Jun. 30, 2008 - gone to camp

This summer, so far, as been filled with camp.  My daughter was there for a week volunteering, then my oldest son and daughter were there as campers for a week.  Now this week the middle son and daughter will be campers for a week.  With children out of the house, it has seemed incredibly quiet.  After this week of camp is over, everyone will be home for a short time.  Then my daughter and I will be at camp volunteering.  Finally at the end of the summer, we all will go to camp for a work weekend. 

I never went to camp when I was a child,  I think I am making up for it now.  I love summer camp.

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Aug. 19, 2007 - a journey

The last few weeks have been an interesting journey for me.  I was very sick, with an infection in my salivary glands, 3 weeks ago.  I went through a reaction to two different  medications.  The first one causing sores in my mouth, shortness of breath, and exhaustion (I slept through almost 2 days).  The medication was changed, and so were the side effects.  On the second medication I was light headed, dizzy (I actually passed out one time - at church), and still exhausted - not as bad.  Throughout my treatment I continued to run a fever on and off, promting much testing.  I had much blood drawn, a CAT scan, an X-ray, and a Spinal tap ... all showing normal results.

After I was finished with the antibiodic, I was feeling somewhat better.  Thus going to camp as I wrote about below.  At camp I was still not feeling 100% but I chalked that up to recently being sick.  Well this week the fun began again.  Several days I was feeling light headed and dizzy, short of breath, and just all over blah.  So ... back to the Dr. I went again.  He ordered more blood work.  Finally, one test came back with an abnormal reading.  Maybe the answer is near!  Well this abnormal reading prompted , of course, more blood work.  Those results should be back the beginning of the week.

This week, I also started reading a book by Barbara Johnson, The Best of Barbara Johnson.  I have not read very far yet, but have already found some great tid bits of information.  She says that "The only thing you can really control in this life is your own mental attitude"  That is something I have needed to be reminded of over the last few weeks.  I could just feel sorry for myself about my health, complain, and just be miserable.  Or I could  take this as a blessing, I have caught up on my sleep, the kids and my husband have managed to survive without me,  and I have gotten to know my Dr a lot better.  Pain and suffering are inevitable, but we don't have to choose misery.  It is all in how we look at our circumstances.  Are you looking for the weeds or the flowers? The thorns or the fruit?  The rain clouds or the sunshine?

Everyday is a beautiful day - a fresh start - a new beginning.  We should say thank you to the Lord for each fresh start, each new day - this day that hasn't been messed up yet.  There is only one day this year you should be concerned about.  Today!  You can't change yesterday, and tomorrow is a promise that hasn't arrived yet.  So rejoice for today.  Be thankful for today. 

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Jul. 12, 2007 -

Through the last 2 weeks we have had rain almost everyday.  Fortunately, it has only been a portion of the day, or overnight.  The plentiful rainfall has helped the garden immensely.  The peas are loaded, with blossom and fruit.  Zuchini growing like wild.  Tomatoes and Peppers galore.  The only problem is that the weeds are enjoying the moist conditions as well.  Every day I am out in the garden, weeding, weeding, and weeding.  I suppose the weeds would be their either way.  On the bright side, the moist soil makes it easier to pull them out.  I usually do one section of the garden a day, moving around until the whole thing is done by the end of the week.  Then go back and start all over again.  That is where I should be now, since the sun is out.  Off to the garden I go. Hi Hoe, Hi Hoe...

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Jul. 11, 2007 - Teaching

Now that I am a black belt I have had a few opportunities to teach part of class.  It has been fun, and also a nice challenge.  Most of the classes I have led have been small, 4-6 people, but on Monday I had the opportunity to lead class with 19 people.  I  was quite nervous, but did very well.  I have always been nervous being in front of a group of people.  Yep, thats why I stand in front of church interpreting. 

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Jun. 14, 2007 - parties, parties and more parties

For the last few weeks we have been going to so many parties.  We have had 5 graduation parties, 2 bridal showers, and a birthday.  I am tired of going to parties.  But we are not done yet.  Coming up in the near future, there is another birthday, 2 more graduations, and 3 weddings.  This is the year of the party, and I am partied out.

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May. 4, 2007 - TKD test

The test in Tae kwon Do went quite well.  All the people testing (25 people I think) did very well and all passed their test.  Sam and I are now black belts.  I cannot believe it.  My testimony also went quite well.  I was actually more nervous about the testimony than the test.  This was the first time that I talked about the source of the strength in regards to Joshua's death.  The following is a draft of my testimony.  I pray that it blesses you in some way.

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Feb. 28, 2007 - what to do

I awoke early this morning, 3 am.  I tried to go back to sleep, but weird dreams kept assaulting me.  I don't know what to do with the silence around me.  It is never quite during the day.  All I can hear at the moment are the rabbits in the kitchen, moving around.  Yes the rabbits are in the kitchen.  Wisconsin gets to be too cold in the winter to leave them in an open hutch.  So the two rabbits get to live for a while in the comforts of the kitchen.  Yippee!  I don't mind too much.  They have a tendency to push out their bedding onto the floor.  Making it necessary to sweep several times a day.  But it is rather convenient at feeding time.  It is easier to monitor the kids, are they actually feeding the rabbits. But, I digress. 

 Good morning to all, I pray that you will have a splendid day.  Since I cannot sleep, and it is quite in the house, I am going to go read my bible and spend a little time with my best friend.  Maybe, after that I can crawl back under the covers for a little nap before the kids get up.

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Feb. 27, 2007 -

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Feb. 12, 2007 - Not quite crazy

When I went to pick up Sam from her weekend of voluntering, I spoke with the camp director for a few minutes about my dilemma.  Was it worth it for me to drive 500 miles for Sam to volunteer for a weekend at camp?  Well Ruth sure put a different perspective on the situation.  Ruth explained to me that that weekend was a couples retreat.  Most of the couples were saved.  Two had newly saved wives and unsaved husbands.  All the volunteers help the weekend to run smoothly, even the dish crew volunteers.  So for all those husbands and wives to have an opportunity to bond and grow closer to each other and to God.  For those 2 men who didn't know God at all.  Was it worth it?  In our Earthly eyes maybe not.  But when the perspective is on the eternal, yep it was worth it!  Thanks Ruth for showing me the eternal perspective on this on.

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Feb. 10, 2007 - Am I crazy?

Yesterday I drove 250 miles (round trip) to drop my daughter off for a weekend of volunteer work.  I will go back to pick her up tomorrow.  I know that this is a great experience for her.  I am sure that she is also have a great time.  But the question remains... "Am I crazy to do this?"

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Jan. 24, 2007 - Red belt test

We had our TKD test last night.  Even though we were nervous, we did great.   No one was seriously hurt during the test.  Thank you God.  A few bumps and bruises of course.  Samantha and I both hurt our ankles during board breaking.  If we passed we are now red belts.

forms

Samantha & me sparing                     

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Jan. 21, 2007 - More snow

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Jan. 19, 2007 - volunteering

Samantha is learning the joys of volunteering.  She spent last weekend washing dishes at a camp up north.  They had about 130 people from a youth group at the camp for a retreat or something.  Sam was contacted about 5 days before the event and asked if she would be willing to come.  She was quick to answer "yes!".  The hardest part was getting her there and back home.  Camp is a 2 hour drive, one way.  No small trek for mom.  She has been asked to come again in Feb.  I guess she did a good job.

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Jan. 19, 2007 - snow fort

Now that we finally have snow again, the boys have been working on a snow fort.  They work on it a little everyday.  I think that we will need another storm for them to finish.

Zachary making a snow brick

Zach in the fort and Noah shoveling

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Jan. 12, 2007 - TKD

Well it is testing time again in Tae Kwon Do.  Samantha and I have been approved to test.  Zachary will have to wait.  He is not ready with all the new techniques yet.   We will be testing for our red belts this time around.  I can not believe that I am as far as I am in TKD.   I enjoy being able to share this experience with some of my children.  I wish that Noah would be allowed to return to class again.  I will continue to pray about that possibility.  I really enjoy the challenge that TKD gives me.  The class has improved my balance, my concentration, my confidence, helped stretch my memory, and given me many new friends.  We have truly been blessed with the class that we are in.  We have had very few injuries (all minor: bruises, scraps, etc), we are in a Christian based school, everyone in class is very respectful of each other, and many more blessings.

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