Fillin' In The Blanks

A good friend left me a comment suggesting that she had been a little worried about my whereabouts since I hadn't posted in several days..prior to the tomato sandwiches..

So I felt the urge to Fill-In-The-Blanks!

Beginning with the last week of July, our family lives have been nothing short of crazy-busy! A co-worker (& the only other decorator besides me) was experiencing a serious personal loss and I was called upon to "fill-in" several nights for her. She doesn't work nights, but I wasn't able to work days. I needed to wait until Mike would come home from work and then I would go to work for however many hours. That was totally tiring.

There was a time in my life where I worked 3rd shift with a happy, smiling, face...believe me those days are gone!!

The first weekend in Aug is always the family reunion for my Mother's family. Over the past several years we ventured to a place in the Smokey Mts for a weekend, but this year, for various reasons, we decided to have it locally. So I worked 9 hrs on Fri. Took Mother her list of needed of items from my place-of-work (warehouse club). Met a friend who had asked me to make cakes for her son's 1st birthday (which I love to do for people I love). Left Mom's @ 3:30 and went home. Took a shower & a very brief nap. Back to Mom's for food, fun, & fellowship. I think I crashed around midnight!

Back to work @ 6 AM for 8 hrs of cake decorating. Left work (at break-neck speed) and headed for the pool fun where my family already were. Swam & played with kids for 1/2 hr. Left and went to my Aunt's house on High Rock Lake for food, fun, & fellowship....One small challenge...it became to storm. It rained off & on for some time. We had lots of fun between the short spurts of showers, but ultimately, it rained us out and we came home around 8:30PM. And not a minute too soon either...Mike had somehow managed to irritate the membrane surrounding his eyes and could barely see by the time we left. He was fine the next morning....it must have been due to the pool water...His eyes are so sensitive...different story to tell later.

Back to work on Sunday @ 6 AM. Plans were to come home and rest then head out to Baptism Service for our Church around 6PM that evening. However, by the time I got home from work, showered and ate a little something.. I was completely exhausted! Not just tired. That exhausted that empties your entire body and makes your mind like J_E_L_L_O! That was me. Mike had such mercy on me! He said, "Babe, GO TO BED!" and being the obedient wife I am (LOL - for those who REALLY know me) I quickly kissed my kiddos and sacked-out! I think I finally woke-up around 7:00 or so...Mike kept apologizing for the kids and their loudness, but I assured him that I heard ab-so-lute-ly NOTHING!!

The kids began Art Classes on Monday afternoons. It is a class we had hoped to join last year, but it filled up before we found out sign-ups had even started! So I signed them up at the end of last school year. When you homeschool, I think it is important to allow your children to use what they learn @ home in out-of-home situations. Art Class is a perfect place for that. The teacher is a believer who homeschools her own children and the classes are filled with mostly homeschool children that we are already familiar with! God is so good! Not to mention that my dd (6) and my ds (13) adore art! Plus, you know from reading my blog....I might be creative...but I ain't artsy-fartsy! I am so glad some one else headed God's urging and agreed to teach my kids that art is more than SpongeBob and the sad little stick figures I draw to amuse them!

Things have slowed down a little more this week than last week. It's still this or that daily...but overall I am not feeling the "pressure" to "perform" this week! I love my part-time job and I am pretty sure I understand why God opened the doors for this particular job curricula!

Yes...it has nothing to do with DANA and everything to do with HIM!!

On top of all that....my husband is completing his GED on-line. He must log in for at least 5 hrs each week - otherwise he gets booted from the program! So I must also run interference between the kids and his computer time. BTW...the computer is in our living room...right next to the kitchen....need I say more? He is doing great! He only has just a few things to complete before he can test for his GED! Then it's off to college - sort of - he wants to get certified to weld. All types of welding. I am sooo excited for him and your prayers are coveted!!

Let's see....Oh, I also visited with a group of "younger" moms @ the park one day to have breakfast and a play date. It was so nice and I met a lot of new people that I didn't know (imagine that...I met strangers!) as well as those I am fond of and have known for quite some time through our local church! I did a lot of listening! I did some talking, but more listening! Just feeling things out....They have invited me to join their Thursday morning BS group...I am praying about it! Homeschooling is among the top daily lists at our home in the fall/winter. I usually do a personal bible study in the mornings for my own time with God and then do another bible study with the kids before we begin school! I tried other bible study groups in the daytime...they didn't work out for me...but there's a reason God allows some things and not others! I will join these wonderful moms when God allows and rejoice with Him in my private time as well!

I think that'll just about do it! Whew...makes me want to nap just looking back at how much I actually typed! Hope this gives you all a little insight to my crazy-filled life! I honestly don't think I would function properly any other way! God knew what I could handle and prepared me for it even before my task arrived...Amen!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Phil 4:13