Alexander the Great!

My mom called me yesterday and said enthusiastically, "I found a dog!" My reply came less enthusiastically, "So what else is new?" Now at first, this may seem like a strange reply from someone who loves animals like I do, but you have to understand what has taken place over the last year and a half. My mom, (and the rest of our family), is a big animal lover. We had dogs when I was little and then acquired a cat in about 1975. (my brother brought her home on the bus, hid her in his bedroom and then went in and said to Mom, "If I ask you a question do you promise to not say no?") :) Well, Mom kept her end of the deal and we had "Mickey" for about 16 years. Then there was Tom Selleck, the siamese tom cat who came to us, then Goldie, the cat Tom Selleck brought home with him. They had Goldie until a couple years ago when she had a stroke and couldn't walk and they had to have her put to sleep. My stepfather refused to get anymore animals and now I think it was because he was much sicker than we realized at the time. He died of cancer in Nov '03.

Well Mom has gone back and forth on getting a pet. She has called me several times to tell me of a dog she found (in the paper, in a petstore etc) She just got rid of 8 kittens (I posted about previously) and I thought for sure she would keep one of them. But each time, she would conclude in the end that she didn't want to be responsible for or tied down with a pet. Soooooo, when she called yesterday I naturally thought, "Here we go again." But I guess it was just a matter of time and finding that perfect pet that she could not resist. The one that is worth being tied down for.

He is a Wheaton, Wirehaired Dachshund, coming with the name of Xander, which my mom says is short for Alexander. She got him thru a dachshund rescue center. All I know is, he is a perfect match for my mom and a welcome addition to our family. I went to visit tonight and he played ball, and snuggled on our laps. I told him we had a lot in common, we were both adopted by the same great lady. :)

So, whether my mom continues to call him Xander, or comes up with a new name, I know it was this "Great" little dog, with his innocent, sweet face - that captured my mom's heart. And that sets well with me.

I'm Thankful It's Friday!

Yea - it's the weekend! I am so glad - not sure why I'm feeling so tired. My son had two ballgames this week, on Tues and Thurs evenings - so that make those days kinda long. but all in all, it was a good week. I'm looking forward to the weekend. Tomorrow there is a car show just up the road from where I live. I will get to spend some time with my brother. He is coming down for the car show and then we will go over to dad's to celebrate Father's Day. Then Sunday, we will go to my mom's and cookout for my husband to celebrate father's day. The weather is supposed to be nice - so I am so looking forward to laying in the sun and relaxing - and hopefully taking a boat ride.:) It is my wish that all of you have a wonderful weekend as well.

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best andy may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God." Phil 1:9-11

Your Way Your Way

One of my favorite things in life is music - especially Christian music. I can be having the worst day, or be so upset about something and just go get in my car, crank up the stereo and get my focus back where it needs to be, on God. There are so many good contemporary Christian artists today. I have listed some of my favorites on my blogger profile, but the list is really much longer. The other day I was listening to Tree63 and something struck me that I had never thought about before. They have this song called, "Look What You've Done". I have copied the lyrics for you below.

Look What You've Done

Look what You've done for me
Your blood has set me free
Jesus my Lord look what You've done for me

I haven't been the same
Ever since that day I called Your name
Yahweh
Yahweh Look What You've done for me

What can I do for You my Lord?
I want You to know my heart is Yours
It's not a question of what You can do for me
But what can I do for You my Lord?

Up to Your cross I crawled
Now I am standing teen feet tall
Jesus my saviour look what You've done for me

Free at last I'm free
I owe You my life completely
Yahweh
Yahweh look what You've done for me


As I was singing this the other day when I sang and listened to the part that says Yahweh Yahweh, look what you've done for me - it sounded so much like the guy was singing, your way your way. It really struck me how that is what Christianity is really about. Giving up our way for God's way. It's not because He is some strict taskmaster who likes to give orders, but rather, He is this loving amazing God who knows all things and wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. But we seem to focus on ourselves and things that bring temporary pleasure instead of seeking what is truly good and lasting. It is so liberating to let go and let God - to know without a doubt that my life is in His control. Does that mean that things are always gonna be easy or go as I want? Nope, not at all, but I can trust that whatever God allows, is part of His plan and is all for my good.

If you would like to hear this song or some of the other great songs Tree63 sings, here is the link. http://tree63.com I guess you have to copy and paste as it didn't turn blue. May God touch your heart with His truth as you escape from the stresses in your life.

Your way Your way, Look what You've done for me. Oh yea - unhuh....

Thankfully - Just an Ear Infection

Hello Friends,
Thank you for your prayers for my daughter. It seems she has a pretty bad ear infection. I know that is not serious, but in her, with all her problems, something little, like an ear infection, can be quite serious for her. I was with her this morning and she seems to be herself again. I put in her Jonah, Veggie Tale movie, and she was smiling from ear to ear. She gets as tickled by those silly little veggies as I do. She has tubes in her ears, but they obviously are not working, so I requested her to have an appt at Riley Hospital for Children to see the ENT Dr. I guess her last set of tubes were probably 2 or 3 yrs ago - time flies. Anyway - I'm just thrilled to know the cause of her discomfort and it to be something that is fixable.

Been busy in my shop this week - thankful for it but tired and ready for the weekend already! Must be getting old. I wish I had known how hard standing all day would be on my back - would have chosen a different occupation. Like one with vacation pay and sick leave. Geez - what was I thinking?!! No, don't get me wrong - I love this job in many ways. I have been so blessed to have my shop in my home for 19 yrs. Can schedule around times when the kids need me etc. There is always bad with the good. Well - nite all - hope to hear from all my friends soon. You know I have always been one to love to go to the mailbox- since I was a little girl. Then came email and now blogging - I guess I just like to hear from friends.

Where you been Clandi? Not get your computer fixed yet??

Monday on Tuesday

Well, today was a Monday for me. You see, I'm off work on Monday's and that way I still get my two day weekend, but then Tuesday's become Monday's sometimes. I work from noon until 8:00pm on Tues and Thurs and my plan for this morning was to get my house cleaned. Well, that didn't work out too well. I started out going thru the mail pile that piles and piles on the kitchen counter for weeks. I have this little corner of counter that I don't have to use for cooking or anything and that is where the mail that requires further action, or I don't want to deal with goes. So after it gets so high, I finally break down and sort thru it. Well, today was the day, so the pile is now small again. But my house is still dirty!! grrrr I had to make so many phone calls to deal with the pile. First, I had to call a credit card company that I had received an update on my account from. Now I had just gone thru my credit card file a few months ago and called all the companies whose cards I no longer used and cancelled those accounts. Well it seems I had to call this one and cancel twice. Why is it, they always try to talk you into keeping a card that you haven't used in years?!! That irritates me. Then I had to call about a bill I received for chiropractic services I had gotten over two yrs ago. I first got this bill in Feb. There was no phone number, so I wrote them a letter telling them I did not owe them any money and if they thought I did, they would have to prove it to me. I heard nothing the next month, then the month after that, I got another bill. So I called the Dr who had taken over that office and was told they were receiving many calls like mine and they would take care of it, I didn't owe anything. The next month - no bill. Then this month - a bill again!! Grrrr So, again I called and they said they took care of it this time, and I shouldn't get anymore bills. We'll see what happens in a couple months. Then, I had to call the insurance over a claim I have been trying to get settled since Jan. I won't go into the boring details, but I am so sick of running around in circles on this one for 5 months. Then, lastly, I had to call the local water conditioning company about a bill that I received two different statements about. I got a bill for an amount that I paid in full, then received two more statements, with different account numbers, showing I have a credit!! I know I don't have - but they said they changed all accounts over to a new system and they couldn't access the old system today - so they would have to call me back.

Then to top it all off, I received a call from the nursing home where my daughter is saying she was having some kind of episode. Crying, sweating, high heart rate, low oxygen saturations, possible seizure activity, but no fever. They had faxed the Dr and waiting to hear what to do. I called back about an hour later and they said they gave her some Ibuprophen (spelling?) and put some air on her and she was ok. Called back again this evening and they said she had another episode this evening, but after an extra breathing treatment, she was resting well. They said the Dr would be in first thing in the morning. Please keep her in your prayers. I'm not afraid of her dieing - I look forward to her going to be with the Lord and being whole and not trapped in a body that doesn't work - but I can't stand for her to suffer. And I hate not having her here at home where I can take care of her. Life is just not fair sometimes.



So, between worrying about my baby girl, and wasting so much time on the phone dealing with things that should have already been taken care of - it really wasn't the best of days. Hopefully tomorrow will be better - and maybe sometime or another - I'll get around to cleaning my house after all.

Here I Go Again

Hello,
We had a really good weekend being with my husband's family. The wedding was so moving. The young couple met thru a ministry for young adults. The wedding ceremony was very Christ-centered and it touched my heart very much. It was good to be with family - we don't get to see them very often. My Mother and Father in law are such sweet, loving, Christian people. I'm afraid their health is not good though and I hate that we can't be together more.

The one thing I do not enjoy on our overnight visits are the sleeping arrangements. My husband and I share his old room and the bed is only a double and it feels more like a twin. It is so tiny and cramped!! I always wake up with a backache!!

On a completely different topic - I just heard a song I love so much. It is by one of my favorite bands, Casting Crowns. It is called "Here I Go Again". Here are the words:
Father, hear my prayer
I need the perfect words
Words that he will hear
And know they're straight from You
I don't know what to say
I only know it hurts
To see my only friend slowly fade away

So maybe this time I'll speak the words of life
With Your fire in my eyes
But that old familiar fear is tearing at my words
What am I so afraid of?

Chorus:
'Cause here I go again
Talkin 'bout the rain
And mulling over things that won't live past today
And as I dance around the truth
Time is not his friend
This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love Him
But here I go again, here I go again

Lord, You love him so, You gave Your only Son
If he will just believe; he will never die
But how then will he know what he has never heard
Lord he has never seen mirrored in my life

This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love him
This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love him
You love him, You love him

What Am I so afraid
What am I so afraid
What am I so afraid of?
How then will he know
What he has never heard

I love that song - makes me think of my brother everytime I hear it. My heart aches for him to walk with the Lord and know the saving grace of Christ. But I also want everyone to know - not too much to ask, is it? Anyway - I just pray God gives me the words to say, words straight from Him.

Late Night Again

Hello Friends,
Why is it in the mornings when I wake up I think, "Tonight I'm going to bed early!". But when night comes, there is too much to do to get there early? Well, my reason for not getting to bed early tonight (besides sitting here blogging) :) is because I took another sewing class this morning and I was supposed to be making throw pillows for my salon. Notice I said "supposed to be making". Well, I ordered these really perfect nautical panels, found the perfect fabric to back them and the perfect piping and just needed help knowing how to put it all together. Well, the panels have two different scenes of a boat with a little saying and there is a border around each scene. Soooo, when I tried to sew the piping on, I didn't get it straight in some places, so the white on the outside of the blue border showed. Soooo, tonight I ripped everything out and started again!! YIPEE - FUN FUN. I have to stop for now - too tired to continue. Why was it I wanted to know how to sew?!! No, I'm actually glad I am doing this - I will feel a sense of accomplishment when I get it right. I will get it right eventually won't I?!!

We Are Family

Tonight I got to be with my 40 year old cousin for only the 2nd time in our lives. You see, we only met about a month ago. We were both given up for adoption, at birth.

My parents got to bring me home when I was about 21 days old. They already had a son, who was 2 1/2 at the time, who they also adopted. (He was about 16 days old when they got him) We grew up always knowing we were adopted and being told it made us very special. I was one who was always curious where my birth mom was. Had I ever passed her on the street or maybe she worked somewhere I had been and had spoken to me and I didn't even realize it. I didn't look like anyone in my family and always wondered who I did look like. I always said I would search to find her when I turned 18.

Well, it actually happened when I was 22. Somehow those years passed so quickly, and one day, I was working on someones hair and the subject came up that I was adopted and they asked if I wanted to try to find my birth mom. I explained that I was going to when....Hey wait a minute - I am already old enough!! Wow, how did that happen. So, I called my attorney, made an appt and the search began. Two weeks later, I was talking to her on the phone.

She lives in CA along with a sister, two brothers, an aunt, two cousins and now several neices and nephews. I do have several aunts and uncles and cousins who live real close to me. That is where this new cousin comes into the picture.

The year before I was given up for adoption, my aunt, my birth mom's sister, also gave a baby up for adoption. Well, that baby - now a 40 yr old man, just found her - and us. It was so cool. He lives out of state too - but not as far as my birth mom and family.

So tonight we had a get-together at my other aunt's house because my cousin and his wife and daughter are up here for the week. It is really a blessing how God has brought us all together. There are some amazing people in my birth family - but the best part is - I felt comfortable around them from day 1. They are so much fun. There is really some great humor and talent in the family. Two of my cousins, (this new cousin's brother and sister) both LOVE to video record and take pictures. So they always film when we get together and then take home and make movie on their computer with it. They are very talented at editing and such to make into real masterpieces. But mostly we just play cornhole, or cards, or games or cornhole or take a walk or sit and talk or play cornhole and eat and laugh and, oh yea, play cornhole and laugh some more. It's always great fun!

So, I have been blessed to have so much wonderful family. My mom and dad who adopted me (the only ones I call mom and dad). A wonderful brother who I was raised with and now for the last 17 years - God has reunited me with those whose blood I share. And, I found out who I look like - my birth mom - it's unreal.

It sure is amazing to have two wonderful families who love me. I'm very blessed indeed.