Change

           Usually I'm not opposed to change, I even enjoy it most of the time. I can, for the most part 'roll-with-the-punches'. Call me crazy. Change brings new goals, new people I haven't met, a new pep in my step. However yesterday I wanted to kick change to the curb with the trash! Everything hit me at once and my emotions went through the roof! Do you ever have days like that? Maybe I'm the only one. Coleson has yet another infection, in his cheek this time, another round of anti-biotics. Marv sold his business (one where he was his own boss for 11 years), started a new job working for someone, and took a pay cut. The pay cut doesn't bother me, it's that Marv works hard and I know that he doesn't particularly enjoy that type of work. But he's working towards a bigger goal. Then to top it all off, last night as I was leaving home to go to bible study, I backed into my garage door and bent the bottom 2 panels! I was so frazzled at that point I had to laugh, as if it can't get any worse and then it does! Bible study ended up being just what I needed last night. Jocelyn Hamsher asked us what home feels like. Thinking our earthly home. (safe, peaceful-well maybe not always when I have 4 men in the house, a place where I can be myself- these were a few of the answers) Now think of our eternal home and those same words apply. I will be striving daily to be at 'home' with Jesus. My prayer is that you will to.

Coleson Next step continued......

Thank you all for praying for us and Coleson when he had his expanders put in. The first encounter that morning was with our pre-op nurse. From the moment she introduced herself, I was hooked. She was so contagious!!! She had gone ahead and looked at her patients for the day and hand picked a Linus blanket just for Coleson. After introductions, she continued to say we need to get ready for fast talking and bad jokes. I laughed thinking maybe thats the way she gets people to lighten up. (I kept thinking in my head what is this chick on that shes so happy at 5am?!!!) Well, she told a bunch of bad jokes and Coleson gave her one too. As she was going through her spiel about yada, yada, yada, she glanced into my 31 bag and the first thing she noticed wasn't my muffins, or my journal, or the magazines from my kind mentor, or Coleson's homework. She REACHES in my bag and pulls out my Bible and says "Whats this?", I said, "It's my Bible". She said "I'm a Christian too, but I'm not supposed to tell you that." Wow SHOCKER, no wonder she's CONTAGIOUS!!!! I would love to get to know her better!! I know she would teach me a thing or two about not being so serious! Anyhow surgery went great and the doc was very impressed with the way everything looked just before we were discharged.
                                       I am hoping the next several months fly by. I'll leave you with a joke from my favorite-ist nurse ever.
                    Where do bumblebee's go to the bathroom?
                    At the B P station.

Coleson thought it funny!

Coleson's Next Step

                    Coleson is scheduled for surgery again. This is the second to last one for many years, hopefully! We will be heading to Akron Children's bright and early on Tuesday the 6th. Coleson will be having expanders put into his cheeks and neck. He will have 4 expanders all together. We will need to inflate these expanders once a week with saline solution from ports that are some where on his scalp. This will slowly expand the good skin that is around the grafted area of his cheeks. (just like a pregnant belly). We will need to do this once a week for 12-14 weeks, depending on the skin's elasticity. In March sometime we will have the expanders removed leaving floppy skin. The doc will remove the grafts and fit the new expanded skin so that Coleson will have a fine suture around his jaw line. Along with this surgery, the doc will be tacking Colesons left ear back up as it has pulled down from healing scar tissue.
                    I was excited to move forward with this surgery, but as the day draws closer, I find myself getting nervous. I keep reminding myself that the end result is what we look forward to. Yes, the next 3 months may be trying as Coleson's face will have obvious bumps. As little boys do, Kendall was razzing Coleson about getting a needle stuck in his arm. Coleson pipes up and said "Yes I know Kendall but then I will look like you again." Coleson is fully aware of everything thats going on and the pain he will have to endure. (He's a smart kid.) If you see Coleson out in public, talk to him, give him a hi-5! Pray for Coleson and us as a family as we won't be venturing out much this winter due to the expanders. Pray also that the end result would have Coleson looking like Kendall again. Thank you in advance! I know we serve an awesome God and that he heals, not just physically but emotionally as well!

Thankfulness

In this season of Thanksgiving, I am always reminded of those who are less fortunate than we are. Not only do the homeless come to mind often, but those who are struggling to put food on the table. My boys go to school with kids, where, the only well balanced meal they get is the lunch at school. Marv and I were discussing this last week after seeing a video clip at church called Depraved Indifference. Heartwrenching. Watch it here . It tugged on both our heartstrings, as I'm sure it did all who were watching. While we are still formulating a plan, we are constantly praying for those who don't have the basics to live. A few things I'm thankful for today: (not in any specific order)
- a loving God
- my family of 5
- a warm bed
- health
- food
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Slump

This morning in my quiet time I came across Psalms 40:1-3. 'I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.' I have been in a slump the past 2 weeks and haven't had any motivation to do more than just the normal, have-to-get-by things. But, this morning I woke up with the song 'How Great Thou Art' rolling through my head. I have been praying that I would have a new fervor for the everyday things and I can't wait to see what's in store for today!!!

Importance

I came across this quote this evening while scrapping: "Some things are very important, and some things are very UNimportant...to know the difference is what we are given life to find out." While that's not what life is ALL about, it plays a part. In my own life, I have found out that when I focus on the things that aren't important, I waste time and energy. I am a happier person when I focus on the things I feel are important.

Missions

This month we've been talking about missions at Grace. This time every year, I get this knot in my stomach that Dr. Murray talked about last Sunday. I would sell all my possessions and move to someplace I've never been, to tell people about Jesus who have never even heard He exists! However, it's not just my decision. I have a husband who loves helping people but when it comes down to leaving good ole' Holmes County, he can't/won't do it. I asked him today on the way home from church if he gets the same knot deep within the pit of his stomach and he said he doesn't. So as you can see, I'm torn. Torn between wanting to do what I feel the Holy Spirit is placing within me and being obedient to my better half. Having been to Costa Rica two times, and other various parts of the US, knowing how Christ uses a willing vessel and the blessings received by being available, is unbelievable! I just want to stick a for sale sign in the yard and head off into the wild blue yonder, taking comfort in the fact that He has it all planned out. Will you pray with me that something gives?