Update through July

No excuses why I haven't posted since June! I have no clue! ha! When I last posted, we were at Yellowstone... so I will post some pictures from the summer and catch you
Father's Day- we were on vacation.... It was special for Glenn to have his Dad with him, since that is a rarity with us living so far away.
up on what's been going on around here.


July 4th, we were blessed to see some awesome fireworks...

Throughout the month of July, we also stayed busy with Seth's tee-ball. He was happy to finally be old enough to participate in sports like his brother and sister have been doing in previous years.

July 24th was our 17th anniversary and we celebrated by going away (whole family) for a couple of nights. It was a really good time and the kids LOVED being in the pool....

Today was my inlaws' 50th anniversary!!! We took this picture today WAY up (2 miles to be exact) on top of a mountain! It was an incredible drive (I drove it actually) and so breath taking! God's creation is incredible!!! How can people deny Him? It's beyond me! Yes, you see snow there. Amazing scenery we saw today; so thankful to be on this vacation!

Yellowstone

I still am in such awe at the beauty that surrounds us here!!! Montana is truly a beautiful place!!! The pictures above, however, were taken at Yellowstone, in Wyoming. We saw a herd of Buffalo crossing the road but really enjoyed watching this Mama and her baby!!! That baby was sure to stay right with his Mama.

Of course, no trip to Yellowstone would be complete without going to Old Faithful!!! Incredible.

Tomorrow is my inlaws' 50th anniversary... we have a very full day planned for Wednesday! I've got to get to bed!

Today has been such a beautiful trip!!! To think that it's the middle of June and I can look out from our hotel room and see a snow covered sight way high on the mountains is incredible.

HOW can anyone deny God?! His handiwork is everywhere! Montana has some magnificent, breath-taking sights!!!! I am so blessed to be here on this trip!

On "vacay"

After church, we headed on the road. We have made it safely to Bismarck, ND where we will spend tonight (actually at this point, the next 6 hours- since we hope to leave tomorrow early to head to Montana).

We are already making memories and just really happy to be together on this trip!

The pictures from today show you a bit about our day... we noticed we would need gas probably before we ever made it to Bismarck. North Dakota, being sparse in "amenities", we knew we needed to stop the first chance we got. We saw a sign saying this exit had gas and took off. We laughed when at first we thought this was the place they were talking about- what at one time was a gas station, now a therapeutic massage clinic! I just had to have a picture though... if you could tell it in this picture, you would see the price of gas here was last .32 cents a gallon. I sure wish I knew what year these pumps are from!

As for the current place of business? Not open on Sunday and still very old style pumps from "my day".

Wow! I have let the time slip by here. YES, I have taken pictures each of those days since I last posted- can't believe it was last May 20th!!! I will post a few here and there to keep you caught up!!! BUT, for now, I just wanted to post that I will return! I actually tried getting on here a couple of times that blogger was doing maintenance or something and I couldn't log in! Oh well.

Reasons for my unplanned hiatus: life here became very hectic, especially where Ethan is concerned. I keep feeling like "normal" is becoming new every day, sometimes every minute. Living with a child with mental illness is not for the faint of heart.

It's easy for it to consume me, and I play the "what ifs". I need to remember to let God handle those and focus on the here and now!!!

In happy news: my inlaws will arrive in just a few hours (I am typing this at 4 a.m.- can't sleep!!!) Then, on Sunday, we are all (after church), hitting the road for the Yellowstone area! We are super excited and well, just let me tell you... this vacation is so very needed! Praying Ethan does well with the change in routine. It's not been pretty around here the past few days.

I plan to post a picture each day of the trip.... stay tuned!

Wednesday and Thursday

This was Cala last night after getting stung by what was evidently a hornet. (she saw something fly away, and then today a neighbor girl told Cala that they have lots of problems with hornets' nests- and the bush where Cala was stung by, borders our property and this girls' family's yard.).

Not knowing if Cala was allergic, we watched her carefully, called the nurse line (from our insurance) and gave her ibuprofen as her finger had swollen twice its normal size! She was quite miserable, but never had chills or fever, etc. She woke up just fine this morning and all is well.

AND in other news! Seth was wrong... I called and verified that Seth actually had one more day of pre-school, so TODAY was his actual last day. Here is a picture of him holding his certificate. He told Cala he is no longer a pre-schooler, but a kindergartener. He is quite proud! I, of course, am wondering where my baby boy went! What will I do in the fall, when he begins Kindergarten?!

Farewell Pre-school

Today was Seth's last day of pre-school. While many of my online friends are shedding tears at high school graduations this week, I am wondering where my little baby man went?! (and he's only five! I can not begin to imagine what they are going through!).

The picture today is of a magnet Seth made for me, at school. I absolutely love it! It will be one of those I keep forever, like another magnet I have- from when my now grown, 22 year old nephew was in Kindergarten and made a drawing onto a magnet. It's still precious to me now!

Time does really fly even if we aren't ready.

Have you ever contemplated what a horse in Minnesota looks like? Well, wonder no more! Here you go... we have many horses around here, many cows, many farms! I absolutely love that!

Yah, you betcha!

Catch up pictures!

So here we go... Friday- We went to Ethan's field day at school. It was early in the morning and windy! Ethan's team placed first in most events.

That evening, Glenn was gone into the Cities and so it was just the kids and me. We had a wonderful time, stayed out shopping for Glenn's upcoming birthday, ate pizza (it spikes Glenn's blood sugar too high so this was a real treat for the kids and I since we just don't get it anymore)... I let the kids stay up way too late and we all welcomed Papa back home.



Saturday- We stayed in, did our usual "big" cleaning, continued Spring cleaning... and was just still happy to have found this painting on Friday at a yard sale... we have it hanging above our bed.... Since we moved here, there has been this space that needed a painting or a picture, something! We would look, but at the stores, everything is just way too expensive and at yard sales even, most things were more than I wanted to pay. We spotted this on Friday, and I got out to look. I snapped it up when I saw it was just ONE dollar!!!! We both laugh now that we can't believe we bought a SNOWY scene but it is a mountain scene which we both love!

And then there's today- Sunday.... This afternoon, following dinner ("lunch"), I made a grocery list and headed to Wal-mart while the kids (and Glenn) took a nap. Being from busy central Florida, I am used to crowds at Wal-mart, and so, admittedly, the crowd here on a Sunday is nothing compared to that, but it was crowded for here, and I've grown accustomed to the slower pace. HA I think I'll stick to week day grocery shopping!

We are so often headed on the road in this direction, it just seemed the right thing to do to take a picture! :o)

Please pray tonight (or whenever you read this) for Ethan. He's not doing so well right now with his mental illnesses. In fact, right now, depression has hit him majorly. I ache for my son and can't help but wonder what his life will be like years from now... Yet, I know that God is able and I simply need to live in the 'here and now'. (otherwise, I would spend much more time crying!).

Please pray for Ethan and all those struck with mental illness. It's real, and it's rough.

More scenery from around here :o)

Today has been spent with a headache! I hate when that happens, but it happens often lately. (something to do with that ol ' barometric pressure).

I enjoyed church tonight anyway, and am so glad I made it. I needed that "re-charge" for the rest of my week!

Cala is so photogenic! I took this this evening as she came out of group therapy. The kids enjoyed it, and it gives Glenn and me 3 hours alone. We get to have a date and enjoyed supper out and then went by Target for a few groceries.

Weather wise, it couldn't have been a nastier day- so very dreary and chilly. The Florida girl in me wanted to rebel and take off the coat, but alas, that wasn't possible! May? Really?

Saturday's picture and Today (Monday)

So, as promised, a picture from Saturday... Saturday was May 8th... Cala's Family Day- some call it Gotcha Day, Adoption Day, Forever Day, but we call it Family Day. Cala became our daughter on May 8th, 2001 when we were able to take her home! :o) We then lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, her native city.

Each Family Day, we give our child something that represents their native culture, their heritage... this year, we gave Cala this sweat shirt with Russia on it, the map of the country and a Russian girl with a traditional dress on. Cala LOVED it!

We are truly blessed with this sweet girl! She suffers from Fetal Alcohol as her birth mother drank throughout the pregnancy, but Cala is just the type to turn that around and use it to her advantage- her creativity is amazing, and she has turned out to be a wonderful artist.

***** Now, for today- Monday, May 10th... ***** This morning, I told the boys that it is Mother's Day in their native lands of El Salvador and Guatemala. Ethan asked, "so, it's our birth mothers' Mother's Day?" :o)

We had a full afternoon of appointments and as I type this at 10:25 p.m., we really haven't been home too long. That's life for us right now, as we try to get Ethan all the help we can with his mental illnesses. We are just grateful we are able to get the help we need.

Today's picture: This was taken in the parking lot of a store Glenn ran into today. The kids and I waited while he went in for a few minutes... it was such a rainy, rainy, dreary day. The kids enjoy the van and the fact that it's easy when waiting to get up out of their car seats and roam around a bit.

I will have to post yesterday's picture with tomorrow's. Today, though, I didn't want Mother's Day to pass without posting a picture of my Mama and me. This was taken last year in July, when she visited us for two weeks. We are planning for her to visit us again this July or August, and I am so looking forward to that.

Mama is a wonderful woman, and is the type of mother all mothers should aspire to be, the type of lady all women should aspire to be. (I can hear her now reminding me that all ladies are women, but not all women are ladies!).

I am truly blessed and miss her very much! I can't wait to see her this summer. Happy Mother's Day!

Today, as my Mother's Day gift, we picked up the kids a little early from school and went an hour and a half away to spend the night and part of tomorrow. We had a wonderful afternoon and evening!!! Where we are staying has an old timey arcade (complete with Pac-man--- a blast from the past) and a pool table.

This has been what the kids call, "the best day ever!"

Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday's picture- this was taken right after church last night. These boys are such blessings to my life! They are rascals, they are sweet, they are buzzards!, they are precious, they are real characters!, but I am just so very happy and grateful to God that they are my sons!






Today's (Thursday) picture- Ethan was in a play today. It was really cute. He was thrilled we were there (and so was a couple of our church members).

Monday and Tuesday's pictures

Yesterday, this little guy spent the afternoon waiting on his sister and brother while they had appointments. Seth has gotten used to it and does well to have to go to so many places throughout the week.

Today was yet another busy morning, with a psychiatrist appointment for Ethan. We came back by the school, dropped Ethan off, came home, waited on the bus to take Seth to pre-school and I thought that would be it. Thankfully though, Glenn surprised me with lunch out, just the two of us. We tried a Mexican restaurant we had never been to and really enjoyed it!

Today's picture is just one of the trees that we have growing around here this time of year. I love the colors we are starting to see... no, not as much as I enjoy fall, but the trees around here are beginning to get beautiful!

Tomorrow is promising to be yet another very busy day, but at least we have church in the evening , where we can re-charge :o)

Sunday

After church this morning, we all changed clothes and headed out for Sunday dinner. This picture of my kids was taken this afternoon. I love these little guys! I'm blessed and so very grateful to God for allowing me to be their Mama.

**Pray for our family in South Carolina once again... my Uncle Ernest died two weeks ago yesterday. His wife, Aunt Juanita died this evening! She told Mama right after my Uncle's death, "I won't be here long!" Praising the Lord she has been reunited with her dear husband.**

Saturday's post

This is the picture I was going to post last night but obviously did not!

I recently got my hair cut and am loving it. I've had it similar to this before but it had been awhile.

I just felt the need for a new style I suppose!

Saturday was a nice, peaceful, enjoyable day. That was such a treat! We spend our Saturdays sparkling our home in preparation for church held here on Sundays. That it went so peacefully yesterday was a blessing :o)

Friday Family Night

Tonight was Seth's turn to choose what we would eat and what we do for our weekly family night. He chose chicken nuggets and fries for supper, candy for dessert, and playing Star Wars on the Wii for the activity!!! We really enjoyed tonight!

As you can see, Seth really got into playing the game! I was actually playing him when this picture was taken by Glenn. Seth won!

Poor guy really got a workout! He was pouring sweat by the night's end.

Thursday's picture/post

Yesterday I would have posted but it was one of those nights I was so exhausted! We had a long, but good day. In the evening, we took Cala to get her hair cut, as she is the last one in the family to not have their hair done recently. :o)

I LOVE the way they did Cala's hair. She picked out a look in a book at the salon, and after she and I finally agreed on what would be a good style, I think they did well!!! (for the record, she wanted even shorter hair!)

She is indeed pleased with how it turned out... it's supposed to have a style on the top and will when we get her hair trained to stay that way :o)

Wednesday

I thought I would share the pictures Cala took last night as we were coming in.

I understand she wasn't quite in focus, but I still enjoyed these pictures! She is really starting to show an interest in taking pictures, something I share with her. Any of my family who may be reading may be saying, "Yes, we remember when you would take pictures of folks and their heads would be cut off." My Daddy used to joke about how many pictures must be laying around the house with cut off heads, or blurry people, etc. :o)

Today, Wednesday, was spent taking Ethan to his 7 year old check up, and then having church service. Previously, I slept a lot! That's why I am so awake now as I type this! Having a kidney infection makes me tired, but not when I should be! ha

This was taken this evening (through the van mirror) while waiting on our kids in their group therapy session. Glenn loves to read and really gets serious about his books :o)

Today was 16 years ago, that our first child was due. We were planning to name that baby Evan. It's so hard to believe it's been that many years! I can't imagine being the parent of a 16 year old just yet, but Cala is just 4 and a half years away from that now! Yikes.

Monday's picture

Ethan and I both were scheduled for appointments with our therapists. I planned for a few days to let this somehow be an afternoon that I could take Ethan on a "date." Glenn and I do this as often as we can with each of our children. It is a special time for that child and for each one of us.

Since Ethan has mental issues, and his anger is aimed towards me, it is rare that we can be alone... it has been suggested more than once that we are indeed never alone for a long period of time. When I realized that because of the time of our appointments, if we all went (meaning Glenn, us and Seth), we wouldn't be back in time for Cala to get home from school, I suggested that this could be a date for Ethan and me. So, it was planned, and looked forward to... then this past Saturday, I became "sick as a dog" with kidney/bladder infections! I knew somehow I needed to get through today. I enlisted the prayers of many and thankfully, we made it! I did indeed get sick on the way home, but Ethan managed really well during our time together.

I even stopped and had my hair cut while we were out and once we made it home, I just had to get a picture for the blog, of Ethan and me. Yes, he did start getting 'fustated' as he said (frustrated) but he realized it and was able to utilize some techniques he has been taught. I praise the Lord for His goodness in allowing me some much needed time with my oldest, precious son!

Sunday

I love this picture! For our family devotions at night (right before bed for the kids), we have been studying the book of Job. I was surprised this evening when Seth said, "Ethan! Will you go with me upstairs and get our Bibles?" He went on to say how their Sunday School teacher told them that they should be reading their Bibles and learning all they can about God. I was so proud :o) Of course, they can't yet read many words, but they were sure to have me get their Bibles turned to the right book and the right chapter and verse!

Saturday's picture

O.k., so this was taken on Friday, not Saturday, but it is another picture from Glenn and Ethan's zoo trip that I wanted to post. On Saturday we didn't go anywhere... stayed home and did some more Spring cleaning.

We are trying to throw out stuff that is broken (as in toys, etc.), clothes that don't fit now or won't next season... etc. We got a good bit done yesterday, but there is much more to be done this week. Growing up in Florida, I never had to worry about the changing of the seasons and bringing out the winter clothes, or changing back to the summer clothes. That all changed when we moved to Russia and continues today... even more so now that we have 3 kids.

And here it is 10:15 Sunday morning. I am obviously sitting at the computer, not in church. I am sick with a kidney and/or bladder infection. I've dealt with these many a time in my life... started as a young child, in and out of the hospital with them as a teen... Yes, I know all about Cranberry juice, Cranberry tablets, water... I only drink water nowadays.

I will try to be back on here tonight and post a picture from today.

I love this picture that Glenn caught of Ethan with a leopard in the background. It seems to me the leopard is either saying hey or is saying, "no autographs, please!"

Glenn accompanied Ethan and his First grade class to the Minnesota Zoo. They had a great day!!! While they were gone, Seth and I went on a "date". We also had a wonderful time, going out to eat, to a park, to Wal-mart, etc.

Cala, poor thing, had to be in school, but at least she said she had a really good day!!! Tonight, being our weekly family night, we all spent some great time together.

It's been a good, exhausting day :o)

I thought I would post a picture tonight of me doing something I love to do... hit the road :o) Through the years, when Glenn and I were on deputation (as missionaries), we of course spent many a day and night driving. I think it was those days that put the love for travel in our souls!!!

We are looking forward with great anticipation to a road trip we are taking this June, with my in-laws. They arrive June 11th and we all leave together June 13th (after church) for a few days in Yellowstone. We are all excited about this trip as it is an area we've all wanted to see.... sharing the costs makes it affordable.

To me, "Life is a Highway...."

I believe I've mentioned my love for barns, particularly red ones. I took this picture through the van window.

I am exhausted tonight and in a lot of pain from fibromyalgia. I pray I can get some rest.

Today I thought I would share a picture I took this afternoon of Glenn and Cala coming out of a store. The boys were soundly sleeping in the van, and so I stayed in with them while Glenn just ran in to get a dollar umbrella or two. On Friday, Glenn is going with Ethan and his class to the Minnesota Zoo, and at this point, they are calling for rain! Glenn didn't want to lug around our big umbrellas so a cheap one it is!!

My mind has been on my family in South Carolina today as they buried my Uncle this afternoon. I talked to Mama just a few minutes ago and she said the funeral was "nice", as funerals go of course. Mama returns to Florida tomorrow afternoon. Pray for her to have a safe flight.

Monday's picture

For yesterday's picture, Cala wanted me to share her art work with you! We think she's an excellent artist. She's 11 years old and loves to draw! She sure can beat me!! I think it's in her St. Petersburg, Russia blood- so many artists there :o)

Cala is the "Star of the Week" in her class this week... she has chosen to take all things Russian to explain about who she is.. in her words, "They're going to learn about my culture and who I am . I am going to teach them all about St. Petersburg."

I'm proud of Cala. She being as white as they come, would never have to tell anyone she was adopted. She however, being Cala, chooses to tell the masses all about her birth place as she is proud to be who she is :o)

Ok! So I confess to secretly (not so secretly now that I put it on the blog!) liking winter, even in Minnesota! Yikes. I really don't like the coldest time of year when it falls wellll below zero, but hey! That's part of the mystique about here.

My all time favorite of any season anywhere is fall. I love the color in the leaves. Summer here is nice because even though it can get "warm" in the daytime, the evenings are nice and cool. I love going out on the deck and feeling the evening breeze. It's calming to me and peaceful.

I've never been a big fan of Spring anywhere I've lived! I know, that's strange, almost a crime amongst some folks, especially when you live in a climate like this, but I just never have! I think it's because in Florida, where I grew up, it's HOT this time of year and you know what's around the bend--- the dreaded dog days of summer. Here in Minnesota, I think my dislike is because it's the high time of allergy season (*even though I don't suffer like my husband and baby son do). I also know that it's because if it's still going to be chilly, I might as well have SNOW! haaaaa There... I've said it. My husband would disagree. I have always disliked seeing the brown everywhere in early spring before the beautiful flowers (my favorite part of this season) appear.

AND now, to explain my picture choice for today- I was thrilled to see such lush green as we drove out in the country. The brown is starting to be replaced with this beautiful rich color and I, yes, even I can appreciate Spring for its beauty.

Yesterday and Today's pictures

Last night I was just too tired to post! The picture to the left was taken last night as we were out and about. I was SO very glad to solve a mystery for my youngest son!!! ANYtime we travel to this particular city, Seth passes this building and asks, "What's that?" and then would get frustrated because we never knew what he was talking about.

At long last, I was driving and decided to figure it out. It turns out he was wanted to know what the arch was (see the white on the side of Seth- I couldn't get a good picture of that). Mystery solved! Praise the Lord!~ Now we can move on to the next that will surely plague us down the road!

For today's picture(s).... Glenn ran to the store to pick something up that was part of a recipe for supper tonight. On his way back home, just down our same street, he stopped at a yard sale that caught his eye. He picked up this nice gliding rocker you see in the picture (with a gliding ottoman) for $20! They wanted $25 but took $20! We've looked them up on the internet tonight and one that looks the same is like $150 new!!! This one that we have is in excellent condition/like new! We have placed it in our room until we have a space all set for it in the family room, but just decided it will stay here in our room! It will be a very nice reading spot.

Now, I LOVE yard sales! I wait ever so patiently for the yard sale season (which is usually not until around the end of May here, but we are "unseasonably" warm lately). My husband doesn't normally just stop on his own at any sort of sale. I myself had passed this sale yesterday but saw it was all baby stuff and didn't stop. Glad Glenn did! He found a good bargain!