Christmas Day!

We started a new tradition, we opened presents in our church under the tree rather than in the house.  We just don't' have room at home to have a tree and to have the presents under it.  Plus a bad little boy named Sam discovered how to unwrap presents this year and did all of his and anyone else's he could get to LOL!  It was so cute to watch him.  He has never understood opening a present before.  In years passed, we've either opened it for him or had his stuff in bags and he'd pull things out but this year he did it all himself and really enjoyed it!

Selah seemed to enjoy her presents too.

Then we went over to my oldest brother in laws to see Jon's family and his dad who is in his 80's.  We had a good time together and my father in law remembered my name and was quite witty:)  Love seeing PaPa come through the cloud of Alzheimer's. 

Then we met some long time friends and went out to eat at Ling's one of the absolute best Chinese buffets in Florida!  Everyone left full and happy!   After that we went over to our friends' house for awhile. 

So a good time was had by all:)

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I appreciate all of you for your prayers and kind thoughts towards our family and especially towards Selah.  I'm often encouraged by your comments & emails.   Thank you for sharing in our lives and caring about us. 

Pictures coming tomorrow.....

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve here at the Clanton's and everywhere else.....


I'll be honest, holidays are just overwhelming to me.  I start out good but things just go downhill from there.  I'm already counting the days until I can take down the tree and put up all the ornaments.   The first few presents are fun, but by this time it is overwhelming to get everything wrapped.  Hope they like it, hope it works, hope I can find the receipt if  I have to take it back......  should I have gotten something for someone who surprised me with something?  You know the feeling....

Then as I skimmed through FB, one of my friends had posted this verse....
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:10-11


What a refreshing verse, to know we are not to be afraid because a Savior has been born.... that spoke to my heart.  I know I need to hear "do not be afraid" often.....life can be so scary at times.  I don't find Christmas scary, it just seems to sap at my spirit.  But not the REAL Christmas, the REAL Christmas, the coming of a Savior brings hope and joy.  That has to be my focus! 

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Jon had the day off so we all went out to eat and did a little shopping.  Most of our shopping has been done for awhile but we had to buy little last minute things AND batteries LOL!  We dropped off something at our "grandparents", a couple who attend our church but have really become grandparents to our children.   Our time with them always fills my heart! 

All the presents are wrapped thank God!  I hate wrapping presents.  Jon took the easy way out and just put things in bags. So some things we open tomorrow will be in bags from the girls' welcome home showers LOL! 

We will let the kids open one present tonight.....that's been our tradition for a long time. 

Selah has been ok, just a little fussy today.  She didn't want to be in her stander at all.  Her oxygen level has done good.  She didn't have to be on oxygen last night, first time since Friday night:)  thank you for all your prayers!!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Merry Christmas, stay safe and for my northern friends, stay warm!  I'm sure I'll have pictures for tomorrow!

Quick Update on Selah!

Selah is better.....

But I have had one heck of a day trying to get her meds.  She never did get the Toby, the best we can hope for is getting it the day after Christmas.  It was just a long day being on the phone....at one point I was on the cell with the doctor's office and the home phone with the insurance.....

Luckily the doctor had put her on the antibodic and I think that is kicking in.  Plus the wonderful nursing care, she has!   The nurses have been giving her more fluids, doing breathing treatments and "beating" on her chest to clear her out. 

After she finished PT today, a lot got suctioned out and now the rattle/wheeze sound is gone.  She also was able to come off the oxygen this morning too and has kept her levels up, hopefully she will be able to keep them up at night too.

Today was such a long story with the meds, that I can't even go into it....UGH!  This maybe mean but there are times when I really hope the people I have to deal with will one day have the pleasure of having to deal with others like themselves ......OK I know that is mean but it has been a long day!  And I always have such a knot in my stomach when something is wrong with Selah.

If we didn't have 24 hour nursing care, she would certainly be in the hospital.  Not only do they do such a great job but I would not have the confidence to wait something out.  She has not had but one small fever and that was on Friday so at least we aren't worrying about that! 

Thanks for your prayers for Selah! 

Also I just read this story one of my friends wrote
http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/medicine/flu-victims-father-mourns-daughter-urges-public-to-get-vaccines/2158074

A  young lady who lives near us, just died of the flu.  Her father is urging everyone to get their flu shots.  I got all of the kids' shots back in October but hadn't taken the time to get mine.  This story got me thinking!   So tonight I ran up to CVS and got my shot.  My husband is going tomorrow and I was warned, there weren't a lot of flu shots left! 

Some people have doubts about getting the flu shot.  I will tell you everyone who works with us  in the medical community from nurses, to doctors to therapists....ALL get their flu shots and encourage others to get them.  I had asked our nurses to get it, 3 of them had already gotten it when I asked.  It's something they take serious!  So I encourage you to get your shot!   We always get the shots that are free of preservatives and had dead viruses in them.  We don't do the mist even for the kids since there is live virus in that.

I'm very sadden for the family of this young lady.  The pharmacy helper at CVS was related to her and my cashier at Publix knew her family.....it's very sad.  God be with them!

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I'm tired tonight!  Steve went to Busch Gardens with some of his friends today and he is beat, Jon worked late at the prison....we are all ready to go night night around here!

Some Christmas pictures

 

 

 

Ever trying for THAT picture!

 

 

 

Jon telling Sam some secrets....

 

 

I'll let you in on it....it had to do with FOOD!

it is a funny picture, looks like two CEOs discussing a take over LOL

 

 

 

I think this one was the best, we took like 20:)

 

 

 

Selah is doing better.  She was in our after church picture but she stayed home today and just came over for the picture.  We wanted her to be comfy and not stressed.  Her heart rate and oxygen levels have stayed normal and she hasn't needed anymore oxygen!  Tomorrow we will start her on the inhaled antibodic Tobymincin.  HOEPFULLY!  I think she is going to be ok:)  thanks for all your prayers!

 

 

Today was our Christmas service and it was nice.  The church was full and we sang a lot of Christmas carols. 

 

 

Looking forward to the week ahead, Shad is giving us hour by hour reports of how long it is till Christmas.

We let the kids each open one present on Christmas Eve, Shad is really excited about that.  I reminded him today that I don't need a live talking calendar/watch LOL!

 

Hope you all had a great weekend....after we ate I came home and collapsed, took a 2 hour nap and now I feeling a bit more cheerful   :)

 

 

 

Happy 7th Birthday Sarah!

Today was Sarah's birthday.  She is 7 years old.  What can I say......we are so very blessed to have Sarah in our family.  She is a JOY and is so precious to us.  With an adopted child, on their birthday you always think about the biological parents and wonder if they think of her today....do they have regrets?   When I think of her actual birthday, I know more of her history of any of our adopted children. I know the parents, specifically the mother would not touch her. Can you imagine turning away from a newborn?  That hurts me to think of, so I smother her with love & kisses.  I tell her all the time that the stork got lost and dropped her off in Ukraine rather than the US with me.  I tell her things she doesn't understand, but I hope she can grasp with her heart that she is loved forever & ever with us.  I hope she knows we'd never leave her or turn away from her. 

Sarah is so special to me.  When I saw her picture, I fell in love.  When we committed to her adoption I felt exactly like my biological child had been stolen and was in another country.  I stayed up nights doing the paperwork to rush her home.....I couldn't eat, but to wonder if she was hungry.....

That love has only grown and what is so beautiful is to see Sarah respond to our love.  Some children with such learning disabilities, then add the blindness and the time in the orphanage and then in the mental institution come out so scarred that the families can only love them without receiving love back.  I knew that going in.....but that's NOT our Sarah.  Despite it all, she has recovered emotionally in an amazing way!  My heart just swells when she reaches for me (which is often!  LOL)   We are so blessed to be loved back by this darling girl. 

The other day at the school conference (at our home)   There were about 6 female staffers there.  Sarah crawled from a toy to one, who I think she thought was me.  Then I called her, she turned, smiled and crawled/hopped (she has a funny way of crawling) right to me, at the far end of the room and sat on my lap for an hour. It just warmed my heart to see her want to be in my lap and not real interested in anyone else in the room  (that is a huge developmental step by the way!!!)  

She is a gift from God to us in many ways!

So for her birthday we went to her favorite restaurant, Olive Garden.

 

Steve and Shad playing a game

 

 

 

Sarah enjoying her purred soup!  She ate THREE bowls!  I opened my mouth here to "help " her LOL, like she needs any help!  And look no high chair, she is sitting in a chair like a big girl!

 

 

 

 

 

it's good

 

 

 

 

she still opens her mouth WIDE to eat!

 

 

It was so hot today, we were all wearing summer clothes!  In the 80's at the end of December!

 

 

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Please pray for Selah!   Late yesterday afternoon she started having a higher than normal heart rate and her oxygen levels dropped between 88-92%.   We called the doctor and he said he'd call in some meds today.  Around 3am this morning the nurse had to put her on oxygen.  That stabilized her.  This morning the doctor called me back.  He had wanted her to go on Cipro but we've had trouble with that going through her gtube in the past.  But we tried it.  He also wanted to put her on Tobyminicion a week early.  But we had issues with our insurance and it called for an override. 

 

We got the Cipro and had problems right away with it in the gtube.   So I called the doctor back and he put her on another med Lev.....something or another.  

 

So today she has been fine without oxygen and has kept her levels up to a normal range.  Not quite normal for her as she is usually at 99-100% and today she has been at 96% which is ok but just not Selah.  Her heart rate has gone down into the 60's some but it is still a little higher than normal.

 

We are praying that we are able to keep her out of the hospital.  She hasn't been in since the last of April!   Please pray that we are able to get the Toby on Monday easily with no issues with our insurance.  It is such a pain!!!!!!

 

Selah doesn't seem to be in distress or uncomfortable.  She isn't having  a lot more secretions but it seems it's a bit thick in her lungs.  I'm so thankful for our nurses, if not for them, I know we'd be in the ER/hospital already. 

 

Thank you for your prayers for Selah......

 

 

 

 



What would Yvonne Do?

WWYD?  What would Yvonne do?


Today I got a thought provoking email from a reader.  She has a child involved in a homosexual relationship, she loves her adult child and yet she also believes God's word....she wanted to know what we would do if were in that situation....

My answer is we would LOVE our child with our whole heart.  Children will make decisions that parents don't agree with in their lives.  We would treat our child with respect but we would also firmly hold to God's word.  Since I don't think homosexuality is worse than any other sin, I'd do the same thing I would if it were anything else that I felt went against God's word.  If one of the kids were living with a member of the opposite sex without being married, or if  they were living a promiscuous lifestyle being with one partner after another.... I would still love them but I'd tell them what they were doing was a sin and NOT good for them. 

I believe God knows what is best for us that is why in His Word he gives us guidelines on how to live our lives sexually and in all other ways.  So we are talking about SEXUAL sins here but SIN IS SIN...the bible talks about other things as being sin also.   Many other things...... not just sexual sins but obviously sexual sins must be the most interesting ones to GQ magazine since they wanted clarification on that !    REMEMBER Phil Robertson did NOT bring this up, he was ASKED what his views were......



So if you are wondering, I have friends who are practicing homosexuals, and some who struggle with that sin but who do not give in to it.  I have some friends who live together without being married and a few that are in a promiscuous lifestyle.  I can love them, be friends with them and IF the conversation goes that way, I share what the bible says NOT what Yvonne says....  people know if you love them.  I can love someone regardless of where they are spiritually.   I don't sugar coat what I feel is truth but I also don't beat anyone over the head with the Bible!

I'm NOT perfect and I have done some things that the Bible tells us NOT to do.....the difference???   When I was doing those things I did NOT try to justify that I was OK with God!   And no I am NOT going to tell you what I'm talking about LOL!   But I can promise you I knew I was in sin!   I have some people confront me about some things I was doing at one time in my life and I don't like that they confronted me because I felt like they were judging whether or not to still be my friend.  I felt like they didn't love me because I was doing things against what the Bible teaches.....  I knew I was in sin but didn't really care at the time.  BUT what I remember from their conversations were that the other people just wanted to "fix me" not love me.   And I don't want to do that to anyone else.  I don't want a family member or a friend to feel like they don't measure up enough to be my friend or to be loved by me just because of what they are doing. 

So I determined I would love people NO MATTER what they were doing in their lives.   That doesn't mean that what they are doing is right, but I still love them.  And I LIKE them and I'm still friends with them.  I have a good friend who is in a relationship that is sinful, and I tell this friend that occasionally when we get into that type of discussion BUT our friendship is our friendship and it's not based on what this person does or doesn't do.....   This friend knows where I stand on the situation and that I base my opinion on God's word that doesn't change. 


In practical ways, if one of my kids were in a homosexual or sinful heterosexual relationship, I'd love them, I'd have them in our home BUT they wouldn't be sharing a bedroom in my house!   I would not support their relationship in any way  financially.  But I'd still love them.  They would know I was not "picking on them"  They know me and what I believe so they wouldn't be surprised if I didn't throw them a "coming out party" or if I refrained from going to one.....  We wouldn't beat them over the head with a bible and I'd probably cry about it, a lot.....but I'd love them with everything in me!  And I'd pray that God would change their hearts.

The one reason that people  who believe God's word is THE truth fight against homosexuality and the agenda of the homosexuals, is that the homosexuals are trying to  REDEFINE  marriage and change society.  Down through history marriage has been between a man and a woman, in all societies, in all walks of life.  Certainly the bible supports traditional marriage and almost every culture has also.   So it is one thing to accept a friend who is doing things contrary to God's word.  It is another thing to just let society be changed.  I will always vote, sign petitions and support traditional marriage BUT just because I'm not for same sex marriage or the redefinition of marriage doesn't mean I hate anyone!  And I think I speak for most Christians when I say this!

So if you read this and you think I hate people because of what they do "in the bedroom" you are WRONG!   Frankly I don't want to know what you do in the bedroom or anywhere else whether you are married or not!  LOL  I see WAY too much stuff on FB between married folks sometimes!  I don't want to know.....TMI!  

BUT if you ask me what do I believe....I will tell you.  And sometimes I might tell you if you don't ask me.... 

And Here's to you Mr Robertson.....

Well Phil Robertson angered the Homosexual community because he answered a question posed to him by GQ magazine about his religious beliefs and about sin, saying, “start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.” Then, the GQ writer paraphrases Corinthians saying, “don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”    You can read more here....   http://tv.yahoo.com/news/duck-dynasty-e-suspends-phil-robertson-following-gay-003417098.html  

I agree with Phil.  Not because I hate homosexuals, but because the bible says it is sin.  There is nothing anyone can ever tell me that would change my mind.   I've read that 45% of Americans agree that homosexuality is a sin.  Glad that they acknowledge it, but it would not matter to me is 0% of Americans believed it was a sin, I still would because my beliefs are NOT based on popular mainstream idea that can change.  It's based on the word of God that doesn't change.  I also think all the other sins mentioned there in the bible are still sin whether the rest of the world believes that or not.  I don't' believe they are sin because I am so perfect.....but because God is perfect and He stated in the bible that they are sins. 


 Phil Robertson has issues a statement saying  “I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together.
“However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”

So now he is suspended by A&E for his personal views....

So you take this guy and his family, put them on tv, they become the top rated cable show....because of their beliefs and their family values and the fact they are funny as can be.....and then you ask him a question and he answers it based on his belief system....and you freak.....  Really is anyone surprised he answered like this?  I'm proud that he had the backbone to say what he believed. 

There is also a small attack going on about his views on race....  In the same interview he was asked about growing up in the South during segregation....and he responded by saying, “I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field…. They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word!… Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”  

So he answered about HIS experience of growing up in the south and now the NAACP is jumping all over this....

Well jump on this NAACP, I'm not as old but I grew up in the 60's & 70's in a very small southern town and I never saw with my eyes the mistreatment of any black person.   Now I'm not saying things didn't happen, I'm not stupid but I never saw it.  How can someone argue or get angry about another person's experience???  I did see ONE KKK parade in downtown Perry BUT no one wanted them there, there was NO support for the KKK and the few people who were watching the parade actually made fun of the KKK.  I happened to be down town when it happened.  So I did see some idiots under white sheets but if anything they were laughed at. I was maybe 10 years old and I was very scared by having the KKK in our town.  If I remember correctly they were from another town and were trying to get some new members.  From what I saw, they were not successful but it was frightening to have them there. I've heard the "N" word used by people, both blacks and whites and some Hispanics ( I worked with the migrants picking peaches to earn money for college) but I don't classify that as mistreatment, just people running their mouths.    So hello to the rest of the country, just because we lived in the South doesn't mean we saw blacks hung from trees or beaten.  Things like that were awful but it's not like it was commonplace, every day behavior that anyone who lived in the South, during that time,  were used to seeing! 

BTW, one of Phil's beloved grandsons is of black ancestry..... he was adopted into their family.  Any of the NAACP have any adopted white children or grandchildren????  I doubt it!

I'm proud of Phil Robertson for stating his beliefs and not being afraid of the backlash.  He knew when he answered the questions that he was NOT being politically correct BUT he didn't stop from saying the truth of what he believes!

In this day and age, we hear and see all kinds of silly filth on tv.  Miley Cyrus performed lewd acts on tv, yet I don't see anyone suspending her.  We hear all kinds of foolish talking and no one has a problem with it.  But let someone say something that the Bible says, then everyone is up in arms about it! 

In America we have free speech UNLESS you say something that the liberals don't' agree with!  It would be funny if it wasn't so sick.  In America, crucifixes in bottles of urine are free speech.  Nasty language is free speech,  young women groping themselves on tv is free speech....but if you say anything that doesn't agree with the left liberals then all of a sudden you are a HATER.   I wonder why they don't' call themselves haters as they hate everything that is not what they believe.

Me personally, I can like someone  it doesn't matter to me if they are straight or gay or eunuchs or whatever....  they might be married, single or living with someone....I can be friends with them BUT that doesn't mean I think they are going to heaven!  Most Christians, real Christians base their values on the Word of God.  The Bible tells us how to live our lives to be pleasing to God.  And I think it is more than just being pleasing to God, I believe God knows what is best for us, as individuals and as a society.   I don't have to hate someone that lives different from the bible and I don't hate them.  One thing I do HATE is when anyone tries to force me to call good evil and evil good.  I'm not going to sit and agree with someone that everything is ok and everything is pure and everyone is can just live however they want to live and still go to heaven.  I do think we should have moral standards.  But just because Phil Robertson or I or anyone else believes something is wrong, doesn't make us haters. 

I think American society is in the middle of a fight.  There are many people who would agree with Robertson, probably the majority of the country to be honest but we are usually a quieter majority.  I think this situation will wake up people even more than the Chik Fil A remarks back in 2012 where the owner of CFA was asked if he thought homosexuality was a sin and he answered YES.  The general public supported CFA so incredibly.... and still do.  The same thing will happen this time.  The support is there for the Robertson.  I hope they lovingly will stand their ground.

And for the gay community, most Christians do not hate you.  (yeah there are some odd folks out there who call themselves Christians but they'd probably hate me too)  Yes we believe based on the bible, that homosexuality is a sin.  But homosexuality is no worse of a sin than any other sin.  However we do not want you to try and force us to accept your values and we understand we can't expect to force you to accept our values either.  In this day and age, the Christian community is being forced to accept homosexuality as a "norm" and we won't do that!  That is where the great divide is.....

So here's to you Mr Robertson!  Stand your ground, state the truth in love and God will continue to bless you and your family!