"Back Update"

Well, after the Jacuzzi, the doctor's appointment and 4 prescriptions I managed to move properly for a couple of days, but then I got really stupid (no unusual comments please!!!!) and horsed around with Shelley (our middle daugher) last night. It was feeling some better and she manages to make me laugh..........a lot!!! And we were playing "Sumo" wrestler!!! Yeah, that's what I said. You didn't read it wrong!!! I said I got stupid didn't I!!!?? By the time I woke up in the middle of the night I could barely move again!!! And boy, does it hurt today. I guess when they say "no pain, no gain" I guess they mean it!!!! I regained a little bit of my sanity through all of our horse play, but I also regained a lot of the pain!!!! UGH!!!!! That's ok though. With some of the challenges I've faced lately I NEEDED that laughter. The Bible says laughter is like a good medicine and does a heart good!!! Maybe physically I didn't feel better, but it sure did pick me up for the time and it was refreshing to laugh and have a good time!!! Shelley went to school for Accounting, but should have been a stand up comic!!! She can crack me up at any given moment. There's one word she says to me that without fail, makes me just nearly roll on the floor!!! I'd share it with you, but it wouldn't make a bit of sense to you if you haven't heard it. I love the way she senses my pain sometimes, comes to my rescue and releases those happy hormones in my brain for a short while!!!

"Mr Incredible"

For the sake of putting a face to him, this would be the love of my life with our "Weetie Pea!!!" It's already been established that he is the most wonderful man in the entire world, but not only that; he's totally incredible. My life has been anything but calm and serene lately. As a matter of fact, it has been more full than I have ever cared for it to be. I have been faced with challenges that I never dreamed would come my way. We all know that I have come to the conclusion that I have some sort of "disorder", if you will that just simply does not allow me to "BE STILL!!!!" Remember, we came to that conclusion back in the summer when I was somewhere and had to wait on Sami for something and as I sat in the van it nearly drove me out of my mind (what little is left!!!) Anyways on to the story here...........Somehow I managed to do something to my back and I don't want to go to the doctor since we don't have any insurance(well...none to speak of!!!). So.........."Mr. Incredible" being the wonderful man he is......got on the phone and found a hotel room with a Jacuzzi in it so he could take me there so I could soak my back!!!! No we ARE NOT rich!!! That's the best part of it!!! He managed to negotiate with the desk clerk to get the room for far less than even half price!!! He just simply told them....."look.....it's Tuesday. It's snowing and your hotel is going to suffer for it. Do you want to make a little money or no money?" He agreed!!! It was so awesome and it did indeed make my back feel better for the time I was able to soak!! I can truly say my husband loves me "Biblically!!!!" He loves me the way Christ loves the church. He always makes sure my needs are first!! And lately.....that's been pretty difficult. Like I said, there has been so much going on in my life lately that's got me in a complete whirlwind. And unfortunately, I haven't been as graceful about it as I should have sometimes. I guess God has a way of making you look in the mirror sometimes. But, that's a story for a different time!! I just thought I'd share with you how wonderful my husband is!!! And this little story doesn't even touch the tip of the iceberg of ALL the other things he does for me!!! He's just marvelous!!!!!!! I love him so!!!!!!!

The Sampson's.......A little bit of Heaven on Earth

If you are ever down and need some REAL encouragement, find where this family is performing and go hear them. We were blessed to attend one of their concerts at Kolas Book Store in Highland on this past Saturday. How I NEEDED it!!! I have heard many, many groups sing in my lifetime, but this family is the "real deal." I'm not saying that the rest of them aren't but The Sampson's have a true heart for God and people. It's evident that they are in tune with God and the ministry they have is so excellent. Their calendar is usually full all year round....well, at least when they aren't away on a missions trip. Hence the reason we weren't able to have them do a Christmas concert this year. We have to wait until January 5th of next year!!! Like that's so far away. They get better each time we hear them. We have known them for many years and just to watch those little girls turn into such wonderful young ladies is such a great blessing, but to hear them is so awesome!!!! It seemed like every song they sang was especially picked just for me. God knows what you have need of before you ever ask!!! He is the greatest!!! The brought so much cheer to my heart. I just wish I were able to convey just how much of an impact they make on me each time I am in their presence. Not only does their music minister to me, just talking to any one of them is so uplifting. To hear about all their endeavors throughout the year and for them to share their blessings is excellent!!! Their voices are just a little piece of Heaven here on earth!!!!!! Thank God for those He sends into our lives to encourage us!!! Keep up the good work!!! :-)

NOTHING.......Martha

As you can well see, there has not been a post for quite some time now. My life has been less than serene and calm these days. Chaotic would describe it much better. I'm not quite sure what's going on lately. I don't even know if I'm coming or going half the time!!! As my schedule has filled instead of lightening up some as I had hoped when the boys went to school, it has only became fuller as well as our house!!! Our household has grown from just the 3 of us....dad, mom and Sami to 6!! Add to the mix Jenny, Richard and Shelley and during the day Adam, Jason and Malena!! Well, Adam is at school all day now and Jason goes a half day, but still there is other people to get to and from school and work and others at home to watch over. I taught a lesson in Sunday School this past Sunday about "Overload!!!" Talk about having to teach with my feet "off" the floor so I wouldn't stomp them severely!!!! Then I used the scripture reference where Jesus had come to Mary and Martha's and Martha was complaining about Mary sitting at His feet doing "nothing!!!" Nothing? How do you do "NOTHING!!!!!!!!!????????????" I found out one day as I was sitting in the van waiting on someone that I am just not capable of doing NOTHING!!!! It drove me nearly insane to just sit there with NOTHING to do!!!! I wish I could sit and do nothing...............I wish I were like my husband and could completely clear my mind and just "think" of nothing, let alone do nothing!!!! There was a CBD catalog laying near my devotional books this morning and when I finished, I picked it up and began to thumb through it. There were a couple of books that I saw that deal with my issue that I think I'm going to buy. Sounds like they could be helpful with my dilemna of doing "nothing!!!" "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World", "Calm My Anxious Heart" and "Get Out of that Pit." Now that sounds wonderful, but we must remember that in order to actually read these books would require me to sit down and do "NOTHING!!!"

"Sami"

"Isn't she lovely.............Isn't she beautiful??"

There she is, in action,........doing what she loves the most. Playing tennis............and she's good. We were able to stop on the way home from the State Convention of Southern Baptist today to watch her play. I love to watch her. She makes it look soooooo easy. She's so quick and light on her feet!!! She was born with that hand/eye coordination thing you know. She certainly did not inherit it from me. I just can't seem to get my eyes and hands to cooperate. I can see the ball coming but to get it back over the net just doesn't work for me and even if I do manage to hit the ball it certainly does not go back over the net, it goes everywhere but there!!! She had initially pursued going "away" to college and there were several that accepted her. I prayed diligently about it because you know this Mama did not want to give her up to go somewhere other than home!!!! Not to mention the fact that I just saw "room and board" as setting money on fire!!! Why pay room and board when you can stay at home, in your own room, not have to move and not have to pay any bills!!!??? I know...........I know...........the experience and getting out from under mom's wing!! Don't sing that song and dance with me. I've heard it enough!!! :-) But this is how God works. As a sophomore in high school she had just made the comment in passing: "I'd love to play tennis in college one day." Never thinking anymore about it she went on and played all four years in high school loving every minute of it......well......almost every minute outside of a few ankle injuries here and there along with some shin splints!! But then one day she called me as they were playing a match and was so excited she couldn't hardly speak!!!! There was a scout that had approached her and offered her a scholarship................to play tennis!!!!!!!! She was beside herself!!! In awe to say the least!! She remembered the comment she had made two years prior to that and mentioned it to her girlfriend. God hears what sometimes we feel is the most insignificant prayers and in Sami's case He heard a passing thought and brought it to life!!!! What an AWESOME God we serve!!!! She is now attending Calumet College of St. Joseph on a "FULL" scholarship!!!!!! Talk about a blessing!!!!! And if that were not good enough........if she hadn't gotten the tennis scholarship, she would have gotten a full academic scholarship!!!!!! God is so good and she is so blessed!!!!!!! And we are so proud!!!!!

CHOICES!!!!!

Can you believe it? These wonderful people who we travel with to these conferences ruthlessly make fun of me!!! They just don't understand me!!! Every woman needs choices, right? I only brought 10 pairs!!!! Every outfit has a pair of shoes that matches it you know!!!! I only brought 7 outfits. Of course, they have interchanging pieces so each one can be worn differently!!! Someone said to me today......."you make the choice before you leave home!" Well..........I did.........I chose to bring the ones with me that I did!!! After all......we're going to be here for 3 days!!!! You know it all depends on how you feel on any given day what you wear. And being of the female gender, your body makes that decision for you on a regular basis!!! Right, ladies!!!??? I knew you would agree!!! :-) Birds of a feather flock together!!! Of course everyone who knows me knows that I have a thing for shoes. I guess it's more than just a thing. I'm sure there is some kind of illness to describe it. I'm just not sure what it is and I probably don't want to know what it is!!! If I see a pair of shoes that I like I buy them. Then I look for clothes to match!!!! Mind you..........I am the "thrift store" Queen so I don't EVER pay full price for anything. So........I do not misuse the money God has blessed us with!!! I am frugal. Some call it cheap, but that's ok.



I call it blessed!!!! I think at last count I had about 85 pairs!!! Oh stop freaking out!!! That's counting summer, winter AND houseshoes!!!!

"On the road again........."

"Riding down the road trying to loosen my load........" Oooooooo.....two songs for the price of one!!!! Yep.......we're in the car on the road again. Heading down I-65 on our way to the State Convention of Southern Baptist!! Laptop in my lap typing away. Yeah!!! I love this!!!!! We're going to get to see friends that we don't see often and traveling with some that we see a lot!! I'm looking forward to some sweet fellowship in the Lord this weekend!!! I actually have time to blog when I'm in the car. Otherwise something would go undone if I were at home. Of course, things go undone in our house all the time!!!!! There's always something screaming my name.......kids, church work, laundry, a toliet bowl, Grandma.....the phone. Not the dishes to often anymore.......Grandma does those for me most of the time anymore. She's pretty good at it too!!! Frees me up to do other things!!! I found out the other day she's a pretty good "prayer warrior." Malena, age two.....we call her "Sweetie Pea"...........decided she was going to paint her "Play 'n' Go"........that little portable bed you know. Yep........she covered it from one end to the other. She also decided to cover her body from head to toe. I know you're saying "awwwwwwww............how cute." Uh.....NO!!! It was AWFUL!!!! DISGUSTING!!!! She decided to use what was in her diaper to do it with!!! YUCK!!!! I heard her calling me, which usually means she is awake from her nap and wants to get up. Usually she climbs out on her own and comes to knock on the door!!!! Thankfully she stayed in the bed that day!!!! I walked in the room..........and walked right back out! I went straight out the door and just stood there for a minute. All I could say was: "Ok Lord. You're gonna have to help me with this one!!! I walked back into the room, grabbed the bed, drug it out the front door onto the deck, took the remainder of her clothes off, threw them in the bed, lifted her out of the bed under her arms and proceeded to head towards the bathroom holding her as far away from as I could!!!! That's where Grandma comes in. She was sitting in her chair reading her paper, as usual. I stopped right in front of her and said: "you know that "prayer warrior" job that I was telling you that you could do? You might want to start that now. You would probably need to pray for this baby right now!!!!" She looked at me and then at her, dropped her paper in her lap, immediately bowed her head and began to pray as I made my way on into the bathroom. I put "Sweetie Pea" in the tub, turned the water on and began to spray her off never speaking a word. She probably thought I had lost my voice because she was just jabbering 100 words a minute. Most likely she was giving me the details of her decorating job!!!! I'm sure she wondered why I wasn't talking to her. At that point, the other kids would have been so scared they wouldn't have said a word. They know when they've pushed Grannie to the point of silence it's not a good thing and saying something only makes it worse!!!! However, as I stood there and washed her off a calmness came over me. I knew it was a direct result of the prayers Grandma was saying. It was as if God were pouring His love over me just like the water was pouring over her little body!!! That's how He is. He hears our cries for peace. He listens and He answers!! That would be the reason you are reading this and I am "on the road again!!!"