Saturday, January 20, 2007 - Update

Good morning! It has been a while, sorry about that.

Spiritual Life: Good! I have been pretty consistent at getting up early and getting to my prayer space. I journal, read and/or pray there. We are focusing on kindness, especially to my children. I can be so short with them. As always, He is my king, I am His servant, and His beloved.

Marriage: Again, good! Our marriage is so sweet now. All the sweeter in that it has not always been this way. God is truly amazing. The video series by Emerson Eggerichs on "Love and Respect" is the most recent thing that has really changed our marriage. Especially for me. It was so FREEING to learn that I can respect Sean, period. I don't have to continually evaluate whether or not he deserves my respect. What a load off!

Sean's business is NOT up and running yet. We're mostly waiting for the web guy. The address is www.emptytombgear.com . There should be a tiny greeting message up soon, but that's all for now.

Sean's work for Valley is going OK. He would like to get out of the service van and back on a regular job as a foreman this year. Service work is not very steady, and often he has to drive to Seattle, ick. There are a couple foreman jobs coming up, so if you would pray for God's will in that, we would appreciate it. Our savings has been drained over the last two+ years, and if he's unemployed for very long we'll be in trouble. God knows.

Violet: Vi is 9, and starting to act like it! She is beginning to really do the emotional roller coaster, especially in the evenings. On one hand, I so empathize with her. I remember being so emotional as a kid. On the other hand... I have no idea how to help her, or discipline her when her attitude gets way out of whack. We have issues with complaining and grumping.

She is taking art lessons from a lady who I just LOVE! She knows the technical things Violet needs to learn, knows about the tools.... Violet is working with markers now. Tina has her doing that to combat some of her perfectionism. You can't erase a marker...so you have to figure out how to fix it. That is very good for Violet. She doesn't like her mistakes.

Jo: My Jo is 8. We still have some episodes with explosive anger, but they are actually MUCH better! He has seen his counselor twice. I really like him so far. After he visits with Jo, he talks to me a bit. That has been very helpful, so that Jo and I can be on the same page when things happen. I can talk to him about stuff the counselor has introduced.  Also, I've relaxed on school a bit, and I'm sure that has helped the tension between us.

He is involved in a Lego club. It is going OK, not great, but OK. They are doing stuff with the new robots that he has had for 8 months already, so it is basic for him. But there's a guy there that really sees potential in Jo, so maybe something good will come out after some time. They are trying to get our group ready for competitions in the future. Now THAT would be fun!

The kids need friends for playdates. That is something that is seriously lacking. The other trouble is that our schedule is PACKED.

Cheryl: Let's see. I've been seeing the doc about my meds. I was quite depressed for a while, then upped my meds and became SO anxious and irritable. I tried no meds last summer for two months....NOT a good scene. So, God has meds in my plan for now. The doc is adjusting them, and I think things are starting to go a little better. So many variables!

I'm happy homeschooling, or at least my kids are where they need to be academically and I have materials and schoolwork mostly figured out. I wouldn't change this decision, no way! We've let some stuff slip, like history and science, but we do bits of it here and there. That is going to have to be OK for now.

I have a friend who vists me almost every Thursday, and it is my therapy. I don't get out much. I don't have a small group or support group, and I have NO idea where one would fit in my schedule, so Anne is it. I so enjoy my time with her. She and I are STILL painting my kitchen cabinets! :) Still no doors!

Life is very BUSY. I don't really like it, but we have cut out everything that can be cut out, it seems. Kids each have one activity and AWANA. Sean has a group, but he only gets there once in a while. Weds to Grandma's for dinner. Saturday clean and pay bills. Shopping, counseling, doctor appts, school at SVLC.... Now you know why my blog has been silent!

As busy as we get, I want God always to be first. He's in charge. I'm listening if He wants this schedule to change. I don't want to have the hurry-sickness that pushes me away from God. I am busy, but I try to remember the schedule is always secondary.

Folks: They are downstairs! We all still love it. We're getting stuff figured out as far as utilities and things. Mom cooks dinner for us on Weds nights and that is really nice. It is another evening gone out of our week, but they so love it. My brother comes, too. It used to be I would only see him a few times a year, and now I see him almost every week. It is really nice.

Mom also cooks breakfast on Saturdays. The kids get up and go downstairs and leave us sleeping! They watch PBSkids since we don't have TV up here. Sean and I wander down later and Mom always has breakfast for us. We all come home at 10...kids and dad work on housework and I pay the bills.

Now, I didn't ask about all this cooking! Mom offered. She loves to cook for us all. It is such a grandma thing. I think of the memories my kids will have of grandma and grandpa. It is so nice. Neither Sean nor I had that kind of relationship with grandparents.

Still praying for them to know the Lord. In fact, the kids and I pray about that almost every day before school. It is in God's hands. I keep watching for openings to speak. We invite them to church, but they often say they are busy or something. Still praying.

OK! So there's the BIG update. More info than you really wanted, eh? I hope you skimmed. :)

Cheryl

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Thursday, January 4, 2007 - Happy New Year!!!

Well, here we are back at it. The holidays are OVER, and it is time to get back to work! I haven't managed that last one quite....we had a full day of school yesterday, but I don't think we will today!

Jo had his first counseling appointment on Tuesday. We all liked the counselor, and Jo is looking forward to the sessions. This one was rather introductory of course. We shall see how it is going to go.

I have not been well. Sometimes without warning I go into freako-mommy mode. I think it is my meds....I don't like it at all. Neither do the kids! Blah....

My marriage is good. Very good. I think we've had THREE FULL good years now! One day maybe the good years will outweigh the bad years. :) I believe so! Even if not, the sweetness of the good is all the sweeter for having endured the bad. God has certainly used bad for good in our ministry and hearts for others whose marriages are painful.

God is good!

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Wednesday, December 27, 2006 - Christmas Break

Hey all!

Christmas here was really fun. We had Sean's fam over for Christmas eve, then mine for Christmas day. Then the Pixley's came over and we had a nice time with them.

School resumed today, because too many days without schedule is not good for these kids....! It was rather rocky returning to school as well. Ah, such is life.

Sean went back to work yesterday....life is returning to normal. AND my tree is still up! Usually I'm taking it down by Christmas evening, or the next day at the latest! I must like it this year, I am not sick of it yet.

Well, that was just a quick update....I realized I hadn't written in a while. Life has been difficult and busy. Jo's first counseling appointment is on Tuesday the 2nd, so prayers would be much appreciated.

Oyeah, I'm still trying to get my meds figured out. blah.....

 

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Friday, December 8, 2006 - I fixed the printer!

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - SNOW!!

I can't believe it! It snowed. Not only did it snow, but it snowed for TWO days, and it is still on the ground. I know other parts of the country do this on a regular basis, but we don't!

 

We got over 10 inches here. The kids and dad started building an igloo yesterday, and the kids just went out to work on it today. Seriously, when it snows here it is usually gone by the next day. In fact, it is usually rained on the next day. So this is VERY fun for us!

 

We lost power for about 12 hours the other night, but it came back on before we lost the stuff in our fridge and freezer, praise God. I usually shop on Monday, but I'm staying off the roads right now. Praise God, last week I bought 4 gallons of milk and have plenty of food in my freezer and pantry. God is taking good care of us.

 

My parents downstairs have a propane stove, so they stayed warm even during the power outage.

 

The sun shining on the snow is so pretty.

 

God is fabulous.

 

 

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Saturday, November 25, 2006 - Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello all!

 

Life is not always terrible, praise GOD! Yes, it is still hard with Jo. We are in the process of getting a counseling appointment set up for him.

 

Thanksgiving was a wonderful day. We went to our friend's house, Gary and Portia Eckerman. Their kids, grandchild, and extended family were there. They invited our family and my parents. It was a full house but Portia really knows how to put on a party!

 

There were lots of family members there, and they were so kind and fun to be with. I learned a new game Jo and I will have fun playing.

 

Well, I am out of words, but yesterday was SO refreshing and wonderful. Laughter, good food, new acquaintances and dear longstanding friends made my Thanksgiving wonderful.

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Friday, November 17, 2006 - Life is hard

When life is hard, I don't want to write. Life has been HARD.

 

Mostly, it is with Jo and me. He and I can go in circles, and it is not good. Our personalities are a lot alike.

 

He's having serious anger issues, on top of the "normal" Jo ADHD stuff. We are wondering now if he is depressed. He has serious self-esteem issues, also. Plus his behavior around the house isn't getting him the kind of attention he really wants, and the cycle goes on.

 

We do our best to say how much we love him, to treat him with kindness and respect, to encourage him when he is behaving well and working well within the family. But there is a lot of time that he spends stirring up trouble, rebelling, raging, and making not-so-good choices. We cannot let those go without consequence. We try our best to administer consequences with love.

 

We're looking into many things right now. Adjusting his meds, doing the Feingold diet, finding some counseling for him or us. We've of course redone how life is done here at home again....the rewards and consequences. There is always a new deal in our house.

 

It has been hard, but at the end of the day I know that GOD is in control. He didn't give Jo the wrong Mommy, and He didn't give me the wrong kid. He has a plan. I'm sticking with Him!

 

Thanks for your prayers.

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 - Thursday

Things have been the same, nothing new to report. God is still good! :)

 

School is going OK. The kids and I still have our struggles. We all see the doc tomorrow.

 

Sean has not been working much these last two weeks. It was nice at first....but now we'd really like for him to be working! God knows, and He will provide.

 

My friend Anne Long came over and we started destroying my kitchen. All the cabinet doors are off (now in the dining and entry), and we started primering the surrounding wood in the kitchen. The cabinets will be white, and the doors and drawer faces will be different shades of blue, green and yellow. I like color!

 

It is crazy, though. I HATE having cabinet doors open....and now ALL my cabinet doors in the entire kitchen are open all the time! That makes me want to keep working on the project! Not to mention that now I realize just how badly some of these cabinets need to be cleaned out.....

 

I've been trying to start this project for over a year. Sometimes the depression stopped me, sometimes I was just to busy to start. Anne gave me great help to start it off, so away we go! Maybe I'll post some photos.

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Friday, November 3, 2006 - BLAH

This is the blog of BLAH.

 

Life has been terrible lately. I've been crying all the time. Jo has been unmanageable. I am at my wit's end, feeling like a total failure (which is OK), and I have no idea where to go from here.

 

I can't imagine life without God. I need Him so much.

 

For me, I'm going to check on some new meds. The ones I am on are not working this winter. I am crying all the time, and when I increase the dose I am super-anxious about everything. I would love to do without meds, but that was NOT a pretty sight last time that happened. Yeeeesh. Better a Mom on meds who can handle life and children than crazy-angry Mom scarring them (more) for life.

 

For Jo, we are going back to no sugar. I got lax thinking that his ADHD meds would take care of these behavior issues. Um, obviously not. So, back to no sugar. It has been so bad that when Jo and I talked about it this morning, and I told him no more sugar, he just said OK. I said, you don't seem sad. He said "It's worth it." So there you go. It must be bad for Jo to not even argue about giving up sugar again!

 

Yes, we are a family on meds. I sometimes still have issue with it, but I believe this is what God has for our family. In fact, I regret not getting Jo on meds sooner. He has been in trouble his entire life....and maybe he would not have the emotional/self-esteem issues he has now if we had started meds sooner.

 

Sean is an amazing man. He is understanding about how tough it is for me to be homeschooling and taking care of all this home business, PLUS the amazing emotional drain it has been dealing with Jo. He is supportive and is taking good care of me while I am a complete wreck. What a man. I so respect his compassion and integrity. Thanks, God, for such a helper.

 

Violet....I've left her out. She just gets to sit by the sidelines and watch the fun between Jo and her folks. She gets very quiet. And when she needs something, I am short with her because I am absolutely fried. I feel bad about that.

 

So, with all the failure, I am so thankful that God is God and I am not. HE gave me these kids, HE has a plan. I realize that I will scar my kids. In fact, instead of a college fund we are saving a therapy fund for them! I don't take it lightly, I pray earnestly about this stuff. But I know I am human. I screw it up. That has to be OK or I will be paralyzed.

 

As my kids age, more and more I realize I can only teach them so much....and they are only willing to learn so much from me. GOD is their ultimate instructor, and each year I have to turn more and more of their future and lives over to Him.

 

I am SOOOOO thankful He loves them so much. They are in good hands!!!

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Monday, October 30, 2006 - Quiet blog

Hey all,

 

My blog has been quiet. Sorry for those of you interested!!

 

Sean left town last Wednesday morning for a family reunion in Arizona. It was weird in that it WASN'T too weird with him gone! I guess he's worked some strange shifts lately so it just didn't seem so strange for him not to be around.

 

Life just kept on going, we did our routines of school, pay bills and clean house on Saturday, church on Sunday, more school..... The one HUGE difference? I found myself going to bed between 7:30 and 8:30 every night.....and LOVING it! I guess I need more sleep than I usually get!

 

Sean got back safe and sound last night. Praise God!

 

My scripture for this time in my life is Hebrews 12:1

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

 

I SO love that scripture. I have loved it for a long time. The word picture is so cool, of a runner throwing off things that tangle to run efficiently and effectively. As I'm honing in on the sins and hindrances that God is showing me, I am feeling freer than I have felt in a long time!

 

As I stop ignoring the issues and press into them....my term is ruthless. I will be ruthless with my sins. Acknowledging them, confessing them, asking God to work His good stuff in me. I can't believe how freeing it is to change my attitude about my "petty" sins. Self-focus and laziness have become at odds with me, and it feels so much better than I thought it would. I mean, who wants to give that up? Sin entangles because it is easy and pleasant. But GOD is so good and true, and I do like my life better as I learn to die to self. God's kind of paradox.

 

That's it for today. :)

 

Cheryl

 

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Tuesday, October 17, 2006 - Selfishness

Again, nothing much to report. But I don't want to leave it blank for weeks, and once I start typing something usually comes out.

 

Ah. Here it is. I am realizing just how self-centered I am. Still. After years of following Christ, I am amazed how much it is still about ME. Especially where my kids are concerned. I am homeschooling....but that may be more about me than them. Plus I don't do an excellent job of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

 

 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I am not very patient, and I am easily angered and quite self-seeking. I know I cannot change these things in my own strength. I have been working on that one for years!

The revelation seems different this time, though. Perhaps because I have slowed down enough to focus on WHO does God want me to be, not just what am I to do. It is not a thought in passing "oh, I should not behave like this." so much as a revelation: I am NOT who I want to be, not who God is making me to be. Well, none of us are, but this seems to be where He wants to work in me right now.

SO! He has showed me my shortcomings (again). I know He never does that to gloat! Always it is to lovingly reprove. I am confident that He has some work to do in me in this season on how I love. HE can do it if I seek Him, but I cannot do the work myself. Praise God! I am tired of failing.

 

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Thursday, October 12, 2006 - Status report

Hi all,

 

Nothing much to report! That can be a good thing though, right?

 

I think we are settling into the groove, praise GOD! It is mid-October after all! It has been rough for me with school changes (partnership school), curriculum changes (multiple since Aug!), discipline changes, etc. I am SO glad to finally settle for a couple of months. I hope it is that long!

 

I do find myself quite lonely these days, however. I'm no longer on staff at church, the ladies group meets on the only day I cannot attend, and the Bible Study I was in ended last spring. I need to make a way to get in relationship with other women. I miss it terribly. Maybe I need to find a good forum to belong to! Any suggestions?

 

Kids are doing very well. THEY are glad to have found the groove as well. They usually can sit down to their video games by 2pm. IF they have all their work done, of course! Violet is playing Animal Crossing on the gamecube, and Jo is playing Pac Man World 2 on the gamecube. They are almost as excited about the Wii as I am....but not quite! I am very excited. I had to tell God it was all His, and if He didn't want me to own one, I would obey Him. hahaha!

 

Sean is doing well. He is working mostly steady, and that is awesome. God takes such good care of us. Not only is he working, but he is starting his very own business venture. He has never done anything like this before, and it has been interesting. He has a couple of logos he has designed and is going to sell them online. T-shirts, hats, jewelry, stickers, etc. I'll post a link when the site is up!

 

I'm not sure my depression is waning yet. I'm having a struggle with purposelessness right now. My life is very introverted and that seems very selfish. But then again I struggle with laziness....and I kind of like sitting at home and reading my book (O'Brien's Aubrey-Maturin series, book 21). I just finished "Hinds Feet on High Places" again, and I am trying to incorporate more "acceptance with joy." HE will tell me when I need to do something else, HE will lead me and guide me, I need to look more and always to HIM with trust and thankfulness. Maybe I just need to chill out! :)

 

Thanks to those of you who view my blog and are part of my life, though we don't meet in person. If you don't want to post a comment, you can email me with the link to the right. If you DO post a comment, please make sure you tell me who you are! Thanks.

 

Living in Christ,

 

Cheryl

 

 

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Monday, October 9, 2006 - The elusive groove

The elusive groove! That homeschool groove. It was going on last April....but has been sadly missed since then.

 

I think we hit it two days last week. Admittedly, the days were not in a row, Monday and Thursday, but it gave me hope!!! It IS out there! We might catch it!

 

The weather here has been getting chillier....and it is dark when I get up now. Even when the kids get up! We turn the clocks back in a few weeks....but it will only get darker and darker from here on out. This is when the black dog comes to visit me....I really miss the sun.

 

Friday the washer drain hose popped out of its proper place.....flooding our laundry and pantry. I didn't notice it until the washer was completely empty. So school that day was emergency response team training! My kids did so well. Water was EVERYWHERE. Violet packed all the stuff from the floor to the kitchen, while Jo sucked up the water with the shop vac. The vac got full, so we had to bail it out and start again. I swept the water toward him and kept everything moving. Then we did towels. It was actually fun for me to work together with the fam. Then we took the rest of the day off!  :)

 

But, today is Monday. No day off today. Back to the grind. GROOVE, I hope!

 

 

 

 

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Sunday, October 1, 2006 - I'm a gamer.

I admit it! I am a gamer!

 

When Violet was in public school kindergarten, she had to draw a picture of what her mom was doing while she was at school. The teacher showed it to me at the parent-teacher conference. The teacher said "most kids drew pictures of their moms vacuming, cooking, or something like that. Your child drew a picture of you sitting on the couch playing a video game!" She thought that was quite funny....but the fact was that is EXACTLY what I was doing.....

 

I didn't play much as a kid. We had an Atari, but I didn't play much. My brother had a Nintendo, but it was his. When I was about 20 I was living at YWAM LA and I had just broken off an engagement. I plunged into a deep depression.....and that's when I fell in love with Mario.

 

Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo, to be exact. I played for HOURS. I admit, it was not the healthiest time in my life. However, I was living on a YWAM base, a FISHBOWL, and the need to escape was great. Not only from my personal pain, but the pain that was brought about by others on the base. So I played and played and played. It came to an end when base policies changed and I could no longer enter the guy's dorms....the game system belonged to a friend who was a guy.

 

I would probably not be a gamer now if it were not for my husband. He's been a gamer forever. It was PC games, but then it cost so much to upgrade the computer to play the latest games that it got too expensive. So he bought a Nintendo 64. That's when it started again for me!! Mario, Diddy Kong Racing, Donkey Kong, Banjo-Kazooie and ZELDA! Sean, of course, played first-person shooter games.

 

So, then came the Microsoft XBox, the Nintendo Gamecube, and the XBox 360. We've played several games together, plus we have games we enjoy separately. We don't have TV cable, so in the evenings when other families watch TV, we game. My kids have grown up with gaming parents.

 

ALL OF THAT ENTRY WAS TO SAY I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE NINTENDO Wii!!! So very excited. I cannot wait! I think it comes out in early November. I have my copy of ZELDA Twilight Princess already reserved. 

 

Here are some links to the Wii:

 

a good look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzGDqVB-f1I

 

trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOcgEVOnFmQ

 

OK. Now you all know. I'm a homeschooling gamer mom. 

 

 

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Sunday, October 1, 2006 - Depression and control

I was thinking again about this last bout of depression. It has been very bad, the worst in quite a while.

 

And I realized that THIS time I was trying to remain in control. I was trying to get the schooling done, the cleaning done, have dinner ready, etc.... Which is fine, but if I couldn't do it I felt guilty. I put so much pressure on myself that nothing could slip....

 

I have to let things slip if necessary. Something WILL, it is just a matter of WHAT. I kept up with the "responsibilities," but my mental and emotional health slipped something terrible. Maybe it would have been better to let the school or housework slip a bit in order to take better care of myself.

 

The trick for me is to welcome the black dog while he is around. Pat him on the head. Go about my business the best I can, but realize that sometimes he will get in the way. And that's OK, that's where God has me. I will welcome God's visitor, and rely on Him to see me through it....instead of trying to remain in control and "manage."

 

Since this realization yesterday, I have been feeling much better. More at peace, less snappy and anxious. It is nice. The last few bouts of depression I welcomed the dog, and the bout didn't last too long and wasn't too severe. Again, it is all about letting God be in control.

 

Also, Sean has released me from some of his ideas about what homeschooling should be. He is trusting me to take the best care of our kids that I can. That is a place he is out of control and has to trust God and me. I understand how tough that can be! But I am so thankful he is able to be more flexible (and let me take care of me if that's what is needed).

 

Thanks, Lord, that you love me so much. Thanks that I can wholly and totally rely on you. You are SO GOOD to me!

 

 

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Friday, September 29, 2006 - Depressed

I've been putting off writing. I figured after that last post, I should wait until I had something positive to say. So I've been waiting.....

 

The black dog of depression is dogging my heels again. It just makes everything hard. I am having trouble rolling with the punches, dealing with my kids when they behave like kids, and just getting everyday stuff accomplished. Like brushing my teeth. I force myself to do it....but I wear out long before the day is over.

 

SO, I just keep reading the word, keep on keepin' on the best I can. I'm not a very nice mommy when I feel like this. In the past I would let school slip, but this time I'm trying to stay on track...but the emotional disturbance in the household may not be worth it!

 

Maybe it is time to up my meds. I usually do in the fall....

 

I'm glad it is Friday.

 

 

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Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - Discouraged

I am discouraged today. Today is the day I DON'T want to blog because of how I feel, but it is also the day I NEED to blog to let people in on my humanity. I am discouraged. Plus it is raining!

 

God is good, of course, and all will ultimately be well, but is is tough right now! "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Even to me my trials seem trivial (after all, I have a home, food to eat, and no loved ones have died recently) but I think God uses them all to draw us closer to him. Am I going or just complaining?

 

Homeschooling is hard for us! Every day there are tears! Angry blowups from one (ADHD) child several times each morning. Then there's curriculum....am I doing what is best for my kids? Have I chosen well? That curriculum looks better....but we can't do that much work without MAJOR family strife. Academics is only one part of their education, there is also emotional intelligence, character building, spiritual formation, physical education, arts..... So much to try to balance.

 

We have not gotten into a groove yet, and this forming part is difficult. Trying something a little different tomorrow for school, plus a new rewards/consequence plan. Always in motions the future (YODA).

 

Then in the midst of trying to balance and figure, my husband just doesn't quite understand all that is taking place. He has been less than supportive because of some impressions he has about my ability/willingness to do what is needed for our kids. It has been very hard. I agonize over stuff and work very hard....the emotional strain alone is a killer! He doesn't see that part, though, since he's at work. He only sees the afternoons when I'm fried and reading a book. Or he sees the PMS morning when I decide it would be better not to do school that day. Or he hears me say "It's God's deal.""

 

I am hoping we will both understand each other better in the weeks to come. He is an amazing man and I am so glad he wants me home, teaching our kids. I think this is just one place God has us working on US. Communication and emotional health.

 

AND as far as it is God's deal......all of it is! HE asked me to homeschool, HE will make a way. It is ALL His. Sometimes this is viewed in my house as a cop-out....but really it is my salvation!

 

I can't do it. I don't have what it takes to teach these kids everything they need to know by the time they leave my house. BUT I know the one who can, and He has appointed me as teacher. It isn't a cop-out to me, but the only thing that keeps me from being crushed under the weight of expectations, mine and others'.

 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit....I love the Lord with my life. He is awesome!

 

 

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Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - Future Posts

This is a reminder for me and a sneak preview for you! Some things I might want to talk about are:

 

My MARRIAGE (11 years, 3 happy)

Kids school and curriculum

Jo's ADHD

My depression (here comes the black dog)

List of great books

What God is teaching me

life in general!

 

Thanks to those of you that read. :)

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Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - My folks!

My folks moved in two weeks ago! It has been a long wait!

 

We bought a house together two years ago. My family lives upstairs in the finished portion of the house. They planned to live downstairs in the daylight basement. That part needs a lot of work!

 

So we lived here for the last two years while they moved into a house they owned and had been renting out. They remodeled the entire house for those two years, waiting to avoid capital gains taxes, and NOW it is on the market! All they need now is a buyer....

 

They moved into half of the unfinished basement and proceeded to rip up the other half. :)  If you know my folks, this will not surprise you! Dad is working on a cinderblock wall in their new entry.....right now there is a 20x30x10 HOLE in front of the house!

 

They built a (30x40) shop already, before they moved in, and boy did that make a stink in the neighborhood. People are strange. The shop is just shorter than our house, so nobody's view is blocked.

 

I love having them around! Dad is always working on something around here, putzing around with his tractor, hefting block into the giant hole, mixing concrete..... There's always something going on. And it is just great to have Mom and Dad around. I didn't know it would be this fun. The kids just love it, of course! If I don't see Mom for an entire day it just seems weird.....!

 

They came to church two weeks ago, and we will be inviting them again and again. I think they are getting closer. We keep praying. I know they are getting closer, I can see how their attitudes and opinions about some things have changed over the last 15 years.

 

It is great having them around!

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Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - Women's Ministries

September has brought lots of changes to my life! I just recently quit my (unpaid) position of Women's Ministries Director at Christ the King in Mount Vernon. I loved that job. I loved working with women. I loved working with the staff. I love our vision, focus and passion. There was lots of care on that staff....I was cared for as a person, and a minister. Sweet.

 

BUT, now that's over! :)  It became more than apparent to me that I could not do the increasing responsibilities of that job AND the increasing responsibilities of homeschooling. So I chose! I remember asking God to "please release me!" And then I looked at my schedule, looked at my priorities, and there it was.

 

My relationship with GOD is my #1 priority. Sean, my husband, is #2. Kids are #3. My plate was so full with those three, that when I added more, everything on the plate suffered. Boy, was I stressed and snappy, too! Not the picture of Christ I want to give my children.

 

Since I quit I have felt such relief. I can devote the energies to homeschooling that I want now without being pulled in too many directions. I have to throw over our English curriculum and choose another....but I can just roll with it. Praise God!

 

AND I have time to deepen the relationships I already have with ladies. What point is it to direct women's ministries when there is no time to just BE with women? So my ministry has changed. God knows what he is doing! It has changed for the better.

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