A Few Things and One More

First, my Son is still in the states.  After I posted the other night, he called and said that it would be any time but that he was on "stand by".  Well, he is still on stand by.  

Second, my internet was down.  We have three places connected together with several routers and well, when one goes down, they all go down.  

So, I wasn't able to get back on Saturday to let you all know the latest updates on where Jeremy was.  Thank you all for your prayers and please don't stop praying for everyone in Haiti working to make a difference and for the Haitians themselves.  I now we all are, I'm preaching to the choir here.  I'll let you know as soon as we know when Jeremy leaves, he's ready and sitting on go.

Third, my honey feels awful.  Today and yesterday and maybe even the day before, he has felt really awful.  They said this would be the worst one, they were right.  It's starting to get him down a bit and it's hard for me to watch, too.  I just keep telling him, tomorrow will be better, we will beat this thing and it's gonna be okay.  He knows all this, he's just tired really, he needs sleep desperately.  He has a hard time sleeping normally but right now he is going through a really ruff time trying to get sleep.  

It's gonna be okay, it will get better, we'll beat this thing.  

I guess I tell myself the same things sometimes.

Love to you all.  

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***UPDATE ***  7:50 pm

 Jeremy just texted me, He IS on his way to Haiti.

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Okay, so a little panic is setting in, I had gotten comfortable thinking that he might not go.  I like being able to call him and say "whatcha doing?"  He's ready to be there, to do what he does, I got that.  It's gonna be okay, we can get through this, God doesn't give us more than we can handle.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Eph. 3: 14-21.

AND 

Phil 4:13  I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.  

 

Soldier Son

Lord knows they need him and others like him.  But, I just wasn't ready for that text. 

 

It said and I quote, "going to haiti, tonight."

What!!!

What will you be doing?

How will you get there?

What time do you leave?

I'm a little scared for you.

Can you call me before you leave?

That's it, no more text.  I know they need to be there, Lord they need help.  

And as a warrior Mom, I proud that my son is going to one of the ones there to help.  It just that he is a sweet spirit, kind and generous, loving and as his Mom, I know his heart is going to break.  

So, what's a warrior Mom to do?  Pray.  Pray.  Pray.

And ask for prayer.  Would you?  Add Jeremy and all the people there trying to help, that God will strengthen them, protect them both physically and mentally.  That no weapon formed against them will prosper, that no calamity will cross the threshold of their home, hearts,  or minds.  I thank you Lord Jesus that he is the head and not the tail, I thank you Lord Jesus that you will equip him and all our soldiers and missionary's already there, to be your hands and feet.  I trust you Lord Jesus, that living life with you is the greatest adventure of them all.  

 

We Are So Blessed in America

My honey has had his third chemo treatment yesterday, he is doing well but we have been warned that this can be the hardest treatment yet.  Thankfully he has not suffered from nausea or being sick to his stomach.  Praise God for that, Thank You Lord.  

The reason this is the hardest one is because the count of his white blood cells will be down to the lowest number and this is the treatment that really kills the cancer cells.  Also, because his white blood count is so down so low, his blood can't carry as much oxygen as normal and he will feel more fatigued.  That makes sense.  

Still, he went out this morning, fed the cows and checked water.  We've had lunch and he has taken his afternoon nap.  I think I just heard the door shut so he must be out the door again and I am getting ready to get supper on the table.  

Amazing really, isn't it?  For most of us, we woke up this morning and went on with life as usual, not having to give much thought to the utter, total, unimaginable, horrific pictures do not tell the story, devastation that is going on in Haiti.  I mean, I have spent the day on the Internet looking at rugs.  It has taken all day, there are a lot of rugs out there!  Meanwhile, the poorest people in the western hemisphere are spending the second night in a row outside.  Wondering . . .  I can't imagine what they must be wondering, what you would be feeling or even if you could feel anything at all after something like a 7.0 magnitude earth quake that was only 6 miles under ground.  Anything would fall.  I would be in shock.

What comes to mind is it could happen here.  It could happen in an instant, one minute your cooking supper and the next your sleeping outside, maybe looking for missing family members.

I am not very good at writing what is in my heart at times like this but I just felt the need to try to express how fortunate we are in America.  I know we have problems here but really we are so blessed.   

Go, hug your family, smile at your children and love on your husband.  And pray for the people of Haiti and pray for this country as well.  

 

Be Blessed.   

Back Home and Time for Action

We're back from seeing this little guy.

very entertaining and always on the go.  

and this little one.

Last week I asked for and received help for my dining room.  Thank you all again.  I am taking all the advice and using most of it.  So here is a picture of the dining room minus the shelves.  Really did open it up and now the light fixtures stands out.  Next, a painting project to warm up the space and then on to accessorizing, my favorite part.

Here are the shelves at home in their new spot.  

These photos should be named "Rooms in the Raw"  cause that what they are or I could call them blank canvases.  Hey, it's still early in the year of my 2010 to do list.  

I'll get there.  

What to do with this stuff?  

The Jury Is In

Wow, thank you for your input on the dining room.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to come by,  examine the pictures and give me the excellent advice that you did.  I am in your debt. 

After taking in all the great ideas and suggestions I have come to the conclusion that it will stay a dining room. 

 

I'm telling you I had to state my case and re-state my case and then pout a little and then be made fun of for said pouting and then argue my case one more time before he finally gave in.  

Whew, that was a hard one. Seriously he's never cared like that before.  I didn't know how to act ... well that's not true I do know how to act and act I did.  Yea, I'm a little embarrassed but it's like I told him, "I hate this room so much that is dripping from my mouth."  Ooh, that's disgusting just hearing it back again, must be what finally got to him.  I am afraid that I have stepped across a line that will come back to haunt me.

  

Here's the deal; I'm moving the shelves in the bedroom (please Lord, let them work out in the bedroom) texturing the walls, painting and glazing.  Ooh it's going to be so exciting.  I can't wait to get started.

  

First though it's off to Virginia to see the newest member of the family.  We have had three little girls born into this family this year.  And the grandkids so far think they have something going, I get the feeling that these three may rule the roost.  Here's a few shots at Christmas time with the two oldest of the three youngest. ?  

Miss Hadley

Miss Anah

The three oldest, Caleb, Tyler and Sarah

My oldest, D

Kurt, Kristen and baby H

This was the first time that Anah and Hadley met.  It went fine, Anah got the first licks in.  She smacked Hadley in the face and poked her in the eye.  Just setting the stage for later I guess.  Lordy, this is gonna be fun.

Twenty-Ten ToDo's

After the Christmas decorations are put up, I always want to simplify my surroundings.  Clear out clutter, look to the future and begin projects that I've been eyeing.   It just feels right.  It feels like I have waited the appropriate amount of time and now I'm making my move.  God willing things are about to happen.  

First on my list, and an impressive list it is I'm talking major painting projects this year, is the dining room. 

During the building stage and on paper this room was a "sitting  parlor".  We decided that we would not have a formal dining room because we never use it so this was going to be a library/reading room.  

But -- I had this dining table that I still loved

 and was not going to get rid of it.  It's a double pedestal ball and claw foot table.  

I got to thinking (note: can be very dangerous during building projects, just sayin) and wondered, "how many places can a girl sit in one house?"  

So I told the electricians to put a light in the middle of the room and ordered a fixture. 

I like her, I think she is interesting, pretty even.

and wa-la dining room.  

So far the this room and the table has only been used as a place put seasonal decorations. Here are the Easter decorations from earlier this year.

A little wishful thinking for Spring already.

And, I have recently added drapes to the room.

Luscious.

Here is a picture from the construction period before we moved in.  It shows you the room before the shelves.

And the front door entry area.

Okay, so now the dilemma.  I don't like the room.  Period.  I don't like it.  I didn't post this years Christmas pictures because . . .  I don't like them.  And I don't like the room.

It's like I'm practicing telling you so I'll be ready to state my case to my honey.  Note, he likes the room, hello.  I had already bought the shelves when I made the change.  They said they were "antique."  I don't know about that, but they were stupidly expensive, not one of my better buys.  When it came time to move the furniture in, I could not see another place for the shelves to go and thought they might be okay in the dining room and so, here we are.

 

Here's what I'm thinking.  

1. move the shelves out of the room.  I want to re-texture the room, it has a very smooth texture on the walls right now, re-paint and glaze.  I have had my eye on some Ralph Lauren carpet that is needlepoint leopard print.  

2. Sell the table and chairs.  Put two big, overstuffed wing back chairs with an over sized ottoman and let it be the parlor.  (Question, will that make the chandelier out of place?)

Or

3.  Paint the shelves.  And then choose an option. 

One thing I feel about this room is that it's not really big enough for the shelves and the table and chairs and also that it is confused about what it's function is.  Is it a dining room or a reading room or both, or neither one.  See, I need help.  

If I move the shelves, I can put them in my master bedroom.  It is a large room, rectangle in shape and I have not finished it yet.  I have very tall, very dark headboard and foot board.  I'm thinking the shelves will help to balance the room.  

 This is the only picture I have of the bed, it was when we first moved in, now there are tables beside it and pretty linens and pillows on the bed.  

So that's the first project for 2010.  I could use some input, what do you think?  

Next the vent hood.

I'm thinking darker, maybe a metallic finish, like a bronze.  

That's enough for now, but I am just barely scratching the surface, there's the master bath redo, the ceiling in the entry that's just asking for some stenciling and glazing,  the Christmas storage organization room redo (ick, yea like that one's gonna happen), the courtyard landscaping, the . . .

2010, I'm planning a busy year.  Praying for busyness, projects baby, keeps me young.

Update on my Honey

We're struggling a bit.  I announced a while back that my husband had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  We've had two chemo treatments and everything is going well but he is also a diabetic and some of the medications he was taking to control nausea causes his blood sugar levels to rise.  Dramatically.  So we've been struggling lately.  The doctors have put him on insulin shots, he was on pills before, to control his blood sugar. 

 His hair is falling out.  We've had many conversations about the fact that he does not have much hair. I tell him he looks good to me. Mainly, he has conversates, I listen.  But I like it that way.  I like listening to him talk.  Might as well, that's how our relationship started out.  He talked, I listened, he thought I was the smartest thing he had ever ran into.  There's some wisdom for you.  Silence, be fluent in this language it'll take you places.

  But still I know he is surprised by what he sees in the mirror.  I am encouraged to be able to say that he still has an excellent attitude.  It snowed this morning and we still haven't melted the snow from a week ago so he is burning brush piles.  The man is right in his element.  Set him free, put him in the back pasture and he is a happy man.  

So this is just a little post to let any of you who know, who stop by, where are with his treatments.  Cause you asked and as weird as it seems to others outside blogland, it matters to us.  We're friends.  When we are away from each other, we wonder.  We start looking at our lives differently and think "ooh that will make a good post", we need the rest of the story.  

Maybe someday I should tell you more about how we met and the things he has taught me.  

Not today, though sorry for the tease.  Company's coming and I have got to finish cleaning and get some supper cooking.  

:)