A peaceful end to a LONG week...

Today was a Sunday, a blessed day of worship that our family spent with our home church friends. We were encouraged by the testimony of the Determan family. They shared how they came to know the Lord and changed their lives to reflect HIS ways, rather than their own. I had such peace today. Our family attended service by ourselves, while Grandma Mary went to stay with her son Hoy for the weekend. We were able to stay and enjoy the fellowship meal, visiting with friends that truly CARE about our lives. This is the way a church body should function. We are extremely grateful for the influence each one has on our family.

The opportunity to get a picture of our whole family has become rare. It's so hard to get us all together. Here we are after my grandmother's funeral...my Mom, My beloved and I, Kim, Josh, Joe, Miss K, Miss M, Miss A, and our grandbaby Leelee.



Yesterday, Saturday was the funeral for my dear sweet grandma. She passed away August 19, bringing her battle with cancer to an end. A week before I went to see her in the hospital...she had requested that I come and we felt she was making her final goodbyes. As we talked I assured her that "Jesus is waiting on you grandma." she emphatically told me "NO, I am waiting on HIM!!" and she was. She knew heaven was her home. Her earthly time was over and she longed to go on.

Her funeral was sweet. We had a friend of the family play his guitar. He is paraplegic following a car accident when I was a baby. Next some nieces came and sang Precious Memories. Finally Amazing Grace was sang, always one of my favorites. It is so true that Jesus saved 'a wretch like me'. I had the hardest time during the slide show. It's funny I could see all the pictures individually and do ok, but to see them together...to see her life played out in front of me...that was hard. She will be so missed. She was such a giving, loving woman. I never had to doubt if grandma loved me...I just knew. All the fun memories, the homemade gifts, the lessons in cooking...she seemed to know everything.

Next the pastor, Bro Danny gave an invitation. He did a wonderful job reminding us that grandma knew where she was going. If we died today would we see her there? At this point my heart broke, for as I sat on the pew with 4 of my children around me I knew that today not all my children know the LORD. There is always HOPE, but often it gets clouded over by despair. Will the truth be made clear before it is 'too late'? Will I see all my children walk with the Lord? I have one that assures me that will never happen...I'll keep praying until that day.

On other fronts, School is moving right along. Josh is doing well at Votech. I think he really enjoys the 'challenge' of the technical work. The other children are doing well in their studies. We always have some adjustments the first few weeks, but I think we're getting the bugs worked out.

Grandma Mary has had a pretty confused time this last 1-2 weeks. While I don't know the extent that the dementia causes her to be confused, she does know us and general things - PTL! We just continue to work thru the struggles, day by day and battle by battle.

Sometimes it seems life is about all the battles we will fight...when is it ever easy? With lots going on right now, I'm trying to focus on being joyful again ((rather than cranky!)) ~~the progesterone cream helps greatly...along with the constant reassurance that all things work together for good to those that love HIM (sorry I don't know the reference off the top of my head)

BrrRing....school is in session around our house

Today was the first day of the 2010-2011 school year. We 'got it done'! Now only 179 days to go until summer, lol. You can tell I enjoy my break.

This year we have Josh in Votech for HVAC (- short for Heat, Air, and Ventilation)in the morning. He has to catch a 6:55 AM bus to take a 30 minute ride to school. He gets back about lunch time and then has the afternoon to finish his other courses. One nice surprise is Votech teaches math to everyone that attends, so he will get a math credit.

Joe is picking up more of the older brother roll being the only man in the house during the day now. He has some more challenging classes this year, some that don't worry him at all and a few he can't stand. Sorry son, they are required!

Miss K started 2nd grade. She will do great! She's reading well now so that helps. I'm doing the Character First Curriculum with the girls each day. We hope to finish all 36 qualities covered in the notebooks this year and have fun doing it.

Miss M is starting '100 easy lessons' for her reading. I'm hoping it holds to its name and comes easy for her. She also enjoyed her first day of math. Read alouds hold no fun for her, but this reading momma hopes she comes around.

Miss A and I are doing 'Before 5 in a Row'. She enjoyed her first book "Jesse Bear What will you wear??" We only have to read it 4 more times...hope it's just as fun then (-;

My beloved is staying super busy with AC /refrigeration work. We're praising the Lord for the added work this summer. We've been blessed with some awesome referrals lately. One in particular from my grown up -little brother. He referred us to a school who has used us a lot!

Around the farm, we bought a Green John Deere Tractor. My beloved has been enjoying his time brush hogging the weeds. I'm just loving to see them GONE! Our decrepit old metal barn is getting a new coat of metal and looking much nicer.

Grandma Mary is doing the same things. She enjoys word searches and television. She's currently stuck on eating out at Odell's restaurant about 3-5 times a week. Southern home cooking seems to suit her fine. Dementia causes you to do very repetitive things, from eating the same meals for weeks on end to watching the same tv shows. There is comfort when things don't change and you know what to expect.

She had some excitement this week as her son Hoy invited her to come and stay one weekend a month at his house. She so needs the fellowship of others outside our family. This will be a tremendous blessing to her! The only other places she goes is a once a week beauty appointment with My beloved and church on Sunday.

If you think to pray for my dear Grandma C, lift her up to the Lord. She's in the final stages of Brain Cancer and has been so restless. I told her this week the Lord was waiting on her. She quickly replied "NO, I am waiting on HIM!". I just pray she will have a peaceful passing.

Other than that there are the usual health issues, my momma is struggling right now. She has the fear that her brain tumor has returned. We're waiting for her to have a scan done showing if her fears prove true or if it is some other issue.

I'm still struggling with some health issues, but am seeking the guidance of a natural doctor to work on the issues.

There are so many in need...so many to pray for...all the issues seem so big to each of us, but in the scheme of life we are but a breath as scripture says. Be thankful for what you have, even if you only have it today.

~~reminder to self as I do the laundry. I'd rather do it for each of these people, than not have one of them!