Did I do that???

Ok, so I started working at the district office this week. I have had mixed feelings about working...I LOVE the people I get to work with, but I don't get my "stuff" done already without a "paying job." However, with all the dental work we need right now for so many in our family, the job will be a blessing. Anyway, this is not what I am writing this blog about. I am not sure how many of you have ever been to Lake Williamson and have seen the District Office building and parking lot. Well, I have been in and out of the parking lot a billion times since we moved here the end of March. I sure thought I knew that parking lot pretty well. I left work a little later than most tonight, so the parking lot was pretty much empty.....except for that tree I parked next to. That tree must have really liked me because it tried to stop me from leaving...jumped right behind the passenger side of my car and I hit it. It crunched in the back passenger side of my bumper and took some paint along with it. So, this evening, aside from dreading the estimate, I am feeling pretty silly for hitting a stationary object that I knew was there. I will leave you with the words of Steve Urkle, "did I do that???"

Been a while....

Ok, so it's been a while since I have written on here and some people (who will remain nameless) keep pestering me on updating it. So, here I am...giving in to peer pressure (don't tell my teenager!).

A lot has happened in the past month that I have been out of touch on here. I don't have the time or energy to write about everything (and I don't want to bore anyone), so I think I will just touch on the main highlight of the past month. I had a birthday about a week and a half ago. I don't really require much attention or fanfare...I don't mind being in the background or making a fuss over someone else other than myself. I do love my friends, though...both my old and new ones...and my husband knows that. He surprised me with a party with my family and friends at my one of my favorite restaurants...Outback. It was out of town for everyone that came so I was so surprised to see how many people were willing to come for me. I had such a great time. I love my family and my friends...I wouldn't be able to find any better if I searched the world. Just goes to show, like the song we sang this year with Pocket Full of Rocks at Momentum, I am God's favorite! He has given me the best! I love my husband...he is truly amazing! I love my family...they are such a blessing! I love my friends...the love me inspite of myself! What more could a girl ask for???

Single Parents

I thought I have always realized that single parents are pretty amazing people...especially if they manage to keep it all together. However, until lately, I don't think I have realized just how amazing they truly are. Paul has been out of town an awful lot lately due to banquets all over the state, planning meetings, and next week Catalyst. Paul is usually the voice of reason in the house so when he is gone, it is usually nuts. It is up to me to make sure the kids get up, get to school, get their homework done, get to dr. appts., dentist appts, shower, get in bed, discipline, love, and then do it all over again on my own until their dad gets home. I have that luxury...which I am very thankful for. Some days are very long, tiring, and lonely, but Paul always comes home.

So, how on earth do single mom's do it? I just don't know. They need to be given some kind of an award or something. I know being a mom is one of the most rewarding "jobs" on earth, but it can also be one of the most difficult...especially when you are going it alone. So, this is just to say props to all you single parents out there who, day in and day out fulfill the role of "everything" in your child's life. You are truly amazing!

Trying to trust.....and not freak out!

Ok, I knew today would be a busy day, but wasn't expecting it to be quite so expensive. We had four dentist appointment and two eye appointments today, so I knew there would be some cash flow going out, but my my my!!!! This is the short version of my day...

Kaitlyn, Karyssa, Joshua, and I all go to the dentist for cleanings and a check up. Kaitlyn is all good...no cavities! Joshua had three cavities...with the amount of candy he eats, it could have been worse. Karyssa only had one cavity that needed filled (the rest were all in baby teeth that are about to fall out). Then they pulled out her panoramic view xrays. I almost hyperventilated when I saw them. She has a tooth turned around backwards, teeth growing and coming in across her mouth, and teeth growing into other teeth. Needless to say, she has to go to the orthodontist right away. We knew she needed to go but was hoping to get Kaitlyn's taken care of before having to start that with a second child. That won't be the case. Then it was my turn. I was pretty sure I had several cavities. I have been having a lot of pain on the right side of my mouth near the back on the top and bottom. So, I was ready to be hear the words..."you've got some serious cavities back here!" Unfortunately, I didn't get that reaction. Instead, I found out that what is causing me so much pain are two cracked teeth. They are cracked all the way across. He said by the amount of pain they are causing, the prognosis isn't very good. He is not sure if the teeth can be salvaged, but we will try. We will start with temporary crowns to see it "holding them together" will ease the pain, at the tune of $725/each. If that doesn't work, they will try root canals...we didn't even get in to the cost of that. If that fails, they have to be pulled and an implant or bridge made. One is on the top and the other on the bottom...so that would be two separate bridges. Then he said I have a tooth on the other side with a root canal already done on it (actually it has been done twice on this tooth) that has a large abscess under it. Since it has happened twice on that tooth, he is not sure if that tooth can be saved either, and I need to go to a specialist in Jerseyville to find out for sure. I can't wait on the first two teeth because I can't eat or drink anything without shooting pain, and they won't let me wait on the other tooth because they say it is pumping infection throughout my body. So, three teeth with major problems and did I mention, my insurance will only pay out $1000/year? The third tooth will put us sooooo far over that!

All this to say, I am REALLY trying to trust...and not freak out. Not doing so good with that at the moment, but still trying non the less! This is when, as a Christian, you put your money where your mouth is. It is easy to say I trust the Lord and know He will provide my every need when I am not really in "need" of that much. It is much more challenging, however, to trust when there is no outward, physical evidence that I will be able to pay those bills. So, with that in mind, I will CHOOSE to trust. He will provide!

And so it continues....

Ok, so we knew today would be a busy day.... plans to go to Broom's Apple Festival with the family and some friends, drive to Mt. Vernon to our hotel, then to the Gospel Sing in Odin, to supper, and back to our hotel in Mt. Vernon to sleep before going to church in Odin again where Paul is speaking.

The day seemed to be going fine. We had a great time at the apple festival... we picked apples, ate pork chops, and had some apple cider. The drive to Mt. Vernon wasn't too bad... there was no fighting from the back seats (which is nothing short of a miracle!). Got to our hotel...rooms are fine. We debated on whether to eat dinner before church tonight or after. We had plenty of time to do it before. It was only 4:30 and Paul said the service starts at 7. We decided to wait to eat until afterwards. Since Mt. Vernon is about 30 minutes from Odin, we left the hotel around 6:20, which would give us plenty of time to get there ON TIME! Paul put the address into the GPS and off we went. Thirty minutes later, however, we couldn't find the church. The address took us to the baptist church in town. By the time we found the church and parked it was 7:03....3 minutes late, again! As we got into the front door of the church, I saw a sign on the door that said Gospel Sing 6:00 PM!!!!! UGH!!! We went from being early, to three minutes late to an hour and three minutes late all in a matter of 15 minutes! It must be one of my giftings....tardiness! I could think of a few others I would rather have, but as my son always says, "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" And so it continues....

The Beginning

I never thought I would do a blog... I don't usually have anything too enlightening to say, and not so sure anyone would even want to hear it (my kids usually don't! haha!) when I do. But, I guess I am giving in to peer pressure anyway. The more I think about it, though, the more I realized it might just help me out in the long run. I can't seem to remember much of anything anymore... not what I wore yesterday, ate yesterday, did yesterday, etc. So, maybe if I share the dumb little things I do or say on any given day (not that I ever do or say dumb things), they will be here to help me remember. So, here we go.......

Paul cleared his schedule tonight so we could do something as a family. We decided to take the kids to go see the movie Fireproof (which I highly recommend!!). We laughed, I cried... it was wonderful! But why is it that whenever I am involved we always seem to be late? We are late even when it isn't my fault!

The closest theater (Springfield) had already sold out of tickets for the 7pm showing tonight, so I had to look elsewhere. I found some in O'Fallon so I bought them online. Kids get out of school at 3 and home by 3:30, so we should have had plenty of time to get there on time, even with the 60 mile drive. We ate and then got on the road and had to run back by the house to pick up sweatshirts for everyone so they wouldn't freeze. What should have taken one minute took about five. In the van again we realize we need gas, but don't have time to get it, as it is now 6pm and the movie is at 7pm. So we just drove and decided we would hit the gas station as soon as the movie was over. We eventually made it to the parking lot with 4 miles until empty on the gas tank and 3 minutes until the movie starts! We must have looked like crazy people trying to get in the theater and find seats for five on time (well, not really on time...by then we were late)!

And that is the story of my life...low on fuel, running late, and looking like I'm nuts! =)