Calling all Prayer Warriors!!

Hello my fellow Prayer Warriors.
I come to you with mixed emotions. As some of you may know from reading my blog, Emily needs to be evaluate for seizures. Back in July/August Chris and I noticed that she would have blank staring episodes. We would call her, wave our hands in front of her, clap, make noise and even touch her and she wouldn't respond. This past week, I have noticed on 3 separate occasions her having shaking episodes. All 3 episodes I would notice she was in a bad mood previous to it, shake (all 4 limbs) and then after it stops she is all smiley and in a great mood. This has gotten me nervous because I don't know if this means things are progressing.

I want her evaluated by Children's Hospital. They have satellite offices. I had appointment at 2 different sites. One appointment was set for March 18th and the other April 29 with the hopes that by being on the cancellation list for both we could get in sooner. Believe it or not that was the earliest appointment either had.
But GOD IS GOOD!! He knows are needs. I just didn't feel right about waiting so long for her to be seen since the new situation. I called one of the offices today and they told me they couldn't get me in any earlier but suggested I call another satellite site I have yet to try. Well I am excited to say, the office I called just had a cancellation for tomorrow at 10 a.m.!!! The woman said she just got it and was trying to fill it. I told her that this was a God sent for us and gave Him all the glory.

So now I am dealing with a bag of emotions. Excited that she going to be seen and get to the bottom of what is going on. Sadden that my little darling even has to deal with anything. And ANXIETY over the drive---it is well over an hour away. For anyone that knows me, they will tell you I HATE TO TRAVEL!! I get anxiety over traveling out of my comfort zone (which is about a 30 minute radius).
I come to you with this and ask that you will keep us in your prayers. Wisdom for the medical staff, Emily would handle all this fine (she is not a people person yet), for Me for anxiety over travel, Chris for dealing with listening to me on the drive and for both of us that God will give us peace with the whole situation.

I will update you when we get home tomorrow and know more.
Thank you,
Judy

I'm here!

It had been a few days since I posted and I don't like to let too much time go by. I have been trying to cut down my computer time some (I really needed to). I notice it does make a big difference in my homeschool day. I can get so distracted with the computer and phone. I did read something over the weekend. On the blog the person was talking about how they school from 9-1 and she doesn't let anything interrupt that time because it is important that her kids know that they and school are a priority during that time (I honestly can't remember which blog I read it on, because I would like to give that person their due credit). WOW!!! Isn't that true. I know all to well that my kids take their lead with homeschooling from me. This is something that God really brought to light with me last year (He is still working on me). How can I expect the kids to take homeschooling seriously and see how important it is if they see ME put it at the bottom of my list. It is not a good example to them if they are trying to get help for a math problem and mommy is too busy on the computer or phone. So I am trying.

I have been praying for some very special people from some of my favorite blogs. I would love for you to pop on over to their blogs and give them some encouragement.

Heather--- http://www.especiallyheather.com/ She had a cancerous brain tumor removed in May. She cycles her chemo (pill form) about every 4 weeks. She is very real in her struggles and inspiring too.

Karen----- http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SALT She is close to delivering her precious baby girl. She needs prayer that the baby will be born healthy and safe. Go on over to her blog and read her story. She has some anxiety nearing the end of her pregnancy. She is set to be induced Feb. 5th. She goes for an ultrasound on Thursday and she said if they have any concerns they will induce then.

Kate------ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourquiverfull/ She is set to delivery tomorrow!!! This is her 8th child (isn't that fantastic!) I have been praying constantly for her little boy, Noah (I believe he is not quite 2). He has mitochondrial disease and with it it brings alot of medical problems (and inpatient stays to the hospital). He had a tough week. But today's post said he is "happy, goofy and silly." You have to go over to this blog and see how adorable he is. Kate posted some pictures from this last admission. As sick as she was telling us he was---some of the pictures cracked me up.

These are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. If I forgot someone I appologize. Feel free to leave me any prayer requests you may have and I will be sure to put it in my prayer journal.

I am off to bed now. I will take prayers too! I have fibromyalgia and it can play havoc with my sleep. There are times I wake up just as tired in the morning as when I went to bed. Thanks,

Toodles,
Judy

Movie Review--Juno--and adoption

Goodmorning! What a fun time I had last night. Went out with Wendy for Tai food (yummy) and then we headed over to the mall to see the movie Juno. I didn't know to much about the movie going into it. I knew that it had just been nominated for an Oscar, Jennifer Garner and Jason Batman are in it and the teenager in the movie gets pregnant. I didn't know really anything more than that. Usually I go on Plug-in Online (which gives movie reviews from a christian perspective) but I didn't this time. So I was a little shocked after only being at the movies for 3 minutes.

So I was right, the lead character Juno, 16 y.o., finds out she is pregnant and at first decides to have an abortion. She gets to the clinic and while filling out papers decides she can't go through with it and would rather give the baby to someone. Jennifer Garner and Jason Batman are the couple that Juno finds herself (in the penny-saver ad) to adopt the baby. So you may be wondering what I was shocked about. Basically the language used...and I am not talking necessarily about swearing. Juno sounds like how a REAL 16 y.o. might talk, slang used, and thoughts they might have. That is why I said in the first 3 minutes I was shocked because she said something that threw me (and I am not posting it).

But I will have to say, as an adoptive mother this movie touched me. I could relate to the adoptive mother's desire for a child and feeling like she was meant to always be a mother. The nervous anticipation. But with this movie I got to see it from the birthmother's view too. I was holding back the tears in the end when she gave the baby up. Juno's father is sitting by her bedside trying to comfort her and tells her "don't worry hun, someday you'll be back here on your terms." I was thinking about Emily's birthmother. Emily entered foster care right at the hospital. I was wondering how she might have felt leaving the hospital and leaving her baby. I sometimes don't understand how....Emily's birthmother did have a choice and she decided not to straighten out her life. I sometimes just don't get it, especially when I look down into those beautiful brown eyes of hers. One thing I do get: I know that God hand-picked her for us (and my other 2 adopted children too).

I related so much with the adoptive mother in the movie when she held the child for the first time. She was outside of the hospital nursery and a nurse came out and asked if she would like to meet her son (sniffle, sniffle), and she goes in and the nurse places him in her arms. They instantly click...they need each other. She turns around and sees a woman in the doorway (not knowing it's Juno's stepmom) and asks how she looks. "Like a new mom" she is told. They show a scene after of the new mom home in bed holding the baby--she's thrilled. That was me 7 months ago...actually, I just realized the date, it is exactly 7 months ago we picked Emily Grace up from the foster family to come and live with us. I love her so much. She truly is mine, through and through.

If you have ever considered adoption I highly recommend going through your state's foster care system. Both times we have adopted we have had great experiences.

Well I am off to get ready for co-op. I hope you have a great day.

Toodles,
Judy

Girl's Night Out!

Yippy!! It's girls' night out! All I can say is "it's about time!" LoL. No seriously, I am very excited to be going out. Can you guess who I am going with? Wendy of course! We use to go out once a month for a girls night but she had a baby a 14 months ago and then I got Emily in June...life just got VERY busy. But we made it a point to make time for this (actually, she is very funny. One day over the weekend she called me and asked me my availability this week at night. She said she was asking me out on a date.) Most of the time when we make these nights it is just the two of us (it can get complicated to get too many people to get their schedules all lined up, where do we then go, who's driving...ect., ect.) We go for dinner and then do something else (ex. shopping, movies, stuff like that). No pressure. Just a night out. Tonight we are planning on going for Tai food and then go and see the movie Juno---I'll let you know what I think about the movie tomorrow.

School is going better. This is our 3rd week back after taking such a long break. Every week is getting better and there are areas that I know I can work on myself. Atleast I can say that we have been getting through the 3 R's daily and a couple of times I have been able to do some reading for history. I think I know what we are laking though....we are lacking F-U-N! I read a post today on Sprittibee and it reminded me of 3 things.
1. Flexibility!! One of the reasons I home school.
2. It is NORMAL to homeschool past lunchtime. I have this awful nagging feeling that my day is blown if I don't get it ALL done before lunch. I think I am setting myself up for failure that way (especially since I have to occupy a 1 y.o. until she takes her nap at 10 a.m.)
3. FUN!! LAUGHTER!! I think we are in desperate need of that around here. I spend so much time working on getting the 3 R's done that I forget about FUN!

I would LOVE to hear what others do for curriculum that is fun (and easy too)! Please leave a comment and let me know.

Well I am off to go and get beautiful. Check out Sprittibee's blog at http://sbees.blogspot.com/ . Sorry I haven't figured out how to link things yet so all you have to do is click on it and it brings you there. If anyone wants to share with me how to do that..please SHARE!

Toodles,
Judy

Happy Anniversary!!!!

Chris and Judy


Mom and Me


Us with Chris' Mom


Me and the girls (by the way...that is a black veil on the back of their heads)


Chris and the guys

Us with Chris' grandparents


Leaving for our Honeymoon.


WOW!! I can't believe it....I REALLY can't believe it!!! Today is our 16th Wedding Anniversary!! Today is the day we became a family. Oh I just love it! (Can you tell I am a little excited!!). With every year I get more and more excited because it is a testament to God. You see, Chris and I got married when I was 18 and he was 19...BABIES!!! (I can say that now looking back since I am a mature 34 now). And I would have to say that if at our wedding you polled people and asked them if they thought we were going to make it....oh I bet at least 75% of the people would have said NO. People thought we were crazy. They thought our mothers were crazy for letting us get married so young (noticed I didn't say fathers...neither was there). In some ways looking back I can understand NOW how crazy we must have seemed...but you know what...it was right for us.

Chris and I both came from divorced homes. He hasn't seen his father since around 3 maybe 5...I just know he has no real memories of him. He grew up with a mom who did the best she could but he wasn't going to listen to. He lived in the city and he was street smart through and through. He skipped school so much in jr. high that the state stepped in. The choice was he either go and live with a family member or reform school. He went and live with his Uncle and Aunt at 15. Things weren't totally picture perfect there...but it got him to start straighten out.

My parents were married 23 years when they split...yup, 23! I was 11 when it happened. I went from living in a 2 parent middle-class home in a very small rural town to living with my mother, poor as a church mouse (I think at times the church mouse had more) in the city. This was my choice. I loved my Mom and I was NOT abandoning her then. Dad tried tempting me though...I wouldn't stand for it. We might not have had much, but she loved me and she loved the Lord. The first couple of years after the divorce were the toughest. As Dad drove around in a Porche, Mom and I were living in house at on time with no electric or running water. We moved in with a woman from church...basically a total stranger. She was a God sent. Things got better. Mom was even able to get a good job and send me to our church school for high school (except for $100 once my father paid, my mother paid for it). I was pretty good as a kid. Didn't get it really any trouble as a teen. I became at one point very active in teen group at church and became the little preacher of the group. I preached 2 times in for our church (when we did Teen-take over the service) of a few hundred, a few times at chapel at school and I believe I did something at teens itself once.

When Chris and I started dating (again) at 17 (I originally met him when I was 14. We did the 14 y.o.--your my boyfriend for about 2 weeks) people weren't exactly thrilled. They didn't understand it. But I did. I only started dating Chris because I knew he was the one. I know it sounds crazy, but at 17 I knew he was the one. We have been together ever since July 27, 1990. The church at one time even tried making us "take a break" from being together (they thought we were too serious for each other and blah-blah-blah). SSHHH....don't tell anyone, but we snuck around to see each other that month. My mother wasn't stupid though. She even has a very funny story to go with that, but I will save it for another day.

Chris joined the Marines (that is another story of God stepping in) as a way to provide for us. One of the best things he ever did. When I said good-bye to him that October day when he left for boot-camp I said good-bye to a boy. When he came back I was looking at a man. It put the disciple he lacked at a kid in him. He..no WE did 4 years in the Marines. We packed up 2 suited cases and moved to Camp LeJeune, North Carolina 3 months after we got married. Being that far from home was one of the best things for us just starting out and being so young. We only had each other and God.

So here we are....16 years later. Celebrating. Celebrating what God has done. We both believe that God brought the two of us together at such an early age to heal us and have us grow together (I am crying right now just thinking about all of it). Over these 16 years we have had our share of dips (not downs)and times of sadness (losing 2 pregnancies). I couldn't think of anyone else I would want to go through all of it with. Chris is truly my BEST-BEST Friend. I can ALWAYS go to him (even when I mess up really bad) and I know that he is going to love me through it. He is my all-in-all. We have grown together beautifully over these years. I believe that God has blessed us due to our faithfulness to each other and to him.

I hope you enjoy the pics I put up (I think you can click on them to make them bigger). Have a great day!!!

Toodles,
Judy

The Heart of the Matter Contest

I love contests...I haven't won one yet but just the idea that I could...I LOVE! This is a good one too. The Heart of the Matter is the NEW online homeschooling magazine. This contest is for a homeschool care package. It is packed with all kids of goodies:
loose leaf binders (2)
paint can w/ number magnets
Oxford Index Card w/ring
index card binder
4 posters
small chalk board
easy view reader
modeling clay
water paint
Lowe's apron (great for art)
365 Days of Celebration & Praise book
Graphic Organizers book
plus more!

I would love to win this. We have had a wee-bit of a hard time getting back in the grove since taking so much time off for all the festivities in December. This could bring a little excitement to our homeschool. Today is the last day for the contest so head of over and enter. http://heartofthematteronline.com/

Toodles,
Judy

Wordless Wednesday

Tea Party for Emily---Kids all decided to play with Emily. It was awfully cute.