SUMMER!

Wow! my last post was in JUNE??? Seriously?!??!?!

It's been a good summer. Weather-wise, I'm loving this 'mild' MI summer we've had. The humidity of this past week is bringing me down a little bit. But I won't complain about the gorgeous (and mild) weather we've had so far.

I continue to enjoy my work with Sunset Home Services. In June I added another 'aide' position within Sunset Manor, working 6AM-10AM four days a week 'on the floor'. Home Care is my favorite of the two positions and I've kept all my home care clients. So on T, Th, F and Sat I finish my shift at the Manor and hop in my car to go see my home care clients. I've obviously had to adjust my sleep schedule.

We were blessed to be able to go on a vacation to NJ in July. So many good friends and great memories in 'the Wildwoods'! We spent time on the beach and at the boardwalk. We took a day trip to WA D.C. And we drove through Lower Manhatten on the way home just so the boys could 'see' New York City a little. Great memories from the road trip. Great family time.

We arrived home on a Monday evening from NJ and four days later my three guys left with other teens from our church on a chartered bus for North Carolina where they attended Youth Unlimited - the national CRC Youth Convention. They had a great time... came back changed, each one had their own unique experience.

Following convention we were all together at home for a week. Then Chris and I had another week of vacation time. We had a 'staycation' - turned off the phones, went to movies, out to eat, celebrated our 25th Anniversary, spent two days in Chicago... was nice and relaxing.

As much as I enjoy my work, I've decided to cut one of my mornings at the Manor. As of Sept. my new schedule will be T,Th,Sat mornings. School is starting and I will be able to get the boys off to school on M,W,F. Chris will be there on T & Th when I'm not.

Wow. I guess that's where the summer has gone! working... I'm ready for Fall... School, new Bible Studies at church, Driver's training for Jonothon, drum lessons...

As I write this Timithi is at Cedar Point, in Ohio, with his 8th grade class! They left from school at 5:00 this morning and will return at 11PM. I'm sure they're having a great time! He LOVES coasters so this park should thrill him. Tomorrow night is 8th grade graduation. Not a celebration I grew up with... Kindergarten graduation... 8th grade graduation... I even heard someone say they had a 5th grade graduation upon entering 'middle school'. Goodness! The High School 'open house' is also something I didn't grow up with. We had family over on Sunday for cake... I got a typewriter... there you go! After having participated in several open houses, here in MI, I am convinced that they are a wonderful way to celebrate the completion of grade school and the opening of of new chapter in life. (For 8th grade graduation, it'll probably cake on Sunday!)

Jonothon completed his last final today and was home by 10:30... buzzing from the 'Amp' that he drank at school. Those things are wicked! Nice buzz that they give you, yes. But when they wear off... you drop like a rock. (Yes, the mother did buy it for him, so it's my fault.) Right now he's in the living room laughing his head off at Mark Lowry dvd's!

I had xrays done last week and I do indeed have a heel spur. OUCH! Dr. told me to ice it and use ibuprofen for a couple weeks, then come in to see him if that doesn't help. I've been dealing with the pain for more than two months, so I have my doubts that it will help, but I'm trying it. I guess I should try to stay off it, also, but that's hard. I can't stay off it at work. And yesterday I mowed the front half of the property and my foot was 'screaming' at me all night and this morning. Now that the boys are out of school the lawn mowing will be ALL THEIRS for the summer.

I'm needing a new Bible Study... not sure which direction to go... personal? or with a group? I get so much out of hearing about other people's experiences with Christ... I'd like to do a group study. Could just do both.

I'll be starting a new job as a Resident Aide at Sunset Manor.... soon. I will still work for Sunset Home Services as a Home Health Aide, but where the Home Services hours come and go.... the Resident Aide position will be regular shift hours. I'm so thankful for the work and that I enjoy it, too! I realize what a blessing God has given me in providing this job in a field that I enjoy so much.

Thanks for visiting!
See you soon!

Laundry on the line...Thunderstorms... Laundry on the line a little longer...

I love my clothesline! I love the fresh smell of wind-blown laundry. And I love NOT spending money to run our ancient, wheezing, dying dryer.

But last night I was apparently oblivious to the approaching weather patterns as I happily hung out TWO loads of laundry on the line. At 11pm when the rain and thunder started... well.... by then it was too late. So, now the laundry will stay out a little longer. The fact that clothes were on the line only slightly subtracted from the joy of the thunder and lightening! And today my car was looking cleaned off (until I drove down our dirt road)... so hey! It's all good!

Memorial Day was a great day. We started the day in Jamestown, watching Jonothon march with the Unity Christian HS Drum Line (he was the sole cymbal player). Then we came home and grilled and enjoyed the company of good friends and a couple of new friends (our neighbors to the West). Hamburgers, homemade cherry pie AND brownies, lots of laughter, sitting in the sun, moving inside to play cards - Mary and Lori beat Mike and Chris at Euchre!

In the evening, after our friends had gone home, we made corn salsa and headed to Holland to see the Rosema's and the Peerbolt's! Roasted hot dogs around the huge fire (built in an old washer tub!) and shared lots of laughter again! Got back home around 11pm. It was a great day.

The boys are counting down school days left. Jono has HS finals next Mon, Tues, Wed. then he's done! Timi's 8th grade graduation is next Thursday night, the 4th. On Wed. the 3rd he's going with the eighth grade class to Cedar Point Amusement Park - Roller Coaster "King Of the Hill"! He should have a great a time!

Trying to plan summer.... perhaps a chance to get away? New Jersey sounds great! So does a camping trip down near Mammoth Cave in Kentucky - never been there. Summer may also include braces for Jono (shhhh! He doesn't know that yet!) and probably Driver's Training. The boys and Chris are going to Youth Alive (CRC) Convention in North Carolina at the end of July.

I'll be back again soon! Bye!

Memorial Day Weekend

It's here... and that means summer will soon be upon us! The weather has been beautiful... some 70's, some 80's... little rain. I LOVE spring in Michigan. The freshness, the sunshine, the laundry on the line, the lilacs in bloom, fresh cut grass. And we've enjoyed the hammock a few times already. It's a blessing to be able to relax in it, reading or just napping.

And Lucy loves to lay out side for hours at a time. Occasionally she will tangle herself up around the clothesline posts and someone needs to run outside and 'guide' her back in and out and round and round until she is free once again!

The boys are finishing up their (half) school years and we are looking ahead to having both of them at Unity Christian High School in the Fall. Jonothon has enjoyed being in Freshman band and is considering Pep Band for the Fall. Timithi is excited about the Computer classes and opportunities and he has registered to be in Freshman band... trombone.... next year. (We'll be making a trip to Meyer Music very soon, so he can practice this summer!)

It was an adjustment in returning to 'institutionalized' schooling. So different from Homeschooling - both being very valuable and equally positive in their own ways.
I've struggled in not taking offense to the slight condescention I've encountered at the High School - as if homeschooling's not "real" schooling. They've no idea, really, if all they've ever experienced is school-in-a-box. (No condescention in that comment, right!?) I've seen and experienced public school, private school and home school. All have positives and negatives. I'm thankful my boys have had the experiences of Christian schools and home schooling. This blessing of Christian High School is wonderful for this season of our lives. And I am grateful for the people and education they've been exposed to.

Memorial Day weekend.... Jono's marching in a small parade in Jamestown, MI (Hudsonville) and then friends are coming over to grill and hang out. We'll set up the badminton net and the 'hillbilly horseshoes'. Just a relaxing day spent together!

Hello???? Is anybody there????

I'm still here... well not here... not very often. I'm having a hard time getting 'online time'.
I'm not even working fulltime, but I really feel the change in working 20+ hours each week. I think it's the mental and emotional nature of my job that is exhausting... especially working with dementia patients. Providing personal care for people is extrememly rewarding to me.. I LOVE my job. The weariness comes from the growing care and concern I have for my clients as I spend time week after week with them, getting to know them. It's a "good" weariness... but I'm tired, nonetheless. It's a very relational job.
At home, I'm struggling with some teenager 'stuff' (attitude) and it's blowing my mind!?! "Who are you and what have you done with my son?!" I am frustrated with the sarcastic, impatient, eye-rolling responses to simple questions. The other day, I received such a response to my question and I'm tired of the "you need to respond with respect" talk. So I had him pull up a chair while I continued to do the dishes and had him read Matthew 5-7 aloud to me. (Praying throughout, that the Word would not return void, but would accomplish it's purpose.) I continue to pray for wisdom and insight into my son. He's an amazing young man and I know God can do great things in him!
The Maundy Thursday service at our church was awesome. There was a time for foot-washing, and I really wanted to go to my boys and wash their feet. But I wasn't sitting with them and I was afraid that they'd be more embarassed than appreciative. Chris was at the piano the whole time. We've done the footwashing at home on past years and it's a moving experience for us.
Easter was a great celebration with our church family, followed by dinner with our MI 'extended' family!

February 18, 2009

Hey! It's been way too long since I've contributed anything to this blog.... Life has flown by and I don't seem to be able to fit in time to blog...

God is blessing our family in big and small ways and we are grateful for His light that shines in our lives.

Over time you've healed so much in me, and I am living proof
That although my darkest hour had come, your light could still shine through
Though at times it's just enough to cast a shadow on the wall,
Still I am grateful that you shine your light on me at all
Who am I­; that you would love me so gently?
Who am I;­ that you would recognize my name?
Lord who am I;­ that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high... who am I?

Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see,
And the more I sing that sweet old song, the more I understand.
That I do not comprehend this love that's coming from your hand...
Who am I­; that you would love me so gently?
Who am I;­ that you would recognize my name?
Lord who am I;­ that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high... who am I?

Grace, grace... God's grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within,
Grace, grace... God's great grace
Grace that is greater than all my sin

Who am I­; that you would love me so gently?
Who am I;­ that you would recognize my name?
Lord who am I;­ that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high... who am I?

May you be blessed in knowing that He knows your name and He loves you!

One month since I last blogged! I think when life gets going too fast and my schedule is busy, I don't take enough time to reflect on life. I hope to bring back some reflection time. May have to schedule it in.

I have been spending lots of time on Facebook... such fun to be able to keep up with so many different people. It's rather addicting. Sign-on, check emails, go to Facebook.

I'm starting the second semester with eighth and ninth grades at home. Contemplating a drama production - Les Mis and also fencing lessons for Jono. Timithi is immersing himself in his computers: game design, web design, re-structuring computers for other people. He's amazing.

I'm teaching Lucy to 'roll over'... she's almost got it!

The name of God I studied yesterday was El Roi - The God Who Sees.

"Lord, I praise you for you know the whole story. From beginning to end, you see it all. Give me the humility to admit my limitations. For I don't always see the past accurately, my vision of the present is often blurred, and I am blind when it comes to the future. Help me fasten my eyes on you, trusting in your vision for my life and in your watchful care."