Pardon Me for a Post

Almost four years ago, I began this blog at the urging of my grandmother-in-law, who thought it might make it easier for me to keep her up-to-date on her "great-grands". I had trouble keeping Mrs. Graham as informed as she would have liked! She wanted to know everything and loved Grace and Davis with all of her heart. We miss her tremendously, even though we didn't see her very often.

I have tried to keep this blog mostly about the kids and what our family has done on our journeys around this country. I plan to keep it that way. However, after reading a few of my friends' blogs, I have felt inspired to share some of my deeper thoughts. I don't intend for this blog to become my journaling-outlet (is that good English??), but there are going to be times I will. Especially when what I am thinking about is too long for me to want to write out in my real journal. Isn't that pitiful?

I've been struggling with our upcoming move. A lot of you already know that, but I've had a "perspective change" that I wanted to share with you. I wrote the other day that the kids' bedtime Bible story was about Sarai and Abram and how they were told by God to go to a different land. What did they do? They said "Yes, God," packed up their stuff and got on their way to a land they had no idea about, even it's location.

While Jasen was reading the story, a most precious 4 year old said "Mom, is that like us? Like we are going to move from here?" We all smiled at Davis' question and I told him that, yes, that was like us. God via the Army tells us where to go and we do it.

The next day in my Lent reading, a God-incidence: Genesis 12:1-4a. Yep, that's God telling Abram and Sarai to "'Leave your country, your people, your father's household and go to the land I will show you.'" And what did Abram do? "So Abram left as the Lord had told him." The same verse/story in one day's time? Yep, I needed to glean something from this.

What did I glean? My perspective has been all wrong. You all wouldn't believe the thoughts I have had. Well, some of you would. I have been moping, blaming the Army for not giving me the life I thought I would have. As I have mentioned before, I (and my parents and probably most of the people who knew me prior to say, oh, 2000) never thought I'd leave the North Texas area. In fact, when I did leave and had to go live in "Texoma," (the part of OK that is so close to TX, it's a part of the region moniker) I was devastated. There was some part of my being that never wanted to leave the D/FW area.

And yet, when I fell in love and felt God's pulling of me toward Jasen, that's just what I did. And what happened? I have been blessed beyond what I can tell you. The spiritual growth and experiences I have had have been too numerous to count. I don't doubt that God would have grown me if I had stayed planted in good ole Stephenville, where the Yellow Jackets play. However, I don't know how it would have been accomplished.

Never mind the earthly treasures I have seen that were once only a dream!

I forgot that when I am angry at the Army (and, by association, Jasen) for taking away that nicely planted life I had planned, I was actually angry at God. Because in the end, so many of us know it isn't the Army that is in control. It's God. I firmly believe that when the Army tells us to go or stay, it's because it was God's plan all along. He has gone before us to prepare that place. He will be with us while we are there and when we move onto the next place. I had to stop wasting my time, longing for the life I thought I wanted, and get busy living the life God intended me to have. Yes, this life has been challenging, very hard at times, but it's been so rewarding.

I mean, how else would I have made friends who are from Boston, Seattle, and all kinds of places in between? How else would I have seen the faith of the Smith family, whose precious Kennedy was taken? How else would I have experienced the golf at St. Andrews? How else would I have met Greg Gadson and his wife, Kim, who inspire me with their endless energy and positive attitude? How else would I have seen the community outreach of JCNaz? How else would I have seen the Swiss Alps? How else would I have learned to deal with placing someone you love on the altar of God EVERYDAY? And learning He would take care of it? The list goes on and on....

I know God could have taught me those things, brought those people into my life, and given me those experiences. It's just hard to tell from my earthly eyes how that would have happened if I had that planted life, that life that I see, whether correct or not, as a little bit easier than the one God chose for me.

So I am changing my perspective. I am thanking God that He has gone before and I am being genuine. I am thanking God for bringing us here. I am thanking God for all He has done before and all He will do after our move. And I am thanking Him for changing my perspective. Because in the end, we need to set our eyes on the things above, not the things of this world that drag us down...

What's Going On?

Let's see, what's going on?

• Grace and I both had a stomach bug this past weekend. I won't go into the particulars, but it was not fun, to say the least. My current prayer is that God protects our boys and keeps them from getting "it." As my fever was spiking on Saturday night, Jasen got a text that the same virus was running through one of the battalions at The Citadel. Yikes!
• Fergus the dog is still alive, but he's hanging by a thread. I touched poop today that had been in my room for at least a little while. I was not happy. He's lucky to have a kennel, where I can put him until I can deal with him in a nicer way.
• Last night during our Bible story time, we read the story of Abram and Sarai being sent to another country. Davis said, "Is that like us, having to move?" Too sweet and pretty profound for a 4 year old, huh?
• Grace continues to shine on the basketball court. A definite hustler and defensive workhorse, I tell you. When she is on defense, if a girl puts the ball right in front of her, Grace is going to take it away. If her girl does not have the ball, Grace is jumping around like a mad woman to prevent her girl from getting it. It is at least a major distraction, if not the best defensive technique.
• When Jasen had his wisdom teeth out, the doctor perforated his sinus cavity. Thankfully, it should heal on it's own, hopefully by Jasen's follow-up next week.
• My dad is going to have his jaw broken AGAIN because it isn't lined up correctly. This time an oral surgeon will do it so it should be correct. Then he'll start the process of getting teeth, which will include bone grafts from his hip. Pray for him. I already feel sick about it. But he's still got the "hey, at least I am alive" attitude. Thank God for that.
• I am observing Lent by giving up sweets and only checking FB once a day. God has been good and made them both relatively easy. Of course, having a stomach virus helps the food cravings! I am looking at the virus and Lent as a good way for me to surrender control of ALL of my eating to God.
• This Thursday, we will go out to eat with Greg and Kim Gadson. So many of you know them and have prayed for them in the last few years. They are coming to Hilton Head to a conference and we are delighted they are coming here first so we can see them. I'll let you know how they are.
  

No More Vicodin!

We had some drama here last night. Scary drama. As usual, I will use our blog to give the extended version of events.

Yesterday, Jasen had three of his wisdom teeth taken out. They weren't pulled out, they were cut out. He wasn't able to eat all morning long because he was going to be put under general anesthesia. The surgery went well and we headed home. Once we got here, Jasen ate half of a milkshake, took a dose of Vicodin, antibiotics and ibuprofen. All was well.

About 2 1/2 hours later, Jasen was starting to feel some sensations in his mouth. The doctor had told me that, although he was prescribing the Vicodin/ibuprofen for every 4-6 hours, on the first day, Jasen could have one within 2 hours, if he needed it. Since Jasen was starting to feel slight pain, he (and I agreed) wanted to stay ahead of the pain. He had another dose of Vicodin and ibuprofen with some applesauce and slept for about an hour and a half.

When it was time for the kids and I to eat dinner, Jasen wanted to get up to sit with us. I fixed him some more applesauce and tapioca. He ate the tapioca, then looked at me and said he didn't feel good. I asked him if he thought he was going to get sick or what, and he said he thought he might pass out. I told him to stand up slowly, and I would help him to lie down.

He got up, we were able to get to the carpet of our entry and he went down. He was already kind of crouching, so he didn't fall far, didn't hit anything, etc. Because he'd taken the gauze out of his mouth, there was blood coming from his nose when he stood up because it had entered his nasal passages when he went forward. He sat for a minute, then told me that he felt better and was ready to try again.

I got him up and about a half second later, he was out again, like a sack of rocks, and he fell into the computer room. That was okay because again, it had carpet. Remember, the kids are watching all of this from the dining room table. They see blood, see Dad falling over, passing out and they are freaked. There was screaming and crying. They were terrified and I didn't blame them. I was scared, too.

Jasen woke up again and was able to sit up behind our front door. After a minute or two, Mr. "10 Foot and Bulletproof" decided he could make it this time. I told him that I wanted him to lean on my back and I would walk him to our room. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. Wrong. As soon as he got in position on my back, he passed out again, slid back onto his knees, and fell further back, popping his head on the only hardwood floor we have in the whole darn house. It was loud, and it was scary.

At that point, the kids and I are all pretty freaked, but I needed Grace's help. Like the big girl she is, she ran to our neighbor, Hunter's house to get him. This time, Jasen didn't wake up very easily and it was scary. Hunter, who, oh, by the way, is about 5'6" and weighs about half what I do, helped me get Jasen to our bed, where he was passed out again. We got him up on the bed and Hunter remembered that our other neighbors, Tim and Marissa, are EMTs. Obviously, I wasn't thinking very clearly. Hunter went and got them and they started assessing Jasen. Thank God that they were here, or Jasen would have been in an ambulance because I didn't know what else to do.

At that point, I realized our poor babies were standing on our front porch, screaming and crying. It was so awful for them. Jasen said that after he passed out the first time, he didn't remember anything but hearing Davis scream and cry. Because that is so rare, it was scary for Jasen, too. I got them inside, calmed down, and we prayed. Poor babies. Oh, my heart still hurts for them.

Tim and Marissa were able to call the oral surgeon and Tim relayed what Jasen's vitals were. By that time, Jasen was sitting up on the edge of the bed, talking. After Tim talked to the doctor, I talked to Dr. Shelbourne and he said that with Jasen having no food, general anesthesia and all that pain medicine in his system, he was probably over-medicated. We agreed no more Vicodin until at least today (if at all...I hope he can just do Ibuprofen!) and for Jasen to get as hydrated as possible.

Our neighbors all left and the kids and I went in and hung out with Jasen. He was much, much better. Very concerned that he had scared the kids and pretty much wiped out, but much better. Poor guy. Vicodin does not agree with him. He's had trouble with it once before, when he was in college. Needless to say, I will remember next time to ask for something different. Of course, with the things I outlined previously, any pain meds. might have affected him this way.

Once I got the kids to bed, Jasen ate some more applesauce, drank more water, and took some more ibuprofen. He fell asleep and everyone, but me, slept like babies last night. I was awake off and on all night long. I guess I'd rather that than anyone else in the family having trouble.

Me as a Redhead

And for all my non-FB friends, here is the new me! Discuss amongst yourselves. Or better yet, leave a comment and let me know what you REALLY think!

Random Thoughts

Okay, so here are things crossing my mind this morning or being said around our house:

• The kids were "flush riding" the toilet this morning. I have no idea what that means, especially since the toilet never flushed!
• I saw a commercial for the Vermont Teddy Bear company encouraging men to order a custom teddy bear for their Valentine. If I get one of these, I will be quite angry.
• Geaux Saints!
• The merlot color on my hair is not really me and I'll be glad to see it gone. Until that time, I will revel in the fact that Jasen and Grace love it.
• Why is it that Davis despises oatmeal with craisins and brown sugar? Just once, I think I shall make him eat it like my dad made me eat mine: with, like, three raisins. Now that's bad oatmeal!
• ESPN radio is bringing me low this week. I care nothing about the parade of "Hall of Famers" that Mike and Mike are talking to. And Colin Cowherd is such a kiss-up.
• Because Jasen's car will be paid off in April (whoop!), I will probably get to see my baby sister graduate from Aggieland!
• We still have not used the gift certificate for our cooking class that Jasen gave me last year for V-day.
• I mean, Go Colts!
• I do not want to go do the bike class. My feet have been hurting afterward and can you imagine, I have felt uncoordinated on the bike lately. Coordination brings me low, too, since it's hard for me.
  
• Speaking of working out, I need to get hot on running. The Cooper River Bridge run is about 6 weeks away and I am "only" running 3 miles these days. Although I say "only," 3 miles is a LOT for me!
• I am beginning to get excited about our move.
  
• We have a list of over 20 restaurants (none of them are chains, either) that we need to experience before we leave here. I am going to be so sad to leave!! I love food!
• No, no, I mean Geaux Saints!
• I do love Mike Ditka!
• My friend, Jenelle and I made my next two hair appointments and three dinner dates while I was with her yesterday. Gotta get that calendar filled before we leave!
• Jasen will be gone this weekend, which means it is British film/miniseries weekend for Sara. YEA!
• Anyone want an Amish Friendship Bread starter?
• Go Colts! Okay, that's my final answer. I think. I think...

Happy Thursday to all!!