change

change Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[cheynj] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, changed, chang·ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: to change one's name; to change one's opinion; to change the course of history.
Change is a funny thing, the weather changes in this fair state of ours in a matter of moments. This morning for example; we moved from rain to hail to sleet to snow and back again in a matter of 10 minutes, seriously! That is crazy! Weather changes often times are much easier to experience than life changes.
I am learning that you can not fight change, as much as we would like to fight it, change happens whether we are ready or not.
People change with age and experience. Time changes us in good ways and bad.
Times change. Who would have thought I'd Be then one saying, "When I was a kid..." When did that happen???
Our world around us changes.
Seasons change.
Some changes are life altering, some are painful, some cause great joy, and some tears.
I have to learn to embrace the changes as they come. I know this deep in the corners of my heart, but still I am not ready...I know as they come to be, I will experience every emotion known to man and some new ones no one has named yet. I am learning. Change happens....change is mostly good, change causes us to stretch out of our comfortable existence and experience new things. It may sometimes be painful, but always is a good teacher.
–verb (used without object)
to become different:
I guess that is the goal, change causes us to become different from what we have been. Hopefully we are wise enough and strong enough for the 'different' to be positive. And for that positive to have an impact on those around us.
Ready or not, my world is changing! I will embrace the change.....please pass the tissues!

Easter

Eggs, candy, baskets, jellybeans, hunts, fancy dresses and new ties, ham, family time. All these things are what come to mind for most people when they think of Easter.
When I think of Easter....I think of how blessed I am to have had someone love me enough to tell me about God my Father who sent us his Son. I know you are thinking I must have lost my mind that is Christmas. The very idea that Jesus came to earth to carry my burdens and my joys so that I would not have to bare them is a powerful reality. I don't have to carry the worries and pain of the world I live in, I take it to the cross and lay it at the foot of the cross and Jesus gently picks it up, ALL of it and places it on His shoulders. BECAUSE HE LOVES ME! Even after all this time, I am in awe of the reality of that kind of love.
My story begins there. On Easter Sunday morning at the 5:00 a.m. sunrise service in 1990 a very special lady who loves me so much and loved my son before he was born led me to the Lord. If I close my eyes I can remember every detail of that day. How the rays of the rising sun filtered gently and then burst through the cloud covered early morning sky. How I felt like God himself were reaching out through those clouds to welcome me into His family.
There have been a handful of those moments in my life when I could actually feel the hand of God guiding me through. I am so very thankful I have Him to go to in times of Joy and in times of trouble. He takes all the weights of this crazy world off my heart and allows me to have peace.
Easter time is a special time for me. I hope it is as special for you.

Gramma

Last Wednesday my Gramma fell and injured her hip. She was in the hosptial for a few days but is back in her apartment now. The healing process will not be easy for her, so if you could, please say a pray for her.

GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT

Dominique will be graduating from high school Saturday May 17, 2008. The ceremony will be at 3:00 in the afternoon at First Federated Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

We will celebrate with a party in his honor on Friday May 23, 2008 from 4:00 until 8:00pm at Lions park in Altoona, Iowa.

We would be thrilled and honored to have everyone come and share in our celebration! Let us know if you will be coming.

Still kicking!

Man alive! I feel like I haven't been here in so long.
So much has been happening.
We have had respiratory illness running through the house. I have been hit the hardest this time.
The kids are on spring break, I can hardly believe it is already that time of year. We have no plans other than to have some friends over to play and get some projects done around the house.
We have been working hard with Isaiah on his therapy. Still in the waiting phase of things for him. Waiting for our miracle.
Trying to get ready for Dominique's graduation, apply for college and financial aid.
Wading through the paperwork for Madison's new doctor.
Basketball is over and baseball is ready to begin. Isaiah is hoping to golf again this summer.
We were able to save a little money after getting Dominique's car so Scott bought us some new living room furniture (2 couches and a chaise lounge). We have NEVER owned NEW furniture before. To be honest I love love love it but do feel a bit guilty not applying the extra money from taxes to Isaiah's medical bills. Sometimes you just have to do something fun for a change.
We are just hanging out the rest of our break. Easter egg hunt on Saturday and church on Easter Sunday. Before we know it, school will be out for the summer. Tissues please!

Suprise!!!

I have to share a funny story about Dominique.

Most of you know he was in an accident the day after Christmas and his car was totalled. He has been without wheels ever since, which as a mom has not been all that bad. I like it when he is home more. Anyway, we got some income tax money back and decided it was time to look for a car. My brother and Dominique went out a week ago and found a Blazer that he fell in love with, the guy sold it to someone else because they had 'cash in hand' and we did not. Sad does not begin to describe his mood. So they kept on looking and Sunday after church went out to drive a couple vehicles they found on Craigs list. He came home head over heels for this Intrigue. We told him we would think about it, call insurance, and pray and let him know.

Then Monday he decided to go to Iowa State University to visit and then off to MN for a concert, he planned on being home Wednesday afternoon. He called to ask what we decided about the car, I told him the guy sold it. BUMMER!

Hee Hee. The guy did sell it, to us! Scott got the registration and insurance taken care of on his lunch hour Tuesday and it was just sitting waiting for him to get home. I tried to get him to come early even pretended to be mad at him. He couldn't get a ride home until around 10pm.

I wish I had a video camera to tape the little dance he did in the driveway when he saw the car. He is so very happy! And I got to have some fun.

He told me I am mean to tell him the car sold it ruined his mood for the whole time he was gone. I think it was brilliant not to mention fun!

cough cough sniffle sniffle ACHOO

By the title I am sure you have guessed someone in the house is sick.
Isaiah.
Poor guy, when he gets sick it hits really hard. I should have known on Tuesday when he was EXTREMELY GROUCHY which for those of you who know him know that is TOTALLY out of character for him. That should have been clue #1. But since I am the 'best mom in the world' instead of knowing he was getting sick, I gave him consequences for his attitude and that made him cry and on went our day. What I should have done is put all school books away and give him the day off. But NOOOOOO I pushed and pushed and now he hasn't gotten out of bed since Tuesday afternoon. What a pitiful sight it is, Isaiah propped up on pillows, Kleenex box by his side, garbage can right next to the bed for used tissues, triple antibiotic cream for his very red and sore nose, a can of very warm and I am sure flat Sierra Mist on the table, and remote in his hand. Funny thing, he is always well enough to at least watch the detective shows he likes or the history channel. Funny kid he is!
But you know he is sick when he doesn't even want his Legos.....
Please pray for him, it is funny because we have noticed some neurological changes in him, but in talking with the docs, they are still OK with waiting. Do they ask if I am OK? NOPE. so, we watch and wait, and most of all we pray!!!! Thank you all for loving my boy and praying for him and his miracle. It will come, I know it will!

Some days it is a struggle to be a woman

Some days it is a struggle to be a woman....I am a woman with many titles....wife, mother, teacher, friend, homemaker, confidante, counselor, researcher, baker....it goes on and on....
With each title comes its own set of triumphs and struggles. I know we are our own worst critics. But it seems that I never seem to meet with my own expectations of who I am supposed to be. One of my biggest struggles right now is my body image.
Some days I am OK with my size and shape. Then there are days I just wonder. What in the world is happening to me???? I know age has something to do with it. Why is some women carry the extra poundage beautifully and others, such as myself....not so much!
Some women my size are considered to be fat, obese, overweight, large, etc.
Then there are those that are considered to be curvaceous, even sexy. (not a word I would ever use to describe myself!) It is so difficult, I am not excusing my inactivity really. I just need to find a way to squeeze a few extra hours into my day (without children occupying those hours) then I could exercise. This stinking winter has totally ruined my walking routine. I have to be honest with you, treadmill walking is definitely NOT the same. I hate treadmill walking it is torture for me, but I could walk 6 miles easily outdoors. Now that is crazy.
So, I guess without the aide of some sort of medication that would miraculously melt away these fluffy spots that continue to grow all over my body.....I am doomed to be the definition of the first example....FAT
I really admire people like Queen Latifa who look absolutely beautiful no matter what size they are!