Broken Bones

Well Alex has his first offical broken bone. Last night I went downstairs to get their clothes for today. When I came back upstairs he was laying on the couch with tears in his eyes. I asked what was wrong and Joe responded that they'd been playing bucking bull and Alex had run to jump on his back and missed and hit the floor. Joe thought he hit his back but apparently he landed on his shoulder and broke his collar bone. It happened a little after 9 last night and he didn't act like he was in too much pain and I really wasn't sure it was broken so we waited until this morning to see if it was still bothering him. Yep it was so off to the doctor we headed. It was a clean break and went all the way thru. They wrapped him up and sent us home. Said it should heal in 3-4 weeks. The first x-ray they took wasn't strong enough so you can barely see any bones. So the x-ray technician gave it to Alex. He thought it was cool. Hopefully he'll heal quickly and be back to his normal self again in a few days.

Other than the broken collar bone both kids are doing well. Both kids really like to sing lately. They also like to color and cut things with scissors. I really have to watch what I leave out on the counter because I've had a few things destroyed! Joseph started college last week. He said he is not liking it. Hopefully that'll get better. Jonaton is getting ready to go to school in September to become a part time deputy. He's really looking forward to that. We still have no news to share with you guys on our front but hopefully we'll hear something tomorrow.

I hope each of you have a great week.

Blessings,
Tina

End of the week

Well I know many of you are still wondering what our news might be. Some have questioned if we are adopting again. The answer is that we do not have any current plans to adopt. I will not say that we would never adopt again but at this time it is not on our radar. But sometimes God changes the radar signals so we'll wait and see what he has planned for our family on that front. I still am unable to share my prayer request with you. Things have progressed along and we feel like we're moving in the direction God is leading us. We hope to know something early next week and believe me I will share just as soon as I can. I ask each of you to continue to lift us up before the Lord that we will follow his guidance in this matter. This is not something we're considering lightly and desire as much prayer and support as we can get. I do thank everyone that has been faithful to keep us in your prayers.

I found this verse earlier in the week and it really spoke to me and I wanted to share it with each of you.

Hebrews 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I do have a prayer request for Haley (Rowlins) Baker and her family. Haley lost her 2 month old daughter yesterday. The only thing I know is that the baby quit breathing. I saw Haley in the break room yesterday morning around 10:30 and she was so excited about the baby and telling me how much she had grown. We ended our conversation with her telling me she was going to email me pictures of the baby. About an hour later the babysitter called to let her know the baby had quit breathing. Please lift them up in your prayers. I know they are really struggling right now.

Blessings to each of you,Tina

Long Time no post

Last week I took some vacation days and including the weekend had 5 days off! Boy was it nice. I worked really hard while off but got so much accomplished. Joseph and I worked on our front and back decks. He and my brother replaced several boards and I sprayed the decks and cleaned them. We then cut several hanging limbs out of trees left over from this winters storm and cleaned them up out of the yard. Whew! Then on Sunday Melissa and Susanna came to visit us. Susanna is Addie's friend that we traveled home from China with. They stayed the night Sunday and we took the kids to Chuck-E-Cheese on Monday and then ate Chinese food. The time with them was short but we enjoyed it greatly. The are from the LR area so coming to our house is a big environmental change for them. They get to see our chickens and horses and dogs. The kids wanted to go swimming and Melissa said she didn't bring Susanna a swim suit. I told her that was ok they could swim in their underwear! After all we do that most weekends at Grandpas. The joy of living where we do. No one thinks twice about seeing kids swimming in their underwear. I just really enjoy living in the country.
This morning Johnny and I were laying in bed. It was time to get up and here comes the thumping of feet in the bedroom. Before you know it we have both kids in bed with us. We both just layed there with the kids a while and soaked in the goodness of God and thought about how blessed we are. Sit back and enjoy the small things. Those are the little things you'll remember most one of these days when your kiddos are grown and out of your home. Yes I can give this advise..My oldest is 23!
I have a special prayer request. Johnny and I have an opportunity to make some big life changes. I won't go into details but this is something that will definitely have an impact on our family. I ask that you pray for us that we will listen to Gods calling in our lives. It's so easy to decide on what I want to do or what Johnny wants to do but I want to ensure this is what God has planned for us so I ask that you uplift this request in prayer. We're hopefully we'll have some details to share over the next few days but we don't want to share to quickly and be out of God's will.

Babies

Here's a picture of the two babies my grandmother made for me and my brother when we were kids. Notice the one on the right. It's mine. It had more wear and tear. Also notice the eyes. My grandmother didn't do that intentionally and didn't even notice it until I pointed it out to her. How blessed I am to still have my two grandmothers still with me.

Well it started!

Yep Friday afternoon I went to my lovely "Red Lemon" and it started! I haven't had any mechanical issues with it since. I'm hoping and praying that all those issues are now behind us.

Been a busy week. The kids are doing well. On Saturday the kids visited Mom while I stayed home and worked on cleaning the house. Boy you wouldn't believe what all you can accomplish during a couple of hours with the kids not in the house. While the kids were at moms they played upstairs and found some old baby dolls my grandma made for me and my brother 30 some odd years ago. They are black babies wearing overalls and they are way too cute. My brother and I were really too old to play with them when she made them for us so they don't have much wear and tear on them. When we left I asked mom if I could take them home. I thought I'd put them up for safe keeping. Well the kids have really gotten attached to these two little dolls. They've carried them around all week. They take them to bed with them and even took them to preschool one day this week. I tried to take a picture of the kids holding them but the battery in my camera was dead so no luck. I told my mom to let my grandma know how much the kids like her dolls. I know she'll get a kick out of it and I know I've enjoyed watching them play with them also. Alex named his Mikey and Addie named hers also but I'm drawing a blank on the name right now. So stay tuned for updated pictures of the kids with their babies. I'm hoping the new wears off of them soon so I can put them on a shelf for safe keeping! Oh well they might as well enjoy them.

Have a blessed week.

End of the week update

Here's a review of the week so far.
Sunday flat tire
Monday dead battery
Tuesday bought new battery.
Wednesday Johnny tries to replace battery and realizes the battery cable is corroded into.
Thursday Johnny replaces end to battery cable
Friday drive to work and go into Parts store to return battery. Leave my lights on and guess what.. yep my battery is dead!

Not complaining at all. Actually now that the week is over I find it kind of comical. Aaron the guy that sits next to me said he was going to buy me a license plate for the front of my car that says Red Lemon.. I've been joking with my co-worker that sold me the car that he sold me a lemon. I told Aaron he couldn't leave work until he makes sure my car will start when we leave. He keeps singing over the wall. Tina's lemon isn't going to start. Tina's lemon isn't going to start.

Well it's Friday, it's the weekend, I'm blessed with a wonderful family, a good job, a good Christian church to attend and I'm going to put the last 2 weeks behind me and move on. I was listening to a program last night on the radio and the guy said you can always look forward to looking back on your history. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to look forward to this being my history and tomorrow being a new day. After all it's a new day the Lord hath made and we should rejoice and be glad in it.
Blessings,Tina

Happy Birthday Addie

Our little Jewell turned a big 4 yesterday. We celebrated at Grandpa's on Sunday with her cousins and then last night at my moms house. She is growing by leaps and bounds and we love her dearly. Happy Birthday sweet Addie.



Over the weekend we made cookies. The kids loved decorating and eating them. Alex said they were the best cookies ever.

Struggles with emotions.
Do you ever go through spells where you just seem to be struggling so hard to stay a float. You cry at the drop of a hat and you know how blessed you are and you know God's love and strength are with you but you still continue to walk through a valley you just can't seem to get through. Well that's where I am right now. I feel like I'm walking through a valley. I'm praying, I'm relying on God's mercy and strength to see me through. I know He's hearing my prayers. I know he's answering my prayers and yet my heart just feels broken in two.
So you ask why do I feel this way? As many of you know Ashton has lived with us for quiet some time now. We've (I've) grown very attached to her. She decided last week that she needed to make a change in her life and chose to move out. She left on good terms and I have talked with her almost daily since she left. Still there is an empty hole in our family. Last night little Addie cried as she went to bed that she wanted Ashton. I tried to explain to her that Ashton no longer lived with us but bless her heart she just really doesn't understand. I have to say I don't understand either. I think if I could comprehend on some level what her reasoning for leaving was or if she left on bad terms I could understand her leaving but to not understand why she chose to leave makes it even more difficult. I can see her struggling greatly and I want to reach out and tell her I feel like she's made a really BAD mistake. I know Joseph is hurting very deeply also and I know for his best interest I need to leave things alone and ensure I don't overstep my bounds. However that doesn't keep my heart from hurting or make the pain I feel any less real. I'm trying to encourage the two of them as they choose to go their separate ways. I'm trying to let my light shine and help them make it through this difficult time in their lives. So I'm holding up a big front. I'm smiling when I don't want to smile and I'm doing what I can to ensure I'm being a Christian mom to Joe and a Christiian friend to Ashton. I ask that you lift our family and Ashton up in your prayers.

Ephesians 6:10
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
With Love,Tina