Learning to be Content

Yesterday I met with the house builder and we went over the house plans one last time.  We just "tweaked" a few things, nothing big at all.  Next week the permits will start being pulled!  All the plans are done, building, floor plans, electric plans....  this is so exciting.  Their goal is to have us in the house by Christmas.  Of course that is just a goal, you can never predict the weather in October, one year we had two hurricanes in October!  But if the weather doesn't slow things down, it will be on track for us to be in it in 5 months:)  

You know I don't want to come across as some heavenly minded saint but Jon and I never really worried about having a home of our own.  We've been in the ministry since the day we were married and never felt the pull to buy a home because we were never sure of the next step God might have for us.  We'd had pastor friends who had bought homes in certain areas and then relocated and ended up with a mess financially.  We wanted the freedom to be able to just get out of a lease and move if God opened a new door for us.  In all our ministry positions we were always committed to at least 5 years...now Jon has worked for the Department of Corrections as a chaplain for over 16 years and has pastored here for almost 9 years. 

After we adopted the girls, we felt a stirring inside of us that a BIG change was coming.  We thought that God might even be calling us to work in Ukraine as missionaries.  On the way up to NY, where the accident happened, we discussed several things we wanted to look into, some BIG changes.  Then our world collapsed.....

We still look forward to the adventure of life, but we feel with our situation with the children, especially Selah, that God is confirming to us THIS is where we will stay.  I'm not saying there will never be any changes to our lives but we are content in the season that God has us in. 

Over the years, I've seen God do so many things.  I still wake up with an expectancy in my heart for where God will lead us.  It may not ever be out of this physical area of central Florida but in this day and age, you can do a lot for God without leaving your home. 

One of my favorite  bible verses is
Philippians 4:11-13
¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

God has taught me or helped me to learn to be content in my circumstances.  My circumstances might be better or they might be worse than your circumstances but God is teaching me to be content.  One version of that scripture says "for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."  I used to kid around with Jon when we traveled so much in the 90's that I was content in any STATE of the US:) 

Actually it took years for me to learn to be content.  But God was patient with me and helped me to learn to be grateful in my heart despite the circumstances. 

I'm not saying I went around saying silly Christian slogans while my world fell apart.....

But I could find peace and security even when there was little peace to find.  I think back especially of the five  months Selah was in the hospital and our family all six of us lived in one room in the Ronald McDonald House with none of our  own stuff except a few things we brought with us and some clothes we picked up in NY.  I look back and just wonder how in the world did we live like that with so much pressure and uncertainty?  But IN the situation, we had peace.  It's unreal and only by the GRACE of God.  We were separated from our home, our family and friends, all of our belongings. our pets, our home church, with dealing with a very traumatic situation but yet God gave us peace.  No one can ever tell me that God is far away and doesn't care for us!  I KNOW that He is close to the broken hearted and that He keeps us in the palm of His hand. 

So now is a new chapter of our life, a time to be settled and be able to take care of all our children, especially Selah in a wonderful way.  This new home will make Selah's life so easy for her.  She'll have a big room, her own bath with every thing she needs now and in the future.  Her room will even have a door to the carport so she can be transferred to the van without ever having to get rained on or be subjected to any adverse weather.  IF you know our house now, we have to take her from the farthest room out the door to where our cars are parked outside our fenced in yard.  It's probably 50 feet from our front door to where we park.  With the fence, there is just no other way to do things.  It's not the end of the world and we've been doing it now for almost 2 years but with our new home, things will be so much better for her. 

We are so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to have a home that fits our children's needs.  It's beyond anything we ever imagined being able to have for them. 

And if you are wondering, we will have a mortgage, taxes and home insurance to pay.  However with so many volunteer hours and donated material or things bought at cost, our monthly payments will not be anywhere near what they would have been if we'd tried to do this on our own.  I doubt we could have ever been able to do something like this on our own.  We are really overwhelmed by this whole experience, it makes us want to do more for others!   The staff at Habitat for Humanity are as excited as we are, just a great group of folks who really seem to care about what they do for others whether it is in their Restore/Thrift Store or through their homes they build.  

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IF you live in this area could you possibly consider doing some volunteer hours at either the Restore/Thrift store in Zephyrhills or the one in Dade City????  We have almost all our family volunteer hours done thanks mostly to Steve working in the Restore.  Steve has been offered a REAL job there once all the hours are in.  We had to have 100 donated hours besides our 100 hours in before he can start a salaried position there per their regulations and by laws.  He is really wanting to start working for a paycheck:)   From the first day he loved volunteering there and works his butt off.  I've got to go a couple of days and work but I can only do it when Jon is home to watch the little ones. 

We will need volunteers when the house is being built but we need some now too.  Please email me at theclanton5@aol.com if you are interested in volunteering.  It does have to be at one of those stores to count toward our family's hours.  

Steve would really appreciate it as he is ready to start working his first real job:)

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As you can imagine we are still watching as things unfold in Ukraine.  Our prayers continue for the families of the victims of this horrible plane crash.   
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2696847/They-shouldnt-f-g-flying-There-war-going-Ukraine-intelligence-officials-release-phone-calls-claim-PROVES-Russia-shot-Flight-MH17.html  this article has pictures from Torez of the possible missile launcher.   Just so unreal to us.

There is so much conflict in the world right now 
Please pray for the people of Ukraine, there are many refugees, many Christians such as our close friends who have been threatened with death.
pray for the Israel conflict and for the peace of Jerusalem
I've heard reports of Iraqi Christians being targeted for execution in northern Iraq
So much heartache in this old world today. 
 

Plane Shot Down in/near Torez Ukraine

 Earlier today I began getting messages and texts about the plane that crashed in Ukraine.  I turn on FOX news and I see the name of the town Torez.....that town is dear to me.  It is where we adopted the girls from, where we lived for 5 weeks, where we walked the streets, played in the park, attended the local church....where we made friends. 

I'm trying to get confirmation of the exact area that the plane crashed in, some news organizations are calling it  Hrabove or Grabove but most are calling it Torez.  Knowing that area somewhat, I am thinking that it was shot down very very close to the girls institution, as the institution was on the far edge of Torez.   As you can imagine, this is just heartbreaking to me.  Any loss of life is just horrible to imagine.  I pray that God will bring comfort to the families of the victims.  Then to think that this violence came from an area of Ukraine that we love so very much is hard to imagine. 

http://news.msn.com/world/malaysian-airliner-downed-in-ukraine-war-zone-295-dead#tscptmf

I'm just glued to the tv and internet at this point....

SURELY NOW the world must take notice and help Ukraine!!!!   It is obvious that the missile that shot down this passenger plane came from Russia.  The world must do something to stop this!!!!

Please keep the country of Ukraine and the family of these innocent people in your prayers. 

Only 11 weeks......

Awwwww my laptop is back home and we got to eat lunch with some of my fav people who brought it home to me!  Then our friends left and the boys and I watched the end of "Sherlock Holmes" which was really good.  I had a kitten on my lap and Shad curled up by me if it got too scary:)  You can't beat that!

We have had a rainy day with more rain coming.  It's seem this year has been really rainy and that makes me happy.  Rainy days make me feel cozy. 

Our A/C was finished late yesterday and we moved back home.  It was great sleeping in my own bed and not on the church floor on an air mattress!  Plus Jon's snoring is better than Sam peeing on me LOL!  I really appreciate Pattie Electric for helping us baby the parsonage and the church's a/c for the last 9 years.  They've done so much for our church.  And they pushed our situation to the top of the pile this week so the kids would have air since this is the middle of July in Florida and our house is not made to live in without A/C!!!!!!

Yesterday I got a chance to drive by the property and look what was happening......

 

 

The old house and shed are gone!  We also drove by today to show our friends and there is just a tiny bit remaining.  Can't wait to see the property all cleared and the dirt being brought in.   Construction starts on October 1st!  ONLY 11 weeks!  Wow!  That really does not seem long from now at all! 

 

Looks like one of my favorite trees will have to be cut down and I'm so sad about it but it seems to be rotten.  I love big old trees but it would be near Selah's room and we don't want to take any chances.

 

 

Selah is doing great, she's had Physical Therapy this week and has really handled things great.  I'm so glad that the decision to do the surgery was made and we did it quickly, it was positively the right thing to do for her for the long run.  It's a relief that she has recovered as well as she has, we are all thankful.  Honestly, I was quite worried.  Now I feel like a load has been lifted!  Again I just have to say thank you for your prayers!

 

 

Hope you all are having a good week!

 

 

 

 

Still Alive!

We are still alive:)

Selah came home late on Friday night and she has done just wonderfully.  We are so thankful that she has had such an easy recovery period & we are grateful to our nurses for takings such good care of her!!!!!   Without a doubt we believe our nursing team, Aaron, Rose, Lexian and Kathy make the difference in Selah's life.   Selah is glad to be home, it's so obvious to see the difference in her when she is home.  She is much more relaxed and comfortable.

So the past 5 days have been one big adventure for us.....

First I'm a RED head LOL!  While I was in Tampa, I stayed with my close friend and her daughter gave me a rinse.  I don't have a good picture yet but I'll post....I did find one thing disturbing....I have GREY!  LOTS of grey and here I thought I was just blond!  There were places the rinse didn't take and I asked the lady who does my hair and she looked at it and said "yep it's grey"  I am in SHOCK!   So if I wasn't to color my hair, I'll have to use a permanent dye to so it.   This is in for just a few weeks then it'll be gone.  Not sure if I want a permanent change yet! 

Then our satellite went out....with no explanation.  We had someone come out and work on it but it's still not working.  I had left my laptop at my friends' house so I've come to the library to type this update so everyone would know we were ok!

THEN our A/C went our early Monday morning.  I woke up thinking I was in menopause and having a "hot spell"   When I checked the thermostat I realized it was NOT me!  So No A/C in July in Florida!!!!!!!   I was calling our A/C person at 6:30 am, they came out and the guy was so funny.  He acted like he was a doctor giving me a terminal diagnosis.  He was so sad to tell me the a/c was "gone"!  So they had to order us a new one.  As we speak (Tuesday noon) it is being put in and will be operational  soon!!!!


So Shad and the kids went outside to swing....and Sam threw up...so bad, everything....don't know if he got too hot or what but I called Jon home.  I can handle a Chinese adoption on my own and kids' surgeries and hospital stays BUT NOT throw up!!!!!!  

Steve went on a campout and luckily came home by noon.  What a day!!!!

(Sam is fine) 

So last night we had a camp out on the floor of our church!  


These pictures were from the afternoon, both kids fell asleep.  Sarah loved being in the church and was playing and playing by pulling up on the stage and finally got quiet and was sound asleep.  I moved her as soon as I took the pictures LOL

 

Sam slept like this for 2 hours.

 

 

Then for the campout....

 

 

Awwww  

 

 

Sarah right in the middle 

 

 

 

 

Jon is over in the corner

 

 

 

Shad

 

 

 

I woke up about 3 am....wet....for a second I thought I'd peed on myself...NOPE...SAM took care of that for me LOL.   He was sound asleep so I just wrapped him up and then I moved to the short couch in the office (God Bless the friends who gave us that couch!)   I wrapped up in a sleeping bag and went to sleep!  Our nurse had stayed with Selah in the house as it did cool down into the 70's inside and she tends not to be as bothered by the heat.  I didn't want to freak the nurse out by going back to the house at 3am! 

 

FUN TIMES LOL!

But at least we have learned to roll with the punches LOL! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is our animal adventures from Monday!

Shad and our nurse had spotted a crawfish outside and it was "rescued"  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shad had a good time with it and then let it go into the deep ditch that runs under our road, where there is always water.

 

Then he checked on the bird's eggs he had found in our shed a couple of weeks ago, they've hatched and seem to be doing good. 

 

 

 

 

 

So this was a quick update for you all.  Thanks for all the messages and emails.  Hopefully we'll get our internet fixed this week. 

 

Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers for Selah.  We are so relieved to have this surgery behind her and that she is doing so good. 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick Happy Update

Selah is doing great!  She is having very little pain and it's been managed.  She's been needing a little extra oxygen but that's ok.  Selah's not on an narcotics but still this whole ordeal has been a lot on her. We are so thankful that she has such an easy time with this surgery.  Please keep praying for her. 

The nurses had her in her wheelchair this morning for a little while and she did ok.  She may go home tomorrow, we'll see....

Today I drove home for a few hours.  Boy were Sam and Sarah glad to see me!  Sam kept coming to me and hugging me & giving one of his "kisses" which includes lots of mouth and a little teeth on my cheek LOL!  He also wanted to hold my hand. 

OH!  Sam has been saying DAD!  He said it years ago, and then quit.  He says it in a whisper.  I've not heard him do it yet but he's done it two nights in a row for Jon.  Sam only says Ma, Mama NO, and Noooo.  It really touched Jon's heart to hear him say it. 

This morning Sarah was mad at me at first, she actually balled up her fists.  She does that when she is ticked off!  I got her up and gave her a bath then I was her best friend again.  Let's just say she didn't look like she usually does.  Daddy & big brother don't do hair! 

Shad had been with me this week but I took him home today, he is a help to Steve.

As you can imagine, I'm in debt to Steve for watching the little ones while I'm here and Jon's at work.  He really does a great job except for Sarah's hair.  He even had the house straightened up and had changed the poop box for Shad  (Shad wanted kittens....Shad does the poop box, that's the rule!)   Steve is busy planning a camping trip with friends this weekend so he knows there is light at the end of the tunnel!

This has been the least stressful hospital stay for Selah and me.  She has just handled things so well and I've had a friend there for me.    My college roommate and her family now live in Tampa so I've been staying with them at night and having a friend to be there is just great!  

Thank you all again for the prayers for Selah. 

Surgery Went Great! and DON'T CALL ME MOM

Selah did great in surgery.  She did have some blood loss but there is a machine that collects and purifies the blood and returns it to the body.  They did that with her blood, isn't that the neatest thing?   The doctor said things went picture perfect & he doesn't anticipate any problems.  Her leg looks to be in a better angle already & the small bandage relieved me! 

Selah is resting comfortably in the ICU as a precaution tonight.  I'm so thrilled to have the surgery behind us.  Now I just ask you all to pray that she will recover quickly with the least amount of pain!

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 You get a twofer......

I just HAVE to share my one of my absolute pet peeves....when nurses or medical people call me "MOM".  In fact on my FB page I shared "Why the H*** do nurses call me Mom?" (of course the H*** meant HECK!  Lord help me)   If you are a parent of an handicapped or chronically ill child you have encountered this countless times.  Maybe if you have "regular" kids who only go to the doctor for check ups and shots, it might not be so noticeable. 

In my "humble" opinion, I can NOT stand it and feel it is so disrespectful to call a parent of a child "mom or "dad" in a medical setting.  Jon and I both feel it is a way to put the parent in "their" place.  I have 5 kids, and have no need of some nurse calling me "mom".

For example, today in the waiting room, the nurse came to get me to take me back to recovery.  She asked the room for "Mrs Clanton"   I responded and we walked back.  Once we got back there, it was "mom this" and "mom that"   REALLY?  Did you just forget my name? 

There is no other profession  (except maybe public schools) that people do that to parents.  It is very demeaning to me.

I've begin asking nurses not to call me mom but to call me either Yvonne or Mrs. Clanton.  If I don't know a nurse or doctor's name I generally would call them "Sir" or Ma'am"  That is respectful. 

After 10 years this just grates on my nerves.  Ten years of people who work with my handicapped kids whether in a medical, therapy or school setting calling me Mom.....guess what I am not YOUR mom.  I am MOM to five wonderful kids but that is it! 

Mom is a sacred word and no one but my five have the right to use it in regards to me:)  If a professional wants respect from me, they should show me respect. 

So if you are reading this and you work in the medical profession, or therapy or as a teacher....PLEASE use the parent's names. 

Ok that is my rant for the day...MAYBE.....

Although I'm about to have to start another rant as her regular meds have not been sent up from pharmacy.  I took the time to pack all her meds so she wouldn't get off her schedule and sometimes they don't have the particular med....but they don't want me to use my meds.....

Truly the Death Penalty Law works as a deterrent.... as I am NOT in prison...  Nothing irritates  me more than incompetence!   I went over every single med with the person on the phone yesterday....then again this morning, then again in the ICU....gave them each a copy every time of her med list....been here for 9 hours and still have not seen one of her regular meds.....and ours' from home are here, packed in their travel pack....not being used..... (the reason they aren't being used is...they don't want to use meds from home- guess you can't trust them)


My close friend was here today and now she has taken Shad home with her, he went swimming with them and now they are out to eat at the Melting Pot.....what a treat for him.  He was a big help on the way over, he kept his eyes on her for me.  She had her heart/oxy on that shows her heart rate and oxygen level but he was able to make sure she didn't slump over in the seat or have any issues.  I appreciate how he and Steve help out with the little kids.  Thanks to my friend for giving him such a nice treat. 

Thanks for all your prayers for Selah....maybe you need to add me to the list LOL

Getting ready for surgery!

Tomorrow is Selah's surgery at 12:30 pm (EST) please pray for her.  For some reason, I'm really nervous about this surgery.  I PRAY it will be the answer for her hip issue and not be too painful during the recovery time. 

Between the kids, we have endured more than 75 surgeries, or exams under anesthesia.  Most of the time, it's been just been Jon & me together waiting.  Now with more kids, it's seems that it's more just me as one of us has to be with the other kids or at least in the same town.  That is hard.  This time one of my closest life long friends has moved to Tampa and will be with me.  That is huge to me.   I don't think I've ever had anyone besides Jon with me waiting for a child in surgery.    It's lonely.  Waiting rooms are awful places for a parent to be.   Steve will be keeping Sarah and Sam, and Shad will probably come with me.   Jon will be working and able to come home if he is needed.  It gets complicated......

Anyhow please pray for her!  Thank you!

More good news coming out of Ukraine!
It seems the Ukraine army is taking back cities from the Pro-Russian (Russian) groups.  Still praying for our friends and all the orphans caught up in this. 

We woke up this morning to the sound of sledgehammers.   I could not figure out what was going on but went outside to see that huge tarps cover the side of our country road.  It is being widen.  We are NOT happy.  We have cars coming onto this road at 60 miles per hour.  There is a sloping entrance to our road off the bigger country road and people come down it like they are hitting the interstate.  The ONLY thing that kept some people to the speed limit of 30mph was the fact the road is so narrow.  We are REALLY glad we are moving now! 

Steve worked at Habitat for Humanity today and brought back updated plans for the new house.  it just keeps getting better and better:)   They've added an attic to our storage room off the carport!  And they've increased some of the bedroom sizes.  It's going to be an amazing house to raise our kids in, I'm just in shock still and that's just from the plans! 

Steve is really hoping that he can get a job working for HH while he is in college.  He enjoys working with the folks there.  I thought he'd like it, but I had no idea how much fun he'd have.  He works like a dog moving furniture, loading up furniture  & doing various other jobs around but he really enjoys his time there.  I'm hoping they will hire him on at some point.

Jon got today off instead of last Friday, so he went to buy some waterproof snake boots and then he headed out for his beloved woods.  There is a lot of water this year and he's basically ruined a pair of tennis shoes PLUS he's seen more snakes than usual.  We have poisonous water snakes called "cotton mouths" or water moccasins.  He has seen a few recently and having to cross watery areas, it makes sense to have boots on!

Steve came back from his kayak trip safe & sound late last night.  They had a blast.  We had awful weather and just an hour north of us, was good weather-I'm glad!  Now I'm ready to go to Weechie-Wachie springs again! 


Hope you all have a great week!