Absence in May

Sorry I've haven't had a chance to update here during this beautiful month of May.

I'm keeping my precious grandson Monday-Thursday each week and have been keeping a good friend's two little ones here and there as well. That, along with class reunions, the Honduras Coffee Shop on some Friday nights, taking small dates with my sweet husband-riding out onto beautiful land with gorgeous rivers, visiting my dear mother in law and her hubby, cooking dinners and pies. (I've been on a pie kick. Did I tell you that? I don't think I did. Homemade chocolate pies, strawberry pies, oh yummy!).

I try hard to share my adventures here on my blog for various reasons. Mainly as a dairy, so that one day my family, my children, and grandchildren can come back here and read my life in my words. It's a wonderful way to journal memories, thoughts, events, and pictures. The beautiful weather of the month and the many events taking place have detoured me.

I've just been wrapped up in life. It feels good. I cannot explain the welcome feeling I have toward the spring and the summer coming. I immensely enjoy the outdoors. We are talking about trying to get a camping trip together. I love camping next to the rivers in our area. I live in such a beautiful place. I need to spend more time taking pictures and sharing them with you.

Yesterday, I went to the Doctor with my oldest daughter Heaven. She is 16 weeks pregnant. She has been very sick-which reminds me so much of me with my own pregnancies. She has lost weight and not gained. She is beginning to have a few good days here and there, so I'm hoping as she progresses further into her 2nd trimester she will continue to feel better. The next appointment in June we will learn of her babies gender! She has a girls name all picked out but a boys name is nowhere in the future. lol She isn't sharing names just yet, because the last time she shared a girls name that she had chosen it was taken by a close friend. This time, she is savoring it until the last moment.

Savannah has gotten her a car, a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible and is working for a friend of mine. She is still hunting another job to fill in the gaps but I'm very proud of her.

Meadow is ready for the summer. Only two more weeks maybe of school?

My husband and I have spent this last year falling in love all over again. July 4th will be our 20th year Anniversary. We have had some great years and just a couple of really down ones. The Lord has held us together tightly and He enables our hearts to be forgiving and understanding. He has given us patience with one another and time, and time has been the best friend to us of everything. Time is a bond in itself. The love we share now is different than the love we shared in the beginning. It's only something that someone who has experienced can understand because words just can't describe the meaning. I'm most thankful for my husband, my very best friend. I love him so much. I have so respect for him. He is such an honorable man. He makes me a better woman. Marriage, it is a wonderful thing. I'm blessed beyond measure that ours has lasted and is still going strong.

I guess in this post what I'm sharing is that I have learned to love life again. For a while there I was so caught up in becoming a nurse that I left all else and forgot how to enjoy life. My happiness depending on passing or failing. For now, I'm taking a break. It's just the 18th of May so the next month may hold a different foretelling. School will either go back June 17th or the middle of September. Me, well I'm going with the flow. I'll decide when the time comes.

For now, I'm going to get in the shower and get ready to go on the mountain. I'm keeping my grandson tonight, picking up my mother-in-law and going to hear my husband sing in his blue grass gospel group and spend some time with the Lord.

(And a note to my sweet friend Debra, thank-you from the bottom of my heart for your comments. They warm my soul and put a smile on my face. Your friendship is precious to me. I apologize for being away so long and missing your encouraging words. Please know that I cherish them. Hugs to you.)

Almost Home

Savannah Sky will be coming home on Thursday August 2nd. It can't get here soon enough. I am excited to hear about her adventures and hear the wondrous works that the Lord has done in Ethiopia and Uganda. I have had the least contact with her so this mama's heart is ready to hug her baby girl.

This semester is almost over for me as well. I have one exam left and to deliver a speech. I have a CPR class coming up this Monday. I get my books the 13th of August. Orientation will be the 17th of August. Official classes start the 22nd and I'll have my first drug dosage calculations test! It's all coming so soon.

I'm thankful I only have to work 2 days next week and I'll be off 5 with Savannah. We are all looking forward to her return.

Tony is playing with the group today at a family reunion.

Meadow has a friend over and they are playing pet shops.

I am getting ready to read some more and study for my exam.

Life is so good. What a great Saturday!

Time to Catch my Breath

Finally, this semester is over. Exams are taken. Now I just have to wait patiently for my grades. Two of my classes I know I have A's but the other two are so close I'm teetering on a low A or high B. I'm so hoping they are A's but it's so close I can't even begin to guess which way it went. I definitely had an A before the final exams but those 2 were very tough for me, and if I do end up with B's those exams will be why. I'm just thankful I have a two week break before the summer term begins. I had initially planned to take a full load this summer but I've sent a letter in to the head nurse over the RN program that I start in the fall and I'm going to take classes according to her recommendations. So, I'm not really sure what my summer will look like yet. It won't hurt my feelings at all if its light but I'll take a full load if necessary.

We just had family photos made and I am so ecstatic over them. I will upload them soon! I'm so pleased with them. I love doing family photos.

Savannah Sky's missions trip is coming along GREAT! She is only $900 away from goal once all of the pledges are paid. I'm so excited for her. Plane tickets to Ethiopia from TX are purchased. She will leave June 11th. Please keep her in your prayers. This will be her first missionary trip and two months is a long haul. The last thing this is going to be is easy for her. There will be a lot of physical and mental adjustments. Please keep her covered in prayer. I pray the Lord lead and direct her and that she hear Him and her relationship develop with Him even deeper. The Lord never ceases to amaze me! I have to admit I wasn't really sure I believed this money would come in so fast. I honestly thought she'd be going on a shorter trip. I know the Lord is in this so I'm putting all my faith in Him and trusting that He will take care of her and that He is going to change her dramatically while reaching souls for His kingdom.

Well, I just wanted to do a small update. I'll be posting our pictures soon!

Chocolate Chai Tea

Have you tried it? It's divine. Hot, cold, iced...it doesn't matter. It's simply divine. It's also what has fed me over these past few weeks. I have never in my entire life dreamed that my days would be this full. This busy. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is only by God's grace that I can continue to put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time, and I'm making progress. Through Christ. I'm making progress. I know better than anyone else in the world that I could never make it without Christ. I stumble, falter, cave, crash and crumble without my Father.

Sometimes I do all of those with Him, but, He's there to pick me up.

My mother in law is doing some better. She is still struggling with her short term memory and if you are a prayer warrior please, I ask that you intercess for her. She is a precious woman. She has always provided for me and my family. She enabled me to stay at home and home school for so long without having to seek full-time employment. She has always made a way so that my children have never had to do without. She is one person that I look at and can see her sacrifices. So selfless. Willing to do without so that someone else might have more. She is very special. We love her so much. It is my prayer that the Lord heal her wholly. I admire her and will honor and care for her, just as she has me, in anyway that I can.

Treyton. Oh my little grandson. My fiesty little man. Mimi, loves him more than she ever knew possible. The hours we sit in the floor with crayons coloring, side by side, bonding. "Tank-U Mimi." Those are my favorite words to hear. He says them every time he hands me a different colored crayon. He's been a sick little booger for a while. He started vomiting February 17th and it has continued on and off since then. We've been to many Dr.s, specialists and they are running numerous tests. We are waiting. Patiently waiting. They have him on Zophran three times a day to keep him from vomiting. He eats little and drinks a lot! I'm thankful for his thirst because it is what has kept him out of the hospital and from being dehydrated. The results from his GI x-ray were positive so far! The Dr. is going to blow them up and double check them but so far so good. We just pray that the Lord reveal what is going on in his little body and enable the Dr.s to treat him effectively.

Work. I love my job. I really do. Dental Assisting is a very rewarding position. I love the job pace, the people, the variety, the medical feel, the office work and the sweet friends I work with. I am especially thankful for the friends the Lord has placed in my path. God is so good and so faithful. The drawback to my job is having to work full-time while attending college full-time. It really is a full load. This coupled with being a wife, mom, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. There are days I really wonder how I'm making it but then I hear that soft whisper, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

I'm midway through my semester and so far my grades are up! I'm very proud of my achievements. I have had a career change. I can't remember if I have shared it here or not but I have decided to proceed into the ADN program. The reason I decided not to go forth with the Dental Hygiene program is because of our area and job availability. Jobs are so far and few between and I want to go into a profession that will have lots of opportunity. I haven't fully decided which direction in Nursing I will specialize in but I have lots of ideas floating around through my head.

The exciting part. I have already applied to the RN program at one of our local community colleges. I'm very excited. I go to take the HESI Entrance Exam on Monday the 19th of March. I will find out if I am accepted into the program in mid April. If I am accepted, I have a few classes to take this summer and then I will start the nursing program in the Fall. I will be coming out of work and only going to school full-time until I finish the program. I am so thankful for this. It will be nice to have the extra time to focus and study. It will also be nice to be IN my program of study instead of just taking all of these prerequisites.

However, if I do not get in this time, it will not be a big deal. I will continue to take classes and work through the fall semester and I will be applying to the RN program at a different school in October. If accepted then, class will start in January of 2013 and I'll proceed as mentioned above.

Right now we are working on paying off all extra debt. God is blessing us greatly.

Meadow is doing wonderful in school. I'm very proud of her. She is growing up so quickly, right before my eyes.

Sky is doing fabulous at home in her studies and keeping sweet Treyton at times for Heaven as well. This has been so good for her. I can see Sky maturing and the Lord working in her. I love how the Lord works. It took me so long to realize it. I use to believe I had to preach and force, laying down the law. The Lord has taught me that it is only by His grace and not by my works that He moves. I can't force His hand in anything. I let go of Sky and began praying a long, long time ago. The Lord is moving in her mind, her heart and her life and I'm very excited to see what He has in store for her.

Tony and I are closer than ever. The Lord knows what we've been through but he has led and taught us. I am so thankful for my precious husband. He is the love of my life. My best friend.

This is a long update. It's long over due as well. My life is not perfect. I am not perfect. BUT I serve a perfect God! I love Him and I belong to Him and that alone is what makes all of the difference in my life. He alone is the reason that I am where I am and that I have what I have. I give Him all the praise honor and glory.

And fellow bloggers, I appreciate you reading. Those who know me, those who don't. I just want you to lift our family before our Father in prayer. Pray that His will alone be done in our lives! In return, I pray that the Lord bless you, I know the Father knows your need and that He provide mightily. He is mighty to save!

Now, I'm ready for an iced cold glass of Chocolate Chai Tea!

What is Normal Anyway?

I've been on a roller coaster over the past two weeks. Still healing and weak but pressing in. I have been busy with college work. I'm starting out very good and my goal is too keep up my grades. I'm pleased with myself thus far.

We have had a few dustings of snow, but not really anything to brag about. I keep wondering how our winter is going to be this year. Will it be a horrible February and March, with low temperatures and lots of snow? Or, will it be like it has been, warm and then cold, warm and then cold? I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

My mother in law collapsed in the floor yesterday and the ambulance took her to the ER. Tony and I were behind the ambulance before it made it to the hospital. They ran a lot of tests before discovering that she had a stroke. Praise God is was mild. They plan to keep her this week and then transfer her to a rehabilitation home for a couple of months. Tony is staying with her in the hospital. I know they are both enjoying this time, in spite of the circumstances that brought them there. If you are reading this, all prayers are greatly appreciated.

I'm still working and loving my job. God is so good to me. The girls are doing wonderful. Meadow is on the honor roll and Sky is home schooling again. I am so thankful. Even with my plate as full as it is I really missed home schooling. Sky is joining me in my college math and we are working well together.

 I am so thankful for family. I have the best family. We never know how much time we have and I am thankful for every single moment. My mom and dad are helping out, my sister has been my best friend, and my brother keeps me laughing. Heaven brought Treyton over tonight and we finished our Anatomy and Physiology homework, while Trey entertained us. I don't know that I've ever laughed so hard in my life. I'll share a little picture of the little booger. We are perfectly normal! :) I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm sure his daddy and his pappy will have a lot to say about this picture. Of course Meadow was the one making him up like a monkey. Notice he was just a chatting away on that phone. lol He loves to talk on the phone. He's just like his momma! He's a chatter box and can say absolutely anything you tell him to. God has a way of putting together the perfect mix in life. 

I truly, from the bottom of my heart, love mine. Every single day of it.

And that's how I roll, one day at a time!

Exams! Exams!! Exams!!!

I cannot believe that this year is about to come to an end. This has been one hard semester for me and I am thankful that it is almost over. I have not studied as hard as I should have. It is hard to work full-time and still find the time to be a quality wife, mother, friend, housekeeper, and student. I've pushed through even the hardest days, and there were hard days, that I wanted to throw my hands up and quit. I am quite proud of myself for not giving up, I put forth as much effort as I could muster and I'm finally at the end of this hurdle.

I had an exam in Sociology tonight and I aced it! I was so tickled I thought I would just bust wide open! I am thanking the Lord for that grade! My Algebra, which has been my absolute hardest class ever, should have been over last week. I needed an average of an 85% to be exempt from the exam. I had an 81%. So next week is my final exam. I'm going to spend all day Sunday and all day Monday studying hard. It is a pass or fail class and I'm fairly confident that I'll pass, unless I just totally bomb the exam. So please, if you are reading, say a prayer for me!

Then finally, my Anatomy and Physiology exam must be taken by noon Saturday, so Thursday will be my study hard day for that one. I need a 95% for an A in this class, and I truly want an A, but chances are not great that this will happen. I do however have a high enough average that if I score a 50% on the exam I would still get a B. With that being said, I really can't complain.

Then after next Tuesday, I will have a totally blissful 3 weeks off!

Woohooo!

I had originally planned on having an extremely hard semester for the Spring, but after lots of careful consideration, I've decided that my GPA is more important then finishing up sooner. I will still take a full load of 4 classes but I've decided to save Chemistry for the summer semester and be able to focus on it alone.

It certainly is a process, but it's moving along. I'm finally working in the right direction of my life goals. That is progress and it feels great. I cannot change my past but I certainly have input on my future. I'm going for it!

Let's Go Time's a Wasting

My first week back on track I got in 10 miles, my second week I got in 6 miles and 2 hours of aerobics. I'm working on this week. I'm still not eating as healthy as I should but I am eating considerably less most of the time and the It Works Thermo Fit and Greens are fabulous.

The girls had a virus last week but are recuperating. 

School has started back again and we are in the midst of the end of our Summer. I so love Mondays because I'm off and I always catch up on Mondays and love returning to work on Tuesdays looking forward to another Friday. :)

Been real busy and I haven't been able to blog as frequently as I like but wanted to check in.


(Again, if you are interested in checking out the It Works products click here at It Works with Jenileigh )

Flying By

I cannot believe how fast time goes by. I can remember longing for the spring and now I am registering the girls for the upcoming school year. Things are going well in our household. The biggest drawback is my tendancy to clutter. We simply have too many things. My middle daughter Sky has been a gem and has been cleaning and organizing the den and kitchen. It feels so good to have a clean home.

The next projects are the classroom and basement. Ugh, they are so big they can be overwhelming. Well, who am I kidding? They are overwhelming and that is exactly why we haven't tackled them yet. I have such plans for my classroom. I want to turn it into a prayer room. I have to get it empty before I can paint and begin my venture though. I also have to tackle my own room. Meadow has worked hard on her room this week but she still has so many toys and clothes that need to go so that it won't be so hard for her to keep clean.

Decluttering. It is no fun but it is very rewarding when all the hard work is finished. If it were up to me I would back a truck up to the door and haul it all away. You can't do that if anyone is watching because there would be too many protests. No one wants to get rid of their things but if you didn't even know it was there for the last couple of years do you really need it?

Work is going well. I am planning to take at least one class this fall. Quite honestly I need to take two classes but I'm just not sure if I want that work load. If I can manage one class each semester I may be able to keep better grades. It is very hard working full-time, going to school, raising girls, being a wife and keeping a home. I like working though, I have to admit it has helped me to keep a better schedule and it helps me to feel better. Somehow I feel more accomplished. If left to the house for some reason I seem to fall back into my slump. I just can't seem to get myself motivated in spite of all the work that needs to be done.

I suppose that is enough for now. I look forward to posting about the completed project!

Busy Summer

I'm trying so hard to keep my blog updated and to participate faithfully in a few meme's. So far though it isn't working so well. This last week has been unbelievably busy, with things popping up out of the blue to crowd even the free moments that I thought I'd have.

Last weekend we had a 3 day Bike Rally called Thunder in the Foothills, to raise money for the ARM Missions Relief project-which takes food to those locally and in surrounding counties that have none. We camped, we fellow shipped, we were fed great food for our spirits and our bodies, we seen old faces, made new friends and grew. The Lord prepared us for things coming and we handled a few sad situations well. It felt so good to be back on the front lines for my Father.

Saturday evening, I had to leave the Bike Rally to go to Trey's birthday party. We had such a great time. There was a huge crowd and Trey was mesmerized by everyone singing him Happy Birthday!

I've had a busy week at work and little sleep all week. I type right now exhausted and can barely hold my eyes open. I so wish I had the energy to get up pictures of everything. I will soon!

Take care. Jenileigh

Beautiful June

How I love the summer weather. I'm not a big fan of the heat but it so beats the depression that comes with the winter. Last year I was really on top of things with my exercise and eating habits. I managed to lose 30 pounds from February to October. It wasn't a drastic loss just a gradual loss and I never felt deprived or like I was on a diet or strict work out regimen. I was up to walking-jogging-walking 16 miles a week. Somewhere along late Fall, I fell back into a slump. I gained back my 30 pounds plus some. Which is typical for the person like me who lived her entire life being a human yo yo. ;)

I kept telling myself that I would start walking again this past February but it never happened. Now it's June and yesterday was my first 1 mile walk. Geez It almost killed me. I'm not kidding. It was all I could do to make myself place one foot in front of the other. The itching on my thighs is horrid. The sweating, the lack of oxygen, the slow pace, the inability to complete my 2 mile course. All I could think was, "Why in the world did I ever stop doing this?" Good times.

I was sore afterwards and my legs ached all night long. I had a bout with insomnia, my long lost friend, and couldn't fall asleep until nearly 2 am. It made for a wretched morning. Yet, in spite of all of this I felt better. Today I have more energy and the drive to walk again this afternoon. I am so glad the beginning is behind me, prayerfully it'll be downhill from here. Prayerfully.

On to other things......

I am totally loving my job. My schedule isn't too hectic. I love having the evenings, weekends, and holidays off. The doctor often takes days for personal time and I am salary paid so it doesn't reflect on my paycheck. Nice blessings.

I finished my spring semester of college and started my summer. It wasn't long into this semester when I found myself overwhelmed. I decided to drop my college load for the summer and resume in the fall. This was a big relief for me. It gives me guiltless time to spend with my nephew and grandson. :) Good times.

Sky and Meadow are glad to be out of school for the summer. Meadow had a great school year, while Sky struggled some. Meadow will be returning to public school for her fifth grade year but we are undecided on what to do for Sky. We are praying on whether to send her back to public school or to homeschool her again.

The temps here have been in the 90's! Today is a little cooler in the 80's. Oddly it seems like May brought forth the weather of August and June seems to holding the usual season of May. The sun is absolutely gorgeous. I love clear days like today.

We are planning to go to the beach in a couple of weeks. I am so excited. It's great to get the down time away from all of the hectic every day same old, same old.  The house that we have doesn't have T.V.'s in every room like every other year. I think it's going to be great to have all of the family together and no media instantly and individually available. Imagine everyone having to watch the same show. Wow. Good times. Good Times.

Well I guess for today that is about it. Till next time.......

Marching Right Along

I cannot wait for Spring. Did I say that already? Big Grin..... It will not be long now.

It has been a while since I had a real update so I suppose it is long over due now.

I am currently employed full time for the first time in ten years or better. I am working as a Dental Assistant for a local Dentist and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

I am also going to college full time acquiring my prerequisites to enter the Dental Hygiene program in a year or so. I have to say it is not easy and a bit overwhelming at times. There are many days that I feel like I just have too much on my plate but I keep pushing through.

My husband is playing in a bluegrass gospel group that he started and he is loving it. It is a wonderful ministry the Lord has him in and it feeds him well and keeps him going. I'm so proud of him. I will do my best to share some of their music on my blog soon.

The girls are continuing to do well in public school and I am very grateful for that.

Short I know but hopefully sweet enough until the next time.......

Finding Myself

You know I've spent the last few hours reading over some of my older posts again.

My discovery is so odd, and yet at the same time, somehow...now-it makes perfect sense.

The Lord was filling me around the end of 2009. At the time I thought that He was getting me through the moments, the days, the trials, BUT as I look back and read what the Lord was speaking to me, what He was saying so clearly, He was teaching me, preparing me...well at least trying to prepare me, as much as I would allow, for the attack to come during the early part of 2010.

Instead of absorbing and really learning, truly listening and retaining, I shared with everyone as though I had word of knowledge for THEM and I emptied everything out without retaining the lessons He was teaching ME.

The lessons that were meant for ME.

Sharing is perfectly fine, but if you empty out what has been given to you without absorbing it, you've gained nothing.

As I look back now, I can clearly see how my Father provided me absolutely everything I needed to overcome every obstacle, every trial that came my way. As I prayed it was like I was asking Him to do it for me, take care of this for me, make it go away but He expects us to do our part. He gives us what we need and He expects us to use it.

It seems almost silly now, so obvious, but at that time I couldn't see it. I was so hungry for God, yearning for Him to speak to me, convinced that my relationship with Him wasn't good enough or strong enough or right enough or real enough......

Then I wind up here.

And the view from here shows me that it WAS good, it WAS strong, it WAS right and it WAS very very real.

I needed this.

I know my way now.

Thank-You Father for Your revelation. I am truly on my way back.

Remodeling Living Room

I've been talking about remodeling Heaven's old bedroom for a long time. We've truly needed this to be done for a long time. I turned our old living room into a classroom quite a while ago, so when we have visitors they have no real place to gather. We sit at the kitchen table but it's often cluttered and a very busy station in our house. It feels really good to have turned this bedroom into a real living room.

These first two pictures are after the painting is almost complete. I totally forgot to get pictures before painting.

Tony rolling the paint on.

Our Christmas tree, notice the painted walls, ceiling, new blinds, new curtains and new carpet. We also got a new couch but it's way to large for our room. It's 14 1/2 feet long! My mom has a really nice comfortable set and we've agreed to swap. I can't wait! You can see the blue of the couch on the left of the picture-mom's set is brown and beige. A perfect match!

This fireplace wasn't even visable when we started. I removed the boards and cleaned it out. We have plans to put in a gas insert soon. I can't wait to see a fire in this beautiful fireplace. I thought the mantel turned out beautiful!

A close up shot.

Merry Christmas Meadow!

Merry Christmas blogosphere!

Manic Mondays

Meadow has had a horrid toothache. I called her dentist first thing this morning and thankfully they had an opening for her at 3pm today. We managed to finished school before having to go. Heaven came over and rode with us because they are having hard wood floors put in her home and its so messy and loud that she didn't want to sit over there listening to them work.

I don't know what is going on with Meadow's teeth and neither does our dentist! She just had xrays of her teeth in March and she didn't have this cavity. So in seven months she'd gotten this deep cavity in the center of two teeth. They worked on her for 2 hours and had to reschedule her for another visit.I had no idea we'd be in the office that long.

I had an appointment somewhere special to do something for Tony's Christmas present and was afraid I wouldn't get there on time. Thankfully we did and that was a sheer joy! I'm so excited about this! Then we went and looked at mattress and box springs for Heaven and Matt. I believe we had found a better deal the last time we went shopping. so she held off to go back there.

We are redoing our den (which was previously Heaven's bedroom) so I had to make a trip to Lowe's Home Improvement to pick up paints and blinds.

We finally got home by 8pm tonight! It was a long day but very productive.

We also had a wonderful Sunday yesterday, both the morning and evening services were fabulous. Our morning scripture was:

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am your God! I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.

What a beautiful scripture! It was very comforting and well needed. I'm so thankful to have a home church with a pastor that truly hears from and obeys the Lord. I praise God that He is there for me and that He hears and will answer me!

Looking forward to a great week ahead. We have a lot on our plates. I may try to post before and after pictures of our den. What do you think?

Howdy

There has been so much going on lately. Meadow is sick, she and Sky went to the doctor on Friday. Meadow has an ear infection and infection in both eyes, cough and horrible congestion. Poor thing. She looks as miserable as I know she feels. She has been resting a lot more but still playing with Christopher (our neighbor/her best friend) as much as possible. Sky has some allergies but nothing serious.

My grandmother was taken to the hospital last night. If you would please remember her in prayer. It doesn't look good and she is in a lot of pain. I spent the night at the hospital last night with her and mom. I didn't get home until almost 7 am this morning. I crashed and slept til 1. I haven't done that in ages and boy did I feel rough today. They moved grandma to ICU tonight. I just pray that the Lord relieve her pain and suffering.

Meadow has a dentist appointment tomorrow but it looks like I'll be canceling. I can't imagine then numbing her mouth and filling her tooth when she can't even breathe through her nose.

We had planned on hitting the pool this week, wide open, but again, with the ear infection it looks as though we'll have to put things off for another day or so. Meadow doesn't agree.

Sky is schooling beautifully and I'm so thankful for that. She has been so incredibly cooperative and helpful to me the last few weeks.

Heaven is doing well with married life and believe it or not so I am. I'm glad.

I missed church this morning, I really MISSED it. I love going to church.

June is almost gone, I sure wish time would S-L-O-W down some.

Don't you?

Springtime

I love the spring. I love when winter begins to whither away and the warmth begins to take over. I love seeing the flowers and the grass grow and the smell that is in the air. We are preparing to plant our garden and to mow the lawn. I am busy, busy, busy between homeschooling, church, teaching and speaking, planning, my weightloss journey and my exercise classes. I just haven't had the time to blog.

I've shared our upcoming Famine in my last post. My husband and I have been actively planning and sharing the vision and are so excited and looking forward to what the Lord has in store. :) We greatly appreciate your prayers.

I haven't talked much about my weight loss ventures here on my blog because over the past years I've begun only to quit. I am praying for the Lord to strengthen me and to help me to keep my focus not on how I look but on my health. Sunday in church Pastor mentioned the billion dollar business to extend life and look good, everyone looking for that fountain of youth. I'm not so much seeking to extend my life (although if that's a bonus I'll take it) so much as I want a better quality of life. I want to be able to move, feel confident to stand up and speak, have the energy to do things with my own children and the children in our ministry at church. I want victory over overeating and laziness in the name of Jesus Christ!

I feel like I've crossed a milestone so to speak and that I've established some healthy habits that are now a part of my life so I can share them now. For the last 8 weeks I've been changing the way I eat and making exercise a new way of life for me. I've eliminated everything but water as my drink. I do have the occasional cup of decaf coffee or hot tea with Splenda or Stevia but only occasional. Water is my main source everyday. I've also eliminated sugar, white flour, and high starch foods from my diet. I'm eating foods in their whole state, lots of veggies, some fruits, nuts, legumes, meats and lots of fiber. It is a low carbohydrate diet but it isn't a no carb diet. I have indulged in a slice of birthday cake once and a slice of cheesecake another time, but found both times that the sweet was TOO much for me. I'm amazed at how desensitized we get to sugar when consuming too much of it.

Our community offers free aerobics classes. They have classes everyday of the week at all times of the day with distances ranging from 15 minutes away to 35 minutes away, one way. Not too bad considering most of the classes are free, a few of the day classes cost me $4 but it's worth that to me. They offer a variety of choices such as Step Aerobics, Sculpting, 30/30, Water Aerobics, Line Dancing, Yoga, Pilates, Chair Aerobics, Cardio Dance, Kick Boxing Belly Dancing, Bhangra, and other styles of exercise classes. I've made it a point to hit these one hour classes at least 3 days each week and sometimes 5 days! I really feel like the exercise has made a huge difference for me. Somehow it has strengthened me and made me more determined to succeed. I think that when you put that much time and effort into something its not as easy to quit or fall off the wagon. When I diet alone its so easy to give up and quit with the thoughts of 'I'll do this later' or 'I'm can live with my size, its too hard to do this.' I work so hard with the exercise, I'm actually enjoying it, and I can see it remaining a part of my life. I feel better, my tastes have changed, I'm satisfied with less food and with different foods than I was before.

My goal was to lose 63 pounds. To this point I've lost 17 pounds, so I only have 46 more to go. The first week I dropped a lot of weight, the weeks following have been 1 or 2 pounds a week which is fair, slow and healthy. I'm very happy with one pound a week!

I've also begun taking vitamins. I had a few health issues before beginning this journey and I'm taking supplements to help regulate my thyroid, my monthly cycles, the regular everyday vitamin, super omega 3's, CLA and Cortisol. In 8 weeks I've seen an amazing difference in my cycle. I've gone from not being able to leave my house to functioning as a normal person during this time! My 3 days of bloating dropped to one day this past month. Now, I'm waiting for my hair to begin thickening again! :) I'll be sure to share more victories with my health as time goes by.

In our homeschool news we are back to the basics. With life so busy I haven't been able to keep up the vigorous schedule I had planned but all is not lost. We are covering all that needs to be covered and will pick the extras up later!

My heart continues to grow for my church, it's people and our pastors. I'm ever so grateful to the Lord for leading us there. Everyone in my family is flourishing there. God is good!

Blessings to you all!

Tired lately

I'm sorry for my absence. Heaven is home and doing well. She has decided to wait one year before leaving for college. She just celebrated her 18th birthday Wednesday. My baby isn't a baby anymore! The girls have had VBS this week and we are getting ready for their new school which starts week after next. I'm so excited for them and do pray that they like it.

Today I had to have blood drawn and when Heaven and I returned home we started cleaning and I began to fix our favorite dish, Enchilada Pie. I had extra enchilada sauce in the fridge and when I went to get the container out the lid popped off and the bowl flipped and that RED sauce poured down the back of the inside of my refrigerator. I couldn't stop the tears of frustration. Heaven and I worked and worked to clean that sauce up but it stained the plastic lining. Then while Heaven was trying to clean out from around the light bulbs one popped on her and she started crying. I had to laugh then! What a struggle. Lately that seems to be happening to me. Everything I touch either breaks or spills. It's been a rough week.

I'll try to be back as soon as I can. Tony just came through the door so I need to go. Just wanted to let everyone know I'm alive! Hugs.