Perpetual motion

It seems even when I am trying to slow things down, life takes off without my permission.  We have gotten to do some really fun things.  The greatest was the Cardinals dugout....a great experience.

We have all started school.  I am taking 3 classes at MSU- A&P for Speech and Hearing, Hearing Science and Clinical.  The classes are HARD...a definite challenge. I was actually proud of the B I made on my A&P test when I usually hate anything below an A.

Brooke started 5th grade.  I quickly saw the insecurities of that middle school girl syndrome.  Im hoping that she is learning how to handle it.  She asked me every day one week how many times she has to forgive someone.  I felt sorry for her while I truly saw it as God teaching us both several lessons.

Jacob is in a 2nd grade class of 23 children...in a PRIVATE school.  Kinda sucks.  She is a great teacher, but overwhelmed.  I would be if I were her. Jacob has been dealing with a tick disorder which we have just found to be the cause of "strep carrier"  He apparently has just had a case of strep, but exhibited NO symptoms (a carrier does this). We will have a lot of questions (hopefully) answered at the dr tomorrow afternoon but it looks like monthly shots till he is 21 so that it doesn't affect his heart.  I still haven't been able to make sense of it all.  God has a plan for his life, but he is sure having to fight through it.  We just celebrated his 8th birthday...with 13 kids in the house...it was a hoot.

Ethan is in 2 day preschool when I work.  He loves it.  I love seeing him (he is across the hall from me) do his work and play.  He had an accident at school a couple of weeks ago, but he mostly saves those for the days that he is sitting at home with me! :)  Trent and I are loving this stage as he is trying to be such a little man but such a little toot too.  Now that he is talking, the things he says can catch us off guard.

The other thing happening in my world is watching my husband lose another friend to Afghanistan IEDs.  This is terribly hard for so many reasons.  I want to be the supporting wife without wanting too many details or talking about it too much.  I just keep praying that it is never us.  I could talk a lot about this, but would probably say more than I should.  Just keep praying for him...EOD guys are literally family.

I've been trying to be a grace-based parent.  It is SO hard to change, but its easy.  Its amazing how much easy it is to be full of grace and love when I have started my day learning about God's grace.  I hate the days that I don't get that- the kids probably do too.

Well, I think I better wrap it up for the night.  I miss time with my husband and cherish the moments I do have...
Night.... thanks all for your support.
Charity

Here is the link for our Pine Cove photos on Snapfish...I need to learn how to make those quick slide shows.


http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2023129027/a=2021036027_2021036027/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/




The last week we jumped into getting ready for school.  Kids started Thursday, I start tomorrow and Ethan starts Tuesday as I start teaching Tuesday.  Here comes a new and exciting adventure.


More soon I hope.
Charity

Pine Cove

Well, back from Pine Cove and definitely setting a lot of new goals. Our speaker was Tim Kimmell...he is an amazing speaker who really knows Grace-based parenting.  He is ADHD to an extreme degree and has amazing concepts and ideas for that.  He has written many books that can be used as Bible studies as well... the best (from what Ive heard) is "Raising Truly Great Kids"   I'm anxious to continue with what I have learned and even push it to my preschool teaching.

Aside from that, we all had an amazing time together.  Trent, Emily and I got to ride wave runners, and the horses (twice).  It always feels like we are in heaven there when you are being so served and get to play so much.  :)  They even arranged a picnic date with discussion questions.

We also got to take all the kids to the water rocket and they even let Em and I ride with Ethan and Ryker.

 Kids got to shoot bbs, archery, blob, trailride, water rocket, zipline, swings, pool (slideasauraus) and battle barg (in the water).  They put on a carnival with a hay ride and all kids of games.  It was more than I can put in one blog, but the best pics are on facebook.  We hope to keep in touch with those counselors every year... they are such and encouragement and a hope that our kids could turn out even close to that great.

This picture is all of us dressed up for "What I want to be when I grow up"  Obviously we had a lot of fun with it.

Ethan and Ryker were inseperable... Ethan woke up asking where HIS Ryker was each day. It was fun...because they fought like crazy too.

On the right is Dash...she is from Fair Grove...

Well, I think that is the bare basics.... more later

Charity

ER

OOPS! So, we had an eventful visit to the ER and surprisingly, it wasn't for any of the kids... for ME!  I started having serious pain in my lower stomach and back unlike anything I had felt -including childbirth.  I decided to go to urgent care. Luckily, Christa AND Dana were at my house.  Christa took me while Dana stayed with Ethan and the pups.  I had no idea that I wouldn't be coming home.  When we got to UC, I couldn't hardly breathe.  To make a longer story shorter, I was ambulanced to the hospital because of my high heart rate (128).  After hours of tests, morphine, hurling and unsuccessful anti-nausea medication, they finally received the CAT scan results that concluded I had an 8mm kidney stone.  Yes, my first real kidney stone.  It was stuck, obviously, so therefore, required surgery.  They couldn't get me in until noon but was thankful that I wasn't having to wait till the next day.  Trent was able to come down and be with me.  He has been amazingly patient.  When out of surgery, I felt like a new person.  The following days have not been easy, but will get better.

We have 5 days till Pine Cove.  We are completely excited.  Hopefully there won't be anymore visits to the ER before or during.

We snuck up to St. Louis to see Emily.  We had planned to go before our big event, but this slowed us down.  Needless to say, I took it easy and enjoyed company of Amanda, Emily, Eva and Melanie.  Of course, the boys were extremely excited to see one another.  Ethan was a little upset about them leaving. He misses his "friend," Ryker.  They are 2 peas in a pod for sure.  

Well, that is all for now.  Hopefully our next blog will be all about Pine Cove.
Charity

Busy life= lots of memories...right?

So, JD had baseball tryouts tonight.  I hope he did well. He loves it so much and wants more of it all the time.  It has increased his self esteem by leaps and bounds and I hope it continues.  This is first "year" to be able to play. When I tell coaches that, they tend to about come out of their seats in disbelief.  He is in no way perfect, but he has some natural ability and its fun for us to see.  

Ethan has been frustrating me.  I think he is potty trained and then we have 2 days of "accidents" which is when I start wondering if I have him potty trained or me.  Hmmmmm.  I have found myself taking a lot of pictures of him while he is sleeping.  I haven't figure out if that is when I find him the most enjoyable right now or if its the only time he is still long enough.  :)

Brooke is "pre-teen"  She likes that word, I HATE it.  She has the "cute" little attitude that goes with.  Don't get me wrong, she is not a BAD kid, she just tends to talk with a little more "know" in her voice.  I get compliments from other mom friends of mine who say they carry on adult conversations with her.  She is a sweetheart.  Im hoping we will skip the 'i hate my parents' phase.  HAHA Jokes is on me.  This is what we saw a lot of this summer... the ball park and our kids watching baseball.  Brooke played some too and learned a lot.  They all just look so old here... sitting beside Brooke is her bestie.  Her and Allison go to church and school together.  I am glad she has made a wonderful friend.

I am very close to completing my first Communication and Speech Disorders course.  It has been difficult, but i LOVE it.  They say it always helps when you love what you are doing.

God really spoke to me and my family today.  Our Sunday School class was very heavy with burden and after praying and crying, Chris Sweet pointed out that Genesis 1:1 says that God is ruler over all chaos and the VERY next thing He said was that he created light.  God created light in our chaos and still does.  Brooke & I loved how Shane Segars, our teaching pastor, taught on Moab (city of sin).  She was talking about it at lunch today and telling my parents about how easy it was to get stuck in that city & how hard it is to get out.  I praise God when they "get it."

Our family's countdown to Pine Cove has begun.  This is our family camp...we went last year without Trent, but he gets to go this year as does Emily and kids.  We are so excited!!! Pray that God moves us in a big way.  I hope to post before that, but who knows. :)

Later
Charity

OH MY!

Well, it has been ages since I posted.  There have many things that have changed.  I think the last post was about Tony Campbell who had died overseas.  This was a buddy/supervisor of Trent's from the same shop in St. Louis. This has been a long and hard time for him.  Emily and I have gotten very close through it all too.  We have spent a lot of time together as well as on the phone.  She is precious... and handles things a lot like I do.  Keep her in her prayers because things are still not getting any easier as there are still many memorials going on for him.  A few days ago was their anniversary and his birthday is tomorrow.

                                         Emily, Me, Eva & Amanda at the EOD Memorial


Aside from this, we have had some victories for our family.  Ethan, 2 & 1/2 is almost potty trained.  Im not sure if he is trained, or if I am.  I think that depends on the day.  Trent got a civilian job...bad part is that it is in Houston, TX.  We will not be moving there, but praying that we will be able to transfer to St. Louis as it is a federal job.  

I have been struggling lately with many decisions but also presented with others' struggles.  I see people dying of cancer, losing babies after long or short struggles or battles and often wonder what the reason in it all it.  A friend of mine said it SO well in bible study the other day.....
"BECAUSE HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH US!"  


That's God's purpose in it all.  He allows struggles, He shows us things that are difficult for us, and opens opportunities for us as well.  Its all so that we will turn to Him.  How many times a day do we try to do it on our own.  How many times a year do we wait until we are drowning to turn to Him? Hopefully these times will teach me what I need and I will learn and stay close to Him appreciating all He does for us on a daily basis.


On an exciting note: 4 weeks till we get to go to our Pine cove Family camp in Tyler, TX.  Woo Hoo! This was a great experience for us last year and we know that God will do amazing things again this year especially since Trent gets to go with us.


JD and Brooke got to play ball this year.  JD is an amazing natural.  Brooke is trying.  She is better at he girly things right now... which may have to do with her skinny little body.  Ethan wants to play ball so 2 years will be hard for us to wait.  : )

I am currently enrolled in a class for Communication and Speech Disorders.  It looks as though I will be getting a second degree in this... maybe more jobs will be available than teaching.  Pray for us as we do this too.  I will work 2 days a week and go to school 12 hours.


Thanks for "listening"
More later I promise....


Charity

Please PRAY

Dignified transfers for the week of Dec. 13, 2009

This is a buddy of my husbands and coworker. At the age of 35, he was killed in Afghanistan. Please pray for his family, wife, 3 children. He has trained and worked very closely with Trent and this is a struggle for us all.
THANK YOU