summer 2009 001

summer 2009 001
Originally uploaded by Fernstrom

Honestly, I don't know WHAT we'd do without popsicles!

Random Thoughts Thursday

As Maxine would say...I have inner beauty and I have the video from my colonoscopy to prove it! All is well, and I am just chillin' on the couch for awhile taking advantage of the peace and quiet. The Knight took Nana and the kids to Bible School tonight so I can rest.

I bet the insurance company thinks we are a bunch of hypochondriacs. This week we filed for two dentist appointments, a visit to the ER, and a ERD and colonoscopy.

I have 3 small fight like a girl t-shirts and a 4XL if anyone wants to buy them for a 10 dollar donation to the American Cancer society.

I have a brand new pack-n-play and a very nice co-sleeper I'd like to give to someone who needs them.

I made an adorable video I wanted to post here, but it didn't work. Can anyone telll me how to post a video on my blog?

Please pray for my friends Agnes Duncan and Pam Lee. They both had surgery this week. Did you know that gall bladders are way out of style and if you have one, you should get rid of it asap.

Remember to pray for my mom. She's having a hard time this week. I hope to get down there to see her soon.

If you are going on vacation to the beach I can't be your friend. But you could take me with you.

On the day I wasn't allowed to eat anything, Nana came in with two tins full of chocolate chip cookies, chocolate peanuts and pretzels, butterscotch bars and a big bag of M&Ms. Now that I can eat, nothing's left. *sigh*

Woody refuses to have his picture taken even though his fur is growing out nicely.

I bet I won't be able to get the kids to go back to the Life Center next week. Anybody want to babysit?

The Knight has a honey-do list with 14 items on it. So sad.

It's possible there could be more sand in my house than in the sandbox.

I wish I could talk to my dad. There's something I need to discuss with him. I'm pretty sure he'd like the idea, but I need his opinion.

The Little Man got a garbage truck for his end of school gift for straight A's, best behavior award, teacher's pet, most likely to succeed, best looking, best all around. Okay, no. But if they gave those kinds of awards in 2-K he'd have won them I feel sure. Woody didn't like the garbage man that came with it, so he ate him up.

Has anyone else heard, "So what are doing today, mom?" 37 times yet?

I lost 3 pounds in 24 hours. I feel so proud of my accomplishment.

I'm done with Jon and Kate.

I am thankful for my Christain upbringing, my husband, my children, my family, my church family, my friends, and neighbors and my blog readers. May God bless you all.

I want to be content-I want more of Christ and less of everything else.

I want to know you more, Lord.

I want to be content in where I am.

I want to be content in what I do.

I want to be content in what I have.

I want to be content in who I'm with.

I wan this verse to be true in me--Philippians 4:11 For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Happy 40th birthday Suzie McCoy. Call me when you've fallen and can't get up. Love you girl!

Summer fun

The kids have enjoyed the day....

Sleeping in...

Just hangin' Around...

Jumpin' Up and Down...

Nana came to town...

Some fighting on the ground..Kicking the ball around...

All in all, a fun day for the KIDS.(and even the dog)

For MOM---Not so much...

The Lord is nigh

So today I was working out at the Life Center and chit chatting away with the trainer when I heard them call a "code stat" over the intercom. I felt sad thinking it was probably someone over in the cardiac rehab or pulmonary rehab until someone rushed over to me and said, "It's your little boy in the nursery!" I took off running and just cried out to the Lord for help. When I got there Allison and Zoey were standing outside crying and the Little Man was on the floor surrounded by nurses. They said he'd had a seizure. We thought he had outgrown febrile seizures since the last one was almost a year and a half ago. Apparently he told Zoey his head hurt, laid down and fell asleep briefly before rolling off into the floor in a seizure. To make a long story short, we went to the ER by ambulance and had him checked over. He was negative for strep and the only thing they found was a slightly infected ear. This is the 4th time he's had a febrile seizure. He usually has no symptoms of anything but spikes a fever so quickly he goes into a seizure for a short time. There is nothing you can do for him, but it tears me out of my frame every time. They are traumatic for everyone involved. When your child is in trouble it's natural to fall to pieces. But today I felt strong and brave there on the nursery floor as they worked on my Little Man. A peaceful presence was beside me as we rode in the ambulance to the ER. There's something different in me now; I'm not sure words can explain it. It's something about trust and peace.

I don't have much confidence in the government, no faith in the stock market. I'm not sure my kids will get through school without a tattoo or an addiction or an unplanned pregnancy. I don't know if there will be any social security, or a cure for cancer or world peace. But I do know that when I cry out to the Lord for help, He is there.

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him...Psalm 146:18

So Proud!

I cried at school today. Allison won The Governor's Citizenship Award.

This is what her teacher wrote to nominate her.

I am nominating Allison from my 2nd grade class to win the Governor's Citizenship Award. Allison is a young lady of character, discipline, responsibility, leadership and service.

This had been a tough year for Allison. Her mother had surgery for breast cancer and Allison stepped in to help in every possible way. When I talked to Allison's mom during this time, she told me how great Allison was to help take care of her younger sister and brother. Even when she was scared or tired, she knew her mom needed her to help with the family and she did what she knew she had to do to help out.

In the classroom, Allison is always smiling. She works hard and competes her work. She is always willing to run errands or complete tasks. She is a great asset to have in the room.

Allison is always honest and kind. She takes up for those who need support and stands by those who need a friend. When a new student in the class came with a peanut allergy, Allison knew she needed a friend to sit with at the peanut-free table. Allison stepped in so that she would not feel isolated and alone.

Allison is a rule follower. She knows what is expected of her and she shows it each day. She always gives 110% in everything I give her. My day is always better with Allison's shining smile and beautiful spirit.

From her 2nd grade teacher


Y'all, I am so proud of this child, but I must tell you I take NO credit for this. (Perhaps her knightly father could, but I cannot.) She's had a servant's heart her whole life and God has his hand on her. I feel as if I am just barely holding on to the reins as she takes off into the great big world of possibilities. She is a gift from God and I am thankful for her.

My dear, sweet Allison- You sure did make us proud of you today girl. We are proud of you everyday, but it was wonderful to see what an impact you are making everyday there on your mission field. Your actions prove that God's love is flowing through you and He even shines in your face as well. Mrs. G. was right, this has been a tough year, but you rose to the challenge and did more for our family than most eight- year- olds could handle. I am sure I haven't thanked you enough for all you did for me and our family while I was in the hospital and recovering. I appreciate your willingness to jump in and help. You really are an amazing child. Iloveyoumuchly- Mom

My Future is secure

I like my new friends at the Life Center. We are in the same boat, club, mindset, battle. I especially like Myron because he likes to laugh. Laughing is my favorite thing to do. He and I are alike in that we both know that God's grace is what sustains us. During one of our classes entitled "Fear of Recurrence" the psychologist kept referring to our inner spirit, inner strength, higher power, etc. anything she could think of to avoid using God to the point that it became a little annoying. Myron and I had a little chuckle after class over that. But you know what I think-you'd have to be a pretty tough cookie to go through cancer and not acknowledge that that higher power, inner spirit, inner strength is God Almighty. She was saying that the way to deal with the fear that cancer may come back is that you have to draw from whatever "higher power" we believe in. I can tell you that I am So very thankful that I knew Jesus as my Lord, and that God was my "higher power" before this all happened, but I can guarantee you I'd have been begging somebody to tell me about him if I didn't. Because I believe God is in complete control of all that happens in the universe and I believe everything that happens to me individually whether good or bad, has to be filtered through His loving hands. He didn't say "She's been a bad girl. She should be punished. Give her cancer." He said, "That girls got a heart for me. I want her closer to me so I can use her." He didn't say, "Wayne should never have hurt his body with cigarettes. I'm going to take his life." I think He said, "It's time for my saint to come home with me. His death will be part of a bigger plan to save others and draw them to me." Of course this is just my opinion here, but the Bible backs this up. For example it says in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." God does not plan bad things for us. He gives us hope and a future in Him. Don't you love that? And in reference to my dad I think of the verse in Psalms 116:15- "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." And of course my theme verse Romans 8:28-And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. I believe daddy's home-going was a precious event and not a doomsday and that God will use it for good!

But one thing that Myron said after class that day has stuck with me. He said, "I made peace with death thirty years ago." Yeah, I worry a little about this cancer coming back. I have to be honest. I hate to think about leaving my family. But really I don't have to worry about death because I know where I am going when I die. This is what I did 25 years ago to make sure of that.

I realized that I was just a sinner and I confessed my sin- Romans 3:23 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

I accepted God's gift of eternal life- Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I believed that Jesus loved me and died for my sins- Romans 5:8- But God commended his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I believed Jesus died and rose again to take the punishment for my sins- Romans 10:9- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

I prayed and trusted Jesus as my savior- Romans 10:10- For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I had heard God's word preached many times. Many times I rejected the Holy Spirits tug on my heart. I believed what the Bible said, but I was afraid to make that confession. But one day I decided that I would put aside my pride and walk the aisle at church and kneel down and pray and ask Jesus to save me. And thank the Lord, He did! And so now John 3:16 is the best part- "For God so loved the world that HE gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on Him shall NOT perish, but have EVERLASTING Life." It was really very simple.

Do you know for sure that you will be in Heaven one day my friend? If you were to die and meet Jesus and he were to ask why He should let you into Heaven, what would you say? It's not about the good things you have done; we can't earn our place there. It's just by confessing, believing, accepting. It's about knowing Jesus, having a relationship with Him. THAT is truly all that matters.

I don't have to fear death and you don't either.

You can be saved today. I pray that you will.

Countdown to Summer....

Seems like just yesterday I was squealing out of the parking lot on the first day of school and here it is almost summer. Is it just me or is time flying by?

Allison had her piano recital Sunday and we were so proud of all she accomplished her first year. My parents made me take piano and I hated it. I had to ride my bike to my lesson and you have never seen a bicycle go so slow!!! But oh how I wish I could play now. So I am trying the "whatever" approach with Allison; it's sort of like reverse psychology, I guess. I don't fuss much about practicing and I don't hover and I act like it wouldn't bother me one bit if she quit. So far it's working. She has two fantastic role models from church, Sarah and Samantha, who played wonderfully yesterday too, so maybe she'll be inspired to stick with it.

Allison and Zoey are SO competitive it drives me crazy. Today's conversation went like this. "Zoey, today your friend Carter said I am much nicer than you are." Zoey counters with "I asked your friend Kaylee if she liked you or me best and she picked me!" I want them to be the best of friends, but so far, it's not working out that way. They seem to be fighting more and more these days. AND on top of that the Little Man has hit some kind of stage. Does not listen when I call, does not want to go to bed, dumps out his drink deliberately and screams when he's not happy. What has happenend to my laid back, jolly Little Man? Yesterday he cried because Zoey was singing HIS song. For crying out loud.

I keep thinking about the title of this blog-So blessed, too stressed- and really that is what I am. God has blessed me so much in my life. So much more than I ever imagined. I have had some difficult times, but I have had more gains than losses and I want to praise God for that. But still, I'm too stressed. I think I need more popsicles...............