Busy, Busy, Busy

Life is really busy right now, that is why I haven't had time to think through and write much lately.
Audrey said last night, only one month left and I move out.  Joey and I will be all alone for the first time in 28 years.  Audrey has never left home before and I think it will be a bigger adjustment than she realizes. The time is right, she is ready, but she is thinking about the changes that are coming.
She has been home early alot lately, we have played cards a few times, (this is one of our family things we do), she is excited and nervous at the same time.  She was really proud that their marriage counseling has gone well, Pastor was real surprised that they have talked through so many areas for their lives and future.  He told them you would be shocked at what simple things couples have not discussed before he sees them.  We are a very talky family, we discuss all kinds of things so Audrey doesn't know any better. He covered so much with them last week that he said he could cut their session down to one more instead of 3.  That made Wesley very happy since he is not one for getting in other peoples business. I was on the phone with my sister last week and she heard me tell Joey, just think in one month you can run around in just your underwear if you want, you see Joey doesn't like for me to say things out loud, he is a very private person when it comes to things like that, I like to throw him off his game every once in a while. There will be many adjustments for us all!!!!HAAAAA

Dangers of Prosperity

I have put this verse up at the storage building desk, I told Josh the other day that things are starting to turn around for all of us a little and I need to remember this. "When God, your God, ushers you into the land he promised through your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you, you're going to walk into large, bustling cities you didn't build, well-furnished houses you didn't buy, come upon wells you didn't dig, vineyards and olive orchards you didn't plant. When you take it all in and settle down, pleased and content, make sure you don't forget how your got there.God brought you out of slavery in Egypt." Deuteronomy 6:20-12 I am well aware of where my strength, peace and comfort comes from in time of need, but I have to remind myself that when I am doing good I need to remember where God has brought me and who is the one who provides. It is easy to forget and think that I have done this myself. That I have worked hard and deserve a easier time, (pleased and content) but not one ounce of this thinking is scripture based. God provides all we need when we need it.

I Need to Smile

I really like Uncle Kracker, I have hooked Harper too.  Today is a day to smile...with all the sadness around we have to make the time to look at things and smile....

My Oldest

He is my oldest, he laughs when he sees this picture because he can't believe he went to a wedding in a ninja turtle t-shirt and shorts

This is his element

This is who he is most of the time

Loves the snow and cold like his dad

Wants to live out west with his beautiful wife

He is a great dad for Miss Harper

Happy Birthday Josh

May 20

 

A Fog

You know that sometimes life becomes a fog, a day goes by and you don't remember much about it, a week goes by and you forget what you did the week before, and month goes by and you think what have I been doing this last month.  That is the life of many of the people I know.  We are all so busy, so stressed, and so in a fog that we are not really able to see where we are going.  We are as I call it managing. We are trying to survive, deal, succeed, keep control, and achieve in our life.
Most of us who are doers work through fog, we sometimes go a little slower but we drive on through.
The sad part  that I have noticed is that the ones who follow us doers, lag so far behind we lose them in the fog.  With our church leadership being hit so hard lately I have noticed that the doers in the church are in a fog, and the what I call watchers of the church are getting farther behind. I guess my question is what happens when the fog shuts some of us down, will the followers pick up or stop completely.  I believe this is Satan's way of slowing progress down in a church, are the followers strong enough to drive through the fog on their own or are they just going to sit and wait on the lead cars.

It starts with me

Audrey

Since Audrey's birthday was never really celebrated, I decided to post a few pictures of her growing up. She said last night, I didn't really feel I had a birthday, Sarah's baby Luke died that morning so it was hard to celebrate. But I do realize that life does go on and celebration is needed.

 

My little girl

My teenager

My young lady

Daddy's little girl always

In a few weeks, his girl......

 

Funeral number 3

Today is funeral number 3 in two weeks, my sister-in-laws mother passed away Friday, so today was her funeral. As I sat there I thought about all three funerals and how each one was so different. My mothers so personal to me, how I still haven't had a lot of time to grieve, I have realized how much we talked every day, even those days when she was driving me crazy.  The pain is there but I have realized that mom had a good life, that she effected many people to the good, and that we can except this lose graciously. Fridays funeral was different, it was hard , it was very sad, it hurt to the core of your body.  You see what ifs, what could have been of this little life. Our Pastor did such a great job and the grandfather told us, we have had such great memories here as family and friends, this is another memory we will have together. Our pastor woke that morning with a different message than he had prepared for the day, the Holy Spirit changed him, he spoke mainly to and stood right in front of this young couple and he did not hold back, he was kind, forceful, and challenging to them. this lose is a little harder to except, but in time grace will come.  Today's service was so "Babs" that is Andreas mothers name.  It was sweet, proper, quiet, calm. so much like her. She was always a kind lady to us, never what I call frue frue(?) but a stable family mom.  Where ever her children were there she was quiet and smiling.  My friend reminded me that this is not our home, and I know that one day I will see all of these again, now we just have to learn to adapt to all the changes....With life there is always change, we have to remember that the life giver never changes.

But then...there is God even when we don't see or feel him

As I write this post I have put a small fortress around my heart for a little while, I cannot slow down just yet to grieve properly.  There is so much to do, Audrey has finally become officially engaged,
her wedding date is July 5, 2013 yes 2013, so we have 8 weeks to plan this wedding. Thanks goodness we are a little prepared, after waiting 5 years we should have some things done. However, as our week as started out things just don't always go the way you have planned.  Audrey's childhood friend, one of my best friends daughter child passed away on Audrey's 26th birthday.  I told her sometimes Birthdays just stink and this one did to the core.  We didn't do anything for her birthday because Joey and I went to the grandparents house to help out as best we could.  This was such a sickening feeling all day, I physically hurt for my friends, there is nothing you can do but be there for them, pray, cry and hug.  The trauma they all went through yesterday will be a lifetime of memories that they will want to forget but will never be able to.  I woke up this morning listened to Beth Moore and she was talking about her in-laws and the loss of her husbands  2 siblings that they experienced, one was 50 years ago and she saw her mother-in-law wiping away the tears on the anniversary of his death.  She asked how they managed to get through all the tragedy from his death, and she said she was sure they didn't get through it, but then........
But then there is God, but then there is slow peace, but then there is other children, but then there is grandchildren, but then there is great grandchildren.  You always remember, you struggle to accept, but then there is still life going on around you to live.....
Katie said yesterday, I know when I wake up I will still have the same results as I go to bed and life will still go on around us.