God's gifts

God's gifts started today with a bird singing out my window. Or, should I say, he was a gift for the first 10 minutes...after that...not so much! With the gift of prayer, then the gift of good hair, ready to go without fixing. My sister, Janice, spends two hours on her hair. She looks more glamorous, but I'm out the door and back home while she's stil prepping.Then the gift of coffee made by my hubby.

The real gift... that of eternal life. The gift I pray for you. Have a great day!

GOD'S GIFTS

Today I challenge you to look all day for a gift from God. So often, we miss his gifts. Look today. realllllllly Look...Let's see what gifts he gives us. I'll report back ...you too!

Worrying ....

We all do it...worry. Some of us are better at it than others. Some us us have it perfected! Some of us don't do it enough! The expert on worrying says:

"Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear...Look at the birds...they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,...will he not much more clothe you?" Matthew 6:25-30
For, for those of you who have perfected worrying, it doesn't add one day to your life. Leave everything at His feet, and learn to leave it there...A lesson for all of us.

...She's a Butterfly (Martina McBride)

She remembers when she first got her wings
And how she opened up that day she learned to sing
Then the colors came, erased the black and white
And her whole world changed when she realized
She's a butterfly, pretty as the crimson sky
Nothing's ever gonna bring her down
And everywhere she goes
Everybody knows she's so glad to be alive
She's a butterfly
Like the purest light in a darkened world
So much hope inside such a lovely girl
You should see her fly, it's almost magical
It makes you wanna cry, she's so beautiful
God bless the butterfly,give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
God bless the butterfly,give her strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground

OMG...I love great songs on people's blogs!! SO HELP!!

I admit it...I blog stalk!! Is that a word?? I love finding blogs that have great music. I minimize the site and just listen while I work on other things!SO...Here's what I need. Some suggestions for music for my blog. And then afterwards, I'll ask you how I put them on here= )

I like all kinds of music (except rap). My list will include from me:
-......see...I'm a blank!!! help!!!

He is the great physician!

The next five days Lauren was in ICU! Things are all mixed up and out of order, I'm sure to all of us involved, but God is wonderful, and although we had so many frightening times, Lauren got to come home the following Wednesday....But not without:
Joan and Elissa coming to the hospital in record time
Justin's mom and dad coming that very day
Jessica and Roy stopping everything and coming to be with us immediately
Eric coming and talking us through a difficult time
The critical care team told us Lauren may need to be on a ventilator to help her breathe, and she may need dialysis. They would watch her, but to be aware that no one was sure what would happen.
...Justin was trying his best to get there. Family on both sides had found Haliburton and he was on his way, but he was in McAllen. I'm sure that was the longest trip for him!
There are only certain segments of time that you can see ICU patients, but as soon as Justin arrived, they let him back. Lauren said that was the first time she cried.
Then there was the night when Lauren got so much worse. We were all so worried. What happened? We could all feel it. She was distant, in dire pain, not with us, not responding! What to do? Pray, and call Joan (thank God for nurses). We prayed with Justin that night when we all got back to Justin and Lauren's. Joan gave suggestions of what to ask the dr, and Maark called the hosp and asked questions of the nurse there. That was such a long night.
As she began to respond to the huge amounts of drugs given, her organs began responding, yet we were not "out of the water" yet. She always wanted Justin near, she wanted Jess and Mark to hold her hand.Jess and I bathed Lauren one day, and Jessica danced around the room and sang "I believe you're my healer." I think in our guarded laughter that day, God and Jess gave Lauren that song to claim.
In that week, people came, people called, friends and family sent Flowers, goodie baskets, cards, prayers, kolaches, mashed potatoes, anything that they could think of. Carla made soup, Ginger made pot roast, and Jess and Justin made baked potato soup. God gave us new friends to support us, and I have never had or sent so many texts ever! Jess became our official update girl, so all concerned could know what was happening.
Basicalll, Lauren had to learn to breathe on her own, like food again, and learn to get herself geared up enough to go from her bed to the bathroom. ...and the first day she walked to the nurses station, I cried!
On the day Lauren was to be released, the nurse arrived to take the iv out, and then she realized that she also had to take the central line out. Lauren and I both thought we were ready for that...Wrong! It was an awful experience, and I think it finally hit Lauren how much she had gone through...FINALLY, there were tears, and there needed to be. God had brought her through a horrible ordeal, and we all learned many life lessons...mainly, as Twila Paris says...God is in control!
Maybe all this is too much information, but it does us good to share God's gifts!...I have always told my girls to look for God's gifts daily; when our eyes are watching for those, life has deeper meaning!...SO LOOK FOR GOD'S GIFTS TODAY, RIGHT NOW...Right now is all we have.... on this earth.

Post two: She needs ICU or - IGNORANCE IS BLISS!

Ignorance is bliss. I’ve heard that expression all my life. I never agreed with it. I hate being the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on. HOWEVER, that Wednesday, Ignorance was bliss!
Within minutes of transferring Lauren to the larger E.R. room, filled with much equipment; it seemed to me the room was full of drs., nurses, people plugging in monitoring devices. I was hearing conversations, commands, frustrations all around us, but there seemed to be no time to digest all the things that were happening. As two people began to place oxygen on Lauren, I heard words like seizure (which I reassured them Lauren never had)…I saw them exchange glances to one another…I saw trouble with the IV; words like veins collapsing, can’t find a vein (I offered up somewhere in the conversation that Lauren was so small she once needed a pediatric blood pressure cuff and iv equipment. Someone rushed to get those items. Still can’t get a blood pressure; blood pressure way to low; need to move quickly. I heard words like…central line..They were starting to cut her leg. I quickly asked if she couldn’t have something so she wouldn’t feel the line going in and heard the words …no..blood pressure too low…need her to stay with us!. Somewhere in the pandemonium, Lauren smiled and said she felt like this was an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” People chuckled.
I thought Lauren needed me to make sure they were doing everything right, but cutting I wasn’t quite ready for, I felt a little queasy, and someone handed me a coke. The E.R. Director asked me where her husband was. Could I find him. Was I from this area. How far away was family. Lauren herself, between her small yelps of pain (never tears) told me that she heard the dr. say she needed to go to ICU. I briefly told her I thought they were talking about another patient (I really did think that!) …I told you ignorance is bliss. I asked someone, and was told that she was being taken to the intensive care unit of the hospital. They did an x-ray somewhere during that time, and told me Lauren had pneumonia and had sepsis. I had to ask the er doctor what that was. After all, I just thought she needed an iv of fluids (a kind of drive-through fluid service and although painful, we’d be on our way.) What is sepsis??Are you kidding me; body shutting down…It is true that when you hear something so frightening, the mind cannot process!
I stepped outside to call my husband, who was on his way to Dallas for a conference. He and I were going to make a weekend getaway of it, and then visit my daughter and her husband for church on Sunday. As I told him they were putting a central line in Lauren’s leg to give her fluids and whatever…he heard her scream, and said I’m on my way. He said he’d call Jessica, Lauren’s older sister. I called Justin, her new husband, and left a message. I knew he works on the oil wells and wouldn’t get the message til lunch, but I’d leave it for him. I called my sister-in-law and she calmed me. I could almost hear her praying for Lauren. Actually, she told me she’d pray with me, but the attendant came to take her to ICU and I had to hang up. Joan was also on her way, with Elissa, Lauren’s cousin.
A nurse that I just loved how she took care of Lauren suddenly came out of the er room crying! That upset me, although I loved her more for it. There was an emt trainee who was telling his story to a friend of how he couldn’t find a vein, or get any blood out for the blood cultures that were needed. I remember feeling people were staring at me. I wanted to say, “Why are you talking like I’m not here!” I began to feel the panic of the unknown well up inside of me. I went back to the room in time to see the dr. stitch Lauren’s central line in place. I thought to myself, “Why is there not a ton of blood with that?” I remember things out of order, I’m sure, but I spent a lot of time praying and talking to Lauren, and getting out of people’s way. No one ever asked me to leave. They were all working so feverishly, it was as if I wasn’t really there, or at least an uninvolved bystander. There was a need for a catheter, which I questioned. Again, no meds to help with the pain, and to make matters worse, her kidneys were starting to not work. Suddenly there was an ultrasound machine to verify this, and more pandemonium. I wanted to scream, but I thought Lauren needs you to be strong. Help me stay with her Lord. Another dr. said to me, “We’re taking her to ICU. She’s severely dehydrated, has pneumonia, and sepsis. You got her here just in time.” We’ll get her settled there, and we’ll come and get you in 15-20 minutes to see her there and meet the critical care team. Did you find her husband?”
What? My ignorance was no longer blissful! Off they went with her, me telling her I’d see her shortly. The nurse gingerly took me to an empty icu waiting area; and I began to weep, first a little, then a lot. I remember there was no bible in that room. There needed to be one! I thought that 15-20 minute wait was so long in the icu waiting room. I didn’t know what was ahead of us, or how long the next few days would be. When you have no strength, you lean of others. This I know, and I wanted Lauren to have a strong support group, and she would have...

Post One: Beginning of the Worst week of our Lives

Funny how when you wake up in the morning, you never know what the day will bring.

On Wednesay of last week, I attended another academic coaching meeting; this time a Science Coach meeting. Since the state of Texas is coming out with new academic Science standards next year, we were writing curriculum. My daughter Lauren had texted me earlier in the day that she had been throwing up all night, and had stayed home. She had a dr. appointment at 1 p.m. because she was feeling awful. She texted me that she hoped she could drive herself, as she felt horrible. Later, she texted me that the dr. had confirmed her fears; she had the flu – not just any flu – the H1N1 type. She asked if I could come and take care of her. I flippantly texted that her new hubby could do that. (I didn’t know he was out of town for his work.) When I realized how sick she felt, of course, I quit teasing, quickly threw some things in a bag, and drove 2 hours to College Station to take care of her. I envisioned getting lots of Gatorade in her, feeding her crackers, and helping to keep any fever in check; you know, regular mom stuff when one of your children gets a “bug.”

I could see when I arrived that this H1N1 flu was mean. She was quite lethargic, and her fever was going up. I don’t usually overreact when my children get sick; if there’s no blood, I figure “this too will pass.” However, when her fever went to 103, I called my sister-in-law and asked for help. As usual, she gave exact instructions, which I followed, and the fever broke in about an hour. I was afraid to sleep with Lauren, so I slept on her new sofa, with a listening ear. The following day, the fever was gone, but she was throwing up and in the bathroom. I actually thought, “She’ll feel better by tomorrow.” I even voiced my opinion that this flu was on its last leg! However, when she woke up on Friday morning, she had a fever again. She got up, went to the restroom, and I said, “Just sit there a minute, I’m going to the restroom.”…

You need to understand, there is a joke in that. I seem to miss important things in Lauren’s life while visiting the potty room! When her sweet husband asked her to marry him, yep…I was in the bathroom! When I came out, the room was a joyous thunder of congratulations…how did I miss it. I only made a quick trip to the bathroom???

Well, here we go again, as I was returning from the bathroom, I hear a huge noise. Oh my goodness, Lauren had passed out. How could I have left right then?? I ran to her, picked her up, and she said I slapped her.(I have no memory of that = ).
We called my sister-in law again, and the dr. The dr. (who I think was useless) said he’d write a prescription for phenagren and she’d be fine. My sister-in-law said to take her to the e.r….Thankfully, we listened to the latter. I was scared. We don’t go the E.R….I began praying as I somehow got her to the car.
I begged Lauren to “stay with me,” otherwise, I had no clue how to get to the hospital. She managed, but passed out as we arrived at the E.R. I ran in, stepped in front of people (like a good, desperate mom) and started ranting that my daughter kept passing out, and I needed a wheelchair. (I think I also used the term, H1N1 flu") Immediately, people began to take action, coming to the car, getting Lauren out, rushing her inside. By the time I parked the car, there were five people working on her, trying to find a blood pressure. They quickly moved her to a larger emergency room; and then, as they sat in the movies, “All hell broke loose.”
ACTUALLY, however, I would like to change that phrase to what happened for us, "All heaven took charge..."

NORMALCY!!

If someone said to me that living a normal life was as simple as water and electricity, I would have laughed. However, after 14 days without power, I was so happy for a normal day!! One with power!! Eating out gets old! Running a loud generator got even older. ...and the mosquitos are large and plentiful!
After power came, I found ( like everyone else in Kingwood) I had the need to cook in my kitchen, bake in my oven, and vacuum my house! Thus, a clean home, with home cooked food. I have to tell you that when the tree trucks (by the dozens) and the Center Point Energy trucks arrived in Kingwood, there were cheers and clapping as they went by. The men in the trucks were waving, like our saviors!! Thank you God, and the electric company.

This morning in church, they discussed a program called 28 minutes for 40 days. 28 minutes a day in reading the New Testament for 40 days, and you should be finished. Mark and I are going to try it.. I started this afternoon with Matthew and the "begats..." Keep posted.

I miss education!

I am enjoying my freedom, and being able to run around and do something..or do nothing! However, I will always miss education. I just see a young child, and want to talk with them. The conversation is usually, "What grade are you in, What is your favorite subject..." Of course, their parents have told them not to talk to strangers, so, that only workd so well. I think about volunteering at school. I know they would love it, but I also know that once I go through the doors, I will NOT leave.
I heard Jamie Curtis this morning talking about always thinking about the next thing she might be or do. I like that. I read once that some people always want to be or do one more thing. I know I am not finished with my career yet. And...I still am doing nothing about that. Consulting is great, and I thoroughly enjoy it. (However, speaking to the Houston GT Coop group of 600-700 may not be on a future list again!!) I am doing a Science workshop in December. I told Lauren she can come...I think that's nice, knowing Lauren is going to be an even better teacher than me! I do love researching for her!!
Lauren and Pip were just here. I just LOVE that!!! Problem seems to be when our kids come home, we're NEVER ready for them to leave. Lauren is SO excited about her ring. She has to constantly fill us in on why that's important, and such a big deal, since we're not aggies. So, that will be fun next week. I can't believe she is a senior!
Jess calls on her way home from work. I think after a long day, she might be too tired to talk, but that is our gift, that time on her way home. Roy's birthday is this weekend, so she is a bit giddy.
Speaking of giddy, I'm sure no one has noticed how g - i- d - d- y Lauren is that Justin will be closer to her now!!!! I know Justin was bummed that the house deal didn't work out. We just have to keep telling them that God's timing is always right, and just trust.
Well, I just received a book from ASCD online, so, I'm going to read!!!

Don't Blink

...I wrote this blog, and then apparently I blinked ...because it has disappeared!!!!!

excellence vs perfection

I have to be careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business.

We say we'll talk the talk and walk the walk, but sometimes we forget to be a good Christian, talking and walking is in the daily living we do. May we strive for excellence for him, daily.

Excellence in Lauren's photography-above!

Happiness

Happiness is watching Mark "dance."

Midnight Hour

I love writing in the middle of the night. The house is quiet (except for Mark snoring-loudly), and there is something very restful about the way our heavenly Father takes care of our days.

I talked to my sister today. She is wonderful, but not very healthy right now. She will have a second surgery next week. Hard times have brought her closer in her walk, though. I talked to mom, too. She's starting to forget things. That's scary.

I've been reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." It is the time in my time, I suppose, but the author describes her mother's childhood. It has made me want to question my mom more about her life with her siblings, about her favorite childhood treat, the depression...and so many other things. I wish I had asked years ago. Why do we have to be older for our parents past to be so treasured?

Mark, girls, I love you!

SUMMER!!!!!

For 19 years, as a teacher, I was always so excited for summer vacation. It was a time to regroup, rest, and play. Now that I am not working, you'd think I'd not see this time of year as any different than any other. NOT SO!! I still absolutely love summer!

I love the kids on bikes all over the place, the noisiness of the neighborhood pools, and the vacations of our family. I went to Virginia last month, but will get to enjoy the company of Jess and Lauren when we return next month. We all love the easy, laid back life there with all our extended family. Mark and I will go on vacation later, when he's not so busy. San Destin Hilton sounds great. We'll probably do a few days at the Hill Country Hyatt for a short r and r.

I had Lauren home for a few days, with Pip. I always love that. I always love when Jess and Roy come too.(hint, hint)

As a mom, I'll end by saying that there is no greater joy in life than leading, loving and praying for your children, no matter what their age. I loved the thought of having kids, being pregnant, and raising them. There are truly blessings from God. Mark and I have loved watching our girls grow up and become strong women of God. And I am the mom who says always, hurt me...but do not mess with my children! Once, I even argued with a district policeman who I felt wronged one of my girls. I believe and have taught my girls to "know what to fall on the sword for"...there are some things in life that there can be no compromise on. Thank you, God, that you are that one thing.
Now that I have begun blogging, I'm liking it!!!!!!

Do I have too much time on my hands??

Lauren set this site up for me...and keeps asking if I have begun writing...I keep saying no.

So, this is my first attempt at sharing my personal life...stuff people probably don't want to know, and will forget 10 seconds after reading!

I have lots of work to do. That's why I'd rather write. I LOVE writing,especially in the middle of the night. Today, I share a prayer request from my sister, Ruby. Her wonderful son, Jason, is a state trooper in Virginia. She asks that we all remember him daily in his dangerous job, especially this Thursday. Ruby has such a sweet spirirt for the Lord, and would do anything for anybody. Pray for her too. I love that I have sisters!!!!

Daughters

My two beautiful daughters.