Milestones...

Well, my baby is officially in the First Grade! It truly just seems like yesterday that we found out we were pregnant with him…and then that we brought him home from the hospital…and then that we were celebrating his first birthday….man, time flies by! Where has the time gone? He had a great first day of school and was making plans for a play-date on his walk out of the school building – my little social butterfly! I video-taped the morning yesterday…but he woke up before I went in to wake him up, so we had to pretend that Faith Anne and I were going in to wake him up – he did a good job of acting! LOL We all walked him to school – although he didn’t really want to walk with us…and we got him situated in his class. I had to pull Scott out of the room – I think he had a harder time with it then I did! Some of the other parents were having a hard time and saying that this was worse than Kindergarten because they are there all day and the whole lunch thing….I guess it wasn’t for us since he was there all day last year too. At any rate, he likes his teacher and has some friends in his class from last year. It was a good first day!

So…besides that major life-event….things have been going pretty good – just busy. It seems that we always have something going on! Isaac had his first sleep-over on Friday night. He was so excited about that. He asked Jacob to spend the night. Scott took the boys to a football game and then they came home and played games…..the girls and I were already in bed. Then on Saturday, I had the Women’s Gathering, so Scott was home with 4 kids by himself! The boys played well together…but Faith Anne wouldn’t leave them alone – surprise, surprise. She is a pill! He was ready for me to take them all when I got home….so I did! I took them all with me to drop Jacob off at his house and then we came home and got ready to go! We went to see my nephew’s football game – we had a good time…but it did rain on us! Oh well….that was fun to watch him play. I am hoping to go to many of his games. It was nice to see my sister and my nieces too. I hadn’t seen them for a very long time! My sister is such a funny character….she was sharing with me that a guy we went to high school with is a junior high teacher at my niece’s school – that is so weird! I told her that we were getting old!!! Well, she is…this is her 15 year reunion year. I doubt she will go, but 15 years! That means that Scott’s 15 year reunion is next year….old, old, old! Anyways, we had fun there. My girls just adore their cousins….and Isaac does too, but he isn’t as open about it. He did think it was pretty cool to see Darnell (my nephew) play…and wear the same number as he does! We went out to dinner with Mom and Dad afterwards….at this big, beautiful hotel/complex thingy that was not there when I was a kid….oh, the game was at my old high school. Anyways, talk about memories. Where we ate used to just be a cornfield! That was a little weird. Then we took the scenic route home and I was telling the kids (only Isaac really listened) stories about all the places we were passing. I have some great memories of my childhood!

Sunday…Isaac had his first official game of the season. We lost…but it he had fun and that is all that really matters….that is what I keep telling him! He did great…..he didn’t get knocked down once….he landed on the ground once, but that was because he threw himself on top of a pile of kids already down there! I guess he wanted a piece of the action…LOL. Anyways, he did great and even though they lost, they had fun. The kids and I went out to breakfast with Mom and Dad afterwards…..we have been eating out too much!!! Then we came home….Scott went to some draft party at the church….so, the kids and I got home and I got cleaned up and took them over to my parents house so I could go to a viewing. A lady that I worked with passed away from breast cancer. She was only 45….and had only been diagnosed 3 years ago. It was very sad to see her family there….her husband and her parents…just so very sad. They weren’t Christians either….and I honestly do not know how you make it through something like that without Christ in your life – seriously! So…that was about it for Sunday, I guess. Nothing else exciting happened…at least not that I remember!

Monday….work was work…I haven’t heard anything about that other job yet. The lady just got back from vacation this week. I think the interviews start next week…so keep praying! Kelli did talk to the lady who I would report to and she told her (Kelli told her) that I was the best person for the job…LOL. The lady – her name is Jean – told her that she had heard that from several people now. So, hopefully all of that will work in my favor! I am anxious…..but trying to be patient! But if you know me…you know that patience is not a virtue that I possess! Anyways…work was work. I got to start my new “flex-time” schedule and leave at 2:00 – LOVE that! So, I left and got the kids from my Aunt’s house….took the girls to my parent’s house…. ran home and changed clothes and grabbed Isaac’s school supplies and took him to meet his teacher and drop off his supplies. We went and saw his Kindergarten teacher while we were there – she is such a nice person! Then I took him to the Greene and bought him some new t-shirts and took him to dinner as my special time with him before school starts. He is such a funny kid….we had a great time together. Football practice ended up being cancelled, so we had a nice quiet evening at home and I tried to get him in bed early.

So….other GREAT news…Michael got to go home yesterday! Yep, he is out of the hospital! He still has to go back every day for rehab therapy….but he is HOME! Please continue to pray. They need prayers badly….it is going to be a HUGE transition for everyone and his parents are really struggling. They both have very different opinions on what is best for Michael….so please pray for that family. I am sure that my Dad is going to be helping as much as he can with getting Michael back and forth to his therapy….so, just please pray for that situation. I think that he is giving his testimony this Sunday at the church where the incident occurred. He has been working on it at the hospital and really wants to give it. So, it would be nice if it wasn’t this weekend since we will be out of town this weekend, but he is anxious!!!

Yeah…this weekend is our family reunion in Somerset, Kentucky! I am excited now that it is getting closer! Things have been so busy lately that I just haven’t really had much time to think about it! Isaac has a football game at 8:00 am on Saturday – yes, you read that right – and then we will probably leave soon after that to head down there. We are only staying one night this year and going to head home late on Sunday night…..Isaac is in a parade on Monday…so we want to be home for that. Plus, everyone else is leaving from there to go on vacation in Gatlinburg, so we will be jealous of that and ready to head back! LOL But we have a big week here next week because Faith Anne starts Pre-School! I don’t know how in the world we are going to work out our schedule for next week….my parent’s are going to be on vacation – but we will have to figure it all out! It is like putting together a puzzle with a million pieces! LOL

So, I guess that is about it! Praying for all of you…and especially for Josy to keep that baby Claire “cooking” a while longer!!! And for Angela as her baby starts Kindergarten! Big stuff! Love ya!!!

LONG Update!!!

Hello Everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Things here are going pretty good – can’t complain too much, and what good would it do anyways? LOL…but seriously, things are going pretty good! Where did I leave off?!?!

Well, an update on Michael. He is doing great! Since last week, he did have a spell over the weekend where he was hallucinating pretty badly. My Dad went to see him and Michael told him that his parents and his sister and his niece were there and had been for over an hour, and they weren’t really there. He had a rough weekend. I think the biggest factor, though, is that he has a deep desire to go home. But he is really where he needs to be. So, anyways….he came out of that spell and is doing really great again. My Dad said that yesterday he was as “clear” and as “normal” as he had seen him in the past month. So, hopefully this stage will last a long time! He also shared that three of Michael’s buddies had spent an entire week fasting and praying for Michael – the week when he was so bad. Now that is some great friends! I told Dad last night that I pray that Isaac will find some great friends like that. Also, there was a prayer service for Michael at the high school that he graduated from on Saturday night. The youth minister of the church that he was playing basketball at when this whole thing started led it and it was very nice. Michael was itching to be there with us, but they couldn’t allow him out of the hospital for that. It was neat to see so many people gather to pray for him. They plan on holding more of those for him…because he obviously has a long road ahead of him. But things are looking up. And it is neat to see how he has touched so many lives during this ordeal.

So, Jodi was in town this past weekend…..and we had a nice visit! She got up here early on Friday and so I was having a hard time being at work knowing that she was already here! They went garage sale-ing and fun stuff like that! I had an appointment at the Pre-school that we have signed Faith Anne up for, so I just decided to call it a day after that. So, let me get back to our weekend in a minute….

We have decided to enroll Faith Anne in preschool. I just feel like she needs the extra discipline and attention – being the middle child! So, she is going to Green-Oak preschool – it is in a church – on Tuesday & Thursday mornings. She is excited – well, as excited as she can be since she doesn’t really know what it is yet. But I visited it on Friday and it is really neat! I am excited for her! And they do some fun things for the family throughout the year too. So, my mom is going to help with that – getting her back and forth and stuff. I had to work out with my mom and my aunt “the school schedule”….having kids is a lot of shuffling – especially when both parents work 40+ hours a week!!! The school schedule is this:

* Scott will get Isaac off to school each morning – actually a group of kids from the neighborhood all walk together, so he has to get him up and ready and out the door every day….no fun for him since he is not a morning person, but I am at work by 7:00 – so it falls on him!
* On Mondays & Wednesdays, I leave work early to get Isaac picked up from school. I take him home with me and he does homework/plays with friends while I “work from home” until 5:00…then we go get the girls from my Aunt’s house
* On Tuesdays & Thursdays, not only does Scott have to get Isaac up and ready for school, but he also has to get Faith Anne up and ready for school and drop her off there at 9:00 and then drop Gracie off at my parent’s house. My mom will pick Faith Anne up at 11:30 and then pick up Isaac at 2:30….I will get them all from my parent’s house in the afternoon
* On Fridays….either my Mom will get Isaac from school or Scott or after-care and either my Mom or my Aunt will watch the girls….

So, talk about craziness!!! It is going to be wild! But what can you do?!?! I was talking to my neighbor the other day and he has 3 girls and their ages are pretty spread out. He was saying that it took them 15 years to get all 3 of their kids in school for a full day. That will help….but it will take us a long, long time to get there! Oh well. It keeps us young…or busy…or just crazy! Why did we want kids….and 3 of them to boot?!?! Just kidding…I love them!!!

Okay…so back to my weekend! So, after I visited the preschool, I went to my parent’s house and they were just getting the kids down for a nap…and we were all ready for a nap too! Jodi had gotten up pretty early to get there. So….I left the girls to nap with them and Isaac and I headed home for naps of our own and then he had football. It was a nice nap…but I wish it could’ve been longer! I think I could’ve slept for days! Oh well! Scott came home and took Isaac to football and I went back over to my parent’s house. We decided to go to a little carnival in Bellbrook…that was fun. My Dad saw lots of people he knew….some cousins of his and also some people he grew up with. Scott and Isaac met us there after football and the kids had a great time. They rode rides…Jodi and I rode the ferris wheel with them….that was not as much fun as I remember it being as a kid! A little scary, actually! But it was a fun evening and gorgeous weather! Faith Anne told my Dad on the way home that she had a “wonderful time”. She can be so cute sometimes!

Saturday….I got up and did a little house-cleaning – man, my house needs some attention! I did as much as I could fit into the morning. Then Mom, Dad and Jodi came over and we all had lunch and then headed to Isaac’s first football game. I was all nerves….but it was very cool! I am so proud of Isaac! He got to run through the sign – they announce his name first since he is Number 2…so he gets to run on the field first. Talk about a proud Mama…I was for sure. He played pretty much the entire game! He plays on the Offensive and Defensive lines….and he did great….not that you can see much during the game, but we did watch it later – we taped it, duh! He has watched it about 4 or 5 times! He got a good tackle…and so he got a “game ball” at their practice last night. He seemed to enjoy it, so we will see! Oh, they didn’t win…they got beat 31 – 13, but the other team had a very fast little guy that just got away from them every time. Jodi and I were saying that I bet his parents are proud of him! So, after the game….the team did their huddle with the cheerleaders and then the cheerleaders gave the football players a goodie bag. It was very cute. So, of course, Faith Anne proceeds to throw a fit because she wants snack too…well, in t-ball, the mom’s always brought enough for the siblings…not the case in football. So, I was explaining to Faith Anne that the snacks/goodies are for the football players and she was calming down. Well, then…out of the huddle comes my big football player and he walks up to Faith Anne with his helmet and says…”Look Faith Anne…Bubby got you something too. Pick out what you want.” He had stuff in his helmet…I just started crying! All the nerves of the first game and then to see him be so tender-hearted…..just made me cry with pride!!! Jodi made fun of me, of course…but it was just one of those moments! I wish I could bottle those moments up!!! Moments like that are worth more than all the money in the world.

So, it was a good first game! I was worried how he would do with winning/losing….this is the first sport he has played where they keep score…but he did fine with it! I am looking forward to his next game!!!

After that, the girls and I took Jodi to my parent’s house and then we came home. I tried to get them down for a nap, but I wasn’t very successful! I got cleaned up and left Scott with the kids and went to my parent’s house. We went to the prayer service for Michael and then another church service and just had a fun evening with no kids!!!! We even went to Friendly’s for ice-cream! It was a good time!!!

Sunday was church…I was in the nursery both hours and so I didn’t get to talk to or really see anyone! This is my last Sunday of doing that….next month I start teaching pre-school during worship hour on one Sunday a month. I am not sure about that….but I am kinda ready to do something different than just the nursery. I have been in that nursery for about 8 or 9 years now…ever since I started coming to BCC. So, teaching is NOT my strength, but we will see! I told Joy I would try it! After church, Scott went to work….Miami University had a big move-in this weekend and he made lots and lots of sales there!!! The kids and I headed to my parent’s house for lunch with Jodi and Jimmie before they headed back to KY. I think we (meaning my kids and me) were all over-tired. The kids were mis-behaving quite a bit and I was just so tired! I went home and we all went down for naps right away! Gracie didn’t sleep much, but I did get a bit of a Sunday nap in!!!

So, that was our weekend re-cap! It was fun to spend some good time with Jodi! I am secretly (well, it isn’t a secret anymore) jealous that she and Jimmie and Mandy and Chelle and the Parent’s are all going on vacation to Gatlinburg the week of Labor Day…but I guess I had my vacation time in July! Bummer that the kids have school…that is a great time to vacation! Oh well…I am sure they won’t have fun without me…LOL!!!

Isaac starts First Grade next Tuesday! We went shopping on Monday night (in all the rain, football was cancelled) and got all of his school supplies. We had to go to Wal-Mart and Target…it was a mess! But we got them all and I have labeled everything (I mean – EVERYTHING) with my labeler! Yep, all 48 of his crayons have his name on them. I can’t believe my baby is in 1st Grade!!! Time flies! Gracie will be one in less than 2 months! WOW!!!!

A little plug….reminder to our Ladies that we have our Ladies Gathering on Saturday! We practiced for the music last night….it was a long practice, but fun! If you can make it, I am sure it will be fun….and refreshing! I know that I need a spiritual boost! So, come on Saturday if you can make it!!!
Well, this has gotten to be a very long journal, but there is one more thing I want to tell you about and ask for your prayers about. I know that I mentioned the Recruiter Job in a previous post…well, I decided not to even apply for that position because there is just NO WAY those hours would work for us right now. So….I put that thought out of my mind entirely. Well, yesterday, Kelli called me and told me about a job that I knew was out there, but hadn’t really thought twice about it because the girl who left the position was part-time…so I assumed it would be posted as part-time and probably not here – meaning I thought it would be in Columbus. Well, the job was posted as full-time and the location can be wherever the person lives. It is in our Audit department – so a totally different line of business than what I work in now, but Retail (what I work in now) experience would be a huge plus in this Audit job. It is an Audit Officer position….and I would be creating reports (I do that now), analyzing data, creating new procedures…stuff like that. So, different from what I do now, yet not that different. The really cool thing is that it is 100% flex-time….meaning that I would be 40 hours, but I would pretty much have complete flexibility to set my schedule. There are conference calls and such that I would have to be available for…but much, much, much more flexible than what I have now. Plus, I can work from home…from a branch…or wherever. So, that means that I wouldn’t have to see Stinky Pete and I wouldn’t have to work downtown and pay $90 a month in parking. SO! I have applied for the job….actually the reason Kelli thought of me was she was having dinner with the boss of the person that is hiring this position. So, if I got the job, she was the boss of my new boss. She suggested I apply for it. SO…..please pray for me!!! I applied for it yesterday – the hiring manager is on vacation until Monday….but please pray for this. I am excited about the thought of doing something different – been doing this job for 6 years now….but also a bit nervous about the learning curve. So, please pray!!!!

Alright…seriously, if you made it this far, you are either bored, or you just love me a lot!!! Love ya!!!

Weekly Ramblings...

Hello Everyone! Do I have some good news to share?!?! I wanted to update you all on Michael! It seems that Friday night when we were at the hospital, that was a sort of break-through for Michael. From that moment on, he has continued to get better and better! I went and saw him on my lunch hour on Monday and I was just amazed! He was up and walking around by himself – still doing things slowly – but it was so much better than Friday. I went and saw him again yesterday and again, just amazing! He was tired from a full day of therapy and very anxious to go home, but doing great. He actually has all of his stuff ready to go and thinks he is getting released today. But he isn’t really. So, that is the next challenge. It is likely that if he continues to do as well as he is doing now all week that he might go home next week, but that is still to be decided. So, thank you for your prayers. It is a miracle. He is doing so well. His friends have coordinated a candle/prayer vigil for him in front of his high school for Saturday night. That is very cool – and a testament to how much that kid is loved. Seriously, yesterday…it was like I was just talking to him on a regular family event. He was asking about my job and the kids and just your normal everyday stuff. God is so good…and it is so neat to see HIM in Michael.

We did have another cousin – this one is actually very removed…like his Mom was (she passed away about 10 years ago) the daughter of my Mom’s cousin. So, a very removed cousin…but family just the same. Anyways, he is only 17 and was in a bad ATV nearly two weeks ago and they had to amputate his leg just above his knee. He is in the same hospital as Michael, so my Dad and I went to visit him on Monday. So very sad….but lucky to be alive! That is another family that just seems to have bad things happen one right after the other. His name is Curtis, so I know that he could use our prayers as he is getting released from the hospital this week and beginning a whole new version of life. I can’t imagine.

So, besides all that kind of stuff…things are going good – just very busy! Tuesday night I was telling my mom that I was going to go see Michael on my lunch and she suggested that I might need to take a nap on my lunch. Guess it is pretty bad if it is obvious! Actually, Gracie is sleeping much better – although I hate to say that and jinx it. But she did sleep through the night last night and the night before! YEAH! But I am just running so much that I am pooped! This football stuff is going to kick my butt. I really need to stop complaining about it because part of being a parent is sacrificing for your kids….so I am going to try to stop complaining…but it is kicking my butt! My house is a mess, but I am starting to just accept that straightened might be as good as it gets for a while. At least until I have time on the weekend to clean.

Speaking of football…Isaac is doing much better. He is getting a handle on the whole tackling thing. I thought it would be hard to watch him play because I would be so nervous, but I am actually more nervous for the kids he is playing against! His first game is Saturday afternoon. That should be funny…I mean good. He is looking forward to it. I think we are gonna have a cast of thousands there because Scott’s whole family and my family are going to be there. See, Scott’s family likes to come to stuff like that and look like they are involved in our lives. I shouldn’t say that…but there is truth to that statement.

Let me vent for just a second. Last weekend was Brayden’s first birthday party – which was very fun. Scott told me before it happened that his Aunt Vickie was going to be there. That rubbed me the wrong way. She has never once been to one of our kids parties, even though we have always invited her. See, she is his millionaire aunt. So, she got there on Sunday and of course bought him a very expensive bike and a really nice toy chest for Stacey. Fine….but hello…I have 3 kids. And really…I know that sounds shallow, but it is just yet another example of how Scott is treated so poorly by his family. His grandparents sent Stacey like $100 for Brayden’s birthday – my kids have never gotten a card from them. It is just horrible. I get upset about it because it hurts Scott – and of course because it appears that they are “dissing” my kids. It just doesn’t make any kind of sense. I didn’t say anything about it to Scott until he brought it up the next day. I told him that I guess since Stacey is a single parent, she gets everything handed to her (by his family), but because we are married and making ends meet on our own – our kids don’t deserve the special treatment. I guess that Scott has had this kind of conversation with his mom before about his dad and how he treats all of us…she thinks that his dad is jealous of Scott. Now, if that isn’t the worst thing that a parent can be of their kids, I don’t know what is. She thinks that he is jealous because Scott has so much (not that we are rich) but so much more than they had at our age. Uh….why not be proud of your son and happy for him and his family? Just a thought. So…needless to say….I LOVE spending a day with his family! LOL It was also funny because some of MIL’s brothers were there and this was the first time they had seen Steve since he left MIL (which was almost 6 years ago) and they were very rude to him. That was funny. I did have fun talking to Sara and Scott’s sisters. I wish his family weren’t so dysfunctional.

Work has been work. Boring. Not much to say. A neat position came open – Recruiter – and several people have told me how great I would be at that…and I secretly REALLY want to do it, but I just don’t think I can. The hours would be more late evenings and some travel….so I am not sure we can swing that right now. Isaac starts school in 2 weeks and I think we are putting Faith Anne in preschool….so too many things coming up that I would hate to miss because of work. I work to live…I don’t live to work. So, that is a bummer. I wish I could figure out a way to do it.

Oh! My mom did cut a few inches off of Faith Anne’s hair! I wanted to take her to this cool salon – Sweet and Sassy – but she was petrified. So, yesterday my mom cut about 2 or 3 inches off. I think she still needs more cut off…and she says she will go to the salon now, so we will see. I might take her there and have them cut off a bit more. I just think she would love it once she tried it! And I think we are going to cut Gracie’s hair too so that it looks thicker. It is just so wild – and although it is long, it just looks crazy. So, I think we are going to do that soon. Isaac wants a Mohawk, but I don’t think that is going to happen! A few of the kid son his team have one…but I don’t think he really wants one, I think he just tells us that for shock factor. He is a trip.

Well, I guess that is about it for now! I am excited because Jodi is coming up tomorrow! We have a busy weekend planned, but it will be fun! It has been over a month since I saw her last! She was sending me emails yesterday to make plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years…can you believe that it won’t be too much longer until we are talking about that again?!?!?

Have a great day! Love ya!!!

Please Pray....

I just wanted to post a plea for prayer. I went to visit Michael tonight and our family truly needs your prayers. It is almost as if he is recessing again, instead of moving forward. I sat with him for quite a while tonight and held his hand...I prayed with him...I hugged him...I fed him...I told him how much we all love him...I told him that he is a miracle...I read to him....I loved him. He is just in such a different place...I really can't describe it.

When I first went into his room, he was sleeping. I just stood back and was actually praying for him quietly. He opened his eyes and saw me and reached his hand out to me. So, I sat beside him and held his hand and was still. Before long, he asked me a question. I couldn't understand him, because it is almost like he talks without moving his mouth. You have to get right next to him to really understand what he is saying. He is so weak. He shakes constantly and he is so pale. So, after repeating his question a few times, I realized that he was asking me how Isaac is...he finally said, your son....like hello! Do you not know who I am asking about? That made me cry...but I told him that Isaac is doing good and was at football and that Michael needs to get better because Isaac wants him to come and watch him play. He said he would. Then he asked me about my girls....he asked me how old they are. We talked for a minute before he drifted back off to sleep. Then he asked for candy...so his sitter fed him some fruit snacks. I made a joke about him trying to show me how big his mouth is...so he opened it wide for me. Then I asked him if he wanted to eat his dinner....he hadn't eaten in like 3 - 4 days. He said yes....so after a bit, I fed him his dinner.

There is an article in the paper about the girl who saved his life - she received a medal of honor. We showed that to him and he started crying because he couldn't read it. So, I read it to him and there is a quote in there that says that Michael..."is on his way to a miraculous recovery...". So, when I read that to him, he just started crying and reached out to hug me. I held him close and just whispered in his ear that it was okay to cry and that we love him and that God loves him and that this is all a part of God's plan...that God has a big plan for him....and that now we have it in black and white that he is a miracle. I told him that God isn't done with him yet...that God still needs Michael to spread the gospel and bring others to Christ. Michael agreed with me....this was the last time he was calm and coherent...it started to go down hill after that.

He wants to walk...but he is too weak. He doesn't want anyone to have to help him and he gets very frustrated and embarrassed. They can't allow him to go anywhere by himself because he has developed a blood clot on his lung, so he is on blood thinners, so they can't take a chance that he could hurt himself. That is why he is restrained to his bed. He is getting sore from being in bed all the time. Just imagine how hard that would be for a vibrant young man who is used to running and playing ball every single day.

I would just ask that you please pray. Pray for Michael. Pray for his parents....and his sister. Just pray that they would feel God's hand and turn to HIM for comfort. This is so hard on them. Words cannot express what it is like to see this young man in this condition. My dad is really having a hard time with all of this too. He is trying to be strong for my uncle, but he is such a tender-hearted person, he is really having a hard time.

My brother-in-law, Jimmie, said a very profound thing that has been ringing through my ears since Jodi told me.....he said....God's plan for Michael has not changed. This is all a part of the plan. Just because we didn't know this part, doesn't mean that God's plan for him has changed. He is still going to use Michael exactly the way He intended.

Please, Dear God, Healer of all things, surround this family with your loving and healing arms. Give them rest in YOU, allow them to let go and know that YOU are in control and that YOU are carrying them through this horrible time right now. Allow them to rest, physically, and not grow weak as they are trying to be there for Michael right now....and gently prod them to turn to YOU and not to earthly things for peace. Thank you for the MIRACLE of MICHAEL. Thank you for giving us him and for molding him into the child of God that he is. Thank you for allowing us to have him on this earth as long as we have and help us to understand that YOU are in control and that YOU are holding us in your hand. PRAISE THE LORD - He is good all of the time and all of the time, HE IS GOOD.

Thank you all for allowing me to post this plea for prayer. My heart is just so heavy for Michael and his parents and his sister. I know in my heart that God is in control, but it is hard for my head to grasp that knowledge and just let go and let God.

I love you all...and thank you for your continued prayers.....

Wednesday Ramblings...

Well, I was in the middle of writing a post about how I am leaving work early to go get my hair-cut, when I got a call from the salon that my appointment needs to be rescheduled because he isn’t coming in today. ARGH! I am so bummed! I am so over-do for a haircut that it isn’t even funny!!! I was supposed to get it cut during the week of Camp Extreme, but that didn’t happen because there was no time. Then I was supposed to get it cut last week, but that didn’t happen because of football – again, no time. So, I had made the appointment for noon today and was just going to take a half-day off - that is how desperate I am. Oh well. I rescheduled it for 9:30 tomorrow. I might just work from home tomorrow. Because I never like how he fixes it (not big enough for me), so I will have to go home and re-fix it anyways….so I might just work from home! We will see. Anyways, I am so bummed out about that!

Okay…on to more important things! Like Big Brother! I am really getting annoyed with ED and how mean he is to everyone. And then to see him do such a turn-around with Jen last night, what a snake. I hope they turn on him and Danielle and get rid of them. I am not really pulling for anyone to win at this point, but I don’t like them very much right now. Now, that might change….but seriously, I get knots in my stomach whenever ED starts attacking someone! I could not live with someone as hateful as him. So, anyways…I am anxious to see who gets voted off on Thursday night!

Well, football is going good! Isaac had his first tackling practice on Monday night. You know how we teach our kids not to hit others and certainly not to hurt others…well, then we sign him up for football and tell them it is okay to hit others hard when you playing football. Well, he is having a hard time with that. He isn’t aggressive enough yet – but I am sure that will come. He got knocked down quite a bit – and mostly by a girl! They have a girl on his team that is REALLY good. She is about the same height as him and she tackled him a few times. I am sure it won’t take much time before he gets mad and starts to really figure out how to tackle. I told him to think about when Faith Anne makes him really mad and then take that frustration out on the other players. He looks so cute in all his gear. His nickname is “Bruiser” – that is what is on the back of his practice jersey. Too cute! So, last night his practice was cancelled because the heat index was so high. I hope they are able to practice the rest of the week because their first game in next Saturday and they are no where near ready right now!

Another escapade with Isaac….last night we looked all over the house and the vehicles for his GameBoy! We couldn’t find it anywhere. Well, we asked him where he remembered having it last and he distinctly remembered putting it in the cart at Krogers on Saturday night. Well, I distinctly remember that he did not take it inside…in fact, I never saw him put in the cart and if I had, I wouldn’t have allowed him to take it in. When we got to Krogers, there was a cart right next to us (on the passenger’s side) and Isaac hopped out of the van and claimed that as our cart. I was still on the driver’s side because that is the side that Gracie is on. Faith Anne can get out by herself now, so she and Isaac got out and came around to my side – so I was never on the passenger side. Following me so far? Well, no sooner did he claim that as our cart did he change his mind and started looking for a “car” cart for the girls to ride in. Unbeknownst to me, he had in fact put his GameBoy in the cart next to the van and then left it when he decided to look for a new cart! So, last night, he told us this and on a long shot, Scott called Krogers and sure enough, someone had turned it in to their Lost & Found. Boy was that nice! I told Isaac that he was lucky because if they hadn’t, he would’ve been out a GameBoy because we wouldn’t buy him a new one! They went to Krogers and got it and everything was there! Amazing! There are some honest people in this world!

Last night was a long one at our house….or rather a short one! Gracie woke up at 1:00 something and I had a hard time getting her back to sleep. Then at some point, Faith Anne climbed on top of me to sleep with us because she was scared. I was too tired to put her back in her bed. Then at 3:18, Gracie woke up again and didn’t go back to sleep until nearly 5:00. And my alarm goes off at 5:30. I didn’t get much sleep at all! I don’t know what to do with her! In the middle of the night, Scott called her demon-possessed. That made me laugh…you just get to a point where you are either going to laugh or cry….so we were laughing. What I wouldn’t give for a full night’s sleep!!!!

Brayden, my adorable curly-top nephew, is going to be 1 on Saturday…oh, and that reminds me…someone else is going to be 30 this weekend! Wonder who that is…..KELLEY!!!!! LOL (I do have the date right, don’t I?)

Anyways, I can’t believe that he is already 1! This past year has just flown by! He is so cute and such a happy baby. We are having a big party for him at my MIL’s house….it should be fun, although I will have to spend time with the in-laws. That is annoying….but worth it for Brayden! I think we are going to get him a Big Wheels.

I am just rambling, I know. But I am so bored at work that I can’t see straight! My job tends to be feast or famine, and this is a time of famine – FOR SURE. I like some down-time, but too much just makes me bored and the time just crawl by!!!

Umm…my co-worker who was going through a divorce because her husband cheated on her…well, they are back together now. I am having a really hard time with that because it just annoys me that she would take him back. I know it really is none of my business, but when I have had to hear all about it for the past 3 months…and now she is hunkey-dorey with him again, it just kinda irks me off. So, I haven’t asked her about it at all and told her that I didn’t really want to talk about it. The sad thing is, this is (apparently) the kind of marriage that they have because another girl that we work with said that this is like the 3rd time she has been through this since they have been friends. This is just my first experience. So, that has made work even more interesting!

What else can I ramble about? I am going to go to the hospital today to see Michael. I was talking to Dad about it last night and apparently my Aunt & Uncle were to meet with the doctors, the insurance people and a lawyer yesterday. The doctors and insurance people were to talk about how much longer he needs to be/can stay at the hospital under the insurance coverage. The attorney is because since he is an adult, there is some kind of paperwork for him to sign off on saying that it is okay or not okay to restrain him. I am not really sure what that is all about, but I am anxious to find out what news they have from yesterday. I don’t even know if I will get to see Michael or just spend time with my Aunt, but I feel like I need to stop by there again. I have talked to my cousin (his sister) a few times since last week. This is really taking a toll on all of them. Next week will be one month since all of this happened – not an anniversary they were expecting to celebrate.

Well, I guess I don’t have much else to talk about. Well, I do, but no one wants to listen, I am sure!!! Oh…an update on the robbery at my bank…one of the employees that was shot got released from the hospital yesterday and the other will be in the hospital still for another week or so. He was shot in the stomach and they need to keep him for observation to make sure that no infection settles in. I don’t think they have caught the guys yet…but the branch did re-open today. I can’t imagine what that must be like for them! All of our corporate big-wigs have been down there supporting the employees and their families. Pretty scary stuff!

You all have a great day and I will “talk” to you soon! Love ya!

Monday!!!

Happy Monday Everyone! Or is that an oxymoron? Someone has said that before, but boy that is so true! Mondays are a bummer! I wish weekends were longer….but they aren’t, so oh well!!!

Well, for an update on Michael – I went and saw him on Thursday and he was pretty bad. This phase that he was going through in his recovery was just very hard to witness. They actually had to restrain him to his bed on Thursday (after I was there) and Friday and Saturday. My parents talked to his folks yesterday and it sounds like he is doing better and they were able to un-restrain him. I plan on going over there on my lunch hour tomorrow to see him. I hope that it is better than last week! After I visited him on Thursday, I had a rough time. It was just very scary. I was talking to the girls at Women’s Group about it last night and just cried and cried. I think I had kept it bottled up that as soon as I started talking about it, I couldn’t stop all the emotions. (But I still didn’t cry as much as Amber on BB!!!) So, thanks Ladies for letting me get that out last night! I needed it!!!!

So, Friday was an alright day at work. Nothing too exciting. I got the kids from my aunt’s house and we rushed home to get Isaac ready for his last night of football for the week. It was their first time wearing all of their “gear”. It is gonna take me about 15 minutes each night to get him all ready…but he looked so cute!!! Scott got home and took him to football so I stayed home and gave the house some much needed attention! One of the things that I did was go through all the toys and purge some of the junk – like the stuff we get from restaurants or stuff we don’t have all the pieces for anymore. My house just needed some TLC! Once Scott and Isaac got home, Kelli picked me up and we went to see a chick flick – No Reservations with Catherine Zeta-Jones. It was a cute movie. We got there early so we were able to visit a bit and get caught up before the movie….it was a much-needed little break!

Saturday….I did more cleaning and laundry and just had fun with the kids. Scott went to work, so we just hung out around the house. The kids played nearly all morning on their new swing-set. I think Faith Anne just sat on the swing for hours! She loves having it in her backyard! Scott got home from work and we were going to take the kids out on some errands, but both Isaac and Faith Anne were being whiney and bratty, so I just said enough is enough and made them go to their rooms! Faith Anne went to sleep, but Isaac never did. So, Scott went and did a few things and I just played with Gracie and did laundry and stuff. It was a pretty un-eventful Saturday. Oh, I did watch DejaVu and that is a really good movie! Lots of twists and stuff, but I liked it. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Denzel Washington is in it!!!

Sunday – we got up and all headed out to church. Scott and I led worship in the first service. It was neat too because we had prayer time over the youth. We have a group leaving for Mexico tomorrow on a mission trip! I am so envious of that….I wish I could do something like that. Anyways, Sunday School was good – there were only 3 of us, but it was nice. I went and got Gracie and had her with me for the 2nd service. She fell asleep during the worship set, so that was nice to just hold and cuddle her! When she is awake, she is on the go, so cuddling is getting harder and harder! We left after church and dashed home and then headed down to Wilmington. Matt met us at our house and went with us. The boys had some “NFL Draft” for their fantasy league (whatever) and Tera (his friend’s wife) and I took all the kids to the pool. They are members of the private pool club in Wilmington – which is very funny to me because when I was in school, only the snobs were members there. I did see one person I knew…..he was my high school government teacher. He looked about the same – just much less hair. It was funny because he was the kind of teacher that is only a few years older than me and so he dated some of the students when I was in school. He is like the owner or something of the pool. So, that was funny. Anyways, the kids had fun and Tera and I always find lots to talk about. So, it was a nice way to spend the day. We went back to their house to get the boys and they weren’t done yet, but let me tell you…talk about BORING! I don’t get the whole Fantasy Football thing. Oh well!

So, we got home and pretty much got the kids fed and ready for bed and then it was time for me to go to Women’s Group. It was fun….and you already saw some of what happened there.

So, a pretty boring weekend! But it was nice…..we haven’t had one of those in a while and we have a lot going on next weekend, so we will take it! Football is only 4 nights this week (dripping with sarcasm), so that should be lots of fun. And Mom and Dad are out of town, so I will probably have to have the girls with me on both of my nights. Scott and I are splitting the nights. JOY….oh well, it really is good exercise and stuff for Isaac.

Oh! Guess what I found on our TV…..KARAOKE! Yep, that is right, there is actually a channel (oxygen, on demand) that has karaoke! I was playing with it last night with Isaac and Faith Anne on my lap and they were cracking up. Angela wants me to have a party and do that…that would be fun! Talk about peeing our pants! We would for sure!!!!

So, I guess that is about it. Pretty exciting post, huh? Please pray for the families of two people who work for my company. There was a bank robbery in Louisville this morning and two employees were shot. One was shot in the stomach and one in the arm – although the aim was at his head, but they hit his watch instead – he had his hands over his head. They weren’t fighting – they just couldn’t get in to the vault so the robbers got mad. They are both in stable condition, but how very traumatic and scary for them. Even though it happened a state away, all of our people are on edge. Just a reminder of the daily dangers our branch employees face.

Well, have a good Monday and a good start to your week! Hopefully I will have some good news to report on Michael soon! Love you all!!!!

Second post this week!!!

Yep…that’s right! Two posts in one week! WOW! Can you tell that things are slow at work right now? I hate being bored at work…I would rather be swamped. It is especially annoying to be slow at work when there is so much I need to do outside of work, but I can’t because I am at work. What a dilemma?!?!

So, things are crazy at our house right now! Let’s see….my week has looked like this: get about 4 – 5 hours of sleep at night because Gracie doesn’t like to sleep at night, get up and go to work, rush home from work to get kids, get home with kids, get kids fed and bags packed for the evening, rush to football, get home from football, give everyone baths, try to make the house look presentable, eat dinner, crash into bed to start the whole cycle all over again!!! It has just been crazy… and this is only the first week of football! Now, Scott has been helping….but it is still just absolutely crazy!

So….Monday was the first night of football. Scott and I both took him and Gracie up there. It is very close to our house, so we walk there. Mom took Faith Anne, so we just had Gracie. Well, Gracie and I didn’t stay very long because it was so hot and she was getting fussy. So we came on home. Isaac did alright at football. It was funny to see them doing all of those exercises and stuff. He was very sore the next day, that is for sure!

Tuesday….Isaac wasn’t feeling very good. When I picked him up from my Mom’s, he was not feeling great, but said he still wanted to go to football. I should’ve listened to my Mother’s Instinct and kept him home, but he wanted to go. This week is conditioning and they have to have 5 days of conditioning before they are allowed to have any contact (tackle). So, they were told on Monday that if they missed a night this week, they will have to make it up next week before they can tackle. So, he wanted to go. Mom took the girls, so it was just me and Isaac. For the first part of the practice he did alright. He wasn’t giving it his all, but he was trying to keep up even though he wasn’t feeling good. Well, they took off to run around the track (an actual football field track). He was slow and behind everyone…which didn’t surprise me. I was watching and noticed that he was falling way behind, so I got up to go to him and my intent was to finish the track with him and try to hustle him up. Well, as I was walking over to him, a cheerleading mother on the side of the track had her arm around him and was bringing him to me. I started running to him and he was having an asthma attack. It scared me to death. He couldn’t get his breath and so that was making him panic and he was crying and it was just a mess. So, of course I don’t have an inhaler for him because he has never really been diagnosed as having asthma – although we do have a medicine inhaler for preventive purposes…not for “in-the-middle-of-an-asthma-attack” purposes. So, I got him to my chair and had him sit down and calm down. Of course we had walked there, so I made him sit there while I walked home and got the van to come back and pick him up. Well, I called my parents and they immediately came to help me….Scott was working and was on the other side of town, so he couldn’t get there fast. I had to call the pharmacist and then the doctor-on-call to get prescriptions for inhalers for him. Even though he was calmed down by this point, I wasn’t taking any chances going into the night. It really scared me. For those of you who have asthma or kids with asthma, you know how scary it is when you are looking at your child struggling to breath. The look of panic in his eyes took my breath away!

SO! Yesterday morning Scott took him to our family doctor and they gave us a prescription for the “rescue” inhaler and we are to keep that with us at all times when he is playing football – DUH! As if I would go anywhere without it after my scare from the night before! They also did a strep test on him, but it came back negative. He just has some kind of a viral infection that is going around…..so, that was a good thing. He was actually doing much better by yesterday evening. He went to football last night and did fine – no asthma problems! So, that has been the way things have gone the past few days!

On a really fun note….at Christmas, my parents told the kids that their big present was going to be a swing-set for our back yard. Well, Dad really wanted to get one of those nice wooden ones, but those things are crazy expensive! So, he had been looking for a good deal….and boy did he find one! He was at a yard sale before we went on vacation and there was a family selling theirs. He bought it and had to take it apart and then put it back together at our house….but man is it awesome! He finished it yesterday….except there are a few things we want to do to it still, but it is AMAZING! It was easily over a $1000 when they bought it new. Faith Anne played on it for 2 hours last night (MIL watched the girls for us last night). So, that is our new excitement at our house. I hate that we are gone so much right now…they don’t get to play in our backyard very much, it seems. Hopefully this weekend they will have a chance to play out there.

Last night we had practice for the Praise Team for the Women’s Retreat at the end of this month. There were only 4 of us there, but we had fun! I really miss singing….that is what it told me! If we could just figure out what to do with our kids on Saturdays so that I could go to practices, I would love to get back on the Praise Team! This Sunday, Scott and I are leading worship in the Heritage Service, so that should be fun. But I really miss it! Anyways, we had fun practicing, but we also had fun just talking when it was over! We got done earlier than I had told Scott, so I just enjoyed the few minutes of “me-time” to sit and catch up with the girls!

Well, I am supposed to get my hair-cut today, but I will have to cancel that appointment because there aren’t enough hours in the day to do that, get the kids picked up and fed and get to football on time. Scott helps as much as he can, but his best hours to sell/work are in the early evening. So, if I want him to make good money, he needs to work then! It is a double-edged sword! Oh well…..hopefully I can get in soon! I am so over-do for a haircut…..as if you all really wanted to know that! LOL

Well, the most recent update on Michael….not much has changed. He is still at the rehab unit and going through therapy. The doctors told his parents that he has a long road of recovery/therapy ahead of him. They suggested (strongly) that they should apply for social security or Medicaid to help with the hospital bills. They do have insurance, but that only covers so much and if he had the supplemental insurance, he would get the better care that he needs. So, that was hard on them – like a reality shot. I haven’t been to see him again since Sunday. I might go over on my lunch today – or for sure this weekend. I don’t want to get in the way of his progress, but I do want to make sure he knows we are praying for him and how much he is loved.

So, I guess that is about it for today! I better get back to work….or back to looking busy! Have a great Thursday!