After the Drought

Well, I think it is safe to say this is the longest I've gone without updating my blog! Yikes! I knew it had been a long time...but nearly 3 months??? I have to give credit to my dear friend for the ever so soft nudging to get back to blogging. (Even if you didn't realize it Kimberly--it helped!)

So. Where to start.

I think after many months I'm just about ready to cancel my FaceBook page. Really not into the whole thing. It has been fun getting re-connected with long lost friends. However, due to choices in how I prefer to spend my time (not on facebook), I don't know how much "connecting" is really happening on my end of things. So...is it 'working' for me to feel the pressure of checking in on facebook and the 'need' to update my status regularly? Don't think so, but I'll keep pondering this a while longer.

Life continues to be an ever-growing experience. (Which is what it should be, right?) Life with two teenage girls, 15 and 16 (almost 17) is never dull and full of challenges right now. Actually, it is far from dull or quiet, it is rather very LOUD!! (Why am I so often reminded of life with my sisters during my high school years? It seemed like we were always mad at one another, or yelling, or upset about something... My poor mother!)

On the other side of things, they are both so delightful and a joy. My youngest is finishing her freshman year and has come through it well! She has always been one to join in and participate readily and she didn't disappoint this year at all! She joined choir, was one of 3 freshman allowed to be in the musical, and even ran for an office in the Student Body cabinet for next year. She was elected as the treasurer for the sophomore class! She also hit another miles stone in the past few weeks: she is now taller than me!! She has been a slow grower up to this point, but suddenly has hit a real growth spurt. Just a month ago she was about an inch shorter! So now it is official--I'm the shortest in my family!

My soon-to-be 17-year-old daughter is relieved that her SAT was completed last Saturday. It had been pressing in heavy on her. We are all in disbelief that her junior year is over already and that in just a few short months she will begin her last year of high school. (A year from now I will have 3 children out of high school!! How did that happen??) She has had a tough year, but one full of triumphs and joys as well. Of course the hardest, most jolting part of the year happened just a month into the school year when she was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. Needless to say, we have all been learning over the past many months how to incorporate diabetes into 'regular' life and what that looks like at school, doing musical productions, overnight-ers, etc. She has done remarkably well, but we have had our share of rough spots and lots of tears all around. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for her at times. She has had real courage and such dedication in being an 'independent' diabetic. She continues to check her glucose about 5-6 times daily and gives herself a minimum of 5 shots of insulin a day. Amazing. Her Endocrinologist feels she is a good candidate for an insulin pump so that is something we will begin education on this next month. Most patients have to wait years until they are 'ready' for a pump, but her doctor feels my dear girl is a really good candidate at this age. So, that is a really big praise. We just continue to see the Lord's wisdom and discernment in this. One step at a time.

A big area of praise is that our daughters are getting well connected into a youth group. We have been visiting different fellowships for many months now and of course, one of the big criteria was finding a good youth group where our girls would feel challenged, excited and have that sense of 'belonging' that all teens need. The Lord has answered our prayers! We are so thankful that they are excited and comfortable to be in a group that includes many kids from their own high school. What impresses me even more is that they come home reporting what the worship and Bible teaching was about and how that applies to them. Good stuff! Thank you Lord!! My husband and I also have felt very welcomed in this new (to us) fellowship and have a real peace.

The past several months have been so refreshing and good for me in so many ways. I have such a sense of anticipation as we have begun to move past some painful things from the last 3 years and look toward tomorrow with hope and expectancy. I have been working hard at taking care of myself --not just emotionally and spiritually--but physically as well. Having gained a good amount of weight from stress eating over the past several years (and too much comfort food), I have not felt like "me" for quite a while. I'm happy to report that I've lost nearly 20 pounds since March and am just about down to where I was 2 years ago. However, I am very motivated to keep going and determined to get down to a healthier weight for me. (A place I haven't been for at least 8 years!) Like I said, I have more to go, but am so thankful to be heading in a positive direction and creating new life habits.

Next big event on the schedule is our second oldest son heading off to Lebanon on a missions trip. And just for you Oregonians...it isn't Lebanon, Oregon. (Believe me...many have asked!) I'm so proud of him to want to serve in this way. He is SO excited and eager to go. We are excited for him to go and as his parents will be prayerful about his safety. (Yet another exercise in releasing one's child and giving him to the Lord!) Actually, truthfully, we have great peace about him going. Please being praying that the rest of his support would come in quickly.

Our oldest son continues to work hard and loves being totally independent of Mom and Dad. He is living with two friends in a townhouse and is blessed to have a good full-time job. Even when others were being laid off, his managers assured him that he was staying and that they didn't want to lose him even though he had not been there very long. They have held true to their word!

My husband and I are thankful to have our jobs as well. With others getting laid off or routes being cut at UPS, my husband who has high seniority there, has actually had his work load increase. I still have my job as well and if anything am working more hours than I did a year ago at this time! God is so good to us.

That just about brings you all up to speed. I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting, or not addressing. I'll save those for subsequent 'blogs'. I'm going to work at this discipline and will strive to post more regularly.

Missed you all.