This has to have been the fastest, slowest year of my life!!!!  I cannot BELIEVE it is already the middle of November, and I feel a little like I've missed most of this year.  At the same time, when I think back to March, May, even July, it seems like an eternity ago!  Is that my stress level or old age?!  LOL.  I am SO not ready for the holidays to be here. I love them, but I'm not ready.  On 2nd thought, in a way, I can't wait.  ( I told you I was mixed up this year!)  Briana will get to come home for 4 nights at Thanksgiving, two or three nights the first week of Dec., and, hopefully, at least a week at Christmas!! 

Last entry I posted about Briana's cat, Snickers, having FIP, which was causing brain swelling, and seizures.  The steroids got it under control, and we did not have to have him put to sleep like we expected.  Less than 2 weeks later (last Thurs.), I did have to go with her to the vet for her to have him put to sleep.  We knew the disease would progress at some point, but even the dr. expected it to be over years.  In one week, it progressed to shutting down other systems, and though, she could have done things to stall for more time, they both would have been miserable, and it would have been just a short time anyway.  I've had pets die several times before, but this is the first time we've ever had to have one put to sleep.  It was a heartbreaking day.  We were over in the town she lives in camping, so we left one of our dogs with her to keep her company for a while.  She wants a dog of her own~this is the 3rd cat she's lost at early ages since her early teen years, and she refuses to get another one. 

Homeschooling is plugging away here, although, not exactly where I want it.   Right now, we're getting the basics and some occasional other things done.  I'd like to get back to our lapbooking.  But, both girls are progressing nicely in math, and Daniella's reading has crossed a stumbling block finally, and it's starting to click. 

Our annual fall camping trip was fun....weird, but fun.  The last 2 years, we've camped at a state park right in the middle of the town where Briana is living, so that she could come with us.  We kept having to postpone this year's trip because of really cold weather, and by the time we were able to come, she had started rehearsals for It's a Wonderful Life.  And, of course, we also had to put Snickers to sleep during the week.  We still enjoyed some good family time, playing games, taking some walks, riding bikes.  No pictures, because I am at Briana's now, and don't have my computer.

It's a Wonderful Life opens tonight!  I LOVE opening nights~ getting to see a new show for the first time.  She has some lines in this one, and gets to talk in an exaggerated NY accent.  : )  Coming from a southern girl that should be fun!  However, James and Ashley were at dress rehearsal last night taking pictures, and the executive producer at the Playhouse LAUGHED (appropriately) at Briana's lines!  He recognized Ashley, and told her that Briana was really funny in that scene.  Yay!  Empress the executive director girl!  : )   She also has a few dances in the show and lots of group songs.  Her boyfriend, Troy, is also in this show, though they never have any scenes together.  He is Mr. Potter. 

Please pray for Ashley's shoulder.  I think I mentioned in the post about her Africa trip that her group was chased by a Cape Buffalo on safari (!), and she stumbled and fell.  She hurt her shoulder badly, but it improved a great deal over the next few weeks.  Well, the last 2 or 3 weeks, she has been back in a lot of pain.  The chiropractor is not helping it.  Several people have laid hands on her to pray, and we have been praying constantly for it for this whole time.  We have to make a decision where to take her next~ an orthopedic dr. for therapy (not surgery!) or to a regular physician to try a steroid injection.  I cringe at the thought of steroids, but if it is inflamation, that would probably be what helped it best.  The therapy will be long and painful, and not sure if that is what she needs.  We were set to make an appt with the ortho dr., but I ran into someone in the store the other night who told me about her injured shoulder and the shots.  We're praying for wisdom.

And, finally (I think), the Lord brought Ashley a great opportunity in Oct.  He has been clarifying in her life this year that camp ministry is where she wants to work.  She has been taking online courses for a couple of years, and has been absolutely miserable every single second.  She has prayed and persevered, and has never been at peace or felt like she was where she was supposed to be.  A couple of weeks after coming home from Africa, she decided she was not going to continue courses, at least for now.  It was a difficult decision for her for a couple of different reasons, but she knew she could always start again, if she discovered she had made a mistake.  Within just a couple of weeks of making her decision to stop school, she was offered a part time job apprenticing at the Christian camp that she is a summer counselor for every year!  She LOVES it.  In just a month and a half  of working 2 or 3 days a week, she has led activities at 3 day camps, helped cook a meal for a zillion kids, scrubbed the lodge, helped with the planning of a mid-winter retreat, done computer work, helped design their new brochure, taken photos of the different areas of camp for the brochure, been to a meeting of the board of directors, made changes to their website..........  They want to give her the opportunity to experience every area of running a camp.  They are asking her imput on changes they are making.  She works directly for the camp director and his assistant (his wife).  The wife is the main person she works with on a "daily" basis.  She is loving it, and it was so neat to see God open up the door for her and fulfill a longing she has had for a while.  She has spent countless hours on the computer this year looking for such an opportunity.  They were all going to have to wait until at least next summer, and were all in other states.  This one is 45 min. away.  AND, the Lord blessed her with a wonderful, nice like-new Kia Sportage at the same time she was finding out about this job.  She bought the car herself, but the Lord had blessed her with the money, and led her to a gently used, wonderful condition, less than 30,000 miles vehicle., at a GREAT price.  Her old car was.......OLD and falling apart.  It would have never made it up and down that mountain 2 or 3 times a week for very long. 

The Lord is working MAJORLY in a couple of other areas of our lives, as well, and it has been an amazing experience this year.  Not easy, not comfortable a lot of the time, but definitely GOOD.  I've sat here this morning and typed myself into excitement for what God is working on in our lives!  : )  He IS GOOD!

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I seemed to have taken an unintentional blogging hiatus.  Life is still really hectic for us at this time, and I just don't seem to think about it, or if I do, don't have enough energy!  I still hope to get back to it regularly.  I miss check in on you all and sharing our life. 

Ashley had a very tremendous trip to Kenya!  She was so blessed, and it has taken her weeks to emotionally settle back in.  Physically, she did great (except for one exception I'll share at the end!)  Everyone on the team got sick, but her (love God's herbs and vitamins!),, and she did great with jet lag.  I don't know exactly what helped, but I had read in a magazine earlier this summer to take Pine Bark extract to help reduce the severity and length of jet lag.  She took that 3 days prior to flying and 5 days afterward both ways.  Plus, she was taking Vitamin C, garlic, and Silver almost daily.  Even after such a long flight, 4 weeks there, including a campout and a 3 day safari, a 28 hour trip home (18 hours of flight and 11 hours of layovers, and about 40 hours of being awake, except for a couple of hour long naps on the plane), she came in completely exhausted, slept about 10 hours, and felt good and pretty rested.  She would tire out by the end of the day for a few days, but we were all in amazement at how rested and good she felt. 

I thought that instead of me trying to explain her experience, I'd copy and excerpt of her words here. Part way through there is a video of the kids practicing one of the praise dances she taught them.  It always brings tears to my eyes listening to these children, who are all orphans, sing Shout to the Lord.

"To put it simply, the 4 weeks I spent in Kenya were, overall, amazing!!  I was challenged and blessed, and I learned so much.  Definitely left a chunk of my heart over there.  :-) 
I shared before that one of our goals was to have a camp for the orphans to teach them praise and worship dance.  That went very well -- we had about 4 days of camp, in which the orphans (ages 3 through 22) learned several songs and dances, plus a skit for the boys.  After the camp, they got to take what they learned and use it to lead worship at an evangelistic crusade at a big slum in Nairobi.  What a great experience for them! 

 Being put in the position of leading the camp was a big, challenging experience for me.  It definitely worked on my boldness and leadership skills! 

Another aspect of the trip that was at some times challenging and at other times a great blessing was living with the mission team for 4 weeks.  There were six of us there the whole time, with four others who were each there for parts of the 4 weeks.  We all had very different personalities, different tastes, different backgrounds.  It was a great group to be a part of, and definitely a group that God put together.  It was a good experience living together, learning from and loving one another. 

In reality, I met so many wonderful people in Kenya.  Just the people in the village we worked in were great people, especially the kids!  I'll get to that in a minute.  But in addition to them... We met a beautiful, sweet lady who had been suffering with cancer for 3 months -- she has since passed away, but it was an honor to have the opportunity to meet her and pray with her before she died.  We also met the members of a new Kenyan Christian band called "Broken Acoustic."  They are a brother-sister team.  We got to meet their family, as well, and let me tell you, they all are some of the sweetest people I've met, and love the Lord like crazy!  :-)  Check out Broken Acoustic here.

I have to say probably one of the best parts of the trip, for me -- although it was all GREAT -- was hanging out with the kids in the orphanage, especially the girls.  What a great group of kids!  Like I said, they range from 3 to 22 years old.  We (the other girl on the trip and myself) spent quite a bit of time just hanging out with them at their dorm, talking, playing games, having Bible study, taking pictures (they loved to use our cameras), and letting them fix our hair.  They just need some attention and love... and they were very curious about our lives in America.  :-)  I was very blessed and changed by the time I spent with the girls.  I really fell in love with one particular little one -- the youngest in the orphanage at 3 years old.  Wish I could bring her home with me!  :-) 

We got to go on a 3-day safari while we were in Kenya.  We went to Ol Pejeta Conservancy -- what an experience!!  We saw too many animals to list, including all of the "Big Five" except the lion.  It was so neat to be out in the midst of God's creation in wild Africa, seeing all the animals in their natural habitat. 

God is good -- He really took care of us throughout our trip.  There were times we were in dangerous or potentially-dangerous situations, but He kept us safe.  I didn't even get sick the whole time, even after coming home, which is a big deal for me, because I always get sick coming home from international trips.  Jet lag wasn't even too bad.  God gave me an amazing opportunity, and I'm SO thankful for it. 
I do hope to go back someday.  Many people have asked me that, and I say, "Yep - I'd go tomorrow!"  "

The Great Rift Valley

HIPPOS!

A church here in our county donated ice cream for 600 kids and teachers!  Many of them had never tasted it before.  I love the looks on these faces as the patiently wait.

The girls braided and fixed her hair all month!  : )


Toward the end of the month they got to go on a 3 day safari.  This is the tent they stayed in.

Inside the tent~

Ashley with Mt. Kenya in the background

mama and baby elephant

baboons

YES!  This is my daughter petting a wild rhino!  There is a guard that stands there with them.

Cape Buffalo~  the group was out of the car at another spot where a guard was supposed to be (but wasn't).  As they were looking at something else, one of these precious things started charging the group, and chased them back to the van.  In the process Ashley fell and hurt her shoulder pretty badly.  She's still dealing with pain from it.  I'm just very thankful he didn't get to her!!

This watering hole could be seen from their tent~








For lots more pictures of Ashley with the kids, see Kenya 1.

Doing the praise dances she taught them with them one last time.

At a giraffe center with our 3 sponsor children~a real treat for all of them.

At the equator!

Some views from the plane~

The Mediterranean Sea

The Sahara Desert

The Swiss Alps

Greenland~

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   The "Year Of the Whirlwind" continues.  : )  I have been absent so much lately, because, well....I've been absent from normal life.  I'm really tired, and really ready to just stay at home for a while, without any drama.  It has definitely been a month of drama!

   Other than posting the HAIRSPRAY pictures, the last time I posted, I had been at Briana's opening night on June 25th, left on the 26th and gone home, turned around at midnight on the 27th, and gone back because Marissa, who had stayed there with my parents, was really sick.  I had only planned on staying 2 nights to get her well, then come back.  The day I was coming home was our 24th wedding anniversary.  Well, things just didn't work out quite that way.  That afternoon there was a crisis in my extended family, and in an hour's time, Marissa, Briana, and I had to leave.  Briana was living with my parents, but we just packed up as much as we could.  The three of us went to a hotel to figure out what we were going to do.  The next morning, Briana and I decided that since she was planning to move into an apt. anyway, and because there was just too much emotion going on at the time, she would go ahead and find an apartment.   I'll spare you all the details, but that day we found her an apt (me being SO thankful that James and I had done some preleminary searching!) Over the next 2 days, we got mattresses, the electric switched, and a WHOLE BUNCH of shopping for dishes, pots & pans, towels, sheets, the works.  I ended up being here 6 nights, and it was an extremely stressful and emotional few days, because of the stress of the crisis and having to take care of all of this in a kind of emergency situation.  But, the Lord gave me much peace and strength that I needed to get through the week.  Troy (Briana's guy) was a big help bringing his dad's truck to pick up the mattress sets and helping us move them upstairs. 

   When I left her that week, the only thing she had here was kitchen stuff, 2 sets of mattresses and box springs lying on the floor, and towels.   : )  It was also very difficult to leave her.  She went overnight from being with family, even me coming to stay with her when my parents were out of town, to being in an apt. on her own.   But, it was another place the Lord gave us peace, and we knew He had walked with us through it.

   In spite of the stress and busyness of those few days, Briana, Marissa, and I had some fun times together.  It was good for the 2 of them to spend time laughing and being silly together in the hotel, and it was just a good time for us in that respect.  I think that time with the 3 of us together will always be special to me, because we bonded together, enjoying each other's company and laughs, in the midst of chaos. 

   I went home for a week, then came back alone.  I had already had tickets to go with Briana to see Troy in The Foriegner, so we did that, and did a lot more shopping here and the next town over.  We were able to get her a dining set and a couch.  I'm kind of getting my trips confused now, but I think that was when a few days later, James and the little girls came over for the day, and he brought her a great one year old washer/dryer set that we got for $300!  After doing several loads that week at the laudromat, we quickly saw that it would pay for itself in 6 months, especially since water is included in the rent.  Briana also bought herself a beautiful real wood sleigh bed at Big Lots for $300!  It is queen size, and gorgeous. 

   Okay, let's see.  I think I was at Bri's for 4 nights that time.  I then went home and spent time with Ashley and helped her get ready for Kenya!  She left on July 22nd!  Tomorrow she will have been gone 2 weeks.  She is having the time of her life, and I will post some pictures soon.  Two more weeks to go, and I have a feeling she isn't going to want to leave.   : )  When you see the pictures, you can see a pure joy and gleam in her eyes, that I'm not sure I've ever seen before. 

  I was home for almost 2 weeks, and, yep....I'm back at Briana's.  With all the chaos of the first 2 weeks of the month here, I had to change my tickets to see her in HAIRSPRAY again, so those were Friday and Sat.  I have also have met and had dinner with Troy's parents and had lunch with his mom and some of her friends while I was here.  James brought the little girls over Sunday night, and Monday afternoon they went to my parents' house to spend a few nights with them.  James and I are headed home this afternoon, and will have a day and a half alone. 

   Well, for your sake, I will stop there.  There is more.  : )  But, those are the biggest events.  There have been major lessons for us all this past month, and a lot of clinging to the Lord.  I miss my younger girls, but the Lord has been taking care of that, too.  They are learning things, too.  I'm hoping to start blogging a little more often.  I think I have just gotten out of the habit.   I'll be popping around to your blogs catching up, too.

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What a fun and fantastic show~ even if Briana wasn't in it!  I'm going back for the 2nd time next Thursday, and I can't wait. 

Good Morning Baltimore~
Briana is in the center in the beige trench coat...Don't you love the wig?

Briana was one of the Nicest Kid's in Town and a Counsil Member~which translated to she was in all almost all of the dances and was one of 8 that had the main dance parts. 

"Nicest Kids In Town"

Nicest Kids introducing themselves~ "Tammy"

With Corny Collins

"I Can Hear the Bells"
These girls popping up, ringing those bells, and the expressions on their faces is one of my favorite parts.  Briana is 2nd from the left in the back.

"Miss Baltimore Crabs"

"Run and Tell That"

The Sophomore Hair Hop

"The Madison"

"The Madison" ~ Feed the Monkey (Briana is on the far left.)

"It Takes Two"

"Welcome to the 60's" 
Oh, my goodness.  These ladies have the most amazing voices!  And, the one on the left was a semi finalist in season 3 of American Idol.

"Welcome to the 60's"
Briana is the tall one...different wig this scene.  You can't really tell, but it is black and has a hot pink stripe across it. Those pink cateye glasses crack me up.

Scatter dodgeball scene.  Briana is on the right.

"Big Blonde and Beautiful"

"Big Blonde and Beautiful"  ~ Mother/Daughter dance

"Timeless to Me"

"I Know Where I've Been"

This was an amazing song.  It brought the house down opening night, and I think most performances.

"It's Hairspray"  ~  Briana is on the left between the 2 guys...new dress, new, bigger wig! : )

"Cooties"

"You Can't Stop the Beat" ~ Briana is toward the back in the center.  There were SO many people on stage in this song, we couldn't get a good picture of her.

She's in there somewhere!


Believe me, I really did restrain myself on the pictures!  LOL. 

Please pray for Ashley as she prepares to leave for Kenya on July 22nd! 

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See a glimpse of our family's adoption story in the Summer Issue of TOS (The Old Schoolhouse) Magazine!!  It was fun to do.  Thank you Gena and Heidi!  Daniella says she's famous now. 

I have so much to update on!!!  This summer just keeps spinning.  I will post, I will post, I WILL post!!  I 'm dying to get the Hairspray pictures on here.  But, for now, I'm off to get ready.  I've been completely alone (except for the dogs and cat) all day today, and tonight I am going out to dinner with 2 friends. 

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Wow.  Where do I even start?  Last time I posted I was at my parents house on my birthday...June 15.  It is now June 28, and I have been back over here twice.  What a month....what a year. 

I did have a very good birthday cookout.  It only rained about 5 min., and we had fun.  It also gave us a chance to spend the afternoon with Troy and him with the whole family. 

Four and a half days after we got home from that visit, we went back to my parents'/ Briana's, which is a 2 hour drive.  James took pictures of Hairspray dress rehearsals (fun pictures coming soon!!) on Tues., and Wed. night.  Opening night was Thurs. night.  It was spectacular....and not just because my daughter was in it.  : )  On Wed., while Briana was in all day rehearsals, James and I went out and did some preleminary scouting for her an apt.  Mostly ruling some out based on location.   That is a little freaky.....finding my baby an apt. : )We were here that trip 3 nights.  My sister and 2 nieces from the other side of TN were also here visiting my parents, so we had a FULL house.  A 3 bedroom house with 11 people, 5 dogs, 2 cats, and an African Grey parrot.  Wow.  It was fun visiting, though.

We went back home Friday night.  Got home about 10:00!  Marissa stayed at my parents' to play with her cousins and stay to visit with her grandparents after they leave.  Well, the next night at 9:45, I hurriedly threw some things in the car, and unexpectedly set out once again to my parents' house, alone this time.  Marissa was running a high fever, had a sore throat, and was throwing up.  She needed her mama.  That was last night.  It was about 11:00 their time (midnight mine.....I changed time zones coming here)  when I got here, and she was back up and had just thrown up again.  It was  pretty long night, especially up until about 3:00 this morning.  She finally stopped throwing up then, but sleep was still fretful, since I was sleeping curled up in a living room chair.  Thankfully, I was able to take a nap today.  Marissa is doing better today, although still running a low grade temp.  I hope to be able to go home tomorrow afternoon (which will actually be today, I guess by the time I get this posted).  I guess she will still be staying here, which means James will still be making a trip to come back over here to pick her back up. 

I am currently still up because I am chapheroning Briana and Troy while they watch a movie. : )  Everyone else is in bed. 

I am hoping to make it home tomorrow because tomorrow....the 29th....James and I celebrate our 24th weddding anniversary.  I love him!!!  Our marriage gets so much better the further we go, and I am more in love with him than ever!

When I get back, guess what!  I will have 11 whole days to be at home before I come back.  Long story, but it's just a season.  I will be coming back alone again, and be here 9 days.  I think this season will slow down after Briana is in an apt. 

Okay.  I realized I didn't throw in the joys!  Spending time with Briana, spending time with Troy, spending time with my nieces,  a *wonderful* opening night for Briana (we laughed and had a ball), sitting beside the quiet lake in prayer and thought, seeing Briana so happy and doing what she loves, cleansing tears, good conversations and strengthening friendship with Ashley,  enjoying seeing Ashley prepare for all the exciting things coming up in her life and seeing her be blessed by people donating for her Kenya trip, a sweet time with Daniella before I had to leave last night, dancing to oldies in the car coming over here last night, and, yes, even holding Marissa's hair back and wiping her face down when she was sick last night.  The situation wasn't really a joy, but I felt so much love and pain for her.  I'm sure there are many others.  God has blessed me.

I also realized I didn't mention the greatest of the trying days, but that will have to wait for another post. 

I sure am hoping this movie is over soon!  : )

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  We are visiting our daughter Briana this week.  We came over on Friday, and Friday night James and I had dinner with her and Troy.  It was a really nice time.  On Sat. afternoon, I went alone to see them in Shenandoah.....which is where they met.  On Sunday,.....I went again  (sheepish grin) with Ashley.  Sunday was their final of 36 shows since it opened mid-March.  She was getting pretty tired of it these last few weeks, but was still, in some ways, sad it was over.  Of course, she is in full swing of Hairspray rehearsals.  She's 10 to 10 tomorrow, with an hour and a half break for lunch, and one for supper.  It's like that most of this week.

Troy and Briana in their Shenandoah costumes.

  Thankfully, she is off today.  She's off most Mondays unless it's tech week (next week).  Today is my birthday, so we're planning to go for a cookout this afternoon.  Unfortunately, there is a 50% chance of scattered storms this afternoon.  : (  I hope we don't get rained out!

   Ashley is still plugging away at her college history course, and she and I have been enjoying some fun times together.  It's funny how you can miss one so much, and yet be thankful for the opportunites it's giving you with another one.  Confusing emotions.  : ) 

Speaking of which, this letting go thing is just not easy.......learning to share them with others (especially a man! : ) ), and that they are spreading their wings in new, higher, different places, and learning from God what your new place in that is.........  I'm getting there....I think.....

I had hoped to go home Tues., which became Wed., which I find out now, is Thurs.  I enjoy visiting with Briana, but we're going to be seeing very little of her Tues.-Thurs. with her rehearsals.   And, we will be coming back 5 days later for James to take pictures at Hairspray dress rehearsals 2 nights, then the 3rd night we will go to the opening. 

Ashley is getting very excited about her Kenya trip.  If you are on Facebook, look up "Ashley's Going to Kenya!", and join her group to join us in prayer for the trip and team. 

The younger girls are doing good.  They are looking forward to coming back over next week again because 2 of their cousins will be here that week.  It's kind of a low key week for them this week.  Not much of their stuff here, their grandparents are out of town this week, we haven't been able to get swimming passes to the pool yet (hopefully today), and I've been gone a lot of the time we've been here.  They played Wii quite a while yesterday with their Daddy.  They're watching Animal Planet right now. We watch very little t.v., but I do let them watch some of the shows on there sometimes.  I tell you.....that little Daniella can remember every single detail about animals that she hears on that show.  Even when she has trouble comprehending and remembering other things, she can tell you word for word details about animals on a show she saw months ago.

Off to get pull everything together for our cookout.  Troy is joining us, and I'm looking forward to some fun family time.....please don't storm!

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