please pray

Ok, so I changed my blog back to private, I just can't decide which I prefer. I talk a lot about my family, the city we live in, places we go, and use all our real names, so really, how safe is that on the internet? I wasn't sure, but thought I should go back to private anyways. Besides, I have my tried and true faithful readers and what random person would really want to read my blog anyways? Unless of course their a pshyco seriel killer, in which case, now they can't =)

Ok, a couple things to update you since I've last posted. One of my dear friends, Regina, had a baby boy (child #5 for her, she had 4 girls before). Baby boy was born prematurely, and has heart and stomache problems (he had surgery on his stomache about a week after being born). Along with those problems, he also has Down Syndrome, which brings on a whole onslaught of other issues. So they are dealing with that right now. He's about a month and a half old now, and still in the NICU. Hooked up to oxygen and all kinds of wires and machines. I don't know all the details and the medical talk, but I'm just asking my blogger friends to please pray for my friend, Regina and her baby boy, Carter. Regina has a lot on her plate, with taking care of her 4 girls, and getting them ready for school now, and going up to the hospital every day to visit Carter, not to mention juggling the everyday mommy/wife stuff. Please say a prayer for her =)

My second prayer request is for a lady that goes to our church. Her name is Kambria, and she found out, about 4 weeks ago, that her youngest son, Ryker has leukemia. He is only 1 year old. They have been drug thru hell and back this past month - or so it seems. You can read all about his story and his updates on his blog http://www.lovingryker.org/. Please keep Kambria and Matt and their boy Ryker in your prayers. They sure appreciate it!

Hearing stories such as these, sure makes me hug and kiss and love on my kids even more. Three healthy kids sure is a blessing. I will take their constant whining and fighting anyday. Thank you God, for my kids.

update on Gerald

Gerald is doing somewhat better, but still not out of the woods yet. He remains to be dizzy and just "out of it" sometimes. I babysat their oldest, my nephew last night and he stayed the night with us, and hung out with us today, and then I took him home this afternoon. He was on the couch, with a blanket over him and my sisters walker next to him. If you know my brother in law at all, this is definately not like him. He still needs lots of prayers.

He did see his regular family physician yesterday, and they took him off some of his medicine, and told him to continue to take this other medicine, that will hopefully prevent any more seizures. (This medicine is what is causing the dizziness, but hopefully it should pass within a week, the doctor said). His doctor yesterday did stress, to not drive anywhere for 6 months.

Would you continue to pray with us for Gerald and his family?

Prayer Request

If you think about it, can you say a little prayer for my brother-in-law Gerald? My sister could not wake him up this morning, after he was shaking violently in bed. After trying and trying to wake him up (he WAS breathing though), she ended up calling 911 and he was taken to the hospital via ambulance. After running multiple tests, they concluded that he had a seizure.

We are unsure at this point the cause of the seizure though. They are releasing him from the hospital this afternoon, but under strict instructions to not drive for 6 months (per the law). This will be tough on their family, as he is the only driver in their household. Please pray. That no more seizures would occur, that they would find the problem that caused the seizure, and that they would find transportation to do what they need to do for the next 6 months. Thanks so much!!

Update

Wanted to update you all while I had the chance, and have the house to myself. A very rare occasion. Lil is at school, and Jer took Isaiah to the dr. No, he's not sick. Just a general 3 year check up.

Family is all doing well. I must admit, the last week has been an emotional roller coaster in our family, as we have all spent time by Grandma's side. I smile though, knowing that she is in NO MORE pain, and is dancing and having a grand time in Heaven. She has finally received the ultimate healing. She will be missed here by many. I will never forget her big smile she gives you, and the way she asks how you are doing, and really means it, not just 'making conversation', and that special little *wink* she gives you, that only Grandma can do. She is a precious, sweet lady, and has blessed many lives, mine included.

Her visitation is Friday night, at Langsford in LS from 6-8pm, and the funeral is Sat at 10am.

We are still having our company coming in tonight. Some friends of ours from St Louis is coming in tonight and staying until Tuesday. We had this planned with them long before we even thought we'd be planning Grandma's funeral at the same time. We have told them what's been going on, and they have been very understanding with us doing what we need to do. We are looking forward to spending time with them this weekend, and catching up and just relaxing. :)

In the meantime, I've got to finish getting my house in order. So I'm signing off. Thanks for all your prayers!

Finally Friday

Yes, I know, I keep changing the look of my blog. Hey, it makes it exciting.....you just never know what it's going to look like the next time you visit! lol. Seriously though, I changed it once, then went to a friends blog, and realized (by accident) that I had picked the exact same layout that she had, so of course, I had to change it. I mean, out of the bazillion layouts out there, who woulda known I'd pick the exact same one? We both just have good taste I guess! :) Anywho, so it's changed again. I get bored with the same thing over and over again. Gotta mix it up every now and then. lol. I'm still playing with the title and photo and the look of that. Not sure if I like it or not.

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I am sooooo glad it's Friday. The kids have been hacking and taking turns running temps off and on all week. On the upside, the kids and I did manage to go visit 2 preschools close to us, to check out for Isaiah in the fall. I think we decided on one. :) I'm soooooo ready for him to be in preschool. Now, we are just trying to decide between Mon-Wed-Fri or Tues and Thurs. Either way, he will go from 9-noon. I can't wait! Next goal: potty-training!

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Jer and I are hoping to go visit Jer's grand-parents tonight. They are not doing well at all. I've mentioned it in the past, his grandma has cancer in her liver. We have been encouraged to go see her soon. Not a good sign. Please keep Grandma and Grandpa Haines in your prayers. For peace, strength and overall healing.

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Lots to do this weekend, visit grandparents tonight, bake cupcakes for a baby shower tomorrow, go to baby shower tomorrow, dinner with family/friends and playing the newleywed game tomorrow night.....on and on, and Sunday doesn't get any slower. Hope you all have a great weekend, and we'll chat more next week!

Please pray.....

I am asking all of my reader friends to please pray for Grandma H again. She is not doing well at all. You can read about what's going on with her in my previous blogs.

Anyways, I talked to my father-in-law tonight, and I guess she is getting disoriented and forgettful, and saying off the wall stuff sometimes. She is extremely weak and tired, and just needs a touch from the Lord.

She is going in tomorrow for an MRI. The doctors don't think there's a whole lot else they can do for her though.

Please pray! This is very difficult for the family, as Jer's family is so close.

"I've created a monster....."

.....have been my thoughts and feelings these last few days with my children. Pardon me as I rant and rave for this post....

What on earth have I done to my children? Seriously, I don't know if it's just that daddy is out of town or what, (although they are like this when he's home too....) but my kids have been acting like monsters lately.......spoiled-rotten-disobedient-rude-whiney-clingy-selfish-MONSTERS. The kids nearly had me in tears last night. what else is new. The kids were disobedient all day yesterday. Daddy just left town early yesterday morning, so that didn't help matters any. We were all 3 missing daddy, and it was a Monday, nonetheless.....but still! They (mostly Isaiah) was acting like a (pardon my words....) spoiled rotten brat! He flat out tells me NO, when I ask him or tell him to do something. He demands a drink at the table.......("gimme a drink"!!!), and when I finally get him to ask me correctly, he refuses to drink the drink that I give him.....he wants a different cup. And if I've allready filled his cup with water or juice, he flat out spills it all over the table/floor, because I got the "wrong cup". AUGH! I just want to scream at him. I spank him, I put him in time-out, I send him to his room.......none of these things works with this kid. If I get him the wrong cereal, or the wrong......whatever.....he screams. How do I put an end to this????

Then, last night, after a not-so-pleasant visit with my parents (not on my parents part, mind you, the kids were just being rude and not obeying), we came home and I gave them a bath. All is well, right? Then, right before I'm getting ready to put them in bed (around 7:30- the earliest I've put them to bed in a while, but I'd had enough.....and I needed some space!), I get a call from this 90-something year old lady at our church, wanting to talk to Jeremy about an outreach project that Jer is in charge of at our church this Saturday. As I'm trying to talk to her, the kids are literaly chasing each other around me and screaming. I excuse myself and take my conversation in my office and lock the kids out, while I finish my conversation. Half way through the conversation, I notice the kids are too quiet. The lady was going on and on, just jabbering, and would not say good-bye.....she must have been lonely or something, cuz she was just jabbering. Anyways, the kids were too quiet, and that is never a good sign with my children. When they are quiet, they are sleeping or getting in to something they shouldn't be. So after I finally hung up, I went out and as soon as I opened my office door, I was hit with a strong scent of vicks vapor rub. (Jer and I had gotten it out earlier last week, and put it on Isaiahs chest at night time when he was having a bad cough. Apparently, we didn't put it 'up' enough). I walk in to Isaiah's room, where they are both sitting on his floor, playing with the vapor rub.....and putting it on them like lotion. I was flippin' MAD. I had just got them out of the bath tub, and now they have this greasy, slimy vapor rub all over their hands, the bottle, in clumps on the floor and (Lilly's) face. I wiped it up as much as I could and sent them both to bed. As to which neither of them stayed. Lilly needed her blankey. Then Isaiah needed a drink. Then Lilly needed to be tucked in. Then Isaiah needed his blankeys on him......and on and on. I was fuming. It took me a good 45 min to cool off.

My daughter just 2 months shy of being four years old. FOUR! Why is she still getting in to everything like a 1 or 2 year old?????? Why can she not play by herself? Why does she need mommy all the time? Even if Jer is there.....she has to know where mommy is at. She no longer takes afternoon naps for me. Which would be fine if she would go to her room and have 'quiet time' and give mommy some space. But does she? Noooooooo. She is literaly under my feet from the moment she wakes up, until she goes to sleep at night.

And my son. shew. Don't even get me started on his screaming temper-tantrums.

I took Lilly to her Itty Bitty Tumblers class tonight. And Isaiah too, of course, since Jeremy is gone. What a nightmare that was. Isaiah would not listen, and was running around, and got Lilly to running around, and then Isaiah got in my purse and got my car keys out and set off my car alarm....twice. I almost took them out of there half way through, but we made it until 5 minutes til the end of class, and we scurried out of there. I had planned on taking the kids to DQ afterwards, since it is close, but they kids were so bad, we came straight home instead. (the 2 photos posted are of Lilly's 'good' moments at tumblers class tonight)

I'm just at a loss. I don't know what else to do. This week, I honestly feel as though I've completely failed as a mother. A "good" mother wouldn't have her kids talking to her like mine do, or acting like mine do. A "good" mother would have control over her children. My kids are seriously sinking me in to a deep depression.

A few months ago, I went to our evening MOPS meeting, and we had a good time and good discussion. I'd had a rough day with the kids (nothing unusual - there are more 'rough' days than not around here), and was just crying. I was talking to a sweet mentor we have, and told her that I was all upset, thinking about my kids, and how I keep hearing from other moms to....."enjoy these days.....cuz it only gets worse from here". what on earth?!?! My husband would seriously have to put me on suicidal watch or something! (now don't go freaking out everyone....I'm not going to take my life.....I'm just sayin'......) How can it possibly get worse?

Well, the mentor talked to me, and said 'I don't know who you've been talking to, but it does not get worse! My sons are teens, and we have a great relationship and I love where they are at now. Whoever has been telling you that is lying! Yes, there are challenges, that come along with every age. Each age group has their own set of challenges, but it does not have to get worse". Well, she made me feel a little better. There's hope, I thought. Well, just today, I heard it again......from a good friend, nonetheless. One person was complaining about her 9 year old daughter, and another said, 'just wait, it gets even worse when they turn 10!'.

I am in tears as I am typing this. how-can-it-possibly-get-worse?????? What is the truth? Yes, I know God is the Truth. I'm trying to turn to him, honestly. It's just so hard. I think my mistake is, I've been praying too much for patience with the kids. So maybe God is growing my patience?

Whatever it is, I feel as if I am at my ropes end. I don't know what to do with these kids that God has entrusted me with. I could go on and on. I just don't know what to do.

Now that I've got you all scared to death to ever come visit me at my house, or visit my kids, or even offer to babysit, I will end this. I will end it with a few prayer points.

Me....just in general

A good friend of mine has a serious prayer request. I can't say any more than that....she just needs God's touch!

Jeremy as he's in Mexico this week for work. He'll be traveling all day on Friday to come home.

My parents, they are leaving Thurs morning for a 3 week vacation for a "tour of the east coast" =) Pray for safety and that they will have a fabulous time!

Isaiah to GO TO BED AND GO TO SLEEP!!!!!!! It's 10:02 as I'm typing this, and I have been fighting him for 2 hours now to go to bed. He's still up and just asked for a drink. Lord, help me.

Thank you all, for allowing me this post to rant and rave and complain. It's like therapy. Now I'm off to forget my troubles (hopefully, if Isaiah will go to sleep!), and dive in to Karen Kingsbury's latest book release, "Sunset". The last book in a 14 book series. Good Night.

Shocking News about Boltz

Caught wind of this, when my mom sent me an email regarding this. Former christian singer/songwriter Ray Boltz has recently divorced his wife, of 33 years, and is now claiming to be homosexual.

Since then, I have seen it in other sources on the internet. Check it out. It's dissappointing, dusgusting, and downright dirty.

A message from Ray

Article in the Washington Blade

Wikipedia

also............. Someone to Pray For

Something to pray about

If you think about it, please pray for my mom tomorrow. She is having some outpatient surgery done on her eye, and will be under anesthetic (sp?) and is more worried about the anesthesia than the surgery itself. She does not do well under anesthitics, and her blood pressure drops really low. Please keep her in your prayers if you think about it. Many thanks!

In the meantime, it's been a fairly laid back, easy week. It helps that Monday was a holiday. Although, it kind of messed me up all week. I've been off a day all week. I felt a little under the weather today, and actually had to call my mom to come help me. I seriously thought I was going to pass out there for a little bit. We all survived though, and not sure what happened with me earlier, but I'm better now.

It's late, and I need to get to bed. Just wanted to leave you with a couple things. First of all, regarding the elections and the whole Obama/McCain and now Palin news/drama, I thought this was a great read to check out.

And.....a thought for the day......

If you want to enjoy the rainbow, you have to be willing to endure the storm.

Just something to think about.

Hugs~ Sheila

Meet the Teacher & an Update

We went to Lilly's preschool meet the teacher night at her school tonight. We came back with some more info on the school and how it is run. Her teacher seems very nice and friendly. She tried to talk to Lilly, but of course Lilly hid behind me. Lilly wasn't on her best behavior at the school, and got a talking-to in the car later, but hopefully will warm up to the school and her teacher soon. I think we were just trying to push her too much tonight. Lilly needs time to take it all in, and adjust. She can't just dive in to a new surrounding quickly. I'm hoping she'll adjust quickly. In the meantime, we're talking a lot about her school and riding the school bus, here at home. It will be fun! and the countdown is now.......FOUR days til preschool! woo-hoo!

On the other news-front.....I talked to Grandpa H on the phone on Tuesday, and was asking about Grandma. She's been having some good days (PTL!) where she has been up a lot of the day, but then she's had some not so good days. Jeremy's aunt and uncle (Grandma's son and daughter-in-law) went to visit her a while back, and her son trims the shrubbery at their house, and his wife stayed inside and talked to Grandma, and she actually sat up and talked to her for about an hour- which is good for Grandma. Usually she wears out sooner than that. So they are pretty much taking it one day at a time, and replying heavily on their (and our!) prayers. Grandma has lost all of her hair, which I know she is self-conscious about. She has always had perfect hair, going to the beauty salon religiously. I asked Grandpa about coming to visit her, and he said that he will tell me what he has told everybody else, 'that Grandma will let us know when she's up for visitors'. Which I have to admit, hurt my feelings a little. I mean, we're not visitors, we're family. But we will respect Grandma's wishes. And continue to pray for her! Grandma has a another test soon (I believe he said today, actually) that will determine if the chemo is helping at all. And once they get the results on that, it will determine if they continue more chemo, or something else.

But praise the LORD, we know the Healer!

Award and other Family News

Thank you, to DaNella at Beyond Microburst! who nominated me for the BOW Award! (For those unaware, BOW stands for Blog of the Week, on the Assemblies of God Website) Go to their website, to check out my "feature" of the week and interview. It's cool too, cause DaNella designed the BOW logo, and those are her 2 kids in the photo. Pretty neat, huh?

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Many of you know me by now to know that Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my favorite christian singer/songwriters. Good Morning America did an interview with him and his wife recently, after the death of their youngest daughter Maria. I found myself nearly in tears as I watched the interview, and Mary Beth (SCC's wife) talking about her daughter. I wanted to share it with all of you, as a reminder, to keep this family in your prayers. I cannot even fathom what this family is going through, other than to know that God is faithful, and God has not forgotten them. They will see their daughter again one day!

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Prayer Points......

• Please pray for Grandma H this week, if you think about it. (Jer's Grandma). She is going on her 2nd week, after having her 2nd round of chemo therapy, and is still not doing well. We just found out today that now she has pneumonia in both lungs. She needs your prayers!



• There have been several deaths lately, in our church and friends of the family. If you think about it, please keep the Idun family, the McConnells, and the Hundley's in your prayers. This is never an easy thing for any family to have to deal with. They are all believers though, and know who is in control of all things.

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Other Special Family Points of Interest:

• For those wondering about my previous post and my fingernail polish catastrophe, yes, the fingernail polish came out of the hardwood floors in the kitchen, and No, it did not come out of the living room carpet! Ok......help! Anyone know a secret on how to remove purple fingernail polish from carpet? (without bleaching the carpet???)



• Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!! The countdown continues. Lillian has 8 days until her first
  day of Preschool!

Me- Day

Hello again my wonderful web friends! Things are going good over here at 'Faith Family & Friends'. I spent the day yesterday watching my nephews, Ben and Braden. They were good-- kept my kids entertained pretty good. Ben watched a lot of TV (he's almost 7, and I don't have any 7 year old boy toys....and it was wet outside....) Between watching TV and playing in the basement, I think we spent the rest of our time eating in the kitchen. Seemed like I just cleaned up the kitchen, and one of the kids was sayin' they were hungry again. LOL. Silly kids. Anyways, last night it was just me and the kids after my SIL picked up the boys. Jer went to a Royals game with my dad and bro-in-law and someone from dads church. Dinner was provided before the game- something special with dads work or something. They had BBQ- said it was yummy. They all seemed to have a good time. Except that right after the 7th inning stretch, the clouds let loose and they all got drenched. Needless to say, the game was done there, and everybody went running for shelter!

Tonight, I was a bad girl and played hookey from church. (shhhhh....don't tell anyone). Hey.....it doesn't happen that often!!! Brandi came over and used our scanner and scanned a bunch of pictures for a slideshow she's making for her parents. So we just hung out. Jer and the kids went to church. Jer talked to his mom briefly tonight about Grandma. I guess she went to the doctor today, to get her meds changed, since the one she was on, was just making her so sick and weak. So hopefully the change will help her, and she'll get some strength back. It's been 14 days since she started chemo, and drs don't think she should still be feeling this badly. If the new meds don't help, and she's not better by July 30th, their going to hold off on giving her her 2nd round of chemo. Otherwise, she's scheduled for more chemo on the 30th. Please continue to pray.

So I watched my nephews yesterday, like I said before, and my SIL got a "me day". So I've declared a "me day" tomorrow, and I'm dropping my kids off at my SIL's house in the morning. Yea! If only you could see me now.....doin' the happy dance!

I'll be spending part of my day tomorrow with Brandi, having lunch and going to a scrapbook store. Brandi said she's just taking cash, and leaving her cards at home, so she won't even be tempted to over-spend. Hm. Not a bad idea. ;)

Grandma

In a previous post I had requested prayer for Jer's Grandma. I just got off the phone with Grandpa, checking on her. Please continue to pray. She's not doing well. She started chemo a week ago today, and was ok on Wed, Thurs and Fri, then started not feeling well at all from Saturday on. She has been extremely weak, and walking from her room, down the hall to the kitchen just wears her out, and she has mostly been in bed, too tired and weak to get up. She's not much up to visitors, and has even asked Grandpa to talk to people on the phone, as she just does not feel up to it. Her second round of chemo is on July 30th. After that, they will do another biopsy and see if the cancer in her liver has shrunk any. I know Grandpa just feels helpless, as he told me, "there's not a thing I can do for her" . Please pray for Grandma and Grandpa during this difficult time. I wish there was more I could do for them, but the best thing I could offer was my prayers (and yours!). Please join me in praying for a healing touch from the Lord.

Special Prayer Request for Grandma

I have a special prayer request that I would like for all my prayer warrior buddies to be praying about. As many of you know, from previous posts (at my old webpage) that Jer's Grandma has cancer in her liver. This has just been to our knowledge within the past several months. After doing several biopsies and tests, they have not discovered cancer anywhere else, but of course that does not mean there isn't any. They only found it in the liver, but most of the time, it does not originate in the liver, it usually starts somewhere else. Surgery is out of the question, with her being in her 80's, she is just not strong enough to survive a liver transplant. So, her options are: a) to wait it out....she could live another year, she could live a month-- doctors have no way of knowing. Or, b) to do chemotherapy, to try to kill the cancer. After Grandma thought about it, she decided to do chemo. Her first treatment is tomorrow. (Wed. July 9th) Please pray!!! I believe she is suppose to be at the hospital around 10:30AM or so, with chemo beginning around 11 or noon (central time) and it will last about 5 hours, and then she will be sent home. And then do the same thing again in 21 days. Please pray for Grandma H! She is such a strong, solid rock in our family and is absolutely amazing in her 'geunine-ness', if there is a such thing. She loves the Lord with her whole heart, and I have no doubt she is in Jesus' hands this whole time. Please pray.....

• for Grandma. For strength, wellness, for her not to be nauseaus or sick.


• for the doctors. To know what is best for her, and to make the best decisions possible.


• for Grandpa. For strength- to take care of Grandma - even though he is not in the best of shape after undergoing open heart surgery a couple years ago.


• for the family- Grandma's 3 sons especially. For courage, strength, wisdom.


• for Jeremy & myself. To help us understand that what Grandma needs most right now is prayer. But to be able to help in whatever other way possible if they need us.

Grandma and Grandpa have both always been in tip-top shape, until the last couple of years. And they are both extremely independent and do not like bothering others, asking for things. So this has been an especially difficult time for them. But I know, there is nothing wrong with asking for prayer!!!!

Isaiah 58:8Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Psalm 30:2O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

James 5:15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

Psalm 115:11You who fear him, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.

Isaiah 12:2Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."