Happy New Year!!

The New Year welcomes lots of possibilities to each one of us but for my family it brings a lot of new hopes and dreams.  Maybe that is true for a lot of people and that is why it is such a big holiday.  This year my hopes and dreams seem bigger than ever and my trust in my Lord does too.  It's weird how the two go hand-in-hand for me but I am hopeful in so many areas of my life, I can't even begin to explain how I feel.  I have a beautiful daughter who is married and happy.

A handsome son who is going into the Navy and is very happy with his decision,

and another beautiful daughter who is happy in her choice to continue her schooling in film studies and go into the mission field.

I also have an incredible husband who loves me unconditionally and supports me throughout the year in whatever comes our way.

I can continue on and on with the list of blessings that I have in my life but for now I bid you goodnight and Happy New Year to each of you.  May God bless you and bring you much happiness and hope for your future!!! 

Jeremiah 29:11

Sundays

Sundays have become wonderful days for me.  Such days of refreshing and rest.  I enjoy them more than any other day of the week.  Afterall, I get to spend time at church and time with my family and then time blogging or goofing off the rest of the day.  I hope you have a day that you enjoy as much as I do.  If not, come spend the day with me.  I'll show you what relaxation is all about...teehee!!! 

Christmas on TV

ABC Family is usually a favorite channel of mine.  This year they have bombarded us with the 25 days of Christmas advertisements long before Thanksgiving (with a countdown to the 25 days).  It was exciting for my and my kids knowing we would get to see all the old childhood favorites that we've enjoyed over the years.  Instead we've been tormented with Harry Potter's movies and then an assortment of Disney/Pixar favorites -- NOT CHRISTMASy at all.  Some didn't even have the holiday in them.  I mean what's up with that???  Don't get me wrong I enjoyed watching The Incredibles and Wall-E last night with my two youngest but to coin a phrase C'MON, MAN!!!

New Blog

Well, I decided not to keep my Sunday blogs as part of my personal blog anymore and have started a new blog.  Feel free to ck it out when you need uplifting or a kick in the pants....

http://www.sipsofsunday.blogspot.com/

Love ya!!

24 Years...and counting!!

Today is my anniversary!!!  24 years and counting!!  I am married to the love of my life and am very blessed to have him in my life.  We've had our ups and downs like all couples but have such a strong relationship and I am very proud to call him my husband.  He is a good provider and a hard worker and most of all, loves me as I am.  I couldn't ask for anything more!

How do you know???

How do you know when you hear from God???  We've long since left the days of burning bushes so I ask you again, how do you know?  Sometimes I think I hear from Him and things don't progress the way I feel they should.  Does that mean I didn't hear right?  Today's blog is different from most of Sundays' blogs because I'm not concentrating on today's sermon but rather the story of David as a whole.  Let me catch you up...David was annointed King of Israel a looooong time before he ever took throne.  In fact, he endured many trials in the years between the 2 events.  Did Samuel hear from God when he annointed David?  Well, we all know this is a resounding YES!  But why did it take so long and why did David have to go through so much before God's word came true?  I don't have the answer but I do believe this story is placed in the Bible so that we can see that we, too, have to spend time waiting for God patiently sometimes after His word has been revealed to us or even until His word is revealed.  May God's grace sustain us during the time while we wait on Him.

Pondering Friendship...

Today at church, Pastor Jason challenged us with a sermon about friendship using the friendship of David and Jonathan as a basis for the sermon.  As I meditated on the words he issued I realized I have many types of friendships in my life -- facebook friendships, acquaintances, friends I keep at a distance, friends I have thru my family, and true, meaningful friendships.  I want more of the true, meaningful friendships -- the friendships you can count on in a pinch, the ones you nurture and develop.  But as I say this I realize that even Jesus only had a few very close friends and maybe that is the way it is intended to be so that we can maintain these friendships.  Look at the friendships he had.  First of all, the disciples themselves.  There were only 12.  But of the twelve, there were 3 special ones, ones closer than the others and of those John was the one laying on his chest before He departed from the Last Supper.  And then there were Lazarus, Mary and Martha.  These 3 were so close to Him that they knew He would come and save Lazarus from death.  I want to be this kind of friend and have these kind of friends.  I already have some.  I hope you are one.  If not, let's try to become covenant friends.  Everyone could stand one more intimate person in their life.  Won't you be my friend? 

An Unexpecting Blessing

Yesterday, I was blessed to have the opportunity to spend time with JuJu (see note on profile).  During the course of our conversation which was a wide range of things which I won't go into afterall secrets are secrets but she said something I will never forget, something which blessed me so that I had to hold back the tears.  You see, my Grandmother has always loved the Lord, for as long as I have known her (45 years) and for these words to cross her lips still gives me the shivers.  In reference to attending a church service with us a few months ago she said, "I left JD a note letting him know that was the first time I had ever been in the presence of the Lord."
Tears ya up, doesn't it?

Patience

Trusting in God and waiting is a hard lesson to swallow.  Pastor JD talked on it today and this is what I gleaned.
   Where do you find the resources to wait?
     1.  Trust in God's sovereignty!!  God reigns over all and is in control.
     2.  Trust in His steadfast love for you!!  He works ALL things for our good.
     3.  Have selflessness.  Put God first.  When was the last time you asked for things but said I will praise
               You in ALL things bc You are God!!!
     4.  Satisfaction.  Be satisfied where you are, knowing He is working for your good and believing in Him!!

Psalm 57: 2 "I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me."

Ouch!!!

The Tears of a Parent

How often must a parent cry for her children?  How often does she want to take them in her arms and caress their problems away?  It occured to me tonight that our Father must feel that way everyday with us and want to envelope us in His love and care and tell us everything is going to be okay; afterall, isn't that what a good parent does for His children?  As my heart aches tonight for my own children and their lives and their problems, I pray that I will not cause my Father any further heartache than He has already endured for me.

Cardboard Boxes, Newspaper & Bubblewrap

What do these things have in common?  I AM SICK OF THEM ALL!!!  This move is gonna kill me.  Yes, that's right sports fans, we are moving again, downsizing, in fact, by 1200 sq ft which means eliminating a whole bunch of crap!  OMG, I am going crazy!!  :-/

It's ok -- I'll survive -- as Juju would say, "It's just life. This too shall pass." LOL

In the Midst of Giants

I live in the midst of giants.  I am afraid most of the time of those giants.  My giants are a lot of things -- losing my kids, losing my husband, my health, financial burdens, loneliness, depression, etc etc...  These giants leave me tired and weary but I have a fearless advocate ready to fight for me all the time.  He fought the ultimate battle 2000 years ago and conquered my giants and I needn't be afraid anymore but still I battle.  Why do I fear when my Jesus has won?  Why can't I step out in faith and be more like David, big and confident in the field with Goliath instead of the Israelites, afraid and little?  Lord, help me be more like You!!

A New Difficulty???

Well, it's official, my son has signed a new contract with the NAVY.  OMG!!!  There will be a lot of worn out knees is all I have to say about that...LOL.

The Lifter of Mine Head

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.  Ps 3:3

I've always loved this verse.  Long ago I was given the vision of a Father lifting up the head of a child, with a single finger, by the chin, smiling into her face and letting her know all was going to be alright.  To this day, I envision this and also see the sight of Mary Magdalene at the feet of Jesus wiping his feet with her perfume and drying them with her hair.  Again, I picture that he lifted her head with His single finger and smiled at her letting her know all was going to be alright.

I don't know if this helps you but it helps me thinking of my Father as a merciful, gracious God, kind and generous and tender, the lifter of mine head.

Is 98% Enough?

Is 98% enough?  In school it's an A.  If my kids bring home a 98, I'm thrilled.  If I paid 98% of my power bill, the power company wouldn't be happy with me.  Well, God leans towards the power company way of thinking.  98% of obedience is still disobedience.  It is still choosing to CHOOSE your own WILL instead of GOD's and that's wrong.  This is a hard pill to swallow.  Pastor JD really punched me in the nose with these words today.  I always felt that if I tried my best it would be good enough.  In a way it is, as long as I am giving 100%.  But most of the time my best is not truly my best and I blame lots of things for it.  I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm only human, I can ask forgiveness later...all reasons for not giving 100%.  Do you give 100%?  We should all try harder to please God knowing that we still have His mercy but He does expect us to repent and turn from our wicked ways.  I know I am turning a new leaf today.  God be with me and I pray He is with you. 

Emotions

Emotions run rampant when one of your children is hurt, especially when you are helpless to do anything about it.  Right now, my emotions range from wanting to jerk a knot in someone's head to wanting to comfort my precious young'un.  I hate teenagers and don't understand why they have to behave like their hormones are their rulers.  I can't wait til this phase has passed and ALL of my children have reached the next part of their lives.  I know each stage has its problems but GOSH!!!!  How much can a mother take!!!!

Oh Happy Day....

Well, it's Thursday, day before leaving for my scrapbooking retreat and I'm so excited I can hardly stand myself.  All of my scrapbooking stuff is packed and ready to go.  All I need to do is pack up my glad rags and wooly socks and we're off tomorrow to a land far far away (not really, only 1 1/2 hrs but it seems so far away from here).  I'm leaving behind all the cares of this world as I go.  Of course, I will come back to them, but I will be much fresher and happier and an all-around better person.  Next week will be full of the same stresses and more so I will have to be on my toes but I will feel up to facing things again after a brief refresher.  I am so thankful for this time away.  Oh happy day...:-D

Thought Thursday Giveaway

MCC Designs and The Beaufort Lookout have partnered for a giveaway of free personalized items, deadline next Tuesday October 5th.  You can get 6 entries for the giveaway:

1. Become a follower of The Beaufort Lookout which I already was.

2. Become a follower of Melissa's blog - Create the Live you Love. (which I did)

3. Become a follower of my daughter's blog - Pink, Pearls, and a Southern Girl. (which I already was)

(ironically, Melissa's goddaughter & my daughter have the same monogram!

4. Become a follower of MCC Designs on Facebook. (which I did)

5. Post about the giveaway on your blog and let me know you did with a link back to your post. (which I'm doing now) 

P.S.  You must enter comments on The Beaufort Lookout to verify entries.

You can enter too, just do it before the 5th!!!

The Peacemaker

Today is my daughter's birthday.  She is 19.  She was born at a rather tumultuous time for us, only 10.5 months behind her brother.  Irish twins (as they are called) are more difficult in my opinion than regular twins because they are at different developmental stages.  She was trying to hold her head up and he was trying to walk.  She was trying to sit up and he was getting into everything.  What a challenge!!  But we picked the right name for this jewel for our family, Rebekah, which means peacemaker.  She has been one for our family of 5 and for her friends too.  My little peacemaker will have many jewels in her crown one day in glory.  She is such a "JOY" to me...my Rebekah Joy!!!

The SignPost

Today's sermon was about Esther, one of my favorite stories in the Bible.  I've never quite heard it like JD put it but he shined a new light on it for sure.  He had a lot to say about her and what she did but one thing I captured was this, she was a signpost, a signpost to our example, Jesus Christ.  I also drew the conclusion that WE should be a signpost for others to see, pointing the way to Jesus through Holy Spirit of course but notice our responsibility.  Signposts are there to notify people of upcoming things, of changes to come.  I want to be a signpost.

Lesson in Life

This is one lesson I have learned in life and I'd like to pass on to all my friends who have younger children...

Babies Don’t Keep
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

3 Weeks to Go

3 weeks until my fall scrapbooking retreat.  I really can't wait.  D-Town is getting old these days and I am needing a break from the monotony of day-to-day life which isn't so day-to-day.  The routines of the days seem to be handling the fires that come up and fighting off the battles.  It seems to be something from every aspect of life so I really can't wait to get away to that quiet room with no tv, just a sweet roomie, to that giant scrapbooking room full of fun friends all itching to just have fun and be friendly, to that cafeteria full of tantalizing treats sure to make me gain 10 lbs.  LOL  It will be a relaxing ride of only 1.5 hrs (unless we take the scenic route) and then on to unpacking our things and hitting the books.  I can't wait to get started on my memories and the fun of decorating them into beautiful scrapbooks which will bring hours of fun for my family.  The joy it brings my family is worth every cent and every minute it takes me.  I love scrapbooking!!

Again My Heart Breaks

It seems to be a recurring theme for me these days but once more my heart is breaking.  This time it is for my husband and his side of the family.  They are going through such a difficult time these days with his parents; it just breaks my heart.  Watching his heart break everytime he talks to them or about them is crushing me.  Today he visited with them and he decided it would be best if we sent them back to KY and let them have their way even though they can't tend to themselves or their affairs.  He even said the danger of it would be worth it not to see her so unhappy.  So I ask you, which is truly worse?  I am scared to think of what will happen if they return and how it will affect my sweet husband.  I pray that soon my blog will begin to show the happier side of my life until then...pls pray for my family!!

Celebration of Life

I attended a celebration of life yesterday for Joan Francis.  I didn't know Joan very well except through her daughter Rae who is a friend of my daughter.  I learned a lot about this beautiful person during this exercise of love as her family celebrated her life and her accomplishments and her victory in Jesus!  I listened in awe at the words of her husband along with the 800-900 others present at the service.  This man truly loved this woman.  She lived out the Proverbs 31 description for a woman.  I hope that when my time comes such words are evoked on my behalf.  From this day forth, I will strive to become a better person, wife, mother and daughter and most of all woman of God.  R.I.P. Joan Francis.  God bless you, Francis Family.

Full of Tears

My heart and eyes are full of tears as I write this.  Another angel has made the trip to heaven and is rejoicing at the feet of Jesus.  While this picture makes me smile the pain of this loss leaves me speechless.  I  find myself clinging to my Lord and to my own family, wishing my girls were home.  Didn't I just go through this just a couple of weeks ago?  Yes, we experienced the death of a teenage friend recently and I went through similar feelings then.  In March, my grandfather passed away so these feelings are not new to me this year.  Sadness seems to be rampant in my life these days.  I find myself clinging to the Scripture, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." Matt 5:4.  I know my Comforter, Holy Spirit, is here for me, and He is continuing to comfort me.  He has brought me through each of these instances and this one will be no exception.  I am confident in my Saviour for He sent the Comforter and one day He will return for me and I will be reunited with those we have lost who have loved Him.  Joan, I will see you one day smiling with our Jesus!!  Love to the Francis family.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

As the NFL kicks off tonight, IS am surprised to find myself thrilled.  It's not that I'm not a football fan...I just usually find movies far more entertaining.  Is that true??  No!!  You can find many genres of  drama on the football field -- drama (that's for sure), action, adventure, animation (just watch after a good play) biography, comedy, crime(LOL, not really funny), family(this is questionable), history, horror, news, reality, thriller, and war.  The only thing missing is the romance and most folks love their team so I guess that counts as romance.  I am also thrilled bc my son is home until March which means I get to watch the entire season with him and my husband.  So let me say again, are you ready for some football???  I know I am!!!! :-)

A Sad State of Affairs

It is quite sad to realize that one day we all will probably get to the age and state that we can't take care of ourselves.  I witnessed this firsthand today as I sat with my inlaws all day in a cozy little apartment watching the Game Show Network and watching them sleep in between fits of complaining about their aches and pains.  Not that they were complainers, they just couldn't help themselves.  Mom's arms are so arthritic she can't use them and she had a headache and something wrong with her eye and her knee was bothering her.  Dad just couldn't remember things from one moment to the next.  It was so sad to watch that I am crying inside, weeping at the pain we are in.  I call out to my Father and beg for His guidance for us all.  We have some tough decisions to make quickly.  I call on you, my fellow bloggers, for prayer and advice.  They can't stay alone, that much is clear; but what to do with them and where to put them is unclear.  They want to remain in their home in Louisville and they can't without supervision.  We want them here so we can take care of them.  They do not want to be here.  HELP!!!!

See Jesus Above All Else

Zaccheus was a wee little man
And a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see.

The crowd was full of hypocrites
Who denied him access to
The Savior's gospel on that day
Would the crowd deny you?

But Jesus looked up and saw him there
Just as He sees you and me
Would you persist or would I to
Climb over the crowd into that tree?

Sometimes the only way we can see
Jesus is from that tree
Where our eyes are focused on the one and only
Jesus the Nazarene.

Enuf Said

Bekah is coming home tonight and Caleb is here.  Wish Julie was here.  Enuf said.  :-) <3 <3

It's Just Life

JuJu always says "It's just life, Honey."  She uses this phrase anytime I feel uncomfortable with what's going on in my life.  She uses it anytime she wants to encourage me and let me know that this time in my life will pass and I will feel better soon.  JuJu always knows.  She's seen it all and knows that life goes on.  In her 86 years I'm sure she's felt discouraged but somehow she's always managed a pleasant smile.  I have seen her upset and still she managed to be the matriarch of the family, the rock we all clung to at the difficult time.  So when I say to you, "It's just life, Honey," I'm saying it with as much love as JuJu always tells me.  Afterall, it is just life and this too shall pass. :-)

Thanks for always being there, JuJu!!!  I love you!!!

Secret Apple Dumplin Recipe

2 Grannie Smith Apples, peeled cored and sliced into 16 slices
2 pkgs refrigerated crescent rolls
2 sticks butter
1.5 c sugar
1 t vanilla
cinnamon
1 small can mt dew

Roll ea slice of apple in crescent roll and place in 9 X 13 buttered pan.  Melt butter and add sugar.  Barely stir and add vanilla.  Pour over crescents.  Sprinkle with cinnamon.  Pour mt dew around edges of pan.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Spoon sauce over crescents when you serve.  Serve with ice cream for added treat. 

My Heart

My Heart lays heavy this morning with the burdens of this world.  So many things going on in my head.  The loss of a child near the age of mine always makes me stop and think so much.  I am truly thankful for my children and all that they bring me, the good and the bad, the laughs and the trials.  I would not trade a second of it but now I just want to cling to them and have them here with me, have my birdies in the nest where I can protect them.  But they can't live their lives in a bubble and I can't live my life in fear so we go on and hope and pray for the best, praying first of all for their salvation so that no matter what they will be with the Lord should the case arise.  I can only hope that these parents have that peace.  I don't know the children so I don't have that peace for them.  My heart just breaks. 
I am also heavy with the burdens of family troubles -- parent care, sibling issues, salvation issues, health & financial struggles.  I only mention these bc I am listing them in prayer as I do.  God knows the individual issues and now you know that there are things I am praying about within my family.  Please join me in praying for my family and for the families of the lost teens.

Thou Shalt Have Great Sex!!!

I thought that would grab your attention.  It sure did mine as Pastor JD renamed the 7th Commandment today in his sermon.  It's amazing to me week after week the he can take what I think I already know and teach me something.  This week he used this commandment as a tool to teach how God was protecting something invaluable to us -- great sex, a oneness between husband and wife and intermingling of bodies within the confines of marriage.  Yes, he used it to state the obvious things it was against but he made this commandment a beautiful attribute of our marriage to Christ as His bride (once we get past this physical world).  JD was full of hilarity and kept things light while lowering the boom on us about the inproper use of this beautiful tool.  He then clearly gave it flight when he reminded us of the story of Mary Magdalene when Jesus states let he who hath no sin cast the first stone.  "Neither condemn I you; Go and sin no more."  Ahh, restoration no matter where we are in our walk.  I was amazed again.  Neither condemn I you; go and sin no more.  I love you all!!!

Family

Family is an interesting thing, one I am blessed to have a lot of.  Family does not mean minding each other's business.  It merely means being interested in each other and perhaps in each other's business or at least in what they want to share.  Family is always there when friends fail you.  However, family can include your very close friends or at least my family does.  I call this my extended family bc there are so many of them and it's sometimes hard to keep track but I try to touch base as often as possible.  Facebook has been a good tool for me to reach out to those I don't get to see often.  It's made it so I do get to see some extended family members more often (you know who you are and I am thankful for you).  Text msging is another great technique of communication amongst my family.  I am sad to say that not all my family utilizes some of these easy ways of communicating to stay in contact with the family.  I am happy to report that it has brought me closer to those who want to remain in my life and while misunderstandings occur (yes tone can be read in text msgs and fb msgs) I am delighted to have so many family members in my life.  I wish some of my family were closer to me but technology has put us in close contact.  I love my family and want only the best for each one of them.  I hope you are part of my extended family.
P.S.  Caleb is awesome.

Good Friends

What a wonderful treat it is to have so many good friends who care and write or call or text.  They know when things are bad or even when things are good and just want to share my life.  They are too numerous to name now but I love each one of you and you know who you are.  No matter how often or how seldom we get together or talk, know that I think of you often and love hearing from you and find great pleasure in your notes of encouragement.  You are such a blessing to me!!  Thanks for always being there family and friends!!!

A Murderous Heart...

Today's sermon was on the 6th Commandment -- Thou Shalt Not Murder.  Pastor JD talked about how most of us think it doesn't really apply to us but on the contrary it really does bc the murder is in our hearts.  It is in our hearts when we wish evil upon those who haved wronged us and when we don't forgive whole-heartedly and completely.  Harboring the unforgiveness in our hearts creates a sense of evil-doing against the one who has wronged us no matter how simple the wrong has been, an unkind word or deed perhaps.  Because people are made in the image of God they all deserve the love that Christ died to give us.  No, we can't all die to show love for our fellow man but should we be prepared to?  On some level and in some circumstances yes. 
This lesson hit me right between the eyes.  There are many people who have wronged me in the past that I hold in a special place in my heart, a special no-touch place.  That place that I don't talk about or even think about for that matter.  I realize that keeping them there is not forgiveness.  It's more like complacency, an attempt to forget their wrong-doings.  I wonder if I saw them today would I be able to share the love of Jesus.  What do you think?  Could you?

Bitter Sweetness

It is with bitter sweetness as I watch my living room begin to fill up with boxes and luggage and baskets and such.  My youngest returns to college on Monday and even though I knew this day was coming, I wasn't expecting to feel this way.  She is so delighted and bouncing around happy to be returning to her friends and the home she has made at school.  I am truly happy for her and until today was bouncing around with her.  I've worried over this child for 19 years now why would today be any different??  She seems so grown up and so secure in her decisions and yet was it that long ago she was crying on my shoulder needing my advice?  I love this child and need her to need me but know that above all she is the Lord's and was only mine for a time.  I have done my best with her and will always be there for her.  We have many moments left to share; they just won't be daily.  I know other mothers must feel the same way when their birdies fly the coup but today I feel like the only one.

Oh the Blood

Oh, the blood of Jesus!

Oh, the blood of Jesus!

Oh, the blood of Jesus!

It washes white as snow.

What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh, the blood of Jesus!

Oh, the blood of Jesus!

Oh, the blood of Jesus!

It washes white as snow.

What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.


Just felt like singing this morning...

Loneliness??

How can I go from Happiness just two hours ago to Loneliness??  Well, I'm family-oriented.  I love having family around.  My poor Golden Retriever Millie just isn't company enough these days.  I prepared as best I could for the empty-nest syndrome and feel I adapted quite well.  Doug and I settled into a nice routine and got quite comfortable with it.  Then 2010 hit...and my world went haywire.  Doug got promoted at work which sent his schedule into the abyss (to put it nicely), our oldest moved back home for a couple of months unexpectedly and then as quickly as she was here, she was gone moving in with her bf in GA.  Shortly after her uproar came the summer which brought home the younger two college age children and all of their boxes of stuff in my nice clean house.  I gave up on fighting the clutter until they would move back out to college in the fall (or would they?).  June hit with an early month phone call from our oldest announcing her brief engagement to her Coast Guard bf.  They would be married in 9 days -- YIKES!!!  Deep breath, you can handle this, go on.  Three weeks later the middle child, our son announced his intention NOT to return to school in Michigan but to enlist in the NAVY.  Say WHAT?!?  No warning, just BAM!!!  Two weeks after that our youngest, another daughter, had a meltdown and didn't feel she could return to school.  She was transferring to a new school and it felt daunting and she was overwhelmed with fatigue and emotions.  We immediately scheduled appts with drs to see what the trouble was and she was sent to have a nutritional scan done with identified some areas of weakness in her and prescribed some supplements which oddly enough showed immediate improvement in her energy level.  Three weeks after the meltdown, she decided she would try to go back to her original school in the spring.  She knew that is where God wanted her and that she was happy there.  The school misread her app and thought she wanted back for the fall and called her and said they wanted her back and now here we are with one week til classes and she is enrolled!!  OMG!!!  What a whirlwind!!!  I'm exhausted...

Happiness...

I can hardly contain my happiness today (8/18).  Bekah has gotten all of her things done to get back into GDubb and will begin classes there next Wednesday.  She has a GREAT roomie and is almost beside herself with glee, making lists of things she wants to do and take.  Caleb is still searching for a job but has been called back for drug testing at Harris Teeter so is hopeful about that.  Not ideal but will occupy his time until he heads out for the Navy Boot Camp in March.  (Boot Camp btw is in Great Lake, IL so looks like I will finally get to see Chicago.)  Julie is still playing the happy homemaker in GA and is mulling over the thoughts of her wedding reception details.  Gosh, you say, that's a lot, but at least it's somewhat settled.  It's a happy and content feeling, something I've been needing...