Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Birthdays, Vacation, and Other Thoughts

Bruce and I were talking one day in the car about one of his old boss ladies he had at PPG more than ten years ago.  He thought the world of her.  Anyone we have ever met that worked for her at PPG has nothing but good things to say about her.  That same day, not long after he had mentioned her and told a funny story about her, we walked into Sweet Frog of Shelby and guess who was there.  That's right, Fanny and her daughter Chamile and Fanny's 92 year old mother.  They were celebrating her mother's upcoming 93rd birthday with some frozen yogurt.  Fanny mentioned they were going to have a birthday party for her with six generations of the family there to celebrate her life.  They were looking for someone to take pictures.  Can you imagine my excitement when she said that?  Of course I volunteered and told her I would be very happy to take those pictures and she graciously allowed me to do that. 


Blogger wants you to use Google Chrome to upload pictures and I don't like Google Chrome, so I uploaded one to Flikr.  You can click here to see a picture of the Birthday Queen and nine of her children.  The tenth child is her great grandson standing in place for his grandfather.  What a wonderful blessing it was to share in this celebration and with this family!  Bruce and I left in tears and after getting to know this beautiful, elderly lady, we realized why Fanny and the entire family of about 200 that showed up were so wonderful to be with.  She is certainly the heart of her family and they love her a whole lot.


The day after the party our family loaded up the rental car and headed to the beach for vacation.  What a great time we had!  And it was a relaxing time too.  We always love to go the week following school being back in session.  Everything is quiet and calm and we pretty much have the place to ourselves.  The Jacuzzi was the BEST!!  I asked my chiropractor if it would be ok to sit in one while we were away and he said absolutely as long as it wasn't longer than 15 or 20 minutes.  So I did every night.  We'd go to the indoor Jacuzzi, where I'm POSITIVE no one else in the hotel knew about, and while the kids played in the indoor pool Bruce and I sat in the Jacuzzi and just relaxed.  That was the last thing we did every night and let me tell ya, I slept like a rock.  Now if I could just talk Bruce into putting one in here at home I'd be set! 


Things seem to be progressing with my treatments.  They've started a new therapy on my neck which is very uncomfortable and causes a lot of pain right after both in the neck and my head.  Icing and drinking water seems to help.  But they strap my head and chin into this contraption that's really nothing but a metal bar that my neck "rests" on and I pump up the bar three or four times, hold it for a few seconds, then release it.  This goes on for about five or ten minutes.  Then at home I have a triangular shaped pillow I have to do an exercise on each night that is basically working toward the same goal as the contraption they use at the office.  The pillow sounds comfy, I know, but trust me, it's not really that kind of pillow.  But it only takes 15 minutes of my evening and it's working to help relieve some stress in my neck.  So...  there ya have it. I'll admit that I am tired of going back and forth to the office.  I'd like things to be back to normal.  Right now I have about eight more weeks ahead of me.  So we'll see how things go after that.


And Lord willing, by this weekend or some time next week, I will have the check for my totaled vehicle in hand and I'll be able to pursue a new car.  Driving the truck is ok, but I'd prefer to be back in a car. 


I haven't talked to Justin today but he was very sick last night.  Poor guy has the stomach virus, along with his girlfriend and several of their friends from her church.  Last night he was lookin' pretty rough.  I sent him home with some Sprite, a small container of homemade chicken pot pie (just in case he got hungry) and a container of Apple Cider Vinegar.  Maybe the ACV helped.  I don't know.  Usually you need to take it right when you start feeling sick or have been around anyone that is sick.  It may have been too late for him.  Praying they're all better soon.


It's almost 1:30 and Harrison just finished his school work.  We've had a great first week of school so far even though our days are beginning a little later than they should due to doctor's appointments.  But it's all good.  We're on our way to buy a new tie for church, drop off the picture CD for Fanny, and then get ready for church.  Looking forward to services tonight and Lord willing, going to the Cleveland County Baptist Camp Meeting the rest of this week. 


God has been good and He has been faithful.  I am blessed with His goodness and so very undeserving. 




Monday, September 8, 2014

Welcome Back to School

Today was our official first day back to school.  We have started our eighteenth year of homeschooling.  Praise the Lord! 




Two students graduated and one beginning high school this year.  This is the first of the last four years.  I admit I have my failures.  One is math.  Oh dear.  I have always despised Math and thank the Lord for my brother, John, a Math WHIZ, who has always been there to help us when we needed it.  John's symptoms of MS increases daily and I hate to bother him.  So this year we decided to use a Math on DVD with an actual Math teacher.  Harrison is happy about it and to be quite honest, so am I!  We had to begin our day without that Math, though, because the company I ordered from got my order mixed up with another lady's order.  I was bummed when I opened the box and saw it was not my order.  But they assured me they would have my order here soon.  So Lord willing we shouldn't be too far behind.


SIGMA and Patch started at church for the school year.  So Harrison is in fifth gear, full speed ahead, to be number one in points.  He is bound and determined to take it this year.  We'll see. 


Hannah is still working at the day care.  She is now one of the teachers in the two year old class.  She's also still taking classes at the college.  She's a busy girl these days.  Barely see her anymore, but she's really happy where she is right now.


Justin is still working in Gaffney.  We're having a house warming party for him...FINALLY...this month.  He has everything he needs for his home, but he has some maintenance to do on the house so he's asking for Lowe's Home Improvement gift cards.  He is also seeing a beautiful, Christian young lady named Brittany.  They are planning their future together and we are very happy for them.  Their picture has been added to my sidebar.  We are very excited to see what the Lord has in store for them and are so blessed God sent her to our son and to our family.  We love her a whole lot! 


Bruce and I are still SIGMA sponsors, but we are on a "break" this year while another couple who hasn't had a team in a few years steps up and sponsors a team.  We're so happy they've been added back this year.  And we're also thrilled that Justin's buddy (my other son) Jeremy and his wife, Ashley, are sponsoring a team this year too!  They are a young couple with a strong desire to serve the Lord and be used and I know the Lord will use them with the teens this year.  It's going to be an exciting year for our youth group having new sponsors and Brother Johnathan and Mrs. Jennifer as official youth pastors.  Still cheering on that decision! 


We have many blessings before us.  But we also have burdens.  Please be in prayer for a little boy named Asher.  He was diagnosed last week with leukemia.  His treatments have started so he's going to need a LOT of prayer as he goes through those.  Also, the Justice family are in GREAT need of prayer.  A piece of furniture landed on their two year old, causing bleeding on the brain.  When testing for brain activity this morning they did not find any.  They removed her off life support shortly after.  I'm so broken hearted for these families and what they are facing with their children.  God, in all His wisdom, knows what is best for our lives.  Praying as these parents go through these fiery trials.