Catching up...

I haven't been in a mood to blog in a while and I'm really not now either. But I figure if I don't at least post some updates, I may have too much to catch up on when I DO get in the right mood.

Jeff is at Talladega and has been since Thursday afternoon. No, we are not big race fans. I used to like Kyle Petty and his Mello Yello car. But something about driving around in circles is just boring to me. I don't get it. I certainly don't get watching it on tv for hours and I especially don't get sitting out in the hot sun for hours (or days in a camper) to watch. But hey, to each his own, I suppose.

His bff Brian invited him to go down with him a few weeks ago. I thought it was kind of odd because as long as I've known Brian (since high school) I never knew he was a big race fan either! Maybe it was just something to do. But he got up a group and took his camper down there and invited Jeff to come along. Jeff doesn't get a chance to get away often so I told him to go for it. He's never begrudged me the opportunities that I've had to sneak away for a holiday why should I him? But I tell ya, Brooke certainly is distressed about it! It's actually humorous the hard time she gave him before he left! She asked him how he could possibly watch races for 5 days! lol Then she told me I was like a single mom! The things that child comes up with.

We are just about done homeschooling for the year. They will take SAT's next week and we have a few things to finish up on and then we're done! Yeah!

God has answered so many prayers for me lately I don't know where to even begin. I'd been trying to discern what He wanted me to do career-wise. I know He wants me to continue homeschooling but with the cost of everything going up and three kids who love to do anything and everything, I simply MUST earn a paycheck so I'd been trying to decide how to do that. I haven't been in a mood to write (told ya I haven't been in a mood to blog so I certainly haven't been in a writing mood either) in a while so I was sort of toying with the idea of getting a nurses assistant certifcate. That way I could work night shift and still be here (although asleep!) while the girls do their schoolwork. I am a lot more compassionate with sick folks than I used to be--having a chronically ill husband teaches you a lot about compassion and bedside manner!

But then I bumped into Donna, my old boss from Clayridge! She is now the Director of a kindergarten/daycare in Leeds and we got to talking and she has openings! I am going to sub for her for a few days next week (don't ask me how I'm going to pull off that juggling act but I know with God, nothing is impossible!) and then we are going to talk about summer scheduling and possibly getting me back into a classroom in the Fall! She is even willing to work with me on homeschooling the girls and since we will be in our 3rd year and they are getting older, I think it will work. God is just amazing! To see how He orchestrates everything just blows me away...

Our finances are still tight but God has also given me a peace that things will be improving soon. I don't know how but I just feel so unanxious about things and I haven't felt that way in a long time so I'm gonna go ahead and claim that one!

He is also working in my church. I'm not at liberty to discuss a lot of it right now but most of you know that a few months ago, God led me back to Clearview. I will post about that story another time but I'm so excited about the future of the church and how God is going to use the whole experience. I can see Him working in so many ways and areas already, especially within my own family.

I've been reading The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian lately and though I was a little irritated by it at first, I'm finding it extremely helpful.

Dad had his surgery and he seems to be doing okay. I know it was a lot harder of a recovery than he thought it would be.

Biodad called today and his release date has been set for June 26. I will have to share that story another time as well. Let me just say that for now I am happy for him but I'm not ready for this. Please pray for me.

Donna and I met with the ECHOS Board about pep squad and it went very well. I'm in the process of writing a press release to generate interest.

I have also decided to go ahead and let Kayti tryout for the dance team for next year, too. Brooke is trying out as well but I was trying to steer Kayti in a different direction for a number of reasons. But she seems to have her heart set on doing it so I won't hold her back. We did discuss "wearing our big girl panties" and not getting our feelings hurt so easy all the time and that she would really have to step it up and not be so bashful. Why she still does that when she has danced for 10 years, I don't know but I've explained that to do this and be good at it, she'll need to get over it. If she doesn't make it, it will be fine. We've survived the "not making the team" before with Dylan and though it's a tough lesson to learn, we know that we do survive. And if she does make it, we'll have to discuss setting different priorities than what we currently have...narrowing down our focus of interest on our activities.

I find it hard to say no to the kids in their activities. I've always been a person of so many different interests and I love to throw myself into all of it to the point of sometimes stressing myself out--but I love it at the same time! The girls seem to have inherited that little character trait from me, God love 'em.

We're also busy trying to get things lined up for the upcoming nuptials of Mia and Chris. I have a good bit to do but I'm looking forward to it.

The summer calendar is filling up fast! I plan to work some. We are getting season passes to Visionland and a summer pass to Zamora Park. Dylan is going to the beach to stay at the Caribe with Zack. Kayti and Dylan are both going on a youth mission trip and Brooke is going to church camp. We are also looking forward to the open pool parties at our friends house and an Art/Crafts summer co-op class I'm trying to put together. Then there is the usual Pump it up, skating, movies and library trips! Phew! Who says summer days are lazy? We never get lazy days around here!

Gotta go referee a fight and then get to bed...I'll try and be in a mood for blogging more often!

Blessings!