We made it through the week!
News for us....Savannah decided to play the trombone instead of the Oboe. We purchased her trombone and it arrived yesterday. Everyone was excited to see it and find out about how it works. Kelly is thrilled about having a brass instrument in the house. BTW, we found out that our friend, Brooke plays the oboe!
I purchased a couple of new shirts yesterday. Spent more money on them than I should. I hope to take one and have it copied. Didn't feel like I had any stylish...clothes. The new fad is kind of the "hippy tops" or that is what I call them. I love to wear leggings and don't have any but I will have one of these tops copied,lengthened and then have leggings to go along with it. Hopefully, I can get this made beforeI go to V. Wish I could be there to get some sale items!
Not much else new. Long day today... I start seeing students today. Three of the kidsstay forswim team. There are so many students swimming the younger ones have to alternate days (Noah, Sage). Sage and I will stay for Michael's volleyball game and then the girls willshower andwe'lltake Michael outforhis birthday.
I'm havingsome problems with my spacekey.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Busy week this week!
Tuesday night: dorm sitting
Wed. night: House church grown ups meet for dinner
Thursday (house guest arrives) and we go to surprise bday party for a friend
Friday: going away party for friends here
Sat: meeting at school for parents of middle schoolers involved in sports/ house church
Sun: house guest leaves, dessert party at dorm for students to meet dorm committee
Mon: bday party for Brooke
Tues:
Wed: Michael Het's bday on Thursday so we will probably take him out this night
And this is just the extra stuff. I also start my Daniel bible study on Friday. STart our Home church ladies time Wed. morning. Have our first special needs staff meeting on Wed. at noon. Work at school on Tues/Thursday. I think that is all the regular stuff. You know as well as I do, that other things always come up!
Oh, and the kids start swim team this week!
Tuesday night: dorm sitting
Wed. night: House church grown ups meet for dinner
Thursday (house guest arrives) and we go to surprise bday party for a friend
Friday: going away party for friends here
Sat: meeting at school for parents of middle schoolers involved in sports/ house church
Sun: house guest leaves, dessert party at dorm for students to meet dorm committee
Mon: bday party for Brooke
Tues:
Wed: Michael Het's bday on Thursday so we will probably take him out this night
And this is just the extra stuff. I also start my Daniel bible study on Friday. STart our Home church ladies time Wed. morning. Have our first special needs staff meeting on Wed. at noon. Work at school on Tues/Thursday. I think that is all the regular stuff. You know as well as I do, that other things always come up!
Oh, and the kids start swim team this week!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
First day of school was a success. Sage is already asking about 4th grade. Sometimes, I have difficulty understanding what is going on in his brain. :>
Yesterday morning we were talking about the importance of using words...instead of fists and he said, "I respond better to fists than words." What is he thinking? There are sometimes huge gaps in his ability to explain his thoughts. He is the sweetest, kindest, pleaser child... He wants to do right--does it most of the time...is popular at school...is funny... but he still cannot articulate his thoughts in a systematic manner. AND, he has a poor short term memory. Now is that true or does he just have so many things to remember? It is hard to know. I cannot give him multi step instructions and expect him to follow through. We have some new materials at Grace about how to distinguish Learning needs issues and ESL issues. I'm thinking we will have a better understanding of what his needs actually are at the end of this year.
Noah...has a complete melt down because he has to write 3 sentences to go with his math homework. He is obviously tired from the day. I observed him in action today. I watched as he chose to be by himself on the playground. I saw him choose to reach out and talk to another younger child who is in our house church and sometimes lonely. I saw Noah separate himself again. And then I saw him in action. In PE, he was a leader...directing and telling everyone what to do. I guess it helps that he is shoulder and head above all the rest of them, doesn't it?
Pr for Malia...there is a girl in her core class. Please continue to pr for a good friend for her. She seemed encouraged after today. I saw her by herself in a group of people. I thought, "oh, dear, God, I can't do this again...." I realize it's not all about me....
Sav was greatly in tune to the interactions between friends---friends separated from the summer...interactions between teachers and students---new teachers---she observed some insecurity (from the teacher) and she was concerned. She has such a gentle sensitive heart. PR that heart can be channeled for good and not for melancholy meanderings that spiral downhill. She had a good day.
I am feeling insecure and out of balance. I have dealt with insecurity the last few months. Not sure what that is all about. Need to spend more time in the word and on my knees!
Yesterday morning we were talking about the importance of using words...instead of fists and he said, "I respond better to fists than words." What is he thinking? There are sometimes huge gaps in his ability to explain his thoughts. He is the sweetest, kindest, pleaser child... He wants to do right--does it most of the time...is popular at school...is funny... but he still cannot articulate his thoughts in a systematic manner. AND, he has a poor short term memory. Now is that true or does he just have so many things to remember? It is hard to know. I cannot give him multi step instructions and expect him to follow through. We have some new materials at Grace about how to distinguish Learning needs issues and ESL issues. I'm thinking we will have a better understanding of what his needs actually are at the end of this year.
Noah...has a complete melt down because he has to write 3 sentences to go with his math homework. He is obviously tired from the day. I observed him in action today. I watched as he chose to be by himself on the playground. I saw him choose to reach out and talk to another younger child who is in our house church and sometimes lonely. I saw Noah separate himself again. And then I saw him in action. In PE, he was a leader...directing and telling everyone what to do. I guess it helps that he is shoulder and head above all the rest of them, doesn't it?
Pr for Malia...there is a girl in her core class. Please continue to pr for a good friend for her. She seemed encouraged after today. I saw her by herself in a group of people. I thought, "oh, dear, God, I can't do this again...." I realize it's not all about me....
Sav was greatly in tune to the interactions between friends---friends separated from the summer...interactions between teachers and students---new teachers---she observed some insecurity (from the teacher) and she was concerned. She has such a gentle sensitive heart. PR that heart can be channeled for good and not for melancholy meanderings that spiral downhill. She had a good day.
I am feeling insecure and out of balance. I have dealt with insecurity the last few months. Not sure what that is all about. Need to spend more time in the word and on my knees!
Monday, August 13, 2007
The other night we were driving home from a movie and saw and elephant coming towards us down the street. I told Kelly, "just in case we begin to forget we live in Thailand." Can't say I've ever been in America and coming home from the movie saw an elephant on it's way home. We saw the new Bourne movie. We liked it. We rented the other two to watch first so we could remember. I think it helped us enjoy this one.
I have agreed to take on the responsibility of dorm committee chairman. I was pretty much doing the job anyway. So, now, at least I officially have the teeth. Not that I really wanted it. Please pray for me. I feel underqualified for this. I also feel like I don't have alot of time to give to it. The main thing we are doing right now is lining up dorm sitters for the two dorms for the nights off this semester.
Tomorrow is the first day of school. I think we are all ready--physically--but mentally? I'm not sure any of us are ready.
Kelly and Malia had a good trip to Singapore. They enjoyed the musical and had good dr. appt's. M was also able to spend time with her friend.
Please pr with me about the dorms. We have career dorm parents who have been stateside who moved from the dorm in Dalat. And then we have a Masters Couple dorm parents who are finished up their term and 2nd yr in the dorm. The career couple have invested alot in the dorm and have lots of fun decor. The Masters couple has nothing. They inherited nothing and are only here temporarily. The career couple has collected over years many of these things. Pr esp. that the two couples will not compare themselves. Pr that the children will have good relationships with both couples and respect them. Pr for wise decisions from the dorm parents and the dorm committee.
I need to start an exercise program. I guess you can pr that I will have the motivation and will to do so!
I have agreed to take on the responsibility of dorm committee chairman. I was pretty much doing the job anyway. So, now, at least I officially have the teeth. Not that I really wanted it. Please pray for me. I feel underqualified for this. I also feel like I don't have alot of time to give to it. The main thing we are doing right now is lining up dorm sitters for the two dorms for the nights off this semester.
Tomorrow is the first day of school. I think we are all ready--physically--but mentally? I'm not sure any of us are ready.
Kelly and Malia had a good trip to Singapore. They enjoyed the musical and had good dr. appt's. M was also able to spend time with her friend.
Please pr with me about the dorms. We have career dorm parents who have been stateside who moved from the dorm in Dalat. And then we have a Masters Couple dorm parents who are finished up their term and 2nd yr in the dorm. The career couple have invested alot in the dorm and have lots of fun decor. The Masters couple has nothing. They inherited nothing and are only here temporarily. The career couple has collected over years many of these things. Pr esp. that the two couples will not compare themselves. Pr that the children will have good relationships with both couples and respect them. Pr for wise decisions from the dorm parents and the dorm committee.
I need to start an exercise program. I guess you can pr that I will have the motivation and will to do so!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Immigration went surprisingly fast the other day. We were in and out of there in less than thirty min. Then we headed out of town for the retreat. It was a good time to reconnect with Grace staff and be reminded of how blessed we are to be able to live here and have our children attend the school.
One of the main reasons I wanted to attend was because I was hoping it would give Malia a good opportunity to connect with girls her age. I have prayed off and on all summer that this will be a new year at school for her and she will thrive instead of agonizingly strive as she did last year. Well, I was immediately disappointed as I saw her rush ahead to catch up with the 4 girls her age that didn't wait for her. Then, after our session I found her up in our room by herself--not feeling included. I did'nt say much...just watched and kept silently praying. She immediately said she didn't want to go to play putt putt with the group and that when her dad returned from playing golf she was ready to head on home. Thankfully during free time, she ended up going bike riding with her sister and some of Savannah's friends. Then, they asked her to join them for dinner. Then, she wanted to go play putt-putt. I don't know what is ahead for her this year. In some ways she seems more mature than the others her age. And then in other ways she seems less mature. In the ways that really matter--she seems more mature. I am grateful for that. I pray that she will have the stamina to continue to reach out to folks and that God will bring her some friends this semester at school. She is seeing one of her friends she was with alot this summer tomorrow night when she and her dad are in Singapore. I think Kelly is going to take them out to dinner and let them sit at a table by themselves.
Pray for Noah. He is not looking forward to school starting. He tried very hard to smile at his new teacher and not act horribly disappointed about it starting back but he is not thrilled with it. I love his teacher. I think he will, too. She is a retired teacher from Arkansas who has the sweetest southern, grandmotherly disposition. I pray he will have a good year.
You can also pray that his dad has the birds and bees talk with him. I've been telling K Noah is ready but K hasn't really seen the signs until lately. It seems in almost every famiy devo, lately, Noah is asking..."how could they do that?" "how did that happen?" And it usually has to do with birds and bees type issues. And he is not satisfied with just a blow off answer. Inquiring minds want to know! :> Pray that the right time in the next few days will present itself. I dread him going to school and asking those same questions!
One of the main reasons I wanted to attend was because I was hoping it would give Malia a good opportunity to connect with girls her age. I have prayed off and on all summer that this will be a new year at school for her and she will thrive instead of agonizingly strive as she did last year. Well, I was immediately disappointed as I saw her rush ahead to catch up with the 4 girls her age that didn't wait for her. Then, after our session I found her up in our room by herself--not feeling included. I did'nt say much...just watched and kept silently praying. She immediately said she didn't want to go to play putt putt with the group and that when her dad returned from playing golf she was ready to head on home. Thankfully during free time, she ended up going bike riding with her sister and some of Savannah's friends. Then, they asked her to join them for dinner. Then, she wanted to go play putt-putt. I don't know what is ahead for her this year. In some ways she seems more mature than the others her age. And then in other ways she seems less mature. In the ways that really matter--she seems more mature. I am grateful for that. I pray that she will have the stamina to continue to reach out to folks and that God will bring her some friends this semester at school. She is seeing one of her friends she was with alot this summer tomorrow night when she and her dad are in Singapore. I think Kelly is going to take them out to dinner and let them sit at a table by themselves.
Pray for Noah. He is not looking forward to school starting. He tried very hard to smile at his new teacher and not act horribly disappointed about it starting back but he is not thrilled with it. I love his teacher. I think he will, too. She is a retired teacher from Arkansas who has the sweetest southern, grandmotherly disposition. I pray he will have a good year.
You can also pray that his dad has the birds and bees talk with him. I've been telling K Noah is ready but K hasn't really seen the signs until lately. It seems in almost every famiy devo, lately, Noah is asking..."how could they do that?" "how did that happen?" And it usually has to do with birds and bees type issues. And he is not satisfied with just a blow off answer. Inquiring minds want to know! :> Pray that the right time in the next few days will present itself. I dread him going to school and asking those same questions!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The best laid plans...
We are on our way to immigration today...hoping to be there at 8:30 but Kel has something he must take care of be4 we go. So, we are waiting on him. Malia, Noah and I need new re-entry permits put into our passport because we are leaving the country before the end of the yr and we might as well do it all at one time. So, we must go and wait.... Sometimes we wait for hours. We are taking good books! :>
We hope to leave today for the Grace Staff retreat around 11. It's just an overnight event. Kel and Malia will not spend the night since they are heading to Singapore early in the morning so they will sleep at home tonight. (the retreat is about an hour away)They return on Sunday morning.
My school schedule has not all been worked out yet but it's looking like I will have mainly boys this year. That will be different from last yr when I only had ONE boy student. I'm looking forward to the new year and getting back into a more structured day. I feel torn at this time of year as I see all the needs and feel like I can only meet some of them with my part time schedule. But, the reality is that we have another job to do, also and my time is limited. Our special needs staff has grown this year to 12 or 13 people so we have doubled since last year! I am amazed how that happens.
Well, since we really need to be out the door, I will close.
We hope to leave today for the Grace Staff retreat around 11. It's just an overnight event. Kel and Malia will not spend the night since they are heading to Singapore early in the morning so they will sleep at home tonight. (the retreat is about an hour away)They return on Sunday morning.
My school schedule has not all been worked out yet but it's looking like I will have mainly boys this year. That will be different from last yr when I only had ONE boy student. I'm looking forward to the new year and getting back into a more structured day. I feel torn at this time of year as I see all the needs and feel like I can only meet some of them with my part time schedule. But, the reality is that we have another job to do, also and my time is limited. Our special needs staff has grown this year to 12 or 13 people so we have doubled since last year! I am amazed how that happens.
Well, since we really need to be out the door, I will close.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
I said almost finished....
You will notice the dark window above the couch. We have a wall hanging we would like to put there but we need to have something made to hang it over the window. It doesn't fill up the whole window but I think it will be sufficient to draw your eye to the wall hanging and not the window. I will also eventually want to get new curtains for the "Gold room" but it may be next year before I do that, since the peach curtains are just fine. You will notice some fabric hanging on one of the pictures and I would like to recover the chairs in that fabric but it won't be until I'm ready to change the curtains.
Did you see the Chinese panels in the dining area? Can you see the detail on them? That is the wall that I wanted to stencil but I couldn't get it to look exactly like I wanted it to on the poster board so I haven't done it yet. The stencil would go behind the plant and we would remove the plant. It would like to get a corner waterfall type thing for the corner in the dining area but I have no idea if I could find anything like that here. I haven't been able to, yet.
I may end up putting rod iron candle holders on each side of the mirror OR I've thought about doing black and white family photo's. I'm not sure yet.
Did you see the Chinese panels in the dining area? Can you see the detail on them? That is the wall that I wanted to stencil but I couldn't get it to look exactly like I wanted it to on the poster board so I haven't done it yet. The stencil would go behind the plant and we would remove the plant. It would like to get a corner waterfall type thing for the corner in the dining area but I have no idea if I could find anything like that here. I haven't been able to, yet.
I may end up putting rod iron candle holders on each side of the mirror OR I've thought about doing black and white family photo's. I'm not sure yet.
Sunday morning
It's Sunday morning here.... I think I am finally able to download some of the pictures of the house. It is my goal to be better about showing pictures on this blog!
I'm sorry it's been a few weeks since I've updated. Shortly, after returning home from the meeting, I was sick. That cut my week--my one week before I had to be at school for meetings--very short with lots to do in those few remaining days. Then, this past week, I spent at school learning the phonics program in a five day seminar. This coming week, we will have some meetings at school and then school starts next week.
We are in the midst of getting ready for school...updating uniforms, buying underwear, getting haircuts, and shoes....all those last minute things you do before school starts. We now need to order new pants and skirts for Malia and get the boys shorts altered....they are being passed down and we will be ready to go. We will need to do this on Monday to make sure that Malia has something to wear on the first day of school :>! She has truly grown in the last few months and can wear none of the old clothes. Hopefully, this will be her last growing year! :> Around this time, is when I stopped growing. She still is not taller than me, but it is getting very close. I keep telling her she's not going to surpass me. She keeps telling me she is!
This week, Kel and Malia are headed back to Singapore on Friday for a medical trip. Some of her test results from the previous trip showed that she had some positive titers for Lyme disease (which if I understand correctly shows that she has had Lyme disease in the past) and they are going to do some follow up blood tests on that as well as see another Dr. from follow up from our trip. For a special treat, he is taking her to see The King and I musical! We bought her a new dress to wear. At first she said she was only wearing jeans--the age, I guess--but it didn't take her long to get into the shopping mood and we found a dress in record time!
The others and I are going on a staff retreat with the school start on Thursday and Friday. Pray that we can have a productive fun filled week before the kids start their first week, next week!
They received their class lists and teacher names yesterday and they are all very excited about this new year.
I will try to download some of the pics on my camera now!
Friday, July 20, 2007
What a week!
The week is over! It was a success. I am so grateful to the volunteers who came to serve us. They were an exceptional group and were true servants!
The week began with a big bang when Savannah fainted on the first day of the meeting up on stage helping to lead worship. It happened to be my bday...and I found myself saying, "Happy Birthday!" :> Thankfully, there was a dr. available who did a great exam and found all to be well. He said it is actually not abnormal for adolescents to faint...we are guessing she may have been dehydrated. She was fine the rest of the week.
I had a great birthday! My friends gave me a party...we had homemade hamburgers and it was a great party. I am so grateful for all the gifts and fun that I had. Yes, it was the first bday in 44 years that I have not talked to my mom and dad---and I hope to make up for that soon! I am grateful that I have been able to go this long with talking to them every birthday. Next year I will be in the states so we should be able to continue to tradition!
It was such a treat to be around zack! He and Kelly are so much alike and it's just fun to have him around. I wish he could have stayed longer and brought the rest of his family!
We have been breaking in the new game! According to Noah we are not breaking it in nearly enough since we have not been able to finish a game. Maybe we can remedy that tomorrow. WE are taking vacation time this next week as we take a breath and get ready for the school year. The next week I have to be at school for a training.
The week began with a big bang when Savannah fainted on the first day of the meeting up on stage helping to lead worship. It happened to be my bday...and I found myself saying, "Happy Birthday!" :> Thankfully, there was a dr. available who did a great exam and found all to be well. He said it is actually not abnormal for adolescents to faint...we are guessing she may have been dehydrated. She was fine the rest of the week.
I had a great birthday! My friends gave me a party...we had homemade hamburgers and it was a great party. I am so grateful for all the gifts and fun that I had. Yes, it was the first bday in 44 years that I have not talked to my mom and dad---and I hope to make up for that soon! I am grateful that I have been able to go this long with talking to them every birthday. Next year I will be in the states so we should be able to continue to tradition!
It was such a treat to be around zack! He and Kelly are so much alike and it's just fun to have him around. I wish he could have stayed longer and brought the rest of his family!
We have been breaking in the new game! According to Noah we are not breaking it in nearly enough since we have not been able to finish a game. Maybe we can remedy that tomorrow. WE are taking vacation time this next week as we take a breath and get ready for the school year. The next week I have to be at school for a training.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The volunteers are riding elephants right now. This is our last day to get ready for things to start tomorrow. We are not able to access the rooms until later in the day so please pr-y we will get things together and ready before tomorrow. It is easy to feel stressed with all the last minute details as well as keeping the family together! So, continue to pr-y for us. The group leaders luggage did not arrive but it is supposed to be at the airport now. Pr-y that it will be there. Much of the stuff is in those suitcases!
One of our close friends here works in media for the main office in RVA. They are doing something new by having a blog and media up while they are shooting. Thought you might be interested. You can access it here: www.iwcstories.com Our friend is the videographer.
Blessings!
One of our close friends here works in media for the main office in RVA. They are doing something new by having a blog and media up while they are shooting. Thought you might be interested. You can access it here: www.iwcstories.com Our friend is the videographer.
Blessings!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
They are coming...
More volunteers started arriving today. I picked up two separate groups. One couple from Mississippi spent the last couple of days in Bangkok and were overwhelmed with the sights and sounds. They were relieved to be with here in Chiangmai and make contact. My friend, Andrea, from Knoxville arrived today. I have known Andrea for years. We met her in 2001 on stateside assignment when we visited her church. I will never forget when I asked her to come out and visit us and her reply..."Oh, that's not my role...my role is to pray..." Wouldn't you know, God was smiling when she made that statement because now she GOES two to three times or more a year! She goes to Vietnam every year and God has used her to push back some of those layers of darkness so they can hear. It is a treat to have Andrea here with us this week.
Pray for me! Pray that I will serve and love these volunteers while they are here. Pray that they will be able to pull together even though they are from different churches. Pray that God will use them in the lives of our children to help them grow closer to the Lord!
Thanks!
Pray for me! Pray that I will serve and love these volunteers while they are here. Pray that they will be able to pull together even though they are from different churches. Pray that God will use them in the lives of our children to help them grow closer to the Lord!
Thanks!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Zack arrived
Zack made it! And you would never believe where he and Kelly are right now! Well, those of you who are family and know them would! They decided to go to a movie and see Die Hard! Zack is running on adrenaline. It is 9:35 pm here.
Well, we had Christmas first...or that is what it seemed! Marshmallows, graham crackers, Chocolate chips, apple jelly, velveeta, rotel, peanut butter, spices, Dr. Pepper, muffin mixes, poptarts---and MORE! Wow! Sage was thrilled with the two shorts outfits and Noah with his new jean shorts. Sage was also thrilled with his bible! I have my Daniel bible study book and Passport 2 Purity that I hope to use with Malia, soon...AND my Good Housekeeping magazine! I didn't really have them bring anything special for the girls but Zettie recommended a Hannah Montana DvD that they are THRILLED with. Thank you Zettie!
We are glad that Zack is here to experience a little bit of our life. Makes us miss Bob and Zona ever so much more, since they were also supposed to be here at this time.
Blessings!
Well, we had Christmas first...or that is what it seemed! Marshmallows, graham crackers, Chocolate chips, apple jelly, velveeta, rotel, peanut butter, spices, Dr. Pepper, muffin mixes, poptarts---and MORE! Wow! Sage was thrilled with the two shorts outfits and Noah with his new jean shorts. Sage was also thrilled with his bible! I have my Daniel bible study book and Passport 2 Purity that I hope to use with Malia, soon...AND my Good Housekeeping magazine! I didn't really have them bring anything special for the girls but Zettie recommended a Hannah Montana DvD that they are THRILLED with. Thank you Zettie!
We are glad that Zack is here to experience a little bit of our life. Makes us miss Bob and Zona ever so much more, since they were also supposed to be here at this time.
Blessings!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Safe in the Arms of Jesus
These are the latest couple of updates about Angela:
This is the secondary principal at Grace's daughter. Her husband is also the band and choir director. Angela was young...around age 25. She was here last year and since she was a nurse, she worked in the nurses office at school. Please pray for the Fishers as they grieve this major loss.
------------------------------
Safe in the Arms of Jesus
At 1:00 PM on Friday, July 6th, Angela went home to be with her Lord. In keeping with her generous spirit, Angela had arranged to be an organ donor.
Angela's memorial service will be at First Baptist Church in Wheaton, IL on Wednesday, July 11, at 10:00 AM. There will be a viewing on Tuesday afternoon at First Baptist. More details will be available later.
Thanks to all of you who prayed, wrote emails, and called. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for Angela and the rest of our family.
Entry for July 06, 2007
Friday AM
Angela's condition continues to deteriorate. We arrived at the hospital shortly after 8:00 this morning and her night nurse was still here. She told us that Angela had a rough night. Her blood pressure had dropped and they had to give her some medication to bring it back up. Her body temperature also had dropped so she has a "bear hug" which is a special blanket that hugs her body to warm her.
Angela seems to be slipping further away. Her pupils are fixed and dilated, her gag reflex is gone, her bowels are not functioning and she has no response to painful stimuli.
We were asked about organ donation - we know that Angela would want to do that. Apparently later today a team will be here from "Gift of Hope" to assess her organs.
This is the hardest thing we have ever gone through but we continue to cling to the Lord for strength to walk this path. We remain fully confident that God is able to do a miracle and raise her to full health. However, at this point, it seems that it is in God's plan to take her home.
Please continue to pray for a miracle for Angela and for our family in general. We are holding up as well as can be expected, but this is very hard. Angela does not have any kind of life insurance. As such, the financial pressure on our family is quite significant.
We are continually overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support that has been showered on us by all of you. Thank you for all of your kind words.
We are not able to respond to each of you personally, but please be assured that we are reading each message and are touched by your care and support.
This is the secondary principal at Grace's daughter. Her husband is also the band and choir director. Angela was young...around age 25. She was here last year and since she was a nurse, she worked in the nurses office at school. Please pray for the Fishers as they grieve this major loss.
------------------------------
Safe in the Arms of Jesus
At 1:00 PM on Friday, July 6th, Angela went home to be with her Lord. In keeping with her generous spirit, Angela had arranged to be an organ donor.
Angela's memorial service will be at First Baptist Church in Wheaton, IL on Wednesday, July 11, at 10:00 AM. There will be a viewing on Tuesday afternoon at First Baptist. More details will be available later.
Thanks to all of you who prayed, wrote emails, and called. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for Angela and the rest of our family.
Entry for July 06, 2007
Friday AM
Angela's condition continues to deteriorate. We arrived at the hospital shortly after 8:00 this morning and her night nurse was still here. She told us that Angela had a rough night. Her blood pressure had dropped and they had to give her some medication to bring it back up. Her body temperature also had dropped so she has a "bear hug" which is a special blanket that hugs her body to warm her.
Angela seems to be slipping further away. Her pupils are fixed and dilated, her gag reflex is gone, her bowels are not functioning and she has no response to painful stimuli.
We were asked about organ donation - we know that Angela would want to do that. Apparently later today a team will be here from "Gift of Hope" to assess her organs.
This is the hardest thing we have ever gone through but we continue to cling to the Lord for strength to walk this path. We remain fully confident that God is able to do a miracle and raise her to full health. However, at this point, it seems that it is in God's plan to take her home.
Please continue to pray for a miracle for Angela and for our family in general. We are holding up as well as can be expected, but this is very hard. Angela does not have any kind of life insurance. As such, the financial pressure on our family is quite significant.
We are continually overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support that has been showered on us by all of you. Thank you for all of your kind words.
We are not able to respond to each of you personally, but please be assured that we are reading each message and are touched by your care and support.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
One of those weeks.....
Three nights ago we received a phone call at about 9pm from a friends daughter (she's 10) who said, "Aunt Jamie, my mama and my daddy are really sick. I just wanted you to know." I asked her if I needed to come and she said yes. As soon as I walked in the door she said, "Aunt Jamie, my mama needs you very much." We went upstairs and Kim and Quinton were both down with a stomach virus but Kim was very dehydrated and needed to go to the hospital. We called a Dr. friend and he and Kelly carried her to the car. I spent the night at the hospital with her. She's home and better now.
The next night was 4th of July night and I was exhausted so I went to bed at about 9pm as soon as we got home. I woke up at 10:30 because Sage was screaming and my first thought was "I can't believe Kelly is letting them stay up so late..." Then I heard Noah say something like, "of all the nights for mom to go to bed...." :> I decided to drag myself out of bed...Sage was still wailing. Noah had thrown up from the loft... Sage had started gagging and tried to escape the room and tripped and had a hard fall so since he was half asleep just started screaming. I looked at him to make sure he was fine and turned around and went back to bed. (I'm wondering if I was still half asleep...but Kel had it all taken care of--What a man!)
Then yesterday while I was in the middle of finishing getting dinner ready for guests, the boys were playing soccer and kicked the soccer ball into the water pipe and it broke...which meant the water in the tank was all we had until it could be fixed and of course this is around 4:30 in the afternoon--which meant we would need to wait until morning. There was also a slow leak which meant we had to turn the water off and on when we wanted to use it (from outside). The boys first of all had to figure out how to stop the water from gushing out....they figured it out after about 10 minutes. Then, as I was trying to figure out what to do next...Noah comes running in and Sage had taken a fall and was hit in the head with a metal swing. I was on my way to the park and Quinton comes carrying him home...he's covered in blood. I start cleaning and exploring to figure out the extent of the damage and finally find a small hole. I don't think it needs to be stitched, just cleaned. It ended up oozing all night. My main concern is keeping his dirty hands out of it!
We enjoyed our time with our friends last night!
Now the water pipes are being fixed and hopefully all will be right soon. Tonight Kelly and I are going out to dinner with a group of friends to celebrate a friends birthday. I'm looking forward to that.
Zack arrives on Monday evening. The meeting starts next Sat. Daddy Bob is home and gaining strength each day.
Angela, who I wrote about yesterday, continues to struggle. Here is the latest update on her:
Angela remained in much the same condition overnight. When we left last evening, she was getting nutrition through a gastro-nasal tube and that was going well. Today, however, her bowel function is not good and the doctor has decided to start IV nutrition this afternoon. Her eyes today are more dilated and not responding to light.
Preliminary results of the lumbar puncture show some indication of encephalitis. Her primary care physician said he had never seen encephalitis present like this but it is possible that if she had a stomach virus last week, the virus could have caused the encephalitis. They are also checking for West Nile Virus but the results of that test will not be back for 6 - 7 days. She has been on antibiotics in case there is a bacterial infection of some sort.
We continue to be in awe at the amount of love and support we are receiving. We've had phone calls and emails from around the world and know that Angela is being prayed for 24 hours a day. Our desire in all this is that Jesus be glorified. We are trying to take every opportunity to share the hope that is within us.
Thursday July 5, 2007 - 02:27pm (CDT)
The next night was 4th of July night and I was exhausted so I went to bed at about 9pm as soon as we got home. I woke up at 10:30 because Sage was screaming and my first thought was "I can't believe Kelly is letting them stay up so late..." Then I heard Noah say something like, "of all the nights for mom to go to bed...." :> I decided to drag myself out of bed...Sage was still wailing. Noah had thrown up from the loft... Sage had started gagging and tried to escape the room and tripped and had a hard fall so since he was half asleep just started screaming. I looked at him to make sure he was fine and turned around and went back to bed. (I'm wondering if I was still half asleep...but Kel had it all taken care of--What a man!)
Then yesterday while I was in the middle of finishing getting dinner ready for guests, the boys were playing soccer and kicked the soccer ball into the water pipe and it broke...which meant the water in the tank was all we had until it could be fixed and of course this is around 4:30 in the afternoon--which meant we would need to wait until morning. There was also a slow leak which meant we had to turn the water off and on when we wanted to use it (from outside). The boys first of all had to figure out how to stop the water from gushing out....they figured it out after about 10 minutes. Then, as I was trying to figure out what to do next...Noah comes running in and Sage had taken a fall and was hit in the head with a metal swing. I was on my way to the park and Quinton comes carrying him home...he's covered in blood. I start cleaning and exploring to figure out the extent of the damage and finally find a small hole. I don't think it needs to be stitched, just cleaned. It ended up oozing all night. My main concern is keeping his dirty hands out of it!
We enjoyed our time with our friends last night!
Now the water pipes are being fixed and hopefully all will be right soon. Tonight Kelly and I are going out to dinner with a group of friends to celebrate a friends birthday. I'm looking forward to that.
Zack arrives on Monday evening. The meeting starts next Sat. Daddy Bob is home and gaining strength each day.
Angela, who I wrote about yesterday, continues to struggle. Here is the latest update on her:
Angela remained in much the same condition overnight. When we left last evening, she was getting nutrition through a gastro-nasal tube and that was going well. Today, however, her bowel function is not good and the doctor has decided to start IV nutrition this afternoon. Her eyes today are more dilated and not responding to light.
Preliminary results of the lumbar puncture show some indication of encephalitis. Her primary care physician said he had never seen encephalitis present like this but it is possible that if she had a stomach virus last week, the virus could have caused the encephalitis. They are also checking for West Nile Virus but the results of that test will not be back for 6 - 7 days. She has been on antibiotics in case there is a bacterial infection of some sort.
We continue to be in awe at the amount of love and support we are receiving. We've had phone calls and emails from around the world and know that Angela is being prayed for 24 hours a day. Our desire in all this is that Jesus be glorified. We are trying to take every opportunity to share the hope that is within us.
Thursday July 5, 2007 - 02:27pm (CDT)
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Happy 4th!
Happy July 4! We celebrated with friends---went bowling and then had a cook out and fireworks. Our family made up a cheer to celebrate the day:
It's July 4
we're here today
We're here to Cheer
The U.S.A.
USA...CHEER IT ON
USA...CHEER IT ON
We had unbelievable fireworks! Most of you go to a firework show to see the kind of fireworks we shot last night at our friends house. An unbelievable shower of color and flames right above us. The adults are a little bit shell shocked each time to believe that we can actually by these types of fireworks and do our own show! Wish you could have seen it.
We've got another full day today.... Library, orthodontist appointments, then friends are coming for dinner. The Mimms---Neill, Margit, Ana, Gabi and Coleen.
I'm still working on organizing the house. Don't think there will be much time for that today,though.
Please pray for a friend. Her name is Angela. She is the adult daughter of the high school principle here and her husband is the band director. She has been sick the last few weeks and the other day she had a very bad seizure. She is now unconscious with little brain activity....still seizing...on a ventilator, and they still don't know why. Please pray that she will recover and pray for peace and support for the family.
It's July 4
we're here today
We're here to Cheer
The U.S.A.
USA...CHEER IT ON
USA...CHEER IT ON
We had unbelievable fireworks! Most of you go to a firework show to see the kind of fireworks we shot last night at our friends house. An unbelievable shower of color and flames right above us. The adults are a little bit shell shocked each time to believe that we can actually by these types of fireworks and do our own show! Wish you could have seen it.
We've got another full day today.... Library, orthodontist appointments, then friends are coming for dinner. The Mimms---Neill, Margit, Ana, Gabi and Coleen.
I'm still working on organizing the house. Don't think there will be much time for that today,though.
Please pray for a friend. Her name is Angela. She is the adult daughter of the high school principle here and her husband is the band director. She has been sick the last few weeks and the other day she had a very bad seizure. She is now unconscious with little brain activity....still seizing...on a ventilator, and they still don't know why. Please pray that she will recover and pray for peace and support for the family.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Where does the summer go??? We calculated that we have 2 weeks and then volunteers start arriving for our next meeting. After the meeting, there is one week before I have to be at a week long training at school. The next week starts teacher orientation and then August 13, school officially starts back. Where does the summer go?
Today we have dentist appointments. Some of you may know, that I like the dentist the very least of any kind of medical thing. Yuck! But, we are all going to get it over with today. We will make appt's for three of the children to have a follow up with the orthodontist next week.
Tomorrow, house church is at our place. We are planning after worship to go out to eat and then bowling. We will eat at a restaurant called "Hell's Kitchen." Interesting place to go after worship, wouldn't you say?
Yesterday, after working in the library at school for a few hours, we had friends come over. The mom, Sandra, is an organization guru and she has agree to help me with some organizing. It's hard to get started, though. I mean, where do you start? Right now, we are trying to figure out how to use one corner of the living area downstairs. Right now there is nothing in it but junk--since Kel moved his office out. We need some kind of small office set up down there but I kind of dread that because desks in the past have always looked cluttered. So, if you have any ideas, please let me know. I may post a picture of that space to see what ideas we can come up with.
After Sandra left, Savannah cooked supper. We also babysat 2 children. Malia did an excellent job of keeping the little girl entertained. (she is 4) Savannah cooked potato soup for supper and it was delicious. The boys played with the little boy.
After everyone was in bed last night, Kel and I watched and episode of LOST. Wow! That show just keeps having new twists.
Today we have dentist appointments. Some of you may know, that I like the dentist the very least of any kind of medical thing. Yuck! But, we are all going to get it over with today. We will make appt's for three of the children to have a follow up with the orthodontist next week.
Tomorrow, house church is at our place. We are planning after worship to go out to eat and then bowling. We will eat at a restaurant called "Hell's Kitchen." Interesting place to go after worship, wouldn't you say?
Yesterday, after working in the library at school for a few hours, we had friends come over. The mom, Sandra, is an organization guru and she has agree to help me with some organizing. It's hard to get started, though. I mean, where do you start? Right now, we are trying to figure out how to use one corner of the living area downstairs. Right now there is nothing in it but junk--since Kel moved his office out. We need some kind of small office set up down there but I kind of dread that because desks in the past have always looked cluttered. So, if you have any ideas, please let me know. I may post a picture of that space to see what ideas we can come up with.
After Sandra left, Savannah cooked supper. We also babysat 2 children. Malia did an excellent job of keeping the little girl entertained. (she is 4) Savannah cooked potato soup for supper and it was delicious. The boys played with the little boy.
After everyone was in bed last night, Kel and I watched and episode of LOST. Wow! That show just keeps having new twists.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Get Out of the Pit by Beth Moore Chapter 1
“One reason some of you nicer folks are in a pit without realizing it is because you mistakenly characterize pits only in terms of sin.”
You can know you’re in a pit when:
1. You feel stuck (Is. 42:22 says a pit is somewhere you feel trapped) You can’t get your self out.
2. You can’t stand up (Ps. 69:2 David cries out, “I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing.”) You know you are in a pit when you feel ineffective and utterly powerless against attack.
3. You’ve lost vision (“The close confinement of a pit exhausts us with the endless echo of self-absorption. We can’t see out, so we turn ourselves in. After a while, our nearsightedness breeds hopelessness.”)
In answer to her question….Are you in a pit? I would have to answer yes. Not as deep a pit as I’ve found myself in before but…still in there. Answers to questions:
1. I feel stuck…stuck in patterns of sin. Or at least that’s what it seems like to me. Stuck in cycles of hopelessness regarding making self discipline changes regarding home organization, meal planning and child training.
2. Can I stand up? I think I’m standing…. However, I do feel hopeless to change in areas that I would like to make changes in, so maybe I’m swaying???
3. You’ve lost vision? Absolutely…that is me to the T. Why are we here? What difference are we making? I am continually tormented by these questions. Did God create me for a specific purpose? I am reading Kevin Leman’s new book “The Real You: Become the Person you were Meant to Be (Unlock the Secrets to your True Potential)” and become discouraged because I don’t fit the patterns. Or at least I can’t see it if I do. Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy, Phlegmatic? I absolutely, do not fit the typical pattern for oldest child or ONLY although, I might be closer to that one. Neither does my sister, although my brother comes close to fitting the patterns for first born males. So, if I don’t fit the patterns, I guess I can’t become “who I was meant to be…” or that is the way my quirky brain works it out. I’ve put that book away for a while. :>
You can know you’re in a pit when:
1. You feel stuck (Is. 42:22 says a pit is somewhere you feel trapped) You can’t get your self out.
2. You can’t stand up (Ps. 69:2 David cries out, “I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing.”) You know you are in a pit when you feel ineffective and utterly powerless against attack.
3. You’ve lost vision (“The close confinement of a pit exhausts us with the endless echo of self-absorption. We can’t see out, so we turn ourselves in. After a while, our nearsightedness breeds hopelessness.”)
In answer to her question….Are you in a pit? I would have to answer yes. Not as deep a pit as I’ve found myself in before but…still in there. Answers to questions:
1. I feel stuck…stuck in patterns of sin. Or at least that’s what it seems like to me. Stuck in cycles of hopelessness regarding making self discipline changes regarding home organization, meal planning and child training.
2. Can I stand up? I think I’m standing…. However, I do feel hopeless to change in areas that I would like to make changes in, so maybe I’m swaying???
3. You’ve lost vision? Absolutely…that is me to the T. Why are we here? What difference are we making? I am continually tormented by these questions. Did God create me for a specific purpose? I am reading Kevin Leman’s new book “The Real You: Become the Person you were Meant to Be (Unlock the Secrets to your True Potential)” and become discouraged because I don’t fit the patterns. Or at least I can’t see it if I do. Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy, Phlegmatic? I absolutely, do not fit the typical pattern for oldest child or ONLY although, I might be closer to that one. Neither does my sister, although my brother comes close to fitting the patterns for first born males. So, if I don’t fit the patterns, I guess I can’t become “who I was meant to be…” or that is the way my quirky brain works it out. I’ve put that book away for a while. :>
Summer Reading Challenge
I've wanted to join DeEtta's summer reading challenge and I am just now having time to type in my books. When I looked at DeEtta's list, mine seems small but then to others, it will look like a long list. I will not compare. If you want to find out more, go to DeEtta's blog (linked to the right). My goal is to read a bit each day. We will see how far I get. I've already started and have completed a couple of books.
Strong Women Soft Hearts: A Woman’s Guide to Cultivating a Wise Heart and a Passionate Life (Paula Rhinehart) Finished
Get out of That Pit (Beth Moore)Finished
The Battlefield of the Mind (Joyce Meyer)Finished
God At Your Wit’s End (Marilyn Meberg)
A New Kind of Normal (Carol Kent)Finished
Created to be His Helpmeet (Debi Pearl)Finished
Love and Respect (Eggerichs)
9 Things You Simply Must Do to Succeed in Love and in Life (Dr. Henry Cloud)
The North Face of God (Ken Gire)
The Gift of Dyslexia (Davis and Braun)Finished
Ritalin Free Finished
Medicating Young Minds (Glen Elliott)Finished
Fiction:
Forever (Kingsbury)- FINISHED
Sunrise (Kingsbury)- FINISHED
Trial by Ordeal (Parshall)
The Thai Amulet (Hamilton)
It Happens Every Spring (Chapman and Palmer)
Summer Breeze (Chapman and Palmer)
Dying Declaration (Singer)- FINISHED
Expectations (Melanie Jeschke)- FINISHED
When You Believe (Deborah Bradford)- FINISHED
Blow Out (Catherine Coulter)- FINISHED
Blind Side (Catherine Coulter)
Dangerous Silence (Catherine Palmer - FINISHED
Then Am I Strong (Francine Arnold)-FINISHED
Strong Women Soft Hearts: A Woman’s Guide to Cultivating a Wise Heart and a Passionate Life (Paula Rhinehart) Finished
Get out of That Pit (Beth Moore)Finished
The Battlefield of the Mind (Joyce Meyer)Finished
God At Your Wit’s End (Marilyn Meberg)
A New Kind of Normal (Carol Kent)Finished
Created to be His Helpmeet (Debi Pearl)Finished
Love and Respect (Eggerichs)
9 Things You Simply Must Do to Succeed in Love and in Life (Dr. Henry Cloud)
The North Face of God (Ken Gire)
The Gift of Dyslexia (Davis and Braun)Finished
Ritalin Free Finished
Medicating Young Minds (Glen Elliott)Finished
Fiction:
Forever (Kingsbury)- FINISHED
Sunrise (Kingsbury)- FINISHED
Trial by Ordeal (Parshall)
The Thai Amulet (Hamilton)
It Happens Every Spring (Chapman and Palmer)
Summer Breeze (Chapman and Palmer)
Dying Declaration (Singer)- FINISHED
Expectations (Melanie Jeschke)- FINISHED
When You Believe (Deborah Bradford)- FINISHED
Blow Out (Catherine Coulter)- FINISHED
Blind Side (Catherine Coulter)
Dangerous Silence (Catherine Palmer - FINISHED
Then Am I Strong (Francine Arnold)-FINISHED
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