Monday Morning!

Whew today was "one of those days"  Jon didn't think to wake me up so our physical therapist woke me up at 9:30!  Luckily Selah was ready for her (thanks to our nurse) and I stumbled around getting the kids all up. I meant to get up early as I had so many things to do.  But I did get some things done!

We Rejoined the YMCA.  Our Y has  dropped its' enrollment fee through the end of the month.  I think most  Y's have done that too.  IF you join your YMCA and give them my name, then I can get a month FREE! Then you can tell your friends and if they join you'll get a month free.  We've tried a few gyms over the years but the Y is the best for us.  Looking forward to Yoga tomorrow morning!

I went by the new house this morning as I had a question about a couple of things.  It's so fun to go by!  The main roof is going on our house tomorrow!!!! I'm planning to go watch it as they put it on with cranes....NOW things will really speed up! When  I was out there today and really enjoyed talking with some of the RV volunteers (they are retired folks who spend their time building HH homes.-they know what they are doing unlike some of us LOL) I'm not one to believe so much in "positive or negative energy" BUT there is so much positive energy going into that house! It will be even a happier home because of the folks who are building it!!!

Well Steve has decided not to go back to college this semester.  He did fine last semester with all B's but he wants to work.  He's applied to the prison but that takes some time so in the meanwhile he has applied to Wal-mart and they've called him for an interview.  He is excited and is looking forward to working there if hired.  He is planning on keeping it even after he gets hired at the prison, just working maybe one day or so a week.  We've let him make his own decision on this but I'm glad he gave college a try and saw that he could do it.   When you have adult children.....it's different!  LOL  He is such a joy (most of the time) I just want to see him happy and fulfilled.  Since he was a kid, he's wanted to work in the prison.  I think he'll be happy doing it. 

We've never ever ever pushed any career on him or even on Shad.  I had so many friends in Bible college who were going into ministry because their parents expected it of the.  We swore we'd never do that to our kids and we haven't!  We go out of the way NOT to encourage them to go into ministry....if God calls them, let Him do it not us!   None of our friends who were "encouraged' to go into ministry still are in ministry.....   So if working as an officer is what he wants to do and is happy, we are happy for him.  The state still is a good place to work for the long run (retirement and benefits)  Prisons are soooooooooooo  different from what you see on TV!  My husband works behind the fence as a chaplain and has for 17 years, he's never had many issues.  Of course being an officer is different but Steve respects people and will treat the inmates as men.  As long as he does that, he will be fine.  Steve grew up living at a prison (we did for about 3 years) he's been allowed to go in the prison a few times and he's met plenty of ex-prisoners over the years.  He is looking forward to a career and in the meanwhile getting experience  working- he hopes he'll get hired as a loss prevention person at Walmart but I told him they probably want him for his muscles and skills unloading trucks LOL!

I'll have some cool pictures to post tomorrow!  Can't wait to see the roof go on!

Surprise 9th anniversay surprise at Grace church

Today was our 9th anniversary at our church.  To be honest, I'd thought about it a few weeks ago and then forgot with all that has been going on with us.  Our church folks didn't forget though!  We were completely surprised after the service ended and our music minister asked to share something....then each family of our church shared and I was bawling!  Sometimes in the busyness of ministry, you can't help but wonder if anyone cares....well we found out today that they do!

They did a great job in surprising us!  Several things could have alerted us but I was so busy this morning I didn't pick up on anything until each person started sharing.  It was so sweet and thoughtful!

These past nine years have been challenging and have caused us to grow.  Being a pastor is not easy-if anyone says it is, they are lying LOL!   Since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a pastor's wife.  When I married Jon, he was in ministry but not a traditional church.  He was the director of a homeless shelter.  We went from there to working for some years in a ministry called Teen Challenge in NYC.  Then he became a chaplain over 17 years ago.  When he was offered the chance to pastor this church, we thought we'd only be here a few years to "help out"  It wasn't like some big burning desire BUT God has caused it to become that to us.  It's funny.....we never saw ourselves pastoring in a rural church BUT we found that was just where we were supposed to be. 

Tonight I can help but think of all the things we have accomplished with the Lord's help and plenty of help from others.....  all three buildings on the campus are re modeled, we have a strong volunteer prison ministry in the church, we have a couple heavily involved in leadership of the Christian Motorcycle group,  we have a Spanish church meeting here weekly, we have no debt, our church giving to missions has tripled and we support adoptive and special needs families and orphan ministry.  We are a unique church, our folks are unique and have a lot of love for each other and for others, especially for the ones that no one else cares for.....

It's funny how God can put you in the right place.....

Nine years ago for the first Sunday here, Jon was alone with Sam and Steve.  I was in China picking up Shad!  That was probably a very unique start for a pastor and his family......Who knew then all that was ahead of us personally and with this church!  Glad we don't know the future but glad I know WHO does and that He walks with us through every trail!


Here's some pictures from today....including some pictures from our walk tonight!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry the pictures are "off"  It must be our internet.  It was fine when we were away!!!!

 

Staycation

My husband has dubbed the last few days as our "staycation" rather than vacation!  He's had some time off, the weather's been great and we are just glad to be home together, especially when we see what the weather is doing in the Northeast!  Glad we were up when it was calm!

This morning I just sat with Sam on my lap for an hour, rubbing his back and watching tv.  Times like that are so sweet.  I do not take it for granted.  After he'd decided he'd had enough, I got a shower and went thrifting!  I had some stuff to drop off and I found some nice longer shorts for Sarah in both thrift stores I went to:)  Woo hoo!  Plus they were only 50 cents in one place and $1 in the other.  I like longer shorts for my girls.  I also found Shad a brand new pair of tan shorts for school...for $1!  They are a brand I'd buy in the mall and look brand new!  I love going out and spending $7 in two stores and coming home with 5 pairs of shorts and a skirt (for Selah) and a few books too.  Can't do that too often. 

So the guys went to see the last Hobbit movie or Lord of the Rings-whatever it is called.  I just can't get into those movies at all.  They enjoyed it but were sad since it is last of the series.  I sat it out as I do not like those movies. 

Recently for the first time I watched all of the Harry Potter movies & discovered I like them!  They seem to be the "Disney" or kid version of Lord of the Rings.  Much less violent and much more sweeter.  I got a "smack down" for saying I watched/liked the movies but I thought it was a good series about good vs evil, with good winning!  Years ago when they first came out, we did not watch them as we "heard" from others that the movies were evil.  We never researched it nor really cared one way or another. I happened to see some of one of the movies on tv when I was on bedrest with Sam but I didn't understand it since I did not watch all of it but it seemed ok.  Then I found the set on sale and bought it.  I figured if it was bad I'd just throw them away but found they were nothing like I'd been told they were.  I really enjoyed the movies and now am reading the book series. 

My son is a Hobbit fan to the max so over the years I've seen parts of the movies while I usually read because they didn't interest me.  After watching HP with the family, they all said that Hobbit/Lord of the Rings was like HP but more "adult".  So I decided to watch Hobbit/LOR and found I still did not like it!  It's more of a man/boy movie to me. 

What is interesting  to me......is that in the Christian community we deem one movie good and one bad....  they both had wizards/witches   good and bad magic....  I could not tell a difference EXCEPT for HP was so much more innocent and much less violent....   I'll probably get in trouble for this blog but whatever.....

Then last night me and the boys went to see "Night at the Museum 3" which was Robin Williams last movie.  It was a ok movie.  I like going to the movies for the experience, something about a movie theater that I just LOVE.   We'd seen the other two so we had to see this one.

Today we got Chinese food....it's not REALLY "fast food" since we could eat it in a restaurant  right?


Don't forget the 21 day no junk food challenge...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1566327706947446/
You can add yourself if you'd like:)

Yesterday Jon and I went walking to start off the challenge.....we took Sarah with us.  We went out in the woods on a nicely marked trail....as we got to one point, we got ATTACKED by mosquitoes.  We tried running and that didn't help.  We were smacking them off of Sarah as gently as possible and she got so upset and started crying!!  Luckily a hunter came by in his truck-very unusual- I stopped him and asked for a ride for me and Sarah.  He was able to load the stroller and Jon into the back of the truck.  We got safely back to our car and Sarah finally calmed down.  Poor girl!   I'm not one to jump in trucks with old men who have no shirts on but this was an emergency and we were about 20 minutes from our van.   Jon, at first, was a little shocked that I asked and jumped in but I've never had such a swarm of mosquitoes attacking me  and Sarah was so upset.   Hope your exercise plans go smoother than ours did yesterday!

Hope you are enjoying your first week of 2015!

Happy New Year!

2015

 

Is it possible that we are fifteen years into this century?

 

Hope you all had a great time ringing in the new year and I hope that each of you have a wonderful year.

 

 

Yesterday I got to go and eat lunch with one of my besties

Last night we had some friends over and rang in the new year (weakly by the sleepy parents LOL)

Today one of my closest college bestie came over for awhile

I'm feeling very content and full of love:)  And rather full of food also!

 

Don't forget TOMORROW  starts our 21 day No Junk Food Challenge!

I'm so ready for it!

 

 

 

 



The 21 day No Junk Food challenge!

 

 

So I saw this and put it on my wall....many of my friends want to do this.  We "voted" to begin it January 2nd so if you'd like to join us, we have an open group on FB

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1566327706947446/

 

 

 

I'm determined to start the New Year off right.  I'm usually pretty good about exercising but my eating habits are not as good.  We all eat good IF we stay home....but my problem is eating out.  I've gotten better but it is always a challenge. 

 

We are 'rejoining" the Y.  I LOVE the classes but find it hard to always be able to go but I'm going to try harder.  Yoga is my favorite one and the outside pool aerobatics is great too. 

 

Anyhow this is my New Year's resolution. 

Another one is to read the Bible through this year with my kids

 

We are getting ready to celebrate New Years!  Having some friends over for New Year's Eve and some other ones for New Year's day.  Jon gets a 4 day weekend so we are happy.  The boys helped me to really clean the house today so they are on the "good" list for sure:) 

HOME

Yes we got home on Friday!  Woohoo!

We spent Friday and Saturday unpacking, resting and for me, grocery shopping.  This trip seemed so long and hard for us.  Thank you all for your prayers for safety and for our emotions.  We did better than I expected.

Saturday I did a big shopping trip and began cooking.  For yesterday I made Taco lasagna, yellow rice and black beans.  I also did a pork roast and mac&cheese for today along with real mashed potatoes.  I have a meatloaf ready to cook for tomorrow and baked ziti cooked and in the freezer for Tuesday.  It felt good to cook and have "real" food!  I also made 3 quarts of sweet tea!  LOL!  My reaction to being "up north" 

Selah did really good while we were gone and I'm so thankful for our nurses caring for her.  It was hard to leave her during the holidays but we really feel like we didn't have a real Christmas either.  It's hard to be in the Christmas spirit when you are driving 1,200 miles!  Although I guess to some small degree I can imagine how Mary and Joseph must have felt!!!!

Today was church.....I would have stayed home if I weren't the pastor's wife.  My heart just felt heavy and I didn't feel like having to talk to anyone or be "on".   Wouldn't you know it, our music minister sang a song that just broke me.  "I Must Tell Jesus"..... this is a very old song, the writer has been dead almost 100 years but the truth still rings clear.  My trials that I bear right now is worrying about my children's health.  Selah and now Sarah's and Sam's new issues.  I'm sad but I know the One who can help me bear my sorrow and worry....



I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.

Refrain

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

 

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.

Refrain

Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior;
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.

Refrain

O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me    
Over the world the victory to win.

The writer Elisha Albright Hoffman explained how this song came to be....

There was a woman to whom God had permitted many visitations of sorrow and affliction. Coming to her home one day, I found her much discouraged. She unburdened her heart, concluding with the question, Brother Hoffman, what shall I do? I quoted from the word, then added, You cannot do better than to take all of your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.

For a moment she seemed lost in meditation. Then her eyes lighted as she exclaimed, Yes, I must tell Jesus. As I left her home I had a vision of that joy-illuminated face…and I heard all along my pathway the echo, I must tell Jesus. I must tell Jesus

Fox News Story!

Adam from WHAM in Rochester did a news story on our family.  Its a lovely piece and really captured a small segment of our daily life as well as told our story nicely.  I love that you can see Sarah standing and playing.

http://www.13wham.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/clantons-return-rochester-18754.shtml#.VJwtuo0kYZI.facebook


Well we made it from Sutton West Virginia to Savannah Georgia today!  When we first started out there were no cars on the road.  It did get a little more crowed but not too bad.  However.....we could not find ANYTHING open for lunch so we ate from a gas station.  I had peanut butter crackers, a Little Debbie zebra cake and a Pepsi LOL!!!!  Thankfully the kids did eat breakfast before we left the hotel. It's really challenging with Sarah but I had brought some grits packages so I made some up for her for lunch.   But sweet Savannah had a Denny's open and we got something good tonight.

 

 

Empty roads in West Virginia

 

 

trying to get a picture of the snow on the mountains near the West Virginia/Virginia border

 

We always love to see this road in Charlotte North Carolina!!

 

 

And NO I was not driving!

 

FINALLY FOOD!

Denny's saved the Day!

 

 

 

 

 

I've always wanted to stay at a Country Inn and Suites, but on road trips we go as far as we can and then we stop.  We've tried a few times to get in a Country Inn & Suites but they'd always been full.  Now I know why!  Huge rooms, clean and this one was only $84!!!   We are quite happy and only about 300 miles from home...so far it's been 998 miles since we left Rochester.....

My plan is to try and find a glaucoma specialist who will follow Sam at home so he can be seen more often.  His corneal implant is very stable and expected to last throughout his lifetime.  However his optic nerve is showing a slight change which indicates his glaucoma pressure is up.   That's not good.  Glaucoma can rob a person of sight as the optic nerve is damaged, it will not repair itself, so it can quietly happen. 

My problem is no one wants to follow a child as complex as Sam who has a primary eye doctor in another state.  Doctors do not like to cooperate with other doctors....sad but TRUE!  I've called every pediatric office in the Central Florida area and they have refused Sam as a patient.  As you can imagine that ticks me off!!!!!   Since he will now sit for an exam so that he does not have to be put under, I may find a doctor who will see him out of curiosity.  Not many doctors see a patient like Sam.  Perhaps I can find a good adult glaucoma specialist....   We did go to the University of Miami Bascom Palmer for years for follow up but there was a big medical mistake made.  We were told years ago that his glaucoma had worsen to the point of needing a shunt.  We rushed him to Rochester and found at that time (5 years ago) that there was no issue at all with his pressure.  After that, I had no confidence in the doctors we were seeing....OH and the doctor's assistant called me as we were literally walking into the Ronald McDonald House and told me off for taking him for a second opinion!!!   Bless her heart is all I will say.....she got quite the earful LOL!  I also called her back and let her know there was no need for the surgery and we would not be coming back there!  I think they were embarrassed that they were wrong. 

People often wonder WHY do we go so far for treatment?  It is because Dr Aquevella is one of the few doctors who work with corneal implants.  We've invested a lot of time and money into insuring that Sam can keep the little bit of sight he has and we don't dare "rock the boat" at this point.  IF I do find someone who will take Sam, it will ONLY be as an observing doctor.  Should there be any questions, we'd take him to NY for any type of intervention. 

When Sam was a little baby we realized we could love him, but the only thing medically we could do to help him was to do the surgeries and be responsible  for his aftercare.  Over the years we figure we have done over 100,000 eye drops.....yep....100,000.  At six years old we were a little over 60,000 so we figure we've far exceeded it now LOL!!!   For a period of about two years, we did 44 eye drops a day and did NOT miss a drop....even if it meant to wake him up to finish the regiment of drops.  Now we only do 9 a day now....that's nothing! 


Well we hope to be home around lunch time!  I can't wait to get home.  This has been a LOOONG trip to me.  I do like the route better than any other one that we've tried over the years.  We try to avoid I-81 in Virginia, it is so busy.  Next week all of the kids are off of school and Jon gets some time off.  I'm going to enjoy being home with them.  

Well hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  This Christmas really made me focus on the important things and I'm thankful that we were able to take our little ones up for a check up and know exactly what is going on with them.  Hopefully next Christmas we will be home together but I've really am learning to just get as much enjoyment out of the moment and not wish that things were different when things can't be changed.  I realize I am DOING Life!  It's not a goal to get to, it's the everyday things.....

Good night all!