YAY!!!

Caitlin is being released this afternoon! She is doing really well! We will most likely stay one more night and head home tomorrow. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the prayers you offered up on Caitlin's behalf. We so very much appreciate it!

Cailtin

Caitlin update: Just got back from the hospital. All wires and tubes are out! She will be going to a regular room shortly. She looks really good. She woke up while Em and I were there. She had her serious face on, no smiles, but it was really good to see her deep blue eyes.

Giving Thanks

Thanks that Caitlin's surgery went well. She will be in NICU for a couple days. The biggest concern now is infection. Please pray none will set in, and that there will be no leakage at the site of the bi-pass. Thank you all for your prayers!!!!!!!!

Thanks for my health and life. What an emotional, and humbly place to be than at a Children's hospital, and staying at a Ronald McDonald house. So many children, most with no hair, some moving on their own power, some in wheelchairs, wee ones in strollers, a few walking connected to IV's. We have shed tears, it is times like this you ask the Lord, 'why?'.

It has been a very real and visible reminder to me, that my life is near perfect, I have nothing to complain about, everything to be grateful for.

Update, Repost

This morning Caitlin is having pre-op appointments. Poor wee thing! Poked and prodded all day. Her mama is weary as she hasn't had much sleep the past few nights, and though there is a 'quiet curfew' here at the Ronald McDonald house, there were some folks last night that did not observe it. So, we are all dragging a bit this morning. Please continue to pray for little Caitlin. 7:30am tomorrow, is the surgery time. Also, the other day I posted about Jennifer Rizzo and her cool give away on her blog. Well, she has upped he anty! You really should enter, I did! Giveaway!

Caitlin

This Thursday, Caitlin, now 6 months, will be having heart surgery. My kids and I would very much covet your prayers as we go throught this time. I will be up in Seattle with them to help take care of Joshua, while Caitlin recovers, which could be up to 2 weeks. This has been a tough path for me as a mom to watch my daughter walk down. I can't fix it. I can't make it easier, but I am so grateful the Lord can. I will post as often as I can about how things go, and how my precious Caitlin does as she recovers. I thank you ahead of time for the prayer that I know will ascend on our behalf.

Jennifer Rizzo

I have made mention before about my pretty blogs that I like to read, Jennifer Rizzo is one such pretty blog. Jennifer is a writer and artist. She has a new line of jewelry and upcycled clothing on Etsy. You can check it out here. Or a quick look on her blog here.

Her things are fun and fresh. I think her crocheted bracelets are pretty nifty. The fact that she upcycles clothing, makes my heart happy, as upcycling, a trending word for upscaling recycled clothing is near and dear to my heart.

Take a peek at her blog, her writing is lovely and it is one of my favorites to read. While you are on her blog, you may want to take advantage of the give away she is hosting for her new line.

To be perfectly honest

...this has been my mind set as of late; "Why have you brought [me] out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness? There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And [I] hate this horrible manna!" Numbers 21.5. I didn't really realize that my my hearts attitude till I read this verse, yet at the same time, I knew something was building inside, waiting to explode.

I shan't bore you with the details, but I believe I have been dealing with a bit of a crisis of faith. Not a doubting, or disbelief of who Christ is in my life, just wondering where He has been lately. I know He is sovereign, I know He holds my times in His faithful hand, I know He will provide and care for me, meeting all my needs, He always has, I know He always will. I know these things in my spirit, but there is a disconnect with my heart.

"I hate this horrible manna!" Why? When I read this verse, the answer came. I have not understood the 'manna' He has given me, because it is not what I have wanted, what I have hoped for, what I have thought I needed. My life these past 3 years have not been the script I would have written. I would not have done to myself what the Lord has chosen to do with my life. I have been resentful, angry and ungrateful, much like the Israelites. I am weary in every way. I am tired of the wilderness. I can't see the big picture, though what I do see of my future causes an overwhelming fear.

Today, at church my pastor asked the question, 'how well do you know Jesus?' That struck a cord in me, for there has been much of what I have 'known' of Jesus that has been stripped to the bare bone since Dale's passing. My faith has been challenged, and in many ways, found wanting.

How well do I know Jesus? With sword dragging, weary yet pursuing, I am determined to find out.

Paint and flour sacks

There's a new shabby chic shop in town, Ronnie Nichol's. Em and I went and checked it out the other day. Love it! One of the things I spotted, and yes, came home with were a couple of chairs, $5 a piece. The picture isn't that great, but here they are. I sanded them down and originally planned on just giving them a wash, but I didn't like how it looked, so I just painted them with Pistachio Cream. I really like how they turned out. They are the same color as the dresser/sideboard I did a little while ago. Again, the picture isn't that great, but I think you can detect the color enough. Some day I will have a real camera!

I have had a stockpile of olf flour sack fabric for a few years, and thought they might make nice seat covers.

Not a huge, highly impressive project, but I do love my new chairs, and just wanted to share.

Jeffery-Effery

This is Jeffery, my nephew, by friendship. I have known his mom for 32 years. Sus and I met at Ecola Hall Bible School in Cannon Beach Oregon. She and I have seen a lot of life between us. One of those things was her desire to became pregnant...long story short, Jeffery was a miracle baby. I remember holding him for the first time, almost 16 years ago, a little preemie, who now is a whooping 6' 2", with a size 15 foot. He is a sophomore in High School, loves computer graphics, and I just discovered, love photography. That's his photo in my banner. When I saw that picture, I had to have in my stash of pathway photos. I was pleased when he said I could use it. He does some amazing stuff. No moral to this post, I just wanted to brag about him and give you a peek at some of his work. Love you Jeffers!

See, I really do like pathway pictures.