The end of the season

Soccer, soccer, soccer.

 It has felt at times recently that we have lived and breathed soccer. Most of the time we enjoyed it. But honestly, I am so happy for the season to be over that I could almost, well, I don't know what I could almost do, but that is what you are suppose to say. Almost scream? Almost cry? Almost pee your pants?
 Either way, I am undeniably relieved to have reached the end.

I am one of those annoying moms who brings their own camera to the "official" picture day.... then doesn't buy any. Sorry professional people. I don't mean to be hateful - just cheap!

It is a big field, and my camera isn't that fancy, but I got a few good shots of Canaan. 

Before the haircut

 He may be defense, but he can be encouragement too!

 Stop that ball!

And make sure nothing has disturbed the new "fauxhawk" - hair is everything, don't you know!

 The Power Rangers

A little close to be the "official" picture, but I like seeing his adorable face!

And Zion -

 This is one of my favorite shots - an entire row of children. 

Just running. 

Chasing a ball. 

In a line. 

He loves to be in motion.

 Zion getting to throw the ball in,

 and for anyone who knows the rules of soccer... the fact that I can see his head wayyyy above the other children's... oops! (both feet are supposed to stay on the ground- but at that age they don't call them out on it) At least he is enthusiastic!

My Zi, the little care-giver. This picture is so blurry, but I love to see his kind heart!

He just looks so serious.

The cheering section (or sideline coach, depending on the moment) who avoids the camera like the plague.

It was fun. It was busy. It was exciting. It is over.
Life is good.

Hope you are entering your Thanksgiving season with something peaceful like the end of soccer season to be thankful for!

Blessings, 

Making it a reality

There are a couple reasons I haven't written much late.
 First, I figured I would have plenty of time to write while I was in the hospital.
 Secondly, well, I didn't really want to talk about going to the hospital in the first place.

 It has been planned for over a month. It really isn't that traumatic. You see, these stupid little pauses my brain decides to take, (localized partial seizures) the doctors want to get an up close and personal look at them. So, 3-5 days in the hospital, EEG strapped to my head, on video at all times... mostly it is just invasive. The only part that is slightly traumatic is that they really need me to have as many seizures as possible.
 Right now I have them mostly under control. 2-3 a week. Very mild.
 They want full fledged, as many as possible.

 So that is what I have been stressing about. My medicine, which I have a love/hate relationship with, going away. The fear of a "real" seizure.

 I remember what it was like four years ago when they first started. I remember what it was like three years ago when I had the "grande mal". So fear, fear is what has kept me from writing. Because if I didn't write it down, then I didn't have to actually believe it was true.

 Last week, I actually listened to God.

 You know how sometimes He prompts you to do something, just something minor, and you simply put it off. "Seriously Lord? That isn't even my job!"

 But I listened.

 And I am so glad.

 You see, for some reason, somehow, UNC hadn't filled out the paperwork properly for Tri-care to approve my stay in the hospital. So when I called "just to check" on Monday, there was no record of it in their system.

 So all week this week has been "ring around the rosy" with doctors and insurance, and case managers, and back again. I am fairly confident I have talked to every department with-in Tricare...

 The final word was that it takes 3-5 days for the official decision to be made, and the proper paperwork was not finally turned in until Friday.

 So, I will not be checking into UNC on Monday.

 I could have just gone. And hoped that it was approved. But if they said no, I would be left with the bill myself. And as much as I want to be well, to be done with meds, I can't really afford to pay that myself.  So we will wait. After all that planning, with the grand-parents coming to take care of the boys and Andy getting time off. All that talking myself into it, and conquering my fear. Now, we wait again.

 Their next open appt. is the week of Thanksgiving. Sun-Thur actually. Anyone want to come spend the week of Thanksgiving watching my boys?

 For now, I have a few week of respite. And, now that I have posted it, it is real. So perhaps I can write again!

 Tomorrow is full of life. Worship with friends. The end of season celebration for soccer. Joy for the realization that I will be home later this week to see my children dress up in their funny costumes, and to answer the door and hand out rubber spiders and decorated pencils. Life is good. My family is amazing. My Savior is awe inspiring.

 Tonight I simply say Goodnight.

Blessings, 

A day that almost caused a cuss word

Today was a rough day.
Simple stupid little things, but they just kept coming.

 My basket full of supplies (junk) that I carry everywhere, "just in case" fell out of the truck and spilled everywhere. Things started rolling down the hill into the neighbors yard!

 But, it made me clean it out. I kept the sunscreen, even though summer is over, and the tylenol and chapstick. Emergency sewing kit, first aid kit, goldfish and granola bars. But the cloth napkins needed to be refreshed. Time for clean ones. Same with the emergency fork, knife and spoon. The juice box at the bottom was a flavor no one liked and the straw wrapper just needed to go in the trash. And seriously, I think 6 books are a few too many. Zion and I cut it down to three.
 So that annoyance was turned into something useful.

 We made it back inside after our busy morning away and realized that we had left the kitchen a disaster. As I carried a glass jar of bacon grease (from our authentic German potato salad) to the trash can - of course it slipped out of my hands and shattered all over the floor.

 Not just broken glass.

 Broken glass covered in bacon grease.

 And two seconds into cleaning the phone rings.

 The man Andy had arranged to come pick up some car parts was outside, calling to let me know he was here.

 Sigh.

 Glass all over the floor.

 Grease all over my hands.

 And car parts to load up.

 Thankfully, I had met the man and his wife before. I told them the situation and they were very willing to wait patiently while I cleaned up the mess. Their only grand-daughter is in college already, so I think they enjoy a few minutes with my boys once in awhile.

 But goodness how frustrating it was.

 However....

 It made me steam clean the floor. Not just talk about it.

 The soccer practice schedule had been changed, which made the regular "schedule" of supper complicated.

 Cleats decided to have an exceedingly difficult knot.

 My brand new infusion site decided to slip and HURT every time I moved while at soccer practice.

The rough day just kept staying rough.

 But the knot came undone. Supper was thrown together and even had enough leftover to feed Canaan again after practice. The infusions site was changed, again. A pain in the butt, literally, but it is working, which is what matters. And I was reminded that without it I would be dead. So even if it hurts every once in awhile, I really shouldn't complains!

 All this to leads to my quotes of the day;

 "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." C.S. Lewis

 Which is followed by;

 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

 Half way through the day I was actually asking God what I had done wrong to deserve all of this. And now I have to laugh. Because broken glass, tangled shoelaces and a pain in the butt diabetes... well, I really don't think those are worth worrying about!

 Besides... I had chocolate too. He had blessed me with the pre-planning to make brownies- available just when I needed them.

 God is good!

Blessings, 

Politics and Paul

Do you ever have something you know you are supposed to say.... but you really don't want to?
 So you just argue with God for a while.
 Maybe you try watering it down.
 Maybe you try telling someone else. Surely that was what God was saying, right?
 Maybe you even just write it down, stick it on the fridge, and think "haha, I have done it!"

But it doesn't count.

So, here goes.

In case someone has somehow missed it, there is an election coming up. And many people have many things to say about it. Educational things. Opinionated things. Hopeful things and things that predict the end of the world.

I, of course, have my own thoughts about who should be president, but that is not what this post is about. This post is about Paul's words to Timothy nearly 2000 years ago.

"I urge, then, first of all, that request, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1Tim 2:1-4

When Paul was writing this letter to Timothy he had only recently been released from prison. But in his list of those to be prayed for (and given thanks for) the ones who were particularly pointed out where those in authority.
 Whether he agreed with them or not.

 Anyone know who was in charge during the time of Paul's missionary journeys?

 Emperor Nero. Who is best remembered for playing the fiddle while Rome burned, (whether true or not).

 Now, Nero was crazy, and the democracy that Rome began as had become something vastly different... so I am not saying that we should not have opinions, or be involved, or try to make changes where we think they are important. I certainly do not want to end up in a country where feeding people to lions is considered entertainment.

 But I do think that we need to remember WHO we represent when we speak.

 And the end of that passage, verse 4? "who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth"

 That is our first priority. 

 Please, educate yourself and vote . Please, pray daily for those in charge - that they will have wisdom. Please, do all you can, every moment you are awake, to help all men come to a knowledge of the truth.

 Because in the end when life is over - whether beheaded by Nero like Paul, or simply reaching a ripe old age and dying in your sleep - when life is over what matters is knowing that you helped others find the truth. The truth that really matters.

"There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all men." vs5

 And that is truth we can be thankful for.

Blessings my friends,