Still Waters Is 19!

My eyes water at the thought, my Baby Girl is 19! Time sure has flown by. Seems like just yesterday she was a wee one. I feel so blessed that I was able to stay home and enjoy spending 24/7 with her. She has grown to be an incredible godly young lady. She is such a blessing.

I left her a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" message on the dry eraser board. It greeted her as she went into the kitchen for breakfast. Today she had to spend the whole day at SU. Which was alright cause we don't usually do "presents" until after dinner.

It is a tradition that the "birthday" person, gets to choose what they want to eat. Not just for dinner, but for breakfast and lunch too. :o) BUT since our oldest started attending college, it's been harder to keep up with the breakfast and lunch tradition. No one wants a BIG breakfast at 6am. As for lunch, they are in school. :o( Soooo, the breakfast and lunch tradition have been moved from the "birthday" day to the weekend after the "birthday" day. Also, depending what the "birthday person" wants to eat, if it's near by, we eat it on that day. If not, it turns out to be a weekend dinner too. Which is what happened this time around. Still Waters was in the mood for authentic Cuban cuisine. YEAH!!! *Update on the dinner on Saturday.

My Knight was able to work out of our Castello today. YEAH!!! We love it when he's able to do that. We all decided to skip church tonight and just hang out together. The Seamstress (my mother in love) has been staying with us, so she hung out with us too. All of Still Waters' gift were wrapped and stacked on the counter with a card attached.

We ate dinner and then ate cake. For dinner we had Pan con Bistec. Doesn't that sound delish?! Well, that translates to steak sandwich. LOL! It's not your typical steak sandwich. The thin cut sirloin steak is marinated with garlic, Worcestershire sauce and vidalia onions. We cook it in an iron skillet with extra virgin olive oil. We use Cuban bread for the sandwich. Where we live they really don't have authentic Cuban bread so we make do with the "Cuban" bread that's available. In the sandwich we put the grilled onions, the steak and shoestring potato chips. My mouth waters at the thought. Still Waters is more of a "pie" lover vs. a cake lover. So we bought a French Silk Pie (her request) and a Key Lime Pie (which she also loves).

After singing Happy Birthday, we all sat around the couch to watch her open her presents. She first opened the card. In it was written that she could get a cd of her choice and the Kingdom Hearts Final Remix video game. (*more on this later) The she went on to the gifts. Well, there were three boxes about the same size. First box had a pair of pretty brown sandals. She wears a size 6 1/2 narrow. Which is not easy to find. I mean 6 1/2 is easy to find, but now narrow. Box number two had a pair of brown sneakers, slip on kind of shoes. She's been looking for a pair like that. Box number three... yep... a pair of sneakers. LOL! She politely told me, "Mom, you bought me this exact pair already for Christmas. Remember that I told you I couldn't wear them cause they hurt my heal?" I had forgotten! Well, to tell the truth, I seem to forget A LOT!!! You see I have bought some cd's not once, but twice! The same goes for nail colors and movies. At least I'm consistent in my taste. ;o) My poor Still Waters, I lead her to believe that those three shoes was all she was getting. I let her go up to her room while I ran to my room and got the BIG BOX. I then called her down and there it was waiting for her. She unwrapped it and found.... a laptop. Not just any laptop, but one that she'll be able to use for what she's studying, computer animation.

Later on I asked her if she was disappointed when she first thought that she only got the shoes, video game and a cd. She told me no. That she was thankful for what she had gotten. Be still my heart...

*UPDATE- Saturday, 9/1- we went to eat at the Cuban restaurant in a nearby town. The owners are Cubans so the food is authentic Cuban cuisine. The food was DELISH!!! Some had the grilled chicken, rice and black beans, all the rest had breaded steak, moro and fried plantains. Moro is white rice and black beans cooked together. It it seasoned a little different and it has a different texture and taste. It's my favorite type of rice. G.I. Joe and The Warrior had Fritas. Which is... hamburgers. LOL! They were were a little surprised to see it on Cuban sandwich bread instead of hamburger buns. But they liked it very much. The night was success.

* My Fair Maidens and Squires really got into the Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2 video games. We kept hearing about Kingdom Hearts Final Remix video game. I knew that my Still Waters would love it. Which is why we told her we'd get it for her. Turns out that it's only available in Japan right now. It won't be available here until 2008. :o(

First thing she opened was her card. She's smiling at the thought that she gets to pick a cd. Like I mentioned before, I have bought two cd's at different times, twice! I don't know why, but I've only done that with her. I now keep a list of cd's and books she likes, but doesn't have. :o)


When I saw these shoes, I KNEW they were "her" style. She really liked them. Did I mention that Soaring Amongst The Clouds, Still Waters and I wear the same show size, 6 1/2? :o)


We got her a pair of sandals. She calls them "cloncker" sandals. They are sturdy, bulky sandals. Her old pair was wearing out. She's had them for over 4 years.


Ok, here she is laughing, cause I bought her the same pair of sneakers. The same pair she once told me that hurts her ankle. I can't believe I did it again! Well, I can believe it. I fell like I'm losing my mind.


She really likes her laptop. She wanted to get one, but wasn't expecting it. We are so blessed to have children that are really grateful. They are such a blessing.

Happy Birthday Baby girl. You brighten my world.

Watch Out "LS"!

Today was Soaring Amongst The Clouds' first day back at "LS". She is thrilled beyond words that she got the schedule she wanted. She's already pointed out that she only has 18 Tuesday's to go. LOL!

She managed to schedule all her classes for Tuesday and Thursday. She'll be able to continue playing on the co-ed softball team, since their games are on Tuesday nights. BUT, she's going to have to give up playing on the women's softball team this semester. Their games are on Thursday nights and she has a night class. All in all, she is very pleased that she only has two days of school. That will free her up to do some volunteer work she wanted to do and have those other three days to study and do homework.

This semester she is taking, Humanities, Intro to Life Science, Intro to Education, Liberal Arts Math II and Intro to Psychology. All these are required for what she plans on studying. She's focusing on being an Interpreter. She would like to master the Spanish (Spain) and Chinese languages. But she is also working on a teaching degree. I know she can do it. My Soaring Amongst The Clouds is a dreamer, but most important... she's also a doer. :o)

She plans on helping out Mrs. B with her 1st grade class. She did that while she homeschooled and really loved it. Mrs. B is really easy to work with. She loves the children and it shows. I know Soaring Amongst The Clouds is going to enjoy working with her again.

I tried to get a picture of her before she left for school. As soon as she saw me reach for the camera, she gave me "the look". So, I never even got to lay hands on my camera. Oh well, I'll have to get a candid shot sometime. Gone are the times when my children were wee ones and actually "posed" for the pictures.

Watch Out "SU"!

Today was a big day for Still Waters. It was her first day at "SU". She has classes every day. The great thing is that all her classes are in two buildings and the buildings are close to each other.

The campus is BEAUTIFUL! It has a quaint, small town atmosphere. She loved the library. She noticed that they have "old" classics. She's looking forward to checking some of the "oldies" out. She will be working in the media center. She's very excited about that.

Orientation was Friday-Tuesday. She was at school all those days. Got to meet some students that are transfer students just like her. I know that she is going to love attending "SU". It's perfect for her. Oh, she ate at the cafeteria today and said that lunch was great! She had a drink, a slice of pizza (just like Tony's) and a salad. All that for only $3! She told me the food was great!

This is going to be a great semester. She is taking Calculus I, Biblical Literature, Digital Arts and Computer Science. Her counselor tried to talk her out of taking Calculus this semester since she was also taking the Computer Science class. She felt that the work load might be too much. That she should take a "lighter" class. LOL! Well, she doesn't know my Still Waters! She can do anything she sets her mind to, not only that, but she knows that as long as she's following God's will for her life, things will always work out. Besides that, she's got the best tutor one could ever have... her Dad! He's a software engineer. Her classes for this semester are right up his alley. ;o)

I know this will be hard to believe, but I was up early this morning. It is well known, that I am not a morning person. I wanted to see her off and take a "first day at the U" picture. Needless to say, I didn't get a picture. Not because I didn't try, but because she wasn't co-operating. URGH!!! BUT, I didn't give her a hard time about it. I'm learning to "be quiet". Even if it means gritting my teeth, biting my tongue and smiling. I've got TMJ, bloody lip and a botox smile to prove it! :o)

A Teachable Heart

I subscribe to receive daily devotions from Proverbs31. To be totally honest, I don't ALWAYS read them. Sometimes, I skim through them and think, "ah, this doesn't apply to me" and then I skip it. To be truthful, I'm not sure why I read the ones I do and why I skip some. I'm sure I'm missing some incredible wisdom nuggets. I really need to be more diligent about my devotions.

The devotion I'm sharing today cuts to the heart of the (my) matter. Then again when doesn't God's Word hit the nail on the head?!

A Teachable Heart

By Lysa TerKeurst

Isaiah 2:3, “He will teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths.”(NIV)

Devotion:
As a mom, I often find myself in the role of teacher and instructor. Whether I am showing them how to tie their shoes, how to ride a bike, or how to finish their homework, I love teaching my kids how to do new things. I rejoice when they succeed and try my best to guide them in the way that is right and best for them. However, my teaching and instruction can only work if they are willing to listen and receive what I have to share.

Today’s key verse tells us that God teaches and instruct us, His children, how to do godly things so we may walk in the paths that are right according to His Word. Just as I want my children to follow my instruction so they are successful, our Heavenly Father also wants to see us succeed. But in order for that to happen, we must also be willing to receive and take in the things God has to share with us. Thankfully, He loves us enough to do whatever it takes to keep us on the right path—a path that leads to Him.

Isaiah 28:26 says, “His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.” Interestingly enough, the next two verses that follow describe the methods a farmer must use to harvests a crop in order to make it into something worth eating. Here are some of the ways different crops are brought into abundant fruition:

Caraway – beaten with a rod
Cumin – beaten with a stick
Grain – must be ground

Threshing is a process of beating or separating the straw from the seed or grain of the crop, so that the farmer is able to get rid of the parts of the plant that are not useful. Verse 28 sums up the process by telling us that once the separation is completed the farmer can stop beating his crop. Sometimes, in order for us to become people worth using to spread God’s fame, we must receive discipline from Him and that doesn’t feel good. As moms, we know that to bring up a well-behaved child, we must discipline them sometimes. It is not the best part of our job, but it is necessary. God feels the same way about you and me.

In Deuteronomy 8:3, Moses tells the Israelite people, “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (NIV).

We can find God’s instruction throughout the Bible. If we want to know how to make our plans succeed, we can go to His Word for answers. He is there for us just as we are there for our kids. His character is woven into every story; His wisdom etched in every line of the text. All we have to do is look.

Unfortunately, when we ignore the instruction God maps out for us in His Word, we end up having to learn through a harder path that may be much more painful. That is why having a teachable heart is so important. As I long for my children to be continually open to my instruction for their benefit, God wants us to be open to His teaching for our benefit. The farmer who continually has to thresh his crop brings about no harvest. Don’t give God a reason to keep threshing you before you make an impact for Him. Will you be willing to humble yourself and submit to all the incredible things that He has to teach you today?

Dear Lord, search my heart today and show me where pride has kept me from learning the good things You want to teach me. My desire is to have a teachable heart, so I can succeed. I know that instruction and discipline doesn’t always feel good, but my greater desire is to know You and I’m willing to go to the threshing floor if that’s what it takes to bear fruit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

Read Psalm 25:4-10 and Psalm 32:8. Write down your answers to the following questions:

When your plans fail, what does that mean to you? It should mean that I should have trust in God's plan for me. That He will open and close doors. His plans for me are far better than mine. My problem is that my sinful, black heart gets in the way. My flesh gets the best of me and I rebel.

Does it mean your plans were wrong? Yes and I pay the price for it. My wrong doings will cause me grief and heartaches.

Does it mean that God did not bless your plans? Yes, cause it was "my" plan and not His.

Reflections:

What is your definition of having a teachable heart? Having an open mind and spirit. Taking self "off" and "putting "on" God.

In what areas do you struggle with being teachable? In many areas. For right now, I'm struggling with submitting and obeying.

What steps do you need to take in order to be “taught”? I need to forget about my needs and wants. I have to take the focus off of me.
Power Verses:

Proverbs 15:5, “A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.” (NIV)

Isaiah 28:26, 27-28, "His God instructs him and teaches him the right way." "Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over cummin; caraway is beaten out with a rod,
and cummin with a stick. Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. Though he drives the wheels of his threshing cart over it, his horses do not grind it."
Proverbs31.com


Lord, help me to die to self. To keep my eyes off of me and focus them on you. I want be the woman you want me to be, not the selfish one I am. Thank you Lord for all my sisters in the HAUS. They are AWESOME godly women who love you and are not ashamed to share what your Word says. They are wise beyond measure. Bless them tenfold.

Preparing Him For The Other Woman

Yesterday, I was patiently waiting in the deli for my number to be called. They "conveniently" had a revolving book rack under the number dispenser. The title of a book caught my eye. The book was called, Preparing Him For The Other Woman- A Mother's Guide to Raising Her Son to Love a Wife and Lead a Family. I thought, "Hmmmm, sounds interesting."

I flipped through it and I was hooked. Needles to say, I put in my cart and after I got my "deli" items, went straight to the check out. I couldn't wait to start reading this new little "gem" of mine. Why hadn't I seen this book before?

I'm only chapter 2, but boy is it hitting home. What I found very interesting is that she shared a realization that sounds very much like one I had many years ago. When my Warrior was younger he told me, that when he grew up, he wanted to marry me. I kissed him and told him that mommies can't marry their sons. I told him that God had created a very special girl just for him. But I realized, that I was the first woman in his life, to love him and show him how to love.

What an AWESOME responsibility we have been given. As a mom to two Squires, who better than me can teach them to appreciate a woman and how to express their love. Help them to see why it's important to honor and respect women, to teach him to wait for the one that God created for him.

I know it's not ALL up to me. My Knight ALSO has and AWESOME responsibilities. Who better than their dad can teach our Squires how to be the man God wants them to be, NOT the man mom and dad want them to be. Who better can teach them to be a godly man, leader, a hero, a man of his word?

It's not my Knight's and I doing's. It's all God's doings'. We are merely trying to do what He is leading us to do.

For moms that are expecting baby boys, I usually give them a couple of books, to start off their "library". The books are: Love You Forever, The Runaway Bunny ,Guess How Much I Love You and I Promise I'll Find You. Preparing Him For The Other Woman will be added to my future baby shower gifts.

I look forward to finishing this book. I plan on passing it along to my Fair Maidens... when the times comes. Maybe I should just get them each their own copy or would it mean more if it's the same copy "mom" read? Hmmm...

Raising A Modern Day Knight

I am ALWAYS on the look out for books, articles or tips on child rearing. Through the years I've come across some mighty fine words of wisdom. Not just for my Fair Maidens, but for my Squires too.

Years ago, while I was pregnant with my first little Squire, G.I.Joe, I came across a book called Raising a Modern Day Knight. Well, I liked it so much, I also got the cd, so my Knight could listen to it on his way to work. :o)

It's been a couple of years since I read it. I know it's kinda meant for dads to read, but hey, I'm the mom. I felt that I could learn from this book too. I have to say, that I really enjoyed ready this book back then. It really focuses on dad/son relationships. It talks about how a dad can help guide his son.

Now that my Squires are 13 and 10, I think it's time to pull this book off the shelf, dust it off and give it another read through. I'll also dust off the cd and put it in my Knight's car. Now, if I could only remember where I stored it. :o)

Words of Wisdom

Last night I had a restless night. My heart was heavy. I went to bed crying and praying. Couldn't sleep, so I got up (carefully, I didn't want to wake my Knight), grabbed my bible and went to the living room. Where I continued to cry, pray and read. I was lead to read in Proverbs.

So much has happened since last Tuesday. Mr. Seminary Student teaches the college and career class at church on Wednesday nights. He made a comment about Soaring Amongst The Clouds and Still Waters. He said they were shrugging responsibilities and that when they commit to something they need to follow it through.

What lead to his comment? The college and career class was scheduled to lead the youth night on 7/18. They were going to do some skits and divide all the youth into groups. They were going to have a lesson appropriate for each group. There would be four groups: middle school boys, high school boys, middle school girls and high school girls. I'm not sure why, but it got moved to 7/25. Hence the dilemma. On 7/25 our church was having a "Disaster Relief mock drill". Our church got approved to be a shelter in a time of need. My Knight, Soaring Amongst The Clouds and Still Waters are volunteers for the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. My Fair Maidens reminded the their peers and Mr. Seminary Student about the mock drill. Our entire church body had been asked to participate in the drill. All they had to do was be the victims. The Disaster Relief team would direct them where to go. Dinner was going to be being served and cots would be assigned. They were even going to have volunteers working with children. The mock drill had been mentioned for the last couple of weeks. It had even been mentioned a couple of times in the church bulletin. Not only that, but a number of our youth were on a mission trip that week. Attendance is usually down when some of the youth are away on youth camps or on mission trips. They youth that don't go on these trips, tend not to attend church because their friends aren't there. My Fair Maidens brought up the suggestion of waiting one more week, due to the mock drill. Also because the youth attendance was going to be extremely low. The college and career goal was to minister to the youth and show them what they do in college in career class. We seem to lose the students once they graduate from high school. That's when my daughter's characters got slandered.

It all took place on facebook. My Fair Maidens were told that they were shrugging responsibilities. That they had first committed to the youth night and they needed to follow that through. They also alluded to my Fair Maidens "trying to stir" trouble within the group. I was flabbergasted. How could ANY ONE think my Fair Maidens would do such a thing?! I'm sure some of them might not know how much they do for our church and and our church body. The amount of ours they put into the quilting ministry, the babysitting they do for free as a ministry to families, the childcare they provide (for free) so that moms can participate in choir or attend the church service, the child care they provide for "mom's day out", the volunteer hours they've put in for Disaster Relief team, and the mission trips that they've been on. They have such a giving, gently spirit. Their names have been tainted. My heart goes out to them. Your name is your name. They don't take the name of "Christian" lightly.

I was so upset, that the flesh in me wanted to lash out. I was in attack mode. But scripture told me to do otherwise. I was lead to Proverbs, over and over again. I was in a hurry, so I asked my Still Waters to send me some scriptures regarding what God has spoken to me about. Below is what she sent me. After some of the Scriptures, she shared a little bit of her insight. My Still Waters is only 18 yr. old, but she is wise beyond her years. She has taught me much...


1.) HOW TO IDENTIFY THE FOOL:

Pro 14:3
In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Pro 14:15
The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.

Pro 14:16
A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.

Pro 18:2
A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.

Pro 18:6
A fool's lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.

Pro 27:3
A stone [is] heavy and sand [is] weighty,
But a fool's wrath [is] heavier than both of them.

(Mom, this is me thinking: because he's so DENSE!)

Pro 28:3
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

Prov 29:11
A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise [man] holds them back.

(Me again: Must....retain.....self-.....control!!!)

Ecc 10:3
Even when a fool walks a long the way,
He lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone [that] he [is] a fool.

(Me again: I just hope the others aren't fools or they won't see it!)


2) HOW TO HANDLE A FOOL:
Pro 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.

Pro 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Pro 17:10
Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.

Pro 17:14
The beginning of strife is like releasing water,
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

(Me again: does that mean we've taken this too far already?)

Pro 20:3
[It is] honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

(Me again: So, umm....give up?)

Pro 23:9
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

(Me again: Uummmm........too late. This is not really in the Bible. Its just a quote I've had pinned to my cork board for a while: "He who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client.")

3) WHAT HAPPENS WHILE DEALING WITH THE FOOL:

Pro 17:12
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.

(Me again: because a bear will eventually shut up and go her own way, but the fool will follow you around, turn others to his cause, and annoy the heck outta you while attempting to soil your character! So come think about it, they're a lot like stupid monkeys! They dare not come level with you to fight, so they stay out of reach and throw whatever they can get a hold of at you.)

Prov 29:9
[If] a wise man contends with a foolish man,
Whether [the fool] rages or laughs, [there is] no peace.

(Me again: Don't we know it!!!)

4) WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE FOOL:

Pro 10:8
The wise in heart will receive commands,
But a prating fool will fall.

(Me again: God is Just.)

Pro 17:28
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
[When] he shuts his lips. [he is considered a perceptive.

(Me again: I wish he would at least do that.)

Prov 18:7
A fool's mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

(Me again: We know he's very annoying, but we also know that God is Just.)

Pro 26:11
As a dog returns to his own vomit,
[So] a fool repeats his folly.

(Me again: We know this won't be the last time. But remember:God is Just.)

Ecc 10:12
The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious,
But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;


5) WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WISE:

Ecc 2:15
So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool,
It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?"
Then I said in my heart, "This also [is] vanity."

(Me again: This is the most depressing book in the Bible. Will the wise be justified before death? Or must they wait until then to be recognized as the ones with the truth? RRRGH! ok.. just trust.... God is Just......God is Just....God is Just..... )

A Visit From My Cousin In North Carolina

My Dad is the oldest of four children. La Diva is a couple of years younger than my dad. She got married when she was young, but found out he was a bigamist. They got divorced and she never married again. She never had children. His youngest sister Super Mom,was a twin. The Rebel was born a little over 23 hours after Super Mom. So they are twins, but don't share the same date of birth. Super Mom had three boys. Her first two are twins, The Banker and The Athlete. Little R was born years later. Even though he's in his 30's, we all still call him Little R. The Rebel is the most complicated of all my aunts and uncles. I would need a whole new entry to share about him. So I'll leave it like this for now. :o)

The Banker and his three children came to visit us. He and his wife (Mai) are in the process of getting a divorce. They have been living in North Carolina for over 10 years. They love it up there. Well, who wouldn't? :o)

They arrived on Tuesday, July 24 around 3p. They left today around 11a. We were the pit stop. Their final destination was visiting our family down in Miami. We just kinda of hung out together, while they were here. Our Fair Maidens had a softball game on Tuesday night, so we all went to that. Wednesday during the day, they all went swimming. After lunch, The Banker took the five youngest cousins to the driving range. They all had a great time hitting some golf balls. My Squires had never done that before. They loved it! I guess I should add golf clubs to my list of "gifts to get". ;o) Our church had a "mock, Disaster Relief drill" on Wednesday night. My Knight and our Fair Maidens are part of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team, so they were helping in the mock drill. The Banker and our the "young cousins", played the part needing shelter due to being left homeless because of a "hurricane". It was a "learning" experience for all involved. Thursday night Soaring Amongst The Clouds and Daughter of the King's womens softball team had a double header. Sooooo, we spent the night at the fields. Even though we didn't "go out", we stayed pretty busy. All the cousins enjoyed staying home and just playing.

The visiting cousins are contemporary with my youngest two. Xerox will be 15 yr. old in December. I'll call her Xerox, cause she's a carbon copy of her mama. Not just the way they look, but how they act. She's a sweet young lady. Medulla Oblongata (MO) is 13 years old. He is a brainiac. He doesn't like sports, but he loves to flex his brain muscles. Sweetie Pie is 11 yrs. old. I call him this because it's a nickname Mai gave him when he was young. He is a sweetie pie. I felt really bad for him because he's got allergies really bad. Our Nicodemus (a golden retriever) is an indoor dog. Poor Sweetie Pie was sneezing and coughing the whole time they were here. There really wasn't much we could do for him. He did spend a lot of time playing with my Squires up in their room. Nicodemus isn't allowed upstairs.


The Banker and I. He tells me quite often that I'm his favorite cousin. I can't see me being a favorite of anyone or anything. I know his cousins from his dad side of the family and they ROCK! Needless to say that my sister, Boss Lady, ROCKS too. If my brother, Toots, was here, he'd be the BOMB! Thanks my Banker, you hold a special place in my heart too.



It's not easy getting a group picture. But I think this one came out pretty good. Here we have: Still Waters (on the left wearing the maroon shirt), Sweetie Pie (all in royal blue), Xerox (pink baby doll shirt), Daughter of the King (behind Xerox), MO (all white t-shirt), G.I.Joe (behind MO), Soaring Amongst The Clouds (Snoopy t-shirt) and The Warrior (up front). At first I said, "Ok, all the tall ones in the back." I quickly realized, they are all about the same height! LOL!



We are only missing one of the girl cousins and that would be Drama Queen. DQ is my niece. She's my sister's oldest daughter. They don't live here, which is why she's not in the picture.



Here we have all the boys cousins. Well, not really. All the boys cousins that were here. Boss Lady has one son, Papa and The Athlete has two sons, The Lawyer and Master Suave. They were being uncooperative. This is the best I could do. LOL!

Over all everyone had a great time. There was lots of laughter and smiling faces. We are looking forward to seeing them again next Friday. Once again, we'll be the pit stop on their way back home.

The "G" Family

I thought it's about time I share a little about my family. The "G" family is very close. Even though we are miles apart, we stay in close contact. We keep in touch daily, thanks to Cingular. :o)

I'm the oldest of three children. I'm eighteen months older than my sister and I was seven years older than my brother. We are blessed with awesome parents. They are very different, but together they brought balance to our family.

My dad, Bigote, which means mustache in Spanish was born in *Habana, Cuba (note about this later on). He has had a mustache for as long as I can remember. Hence his nickname. :o) He came to the United States in search of freedom and a better way of life. In my eyes, my dad has always been a hero. I've always looked up to him. Ever since I was little girls, I wanted to marry someone like him. My Knight is like my dad in many ways, but different at the same time. My dad is a gentle, loving, humorous, hard working, dedicated and a family man. Family is very important to him. While I was growing up, there were times that he held two jobs so that my mom would stay home and take care of us. He was old fashioned but not in an egotistical way. He loved my mom and it was evident. He was always happy and smiling. Which made us all happy too. He was the softy one.

My mom, Sabimbi, which is a name my brother made up, was born in Panama, Repiblica de Panama. Which is in Central America. My Abuela Caky, her mom, brought her to the United States when she was a teenager. Like my dad, she came here in search of freedom and a better way of life. She doesn't talk much about her past. What little I do know, I know it wasn't an easy life. I'll leave it at that. She is the most strongest, self assured, reliable, self reliant person I know. Well, next to my sister. :o) When it came to my sister and I, she was not big on praises, kisses or hugs, but she was big on showing us by her actions that she loved us. We knew without a shadow of a doubt that she loved us in her own way. There was nothing she wouldn't do for us. She was the one who dealt the discipline.

My sister, Boss Lady is an amazing woman. This nickname was given to her by my children. It's not meant as an insult. My sister likes the name too. :o) The real nickname she's always had is something else and since she still uses it, for privacy reasons, I'm not sharing it. There is so much I admire about her. She has a "can do" attitude. When she sets her mind on something, that's it, she goes for it until it's done or gotten. No one can talk her into doing something she doesn't want to do. She has so much in common with my Abuela Caky and my mom. They all have a servants heart. They give and give until they have nothing left. When I was younger, I the oldest, was jealous of her. She has always been friendly, a leader and smart. I was the opposite. I was the oldest, but I was her shadow. Growing up she suffered from asthma. Being that I was young, I didn't understand that. I thought it was her way of "getting out" of cleaning. Never mind that she would at times be hospitalized because of her asthma. It wasn't until I was older, that I realized how wrong I was. She is blessed with two children, Drama Queen and Papa.

Toots (my brother- the 82nd Airborne, Ranger in training) had won my mom's heart when he was born. There was never any jealousy between us. My brother was an answered prayer. My sister and I had always wanted a brother. In my eyes, he could do no wrong. He was the apple of every one's eyes. He grew up to be a handsome young man. He had charisma and charm. The girls loved him and the guys wanted to be his friend. He knew how to have fun and he enjoyed his short life. He died at 19.

Drama Queen is my niece and she'll be 13 in October. She is the oldest of Boss Lady's babies. I don't call her this, but for online journaling, this will be her name. I call her a shorter version of her name, but like my sister, for privacy reasons, she's Drama Queen. The reason I picked that name is because she loves to perform. Always has. I'm not just saying this, but she is a miniature of my sister WITH a lot of her dad mixed in there too. There is never a dull moment around her. She is a leader. I remember once when we were staying at a condo. She had all my children and my neighbors children acting like they were whales and dolphins in a pool. She was their trainer. She was not even 6 yrs old. Enough said! LOL!

Papa is my nephew and he just turned 11 in March. He is Boss Lady's second baby. He is a gentle giant. He's soft hearted with a little bit of a hot temper. Then again, he's Spanish blooded, what can one expect. LOL! He's tall for his age. Then again he has his mom and dad's genes. They are both tall. He's got a servant's heart, always willing to help out. He's the one that will get up and help bring in the packages from the car without even being asked.

I love it when our family gets together. There is never a dull moment. If you are wondering what my family reunions are like, watch, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. :o)

* note- In Cuba, Habana is spelled with a "b" not a "v". In the United States, they spell it with a "v" not a "b". As a child my parents taught me how to correctly spell Habana. Being that I was born and raised in the United States, hearing it spoken among fellow Americans, I had forgotten how to correctly spell it. I guess it's true when they say, "If you don't use it, you lose it." I need to get back to my Spanish roots.

Hasta luego...

Thankful Thursday!

Yesterday was Thursday. I've been meaning to get back into my "Thankful Thursday" mode. I know it's a day late, but it doesn't have to be Thursday in order for me to be thankful! I'm thankful every day. :o)

"in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
-1 Thessalonians 5:18

* God's grace, mercy and unconditional love.

* Love and forgiveness.

* My Knight.

* My children

* My family.

* Proverbs 17:17 friends.

* Time

* Rain and sunshine.

* Silence and laughter.

* Scholarships


In reality, my thankful list is endless...

What are you thankful for?

A Trip To The Beach

Last night Jewels and I decided to spend the day at the beach today. Never mind that we had thunderstorms all around us last night. We thought it would be worth the trip even if we only spent a couple of hours at the beach. A day at the beach would do us all good.

I guess this is a good time to share a little about Jewels. Her hubby is The Mechanic, he teaches the middle school boys Sunday School class at our church. Jewels plays the keyboard for our Youth on Wednesday nights. She also plays the keyboard or piano during Praise and Worship in church. They have five boys. The oldest is married. The next two are 25 & 22 (I think- I'm having brain fog). Then there is Steps who is 16 and One With Nature who is 11. Jewels and I get along wonderfully. We seem to be kindred spirits. I enjoy spending time with her.

We were on the road by 9:30a. Being that our Caboose only sits five (comfortably), my two boys went along with Jewels and her two boys. While my girls rode with me. We had a wonderful time. We couldn't have asked for better weather.


I have a hard time getting pictures of my children. I consider them to be a little uncooperative. But in their defense, I can be a little demanding. I'm constantly snapping pictures. So, I take what I can get. In the back row we have Still Waters, Daughter of the King and G.I. Joe. The Warrior is the one with his face turned to the side. That pose is called, The Logan Pose. It's named after a young man who was in Still Waters' World Changer work crew. Every time he pose for a picture, that's the way he would pose. So, our youngest has decided to do the same. Up front in the middle is, One With Nature and next to him is his brother, Steps.

I just can't get over Still Waters' new haircut. It really looks so cute on her. Now if I could only get her to "look" at me when I'm taking a picture.

Daughter of the King looks sooooooo happy. I wonder what she's thinking?

In this picture, G.I. Joe looks so much like my brother. Be still my heart...


The Warrior and his classic look. I think I need to get myself a HUGE zoom lens. That way, they don't know, I'm taking a picture. They'll be happy and most important... I'll be happy.

One With Nature giving The Warrior a ride. They all had a great time riding the waves.

Still Waters taking a picture of Lady G~.... me.

My friend Jewels with two of her boys. We were packing up to leave. The sky started getting dark. A storm was brewing.

Jewels and I had a great time. We just sat under the umbrella and talked. We watched our children play and just enjoyed the scenery. Every once in a while I got up and took pictures, but mostly, we just sat and enjoyed each other's company.

Mr. Knight, Can We Talk?

Sunday morning after Sunday School hour was over, Steps, a young man we know and love came up to my Knight and asked, "Mr. Knight, can we talk?" And so it begins.....

Steps asked permission to "get to know" our Daughter of the King (who is 17 yr. old). My Knight explained to him that we don't believe in dating, we believe in courtship. Now this can't be explained as you are walking out of Sunday School and into the Worship service. But being that my Knight is a man of few words, I'm sure he got the point across. The great thing is, that Steps parents (and Steps) also believe as we do. :o)

I have to say, that my heart went out to Steps. It's not an easy thing going up to a dad, much less my Knight and asking for permission to "get to know" his daughter. My Knight is not a scary man. He's a wonderful, fun, loving husband and father. He is stern. He believes that their is a time for fun and a time to buckle down and do. Right is right and wrong is wrong. The Youth see this and I believe they respect him for it. Which is why, I think that only a young man with character would have the courage to come up and talk to him about our daughter. If a young man is interested in our daughters, but doesn't want to make the effort or take the time to talk to "the dad", then what exactly is his purpose?

What exactly is the "getting to know" stage. We don't believe in "exclusiveness". In the sense of no going out as one on one. We encourage going out in a group supervised by an adult. The adult would have to be a trustworthy person we approve of. Our older Fair Maidens are trustworthy to chaperon the younger ones outings or gatherings. The young man would be welcomed to visit our home and spend time with our family. You really get to know a person this way. You get to see how they interact with family members (theirs and yours). We encourage ministry work as a group, this way you get to their heart. This is the "getting to know" stage. From there you move on to courtship. Courtship can start once they have graduated from high school.

Well, once we got home and had lunch, we gathered in the family room to sit and talk. We talked about my Knight's conversation with Steps. My Knight asked Daughter of the King if she would like to get to know Steps or would she prefer he "scare him off"? She smiled and said she was interested in him. We talked some more about what is acceptable. The boundaries are there for their own protection.

I know all this sounds very old fashioned. I feel there is something to be said about the old fashion ways. If it works, why not stick with it. I know this works. Why? Because that's how I was raised. It worked for my Knight and I.

New Hairdo!

Still Waters decided to get her hair trimmed. So I scheduled an appointment. She tends to keep her hair loooooong. When I say trim, I mean like 1-2 inches cut off.

I had scheduled her appointment for Thursday, which I had forgotten is quilting day. Still Waters and Daughter of the King, help out in the quilting ministry. All the quilts that are made are sent to orphans all over the world. It's a wonderful ministry. Well, after lunch they were going to set all the quilts that were made, to display them and pray over them this coming Sunday. So, Still Waters ended up rescheduling her appointment for today. Little did I know she had a surprise in store for me. :o)

I think long hair is ABSOLUTELY beautiful. It's so feminine and flowy (I know it's not a word, but I like how it sounds). All my Fair Maidens look beautiful with long or short hair. But I've been after my Still Waters to "try" a new cut for YEARS!

Well, she did it. She looks absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!!! She had 15" cut off! She donated her cut off hair to Locks of Love. Her new hairdo fits her to a "T"! She looks like an anime character. Which is pretty incredible considering that she's studying computer animation. She loves to draw. Anime characters are her favorites.








I had a hard time getting these pictures of her. She (like the rest of my beloved children) are uncooperative when it comes to picture taking time. They tell me that they don't like to "pose" for pictures. Well, if I had a $1000+ camera it would take the picture when I click it. URGH!!! But I'm pleased with the "few" shots I got. Thanks for your patience Baby Girl. I know that it took "A LOT" out of you.

My All Star Players

The All Star tournament is over for the 9 & 10 yr. olds and the Juniors (13-15 yr. olds). The 11 & 12 year olds have moved on to sectionals. YEAH!!! I can't even begin to recount what has happened in the last 6-7 weeks. BUT I can say, just how very proud I am of my Squires.

My G.I. Joe's team, the Juniors, had a difficult time. I have to honestly say that it wasn't so much the players fault as the coaching. Players were being played in positions that they shouldn't have been played in. The assistant coach put his son in while he was still recovering from a badly pulled hamstring. He kept telling his dad he couldn't run, but he paid no attention to his son. The head coach didn't want to "meddle" in "father/son" issues, so he didn't get involved. The coach's attitudes were... ah... how can I say it... very poor. The flesh part of me wanted to say something else. If you degrade players you are NOT going to get the best performance out of them. The coaches did absolutely nothing to encourage and bring out the best in the players. The players all had potential. They were all "smack the ball" hitters and great fielders. They just didn't have good leaders and they fell apart. It broke my heart to see their brokenness. I hope and pray, that the coaches at not allowed to coach again. But then again, it's all on a volunteer basis. Needless to say, all this sent me into quite a flare up. I have to honestly say that my G.I. Joe's positive attitude and strong character is what kept me out of the loony bin. It sure helped to strengthen spirit.

My Warrior's team had over 6 players that were 9 years old. All the teams they played had mostly 10 yr. olds. Even so, they held their own. I have never in over 10 years seen a team come together like our little team. Well, except for the year my Knight coached. He has a way of bringing out the best in each player. I'm not just saying that because he's my Knight. This has been said by many other parents. :o) Any way, Coach Danny and Coach Todd were wonderful. They really balanced each other perfectly. They all played their little hearts out. There was this one team we had to play twice. During our first time against them, we played in their town. So a reporter from their newspaper was present. He wrote a big article regarding the game. The next time we played them, their coach had brought the newspaper and had given it to us. Some of our players names (including my Warrior's name) were mentioned in the sports section of the newspaper. A play with one of our players sliding into home plate was on the front cover of their sports section. We all thought, "This is what Little League is all about!". They other team had lost that game and still they shared the newspaper clipping with us. We were all touched. I should mention, that later on, I called the newspaper and ordered enough copies of that sports section for all the players and enough for them to share with other family members.

Like everything else in life, this was a growing and stretching experience. I hope and pray that each of us learned the lesson God intended us to learn. It's not fun having to go through the same lesson over and over again.

I'll update this post with some pictures as soon as I find them. :o)

Twenty Five Years Ago Today...

My Dearest Knight,

On June 19,1982, twenty five years ago today, I married you, my Knight in shining armor. I can and can't believe we've been married for twenty five years. It feels like we just got married and at the same time it feels like we've been together for as long as I can remember. You are my best friend, my soul mate, the man that has surpassed my "dreams". I didn't think it was possible to love you more than the day that I married you, but I do.

You know how hard it is for me to say with words just what you mean to me. Not because I can't express myself, but because you leave me speechless. You take my breath away. My heart skips a beat when I look at you. I treasure our time together. I thank God that he brought you into my life. I'm blessed beyond measure. Through the years, I've thought it can't get any better than this, but I've been wrong. You have made my dreams come true. I'm living the "happily ever after" that all women dream of.

On our wedding day , our first dance was to Kenny Rogers' song, Lady. The first verse says, "Lady, I'm your Knight in shining armor and I love you...". I called you My Knight and you called me your Lady before this song ever came out. So it was very appropriate for us to dance to this song. Years later, in 1999, Kenny Rogers came out with another song, Through The Years. When I first heard this song, I knew that it would become one of "our" songs too. Today I dedicate this song to you. I love you...

forever yours...
Your Lady


Through The Years
by Kenny Rogers

I can't remember when you weren't there
When I didn't care for anyone but you
I swear we've been through everything there is
Can't imagine anything we've missed
Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do

Through the year, you've never let me down
You turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you ... through the years
I've never been afraid, I've loved the life we've made
And I'm so glad I've stayed, right here with you
Through the years

I can't remember what I used to do
Who I trusted whom, I listened to before
I swear you've taught me everything I know
Can't imagine needing someone so
But through the years it seems to me
I need you more and more

Through the years, through all the good and bad
I knew how much we had, I've always been so glad
To be with you ... through the years
It's better everyday, you've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years

Through the years, when everything went wrong
Together we were strong, I know that I belonged
Right here with you ... through the years
I never had a doubt, we'd always work things out
I've learned what loves about, by loving you
Through the years

Through the years, you've never let me down
You've turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you ... through the years
It's better everyday, you've kissed my tears away
As long as its okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years!

A Day At The Beach

Scrapper, a close friend of mine and her two children have been staying at the beach all this week. She invited us to come over whenever we wanted to. Her son Airmen G attends the Air Force Academy. He's home for three weeks. Her daughter KT is good friends with my Daughter of the King. They had asked her to sleep over. Daughter of the King was really looking forward to it.

So yesterday, Soaring Amongst The Clouds, G.I. Joe, The Warrior and I took Daughter of the King to where our friends were staying. I only stayed for about 1 hour because I started not to feel well. Our Squire's had a wonderful time. It's been a few years since they've been to the beach. Still Waters didn't go with us. Thursday is "quilting day". Our church has a quilting ministry. They make quilts for orphans. They send them all over the world. Daughter of the King also quilts. She was feeling torn about what to do. I told her not to worry, because she doesn't usually miss a Thursday of quilting. That it would be perfectly alright for her to spend the night with her friend at the beach.

ALL my children take after their dad. He is a morning person, I'm the night owl. :o) Well, they were all up early this morning. They ate breakfast and started to get ready to head out to the beach, to spend the day there and to pick up Daughter of the King. I have to honestly say that I tried to help them get ready, but was quickly told, "Mom, don't worry about it, we're taking care of everything." I sat on the couch and watched them get ready. They did an AWESOME job! I'm so very proud of them. They even packed enough lunch items in case someone else wanted to eat what they were eating. The loaded up the car, kissed me and drove off. I didn't go, cause I really can't be in the sun right now. So I stayed home. It was just me and Nicodemus, our golden retriever. I can't remember the last time I was alone at home. I didn't know what to do with myself. LOL!

Once they got home they all had stories to share. They had a wonderful time. I'm thankful for good friends....

Airmen G, Scrapper and KT. I really wish I would of been able to visit with them a little long. :o(

KT and Daughter of the King. They both have a servants heart. They a very different but at the same time very alike.

They had a hard time staying on their feet. It was wave after wave. But they were loving every minute of it.

This has got to be one of my favorite pictures. All of our children had a wonderful time together. They all get along so well.

Here they started to make a "pool" of water so they could catch these little fish. My Still Waters is the one standing. She had her hair in a ponytail, but it fell off and got lost when one of the waves pushed her down. I love the way her hair looks. My Daughter of the King is the one kneeling down. Scrapper is sitting and enjoying the sun and cool water.

G.I. Joe and The Warrior wanted to get into the fun. They had never done this before.

Daughter of the King was helping The Warrior.

The Warrior caught one and....

Shared it with her sister, Daughter of the King. Once they started to lose some of the water, they were concerned that the fish were going to die. So they worked hard at catching the rest and running to the beach to "set them free".

Scrapper and I wanted our older ones to get together. But Airmen G and Soaring Amongst The Clouds are just friends. Only God knows what their future holds...

Quiet Heroes

My devotion for today really spoke to me. I'm not perfect. I'm a sinner saved by grace. I don't consider myself a hero in any way. I often wonder "how" my children see me. I'm just doing what I feel God is leading me to do. I'm attempting to be the mom He wants me to be. I daily ask forgiveness for my shortcomings and for His guidance on my journey. I pray that He blesses me with wisdom, knowledge, courage and strength to do what He wants me to do. I want to be the best mom, "I" can be.

When I was younger I looked up to my dad. Even thought I knew he had faults, in my eyes, he could do no wrong. Even now, that I'm almost 44 and he's almost 71, I still look up to my dad. He's one of my heroes to me... do I have others? Yes... Jesus Christ and my Knight.

Quiet Heroes
by Max Lucado

Quiet heroes dot the landscape of our society. They don’t wear ribbons or kiss trophies; they wear spit-up and kiss boo-boos. They don’t make the headlines, but they do sew the hemlines and check the outlines and stand on the sidelines. You won’t find their names on the Nobel Prize short list, but you will find their names on the homeroom, carpool, and Bible teacher lists.

They are parents, both by blood and deed, name and calendar. Heroes. News programs don’t call them. But that’s okay. Because their kids do … They call them Mom. They call them Dad. And these moms and dads, more valuable than all the executives and lawmakers west of the Mississippi, quietly hold the world together.

Be numbered among them. Read books to your kids. Play ball while you can and they want you to. Make it your aim to watch every game they play, read every story they write, hear every recital in which they perform.

Children spell love with four letters: T-I-M-E. Not just quality time, but hang time, downtime, anytime, all the time. Your children are not your hobby; they are your calling.

Your spouse is not your trophy but your treasure.

Don’t pay the price David paid. Look ahead to his final hours. To see the ultimate cost of a neglected family, look at the way our hero dies.

David is hours from the grave. A chill has set in that blankets can’t remove. Servants decide he needs a person to warm him, someone to hold him tight as he takes his final breaths.

Do they turn to one of his wives? No. Do they call on one of his children? No. They seek “for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel … and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her” (1 Kings 1:3–4).

I suspect that David would have traded all his conquered crowns for the tender arms of a wife. But it was too late. He died in the care of a stranger, because he made strangers out of his family.

But it’s not too late for you.

Make your wife the object of your highest devotion. Make your husband the recipient of your deepest passion. Love the one who wears your ring.

And cherish the children who share your name.

Succeed at home first.

From Facing Your Giants
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2006) Max Lucado

Allergic Reaction?

Let me start off by saying, PRAISE THE LORD!!! My children are all better. No one else is ill or showing any signs of getting ill. Woooo Hoooo!!! Thank you Jesus!

As for me... well, the docs aren't sure, but they believe I've been having an allergic reaction. I haven't shared this because my focus has been on my children. I'm sharing this now because it might help someone else.

Back on 5/14, I had an upper endoscopy. I even journaled about it and why I have it done. Well, a couple of days later I noticed my left eye started to look puffy and red. Then it started to itch like crazy. It started to happen to my right eye too. Being that my children had been working on our yard, I thought I was allergic so something that got "stirred". I called my doc and he wasn't out due to an emergency. I wouldn't be able to see him until the following Thursday. I had started to take Benadryl but it wasn't helping any. The itching got worse and the my reaction was no long "just around my eyes", I was having a reaction all over my body. I can't begin to share how this all felt. My skin felt raw and in flames. Cortisone cream didn't even help. Nothing seemed to help. I was getting absolutely no sleep. I don't know why, but it made me feel "dirty". I'm very OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) when it comes to cleanliness, but it still bothered me that my reaction was all over.

I saw my doc on the the 24th. *I will share something that happened during that visit, at the end of this post. God ALWAYS has a reason why things happen when they do. Well, I suggested that maybe it was a yeast infection. He didn't think so. He gave me a prescription for Halobetasol Propionate Cream and Hydroxyzine HCL 50mg. The itching did not subside, but where ever I applied the cream, it would alleviate it. By that, I mean it would take the edge off it. But I still felt like I was in flames and try as hard as I could to stop scratching but , I wasn't successful. God is good, cause during it all, I never blistered or had an infection.

Now I'm not one to run to the doc for every little thing, but this was getting out of hand. Nothing was helping. I called to see if he could just call something in for me. "Lady G~, he's going to want to see you, why don't you just come on over." URGH!!! Don't take me wrong, I'm glad and thankful that he's caring enough that he wants to see me BUT ..."I have to put on clothes AGAIN!" Not that I was walking around our castle in the buff, but I do have some very comfy lounge wear. Needless to say I wore one of my soft, 100% cotton sundress with no slip. I prayed, "Lord, I know this is nothing compared to what Job or your Son, Jesus Christ went through, thank you for your mercy." Well he gave me Prednisone. I've been on it plenty of times before, because I have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus better known as Lupus. Prednisone is a strong steroid, most call it the miracle drug. It instantly makes you feel like you are better.

Actually on Friday 6/8, it dawned on my Knight and I that I might be having a lupus flare up. I'm not a compliant patient. So all my "lupus" medication is outdated. I called my doc on Friday and asked if my Plaquenil could be refilled. He called me back and said, "Lady G~ ... you naughty girl, we haven't seen you in quite some time regarding your lupus. We need to keep an eye on that." My hands were slapped... my prescription was filled.

Today is June 10 and I'm still not better. But I have to tell you that I keep thinking about Job. What I'm going through is nothing. I know that I can't through this on my own, only with God's help and the love and caring of those around me. I know that this too shall pass... till then, I guess I have to grin and bear it. I have to keep telling myself, "There are others that worse off than me."

*My doc had to go on an emergency leave. His brother died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. It was his baby brother. He was a husband, dad, leader in his community and a leader at church. They lived in another state, so my doc and his family had to travel. When I called to set up the appointment. I was not told about the death in the family. I was only told he was out due to an emergency. I prayed for him every day. When I got to see him. He looked tired and worn out. It was his first day back and he had been seeing patients since 5a. He's an early bird. By the time I saw him it was 1p. I was his last patient before his lunch break. First thing I told him was that I had been praying for him because I had heard he was out due to an emergency. He sat down and just looked at me. He's a Christian. I'm not just saying that. He really talks the talk and walks the walk. You can see Christ dwelling within him. He told him he had not even had a chance to think. He was still in shock. He told me a little about his brother. I shared my story about my baby brother. I shared how God used my brother's death not only to save me, but my Knight (who believed in NOTHING!) and my children. We talked about how hard it is to see the bigger picture. But we gave God all the praise and glory for being in control. We both know that His ways are better than our ways. We both walked out of there knowing that God had wanted me to see my doc at that moment in time. We were meant to minister to one another. What a MIGHTY God we serve...

God Is Good... ALL The Time!

What a day this has been! Today was the first day of Vacation Bible School (VBS) at our church. Soaring Amongst The Clouds is working with Ms.Kimmie in the 5-6th grade class. Still Waters and G.I. Joe are working with the 4 & 5 yr. olds. Daughter of the King is working with bed babies-3 year olds which are the VBS volunteer children. The Warrior is too young to help, so he's enrolled in the 4th grade class.

After a night of very little sleep, I woke up and noticed that there was something wrong with the plumbing. Now, any other time, it would be an inconvenience. At a time when someone has the stomach flu... it's an emergency! My Knight wasn't home so I didn't even know if the problem was the septic tank or a plumbing problem. Who do I call? What is my G.I. Joe going to do when he has to use the bathroom?! I was beside myself. I quickly called my Knight and said, "try the plunger". URGH!!! If there is one thing that really gets under my skin it's the commode! I'm a little ah... OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) about it. So off I went, I plunged so hard I got blisters! Nothing was working. In the mean time, I'm praying through it all. "Lord, help me."

I called Sheely's Septic Tank. I explained our "emergency" situation. I was thinking, "Yep, she probably gets that story all the time. She isn't going to believe me." She told me they'd be over after lunch. I politely thanked her, hung up the phone and bit my lip. "AFTER LUNCH! it's only 8:30am! What's my G.I.Joe going to do?!" I told him if he was going to get sick, he would have to use a bucket. We live on 5 acres, there is plenty of room to bury "whatever". Well, I think I scarred him out of going! LOL! All went well, no one had to use the bathroom until wayyyyyy after they they came to clean out our septic tank.

Oh and turns out that the septic service I called is owned by someone who volunteers with my Knight in the little league. He recognized our name and had them come right over. He even told his employee to give us a discount! God is good... ALL the time!

I believe this is a turning point for my G.I. Joe. As of tonight he's feeling much better. If I cursed, which I don't, I could probably say, "I scared the c--- out of him." Since I don't curse or use sewer language (pun intended), I have to say, "Thank you Lord for watching over us."

All Is Not Well... the saga continues

I have to start of with praising God. Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace. My Warrior is all better. He woke up Thursday morning, starving! No symptoms whatsoever. The only sign that he'd been sick was his loss of weight and the dark circles around his eyes. His appetite was insatiable! But I still kept him on a "BRAT" type diet.

Friday morning, while I was loving on my Warrior, I told him how glad I was that he was feeling better. He quickly told me, "Mom, feeling? (with a Daniel attitude) I 'AM' better." :o) His humor is back. We've missed it.

*Note: this picture was taken Saturday around 6p. Three days after he started to get sick. He's looking much better here.

G.I. Joe woke up Thursday morning at 4am. He came into our room and said, "Dad, I'm not feeling well." My heart stopped. Not only because he wasn't feeling well, but because, he didn't come to me. He came looking for dad. My baby is growing up. I believe he has it worse than my Warrior. He has awful abdominal cramping, the big "D" AND the big "V". :o( He was unable to keep anything down all day Thursday. We made him as comfortable as possible on the futon in the family room. He didn't sleep a wink. He was in too much pain and busy. I kept an eye on him all night. I wanted to make sure it wasn't an *appendicitis attack. (More on appendicitis at another time.)

Friday morning, after disinfecting the living room, we set him up in the living room. My Knight brought down G.I. Joe's mattress. We changed his sheets, blankets and pillow covers. Best to start off fresh. In the past week I've done over 20 loads of laundry. I'm not exaggerating. He has not been able to sleep. He was weak, tired and in pain. I know there is nothing that can be done other than letting the virus run it's course.

G. I. Joe was very upset that he fell ill cause our youth was going rock climbing Friday. He had invited a friend to come along. He's been witnessing to his friend. I know that God will bring other opportunities for him to continue to witness.

I spoke with *Boss Lady today. That's my sister. (More on this at another time) She reminded me that Abuela Caky always drank Anise tea when she had a belly ache. Now none of my family members are tea drinkers. Even so, I always kept some just in case. Even though I can't remember the last time any of us had a stomach virus. I made some Anise tea. He took some sips and felt a little relief. Now the symptoms didn't stop, but the tea took "some" of the edge off. We discontinued drinking Gatorade cause that for some reason made him worse. So we stuck to "itty bitty" sips of water, Anise tea or flat coke.

Today we see a difference. I was up all night with him, but the intervals of being sick were getting farther apart. He was able to sleep 1-1:30 hours at a time. Praise the Lord! He really needed the rest. He is a slim young man to begin with. Just being sick 2-3 days, has really taken a toll on him. Bless his heart. In the middle of the night he looked at me and said, "Mom, I love you. I'm sorry I'm working you so hard." I couldn't help but cry. To think that he's thinking of me at a time that he's so ill. First thing I did this morning is take a bath. Once I was done, he took one too. We wanted to start the day off fresh.

We were running low on supplies and grocery needed to be done. My Knight, Soaring Amongst The Clouds, Still Waters and the Warrior went to get what was needed. They also went to get a new softball bat and a baseball bat. Soaring Amongst The Clouds has put together a college & career summer softball team and we needed to get a new bat. The Warrior cracked his bat at his last game, so he needed a new bat too.

On Sunday our church is having a luncheon fund raiser for a Cuban mission trip. For $7 dollars you can have an authentic Cuban dinner. The meal includes, roasted chicken, black beans, white rice, salad and for dessert flan. Flan is a traditional Cuban dessert. It's almost like a custard, but BETTER! So I had volunteered to bake some flans. So while my Knight was out with three of our children, I got busy preparing to bake. I could only do part of it cause I had to wait on the main ingredient... a dozen eggs. I did do the toughest part which is making the caramel which lines the pan. I always have a hard time with it. Would you know it... it came out perfect the first time around. I can honestly say, that I was just going through the motions of getting it done. It was all God's grace and mercy getting me through the day. I did two more loads of laundry.

Today the cramps were starting to lessen. He still hasn't wanted to eat anything, but at least now he is keeping all liquids down. Praise the Lord. While he was resting, I was able to take a much needed nap in our waterbed. I have missed my bed. I've been sleeping, not wait, more like cat napping on our family room couch for 10 days.

When I woke up, all the groceries were put away. G.I. Joe had been able to take a much need nap too. Daughter of the King tended to her brother while I was resting. Lots happened while I was napping. Soaring Amongst The Clouds is meeting with some friends to night. They are going to watch a movie and have pizza at one of her friend's home. Still Waters is babysitting for a church member. I made sure they knew that one of our boys had recovered from the stomach virus, but the other one had it. I left it up to them. I told them our feelings wouldn't hurt, it they didn't want any of our girls to babysit, we would completely understand. They still wanted to got out. Before Soaring Amongst The Clouds left for her fellowship, she had made chocolate chip cookies to take and some for us at home. She also cooked dinner for the ones that were staying home. She made tacos.

I can't say it enough... I'm sooooooo blessed! My Knight is a Knight among Knights. He is ALWAYS there for me and our children. My children have such a servants heart. They're willingness to help leaves me speechless. They continue to give and give without being asked. My cup runneth over...