Today

Today its cold and we have an inversion so its smoggy as well.  We did have some freezing rain yesterday, but it wasn't enough to scour out the valley, so I can't believe I am saying this, but I really want a storm to blow through and give us some relief from the poor air.

Today TR goes to see a specialist about his vision.  Seems like the meds he has been prescribed for RA could be negatively affecting his vision, not good for a dump truck driver.  We would appreciate your prayers.

Today HT had pajama day at school and couldn't have been more thrilled.  Seems to me that maybe this might be why some people think wearing your pj's in public is acceptable.  I'm not a big fan of pajama day in school.

And EM . . well today he peed his pants and is now naked from the waist down.  I'm going to have to do something about that . . and just when I think I have him potty trained.

Argh.

What about you, how's your day?

October in Review

I said in my last post that a lot had been going on here but that it wasn't very pleasant or very news worthy,  well I have changed my mind and I'm going to take a page out of my friend Sarah's book and do a recap of last month.  After all if I am blogging to remember I haven't done a very good job of keeping track this month of the minutia of our every day lives.

Sometimes I'm okay with that and sometimes as I see it all dripping down like water through a sieve, I feel so thirsty that I want to rush in with a bucket and gulp it all down before it's all gone.

Sometimes life happens and there's a hole in my bucket.

Sometimes it feels like I'm trying to carry it all one handed, like I've got one hand tied behind my back and I struggle with it all.

This time I kinda sorta do.

I injured my shoulder at the beginning of the month and had surgery on the 24th to repair a torn rotator cuff and remove some calcification on the bone.  It is now sore rather than being painful so I feel like it was a success.  You might expect me to be on pins and needles waiting for the surgeons and anesthesiologists bill to come.  I'm not really though, because truth be told I am at peace about the whole thing, God has provided for all our needs, far more than we could have hoped for or asked and I am in awe once again.

In the midst of all that, this happened.

And then God blessed us with this, for 1/3 of the asking price, low miles, good upholstery, newish tires and in good running order.  Can I get an "Amen"?

Besides celebrating the boys birthdays, we've carved pumpkins.

Been trick-or-treating.

Twice, once at Auntie's work and once with friends.

We had a fabulous time!

And like any good mother (NOT!) I forgot to bring along my camera, the kids candy buckets and something else, I have already forgotten again . . . hmmm . . so it must not have been too much of a big deal.

Oh yeah, it was the glow sticks.

Oh well, the kids didn't seem to mind.

I did take a few pictures with my cell phone.  Now if I could only figure out how to get them off the phone and onto this here blog.

Not to worry though I do have some pictures that I took when we went to Auntie's work.

Someone wasn't very happy about being woken up from his nap, forced to put on a dragon costume and get in the car although he was soon happy enough when he saw that there was candy to be had.

This fall weather has been as spectacular and as gorgeous as was our summer weather and we have really been enjoying it.

Oh, and in the news from September category, I got a job!

Yeah, me!  

A part-time job working for one of our local quilt shops and I have really been enjoying it.  However with my arm in a sling I haven't worked much this month and all my pending projects have been put on hold.  But I am itching to get back to it.

I am so grateful and so thankful for God's goodness and mercy raining down that my cup runneth over spilling all over the place and that my friend's is always (at least to me) news worthy.

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;

With my mouth will I make known

Your faithfulness to all generations."

Psalm 89:1

Uncertain

At what point in your adult life do you move on from the insecurities and uncertainties of your youth?  Really, by what age should your life path be certain?  Your 30's or 40's?  Your 50's maybe or by then is it too late and you are stuck with what if's and regrets?

It seems like we spend most of our time trying to chase an ideal that society tells us that we should own.  That we should be enjoying the fruits of an expensive college education, have a burgeoning successful career, happy home life and a retirement account that will sustain us in the lifestyle we've become accustomed too.

Let me tell you, trying to get there, is like trying to rope the wind.

Me, I'm a late bloomer, always have been and I don't think I'm going to make it and I'm okay with that.

Sort of.

Spent most of my twenties trying to finish college and never did.  Spent my thirties working as an office manager and full charge bookkeeper of a small but successful commercial construction company, made decent money and for the most part enjoyed my time there.  Got married at 40, had my first baby at 42, at 43 quit my job to be his mother.  Had my second at 45 and am now wondering what in the heck am I doing?!  It's got me thinking I should have, or shouldn't have done this or that or the other.  But there's no going back.

The coming of the new year is supposed to be filled with promise and the opportunity for a better future, a clean slate as some have said.  But I find myself faced with yet another year of seasonal work for my husband and our family.  He is tired and frustrated and we all are facing an uncertain future.  I am full of anxiety and worrying about things that I have no control over and wondering why I can't control the things I do or should have control of.  Thinking we should have done something different, wishing away what is instead of trying to make do with what we have.  On one hand I am so grateful for God's provision and on the other I am worrying that it's not enough.

AM I NUTS?!

When has God's provision ever not been enough?!

My Grandma used to call worrying "borrowing trouble".  And you know what.  She was right.  So today I am going to try to enjoy the gift of another ordinary day and let God take care of tomorrow.

I'm also going to quit "shoulding" all over myself.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  

Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Matthew 6:34