Things I am thanful for..

OK, I am a few hours early but tomorrow I plan to focus on my family. I am thankful for God llving me so much hat He sacrificed His ONLY son for a sinnner such as me. I am so undeserving but He still loves me, unconditionally!!! I am thankful for William, for being my soul mate and loving me no matter what!! I am thanful for Emerald, I have been blessed with an amazing teenaged daughter. I am thankful for Nathaniel, he amazes me everyday. I am thankful for Noah, he is my cuddle bug. I am thankful for Rebekkah, she is my mini-me. They all teach me many new and wonderful things daily!!!! I am thankful for my mom, she is an amazing woman and I can only hope to be half the mother/wife/friend she is. What an amazing example I have. I am thanful for my dad, although I rarely see him, I am blessed to have him in my life. I am thankful for many other people and things, too many to list.

My prayer is that we all take this time to remember all of our blessings. To remember that no matter what the world thinks, or what may be going on around us, we are a blessed people. Sometimes it is hard to realize how truly blessed we are in America. Remember to take time tomorrow, Thanksgiving day, to reflect on what God has done, and continues to do, in your life. I pray that you will all find something wonderful to thank God for tomorrow and every day of your lives!!

Just babbling on a Saturday

Well here we are on another Saturday. Our church did an outreach this morning, we passed out Thanksgiving meals. William and the three older kids went, Rebekkah is not feeling well today, sore throat, stomach ache and headache(praying it isn't strep) so we stayed home and snuggled and watched Disney movies. Emerlad and Noah were impressed that the church had 51 baskets prepared and they passed out all 51, well the 20-something people that showed up did not just my two kids. lol

Then the boys and dad had boys day out, since the girls and I did last weekend. They went to McDonald's for lunch and wandered around Bass Pro then came home. While they were gone, I was tired of feeling lazy and got up to clean, went to the boys' room and wished I hadn't. They had candy wrappers, paper plates, cups, water bottles and general junk all over the floor. Oh and laundry clean and dirty all over. Ugh what a mom won't do for her kids. I cleaned it, and began throwing things away left and right. I think I scared Em because she cleaned the girls' room before I got there. ;-) Then I started laundry and we have to go to the laundry mat to dry it since our dryer is out of commission until we can afford to have someone come look at it. I never realized how much laundry and family of six can create, whew, I think we could do dozens of loads a day, ok maybe a week and never be caught up. Nathaniel did dishes when he got home and Rebekkah cleaned the bathroom, one chore she LOVES to do, more power to ya babe!!

Now, I am just sitting here knowing the house is clean. William is kicking back and fianlly reading the newspaper, the two little kids are watching a church camp video, Nathaniel watching something else on tv and Emerald is watching closely over my shoulder watching every letter I type. Good thing I am not complaining about her, huh?? She is itching to drive somewhere alone but no errands need to be run until laundry mat time, and even then I will not allow her to go alone, too many weird people lurking out there looking for their next victim.

Ok, I am off now, gonna try and import the myplaylist on here again and maybe add a few more pics. OH wait, before I leave, thanks for the prayers, my mother in laws surgery went well. They think they got all the cancer but will know for sure at her follow up Tuesday, November 25. Please continue to keep William in your prayers, he has his tests on MOnday the 24th. He also has an appointment with an attorney to help us get his private long term disability back and keep them from pulling it from him, whenever they feel the urge. OK I am really am signing off now.

Doctor appointment today and prayer request

William had an appointment today with the cardiologist. We had this appt set before he ever went in the hospital but worked out nicely. He has had a private long term disability in addition to SSI for several years now and they keep yanking it and saying he no longer meets "disabled" status. Good grief even the US government states he ahs been disabled since birth in their eyes, but I digress. This company sent him/us a letter stating that his cardiologist says he can work full time sedentary work, well cardiologist has not recollection of this and says he will let them know that William is, in fact, NOT able to work. He is having too many issues still and the cardiologist believes that William is having trouble and will back us 100%(yeah for an understanding doc) In that all tests in the hospital came out normal both cardiac and GI so he has ordered more tests and they care scheduled for MOnday, November 24. He is having an echo(ultrasound of the heart) and a stress test to see if we can get to the bottom of William still having chest tightness. *sigh* Glad doc is proactive but man more tests, I feel for William. So first prayer request pray for William and see if we can get to the source of his chest tightness. Second my mother in law is having a mastectomy tomorrow, NOvember 19 at 12:15pm CST, please pray for peace for her and my father in law. Also, pray for God to become the surgeons hands and guideance and wisdom during the surgery, Also, pray for a quick recovery and peace for her during this trying time and fight with breast cancer. Thanks and love to all of you.

Wonderful Sunday

Today started out normal nothing out of the ordinary. We got up went to Sunday School, William and I are prayer team leaders one Sunday a month(third Sunday) so we were in the prayer room during service, what a wonderful prayer time it was. Then our church has the South Kansas City Dream Center, where people can come and get items they need and food, and it was our Sunday to work there too(always third Sunday also). We do this as a family and the kids get to help serve their community too, awesome opportunity and they truly enjoy it. After all of this Emerald told me her birthday money was "burning a hole in her pocket." We decided to make it a girl's afternoon out so off Emerald, Rebekkah and I went. We stopped at McDonald's for lunch(R's choice) and the went to Old NAvy, Kohl's and Target. Em found a few things but still has money to spend, I was tired and told her we'd go another day to finish shopping. Both girls were on their best behavior, quite a shock for all who know and love Bekkah, and we truly enjoyed all of our time together. Oh yeah, at Target we *always* have to stop in the dollar spot and Rebekkah had $1 that she got from grandma and grandpa on Halloween or something like that. Anyway she found a sleep maske she thought she HAD to have, it is pink and purple and says "naughty" on it(you know for Christmas time) well I found a blue one that said "nice" but she said "well,pink is MY color so I will deal with naughty on my sleep mask" she is quite the card. So she bought that with her own money and she is/was so proud of herself and she wore it in the van on the way home but decided she might look goofy if she wore it in the grocery store as we stopped there to grab dessert,so she took it off for that but out it back on as soon as she hit the van. Gotta love her, she is the baby. ;-)

We stopped to get dessert because as of tomorrow I am back to working hard on my weight loss and exercise efforts. I have kinda thrown that out the window these last couple months but especially the last couple weeks with William in the hospital. Can you say stress eating???!!! I want to take off 85 pounds to get me to my original WW goal. We can't afford WW anymore so I am just gonna watch portions, kinds of foods I eat and walk minimum 30 minutes daily, with Emerald in tow(maybe others if they can keep up since doc told me Fri that it needs to be brisk walking) Sounds silly but pray I can keep focused and not be overly tempted since there is ALWAYS food from reps at my office.

Here's hoping everyone has a fantastic week. I am keeping my eyes focused on Jesus to help me on this journey we call life.

Just a few thoughts on a Saturday morning

Well, as usual I am wide awake very early on the weekend, while on a week day I have to drag myself out of bed this early. Makes no sense to me but here I am, none the less. I have been visiting some blogs and one really touched my heart this morning. She talked about God leading her to her closet and unfurling her wedding gown and to the hem. At first I worndered why on earth God would lead ME to this blog, then as I read and really concentrated on Him I realized that through all we have and continue to go through we need to reach for the hem of HIS garment. We just need the faith of a mustard seed and to reach for the hem of His garment and remember that He has all things in the palm of His wonderful hand!!! Many times I *say and think* I have this faith so small but then when God speaks to me and I really look at my life and what is going on, maybe my doubt far outweighs my faith. I pray that my faith, and my family's faith is that of a mustard seed and then some as we continue to face the many struggles in this life. I pray that I can set the example my Heavely Father has set for me to my beautiful children. I pray that through my shortfalls and short comings that somehow my children can see past my human nature and see God in my life as I raise them in the best way I know how. I pray that no matter what is happening in our lives that they KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt they can turn to God and feel a comfort and peace that William and I just can't provide in our human form.

On a different note, William seems to be feeling somewhat better after last week's hospital stay. I am soooooo thankful for this. He gave us quite a scare and made me and the kids, especially Emerald, remember to be thankful for and not take forgranted each and every minute we are given. OH and speaking of Emerald, she got her driver's license this week, so watch out if you are on the roads of south KC, she may be out there lurking on the roads in our van and well........ Seriously, she is MUCH improved over when she first got her permit, I am no longer scared out of my wits to ride with her. I told someone yesterday, I am wondering if it is a stress reducer or increaser with another driver in the house. I am thinking it is a blessing because now I ahve an extra person to help run errands and thus far she is anxious and willing to help. I am sure that will change once the newness of driving wears off. :-D The other kids are well, just their normal selves. Today I am feeling extremely blessed to be their mom. It is gonna be cold and yucky here so I intend to spend some time snuggling with them and centering my attention on them, the important things in life. WIlliam will be there in the middle too. I think with the busy-ness of life we forget that all the "things and stuff" are much less important than the people we love and cherish.

Getting started

Well, I thought I'd do this to keep our family and friends "on top" of what is going on in KC. First, I am Michelle married to William for 17.5 years. We have four beautiful children, two girls and two boys. Emerald just turned 16 last week and got her driver's license yesterday :-O, watch out world!!!!! Nathaniel is 12.5 and reads everything he can get his hands on, he also likes tv, maybe a little too much :-/. Noah is 10 and well he is our "class clown" and sports nut. Rebekkah is 7.5 and our "princess" she loves to dance at a local Christian dance studio. She is something else but we all love her :-D. OK, I am now gonna get busy on my layout.

Michelle