More Sunny Florida

Day two.  Slept peacefully until 7:30 or so then got up and fixed coffee and had quiet time on the patio in the cool morning air.  Mom got up and I went for a long walk around the island, both in the resort and by the private residences.  Of course, I was dreaming about moving down here.  Lol.  

Ate our breakfast of sweetbreads and fruit which they deliver to us in a basket each morning then get some sun by the pool.  Showered up then had our lunch leftovers out on the patio.  Love the weather which is about skin temp, cooler in the shade and in the mornings and evenings and warmer in the sun.  

Boarded the launch which takes about 5 minutes to get us over to key west then walked around quite a bit along Duval street, shopping as we went.  We even had some ice cream!  We then took a pedicab to the little organic grocery store where Leah's friend Maggie works but she wasn't there!  So we walked back, a long way, stopping at the local library for a sec.  

We decided to check into the aquarium which wasn't too expensive and thought it was fun.  We saw some cool manta fish, some sharks, some coral, etc.  

We took the launch back to the island and I spent the afternoon by the pool reading and sleeping and sunning which mom rested.

Then we gussied up and went back over to key west.  We walked and shopped and realized we weren't terribly far from the burger place we'd researched on the internet.  It was up higher right along the sidewalk so we people watched while we ate.  I loved it!  The burger was delish, also.

We came back to the island to out little cottage and turned in early and read.  

Today we had our breakfast outside again  and I couldn't resist getting a little more sun before we showered up and packed up. 

 Today we plan to go over to key west agin, shop, eat, then take off for the airport around two.  I should be back to Manhattan between 11 and 12 pm tonight.

What a wonderful, perfect little vacation to take in February!  I loved every moment of it.

Florida

We had no problems on the flight here, answers to prayers.  And it was a miracle that mom was able to cross the ice in the parking lot at kci at 4:30 in the morning Friday.  

We got to Key West about 1 Friday afternoon.  I immediately recognized the area we checked in and got on the launch--it is the place the cruise ships stop so we have been there.  Then we got onto the launch and went out to our little island.  It is just perfect here.  We ate lunch at the pool and waited for our cottage to be ready then checked in about 2.

Our cottage is amazing.  It is actually entirely too big for two people.  It has two full bedrooms and three bathrooms!  Not necessary for just us two!  But that will make it more affordable when we return! From our cottage we can see the pool and we are super clost to the front desk, the boat launch, and the beach.

Yesterday we were so tired we couldn't decide what we wanted to do.  We didn't feel warm enough to put our swimsipuits on although it was warm but breezy.  We rested in the rooms with all the windows and doors open.  Our patio wraps all the way around and there are windows and French doors with shutters everywhere. 

We got dressed and rode the launch back over and walked around a little then decided to eat at a fish place next to bog, open windows.  Then we got ice cream cones and came back to the cottage and went to bed super early!  I slept from 9 to 7:30 this morning!

This morning I beat mom awake and had my quiet time and coffee with the door open and a breeze coming in.  Then while mom showered, I went over to the pool.   And did half hour or so of water aerobics all by myself.  It was quite lovely.  Then we ate sweet breads that were delivered to us complimentary.  

Then we got our suits on and went to the little beach for awhile. 

 It was partly cloudy but so peaceful and relaxing to lit there with the light breeze, reading and napping.  At one point, I looked at the water that we were about 5 feet from and saw  fish that was about a foot long but next to it I saw a triangle fin sticking out.  There were workers there combing the beach and the guy said, "see the sharks?"  Yikes, sharks!  He put his hands about two feet wide to describe the larger shark.  We stayed out of the water the remainder of the time by the beach.  It then started to blow and lightly rain so we dashed to the cottage and warned our leftoversf rom last night and ate them for lunch.  Our little kitchenette is fully stocked with dishes, etc.

After lunch we went to the pool and it was warm and sunny.  We sunned and read and rested and got into the pool to cool off a few times.  Mom didn't make it very long but I stayed out until 3.  

We showered and got back on the launch and went into town.  We walked and shopped along Duval street quite awhile.  There are so many people and they are quite interesting!  The shops are mostly tourist but fun.  There were weird places mixed in, strip clubs, clothing optional bars....  We didn't stop at those:).

We ate some frozen custard then mom wanted to take a pedicab so we did.  We took it to the little organic grocery where Leah's friend Maggie works but she wasn't working.  The pedicab was supposed to return for us but we waited then walked back.  It was a super long walk for mom but she did great!  

We ate dinner at a really nice place called the Rooftop.  Mom had mushroom risotto and I had a New York strip steak.  It was really good!  But the wind kicked up and it was chilly up there.  Not complaining!  

We had to wait for the launch and it was a relief to get back to the cottage out of the wind.  Am watching the Olympics and blogging then will turn in early again tonight.

Having such a great time!  Will add more pics later ( the cloud pics aren't working well.)

Good Stress and Prayer

I have soooo many things going on in my life right now.  Good things.  My head is absolutely spinning.  When I get stressed, I make to do lists, plans, control things.  God is in the lifetime process of changing this about me.  Jeremiah 42:3 Pray that The Lord your God will show us what to do and where to go.

Friends and family, will you pray and praise with me about all that is on my heart? 

Phil 4:6,7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

1.  I am so blessed with my job and the amazing team of people I work with.  But work has been so stressful lately.  Bullying, conflict, drama, IEP meetings, decisions, hurting kids, lost kids, too much to do!  

2.  I am sooo blessed to be able to go to Key West with my mama next weekend.  So looking forward to quality time with her, site seeing, and sunshine.  But with that comes details, packing, trying to stay healthy, taking a day off work, driving to the airport between snow storms.  

3.  I am also so blessed to be able to go to Cambodia March 12!  I really am excited even as the to do list grows and the money trickles in.  I have $900 more to raise just for the trip expenses and more to be able to bless the missionary and staff there.  I am trying to learn the culture, a few basic phrases in a very difficult language, and wrap my brain going across the world, across the date line, and two days of travel each direction.  That alone makes my brain spin without everything else!

4.  Hannah is overseas.  I think her experience overall has been positive and I can't wait to hear all about it but it is so hard to have a part of yourself so far away and a helpless feeling when she has called stressed and needing support, which has happened several times.  I remain so grateful to have an independent, strong daughter and we are happy to be here for her but I am telling you, my stress level will come down greatly when she puts her feet back on US soil.

5.  Leah and David are getting married, Leah is graduating, and she has upcoming job interviews!  I am sooooo happy and excited for her and so thankful for all these wonderful things!  Planning a wedding is the perfect example of good stress.  The timing for the finances of this are horrible.  We want so much to bless her with a beautiful, memorable wedding.  We are relying on God's help and Leah's amazing creativity.

6.  Joel is in his final semester.  He is sooo busy with classes, projects, resume building, working, then interviews..... I am so excited to see where he ends up working and living and how all the details will come together.  But oh my, my mama heart thinks about him daily.  We get to go see him in May to watch him graduate and then hurry back to watch Leah graduate.  Expensive!

7. Also extremely exciting is TRU!  We are a part of our church planting a second campus that launches Easter Sunday.  It is so awesome to be a part of a huge God thing, to see where He is working and join Him in it.  He is creating a community in and around and through us and it is cool to be a part of it. We meet together on Sunday mornings and now also Sunday evenings to pray, plan, and fellowship.  The TRU connection group we host and lead meets on Tuesday evenings and we now have 8!  We feel so close to these people and it is cool to have a new family.  All of this also, is good stress, more to do and think about, and look forward to.  It also brings change as we get less time with our Westview Bible study friends.

8.  Homestead.  I meet with these gals on Thursdays each week.  I feel so blessed and honored to be even a tiny part of their recoveries and healing.  They are constantly on my heart, both the girls who are currently in the program and those who have fallen out.  I feel like the girls in group are each at such a crucial and tender and intense part of their recovery.  They have been holding their emotions and God sort of away and I have a feeling that they are about to move into a very important yet intensely painful part of their recoveries.  This weighs on my heart and I have to keep them in prayer and remind myself that God is the one doing the work here and He holds those beautiful souls in His hands and loves them way more than I ever could.

9.  My Dad is doing great and I miss him and hardly ever get to see him!  It is hard just to talk to him on the phone.  Every day he gets older.   I need to spend time with him.

10.  Adelle is graduating in May and I am going to put on a graduation party for her.  This doesn't stress me, I am happy to do it.  I do feel a responsibility to help her move into adulthood and independence.  Her parents are going through some really tough stuff right now.  And they have a hard time knowing and doing all the things that will help Adelle become independent.  We have some checklists to help guide us and as I looked them over recently, I feel so overwhelmed with all she needs to learn to ever hope to live on her own!  I need to rely on God for this also.

11.  On top of this is snow, snow, snow, freezing temperatures, and now roof leaks because we have way too much snow on our roof and frozen gutters.  I have two buckets in my closet with drips to dodge!  

Please hold us close in your prayers.  Specifically, pray that I am able every moment to place all my stress, my plans, the details, my time, and all the people I love and serve, into the hands of God.  He is my rock and my salvation, my very present help in times of trouble AND times of joy!

Leah

Tomorrow is Leah's birthday.  She will be 23 years old!  Where does the time go?  

We were surprised when we found out little Leah was coming along but we were happy about it.  We had wanted to wait, more for financial reasons than anything, but God had other plans and I am glad we ended up having the kids close together.  We found out that Leah was going to be a girl in a sonogram when I was about 5 months along.  I always say that we fell in love with Leah after we got to know her, and we loved her for who she is.  

Leah was born in the winter, two weeks before her due date. I was in labor only seven hours, or just over half the time I'd been in labor with Hannah.  At the beginning of the labor, I passed out because I'd cut off the circulation by sitting straight up.  It really sacred the nurse.  It was the easiest of all three of my labor and deliveries.  I did have way too much amniotic fluid, though, and they had to keep breaking it and it soaked the bedding and the doctor's clothes over and over.  She seemed so tiny when she was born.  I remember them putting her on me instantly after she came out and she was so warm and tiny!  

 I remember holding Leah at home during my maternity leave while watching the bombs being dropped in the Middle East on tv during the first Saudi- USA conflict.  Leah was a sleepy baby, she slept 22 out of 24 hours a day for the first 6 months of her life.  I think she was cold, too.  We kept her in a bassinet next to the bed and she would grunt and groan til we put her in the bed with us.  Then she started waking up more, but it was always at night.  We didn't know what to do.  The doctor told us to make sure everything was just right then let her cry.  Scott had to hold me in the bed to keep me from going to her.  It took about three hours the first night and less the next two nights then she slept through.  But she bonded with her bed and never wanted to be nursed or rocked to sleep after that.  

Leah was an active baby once she learned to crawl, quiet, but always going.  She walked late, 15 months.  One month before Joel was born.

Leah was a sweet child whom everyone always liked.  They just knew there was something special about her.   She was talented musically and very creative.  She had a deep love and cared diligently for dolls and her Guinea pig and her friends.  Leah had a lot of illnesses as a a child, allergies and had pneumonia every winter.  Leah was quiet and messy and would worm her way out of chores quietly while Joel and hannah were throwing their fits or pushing limits.  Leah hated to be nagged but hated me making her to do lists even more!  It's funny because she is a super responsible adult.  

Leah had a best friend, Anna, who lived behind us growing up, and she loved spending time over there.  I give the Hulberts credit for some of how Leah turned out because they are awesome people.

Leah is an artist.  She makes the most amazing art, ceramics and photography.  Her blog is amazing along with her fashion sense and style. 

Leah is the most special, creative, loving "people person".  Everyone loved her growing up and they love her now.  She doesn't have to be the one out in front getting the attention.  She is easy to get along with but stands up for what she thinks.  I think she'll make an excellent teacher.

I love going to visit Leah in Newton.  She's made such a nice life for herself.  She is happy and I feel happy when I'm with her.  She appreciates the little things in life.  I love to go shopping, for walks, make and eat meals with her and play with she and Professor.  

Happy Birthday, my sweet Leah.

Cambodia Update

Whew!  That's done!  Found out this week while planning for the chili feed that we were to speak briefly in front of the church.  I prayed about what I should say and then just moved on with the preparation for the supper.  Adelle was a huge help at Walmart where I bought all the stuff for the chili.  I looked online and put together a few recipes and planned on feeding 150 people.  I figured more was better than not enough since we could take the leftovers to Homestead.  Then I spent over an hour yesterday browning the hamburger until I ran out of containers and energy!

Yesterday during my quiet time, I wrote out some things that I felt God wanted me to say in front of the church and when I called Deb, she gave me some I out but it was pretty much along the lines of what she was thinking!  Then in the night last night, God "edited it" in my mind.

So I got up earlyish this morning and did my quiet time and breakfast and got ready (Scott is doing soccer in KC this weekend).  I got to the church and unloaded my stuff into the kitchen and Karl and Wandean were around and helped.  I also pulled up at exactly the same time as Deb!  

And then I worshipped in front and went up with Deb and spoke when it was time!  God is good and I can do anything with Him.  Deb laughed at me afterwards because I was so weak and shaky! Did it second service too!

The chili feed went really well.  The Homestead girls jumped right in and helped and Chris and Bryce did most of the clean up!  Chris' little boy helped a whole bunch too!  He's so cute!  He told me he has big muscles as he was taking out the trash. Dawn came and helped too!

All together we raised over $1200!  I think that puts me at close to 2/3 of the way there as several friends told me they dropped by checks too.  So exciting!  

Deb and I.

Yum.

Homestead girls serving.  

Chris and Bryce working their hineys off during clean up.

Quiet

The kids have returned to their homes away from home and all is quiet.  Never gets easier to say goodbye.  Harder with Hannah heading to Istanbul for a month and it will likely be difficult to communicate with her.  And Joel as he has a crazy busy semester ahead.  We will see him for sure in May, already have the plane tickets and hotel reservations to see him graduate.  We didn't get to spend as much time with Leah over break but other than weather, we can go see her when we'd like.

It was a good visit overall.  Good to meet Hannah's fella and get to know him.  Some great memories and fun times.  One was Joel the last night asking me for lots of general "mom advice" and his many hugs goodbye.  And just being with Hannah who is always entertaining.  It's fun to watch the kids interact with each other as they are all very close.  It was great to have them get to know Jeff and Alexis and vice versa.  Loved having the kids go to church Christmas Eve.  We had lots of great meals together and games galore!  We had some good times with the extended fam over the holidays, too.

It was good to get back to work yesterday.  And to get back into a better eating and exercise mode.  Good to go back to one laundry load and one dishwasher load per week.  And it'll be good to get the house in tip top clean shape this weekend.

But dang it, I miss them terribly!  I love you, my babies.  God be with you!

A Gift

The kids are still here and today I have an extra day to spend with them and get to know Kent!  What a free gift as I was expecting to get back into the work grind today.  

Leah came home for the weekend and hannah drove to the airport Saturday to pick up Kent.  His plane was delayed and they had to drive through terrible road conditions but they finally arrived safely Saturday evening.  We had Alexis and Jeff over and made homemade pizza and played cards.  We have all settled into a great pattern with the kids home.  Each of us does what we want, go work out, etc, but we eat most meals and sit around together and talk and we play a ton of games together!  We are all feeling sad anticipating separating again but we can treasure these excellent times we've had together.  

Leah is taking her last class this week at Bethel and then will work at Mojos coffeeshop and start her job search although she has some very promising possibilities.  Joel heads into his busiest semester ever with two giant classes in his major and his elective class is photography.  That on top finishing his senior team project, building his online resume, creating independent games to further his career and starting the enormous job search and interviews.  Hannah heads back to Laramie for a week where she has been substitute teaching, is awaiting notice on grad school applications (including finding out tomorrow if she got into the Teton Science Institute), and she leaves for Turkey on Jan 15.  I know she is excited but also nervous and sad to be away from everyone for a month!  

Last night Scott grilled yummy steaks in subzero temps and Hannah and Kent did all the rest of the meal prep and clean up.  Yippee!

More pics of the good times: