Prayers, Prayers, Prayers Please

We are in VA and Abby's seizures are increasing in rapid fashion. In less than the past two weeks, she has had seven seizures. We've increased meds twice and she/the seizures are not responding. As well as growing in frequency, they are growing in strength and intensity. This is the third winter in a row this has happened. We are perplexed, searching for something that makes sense. Has something changed or is this just the disease? So your prayers are coveted. Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving Early Dear Ones

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love my family gathering during the most beautiful time of the year. I love the chill in the air, the sound of the crisp leaves blowing, and the smell of smoke from chimneys. I love the first notes of Christmas music being played and the anticipation of getting the Christmas tree in just a few days. And yes, I love the turkey!!!! I love turkey!!!! I love mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, hot rolls, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie with vanilla bean ice cream. I am a traditional Thanksgiving girl.

As I tackle my list of "23" things to do before leaving for this festive holiday tomorrow, I wanted to tell you all that I love you and you are so dear to me. I pray you are blessed with the gift of family this Thanksgiving and become overwhelmed as you count your blessings! I'm taking "off" from the blog world while I am gone. I will return with pictures and tales.

Walking Forward in Faith on the Ever Changing Path of Life...

Sometimes it's easy, sometimes easier, sometimes harder, and sometimes very difficult. It's harder right now. But there are many, many blessings in my life and I focus on them and the truth that I am striving to live for the Lord and not myself. Some of my favorite many blessings...

My Loving Husband- He's healthy, He's thoughtful, He's a Wonderful Daddy to Abby, He provides for us with a job with the benefits of travel and health insurance and is OFTEN home, and He loves me with an unconditional love that is truly from God

My Precious Daughter- Abby is learning, Abby is walking and talking and playing, Abby is growing, Abby's health is relatively stable, Abby is home with me in the school house and we are sharing precious moments, Abby's growing a love for the Lord and is just a generous gift that keeps on giving...

I have a beautiful home in which we entertain many friends, where we have devotion to the Lord each morning and prayer time for Him each night as a family, where we are kept warm when it is cold outside and where we gather around the fire each night to be together... and of course where I can rearrange furnishings and "freshen".

My precious dog whom brings me much joy just by bouncing around on the floor and snuggling next to me...

Friends, many friends whom love us and shower us with prayers and friendship... friends who celebrate with us, friends who cry with us, friends who gather near when we need them... special God sent friends whom we have never even met!

And I am the daughter of a Loving, Faithful, Sovereign God who desires a relationship with me in which I am with Him daily, die to Him daily, Trust in Him daily, Praise Him daily, seek Him daily, and obey Him daily... and He loves me with a love my human mind can not comprehend, and He has plans for me that I can not know, and He has a will for me that is perfect... He speaks to me and comforts me through the precious and sacred holy gift and presence of His Holy Spirit... and He guides me with His very hand...




So it is hard, but we will continue walking forward... in Faith


These beautiful photos were taken by our precious friends Missy and Brian. Thank you a thousand times again. http://www.momentsbymissy.com/

The School House is Rockin

Abby rocked at school today, thankfully. She had a seizure yesterday morning and so school was a loss yesterday. Today she sounded out new words and is clearly on her way to reading. I am filled with so much happiness to hear her sound out words!

So this is how we play at the school house! Who needs snow? Here in Georgia, all we need is a hill and a good box!

I came home from errands today to find Abby and her daddy waiting to show me their new trick! It was awesome. Even I went down our little hill in the front yard... thankfully there are no pictures of that one!

Sock monkey and new butterfly baby accompanied Abby on her rides until Sam came out to join her. There are two ways to land. The good way and the not so good way. MOST of the time we have good landings... but every now and then they are a bit rough and high!

So there are four highlights for the keeper of the school house today. Number one- My daughter is reading, learning math, improving listening skills, making beautiful art, and learning history and science... all after a great devotion about her Lord and Creator.

Number two- I usually remain in my pajamas until at least 1 p.m. (Abby is dressed for school)

Number three- We are having fun dinner guests tonight!

And here is number FOUR! As I delivered a jewelry order to a local store, there were the most fabulous Christmas stockings I have ever dreamed of in my whole life...seriously! I have been looking/shopping/hunting for the perfect Christmas stocking for three years now. It has been hopeless and I have NOT had time to make them! So there they were... beckoning me from the front of a chest... calling my name and smiling from ear to ear... knowing they WERE THE ONES!

I made a trade with the store owner and STILL came up on the plus side with cash to pocket!

Abby got first dibs and picked the snowman, I am the peace sign and Daddy is the house! The beautiful ornament is for our little one to come... one day... if ever.

Here is the down side to my day. I pulled black socks out of the hamper basket today to wear with the sweater I have worn three times and the pants I have worn twice this week. And I wore my hair in pig nubs (not even tails) for the third time in public this week. HMMMMMMM... LAUNDRY must become a highlight tomorrow! And hair must become a priority again.

Where have you been lately?

It's been a while. Sorry. Life. Craziness. Tiredness. Emotional roller coasters followed by very bad days. BUT... very wonderful schooling going on here at the school house! That is my biggest praise and blessing right now.

Abby is doing great with home schooling and I am loving it more and more each day. She has fallen right into the routine and ASKS to do homework again! She loves it and I am so blessed by her renewed desire to learn! And another huge praise... she is sounding out words and READING! Praise God! How fun it is. The first day she was really sounding out words and blending them together and getting the word... we were doing the "Happy Dance" in the sun room and jumping up and down... her SMILE was PRICELESS!

School is Monday through Thursday from 9 am to noon. Friday is a day to make up work and catch up on things that may have been missed. It's also a day to go to CBS (Bible study) together! She loves her class there too and I am thrilled to have her there.

Three hours of straight work is the perfect amount of time for her. We start each day with devotion, calendar and number lines. We have science, history, and art twice a week, math three times a week, and writing and reading four times a week. We add in story "listening time" on tapes, playing games (crazy eights, Old Maid, Memory) a couple times and she has computer time twice a week. We also go to the library once a week and find books to go with what we are learning. In history, we are learning about the continents and started with Asia. So we went to the Library yesterday and got two books on China and one on Panda bears. It's GREAT! I am totally loving it. And so is she!

And Don taught school one day last week and gave me the morning off and is teaching again tomorrow! I have major jewelry stuff to get done before I sell my business next month... yes... I have sold Georgia Jewels! More on that blessing later.

Since I have school planned out two weeks at a time, I just hand him the day with my planner and he does it! Another great blessing.

These beautiful flowers are from my husband. I have been through the ringer lately. Emotionally, I am worn out. Clomid knocked me down and this adoption is wearing me down. The little girl we were hoping to adopt in Colorado was supposed to be posted until this past Friday(14th). When her posting disappeared on the 7th, I asked my coordinator to call and check and just make sure everything was fine. The social worker out there never returned any of her phone calls and still hasn't. My heart tells me they found a Colorado family. The whole thing is just emotionally exhausting. So my precious husband brought me beautiful flowers, has made me dinner twice in the past week, slept with Abby two nights in a row to give me rest and let me sleep in twice. He also surprised me with a fire, hot cinnamon rolls, and coffee last week as I tearfully returned from a "moment" away.

His aunt Genevieve died last week and we were in Houston this past weekend for her funeral. She had battled cancer for two years. She was a daughter of the King and we rejoice that she is dancing with the Lord. She has left behind a son and two daughters whom will remain in our prayers and hearts right now.

Abby has had seizures about once every two weeks for a month and a half now and so we are going up on medication again tonight. It is our prayer that this is the last increase for a while.

As I mentioned above, I have sold my business and am doing inventory and finishing up some last orders before my precious cousin-in-law takes it over next month! Yeah Joanna!

So we are starting a new week and I just wanted to say hello. Hopefully I will be back again sooner than later! Love to all.

Adoption Update

We got a call this week from the adoption coordinator we are working with who has spoken to the social worker in Colorado. Our home study has been received and reviewed and we are being considered. They have to accept home studies through Nov. 14th and then will make a decision.

We found out more information on this little girl and it is such a sad situation. For privacy purposes, I'll not share details but ask that you please remember her in your prayers. Please pray for her heart to prepared, for her little soul to be comforted and for God to quickly get the family He has chosen for her to her so her life can become stable again. Please also pray for our patience and peace in God's will. Thank you, as always... so so much. I'll keep you posted.

All I want for Christmas

OK... it's official. I really want a piano for Christmas... it could also be a combined anniversary present... and Valentine's Day... ok... and birthday... since they are all in a two month time frame!

I have loved piano music since I was very young. My mom used to make cassette tape copies (dating myself a tad) of her music and send it to me. So I had the privilege of being introduced to George Winston very early on. I used to sit in the dark, in my room, and listen to piano music for hours. Later on, I discovered Yanni. Yes! I admit it! I LOVE YANNI. His music just moves me and I have written poetry to one of his cd's.

George Winston and Windham Hill make me think of Fall and Winter. I crank it and let the cool breeze come in the windows and get nothing done! Yanni just makes me want to breath in life... and hold it for a very long time. Lucky for me, my husband has taken me to see George Winston and Yanni in concert! It was all I could do to remain in my seat.

When I was very young, before my parents divorced, we had a piano and I took lessons. It was a very old piano that had belonged to my grandmother. I remember there was a color key on the back that my great grandfather had drawn on there for her to use to learn to play. Some of the keys were chipped... I thought it was fabulous. I'd do anything to have that piano today.

I took lessons for a brief time and then my parents divorced. Sadly, with the move came the end of my piano days. Later, in high school, my grandparents bought one for my aunt. I played on it often and learned to play by ear. I spent hours learning several George Winston pieces.

So... to whom it may concern... All I want for Christmas is an old piano (but in tune)!