Weird, Bowling, and Wilson Warrior

I can't believe how fast January is slipping by. I have so many check-up's and medical appointments scheduled in February that it hardly seems time. I've had 2 weeks with NO doctors appointments which has been NICE. The past few days have been rough, emotionally and physically and I think Sunday's Satan really tries to keep me from attending church. Every Sunday we have gone to church here, the sermons have been amazing- exactly what we needed to hear. I was struggling with patience last night and sure enough- today's sermon was mostly about patience- waiting for God's greatness and not settling for lentil soup (like Esau did with Jacob). I'm so thankful for the music and words this morning that resounded in my heart a new desire to be patient. . . whatever that means- I will learn as I continue to struggle and not feel well, I hope that I can learn patience in my perserverence.

A few weeks ago, I saw an idea on Pinterest for a snake wreath. I modified it just a tad but this is what Malachi and I came up with. We had fun creating it. However, it's been a few years since my teacher/glue gun days and I ended up with quite the ouchie on my hand that is still a nice blister. This will be a fun decoration at his birthday party that we've been planning.

Our church is doing a sermon/book study on the book "Weird" and I have loved having the boys learn the lessons as it applies to kids as well. Shawn has been listening to the audio book and I've been reading our paper copy. It is a great book and also convicting about being "weird in a God way."
 
This past Friday, Zachary was a Wilson Warrior. It meant that he got to put up a display case for the day and showcase some of his special things. Besides it being an early morning and the end of a particularly rough week for me, we got things displayed well and even had lunch with him. I am proud of him.
 
We also finally made it back to the league bowling. My boys have so many to make since I thought the season was over. My friend Melanie's son is on Logan and Malachi's team so we had to get team pictures.

What a busy, yet blessed weekend. God is good.

The View From Here

My boys are gone to western KS where the reports are that they are having a blast and enjoying life at Grandma Chance's house. I'm so thankful they made it safely out there despite the deer that are abundant along the way.

I miss my boys like crazy, but am getting a little more strength back today. I actually got out of bed this morning without about passing out! My head is still spinning and I'm just trying to enjoy the ride without giving in to the nauseous feeling. While I've been in bed, this is my view:

I played around with PhotoBucket's editing program a little bit and as you can see, I labeled some of the very important parts of my bedside dresser.

Exhibit A: One of the MOST important parts- my note card holder, aka- my Prayer Box. One the outside of the little box, I've written many of the Bible verses that contain why prayer is so powerful and important. On the inside are notecards with prayer requests and notes on those about how those prayer concerns are going. Remember, our prayers are always answered, but it may not be in OUR timing or in the way WE think it should be.

Exhibit B: My wonderful, spectacular, amazing husband brought me a flower last week. He knows I HATE roses with a passion (there's a long story behind that). The red carnation was just my style- plain, frugal, and thoughtful! The note was the most thoughtful part as he wrote that he was with me through this no matter what. I hate feeling like a burden to him and just a pain in his side, but he is an amazing person and I could only pray that I'd be as patient and strong should he need me some day. In the background is my blood pressure and heart rate monitor, which, well, I didn't want to mark as an exhibit because I'm hoping it will get put in storage soon once my heart gets fixed!

Exhibit C: Ah. . . . it was like divine intervention when I was having an awful day a few days ago and our door opened and Whola! (can you hear the harps??) boxes and boxes of girl scout cookies arrived at my door. I'd ordered many boxes months earlier as many people decided we looked like a nice cookie-eating family and it was just the most perfect timing for them to arrive when I have plenty of time to consume them. :) Peanut Butter Patties are my favorite!

Exhibit D: A new book I'm reading to expand my horizons. I joined a book study group here in town to kinda be able to have some girl talk and to grow spiritually. We do a bible study as well as a book study and so far its been wonderful. The book that we are reading right now is Number 1 Lady Dective Agency. It certainly is NOT one that I'd pick up on my own to read, but I'm already flying through it as it is very interesting, comical and has many lessons. Hopefully I can review it when I finish it so you all can decide if its a book you'd like to read as well. I'm also open for book suggestions. As much as I've been in bed and resting, I am sooo open to new ideas. I just need to have motivation to FINISH the books I start.

And that brings me to Exhibit E: This is my mountain of books I need to read for school (especially one my aunt loaned me- How the brain learns to Read), a pile of magazines that have arrived in the mail the past few months and I just haven't splurged into yet and of course, my Bible that gets me through some of my disheartening and depressing moments. The way it is the living word is so evident in that I can open it up and start reading and feel like what its saying to me pertains exactly to my situation right now, taking on a new meaning from what I'd gotten when I'd read those verses previously. Its so amazing and addictive.