Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Tidbits and Updates

Just a list of tidbits and updates in my little world.
  • Took Lance to a new doctor and he absolutely agrees that we should not do surgery for Lance's brainstem compression right now. He feels that it would do more harm than good. I am so relieved since it is so very risky.
  • Feeling better from Monday's asthma attack. The only issue I have right now is extremely bright red cheeks from the steroids they have me on.
  • Found myself humming in the store yesterday...it has been three years since I have hummed at all, let alone in a store.
  • Cleaned my stove, microwave, dishwasher and rearranged some drawers in the kitchen.
  • Had a wonderful prayer time this morning.
  • Rejoicing with Lisa about Emma's test score of 98%.
  • Lance bought the Kung Fu Panda video with a gift card we found from Christmas, he is so happy.
  • Finished my first Excel class with flying colors and signed up for the next one.
  • Feeling good about the progress I am making with Oliver, he is turning into the cutest and sweetest doggie.
  • Kevin is not stressing over not getting enough hours at work anymore. He is learning to trust God to provide our daily bread.
  • I am not spending as much time on the computer, except for homework. This is a good and bad thing. Good because I have other things to do which keep me busy and bad because I am not able stop by the blogs I like to visit everyday.
  • My dad stopped over today, I don't see him very often.
  • The Wings are in the second series of playoff games, they are playing the Anaheim Ducks. (We will trounce them!!!)

I find I happier than I have been in a long time. Go figure, in a world full of chaos and trouble, I am finding my stride. Hmmmm....

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

How Do You Spend Your Monday Evening?

Cough
Cough
Wheeze
Cough
Wheeze
Wheeze
Cough
Wheeze
Crackle
Wheeze
+ Wheeze
_______________________
A trip to emergency room for a breathing treatment

I am not sure if it because of the change in weather from cold to very warm, the fast budding of the trees and flowers, or the heavy rain, but I have had a terrible time with my allergies and asthma lately. Well last night I couldn't stop coughing and started wheezing really bad and even after several doses of my inhaler, I kept getting worse. Around 11:30p.m. I couldn't breath very well and decided I needed to go to the emergency room for a breathing treatment. I arrived back home breathing much better, but hyped up from all the medicine. I think I finally got to bed about 2:30a.m. Need less to say, I am very tired, sore from all the coughing and still coughing some.

Oh spring, I love you...but my lungs are saying enough already...

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Beatles Surprise

Well it finally came, the big surprise for Lance. Lance is a HUGE Beatles fan and before Christmas, Kevin bought tickets for the 1964 The Tribute, a Beatles tribute band. The Rolling Stones Magazine said and I quote "Number One Beatles Tribute Show on Earth". Oh, by the way, I do not read the Rolling Stones Magazine. When Lance found out we were going, he started to grin, my favorite grin, the one I hardly ever get to see. The grin that starts slow and then spreads across his face to light it up. That grin!!!



Besides the dreaded hiccups (this is a medical issue and Lance can get them for a week or two at a time, several times a month) Lance didn't say a word, and for those of you who know our Lance, that is saying something.

He swayed to the music and tapped his toe. He even kept rhythm with Ringo, tapping on his knee. There was one particular song that the entire audience got up and danced, twisted would be the better term, Twist and Shout. Even Lance twisted a bit, again a real surprise to us, because Lance does not do this.



So the evening was a HUGE success! The pictures are lousy, but the lighting was terrible and the camera, sigh, well at least I had a camera.
A fun evening!!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Yesterday

My day yesterday--

  • Awake at three a.m., couldn't sleep so I finally rolled out of bed at five a.m.
  • Did my homework for computer class and began a yearly statement for my husband's non-profit organization.
  • Made breakfast and lunches for Kevin and Lance.
  • Fed Oliver and got Lance out the door for school.
  • Tried to sleep a little longer, didn't work.
  • Talked with Lisa.
  • Made some breakfast for me.
  • Made the beds and took a shower.
  • Put dishes in dishwasher.
  • Finished the statement.
  • Left for prayer.
  • Stopped to get coffee before prayer.
  • After prayer talked with Phil while driving home.
  • Called a dentist for Lance, didn't get through again.
  • Called to make an appointment for the eye doctor for Lance.
  • Called to make an appointment for the regular doctor for Lance.
  • Called a person who wanted to know more about being and STM for Family Retreat.
  • E-mailed the director for Family Retreat (back and forth off and on all day).
  • Talked with a mother of 6 little children, one who has Downs Syndrome, about attending Family Retreat. (boy does she need the break!!!)
  • Did two loads of laundry.
  • Took out chicken to thaw in microwave for dinner.
  • Sat down for a moment and ate a few fat free wheat thins for lunch.
  • Kevin came home early and needed help finding something.
  • Lance came home.
  • Lance's Speech Therapist came.
  • I took the STM and Family Retreat applications to the post office to be mailed. (You would have thought it was Christmas, there were so many people in line!)
  • Came home and had a conference with the Speech Therapist.
  • Answered about twenty e-mails.
  • Grilled the chicken and made a green salad and a fruit salad, along with garlic bread (because Lance requested it)
  • Ate and then cleaned up everything.
  • Made some oatmeal cookies, cleaned up again.
  • Answered more e-mails.
  • Talked with Brigette.
  • Sat down to read my Bible and fell asleep.

I am so grateful everyday is not like this. Pheewww...

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Thinking

Here I am listening to Pandora Radio trying to think of something clever to blog about. My brain is still asleep and I realize I am not a particularly clever person. At that my friends, is the rub. I want to be clever, I want to be humorous, I want to write witty little antidotes about my life and instead I am faced with clumsy thoughts.

Once again, I am faced with the reality that I am not who I want to be.

Who am I?

If nothing else this blog makes me think. Thinking is good. But thinking causes me to challenge myself.

Hmmm...

Thinking also causes me to realize that I am exactly who God wants me to be. This is the frustrating part. I don't want to be what I am...

I am too old for this. Geesh...

Monday, April 20, 2009

Pandora

I absolutely love Pandora.com!

Pandora is a radio station(?) that you program with all your favorite genres of music. This is what I really like about it, you type in a certain artist or song and it will pull up suggestions and you can pick which song you want to listen to and then it will suggest other songs or artists that are similar in style. At this point you can use a thumbs up or a thumbs down if you like or don't like the song and it will go on to suggest other songs.

So what it essentially does, is to create a personal station for you. After that, if you want to listen to an entirely different style or artist, you start a whole new station. You can have as many stations you like.

I have found so many new artists and songs I never knew existed. It has opened a whole new world for this little house potato.

So go to www.pandora.com and start your own radio station (without commercials and DJ). Have fun!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Sabotage

I really did start a new blog yesterday and I really did post about a lifestyle change yesterday. I really do want to get healthy and I really do want to want to lose weight, even a small amount of weight.

Well Kevin Sabotaged me. He didn't do this on purpose, it just happened that way. Last night we had plans to drop off Lance and Erin, his staff person, at church for movie night and we were going to go to Papa John's. Papa John's is an amazing European Market with fruits, veggies, fresh everything including meat, fish, poultry, bread, cheese and even a cafe were you can have some fantastic salads. Yes, that was the plan...until Erin came in with a kite. Because it was an absolutely gorgeous day, she thought it would be fun to go fly that kite at the beach and get some ice cream after. The plans changed and Lance and her went kite flying.

And that's when the sabotage began!!!! Kevin decided he wanted to go to P.F. Chang's for dinner. Okay, I would be lying if I led you to believe that I didn't jump at the chance, because we never go to places like this. In fact our dates have been consisting of coffee and Barnes and Noble. Now I like, coffee and Barnes and Noble, so I am not complaining, it's just we very rarely go to a nice place like Chang's.


They have a new menu item called Chang's for two.
I had the Hot and Sour Soup and Kevin had the Egg Drop Soup.



We shared the Lettuce Wraps


I had some Sesame Chicken and Kevin had the Sweet and Sour Chicken, please note the little effort at eating healthy, Brown Rice


Then came the clincher, mini desserts. Yea, I had to, HAD TO I TELL YOU!!! have the tiramisu

Well, as Scarlett O'Hara would say "Tomorrow IS another day". Shhhhh, don't tell anyone, I have left overs for lunch. Thank goodness Tomorrow is another day.

Friday, April 17, 2009

A New Beginning

I know this doesn't make sense...January is the month for making changes in our lives. We start our diets or exercising. We have good intentions, but within a month, these thoughts are gone and our resolutions have gone to the wayside.

So...I am making some changes in my life in the month of April.

I have started an accountability blog titled The Healthy Dream.

In this blog I will share my thoughts and my ambitions. I will post my progress concerning all my lifestyle changes. They will include the usual, weight loss and exercise. They will also include changes in my health, my home and my environment. I will do some research and try some experiments. But most importantly I will be honest and to anyone who wants to follow along, I will be accountable to you.

http://thehealthydream.blogspot.com/

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Still Easter


I just read my brother Phil's Easter morning sermon and to tell you the truth, it made me cry. It reminds me that it is still Easter. I need to celebrate Easter all year and in everything I do. Take a few moments to read, you won't be disappointed.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Open Days

Today...

What will today bring?
I have no plans at the moment.
Lance is home on Spring break, so I was unable to go to prayer.
Let's see...
Clean our bedroom and wash sheets?
Clean the bathroom too?
Read another chapter from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to Lance?
Spend some more time than usual with the Lord?
Type up the minutes from a board meeting held two weeks ago?
Check in on Angela? She had some oral surgery yesterday and didn't tell me about it.
Give Oliver a bath? He is not going to like this.
Check in on Phil?
Find out if Brigette finished her taxes?
Go for a walk this afternoon?
Organize the office?
Begin my exercise program?
Take the whole day off and read?

Don't you love open days?

They are so full of promise...no obligations...make them what we want them to be...open days...

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Parable of the Sower

I had the privilege to work at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte for four years. While there, we were able to move the campus into a beautiful new home, it is a gorgeous building architecturally.





I can honestly say that while working there I had the most amazing experience. I was able to witness a fresco being created. Frescoes are a dying art form originating from Italy. One example of a famous fresco is the Sistine Chapel ceiling created by Michael Angelo.





It took artist, Gerald Steinmeyer, eight months working long hours everyday with several asistants, to create The Parable of the Sower. The only words to describe it is breathtaking. I would go into the chapel just to sit and stare at this incredible sight.


If you ever get to Charlotte, take some time to go visit the school and the fresco, it is worth the effort.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Father-In-Love

On Easter Sunday we always get together with Kevin's family at his brother's house for brunch. It is a great time of celebrating family. My sister-in-law is extremely taleted with photography and she shared a couple of pictures she took of my father-in-law and our little Oliver. Dad is probably the hardest working, the sweetest and kindest man I have ever met. He is very meek and humble and just sits quietly while everyone else carries on. I am not sure why, but he just adores our Oliver. I wanted to share these with you. He is my Father-in-love...




Sunday, April 12, 2009

He Is Risen


He is Risen! We can rejoice! He took our sin and made us clean. He gave it all. Hallelujah, Hallelujah!!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Can We Make a Difference?

A few weeks ago we went to a fundraiser for a local special needs program for POHI young adults. POHI is an acronym for Physically and Otherwise Health Impaired. When Lance was young, he attended a POHI program for elementary school and while at the fundraiser we were able to reconnect with several of Lance's old school mates and their parents. We couldn't believe our eyes!! We remembered little kids and what we found were grown up people. It was such fun catching up with everyone, remembering fun old times and enjoying the DJ, dancing, pizza and raffle. We even won some fun things, a massage and a HD DVD player. Cool...

I remember going to parent meetings, being on parent advisory committees, fighting endlessly with with educators about the education of our children. Planning fundraisers, going to informational meetings and just picking each other's brains for knowledge and advice. We were going to change the system and our kids were going to rise above the standard that wasn't set very high at that time. We encouraged each other to keep fighting.

What I saw the other night, were parents that were worn out. They were proud of their kids and how they have grown, but in their eyes was a weariness, the same weariness that I have seen in my own eyes. Their bodies are starting to wear out, everyone of us have had to have surgeries, several have had heart attacks (they are only in their 50's and early 60's). I asked if they were still fighting and every single one of them said "I try but I am giving up, it is too hard". They don't know what will happen to their children if they die. They are concerned because even after all these years of trying to do the best for their kids, there isn't a place for them to go. There are a few good programs, but most of them are out of state and hard to get into. One mother adopted four special needs kids because she and her husband loved children. Her husband died five years ago and she is now caring for three young men and a teenage daughter with severe disabilities by herself.

Good friends of ours live about an hour north of us and attend a wonderful church. They have a daughter who is now thirty, the youngest of six children. Doris suffered a heart attack about six years ago, they knew they had to do something to provide a place for Becky to live, in case something else happens to one of both of them. There were several other people with special needs that also attended the church. Doris and Gary started meeting with the other parents and the church leadership and they came up with the idea of building a place for these people. The entire church got together, raised money, built a home and provided the finances to pay for people to staff it. It is supervised by a board elected from the church. Becky loves the independence she has away from her parents (even though they see her every week) and Gary and Doris are enjoying being empty nesters for the first time in their lives.

My prayer is that churches all over the country begin to catch a vision to help people and families like this. To allow parents who are worn out to get some breaks. To stop building edifices unto themselves and to reach out to help provide food, shelter, love and support to needy people everywhere.

Come on Church, let's make a difference in the world!!!!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Who Are We?

A friend sent me this video this morning. Well as I watched I cried...happy tears, amazed tears and sad tears, because I wonder why we measure someone's worth based on what they can do, instead of who they are.

I am thankful God sees us for who we are not what we can do.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Simple Joy


I love looking at life through the eyes of children. Mine kids are much older, but I have the unique view of looking at life through my child like son. For those of you who don't know, my son, who is 23, is disabled and our joy. We have many challenges that we face day to day and life can be very hard at times. But one of the fun things we have learned to appreciate about Lance, is his unbelievable enthusiasm for movies and music.

For Lance, his life revolves around movies and music. Every day he comes home looking for the next movie from Netflix, a gift from his sister and brother-in-law for Christmas. "Did it come mom?" he asks as he is walking in the door. If it has, he races upstairs to his room and turns it on. He studies the movies, who's in them, what other movies did they play in. Who wrote the music and what artist is singing the song. Then after he has watched that particular movie three times, he will turn on his music. I think he has almost all the Beatles albums. He loves Elvis, Elton John and Phil Collins. We hear the songs played until we are sick of them, but he is happily tapping out the beat to music with a smile on his face, it doesn't matter that he has heard the song 2783 times. Simple joy.

I make life too complicated. I worry about what is happening in the world today (and there is so much happening). I think about what needs to be done around the house. I fret about the finances and the weather and if I can make dinner stretch for an extra night. I worry about what others think of me.

I want my life to have simple joy. Joy and contentment. Not to worry about all that is going on around me. Having an expectation and yes, even the excitement of doing something for the 1647th time.

Maybe I need to tap out the beat to my favorite song or take the time to read the credits, just because.

Friday, April 3, 2009

This is the Day the Lord has Made


This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118; 24

I am rejoicing today even though it is raining, remembering that April showers bring May flowers.

I am rejoicing today because Lance and I are feeling better after a couple weeks of illness.

I am rejoicing today because I have a family that loves me.

I am rejoicing today because my Father is a good God

I am rejoicing today because I am blessed beyond words.

I am rejoicing today because God used me to bless a dear friend.
I will rejoice!