A busy Wednesday!

Today was busy - almost too busy! Got everyone to school on time and actually got to work at 8:00 in all of the traffic! Gave Sam his shot at lunch and did not feel well at all. I wanted to crawl in bed and sleep so badly. Yesterday I felt the same way - but no fever or anything, so I just kept going.

Will had a track meet in Avery. So I picked up Sam, and we checked out the book fair. Will wanted to stay at school to work on his school work until 3:00, so Sam and I headed to Lowe's to get him some fruit and to Boone Drug to get his insulin. We made it back to HP by 3:00 and to the high school by 3:12 - just in time to be caught in the pick up line! We dropped Will off and went home. It was so good to be home - for a few minutes! I realized they gave me someone else's insulin! The bag was Sam's but the insides were not. So back to Boone Drug on the way to get Andrew and Peter and then to take Andrew for a hair cut. Then we vacuumed and washed the car. Mack Brown is fixing some little things left over from the tree incident tomorrow. We stopped and got pizza and headed home - for a few minutes. Pete and I took the car to Mack Brown and went back to the high school to get Will. After filling out some paperwork for Sam and checking some homework, I am ready for bed. My head is spinning (literally), so I have tried out two of the low doses of valium the doctor gave me for days like this. I will sleep good tonight! We have a fire going to help ward off the cold temps - Sam's request.

So many things hitting at me today - a too busy schedule, paperwork, running errands (and rerunning errands), etc. I stopped in Old Navy on my way to get the boys and saw a friend I have known for years! She always saves me a ton of money when I go in which is very very rare these days. I only bought one pair of shorts for one of the boys, but I made a mental list to check to see if I need any others. They are having a great sale!

But anyway, I took that time after I realized what I was doing - reacting all day - and knew that I need to pay better attention and keep my priorities my priorities. I wanted so badly to get Andrew's x-ray and send it today, but I did not have time. The boys' meet was moved to tomorrow in Hickory, so I am working that out with Pete. That takes precedence over other things - but then there is the shortage of test strips - I think I can get them at lunch time tomorrow!

Sometimes I have to do what I have to do. I just read in a devotional while sitting at the high school that our good deeds are nothing unless we do them in His name. In other words, no matter what good deeds I do, they don't count for anything unless I have repented of my sin and have that way made for me to God through His precious Son. So doing things in the name of Jesus instead of because I need to or want to or have to puts a different perspective on things. It should help me pick and choose easier.

Time for bed! Sam's numbers are high and just went higher! We'll be up again later checking him - it may be just Daddy tonight! Mommy may be a little too sleepy!

Monday - a tough start to this week!

Today did not start off so well. Well, it started okay, and then I was thrown for yet another loop. Just an everyday problem, but it meant a lot; so I let it get me. And it got me good! Then my sister called. By the time we were finished, she was crying almost as hard as me. But she was talking to me firmly and reminding me of things and telling me to keep my focus. Crying now - really crying - feels like it washes over my soul. I don't want to go around crying all of the time, but it shows me how much is built up and how long I go before I let it go.

Andrew's appointment went well - more tests and questions and waiting. But I felt like Dr. Parker took a good look at him. We also talked to Dr. Black's office and are awaiting what he has to say once he sees Andrew's CT scan and labs.

Sam got a new ratio for after lunch and afternoons. We will see how that goes. He was doing well, but now those numbers are skyrocketing in the afternoon and evening! The more he plays, the higher he gets it seems. Diabetes is so hard to figure out. Maybe that's part of my frustration. I feel like I have to have some kind of handle on it, and I don't. I do for a few days, and then everything changes.

Pete is home tomorrow. We miss him! I talked to him as they got off 85 in Charlotte as we got on to go south! That was pretty neat. We did not see each other, but we were in the same spot across the interstate!

Time for bed. Everyone is tucked in. As the wind blows outside, I am reminded of how no matter what storms come, He is right here with me. He will not leave me nor forsake me. I don't like being in the middle of a storm - especially when it feels like it won't ever end. But it's the way I live in the storm that counts. I sure am still learning. But I guess the good thing is I can feel myself learning and growing.

Sunday Morning

I prayed that today I would open my heart and not get distracted so I could get something much needed at church. I did not know exactly what that was. In Sunday School, we are doing a series by Ken Hamm which has been a huge eye opener for me. Perspective is so important. I am learning not only to stand confidently by what I believe and learn more about why I believe what I do but also that we can gently ask others about their beliefs and hopefully get them to dig and think a little deeper too.

In church, we had a special guest singer who sang "At the Foot of the Cross." I felt my defenses going down or melting. I realized I am not giving all of my burdens over to Him. I am holding on to some very dearly, and I know better than that!!!! What is so obvious sometimes is what I miss. I feel like I am dragging around one of Chad and Robert's dump trucks. Then I realized, I was carrying around their biggest truck along with the trailer fully loaded with their heaviest equipment. And I don't have to do that! And I am not supposed to do that!!!!

So once again, I have asked God for guidance - to keep my focus on Him and not get pulled away by this world and its circumstances.

We go to Charlotte tomorrow. My mom is coming over to cover the time that both Pete and I will be gone. Andrew and I will eat lunch after his appointment and hurry back. Will is helping me with Sam since no one will be here to give him a shot. I am so fortunate to have children willing to take on these huge responsibilities to help their brother (and parents!).

Pete landscaped some of the front of the house the past few days. He put down railroad ties and planted some azaleas. I will try to get a picture on here soon. Our apple trees in the back yard are beautiful with their pink blossoms. We had such a harsh winter, so we are extra enjoying the greens and pinks of this spring!

Welcome to the Vandenberg Family blog! I hope to use this to update friends and family on our family as we have a lot going on right now! We hope Andrew's appointment goes well Monday. And we also hope that the pulmonologist in Charlotte will get his information early in the week and give us some answers to get him better! Sam is doing well with his diabetes, but we have had some high readings in the afternoons and evenings. Andrew, Peter, and Will are all running track this spring, and we have had fun watching the high school meets. We hope to see Will run soon!

Thanks for visiting!