Old Friends

Things, situations, and even people sometimes come into our life for just a season. I could not begin to count the number of people I have called friends that no longer share my life! For the longest time I thought being a Christian friend meant sharing the rest of my life here on earth with that friend, but it hasn't worked out that way. Many times someone is right there at the right time for that need at that moment, sometimes my need, sometimes their need. I still build relationships on the premise that they will last forever, and I remain in touch as much as possible, but people come and go, circumstances change, and things...my goodness...what little value they have unless we can share those with someone else!

Once in awhile God restores old frienships. People reappear that we haven't seen in a bit. This past week or so has been one of those amazing weeks. We are so thrilled that Tonia (and Caitlyn) are back in our life, and we are equally thrilled to be sharing in Tami, Bobby, Ms. Carol, and Celeste's lives again. I think we met Tami and Celeste when Katherine was five. Kat and Celeste spent much of their early childhood together. They are young women now attending college, but picked up right where they left off! God is so good!

We are in North Carlina right now. We drove 20 hours towing our Ranger (now Rob's) to Robert. It is pretty sweet that we were able to bring it to him. I finally got to give a vehicle away, all made possible by God's amazing grace expressed through the generosity of my mother and father-in-law! If I had thought and thought and thought, I would never have imagined how the flood would have impacted our life, how we would have changed, or who God would have brought back into our life!

Today is the day!

Today is the day we get ready to go to NC. Yea! This morning I have to run some errands, this afternoon I am doing some housework while Steve loads the trucks and gets vehicles ready, tonight we are renewing an old aquaintance-having dinner with a friend, and then to bed, up, and off. So basically we have a wake-up and we are on our way! It is going to be such a long drive, and we can't stay nearly as long as we would like, but we are excited about Aaron's birthday. It doesn't seem possible that he could be a year old already!

Hopefully, prayerfully, we will get some sleep tonight because we sure didn't get any last night. Kat wasn't feeling well so she slept in our room, and we spent the night on the air mattress in the living room. We were already fighting over the space, trying to get it inflated right so we were comfortable, dealing with the lights from outside, and then the police started patroling the neighborhood. Lights were flashing, spotlights piercing the darkness, and dogs barking. They were looking for someone for what seemed like hours. They parked in our driveway and searched our property, lots of places to hide here! Steve was nervous, but the police wouldn't let him be outside with them so he watched from the windows. I don't know if they found who they were looking for, but Pedro did his job, we lost lots of sleep, and Steve searched the property himself this morning just to be sure! I have to go into the shed this morning-taking Pedro with me. I have a new appreciation for my dogs...they are earning their keep!

Can't wait to wrap up this day...so I am off to get started!

Lasagna

Kat has been expanding her horizons, learning how to use power tools, rebuilding a house, and...cooking! (cooking being her least favorite!). She made lasagna last night-we are so proud! I got the sauce simmering for her, and left everything out with the instructions. She put it together and cooked it. I came home from work to dinner already done!

We were expecting some of the family to pop in which is why we cooked at all...they didn't...they missed out...we enjoyed the bounty!

Raising My Hands in Praise

I look around once in awhile at all God has done and I am amazed....not on my time, or according to my own ability, but on His time and in His power!

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• Friday, we picked up Katherine's car. It is the right car at the right time, a 2002 blue Saturn. She is excited, and the timing is perfect. She starts school right after we get back from N. Carolina, and juggling the vehicles would have been quite challenging!
• We worked on the living room this weekend, getting it primered, textured, and as of yesterday, the first coat of paint. We are going to get the second coat on today. We have been working in between everything else, steady, but not at a "have to get this done" pace. There is so much more to life than this remodel!
• Todd has been a trooper-coming over on his days off, pitching in here and there. He is a good worker. I asked him if he was tired of hanging with us yet, since we obviously work all the time!? He said no...and helped Steve put in Katherine's sub floor.
• I called Tonia just to check on her Sunday. It had been a week since I heard from her. She came to church Sunday night and came by later that evening. She helped texture the living room while Caitlyn was sleeping. We talked about what we have learned. Caitlyn is beautiful. Kat found her some really cute outfits yesterday at Kohls for $1-$2 a set. (She should be a professional shopper!).
• The rat saga-so far this week, no rat. We did put bait out back, so if we are lucky, a few dead ones should start appearing! We have traps in the house set out, but they haven't been tripped yet, unless you count the time I hit one with a broom!
• Added to the schedule-I am studying for my Math Content Praxis. It is gonna be tough, and I have to spend hours every day reviewing math concepts I haven't seen in years. I am quite nervous about this test-only three weeks away! I am reminded of all the days our entire family sat around doing homework way into the night. Steve got his GMAT out and was reviewing it; Kat came in and was browsing through her college Algebra book. Won't be long, and we will all be sitting around the table doing homework together again! My schedule goes something like this: Get up and get coffee, check email and blog, do my devotions and Bible study (because Lord knows without Him I am useless!), do a few chores here and there, study for a bit, more chores, work on something in the house (today-paint), more study, have lunch with Steve (a highlight in the day), get dressed and go to work, come home, and do it all again (except tonight is church so that is first-then-come home and do it again-at least the study part!)

In everything, every opportunity to grow and every moment where God reveals Himself, all I can do is raise my hands and praise Him! He is providing for us, guiding our hands, revealing truth to us every moment of every day! Praise be to God!

What is Important?

Life is too short! This week an elderly lady, Ms. Orelle Maynor, went home to be with the Lord. She was 91. (Not pictured). I remember her as this perfect lady, always dressed in a skirt/suit, with "stockings" (as she called them), heels, hair and nails done, and make-up on. She was always dressed when she went out, still driving and taking care of herself at age 91. She lived a very active life, one I was only privileged to share in but for a moment.

Just a few months ago I was sitting in her kitchen visiting with her. She was telling me how she exercised every day (yes, at age 91). She was also telling me about her family, how she grew up, and how she likes to spend her days. She was an amazing woman, absolutely beautiful. Well...we had those few moments, and I went on with my life, got busy, and although the Holy Spirit laid her on my heart many times, I didn't make it back over there to see her. That makes me very sad-I missed an opportunity to talk with her again, and now I have to wait till I join her in eternity.

So many moments just like that have been lost. So many times the Holy Spirit reminds me of someone, and I think..I need to give them a call, but I don't. Ms. Willis, another elderly lady I knew was gone three weeks before I knew it. My heart was broken. I missed seeing her, and I missed her funeral. Then there is Ms. Davis (pictured).

She is nearly 94. She has been a big part of my life and my children's lives. I hadn't seen her since December, and I knew she had dementia. I listened this time and called. I went by to see her yesterday and am so glad I did. She didn't remember me. She has pictures of my kids in her room, but she couldn't remember their names. (She told me she had been trying to figure out who they were!) I had printed out some recent pictures of our trip to Daniel and Lauren's wedding, and of Katherine's graduation when everyone was here, and made her a photo album. When I showed her the pictures and reminded her about her family, her face lit up, and she remembered. I reminded her of the things we had done, and of course all the moments she had shared with the kids. She still wasn't convinced I was their mother...I really think she thought I was Katherine all grown up! I told her I would take lots of pictures while I was at Robert's and add to her photo album! We laughed and she cried a little. I told her no tears, but she told me she was crying because she was so happy to see me. How many moments like this have I sacrificed on the altar of "works"? Lord, ever remind me what is important and what is not!

Ms. Orelle Maynor (Sept. 11, 1916-Aug. 22, 2008)

Common Place

Ya ever notice how things which at one time shocked you somehow become commonplace...and no longer surprise you or shock you? It is like that here...at least as far as rats are concerned. Apparently the idealistic view that the one rat that got in was the ONLY rat was a little premature! And...my brother's idea that those electronic rat chaser awayer things keep rats out don't really work either! We tried that, don't waste your money!

Back to the rat story...again...another one made it in. Kat went to Six Flags yesterday morning very early, before we got up. I was cleaning up yesterday and noticed this mud all over the hutch and dog food container. I thought Steve had been really messy the day before getting the food out, so I cleaned it up. On the way home from Six Flags, Kat said there had been a rat in the house the night before. I asked her why she was just now telling me...she said it was too early to wake us up! Hmm...last week, we were up ALL night after her screaming.

Last night we tried the let Maggie roam the house technique. She was checking everything out. She slept with Katherine. When she would hear something, she would get up and go check out and then go lay down again. This morning, there was mud again...but how on earth does a rat get mud all over the dog food container and hutch but nowhere else! How did it get to the trashcan without leaving tracks anywhere? We have no idea whatsoever. We did have the electronic thing plugged in, so we can rule its effectiveness out. We can also determine that Maggie heard it and scared it away, so it was unsuccessful at the attempt at the dogfood, but we were also unsuccessful at trapping it.

Tonight...new strategy, no electronic thingy, and Maggie is in the cage, traps are going to be set. Let's try this again...and see if Kat screams!

By the way...I was very cautious walking to the bathroom in the dark since I had no idea what might be lurking near by!

In Prison

Yesterday was my first time to go into our ladies prison here. I have actually never been in any prison...wasn't sure what to expect. TV isn't exactly the best picture of what real life is like! I joined our ladies jail ministry team, something I have been pondering for some time, and yesterday was the day! We go in once a week for two hours to do a Bible study with the ladies there. I wasn't teaching yesterday, just watching and listening.

The variance of lady that was there was staggering. The youngest I met was 22, but she looked even younger than that. My partner said she had met girls as young as 17. I was trying to remember names, so kept looking around into their faces. They looked just like everyone else, anyone I would have passed on the street or met in the store; however, they made choices that landed them in a maximum security prison, dressed in red striped outfits, with no control at all over their own lives. My friend who was teaching, on Elijah, stressed how God provides for us, how important obedience to Him is in our lives, and the choices we have to make for ourselves. She mentioned in there that they could have freedom even behind bars and maybe more freedom then if they were out, if they allowed sin to keep them in bondage.

I was so nervous at first, but then I was having a hard time being quiet, wanted to talk, wanted to move around and meet them, listen to them, and encourage them. That time will come-I am already thinking about what I will be teaching and am asking God what they need to hear.

The thing I heard the most, the greatest need of their heart, was an understanding of God's grace. Nothing they do or don't do will get them to heaven, will change their lives, not turning over a new leaf, trying to live differently then they know, trying to free themselves from bad relationships and drug addictions, because the change they need needs to come from the inside not the outside. They don't understand repentance, responsibility for what they have done and lived, and how great their need is for dependence on the Savior. If all could get a handle on the truth of God's grace, and His enabling power to make us into what He wants us to be, how different we would be, and how different we would be towards everyone else.

I went to prison yesterday and spent two hours locked behind really heavy doors with guards watching through windows everywhere, but I went in free, and I came back out free. Lord, work in those ladies' hearts to bring them to saving grace and eternal freedom in you, and you alone!

Handsome Little Man

Isn't he just beautiful??? His smile lights up a whole room...and he is so big so fast! (That makes me sad...how fast children grow). Aaron is almost a year old, but it is only a week till we leave for NC to attend his first birthday! Yippeee....

The worst part about military life is the separation we have to endure from our families. Robert and Gabrielle are sacrificing what so many people won't to protect our freedom. Being a marine and a marine wife is a high calling, and we are sure proud of them, but...[sigh ;(] we miss them and our sweet handsome little man!

Pardon our Progress

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Highest Compliment

My Sunday was certainly a day of worship! Our Sunday School has been on the parables, the past few weeks on the "Lost." Yesterday, I ended that set with the prodigal son and connected all three, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. God impressed upon my heart how precious that one that is lost is and how worth it to Him it is to go look for him, invest in leading him, show him how much Christ loves him. People are worth the investment, although their are times I get a little self centered and forget that.

In between services, Tonia called again. I knew something was going on because she has called twice in one week, and we haven't talked for over a year. We parted paths under less than desirable circumstances...hers was a life I invested in that I thought was wasted time. The hardest part for me has been the realization that it is in our nature to use people to get what we need or want. I am often used and often feel used. People only change when God changes them, we may influence them, but we don't change them.

Tonia has a new baby girl, a beautiful little one, and I am so glad she called to tell me. She brought her by and sat with me a few hours yesterday, sharing what has been going on in her life. She has always been very open...she has shared her life with me now for about 8 or 9 years. I have been there with her with all of her kids, shared my home with her, loved her kids, kept them at times while either parent was gone. She has been like a daughter to me and big sister to Katherine. As she talked, I mostly listened, I heard so much of the same story she has been living for a long time now. She made a choice to live her way, although she knows truth. I didn't share much truth this time, she has heard it from me so many times before. I just listened.

In there somewhere she said that she didn't know if I noticed, but she always popped back in when she needed to renew her spiritual foundation. This was a place she felt loved and accepted. (And here I was feeling used!). I told her I was going to take that as a compliment, because that is exactly was I was trying to achieve. I wanted to build a home that people could walk in and feel completely safe and at home, yet be exposed to who God is, be surrounded by His presence, every wall, every space here be a convicting presence. Guess I underestimated who God is...He knew where Tonia was all along, hadn't abandoned her, knew her need, burdened her heart to call me and come by, and began a healing process to heal old wounds! In the time He was working in her, He was also working in me, pruning out that which is keeping me from bearing fruit. It is so hard to love, to have joy, peace, longsuffering, be gentle and good, have faith, meekness, and temperance, when you are focused on self and allow bitterness and anger to take root! Lord, prune away, every soul that you bring into my life is worth it!

Good News/Bad News

Bad News: Rat didn't get in through the hole in the floor, came in somewhere else
Good News: It got caught in the Tomcat rat trap we put out last night
Bad News: The trap was laying on the hutch so the dog wouldn't get caught in it which means...it was on my hutch..ewwwwwwwww
Good News: It has been properly disposed of
Bad News: Hmmm...how did it get in, which hole, and how do we keep them out?!
Good News: That tomcat really works! Might need to keep a few of those handy

Kat, very calmy knocked on our door this morning about 7 AM, thank goodness it wasn't at 12:30! She had put Maggie out about 5 Am, so somewhere between 5 and 7, the rat came in again. Rats are creatures of habit so went right to where we had spotted it. It couldn't get to the dog food this time, but apparently smelled the peanut butter on the trap laying on the hutch right above the dog food. It got caught in it and fell to the floor. It was flopping around which woke Kat up. She knocked on the door; conversation went something like this:
"Dad?"
"Yes?"
"Rat got in again"
"How do you know?"
"It is flopping around in the trap."
"Where?"
"Kitchen"
I said, Yea!....and Steve said...trap was on the hutch...I said ewwww...that means...yep...I stood back a bit while Steve fetched gloves and a paper bag to pick it up. It was quite large, size of a small cat. Very funny sight..rat with head stuck in a trap. (I was even able to laugh at the situation, which is not really all that funny). Steve took it outside, Kat went back to bed, and I grabbed a towel and bleach!

Mission: Changes Daily

My dear friend Kayla told me this week that I needed to relax and enjoy the journey...we have had too much fun the last few days, and we have laughed and laughed and laughed. Kat and I got started texturing Alex's room Friday afternoon. We were absolutely covered with it, then in comes Todd. He joined our party, and somehow managed to stay clean. Now how is it that we ended up with texture in our hair, all over our clothes, so thick that we looked like we were wallowing in the mud, but Todd...who is also a novice, can texture a wall and not get dirty????

Plan was to mud Alex's wall, work on the hallway, and Steve was going to put on our new front door today, but....wait...oh rats...that didn't quite work out. Somewhere around 12:30 am, yes AM, Kat let out a blood curdling cry which resulted in mom bolting out of the bed.

Seems that the wildlife, aka, big rat, decided to venture into the house. He met a very hearty unwelcome! Well, our adventure went on for quite a few hours, ending with Katherine and I hiding out in the only room with a door, and Steve keeping guard in the living room, assisted by our trusty ratter, Maggie who kept the critter from reappearing!

That adventure left us quite tired today, and on a new mission-close up the hole in the dining room. Steve and Rich spent some time leveling the dining room floor, and deciding how to assemble our rather large floor puzzle. After a very long day, we now have a new subfloor in our dining room. In the process we discovered that a previous owner had used sheetrock under one layer of subfloor. WHO DOES THAT? We now need to take up the living room floor which was NOT in the plan.

We did get Alex's room textured, and we did get a layer of texture on the hall, and Maggie does get to sleep indoors again....just in case!

TGIF

Wow what a week this has been...work has been very busy...and the week has been nonstop action! I came home last night after work to a house full of people. Kat and I went grocery shopping yesterday so she could cook pizza last night and bake cookies with Todd. I expected them to be here. In addition, Joe, Shawna, and Drew were here. Shawna had emailed me, but I hadn't read my mail. She came to work. Drew had talked to Steve about computer problems, so Steve knew he was coming. Kat had text Joe to stop by because I had bought him a "thank-you" gift for doing such a great job on our yard. So...of the three of us...none of us completely communicated all of this to the other, so each of us was surprised by who showed up!

Just a little chaos....and the whole week has been just like that...people in and people out! This week we have been to the vet and the mechanic, seen and talked to people which have been estranged...and amazingly enough...gotten something done on the house!

I have so many moments where I am trying to figure everything out... not sure of myself or what I am doing...and again God intervenes. Joe shows up, Tonia calls. I hurt so much when Joe and Kat separated, not just for her, but because I really believed God brought Joe into our life. It took me a long time to get past that he wasn't going to be the one for her, and now that she is pursuing a new relationship, and I am seeing a few more pieces of the puzzle, I understand a little more that God is working in all of them to accomplish His purposes- not mine. I had hoped that everyone could get past the pain, and we could again share our life with Joe. I have been praying for him as if he was my very own son, and God is answering. He can finally come here and be comfortable. Kat and he are talking now as friends, and he is stepping into more of a brother role in her life. When he heard what Chris had done to her, he got all bent out of shape and called Chris. He met Todd last night and apparently liked him-might be a good sign. Tonia-hadn't heard from her since last March. We had tried and tried to help her, give her a refuge, encourage her to set her feet back towards Christ, but she still went her own way-we parted paths, and it wasn't pretty. All our efforts felt futile, but she called. The door is open again in both hers and Joe's life. It is quite encouraging to know that our God is longsuffering, and He isn't done yet! Still have my family before me, and the struggle to communicate with them in an effective way...am already feeling used in this situation...already struggling with my attitude, but God is grace.

I am really glad today is Friday! The week isn't quite over and there is still lots of work ahead this weekend, but...it is Friday...and Sunday is on the way!

Grace

Our pastor has been preaching a series on Wed. night about living in Canaan land. I am also reading a devotional book about living in grace, not under the law. They tie together, and, I am looking around at God's amazing grace as evidenced in our lives. This storm hasn't been all clouds and rain; there have been quite a few rainbows on the horizon promising God's faithfulness and reminding us of His presence.

When we experienced our initial losses, including two vehicles, it was hard to do anything except sit down and cry, which I did a lot of! Then grace appeared....we bought our jeep, and the same week my father-in-law gave us an F-150. Steve was so excited, because all these years prior, we had been talking about our next vehicles. Our van and truck were paid for. We debated whether to buy me a new vehicle or to get his full size truck. Well...how could we know that God would orchestrate a different plan and still give us the desire of our heart. Not only did I get a new vehicle, Steve did too...something we could have never afforded on our own! That truck proved invaluable in moving my sister, and it is incredibly helpful with all our construction...and when we go anywhere together, we go in the truck! :)

But...the story doesn't end there. We have always wanted to give a vehicle away-thought it would be my van, but God..different plan...we are giving our Ranger to our son, Robert. He is the only one of our three children that we didn't buy a vehicle for. We took our Ranger in this week to have it looked at, sure it was having transmission problems...nope...got it serviced...nothing wrong with it at all....got new tires....and it ready for us to sign over to him! He is excited about having another vehicle, which frees Gabrielle up too.

Still...more to the story...still looking for Kat a vehicle since we lost hers too. We have explored a few options, but nothing has been right. My mom calls this week...she has two vehicles she is paying for and is going to let one go back. I told Steve, who hated the idea of it going back and her credit being shot, so he is exploring us taking that one. It is newer than Kat's focus which we lost, and has a lot less miles on it. (Not orange, and not as sporty as her focus, but with her tendency to speed, not a bad thing!). It may be affordable for her, so praying for God's direction and will. Don't know what is going to happen on this one yet, but DO know that God is continuing to show His grace in our life!

Dusting

Remember the dust I was complaining about? Yep, everywhere. When we sand, it completely covers us and everything else in the house. Really hard to get up. My hair (and Shelly's) turned grey instantly. (Wait..maybe we are just getting old before our time!LOL). Notice-I put her pix up and not mine; don't want to envision myself grey!

We sanded some more last night, and vacuumed, and...forgot to close our bedroom door so the room is now covered with dust! Guess I should get right to...dusting....

Life is Learning

ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) has this philosophy that they build their curriculum on-Life is Learning. They are definitely right about that! Not a day goes by that an opportunity to learn doesn't present itself. Our remodel has been a huge time of growth for all of us!

We have learned alot more than could be expressed in this short space! Rich has sheetrocked for the first time and gotten quite good at it. Alex took his first turn at sheetrocking and mudding. Todd got a quick lesson in how to sheetrock and mud. He has done a few walls now-and stayed neat doing it! (Can't say that for Kat or I!). Steve Willis has been helping and instructing. We might actually get this whole mud thing down before this project comes several times now...slow learners to a close. (He is patient-I think he has told us the same thing that we are!) Kids have all jumped right in, mudding, sweeping, vacuuming, sanding, and FINALLY primering. We got Alex's room primered this week! Still working on some touch up work in the hall and living room, but they are about ready to be primed too. This weekend we are going to paint his room!

We spent yesterday evening ordering doors. It took hours! Solid core, hollow core, left hand, right hand, choices choices choices on hardware, locksets?, and the list goes on! Who would have thunk that that could be so complicated! (And just a few weeks ago, thought you just kind of walked in and bought doors!) Wonder how we will do actually hanging them!

Between You and Me

My dear daughter recently gave me the sweetest card. She and I have been through alot this past year or so, some up moments, and some not so up moments. She has greatly frustrated me, and I her. We have agreed and disagreed, but both of us are growing through our life trials...and after all...what is to be expected when two adult women live in one house other than a little conflict?!

She told me she had had the card for awhile, but her timing in giving it to me had to be of God. It was perfect. It is a card recognizing my role in her life, kind of a thankyou. She wrote in the inside of it, and I hope she doesn't mind me sharing...:)

Mom,
I know its been a rough year but I just wanted to let you know that I absolutely love you with everything I am. You may feel like you haven't been the best mom but I couldn't ask for anyone better! You have been there through thick and thing, rainy days (LOL) and sunshine ones. I love you. Don't ever think I don't love you and don't want your advice. I always will.
Love,
Katherine

Katherine,
I dearly love you. You have been my sunshine even in the rainy days. You are so beautiful all the way to your inner being. Sharing my life with you has been a gift I truly treasure. I pray that as you learn to be an adult woman, and I learn to relate to you as that woman, and not just my little girl, that we both will grow into the women God has planned for us to be! I am ever praying for you, and ever thanking God for loaning you to us for just a little while...but just between you and me, you will AlWAYS be my baby girl!

Closing In

We have really made headway this weekend. (Please forgive me for not getting pictures taken-been slacking in that area, but I promise, more on the way!) We have Alex's room, the hallway, our room (except the closet), and the living room nearly completely done with sheetrock, float and tape. YEA! We worked our you know whats off to get it done and get ready to paint. We are FINALLY almost to the primer stage. A few more touch ups in those rooms, some sanding, and we are there! I am really excited about being this close. A house looks totally different with walls, the space is definitely closing in! :)

Next: order doors for those rooms...and hopefully the window guy will be ready to install windows in those rooms soon, and then...drum roll please...floors! Yippee

My Mentor

Not really having a mother I can really talk to, confide in, or go to for advice has left a huge void in my life. My relationship with my mom is a formality-she is my mother; I respect that, and I honor her, but that is not a relationship.

I didn't have a mom to teach me the things daughters learn from their moms. I remember when I was pregnant with Katherine, someone said to me that maybe God knew I hadn't been ready for a girl before, and I hadn't been. Up until Daniel was born, I didn't wear dresses at all. When I graduated high school, I had one dress, the one I bought for graduation! I didn't know how to wear make up, dress up, carry myself, or conduct myself like a woman should. Every detail about being a woman, I learned from other women, not my mom.

In God's grace, He always provides. Ms. Mary Ann has been one of those women God brought into my life to teach me. Ms. Mary Ann has been my Spiritual mom and mentor for years. She is the one I go to when I need help and counsel. When I want to run away-I run to her. I know she will be honest and true. She will encourage me in the faith, share her own heart and experiences with me, and point me back in the right direction. She has been there as my children were growing, and now she teaches me how to live with the adults my children have grown to be.

Today, we went on Sunday School visitation together and after spent a few hours just talking. I walked away with a little more confidence, a little more wisdom, and a little more resolve to live in the truth of God's Word!

All in a Day

We have been home from Florida nearly a week already! We took Monday night off to recoup, but Tuesday was a buzz. I got home from work, and the Willis team was hard at work. Walls were floated and more sheetrock was going up. Rich, Doreen, Sonja and Alex were also here contributing to the renovation. Steve came home from work last night and went right to work framing the last wall in our bedroom. Very little left to do in there before it is ready to paint! YEA! (might be primering that tonight)

Yesterday was my clean up the house day. I spent most of it doing basic house chores. Alex was with us since Sonja had to work and Rich was out of town. Alex helped with the housework, cut some of the yard, and meandered around the property. He is a very touchy feely young man and tends to follow us around the house. That is going to take some getting used to!
He is excited about his room, and a new school, and even the uniforms which is very new to him!

Kat and I both had to work so Alex was left at home by himself for about 2 1/2 hours. We gave him implicit instructions as to what he could and could not do. :O) I walked in from work to a very bored Alex! He chatted and chatted, and then confessed everything he did while I was gone! Tooooooooo funny! His uncle told him not to touch any tool or weapon of any sort. Kat told him to lock the doors, so he decided to lock the doors, but realized his uncle's pellet pistol was outside. He thought he should bring that in, but the problem....can't touch it. He then decided to get a papertowel to carry it with (not touching it!). He did that and brought it in, but then realized we would notice it had been moved so carried it right back to where it was!!!! Of course he had to do a little exploring, so he checked out the attic and the closets..when I returned, he gave me a full report of what he found!

The best part of our time with him yesterday was a one on one conversation with him about church. He didn't have any clothes to wear, so I took him to Old Navy. He picked out a suitable outfit in a price range I was willing to pay, and we headed back. I told him he was going to need some church clothes-his response, "I don't go to church." I informed him that he did now! Determined not to make the same mistakes I have made in the past, I pursued a conversation about why we go to church, heaven and hell, the truth about where we are as sinners. He talked and shared what he believed, and I asked a lot of questions. He was very responsive and attentive, and I know he has been challenged to rethink his position. I did share the gospel with him, but did not push him for a decision. He was under the impression it was about good works, and now he has a greater understanding that we aren't good enough. He is not saved, but the seed has been planted, a door opened, and he is thinking.

All these times my family has been with me for whatever reason....I get busy with the incidentals, cleaning, cooking, balancing so many people in one house, and forget that the most important need isn't all the outside stuff, it is the inside. If my family comes to know Jesus Christ and commits to serving Him then what on earth does anything else matter?

We all went to church, even though my sister was very tired...oh yea...when it came time to get ready to go, Sonja acted like she didn't want to go. I told her we were going; it was up to her whether she did or not. Alex jumped right in-he suddenly wanted to go to church! Yippee! (He sat by me and cuddled up next to me :)

On a less Spiritual note. We had the privilege of meeting Todd last night. He is a friend of Kat's that she met through Chris. They have been talking back in forth for a bit now. He came over and had a dinner on the run (had to get ready for church), joined us at church, took a tour of our construction zone, and hung out with us for awhile at Starbucks. It was really a blessing to meet a young man that acted his age and then some. I told her she was definitely stepping up her game...this one does not fall into the "bad boy" class that she usually is attracted to. (She told me she likes the country boy look, ok, but that is not the same as the bad boy image!) He acted and dressed appropriately, no backwards ball cap, no holes in the jeans, has life goals and plans, and attended church before he met her! I am always impressed by single gi's that attend church on their own, no family connections or community connections, but seek out a place to attend. It is really hard to stand on your faith when you are standing alone. Military life is anything but encouraging in the faith realm (at least in my opinion!). Right now the two of them are building a friendship which is a really good place to start! And...she is reading about dating and relationships-God is working in her to show her truth, and she is listening!

All in a day....what will this day hold?

Simple Things

We haven't sat down in any comfortable fashion to watch a movie or check out a show since this demolition began. The only tv up was the one in Kat's room, and there are no floors or walls in there! We were so tired last night from all this work and traveling that no one wanted to do a thing. As we debated our options, my husband came up with an idea. Our couch and love seat are in the living room, why not bring Kat's tv in there? There is no satellite in that room, but we can watch a dvd...which was actually the goal. We are big Stargate fans....hence...when the new movie came out, Steve preordered it right away. It came in last week, but we haven't stopped to watch it. Last night was the night...we curled up on the couches and after months and months, stopped to watch a movie together. Simple Things

Before we made our jaunt to Florida, I cleaned up the den (still gutted), putting the computer on a table. There is no power in there so we are running extension cords through the room into the dining room. At least we can sit down at a table, in a chair, at the computer now! Simple Things

We brought a different tv into the den and sat it on a shelf...still wasn't hooked up. Steve hooked it up to the satellite last night and this morning...another first in a long time...I am watching/listening to Good Morning America. Simple Things

To live so long already without modern conveniences that make a home a home...to be able to sit and fellowship, or watch a movie as a family...somehow the hurry up pressure to get on with this project dissipated...a few simple things makes life a bit more bearable and maybe even this process a little less taxing!

Boundaries

Read a book on the way to Florida. It was about dating and relationships. I read it because it was given to my daughter, and I wanted to know what it said before she read it. It was powerful. It applied to all relationships, not just the dating one. As a matter of fact, the author used an analogy about walls (go figure)! Walls can keep others out and be a bad thing, or they can set up a safety perimeter keeping everyone safe and living in peace.

So much of my life has revolved around other people. My husband and I bought this home three years ago, and in that time, we have had countless people living with us. I have considered it an honor to be able to share my home with those who God brings my way, but I haven't learned how to set boundaries. As a result, I get very frustrated and angry. I feel like adults should act like adults, and I am not their mother! That theory hasn't really worked out for me because more times than not, we become a hotel and get taken advantage of. We lose our autonomy as a family, and our finances are tapped disabling us from being able to take time for ourselves. We rarely go out other than to catch a bite to eat, don't take real vacations, or spend money on frivolous things. All the while, our boardees are out having a grand time because they have no responsibility. Hmmm??? There has been a definite pattern there.

New day, a little growth, and a new boardee. My sister and nephew are here. She is currently at my brothers being as we don't have rooms ready yet, but I know THIS time, I have to set boundaries. I have to be mature enough to sit down and work out with her the who's, what's, and so forth, so that we can live together in peace. Not sure when and where to draw those boundaries yet, but know it will have to happen soon.

I am off to a good start...made some positive choices for my marriage and family while we had some alone time in our hotel...did some Bible studying and talking about where we were at...worked out some ideas...and said "No" a few times (not to him mind you). Over the course of the weekend, my daughter grew in leaps and bounds...the difference in having good Spiritual guidance and accountability, and her and I had time to talk this morning about relationships. She is so much like me...believes in the good of people, hopes to make a difference, wants to be positive, and really has trouble with the "N" word. We are learning and growing together. She, being the young adult she is, and also sharing this house, will get to grow in setting boundaries through this experience too!