B-D-J-T a four letter word!

Budget!

Doesn't the word just make you cringe a little bit?

I know it's a strange time of the year to get around to budgeting - but we did it. We are officially on the Dave Ramsey cash budget (again). Yes, we tried it before, and it worked swimmingly - everything but having to get the cash every week. We slowly eased out of it . . . and now decided to whip ourselves back into shape.

I know it's a necessary evil . . . but wouldn't it be nicer if we could just buy what we want when we want? I'm not talking extravagant purchaces . . . just everyday stuff.

This, however, is how my Meijer grocery bill ends up closer to $200 than our budgeted $100 each week. I see a cute shirt on clearance, or a little something that would look perfect in the bathroom, or a pair of cutey shoes for the girls, or hair thingies . . . which are pretty pricey! It's also how a visit to Target ends up in me shelling out $100.

The B-D-J-T!*%$#, however will stop me from doing that. There's an allotted amount for groceries, hair/make-up, clothing, entertainment etc., and when it's gone, it's gone. Although there is some freedom within boundries, it can also feel a bit constrictive (especially at Target or Old Navy or Maurices).

Anyone else do the cash thing? Or are you all on the buy what we want when we want plan? With good ole Christian Ed now in the picture, we have to be a bit more disciplined. But why does discipline take so much work?

I'm already schemeing ways to save a bit of money in a few areas, so I can pad my clothing account a bit more . . . hmmmmm, broccoli? or a new shirt? Look for me in the clearance aisle come school shopping time!

Freaky Friday

Have you ever seen that movie, "Freaky Friday" where two people end up switching bodies . . . that totally happened at our house last Friday.

Bella woke up nasty, argumentative, defiant - just miserable, really. She had three spankings and three time-outs - and all before noon!

Faith woke up sweet, kind, willing to help and share, happy, loving, huggy, patient.

It wasn't til noon that I figured out it was Friday the 13th . . . hmmmm.

Saturday, everthing was back to normal . . .

Vacation Mode

Wow! I know it's been forever since I've blogged . . . but my brain has been a bit in vacation mode!

After the craziness of Sports Camp and Faith's birthday, we took a week away at my in-laws cottage. The first two days were spent remembering what it's like to actually spend time together as a family. It was much needed alone time! It felt great to reconnect as a family! We needed it desperately! We then spent the holiday with Mike's parents, my mom and Matt, Olivia and Levi. Then for the weekend the whole fam was there!

The week started out a bit rainy . . . but by Wednesday afternoon, the sun decided to come out to stay! We had a fabulous time soaking in the rays, riding seadoos, puttsing around on the pontoon, playing Mexican train until 1 am (a very addicting dominos game), grilling great eats, laughing, and reading magazines - what a treat!

Mike's idea of R & R while at the cottage is starting projects . . . after sitting behind a desk for work all the time, he loves to do manual labor. The major undertaking of the week was giving the beach an extreme makeover. Mike started on Tuesday with ripping out a large section of the sea-wall - and later in the week he recruited his poor brothers to finish the job by hauling 15 yards of dirt up a flight of stairs one wheel barrow at a time. Don't tell anyone, but I think despite the hard work, they had fun doing it!

Anyway, here are some pics from our week away:

Mommy and Faith enjoying our homemade smoothies!

Daddy and Bella - CHEERS!

Cousins - Levi, Faith and Bella.

Mike and his brothers on vacation. So much for R & R! They spent Friday night and much of Saturday leveling off the beach to get it ready for sod!

The brothers also "relaxed" by opening up the sea-wall so the kids can now walk into the water (instead of fall in over the sea-wall like Bella did at the beginning of the week - head first no less!). This part will be covered in beautiful, white beach sand!

Bella and McKenzie supervising the work being done!

It wasn't all work and no play! Here's Mike trying to take Bella waterskiing . . . the one-handed take off is a bugger! They ended up falling at the take off and going under . . . after that, Bella decided she didn't want to try again . . . go figure!

She did, however still want to go for a boat ride . . . Notice that Faith doesn't go anyone without her trusty friend, Rar. And aren't Bella's little buns adorable!

Birthday Girl!

2007 - Year of the Barbie!

Faith received 2 Barbie dolls, 2 Ken dolls, a host of Barbie clothes and a case to carry it all . . . all from random people . . . all unplanned! She's in Barbie doll heaven . . . oh, and there's the Polly Pockets, a cute dress, a poncho (hand-knit) and "Charlotte's Web."

Faith's Birthday was June 28 . . . but because it was the last day of Sports Camp . . . we didn't do a lot of celebrating that day. But, on Friday, we had 8 of her closest friends from school over for a little princess party! I had two middle-school girls come and we did all the girls hair, nails and make-up. We decorated bags, frames and made necklaces AND we ate a beautiful princess Barbie cake! It was a blast! Here are some pictures from the day!

The Barbie cake - I whipped up the morning of the party!

All the girls decorating their take-home bags.

The brithday girl!

Faith and her best friend, Claire!

Wedding Day Bliss!

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day! The weather was amazing! The sun was shining! The wedding was flawless! The girls did an amazing job as flower girls . . . Faith stood up front the whole time (OK, she sat part of the time, but she stayed on the stage!)

Here's the happy couple: Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks

Faith and Bella were so exhausted after the wedding, they fell asleep on the way to the reception! It worked out great though, cuz they had lots of energy to dance the afternoon away!

Faith loved the disco ball lights! She stands in awe!

Faith and Bella dancing! Bella would turn around and around and around until she was so dizzy she couldn't stand up anymore!

Our international guests: Jane - Shelly's roommate from Calvin, and Helen - a friend from England!

Personal Shower

After florista-ing for most of Thursday, we went to get our nails and toes done. Then, after frantically shopping for all the groceries I would need - and frantically getting everything ready at my house . . . 14 of Shelly's closest friends and family members came to my house for a little personal shower.

We had a blast watching her open all of her "barely there" items. Only good old big sis (me) got her something practical. I guess I was the only one at the party married FOREVER . . . and the only one to know that you don't actually wear the "barely there's" for more than the first month or so of being married. I also got her the "essentials" kit . . . you know the stuff that no one really told you about . . . that you wish you would have known BEFORE the honeymoon. Hey, that's what big sister's are for, right.

Here's a picture of one of the barely theres that I did NOT get her! The look on her face says it all, doesn't it?



One of the funniest things about the shower is that our step-sister, Lia wrote down all of the responses that Shelly had to her presents . . . and at the end of the shower, she read them all as if they were said on their honeymoon night . . . some of my favorites:

"What is this thing?"
"Oh, I'm soooo excited!"
"Look! It's from Ting Tong Woo!"
"I don't know what I'm doing."
"It's so soft!"
"Yes! I love it!"
"Yummy"
"Sassy"
"How does this work?"

Floristas!

On Thursday morning, June 21, Shelly, my mom and I went to Andicott to do all of the flowers for the wedding. I was a little bit nervous about this endevour . . . but there was nothing to be nervous about! We made 5 bridesmaids bouquets, 1 bride's bouquet, a few dozen corsages and bouteniers, a large candelabra centerpiece, six small candelabra arrangements, cake flowers and a cake topper (see Shelly holding it below). It took the two of us almost eight hours from start to finish . . . but they looked beautiful!

I only have a couple of pictures to show . . . more to come later.

I'm Back!

Wow! It feels good to be back in the blogsphere again! How I've missed it!

The last two weeks have been an absolute whirlwind of activities! It all started two weeks ago with frantic sports camp planning, wedding planning, floral arranging, personal shower, picking up and dropping off babysitters, cleaning the house, out-of-state and international house-guests, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, THE WEDDING and reception, more sports camp, more sports camp, more sports camp, Faith's 5th birthday, Faith's birthday party, another 10K for Mike . . . which brings us to Saturday afternoon! Our family is SHOT! We've had WAY too many late nights . . . WAY too many early mornings . . . WAY too much fast food (or skipped meals) . . . WAY too many busy days . . . WAY too little quality time with my kids and husband . . . and now it's time for a little catch up.

Enjoy the consecutive posts on the craziness!

A Blogging Break

This next week is going to be one of the craziest on record for me! My sister is getting married, AND True Victory Sports Camp (our summer Children's Program) and Faith's fifth birthday are the week after that, so all my planning for everything needs to be done by mid-week this week in order for me to relax and enjoy the wedding festivities.

THUS . . . I'll be taking a little break from the wild world of blogging! But look on the bright side! I'll have plenty to blog about as soon as I return!

See ya in a week or two (I may be blogging from the comforts of Pine Rest . . . but I'll be back eventually)!

No Longer a Thankless Job!

Motherhood . . . so often is such a thankless job. Kid's don't appreciate all we moms do for them! From laundry, to dishes, from scrubbing floors to scrubbing toilets, from feeding them to wiping their hind-ends . . . Being a mom is a LOT of work!

But lately, Bella has taken to thanking me for stuff . . . it's not because I tell her to, but it's truly spontaneous and from her heart! Here are a few from the last week:

"Thank you, Mommy, for washing my undies! I put them away now!"
"Thank you, Mommy, for making me cookies!"
"Thank you, Mommy for cleaning my bowl." (as I was emptying the dishwasher)
"Thank you, Mommy, for washing my blanky! It's cozy!"

She's so precious! Honestly, does it get any better than that! I feel so loved - so appreciated . . . all from a 2 year-old!

Who says motherhood has to be a thankless job? Now, on to working on my almost 5 year-old . . . someday I'll hear "thank you" coming from her too, right?

Cutlerville Days!

This past weekend we celebrated Cutlerville Days with 5,000 of our closest friends. Cutlerville Days (which is actually a day - peculiar) is an annual celebration that takes place in Mike's hometown. It consists of the Brian Diemer 5K (a local Olympian), a small-town parade, and all sorts of carnivaly (is that a word?) goodness! It was an amazingly beautiful day! Here are some shots to enjoy! Mike ran the race with his two brothers Matt (husband of LMNO) and Marc. It was truly a family affair!

Mike at the tail end of the Brian Diemer race. He finished at 21 minutes, 36 seconds! Great running honey!


Mike and Bella enjoying the post-race parade.


Faith waving to the firemen!


Bella, Faith and their cousin Jared riding the carnival train. What fun!


Who doesn't love the moonwalk?

All in all it was a fabulous "family day"! And, honestly, how many of those do we really take time to do?

For more great pictures of the day, visit L-M-N-O in my sidebar!

Leftovers

Like most of you, I make a few nice meals each week. We eat like kings and have plenty leftover to take to work, and eat throughout the week . . . but do we?

Mike ends up going out for lunch several times a week for business, so he rarely takes a lunch along. I do eat leftovers, however, I won't touch them after they're a couple days old. I rely on Mike (with his 5-7 day-old rule) to do his fair share and eat the leftovers . . . but that doesn't always happen. So, what we're left with is several containers in our fridge, full of moldy food that neither Mike nor I take the time to dispose of (simply because we hope that the other person will see it and take care of it).

So, after about a month, Mike gets tired of seeing all the miscellaneous containers in the fridge, and he is kind enough to set the them all on the counter. He doesn't empty the containers (usually), mind you, he just sets them on the counter. So, whatever food wasn't rancid quickly becomes nasty! And the stuff that was nasty to begin with becomes even nastier! It's bad enough to empty out refrigerated rotten food . . . but much worse to empty out rotten food that's been sitting on your counter for a day.

You'd think we'd just eat the food in a timely manner! Wouldn't that be the stewardly thing to do? Do any of you struggle with this - or is it just me?

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday.

In celebration of today, I thought I'd post one of my favorite pictures of her with my girls!

She has been an amazing example of Christ's love! She's always quick with a hug, a smile and words of encouragement. She loves playing with her grandkids, and would do anything for her children. She is an inspiration to all who know her!

I love you Mom! I hope you have a terrific birthday - with many more to come!

My Husband's a Rock Star!

Sunday morning we skipped church and headed downtown for Festival! Mike is friends with members of a band called "Theophilus" and they needed a bass guitar player so they asked Mike! It was a rainy, nasty morning, but the band sounded great!



Mike says he's ready to quit his job and 'join a band'. He says, "Chicks dig guys in bands!"



The rainy weather didn't stop the "groupies" from coming to cheer them on!



Faith and Bella had fun groovin to the music!



Faith and her friend Gabe (whose dad is a member of Theophilus, pictured in front of Mike above).



Bella Grace - diggin' it!

Then and Now

Last night - despite the blustery winds, the pelting rain and the roaring thunder - I ventured out to my 15 year SCHS reunion at a local park.

4:00p - It was 90 and sunny when we arrived, but the dark, ominous clouds were on the horizon and certainly headed our way. We ignored them, hoping we could will them away. The kids enjoyed the less than stellar clown and had butterflies painted on their faces. Brats and dogs were on the grill.

6:00p - It was so dark that you couldn't see anyone, rain was coming sideways into the pavillion we were under, plates, cups and napkins were swirling around within the pavillion like a tornado, all 50 kids that were there were crying and clinging to their parents (I felt really bad for the parents of 3-year-old triplets), lightning struck the upper section of the park and the thunder was crazy loud - of course, this was about the time Bella had to go potty.

7:00 - It was 70 and sunny, the kids were having a ball playing in puddles and on the wet playground equipment and I had a fabulous time mingling with people I haven't seen in ages - some since graduation.

It was great to see where life had taken everyone. It was great to hear tremendous stories of God's faithfulness to each of us.
It was great to meet husbands, wives and kids of the people we used to roam the halls with.

Here's a blast from the past, taken my senior year at SCHS. Don't you just love the matching v-neck sweaters, the tight-rolled jeans, the Keds and the huge hair? My goodness did we use a lot of hairspray! These were my best buddies in highschool (from my grade, anyway) - clockwise, starting with me, Simie, Tina, Wendi, Sara, Lori.


Now here's the updated version - 15 years later! We're a little more sophisticated now, don't you think? And our hair is much calmer (or just plain flat, thanks to the weather)! We look pretty good, yet don't we? That considering we have 14 kids between all of us, with one on the way (congrats Wendi!) Clockwise, starting with me (middle) Simie, Tina, Wendi and Sara. We missed you Lori!


I thank God for amazing friendships that have stood the test of time! Love ya girls! Here's to hoping we look just as good at the next reunion!

A Great Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day weekend. We spent it up north at my in-law's cottage - complete with boatrides, seadoos, turtle catching, movie-watching, walking, swimming (the girls - not me!) and s'mores! I didn't pull the camera out until we were on our way home Monday night.

Guess which one had a nap that day?

Summer Days Make Me Feel Fine!

I LOVE SUMMER! I love the warm weather, the sun, the campfires, the s'mores, the flowers, the water. I love having two beautiful children that help me see summer through their eyes! In our grown up worlds, we lose sight of how amazing God's creation is. We're just too busy to see it for what it is - A WONDER!

Kids help us with our perspectives on things, though, don't they? Bella nevery tires of yelling out, "Look, Mommy, a butterfly!" Faith never tires of finding new "pets" to "play with". And who can deny how fun it was to run through a sprinkler - or to drink from one for that matter!

I want to encourage all of my fellow bloggers - or blog visitors - to get outside today! Take a look at the world around you through the eyes of a child. Take time to wonder at God's amazing creation - His amazing attention to details! Just think about the dandelion (Mike's arch enemy)! They may be weeds, but through the eyes of a child, they're beautiful. Faith just said the other day, "I just love to look at Grandma's yard! It's so beautiful with all those flowers in it! How come our yard doesn't have any?"


Faith and her first "pet" of the summer. Say "Hi" to Toady!


Bella's not so sure about the whole toad thing . . . she's very interested in watching Faith play with it, but not too keen on touching it herself!

Happy Summer!

Farewell to Preschool!

Last week Friday was Faith's very last day of Preschool. Her class had a wonderful farewell picnic at a local park. It was supposed to rain that morning, but it ended up to be the perfect day for it!

I know it sounds a little crazy, but I found myself getting a little misty-eyed as I thought about how quickly this last year went and how much Faith has grown. The year started with a little four-year-old who didn't want to go to preschool without her faithful pal Rar (her bear) - to a wildly independent almost-five-year-old who can't wait to tackle Kindergarten (with or without Rar).

We worked through some fairly tough months of defiance and strong-willedness. But now I see a little girl filled with compassion for others and a willingness to share and be kind and help (most of the time).

I am so thankful for the patience and love that Mrs. Konyndyk and Mrs. Clark showed toward Faith this last year. I'm thankful for the Christ-centered education she received. I'm thankful that she has made friends that could very well last her a lifetime! (My dearest friend to this day is someone I met in Kindergarten . . . I love you Tina!)

I'm grateful that Faith continues to grow and mature . . . but bit by bit, my and Mike's sphere of influence is being wittled away. Soon she'll be with other people more than she'll be with us (maybe that's a good thing). It's so great, though, to know Whose hands she's in - to know that her Father has her secure in His grip.

Here's to hoping Kindergarten is even better!

Happy Anniversary!

Sorry about the lack of blogging over the last week! You all were getting used to me posting everyday, weren't you?

We had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend . . . as I'm sure all of you did. However we had the added bonus of celebrating 12 years of marriage over the weekend! 12 years!

Boy, in some ways it seems like yesterday that we were "tying the knot" - and yet, I can barely remember a time before Mike. I was 16 when we started dating. We dated for 4 years and have been married for 12. . . which means I have been with Mike for HALF OF MY LIFE! Yikes!



Just look at us! We were just kids - 20 and 21 - clueless and in love. Don't you love the poofy sleeves? Man oh man I thought I had the most beautiful wedding dress EVER! Poofy, sparkley dresses were all the rage in 1995. Now they're all elegant and sleek and timeless. But I digress . . .

Back to 12 years of married bliss!

I feel like Mike and I have lived more life - and experienced more ups and downs in 12 years, than most people do in a lifetime! Yet, every day - EVERY SINGLE DAY - is better than the one before it. No, we don't always have the mushy, gushy feelings we had toward each other on our wedding day, but our love has grown to be a comfy, stable, safe, mature (OK, sort of mature) love.

When we were dating, and actually, regularly went out on dates, I used to feel bad for the "old married people" sitting at the table next to us - not talking. Now I understand that sometimes silence is nice - sometimes, silence can be comfortable - sometimes it's nice to not have to say anything, yet know the person sitting across from you "just knows" what you're thinking.

I absolutely love being married to Mike! I love God's provision for me through him. I couldn't have known at 16 what I would need 16 years down the line . . . I couldn't have known about all of the trials that would change us and grow us . . . but God did! He knew just who we would be today, and just how perfect we would be for each other TODAY. It gives me confidence that 12 years from now, we'll be just as perfect for each other!

Thanks, Mike, for 12 amazing years! I love you with all of my heart! I need you each and everyday! You are the love of my life. I would marry you all over again in a heartbeat! Trust. Love. Respect. Forever.

Let's just hope the next 12 years are less eventful than the last 12!

Feeling Better Everyday!

Wow! It has been a long time since I've felt this good! I even caught the girls' summer cold . . . and I still feel better than I have in two months!

Thank you, Lord!

It's so wonderful to appreciate the little things that I normally see as boring or "just everyday stuff": playing with my girls, running through sprinklers in the backyard, cleaning my house, spreading bark, pulling weeds, taking a walk to the mailbox. I'm also appreciating normal "body functions" if you know what I mean! After 47 days of diarrhea . . . things are back to normal - thank goodness. I know, for some of you that's TMI . . . but if you know me well, you know I'm an open book!

Here's to feeling better! Here's to feeling normal! It's WONDERFUL!

Drum roll please . . .

And the mystery virus is . . .



. . . a . . . mystery . . . virus . . .



Isn't that great? I go to the best diagnostic clinic in the USA - if not the world, and they can't give a name to what I have. The good news is that they ruled out tons of major stuff that could have been causing my symptoms.

The doc wrote a two-page report saying that, more or less, I had a nasty virus . . . which left me with post-infectious dysautonomia . . . whatever that means. His suggestion was to seek help from a medical psychologist that can help me overcome my "medical anxiety" and "possible depression", and to begin a graduated exercise program. Both of these things should draw me up out of feeling cruddy.

Anyway, we're thankful to God that we were able to rule out some pretty major stuff, and that I'm beginning to feel better each day. I even drove carpool today! That's progress!

Thanks again to all of you for your prayers and support during the last month and a half! I wouldn't have made it through without you!

Still Waiting

I called Mayo again this morning, and my results are in and dictated - now they just need to be typed up and faxed our way.

As soon as I hear anything, I'll post about it.

The Wait Continues

Hey Everyone!

We were really hoping to have answers by today . . . but, to no avail!

I called first thing this morning to touch base with the doc. The goal was two-fold: first, to find out if we could have the psyc. appt. here at home - and to find out what that would entail and second, to find out when we could speak with the doctor about the test results.

When we left on Friday, we were under the impression that we still had our appointments for Tuesday in case we needed to come back (it was never confirmed that we could finish up at home). After calling this morning, we found out that they had canceled our appointments, assuming we were going to wrap things up here. That means our appt. with the doc has been filled by another patient, and we have to wait for him to get to my test results "in his spare time."

We're certainly frustrated by that, but understand the confusion of it all. So, for now, we're stuck waiting yet again.

Patience . . .

It seems to be the lesson God has had to test me on over and over again. Apparently I'm a slow learner.

Divorce - it took my parents almost 3 years to figure out if they were going to be together or get divorced . . . waiting . . . hoping.

Infertility - it took 4 long years of trying, miscarrying, crying, surgeries before Faith came along . . . waiting . . . praying.

Cancer - tests . . . waiting . . . surgeries . . . waiting . . . praying . . . waiting.

Now this.

I have to admit, it's getting easier - the waiting, that is. I'm learning once again, that I'm not in control. But I am safely in the arms of The One who IS! He knows what's going on with me. He created me. He will be The One to restore me back to ME.

I've learned a lot over the last month and a half - about priorities, about delegation, about friendship and fellowship, about patience, and about my complete dependence on my Father. I've learned a lot about the importance of staying in God's Word (something I've been very sporadic at until my accountabilty girls came along) and about the importance of being in constant communication with The One who created me.

When I am weak, He is strong!

In the meantime, I'm feeling a bit stronger each day . . . and I'm learning that God works mightily in "The Waiting."

Just as a side note, there is another gal at my church experiencing similar symptoms to me - only she's been dealing with it for a month longer! Ugh! Her name is Sue . . . and when you think of saying a prayer for me, I'd love it if you'd say one for her too! She's been waiting longer than I have . . . but God is at work in her life too.

I love you all! Thanks again for your prayers and support!

25K

I am SO PROUD of Mike!

He started running in October as part of a one month weight loss challenge at his work. After one month, he lost 10 lbs, and he became addicted. Shortly after, he decided to sign up for a local 25K and has been training ever since.

Well, today was race day! It was the perfect weather for a run - mid 40's in the early morning, ending up at about 65 ish. Mike's parents, the girls and I made the trek downtown to watch him toward the end of the race. It was great to see his face coming toward us. The cheerleader in me came out in full force! I was yelling and cheering, and - despite my fatigue - was running down the sidewalk yelling encouragements at him.

I am so proud of him! I don't know many people who can run 15 miles . . . and he doesn't come by running naturally. He really had to work hard to achieve this 25K goal.

He finished in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 31 seconds! That's amazing for a first-timer! A huge goal for people running the race is to do it in under two hours . . . he almost did it his first try! Amazing!

Anyway, if you're interested, check out his stats here. You'll have to punch in his first and last name (Michael), and it will tell you the rest!

God is good! I realize in the grand scheme of life, a 25K isn't that important. But, God answered our simple little prayer to be home from Mayo in time for him to run this race, and we were! Thank you, Lord!

No Results . . . Yet

Thanks again to all of you for your continued prayers throughout this whole ordeal!

We waited for the Doctor as long as we could yesterday, but he ended up to be too busy to meet. By the time we left all of our test results were in - we just had no-one to read them to us.

We're hoping to call in on Monday morning and get some answers. If the test results tell the doc what he was looking for, we should be able to just get the prognosis over the phone. If they show something weird, we'll probably be called back for some additional testing - in which case, we'll actually go to the psyc appt. there and meet with the doc in person.

Anyway, as soon as we get some answers, we'll let ya'll know!

In the meantime, we thank God for a safe trip! It's good to be home.

Waiting . .

Ok, this is actually the church lady this time. I decided to give my guest blogger a break for a little while, although he's a lot more fun and witty than I am!

I started the day off with an echocardiogram - while running on a treadmill. I haven't run in over 2 months . . . you would think I feel exhausted . . . but it actually felt pretty good. From there I had some breathing tests, and from there I had an ultrasound done of my abdomen. Then we hit an Italian restaurant called "Victoria's" - home of the best Walley sandwich in Minnesota. Mike and I split it and we concure! Delic! In addition to that we had the best pasta dishes we've ever had. It felt good to eat after fasting for most of the day. Mike filled himself to capacity - he has the big 25K tomorrow, so he's hoping the pasta will make him run fasta!

Anyway, it's 3:00 here, and we're waiting on possibly seeing my doc before we leave today. The only appointment we have left is with a psychologist on Tuesday, and then we were supposed to meet with our doc after that. Today we inquired about the possibility of meeting with the doc today, and doing the psyc evaluation at home somewhere. Our shuttle leaves for the airport at 3:50 . . . so time is ticking away! Here's hoping we get in in the next couple of minutes. Otherwise, we're stuck waiting for any test results until Tuesday . . . and we may have to drive the 9 hours here to get them.

We'll keep you posted as we know more!

Passenger Seat Day 2

Quick update this morning from the Husband. We're headed off for Day 2 shortly. First appointment this morning is at 10:00 - Stress Eco - I encouraged Wife to wear camo capri's this morning for the testing. Get after it. Ultrasound at 12:00 (assuming she's alive after the stress eco). Then Pulmonary function testing at 2:15. Leave the Camel menthol wides at the door, please.

We're flying home tonite. Unfortunately, the last testing isn't scheduled until Tuesday with no possibility of getting it moved up. We'll be home for the weekend and then have to drive back Monday. At that point, the initial consult Doctor will have a chance to review all the testing that was completed and hopefully give us a diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatement.

As amazing as this experience has been, we're anxious to get home to spend some time with our dependants. Thanks for all your prayers.

The Passenger Seat

It's an honor to be asked to be The Church Lady's 1st guest blogger. Having never blogged before, she's taking a significant risk in asking that I sign on. I think she might like me. I am, after all, the Husband.

I'm certain I read somewhere that "In order to understand a Solution, one must understand the Problem first." That being said, the Solution, in this case, is Mayo clinic.

First, the Problem:
Waiting to be seen by a Doctor.
Waiting to have tests ordered and scheduled.
Waiting for the results of those tests to go to the Doctor you initially waited for.
Waiting for that Doctor (or Doctor's representative) to call you back and leave you a voice mail to call them back.
Calling back and having to wait for the Doctor again to tell you that test you took was inconclusive and another test had to be ordered.
Repeat.

I'm afraid for many, this is an experience that has been lived out - some are in the middle of this maddening cycle as we speak. You are painfully aware of the Problem. For those of you who have never experienced this cycle, consider yourselves fortunate and give thanks to God for your daily health and strength.

Our day was spent very much in the passenger seat of the machine that is Mayo Clinic. Along for the ride, fast and furious.
6:40 AM - Admissions at the Gonda Building. Paperwork complete and signed in. Sent to Mayo building 17th floor - "Internal Medicine". This is our new Home Room for the duration of our stay.
7:00 AM - Greeted by Dorothy. Sweet Dorothy. Pleasant Dorothy. After mis-pronouncing Wife's first name we were treated to our only Minnesota humor for the day when she corrected herself saying "Oh Garsh, how did that happen?". I've forgiven her.
7:30 AM - Wife taken back for vitals - blood pressure, height, and weight. Yes, weight. I'll tell in exchange for baked goods.
8:40 AM - Wife taken back for initial consult / physical with the Doctor assigned to her.
10:15 AM - Wife back from consult. Doctor orders necessary tests and we wait for the day's schedule.
10:40 AM - Dorothy calls us to the desk and goes through our five page schedule. "You're already ten minutes late for your 1st appointment", she tells us...off we go.
10:45 AM - Blood work at the Hilton Building. Twelve vials taken.
10:50 AM - Done with blood work. Off to pick up "stool samples" kit.
10:58 AM - "Samples" kit retrieved and off to EKG appointment.
11:00 AM - Back at Gonda Subway for scheduled EKG. Sign in for appointment.
11:05 AM - Wife called back for EKG.
11:30 AM - Wife back from EKG. Break for lunch and a deep breath.
1:40 PM - Show up twenty minutes early for our appointment after a lovely lunch at JP's deli (voted best Deli in Rochester 2006 - try the #20 with salt and vinegar chips). Sign in for appointment.
1:42 PM - Wife taken back for Autonomic Testing (no idea what this means, but it sounds sweet).
2:44 PM - Wife back and we head to our last appointment of the day - more blood work.
3:24 PM - Sign in for last blood draw of the day.
3:27:30 PM - Wife taken back for blood draw (note the 30-second indicator).
3:29 PM - Wife back from blood draw and we're done for Day 1. I suspect the nurse is either VERY good at what she does, or hides a chronic intraveneous drug problem very well while at work. Either way, good with needles.

The Solution: Organized and Efficient Health Care.

I can't even begin to imagine how they pull it all off, but they do. And that's enough for me. Bring on Day 2.

We've Met . . . Now We Wait . . .

I met with the doctor this morning . . . about an hour and a half after our appointed time. However, I felt very good about our meeting. He had a good bedside manor. And, when he heard I directed the children's ministries for my church . . . he asked if my denomination was like the Lutheran denomination. He grew up Lutheran. I don't know if he's a Christian or not, but he was very kind and thorough.

He did a full examination, asked lots of questions, and took time to briefly assess what he thinks is going on. He refered to the system in your body that initiates the "fight or flight" response. He seems to think that that system is a little wacked out right now. It kicks in in the middle of the night, or at weird times instead of when I need it to. He's going to do some tests to check on a particular syndrome associated with this called POTTS.

He also wants to do and ECCO cardiogram just to rule out further viral problems with my heart. I'll be having a few other random tests done . . . we're still waiting for our schedule of what they'll be. I'll also be meeting with a psychologist - not because he thinks I'm crazy, but because the mind and body are so inter-related.

Hopefully we'll get some more answers today.

Prayer requests:

Pray that the ECCO comes back normal. This is the scariest test I have to have. Pray that God protects my heart from any viral infection or harm.

Pray that we'll be able to get the tests done in the next day or two, and be able to head home this weekend.

Pray for continued peace. I know I'm in good hands - not just at Mayo - but in the Father's!

I'll post another update as I know what's going on!

I love you all!

I've Got a Bad Case of the "What Ifs?"

OK, it's just after 6:00a here, and I'm shaky and nervous . . . my mind is filled with all sorts of "what ifs?".

I know these thoughts aren't from God. I know I am in God's hands. I know He has gone ahead of me on this day. I know He will take care of me.

Pray with me against these anxious thoughts. Pray for peace. Pray for simple answers.

Just Pray!

We Made It!

Hey everyone!

Just a quick note to let everyone know we made it to sunny Rochester, Minnesota. It's a beautiful, upper 70's day and our hotel is wonderful . . . they even have sleep number beds here! Fancy!

The trip was quite uneventful - other than feeling really tired all day.

I was able to rest when we got to the hotel, and now we're headed out to get some dinner. I can't eat after 7:00p, so we're going to try to find something good!

We'll post again tomorrow to let you all know what's happening.

Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers. They mean the world to us! A few requests:

Please pray against anxiety for me . . . as much as I want to know what's wrong with me . . . I don't want to know what's wrong with me . . . does that make sense?

Pray for the doctors and technicians - for clarity - for direction.

Pray that we can arrive at some answers. Not knowing what's going on is a little nerve wrecking . . . your mind goes to bad places.

Pray that it's something simple and treatable.

Pray for a good night's sleep. I usually don't sleep well in hotels . . . and lately I can't even sleep well in my own bed . . . maybe if I find my perfect sleep number, I'll sleep like a baby!

Pray for the girls - that they would do well with mommy and daddy gone.

Pray that we can get this wrapped up by Friday night so we can be home for the weekend (and so Mike can run his much-anticipated 25K on Saturday).

We love you all! We'll check back in tomorrow!

Never Say Never

I always said that I would NEVER have a TV in my bedroom! My arguments are as follows:

1. TV is far from an good thing. Most of the stuff on it is junk (accept American Idol, House and Gray's Anatomy). We're probably better off reading a good book, or actually sitting down to a nice conversation with a cup of coffee. This is why we moved our regular TV from our upstairs greatroom to our basement. With it down there, we watch much less than we used to.

2. Your bedroom should be a sanctuary. A peaceful place for you and your husband to share without yet another distraction.

I still believe these arguments . . .

HOWEVER, when you can do nothing all day but sit around, there comes a breaking point.

My husband found an old TV of ours and hooked it up in our bedroom, and it has been wonderful! We also recently added the $4 cable package to our high speed internet package, and now we can actually see the network channels, and there are a couple extra channels like TBS and HSN and a few others that add some extra movies and interesting shows that we don't normally get.

At night, when I'm starting to fade, I just want to lie down . . . but Mike isn't quite ready yet, so we've been able to snuggle together and watch a movie. If I fall asleep . . . no problem . . . I'm already in my bed!

Mornings have been the worst for me . . . and, of course, that is when the girls are the most energetic. This morning, Faith got both girls containers with Cheerios in them and sippy cups of milk, they crawled into bed with me and watched PBS Kids for much of the morning and I was able to actually sleep in! Amazing.

As soon as I'm better, I'm going to boot the TV back out again . . . but for now, it's a blessing!

I guess it's true what they say, "Never Say Never!"

The Voice of Truth

I know I've been a little too "Church Lady" lately . . . but I my faith is being tested yet again . . . so my mind is constantly thinking about the spiritual realm and I feel like I'm in a constant state of prayer.

This mystery sickness is going on well over a month, and I'm amazed at the difference a day can make on my attitude and well-being.

There are days I wake up feeling pretty good - the sun is shining - the girls are behaving - and it feels like maybe I'm turning the corner on this thing. It's easy on those days to feel peace and God's provision of grace.

Then there are days I wake up feeling - literally - like I'm dying. I'm so weak I can hardly lift Bella into her high chair, my heart is racing, I can't breath well, I'm shaky and fatigued. These are days that bad thoughts enter my mind . . . what if this is something really bad? What if I never feel better? I'm a terrible mom - I can't even care for my own kids. I know those "voices" that I'm hearing aren't coming from God. I know they are coming from the evil one . . . but it's so tempting and easy to succomb to those voices.

This morning while Mike and the girls were at church, I was worshiping in my own home by listening to the radio, and a song came on called "The Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns. Tears came to my eyes as I listened to the words:

"And the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says DO NOT BE AFRAID
The voice of truth says THIS IS FOR YOUR GLORY
Out of all the voices crying out to me
I will CHOOSE to listen and believe the voice of TRUTH!"

Please pray for me that I wll choose to listen and believe the voice of truth - that I won't be afraid - that I can see that God is working all of this out for HIS glory! I pray the same for all of you. We all have "voices" that tell us things contrary to what God's word says. Let's choose together to listen to THE VOICE OF TRUTH!

The Body of Christ

Wow! I am in awe of God's provision for me!

The Body of Christ - the Christian community - is truly amazing!

I've seen the following passage come to life in the last few weeks! I'm sorry to get all "Church Lady" on of you, but this is what's on my heart . . . so endulge me in reading this!

Romans 12:4-8
"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

I stand amazed at the way we have been embraced, supported and lifted up during this tough time. We've been provided with several meals, childcare, emails, cards, prayers etc. and don't know what we'd do without them. I stand amazed at the people who have taken over my duties at church! They've stepped up their leadership and teaching skills big-time. I'm stand amazed at the encouragement, generosity and loving-kindness we've received.

The only gift I haven't received from someone yet is prophesy . . . I could use a little of that! Ha Ha! Could someone tell me when this is all going to be over and done with? At least if I knew, I could mentally gear up for it!

I'm still feeling pretty crummy over-all, but am very happy that I have good days mixed in with the bad. We've gotten a referral to go to the Mayo Clinic next week (May 10), so hopefully we'll get some answers from them.

Thanks for sharing your God-given gifts with us! We wouldn't be able to get through all of this without you - The Body of Christ!

I love you all!

Giving Thanks in ALL Circumstances!

Ok, I think we'd all agree that there are times in life when things are going good, and it's so easy to thank God for everything around you. And, believe me, I try not to take things for granted . . . I try to thank God everyday - even for the little things; for the sunshine, for healthy kids that can run around and play in the grass, for dandelions picked by two little girls before daddy mows them up, for a warm/cool safe house to live in, for our jobs, for a happy, wonderful marriage . . .

BUT, it's so much harder to give thanks when in the midst of cruddy, or less than ideal circumstances: when the car in front of you is moving too slow, or someone cuts you off, when you're out of work, when the furnace conks out, when you've had "one of those days" . . .

OR

WHEN YOU'VE BEEN SICK FOR OVER A MONTH AND NO-ONE KNOWS WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!

I'm beginning to lose my mind! I'm tired of being tired, I'm tired of not being able to do simple things like make lunch for my kids or fold laundry without feeling exhausted, I'm tired of feeling weak and shaky, of my heart racing in the 120's . . . the list of complaints and frustrations can go on and on . . .

But, I wanted to take a moment to tell you what I am thankful for, despite - or inspite - of my circumstances:

1. For the best husband a girl could get! I stand amazed at God's gracious gift of Mike to me. Funny, I thought I picked him for myself . . . but it was all ordained in God's great plan that the quirky 17 year-old I fell in love with would turn into the most selfless, giving, serving, loving husband ever! You have no idea what is in store for you when you exchange those vows - but God does!

2. For my family. If you know me at all, you know I'm a ME DO IT kind of person, thus my nickname - INDEPENDENT GIRL! I'm always on the go, and I rarely take the time to stop and smell the flowers. Well . . . I'm completely stopped and the flowers are beautiful! My girls are amazing! They've been so compassionate, and their prayers for me have brought me to tears (which isn't saying much - I've been crying a lot lately). I've gotten the most beautiful cards and other creations from them, and have truly seen a side to them I haven't seen before! We've raised two incredible little girls! Thank you God!

3. Time - I'm going a little out of my mind, but I've had a lot of time to think and contemplate things.

4. Friends and Family - It is very VERY hard for me to accept help from other people - cuz I'm INDEPENDENT GIRL! However, the meals, offers to watch the kids, offers to clean my toilets, offers of sweet, loving service from people I know well, to those I hardly know! Again, I'm amazed at God's provision for me. I only hope I feel well enough someday to give back the way people are continuing to give to me!

5. Energy - when I finally do feel 100% again (please, Lord, let it be soon!), it will be a LOOOOOOONNNNNGGG time before I take a healthy, energy-filled day for granted again.

6. The sun and weight loss - hey, as long as I'm stuck in the house, exhausted and tired, I might as well be lying in the sun, right? AND, Thanks to the 10 pounds I've lost over the last 2 weeks, the two-piece doesn't look as bad as it once did! I may not be able to do anything . . . but I'll be tan not doing it . . .

7. Prayer - I've always struggled with prayer - how to pray - what to pray . . . and that certainly hasn't changed in the last few weeks, but I am ever so grateful, for those friends and family that have been diligent to pray my family through this tough time! I know God hears and answers our prayers! Keep praying, and know that with all this extra time on my hands, I've been praying a lot more - for all of you! I've actually taken time to petition God on your behalves in ways that I've been too busy to do before! I thank God for all of you!

In Sickness and In Health

Can I just say that I have THE best husband in the whole world! I know some of you may bulk at that . . . but I know it's true!

The last 11 days, I've been in the worst health I can remember . . . read my last entry for details. I've been unable to do ANYTHING, and if you know me at all, you know that's not good. I'm a mover and a shaker . . . maybe too much of one. This last week and a half has showed me the value of slowing down. Although I haven't had the energy to take care of and play with my kids, I now appreciate more than ever, how important it is to take that time. Nothing's more important than the time we spend with our families. When I'm better (hopefully, someday) I will make the time necessary to truly enjoy my kids and my husband each and every day!

Anyways . . . more about Mike. He has stayed home from work (or worked remotely from home) much of last week. He's cooked and cleaned, bathed the kids, tucked them in almost every night . . . he's taken over most all of my weekly responsibilities in addition to his own. He's been a servant. He has given and gotten nothing in return.

In my daily devotions I read John 13 today (yes accountability girls, I may be sick, but I'm keeping up on my reading!) and verses 34 and 35 say, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

The footnote in my Bible says, "Love is more than simply warm feelings; it is an attitude that reveals itself in action. How can we love others as Jesus loves us? By helping when it's not convenient, by giving when it hurts, by devoting energy to others' welfare rather than our own, by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back."

Mike has loved me with this kind of love - agape love - unconditional love - and for that I am sooooooo thankful. He has been Jesus to me this week.

Kind of funny, this week Mike said kiddingly, "Boy I wish I hadn't taken that whole 'in sickness and health' so seriously - this is hard work!" Boy am I grateful he did take those vows seriously! I would be lost without him!

I love you Michael! You are my hero - my knight in shining armor!

Sick of Being Sick

. . . SIGH . . .

I'm sorry I've had no exciting additions to the blog over the last several days . . . but I'm just not feeling well.

It all started about three weeks ago when Bella and I both had the diarrhea/flu, and I've never really risen out of the "funk". I've been tired, fatigued and achey. So last Thursday I went to the chiropractor to get an adjustment, hoping that would help . . . but Friday I ended up with really tight muscles in my back and the inability to breathe well. Saturday I ended up in ER. They ruled out heart problems (EKG), blood clots in the lungs, they took some chest x-rays to rule out issues with my lungs and ribs . . . finally they chalked it up to muscle spasms and gave me a prescription for valium to relax me. Let me just say, all mothers should have some valium on hand at any given moment . . .

Anyway, I started feeling worse rather than better and have been struggling with body aches - especially my back, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, headache, no appetite, weakness and, worst of all, severe fatigue. Let me tell ya how well that works when you're trying to take care of two kids . . . NOT WELL! I've been bawling my eyes out for the last two days!

I had more bloodwork done yesterday and they ruled out mono and TB. My white blood count is great. But, my billirubin is higher than it should be, which indicates some problems with my liver . . . NICE! Still, no answers!

I have an appointment with an internist on Monday, so we're praying that things don't get worse before then. In fact, we're praying that things get better. My doc seems to think it's a nasty virus, but other than that she's got nothing for me.

Mike stayed home today . . . probably so I would stop crying every time he left . . . and it has been wonderful! I've been able to relax knowing the kids are in good hands!

Please pray that I feel better soon! Pray that the symptoms go away . . . or at least don't get worse.

This stinks . . . I'm ready to fully appreciate being healthy . . . no more taking it for granted!

A Church Lady Recommendation

Alright, I know many of you read the Grace in the City Blog so this will be a repeat for you . . . Dana just beat me to the punch! Read her review of this book here.

I've been perusing several Bible translations and children's Bible storybooks to prepare for our summer outreach program for kids - True Victory Sports Camp, and in doing so ran across this book.

I read the whole thing in one sitting . . . I just couldn't put it down. It is written so brilliantly and the illustrations are mesmorizing. Faith saw it and said, "Jesus' picture is right in the middle in a fancy frame, cuz he's the star of the show!" Right on, Faith! She get's it!

This Bible story book takes the major stories of the Old and New Testaments and links them to the over-all redemptive story! The catch phrase on the front of the book is, "Every story whispers his name," and they truly do!

It is written in language that kids will understand, without watering down the important messages! It includes passages that most children's Bible's don't like: the Psalms, Isaiah, Ezra and Nehemiah - passages that are so important to linking the redemptive story together! Psalm 23 is written so beautifully (paraphrased) that I typed a copy of it for myself to have on a bookmark!

This is bar-none the best children's Bible story book out there! Buy a copy of it for your family, buy a copy of it for every new parent out there, buy a copy of it for your kid's grandparents, buy a copy of it for every Toddler-2nd grader you know! It's that good!

Happy reading!

Spring, Where Art Thou?

Ok, you know warmer weather needs to come soon when this happens.

I sent Faith and Bella outside after lunch today to get some much-needed fresh air. I want to be clear, I sent them out properly dressed for the weather! They had a blast riding bikes, pushing teddy bears in strollers and creating treasured pictures with sidewalk chalk. I periodically peeked outside to check on them, and things were terrific!

Then I hear water running in the garage . . . so, again I check on things. Faith decided to wash her bike . . . Ok, no problem.

Next thing I know, the water is running again. When I go to check on them, Faith is down to her underwear and t-shirt (mind you it's 39 degrees here) standing in a bucket of water in the garage.

"What on earth are you doing?" I ask.

"I just really wanted to go swimming . . . the water's warm, Mom . . . feel it!", says she. "Oh, and can I change into my bathing suit?"

"Are you crazy? NO WAY! Get in the house little girl!"

Please, Spring, come quickly . . . the natives are getting restless!

I Ah Done!

This is such a classic Bella move, I just had to share it with all of you!

When she doesn't want to eat anymore, she simply empties her plate onto her high chair tray or the table and says, "I ah done now, see?" Notice, her plate is empty, but the food isn't gone . . . I don't know why, but it's funny every time!

April?

No, I am NOT blogging in reverse order . . . it truly went from "bare piggy" weather back to "put on the entire snow suit" weather in a matter of just days!

I'm not complaining though, cuz the flu has left the building (I hope), and the kids are playing outside affording me some "Mommy time."

Suddenly the glass is half full again!

Glass Half Empty

Ok, so I'm generally a glass half full person . . . but this week has me thinking in glass half empty terms!

It started out with me getting the stomach flu at 1:00 Sunday morning - I could go into much more detail, but it's not necessary - it was bad, that's all there is to it.

Then Bella got it.

Then we started to feel better.

Then we both started to NOT feel better.

Then Bella started throwing up today - in the car no less. THAT'S always a blast - cleaning vomit out of the carseat buckles - YUMMY!

AND, it's snowing! UGH! The fabulous weather guys say it will be colder on Easter than it was on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Day.

So much for Spring Break! I'm getting cabin fever!