Ok - why is it that children are so resilient? OMG - Jake wanted to play on his drums and guitars the very next day after surgery........he could not understand why he couldn't - in a way - it's sad because he is so accustomed to pain that he just thinks it's normal!!! I did keep him down for one day - that was all he could stand!!!! By Friday - he was outside with his dad trying to help him mow!!!!
Needless to say - Jake is doing fine............and yes, Tracie - Jake will KILL me when he is older for posting all his business.....LOL
Another update is that I'm back in the choir - I couldn't handle it for too long.......the break was GREAT - don't get me wrong - but my ministry is leading people into praise and worship and that is where I belong. It's different with a new leader - but God is in it and that is all that matters........I don't know who is more excited about me being back in the choir - myself or Jake....he is so pumped because he gets to go to practice with me and he thinks he is in the band.....LOL. I love all the musicians - they put up with him following them around. He adores them all - especially Pastor Jared and Mr. Mark.....(Mr. Robert is the BOMB - but he doesn't get to see him as much - but no one will ever take his place in Jake's heart - he is the man and always will be with Jakey).
I've been reading in Ecclesiastes - I've really struggled with some changes that have taken place lately - for no other reason than selfishness (is that a word??). I battled with Anger, bitterness, resentment. I finally realized that I was battling the flesh - my spirit was grieving. I started praying the word over my mind - the battle of the mind is so hard sometimes........I would start thinking things and then would let my thoughts take over and goodness - I would be in the gutter before too long! LOL. I have never really studied Ecclesiastes before - and it has really helped to heal some of my bitterness........Ecclesiastes 3 - the "time for everything" scriptures has really taken a hold of me during this time.............
There is a time for everything - and everything on earth has it's special season
There is a time to be born and a time to die
There is a time to plant and a time to pull up plants
There is a time to kill and a time to heal
There is a time to destroy and a time to build
There is a time to cry and a time to laugh
there is a time to be sad and a time to dance
There is a time to throw away stones and a time to gather them
There is a time to hug and a time not to hug
There is a time to look for something and a time to stop looking for it
There is a time to keep things and a time to throw things away
There is a time to tear apart and a time to sew together
there is a time to be silent and a time to speak
There is a time to love and a time to hate
There is a time for war and a time for peace.
Vs. 9 - 15 "Do people really gain anything from their work? I saw the hard work God has given people to do . God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing. So I realize that the best thing for them is to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God. I know that everything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done, and they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to make people respect him. What happens now has happened in the past, and what will happen in the future has happened before. God makes the same things happen again and again."
WOW - this was an eye opener for me. Basically - what I'm going through - someone else has already been there and someone else will go through it after me! But, God is the same - yesterday, today and forever!!! Things will happen in life that we may not appreciate or understand - but we have to know that God will take care of us in the midst of our storm. He is our Father and when we woke up today - he was standing over us singing!!!! I love that!!!!
God does everything right and on time. We can not understand all of God's ways, and we hate to see people suffer, but God has not abandoned me or them........(or you).......He created us with a desire to know the future; however he does not tell us the future so we will depend on him. God always comes through - sometimes it is 11:59 when he does - but he always comes through!
Love to all
karen
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Jake's surgery
before surgery
after surgery.....smiling - on DRUGS....LOLok - in a nutshell since we've been back from Vacation - my life has been boring (LOL) - nothing really to report on until this week........
Jake went to the doctor on Monday and we discovered that he would have to have yet another surgery!!! This one we knew was coming - but it isn't always what you want to hear. It was a surgery to repair his testicle........when you are born so tiny - all of your parts don't necessarily form like they are suppose to.
When he was 2 years old - we had to have surgery on his penis because it wasn't formed correctly. They told us at that time that he would probably have issues with his testicles not dropping and that at some point and time - it would be an issue for him............fast forward to Jake now at 6 years old..........
It's always harder to have surgery for a child when they are old enough to realize what they are going through. Jake has such a high tendency for pain these days because he has been through so much! Six years old and has had 5 surgeries.......2 of them emergency.........he can pretty much handle any pain you through at him.....
So, we scheduled the surgery for August 28th - which was a bummer because that is the week that School starts. I told the nurse - if there is anyway possible - please let me know if you have a cancellation so that we can get over this prior to school starting.........it happened - they called on Tuesday and ask if we could come in Wednesday - the very next day!!!!! Talk about fast!
Here is the deal - with Jake - you have to explain to him what is going to happen - you can't spring stuff on him - he is very schedule oriented (don't even ask where this comes from!!!! LOL)....so, I had to sit him down and tell him step by step what was going to happen.......
He is such a trooper.......never a tear - in fact - he basically just hugged us and told us he loved us and walked back to the surgery room with the doctor........I am so glad that they told us before hand that they would "knock him out" prior to giving him the IV line.......I couldn't have handled knowing he was back there crying - he hates needles (I mean - who doesn't).
Anyway - the surgery was successful - he has two incisions....one about 2 inches and the other about 1/2 inch. 2 week recovery time as far as outdoor play and swimming. Of course, as soon as he got home yesterday - he was still numb and drugged up - he was in his band room playing his guitars. When I realized where he was - I went to get him to make him sit down and he had already caused his incision to bleed because the guitar was rubbing the incision.........he didn't even feel it!!!! Little children recover so much faster than adults....he will probably be running around tomorrow.........I would be in bed for days....LOL
Hope all is well for every one.
Love Karen
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Vacation update
Wow - I can't believe it has come and gone!!!! It seemed to have flew by! We left last Sunday - July 5th at 8:00 AM - we were so excited!!! Especially Jake - he could not wait to go "fishing".......Dad and Shirley came - we loaded the car and off we went.........
We, of course, stopped at Whataburger in Livingston (I think) for breakfast - is there any other breakfast place???? I love their breakfast.............then we headed down 59 through Lufkin, wow - what memories I have of Lufkin, Texas and all the years I spent on the campgrounds there!!!! So many changes since I've been there - but it still looks good. I can't believe I am old enough to remember the campground days when the floor was saw dust..............I sound like an old timer - guess I am!!!!! I can remember sitting outside when it was soooo hot and we would dress up and be sweating our GUTS out........but, hey - we looked good with our frizzy hair from the heat and our soaked dressed!!!!! LOL.....luckily - things got better and a new auditorium was built with air!!!
The drive was pleasant - took about 6 hours. We were loaded down with all kinds of snacks. Shirley and I do not travel lightly!!! Of course, we had to stop and potty a couple of times - but who is counting!!!!! I'm glad that Dad and Shirley traveled with us because she thought we were going to Broken Arrow - which is on the opposite side of Oklahoma that we were at.....LOL......it would have taken them twice as long to find us.
The other thing that we did during our travels was to stop at Dairy Queen. I LOVE blizzards - but I only allow myself to have one when I am traveling (it's like a treat - if I ate one as much as I'd like too - well, lets just say that wouldn't be a good thing!). I always get the cookie dough (extra cookie dough) with chocolate syrup!!! So good!!!!! We ate the blizzard instead of lunch....it was well worth it!
When we arrived at the cabin - we were so excited!!!!! It was beautiful (pictures below). It was in the woods and private - lots of land for Jake to play outside and a huge wrap around porch. Jake - of course, thought the wrap around porch was a concert stage - he ran his legs off for a week on the stairs with his guitar acting like he was the Jonas Brothers and they were having a concert!!!! He would also pretend he was Pastor Jared and that he was having band practice - he would get the band members together and hold hands and pray over practice! I love it!!!!! He is a mess. He definitely kept us entertained.
Intentionally, we didn't plan a whole lot of activities during this vacation. My dad and Shirley had just come off of a two week camp where they were in charge of the kitchen.....they were in desperate need of relaxation as well as Mark........so, we laid low and just hung out.....
We spent a couple days at the lake fishing and swimming. It was great for Popsie and Grammy to sit by the bank and watch Jake play in the water. He was so proud to show them what he could do.
Shirley and I had to shop - of course!!! The antique shops were great and cheap!!! Oh my goodness - I found some great bargains on stuff I was collecting......thanks Jann for recommending all the shops........both Shirley and I love to junk shop......
We spent a day driving through the state park and riding the train - it was great - you could see deer just laying around - they didn't even care that people were invading their territory! Beavers Bend state park is beautiful!!! The drive alone is worth going for. Another day we went back to the park and went through the museum that they have that chronicles the beginnings of Beavers Bend - it was awesome! They had a 100 year old cabin that was amazing - how in the world did they live like that way back then and survive? And here we are complaining about piddly stuff......wow - we are so spoilt these days - aren't we? Dad and Mark really liked the museum - my husband loves looking at old pictures and stuff from the old days.
The property surrounding our cabins had several hiking trails - Jake LOVED this - he wore his daddy out (ok - I only went ONCE)......they were steep and rocky and I kept telling Jake it was a "man" thing.....LOL....whatever it takes!!!
I read 3 books, my dad read 2 1/2 book and I think Shirley read 2!!! My dad and I love to read - but when we are at home - we feel like we need to be doing all the other stuff surrounding us - it was amazing to just hang out on the patio - with the wind blowing and just read. Jake was so busy having his concerts - it didn't even bother him that we weren't paying him any attention!!!!
One night - even though it was hot - Mark built a fire for Jake in the fire pit. They tried to roast marshmallows - but Jake didn't like that - he just wanted to entertain us....pictures below! The cabin also had a hot tub......ever sat in one of those when it's like a million degrees outside and the hot tub is 104!! Try telling a 6 year old that it's too hot - he didn't care!!! We finally told him that we would sit in it at night - it was at least a little cooler.....
We also ate very well while we were there.....Shirley had cooked two meals and brought with her - my mother-in-law had made a brisket for us and then we grilled steaks....everything was yummy. Dad made biscuits and gravy, we had pancakes, french toast........you name it!!!! The last night - we found this place called Pier 49 - they had the BEST fried fish............we also snacked alot....isn't that what vacation is for??? Now we have to go back on our diets and head back to the gym!
Saturday came too early..........but, we did NOT stop at diary queen on the way home - we were too grossed out from all the food we had already eaten - I was so glad to get home and start eating healthy.......at least until next time! :)
Hope you enjoy the pictures. Next year - our goal is to take both sets of parents - rent a passenger van and head up to Durango Colorado.... can't wait for that - what a site that will be!!! LOL
Take care!
Karen
We, of course, stopped at Whataburger in Livingston (I think) for breakfast - is there any other breakfast place???? I love their breakfast.............then we headed down 59 through Lufkin, wow - what memories I have of Lufkin, Texas and all the years I spent on the campgrounds there!!!! So many changes since I've been there - but it still looks good. I can't believe I am old enough to remember the campground days when the floor was saw dust..............I sound like an old timer - guess I am!!!!! I can remember sitting outside when it was soooo hot and we would dress up and be sweating our GUTS out........but, hey - we looked good with our frizzy hair from the heat and our soaked dressed!!!!! LOL.....luckily - things got better and a new auditorium was built with air!!!
The drive was pleasant - took about 6 hours. We were loaded down with all kinds of snacks. Shirley and I do not travel lightly!!! Of course, we had to stop and potty a couple of times - but who is counting!!!!! I'm glad that Dad and Shirley traveled with us because she thought we were going to Broken Arrow - which is on the opposite side of Oklahoma that we were at.....LOL......it would have taken them twice as long to find us.
The other thing that we did during our travels was to stop at Dairy Queen. I LOVE blizzards - but I only allow myself to have one when I am traveling (it's like a treat - if I ate one as much as I'd like too - well, lets just say that wouldn't be a good thing!). I always get the cookie dough (extra cookie dough) with chocolate syrup!!! So good!!!!! We ate the blizzard instead of lunch....it was well worth it!
When we arrived at the cabin - we were so excited!!!!! It was beautiful (pictures below). It was in the woods and private - lots of land for Jake to play outside and a huge wrap around porch. Jake - of course, thought the wrap around porch was a concert stage - he ran his legs off for a week on the stairs with his guitar acting like he was the Jonas Brothers and they were having a concert!!!! He would also pretend he was Pastor Jared and that he was having band practice - he would get the band members together and hold hands and pray over practice! I love it!!!!! He is a mess. He definitely kept us entertained.
Intentionally, we didn't plan a whole lot of activities during this vacation. My dad and Shirley had just come off of a two week camp where they were in charge of the kitchen.....they were in desperate need of relaxation as well as Mark........so, we laid low and just hung out.....
We spent a couple days at the lake fishing and swimming. It was great for Popsie and Grammy to sit by the bank and watch Jake play in the water. He was so proud to show them what he could do.
Shirley and I had to shop - of course!!! The antique shops were great and cheap!!! Oh my goodness - I found some great bargains on stuff I was collecting......thanks Jann for recommending all the shops........both Shirley and I love to junk shop......
We spent a day driving through the state park and riding the train - it was great - you could see deer just laying around - they didn't even care that people were invading their territory! Beavers Bend state park is beautiful!!! The drive alone is worth going for. Another day we went back to the park and went through the museum that they have that chronicles the beginnings of Beavers Bend - it was awesome! They had a 100 year old cabin that was amazing - how in the world did they live like that way back then and survive? And here we are complaining about piddly stuff......wow - we are so spoilt these days - aren't we? Dad and Mark really liked the museum - my husband loves looking at old pictures and stuff from the old days.
The property surrounding our cabins had several hiking trails - Jake LOVED this - he wore his daddy out (ok - I only went ONCE)......they were steep and rocky and I kept telling Jake it was a "man" thing.....LOL....whatever it takes!!!
I read 3 books, my dad read 2 1/2 book and I think Shirley read 2!!! My dad and I love to read - but when we are at home - we feel like we need to be doing all the other stuff surrounding us - it was amazing to just hang out on the patio - with the wind blowing and just read. Jake was so busy having his concerts - it didn't even bother him that we weren't paying him any attention!!!!
One night - even though it was hot - Mark built a fire for Jake in the fire pit. They tried to roast marshmallows - but Jake didn't like that - he just wanted to entertain us....pictures below! The cabin also had a hot tub......ever sat in one of those when it's like a million degrees outside and the hot tub is 104!! Try telling a 6 year old that it's too hot - he didn't care!!! We finally told him that we would sit in it at night - it was at least a little cooler.....
We also ate very well while we were there.....Shirley had cooked two meals and brought with her - my mother-in-law had made a brisket for us and then we grilled steaks....everything was yummy. Dad made biscuits and gravy, we had pancakes, french toast........you name it!!!! The last night - we found this place called Pier 49 - they had the BEST fried fish............we also snacked alot....isn't that what vacation is for??? Now we have to go back on our diets and head back to the gym!
Saturday came too early..........but, we did NOT stop at diary queen on the way home - we were too grossed out from all the food we had already eaten - I was so glad to get home and start eating healthy.......at least until next time! :)
Hope you enjoy the pictures. Next year - our goal is to take both sets of parents - rent a passenger van and head up to Durango Colorado.... can't wait for that - what a site that will be!!! LOL
Take care!
Karen
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Hello everyone!
Summer is quickly passing away - isn't it! OMW - school is only 9 or 10 weeks away...........wow.....and I haven't really done anything with Jake except spend time at the pool - I have a whole list of things I want to do with him - I'd better get busy!!!
Jake is enjoying his time at Pastor's Mark's school (his mother's day out). It's really cool because one of the teachers he really liked left - but a lady from our church - Ms. Bobbie Bragg, who Jake knows, is now going to be in his classroom!! He is so excited. It's funny how kids get attached to someone and when they leave - it's like the whole world around them changed.........so, for Ms. Mandie to leave - he was like - Ok - guess I'm not going back to Pastor's Mark's school.......I'm like - UH - I think you are!!!! LOL When I told him that Mr. Ted's (who painted the mural in his room) wife was going to take her place - he was real excited......see, it's the small things in life! LOL
The week of the 13th - he will go to Vacation Bible School at the same place that he does Mother's Day Out - he is excited about that too! After that- I've got to get busy taking him to some fun places like the wave pool in Mt. Belvieu, the schlitterbaun in Galveston, Aquarium, Moody Gardens, Kemah....ok - just to name a few......
Mark and I met with the doctor this past Friday to get her recommendations for Jake in the upcoming school year............she is pushing for a lot more modifications in his day - much more speech therapy...in fact - we will probably target private therapy for speech and occupational therapy. His speech/language area is the hardest hit - so we will need to really focus on that.
This summer - I've taken a leave of absence from the choir and from the WayStreet Kids ministry. I've sang faithfully for 10 years - twice on Sunday and on Wednesday nights and I just need a break! I'm only doing it during the summer months. This allows me to attend church with my hubby and son vs. leaving early in the morning on Sunday's (8:00 AM) and staying for both services (we have 9:00 and 11:00)and getting home around 2:00 PM.....it can be very tiring (as many of you do every weekend)! Our music director for the past 10 years has left our church to do other things and we are now in transition.......this in and of itself can be trying - but God is in control. Pastor Jared is doing a great job and in a few months - we will know whether or not he will be the new director. Others will come in and try out for the position and then we, as a choir and a church, will select. I know that God has the right one for us - maybe Pastor Jared - we just need to be patient. Anyway - since Robert left - I decided now was a good time to take a break! I will be back in the choir probably in August - once school starts. We travel quite a bit in the summer - going on short trips on the weekends and it's easier for me to do now that I don't have to rush back. I'm enjoying just being a "saint" for a while (ok - I say that lightly because I know many of you are laughing at that thinking - Karen - a saint!!)....I'll give you that!!! LOL....Jake however, is struggling with this transition. Robert was his friend too and went up to the church once a week to play with him on the drums and stuff - in a little 6 year old's mind - he doesn't understand when something like this changes........he keeps asking when Robert is coming back and what is going on with me not singing........so many changes - he is a little confused....I just keep telling him that Robert is still his friend and we will still see him and hang out with him - we just have to wait a spell for him to figure out what he is doing. He was so use to going with me to both services and now that I'm not singing and only going to one service - he is not sure what to think! LOL
Where the children's area is concerned - I have been the Administrative Director for 2 years and a teacher for two years prior to that and I'm just taking a leave of everything. You know how you work so much that sometimes you forget that you still have to go to church??? I found myself being so involved in all my responsibilities that I was hardly ever in the actual sanctuary listening to the word - so, I'm just enjoying myself now with my hubby at the 9:00 service.......it's hard to not be involved in everything around me - but I'm determined to do it for a time....it may be a short time - but for a time at least!!! LOL
We are leaving on vacation with my parents soon! We are so excited.......can't wait to spend time with them - don't get to see them as often as I'd like - they are either traveling around or Dad is working too much - so this week will be great to spend some good quality time...Jake loves his Popsie and Grammy (ok - his popsie rules - but he loves Grammy too!).
I'll check back in around the 13th. Have a blessed 4th of July and great week. Love to all
K
Jake is enjoying his time at Pastor's Mark's school (his mother's day out). It's really cool because one of the teachers he really liked left - but a lady from our church - Ms. Bobbie Bragg, who Jake knows, is now going to be in his classroom!! He is so excited. It's funny how kids get attached to someone and when they leave - it's like the whole world around them changed.........so, for Ms. Mandie to leave - he was like - Ok - guess I'm not going back to Pastor's Mark's school.......I'm like - UH - I think you are!!!! LOL When I told him that Mr. Ted's (who painted the mural in his room) wife was going to take her place - he was real excited......see, it's the small things in life! LOL
The week of the 13th - he will go to Vacation Bible School at the same place that he does Mother's Day Out - he is excited about that too! After that- I've got to get busy taking him to some fun places like the wave pool in Mt. Belvieu, the schlitterbaun in Galveston, Aquarium, Moody Gardens, Kemah....ok - just to name a few......
Mark and I met with the doctor this past Friday to get her recommendations for Jake in the upcoming school year............she is pushing for a lot more modifications in his day - much more speech therapy...in fact - we will probably target private therapy for speech and occupational therapy. His speech/language area is the hardest hit - so we will need to really focus on that.
This summer - I've taken a leave of absence from the choir and from the WayStreet Kids ministry. I've sang faithfully for 10 years - twice on Sunday and on Wednesday nights and I just need a break! I'm only doing it during the summer months. This allows me to attend church with my hubby and son vs. leaving early in the morning on Sunday's (8:00 AM) and staying for both services (we have 9:00 and 11:00)and getting home around 2:00 PM.....it can be very tiring (as many of you do every weekend)! Our music director for the past 10 years has left our church to do other things and we are now in transition.......this in and of itself can be trying - but God is in control. Pastor Jared is doing a great job and in a few months - we will know whether or not he will be the new director. Others will come in and try out for the position and then we, as a choir and a church, will select. I know that God has the right one for us - maybe Pastor Jared - we just need to be patient. Anyway - since Robert left - I decided now was a good time to take a break! I will be back in the choir probably in August - once school starts. We travel quite a bit in the summer - going on short trips on the weekends and it's easier for me to do now that I don't have to rush back. I'm enjoying just being a "saint" for a while (ok - I say that lightly because I know many of you are laughing at that thinking - Karen - a saint!!)....I'll give you that!!! LOL....Jake however, is struggling with this transition. Robert was his friend too and went up to the church once a week to play with him on the drums and stuff - in a little 6 year old's mind - he doesn't understand when something like this changes........he keeps asking when Robert is coming back and what is going on with me not singing........so many changes - he is a little confused....I just keep telling him that Robert is still his friend and we will still see him and hang out with him - we just have to wait a spell for him to figure out what he is doing. He was so use to going with me to both services and now that I'm not singing and only going to one service - he is not sure what to think! LOL
Where the children's area is concerned - I have been the Administrative Director for 2 years and a teacher for two years prior to that and I'm just taking a leave of everything. You know how you work so much that sometimes you forget that you still have to go to church??? I found myself being so involved in all my responsibilities that I was hardly ever in the actual sanctuary listening to the word - so, I'm just enjoying myself now with my hubby at the 9:00 service.......it's hard to not be involved in everything around me - but I'm determined to do it for a time....it may be a short time - but for a time at least!!! LOL
We are leaving on vacation with my parents soon! We are so excited.......can't wait to spend time with them - don't get to see them as often as I'd like - they are either traveling around or Dad is working too much - so this week will be great to spend some good quality time...Jake loves his Popsie and Grammy (ok - his popsie rules - but he loves Grammy too!).
I'll check back in around the 13th. Have a blessed 4th of July and great week. Love to all
K
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