Stitches

Well, we made it almost 10 years with kids before our first set of stitches!  Our 2nd grader fell on the playground yesterday and required 2 stitches in her knee.  She was understandably scared to death, but once she figured out that it was going to be ok, she was a really big girl.  Of course, she is milking it for all the attention she can possibly get!

Here's my deal with the whole situation though.  I first called the dr office to let them know we were coming even before I picked her up at school.  The clinic asked what kind of insurance she has, and they then recommended taking her to the ER.  Well, that made me mad so we went to the clinic anyway.  We were seen by a fabulous dr and nurse who took amazing care of her.  But, what it left me wondering was what they would have said if I had provided a different answer to the insurance question.  What difference did my insurance make?  Either the clinic had someone to take care of her or they didn't....insurance shouldn't have made a difference.  It just really bugs me because taking care of an injured, scared 8 year old should have been the issue rather than insurance.  Now, I clearly have an opinion because my baby was the one needing treatment so maybe I'm not being objective.  Just venting now.....

In the end, all that matters is that she is ok.  It could have been much worse than just a knee, so I am counting our blessings!

Creativity

No one has ever accused me of being exceptionally creative.  I am not really crafty or artistic.  But, I do have that creative part of me that craves to find an outlet.  I have been working on details for New Student Orientation, and I would love to create an amazing t-shirt.  We have a current design, but I think we could do MORE.  I also long to find ways to really engage the students at orientation rather than lecture them.  While I realize the importance of what they are hearing, I don't think they do.  I think they tune it all out.  So, I'm brainstorming ways to engage them from the moment they walk in the door and to keep their attention throughout the process while still providing them information.  I guess I want it ALL!  Any ideas?

TGIM--Thanking God It's Monday

How often do we really say that??  "Thank God It's Monday!"  While I'm exhausted and am really fighting allergies, I'm thankful to see another week.  I'm thankful that the Lord has plans for me today....even though it's Monday. 

The mission team from church came home from Ecuador this weekend, and they shared in church last night.  Their stories have really weighed on my heart.  They reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for, and I know who deserves the praise.  So, I'm thanking God for Monday....in all it's glory!

TGIT (Thank God It's Thursday)

I am truly thanking the Lord that it is Thursday. Since we are working four 10hr days this week, I will be off on Friday.  While that is great to have a short week and spend less on gas, it makes those days that much longer.  They are proposing moving to that schedule all the time to save money, and I see where that makes sense since we only work half days on Friday.  But, that would really make things hard for us in the mornings.  I would have to leave by 6:40 to get to work on time, which would leave me in a jam with my girls.  We do that in the summer, and it gets old in a hurry.  We may end up having to look at being bus riders in the mornings, and I know two little girls who WON'T like that!  Even that isn't a solution....I would still leave before the bus comes :(  Not sure what we'll do.

I am really ready to go home and spend an evening with my family.  One of the girls already has plans to spend the night with a friend, but I just need time to rest.  I have a TON of work to do at home (cleaning, laundry, etc.), but most of that will just have to wait until tomorrow.

I really think the Lord is pushing me out of my comfort zone.  I know that the best way to make God laugh is to make plans of what "I'M" going to do.  Right now, there is so much in my life that is turned upside (or so it feels).  He is the one consistent in my life, and I am so thankful for Him.  He is preparing my life for greater things to come....I keep reminding myself of that to fight the anxiety and fear of the unknowns.

I am preparing to go back to the oncologist in April.  Usually, that overwelms my thought process as the weeks close in on a visit, but I have not been so focused on it lately. Perhaps I have a been a bit preoccupied ;)  But, I am developing the typical anxiety I feel when I'm preparing to go.  I think that's ok though.  I don't ever want to become so complacent that I am not vigilant in this fight.  I do have some questions regarding these meds that I really don't like, so maybe we will get to address those. 

I have been fighting a sore throat, stuffy head, and ear aches this week.  It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the pollen that looks like a dust storm when the wind blows! lol  Hoping to sleep good tonight and get some new meds tomorrow for this!!!

Abandoned

This has been a really hard week.  Without going in to much detail, I will say this....I have learned a lot about what family is and about who in my life is most important (Cory and my girls).  I have learned to guard my heart because I have felt very abandoned by people I thought would always be by my side.  I have felt what it's like to have a "love one" keep score for years and how it feels to not be defended by someone you love.  I have also been reminded that in all situations, God can work.  He is using a less than perfect situation to make me stand on my own two feet. 

My Sunday School class has been doing a study called "If Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat."  The first week, I came home feeling like God was speaking to me.  The lesson was about taking a step of faith and not looking back/down, and I related that to a possible major change in my immediate family (possible job change for Cory that might involve moving).  Now, these changes in my extended family this week are going to cut some ties with the boat and will hopefully make it easier to get out of the boat.  I HAVE to find good in this.  The good will help heal my heart.

I'm picking up my girls today.  They called last night and this morning crying to come home.  While some clearly disagree with my decision to let them come home, Cory and I agree that there is no reason for them to stay somewhere else if they desire to be at home.  They are always welcome in their own home. I will just say that I'm ready to hug my girls and to receive their love.  I have missed them!

My prayers this week....that God would soften my heart and foster forgiveness both from me and toward me....that God would provide safe travel....that God's plan would be clear in the area of job/home for us....that God would continue to work in the lives of the mission team from our church in Ecuador right now and that He would bring them home safely.....that God's perfect will would be done in the lives of my family.

Battle

I talked with the girls again on Skype last night, and they are having a great time with Nana and Pappy.  They had been shopping and went to the park twice.  Those who really know my girls know that they LOVE to go to the park and play, so that made the day wonderful.  They have big plans for the rest of the week too! 

To some, this may sound crazy or radical, but I really believe there is a spiritual battle going on in my life.  Not so much that I am personally struggling with spiritual issues, but I feel as though my family and I have been under Satan's attack lately.  There have been lots of small things, but there have been some really big job and family issues as well.  Now, individually, none of these things would lead me to this conclusion.  But, the combination of them all, along with the source of one particular issue, makes me think there is a bigger picture.  One person in particular has really personally attacked me, and I would never in a million years have expected it.  The words and behaviors are totally out of character for him, so it makes me think that there is something else going on.  The common factor among all of the recent drama, both in my life and the lives of my husband and girls, has been an attack on our character and who we are as people.  Verbal attacks about using people, being hateful to others, being brats, belittling other people, having inapproriate conversations, and on and on and on......It is one thing for attacks to be about our behaviors, but it is a much more personal attack when it is about who we are as people.  I honestly believe that Satan is using these attacks to try to make us bitter and angry people, and I refuse to let him win.  God's power is so much stronger than Satan's, and Satan will NOT win this battle in our lives.  It does make me angry that he attacks my children, but I believe he only attacks those who are working for good and who threaten him.  I am so thankful for the way my mother raised me....one comment she always used to make was, "Would you do that if Jesus was sitting right beside you?"  Well, I now take comfort in knowing that Jesus IS with me through this battle, and  he WILL win.

Spring Break

Well, it's Spring Break, and I am working.  Since the girls are out of school this week, we took them to Nana and Pappy's house for the week.  This is certainly not the first time that they have spent time at their house or that they have been away from me, but I am definitely having the hardest time with this trip.  The girls were happy when we left, and they will have a fabulous time.  But, for some reason, I have struggled with leaving them there.  We were able to see their smiling faces on Skype last night, and that was great.  They had already been to the circus, so they gave us the full story on the circus.  Anna's favorite part was riding a horse.....apparently, if a special ticket is purchased, you can ride a horse at intermission!  She was very proud!!  They have other plans like going to a chocolate factory, visiting a Discovery Center, having tea with a French friend of Nana's, and checking out the plane that belongs to Pappy's company.  Lots of fun!!!

While we were in Springfield, we had dinner with my two step-brothers and their wives.  I haven't seen Casey and Chris in 10 years and had never met their wives.  Casey and his wife, Carrie, are expecting their first child and are so excited.  It brought back lots of memories of when we were first expecting Audrey.  Oh how things change once you become parents :)

Guess I should start the work day.....really wish I were still in bed asleep.  A flying trip to Springfield and back wore me out!!!!