Thanks and A Glimpse Into My Week!

Kristi, girl, you were actually a great help! Can you believe I had never played around with the fonts and colors since first starting my blog 3 years ago?? I just had so much fun changing a few things around! The last time anything was changed on here, design wise, it was done by my friend Amber. So at least I know I can change colors and fonts now. Yea me! I'm still a little disappointed that I don't know how to get the photo of my tree centered or at least get my text in the red area to the right of the photo.

RITA - your blog header has 3 photos on it. How did you do that?

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I thought I'd share a glimpse of our week with you.

THURSDAY past was of course Thanksgiving. It took me two days to recuperate after Thanksgiving Day. I love hosting and decorating and cooking! It's just the day or two after that I dislike. Due to my RA (rheumatoid arthritis), my joints become inflamed and swollen and I become very fatigued when I 'over do'. I knew Friday, the day after, would be rough! This caused me to intentionally stay up cleaning and putting away crystal, etc. so that my family wouldn't have to 'work around it' the next couple of days while I was out of the picture. I went to bed around 3 a.m. and knew I'd be staying down awhile. Thankfully, God has blessed me with a husband who knows how to fend for himself and a son who is respectful and obedient, who loves helping.

We had a friend's nine year old daughter spend Thanksgiving night here as well. She and Shane played and entertained each other all day Friday while I crept in and out of "consciousness" (slept) all day. I did get up around 3 p.m. to eat a little something. After a bit it was back to bed.

Saturday I was able to get up around noon. After taking my meds and puttering around a bit, I felt good enough to put away my Thanksgiving decor and start putting out bits of my Christmas things. I hung the wreath on the front door, hung a large "Merry Christmas" sign in our den. Shane put out two of my hand painted friends in the front plant beds. They're made out of wood and have wooden stakes attached to the back of them to be hammered into the ground. I just love driving up to the house after being out and seeing them there to greet me!

Sunday was of course church services. In the afternoon, I went over to help a friend of mine finish some packing and attend to a few details before moving out of her apartment. Please pray for this single mom and her precious little daughter. Sunday evening, church again, then back to help my friend. I loaded some things into our SUV that were to be donated to the HOPE CHILDREN'S HOME thrift store and told her I'd take care of getting them there. It was getting late, her car was already loaded down, and she still had to get uniforms for school ready and her work uniform ready.

I URGE you to CLICK ON THIS LINK TO THE HOME . Once there, click to watch the video of the children and Dr. Higgins draw the name of the winner of a brand new Toyota Prius. Your heart will be well blessed to see how much money was raised for the home. The entire video is 9 min. 54 sec. The children sing part way into the video. It's precious to hear the teeny one's voices!

Monday, Shane awoke with a sore throat and all stuffy. We made a feeble attempt at doing lessons. He did a partial math lesson and typed out the 50 states in alphabetical order. Most of the day was spent lounging. I washed my rugs. Whoo-hoo! Big time stuff huh?

I did find myself on the phone a lot Monday. One conversation with my Pastor's wife was thrilling!!! A great big blessing had occurred and relief flooded both our souls!

Also, my mother had an appointment with her surgeon due to her latest breast sonogram showing three lumps and two abnormal lymph nodes. This is worrisome due to the fact my mom is a breast cancer survivor and in the past has undergone a partial mastectomy. She has been in remission for several years. Monday, new sonograms and exams were done, specifically zeroing in on those lymph nodes. Please pray for Mom as she goes in for two separate local biopsies on Friday, Dec. 12. Then it's pray and wait for the results which will take several days.

The HUGE blessing in this situation is that Mom got into HERE!, only having to wait for ONE WEEK! We are quick to realize that this is a miracle, and God is in the workings. We KNOW that scripture tells us "all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose". Mom's doctor called with the results of her sonogram and told her to phone her surgeon right away for an appointment. Mom's surgeon has moved away since her last breast surgery, so she called a lawyer friend whose wife recently went through breast cancer. The lawyer friend took charge. It turned out he once was Mr. Moffitt's neighbor. (Mr. Moffitt being the founder of MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE. It turned out that mom's lawyer friend had represented Mr. Moffitt in personal matters. His law firm also works on behalf of the Cancer Center itself. He made a few calls, had the appointment set up for mom. Mom received a call from Moffitt Cancer Center, letting her know she had an appointment and would that particular day and time work for her. She simply had to show up on Monday and sign in! Isn't that just awesome? It's a GOD thing! She is God's child and HE cares for her, evidencing HIS love by working out details, causing her less stress in an unpleasant situation.
I'm a firm believer that God brings people into our lives for many reasons. We certainly feel that Mom and her friendship with this particular lawyer and his family was no accident!

Tuesday was a tad better than Monday! Shane still wasn't feeling well but was able to study for his English grammar test and complete an entire math lesson. LISTEN - that's better than what we accomplished Monday! I "piddled" around the house. Is "piddled" a new word for you? My mom uses it often. When you "dabble" or do "odds and ends" is also known, at least by my family, as "piddling". My honey brought home 'Carne Asada' from our favorite authentic Mexican restaurant, Los Vallartas. What a scrumptious treat that was! The steak is grilled with onions, served with Mexican rice, refried beans, pico-de-gallo, guacamole, homemade tortillas! I must stop describing this meal. I'm now drooling all over my laptop!

Wednesday I woke up with a sore throat and stuffy head. (Thanks Shane!) I managed to do a load of laundry and get it put away, administer Shane's grammar test, on which he made an At!!! I also did some work on the computer. (homeschooling stuff) I also managed to lie on the couch quite a bit! We did make it to mid-week service and Patch Club at church. We invited one of Shane's newest friends from church over to spend the night Friday night. He will be helping us celebrate my baby's 11th birthday!

Thursday is going great! Thank you Lord! Chores and math are finished. I plan on doing some shopping tonight for my little man's birthday tomorrow. We plan on dining at the Olive Garden Friday evening, then taking the two boys to shop at Toy R Us. I plan on giving them each a $20.00 bill to spend however they please. I'm getting by cheap! I figure my total expenditures will come out less this way than if I were to have planned a traditional party, having several friends over to feed and give goodies to and decorate for. Shane is happy with the set up for this year's birthday and that is the most important of course. I mean, after all, it is HIS special day!

REMEMBER: God cares about every detail of your life! I trust you feel His presence today.