Highs and Lows and In-Betweens

Where do I begin? Obviously I've been a bit preoccupied, not keeping up with my posts. A couple weeks ago we went shopping for Natalie's first homecoming dress. That was fun and exciting! My sister owns a formal wear business, so it's always fun to go and visit her and try on all the dresses. Well, the girls do anyway! She picked out a beautiful fun little dress and all the accessories. She's going with a group of friends, very fitting for a brand new freshman. I'm excited for her, but a bit nervous too. High school can be tough. In the midst of all of our fun, we lost our camper due to a major mouse attack. There was so much damage that we could not use it this summer. It was a total loss. It's just one more thing that has not gone well this summer, and yet I still smile.Or maybe that's gas...Sigh. More important than our destroyed camper was the call we got from her latest x rays. Her spine curvature has progressed to the point that surgery is necessary. So we took a trip down to U of M hospital and talked about her options. We will be scheduling the surgery for early next summer so she doesn't miss one day of school, as she requested. She may have to put off taking driver's ed since she will be recovering for quite some time. I know I'm being "matter of fact" about this. It's just a lot to grasp. However, I am grateful that what she has is not much worse, as we saw in the waiting rooms. She and I have had many special talks together not just about the surgery, but about God. We have had a lot to deal with this summer, starting with her having to quit volleyball, her beloved sport. It's just not fair...but that's another road I don't like to go down because it just makes me angry all over again. The good news is that her band teacher got a shiny new bass guitar for her to learn this summer, so she has been crazy jamming on that thing! Our house is vibrating from that big ole amp in the corner of the family room. I love how happy it makes her to be able to play music like that. She's looking forward to playing in the jazz band for the first year and we can't wait to cheer her on. Without volleyball in the way, she'll have more time for her music, which is her passion. Where one door closes, another opens...right? And I just keep praying for other doors to fly open....because I'm really tired of getting my fingers smashed in ones I try to open myself.

Gold Medal Fan

I have become addicted to the Olympics! I can't get enough, and I've even been watching events that make no sense to me...like water polo, and the 5 minutes I wasted, I mean, spent, watching synchronized swimming. Really? That eye shadow was hideous! My favorite is always gymnastics, having been into gymnastics as a kid, and of course, I love beach volleyball too. I have been mesmerized by the racing, pole vaulting and high jump. The swimming was so exciting as well as the synchronized diving...oh, I could go on! I wish it was on all summer. I haven't been this excited to watch something since oh....the winter olympics...and figure skating, speed skating, skiing...oh, I am addicted to the Olympics...and the great USA!!!

Focus on the Blessings, Not the Problems

While we are in "church transition", I have been watching a lot of Joyce Meyer again. I am also reading one of her older books, "Be anxious for Nothing". A song that keeps playing in my mind is one by 4Him called "He Never Changes". In my Bible I continue to come across Scriptures on trials, tribulations, and peace. Not three words I would ever put in the same sentence, especially after these last couple of years. My husband and I have been experiencing a lot of "life challenges", such as many things breaking around the house, 2 cars in need of repair, sick parents,a change in our church situation,friendships ending, health changes, increasing prices on everything from gas to house insurance and on and on. Each time we are faced with yet another challenge, we are forced to accept it by saying "no one died", because truly, that would be something to cry over. And yet, life stuff still hurts. So while I am watching Joyce Meyer, it is no coincidence at all that she has been focusing on making it through your trials and tests with joy and not sorrow. She has been reminding me that being put through many tests is a sign that God is strengthening us. That he is paying attention to our prayer requests and answering those in His unique way. She said the other day that we spend too much time fighting against our problems because we don't understand that we are being tested. Well, we may not understand why things "seem" to go from bad to worse, but we have HOPE that God is working it out for some great purpose and HE will be glorified through it. I am always amazed how these things turn out. I can always see how God worked things out even when it seems futile. In our human minds, we just can't figure this stuff out. That's why it's even more important to just keep our eyes on who God is and don't worry about what He is doing. I have also been reminded to live one day at a time. Don't worry about yesterday, don't think about tomorrow, but deal with one day's problems at a time. And while all this "stuff" is going on, I haven't missed the fact that our marriage has been strengthened! Our spiritual life has improved! Our family time is even more special! And those are the things to focus on. The blessings and not the problems!

Looking Back

Just a couple of pics from the past. This was 2005, back when my girls were just little chickies! I love looking back at the old pics, though it's kind of bittersweet....sigh...they are lovely young ladies today, and one day will be beautiful women, inside and out!