Shall I update you?

Seems that I have laid out a few different situations on here that need a little more explanation.

• First let's talk about work. Yesterday I took the check securing the 52nd deposit of 79. Only a dozen (13 actually) rooms left in AL, 12 in MC. Now 66% preleased!! VERY GOOD!!! I think we've even suprised the corporate office... wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy more deposits than the sister house that is a month ahead of us and is about to open.
• Weight loss: Didn't weigh in this morning, but still down about 20 lbs since August. Making smart choices, limiting portions, just doing better. No meetings, no expense, just trying to be accountable to K'Lynn and myself! Ran one night last week- need to get more faithful with that.
• My mom and dad: Believe it or not, they seem to have hit some type of even keel. Dad is trying harder, getting around a little better, doing more for himself. She seems to feel a little less put upon, started a new job, posting on FB once in a while, doing better! It feels great to know that God is working there.

Those are the main things...life is good and is really humbling right now. I watch the earthquake in Haiti and realize how much of a heart for missions my family has. I think we'd all jump on the nearest flight and go if it were just that easy. Father, be with those that can and do go. Be with the Haitians. I trust your authority and your plan. Holding onto the faith and trusting God for the details...

Overload!

I have had an emotional and mental overload in the last week. Between a sick child, a car with a blown engine, and a daughter that survived a pretty serious wreck, I was running on fumes. I was trying really hard to just lean back in the arms of Jesus, because on my own I was beyond finished. To top all of this off, I went to Hannah's game last night and drove home in the absolute worst weather I have ever driven in. Since K'Lynn had just wrecked her mustang on a rainy morning, the idea of driving Kyle's in the rain wasn't really appealing to me. It takes me a little while to get over these things, even though I wasn't the driver in the wreck. SO here I am with Hannah driving home on this horrible night. It was raining so hard that I couldn't see anything ahead of me other than the reflectors on the road. I was so tense that I was in knots. Many times we hit deep sections of water over the whole road and I just knew we were goners. All I could think of was having to file another insurance claim! Finally we made it home and I sure was relieved. IF I were a drinker, I would have sure wanted one at that point!! (Let me clarify- I am not a drinker!!)

What I figured out through all of this is that God was trying to remind me of something important. He has a plan for us in a situations. Nothing gets past Him. He filters everything. When I am confused and think things are going too fast, they are actually going right at His pace. I have to let go and give Him the wheel. When I do this, the overload disappears. Sounds easy, huh? Yeah... I know it is much easier said than done. Still true, but very difficult.

So many other possibilities...

Got a call early yesterday morning. I wasn't ready for work yet- I was still drying my hair. Hannah was still home sick and Kyle was still in bed. K'Lynn was on the other end, her voice a little frantic. "Mom, I just had a wreck...I am on 1774, not quite to Plantersville, the airbag went off, I was trying to pass a truck and lost control." In that moment, my normal Thursday morning switched into a Lifetime movie. Wake up Kyle, wake up Hannah, throw on clothes, jump in the car. She called back and asked if they should call an ambulance? Yes, I said (not seeing her), have them come. OK... Driving....getting closer....not sure what we'll see. I know she is alert and oriented since I talked to her, but not sure still what I'll find. Rainy morning, very gray skies, lots of water on the road...recipe for a wreck.

We drove up to find her sitting on the rain soaked ground with rain falling on her uncovered head. She was drenched. She stood up and came to me (arms and legs working- check!). She fell apart as soon as she hit my embrace. I know that type of crying...it represents relief, grief, a thousand different feelings. I know it is something I've only experienced a couple of times in my life. It is tough to go through and you won't forget it any time soon.

We did all of the normal 'after a wreck' things...provide insurance, get a ticket, pick a wrecker service, have the EMTs check you out and decide not to go to the hospital, on and on. At the end of the experience, we all got back into the car and drove home, very thankful for the happy ending. There could have been so many other possibilities...some of which would have changed our lives forever. I was not prepared for that. God provided His Holy Spirit to comfort all of us during this expereince. We were not alone. I am thankful for that. I am thankful K'Lynn is still here...don't want to imagine my world without her!!! Now...what do we do about this wrecked car????

Sick children...

Well, today was a little different. I got up, got completely ready for work and then checked on Hannah. I knew she was sick. Kyle had to pick her up from school early the day before and the flu is running rampantly through our school. Anyway, she had been puny all night and I was hoping just to keep her at home with indirect supervision from Kyle. No such luck. She came out and complained of feeling hot. I checked her head- it was warm. Temp 99.8...certainly not earth-shattering, but significant since it was early in the day. Called my boss, cleared the day to work from home and take her to the doctor. Called the clinic, got the only appointment available which was 4:50 pm with Doc Baker. We love him...such an awesome and Godly man.

Back to my room, changed out of my work clothes. Dishes and breakfast for Kyle and Hannah- check. Work a little on the lead center- check. Medicate the child- check. Not much longer, the call from the clinic came saying there was an open time at 1:50. Good... my day just sped up! I didn't want to bring her in that late anyway!

Arrive at the clinic right on time. Didn't wait too long, especially considering the number of flu cases they have had this week and today even. Dr. Baker came in and it was a little like a reunion for a few minutes. He hadn't seen Hannah since she was probably 7 or so. I hadn't seen him since then either, but I used to work there at the clinic so we knew each other pretty well. He has such a gentle way with the kids. Everyone loves him and he is a good doctor also. Nice combination. Based on the list of complaints, he decided that it probably wasn't the flu. Probably a "viral upper respiratory infection" that can really imitate the flu other than the high fever. He didn't do a flu swab, but if her fever gets much higher we would. Gave her some cough syrup with Phenergan and Codeine to help with the cough and the nausea. Old fashioned cure, but it usually works.

Now home and her fever has climbed to 101.7. She is achy, a little whiney, and now medicated. Watching Twilight (for the 1000th time) and just chillin. Hate that I missed work, but you know- these days are fleeting. She won't care if I'm around when she is sick much longer. I need to soak this up. Fleeting...fleeting...fleeting. Thank you God for my family. Thank you for the wonderful blend of personalities, talents, and strengths. What a great life I have been given.

Sweet suprise...

Got a sweet suprise this weekend...Bubba came home. He's been living with Mawmaw and Pawpaw, so we don't see him too much these days. Don't worry, he isn't there because anything is wrong.. he just got a job with his uncle and this works out well. His expenses are very little, just gas from time to time. He gets great time with his grandparents and good home cooking. His sweet doggy, Macks, is there with him. This keeps him from feeling so lonely, I think. I wish he could live here, but honestly there is just not enough space. His double bed is set up in my dining room for times just like this, but 5 people and 1 1/2 baths just doesn't cut it. Not to mention only 2 bedrooms. God certainly blessed us with this house when we moved in, but I wish we had more space. The location is PRIMO (just across the street from the church), but space is always an issue. Oh well...my God shall provide all my needs according to his riches in glory, right?!!

So, back to the visit. I had been scheduled to sing special music this morning at church. Don't sing much anymore, but I do love to sing. I totally lost my confidence when we had a change in music ministers a few years back. Later, a move to another church and a really bad experience with the music minister there basically kept me from singing for years. Sad really... I am not a good singer, but I did always enjoy it at least. SO, last night when Bubba asked me what I was singing and offered to work on something with me- I was really excited! He is pretty good on the piano (self taught, just like all the other things he does so well...jealous!!) and we managed to put together a slowed down version of "I am resolved". It was pretty good! I forgot a couple of words and sang really loud (I do not have a volume control, I guess!), but otherwise it was ok.

God has a way of giving us those little sweet suprises sometimes. The other great part of this weekend was that Andrew preached. It was his first real sermon and I just thought he did a GREAT JOB!!! I am as proud of him as I am of my other 3 kids. He is one of mine too, in my heart. Thanks, God...I needed this!!!