Day 20 and we're done:) Boost Party and new members!

Yesterday was a crazy day!!!!   The boys and I worked outside in the morning and Jon took Selah to her HBOT.  I went with her in the afternoon for her last treatment.  Now we wait and see what happens in the next 3-6 weeks.....we are praying for some changes to take place! 

Thank you for all your prayers, all the fasting that was done....  I did good for about 10 days, then I did ok....it was hard to fast.  But I'm glad we made the effort and I think you for everything that was done for Selah's sake.  We really appreciate it.

 

She was into her Baby Praise DVD

 

 

Then we rushed home so we could go to a party:)  My friend Krystal has partnered with her church St Paul's Lutheran in Lakeland to do a monthly get together for families of special needs kids. It's part of the LIFT ministry and they call the monthly meetings BOOST.   Honestly I had forgotten all about it.  I knew about and had planned on going but I've been busy.  She texted me to tell me about it and we rushed around to get us all ready!  Jon was doing visitation and I was doing the HBOT...it was crazy but we made it:)

 

I'm a funny person.  I have lots of friends and enjoy people BUT I don't' do "groups"  .  When we lost the twins we went to a group for families with losses...ONCE and I swore I'd never do anything like that again.  I don't care for women's ministry, pastor wife retreats...  Don't even ask me to go to a "marriage retreat"  OH MY GOSH  a friend went to one, and they had assignments and one was to go and have sex and then come back to the class...and I guess to "share"....   Ok that would NEVER EVER happen with me.   Not in this life time or any other one LOL!   This was a Christian marriage retreat.  I'm not comfortable when some married Christian folks on FB say things to each other that is sexual....really I am NOT at all interested in that.... and it dose not make me think you have a good marriage, it makes me think you have some issues writing stuff to each other so others can see!!!!!  

 

I was thinking about all of this last night trying to "figure" myself out...

 

What I "figured" is I don't like to be a part of anything where I am expected to act a certain way or have a certain type of experience or have a certain emotion.   I was contacted by several people in the "near drowning" community after the accident and invited to join a group on FB...I declined.  I really don't want to hear everyone else's grief.  I have enough on my own.  I felt the same way after we lost the twins...I didn't want to go back to that group, I had my own grief to deal with, I didn't' want their grief too!  And I am beyond tired of "Christian" meetings where you are expected to have some big emotional experience.....don't even get me started with that one...LOL

 

So I was really only going for my friend's sake.  This was her first group and I wanted to support her.  BUT we had a blast!  We met some great people.  No one shared any negative emotions....we weren't expected to have some big "spiritual " experience...we just went and had a great time as a family.  We danced, played games ate lots of food....we felt accepted by the group and by the volunteers...it was truly awesome!

 

St Paul Lutheran Church in Lakeland Fl is a church that is interested in reaching out to the community NOT to gain new church members...but just to be a place where families can come and feel accepted.  We met the pastor of this large church last night.  I would have never known he was the pastor (and I mean that as such a compliment!!)  , dressed in shorts, working, serving he didn't' have to say any prayers or do anything....  I hate to say it but I've met plenty of "servant leaders" who were NOT servant leaders...they were so busy trying to make sure everyone knew they were doing a little something  BUT they were still the pastor and still in control......  I was so impressed by this guy last night.  I was so impressed by the volunteers from the church too.  They made us feel welcomed without feeling weird.  So if you live in the Lakeland area, I can recommend SPL as a great loving accepting church for everything I've seen of it. 

 

We ate, then we danced.  As you see I had quite the partner.  Sam would have danced all night with me:) 

 

 

Lots of good (bad for you food-which made it good LOL) 

 

 

 

Now it's time to dance and dance we did!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

my bud!

 

 

 

I love this boy:)

 

 

twirling

 

 

 

 

then Sam got tired and we danced like this.  He is too big for me to hold him for long:)

 

 

 

then Jon brought Sarah out, she loved it too.

 

 

Look at that hair going!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daddy had to take over and twirl Sam for awhile, I thought my arm was going to fall off:)

 

 

 

 

If you could just see the joy on Sam.  We danced for about 7 songs, sat for a while and then got back up.  It was a sock hop and we loved all the old music. 

 

 

Shad loved playing Twister! 

 

After all that dancing Sam was thirsty

 

Crystal and me:)  Friends since college

 

Steve and Sarah 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see we had such a good time.  BTW, do you see Sarah's hair....bangs...that was me!  I thought I'd "trim" them before we left....BAD IDEA!  I will be getting her hair fixed as best as we can on Monday.  Reminder to self NEVER think you can trim hair!!!!  Poor girl!

 

 

 

we finished the night, sitting around singing some sweet chorus, listening to the kids sing ( I don't have a picture of all the singers and the worship leader who was just wonderful and so sweet spirited.

 

What a great night!!! 

And if you have a family member with special needs, you all can come and be a part of it every 2nd Saturday of each month at St Paul Lutheran Church in Lakeland Fl.  Next month the theme will be Halloween and costume dress up.  Shad is really excited about that!  Sam just wants ot make sure there is food and dancing LOL!

 

 

 

We drove home in a monsoon with the most beautiful lighting.  Nothing like a great Florida thunderstorm!    But that meant our internet was out....so I went to bed early.  Got up this Sunday morning, mopped the church, and did the typing for the worship section.  We had some new songs, one that I love but can't remember the name of it.. 

 

And we welcomed new members in to our church today!!!

 

 

 

Muff and Muffet (their biker names) have a ministry to bikers.   They are a joy to have in our church and an encouragement to us!   They are a part of CMA Christian Motorcycle Association .  They reach out to bikers (and others) all across the southeast. 

 

Our church has been growing with people coming in that have the same heart as we do.  This is something we prayed and hoped for, for a looooonnnnnggggg  time LOL!   It's been such a blessing.