THURSDAY

I have a zillion photos to load but blogger won't work with me. OK - not a zillion but I did take 60 pictures today and 35 yesterday. ::snort::

Today is Jared's 13th birthday. Wow. Time flies. I now have 5 young adults. 4 children....do the math...the youngers have decided there needs to be one more younger...and since there are 5 boys, they need a girl. Go figure.

We didn't celebrate Jared's birthday today. We've all decided to wait for gifts until Mike is home. I did get out the pig hat. I also got out the celebrate plate. Collections etc. was having a huge sale before Christmas and so I got a birthday sign, a birthday welcome mat and some seat covers to go with the pig - permanent decorations. I realized I'll need a few more "things" other than the birthday pig to pass down...so we now we have lots birthday "things" that within a few years will be traditions. LOL

Today was also one year since our family met Tricia and Adrienne's at a local park. What a God thing that was. Within weeks we were all fast friends. I called them and Heather and her family and we all met at Ye Olde Gatti's for a celebration. We met Heather and her family at the park day the day after we met Adrienne and Tricia. It was a fun afternoon.

When we got home we tackled that impossible list of "to do" things for our week "off". We went and bought Jared shoes. We found a place to fax AK DMV. They are to fax me a temp license until I can get up there this summer. We bought a railing for my bed. This was needed as Arielle wanted to move the crib back to her room. We planned to convert it to a toddler bed...but since Stacia still sleeps with me, and the crib wouldn't be next to my bed to serve as a railing - I bought one. Our plan is to gradually get Stacia used to her bed....before Mike comes home.

Oh - Jared and I ran to the mall too. We visited Cy......and we bought some things to send the girls. Jared refused to go into the Bath and Body shop with me....I told him he was afraid of estrogen. ::snort::

Back at home we discovered converting the crib wasn't as simple as it looked. Somewhere in here Heather called and I told her we were going to have to drill holes in the crib. She told me to wait and tomorrow at produce co-op she'll look at it...she has some tool that may help. We got it all together except it really looks like we need longer screws and to drill through the railing to attach the safety railing. I went looking for the duct tape. Couldn't find it...but taped it all together with packing tape. Stacia LOVED the bed....jumped right on it. We'll see if she sleeps in it.....

The railing turns out to be in 36,829 pieces. ARGH. Why do they do this???? I'm desperately trying to figure out how to put it together...Stacia has fallen asleep and I'm going to simply put her in the new bed...maybe that will work. We'll see.

I called for a refill on my thyroid meds and they wouldn't give it to me - so I have to go to the doc tomorrow.....argh. This messes with co-op but it will all work out. Heather and Adrienne plan to come by and take over when I need to leave.

That's it for today - but I have some darling photos - some day.... ::snort::

1/2 way through another week....

I made Dutch Babies (German Pancakes) for breakfast, by request. I'm enjoying the extra family time in the mornings.....we made a LIST of all the projects we want to get done this week before we start back to school on Monday.

I got a nice ride in today - in the rain. ::blech::

Josiah worked on pulling assignments together for the past 9 weeks. I want to check their portfolios more often this year.

Jamin and I took Christmas decorations down. It is rainy today so we will do the outside stuff later. We also rearranged the living room furniture.

Jared and Arielle tackled another big project on the list. They organized the dreaded "Tupperware" cupboard. Josiah helped them put child proof things on the bottom cupboard and we moved the glass down there. The idea is now we can FIND "Tupperware" to use when we need it. ::snort::

Stacia took a long nap - OK - we forgot about her in the bustle of working and she didn't get up until 7:00 p.m. I'm not sure when she'll go back down again.

Zander and I played a round of Dino Bingo.

We had Encore Presentation again for dinner...there are so many to eat up.

We began reading *King Arthur* tonight. Jamin, Jared, Arielle, Nolan and I played 30 minutes or so of Imagin Iff. We missed having Josiah and the girls around the table. The children all went to bed. Zander and Stacia are not sleeping....but they're relatively quiet.

Surrounded By Joy

I said last night that I was surrounded by joy. I am literally surrounded by joy. Those who know me know that "joy" is not what would have formerly characterized my life. Anger/temper was really more characteristic of my overall life and outlook. Years ago, God began to lead me down a new path. It would be hard to say where it began....I do remember doing a word study on "joy" while studying James over 10 years ago. At this time I realized, "Huh - it doesn't mean air-head, bubbly Barbie type". ::snort::

The word joy signifies pleasure...but it is NOT dependent on pleasant circumstances. It is NOT in other words "happy". It signifies a deep contentment with God, with what He provides and where He leads. Joy is rooted in God's nature. It is produced in my life as a fruit of the spirit - I don't conjure it up. I walk ever closer in relationship with the Holy Spirit and the JOY OF THE LORD begins to flow into and out of my life. I began to ask God for joy. The journey began.

Two years ago our PWOC group in AK wanted to study James. I was excited. I love that book. I had already led an inductive study on it and I KNEW how powerful that small book is. This study happened to "coincide" with a lot of "hard" things that began to go on in my life. I was in chronic pain. My leg and hip would give out without warning. I was still experiencing joy. My wrists began to ache. They got to the point where I could not hold a pen. I was told it was most likely early MS....or maybe fibro. Choosing Joy. I found out I was pregnant. I was terribly sick. I remember one night going into the chapel to lead Bible study....my hip gave out - I was down. . . pregnant and in the snow...no warning....and I said, "Alright God, I'm going to CHOOSE JOY. I know you are doing something here and I am not going to blow this learning opportunity." Docs now thought my wrist pain was pregnancy related. (Part was/part wasn't). As the Bible study went on, I was told that I failed some genetic test and my baby had a good chance of having Downs. I had an ultrasound and the baby's heart and kidneys were somehow not functioning correctly. I found out we were moving back to TX and this wasn't my heart's desire (though I do love it now). I was told baby's chance of Downs was now 1/4. I was told to expect pre-eclampsia again (had it with 8th pregnancy). We moved. Through all this time a steady refrain sounded in my spirit "CHOOSE JOY"....some days it was almost audible..."Will you still choose joy?"......."STILL choosing joy down here". ::snort:: I had a healthy baby....except that something was wrong with her kidneys. More tests. She's fine. Choosing joy....WHAT IS THIS? A week after birth my blood pressure sky rocketed, I began to seize and nearly died....back in bed..did you know you can get pre-ecalmpsia AFTER you give birth? Choosing joy....Two oldest left for college...choosing joy...can't hold a bottle or baby hands and wrists are so bad...told now it's aging and arthritis...choosing joy.....and there you have it. God BREATHED the precious Holy Spirit's fruit into my life. Things are better now. Pain wise - I have flare ups but the pain is not constant. Anastacia Joy is a doll and has no lasting health problems. I have friends and am adjusting to TX once again.

Still I hear the steady call of the Love of my life to choose joy....to choose His nature...to choose to rest in Him regardless.......

So yesterday was hard...but I kept hearing "choose joy". I began to look around my home and realized that I was surrounded by joy these days.

Sent by an SHS friend

Bre makes bibs for each new baby and they hang in their room

This sign hangs on my window and will stay up this year

This lovely banner was made by one of my PWOC ladies in AK....it's a daily reminder to be soft, pliant and moldable in His hands....I moved this to right outside the laundry room door during Christmas decorating and I see it much more often now. I'm going to leave it there.

A great reminder to choose to wear the correct attire
Bre got this for me - she said "It reminded me of you, mom." Ah wow..tangible evidence of His work in my life.

Of course the blog title reminds me daily to check my choices. ::snort::

Last night a new friend stopped by. She asked if things were going o.k. and I cried. I HATE that. She didn't know the girls had left yesterday. She emailed late last night and guess what she reminded me that the "Joy of the Lord is my strength"....I'm surrounded by joy.

MORE ON THE GIRLS

(Mike would want to know these tiny details folks! LOL)

They realized when they were eating with Rachel and Corinna, that if they catch the bus tonight it will throw off their connections all the way down the line. Corinna has taken them home with her and will take them back to the bus in the a.m.

I'm really amazed how this has all turned out. We got extra days with them. They got to come home (and weren't on a cancelled flight). They've had tons of adventure. NOW they get to visit with friends and mentor. LOL

TRAVEL UPDATE

The girls report that the roads are clear.

However, someone decided the bus needed to be serviced at Amarillo and they were two hours late leaving there. They were to catch a bus last night at 10 p.m. in Denver. They were 15 minutes late getting in. Don't you think they could have called ahead and said, "We're in town - we'll be there we have 10 passengers needing to transfer?" ::snort::

Yep - they missed the bus. The next one doesn't leave until tonight at 10 p.m. They have family and friends. They were worried about leaving the station and loosing their spot in line...but their old youth leader/mentor from AK lives in CO Springs. She drove up and spent the day with them. Well, last they called they were enjoying lunch in a French cafe. LOL

A funny is that they were separated on the bus and so couldn't quite "spread out" like they are used to. Bre said her partner finally exited in the Springs. Bre finally was able to fall asleep. She heard the announcer say "Denver" and thought "that doesn't concern me." Krista came and got her. We had a good laugh - no telling where she'd have ended up without her little sister. (Of course we know they would have woke her up - but we can't let her off this easily).

STOP THE CLOCK....

Jared decided he is not going to have his 13th birthday when Mike is gone. This led to Jamin deciding he is not having a 16th birthday, Nolan is not having an 8th birthday and Josiah is certainly not having his 18th birthday while Mike is gone. I doubt Zander will note his birthday, if we don't tell him. It looks like I am not going to have 6 birthdays and an anniversary between now and 20 Feb. 13, 16 and 18 are all special birthday and so I'm more than willing to let the boys have their say in this one. I don't think 43 is necessarily special but I'm going to follow their lead and wait for Mike for my birthday too.....I guess I'll remove that countdown clock tomorrow when I have the "add/remove page element capabilities". LOL

Now what will we blog about for the next 6 weeks if we don't have birthdays and such.....

Well, now....

It seems I should say something, but I'm not quite sure what that may be.

Another bittersweet day.

We were excited the girls could get on their way back to their lives and ministry in WA - sweet.

We were sad (wimpy word - doesn't come close) to say goodbye - bitter.

We were glad that Josiah "happened" to go in late today to work and could come to the station with us - sweet.

Talking with Mike, Mom, Dad and Uncle Olie - sweet.

I miss Mike more tonight than I have in a bit of time - bittersweet.

I was "leaking" today and Zander gave me a big hug. When my eyes refused to obey and kept leaking he said, "When Dad comes home, he will give you a BIG hug!" - sweet. I guess he figured he'd done what he could and it was time to call out the big guns.

Talking with local friends is sweet - though I warned this was not the day to discuss the girls...August is a long time from now.

Watching my sons try to cheer me up - sweet! Oh, I've raised good ones; I tell you I can't wait for a few daughter in laws to realize THIS fact! ::snort::

Jamin, Jared and I took the tree down. This meant we could begin to put my bedroom back in order. SWEET!

We packed away the main nativity. I leave one out each year and I'm trying to decide which one it will be this year....alas not the Willow Tree nativity...it's still safely at the Family Christian Bookstore. I'm now thinking about buying a piece at a time instead of trying to get the whole thing. Now - this isn't bitter or sweet - it just is.....humph...ruined my rhythm. ::snort::

Jamin came to Sam's with me to get milk after dinner and bought me a Godiva Ice Cream bar - definitely sweet!

Being out-numbered when the guys treat you like a queen or princess isn't a bad thing. ::snort:: Sweet.

Arielle would like Stacia back in her room. Bittersweet. I need to figure out how to turn the crib into a daybed because Stacia climbs out of it and has spent the past two months in my bed.

Stacia gave me big hugs and pats tonight. Sweet! Until I realized she was looking at herself in the mirror over my shoulder and the chatter was to HERSELF and not to me....hilarious.

Random observations:
I dressed the part for the bus depot and then ruined the image by slinging a Nikon D70 around my neck! ::snort::

We stopped and checked out the YMCA. I'm not sure it will be a good expenditure for us. Still thinking....and budgeting...it ain't happening this month regardless! ::snort:: I've been thinking about this since September....maybe if my thoughts and dollars ever converge at the same time....

We'll start school next Monday. We have GOALS and PLANS for this week. I love goals....not resolutions...GOALS!

Zander hasn't been chewing his fingers since the girls have been home. I'm wondering what will happen now.

God really blessed with the bus. If the girls had had their original plane tickets, they wouldn't have been home for Christmas. ALSO - today we realized that if the girls had been flying it would have been AWFUL for Zander. He would have thought we were all going to pick Mike up. As it was, we walked out of the bus station and he said, "Well....the girls are gone...let's go get Dad now." God had this one all thought out, I was clueless. ::snort::

I'm surrounded by joy, but that's another post.