And Then This Happens....

So most of you know Steven was let go back in February and after not being called for one single interview and lots of praying, Steven has decided to start his own business with my support of course. Great! We are in the small business world. In the small business world you can set your own schedule, be at your computer in your pj's oh..and yes..you can't lay yourself off. Nice perks! I have to admit, I like Steven being at home. Not that he wasn't before...He only had to go in the office once a week so I'm used to him being here with us. I know...know..it's not going to be easy, but it's better than not earing any income right? I read today in the TCU magazine that owning a small business is like riding a roller coaster, but isn't that the way life is anyway. There will be ups and downs, but I know with God's help, we can do it. He is in control! He has been so good and we have a lot to be thankful for! I have to admit, there are some bad days, but then I remember God is in control.

Ok...I can accept the fact we are going to be small business owners. I'm good with that. Now I can tell you about the other issue in our lives right now that only a few good friends know about. Back at the end of January the director of my daughter's school talked to Steven and I and told us she thinks A#1 might have dyslexia. First let me say, she is an awesome director. She has her Phd and is very educated in learning disabilities so I trusted her suspicions about A#1. Steven and I took her advice and had her tested at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas. We went at the end of April and for 3 hours my little girl was in a room with a woman I didn't even know being tested. I sat in the waiting room praying and reading all I could about dyslexia. Then again we had to wait for 2 1/2 months for the results. Finally this past week we received the results. The pediatric MD there on staff came to one conclusion about the diagnosis..., "We don't know if she has dyslexia. You and the school have been working so hard with her that right now it's hard to tell. I do suspect however, she is ADD and I suggest we reevaluate after a month into school and start meds." I'm hearing all this and thinking.....I'm not putting my child on medication when I haven't even done behavioral therapy or tried some nutritional things. Why not try those things first? Why is he suggesting medication be the answer first. I'm not saying medication is a bad thing, but I think that it is not for every kid. A#1 is not a hyper-active kid, but gets easliy distracted in a classroom and at home. This I do agree with since I homeschool her 2 days a week. So after the appointment I talked to everyone I knew..our director, her teacher, etc. They all agreed with me. A#1 is not a child who should be on meds. After our director suspected dyslexia in January, she started her on a curriculum for dyslexic children. She jumped 5 reading levels in 2 months. Amazing! The Socttish Rite doctor's recommendation was to keep doing what we are doing of course and then do the meds. I believe she has dyslexia. I believe A#1 has learned to compensate for this with our director's help and has learned to cope while she is reading. So this is another thing we are giving to God right now. I really believe this is all you can do when life hands you these little surprises.

I am so proud of Steven and A#1! They are so smart and intelligent. And did I mention they are 2 peas in a pod! From the day she was born A#1 and her daddy have a special bond. And I believe even though both of them have had a few obstacles lately, that they can succeed.

A#2 Graduates

I know it's been a while since I've blogged, but starting a business is A LOT of work, but that's another story I have to save for another day. I've been meaning to blog about A#2's graduation for a while now and I'm just getting around to doing it. So sorry blog followers..I haven't been very good about blogging. :( Above is A#2 with her good friend W. I keep telling W's mom that I'm ok with an arranged marriage between these two. Although A#2 has another boy too I wouldn't mind her being with either some day, but he's in Tulsa. W is a good kid! A#2 and W have been in the same class since they were 2 years old. That's right...2. When they were in the 3's class together A#2 would come help fold up W's nap mat after rest time and put his shoes on for him. I know this cause I used to sub in their class every once in while. W won't be back next year cause he's going to a different school. I'm a little sad.
So here she is getting her diploma with Mrs. Ford. We love Mrs. Ford. She was A#1's kinder teacher too. She is an incredible teacher!
"You Gotta Wear Shades". Remember that song all you peeps of the 80's. That's what they sang during the ceremony. It was pretty much a one hit wonder, but it was fun to watch the kids play their "guitars" and wear shades! Ha!
Here is A#2, W and Lise! These three are great friends!
And here's the fam after the ceremony! Then we were off to Cheddars for a celebration lunch. Next year I will have a 1st and 2nd grader. Hard to believe!

Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile!

I just had to laugh at this cartoon cause it so describes how I feel right now. I'm really not worried anymore about Steven not having a job. I know God is going to take care of things. So I'm smiling a lot more lately. However, I don't think my smile would scare anyone personally.

Surprise!

Steven and all my friends threw me a surprise party for my birthday last night at Joe T's. My favorite restaurant of all time. I must say I was truly surprised being that Steven is still job searching and I didn't think we would be able to afford to do much this year. But all my dear sweet friends chipped in and threw me a party. I was overwhelmed! Here is my friend Marnie above. She is my artist friend I blogged about. She was a cheerleader in high school. Can you tell?
Here are Steven and I celebrating the occasion! He helped organize all of this along with my dear friend Cindy. And I have to add that he even cleaned house yesterday before the party. I love him so much!
Here are all of us girls! You ladies are amazing! I don't know what I would do without you!
And here is my dear friend Tammy and she is totally sober in this picture just so I set the record straight. We just all love Joe T's margaritas. And yes..they are that good! You go girlfriend!
And well...Andy... I'm pretty sure I heard a few things that I wasn't supposed to hear last night...including a conversation about Japanese restrooms. Don't ask!

All in all it was a great night! I would have to say it was one of the best birthdays I've EVER had. Thanks so much to all of you! I don't know what I would do without your friendship. You guys have been so wonderful and God has blessed me beyond measure. I love you guys!

The Joys of Parenthood

A volunteer in our ministry First Steps ( a ministry for expectant families) sent this to me today. It is hilarious. It made me laugh! Thanks Jaynette for sending it!

Thinking of Having Kids? Do this 11 step program first!

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the newspaper.
5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already
are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.
2.Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve theirchild's breast feeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners,and overall behavior. Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the livingroom from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound)playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner.)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep. 3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)
Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out. Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate havingchildren.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine-month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important:no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt-sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

Hope you enjoyed these Lessons! Share it with your friends, both those
who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you need as a parent!

A Worthy Cause

Biking for Bibles Across America

California pastor celebrates International Bible Society’s 200^th anniversary with coast-to-coast bicycle trip

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX—Dipping his bicycle tires in the Pacific Ocean at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, California, 56-year-old California pastor Randy Gardner began his Biking for Bibles cross-country bicycle trip on Monday, April 20, 2009.

The trip commemorates the 200^th anniversary of International Bible Society, an affiliate of IBS-STL Global. Gardner hopes to raise awareness of and funds for IBS’s mission to provide Scripture resources to people worldwide who need the life-changing message of God’s love and mercy.

IBS traces its history to an evening in December 1809, when a group of men met in a home located in lower Manhattan to launch the New York Bible Society, later renamed International Bible Society. Nearly 200 years later, on Friday, May 29, 2009, Gardner will end his trip in this same area of Manhattan, along the historic waterfront of Battery Park.

Weather and health permitting, Gardner will average more than 100 miles daily, with one double-century day (200 miles) on his 3,800-mile journey. This exciting—and grueling—adventure requires Gardner to successfully wheel his way through the California desert, over the Rocky Mountains, through Tornado Alley, across the Ozarks, and over the Mississippi River. Part of his route will include the historic Underground Railroad.

Accompanied by a support team, Gardner will cycle through 14 states: California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Daily destinations are indicated at www.bikingforbibles.com, where viewers can view Gardner’s itinerary, check his progress, read his blog, and learn more about IBS ministry. Riders are welcome to join along the way and ride at their own pace.

This is Gardner’s second cross-country bike ride for IBS. In April 2003 he pedaled from Cabrillo Beach to Victory Monument in Yorktown, Virginia, raising awareness for IBS’ translation ministry.

About IBS-STL

IBS-STL Global is one of the largest Bible and Christian literature ministries worldwide, translating the Bible into major languages and distributing Christian resources to engage people with the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ. It is the translation sponsor and copyright holder of the New International Version^® (NIV) of the Bible, the world’s most widely read contemporary English translation. IBS-STL also holds the copyrights to the Today’s New International Version^® (TNIV), Nueva Versión Internacional^® (NVI), and 45 international Bible translations. For more information on IBS-STL Global, visit www.ibsstl.org.

Randy’s photo and itinerary are available upon request.

Happy Moms Day!

Happy Mothers Day! Need I say more!