Great weekend!

We have been busy around here.  We were out all day Friday and then I took the boys and a friend to see Frozen....we thought it was a movie about a snowman....a funny snowman....no it was a love story Princess Disney movie.... with lots of singing...and of course with parents who die....WHY WHY WHY  does Disney always kill off a parent or two?   We weren't thrilled with the movie at all!

Then Saturday we went to a all day birthday party that turned into a square dance:)  What fun we had even tho we got home at 11pm with nothing done for Sunday!  It was worth having to get up early this morning for all the fun we had last night!  We are planning to go to a "called " square dance later this month at a church.  Even Steve was dancing last night, it was great just to watch them.  Jon and I both did square dancing back in high school during our PE classes and we both liked it.  We've wanted to go dancing together (not particularly square dancing ) but didn't want to go to a bar.  So this is something we are really looking forward to doing!!!! 

Sunday church was just great.  When we came to this older church over 8 years ago....we came to a mess in so many ways, spiritually, physically, emotionally.....we have gone through many things during the past years.  There were more than ONE service when there was only 9 people....and we had 5 in our family then....we've gone through personal valleys....but God had opened this door and brought us here so we stayed.....  Jon and I would say to each other some Sundays  "Faint Not"
( And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.)   Sometimes we'd say it to each other in laughter and sometimes in tears BUT God has been faithful .  We were able to remodel each building here (and they were falling down) we have no debt, for the past 9 months our church has been steadily growing....we now have 23 members and our attendance runs around 50 people (and the growth has been REAL growth not people who got mad at their pastor and left the church in a huff but people who have moved here, or started back going to church after being out, and some who came from more of a main line church that wanted to be more expressive), we have a Spanish church that meets here 3x a week that we partner with in the community and in the prison, we have a strong prison ministry with several couples from our church.  We started back Sunday School with a wonderful teacher and series that has attracted almost everyone to attend.  We have someone who is starting up a Fine Arts group (a program our denomination does to encourage youth's talents) and they will be competing this year.  My kids are not the only kids anymore and the families have the same heart as we do concerning "family integration church" or having all the age groups in the congregation without sending the kids off.   I don't write any of this to boast but to encourage you to stay faithful.  There were Sundays when we were just thankful the day was over.....but we stayed faithful to what God had called us to do regardless of what we saw or experienced.   There were times I only did what I had to do because I was committed to God.  I can remember being able to go home some Sundays and just being thrilled it was over for a week!  But we didn't give up and we did what we felt God had called us to do....and He has been so faithful to us

He can do the same for you, it might not be that you are a pastor, maybe just being faithful in a job that is hard, or working on a relationship that seems hopeless....whatever your situation, do what God has told you to do through His word about being faithful and God will be faithful to you.  I've seen this happen time and time again....in various situations. 

So today on the way home, Jon said the famous line "Faint Not"   ( And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.)   And I said it took a LONG time for that DUE season to come LOL!   Then Jon sang me a song they sing in the prison that goes something like this "He's an on time God, yes He is, He may not come when we want Him to but he comes at the right time He's an on time God yes He is"  Something like that....you get the picture:)   God is faithful and sometimes He is working many different things out behind the scene.  I think we have learned so much during this time about God and being faithful. 





Tomorrow is my last big test for a month.  I go in at 9 am for a bladder scope.  I WILL be sedated, hopefully heavily!  Please pray that they don't find anything serious and I don't have any complicates.  I was really sick after the last one I had years ago.  I've had some stomach pain or really sensitivity  all weekend, I'm guessing from the biopsies they took, or maybe I know now all the problems I have LOL  I might be a little impressible.   So thanks for the prayers!


Selah is doing good, a few nursing issues right now but nothing major.  Keep praying for our sweet girl1

Testing

Ok I survived the testing today:)   I was diagnosed with some issues but nothing life threatening.  Evidently I have reflux, that has caused esophagitis, and irregular Z line (what the heck), a hiatus hernia and possibly H. pylori  ..... so as I'm reading the irregular Z line can be linked to Barret's which can lead to cancer.  However H. pylori  fights that cancer...LOL  it's crazy reading all the stuff on the internet.  The doctor told me everything is manageable, put me on a daily medication and I'll see him in 2 weeks....

I also did the bladder ultrasound and I learned I successfully empty my bladder, that is always a good thing:)   I still have the bladder scope on Monday and I'm a bit stressed but going in the procedure area today and talking with the really nice nurses did put me at ease.  The med they gave me to put me to sleep was really really really nice....wish they could prescribe that to me daily LOL! 

Thanks for your prayers and please keep them coming so I can get all of this behind me.  I feel a bit betrayed by my body to have all those things going on and not even know it!  I don't really have any symptoms of reflux.  The reason I had the test (was supposed to have had in Sept 2012 right after my colonoscopy) was because I have that crazy side pain that doesn't go away, a family history of colon cancer, my own personal precancerous polyps  and anemia.  But I didn't ever think I had stomach issues.  I feeling old!


Here are some funny pictures of the kittens watching Bill O'Reily on Fox news last night:)  These cats crack us up! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/01/30/9-questions-about-ukraine-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/

 

The above link is a very good one that explains things in Ukraine quite well.  It is an interesting read. 

 

Again thanks for the prayers and well wishes...we are off to eat out tonight!  I am just not up to cooking:)  I can definably use this as an excuse!  

 

I was told by our nurse that while I was gone we had the daily Thursday crew at our house and that everyone was having to take turns with the kids.  We had PT, OT and VT so it got crowded but the little ones like having their teachers there so their day went on as normal!

 

 

Baby it's cold outside

It's in the 40's with rain outside.  An unusual day for Florida.  There is snow in the Panhandle and most of the northern counties have closed school for the day!  We usually only close school for hurricanes LOL  that is what we are used to not snow and ice!  I'm doing a quick blog and drinking hot chocolate.  I actually love bad weather LOL I'm such a weirdo but it makes everything so cozy.

Shad got his report card, all A's.  he is only in 4th grade but is finished with all the 4th grade work and is in 5th grade work in all his classes.  If he keeps going like this (his teacher is requiring him to make a 93 or above in each test to continue at this rate) he will be in 6th grade work before the end of the year.  I'm very happy with his progress.  I'd love to see him finish high school early and start college early.  I told Steve he'd better hurry up and get through college or Shad will be right there with him!  LOL

Well tomorrow is the big day for the scope down my throat and the bladder scan.  I'm so a wimp about medical things.   So I'm getting all these phone calls about the three medical procedures I'm having in the next couple of days. The people aren't concerned, they all say everything is "minor".....it's like our nurse says "everything happening to You is minor....everything happening to me is MAJOR!!!!" LOL Tomorrow I have the Upper GI scope and the bladder scan... Monday I have the bladder scope....I need some prayers:) I get very uptight about stuff like this! I hate being put under but I'm too much a wimp to stay awake for this junk (except for the scan) and I'm so scared of getting bad news! 

Well not much on the agenda here but to curl up with a good book and some hot tea or chocolate  I need to get motivated to do paperwork and finish my closet but it is just not going to happen today!

CHIC

Great day, one of my closest friends and her family are moving to our area and I got a chance to meet her for lunch today and hang out for awhile.  I could just pinch myself I'm so excited for her to be get moved here!!!!!!!  Good times ahead!  It's amazing to me that we will have time together again, we've known each other for many years and even lived together at one point:)  Then we married and moved all over the place....but now we'll be back together:)  Watch out Florida!

I got all my bloodwork done today, can't wait to hear my cholesterol scores.  I've not been exercising like I used to so I have a feeling that will be over the limit! 

Last night I read a book about reorganizing your closest and dressing chic.  Ok I admit to loving stuff like that.  So today when I got home I made myself go thru parts of my closet again.  It's awful how we all wear about 20% of our clothes.  There are STILL things in my closet that I've not worn in years and I'm a purger!  I will admit there are two shirts I've bought in the past year that I have never worn.  They looked great in the store but once home.....NO!  And I am absolutely terrible at keeping receipts so I can't take them back.  I also bought a "dickey"  that is a fake turtle neck.  I had always wanted one LOL  it didn't work with the shirt I was buying for it to go under.  I tried to exchange it but with no receipt the store would only give me 75 cents....so it goes in the bag.  Oh well I FINALLY got one and found out I didn't want it!

Isn't that how life is, sometimes you long for something but once you get it, you find it it's not what you wanted in the first place.

I think of that in relation to marriage/divorce....  I see folks who are married who long for their freedom, once they get that freedom, they long then for the commitment of marriage.  It's sad....  I was like that at one point, I thought I could really be happy if I were single again.  Thank God, I had too much restraint in my life to follow through on that thought. 

There is even a scripture where Paul tells you if you are single, stay single, if married stayed married...if I weren't so tired from trying on clothes, I 'd look it up!!!    But it is in there!

Anyhow tomorrow I plan on finishing up in there.  Once my closest is organized and I only have clothes in there that I like and that fit me right....I will be CHIC!   Ok you can quit laughing now!


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I've had several people ask for an update on Baby Sabrina.  She is home and doing good day to day.  However she is having tests run, there are concerns about a genetic disorder that is very serious.  The doctors have also said she is deaf in one ear.  Please pray for this sweet little one and her family.

Also the Burman family is still in Ukraine, there have been a lot of twists and turns in their adoption that I will share once they get home but they have court coming up soon so pray that all goes well.  She has been there now since early December.....it's the end of January....the country is in chaos.....
Actually you can get an update here http://gracehavenhome.com/families/burman-family/ and you can give through them too.  They only need about $4000 to be fully funded now!

Thank you all for all your prayers for me and my family.  It really encourages me to get emails and comments from you all!!!!!!

Adoption

Often it is hard to "come up" with a blog post almost daily, but today I've been thinking about adoption, one of my favorite subjects. 

People adopt for various motives.  In the adoption world I've seen it all and it's not always been good.  I see people who adopt and it seems almost like a Lay's potato chip commercial "You can't eat just one"  or you "can't adopt just one"  I've read attitudes of adoptive moms that were really strange.  they didn't seem like mommas to the kids, more like they were nicer caretakers.  (a friend came up with that term and it fits!)   I've read of moms who were so stressed by adoption and unhappy.  Some adopt because they can't have biological children.  Some adopt because it is now the new cool Christian thing to do. 

There are some amazing families out there  the Rosenow family just blows me away
http://kmrosenow.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/when-is-enough/  not because they have so many kids but that those kids have such love from their parents.  I love their heart, I've "known" them for over 8 years, they had Shad on their website The Shepherd's Crook  http://www.theshepherdscrook.org/ and I see their REAL heart for God and for following Him and it encourages me.

We have some friends who we went to church with years ago who have adopted aging out teens....we used to have time to visit them more and I LOVED the spirit in their home.  16 different kids from different countries, orphanages and backgrounds and there was a sweet peace in their home. 


For us,  we adopted Shad because we overwhelming felt God was leading us to do so.  The girls it was the same way, we were NOT looking to adopt or even thinking about it at all until we saw their faces....then it was all over:)

For us, we do feel like we rescued them   That is a huge feeling for us but we didn't adopt to get that feeling if you follow me.  Some adoption blogs will sternly say "do not adopt to rescue a child"  well....  I don't quite agree with that statement. 

To me I feel like they were our children, just somehow NOT with us and we had to go rescue or get them to bring them home.  I can truly say they are no different than my biological kids.  They are as much of a Clanton as anyone else is in our family.   They are not a job to me or a "ministry"  they are my kids.  I'm their mom....that's the bottom line. 

Just like God "adopted" us into His family, He rescued us....  To me adoption is such a picture of God's redemption.  How can you not feel you are rescuing a child when you walk out of those orphanage doors?  NOW that is a rush:)  

So when I sit with my daughter Sarah on my lap (which is where she wants to be all the time) and watch tv and see footage of the fighting in Ukraine (that I strongly support)  I can't help but feel like we rescued Sarah and Selah from all of that.  Not just from the institution, which was beyond bleak but from the instability of the country at this time.  I'm so thankful they are here, a world away from all of that.  The orphans already have a very hard time in Ukraine, it will probably get harder for them during this time .  I'm glad my girls don't have to go through that and I pray for the children left behind.  The vulnerable always suffer the most! 

I worry about the orphans in Ukraine as I try and get news daily from there.  Adoptions are still going on but who knows for how much longer? Each family has to go to the SDA/DAP in Kiev to get their referrals and it is right near where the main government buildings are located. The staff in the SDA/DAP aren't the easiest to work with anyhow so it's not like they are going to be pushing to stay open unless they are made to do so. And now with the unrest spreading, it will be harder and harder to get court dates. 
I support the protests but I'm afraid that whoever comes out on top, it will delay or maybe even stop international adoptions there altogether.   I fear the days of adoption in Ukraine maybe winding down....I REALLY REALLY hope I am totally wrong but that is my fear. 

So I ask you to pray for God's will to be done in Ukraine and that the people will one day be free of  the past and that in that freedom, there will come a compassion for the "least of these".........


***  I am still raising money for the girl we sponsor in Ukraine.  And for a boy from China.  Despite me saying little about it as we are trying to get links put up for them, we are still getting contributions!  thanks!  I'm pretty sure each have close to $1000 now!   Hopefully she will be put up soon on Grace haven's site and the young man we are still trying to help get his paperwork correct and to an agency.  Several folks are helping with that!  Please pray we can get both of them up on a site and raise their ransom and that a family will come for them. 

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I had a doctor's appointment today and another scan.  The doctor was "different" at first I didn't like her, but after talking for awhile I think she was good.  She did her own scan and almost severed my windpipe LOL   She certainly made sure she saw everything in there!   She told me my thyroid was "interesting and misshappened"   She said it will be very hard to do a biopsy but she thinks I should have one done (very hard probably means very painful)   She feels like it is probably not cancer and may not have grown, because it is really hard to scan it.  But she still feels it has some possibility  of it being cancer but is not overly concerned.   So I can't get the biopsy until March...  I'm more relieved than before even tho I'm still in limbo world here. 

Thursday I have an upper GI and a bladder scan for two different issues....I am very nervous about both of them!  Prayers are appreciated!  I can not believe I am doing both the same day!!!


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After all of that....  I have a funny story to tell!

Sam and Sarah have "co-existed" now for almost 2 years....the "co-existing" is starting to go out the window.  We have much sibling rivalry.  It is adorable to us.  It started when the therapist and teachers started coming in.  Sam would get upset when Sarah would have someone working with her IF he didn't have someone working with him.  But the fighting has escalated from there!

Then they would both climb up in the big chair with me or Jon at night and that was so cute to be stuck holding each of them and making sure no one got pinched or kicked.

Then last night, Sarah only likes a hand held vibrating toy.  We have many toys but that is the one she likes.  Well Sam was sitting in Jon's lap and Sarah was on the floor with her toy.  Sam hopped down, grabbed the toy and hopped up.  She turned around and crawled to Jon crying and hitting his leg for attention.  Jon got the toy back and gave it to her and she calmed right down.  This happened about 4 times and while we don't want her upset....  It shows she knew to go to Daddy to get him to "fix it" for her!!!!   That is HUGE!  We love it!  It's a real development step for her.

Earlier Jon had asked Sarah "Sarah want to come sit with daddy on the big blue couch" and before she could crawl over, Sam came running from his rom to sit down with daddy.  It is really cute to see the two of them try and get our attention!  

I call them my twins, they look so much alike and they are now about the same size since Sarah has more than caught up.  She is a big girl for a child with Peter's anomaly despite her years of malnourishment she is not that tiny.  She still wears mainly a size 5 although I'm not buying anything less than a size 6 for her.  She's 7 yrs old now.  Sam will be10 in a couple of weeks and he is just now wearing a size 5 and it is usually a bit too big on him. 

Selah is back to her normal self, some days she is just a little "off" and it is worrisome to me!  I love days when she is doing things like we are used to.   She did wonderful in PT this morning and was as "loose as a goose"  I like when she doesn't tighten up. 

Thanks for all your prayers for our family.  We really appreciate them

Pictures "A walk in the woods"

 First I'll start with some more kitten pictures that were on my camera.  Aren't they adorable ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre beard shaving LOL

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we took the family to one of Jon's walking places.

 

 

 

This is the REAL Florida!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jon walking ahead...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging moss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

it was dark by the time we got back to the parking area. 

 

We love to go walking out in the woods.  We have so many hiking trails near our house.  It's very peaceful. 

 

 

Today I was apart of our worship team singing some of the older "revival time" hymns that I grew up singing.  Some of the old songs have such meaning to me.  We sang  a melody of "The Unclouded Day"  "Won't it be wonderful there"  "In the Sweet by & by" and "Just over in the the Gloryland" 

Sometimes I have to type out the words for our media system and the words just blow me away at times.  It's easy at times to sing them and NOT to listen or think about what we are singing.  But when I take the time to look up and type them, or go in and change them about, it really can speak to me.  Sometimes in singing the older songs, we don't' sing all the verses but sometimes when I'm typing them out, I beg our music pastor to sing more of the verses LOL  They are just so good!

  Here are the words to the song

 

 

In the Sweet By & By

 

There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

Refrain

In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

 

 

We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

Refrain

 

To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days

 

The last verse just grabbed me!  The song has a slight Celtic feeling to it when it's done right. 

here's a youtube link for one of my favorite preacher Tommy Bates  This is how our Sunday nights were when I was growing up.  I love Tommy Bates and his singing and preaching reminds me of my childhood. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69c6DbsUOZk 


Hope you enjoy it on this Sunday night. 

Time

Whew!  When I write a blog that makes me feel vulnerable , I am almost afraid to open my email and see the responses.   I was blessed by the responses I got from my last blog, thanks!  I'm glad I'm not the only non perfect Christian out there!

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Life is a journey.

When I was a child we lived near the train tracks and I can remember listening to the train whistle late at night, wondering where it was going,  I'd look at cars and think the same thing.  I wanted to GO I wasn't happy in the "moment".  Now I've had plenty of "go" and can be happy in the moment!  Now I hear a train's whistle and I'm just glad I'm not on it or stuck waiting for it to pass!!

Have there been times in your life you wish you could just stop life and never let things change? Like in the movie "Groundhog Day" where every day is the same.   I do have those times.  We sang a song in my High School chorus group "If the hands of time, were hands that I could hold, I'd keep them safe and in my hands they'd not turn cold"  The song went on to recount the moments that should be held..... "the summer from the top of a swing" etc.....   I can't remember it all now cause it gets messed up in my mind with "Time in a bottle" but when I was young, I didn't want the hands of time to be held, I wanted time to pass swiftly so I could grow up!

NOW I'd love to grab and hold onto those "hands of time"  

Time goes so swift.  Every week flies by at break neck speed!  The months go by and the years.....
If I could go back to any time, I'd go back to the summer of 2012 and live that summer again before the accident.  Of course if I could go back, I'd make sure nothing ever happened bad!

Actually I WISH I could go back to my college days and enjoy them again too:)   I loved college and the friendships I made.  However I'd love to have my 48 year old wisdom back then LOL That would be real fun.  Actually that might be really weird! 

Well Time only marches forward and we go with it. 

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This morning I wasted time, I slept till 10:30 am.  Don't know when I've done that and it was great!
Selah is a bit "off", not too much but her heart rate is up some, for no real reason that we can find.  We are hoping there is nothing going on with her. 

We are all debating what we should do today, everything is done for church tomorrow.  A part of me just wants to go take a nap but I don't want to sleep away my time!  I get on to people for taking naps I usually feel it is a waste of time and it will mess up nightly sleep patterns and then we will have to hear about your insomnia!  LOL

Hope you have a good weekend.  Please pray for Ukraine,  and Selah this weekend.  Thank you!