Have I really been gone two months?

Time flies when you are so busy.

We are making so much progress in speech therapy, and working so hard I haven't had time to breathe.

Many things have changed around here and so many new happenings...

First up was my mid-life crisis... what is it about the spring time that brings on the melancholy, and then the crisis.. I think I have actually had a couple crisis' in my mid-life so I should be used to it by now!

Oh the things I have been missing. Lets just sum up this time in my life as Mommies gone wild. Tammy has been along for the ride and so far it has been fun.

Recently, I realized I have had a crisis of FAITH. Where that came from I am unsure. Even with everything I have been thru in my life, I never had a problem with my Faith. When Brandy died my faith never wavered, if anything it got stronger. I am still working thru this and trying to restore what I have lost. Pray for me.

We are finally realizing our dream of being debt free. This month we will pay off the last of our consumer credit. Next month will pay off the truck and then we are down to mortgage and monthly bills!! YAY!

I now have a trainer and I am working out 3X a week. I think I might die. But it has been great and I am starting to feel better. Lets just hope I can keep it up.

That pretty much sums up the last two months... nothing exciting, nothing strange, just life in general.

Sunday Morning Outside My Window...

"He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,'

and to the rain shower, '

Be a mighty downpour.' So that all men he

has made may know his work,

he stops every man from his labor."

Job 37:6-7

"Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 34:14

I have been scarce lately because we have been dealing with some issues.

Let's just say that we have been the recipent of some unkind behavior. I have been trying to counsel DD on how to deal with this other girl, but to no avail. Sometimes dyslexic children do not know how to deal with social situations such as this. She tends to lash out at the person who is inflicting the misery.

What makes this worse is the parent of the other girl, doesn't see the behavior. How do I handle this? I have tried to be reasonable, but, when I defend my girl I am told it is her fault anyway. I am the first to admit that she is no angel, but she is not the instigator. We have been in misery for days.

Sadly, we must see this person on a near daily basis. Oh, it makes me so angry. I am trying to ignore the smug looks and the whispered comments between daughter and mom. My blood is boiling by the time it is all over and I find it hard to control my temper. REALLY HARD.

I am at a loss....

We have to go thru this again tomorrow....

So, I turn to scripture and pour my heart out to God..

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give and account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by the words you will be aquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:34-37

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates event to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." Hebrews 4:12-13

"They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn. Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing." Psalm 35:12-15

"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees." Psalm 119:1-12

Heavenly Father, help me to turn away from this anger, Lord give me the quite gentle spirit to deal with strife. Father God, give me the words to say and the wisdom to handle whatever situation we encounter. Lord look kindly upon those hurting us and give us the mercy to look kindly upon them also. Father, I know that you will protect us thru all things and will walk beside us on the sand, even, carry us through this valley of darkness and lead us toward the light that salvation brings. Give us character and confidence to deal with our attackers. Help us to show your light, your love, and help us to live as you would have your children to live in this world.

Amen

Considering the Sparrow...

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:26-27

This week has been a blur...

We went to the Circus on Thursday night. We had fun and went out to have a sit down meal as a family. It had been awhile since we went to a nice (not fast food) restaurant. We were celebrating our 4% paycut! Yes, cut. The economy has finally hit home here. But, what can you do? Nothing. So we celebrated, the fact we have a job and a home that is almost paid for and cars that are paid for and life is good. We have each other and our health insurance... thats all that matters.

On the shopping front, things have been ok. I went last Sunday and scored the Walgreens deals with my gift card. I managed to get a lot of stuff for around 25.00, no out of pocket purchase! YAY! I got:

Froot loops
Rice Krispies
puffs plus tissues
two boxes sandwich bags
two wax paper rolls
Northern tissue
two dove deordorants
two crest toothpastes
the big bottle of Listerine

for a total of 23.99 my savings were 22.42 with coupons, sales and wag. coupons! Not too sure on the math but I think that would be 48%.

I also went to Winn Dixie because they had the canned veggies on sale 20/10.00 a steal!
I had set aside about 150.00 to really restock the pantry because is was BARE! I won''t detail all I bought but, I did not give the cashier my reward card until the end, so , I could see the total before and after. It was 211.46 before coupons and sales and 150.96 afterwards! I think that might be 29% savings. Yay!!

I took my Grandmother to the Cardiologist this Thursday and spent around 2 1/2 hours in the waiting room. I have never understood how doctors office visits can get so behind. We took a visit to the Lab and then will have to go back Monday and Tuesday due to a test being run. On the good note it is nothing serious and just a precaution.

We stopped by Food Smart (used to be Western) on the way home. They had their cheese on sale for 1.69 - that is the cheapest I have seen in awhile so I grabbed a couple of bags and probably will grab a few more this Monday.

Saturday was spent working on my grandparents greenhouse and Sunday was spent doing NOTHING. This week proves to be a long one for me... I have two doctors visits, three days of swim practice, two Girl Scout Leaders meetings, and a ton of errands to run. I know that by the end of this week I will be beat.

On a much better note, I am keeping up with my Beth Moore study on Esther. All I can say is that is was another awesome week. Beth really makes you think, Esther is a wonderful role model for Christian women. She had discernment, she was gracious and had a lovely demeanor. The girl had manners. What a wonderful goal, to be like Esther.