the Hallelujah chorus singing & rejoicing because 1) Shakira had a dry & poopy free pull up for over 24 hours & 2) Caleb went one whole day without going to time out or having any other discipline & 3) we had a 24 hour period when none of the children went to time out or had any other discipline...truly great reasons to sing, "Hallelujah!"
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
First glimpse...
of Halloween for our Haitian trio. We had a Trunk & Treat at our church yesterday. They were real excited to get dressed up in costumes but really had no idea what they were getting ready to do. At first they didn't know what to think but then after they realized they got candy at each car, they were super excited!
Saturday Morning Stretch...
Sass & I doing our morning stretches this past Saturday. Isn't he cute? :o)
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Calm in the midst of Craziness...
I want to thank all of you who have been geniunely concerned about my absence here & elsewhere. I am well but having a hard time finding the time to "catch my breath." In the past 6 weeks I have made 3 road trips to MO, & I am finding it difficult to catch up on everything. I do not have anymore planned road trips until Christmas Day so hopefully I'll be able to catch up soon.
I also want to thank everyone who prayed for my mother's back surgery. It went very well & so far she is having a very good recovery. She still has 3 more weeks until she goes back for her second check up to see if she can be released to go back to work. Please pray for her to be filled with peace & joy during this time. She has a hard time not working, & being by herself. She's also in a catch 22 with my Grandmother. She wants to spend time with her because we know that my Grandmother doesn't have that much time left but it's so hard to be with her. It's painful to see her so confused & frail, as well as her being so mad at us. I would appreciate continued prayers for my family regarding this.
This past Friday & yesterday were the girls Fall Break from school. We left for MO Thursday evening & returned home last night. It was our first "real" trip with all 6of us. We were pleasantly surprised about how well the kids did. It seemed like a very short trip...and a very long trip all rolled up in one! The drive there seemed like it took three times as long as it normally does & when I took my 2 mile walks they seemed like at least 5 miles, not because of the walking but because of the talking. The "talking" in my head.
For those of you who know me well, you know that I have never really "liked" the town I was raised in. I never felt like I "fit into it" & it never really felt like "home" to me. As I grew up & then moved away, the feelings became even more pronounced as I saw vast differences in the town & where I was living. A couple of the differences in my home town are good, but most of them are bad...at least in my mind. So needless to say, I struggle every time I go to visit. The prior trip to this last one...the one where Caleb & I went after my mother's surgery was very hard. It was during that trip that I experienced first hand how "ugly" it can be. The racial hatred was unbelievable as people jumped to all kinds of "ugly" conclusions as they saw Caleb & me by ourselves. One situation was even down right scary as I feared for our safety...and most of you know that I don't scare easily.
I returned from that trip very unsettled & actually stating that I "hated" that town...something I have never done before.
Randy assured me that this trip would be different because he would be there. It was but I think it had more to do with that we didn't really venture out anywhere except to visit our family & to go to church. So as I took my 2 mile walks by myself, I had a lot of "talking" going on in my head & my heart. I don't think I came to a full resolution of my thoughts & attitudes but I know that I am making progress.
We had a great time visiting with Randy's family & mine. Randy's mother's side had a family reunion on Saturday & it was great to see Aunts, Uncles, & Cousins that we don't get to see very often, as well as Randy's siblings. It was there first time to see our family complete. We also got to spend some quality time with some old friends which was really nice.
We are switching gears again in our routine at home. As of last week, Samara switched to morning pre school because there was just too much schedule conflict in the afternoon. They didn't have a pre K spot open in the morning so we put her into another class that had an opening & we can move her back into Pre K if a morning spot opens up. All the teachers at this preschool are amazing but the one that Samara has now is my favorite. I want to be like her when I grow up :o) I actually think this class is going to be a better "fit" for Samara & she says she likes it.
Caleb will now have me all to himself twice a week in the mornings. This morning was our first together & it went well. Shakira is on her first field trip right now. Her class went to a corn maize & pumkin patch. I'm sure she is having a blast! I think for the most part Shakira is doing well in her class. She has her re-evaulation this Thursday to see what improvements she has made since the beginning of school.
Report cards should come home this week. The last time I checked, Phoebe had all A's. She likes school a lot because she likes to learn & is a social butterfly. Her favorite subjects are reading, spelling, & math. She has to be reminded to not talk so much...hmmm, I remember having the same problem in school :o)
As the world tries to overwhelm me with crazy schedules, mean people, & family issues, I continue to find calmness & sanity in my Lord. He is the calm during the storm & in the aftermath. Today's devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah re-inforced that to me. I hope it's a blessing to you as well.
You're Outta Here!
From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2
Recommended Reading
Matthew 14:25-33
At a high school basketball game earlier this year in West Burlington, Iowa, an umpire stopped the game and ejected…not a player or a coach; he threw out the whole crowd! The spectators were out of control. After clearing the room, the referees resumed the game.
Sometimes it'd be great to clear the decks, throw everyone out, delete the e-mails, cancel the appointments, send the kids packing, throw away the bills, and get rid of the pressures. We identify with the title of the old movie, "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off."
Since our world seldom stops and since we can't always "clear the room," we have to keep our eyes on Christ and press on. How important to learn to stay focused on HIM. When Peter was trying to walk on Galilee, he was distracted by the wind and spray; but as long as he kept his eyes on the face of His Savior, he stayed above the water. If you can't eject the crowd or escape the pressures, keep your gaze on the Galilean.
"When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay." Edward Mote
I also want to thank everyone who prayed for my mother's back surgery. It went very well & so far she is having a very good recovery. She still has 3 more weeks until she goes back for her second check up to see if she can be released to go back to work. Please pray for her to be filled with peace & joy during this time. She has a hard time not working, & being by herself. She's also in a catch 22 with my Grandmother. She wants to spend time with her because we know that my Grandmother doesn't have that much time left but it's so hard to be with her. It's painful to see her so confused & frail, as well as her being so mad at us. I would appreciate continued prayers for my family regarding this.
This past Friday & yesterday were the girls Fall Break from school. We left for MO Thursday evening & returned home last night. It was our first "real" trip with all 6of us. We were pleasantly surprised about how well the kids did. It seemed like a very short trip...and a very long trip all rolled up in one! The drive there seemed like it took three times as long as it normally does & when I took my 2 mile walks they seemed like at least 5 miles, not because of the walking but because of the talking. The "talking" in my head.
For those of you who know me well, you know that I have never really "liked" the town I was raised in. I never felt like I "fit into it" & it never really felt like "home" to me. As I grew up & then moved away, the feelings became even more pronounced as I saw vast differences in the town & where I was living. A couple of the differences in my home town are good, but most of them are bad...at least in my mind. So needless to say, I struggle every time I go to visit. The prior trip to this last one...the one where Caleb & I went after my mother's surgery was very hard. It was during that trip that I experienced first hand how "ugly" it can be. The racial hatred was unbelievable as people jumped to all kinds of "ugly" conclusions as they saw Caleb & me by ourselves. One situation was even down right scary as I feared for our safety...and most of you know that I don't scare easily.
I returned from that trip very unsettled & actually stating that I "hated" that town...something I have never done before.
Randy assured me that this trip would be different because he would be there. It was but I think it had more to do with that we didn't really venture out anywhere except to visit our family & to go to church. So as I took my 2 mile walks by myself, I had a lot of "talking" going on in my head & my heart. I don't think I came to a full resolution of my thoughts & attitudes but I know that I am making progress.
We had a great time visiting with Randy's family & mine. Randy's mother's side had a family reunion on Saturday & it was great to see Aunts, Uncles, & Cousins that we don't get to see very often, as well as Randy's siblings. It was there first time to see our family complete. We also got to spend some quality time with some old friends which was really nice.
We are switching gears again in our routine at home. As of last week, Samara switched to morning pre school because there was just too much schedule conflict in the afternoon. They didn't have a pre K spot open in the morning so we put her into another class that had an opening & we can move her back into Pre K if a morning spot opens up. All the teachers at this preschool are amazing but the one that Samara has now is my favorite. I want to be like her when I grow up :o) I actually think this class is going to be a better "fit" for Samara & she says she likes it.
Caleb will now have me all to himself twice a week in the mornings. This morning was our first together & it went well. Shakira is on her first field trip right now. Her class went to a corn maize & pumkin patch. I'm sure she is having a blast! I think for the most part Shakira is doing well in her class. She has her re-evaulation this Thursday to see what improvements she has made since the beginning of school.
Report cards should come home this week. The last time I checked, Phoebe had all A's. She likes school a lot because she likes to learn & is a social butterfly. Her favorite subjects are reading, spelling, & math. She has to be reminded to not talk so much...hmmm, I remember having the same problem in school :o)
As the world tries to overwhelm me with crazy schedules, mean people, & family issues, I continue to find calmness & sanity in my Lord. He is the calm during the storm & in the aftermath. Today's devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah re-inforced that to me. I hope it's a blessing to you as well.
You're Outta Here!
From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2
Recommended Reading
Matthew 14:25-33
At a high school basketball game earlier this year in West Burlington, Iowa, an umpire stopped the game and ejected…not a player or a coach; he threw out the whole crowd! The spectators were out of control. After clearing the room, the referees resumed the game.
Sometimes it'd be great to clear the decks, throw everyone out, delete the e-mails, cancel the appointments, send the kids packing, throw away the bills, and get rid of the pressures. We identify with the title of the old movie, "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off."
Since our world seldom stops and since we can't always "clear the room," we have to keep our eyes on Christ and press on. How important to learn to stay focused on HIM. When Peter was trying to walk on Galilee, he was distracted by the wind and spray; but as long as he kept his eyes on the face of His Savior, he stayed above the water. If you can't eject the crowd or escape the pressures, keep your gaze on the Galilean.
"When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay." Edward Mote
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