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.  

Father's Day '21 and Eminent Domain

Well that's an interesting title.... always some drama going on....

Father's Day '21 this year was a bit smaller.  We brought Selah to church and Sam and Sarah stayed home with their caregiver.  It was a little too complicated to bring all of them.  Steve was able to get there in time for the sermon.  The church he works out closes about the time we start service.  It works nicely:)

I love this candid picture-it just shows how natural our older boys are with our little ones.  Everything is just a part of their lives.  

Jon got his pictures with Sarah and Sam at home

We had a good day together with our kids! Any time we can get together is a good day!

Well for a few years now we have heard that our "neighborhood" could be affected by a new state road.... I've fought it and have emailed and called politicians over the years.  Recently we got a notice about the proposed routes of the new road.  One route would affect our home and one route would affect our church.  How ironic!  We have already hired a lawyer to fight Eminent Domain. However if we do not win we want the best outcome for our family as possible.  It is very very probable that we will lose our home.  If you remember Habitat for Humanity helped us build a handicapped accessible home for the kids.  IF you have any questions about HH just let me tell  you it's not quite what you'd imagine.  I'm still not sure what I think of them.  The only real advantage of working with them is the home owners get an interest free loan on their home.  Of course a family has to qualify just as if they were buying a home from any other company.  Many people thought our home was free (far from it) and I know some folks donated to HH with that idea in mind.  At the time we were overwhelmed by Selah's needs and our nursing situation.  We had looked for a home with an area that would work for Selah and had not been able to find it.  HH contacted us and it went from there.  We have had to do many upgrades on our home and deal with several issues.  What you see of HH - with volunteers building the houses....that's just for show.  Contractors and their crews do most of the work.  They do have some skilled retired volunteers who do some work under the contractors supervision.  But it is far from what most people think HH does.  HH was not helpful after we got into our home and they got no publicity for their actions.  Thanks to an inheritance we paid off our home and got the needed upgrades and repairs done.  We had many promises made to our family that never ever happened.  I'm not bitter but  I am a very realistic person and call it like I see it.  I think they used our family (orphans/disabled kids) as a publicity stunt for a company that was near bankruptcy (the local one was in bad shape financially and had to let staff go along with a building)   But despite all of that we love our home.  Like I said we paid it off (full market value) and we did all the upgrades and repairs that were needed.  There are still somethings that were done "half butt" as my grandmother would say (or something along those lines lol)  that we need to redo but we've taken it one step at a time.  

We had planned on this being our last home and a home where the little kids could live the rest of their lives with caregivers after we were gone.  This is the last home that we all lived under the same roof as now our oldest lives on his own and our second oldest probably will soon.   So we were willing to do all the things to make the house perfect and for long term upkeep.  So while we love our home we love it because we live here together and have worked on it and paid it off.  We have a bad taste in our mouths from dealing with HH  But we'd had hoped this was going to be the "family home" for the rest of our lives and beyond.  Now we know that may not be!

Yesterday I met with two lawyers-our house is right in the crosshairs of developers.  Understanding the states obligation should they take our property helps as they have a huge obligation especially with our family's situation and the fact this home was built for the children.  But even tho we would be compensated I shudder to think of the impact to the environment if this road extension should go through.  This road would cut through our rural neighborhood and miles and miles of virgin forest!  It would go through the watershed of the Hillsborough River that is the main water source for the Tampa Bay area!  It makes me sick!  We just celebrated 6 years of living in this house..... we never dreamed 6 years ago that something like this could happen to us.  But I'm a long range planner so we are already discussing what to do if this all happens and we have to rebuild.  We are thinking of moving north to a more rural area up near where our kids go to horse therapy.  By the time this all happens my husband will be near retirement age -he only needs 4 more years.  But who know what will happen?  I've just learned to trust God and hang on for the ride!  This whole situation has made me very anxious at times.  Sometimes I feel the anxiety rising up in me and I have to calm down.  Now tht we have semblance of a plan I'm trying to focus on the positives.  

These pictures are from the farm during a lovely rainstorm last week .  Luckily Sarah had finished her horse riding or she would have been upset.  We are actually looking up in this area....can you see why?  

The moon over our yard a few nights ago....

If you think of us just pray that our family will be in just the right place that will best for the little kids.  That's the most important thing.  There's so much to think about to relocate them from child care and therapies to doctors & safe areas where they feel calm  

SILVER SPRINGS STATE PARK

 Silver Springs in Ocala Florida is famous for its glass bottom boats.  It was Florida's first tourist attraction and it dates bac to the 1870's.  My granny told me of visiting there but for some reason I had never gone.   Well Jon had an extra day off this week so we went.  It was well worth the trip. 

  Someone asked why we don't take the little kids on most of these trips...well there's a couple of reasons.  The first reason is they are just not too interested in their schedule being changed around.  If it's just Jon and me going then it is alot of work to take them.  As they are older it's hard to find places to change them.  You have NO idea what a problem that is for us.  Also Sarah only eats pureed food so that is a challenge too, there are only a few places where we can get her food pureed- Olive Garden is one of the few that will always do it for us.  Thankfully they have a wonderful caregiver who they love and they stay home with her playing with their toys, eating and taking afternoon naps with no stress for anyone.  It also refreshes us not to have to be caregivers for a few hours.  We love our kids but the responsibilities with special needs kids only grows as they grow.  Think of having children who are toddlers forever..... that's our life and we gladly accept it but we need a few hours to unwind!  The older boys were both at work.  Our oldest son told us we've been acting like empty nesters LOL

Silver Spring web site

The admission price is $2 (well it is for seniors which Jon and I both are!!!!  OH MY GAWD!  It make me feel good and yet a bit guilty when the ticket taker questioned my age.  She was suspicious....and I loved her for that!  

To ride the boat it is $10 and you are guaranteed to get a few screaming kids or one that asks dumb questions (yes some questions are dumb)   we were lucky we got both!  Actually it's usually a parent who thinks little Mikey is sooooo cute asking questions and generally being obnoxious.... As you can tell when I have no kids with me I don't want anyone's kids around LOL  One of my pet peeves is kis who are obnoxious because the parent thinks that's cute...it's not!  Ok off my soap box! 

the famous glass bottom boat  The fleet they have now were first used in 1965... a good year!

 It's really that clear- no touch ups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This was actually used in several tv shows/movies

 Absolutely beautiful 

 Se walked all the trails and even did a dirt one to be able to get our 10,000 steps in.  it's very wheel chair accessible except for the boat a person has to be able to transfer themselves.  

 

Jon always wears long sleeves and pants and i wear as little as I can!  I don't know how he stands it in Florida!  He looks like a ranger! 

this was taken from the bridge- yes it is that clear

Most of the builds are closed for repairs.  I was so disappointed because we usually get a magnet and coffee mug from every where we go.

It was absolutely gorgeous and not too hot.  We got there at 10 (its a 1.5 hour drive for us.)  We drive up a country road through the middle of Florida Hwy 471.  I just love that drive.  We were there for about 3-4 hours.  We walked all the trails but didn't see the wild monkeys although we think we heard them once or twice.  

Then we went to lunch at a Cracker Barrel in order to do a favor for a friend.  Just know no good deal goes unpunished....   She needed cases of DAD root beer for her church on Sunday as part of a give away to the dads.  So she found the one in that area that had loads of it.  After we got it loaded in the van we ate lunch.  Then before we took the long ride home we stopped at the bathrooms....  now normally I wouldn't share that but there's a reason...

This is my FB posts only moments later as I wanted to capture my emotions....

"Y’all I’m DYING.... new Cracker Barrel-everything is the same EXCEPT for the bathrooms- they are switched. I am a creature of habit. Y’all know what just happened...I didn’t realize it was the men’s room till I came out of the stall & saw the urinal! . I ran out without washing my hands . . What’s even funnier.... my husband saw my tennis shoes next to him & was wondering about the guy with the MUDD Shoes on ( they are girls tennis shoes) I laughed so hard I cried & couldn’t get my breath I met Jon when he came out. He was laughing when he realized that was me "

You see I have a history of going into men's bathrooms BY ACCIDENT.  We have some family jokes about it.  This just took me over the edge.  I was absolutely howling with laughter, tears running down my face... I needed a good laugh.  And you can laugh at me!  I always say "if you can't laugh at yourself come sit by me and I'll laugh at you"  Laughter is good medicine.  

Life has been hard in so many ways recently.  I'm dealing with a lot of pain and loss as I recently lost a newly discovered family member and one of my dearest friends is facing a major health crises that is not going the way we want it to go.  Tears and eternity are close to me right now.  Both dear ones have the hope of heaven and that is a blessing but the pain of loss is very real.  For one the pain of not knowing about each other but for just a few weeks before he passed...and for the other one  a dear long time friend who is struggling so hard to fight a monster of a disease.   Life is so very very hard at times.  My emotions are on the surface right now and the only thing I can do is fall back on the promises of God.  I have to remind myself throughout the day.  Loss is hard for everyone that's why we hate death so much and fight it because we don't want to be apart from the ones we love.  But loss is my nemesis.  I've had more than my share of loss starting from when I was born- some losses were by death some were separation or things out of my control.  One of my close friends says I have a little tribe that I hold fiercely to and that's true.  I like/care about most everyone in my world but I'm not a gushy person.  I have "my people" that little group that I'd rather be with than anyone else in the world (some are related, some are not and a couple have never even met each other, they are from different parts of my life)  I'm grieving the loss of what could have been with the newly discovered family member.  A lifetime of loss that we didn't know each other and this person was absolutely one of the best  The stories I've heard just make me sad for what could have been if a lifetime of secrets had not happened.  When I say I'm a very standoffish person with my emotions it's no exaggeration.  So this crushing loss has taken me by surprise.  To be honest I've always been a bit prideful in how I felt I didn't need anyone especially family.  Of course I could psychoanalysis myself- that was my minor in college - but I have realized how much I wish I'd had more family in my life especially in my teens and young adulthood when I was so alone.  So I lost one who should have been a part of that tribe and I'm afraid I'm going to lose one who is apart of that tribe...  Pray for my friend that God will be merciful and give the doctors wisdom!  Life can be cruel but this is not the end.....