VBS Week

Sam has had a great time going to TWO Bible schools this week. He got sick yesterday morning right after I dropped him off with Will at one, so I turned around and went to get him. He felt well enough to go to another last night and had quite a time. I have never seen him sing and dance so much - especially in front of other people! Today he woke up with a really low blood sugar and then ran high all day (that's why diabetes is so hard sometimes!), so I kept him home tonight. He had a high protein dinner, and we will see if that will offset some of these numbers. I fix him those things, but he tends to eat the carbs instead of the protein; but not tonight! He really like scrambled eggs with cheese on them and fried ham. It makes it easier that he is not a juice drinker, and he loves water. When Sam was a baby, Dr. Adams suggested I give him some water at certain times in his bottle so he would get used to the taste. He is one of my best water drinkers, and that is soooo important now. I need to remind Dr. Adams he did that with Sam but none of the others! God was already preparing us!

Will has been gone the past two days - yesterday to the auction with Chad and Bobby and today and tonight with a friend. He did so well yesterday - calling me the minute Sam looked funny and checking him and staying right with him until I came. I told Pete that Will can sense things, and Sam listens to him and does what he says. I am so glad Will will be at HP next year with Sam. So thankful.

Peter's hamstring is hurting him some, so I don't know about The Bear for him. Andrew has been running very consistently. He is really working hard again this summer. I hope his race next week is great. In two weeks, Andrew has three doctor appointments on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Only one is in Charlotte, so we are thankful for that! That might be a fun boys and Mommy trip! I just want Andrew to have a GREAT race. Last year he worked so hard only to see it all fall apart at the end. He handled it better than I did, but it's hard to see him struggle so. I was not even sure I should have let him run some races he ran, but he was determined. I just wish somehow he could have been rewarded or recognized in some way for his efforts. Not many people could do what he did on Saturdays after suffering so many seizures and upsets in a week. And then there was the week that he started a new medication and somehow lost his body heat - in a scary way. I don't want to dwell on these this year, but I hope he can see some rewards from his hard work. That is why I am extra thankful for his Bear run last year. I know he has that in him, and I know God let us get a glimpse of it.

Signing off now. It's been a much cooler day in Boone, and we are all thankful for that!

Back from Vacation!

Home from vacation! We came home a day early because of the traffic we saw leaving last Saturday! It was a great week at the beach but very hot with no rain, so we are glad to be home and hoping for some rain to cool things off a bit!

We left Friday and spent the night outside Charlotte to get a jump start on the trip. We got to Brad's house right after lunch and hurried out to the beach. We were overwhelmed with the number of people! It was so hot - everyone was in the ocean! It was fun, and we stayed for a couple of hours and then headed back to wait for Whitney, Laura, Ben, and Luke.

On Sunday, Grandad and Mimi came. I tried to go shopping but had a very bad dizzy spell and ended up sitting in the car with the ac going. Pretty bad to be at the outlets and be so sick! I made up for it later - my shopping time! Then I went back and slept for a few hours. The heat must have set me off. I made sure to keep getting in the water and to drink water or lemonade. I had two great books and could hardly put them down, but did to cool off and play with the boys. Sam and I built a great sand castle - complete with loader.

On Monday, Pete took all of the boys and Grandad to the water park. They had a GREAT time until it briefly stormed. They rode and rode the slides. My dad went down one and was very disoriented in the three foot deep water. Pete saw him, but the lifeguard did too and pulled him up. The next time they went down, Pete went first. He thought surely it would not happen again, but it did; and Pete pulled him up before the lifeguard (a different one) even realized what was happening. It was God who made the first one see him. He was so exhausted (my dad) that he slept under a tree for a little while. It gives me shivers, but I was also thankful. My dad rode those slides like he was in his 20's, but he is almost 67! He loves it. We will just make sure Pete goes with him to any water parks.

While they were gone, we went to the beach and then went shopping. It was fun to shop with the girls for a change. After they left, Peter and Will actually went shopping with me - well, they went to Dick's and Adidas while I ran into some places. I wanted to try to Christmas shop a little but did not bring my list. But I had fun baby shopping for the four or five babies I know coming in a few months! And two of the boys needed school shorts, and I found those and can check them off my list in June!

Everyone left on Wednesday except our family. We went to the beach and played mini golf. Guess who won by one stroke? They could not believe Mommy won either. Sam and I both got a hole in one on the same hole. He was as excited for me as for himself! I wish I had pulled out my camera when the dinosaur moved. Sam was trying to decide if he was going to get him!

We also saw Toy Story 3 on Tuesday which was fun. We took up the whole back row practically! It was nice and cool, and everyone enjoyed it - except for Pete who expected more!

Today we came home. We left at about 10 and got home before 5. We did not have bad traffic, and we have unpacked and washed all of our stuff! Tomorrow we have all day to work on the house and go to the store! My boys eat all of the time! But I am not complaining - I want them to grow! Will has already been out mowing and visiting all of the neighbors. He missed being home! We are happy that we are all so excited to come HOME from vacation! That's a good sign. Andrew immediately got out his summer reading so we can look for his books this next week.

Pete's Father's Day gift arrived while we were gone - a canvas of a picture I took of the boys a couple of years ago. It turned out great. He said he could not wait to take it to work - knowing I already have a special place for it in the den.

Better sign off. Sam is waiting patiently - for now.

Packing with NO energy

It's been a week with NO energy. Combine that with heat in the mountains, lots of laundry, packing, cleaning (well, trying), and lots of extra exercise; and I am not done packing or cleaning for tomorrow!

Peter had a check up this week. Andrew had a hair cut. Today is Peter's ortho check up, and the boys have practice at 6:00. But the dishwasher and washer are going, and Will is cleaning out the car to prepare it to be washed and vacuumed - and he is cleaning the back porch. Sam's clothes are laid out. Mine are almost, and the boys are packing themselves. I have been packing all week - food, sheets, towels, etc. and can concentrate on camera, books to read, and other things today. But it will be fun to leave tomorrow and swim at a hotel on our way. The boys will love that!

I have fallen asleep with my head propped up in my hands three times this week! And it's only Thursday! But I have to think of all that went out of my house for the yard sale and to be donated and to KNOW I am making progress in simplifying my life - even with all of the interruptions - and I am not talking about my boys!

I am ready for a break from my every day routine that until a week or so ago started at 6:00 with a non-stop hectic pace until at least 3:00 with about an hour break. This is my time to wind down. And I hope with the new high school's location the mornings will be easier with much less driving. If all goes well with Andrew, he may be driving sometime in the fall. We will wait and see. No rush. Safe and well-prepared is better than a teenage driver for convenience. When I turn him loose, I want to feel like I trust Sam to ride with him too. The first time Sam rode with Laura, he looked around and said, "Lala, where is your mama? Does she let you drive by yourself?" It was so funny! Time does fly - especially now. So I hold extra tight to my little boy (he informed me he was not a precious baby doll - but I told him that was just my special name for him), so he won't go anywhere too fast! On the other hand, he will be one of the ones I have to let become independent - it's a necessity for him.

Better get back to the packing before Peter and I go. Another opportunity to read a minute maybe! That's one good thing about waiting during appointments!

Off to Charlotte tomorrow and then the beach! I saw my neighbor today when she graciously brought my office sample sandwiches from Chick-fil-A. Boy, they hit the spot! She offered to get our mail, so that is a big check off my list. And we have at least four people to watch our house closely, so that is a relief too. Our new house was a little isolated for that, and so that is one thing I enjoy about living on this road with great neighbors.

Off to get ready! Have a great weekend!

A favorite summer memory!

An old memory, but a great one! The summer of 1988 had to be one of Boone's hottest! The days were full of sun - beating down on those of us who worked outside running the rides at Tweetsie Railroad. We had one little umbrella over the control box at the ride. Most of the time we returned from our safety checks to find well-hydrated but hot parents huddled under our only shade for the day! We had to politely ask them to move so we could access the control switches for the rides. Slight breezes were most welcome as were the late afternoon thunderstorms. As long as there was no lightning, we could continue in the rain; but most vacationers did not want to ride in the rain - unless they were not returning with a rain check and may make their children ride, even in tears, to get their money's worth! We had mercy and tried to put them on the rides with covers, like the carousel.

Anyway, I worked in jeans, tennis shoes, and a long sleeved chambray shirt with a bandana - every hot day! At the end of the day, I was worn out, sweaty, and ready for something cold. I would go home and take a shower and change into my shorts and then visit Pete at his job at TCBY! He went to summer school during the day and worked there in the evenings. Since he closed, we did not see each other much during that period of time and were newly engaged. Our solution? I would go and sit in a corner in the new air conditioned store and people watch while he worked. He did not like the yogurt, so he gave me what he would get on a break - usually a chocolate waffle cone with chocolate soft serve yogurt. So wonderful after a hot day in the sun!

Once I went with some friends. We watched as one girl came in with a couple and flirted with my dear fiance - asking him to try each flavor more than once and giggling. He never noticed. And I appreciated that. And she did not know he was engaged. I would not let him wear his wedding ring that early - though he had tried. He wanted to put it on the day we got them! So I watched while he patiently waited on her, and she flirted with him. She was a little mortified when he came over to tell my goodbye when we left. I thought it best just to act like I had not noticed her - that way she would not feel as bad. And he is so good looking. She was not the only one who flirted with him!

So going to Waffle Cone Wednesday brought back sweet memories today. The summer before we were married - just working and going to school, and life was very simple. I thank the Lord for giving me such a wonderful, hard working, and good looking husband!

What really bothers me...

What really bothers me right now...should not. It's pretty much that simple! I have so many things that are great and wonderful and so many things for which to be thankful. But those don't seem to be the things I focus on some days. Well, that has to change - and quickly. When I am overly sensitive it makes me miserable - anywhere I go it can hit me. And it brings me way down. And I let it which makes me mad at myself which makes it even worse.

"We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. And we offer up to You, the sacrifices of thanksgiving. And we offer up to you, the sacrifices of praise." I remember singing this song a lot in church. But I really did not know what the sacrifice part meant - at all.

A lot of times we think of a sacrifice as something in the Old Testament or something we give up. The sacrifice of praise that I saw so clearly was when Steven Curtis Chapman sang on the lawn of the Biltmore House just mere months after the tragic accident that took his youngest daughter. Not only that, but his precious son was driving the car involved in the accident. He was not only grieving the physical loss of a child but also for his son dealing with the accident.

He came out (with his two sons) and sang "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord", and his voice cracked on the "You give and take away" part. I had tears streaming down my face. For the next couple of hours, he talked and sang and honestly told us how he felt in the dark days - and that he knew he could never ever sing again. But there he was, praising God in the midst of one of the hardest storms ever in life. And it was like water washing over my soul - literally. And I need that again - not from Steven Curtis Chapman - but from God. He allowed God to continue to use him to show and tell people about what God has done for him and his family - especially now - and he had a testimony before. He had just lost so much but was praising God in a real way that only could come from unbearable pain.

When we can't count on anything in this world - circumstances, people, etc. - God is always there. He never moves. He never leaves us. In the great times, He rejoices with us. In the dark times, He holds our hands. When we cannot go on, He carries us. He sends people to help us - sometimes people we know and sometimes people we don't. He sends us letters in the mail or leaves messages for us where we will surely find them. He whispers to us through His word or speaks to us through a song on the radio. Sometimes we don't see what He has for us so clearly, and sometimes it's so clear that we cannot even believe it.

I know this, and yet in my everyday life, I let things bother me that should not even get a second thought or glance from me. I have too many important things to tend to and too many important things to praise God for.

Today as I talked to my mom on the phone (who called early because she woke up with Sam on her mind and wanted to check on him) and then one of my friends, I was reminded that I need to keep my eyes on Him. When I take them off, I get way off track - quickly. I reread Psalm 13 in my Bible that is clearly marked with the date of September 21, 2009 - the day after Sam's diagnosis. Reverend and Mrs. Thrasher called and prayed for my baby while I held onto his foot. And in about five minutes they threw so many verses and truths into my troubled heart and brain that I could feel peace washing over me. I had to let it. I had not let myself totally break down, and it was not going to be good. I was on auto pilot. I stayed there for a long time and had been on that for other things Irealized later. So when I turned off the auto pilot, I was quite overwhelmed. But in those six verses, like Rev. Thrasher told me, David asked God why He had left him in despair and then thanked Him at the end for dealing bountifully with him. Sometimes we just need to hang on to His promises and His Word while we are in despair and KNOW that He will get us through. And that will be the end of the wondering. We can concentrate on what is to come - better days.

When we don't have a lot of easy days on this earth, we think we should despair; but it can also make us more eager to be with Him and not tied to things on this earth. And then we start thinking about what we want to take with us - our loved ones and others we don't know. And that should keep us occupied for a while! Now that is something to work towards!

So right now for me, I need to separate from things that I can while working my way closer to Him and His Word. Then I won't be so overly sensitive and worry about what my children are missing out on, etc. I can concentrate on helping them be who they need to be - what He has for them to be- and the rest will come. It's hard because of the way we think in this world, but I know He is working on me.

"Blessed Be Your Name" Matt Redmon

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

A hot day in the mountains!

It's been hot here! But the wind sweeps the rain in - sometimes with thunder, but we have not seen lightning. Those breezes are very welcome to cool off the temps that we are not that used to!

We had a GREAT yard sale on Saturday, making some beach money (it was for medical bills, but we changed our minds since the boys need a fun break!) and getting rid of lots of stuff. I took most of the rest to donate today and always feel so good to get it out of my car! I am grateful to our neighbors who helped us set up extra tables and came by to visit. We are also especially thankful for the neighbors who sold us a John Deere Gator for Sam at an unbelievable price. We have wanted to get him one for so long, and he loves it. That was a very generous gesture, and we appreciate it! We have such great neighbors. And in the mail Saturday was the sweetest card from my grandmother with a gift inside. I cried when I opened it. I had just had a conversation with one of my neighbor's about accepting a gift and letting the giver have a blessing too. I would rather be the giver - most of us would. But it is very humbling and sometimes a direct answer to a prayer when someone does something nice for us. God knows what we need - even if we did not even know to ask for it. I am blessed with people who are so thoughtful and lift me up at just the right times.

Andrew needs prayers to grow. He is eating well and running a lot, and he has not had a seizure in a long time. For that we are very thankful. Whether the seizures have anything to do with his growth - we really don't know. But I know God can make him grow no matter what. So I ask that if you pray for Andrew that you pray for wonderful growth and no more seizures - ever.

Peter won the Over the Creek and Through the Woods 5K on Saturday. He entered at the last minute, so Pete dropped him off on his way to his United Way meeting. Andrew ran from home to see him, so they had a fun morning.

Will is working hard. If he is not out with Bobby working on wells, he is over at Mack's helping seal his driveway or working on wood. Or he is at the neighbor's house helping solve the mystery of their missing truck. Our neighbor has a blog called Little Creek Life, and she tells a great story about their missing truck and what happened. It is interesting and funny and kept us in suspense for a few days! Will was here when the truck was returned, by tow truck, and knew to write down the license plate of the accompanying vehicle and wrecker service. My only problem is he did not get me, AND he talked to the guy who took it. The story is well worth a read! I was proud of my little Encyclopedia Brown!

Sam is doing well. He is keeping very busy with his brothers while I work in the mornings. He still gets up early most mornings, and I check his blood sugar and give him something to eat before I leave. It's a sweet time in the mornings. Sometimes though, he crawls into bed with one of his brothers and sleeps a little longer. They love that.

We are packing for our beach trip coming up. If we start packing early, we take less it seems. My list of things to do before we leave is not too bad - if it does not get longer! We look forward to some slow time together and are excited that some cousins will be joining us! I look forward to some shopping time with girls.

I am also looking forward to some catch up time with my Bible and reading. I feel so empty and like I need a refill - a filling up. I have been praying about this for a while. Sometimes I can feel so "mean" (for lack of a better term) because I am overly sensitive about comments to me or things that go on around me. And I try to be aware and pray that things won't bother me. And they should not because in the long run or the big picture, they don't matter at all. So I have determined that I need to ask for God's guidance and be still and listen to what He tells me to get that filling up. Dealing with things can shift my focus, sometimes too easily. But in the midst of my worst situations, I have been closest to Him. When He is all I have to depend on or cry out to. I have great listeners around me (a few that get the most), but He does not even want me to depend on them. He wants me to depend on Him alone. Of course He puts people in our lives to help us, and we need to remember Who put them there. Again, He knows what we need before we ask. I think it is a step forward when we sometimes realize what we need and ask. And it is so amazing to see His work unfold. There are so many things we don't understand, and won't on this earth, but He understands it all; and that gives me comfort and peace.

Hoping it will rain again soon! The heat has rolled back in! I thanked the Lord that Pete was hot on our way out the door to church yesterday. That may mean some AC in our future!

Have a great week!

Peter is still a mystery!

Poor Peter is still looking like he has chicken pox, poison oak, measles, and mumps all rolled into one! He is not itching though, so we will give him a few more days to get better. If anything, he is worse. I don't like not knowing things. Peter is never sick, so this is a mystery. And since he had the other two things in the past several days, I am watching for anything new. I hope this is the end of his sick time. Please pray for him!

Andrew looks good - better. He really really needs a growth spurt. I talked to one of his middle school teachers today who reminded me that he can shoot up at any time - it does not have to be now. I have a couple of friends who remind me of this and have been through it. Right now I feel ultra sensitive about some of the things Andrew struggles with (especially the driving and the growing). It seems to SHOUT out at me that he is not where he could be. I keep having to remember to turn these situations and my feelings over to God. I am not usually surrounded by negative people, but sometimes people are so insensitive. I either try not to be around them or give them the benefit of the doubt.

Will worked ALL day. He is tired and dirty to prove it. But he got Mack's old hammock out of it all...and a trip to Lowes. So he is happy...and tired.

Sam is keeping everyone busy. His numbers are swinging from very low to very high. We will get him back on track. He is into watching Christmas movies he just found. He is so funny. He said he is Daddy's precious baby boy - and Mama's. He won't let me call him that much longer I am sure. So I get it in as much as I can. I know how fast time goes, and I am in no rush to have him get too big. But I don't want to be carrying him around when he's 12!

We are having a big yard sale on Saturday and are excited about cleaning out the front entry way to the house! I have had boxes stacked up there for weeks (months?). If you need boys' clothes (GREAT ones!), come on over. Or you can call me to see them on Friday afternoon/evening. I am so excited about getting more and more out of this house! Simpler life is better. Pete took loads and loads of trash to the dump with Brad's trailer several weeks ago. Peter was so surprised at how much I left for him to take. But it was time to get rid of stuff we have had for so long. If it was not good enough to donate, it went to the dump.

Then we are packing for the beach! Going to a different beach this year- and part of my family can come too! The boys are so excited. We usually go to Topsail and just stay there and only leave to go to Jacksonville or Wilmington for a movie. We will have more to do and a little less time at the beach which is good because two children don't need to be in the sun too long. We are not sun bakers; we go early in the morning and later in the afternoon. They will thank us years from now! Sam is so happy that Lala Bug is going to be there! And we never get to eat seafood at the beach, so we look forward to that too! I love seafood!

Work is going great. Since I missed two days last week for out of town appointments, I have stayed longer to get some things done. I love the work and the people.

Better go for now. More yard sale work to do!

First Day of Summer Vacation!

First Day of Summer Vacation

Today was low-key for the boys. They were so happy to not have to get up early! Sam was sleeping peacefully until I checked his blood sugar before I left and found that he was 54. He got up and had a snack and watched Bob the Builder in my bed. Peter got up soon after to take care of him. He left me a voice mail saying the Pledge of Allegiance. It was so sweet! I am so proud of him for attempting the "big" words!

Peter got to go back to the doctor for the third time in 10 days! He looks like he has poison oak without the itching. Dr. St. Clair said it could be a virus. It is just weird that he has been dehydrated with a horrible headache, had a swollen lymph node, and now this all out of the blue. He looks pitiful but says he does not feel bad!

I stayed at work longer to catch up some things from last week and came home later than I will be. It was so nice to feel like I had accomplished so much and then come home and leave the rest for tomorrow. I love my new job and the people there. I still miss my friends in Admissions, but I know God worked this out for me. I have offered to help some Saturdays, so I hope they don't wait too long to ask if they need me - I may forget 20 years worth of information!

We are so glad school is out! We feel a little guilty for getting out so early after missing so much! Actually, I wish they had had a little more time to get those last objectives in easier. We have plans this summer to keep everyone sharp. We will see how that goes!

Pete is still painting windows, so I hope to post some updated pictures soon. The landscaping outside is great. It really adds to the house.

Have a great week! I hope swimming Mondays start next week! That will be fun! And packing for the beach to get a little early start! And getting ready for a big yard sale Saturday to get rid of a lot of stuff (hopefully!).