It's Blue!
I'm getting it ready, the water if finally a shade of blue, instead of green. Now we just have to get the cloudiness out and wait for it to warm up *just a little more* and we can get in! I can't wait! I'm ready!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
February 5, 2008
There's the boys out on my porch swing in the back yard. I just love this time of year in Houston! Mid 70's and crystal blue skies!
February 4, 2008
The Mom's Rock Traveling Can: A can that travels around to the members and each member adds items for the next person and a mark to the outside. I get to start it this year, so here is the beginning product ready to get in the mail!
February 3, 2008
My cats snuggled up on a blanket in the garage! On the left: Sir Johnson Purr a Lot, Knight of the Purringest Kitty Kats, and on the right: Fait Marie
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
February 2, 2008
Helicopter
Actually, the kids took this picture, it's of a helicopter they made with their k'nex in our back yard.
February 1, 2008
Play that Funky Music- White Boy!
Yep, that's the one that's paying for my counseling sessions when he gets older. :) He's dancing... can't you tell???
January 31, 2008
Church Steeple
That's the steeple on my church. I just thought it was beautiful against the beautiful blue sky this warm January day!
January 30, 2008
Doggy Snack
Ladybird REALLY didn't want to share her food with the Lue Rat, but I assured her that she didn't eat much :)
January 28, 2008
Rat Bath
Yes, the rats get baths too. No, he didn't take a bath WITH the rat, just took his shirt off so it wouldn't get wet :)
January 27, 2008
Beautiful Sunset
If you know me, you already know I love sunsets. Be prepared to see many over th course of the year. I think every sunset is a gift from God to be enjoyed.
January 25, 2008
Chili Cookoff Time!
That's Auston and his friend James at their first official Boy Scout Troop Activity- the Church Chili Cook Off! They look sharp, huh!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
January 19, 2008
Arrow of Light
Auston was awarded his Arrow of Light tonight. It was an incredible ceremony! Here pictured from Left to right are: His den leaders Frances and Bill, Pack 1150 Cubmaster Mike, Indian Guide, Troop 1102 Scoutmaster Stawicki, Auston, Indian Chief and Indian and Troop 1102 Representative Lowell.
January 18, 2008
Cute and Cuddly!
Ok, so this isn't a picture I took, my husband took it, but isn't my dog so cute? She loves to cuddle!January 17, 2008
Short Cuts aren't always Shorter!
Apparently when Michael decided to vacuum out the fireplace with the Shopvac he didn't take into account that there isn't a filter on it......
January 16, 2008
In-Separable!
You know, Gregory was the one so adamant about Auston having his own room so Gregory could have HIS own room. Guess where Gregory is every night!!! IN AUSTON'S ROOM!!
January 15, 2008
Being on a Borrowed Computer has it's moments!
Yeah, so I was supposed to fill out my part of the tour permit, email it to another leader and they would print it out and sign and fax it. Well, I can't figure out how to get the scanning part of my printer to communicate with this borrowed computer, so because I could think of nothing else to do I took a picture of the tour permit for Auston's Arrow of Light. As it turned out it wasn't even close to clear enough, so I ended up meeting the leader later and getting him the permit anyway!!
Monday, January 14, 2008
January 14, 2008
Bold!
Well, I did it! I got brave and painted my hallway dark red! It was really scary, but it turned out great!!! I am so excited!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
January 13, 2008
Door is Framed!
We're not going to mention that the door has been in since the end of July, and we're not going to mention that this is the second trip to Lowes for the hardware, and we're not going to mention that we still need some longer nails to keep it up, (it's a little iffy right now~!), but there is no longer light coming in from the sides of the doors... :)
Saturday, January 12, 2008
January 12, 2008
Pinewood Derby
We have begun our Pinewood Derby cars. We are all making one this year! In order from left to right: Semalee's, Auston's Gregory's, Michaels... Stay tuned for updates :)
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
January 10, 2008
Rats
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
January 8, 2008
One Spoiled Coon Hound
This would be Lady Bird, our very spoiled Coon Hound sleeping with the boys. She even has her own blanket!
January 7, 2008
It's back to school time at our house. We survived.... barely.....
That right there is evidence for my therapy sessions later. I expect Gregory to foot the bill!
January 6, 2008
This would be my computer area- MINUS the computer! Yes, that is the same "clean desk" from a couple of days ago, and NO it isn't still clean! You see why it was worth taking a picture? Now I am having to borrow a friend's laptop while the Geek Squad sends my computer off. It will be at least 3 weeks they said. :( That said, because I am not on my computer I can't for the life of me figure out how to turn the picture so it isn't sideways! LOL!!
January 5, 2008
Marshall Dog-
This is my dog Marshall. He is getting older, which is hard to face. He is a great dog, always by my side.
Friday, January 04, 2008
January 4, 2008
I can see my desk!
If you know me you know- being able to see my desk is worth taking a picture of!!! I am NOT a clean desk person... But for today- I can see my desk! :)
Thursday, January 03, 2008
January 3, 2008
The Arrow
After almost 8 hours of wrapping thread around the arrow- it is done. Auston will receive the highest award in cub scouting on the 19th- the Arrow of Light. This arrow tells the story of his Cub Scout experience. He began scouts as a Wolf, so the first thread is blue for Bobcat, then Red for Wolf. Next there is a gold and 2 silvers for the arrow points he earned as a wolf. Teal is for Bear, then grey for his whittling chip and another gold arrow point. Webelos is tan, followed by Red,white, and blue for the Texas badge, Dark Green for Leave No Trace, Purple for World Conservation and Light Green for Outdoor Activity award. All of this followed by 20 Black for each Webelos Activity badge he earned. That would be 20 out of 20! and finally golden yellow with a white stripe in the middle for his Arrow of Light. He hasn't seen the arrow, and he wont until it is awarded to him on the 19th.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
January 2, 2008
Everything has a place and everything in it's place
So today we had a near emergency... We are down to just one set of keys, since we lost the other set at Pedernales State Park last year. Yes, we know that isn't smart, and we have it on our list of things to do, that somehow never happens... Today we thought we had lost the only set of keys we had left. Gregory had gone out to the car to look for something New Year's Eve and when he came back in he put the keys on his bed. If you've ever been a kid or had a kid you know that the bed is where all of the stuffed animals live! Over an hour later and after a freak out or two by mom and dad, dad found the keys in the bed. :)
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
January 1, 2008
Project 365-Semalee Style~
I got an email the other day about a man who took a picture a day every single day of the year. I've decided to give it a try. I hope I can keep up, because it really seems like a great idea. So, to start off the New Year, here's my first picture!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The Hug
I received this story in my email today and it really touched me. There are a lot of things going around email these days, most of which I don't read. I felt this was worthy of saving...
Hope you enjoy it too...
Semalee
"We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.
Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out ofwould-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.
We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?' Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed.
As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be
breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik ha propelled himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.
I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'
Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.
He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'
I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children.'
Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important.
We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.
Hope you enjoy it too...
Semalee
"We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.
Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out ofwould-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.
We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?' Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed.
As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be
breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik ha propelled himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.
I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'
Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.
He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'
I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children.'
Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important.
We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Easter Story Cookies
This is a favorite Easter activity around our house, and I hope you enjoy it!
Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar3 egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar3 egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman Soldeirs. John 19:1-3
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. John 19:28-30
Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. John 10:10-11
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus's followers and the bitterness of our own sin. Luke 23:27
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.... Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16
Beat with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Fold in broken nuts
Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper- covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was lain. Matthew 27:57-60
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF!
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Matthew 27:65-66
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave them in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers felt dispair when the tomb was sealed. John 16:20 and 22
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Matthew 28:1-9
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
2007 New Year's Resolutions~
Well, I am just now sitting down to think about it!
I guess number one on my list would be to slow down a little. We seem to be overscheduled a lot lately, so I am going to try to slow down.
As usual, I want to loose weight. I have lost almost 9 pounds since Thanksgiving, so hopefully I can keep that going!
I need to exercise more.
Stay on track with school
Be more consistent in my business. I am really working towards Senior Director and hope to acheive that by December... Then my husband could work somewhere else if he wanted because I would be making around $50,000 a year. That ain't gonna happend by itself though!!!
Make Circle of Influence every month
Pay off some bills. I would like to have at least 3 credit cards paid off by the end of the year..
Have some money in Savings. We really need an emergency fund set up
Keep my house clean! It's so easy to step over the mess, but I really need to stay on top of it!
Teach my kids about finances
Learn Spanish before our trip to Cancun in July!
Go back to ironing my husband's uniforms for him. I used to do this for him, and I don't know why I stopped, but I think I should start it back up!
Plant a garden... Flowers and Vegetables this year! We ate tomatoes all last summer and it was great, I have planted bell peppers and cucumbers too, but with no luck. I also want to grow fresh herbs...
Eat more healthy
Do Random acts of kindness
Be more empathetic
Try to mend the washed out bridge with my mom.
Figure out a way to get my dad to move
Buy a house in the country..
That's probably enough!
I guess number one on my list would be to slow down a little. We seem to be overscheduled a lot lately, so I am going to try to slow down.
As usual, I want to loose weight. I have lost almost 9 pounds since Thanksgiving, so hopefully I can keep that going!
I need to exercise more.
Stay on track with school
Be more consistent in my business. I am really working towards Senior Director and hope to acheive that by December... Then my husband could work somewhere else if he wanted because I would be making around $50,000 a year. That ain't gonna happend by itself though!!!
Make Circle of Influence every month
Pay off some bills. I would like to have at least 3 credit cards paid off by the end of the year..
Have some money in Savings. We really need an emergency fund set up
Keep my house clean! It's so easy to step over the mess, but I really need to stay on top of it!
Teach my kids about finances
Learn Spanish before our trip to Cancun in July!
Go back to ironing my husband's uniforms for him. I used to do this for him, and I don't know why I stopped, but I think I should start it back up!
Plant a garden... Flowers and Vegetables this year! We ate tomatoes all last summer and it was great, I have planted bell peppers and cucumbers too, but with no luck. I also want to grow fresh herbs...
Eat more healthy
Do Random acts of kindness
Be more empathetic
Try to mend the washed out bridge with my mom.
Figure out a way to get my dad to move
Buy a house in the country..
That's probably enough!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Time Bank
I got this in an email and thought it was worth sharing...
Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!!!! Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today. To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade. To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident. Treasure every moment that you have! And reassure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. Remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!
Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!!!! Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today. To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade. To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident. Treasure every moment that you have! And reassure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. Remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Gingerbread Houses
My good friend Adrienne and I got together with our kids and made Gingerbread houses this week. It was a blast! When I was a little girl my grandma would have my sister and I and our cousins all over for a weekend. We would make gingerbread houses with her all weekend. We did this every year! Since having children I have wanted to do the same with my children, but have been a little scared of the thought of making these houses! Well, Adrienne and I decided to brave it together, and we are so proud of the result! Merry Christmas everyone!Monday, December 04, 2006
A tribute to one of the Greatest Americans
My grandfather is a Pearl Harbor Survivor, as you will read in this account. In February we will be staying on the USS Lexington, CV-16. My Grandfather was stationed on the USS Lexington, CV-2 for a while before it was sunk. The USS Lexington CV-16 was in production when the CV-2 was sunk, and was named after it. When visiting the CV-16 you can see many many pictures of the CV-2. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. -Semalee
"BRIEF HISRORY OF THE BUELL FAMILY
(As told by Art Buell)
I was born on November 23, 1916, in Beaumont, California, a small town of about 1500 people, 80 miles east of Los Angeles. Beaumont was in a farming area, the principal products being grain, cherries and peaches. The Buell family consisted of a father, from Wisconsin, a mother, who was an immigrant from Germany, and went through the Ellis Island ordeal during the European immigration influx, a brother(Charlie) and a sister (Marion) both older than me.
My dad had a horse with which he did agricultural work for other farmers. He loved that horse, even though once in a while she would get stubborn. I watched him one day when the horse was acting up, went into the house and, clinging to my mother's leg, I said, "Mom, you're a son-of-a-bitch". I leave it to your imagination on how that played out.
I attended elementary, junior high and high school in Beaumont and graduated with about 25 others in the Class of "34, at the height of a major economic depression. Work was impossible to obtain and college financially out of the question, 30 I joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) right after high school and was able to send a few dollars home. This was not intended to be permanent, so I applied for military service and was accepted by the Navy.
Speaking about the Depression-the period from 1930 to 1938 was a time of dust and gloom. You didn't have any money but neither did your neighbor. Times were tough, but we all survived somehow. The larger Navy ships usually invited the navy families to Sunday dinner, and that helped many of the navy families to survive.
One day, during the Depression, when the longshoremen were organizing to go on strike, the Moore family was taking a Sunday drive around the harbor and was stopped by a longshoreman mob who pulled them out of the car and started to beat them up, thinking that they were scabs. Bettie's mother broke free and, in language that longshoremen could understand, ordered them to stop. I liked the Moore family-they were my kind of people.
The Navy pay was only $21 a month, but to a farm boy with no prospects it looked pretty good. I went to boot camp in San Diego as my first duty. The Navy conducted a series of aptitude tests for all new recruits and operated schools to teach the corresponding disciplines. I did well in mathematics and mechanics, and so was sent to Norfolk, Virginia, for 6 months training in machine shop work, at the conclusion of which I was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS LEXINGTON (CV2). The home port of the LEXINGTON was Long Beach, California.
About that time an aviatrix, Amelia Earhart, was on a round the world flight, and disappeared in an area southwest of Hawaii. The LEXINGTON, with all planes aboard, was dispatched to find her. The search turned out to be unsuccessful, but the ship crossed the equator into the Realm of Neptunus Rex and the 180th meridian of longitude into the Realm of the Golden Dragon simultaneously, a very rare occurrence. Me and the rest of the lowly pollywogs were properly imitated. Now we are Exalted Shellbacks!
Back in Long Beach, I bought a car for about $25 and on one of my trips to Beaumont, met a pretty girl named Bettie Moore. Her father was working on the aqueduct to bring water from the Colorado River to Los Angeles. After a couple of visits I was completely and hopelessly in love! One year the Navy held maneuvers in the Atlantic Ocean, which required that the LEXINGTON, 108 feet wide, go through the Panama Canal locks, 110 feet wide. It was a squeaker, but we made it-both ways.
From the home port of Long Beach, the ship would often go out to sea on Monday morning for flight exercises or maneuvers and come back in Friday afternoon. On going out I would see the service ships, principally the* MEDUSA, VESTAL and DOBBIN. On coming back in, I would see the same ships, moored to the same berths. I decided that was the duty for me and I would transfer to one of those ships. Upon investigation I found out that it wasn't that simple. I would need a valid reason to transfer. So, since my enlistment was about up, I quit. I liked the Navy, and found out that if I reenlisted within 90 days I could request the duty I preferred. I reenlisted within the required time frame and was assigned to the MEDUSA. Oh Joy! But shortly after that the MEDUSA was transferred to the Hawaiian Fleet at Pearl Harbor and my dreams were shattered.
After a year at Pearl Harbor, the ship came back for a couple of weeks R&R and Bettie and I eloped to Yuma and got married. Well, it really wasn't an elopement, because Bettie’s father and my mother came with us. As soon as I got back to Pearl Harbor I applied for housing and transportation for Bettie, but before my request could be acted on, something else happened--
December 7, 1941 was a Sunday, a nice day, as is every day in Paradise. I had just got up from my cot in the machine shop, thinking that maybe I would have a leisurely breakfast, go ashore and rent a bicycle and go riding with some of the fellows in the shop, when I heard a noise through the open porthole that sounded like explosions. I couldn't figure it out at first." I thought maybe the Army was holding exercises. The admiral isn't going to like this. He likes it nice and quiet in the morning, especially Sundays. Then I noticed that there were several planes in the air, and when one of them banked into the sun and I saw the red circle on the wing, I knew that something was wrong. The MEDUSA was moored to a buoy on the west side of Ford Island, on the opposite side from Battleship Rowand the noise and smoke seemed to be coming from Battleship Row. About that time the general alarm sounded and,” All hands man your battle stations. This is not a drill." I closed the port and went to my previously assigned battle station, which was minor, so I went topside to see what was happening. The scene was utter chaos! The UTAH was listing to port and was sinking, and most of the other ships were on fire, as was the oil on the surface of the harbor. Many men had jumped from the burning decks into the water, which was also burning. The MEDUSA had not been hit, but I could see a miniature submarine getting into position to torpedo us. Fortunately, the gunners and one of our destroyers saw it about the same time, and sank it. A Japanese plane on fire headed toward us, but hit the ship in the next berth, spilling flaming gasoline over the whole ship. I saw a friend from that ship later and said, "You took that plane for us, that's one I owe you". So we had an excuse for a drink together. A fragment of our own anti-aircraft shrapnel dropped on the deck near my foot. This was probably the first incident of what was later known as "Friendly Fire"! Although ships were hit and people all around us were burned, drowned, and otherwise injured and killed, the MEDUSA led a charmed life through it all and suffered only minor damage, consisting of one minor strafing.
A few facts about the raid on Pearl Harbor: The Japanese task force consisted of 9 destroyers, 8 tankers, 6 aircraft carriers, 3 cruisers, 3 submarines, 2 battleships and 353 aircraft. There were several submarines in the area also, not part of the task force. The task force came to within 200 miles north of Oahu before launching its aircraft, and retreated without being discovered. There were about 100 ships at Pearl Harbor, including 8 battleships. All battleships were sunk or damaged. Fortunately no carriers were present. 18 fighting ships were either sunk or damaged.
In the fall of 1942, American strategy turned to amphibious landings, and I was transferred to amphibious and diesel schools in Flint, Michigan, Cleveland Ohio, and Norfolk, Virginia, ending up on LST 1059^ which was nearing completion! in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Cruising down to New Orleans on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in a full size Navy ship was an adventure in itself! After training in the Gulf Area, we proceeded to Guam, where we joined the group preparing for the invasion of Japan. The atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war.
Some people, who were never in a real war themselves, say we were wrong to use the atomic bombs, but in a war it's either "Us or them" and I would never have made it had we proceeded with the invasion.
The war's end made it possible for many draftees to go home. Although I started out on the 1059 as Chief Engineer, when the dust had settled, I was the only regular Navy officer left, so I was made Captain of that ship.
After the war, the ship made several trips around the Orient, taking Japanese soldiers from Manchuria back to Japan; Chinese Nationalist soldiers from Indochina to Manchuria; UNRRA supplies (rice, sugar flour, etc from Shanghai up the Yangtze River to Hankow. On one of these trips, taking Koreans from Japan back to Korea, a baby was born. Being born on an American ship on the high seas, he/she is an American citizen. I don't suppose I could find him now. In another of these trips, I was invited to a formal dinner given by Chiang-Kai-Chek. He was still premier of China, but was heading for Taiwan, to establish the Nationalist government there. According to news reports, this matter still isn't settled. On another of these trips, as we rounded the Shantung Peninsula, on the way from Mongolia to Shanghai, I saw some game birds on the beach. Some of the crew wanted to have some sport, so I authorized a boat trip for the volunteers, with rifles. I happened to look up the hill and saw a Chinese Communist army coming toward us. You can bet we got back to our ship but fast, before an international incident was created!
One evening, when we were anchored in the Yangtze River, the Chinese river pirates tried to take over our ship. They approached silently in small boats and climbed up the sides and stern. The lookout saw them and yelled, "All hands on deck. Stand by to repel boarders." The crew came up and we threw the invaders overboard. They left us alone after that. No firearms were used in this incident.
Then there was the Korean War, sometimes called the "Forgotten War". I was on the destroyer USS GUSHING (DD 797) then. We couldn't tell the good guys from the bad guys, so the Navy furnished us with a Korean Naval officer whose job it was to determine the nationality of the vessels we encountered. We became good friends. His name was Eun Lee or Lee Eun, I never did determine which. After the war, Bettie and I went over to visit him and family. What a transformation Seoul is! From a village of scroungey shacks with narrow dirt streets with sewers running down them, as I first saw it, to a modern city with 8-lane plaza avenues and glass-and steel buildings!
I retired from the Navy in 1958, and worked in the Security Department of Univac, finally retiring in 1981. I have lived in Salt Lake City, Utah ever since, with the same Bettie mentioned earlier."
"BRIEF HISRORY OF THE BUELL FAMILY
(As told by Art Buell)
I was born on November 23, 1916, in Beaumont, California, a small town of about 1500 people, 80 miles east of Los Angeles. Beaumont was in a farming area, the principal products being grain, cherries and peaches. The Buell family consisted of a father, from Wisconsin, a mother, who was an immigrant from Germany, and went through the Ellis Island ordeal during the European immigration influx, a brother(Charlie) and a sister (Marion) both older than me.
My dad had a horse with which he did agricultural work for other farmers. He loved that horse, even though once in a while she would get stubborn. I watched him one day when the horse was acting up, went into the house and, clinging to my mother's leg, I said, "Mom, you're a son-of-a-bitch". I leave it to your imagination on how that played out.
I attended elementary, junior high and high school in Beaumont and graduated with about 25 others in the Class of "34, at the height of a major economic depression. Work was impossible to obtain and college financially out of the question, 30 I joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) right after high school and was able to send a few dollars home. This was not intended to be permanent, so I applied for military service and was accepted by the Navy.
Speaking about the Depression-the period from 1930 to 1938 was a time of dust and gloom. You didn't have any money but neither did your neighbor. Times were tough, but we all survived somehow. The larger Navy ships usually invited the navy families to Sunday dinner, and that helped many of the navy families to survive.
One day, during the Depression, when the longshoremen were organizing to go on strike, the Moore family was taking a Sunday drive around the harbor and was stopped by a longshoreman mob who pulled them out of the car and started to beat them up, thinking that they were scabs. Bettie's mother broke free and, in language that longshoremen could understand, ordered them to stop. I liked the Moore family-they were my kind of people.
The Navy pay was only $21 a month, but to a farm boy with no prospects it looked pretty good. I went to boot camp in San Diego as my first duty. The Navy conducted a series of aptitude tests for all new recruits and operated schools to teach the corresponding disciplines. I did well in mathematics and mechanics, and so was sent to Norfolk, Virginia, for 6 months training in machine shop work, at the conclusion of which I was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS LEXINGTON (CV2). The home port of the LEXINGTON was Long Beach, California.
About that time an aviatrix, Amelia Earhart, was on a round the world flight, and disappeared in an area southwest of Hawaii. The LEXINGTON, with all planes aboard, was dispatched to find her. The search turned out to be unsuccessful, but the ship crossed the equator into the Realm of Neptunus Rex and the 180th meridian of longitude into the Realm of the Golden Dragon simultaneously, a very rare occurrence. Me and the rest of the lowly pollywogs were properly imitated. Now we are Exalted Shellbacks!
Back in Long Beach, I bought a car for about $25 and on one of my trips to Beaumont, met a pretty girl named Bettie Moore. Her father was working on the aqueduct to bring water from the Colorado River to Los Angeles. After a couple of visits I was completely and hopelessly in love! One year the Navy held maneuvers in the Atlantic Ocean, which required that the LEXINGTON, 108 feet wide, go through the Panama Canal locks, 110 feet wide. It was a squeaker, but we made it-both ways.
From the home port of Long Beach, the ship would often go out to sea on Monday morning for flight exercises or maneuvers and come back in Friday afternoon. On going out I would see the service ships, principally the* MEDUSA, VESTAL and DOBBIN. On coming back in, I would see the same ships, moored to the same berths. I decided that was the duty for me and I would transfer to one of those ships. Upon investigation I found out that it wasn't that simple. I would need a valid reason to transfer. So, since my enlistment was about up, I quit. I liked the Navy, and found out that if I reenlisted within 90 days I could request the duty I preferred. I reenlisted within the required time frame and was assigned to the MEDUSA. Oh Joy! But shortly after that the MEDUSA was transferred to the Hawaiian Fleet at Pearl Harbor and my dreams were shattered.
After a year at Pearl Harbor, the ship came back for a couple of weeks R&R and Bettie and I eloped to Yuma and got married. Well, it really wasn't an elopement, because Bettie’s father and my mother came with us. As soon as I got back to Pearl Harbor I applied for housing and transportation for Bettie, but before my request could be acted on, something else happened--
December 7, 1941 was a Sunday, a nice day, as is every day in Paradise. I had just got up from my cot in the machine shop, thinking that maybe I would have a leisurely breakfast, go ashore and rent a bicycle and go riding with some of the fellows in the shop, when I heard a noise through the open porthole that sounded like explosions. I couldn't figure it out at first." I thought maybe the Army was holding exercises. The admiral isn't going to like this. He likes it nice and quiet in the morning, especially Sundays. Then I noticed that there were several planes in the air, and when one of them banked into the sun and I saw the red circle on the wing, I knew that something was wrong. The MEDUSA was moored to a buoy on the west side of Ford Island, on the opposite side from Battleship Rowand the noise and smoke seemed to be coming from Battleship Row. About that time the general alarm sounded and,” All hands man your battle stations. This is not a drill." I closed the port and went to my previously assigned battle station, which was minor, so I went topside to see what was happening. The scene was utter chaos! The UTAH was listing to port and was sinking, and most of the other ships were on fire, as was the oil on the surface of the harbor. Many men had jumped from the burning decks into the water, which was also burning. The MEDUSA had not been hit, but I could see a miniature submarine getting into position to torpedo us. Fortunately, the gunners and one of our destroyers saw it about the same time, and sank it. A Japanese plane on fire headed toward us, but hit the ship in the next berth, spilling flaming gasoline over the whole ship. I saw a friend from that ship later and said, "You took that plane for us, that's one I owe you". So we had an excuse for a drink together. A fragment of our own anti-aircraft shrapnel dropped on the deck near my foot. This was probably the first incident of what was later known as "Friendly Fire"! Although ships were hit and people all around us were burned, drowned, and otherwise injured and killed, the MEDUSA led a charmed life through it all and suffered only minor damage, consisting of one minor strafing.
A few facts about the raid on Pearl Harbor: The Japanese task force consisted of 9 destroyers, 8 tankers, 6 aircraft carriers, 3 cruisers, 3 submarines, 2 battleships and 353 aircraft. There were several submarines in the area also, not part of the task force. The task force came to within 200 miles north of Oahu before launching its aircraft, and retreated without being discovered. There were about 100 ships at Pearl Harbor, including 8 battleships. All battleships were sunk or damaged. Fortunately no carriers were present. 18 fighting ships were either sunk or damaged.
In the fall of 1942, American strategy turned to amphibious landings, and I was transferred to amphibious and diesel schools in Flint, Michigan, Cleveland Ohio, and Norfolk, Virginia, ending up on LST 1059^ which was nearing completion! in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Cruising down to New Orleans on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in a full size Navy ship was an adventure in itself! After training in the Gulf Area, we proceeded to Guam, where we joined the group preparing for the invasion of Japan. The atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war.
Some people, who were never in a real war themselves, say we were wrong to use the atomic bombs, but in a war it's either "Us or them" and I would never have made it had we proceeded with the invasion.
The war's end made it possible for many draftees to go home. Although I started out on the 1059 as Chief Engineer, when the dust had settled, I was the only regular Navy officer left, so I was made Captain of that ship.
After the war, the ship made several trips around the Orient, taking Japanese soldiers from Manchuria back to Japan; Chinese Nationalist soldiers from Indochina to Manchuria; UNRRA supplies (rice, sugar flour, etc from Shanghai up the Yangtze River to Hankow. On one of these trips, taking Koreans from Japan back to Korea, a baby was born. Being born on an American ship on the high seas, he/she is an American citizen. I don't suppose I could find him now. In another of these trips, I was invited to a formal dinner given by Chiang-Kai-Chek. He was still premier of China, but was heading for Taiwan, to establish the Nationalist government there. According to news reports, this matter still isn't settled. On another of these trips, as we rounded the Shantung Peninsula, on the way from Mongolia to Shanghai, I saw some game birds on the beach. Some of the crew wanted to have some sport, so I authorized a boat trip for the volunteers, with rifles. I happened to look up the hill and saw a Chinese Communist army coming toward us. You can bet we got back to our ship but fast, before an international incident was created!
One evening, when we were anchored in the Yangtze River, the Chinese river pirates tried to take over our ship. They approached silently in small boats and climbed up the sides and stern. The lookout saw them and yelled, "All hands on deck. Stand by to repel boarders." The crew came up and we threw the invaders overboard. They left us alone after that. No firearms were used in this incident.
Then there was the Korean War, sometimes called the "Forgotten War". I was on the destroyer USS GUSHING (DD 797) then. We couldn't tell the good guys from the bad guys, so the Navy furnished us with a Korean Naval officer whose job it was to determine the nationality of the vessels we encountered. We became good friends. His name was Eun Lee or Lee Eun, I never did determine which. After the war, Bettie and I went over to visit him and family. What a transformation Seoul is! From a village of scroungey shacks with narrow dirt streets with sewers running down them, as I first saw it, to a modern city with 8-lane plaza avenues and glass-and steel buildings!
I retired from the Navy in 1958, and worked in the Security Department of Univac, finally retiring in 1981. I have lived in Salt Lake City, Utah ever since, with the same Bettie mentioned earlier."
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
The Cold is coming!
Some people like it cold. Especially this time of year. I, however, quite enjoy running around in shorts and capris all year. Don't get me wrong, I still pull out my holiday sweaters and such, but I don't want to have to wear a coat! So this weekend we have a camping trip planned with our cub scout pack. Looks like we will earn that "I camped in the cold weather" patch ONCE AGAIN! Did I mention I don't like the cold? We are going to be camping and the temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30's! Pray we make it out alive!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Things I have learned while homeschooling...
The first lesson.. That which God calls us to do He will equip us to do. Boy this is a big one. I am so used to only relying on myself, but I have found there is a huge comfort in just letting go and letting God. I'm really trying to apply that in several areas of my life. But it seems like everything (for the most part) is falling into place with our homeschooling journey. I have met some absolutely wonderful people that I just can't say enough good things about. I have a great new friend that we go to Bible Study together on Thursdays. Oh, and that is another thing. I am finally in a formal Bible Study! Praise God! Now, if we could just get our weekends to slow down a little bit so we could go to church we would be on cloud nine! Our financial situation is rough right now because Michael hasn't worked step in about a month, and that means almost $1,000 less on his paycheck. So, I have been stressing out about it. And his dad calls out of the blue and offers to pay for the boys to go to the enrichment program! We wouldn't have asked him, and it is such a blessing that he has offered! My business is moving along, and I will be doing quite well by this time next year, but because I am taking the time out of my day to actually school the children it can't move as fast as I would like it to. But that again is a place that God will bless.
I have learned to trust my children more. And I hope they are learning to trust me more. I have always known that we get along better the more time we spend together, but I am often in awe of how smart they are, or gentle, or kind etc..
I have learned that I can stay up until 3:30 in the morning cleaning because I just don't have any other time to do it!
I have learned what strong verbs are!
I have learned that my children teach me as much as I teach them..
I am learning patience (this has never been my strong suit!)
I am learning that I love homeschooling, and my boys so far want to homeschool forever. So far, I am in agreement!
I have learned to trust my children more. And I hope they are learning to trust me more. I have always known that we get along better the more time we spend together, but I am often in awe of how smart they are, or gentle, or kind etc..
I have learned that I can stay up until 3:30 in the morning cleaning because I just don't have any other time to do it!
I have learned what strong verbs are!
I have learned that my children teach me as much as I teach them..
I am learning patience (this has never been my strong suit!)
I am learning that I love homeschooling, and my boys so far want to homeschool forever. So far, I am in agreement!
Friday, September 22, 2006
Update
Ya know, it's funny when you are feeling well you go and go and go and go!!! I haven't updated in a while, and I am sorry. Things seem to be calming down a bit here as we are getting settled into the school year, so I will try to do better, I promise!
After my healing experience I had a period of time when I was again in pain. It was about 3 weeks after my Remicade treatment. I found myself feeling very discouraged. I kept praying, because I really felt like I was healed. I have to wonder if others have had this happen? Well, I continued praying and ultimately decided that my medicine is doing very little if anything for me at this point, so I have stopped taking everything. I know this is NOT going to go over well with my doctor, and I really haven't told anyone yet. It started when I was having another bad day in a string of bad days. I was in Midland and called my Dr. He called in a pain tab for me (I forget what it was called now) and I took one before I went to bed. Then next day I was sick to my stomach all day! I threw the bottle of pills out. I felt so horrible! I felt so bad I wasn't able to take anything that day. Ironically I started to feel better the next day with no medication. So I thought I would just wait to see if I needed any Ibuprofen or what not. Well, so far I haven't needed it and it has been a couple of weeks now. So, I may be taking a huge risk, but I have to wonder if God made my pain come back to tell me that the medication is not what is help me, but He is? I could be just totally off my rocker, but I am really trying to listen to Him more and follow when he leads me. Things just seem to work out better that way. So, currently I am off all medications and I am claiming my healing! God is healing me. God is working in me. I know, because I am not this good of a person on my own! LOL!!
So, in other news, we have started our homeschooling year and it is going pretty well so far. Again, that for which God has called you to do He will equip you to do. I know that He is with me because I have been so at peace with this decision. I also know that He will equip us financially because he is blessing my business and I am experiencing a good amount of growth right now. It truly is amazing what He will do for you if you just ask.
He is also healing my relationship with my mom. She is trying to come for a visit in October. She is having a hard time getting the time off from work, but she is working on it and that means the world to me. We need each other. I need her. I know she needs me. We just need to find that again. Something really spoke to me in my bible study on Thursday. Don't forget that you are forgiven. But also, don't forget that you HAVE forgiven. Wow, that was just what I needed. I need to let go of past hurts even more with my mom and just continue to try to push forward.
Which brings me to another cool thing in my life! My boys go to an enrichment program on Tuesdays. They had a welcome brunch for the moms. There was this one mom that I just knew we were going to be friends because we have the same very cool jean purse! LOL!! Well, we did in fact start talking and her son Andrew is in Gregory's class. As we were talking she told me about a bible study she is in that is an intense study of the book of ACTS and there is a homeschool class to go along with it where the kids are studying the same thing as we are, but on their level. Well, we started attending that on Thursdays and I am really loving it! It is just what I need! And the kids are loving it too!
So, so far all is well around here! Mikey is turning 35 tomorrow and I am having fun talking about what an old man he is. Which brings me to my final thought. There was an officer shot yesterday here in Houston. He leaves behind a wife and 5 children. Click here for the news story..
Most days I am at peace with my husband's job, but times like this especially when it is so close by make it harder to deal with. I am especially thankful that my husband is still with me today, but it is a reminder to us all not to take that for granted. Your prayers for the family are appreciated and pray for all of our first responders and military personnel as well as they are all put in harm's way every single day.
After my healing experience I had a period of time when I was again in pain. It was about 3 weeks after my Remicade treatment. I found myself feeling very discouraged. I kept praying, because I really felt like I was healed. I have to wonder if others have had this happen? Well, I continued praying and ultimately decided that my medicine is doing very little if anything for me at this point, so I have stopped taking everything. I know this is NOT going to go over well with my doctor, and I really haven't told anyone yet. It started when I was having another bad day in a string of bad days. I was in Midland and called my Dr. He called in a pain tab for me (I forget what it was called now) and I took one before I went to bed. Then next day I was sick to my stomach all day! I threw the bottle of pills out. I felt so horrible! I felt so bad I wasn't able to take anything that day. Ironically I started to feel better the next day with no medication. So I thought I would just wait to see if I needed any Ibuprofen or what not. Well, so far I haven't needed it and it has been a couple of weeks now. So, I may be taking a huge risk, but I have to wonder if God made my pain come back to tell me that the medication is not what is help me, but He is? I could be just totally off my rocker, but I am really trying to listen to Him more and follow when he leads me. Things just seem to work out better that way. So, currently I am off all medications and I am claiming my healing! God is healing me. God is working in me. I know, because I am not this good of a person on my own! LOL!!
So, in other news, we have started our homeschooling year and it is going pretty well so far. Again, that for which God has called you to do He will equip you to do. I know that He is with me because I have been so at peace with this decision. I also know that He will equip us financially because he is blessing my business and I am experiencing a good amount of growth right now. It truly is amazing what He will do for you if you just ask.
He is also healing my relationship with my mom. She is trying to come for a visit in October. She is having a hard time getting the time off from work, but she is working on it and that means the world to me. We need each other. I need her. I know she needs me. We just need to find that again. Something really spoke to me in my bible study on Thursday. Don't forget that you are forgiven. But also, don't forget that you HAVE forgiven. Wow, that was just what I needed. I need to let go of past hurts even more with my mom and just continue to try to push forward.
Which brings me to another cool thing in my life! My boys go to an enrichment program on Tuesdays. They had a welcome brunch for the moms. There was this one mom that I just knew we were going to be friends because we have the same very cool jean purse! LOL!! Well, we did in fact start talking and her son Andrew is in Gregory's class. As we were talking she told me about a bible study she is in that is an intense study of the book of ACTS and there is a homeschool class to go along with it where the kids are studying the same thing as we are, but on their level. Well, we started attending that on Thursdays and I am really loving it! It is just what I need! And the kids are loving it too!
So, so far all is well around here! Mikey is turning 35 tomorrow and I am having fun talking about what an old man he is. Which brings me to my final thought. There was an officer shot yesterday here in Houston. He leaves behind a wife and 5 children. Click here for the news story..
Most days I am at peace with my husband's job, but times like this especially when it is so close by make it harder to deal with. I am especially thankful that my husband is still with me today, but it is a reminder to us all not to take that for granted. Your prayers for the family are appreciated and pray for all of our first responders and military personnel as well as they are all put in harm's way every single day.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Back to the Doctor Again
Well, I had my scheduled appt with my Rheumatologist this week. I was very concerned about telling him about what happened in church because I just wasn't sure how he would react. Well, I have been feeling great! I have had very little pain and very little stiffness and my energy is returning. So, I told him all about it. He then examined me, and looked at my fingers and he could hardly contain himself?! He couldn't believe the difference from when I had seen him just a couple of weeks earlier. He said he was very glad that I went to the healing service and that it appeared to be working. Before I told him about the healing he was talking to me about raising the Remicade dose again or going to another option entirely. After examining me he suggested that we do the same dose this time and see how things go. We may discuss reducing my dose next time! I even responded to the Remicade better this time. What I mean by that is normally I sleep most of the day after my treatment and I am pretty out of it. Well, I only took a short nap in the afternoon and I was actually able to do some work! I give all the glory to God.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
A Healing
I have struggled with how to write this. But this morning as I listen to praise music on my computer I feel led to just write. So, here goes.
Let me say that I have always been a believer of healings. I believe that God heals us in many ways. I have never experienced it or watched it happen with someone else, but I have felt the hand of God on me on more than one occasion. The first time I felt it was the day I decided that I wanted to be baptized into the Catholic Church. (I am not attending St. Cuthbert Episcopal Church) I was 15 and had been raised in a non-denomination church. I had never been baptized. I knew I needed more structure in my life (I was, after all a teenager) and decided I should get it from church. I began studying the different religions, and ultimately decided that I wanted to attend the Catholic Church that my grandma attended. I was praying one night about this decision and when I decided I felt this overwhelming sense of joy come over me. I started crying and I just knew that God was encircling me with the Holy Spirit and I was making the right decision. I was alone when this happened, and have told only a handful of people about it.
The next time I felt the hand of God, I actually heard His voice. A few years ago we were attending St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Katy, Texas. We were taking my children and my sister's children to a children's program on Wednesdays called Veggie Kids. Well after over a year of doing this my oldest niece told us that she had been molested by Mr. Fletcher. She is still in a mental treatment facility to this day and it has now been over 3 years. You can imagine this had a profound effect on our church life and our spiritual life. Unfortunately we learned first hand that a church is a church of people. Even though it is a house of God, the people are still broken. The hardest part about that was that the people of St. Paul's did not so their part to take care of us. Instead they were more concerned with sweeping the whole issue under the rug to avoid bad publicity. They were in the process of building a new building and didn't want to lose any pledges. Even in the church it all boiled down to money.
You can imagine this sent us into a period of time when we did not attend any church at all. I never lost my faith in God, but I definitely lost my faith in people. As time went on and we continued to pray about what to do I really didn't want my children to have the joy of being involved in church taken away from them. We decided that even though we were still scared to death of going back to church the worst thing that could happen here is our children could inherit that fear and never have church for themselves. So, we spent about a year going to several different churches, and none of them really seemed quite right. Then one Sunday I went to a Presbyterian Church. The minute we sat down my oldest son (who I consider to be a spiritual leader in some form) started to freak out. He never does this. My children rarely go to children's church because they like to stay in church and listen to the sermon. My oldest pulls out the Bible and follows along. I ended up walking out about 15 minutes in. But, I got out to and told the kids they weren't getting out of church that easy, and I went right across the street to St. Cuthbert's Episcopal Church. We went in and sat in the back row. In the middle of the sermon Fr. Desmond pulled out his guitar and started singing! I loved it! After we left church that morning I was praying and asked God why hadn't I gone into this church that I literally passed every day on my way to work before? He said to me, "Because you weren't ready". I heard Him speak, clear as day. People talk about hearing the Lord speak to them all the time, but I never knew what that meant. And often times it means different things, but this time it meant he SPOKE to me.
Which brings me to healing. I have a good friend that I call my pew jumping freak friend. She attends one of "those" churches. You know what I am talking about. I have nothing against them, and I know the Bible speaks of the gifts of the Spirit, and I do believe that they are led by the Spirit. However, the whole thing freaks me out! LOL!! We talk about it all the time, she knows how I feel. But when my niece was killed in the car accident you can bet your buns that Gwenn was the first person I called to pray with me. I have an enormous respect for her spirituality. I have always believed that healings happen, but that I am not worthy and there are others who need to be healed more than myself. I have always had a very hard time praying for myself. Well, you know that my Rheumatoid Arthritis has been progressing significantly lately. I have been in an incredible amount of pain and have had to go through a round of steroids just to get by. I have been taking 3 800 mg Ibuprofen every single day in addition to the supplements that I take from Melaleuca. This is barely taking the edge off, and on more than one occasion I have had to hang that annoying handicap placard to go into the store. I have not been able to fully close my hands in at least 3 months. My ankles catch and I have a hard time walking. I was sitting in church the other day and my pastor felt led to talk about healing and the story he chose that day (a day in which I was in an incredible amount of pain and feeling particularly defeated) was the story of how his wife had been healed from Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis. She was wheelchair bound. And after she had been healed her doctor who was not a Christian told her that her God had healed her. When it was time for the peace he came over to me and asked if I was ok. I told him I had Rheumatoid Arthritis and was in a lot of pain. During announcements he told us that they had decided to have a healing service. (Episcopalians don't do this often). He encouraged me to come.
So, over the next few weeks my pain continued to build. My friend Michelle said she thought it was so that I would know when I had been healed. I began receiving emails from people about healings that had taken place. Weird, because this hadn't happened before. Everything was pointing to the healing service. Fr. Desmond called the prayer teams to the altar. There were probably 15 or so teams that went up there. I didn't recognize most of them. Then he called those of us who wished to be healed to the altar. I got in line and followed everyone up there. Imagine how I felt when the person I ended up standing in front of was Fr. Desmond's wife! I told her what to pray for (we haven't met before) and she began to cry. We prayed and I felt a hand on my back. It was my oldest son laying hands on me and praying for me. (I have not taught him to do this, in fact I instructed him to stay in the pew, he was led by the Lord to do so). I went back to my pew and prayed for others I knew who were in need of healing and prayed in Thanksgiving for whatever was God's will for my life. Then the congregation prayed together. As I knelt there I literally felt warmth around my hands. I can't describe it, but it was literally hot around my hands and knuckles.
The next two days I slept a LOT. I am usually up around 6am every day. I didn't get up until about 8 and took a nap both days from 2-4! Guess what?! I have not taken ANY pain medication at ALL since Wednesday. My left ankle has had a catch a couple of times, but my hands have no pain. Where my index finger knuckle was so tender the last time I went to the doctor that he wanted to give me a cortisone shot there is no tenderness. And... I can completely close my hands!! I mowed the grass Friday night and I felt fine afterward. Last time I mowed the grass I was in such pain by the end of it I literally cried for an hour and could barely walk for several days afterward.
You may think this is all in my head. I guess it could be. But I truly believe I am being healed as we speak. I also asked that the Lord heal my heart so that I could again feel comfortable in church. I have a peace inside me. I am eager to become more involved in church again. I know He healed my heart and I know He will heal my body too.
Let me say that I have always been a believer of healings. I believe that God heals us in many ways. I have never experienced it or watched it happen with someone else, but I have felt the hand of God on me on more than one occasion. The first time I felt it was the day I decided that I wanted to be baptized into the Catholic Church. (I am not attending St. Cuthbert Episcopal Church) I was 15 and had been raised in a non-denomination church. I had never been baptized. I knew I needed more structure in my life (I was, after all a teenager) and decided I should get it from church. I began studying the different religions, and ultimately decided that I wanted to attend the Catholic Church that my grandma attended. I was praying one night about this decision and when I decided I felt this overwhelming sense of joy come over me. I started crying and I just knew that God was encircling me with the Holy Spirit and I was making the right decision. I was alone when this happened, and have told only a handful of people about it.
The next time I felt the hand of God, I actually heard His voice. A few years ago we were attending St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Katy, Texas. We were taking my children and my sister's children to a children's program on Wednesdays called Veggie Kids. Well after over a year of doing this my oldest niece told us that she had been molested by Mr. Fletcher. She is still in a mental treatment facility to this day and it has now been over 3 years. You can imagine this had a profound effect on our church life and our spiritual life. Unfortunately we learned first hand that a church is a church of people. Even though it is a house of God, the people are still broken. The hardest part about that was that the people of St. Paul's did not so their part to take care of us. Instead they were more concerned with sweeping the whole issue under the rug to avoid bad publicity. They were in the process of building a new building and didn't want to lose any pledges. Even in the church it all boiled down to money.
You can imagine this sent us into a period of time when we did not attend any church at all. I never lost my faith in God, but I definitely lost my faith in people. As time went on and we continued to pray about what to do I really didn't want my children to have the joy of being involved in church taken away from them. We decided that even though we were still scared to death of going back to church the worst thing that could happen here is our children could inherit that fear and never have church for themselves. So, we spent about a year going to several different churches, and none of them really seemed quite right. Then one Sunday I went to a Presbyterian Church. The minute we sat down my oldest son (who I consider to be a spiritual leader in some form) started to freak out. He never does this. My children rarely go to children's church because they like to stay in church and listen to the sermon. My oldest pulls out the Bible and follows along. I ended up walking out about 15 minutes in. But, I got out to and told the kids they weren't getting out of church that easy, and I went right across the street to St. Cuthbert's Episcopal Church. We went in and sat in the back row. In the middle of the sermon Fr. Desmond pulled out his guitar and started singing! I loved it! After we left church that morning I was praying and asked God why hadn't I gone into this church that I literally passed every day on my way to work before? He said to me, "Because you weren't ready". I heard Him speak, clear as day. People talk about hearing the Lord speak to them all the time, but I never knew what that meant. And often times it means different things, but this time it meant he SPOKE to me.
Which brings me to healing. I have a good friend that I call my pew jumping freak friend. She attends one of "those" churches. You know what I am talking about. I have nothing against them, and I know the Bible speaks of the gifts of the Spirit, and I do believe that they are led by the Spirit. However, the whole thing freaks me out! LOL!! We talk about it all the time, she knows how I feel. But when my niece was killed in the car accident you can bet your buns that Gwenn was the first person I called to pray with me. I have an enormous respect for her spirituality. I have always believed that healings happen, but that I am not worthy and there are others who need to be healed more than myself. I have always had a very hard time praying for myself. Well, you know that my Rheumatoid Arthritis has been progressing significantly lately. I have been in an incredible amount of pain and have had to go through a round of steroids just to get by. I have been taking 3 800 mg Ibuprofen every single day in addition to the supplements that I take from Melaleuca. This is barely taking the edge off, and on more than one occasion I have had to hang that annoying handicap placard to go into the store. I have not been able to fully close my hands in at least 3 months. My ankles catch and I have a hard time walking. I was sitting in church the other day and my pastor felt led to talk about healing and the story he chose that day (a day in which I was in an incredible amount of pain and feeling particularly defeated) was the story of how his wife had been healed from Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis. She was wheelchair bound. And after she had been healed her doctor who was not a Christian told her that her God had healed her. When it was time for the peace he came over to me and asked if I was ok. I told him I had Rheumatoid Arthritis and was in a lot of pain. During announcements he told us that they had decided to have a healing service. (Episcopalians don't do this often). He encouraged me to come.
So, over the next few weeks my pain continued to build. My friend Michelle said she thought it was so that I would know when I had been healed. I began receiving emails from people about healings that had taken place. Weird, because this hadn't happened before. Everything was pointing to the healing service. Fr. Desmond called the prayer teams to the altar. There were probably 15 or so teams that went up there. I didn't recognize most of them. Then he called those of us who wished to be healed to the altar. I got in line and followed everyone up there. Imagine how I felt when the person I ended up standing in front of was Fr. Desmond's wife! I told her what to pray for (we haven't met before) and she began to cry. We prayed and I felt a hand on my back. It was my oldest son laying hands on me and praying for me. (I have not taught him to do this, in fact I instructed him to stay in the pew, he was led by the Lord to do so). I went back to my pew and prayed for others I knew who were in need of healing and prayed in Thanksgiving for whatever was God's will for my life. Then the congregation prayed together. As I knelt there I literally felt warmth around my hands. I can't describe it, but it was literally hot around my hands and knuckles.
The next two days I slept a LOT. I am usually up around 6am every day. I didn't get up until about 8 and took a nap both days from 2-4! Guess what?! I have not taken ANY pain medication at ALL since Wednesday. My left ankle has had a catch a couple of times, but my hands have no pain. Where my index finger knuckle was so tender the last time I went to the doctor that he wanted to give me a cortisone shot there is no tenderness. And... I can completely close my hands!! I mowed the grass Friday night and I felt fine afterward. Last time I mowed the grass I was in such pain by the end of it I literally cried for an hour and could barely walk for several days afterward.
You may think this is all in my head. I guess it could be. But I truly believe I am being healed as we speak. I also asked that the Lord heal my heart so that I could again feel comfortable in church. I have a peace inside me. I am eager to become more involved in church again. I know He healed my heart and I know He will heal my body too.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
A visit to the Doctor
Well, I went back in to the Rheumatologist and he did some extra blood work to see if I am having an acute attack and he put me on a steroid dose pack. It is one that I took 6 the first day, then 5 the next, then 4 etc. Well, today I felt significantly better, so, I went out in the front yard and mowed the grass!! BIG MISTAKE!! Now I feel crappy again!! My feet are KILLING me! So when I call the doctor tomorrow morning I don't have the most positive info for him... The swelling in my hands has gone down a little bit, but not completely. But, I have not been in as much pain until I mowed the lawn LOL! I felt so good about being able to do it, this is really frustrating... Wish I had some more up beat info, but I don't... Did I mention recently that I am only 31?????
Thursday, July 06, 2006
ARGGG
Family. What do you do with them? You love them anyway, I guess. I think I am probably just a little over sensitive right now because I have been in an enormous amount of pain lately, but still. I really hate it when my words get twisted. It happens all the time with my mom and now it is happening with my sister. I tell her one thing, and she twists it into this whole other bigger thing and makes it sound like I am being mean to her. This. in turn, makes my dad mad at me. Normally I would just shrug this off, because this has happened to me all of my life. I say I am probably just super sensitive because I can't seem to shake it.
The other day I called and talked to my sister. I was telling her and Dad that I was going to be up there in August for Convention and telling her that Michael and I had gone back and forth about it because of the expense. She says, yeah, I am going back and forth too. I said, about going to Convention? (She is a business builder too) and she said no, about moving. (My dad has been wanting to move here and get a big piece of land for us to live on together so he can be closer to the kids. But she doesn’t want him to leave her, (or for his checkbook to leave) so she said she would move too. Now for the last 2 years or so it has been a stalling game on her part of multitude reasons why she can’t move now.) So I asked her what was up. She said while she was down here in May she felt great, and was really ready to move, but now that she is back up there in her comfort zone she doesn’t know if she wants to or not. So, I told her maybe she should just let Dad move then, if she isn’t ready and move if and when she gets ready. Well that threw her into a tizzy and she started telling me all of the things she can’t do by herself (which I don’t buy half of them) and that she couldn’t just let Dad move. Then she said she guessed she was being selfish and I didn’t say anything. I didn’t say anything because I do think she is being selfish, and she knows it. So then she got even more hysterical and I told not to be too hard on herself, that pain makes you do weird things, but that she does need to try to be more independent because she is way too dependent on Dad and one day he isn’t going to be around. Plus that is just part of growing up. Well, she got off of the phone and told my dad that I told her she was keeping Dad from doing all of the things he wanted to do. Now, I do think that, but I would never say it, because it isn’t my place to speak for my dad. So, now my dad and Trin are both mad at me for saying that (which I didn’t say). Welcome to my entire childhood revisited. I would be playing with Trin, she wouldn’t get her way, she would fuss and tell my parents I did something completely different from what I had done and I would get in trouble. Then they wondered why we weren’t close. Hmmmmmm….
You know what it really boils down to? All of my childhood I always felt like I was sort of second class. My Mom and Dad always favored my sister. She was the baby, so I just always did my best to ignore it. When my parents split up I had a fleeting moment when I actually felt equal in my Dad’s eyes. I felt like he loved me the same as my other two sisters. And I loved it. But it was only temporary. Now I am back to being a second class citizen. I have to walk on egg shells every time I talk with my sister because anything I say could be taken the wrong way at any moment and then she will spin out of control and then my dad will be mad at me.
I almost feel like I am in a game of tug of war, only I am losing because I refuse to play! I am not going to participate in the “who is sicker” game either! I am in an incredible amount of pain lately, and am not able to do the things I usually do, (which is killing me), and I guess my feelings are still hurt because I was criticized about how clean my house was or wasn't when my dad and sister came. It was as clean as I could get it! I can only do what I can do, and my husband works a huge amount of hours every week and can only help as much as he can help, which is not much. I don't have my dad living here and helping me keep the house up. Cooking when I am not up to it, doing the dishes when the very act of picking up a plate sends pain through my body. Nope, I have to do it anyway. I don't have someone going to see what my child needs when every time my feet hit the floor it sends pain through my body. I have to do it. And I have to do my best to put a smile on my face so my kids don't worry. Even typing this is painful, but the old stand by the pen is not my friend either.
So, for whatever reason I allowed myself to get my hopes up that my dad was going to move here and my kids were going to get to know him and I might have some time with him. But the bottom line is, he is a person, and I refuse to play tug of war with him, so she wins due to forfeit.
I guess no matter how old I get I am still just a child who wants to be loved by her parents.
The other day I called and talked to my sister. I was telling her and Dad that I was going to be up there in August for Convention and telling her that Michael and I had gone back and forth about it because of the expense. She says, yeah, I am going back and forth too. I said, about going to Convention? (She is a business builder too) and she said no, about moving. (My dad has been wanting to move here and get a big piece of land for us to live on together so he can be closer to the kids. But she doesn’t want him to leave her, (or for his checkbook to leave) so she said she would move too. Now for the last 2 years or so it has been a stalling game on her part of multitude reasons why she can’t move now.) So I asked her what was up. She said while she was down here in May she felt great, and was really ready to move, but now that she is back up there in her comfort zone she doesn’t know if she wants to or not. So, I told her maybe she should just let Dad move then, if she isn’t ready and move if and when she gets ready. Well that threw her into a tizzy and she started telling me all of the things she can’t do by herself (which I don’t buy half of them) and that she couldn’t just let Dad move. Then she said she guessed she was being selfish and I didn’t say anything. I didn’t say anything because I do think she is being selfish, and she knows it. So then she got even more hysterical and I told not to be too hard on herself, that pain makes you do weird things, but that she does need to try to be more independent because she is way too dependent on Dad and one day he isn’t going to be around. Plus that is just part of growing up. Well, she got off of the phone and told my dad that I told her she was keeping Dad from doing all of the things he wanted to do. Now, I do think that, but I would never say it, because it isn’t my place to speak for my dad. So, now my dad and Trin are both mad at me for saying that (which I didn’t say). Welcome to my entire childhood revisited. I would be playing with Trin, she wouldn’t get her way, she would fuss and tell my parents I did something completely different from what I had done and I would get in trouble. Then they wondered why we weren’t close. Hmmmmmm….
You know what it really boils down to? All of my childhood I always felt like I was sort of second class. My Mom and Dad always favored my sister. She was the baby, so I just always did my best to ignore it. When my parents split up I had a fleeting moment when I actually felt equal in my Dad’s eyes. I felt like he loved me the same as my other two sisters. And I loved it. But it was only temporary. Now I am back to being a second class citizen. I have to walk on egg shells every time I talk with my sister because anything I say could be taken the wrong way at any moment and then she will spin out of control and then my dad will be mad at me.
I almost feel like I am in a game of tug of war, only I am losing because I refuse to play! I am not going to participate in the “who is sicker” game either! I am in an incredible amount of pain lately, and am not able to do the things I usually do, (which is killing me), and I guess my feelings are still hurt because I was criticized about how clean my house was or wasn't when my dad and sister came. It was as clean as I could get it! I can only do what I can do, and my husband works a huge amount of hours every week and can only help as much as he can help, which is not much. I don't have my dad living here and helping me keep the house up. Cooking when I am not up to it, doing the dishes when the very act of picking up a plate sends pain through my body. Nope, I have to do it anyway. I don't have someone going to see what my child needs when every time my feet hit the floor it sends pain through my body. I have to do it. And I have to do my best to put a smile on my face so my kids don't worry. Even typing this is painful, but the old stand by the pen is not my friend either.
So, for whatever reason I allowed myself to get my hopes up that my dad was going to move here and my kids were going to get to know him and I might have some time with him. But the bottom line is, he is a person, and I refuse to play tug of war with him, so she wins due to forfeit.
I guess no matter how old I get I am still just a child who wants to be loved by her parents.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Convention Bound!
Well, I did it! I bought my convention tickets and plane tickets for Convention in Salt Lake City! Believe it or not, there is a funny story with this!
Michael was not on board with me going. Originally we planned to make it a family vacation and drive out and hit the Grand Canyon "on the way". But, with gas prices where they are and the fact that we spent almost $500 on gas going to his Granny's funeral a couple of months ago, this just became less and less of a reality. I really didn't want to go to Utah AGAIN without them. But, the simple fact of the matter is, we can't afford it. So I started to wrap my brain around flying out alone and going to Convention. Well, Michael was still not really on board with this, because it is still quite an expense. Our team had a training a couple of nights ago about less than supportive spouses. So, I made Michael listen while one of my teammates whose husband is a police officer talked. After he got off the phone I asked him what he thought. He said he should be more supportive of me. So I led right into Convention. I actually didn't plan it this way, it just happened :) Anyway, after a rather heated discussion he agreed to me going. (I better deliver in my business, though!) So after he went to work I decided I better hurry up and buy my plane ticket before he or I changed my mind. When I got the itinerary I sent it out to my mom and dad and trin and Jer and Mel. Mom writes back that she is confused about this ticket from SLC to Houston... ARGGGG@!!!! I need to fly FROM Houston TO SLC!! So I call Continental and the not so helpful person on the other end told me that if I had put my onepass number in while making the reservation I could change it in 24hrs with no fees, but since I didn't he was charging me $100!! Oh man, Michael is going to kill me!! So, I reluctantly let him change my ticket. Well, this just doesn't sit right with me. So, I call customer service and explain to them what happened. After talking to two different people I get the $100 refunded. Turns out this is a benefit of being a OnePass Member, and it makes no difference if I put it in WHEN I made the reservation. What a moron. Anyway they get that taken care of. So, next I call to schedule my tour of the facilities in Idaho Falls. Well, the only tour they have available the days I am there is the one that leaves at 10am Tuesday Morning. I am arriving at 10:06! There is also space available on Monday's tour, but I was supposed to leave to come home Monday morning. So, I get back on Continental.com and cancel my ticket AGAIN and rebook it arriving in SLC Wed and coming home Tuesday. PHEW! What an exhausting process! BUT, I am going to Convention, so look out! I am on the move now!
Michael was not on board with me going. Originally we planned to make it a family vacation and drive out and hit the Grand Canyon "on the way". But, with gas prices where they are and the fact that we spent almost $500 on gas going to his Granny's funeral a couple of months ago, this just became less and less of a reality. I really didn't want to go to Utah AGAIN without them. But, the simple fact of the matter is, we can't afford it. So I started to wrap my brain around flying out alone and going to Convention. Well, Michael was still not really on board with this, because it is still quite an expense. Our team had a training a couple of nights ago about less than supportive spouses. So, I made Michael listen while one of my teammates whose husband is a police officer talked. After he got off the phone I asked him what he thought. He said he should be more supportive of me. So I led right into Convention. I actually didn't plan it this way, it just happened :) Anyway, after a rather heated discussion he agreed to me going. (I better deliver in my business, though!) So after he went to work I decided I better hurry up and buy my plane ticket before he or I changed my mind. When I got the itinerary I sent it out to my mom and dad and trin and Jer and Mel. Mom writes back that she is confused about this ticket from SLC to Houston... ARGGGG@!!!! I need to fly FROM Houston TO SLC!! So I call Continental and the not so helpful person on the other end told me that if I had put my onepass number in while making the reservation I could change it in 24hrs with no fees, but since I didn't he was charging me $100!! Oh man, Michael is going to kill me!! So, I reluctantly let him change my ticket. Well, this just doesn't sit right with me. So, I call customer service and explain to them what happened. After talking to two different people I get the $100 refunded. Turns out this is a benefit of being a OnePass Member, and it makes no difference if I put it in WHEN I made the reservation. What a moron. Anyway they get that taken care of. So, next I call to schedule my tour of the facilities in Idaho Falls. Well, the only tour they have available the days I am there is the one that leaves at 10am Tuesday Morning. I am arriving at 10:06! There is also space available on Monday's tour, but I was supposed to leave to come home Monday morning. So, I get back on Continental.com and cancel my ticket AGAIN and rebook it arriving in SLC Wed and coming home Tuesday. PHEW! What an exhausting process! BUT, I am going to Convention, so look out! I am on the move now!
Letterboxing in town
Can you believe this picture was taken near the heart of Houston? These sites are the sites that we see when letterboxing in town! I am continually amazed at what wonderful parks we have here.
We spent the day last week with our friends, Lois, Bubby and Sarah letterboxing. We literally spent the day! We had a wonderful time! We went to the Orange Show and looked around and I had an idea that when Melaleuca buys me a new car, I am going to turn my old car into an art car! Michael isn't exactly on board with this idea, but I will keep working on him! LOL!! We hunted for 9 boxes and found 3- I think this is an all time record of ours LOL!! (I mean fewest boxes found percentage). Anyway, it was a great day and I just HAD to share this picture!
Monday, June 19, 2006
Remicade and book thoughts...
Well, I made it through the Remicade infusion, and had to work Scout Camp all week. I thought for sure I was going to throw up on Monday, but I made it. Dr. Berman asked me if I would like to increase the frequency of my infusions and I said no, but did let him fill out the paper for the handicapped placard for my car. 31 and I can park in a handicap space. Nice. He then suggested that he do cortizone shots in my knuckles, because my index fingers are not behaving nicely (read don't close all the way). Well, that sounded like so much fun I decided to wait on that too. The thing is (aside from the fear of the pain having the shots will inflict) I am not sure of the long term affects of that. I think I read somewhere that that could speed up the process that ultimately disintegrates your joints. So, I need to read up on that a little. As a rule my doctor is pretty conservative, but I also know he felt sorry for me not being able to close my fingers, and this is just about the only option I have left. So....
Anyway, I enjoyed Scout Camp thoroughly and will plan on volunteering next year. I met a wonderful lady, who is a writer and mom of SEVEN! She also homeschools and she was like the calmest most laid back person I know LOL!! HOW does she do that? Anyway, she has some books out that are worth looking at. Not being mormom myself I believe I will start with Make me a Memory, though the Molly Mormon series does sound kind of good to me LOL! Maybe because I grew up in Utah, and therefore can relate to that lifestyle? I don't know. At any rate check out her website: TamraNorton.com . I am also toying with the idea of going back to my book. I actually started writing it about 3 years ago maybe and got away from it. Well, lately, it seems like God may be calling me back. (This is how I am now a homeschooler too LOL) Anyway, it is on marriage. I find it strange that I have been thinking about it lately, and then I work all week at camp with a writer, and then I read on one of my email groups and one of the ladies is considering divorce. Hmm.... Whoever said there is no such thing as coincidence? So, I may fire up the old computer and see if I can get that file off of it. I better have the fire extinguisher handy, though, cause it has been a while since I turned that computer on LOL!!! In the meantime I am going to begin a blog, where your comments are welcomed!
Anyway, I enjoyed Scout Camp thoroughly and will plan on volunteering next year. I met a wonderful lady, who is a writer and mom of SEVEN! She also homeschools and she was like the calmest most laid back person I know LOL!! HOW does she do that? Anyway, she has some books out that are worth looking at. Not being mormom myself I believe I will start with Make me a Memory, though the Molly Mormon series does sound kind of good to me LOL! Maybe because I grew up in Utah, and therefore can relate to that lifestyle? I don't know. At any rate check out her website: TamraNorton.com . I am also toying with the idea of going back to my book. I actually started writing it about 3 years ago maybe and got away from it. Well, lately, it seems like God may be calling me back. (This is how I am now a homeschooler too LOL) Anyway, it is on marriage. I find it strange that I have been thinking about it lately, and then I work all week at camp with a writer, and then I read on one of my email groups and one of the ladies is considering divorce. Hmm.... Whoever said there is no such thing as coincidence? So, I may fire up the old computer and see if I can get that file off of it. I better have the fire extinguisher handy, though, cause it has been a while since I turned that computer on LOL!!! In the meantime I am going to begin a blog, where your comments are welcomed!
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Six Flags over Texas and Homeschool Fair
Auston and Gregory riding Boot Scootin
Mikey and Gregory (note Gregory's look of fear and tight grip on the bar) and Calley behind them on the Sombrero
Plain Tuckered Out after a great day at Six Flags over Texas!
Gregory and Auston in Yosemite Sam's Ride, (pronounced YOS Mite Sam by Gregory!)
Can't remember the name of this ride, but Auston, Gregory and Calley enjoyed it!
All in all we had a great time in Dallas with Michael's brother and his family. We went to Disney with them last year and we really enjoy vacationing with them! We started the trip off with a trip to Texas Christian University for the Duke TIPS awards celebration. Calley was awarded for outstanding performance on the SAT as a 7th grader! We are very proud of her! Then we went to Six Flags on Thursday. It was wonderful! There were hardly any lines at all, so we are all making a mental note to go back the same time next year! Our night ended in excitement when there was a drive by shooting at the cabaret next to our hotel! Needless to say, we will not be staying at the Motel 6 next to 6 flags EVER again! But all was well, and we had a fantastic time!!
We got up early Friday morning and headed back to Houston so that I could go to the setsha Homeschool Conference. It lasted Friday and Saturday and Michael went with me on Saturday. The kids were enrolled in their children's program for the weekend and they had an absolute blast! As for me and Michael, we have now purchased our curriculum for next year- There is not turning back now!! LOL!!
Seriously, we left the conference feeling energized and excited about homeschooling our children! I met so many wonderful people and just really enjoyed myself! For those that are curious, here is a snapshot of our chosen curriculum for this upcoming school year:
Bible: Picture This!: They color a page for each book of the bible and when you are done they have an illustrated page for each book, essentially their own illustrated Bible! It sounds more simplistic then it is, it is actually recommended for grade 4 and up, but I think Grego will do fine with it. I am even going to make my own!
Math: Singapore Math: I think this will keep up with both of them, and keep them on a fast pace...
Science: Great Science Adventure, Human Body for the 1st Semester: We will kick this study off with a visit to the Body Worlds exhibit at Houston Museum of Natural Science! I am VERY excited about this one!!
History: The Story of the World: This has a book that tells the history of the world in story format starting at the beginning. It is actually a 4 volume set that takes 4 years to complete. The workbook has gobs of extra activities to do with it too, like using dirt, rocks and grass seed in a roasting pan make your own model of the Nile and flood the Nile once a week to see how it makes the grass grow... Cool stuff!
In addition to the Story of the World about once a month we will do a Unit Study on a State and occasionly encorporate visiting that state if possible! I got a cool book to help with this called Cantering the Country to help with this, but I will encorporate my own stuff to..
Handwriting: Pentime looks like it is short sweet and to the point, so we will try that. We are doing A reason for Handwriting this summer, and they don't really care for it, so hopefully they will like Pentime better.
Language Arts: Learning Language Arts Through Literature. I am excited about this one too, it is written by one of the authors for the Great Science Adventures and I heard good things about it. I think it will be really fun!
Chess: Yes, Chess! We got a book/DVD pack and will be working on Chess this year!!
And finally, journaling. I got several story prompt books to choose from and we will journal daily. I am going to try to find a pretty nice notebook for their journals, because I have always considered them keepsakes..
The only thing I haven't got yet is a Spanish Curriculum. This seems to be more difficult that I anticipated, so I am not sure how that will work out. They will be taking Spanish at the Enrichment program, but I was hoping to do a little more with them...
Oh, that reminds me, they will go to the Enrichment Program on Tuesdays and there they will take Creative Writing, Spanish, Art, PE, and Science. It was recommended by the administrator, though to enhance the Science curriculum. So, that's it in a nutshell! I will keep you posted on how it is going!
Oh, one final thought: As I was watching the 100+ children from the children's program go outside to watch the man juggle the fire torches I wished I had my family members who do not support my decision to homeschool with me. The theory that homeschool children are unsocialized misfits is completely false. These were normal, well behaved children. If being well behaved makes you a misfit then that has always been my goal, homeschooling or not, so this shouldn't really be an issue.
Mikey and Gregory (note Gregory's look of fear and tight grip on the bar) and Calley behind them on the Sombrero
Plain Tuckered Out after a great day at Six Flags over Texas!
Gregory and Auston in Yosemite Sam's Ride, (pronounced YOS Mite Sam by Gregory!)
Can't remember the name of this ride, but Auston, Gregory and Calley enjoyed it!
All in all we had a great time in Dallas with Michael's brother and his family. We went to Disney with them last year and we really enjoy vacationing with them! We started the trip off with a trip to Texas Christian University for the Duke TIPS awards celebration. Calley was awarded for outstanding performance on the SAT as a 7th grader! We are very proud of her! Then we went to Six Flags on Thursday. It was wonderful! There were hardly any lines at all, so we are all making a mental note to go back the same time next year! Our night ended in excitement when there was a drive by shooting at the cabaret next to our hotel! Needless to say, we will not be staying at the Motel 6 next to 6 flags EVER again! But all was well, and we had a fantastic time!!We got up early Friday morning and headed back to Houston so that I could go to the setsha Homeschool Conference. It lasted Friday and Saturday and Michael went with me on Saturday. The kids were enrolled in their children's program for the weekend and they had an absolute blast! As for me and Michael, we have now purchased our curriculum for next year- There is not turning back now!! LOL!!
Seriously, we left the conference feeling energized and excited about homeschooling our children! I met so many wonderful people and just really enjoyed myself! For those that are curious, here is a snapshot of our chosen curriculum for this upcoming school year:
Bible: Picture This!: They color a page for each book of the bible and when you are done they have an illustrated page for each book, essentially their own illustrated Bible! It sounds more simplistic then it is, it is actually recommended for grade 4 and up, but I think Grego will do fine with it. I am even going to make my own!
Math: Singapore Math: I think this will keep up with both of them, and keep them on a fast pace...
Science: Great Science Adventure, Human Body for the 1st Semester: We will kick this study off with a visit to the Body Worlds exhibit at Houston Museum of Natural Science! I am VERY excited about this one!!
History: The Story of the World: This has a book that tells the history of the world in story format starting at the beginning. It is actually a 4 volume set that takes 4 years to complete. The workbook has gobs of extra activities to do with it too, like using dirt, rocks and grass seed in a roasting pan make your own model of the Nile and flood the Nile once a week to see how it makes the grass grow... Cool stuff!
In addition to the Story of the World about once a month we will do a Unit Study on a State and occasionly encorporate visiting that state if possible! I got a cool book to help with this called Cantering the Country to help with this, but I will encorporate my own stuff to..
Handwriting: Pentime looks like it is short sweet and to the point, so we will try that. We are doing A reason for Handwriting this summer, and they don't really care for it, so hopefully they will like Pentime better.
Language Arts: Learning Language Arts Through Literature. I am excited about this one too, it is written by one of the authors for the Great Science Adventures and I heard good things about it. I think it will be really fun!
Chess: Yes, Chess! We got a book/DVD pack and will be working on Chess this year!!
And finally, journaling. I got several story prompt books to choose from and we will journal daily. I am going to try to find a pretty nice notebook for their journals, because I have always considered them keepsakes..
The only thing I haven't got yet is a Spanish Curriculum. This seems to be more difficult that I anticipated, so I am not sure how that will work out. They will be taking Spanish at the Enrichment program, but I was hoping to do a little more with them...
Oh, that reminds me, they will go to the Enrichment Program on Tuesdays and there they will take Creative Writing, Spanish, Art, PE, and Science. It was recommended by the administrator, though to enhance the Science curriculum. So, that's it in a nutshell! I will keep you posted on how it is going!
Oh, one final thought: As I was watching the 100+ children from the children's program go outside to watch the man juggle the fire torches I wished I had my family members who do not support my decision to homeschool with me. The theory that homeschool children are unsocialized misfits is completely false. These were normal, well behaved children. If being well behaved makes you a misfit then that has always been my goal, homeschooling or not, so this shouldn't really be an issue.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Iguana!
Yep, that is a live Iguana on my shoulders! Can't go to Mexico and not hold an iguana! Again, Mikey was too scared!! LOL!!
Yep, that's me holding a giant sting ray!! It was one of the most awesome experiences ever! String Ray City is out in the middle of the ocean off of Grand Cayman. You are completely surrounded by water and can't even see the island from where you are, but there is a sand bar and you are only standing in about waist deep water. The water is so clear and beautiful! The stingrays just swim right up to you! It was an unforgettable experience!! Mikey wouldn't hold a sting ray because he was scared!! LOL!!
Parasailing in Key West
This is us parasailing in Key West with our ship behind us! I was so scared, but I would do it again this minute if I had the opportunity! If you have never been, you should definitely go!
What a wonderful life!
We had a wonderful time and were treated like Royalty for the majority of the cruise (except the day we came back which I will get to)..
We left Sunday and when we got on the boat a short while later had to do a drill where we put on our life jackets and when to our Muster Station. That was fun! Then we left Galveston and we were off! My father in Law and his wife pretty much did their thing and we did ours and we met up regularly, so that actually worked out great. The show the night before we got into Key West was so awesome! It was by a group that does all of the music with their mouths.. They were so awesome! Here is their website (the are called Mosaic) http://www.notaboyband.com
We got into Key west at 3pm on Tuesday and Mikey and I went Parasailing (one of the pictures I wanted to send in). I was terrified before we did it! So much so that I was literally trembling! But once up in the air, I was SOOO glad I did it!! It was so beautiful! Then we went shopping a little bit and headed back to the ship. Michael’s dad was not allowed off the boat because he was too drunk! His fault! The next day we were at sea again and Mikey and I climbed the rock wall on the top of the ship. That was pretty cool!
Thursday we went to Georgetown, Grand Cayman and we went out to Stingray City. Stingray City is a sand bar in the middle of the ocean (literally you can’t see land from where you are) and you get out of your catamaran or whatever you got out there on and you are standing in waist deep water that is so clear you can see all the way to the bottom of the ocean. It was so beautiful! The stingrays swim right up to you and I have a picture of me holding one!!
Friday we were in Cozumel. Cozumel was hit really hard by Hurricane Wilma last year and the island was literally devastated. It was rough to see. Our pier has actually only been used for 3 weeks now and it is only repaired enough to use it, but by no means is it repaired. The whole island looks like a bomb went off. We went to Adventure Park and we went rock wall climbing, rappelling and did like an above ground obstacle course. It was fun. Not what I expected, but fun anyway. Then we went snorkeling and that was really cool too!
About 4 hours out of Cozumel we had a medical emergency on board and had to turn around and go back! Michael and I were asleep because we are whimps and still went to bed real early LOL! Our stateroom was directly above the gang plank and we heard them messing with it, but just assumed they were being loud for no reason LOL! The next day we found out they were getting the lady out and she was med evaced to Mexico. So, because we were now almost 10 hours behind we were going full speed ahead all day and that caused Mikey to get sea sick our last day at sea. So, he spent a good portion of it in bed and I spent a good portion of it making a donation at the Bingo game and then in the Casino…. When we got into port we were supposed to get in at 7 a.m. and that would put us off the ship at around 10, but we didn’t even get into Galveston until 10:30 and didn’t get off the ship until after 1… Funny thing… They didn’t think it was necessary to feed us lunch! I was kind of irritated! But, I do have to say in all fairness we were treated great the rest of the time
Friday, May 05, 2006
It's coming!
The day I get on a cruise ship for the first time is coming!! I am very excited, but also a little nervous... I am already not looking forward to being away from my kids that long. They are my joy and I know I am going to miss them beyond words. I just hope I am still able to enjoy myself a little! I got my formal gown the other day with my friend Chenoa by my side. Thank God she could help me! That was definitely not something I could have done by myself... And my Dad and Trin arrived Wednesday night safely. So, everything is coming together... Now I just have to PACK!!!!
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