Ugh

I can honestly say I am very surprised at life right now. Ya know, I never had days where I wasn't thankful for my health, and now, I wish I had one day I felt good. This roller coaster of adrenal fatigue and no progesterone is horrible on a person's day. Not to mention , family. My kids have not had a fun, energetic mom in a long time. although they will tell you they like a mom at home sitting on the couch better! That is if I felt good.
This whole chiseling process is waring me down this year. I have been sick since July and I am not sure how much more I can stand? I am awake every night with my heart pounding, pounding HARD, out of my chest. It is a constant reminder that I am not healthy right now. That gets old. So do the bills form the doctors and the expenses of all the vitamins and such form the health food store. I know I sound so negative, but this blog is meant for me to keep a record of life, and this is it at the moment. Fun or not fun, it's going on here.
Hubby found out through his physical that he has dangerously high blood pressure and cholesterol. So, now we are on to that issue. Not to mention, becoming adoptive parents. What in the world should we do? Well, life is proving to be more challenging as the days go on, but I know God has a plan, and His plan is perfect.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 .......For our light affliction, which is for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen, for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.
Reading His word or typing it just gives me peace. I want to be so deep into His word, and have it so IN me , that this is the first thing my mind calls upon when I am facing trials, or want to complain. Just 5 minutes of typing His word , brings such a peace. How amazing is it, that He is concerned for me, that He really does love me and has a plan for my life? The key is to follow Him daily and be a good listener. Let's just say, listening has always been a struggle for me. Not listening, obeying. Trust and obey, you know the song, for there's no better way. Well, it's true. I am learning this daily.
At the moment, hubby and I are discussing how to handle stress. He is convinced that I need to confront my fears and get on his motorcyle with him and go on a motorcycle ride. He thinks this is therapy.For me it screams death. Well, off I go to see how it goes. I will post later.

True Faith

I want to start my year off with true, strong, unwavering faith. I have learned this year that I am not in control. Let me repeat that for myself. I am not in control. I do not want to be in control because God is so amazing, I know His plans are for my best.Even if they are painful or unpleasant, He wants to help me become more like Him everyday. We are all called to be more like Jesus and it does not happen without some chiseling.
I was laughing to myself today thinking about the idea that my hubby and I are now 40 and getting old. We're having moles removed, having things checked that we have never had checked before, and now, I am sporting a very slight mustache that would make some teenage boys jealous. This has been pointed out to me twice in one day by both of my children. Let's just say I am thankful that my husband truly loves me or he would have left screaming this year! It has been a weird, growing, life changing year. But ya know, it has been kind of fun. I feel almost like a new person. God is amazing and I fully trust His plan for our life!

Oh my Goodness

Ok. The saga continues as we plow forward towards the moving finish line. It seems like everytime I think we are close to being finished with all of our paperwork for fostering , there is MORE TO DO! Goodness, are they serious? I have had more stuff checked on me and my family than the president had before he ran for office. And I am SERIOUS about that!
Well, we had another fun day. We are still having a blast with our new family members. It just seems like our family is complete now that they are here. I just want to hurry and get it to be permamant.
The older one, L, asked me today if I was over protective. I informed her that I am just doing the job God gave me to best of my ability. Here is an article I just sent to some friends YESTERDAy on this very subject. This is from an artice in the magazine Old Schoolhouse......

Do you "shelter" your children? We're finding that's a bad word in some circles. Something is creeping into the church (and even the homeschooling community), and it isn't biblical. It is an "anti-sheltering campaign" of sorts, and it's full of holes. Think about it. What does it mean to shelter? Protect. Defend. Guard. Preserve. Watch over. Shield. Safeguard. Hmmmm, so far so good, right? Sure, until "Christian pop psychology" comes in and tells us we should allow our children to taste a little of the world in order to understand it or pray for it (the kids being "salt and light" baloney in the public schools is a good example) - that we should not "over-shelter" them. Nonsense.

What's the opposite of shelter? Expose. Endanger. We parents are called to be like our Father in Heaven. He is the greatest "Shelterer" there ever was, and it is us He shelters - or watches over; protecting us, preserving us, shielding us. Is God missing something, here? Should He instead follow the advice of those (shamefully, some of these are even pastors!) who say to lay off a bit? Thankfully, the Lord is a bit wiser than that. Praise Him for this! Glory to God who knows how to parent (shelter) us perfectly!

May we as parents follow this model - His model. Let's continue to shelter (love) our children as He loves us. Dismiss the garbage that crawls in; don't buy it. We're promised there will be false teachers, liars in the church (and there are many). I want to keep my eyes focused on Christ, come what may.

By the way, someone once shared with me that when it comes to parenting, she would rather err on the side of being a little too careful/sheltering than to err on the wrong side. Paul and I agree wholeheartedly with this. We would prefer to be a tad "too" protective than to make a major mistake we can't take back once it's done. We've learned some hard lessons over the years.

And as our kids get much older, as we see the Truth in them growing as they take on their own relationship with the Lord, complete with Godly convictions, we can loosen up the reins a little. There's no set formula for this, though, so don't let anyone try and give you one. You know your children better than anyone, and can assess their maturity in the Lord best. After all, this is why you are homeschooling them (or did homeschool them through graduation), so that you can customize their education both academically, and most importantly, in God's word. But again, be careful. Do it slowly and if you're going to "go overboard", do so on the conservative end. Don't err on the wrong side.

And just to be clear, this doesn't mean to stop sheltering them. During the short time we have them, we have a responsibility to protect them and to guard them against ungodly influences and worldly displays the best we can. The wisest thing we can do right now is to soak them in God's word. Pour it into their hearts. Train them up in His ways so that as they get older and begin to leave the nest, they walk in Truth and can go out and start families, bringing their own children up (tightly to their hips) in the love and admonition of their Lord.

May your sweet children rise up and call you blessed for your faithfulness and hard work in raising them up in Christ. It's not easy, it's often thankless (for years), and you can fall into doubts, especially when you come up against a whining 14 or 16 year old who wants his way (and wants YOU out of his way). Don't give into the doubts; that's a trap. Rather, lovingly stand firm. God stands firmly beside us, sheltering us. May we do the same for our children.

"Glory to God who knows how to parent (shelter) us perfectly!"

Parents: Keep sheltering them. You are bringing them up in the love and admonition of the Lord, not in the latest "homeschool philosophy." God's word trumps any speaker! It dwarfs any author! May you be blessed as you continue to walk in obedience of His word.

Lord, thank you for sheltering me. Please never stop. "Over-shelter" if You will (if there is such a thing). Fine with me!

Over-protect, over-defend, over-guard me; please do! I'll take it all, Lord. Keep me tight to Your side. I'm safe in that place. There, I can breathe and thrive. It's where I find my hope in Christ.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. - Psalms 61:3

Action point: Do you need to repent to someone today for looking down on (judging) them? Have you been a thorn in another parent's side over this issue? Who have you scolded or cryptically "spoken to" about their "overbearance" in regards to their own children? It might be time to humbly pick up the phone or shoot off an email.

Parents who strongly shelter their children are to be praised, not made to feel inadequate or odd. That's the world lying to us, there. And this world is not our home.



well, I guess that is it for the day!
Blessings

Merry Christmas

What a day! We had our first Christmas as a family of 6.It was so much fun to see the kids this morning with our new members. I am amazed at the living, breathing blessings that God has given us this year . Every time I think about it I get emotional. They are so sweet and S and P are showing their awesomeness as well through their kindness.
It is so fun to spend the holidays with loved ones. My parents came over as usual and did Christmas morning. Then we ate breakfast with my new waffle maker, and then at 2 we left to go to Mark's side of the family. ( also mine but by marriage)
We had fun and visited until 8:45.
Now we are all home resting!
Blessings

Is Progesterone cream bad for little boys?

Well, my results are in from the doctor. My progesterone is way off. It is suppose to be functioning at 27 and it is at 5. Way too low to function . Then my adrenal function as suppose to be working around 10 and mine was at 30. Pretty much the top of the charts for adrenal stress. so, that explains a lot!
Now, I have my progesterone cream to use starting next week. I can not wait!
However, some of it has been used already. I was asking my daughter to go get the atibiotic cream off of my shelf for my son, and she got my hormone cream and put it on him.So, when I realized it I immediatly washed it off. Oh well, he woke up and didn't have any boobs or anything!

I knew something was waaaaay wrong

I thought I would show you a craft we did with our leaves we collected. All we did was get some of the wax located by the canning jars and melted it and dipped in our leaves. It was in our living room and has now been moved to the front porch. It was also a lot of fun to make.Now on to more serious issues......
Well, the long awaited hormone test results are in! My system IS FOR SURE whacked out. As my husband would testify.
My progesterone was suppose to be at 30 and it was functioning at a 7 and my dhea was functioning as far off kilter. My stress hormones were extremely elevated also. So, that makes for one tired, emotional, sometimes sad, heart racing person.
12 more days and I will be applying happy cream medicine to get back in the groove of things. Thanks goodness for test results and doctors to read them.
I am ready for my new me!
I am also ready to get our girls home. The wait is far harder than it is when you are pregnant.
They will be spending Christmas break here and we will have our first Christmas together as a family of 6! God amazes me!

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Enya

IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS SCROLL DOWN TO MY MUSIC BOX AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON! ENJOY!

Walk by Faith

Steadfast heart! This is a message from one of my favorite pastors on the radio. It is a quote/speech from a martyr from Zimbabwe.
I listened to it and typed it the best I could. He has an accent so a few words might be wrong.
Steadfast Heart
I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy spirit Power. The die has been cast, I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished with low-living, sight-walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tained visions, worldy talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preimenence,prosperity,promotions,or popularity. I don't have to be right, I don't have to be tops, I don't have to be first, I don't have to be recognized. I don't have to be praised, I don't have to be regarded, I don't have to be rewarded, I now live by faith. I lead in His presence, I walk by patience, I'm uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power. My face is set, my gate is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough,my companions are few,my guide is reliable,my mission is clear. I can not be bought, comprimised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,hesitate in the presence of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity,or meander in the maze of mediocricy. I won't give up, shut-up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, payed up and preached up. I'm a deciple of JESUS. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until All know and work until He stops me. When he comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear.

WOW WOW WOW!I just love it!

Can you imagine being put to death for your faith? Just for loving Jesus?I can feel and hear his love as I read it or hear this. I hope I can say that when Jesus comes for His own, I hope He will have no problem recognizing me. I am at a real new time in life with lots of stuff going on, but I always want HIm to be the MAIN FOCUS in all we do.
Blessings

I Love Christmas

I really am a family person. My side of the family AND my husband's side are some of the people I treasure the most in life.
I am so thankful for time spent together like this weekend. We celebrated an early Christmas with them and our family, including our 2 newest family members. ( A&L) I am feeling the joys of life more now than ever because life is just so good. I was feeling kind of crummy health wise, but I think we have figured it out. It was my SUPPLEMENTS! Yes, vitamins were whacking out my system.Long story, but I really think it was the problem. Anyway, back to the good life. I am so unbelievably excited about getting our girls home. I am crazy in love with them and truly enjoy their company. God has really blessed our family and for that I am grateful.
We have finally met and seen the weener mobile. I posted a picture above. It was a childhood dream of mine to see it and now I have. My kids were not aware of how lucky they were to see it, but I later had them convinced, this might be the only chance they get to see it.I think they had a little more of the "awe" factor after learning about it.
Well, I am off to shop and find a special gift for my mother- in- law. Have a very blessed day and watch out for the stress monster.
I can tell you from experience, it can be a killer! Enjoy the Christmas season and remember what it is really about....JESUS!