Kids with Cameras

I just watch a documentary called Born into Brothels. It was very sad but somewhat inspiring. A photographer named Zana Briski went into the Red light districts of Calcutta Indian. Originally she was studying the women but eventually fell in love with their kids. She stated a photography class where she gave each kid a camera where they could photograph their lives. She also worked to get some of these kids into schools which was very difficult because their parents were criminals. She wanted to do what she could to keep them from following the footsteps of their parents. Most of the girls born in the brothels usually become prostitutes. The kids did a really GREAT job with their photographs. http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/kidsgallery/ She and others have now started this same type of project in other areas around the world. I was relieved to see that several years later some of the kids are still in the boarding schools looking forward to a brighter future. I was also sadden that some dropped out or were taken out by their parents only to go back to a future with out hope. I would recommend watching this movie but make sure you have some klenex.

Time Flies and Dreams Come Alive

You close your eyes and go to sleep
you already dream of a day when we will meet
but who knows how time will fly
when one day...

With eyes so dark you lift your face
to see a smile upon my face

With joy so deep
You wonder how time can fly
That you opened your eyes
to see your dream come alive

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RITA PITA!!!!!

May it be the best yet!!!

Fingerprints

Well yesterday, we went and got our fingerprints at the jail. It is a pretty neat system. They do not use ink but a computer. I will now mail them to the GBI to have them read and make sure we are not criminals. We drove to appling to get them done and to have a local background check also. The local office where we have to get a letter from the police department saying that we have no local crimes. The office was closed so we get to go back to Appling to do this and both of us has to be present. You can only request your own so I can't going looking into other people's business not even my husband. I guess that is good to know that I am at least secure there. After all this is said and done we will eventually have to go to Atlanta to get fingerprinted by the FBI, but all this work is worth it because it means that one day I will be a mother.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my favorite bloggers. I hope that your holidays were great!

Dear Birth Mother

I wrote this poem when we knew that we were going to adopt but didn't know where. It is written for the birth mother.

Greatest Gift Of Love



What Joy-What Sorrow happened on that day
When the Gift of Love is bestowed

The Joy you give as you hand over your child
The Greatest Gift of Love you gave us that day

The sorrow that comes with such a sacrifice is hard to ease
on that day you gave your child to me

The day you decided to give this precious child
more than what you could provide

The gift you have given me is
The Greatest Gift of Love

My prayer for you is that your sorrow will one day return to Joy
because of the Greatest Gift of Love that you gave to me

You will always be a part of that Joy
when I reflect upon that precious day

I will remember the sacrifice it took
and will lift you up to the one who
Gave us all the
Greatest Gift of Love

Sonogram

The child we will adopt is already in the womb and will probally be born sometime soon with in the next couple of months, that's CRAZY! It's our first sonogram! :) I found this on several other blogs from people adopting from China. I do pray for my child often just as any mother who is expecting except would. I also pray for her biological mother and family.

Sardines

OK. The aquarium was nice but very much over crowded. We waited in line with prepaid tickets for an hour while those who did not have prepaid tickets waited about 25 minutes. I felt like I was in a can of Sardines. Every line was a mass of people. It is not something I would advise doing until some of the newness wears off. Mike was a little stressed with the crowd but I had him beat. I had somewhat of an anxiety attack so he went and bought me a little bottle of wine which helped calmed my nerves. I took a few pictures but we were not allowed to use flash in most place so they are not that good. I only had my small camera so I could not adjust the settings. That anxiety attack was not so bad as the one at the mall. I had to leave the building. There were people everywhere and I am usually great with navigation issues but felt like I was going in circles and there was no way out so the first exit I saw I left. Our trip was very nice. We left Augusta around 5 on Friday went out to eat at "Up A Creek", it was pretty good. On Saturday, we walked Lennox Mall, went to Phillips Plaza which is about the size of Augusta Mall. All the shops in the two places were very high dollar stores, all of your name brand places. But at Phillips plaza is were we saw KING KONG, what an awesome movie. We then later ate dinner at a very nice restaurant. The people next to us were a lot of fun they were somewhat of an older couple and the lady's sister. They were enjoying life, and we were enjoying it with them. The next day is when we took Marta to the aquarium, we waited an hour to go about 15 miles down the street. We missed the first train, and waited about 30 minutes on the next one only to go to the very next station to get off because that train was going to be serviced where we again waited for another 30 minutes on the train that was "right behind it" We walked centennial Park and went to the CNN building. The ride home was much better. We rode marta to Lennox mall and then walked back to Phillips Plaza to see the movie "memoirs of a geisha" That was also a very good movie. It when along with our lunch of sushi and Chinese food. Today we stopped at the Carter Center, and took a look at history. It was pretty cool.



OK I am going to post my first poem, it is not about adoption but its is one I wrote just before our decision to adopt and is dedicated to all the girls that I have worked with and they know who they are. It is called "Mother of None, Many Daughters"

I am a mother of none
but yet I have many daughters.

We talk-We laugh-We cry and play
and they tell me about their day.

but when the day is done
they go home to their mothers
and I to a childless home.

I love these daughters of mine
there door is always opened to my heart

I'm happy to be there
to share their lives and
would not have it any other way

Even tough one day they move on about their lives
they will never completely go away
They are a treasure in my heart

One day I'll be a mother to a child of my own and
forever will be grateful for
there lessons they have taught me

For God has put them there and used them to make me
into the best mother that I can be.

For these daughters
have brought Joy in my childless days.

Update

I know that my friends must think that I never blog or when is she going to blog. I have thought about it but never seen to take the time to sit. As most of you know that Mike and I have been considering adoption. Well we have started the process. We have turned in our application and begun our "Home Study". That's just the beginning. For our home study we have to write an autobiography. This is probably the hardest part for me because I am not a big fan of writing. We will also have to have a physical, be fingerprinted locally and by the FBI. After the entire process is over there will be NO SECRETs about us. I am very excited despite all of the paper work.

Rita wants me to blog some of my poems I've been writing. As I said before I am not a great writer. Maybe one day I'll share them with you.

Christmas is almost hear a time of Holiday Cheer. I look forward to spending time with my family. Just think hopefully this time next year I will have a new addition to the family. I am going to attach some pictures of my family including one of a baby boy that we considered adopting. He is my brother-in-laws step daughter's son. She decided that it would be too difficult to let us adopt him because we were family and she would see and here him call us "mommy" and "daddy". He is cute. Hopefully we will still be able to impact his life in some way.

Tomorrow is our (Mine and Mike's) 16th anniversary. That puts us together for 19 years because we dated for 3 years. We will be heading to Atlanta for some time together. We will go out to eat somewhere nice and then we are going to the new Georgia Aquarium. I'm excited about that. I'll post pictures of that on a later date.

TTFN(ta ta for now as Tigger would say)

Adoption

Today Mike and I went to an informational meeting on international adoption. It all sounds very exciting but it also sounds very scary. We have talked about going to China to adopt a little girl. After you go through a mountain of paperwork and then get your referral for a child you eventually travel to a foreign country. About 1-2 days after your arrival you get your child. The scary thought is being a first time parent in a foreign county for 2 weeks. I know that once you get there you probably do not think about any of that and you just think about your new child and enjoying your time there.

Friends Make Good Things Even Better

This weekend I went to the renaissance Faire with my friends Robin, Rita, Elizabeth and baby Romand. I always enjoy going to the Faire but it is so much better with friends. We drove up on Friday night to Charlotte N.C. and what a trip it was. By the time we got there we were tired and silly. The next morning we got up got dressed (in costume) and went to the Faire. We were there 7 hours and it only seemed like a few. It was a beautiful day. We walked around, ate, and watched a few shows. The belly dancers were great. The weather was perfect. Things continued to get better. The trip home was fun. We talked about everything and then played word games on the return trip. We laugh a lot. They always say "Laughter is the best medicine." That was all we needed. There were no need for alcohol because we laughed ourselves drunk. Fun things are always better with friends. I do believe life is about relationships. Investing in people is a good way to ensure a happy life. I am very thankful for my friends.

Sorry Dottie, Wish you were here. We will have a girls night when you return.

San Francisco

October 22-27 we took a vacation to San Francisco California. It was a really great time. Thank God the flights were not miserable like the last time. The first full day of fun was going to Napa Valley doing wine tasting. What fun that was. We stopped to eat and I had the best portabella mushroom burger I have ever sank my teeth into. After eating we decided to ditch our plan due to non stop traffic and went to an off street and try the vineyards there. We went to Mumm Vineyard where they make champagne and they had an Ansel Adams photo exhibit. It was awesome.
The next day was spent cheering the Oakland Raiders to victory.
Day 3 we packed up and headed to our hotel at Fisherman's Warf. On the way we stopped off at Cafe gratitude a raw vegan restaurant. The food was really good and so was the atmosphere. The food was great. Mike said his soup tasted like grass. However he did enjoy the place and even said that if I could prepare food like that he could possible eat this way. The flavors were good. The vegan cheesecake was the best. All of the food had name like "I am joyful" "I am cheerful" and when they served it to you they would say "you are joyful" after eating you felt good. Later that day we went to fisherman's warf and then to Japan town.
Day 4 was more time at fisherman's warf and China town where I love to shop. They have all kinds of cool things. Later that day we took a boat tour out to Golden Gate Bridge and around alcatraz
Day 5 was spent in airports and getting home so that I could go to work the next day.

Girls Night

Last night, I went over to a friends house for "Girls Night". What great fun it was. It is defiantly something that I would do again. It was a night of fun and laughter. It was like being a kid again. We had dinner, cheap wine, a chick flick, and chocolate cake. It was really fun just being with friends, leaving the guy behind and watching a movie without the manly comments on how cheesy the movie is. Thanks Robin and Rita!

Change

Is change always a good thing? Why are there certain stipulations that we must dress a certain way or act a certain way in order to pursue certain jobs, other activities or even Christ. Why does the church say that you have to dress a certain way in order to be a good Christian. What makes a good Christian? His Clothes or His Heart? I understand and believe that change happens when we become followers of Christ but I believe it is in His timing not ours or someone else. Sometimes Christ may ask us to change our dress because it reflects our hearts but I believe the heart must come first. He may also ask us to change other things in our lives. There are times when I want to go back to my old way of thinking and say "you have got to act, dress and think this way in order to be a good Christian" because it is easier. There is another problem with that is that I truly believe that those who think that way have not examined their hearts the way they should. If they did they would realize that Jesus loves us just the way we are. He doesn't care about how we dress. He just wants us to follow after him and find a life of freedom and fulfillment in him. They would also realize that they are the ones who may need the changing. There are some awesome lovers of Christ out there and they do not all dress in suits and ties or nice dress casual and I think that is awesome. They are out there reaching others that these people are not going to reach because they dress a certain way.

People

O.K. Rita I'm posting

It's been crazy over the last few weeks. Lots of kids at school, not enough sleep etc.

I am so grateful to God for changes in my life. I look back to when I got out of high school and remember who I thought I would become. I also knew what type of people who would be in my life. I am so glad I was wrong. I used to judge people because they didn't act, think or look like me. Boy was I wrong. When we started going to the Vineyard many moons ago, I realized that people who didn't act, think or look like me were really cool. I assumed by the way they look that there was no way that they could be Christians. Again I was wrong. Some of these people are some of the coolest people I know. They love God and they love those around them. After going to the Vineyard for a while we then went downtown to help plant the vineyard there and that was a very rewarding time in my life. I continued to meet people who I would not have chosen in the past to hang out with. I believe that these people probally love God and are more spiritual than the ones I would have chosen. I have learned many things from these people. I have learn true community. I have learned to be me reguardless of how I feel. If I feel like crap then I am free to tell them and not hind behind a fake smile. I am free to live life. I am free to love God with all I have have.

Up and Running

Well, I have gotten through the first week of school. I am very tired and a little stressed. I am feeling a little overwhelmed. I have a total of 12 students one with a wheelchair and requires lifting. The kids are really great and I believe that it is going to be a great year if I can just get past the getting going phase.

Searching for Lost Treasure

Today I went to the lake with Ira and Danielle. We had lots of fun except for the biting fish. The geese were lots of fun especially watching Danielle chase them and all of us feeding and honking at them. They squeak when they are content and hiss at you when they are mad. Well today we were doing flips in the water and my favorite sunglasses fell off and I couldn't find them. We spent 20 minutes looking for them. It was very difficult because even tough the water was faily clear it is hard to see when you are almost over your head and your feet are stirring up the dirt.
While looking we found sticks, a cell phone and eventually my glasses. We were curious to know if someone got mad and tossed the phone in the lake or if they just forgot they had it on their person and walked in the water. I always enjoy hanging out with the girls. They will keep you young.

Nothing Accomplished

Do you ever watch time go by and get nothing accomplished. I would have to say that I am the biggest procrastinator in the world. I have 2 months off in the summer and only a few goals around the house but somehow never manage to get around to it. I now only have 2 full days remaining of my summer vacation and still haven't cleaned out the closets, cleaned up the junk room etc. Sometimes I get on my own nerves and get frustrated with myself. I just don't know how to get started. I just wander in circles going from room to room or task to task. Mike tells me just organize myself and do one thing at a time but I DO NOT Know how to do that either. He and other organized people just don't understand that my brain just doesn't work that way regardless of how hard I try. Now it's time to focus and get onto the task of school. I know the first day my teacher assistant will ask me if I have been taking my ADD supplements because I will have a ton of work to do and will manage to do circles around my classroom for the first 2 hours accomplish nothing.

It's About That Time

It is about that time to return to work. I have to go to work on July 28th and the students return on August 3rd. I am not ready to return. I will be happy to see my students but I need a vacation. Summer was just too short and it is VERY WRONG to return to school in July. I have been very busy. I started off the summer shooting a wedding at the beach and it was lots of fun. I then had Thyroid surgery. While recovering from that I went to a conference for Assistive Technology(work related stuff). Upon returning I washed my clothes and then went on a vacation with Mike. We went to Gulfport Mississippi and then took a day trip to New Orleans. It was relaxing. After that I went to Miami on a mission trip (mentioned in previous blog) and now I have been enjoying the rest of my summer. I have hung out with some of the girls in the youth group, been shopping and that's about it. I am mentally not ready to return. I know once I get into the swing of things it will be ok and I'll enjoy it again. Pictured above is my team (Team Jamaica) from Mission Miami '05 and the sunshine yellow house we painted. They were a great team.

Mission Miami '05

Wow! I just go back from Miami with 12 of our youth. It was a long week. We served all over Miami through various agencies. I enjoyed the hard work but the most challenging thing for me was to drive everyday through the city. I drove 12+ hours to get there and then had to drive every day. It is not like it is around here if you miss your turn you just go to the next exit. Every exit was a new interchange another major expressway. Needless to say I got lost several times but somehow managed to find my way again. I had one of my youth on my team (Tim Barret) to become the navigator because there is no way you can read a map and drive in Miami traffic at the same time. It's kind of like our spiritual walk. We have a navigator in Christ with out him we will get lost in this adventure we call life, but it we turn to him and follow his way we will be found. There was one day that I was so tired, had a head ache, and could not think straight, I even got lost on the route that we traveled everyday and I knew the way. everything began to look the same. That day I was falling asleep standing up. Todd the director prayed for me that night for energy and the next day I felt so refreshed despite the little sleep we were getting every day. The verse in the Bible where it says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" became very real to me because I could not have done it any other way. I told Alan our youth minister that I DID NOT want to drive in traffic. He didn't even know that we were going to have to do so every day.
I am excited about the fire that was started in our youth. The theme of the camp was Catalyst. I think it did just that, it stirred up in them a desire to serve others and they are looking to see what type of things we can do to serve here in Augusta.

Screw Ups

You know what I hate most in life is when you screw up and somebody holds it against you and doesn't really see you for who you really have become or the good things you have done or the improvements you've made. All they really see is the ugliness of that one moment it is as if it erases everything good and keep you from your dreams in life.

Jack in the Box

I feel like a "Jack in the Box" It is like someone turned the handle and made me pop my top. A good thing. I feel like Jack who has been confined to a box for 4 months. I have been limited it everything I do. Just about 2 weeks ago I begin to sleep and my hyper personality is back. Today I got in the car with my friends and I don't think I stopped talking for 10 solid minutes. I finally realized it and apologized. They commented that they could tell I had my old self back because I was no loner grumpy. It feels good to be me.
Today my class had our Cafe for a grant I won. It went great. My kids waited on tables, bussed the tables, cooked the food and what ever else was needed. They were so cute and we were so tired and hungry when we finished. I feel like vacation time is here (of course it is only 3 more days of school with the kids) and finishing the cafe was the final release of all my tension.

Sleep or the lack thereof

Sleep is an amazing thing. You do not realize what it does for you until you go without. For the last month or two, I haven't sleep good. I have taken pain medicine, muscle relaxers and the occasional sleep medication all to no avail. The pain just kept waking me up. Finally on Thursday night I only got up once and then went right back to sleep. Friday morning I felt like a new woman. I had patients, and enjoy being at work. I love my job and this lack of sleep has kept me from enjoying one of the things I love most, My Students. I have not had a lot of patients and have not taken the time to see God in them and to enjoy the little victories in life. So on Friday, I just sat and enjoyed them. I laughed with them again, sat on the floor and played with them. Friday night I slept for the first time without medication. 2 good nights that I am very thankful for. Last night I wasn't as lucky, but it was not too bad. I am hoping that I am over the hump and can see a little light at the end of the tunnel. I have 2 weeks left of school with my kids and I want to enjoy every moment I can and will try not to let the lack of sleep creep into my attitude.

19 and counting

Wow! Only 19 more days of school remaining, it's been a crzy year. I can't believe we are almost finished. Up to my surgery I haven't been stressed out too much. Once I returned from surgery and spring break all I've done is to think about, write and hold IEP meetings. I'm finished!! I have 2 small meetings to conduct and a little more paperwork. I miss my kids, even though I've been there. Now I have a cafe to get ready for. I received a grant of $500 from the Jr. league of Augusta. Now we have to prepare. It's going to a lot of work but it will be worth it. I think the kids will enjoy it. I know there is not much thinking or anything deep in this blog(not that I go to deep anyway) but that's ok.

From Pity Party to Party

Yesterday, I was having my self a little pity party. I was told by the doctor on Wednesday that I had 3 weeks to get my leg straight or I would have to have a third surgery. I have made good progress on getting it to bend but have been struggling to get it straight. I had a wedding to do (take photos) but was feeling a little nervous about it, not to mention that my stomach was bothering me and I was very nauseous.
I got ready for the wedding and went. We got a late start with the photos but that did not stress me out too bad. I was happy for the bride and groom, they were both in the youth group when I worked with the youth my first time around at the Augusta Vineyard. Once the wedding go going I started feeling better, my stomach finally stopped bothering me. I had a great time at the wedding. It was like a big party. So I went from a pity party to a PARTY that celebrated something beautiful.
It made me do a little self evaluation, and possibly an evaluation of others. If we dwell on our problems we will continue to get wrapped up in a pity party to the point of depression. I believe the best way to avoid that is to serve others. If we put others before ourselves then we have no time to feel sorry for ourselves and think about our problems, but if we serve others then we can find that we will get to be a part of something beautiful.
The wedding was beautiful despite all of the wind. I had a great time celebrating this union. I was surrounded by people full of love and joy. I even danced a little.

Milestones

Last week on Thursday March 31, I was able to ride the bike backwards. In PT land I had to cheat by raising my hip and it was only one petal back and then awkwardly I would do it again. This week I worked on it some more trying to go forward which is more difficult to do. Well today at the gym my knee went forward and kept going fairly smoothly. I was as giddy as a school girl. The first thing I did was to call Mike. To me this was a small miracle. I have lots of pain at night and was told it would be summer before I was back to normal. What a long wait. Each little milestone gives me more and more hope and the courage to keep working hard.

Freedom

Over the last couple of months I have been fighting depression with this whole knee thing. The knee is on the mend (slowly but surely). I was a little irritated at God because I felt like He did not fulfill his promise. A little over a week ago I was having a discussion on where we were spiritual. When it came my time to speak I spoke my mind. How I was on a spiritual high since the day of the accident, up to the first of February but now I was in a low. The next day after telling my friends how I was a little irritated I decided to pick up my Bible and read a little. I was actually reading the beatitudes from Matthew but it was in the message version and it spoke volumes to me. Several verses just seemed to really touch me. "You're blesses when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you these is more of God and his rule. You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you....Matthew 5:3-4. I was thinking my knee is not most dear to me what's up with that? Then later thinking it's not my knee it's me, it's my personality. The bouncy Tigger Veronica was gone. I could not just get up and go. I was dependent on others. I could not sit Indian style on the floor with my kids, couldn't crawl and chase the cat in our little game we always played or do other things that I loved to do. Being able to do those things is most dear to me. I love being able to just be my typical ADHD self and it was gone. The other verse that stood out to me was Matthew 5:7 "you're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourself cared for. I have receive so many blessing from others taking care of me, especially from Mike. He has been my "in home therapist". Let me tell you he's tough but tough in love. I have enjoyed looking into his eyes and seeing the love reflected back even tough he's causing me pain. I have been able to continue and grow in relationship with others. I was being cared for by everyone I met, rather it was someone opening the door, picking up my keys when I dropped them in the store, pushing out my groceries (something I always do), to just having conversation with people I didn't know. SO! Maybe I have received my healing but just in a different form than I was thinking. I have been blessed by this accident (who would have guessed). I have received my freedom. I no longer am fighting depression, I have found ways to overcome the challenges and still be ME! There is a freedom it that. A freedom that only comes from God.
My determination to reach a goal has never been stronger. I have been challenged to work harder on something than I ever had before. Now lets see what God has in store for the future.

On the road to recovery

Well the proceedure today was WAY WAY worse than the invasive surgery. I woke up in extreme pain. After morphine and a few other drugs I felt better. I also have a nerve block in my leg. For the first time in2 months my leg is straight. but it will pop up if taken our of the splint. It is a weird feel to wiggle your toes or touch your leg and not be able to feel it. They said to expect a lot of pain tonight so make sure I take the pain killers. I am ready to be completely healed.

I talked to my pricipal and teacher assistance today and they said that special olympics was good. I am glad that it was. God provided good weather and fun for the kids.

The Adventure Continues.....

Well so far I've made no progress after 3 weeks of PT. I've actually lost even more of my range of motion. I went to the doctor to see what's up. Because my knee was in the lock position for so long it decided it wanted to stay there. What fun! It's been 2 months since the accident. I now have to go back to surgery for a technique call Knee Manipulation. Here they will put me under and then manipulate my knee to make it bend and straighten. In other words they are going to force it to do something it refuses to do. This procedure will be more painful than the orginal surgery. I was told I will hurt like hell for 2 weeks and will under INTENSIVE physical therapy as if what I was already doing wasn't intensive enough. The last surgery I was at such peace about the whole thing, not so with this one. I have had lots of prayer and really appreciate all who have helped me, either by praying, waiting on me, taking me places, or lending a shoulder to cry on. Tomorrow is special olympics, and in my 12 years of teaching it will be the first one I've ever missed. I am totally bummed about that. I look forward to encouraging my kids on the one day that is set aside just for them to shine. It is always fun. I love my students and hate that I will miss it. I will be glad to get back to normal tough so that I will be able to give them 100% that they deserve. I have only been back for 1 week of full time days to turn around and miss a few more. I have left them in great hands and will pray that tomorrow will be a glorious day for them. Going to go now and eat my last bite of food before midnight.

PAIN

Well today Physical Therapy took on a whole new meaning. I know call it pain and tourcher or physical tourcher. My therapist, decided that my leg and hip needed a massage because my leg was more bent than it was the last session. He asked me what was up and I said "you tell me , your the therapist".. Ah! massage Right, OH NO, that was probally the most painful thing I have experienced. But worth it right, yes if it will help my leg get straight. We I thought the worst was over, did a few more strenghtening excersizes and then we were going to stretch it, no so bad the last session, a litttle pain but not much. Well guess again. He is pulling and tugging and then he ask one of the other therapist to come over. I winced and said PLEASE tell me that the 2 of you will not be pulling on my leg at the same time. Well guess what, THEY DID! HE is pulling and tugging and she is poking and pushing my knee downward. What fun that was, I literaly came off of the table and it took my breath away but hopefully it will be one step closer to having my leg back to normal.

On our walk with Christ, we all have our time in the desert. These times are usually accompanied by pain and hard lessons but the one thing we know about the times when we feel like we are so far away from our source of hope, that these times of struggle and pain only draw us closer to our Goal of walking close to God again. So I have to keep positive and believe that I get one step closer to my goal of walking normally again.

The Babysitter

Well after the fall comes the surgery and then the recovery. On Tuesday the 22nd of February I underwent surgery on my knee to repair what I had done while having a blast. The day of the surgery I was as calm and peaceful as a cucumber. I had a peace within me that could have come only from one source and that is the Holy Spirit. On the first Sunday of this month we had communion at church and Reese told us to come to the table hungry. As I sat there praying I told God that I was HUNGRY! and then I felt His Spirit say that when I came to the table I would receive healing. So I went with expectations, after receiving communion Reese asked if he could pray for me and I said yes thinking "This is it!" Reese and Mary Margaret then prayed for me while we were in line and of course holding up the line and I was excited. I went back to my seat wanting to go to the restroom and take of the brace, bend and straighten my knee and dance in the back, but not wanting to disturb the rest of the service I waited but for the very first time I was able to sit comfortably and sit still and not restless. I go up as the service end and my leg would not straighten, slightly disappointed I heard God speak again and this time he said "healing will come in surgery".
As I said the surgery is complete, I am still in pain (mainly when I get up and walk around) but it is minimal, nothing like I expected but I have been very still because of the Babysitters. I know that God has healed me. It will be complete in his timing not mine.
I know the title of the post is "The Babysitter" so let's talk about that. God has taken great care of me through his spirit and through my baby sitters. The first one has been my husband who has taken great care of me only fussing at me at times I am trying to do to much and by trying to be too independent. He worries about me and in fact came out of the shower so fast this morning when I put my crutches against the wall and they made a noise that sounded like falling. It scared him and my man was coming to take care of me. For that I am so grateful. Mike took care of me the day of the surgery and after hours. Yesterday my sitter was Sam. She is awesome, what a great friend I have made since returning to the vineyard. I had known Sam and Chris from before through their daughter Carrie but had no idea that I would be blessed with such a beautiful friendship later on. I thought Mike was tough but she has got him beat. She would not let me get up for love or money other than to go to the bathroom and If I did I would get "The Look" you know the one, the one your mother, my mother gave us when we were not doing as we were supposed to. She bought my lunch and dinner. Sam I just want to THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Today I'm trying it out on my own, Mike will come home for lunchtime, and tomorrow my best Friend will be taking me to PT (I'm not looking forward to it AT ALL) but I realize that the pain must come so that I will regain the full use of my leg so it away I am ready for it so that I can get the first one past me.
Sorry this is so long but I just want to Thank God for taking such good care of me. I want to thank my best friend and husband Mike for loving me so. I want to thank Sam for showing me "What Would Jesus Do?" by being a friend and compassionate server of God.

God at work.

Yesterday I went back to Mosaic to be a part of their 1 year anniversary celebration. It is really cool to see how God works. The church is growing and is doing great but what really got me was when someone shared their story about being adopted and how God worked out things for this person to finally meet their birth mom fifty years later. I can't do the story justice but was amazed that the adoptee who was adopted in Tenn. decided to settle in the Augusta area after retiring from the military to only be several miles from his birth mothers home. It was really amazing to hear how God was able to reunite this family after what seemed like an impossible task.

A Messed Up Body

You know you never fully understand the verses in the Bible where it talks about the body as a whole and that every part is a equal as the other until you mess up one of your own body parts. The recent ski trip where I had the "Clouded Vision" I also fell and hurt my knee. I did not think too much of it at first until over the last two weeks where it continued to get worse. I went to the doctor and he said it was sprained but it still continued to get worse so I ended up in sports medicine where he believes I tore the cartlidge. GREAT! I have to have an MRI and if it confirms what he suspects I will have to have surgery. Well in the mean time, I can not straighten or bend my leg, so the rest of my body is having to compensate. I fell pain all over and not in just the bad knee. The good knee is now sore along with my hips and back. So the body must work together in order to complete it's work. So if you ever feel like you have clouded vision, or you are not important in the body let me assure you that without you the rest of the body will suffer.
After confessing my "Clouded Vision" I have found my place in the body again, even tough it is not the part I thought it was, it is just as important. I have once again found myself in a place where I can serve.

Clouded Vision

This weekend I went to Maggie Valley to ski with our youth group. I have been struggling as to where I fit in and felt like I have lost my vision. I had some one pray for me and they said that they felt God was saying that I have not lost it but it was clouded by something. It could be sin, frustration or other things. As we continued to pray God reveled to me that this was true and I had been harboring anger. I was angry because I felt that I had been given something from God to only have it yanked away. I repented and then I heard God speak again. He gave me the direction on where to begin again to live out the vision that he has given me. Wow! what a refreshing moment.

You Are Only As Old As You Act!

Last night was New Year's Eve. We had our small group party. The host group has a teenage daughter and decided to get her some nerf guns for Christmas. Then last night this group of 30-40 somethings pulled them out and had WAR!! It was a blast! There were four of us who had these play guns and we were running around the house shooting each other until we got tired and sweaty.

I do believe that I will stay young at heart for ever and that to be an adult you do not have to be 100% GROWNUP. You can still enjoy life by being young at heart.