More prayers and a miracle needed....

This from Kathleen today:

No regrets on this journey of hope. Our healing is in His hands. Macy is in need of a miracle - her new kidney is now being affected by the disease. I'm on track to being discharged today and hope to see Macy after that; we are in different hospitals Thank you for continuous prayers.

Please pray for this precious family and for Macy.  

thank you so much, friends.

Prayer request....

 ***Update***
Kathleen did GREAT with the surgery.  Her kidney was safely placed in little Macy's body and she is already producing urine!!!!  Both are doing great.  Thanks to all my blogging friends for all your prayers!!


I am still on my vacation.....and loving every minute!

However, my friend, Kathleen, is having surgery early Wednesday morning to donate one of her kidneys to a little girl in desperate need of one.  Kathleen and her husband were here with us for a few days but flew out this morning to Chicago to prepare for the surgery.

Please pray:

1. that it will work.  there is a chance that Macy's body will attack the new kidney.

2. that all aspects of the surgery will go smoothly

3. peace for Kathleen's family and Macy's family during surgery

4. recovery and healing would go well

5. That God would get all the glory

Thank you friends. 

I am so inspired by my friend and the sacrifice she is making for this little girl.  I will try to update tomorrow when I hear how it all went.

Project 365 - Week 26

Week 26.

I am posting early because we will be driving all day Saturday and I don't know what internet capabilities I will have...if I can, I will up date with a Saturday picture!!

This was a fairly calm week for me.  Last Saturday, we got Jared off on his mission trip to Brazil.  They made it safely this year, no lightening striking the plane....thank the Lord!!!  And from what we hear, things are going well.  They are just extremely tired.  I can't wait to hear how God showed up when they get back!!

So, I had the week to get ready for Steve's and my vacation.  And as you will see from the pictures, I was able to do some fun cooking....seeing as my picky eaters were all gone!!!  yea!!!

At this very moment, I am on a plane to Colorado springs where we will be meeting up with 2 other couples and driving to Jackson Hole, WY tomorrow.  Each mile that we fly, I can feel the stress just peeling off.....feels good!!

Here's my week:

Sunday

 Happy Father's day to Steve!

He got his favorite meal....brats on the grill and we all spent the afternoon relaxing around the pool.

perfect!

Monday

with the boys gone and my "good" eaters at home, I can try new recipes to my hearts delight this week!!

Adapted dinner from this recipe tonight.

oh.my.goodness.

delicious

Tuesday

Lily got her "summer cut" today!

I think she looks like a little mini bear!!!

Wednesday

Cleaned my house top to bottom today.

I wonder if it will look this good when I get back from vacation?

Thursday

 We are doing a Safari VBS for our summer children's program.  Alyssa and I spent the afternoon working on all the decorations.  It doesn't start for 2 weeks, but since I am going out of town I didn't want my friend Denise to have to do it all herself.  And boy, is it going to be CUTE!!!!

Friday

 We are officially on vacation.  

And we unknowningly booked the same flight out of LR as our good friends that are meeting us in Jackson Hole in 3 days.  They are flying to Utah and spending some time in yellowstone before we meet up.

Vacation Steve obviously has not shown up for the party yet!!!

I hope your summer is going well and you are taking the time to spend with your family and loved ones!!  So show us what you are doing!  Link up....

Vacation

Tomorrow, my husband and I head out for our vacation

*cue Annie music*

To say that I am excited and ready is a complete understatement!

....ready mentally.

....physically is another story.

I will have lots of days in God's amazing creation, the Tetons, with several of my closest friends and their husbands.  One of the couples is flying out first to Utah, renting a car and spending some days together in Yellowstone before they join us.  The funny thing is that we found out just the other day that we are on the SAME plane leaving LR....even tho we are heading to different places!!! the others are coming from Colorado Springs to join us.

But first, the vacation starts today with a massage I am getting with a groupon I bought!!!!  What an awesome way to start a vacation....right?!

So, all that to say, this blog may be a bit quiet over the next week....who knows what internet service I will have, if any.  However, if I do have service, I am SURE there will be plenty of fun stories to blog about with this group!!!  

I am just praying that none of them involve bears!!!!

See you soon!!!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Summer

 

I am joining This Side of the Pond for the first time in her Wednesday hodgepodge. After reading mine, head over to her blog and join the fun!!!

1. Summer's here-whoohoo! What's your favorite sight, sound, AND smell associated with summer? Favorite sight - the swimming pool open!  Favorite sound - Splashing water and kids laughing!  Favorite smell - meat cooking on the grill!

2. Fireflies or lightning bugs...what are they called in your neck of the woods? Funny, I've heard both down here, but I call them fireflies.  We didn't have them in AZ when I was growing up, but when we lived in IN, the boys would feed them to frogs and watch their belly's light up!

3. What is something from the past week that reminded you of your childhood? I honestly can't think of anything right now.

4. Define 'the good life'. The good life for me is being surrounded by my family, having my health and my faith in Christ and the ability to worship Him freely. That's definitely the good life.

5. Tell us what we'd see if you took a snapshot of your desk/work space? organized chaos

6. Peaches or watermelon...yes, you have to choose. peaches all the way, fresh from the tree...YUM!!!

7. Ever been skinny dippin'? Is that too much for the Wednesday Hodgepodge? Rest assured we won't need details...unless of course you feel you must but remember, this is a family friendly blog so keep it G rated. yes, nuff said!

8. Insert your own random thought here.  As much as I love EVERYthing about summer, my favorite season, I am looking forward to a break from this unusual heat wave during my vacation in WY next week!!! Maybe it's because I just desperately need a vacation!!!

I heart faces - Let's hear it for the boys!

I am joining I Heart Faces today and their them was "boys"

I love this picture of my teenage boys...

....because it proves you are never too old or too cool to build a sand castle!!!

Project 365 - Week 25

 Week 25.

Summer is definitely keeping me from my blog.  I think I only posted once this week....ugh.  It just seems like by the time evening comes, I am too tired to blog.  The lack of schedule does me in every year....but I am going to work it!!!

Things are going to be quiet around here with Jared gone on a mission trip.  Then Steve and I will be leaving Friday on our vacation......whoop!!!!!

can.not.wait.

But for now, here is my week:

Sunday

Argh!!!

No picture today!

it was a busy day at church as I was trying to finalize my summer schedule and workers.

Then we went to lunch with some friends that were giving us info on Jackson Hole for our upcoming vacation....can.not.wait.

Dinner found our life group as guests at another life groups house...very fun!!!

 Monday

The "throne" is fixed!!!

And all are happy!

Tuesday

 It was H.O.T today....

That and working 4 hours at the pharmacy to fill in, then 2.5 hours at the church getting the summer curriculum together, then cooking dinner..grilling in that heat.....left me exhausted and HOT.  This is where I stayed most of the night...with my scrubs pulled up and a nice glass of wine!

Wednesday

Started the process of making jerky for Jared to take with him on his mission trip to Brazil.  It ensures that he will eat something while he is there!!!  :)

Thursday

I'm cooking with gas, baby!!!!

My mother's Day gift finally got installed!!!

I can not tell you how happy I am to be cooking with gas again...good riddance electric cooktop!!!

Friday

She's a hero!!!!!

This morning, Steve and I were having coffee and watching the news and Lily came up to us with that I-have-to-go-out-NOW look.  Steve got up to let her out, but she went to the front door instead, which was weird.  When Steve followed her, he heard our 67 yr. old neighbor yelling in her front yard...she had fallen off a ladder and broken her ankle.  If Lily hadn't gotten our attention, who knows how long she would have laid out there.....such a great dog!!!

Saturday

We saw Jared and the rest of the missions team off this afternoon.  They will spend the night in Memphis and then head to Brazil tomorrow.  I am so excited to see how God will use them there!!! Please pray with me for safe travel.....2 years ago their plane got hit by lightening!!

Then this little cutie came to spend the evening with us!!!

 I have one more year to enjoy this little one and then his parents will be moving to Houston....that will be a very sad day!!!

So how is your summer going so far?  Link up!!

Letters of Intent

Today I am joining Foursons in Letters of Intent. 

Head over to her blog to read other "letters"!

Dear Summer,

You know I LOVE you.  You are my favorite season of the year.  When others are complaining of your heat, I am relishing it......it might be my Arizona roots, but I think it's that I just do not like to be cold!!  

I love everything about you, Summer........except the havoc your place on my schedule.

I can not keep a schedule during summer for the life of me.   Who wants to get up at 6:00am when you don't have to? seriously.  However, I find that lack of discipline puts me behind the 8 ball for the rest of the day.  And if I do some how manage to stick to a schedule, the pool always often beckons me away....completely shattering said schedule.

I blame you, Summer, for the fact that I can not keep track of what day it is in the week.  You make every day seem like Saturday!  This brain fart of sorts caused me to forget it was actually Saturday last week, which then caused me to forget that my son was supposed to take the ACT test......epic fail and loss of $45.  I would like to know how you plan to make that up to me!!!!

However, dear Summer, I will endure the lack of schedule, the loss of day knowledge and all that goes with that for you!  Your benefits FAR out weigh your drawbacks!!!

Sincerely,

the woman that becomes blonde in the summer.

**************************************

Dear Lily,

I always knew you were the best dog EVAH!  Not only do you mind perfectly and protect our house and save children from peril in the pool....

.....but now we have found we need to change your name to Lassie!!!!

This morning when you came up to Steve, giving him that I-need-to-go-outside look, we were a little confused when you headed to the front door instead of the back.

Taking us to the front door, allowed us to hear our  67 year old neighbor screaming in her front yard......she had fallen off a ladder and broken her ankle.

Because of you, we were able to get her to the ER quickly and help her out.

Lily, you are one amazing dog.  We love you so much and now can attach HERO to your title!!!!

Sincerely,

Your loving and very amazed owner!

Project 365 - Week 24

 Week 24.

First of all, I'd like to ask ya'll to continue to pray for Rita and Mike.  I am not sure if she will be posting this week or not, but you can find out about her house burning down on her blog.  Pray for them as they rebuild!!!


I am so happy to have my pool up and running!!  And just in time for the 100+ degree weather!!!  Oh my word it has been hot.  We are having July weather in June.  But I am NOT complaining.  I will take this heat over the rain and tornadoes any day!!!!

I was down to 2 kids this week again. :(  I so enjoyed having all my kids in the house and we had a grand time playing a lot of games!!!  I also had a great time fixing all their favorite foods!!!  And now at the end of the week, I am down to one child and it is VERY quiet.....I am not adapting well to this new season of life....ugh.

Well, here's my week:

Sunday

 Tonight we had dinner with some great friends who are soon to be on the mission field in China.  I convinced LeAnne to do project 365 this year, so I had to take a picture of her husband, Lee, setting up for HER P365 pic!!!

Oh.....and here's her picture!!!

Monday

Our first pool party of the summer!!!

Tuesday

Took a lot of pictures of our car today....we are getting it ready to sell.

Any takers?

Wednesday

Alyssa had her first day with patients today.

Isn't she cute in her scrubs?

I couldn't find my camera so you got a cell pic.  :(

Thursday

 Found this recipe on Proud Italian Cook.

Oh.my.word.  

So Yummy!!!  but you see I had to make chicken for Jared!

Friday

We had some friends over to swim today.  this picture cracked me up.  This is the conversation I imagined....

Alex: what? What do you want?

Lily:  just come a liiiiitle closer....and I'll have you!!!!

She was constantly trying to "save" the boys!!!

Saturday

I LOVE my neighbors and summer!!!

The beans, onion, potatoes and cucumber all came from their garden!!!

Now it's your turn.  Show us how your week went!!

Urgent prayer request!

UPDATE:  this is from Rita on her facebook and her blog:

The accident happened around 9 a.m. Mike had been raku firing and was back in the house. Later when he heard crackling noises, he looked in the garage. There was a fire started which could have been put out, but the the fire extinguisher pin would not budge. In no time the fire spread. Three fire departments responded and did good work. The house is a total loss, but we've already rescued some important items, such as the blue prints. We plan to rebuild. Love, prayers and provision are pouring in. The news spread almost as fast as the fire. We feel God's presence. THANK YOU ALL. We hope to sleep well and be out of the hospital tomorrow and set to work.

 
Please be praying for my friend and fellow blogger/P365er Rita Koch.  

She and her husband, Mike lost half of their house to a house fire last night and Mike is in the hospital with burns and smoke inhalation.

Father, thank you for taking care of and protecting Rita and Mike last night.  

I ask that you be with the doctors right now as they attend to Mike's burns.   Give them wisdom and tender hands. 

Help them feel your presence, intimately.

Help them know how very much they are loved, not only by You but by all those who know them.

Comfort them, Lord, in the way only You can.

A little bit of random on Tuesday....

I am currently sitting in an extremely quiet house having a cup of coffee....niiiice.

Contemplating my day...my last with all 3 kids in the house.

I have forgotten how hard it is to keep my house clean with all 3 kids here!!!  I am constantly picking up, wiping up, or something all day long.  It's exhausting!!!!  Yes, you would think with the 3 kids being grown, they could pick up after themselves.....their mother did not train them well.  :)  But seriously, there is just more mess, more dirt with more people.

I am studying through the life of John this summer in my quiet time.  John reminds us over and over to love one another.....to follow God's command, to love your brother.  Having my children home, reminds me of how difficult that is.  If we could stay to ourselves, it would be easy.  but more people brings more dirt and more mess......and more messy relationships that are hard to love.  

I can't do it without Christ. 

The pattern of things breaking at my house has continued.....argh!!  But I am holding on to the reminder God gave me last week that they are just things and I am trying to not focus on the fact that my $$ is just pouring out of my bank account......trying being the optimum word.  The good news I guess would be that nothing should break for a long time because everything is NEW now....right?!!!!

I am starting to get excited for our vacation in 17 days!!!  We are heading to Jackson Hole, WY while Jared is in Brazil on a mission trip.  We found a wonderful christian camp there that allows families to stay for a VERY reasonable price in the summer.  To make it better, I was able to get FREE plane tickets for us with CC points.  hey!  just found another good thing about things breaking...as you buy new ones, you get points!!!  I know, I'm digging.  A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!!  If you have never been to the Tetons....you NEED to go.  It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen......don't worry, I will have plenty of pictures to show you!

I guess, that is it.

Enjoy your day!

Project 365 - Week 23

 Week 22.

This week was very stressful for me.  Our pool pump died, our frig died and then our coffee maker.  I had started to have a little pity party about my money frittering away when life brought me some perspective.......My FIL being in the hospital and not knowing what was going on with him and then on the heels of that my nephew crashing his motorcycle and being in critical condition. 

Life and God have a way of setting our perspective straight!  Those other issues are just things.  I can choose to replace them or not.  But you can't replace your family and those you love.  Thankfully both my FIL and nephew are doing better.  My FIL has been moved to a rehab facility to strengthen his legs before he goes home....which should be next week some time.  My nephew is out of ICU and on the mend.  He is in a lot of pain......broken arm, leg, ribs, back, bruised lung and whip lash.  Thanks for all your prayers for him!!  Please continue to pray for his recovery!

My week did end on a very happy note!! Take a look:

Sunday

 I love it when the teenagers help me out with dramas in CrossWalk.  This is about Solomon trying to figure out who the baby belonged to.  When Solomon said "cut it in half", the boy sitting in the dark shirt gasped!!  they were so in to it!!

Then we went out side for a survivor type "wisdom" challenge.  some of the things they had to do were eat 10 crackers, memorize scripture, hula hoop.  It was a blast!

Monday

No picture today....I was so relaxed, I forgot!!

We worked in the yard, read books, and had our neighbors over for dinner.  

It was a great day!

Tuesday 

 We had our staff over tonight for a Sushi Party!

Everyone made their own sushi roll and then we all tried each one and voted on who had the best one.  

It was a lot of fun!! 

Wednesday

 Our neighbors gave us this frig that they replaced 2 years ago and we have become very accustomed to having it in our garage.  So it was painful when it died this week......not only because of the cost to replace it (because I now can't live without one in my garage) but also because of the meat I am having to cook up due to it thawing before I realized what was happening...ugh.

Thursday

 I had a HUGE package of bacon that thawed from the freezer, so tonight....BLTs!

Friday

SO happy to have everyone home!!!

We celebrated with a steak dinner and then an evening of cards!!!

I truly love that my family enjoys playing together!!

Saturday

The pool was ready to swim in today....despite the pool man!!!

We had fun playing volleyball....kids vs the adults....and then the boys played around with the water balls.  We ended the day with some homemade pizza!!!

Pretty close to perfect!

So how was your week?  Link up and give us a peek!!!

Letters of Intent

Many thanks to all of you who prayed for my nephew.  He is off the ventilator and awake!!!  I think they will be moving him out of ICU tonight or tomorrow.  He is out of danger.  Now for the healing process.

I am joining Foursons for Letters of Intent today.

Dear Pool man,

I am just a bit frustrated.

I know all the storms pushed things back.  And you have a lot of pools to open.  And yes, I am grateful that we still had the cover on our pool when all the storms blew through.  But it is now June and it is HOT out and my pool is still not swimable (is that a word?). 

I also understand that it wasn't your fault our pool pump decided to permanently take a rest after this winter.  And it was also not your fault that your inventory guy gave you the wrong pump and you didn't realize it till you got to our house .......and it was Friday before a long weekend.  However, if you had come when you said you would, we still might have had time to get a pump before Tuesday.

I feel like we have been extremely patient when you tell us you will be at our house first thing in the morning but don't show up until late afternoon.  This might have been ok the first time, but every day this week...not cool.  It seems to me that you should finish at one house before you head to the next....but that is just me.

I was certainly being nice (at least on the outside) when you told me that last year you fixed a problem we had with putty because they gave you the wrong sized part and instead of going back to get the right one, you "made it work" with putty!!!!  Which might have been fine....HAD IT WORKED!  And now you are fixing it with the right part.....at least so you tell me.

But today when, my pool is still not swimable, and you stopped by for MAYBE a few minutes and didn't TOUCH the water, and I had to call YOU and ask why the water is still cloudy and you tell me I should go by some clarifier (which you said YOU would bring TODAY), I started losing my patience.  

Mr. pool man, you are a very nice guy.  And you are trying really hard with the schedule your boss has given you.  However, I have the slightest inkling that maybe you don't exactly know what you are talking about.  And there for, I think our relationship is going to be over and I will be looking around for a new pool man.

Have a nice day.