I Said I'd Be Back....

Thanks to those who sent me cards on Monday or emails telling me they were praying for me. I sure appreciate it!

Today I just wanted to take the time to announce the arrival of my great niece, Michelle Faith. She was born today to my second oldest niece, in Oklahoma. Baby Michelle joins her big sister. I also have a great nephew from my oldest niece who also lives in Oklahoma. I didn't really feel old until I got to thinking that it seems so weird this brother of mine is a GRANDPA three times over now! HA Now that for some reason seems strange. Our family is funny like that though- our oldest brother has the youngest child, his youngest daughter being just 20 months old. Then the next brother is the one who has the oldest child, just 7 years younger than me :o) He's the Grandpa. We have one other brother who has 2 older kids (a 20 yr. old and a 14 year old) and then there's me with my brood. Wish we could all be together in one place some time. That would be interesting!

In other news: ever feel like you just can't escape for a moment's time? If you're a Mama you know what I mean. At least I certainly don't think I am the only one with this going on! ha I'm in the bathroom tonight (no, I'm not blogging from the bathroom, silly, I mean earlier), and the kids were upstairs brushing their teeth. I suddenly hear, "Where's Mama?" from Seth. He had come downstairs and if Mama isn't around, well, all is not right in the life of this 2 year old. "Where's Mama?" he repeats, and Glenn chooses to not answer, only to tell him to go do something he was previously told to do. I start almost laughing as I hear him go upstairs saying, "uh, Papa said I was a BAD BOY!" (which Papa did NOT say). I laugh because the next thing I hear is "Where's Mama?" from Ethan, and then Cala. I keep thinking that at least I know I'm missed. Glenn told them I was in the bathroom and they went about playing. Seth on the other hand comes and waits outside the door, and when I come out says, "Oh Mama! I didn't notice you were in the bathroom. I thought you went somewhere!"

Ah, one of these days I shall report that I actually made it to the bathroom unnoticed. Certainly it's possible????????? Please tell me it's possible?!?!

For now.....

Today I'm just sad. I'll be back happy again, probably even tomorrow! But for now, I'm just sad. You see, it was four years ago today that I miscarried a precious baby that I didn't even know I was carrying. We were living in Russia and that day was terrible.

Yes, I had a miscarriage back in 1993, and while horrible too, the one in Russia really affected me in a different way. I think a lot had to do with being so far away from everyone I loved most. Some of it had to do with not even knowing about the pregnancy. Still more had to do with seeing the baby when I miscarried. Sorry if too much info!

Any way, I just am sad. It is on days like this, I visit the website I made soon after that day- http://www.angelfire.com/blues2/evanfaith It helps, it really does.

I am ever thankful for a couple of friends who never forget these days! October 9th will be the 14th anniversary of my first miscarriage. Yep, I have a few sad days this time of year, but rest assured, I'll be back. I always am.

Time Flies, yeh, it really does......

I have often said that I feel as if yesterday I was 17 years old, turned around and now am 36. Time really does fly! I felt as if I posted here yesterday, but alas, it's been 10 days! Yikes. A lot has happened in that short period of time:

Seth had his 2nd Family Day- what a special time it was celebrating this precious baby man being a part of our family. One of these days I'll post the pictures from then, as well as the pictures from Ethan's Family Day last month!

Our missionary helpers left this past Monday- he called today to check on us; they are now in Michigan for a few days.

I am enjoying babysitting a neighbor girl 2 to 3 days a week. It's extra income that's nice to have, plus it's just fun to have her here honestly. I say it's sort of insight into how it will be like having another girl when we adopt again. (in a couple of years or so).

Today- well, today was a strange sort of Sunday. The devil was after us I am here to tell you... I often tell my kids to not let the devil take place and he seems to want to do that the most on Sunday mornings when we're getting ready for church. It usually starts with Seth and Ethan fighting. Today was no different, but it was quickly (as Barney Fife would say), "nipped in the bud" by their Papa and me.

We got to church and as Glenn was taking the pulpit in, a piece chipped off when going in the door. Instead of getting radical about it, I tried to remind Glenn that we could glue it. We got inside only to learn our normal room was being used for testing, but we had been moved to another room for today- let me just say a much nicer room! (more expensive, and I LONG for the day that we NEED that much space and have to rent it!). No one came, no one other than us. That was discouraging... I'd be lying if I didn't say it was.

While I'm singing with the keyboard, my book slips completely, I grabbed it, never missed a note I might add, and held it by one hand (obviously playing the keyboard with the other). I quickly said, "ah! if you don't believe that's the devil!!!"

Glenn had a good sermon on salvation (which by the way, those working there can certainly hear us so we know we're being a witness in some way!). When we got everything loaded back in the van, we took off only to find our sign was down!

Someone had obviously knocked our sign down from the side of the road- impossible for the wind to do it, never mind the fact that it was not a really windy day at all. This was just about all we could handle and the car ride home was quiet. I felt today as if we were all, all five of us, including the kids, discouraged! Even little four year old Ethan said today, "We sure need some people here." Cala was already upset because she consistently invites folks only to be told, "not today", etc. (and this happened this morning).

Glenn spends every weekday passing out invitations, doing his part and so I know he must feel down. Yet, he has never admitted it- until today when I plain out asked. He said, "yes, I guess I am discouraged a bit today."

And yet.. God is working. Our Sunday School lesson was on Gideon and not being a quitter even when it seems what's the use! Wow did that speak to me! To top things off during our family prayer time, Ethan prayed, "God send people to our church in Big Lake". That had me crying! God is working. We believe that.

Pictures Anyone?

Our Last Summer Hurrah on Monday: We enjoyed a picnic supper at one of the local parks. I love this picture of my kids walking hand in hand.






Seth tried his hand at baseball


First day of school came on Tuesday and as is "first day of school" tradition, Papa made omelets for breakfast. Soon it was time for Cala to get ready and she was sure excited to be going off to Second Grade!




Ethan's bus comes for him in the afternoon. He has pre-school Special Ed (here his class is called SR or School Readiness... in Florida we would call it K4) 2 hours a day, 4 days a week. He couldn't wait to get back to school, although he's had a hard time realizing that things are different this year, with a different classroom, a different teacher, etc.




As soon as Ethan left, it was time for Seth to start K2 here at home.
It has been really fun teaching Seth! What a difference there is in him and Cala at that age! ha ha I used to wonder if Cala was getting anything I said, but realized she was, she was just in need of being on the move. Seth is the typical two year old, into everything he can get into, but for school, he sits and listens intently:
That's refreshing!

In other news: I'm not exactly taking it easy with just Seth at home. I took Cala to the bus stop her first morning and came back with a babysitting job for one of our neighbors! I'm taking care of her daughter on the days she's not in Kindergarten (here they go two to three days a week). SO, I'll have her (she turns 6 soon) either two or three days each week as long as both her parents work those days. She keeps me hopping!

Tonight however, Glenn and I are going on another date. Our missionary helpers are leaving us on Monday, tomorrow is the local high school football game and Glenn and the missionary are going, Saturday is Seth's Family Day (but we're celebrating Sunday). Cala is going to Brownies camp tomorrow night and we have to go pick her up Saturday evening. So, tonight is our date night. I better go make sure I have clean clothes to wear! ha

Not as we planned

Unfortunately Sunday came and went without any extra people at our new meeting place. HOWEVER, we are not totally discouraged- disappointed, yes, but not down and out. A- this was Labor Day weekend, not the best week to expect people to come as it is such a cultural thing here as the "last hurrah of summer". Many, many people are at lake homes on the weekends (or cabins), and we passed a whole lot of folks at local lakes and beach areas at the lake. SO, we press on, expecting good things next Sunday!

AND we heard some more yesterday about a group that's meeting in a city 25 miles away that are of our same beliefs. Part of the group moved to that city from another town close to 2 hours from here. They moved from the only other church in the state of Minnesota, that's a part of the same Association we are. They are meeting (we assume in homes?) as they couldn't find a church they felt led to. We will be put in contact with them this week- this could very well work into us having services with them, as well as where we currently are meeting! This would be exciting to us! We should know more in the coming day or two.

On a personal note: I woke up with PINK EYE! Never a dull moment! ha We are heading out right now to have a picnic supper for Labor Day- last day before school starts. Catch you later :o)

Lost on a Saturday Evening

Glenn and I had a nice date Saturday night. (I am writing this at almost 2 a.m. so technically it's Sunday now). I had been wanting to go to eat at Baker's Square for quite awhile (for those who know Perkins, well, it's a step above to me but the best I can describe it). HOWEVER, while we were on our way, I said, "you know we haven't had Mexican food in a long time now!" It seems our guests do not care for Mexican food (gasp! I can't understand that! lol) and so I haven't made it in weeks which is highly unusual around here.

We ended up at what turned out to be a GREAT Mexican restaurant run by real Mexicans-which usually means it's going to be good and not Tex-Mex. We were happy anyway and will definitely go back. Who knows? Maybe next week?! I say run by Mexicans. They were cooking- Americans were the waitresses and ours did as many do and asked me where I am from. When I responded, "Florida, and I get asked that a lot", she said, "I bet you do!" We told her we've lived here now a year and she asked, "and you've still kept your accents? That's neat!" ha Turns out she's lived in Georgia before and said when she would ask for a "pop" they would say, "what?" We got a good laugh from that. We completely understand! :o)

We needed to go by Wal-mart (don't we always?!) but alas I have this terrible curiosity that leads me to often ask, "where does that road go?" So, off we went on one of those roads tonight and uh... got lost! ha Let me clarify a bit: there is a certain city we have heard about that we have wanted to visit for a few weeks now. We saw a sign that pointed towards it and went off the highway to see how far away said city was. When we got off the beaten path (or on it?!), we quickly saw a detour sign but no sign stating how many miles it was to this place. We kept going- through mile after mile of beautiful rolling pastures, farm land everywhere, beautiful red barns, beautiful cows, you get the picture- we were completely in the country. We loved the drive, but we never found the place we were looking for, but DID end up in a "township" as some are called here that we had never heard of. However, we were passing a house that had several men out on the deck. One waved at us which is quite common here in Minnesota. Knowing how friendly most Minnesotans are (and I do mean friendly!), we stopped and asked them how to get back to a town we go to often and would eventually lead us home! After finding out just that, we were back on our way through the country- and uh... did I mention we needed gas? Gas light comes on, we are a good 13 miles still from the next city that we know of. IF we were in our van, we would have never made it to a gas station, but we were in Glenn's truck. Thank the Lord! We made it to another small town we had heard of but never been to (so that was neat to now know where that place is!), and got gas. I should insert here that the first gas station we came to was a brand of gas that if we had been in the van, it would have cut off- it has 4 times with that brand so needless to say we don't run it in the van. Yet again, this was the truck and it took it just fine.

On our way we did go, found our Super Target, decided it would do just as well as Wal-mart for the things we needed and in we went. Cell phones are a great invention as Glenn could go one way, me another and we could call to find out where the other one was, and oh, uh, honey, what do you think about us buying _________ ? lol

We had left our home at not quite five. When we got home tonight, it was after nine. The kids were sleeping, all but Ethan and after checking on him, telling the missionaries we had truly gotten lost on the way home, we came downstairs. Glenn printed out our church bulletin for tomorrow, I practiced the song I will sing, "For Such a Time as This", and then practiced on the keyboard for the songs we will sing as a congregation tomorrow.

So why am I up at 2 a.m.? Couldn't sleep after all the excitement I guess!