"Life is Life"

Okay so here we are almost ready for Christmas break! woohoo! right?!
If I (my family) make it to Spring Break-it will be a miracle!:)
Todd is doing great!-He is even watching Taylor today!
He cannot do it everyday-but here and there is going ok!
She is starting to crawl:)
Gavin is so excited for Christmas this year. He is telling everyone what Santa is bringing him etc...
Things are looking up...
Gavin and Daddy were playing chase around the house-oh yes!-in my house:)
Gavin fell and hit his head on our coffee table-ouch! He screamed for a couple of minutes-rub it- hug him -and get on with life-right? Well, that's what we thought until 1 am when he started vomiting. Me-I just think-its a fluke-now he has come down with the flu, Dr. says no-he needs to be seen asap. ER nurse decided to not do a CT scan, but he has a mild concusion...we are to watch him for the next 24 hours to make sure symptoms go away and don't worsen.

So why am I saying all of this?
Well, first I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers-life is crazy and draining!
But also it has made me do some thinking again!:) Life is life-things happen-not always the way we want. I have had this conversation with the Man Upstairs numerous times-that I just don't think I can handle one more thing on my plate! Then He shows me that one more thing-and what do ya know-I make it through! So maybe I should quit having this conversation and these "one mores" might go away!
I think in life we look at crisis and go into crisis mode, when really "life is life" (my new motto):) and we will make it through. We are given friends and family for many reasons-this one, I think, is the most important!:) They help us in more ways than we could ever begin to express!
Despite my horrible circumstances (in my eyes), life could always be worse-we have so much to be thankful for!:)
Just thought I would share my thinking outloud-and give you something to think about too as we go into this Holiday Season!

Answers to Prayer

Thank you all for praying!

***OHHhhh! I just got my acceptance letter for my Masters at Marygrove College. I will start it in January!:) woohooo!
*Taylor went to dr. on Monday again and her lungs are clear-yeah!
We are weening her off breathing treatments-hopefully tonight will be her last. She is done with them as long as she is doing fine!
*My post meeting was fabulous! I was marked "effective" in all areas! Wonderful news! IT is amazing what happens when you have postive administrative support!:) My whole attitude is different towards work!
*Keep praying for Todd's job! I guess I was a little unclear. I thought he could get a job right now as long as there is no lifting. I was wrong! The dr. said no work until January! (he see dr. then). Early prayer is good though-so pelase keep praying!:)
* I am sick (ill) and cannot afford to take work off-please pray for health! I need it right now:)
Praise-another blessing! God is good!:)

Please pray

Just quickly a couple of prayer requests:
1. Taylor went to the dr. on Monday. She is still wheezing. She has to keep getting breathing treatments 4 times a day until next Monday. She will have a check up then.
2. I had my formal observation last Thursday. I feel pretty confident that it went well. I have my post meeting this Friday. Because of all of the Union mess I had to deal with and now have to jump through hoops for, I really need for this to go as well as I think it did. I did get my narrative write up this morning and it seemed fine, but there was no evaluative part on it. We'll see.
3. Todd really needs a job. One that doesn't require lifting or major physical activity. Please pray that he searches and finds!:)

I'll keep you posted! Thank you

My Little Lady Bug

Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen!?

Trick or Treat

My little hunter and beautiful lady bug!
Daddy helped Gavin get all geared up in his
camoflage outfit and makeup. He was so excited
to be going as a hunter! Taylor was adorable-
she could have cared less-but she was cute.

Trusting the Lord

We are always taught to put our trust in the Lord. I think about how many times I have heard that in Church or Sunday School and yet I always seem to fall short of it. I tell myself, "yeah, I trust the Lord..." But do I really? Whole-heartedly? About a week ago I was struggling with this and kept praying about different things we are struggling with. I decided I was going to make that my goal. I was wishy-washy and kept trying to take care of things myself and would remind myself-"no, trust God." One blessing came!:)
Todd and I went to Sunday school for the first time last Sunday :) and people were sharing stories from their lives about how God has taught them that lesson-"trusting Him". It was excellent. (Blessing two-hearing other's trusting the Lord)
I was mowing the yard Sunday afternoon-bitter and mad that I had to do it. (It was freezing cold!) I even told God that I was mad at Him for putting me in the situation I am in- so that I have to mow the lawn. Then I started complaining to God about all the adjustments I have had to make in my life due to Todd's accident. I complained about how we have no money, and all the extras that I have to do with little or no help. It is hard taking each kid in the house and then unloading all the grocieries by myself...I caught myself--it took awhile, but I did. I began to think that I need to be thankful for what I have. --Which I am, things could be a lot harder/ worse. I began praying that the Lord would provide for our needs. (There was a lot "I needed" to come up with in a short time). I went back and forth from "I trust you, Lord to provide" to "Should I ask...for help?" I can't tell you how many times I went back and forth. I had to keep reminding myself of our Sunday School lesson and the blessings we have had thus far and that "I trust the Lord!"
I had someone's church offer to help us financially. THREE Blessings!:)-Less than a week!:)
How amazing-needless to say I am crying by now--even days later as I am writing this, I cry!
We have had a 4th blessing since too! He jsut keeps blessing us. Sometimes I think I need big things like this to happen just to remind me of how good He is even with the little stuff!!
After all of this, I guess the Lord is still teaching me! I don't know that my trust will ever be completely full-I am trying though! He just keeps sending me reminders that He is right beside me! Thank goodness:)

PS: Todd got a 6 point~ All his hunting modifications have paid off!:)

Our Little Punkins!

Gavin-his usual self-all attitude--Wonder what parent he gets that from:):):)
Taylor-loves her pumpkin.
Grandma A. loved having a photo shoot with the grandkids. She gets to watch them every Monday while Mommy is at work!

Petting Farm

Gavin and Taylor are feeding the donkeys at the Cider Mill. They also saw goats, reindeer, pigs, peacocks, and lamas!

Cider Mill

Gavin loved going to the Cider Mill. He got to take a hay ride and pick apples. -Which he thought was so cool!:) Boys always seem to find things to climb on -and climb high!:)

Brother and Sister

Brother and Sister Bonding Time! Gavin Loves his little sister and She loves him just as much!:)

Gavin and Taylor visiting Daddy!

This is our family picture from this summer. I think I sent it out in email too. Our family traveled to Mackinac Island for my Grandparents 50th Anniversary party at the Grand Hotel. It was marvelous!

First Posting

Hmmm! I am trying to be more techy. We'll see how long this lasts! :) This is our first official posting. I will try my best to give updates on hear so that all can read.

Todd is hunting and adjusting to his "new ways". He still gets frustrated with not being able to hold Taylor or wrestle with Gavin, but we make adjustments as needed in order for them all to get quality time with each other. He is laid off work at least 4 months (from September). And after that, we do not know what his limitations will be.

Gavin is 3 1/2. If you ask he will tell you he will be 4 in a couple of days. :) We're working on telling him it is months not days!:) He loves "hunting" turkeys, bucks, and sometimes a coyote! He is very curious about everything around him and sometimes we say he is "too smart for his own good." He loves his baby sister. He is very protective and no one can take her home with them. He is participating in our church Christmas program this year-with his Sunday School class. They will be singing "Away in a Manger". We have to get working on it!

Taylor is 6 months old, one week shy of 7 months. My how time flies. I cannot believe she is that big already. She is so happy. She loves her big brother and giggles at him all the time. She is very aware of her surroundings. She has started eating solids now. She loves her cereal, but not too sure about squash! :) She loves to jibber jabber and sit and play on the floor. We are still working on tummy time. She does not like being on her belly, so we have to introduce it to her in 5-10 minute increments. -Until she likes it! We just went and got her 6 month pics. taken. We'll post them as soon as we get them back.

Carolyn (me):) I am doing okay. I am working all day at school and coming home and taking care of my family. There is always lots to do, but sometimes it just sits and waits for me. Todd is able to help more now, so he helps clean and do dishes for me while I am at work. I try to do all our laundry on the weekends and lots of groceries have been bought for us, so we have very little that we have to worry about week to week.

As a family, we went to the cider mill yesterday. We took the kids on a hay ride and picked apples. Gavin decided that he wanted a closer look at the pumpkins so he jumped into the big crate of them. -Oh he definitely keeps us on our toes!:)
Taylor enjoyed part of Mommy's carmel apple-she actually got mad when I took it away! :)
It was great and good family time. Needless to say we were all worn out-Gavin crashed at 6 pm and slept for the night-too bad I couldn't do that!:)