Busy, Busy, Busy

Wow, over a month since my last blog....I've been a little busy.
Makenna's up North in Brainard right now so we are going up North every week. Matt has been sick and also had his ear tubes put in. Kevin turned 4 and loves playing with all of his toys. Tom hasn't been on too much travel in the last month but he remains busy with work and what not!! Me, I feel like I'm loosing my mind, that I don't have any control over anything....thank goodness God's in control!! So, that's all my news for right now, I hope to post more this weekend.

The Power of a song

Have you ever heard a song so powerful that it bring you to tears. It remind you of your own life and some one, some how put your life into their words. Below is a song from one of my favorite Christian band, Casting Crowns. I've been playing this song over and over just to help me get throught the day. I've been fight depression for the past few months, I love the line that says, I start the day and the war begins. Thats how I feel....
Please read the lyrics and let me know what you think!!

Here I am Lord, And I'm drowningIn your sea of forgetfulnessThe chains of yesterday surround meI yearn for peace and restI don’t want to end up where you found meAnd it echoes in my mind,Keeps me awake tonightI know you cast my sin as far as the east is from the westAnd I stand before you now as,As though I've never sinnedBut today I feel like I'm just one mistake awayFrom you leaving me this wayJesus can you show meJust how far the east is from the westCause I can't bear to see the man I've been Rising up in me againIn the arms of your mercy I find rest,Cause you know just how far the East is from the WestFrom one scarred hand to the other.I start the day the war beginsEndless reminding of my sinAnd time and time again your truth is drowned out By the storm I'm inToday I feel like I'm just one mistake away,From you leaving me this wayJesus can you show me,Just how far the East is from the WestCause I can't bear to see the man I've been Come rising up in me againIn the arms of your mercy I find rest'cause you know Just how far the East is form the WestFrom one scarred hand to the other.I know you've washed me white,Turned my darkness into lightI need your peace to get me through,To get me through this nightCan’t live by what I feelBut by the Truth your work reveals,I'm not holding on to youBut you're holding on to me,You’re holding on to meJesus you knowJust how far the East is from the WestI don't have to see the man I've been, Come rising up in me againIn the arms of your mercy I find rest'cause you know just how far the East is form the West,From one scarred hand to the other.Just how far The east is from the west From one scarred hand to the other

9/11

I think everyone that will forever remember where they were when the airplanes hit the twin towers! Me, I was at work at the US Army Hospital with CNN on in the background, when we all heard the news. When the 2nd plane hit we all knew this just wasn't an accident. Then the most amazing thing happened. Every soldier in my clinic; enlisted, officer and even the retired were ready to fight to protect our country. I was a very proud American amongst all these brave soldiers. Tom went to pick up Kenna from school, we went home, and did what most Americans did....stared at the tv in disbelief. I still think of all the people who lost a love on 9/11 and all the families that have lost a family member who stood up and went to war for our country after 9/11. My biggest hero's are SSG William Louderback, MAJ Doug Gray & SFC Mark Dengate....soldiers that I worked with in the eye clinic, who went to Iraq so my family could live freely....I love you guys!! To Toby Olsen, I worked with his father COL James Olsen in the clinic and he died fighting for my freedom, you are a hero!!

Red Power Ranger

Last week at the supper table, we were saying are prayers and Kevin took over and said, "Jesus, thank you for the Red Power Ranger"!! We all laughed!!

Kevin & Diet Pepsi

Yes, its true...we are a family of soda drinkers. If you know me well, you'd know that I love Dr. Pepper, its my very favorite but I can't drink it any more and diet PD just isn't right. So, I've been drinking Diet Pepsi for about four years now. Kevin loves Diet Pepsi and always asks for Diet Pepsi to drink. This weekend I came across this picture of Kevin at about 6 months old. So, I guess he's been a Diet Pepsi drinker for several years now!

Busy, Busy Weekend

Labor Day weekend. A time for fun and relaxation, right?! Not in our house. Tom and I decided to clean out the garage before winter is here and we have to pull the snow blower out.
First off, cleaning the garage with a month, not an easy task but somehow we did it!! The only thing we have down right now is our camping gear and that's only because we are going camping next weekend. I can't wait to go....I need a break!!! No tv, computer or cell phones. Just Tom, the kids and I and water. It will be so much fun.

On Sunday we headed to the Minnesota State Fair. We quickly learned that we'll never go again on a weekend.....it was crazy!! Believe or not....we didn't eat anything on a stick this year. I think Tom and I felt very good because of the heat and the fact that everything is fried. But we did have cheese curds, were which of course, we're wonderful.

Monday I tried to catch up on housework and laundry. I just need a good floor cleaning and to put away the laundry and I'll be satisfied.

Loosing my mind

I remember, back in the day, when Makenna Jo use to run in the tall grass at the Farm at Papa Dicks. Not a care in the world, her little curls bounching and I was her everything! Boy a lot has changed in 1o years. Makenna is an amazing child and I love her so very much. Makenna is a survivor, a survivor of sexual abuse and now at 13 she is having a lot of memories. Depression is ruling her world and I want her to know that at the end of her tunnel Jesus will be waiting for her. I don't know what to do anymore, I don't know how to handle this. Thank goodness for the support of my best friend and the ladies in my church group. My two little boys remind me daily that even when my day is really bad, I have them to watch and care for, so I have to go on! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband, without him, I don't know what I'd do!! So, everyone that has raised a teenaged daughter always says the same thing, "Don't worry, it will get worse before it gets better". I hope not!!!

Spider Man is now living in our house!!!!!

Over the weekend, Kevin was given a bunch of clothes from our good friends, The Etzler's! At the bottom of the bag was a Spider Man Costume and as soon as he saw it, he had to put it on. He ran through the house singing Spider Man and "webbing" the house.
At bed time I said, "Time for bed, Kevin". He informed me that his name was not Kevin but Spider Man. Then he took off his costume, went to the bathroom, put on his pj's and crawled up into his bed. When I went into 10 minutes later to read and say prayers, I noticed over his Pj's he was wearing his Spider Man costume. I didn't say anything until after I was done reading and praying, then I said, "Good Night Spider Man"!!

MAD

I just bought a new keyboard for work, a real fancy one and it doesn't work. The enter key and the backspace key doesn't work, not to mention the hot keys. Now I have to return it and get a new one, stuff like that drives me crazy!!

Dinner and a Movie..........NOT

So, so it seems as parents of 1 teenager and two small boys, we don't get the chance to go to the movies. So, last night we hired Makenna to babysit both boys so we could spend a couple of hours together before Tom had to leave town for the week.
We checked the movies times (not the price) and headed out the door. We both about had a heart attack when we found out that the matinee was $7.50 each. So, there goes $15 buck.
Then we decided that we would get some popcorn and a couple of drinks. They had combo's but not prices on them so Thomas asked the cahier and for Combo #1 (Lg Popcorn, 2-med Drink) $16.00. I couldn't believe it. So, we shared a med. popcorn which still cost $7.00. I told Tom that if we wanted to see a movie, go out for supper and then pay the sitter, we'd be looking at $60. So, no more movies for us for awhile unless when we go out North to Grandma & Grandpa....babysitting there is free!!

Money, money, money

Its funny how the world truly does revolve around money. Tom is all travel on next week so he took a cash advance off of his Government Travel Card. After going to the bank, we went to Costco, Target, the meat market and to Andy's market. So, several hours later we were getting ready for church when Thomas started freaking out because he couldn't find his money. He was instantally in a "REALLY" bad mood. So, next we started the search. The van, garage, all though out the house, nothing. Then I called all the stores we were at earlier to see if anyone had turned in any money....Nothing!! We went to church, Tom was ushering so I think he told anyone he came in contact with about his lost money!! So, we came home, he was still very upset. I told him it will be alright, we'll have to suck it up....then he can even anger and asked me if I've ever lost $140 and I had to tell him NO. So, later I went out to the garage to grab a soda and next to the fridge on the floor was a wad of cash. I quickly did a little happy dance and then walked up the stairs, planted a big kiss on his lips and placed the cash in Tom's lap. His attitude instantly changed. So, while money may be the root of all evil, it made my husband very happy man!!

Matthew

I had to post a picture of my little Matthew. Matt is my third and finally baby and he is a little piece of heaven here on earth. This is one of my favorite pictures of him, taken at my brothers wedding, isn't he cute?
I remember having a conversation with my best friend, Jeanell when I was pregnant. I was very concerned about having enough love for this baby. Makenna was my first child, Kevin was the son that Thomas and I shared together, how could I possibly love another child. Jeanell being a mother of three girls told me that when that baby is born that your love just magically stretches and sure enough, I'm just crazy about him. Its a wonderful feeling to know that no matter how big he gets he'll always be my baby!!

A Very Proud Sister

On June 30, I was so blessed to be able to go down to Alabama to watch my baby brother, Gary, marry his beautiful wife Jessica. Gary and I are 11 year apart so he's so much more then a little brother, he's like a son to me.

Watching him get married was very emotional. During the wedding, I was busy taking pictures and then after the ceremony, out of the blue I started having all these flashback of his life; the first time I saw him, his first haircut, zipping his "privite parts" in his He-man PJ's, all the trips to Children's Hospital, watching him playing baseball and how handsome he looked in his uniform. Then I lost it and cried and cried....which made my mom cry. Gary had to tell us to both knock it off. The bottom line is that I am so proud of Gary, his wife and beautiful daughter Sweden. He is an awesome dad, which is amazing since his dad was never around. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for this family. I love you all...