Sick

Well, so much for the allergy theory. Zack has strep throat.

He's home till Wednesday and not excited that he's blowing his perfect attendance at school. He made it all year last year without missing a day, and at the end of the year, those with perfect attendance had a party. He's bummed at the thought of missing out. Poor kid. He worries about the sweetest things.

I just hope his meds work soon and he feels much better in the next day or two. I love having him home with me, but I truly hate that he feels bad.

Zoe is being very sweet too. She's carefully heeding the doctor's advice to stay away from her sick brother, but has managed to work out a system where she can "help" with whatever he needs... or continue to annoy him from afar! :)

Lovely kids. I love 'em. In sickness and in health... :)

Just stuff...

* Yesterday we looked at cars again. We've narrowed it down to a couple of options, now we're just waiting to see what God really wants us to do.

Our poor old car is still putting forth a valiant effort, but we're not naive enough to think it will last forever. In the past few months we've put a new belt on it (the kind that wraps around and runs everything... I don't know what it's called), replaced the power steering pump (again), and got new brakes (and rotors) all the way around. So it's still road-worthy and the A/C still works... "and there ain't nothing wrong with the ray-ay-dee-oh!" :)

So maybe it's still not time... but we're trying to gear up for the day that "time" comes.

* Zack's not feeling well. His throat is sore and I think it's mostly allergy drainage... at least that's what I'm hoping. Friday when I picked him up from school he was pretty pitiful, but I couldn't get him in to see the doc that day, so maybe tomorrow. In the meantime I've been giving him OTC meds and he seems to respond best to the allergy meds. So hopefully that's all it is.

AJ stayed home from church with him today. Zack said he wanted to go, but would "rather not get anyone sick." Sweet baby. I hope he feels better soon.

* Church was great again today. God is doing something there... time will tell what that is. But the Spirit is moving and we're experiencing brokenness in a way we haven't in while. Brokenness in a good way, although it's not always pleasant. More on that at a later date...

* The Kidz Choir sang tonight. Zoe was in full swing for once. She sings nonstop at home, but usually gets bashful in front of a crowd. Not tonight. She was all about it. Wish her Daddy could have been there to see her. Next time.

* God has put some things on my heart to pray about. Opportunities keep developing in front of me, but I'm not sure what exactly God wants. All of them are good ideas and great ministry opportunities, but at this point in my life, I'm really struggling with putting too much on my plate. I want to be effective, and I know that doing too much won't get me there. So I'm praying that God will give me clarity this week as I ponder what He wants me to do.

* I'm also praying for two sets of dear friends who are in similar situations... both couples are childless and seeking to adopt/foster children. Both are facing opportunities to do that, but are struggling with God's will and the incidentals of how the whole thing could play out. My prayer is that God will reveal EXACTLY what His will is for them. He is powerful enough to create the universe and everything in it, and He is powerful enough to work out these situations too. Whatever that might mean.

* I can't believe it's almost October. Where has this year gone?

* My head is pounding and judging from the blurriness of this as I'm typing, I think it's time to get my eyes checked. Or go to bed. Since it's not really eye doctors' hours, I think I'll choose the latter and worry about the eye thing tomorrow!

Just call me Scarlett O'Hara...

Fireproof

It was great! Go see it! Can't wait till it comes out on video so I can add it to my collection. :)

Promises

I made a promise to AJ over a year ago that I have had a great amount of trouble keeping.

It's not a big thing... just something I told him I'd change, but I've continuously made excuses to myself as to why I can't do it.

AJ hasn't said a word about it, but I still feel guilty for letting him down and not keeping my word. One other person knows about it and has repeatedly called me on it, much to my frustration. It infuriates me, but I know he's right.

So today I am making a vow to renew that promise. Pray that God will give me the strength to stand behind it this time.

On another note, I am totally excited that we are going on a "date" tonight to see Fireproof. We got a babysitter and everything. Woo Hoo! I'll report on the outcome later...

In too deep?

Okay, I have to get this off my chest.

I love my son. I love my husband. (I love my daughter too, but she's not part of this story...). I love the idea of my son having years of special memories from Cub Scouts. Right? Right.

However, as usual I have found myself roped into saying yes when I should probably say no. But because I want this for Zack, and he wants it too, I am now a Tiger Cub Scout leader.

Go ahead. Picture me putting up a tent in my scout uniform. Laugh. Feel better? I know I do. HA!

The plan was for AJ to be Zack's adult partner in the whole thing, but due to his schedule, it's not gonna happen that way. And due to a shortage in willing (and capable... and what exactly does THAT mean?!) volunteers, I was asked to be a den leader.

So, being the mom who doesn't want to let her son down (Tiger Cubs must have an adult present at every meeting/event), I will be going to scout meetings for the rest of my life.

I know, it's not as bad as it seems. I'm not really upset about it either. Maybe a little apprehensive and nervous... but I think it will be fun. I do know it will require me to let go of some other things, but it's been time for that for a while anyway. Funny how things work out that way, isn't it?

Funny - ha, ha?
Or funny - queer?

Picture me in that uniform with the tent again and you'll have your answer!

So, does anyone want to buy some yummy boy scout popcorn??? :)

Sweet & Sour

Last night we had a really sweet time at church. We finished up a study on the old tesatment tabernacle and finally "entered" the Holy of Holies. It was a beautiful time as we visualized what it must have been like for the priests to have such an awesome assignment from God.

As we talked about the shekinah glory, we had a very intense prayer time and then finished the service with communion. It was very moving and brought some things I've been dealing with this week full circle. How I wish we could experience that "shekinah glory" every service...

I have to admit though, I can't hlep but think about Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark when we talk about all that stuff. :) I know, I know... back to reality.

I really enjoy studying the old testament. I think it gets pushed to the back of the shelf too often. Lots of good stuff in there.

On a completely different note...

This morning when I looked in the bathroom mirror, I raised up one arm and thought, "Holy cow! Who's flabby arm is that???" I mean, the full-fledged, jiggle-when-you-wiggle, hangy-down arm flab. Like many of my lovely, beautiful friends, I'm a big girl, but that was a new discovery for me. I may be big, but I've never been flabby.

I love my friends dearly, but I'm starting to think I've become complacent about how I look and how I take care of myself... based on what everyone else is doing or looks like. It's unintentional, but dangerous. Becoming too comfortable because it's "acceptable" to everyone who "loves" me ("you're beautiful just the way you are...") has taken a toll on this old body of mine. And now I have flab issues. :(

Not a nice picture is it? Tell me about it. Now I'm going to have to do something about it so I don't have to look at it anymore. Guess it's time to break out the Total Gym again or get some weights...

Maybe I'll just take down the mirror.

Random Late Night, or Early Morning

Depending on your point of view it's either really late, or really early. Either way, I should be in bed.

I finally got my profile updated. Looks much better now.

Things have been crazy around here the past couple of weeks. AJ was in El Paso last week and got home Friday night to find out his dad was in the hospital. Thankfully he's better now and at home, but for a few days it was kinda scary.

We've had a hard time finding enough hours in the day to get done everything we need to. Too many irons in the fire I guess, although not near as many as some people I know. Tonight was the first night this week we've all been home at the same time for more than an hour or so. And that's only because I made the command decision to forego a ladies' leadership class to be with my family. Sometimes ya just gotta, ya know?

Zack started Tiger Cub Scouts! He's so excited... and so cute. Not that I'm biased. Now we're embarking on the famous Boy Scout popcorn sales! Hopefully he will sell enough to pay for his uniform... that stuff's expensive!

Zoe thinks she's a Tiger Cub too. She's been to two meetings with us and drinks it all in, not missing a thing. She's sound asleep right now with the majority of her fancy plastic jewelry on. What a diva!

AJ is still managing to find time to do his online classwork. He's doing well, and if he can keep with it, he will sure appreciate this degree when it's all said and done. I just wish there were more hours in the day... didn't I already mention that once??

I realized tonight that I miss my mommy. I know, that's really random, but you were forewarned by the title! I do miss my mom and wish we were closer. We are closer than some, but it's still too far for drop in visits. That would be nice. My kids really miss her too. I mean REALLY. They ask on a daily basis when we're going to see Nana again. Hopefully soon. Sometimes I worry about her. Just hoping she's okay. Not that she'd ever tell me if she wasn't. It's that stubborn gene that runs in our family... skipped me of course... :)

I heard there's a hospice chaplain job open here... maybe I should send in Daddy's resume. :)

Okay. That's enough. Going to bed now. Goodnight moon.

What a Difference the Temperature Makes!

Fall is finally in the air! I know we've probably got several more days of heat ahead of us, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! When I stepped outside to take Zack to school this morning... WOW! The cool breeze was so wonderful! It's been a long time since I've had anything positive to say about the weather, so this is a breakthrough for me!

I love fall. Some of my best memories are during the fall months of the year. Every year when it starts getting cooler I think back to my high school band days and smile. I know, I'm a nerd, but I loved those years so much. And every morning I can hear the LakeView HS band practicing several blocks away from my house and it really adds to those memories.

Ahhh... the good ole days when life was simpler. Someone else was worrying about bills and mortgages and kids and jobs and responsibilies... someone else was running the church and we just enjoyed being there... someone else was remembering their own "good ole days."

I love my life. It's simpler than most, for which I am very grateful. I don't worry as much as I used to because I'm learning more every day that leaving things in God's hands is the best way to live. It's harder some days than others, but on days like today, when the air is cool and fresh and the morning starts out beautiful, it's like God giving me a little pep talk.

Now that's an idea! My own little pep rally... no cheerleaders or marching bands needed... just a little taste of fall in the air. Who said life had to be complicated anyway? :)

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25