behavior by those in leadership within the church. I do feel that I have turned my back on church and with that God. It is VERY hard for me to forgive when I have REALLY been hurt, that is a contionus area of work in my life. I must admit that I can see God working on me! For instance... my hubby and I have been trying to decide what to do for a vacation this year. This will be the first year in 6 years that T-man10 has not played baseball. So we actually have a free summer. I would like to take a few many trips through out the summer but, hubby wants to participate in a "Family Camp" through our church. It is located in Colorado. I told him I thought it was not a good idea and truly the only reason I had for NOT wanting to go was the cost. One afternoon I put down on paper what it would cost us to do our "little trips" vs our "Family Camp" and it was about the same. Then I told him I didn't think we could afford it and lo and behold we got back a large sum on our taxes, then I said "that I felt we needed to pay off some of our debt. Well, the money we received would pay off one debt and still allow us to attend camp. Finally, I asked hubby why he truly wanted us to go and he explained that as a kid, his family was so poor that they never took any trips, in fact after we were married we went to Oregon and that was his first out of state trip and airplane ride. I knew of his up bringing. He wants to truly give our children an opportunity that he never had. He wants us all to just get away. He left me with the decission, he told me that he presented what he wanted for us and there was not much more to say. I knew that I was really arguing with God, not necessarily hubby. I was complaining about all the hurts that had taken place within a few weeks time period. I had to realize that even though I had been hurt by others, my family should not have to suffer because of it and truly I was hurting my family. I told hubby what I had been learning through this and I wanted to honor him(hubby) by doing what he wanted for the family. I told him that I would REALLY try to have a positive attitude with this trip. I also told him that I was really happy that he wanted to provide a summer of memories for our children. With my lion personality I know that God has been working overtime with me! more to come........ |
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This momma had a scare last Friday. The kiddos and I did our usual outing to the bookmobile down the street. For those of you who may not know what the bookmobile is it is a large bus that the library converts to a "mini"library. It comes to the grocery store every Friday. Well, dd6(I'm going to refer to her now as BOO) had been having a cough, I was not overly concerned and a clear runny nose " allergies". I had been giving her breathing treatments due to her asthma. We headed home and when we got in the car she started to head home and Boo started coughing so hard that she could not breathe. I was a nervous wreck when she was 6 mnths old we almost lost Boo to an asthma attack. I knew to get home we had to pass through a school zone. I just prayed to God keep my self calm, keep my eyes on the road but, God PLEASE keep the school children on the sidewalks because I have to get home to give BOO a breathing treatment. We got home safe, I got her going on her treatment, it did take a little longer for it to kick in but, she is now fine. Then ds16mnth (aka Bubbie) started a fever Sunday night, for 3 days I could not get it past 103.6 finally Monday evening we took him to the ER due to not responding to us and rapid breathing, he just has a virus and it has to run it course. Today is temp is pretty well normal 100.1. I am amazed at a mother's strength, sleepless nights but, us girls can keep going like the energizer battery. Well,friends I need to go I'll post more when the kiddos are sleeping. Just an FYI I will be referring to the kiddos as ds10 is T-man, dd6 is Boo and ds16mnths is Bubbie. These are there nicknames here at home. |
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FINALLY!!! Yes, I did locate the smell! I had pinpointed it to the fridge. So I pulled out everything wiped down everything and as I was doing this I noticed in the deep corner in a square container this object.....hhhmmm what is that dish. Do I open it or don't I,hhhmmm well from the smell coming from the dish and the gager that I am I decided that this gladware container could and should be thrown away. So I tossed it and lo and behold as it hit the trashcan the lid poped off! UUGG! I discovered a dish of broccoli,cauliflower and carrotts. Honestly, I could not remember when we had this. Well, after all my gagging I RAN the trash out again and cleaned the trash can again. Well, this was one way to get the fridge cleaned!
I will post more later.....sick kiddos
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Okay! Here I am being real! Have you ever smelled something in the house and ABSOLUTLEY could not figure out what it is or WHERE it is? This problem is DRIVING me crazy! I have cleaned out the refridgerator - not there! I have taken out the trash (again) PLUS cleaned the trash can with clorox. I have checked the cupboard where I keep the potatoes - NOPE! Behind the fridge, I have checked the pack porch...... This problem is driving me crazy. What scares me the most is if I do ever find the source .... What will it be? |
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Does anyone have a day like this....... You look at your "to do" list or at least have your goals for the day set in your mind. You start going about the day thinking WOW I have actually gotten 2 or 3 things done before 1pm. Then all of the sudden something happens and there you have it folks the list NEVER gets completed. Sometimes when I am off in my dream land I wonder what life would be like at the end of the day with a complete list. Then the baby cries and as quick as I went to dream land...I am back home to reality. My dear friend and I always joke that we can't wait till the day that our homes are clean like our mothers, smell of beutiful scented candles like our mothers and have clean cars like our mothers. The sad part of that day is that, that means are children are grown. For right now, uncompleted lists, a not so perfect home and a messy car is "PERFECT" for me! |
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Well, I have calmed down and came to the realization that ds will not starve! SHOCKING I KNOW! I'm realizing that he is a lot like his mommy and does not really like a BIG breakfast. He really likes breakfast bars, they are a little expensive, so I have decided to purchase those until I can find a good receipe to make my own. Also, I am going to make different breads....apricot, apple, bannana ect.
He really likes yougurt too, if he only eats that then, I feel like he got something good in him. I am trying dried fruit, he'll eat it but, he doesn't dance to it! He is a good milk drinker too! A friend stated that maybe he is drinking too much milk which might be filling his tummy up to much. Gives me something to think about. I am placing little "samples" on his tray at supper. With every bite we celebrate. Of course ds LOVES the attention.
Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement! It amazes me what I tend to worry about!
Now if I could only get his strong will undercontrol! |
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What to do! I am NOT use to this! My ds10 and dd6 are great eaters, sure there are somethings that dd6 does not like but, both children will try what is placed before them. The problem I am having is with ds16mnths. He hardly will eat meat and veggies are a big hit and miss! I have spoken to our pediatrician he has given me some ideas and one of those ideas was Vienna Sausages(YUCK)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The sodium count is through the roof. Though, I did purchase some last night and today for lunch he did eat 1. I try to make sure that when he does want to eat it is of health value. He is very much a grazer. This drives me crazy. I try to have 3 meals a day with 2 LIGHT snack in between(ds10 is one that we have to watch his weight). Do you think ds is to young to use the rule this is what we are eating, either sit at the table and eat or you must get down? Our meals are not "WEIRD" and I serve small portions. I am at a blank as what to do! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Do you ever have those moments when you just wish God would give you the answer in writing. I am not a very patient person when it comes to waiting for God's timing. Let me explain.......... I have lived in my state and town for ALL my life. My parents and sister(and her family) all live here. We are a very close. It is the same for my husbands family. In fact with my husbands family we all ( sibilings,aunts,uncles great aunts and uncles, cousins, grandfather ect....) we all get together once a month simply for a get together.
The challenge is my husband has been presented with a job change is a different state. It is with a different company. We are trying to decide if we even want to apply for this job. It would be a "no brainer" for us if we did not have children. We are both "shy" when it comes to "new" things. I'm REALLY good at praying for things but, I am not good at leaving it at the cross and waiting for Gods timing. For those of you who have made BIG changes like this how did you know it was God's choice? |
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I decided the other day that I have not mentioned much about our homeschooling days. I try REALLY hard to have a planned out day, but with a ds16mnth old it does have a tendency to change. I do try to do our out loud reading when he is naping in the afternoon. Today we did do something funny. We have been reading and studing our senses: taste,touch,sight,hearing. I have done a couple of activities with each one.
For sight: we drew an eye labeled the parts and colored the iris the color of our eye.
Hearing: I took washable paint and painted their ears and stamped them onto a blank piece of paper. The kids thought this was funny. Then I had them write 2 ways we can take care of our ears and 3 things that they could hear at that moment when it was quite.
Taste: We did the famous taste test blind folded, also the smelling test blinded folded. Today I took food coloring painted their tongue and them stamped it onto a piece of paper and we labeled the tongue area of (sweet,sour,bitter and salty). It went over well except for I made my ds10 gag and I really thought he was going to puke. It turned out really neat,and they really learned the areas well! Well,closing for now ds16mnths is in a GRUMPY mood and so I'm off to put him down! |
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Yesterday was a very sad day!
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We lost ds15mnths pacifier! We have looked everywhere! I decided NOT to replace it! I figured the longer I wait to get him off of it the harder it would be! Well, last night was HARD but we got through it! Today has been okay! I probably wouldn't have been such a meanie but, he is not a talker so I am hoping that this will encourage him to use those skills. Well, I hope that I can remain strong in our decission and not run out and get him a new one when the going gets TOUGH!
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Well DD and DH had a great evening! They both came home with BIG smiles on their faces. DD was so excited that daddy danced with her and she said that daddy looked silly doing the chicken dance. I pray that this is a new beginning for them. It was a joy to see them smile! |
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I'm really excited for dd6 tonight. In fact I have the nervous tummy for her. Tonight, dd and dh are going on a date. Our church is hosting a daddy daughter Valentines night. Oh dd is SO excited. She has chosen her dress ( it actually was the dress she wore for Christmas, it is not Christmas theme). It is a navy velour(sp) on top with a deep berry and navy swirl shinny bottom. Oh she looks so pretty in it. We had to buy dh pants and a shirt, we are REAL casual people and we really do not have dressy clothes. It is funny that the dear Lord placed dd in our life because she loves everything about being a girly girl. It has stretched me tremndously. Then this afternoon my dad brought dd flowers today for her special evening. She was so proud and so appreciative of what her "PaPa" did. I explained that, this how a true gentlman treats a young lady. 2 things that are just amazing me this week is.....
1. DH really struggles with his relationship with dd. She is VERY emotional and at the same time off the chart strong willed. She at times is VERY hard to love. I don't want to say hard to love, it is her choice of behavior that is unacceptable. For instance this week, her and her brother made a bad choice and their discipline was to write a bible verse 10x. She chose to throw a fit, she screamed at me, kicked me, hit me ect........ DH is just beside himself on how to correct this. Anyway, I want tonight to be a night for him to see how much his little girl loves him and for him to see the beyond her choices of behavior.
2. DD is wanting to get baptized and we are also working in the purity ring, on her day of baptizism she will receive a purity ring. So when my dad brought the flowers today it really was a great door that was opened for further discussion. We are also doing the purity ring for ds10, we feel this is equality important girl/boy. I do not want our son to be a stumbling block for a young lady and vs.vs.
I pray tonight will be real connection between dh and dd.
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OOOOOHHHHH the joy of silence, well sort of! DS 15mnths got a hold of the cordless phone, and he is one of the kids that as soon as he is borded he just toss whatever it is that he is playing with. Now you know the rest of the story. The cordless phone now does not work. A. Replace it B. Enjoy the joy of no phone in the house C. Just use the cell phone DH is not going to be pleased. I am responsible because I did let him have it, but it was until I finished what I was doing. In less than 2 mins, phone gone! Well, I guess we'll just talk to DH when he gets home!
Do any of you have "moody" toddlers? DS15mnths just seems to be a moody kid. Not happy unless he has complete undivided attention from someone. |
Hmmmmm what to do?
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Earlier in the week I wrote about my doubting and the lack of trust that I have with God! Well, I feel like a punished puppy running around with my tail between my legs. Last night I went to bed knowing that when I woke it would be pay day, honestly I really wasn't having my normal PANIC attacks. I was more curious than paniced.
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