For the few readers I may still have, I am still here! I have not blogged because we don't have a life but rather a little too much life lately. Our lives has seemed to be filled the past few weeks with "stuff" that seems to consume you. IT WEARS ON YA'!
First thinking about the twins and their well-being and the mark they left in our family... I know it is out of our control and we have to pray and pray and pray but it wears on ya'.
Then to Sallie and her ear issues. We go back on Monday but I know the infection is not gone. Not sure what we will do if it is indeed not gone by Monday. We have been here many, many times before and it wears on ya'
Ministry consumes you in so many ways that I never got. I GET IT NOW! Couples with this struggle, couples with that struggle, a man with this issue, a woman with that issue, realizing just how many problems are in this very broken world, feeling like the church (universal) is failing in so many ways and trying to figure out how to be a part of changing that, and the list goes on and on and on. Do not get me wrong, we are called to this and we have a heart for all of it BUT it wears on ya'...
A friend of ours from FW passed away on Sunday at the young age of 46. He was such a fun-loving, caring guy and he leaves behind a sweet, sweet wife and 2 precious daughters. We went to the same church and Elleigh and their oldest are the same age and also went to school together for a few years. I think it was our 3rd Thanksgiving in FW and they had us over and I will never forget that. Holidays can be so closed to so many in terms of the thought process of holidays being for family only but we learned through families like theirs that does not have to be. It makes you feel really special to know that people are thoughtful enough to include you in their family time. They were such a great family! I say were because they are no longer complete... Life can change so quickly and this situation is beyond my comprehension. Hard to think about and it wears on ya'.
As much as it wears on ya' I think about our friend who wakes up this morning with the realization that her husband of 25 years is gone forever and that she has 2 girls to raise on her own and I feel terrible for complaining about anything! However, my heart aches for people. Don't get me wrong, our lives are far from perfect but there are a lot of real people dealing with a lot of real problems. What do we do? We pray AND we reach out to help. I think too often we feel helpless in these situations and too often we are too consumed with ourselves to help others. Do we truly love others? More than saying I love them, do we show we love them? Do we remember we are called to love everyone?
"A new COMMANDMENT I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35
The words of a great praise song by Casting Crowns, "Praise You in this Storm" keep running through my mind:
Thursday, September 29, 2011
It Wears on Ya'
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Lazy Day and Prayers
I keep thinking I will begin blogging more frequently because I tend to miss things when I try to put it all in one week but somehow it just isn’t happening. Millie needs a lot of attention! We are still not in a good routine. Maybe one day we will get there.
The days pass so quickly and then it is time for us to go into town to pick up the rest of the girls and once we all get home it is pretty much chaos until bedtime.
Lizzie has been so tired the last week. Poor baby, on top of being tired we are ruining her life (AT 5!) Yesterday when I picked her up from school she runs to me and the first words out of her mouth were “can I go to Girl Scouts tomorrow night? The speaker said they meet tomorrow night in the cafeteria.” GREAT! She told Ell when she got home yesterday “I’m a girl scout now!” Well, we decided we just weren’t sure about diving into that right now (for numerous reasons) SO, when we told her we weren’t going it was not good! “Why can’t I go? Everyone else is going!” AT 5!!! About 30 minutes later she says, “Did you see the circus ticket in my folder? It gets you in for free and you get free food. SO, are we going? I said “Lizzie it is for tonight and tomorrow night, it is in Wichita Falls (hr away) and Daddy has visitation tonight and we have church tomorrow night” Her response: “first you won’t let me go to Girl Scouts and now this! I never get to go anywhere” PRAY FOR US PEOPLE, PRAY!
Speaking of going, we DID NOT GO this past Saturday. Our weekends have been full and the next month or more is no different. SO, this past Saturday we had nothing on the calendar so we took full advantage of it! We had not all had a day together since football season began and we love watching football together and just having a lazy day which are few and far between these days.
It is not often A gets to do this! One of the girls asked if he was going to the church that day and I quickly responded NO!
We made porcupines! They were delicious as normal! Notice our new table (new to us) A family in our church needed to move this one from their grandmother’s house and offered it to us for more seating! Yes, thank you! It could be re-done and we are still trying to decide about that. It did not have chairs with it so we are using our old ones which we have several more of in storage. It has 2 more leaves so it really will seat a lot of people which we need at times. Praise God for blessings like this!
It was a fun do nothing day (but eat and watch football!)
I know I have said it a million times but Millie is hilarious! You just never know what she will say and daily she says some crazy things which is part of the reason I need to blog more often because I just can’t remember all the Millie stories. Yesterday we were playing babies and she brings me her baby and says “Will you take care of my baby and feed her? Here is her diaper bag with toys in it in case she cries.” Me: “what is her name” Millie: “Laya” (her babies names are always out there) AND they all have different last names. Once again, prayers please! She walks off and then comes back and says “I need my gun out of the diaper bag so I can pew all the bad people on my way” Not sure where she was on her way too but apparently she anticipated trouble!
On a more serious note, we need prayers for Sallie (and us). I mentioned in an earlier post about her sinus/allergy issues. Those issues turned into ear issues. We took her last week to her Pediatrician and he looked in there and said we needed an ENT. Her ENT is 3 hrs away so he said he would go down the hall and talk to the ENT there and see if he would take a look. He agreed to see us. He did some suctioning and said there was indeed infection in there and that he also thought there was cholesteatoma which we had suspected when we looked in there the day before to see what we thought was going on. We also suspected MRSA (staph infection) because she has had it in there before and it seemed a lot like that. They cultured both ears and called today to change up her meds because it was indeed staph in one ear and 2 types of bacteria in the other ear. We will be seeing her regular ENT for his assessment of the possible cholesteatoma once the infection is cleared up some. Also, in the past this type of infection was very difficult to clear up so that is a major prayer request. The thoughts of starting this cycle is not fun but we will trust Him! Thank you for your prayers.
Monday, September 12, 2011
3 Weeks In and Other “Stuff”
It really seems like the girls have been in school forever but we now have 3 weeks down. How is it going?
Elleigh really is liking high school (most days :)). The drama is not quite as bad but still there. I tell her it is not a lot different with grown women, unfortunately… She is making great grades! 100 on her first Algebra test!!!
Sallie cried some the first week, better the second, and last week I think the new had worn off. One of her teachers told me that Sallie had “attitude” with her because she was working her so hard and not giving her much free time! Yep, that’s Sallie! It’s that time of year and all our allergies are flared up and of course Sallie’s are terrible. So, she was sent home sick one day last week and then stayed home the next. I was hoping we would make it through the first six weeks without being sick but we didn’t.
Lizzie is doing great! It is so much fun to see all the new things she is learning. I had forgotten how much going to school changes them. She really is different. So much more grown up. Makes me sad! They have begun sight words and she thinks there is nothing she can’t read! She is up and raring to go every morning. She had a stomach virus Sat nt and yesterday so here we go… She was better and went to school today.
Millie has her ups and downs! The first week was a sweet time for us. The last 2 have been much more challenging. Of course we haven’t been in a normal schedule with having the twins, etc but things are settling down now so we will see how it goes. She gets bored. It is just very different for her (and me). She and Lizzie spend the first hour they are together comparing their day (and often trying to “one up” each other!) and then once they get that out of the way they pick up right where they left off and have that same bond they have always had which makes me happy!
One of the many ways I try to keep Mill entertained!
Other than trying to get in the school groove again:
We had our first night of Awana this week with 48 kids and we had about 10 regulars who could not be there that night so I am anxious to see this week! We are at least 9 miles in any direction to the nearest towns so we are thrilled with those numbers. PRAISE GOD! We have begun Wed. nt supper and the bus we purchased a few months ago is picking up kids on Wed. nts so we have some changes but overall I think the first night went smoothly.
Myself and 9 other ladies from our church went to hear Beth Moore Live this weekend. We had a great time and God really spoke through her to me. He always will, IF I will listen! We were at the live site but it was her simulcast. There were over 9,000 women at the live site and over 181,000 people worldwide! That’s a lot of people hearing the word of God proclaimed in one day!
I love to use my crock pot. I use it a lot on Sundays so that I do not have to cook when we get home from church (or at least not the whole meal) and sometimes I use it during the week because depending upon what we have going on in the afternoons there is not always time for me to cook. I am always looking for new recipes. I am loving Crock Pot Girls! Yesterday I tried this recipe for chicken that I found on Pinterest. I know it is old news but I just in the past couple of weeks gave in to peer pressure and joined pinterest. YES, I love it! The recipe is:
Cream Cheese Chicken:
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 8 oz cream cheese, and 1 packet dry italian dressing mix. Place all in crock pot and cook on high 4-5 hrs or on low 8-9 hours. It has a great flavor! I served with egg noodles but it would be really good with rice also. It makes a really good sauce.
Last but certainly not least, I ask that you PRAY for the twins. I can not share any details but please pray for their protection, for their current caregiver to be changed, for the hearts and minds of those who were caring for them as they are hurting, and for our family. We are broken right now…
Monday, September 5, 2011
Half A Dozen
It has been said “they have half a dozen girls!” True we have a house full of girls BUT we are normally short 2 in making half a dozen! This past week and weekend it was true though, there have been half a dozen girls in the house (plus me makes 7!) Talk about A being outnumbered! We have had the twins to complete our half a dozen! Does 2 more make a difference? Yes, it does! Of course the fact that there are not one but 2 of them at 16 months old which is a very active age makes a difference. They are back home now for a few days and will probably be back soon for not sure how long. We have loved every minute of them being here! I think we were all exhausted by bedtime but they are precious and we have missed them! Lizz, Mill, and Sall cried when they left. Sallie cried a lot. Bless her heart, she has a huge heart and LOVES taking care of others. Millie and Lizzie did great too. Only problem, they are all over them and they get upset if they think the “2 twins” as they call them want to play with one of them more than the other.
Some pics from our half a dozen!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Friends with Benefits
A couple of weekends ago Elleigh’s Best Friend Sarah came to spend a long weekend with us. They have been friends since 2nd Grade when we first moved to FW. We went to church together, then they went to private school together, and then they both were homeschooled. They have remained friends and we are very thankful for that. Sarah is a very Godly young woman and she and Ell really hold each other accountable. Friendships like theirs is not easy to find especially for those who choose to live a life “set apart” from the world and even more so as teenagers. Sarah is also a talented young lady and photographer. SO, while she was here she did a photo shoot of the girls.
Sarah and Elleigh! While she was here Ell drove some around the our country roads and as I sat in the backseat looking at these 2 girls nearly driving themselves it seemed unreal! 
One of the days she was here we had the twins so she took a few of them. She tried for more but it was hot outside and they were not cooperating! Some of you know the story of the twins. For those of you who do not, it is not something I feel would be a good idea to share online. I do ask you to pray for these precious little girls…
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
IT Happened!
We knew IT would happen eventually and IT did! Ell and Sall went back to school and Lizzie started.
Last Friday we had meet the teacher for K. Lizzie is showing off her “rest” towel. I knew they did not take a nap but I found out a couple of weeks ago they needed a rest towel. My first question was “does it have to be a towel?” I am thinking my baby needs something a little more comfy to lay on! Ha! She informed me she would not be laying on a TOWEL! Well after asking and finding out it had to be a towel because of space issues I informed her she WOULD be laying on a towel. She said “mama, you want me to sleep on a towel?!” I told her it was only to rest, not sleep and we would make her towel cute so here it is and she was good! YES, we have a long rode with this girl!
DG bag of kleenex and snacks in hand and she is ready to meet the teacher! Little one in the corner is one of the twins we have been helping with.
THE DAY! 9th Grade (excuse me FRESHMAN!), 3rd Grade, and Kindergarten
Don’t forget Mill Mill! K-4 with HER MAMA!!! Me with my High Schooler… Seriously??? Our prayer is that she stays as grounded as she is now for the next 4 years and beyond! SWEET Sall, the 3rd Grader! Really this has to have been the fastest 5 years of my life! MY BABY-alone with me for the first time ever! As much as we will miss Lizzie being with us I am determined to make this time with her special! A got a phone call while we were doing pics so I was only able to get a couple with him before we had to leave. Daddy’s “little” girl going to High School :( Sallie had begun to cry because she was ready to go and Lizzie was fed up with my picture taking! All smiles as she puts her back pack up (all smiles for her that is!) Outside her classroom. Think she was tired of me taking pics?
SO, how did we all do? Elleigh was very nervous BUT she got in the car yesterday and said her first day was AMAZING! Thank you Lord! Today may be a different story when she has to run in athletics today and it is 110 degrees! I feel for them! Anyway, I felt like she would do better in high school. The atmosphere is different, the classes are smaller and a little more concentrated with some electives to choose from, etc. She gets to be around the upper classmen more and she enjoys that.
Sallie wanted to go and was excited when we got there but not so excited when she figured out she wasn’t going back to her old classroom with her old teacher. They said she did not cry long at all so that is good and that she had a good day. This morning she wanted to go but REALLY cried when she got there. She tries so hard not to cry but she just can’t help it. One of the teachers has already sent us a text and said she had settled down and was good. Please pray for her mind to be settled each morning and for the separation from us to not be so hard on her.
Lizzie is doing great! We walked her to her class first yesterday morning (only morning we could walk her to class) and Sallie pushed her in her classroom and told her to sit in her chair. She (Sallie) then waved by to Lizzie’s teacher and class and moved on! I guess she thinks she is big girl on campus! Lizzie looked at us with tears in her eyes but her teacher said she didn’t cry other than in GYM! She told me it was hot and she did not want to be in there. Yep, sounds like Lizzie! Of course she knew everything already! She told me that the speaker said “they needed to be there by 8:30” She was listening but she had her time a little wrong! Then she told us that if we needed to know anything about ballgames just to ask her and that there was one last night. Once again, she had her facts a little messed up! Last night she told me that on the speaker they said they could not wear feathers. She did have that right! Last week when I found out her teacher it was not the one who I had heard was great. Not that the one she got was bad just not the one I had heard was “great” We are not allowed to formally request a teacher but I have been told that we can give our input. We decided we would let the Lord handle it. Well, when it didn’t go the way I thought it would I then was not so happy with how the Lord had handled it! But I remembered saying I would let the Lord handle it and that means giving Him complete control! Now I really think her teacher is the best fit for her. Also, I had worried (something else I shouldn’t do!) about her not knowing anyone in her class since we are not “from here". I knew the girls she had danced with were not in her class. Turns out a little girl and a little boy who were in her class on Wed nts at church last year (they do not attend our church other than Wed nts) are both in her class! HE really does “handle it” ALL! Today she was ready to go and walked down to her classroom all by herself. She did say she did not want to go back to gym! I am sure there will be more stories to tell around 3 today!
Millie really did better than I expected. I woke them up yesterday morning and the first words out of her mouth were “let’s put make-up on” The lady who keeps them at church on Sunday nts helped Millie make a list of what she and I could do while Lizzie was in school and at the top of the list was make-up! I told her we would have to wait until we got home from taking the girls to school and she replied, “after we go to the Super Stop (local conv. store) and get a sausage biscuit” Ell said, “I guess she is going to live it up while we are gone!” She was sad when we left the school but the sausage biscuit and chocolate milk made it all better! She did well for a couple of hours and then the boredom hit and you could tell that she felt lost. For the first couple of hours I could see that she was enjoying being able to play without having to share or be told what to do but that didn’t last long. Around 11 she began to beg me to go get the girls and she could not understand why we couldn’t go get them right now! So, that went on until about 2:30 when we finally went to get them. When Lizzie and Millie first re-united after school they seemed to not really know what to say to each other and then they went in to comparing their day and trying to “one up” each other but before long they were playing like normal. Millie seems to be very emotional this morning so I am thinking it will be a LONG day! Prayers please!
A of course is not as emotional as me about this but he for sure has his moments and doesn’t handle them growing up so well!
I think I did better than I thought I would. I really think it is because I know I have to hold it together for Millie (at least a little!)
Getting ready for her make-up yesterday!
Thanks for bearing with me through this “wordy” post! I never want to forget what they say and do! Also, Millie just told me that Lizzie told her last night that there is a Jr High game in 3 days which is correct so I guess she was getting the facts straight!