Uhg, cellulitis

written yesterday-
Not trying to share TMI, but I have a boil /cyst on the inside of my thigh that has developed cellulitis underneath / around it. I had a bout of cellulitis back in April and that was BAD. I caught this go round early but it spread SO quickly!! So I'm stuck to the bed until this goes away. Good thing I have the laptop but man does this hurt. PTL mom had some antibiotics she could send to me or it would be REAL bad! I have damp gauze with salt taped to it to try and keep it draining, and talk about putting salt in a wound, ouch! The irony is this spot is not even a couple of inches from the spot that developed the infection in April.

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I'm feeling better today. It's still there but not as bad as it was. Still sore, but not as much, whew!! I'm going to continue the antibiotics though cause from experience I know those infections are deep. Prayers are appreciated!!

How was your weekend? 8/24

We had a nice weekend. Saturday for some reason I slept VERY late. J let me sleep until 11:45! I would not have chosen to sleep that late but Friday I mowed our entire yard in an attempt to suprise J. I guess that took more out of me than I thought, really. I've been praying for motivation in my life, in all areas, and the Lord is answering that prayer! When I woke up J was getting ready to fix "breakfast" (at noon, lol) so we all ate together which is rare except for the weekends. After that the kids played alone while J and I watched the Olympics some. Around 3-4 we went outside so the kids could swim a while. J played with them in the pool a while, while I watched and surfed the net.

Saturday evening Jackson and I went to my parents for a little while. The kids needed a break from each other, and I needed a break from Hannah's whining. I was wanting to invite them over for lunch Sunday and since I don't have a phone right now that seemed like a perfect opportunity to kill a few birds at one time. Jackson's neighborhood friend over there knocked on the door wanting him to come outside, so I told Jackson he needed to stay in the yard if he went outside. There's a history of Jackson not doing as he was told, bending to the peer pressure of the other children in the neighborhood. There's the one that knocked on the door from 3 doors up, he's a year older, and then there's twins from one door up across the street.

A few weeks ago Jackson stayed over there a few days. When we picked him up we found out that the twins were coming over demanding that Jackson get them something to drink (mom keeps fully stocked with soft drinks), or icee pops (again ... she's a grandma). When Jackson would give them some, they'd take off up the road and not include him in playing because he wasn't allowed to go as far up the road as they were choosing to go. I expect more out of the older boy, but mom said the older one wasn't doing much better because he would go play with the twins too. He said one of the twins even hit him one time, but not wanting to be a tattletale, he didn't tell mom. (It wouldn't do good, I would go to their parents, mom wouldn't, so ...)

Saturday Jackson was excited because he found a small frog outside and he had it in a little carrier at mom and dad's 'cause he wanted to show them his frog, so the fact that the older boy come down for a visit was a bonus. About 15 minutes later I started looking around the yard out the windows to see what they were doing and I did not see them. I was about to be upset thinking Jackson yet again went up the road to D's house when I told him when he needed to stay in the yard. (We do let him go up there when we'll be there long enough, don't get me wrong, there are times he's allowed to venture up the road 3 houses ;)

When I walked outside, I saw him standing behind our car in the driveway. Alone. When he looked up, his eyes were red. I believe he had been crying some. Yet again, D come down to play, but the twins come outside and he dropped Jackson like a hot potato. D told Jackson to come up the road with him, and Jackson said no, he couldn't. D chose to leave. So we stood outside and talked about what a true friend would do, and how it was important it was that Jackson learned that fact that he could not treat others like D and the twins had treated him. That these kids are not really his friends- they are kids in the neighborhood he plays with occassionally, but they are NOT his friends. Friends don't do that to friends.

He was SO okay and confident about him doing the right thing!! Usually he is upset when he gets left out, but this time, he wasn't. Well, he was, but he had an understanding there, that wasn't there before. I was so proud of him. Because of that, dad and I took him to our favorite ice cream parlor and we had ice cream. He ate an entire banana split (6 scoops of ice cream, 3 toppings, whipped cream and a cherry!). He not only ate it, he took a straw and sucked up all the melted stuff in the bottom, LOL! But he does that every time he gets one too ;o)

When we got home around 10, J reminded me I told Hannah I would roll her hair for church Sunday. OY! I had forgot! I tossed her in the shower and asked J if he would help. He slid out of the lounge chair he was sitting in to the floor, and somehow he pulled something BAD in his back. That was Saturday night, he toughed it out Sunday morning but was hurting too bad to go back Sunday night, and he is working at home today. Please pray that the pain subsides! He's hurting a great deal. I have to giggle though cause a friend asked how he hurt his back and my best answer was "rolling Hannah's hair" :p

Church was good, as always. I have friends moving to Washington State, yesterday morning was their last service. It was the youngest daughter of this family, a long time buddy of Jackson's (she's his age), that walked up beside me at the beginning of the baby's graveside service and held my hand the entire time. The older middle school aged daughter was one of my teen workers in the nursery; their mom, my friend, worked in late stay at the school when I was working FT and she took care of Hannah in the afternoons. We all know this is the Lord's will, their moving, but it's always hard to say bye, ya know? Their oldest two, boys, are having a rough time with the move, especially the oldest- which is in his senior year (I believe, pretty sure). Please pray for this family that they find a good church there ASAP and get plugged into some fellowship there!

Mom and dad come over for lunch Sunday. That was nice. I've been longing for us to start doing "Sunday lunches" instead of going out to eat so much. After lunch we all went outside and spent time together while the kids swam in the pool.

The kids and I went back to church last night as usual, but J had to stay home because of his back. I handed Jackson a dollar for the offering, and he gave it back to me. I thought that was weird, then he grabbed my purse and pulled out his money holder and took out a quarter! He chose to put his own money in the offering, instead of mine! Granted, this is the first time his money holder was in my purse, but the fact he made that decision so quickly, he made me so proud.

Since the kids have started school, all three days last week, they have a heightened sensitivity of how they are different from the kids they are around. Hannah said Thursday and Friday that she prayed four times during school, each day. I think she's praying more now than she did in Christian school ;o) No but really, her prayer life is becoming her own now, PTL! She's not praying because it was what was being done, she is praying because she is choosing to pray! Friday a kid come up to Jackson on the playground and asked if his name was Jackson. He was really puzzled because he did not "know" the kid, until the kid told him his name. It was one of his kindegarten buddies that did not return to the Christian school! His dad last I remember was getting a job in another city and they were having to move, but apparently they're back in the area. This is so exciting because Jackson really liked this kid, they playted soccer in little league the year of K. They wer ein K4 and K5 together.

God is just so good to us. Oh and Hannah invited her teacher to church for "Friend Day" we're having Sept 28th. Her teacher sounds receptiveto the invitation so I'll keep ya updated ;o)

Mid August Update

Back to school
Flylady
Calvary Girl
Reading
Weekend Fun
Politics
Back to work
Extracurricular Activities
Prayer Requests

Back to school:
As of last Thursday, Hannah was in the seventh spot on the waiting list for the charter school. The open house is this evening. They're doing something so neat I thought- they're having a hot dog dinner / back to school "celebration". It starts at 4pm, you arrive at the gym and get your classroom assignment, they'll then also give you your dinner tickets and you can either go eat first or go see the classroom first and meet your teacher. This also includes a tour of the school. They are also offering free family portraits as well. This will be SO nice, I don't think we've had a family portrait done since Hannah was born! I mentioned making an appointment at Olan Mills a few weeks ago but it was a bust, so this will be great.

The office lady said to check with them tonight to find out Hannah's status, and I will be calling tomorrow afternoon as well. PRAY HARD we know something by tomorrow, because the traditional public school's open house is tomorrow night. I prefer not to even have to go there if we can avoid it. I fear it would cause some confusion for Hannah, although she does have a strong understanding of what is going on. She has become very peaceful about the change being made, which is an answer to prayer as well. I just hate taking her to the schools saying "this is where you might be going...", the limbo is murder on me! ;o) But they did say, Wednesday, on the first day, they will do a physical head count in each classroom and if a child is not present, they automatically lose their enrollment in the school. So it might be that she doesn't start on Wednesday, but we get a call that afternoon saying to bring her on Thursday. The traditional school doesn't start until Monday so I will be very thankful for that call on Wednesday if not by Tuesday afternoon or before.

Flylady:
I signed back up for the flylady list week before last, but haven't gotten very far. We ended up with my BIL spending the week with us (last week) so I got a bit of nothing done except shopping and FINALLY my mother's day pedicure while he babysat for me, LOL! This is the BIL that lives with MIL and Jackson will go there and spend a week with them playing video games and whatnot. The kids enjoyed having him here but he got a dose of "my life" and I had to giggle when he said "I don't know how you do it every day!" cause he rarely experiences the two of them together.

So back to flylady, I'm hearing some groans from some who avoid her because of either the emails or the shoe thing. Well, I set a separate account to receive the emails, for one. But I was impressed with the "welcome" files that basically walks you through the first month of adding new things to your routine. So while I should be on day 10, I'm still working on Day 3 ;o) But I love the flexibility that is there now that wasn't before. I really believe in the long run this is going to make a difference for our family ... this time ;o)

Calvary Girl:
Calvary Girl Devotions is up and running!
Be sure to go and subscribe today so you won't miss a thing!

Reading:
I just finished A Vengeful Spirit by Lizzy Armentrout. Lemme tell ya, this book is GREAT- definitely worth ordering TODAY! You won't be let down, I'm waiting on the second one now, and I have never read these kinds of books before! LOL!! Don't just take my word for it, read the first three chapters for yourself :p

So, after reading my first mystery novel, I'm now starting a book more like what I'm used to reading, the more "soul searching" type books. This next one is Love as a Way of Life, by Gary Chapman. I won a copy of it from Apples of Gold Ministries through a drawing Sisterlisa had last month- yay! Love free books *g* I've already read two of the love languages books, so I'm looking forward to reading another one of Dr. Chapman's books. I'll let you know what I think of it when I'm done ;o)

I'm so excited about my bible reading. My new years resolution was to read it in a year. After January, I fell off the wagon. I started back on my plan at www.christianity.com last month, and have been playing "catch up", but you know? I know "catch up" sounds so .... not that good- out of duty, so to speak. But I NEED this extra reading!

This has been such a rough year for us, I'm having no problem sitting in the Word for an hour a day! I've found my niche, too. I'm using the audio option at www.biblegateway.com, and am listening as a read along, so it's double the blessing. It's amazing to me how much more I'm getting from the OT readings from listening while I read. If anyone has any questions on how to maneuver these sites, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me!

IMO this is proof that if you want to find the Lord and spend time with Him, it's possible to do so away from groups of people, bible studies and books about the bible. Just plain ol' bible reading, like someone I know says- it's the "Nike version of Christianity: JUST DO IT!!". Right there, in front of you, at the computer, just you and God. Sometimes we just make things so much more difficult than it needs to be. Get up before the kids are awake and DO IT! :o)

Weekend Fun:
Well, since we had BIL all week, you would think he would be ready to be without kids ;) But MIL wanted to have the kids the weekend before school started, so she got them (with BIL) on Friday night, and is bringing them home today. So what did J and I do? We went fishing!! Saturday morning we went out to breakfast to a place we take the kids, but we got to sit in a two seater booth! woo-hooo! LOL Then we went to visit my aunt that broke her knee and has been bedbound for four weeks. She has two more weeks and will be getting a brace and can return to church, PTL J called his (other, oldest) brother to see if he wanted to meet us at his spot and he was happy to get together for an evening of fishing.

We each caught three in about four hours or so. I caught my first bass! It wasn't a "big" one, maybe a pound. J decided he wanted us to go back yesterday, so we got permission and went back to the pond after church yesterday and spent the evening on the pond. It's on the guy's land, WAY back off of the road. I would love to have a bunch of acres with a pond on it! (Jackson would, too, LOL!) this is also the same spot where J and his brother hunts deer during deer season too. We didn't catch much at all yesterday. I traded off hoping for the big one with a smaller hook for more frequent bites and hooked in a number of small brim and one baby bass.

J, however, of course he does things big ;o) He got a four-five pound bass, it was a biggie! Then he was dealing with getting hits on his (two) rods. We're talking, an hour of messing with it and "missing" them. FINALLY he got a hook, and we just knew he had a big catfish on the line the way the drag was pulling and the rod was bent over. After a few minutes we could see it ... it wasn't a catfish, it was a TURTLE!!! and a BIG, MAAAADDD turtle to boot! Oy was that thing hissing too! We have pics on his phone I'll post ;o) He finally broke the line and went back in the water. We really didn't want him out of the water anyway- LOL!!

If you think that is exciting, hold your horses ;) If there's ever proof prayer works ... I noticed this place had the most amount of bees at a pond I had ever seen. We were soaked in Skin So Soft so the swarms of mosquitoes were being deterred, and I had hopes that it was working for the bees. I had been swatting one away from me all afternoon, then realized the bees were yellow jackets. I thought they looked like honeybees myself, but BIL got stung on the other side of the pond the night before. It / they kept flying around me and I would just swat it / them away. About sunset, I had my BK cup with tea in it to drink and reached down for a swallow.

IMMEDIATELY I started spitting out the tea and scraping my teeth against my tongue outwards as FAST as I could- one of those yellow jackets had gotten IN MY STRAW!!! PTL- I realized what it was *somehow* right when it hit my tongue and started spitting and scraping. It's amazing to me how the Lord just puts in your head what you need to know! I saw the thing flop to the ground as it fell out of my mouth!! It took me about thirty minutes before I was sure it had not stung me and the pain was from me teeth ;o) PTL for His protection and wisdom!!

Politics:
Did anyone see the "Saddleback Showdown" last night? I'm hearing that McCain done very well. I missed it because I forgot to set the timer! But I've caught highlights (great video).
Conservatives, I do believe that there's more to Mr. McCain than what we previously thought, especially those of us from the Huckabee camp. I plan on posting an excerpt from Faith from my Fathers, his book, that I saw on a forum. I wonder why he would want that stuff private? The only reason I can think of, is humility. Did you know he has sons that are currently in the military? At least one in Iraq (best I remember?) ... WOW. Talk about invested interest.

This Obama craze is so mind boggling to me. It makes me want to scream sometimes! How can this man profess to be have a relationship with Jesus Christ, yet refuses to admit life begins at conception (video), but seeks to defend not just abortion, but murder of already born babies as a result of failed abortions? YES people, think twice before considering this man for president!!

Back to Work:
I've been praying hard. Logistically, it makes sense that while the kids are in school that I would find a PT job until at least after Christmas. We have debt that needs to be settled, and it won't get settled until there's cash flowing. Since I don't know which way J's income flows most of the time, and I have the time, it just makes sense at least through Christmas. I've been praying about applying to Gymboree, since I would get a discount on the clothes. ;o) But I have a reservation about working there, and afraid "something" happening where I would not be comfortable enough to go back and shop. It's a gut thing I can't get past for some reason. The mgr at Gloria Jeans offered to give me an application though, LOL!! I'd get all the fresh brewed coffee I wanted *g* I just don't know and I need some direction or peace about where to apply. I don't know if my gut feelings are coming from fear or what, I really need prayer concerning this.

Extracurricular Activities:
Hannah (6.5) has a new hero, and her name is Shawn Johnson (bio). I am so proud. We found Shawn back during National competition, I happened to see "Gymnastics" in the channel guide on ESPN, so I recorded it for the kids. That was when we were amazed by this little spitfire *g*
Hannah has said she wants to be like Shawn, and wants to learn gymnastics. That'll run us about $60 a month. The same gym offers Karate, which Jackson would be interested in, that would be $109 a month now that I'm looking. Yikes!! (Maybe we'll talk him into gymnastics, LOL) This isn't a final decision, yet though. It's in the long view though, we can see it, we just need to work it out.

What's for sure is soccer this year. Hannah will play on Thursday evenings. The league I want them in and plan on enrolling them soon has 6 yo's practice and play the same night. Jackson will practice some other night and play on Saturday. This is going to be fun! :o) My hope is that this will give them something to do at home together, kwim?

Oh but we aren't stopping there! They also want to do Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Sign up for those are soon, so stay tuned! ;o)

So in conclusion, our prayer requests:
* We find out before Tuesday about Hannah's school enrollment.
* We get into our new routines smoothly and the house gets on the track to being decluttered and orderly.
* Guidance for my decision as to where to apply for a job.
* Guidance and wisdom for our finances.

Who is out there?! Leave me a comment so I know you're reading!!

Feeling better about school

I got a note from a friend yesterday that just left me in tears. She's always had such a way with words, but what she said just organized a few of the thoughts I have had over the past week since making the decision for the kids to enter the public school system; she also encouraged me regarding God's will for our life. I asked her if it was okay for me to share it here, in case there might be another person reading my blog that might be going through the same thing. It also gives a very different perspective regarding how a Christian "should" educate their children.

I am so blessed to be able to call this woman my friend, and thank God so much for having her in my life! She is going through insurmountable trials right now, yet was sensitive enough to the needs of her sister to send encouragement. God knew what I needed, and he sent it. PTL!! Along the same note, I'm waiting for the admissions director to call me back about Hannah's enrollment. Please continue to pray things move quickly and we'll know SOON that she's indeed "in" and they don't have to go to different schools.

Hey! Loved the blog from your bday and I wanted to be the first to say
"Welcome to the Mission Field!!!" I'm sorry, I'm one of the weird ones
that just wants to do the happy dance everytime I hear of a Christian family
infiltrating public education. It's a mission field, I'm telling you,
right in your back yard! (or up the street).

You are going
to be such a blessing to that school. J.D. is going to a charter middle
school this year. They sell Dr. Dobson books in the school office.
I'm not a fan of Dobson, but he is my brother and I couldn't help think, "that's
cool!"

Also, I just want to throw this out there and you can
totally reject it, but you said that you couldn't help think that your children
having to attend public school was a consequence for the financial folly at
home. You also said that you always said you would never send your kids to
public school. I don't know if this is true in your life, but sometimes I
find that whatever I say I'll never do is precisely what God calls me to
do. And when I read that part about financial folly, I couldn't help think
that maybe it's the other way around. Maybe the financial issues are a
result of refusing to send the kids to public school. Maybe they're part
of the wooing, God bringing you to this place of desperation to get you where he
wants you to go. Now I'm not saying that's a for sure truth at all, just
something to think about. Our Dad owns that cattle on a thousand hills and
we're in the will, chick. I can't explain it, but I am just convinced that
there is a family at that !
school
that your family is going to bless
beyond measure. I know that he won't waste his workers.

I
also know that, when called to go places we're not sure about, it's easier to
say, "here I am, Lord, send me" than "here they are, Lord, send my kids".
But I want to tell you what you already know: he loves them more than you
do. He will go with them. God is in the public school.
"Whether (they) turn to the right of to the left, (they) will hear a voice
behind (them) saying, 'This is the way, walk in it'." He will guide
them. And I don't know your kids, but when you speak of Jackson it just
sounds like he has such passion for the Lord. I am so excited to see the
impact for the Lord he will have. Yes, our kids can be missionaries
too!

If you were sent to Africa as a missionary I'm sure you would
encourage your kids to befriend the children of the families you were sent to
minister to. I'm sure you'd expect them to carry the word of God to them
as their friend. Missionaries do this all the time. You are a
missionary and so are your kids. You've not been sent to Africa, you've
been sent to the charter school. God loves the kids that go there just as
much as the kids in Africa. Your calling is no less real than that of a
missionary to Africa.

I encourage you, as a family, to start each school
day by saying in your hearts, "here we are, Lord, send us". And I
encourage you, my fellow worker, to look for the opportunities that he is
preparing in advance for you to do in that school. I will pray that doors
fly open. I will pray that God direct you to families to minister
to. He's preparing them in advance. He will show you, just listen
for the voice that says, "This is the way, walk in it".

I don't
believe every Christian is called to Africa. I don't believe every
Christian is called to public school. But for those of us who are called,
He provides the grace, strength and guidance to do the work he's prepared for
us. Welcome to the P.S. I Love You Mission Field, (Public Schools, I love
you). Your family will be in my prayers.

Sibling behavior, prayer requests

Oy, kids! We have a real pattern of behavior emerging with ours that I am overwhemed at the moment in knowing how to really break it. Naturally, brothers and sisters are going to argue and fight. Jackson has started hitting Hannah without even thinking about it. Now I'm not talking about beating her down or anything, and I'm not saying she's innocent in not hitting him, but at the same time, it is not acceptable behavior.

Two things bother me:
One, that he feels he can hit her and there not be consquences. He has been grounded, he has been spanked, he has had priviledges taken away, yet, it still happens. We need an additional approach to this. A lot of this comes from his temper. He has a great one, but I know he can keep it in check because he has had a number of instances this summer where he was the abused one, and he turned the other cheek. Why can't he understand that treating his sister in a like manner is wrong?

Two, Hannah has taken on the victim role. Is that the right term? She has come to think, even though she has seen him get in trouble, she would rather him still play with her and hit her, than to see him suffer the consequences of hitting her. He will slap her, I'll hear it from the other room, yet, she doesn't want him sent away and says it's ok although she is clearly not ok with a whelp on her leg, arm, back, wherever his hand managed to land at the time.

THIS, especially, concerns me. How do you teach a little girl to stand up for herself and to understand that even if it is your brother, abuse is NOT ok? Her heart is a thousand miles wide, she would do anything for anyone and give you the shirt off of her back. But I have got to figure out a way for her to understand that it is not ok for him to hit her. NOW, if we were on the playground and someone hurt her, though not adamant about it, she does expect the offender to suffer consequences, and understands that it is wrong, and why. But with Jackson- it's the opposite.

They are very close, yet they have no trouble parting from each other either. Overall, I'd say they have a very healthy relationship, except for the pattern of abuse. It concerns me in a way because Hannah is the only person he will treat like this, and because they are so close, it concerns me because when he grows up, I don't want him to grow up thinking it is ok to abuse the ones you love or are closest to, be it physically or verbally .. (or even passive aggressively.).

We need some prayer in this, will you pray for us?

I also have a decision I have been praying about, and it is not one that needs to be made for the immediate future, but I need some peace either way. Yes, no, or wait. Waiting is perfectly fine, I am just such a compulsive "wanna be in the know" type personality, especially when it is my life (lol) that I just need some peace on it. When the time is right, I will share what the decision is.

I also have a health issue going on. It is repeating, and I know how to treat it, but, I'd appreciate anyprayer I can get that it will heal quickly. Even though I know what it is and how to treat it, doesn't make it less painful. Not to mention I seem to be getting more headaches lately - I'm prone to migraines.

My aunt fell and broke her knee last week, if you think about her please say a prayer that she'll heal and recover quickly. Sh's an active 72 year old, I hate to think this will be what slows her down, so I'm praying for total recovery physically and emotionally. kwim?

I think that's my laundry list right now ;o)