COVID VACCINES

 Well I'm not one to shy away from controversial issues....

Covid sucks.... it has killed many-including a relative that I'd just discovered but never got a chance to meet. That has caused me so much pain and heartache!  What a loss!!!   Right now I know of many in the hospitals and I can't look on facebook without someone posting a death or prayer request for people even younger than me with covid!  Back in December Jon Sarah and I had Covid and were very lucky.  Jon and Sarah were able to have Bamlanivima (BAM) they recovered immediately.  Every symptom Sarah had including a high fever was gone before the treatment finished running!   Unfortunately or Fortunately I was not eligible for the treatment since I have no underlying health issues.  So I had to tough it out.  All in all it wasn't too bad but the exhaustion was like something I'd never experienced in my life.  I also have a doctor that prescribed HCQ so I took that when Jon was diagnosed.  I only had 14 days worth of it and tested negative until the 15th day.  I think if I could have taken it for 21 days I would have never gotten Covid.    Somehow Sam, Steve and Shad did not get it although the older boys were home with us during that time.  Selah and her nurses  also did not get it but we kept her suite door shut and turned off the AC/heat and had all the windows open 24/7 

With the recent terrible increase of Covid we checked our antibodies and found that Jon Sarah and I still had the antibodies.  Sam and Shad had none.  Shad had repeatedly been exposed to Covid but never got it.  Our oldest son took the vaccine early on.  We made the decision to vaccinate Sam and Shad this past week.  Both did fine although Shad did sleep for about 18 hours straight.  The antibodies test we took only showed we had a reaction it did not show how high of a reaction we had.  So today after prayer and just seeing so many in ICU and all the deaths we decided to go ahead and take the vaccine ourselves.  So Jon Sarah and I got it this afternoon.  Selah had to be scheduled for Monday because it had to be planned out more.  

Covid has been horribly politicized and I think that is awful!  The left and the right have used it politically.  Both extremes have caused damage and death in my opinion!  The left has used it to control and to push other agendas.  The right has reacted with distrust and extreme ideas that has also affected people.  Covid is real- it's worse than the flu- people are dying.....

The vaccine....I have never agonized over a vaccine as much as I have this one.  I'm a pro vaccine mom and proud of it.  My kids have been overall healthy as far as regular illnesses go (not the things related to my little ones issues) But this vaccine has become so much more than a vaccine in everyone's mind.  To the some on the left it seems to be a badge of honor.  To some on the the right it's the mark of the beast..... I'm sure some will be mad or disappointed in us for getting the vaccine.  But we have peace about it so it doesn't really bother me!  

To be honest, we didn't get the vaccine to protect you- we got the vaccine to hopefully protect our family.  It maybe new and it may not be 100% but it's something that gives at least some protection from Covid.  

Probably the majority of our close friends/church members and relatives have gotten a vaccine.  Thankfully no one had a Covid related reaction that was serious.  That certainly helped me!  

So if you are like we were-on fence- really look at everything.  Talk to medical people you know and trust.  Talk to your friends/family who've had the vaccine....  I do NOT think it should be mandatory!  

Good luck and stay safe!!!

Treasure Island

 

Well we had a scare a couple of weekends ago.  Jon had a "spell" while doing yard work.   He tried to shake it off but couldn't and ended up going to the hospital and being admitted for a few days.  Everything seemed to be ok and we met our yearly deductible for our insurance lol.  But things like that are scary.  He got a "get out of yard work" forever card.  Evidently after you've had heart bypass the blood flows differently - it was scary and we can only hope they didn't miss anything.  There was debate about doing a heart cath and in the end the doctor didn't want to do it.  That's really the only thing that can positively tell a heart patient if everything is ok but it comes with risks.  So we are just keeping an eye out on everything and if he has any other issues he'll have one.  All his other tests came back perfect.  The doctor just raved on and on about his nuclear stress test.  He did his on a treadmill and got top marks better than most non heart patients.  It's all that exercising he does!

In fact we just joined a gym!  It has hydrobeds, massage chairs, tanning, and light therapy.... oh it also has work out equipment LOL

Well to celebrate No heart attack.... we went to the beach for the night.  For us it's hard to go places alone.  First our older kids act like we are abandoning them...you know the ones who go all over the world and leave us?  They couldn't believe we'd go to "our motel" without them LOL  Then we have to make sure we have child care for the three little ones.  Selah has her nurses and Sam and Sarah has their wonderful caregiver Ashley.  But Ashley's family owns several businesses so she has to work around that.  Also she is not legally allowed to give meds so we have to do Sam's eye drops before we leave and then get back the next day with time enough to do all the eye drops before bed.... But we managed!

When I was younger I wanted to be a photographer and even took some classes but these pictures were taken with just my Iphone.  NO editing or filters on the nature pictures.  I did lighten our faces in a couple but that's it.  I took the most amazing picture.....it was so gorgeous I could have cried.  I love the beach anytime any weather but it was on fire after a thunderstorm.  Everyone on the beach was looking at the sky- the sunset was gorgeous and the reflection on a bank of clouds to the south of us was just breathtaking! 

This.... (don't steal it)  Treasure Island Florida You should have seen it in person....It makes me realize how beautiful heaven will be if we can have a sunset like this on earth!  

Sunset reflections....

If I'd known we were going to have such a beautiful background I would have worn something besides a old Pizza Hut tablecloth shirt LOL

The sunset

I was literally going back and to taking pictures towards the west for the sunset and the south for the cloud bank

St John's Pass

Next morning

yes I took this too!

If I ever win the lottery you will find me at the beach!  

Homekeepers - Pastor Jon and Yvonne Clanton - Part 2 - Horse Therapy & S...

Here's part two of our interview

Homekeepers - Pastor Jon and Yvonne Clanton - Special Needs Adoptions

Well we made it through the storm.  It never got bad here although I stayed up late watching Downton Abby for the zillionth time.  I've restarted it and figure I will finish by the time the new movie comes out at Christmas.  We just got rain not much wind but we kept hearing a funny "whining" noise to the wind.   We never could figure out what the news was and it must not have been anything because here we are safe and sound LOL

I wanted to share with you an interview we had a few weeks ago with our friend Arthelene Rippy on her show Homekeepers that airs on Christian Television Network  We just love her.  She makes filming so easy and helps me forget I'm nervous at all.  She actually did two interviews with us and I'll share the second one tomorrow.  In the second one Jon actually gets to talk LOL  While listening to this one I kept thinking "Yvonne shut up!" But i love talking about my family.  Hope you enjoy!

Hurricane Else and Family Happenings

 

Well we are waiting for Hurricane (barely) Elsa.... But you never know....so we are hurricane prepped and ready just in case.  In all honesty I will probably sleep through it.  Jon laughs at me because he says I must have a clear conscience -I sleep through every storm while he sits up and prays :) I'm hoping I'll sleep through this one too.  I've gone through countless numbers of hurricanes in my lifetime living in Florida.  There have been a few that were rough!  One of the 2004 hurricanes had us without electricity for about 2 weeks.  That was when Sam was a baby and it was rough.  A few years ago we had one here at this house and we lost electricity and water because our generator quit working....that one was rough too!  Well we have our fingers crossed here in Florida!

the blue dot is us....

Molly looks stressed but she is not.  Nothing bothers her.  Our neighborhood sounded like a war zone for the 4th but she didn't care she is such a chilled dog.  

Here's a picture of my Angel Trumpet tree at night.  I love Trumpet trees and yes I know they are poisonous.  But they are beautiful.  Mine blooms 5-6 times a year.  The fragrance is called the smell of heaven.  I can not even describe it it is so sweet.  But it's only smells at night.  I like to sit out on the back porch and smell it.  It's beautiful.  

I have sad news- my Ginger died.  She was such a happy chicken.  We'd nursed her through a recent illness and she'd rallied but she was around 8-9 years old and it caught up with her.  I had a day to baby her and seperate her to the front porch where she could just go to sleep and that's what she did.   Ginger always made me smile because when I called her she came skipping.  I've never seen a chicken do that and it was sweet.  

RIP GinGIn if there are chickens in heaven I expect to see you again.  Thanks for all the smiles you gave me-you are missed.  

The other day I was coming home in a monsoon and had to take some pictures.  I love Florida in all seasons.  

On Mother's Day we were all sitting around talking about some things we wanted to do as a family this summer.  The boys were giving me their schedules work/camp/vacation....and all of a sudden my oldest starts acting squirrely about a date.....  The boys start laughing and Shad says that Steve was going to go swimming with sharks on that particular day.  For a second I thought they were kidding....they were not....

Steve told us it was our fault because we raised him around animals and watching way too many Steve Irwin shows..... not to be insensitive but I reminded him how Steve Irwin had died....

He also reminded me of all the vacations we've taken over the years and how we taught him about appreciating nature....  Well we never swam with sharks to appreciate nature!!!  LOL  I can truly say I prayed all day until he called and said they were back on land.  To be honest, Jon and I are considering going to swim with sharks but staying in the cage!!  

The crew! Headed back to the Grand Canyon  Las Vegas and Zion National Park

THIS is staged LOL he is on the ground with his legs tucked under!  

This is Angel's landing in Zion National Park a very dangerous hike.  They did it and had a blast 

And last weekend he went to the mountains and white water rafting I love this picture.  He is the one in the back looking at the camera

I love this picture even more hahahah!!!

Steve has kept me praying this year.  He says it's his year of adventure and saying YES to things....I wish he'd say YES to staying home hahahahaha!  but my prayer life has grown by leaps and bounds:) Although I do love that he loves nature.  He grew up climbing mountains (not real dangerous ones) white water rafting snorkeling and adventure.  He just has taken it up a few notches to say the least.  But I do love it....after it's over .... and he survived and I see the cool pictures!   

Shad went to a camp last week with his local friends  and is at the Assembly of God camp this week-between him and Steve they've been going to this camp for about 12 years....this is the last year he can go as a camper....

Its a campground/ convention center that our church owns.  The first time I went there was in 1984 for a college banquet.   Thinking back it cracks me up because I had no idea I'd have kids going to camp there one day.......

For any new moms out there just so you know this is what you'll see your kids doing more and more...walking away from you to their own lives....  sweet but sad too.  

For our 4th of July we had a luncheon after church for our music minister Guy who retired from his full time job.  

Guy is facing some health issues so please keep him in your prayers.  He has been our music/youth minister since 2008.  He is such a blessing to our church and our family.  In fact he is a part of our family.  

Sam loved the menu chicken and dumplings (that I made) broccoli (he eats it every day and loves it ) and pizza. 

It was a good day to celebrate friends family church and the 4th of July!  

One my next blog I will be sharing a video where Jon and I were interviewed.