New House & New Job

We are into the new house.  We had some awesome help moving and couldn't have done it without them.  I even had two gals push me to get the other house cleaned so I wouldn't have to go back later and do it.  Thanks girls!!   I'll post pics once I can locate the camera.  The downstairs looks like a tornado hit it.  That is something I will work on slowly.  This time around I don't have the extra time since I'm working at the school.  However, IT WILL GET DONE!  Speaking of school, my first couple days went great.  I'm at one of the middle schools.  The funny thing to watch is kids I know from church that are walking through the lunch line.  They will look at me for a second like "Why is she here?"  They then give me a big smile and say hello!  There's really no down time and I'm on my feet for the better part of my work hours.  I have an ultimate goal in mind so if I can make it to my goal then I'll be good.  What a blessing from the Lord on the house and job.  He certainly is so wonderful to us! 

Paint, Paint and more Paint

That's what we've been doing since Thursday last week.  What a BIG job that house is.  Kudos to my wonderful husband who has worked many late nights to get the painting done.   Huge thank you's go out to several friends who came to help paint.  It would have taken Kev and I longer to get it done had they not come.  Kev and I finished up the rest of the painting today.  I told Kev I didn't want to see or hold another paint brush for a VERY long time!  However, the finished product looks awesome and for that I'm grateful.  Carpet will get laid Wednesday or Thursday and the big move is on Saturday.  I'll load my van up with boxes and some of the smaller things from the house tomorrow and Wednesday and take it to the new house.  Helps that we don't have very far to drive from one house to the next!  Little by little, step by step, it's coming together.  On a side note:  We met our neighbors to the right of us.  Very nice people.  They have two young kids and Zayvn has already made friends.  Sandy is the mom's name and she even brought over cookies for us on Saturday.  Such a wonderful gesture! 

New School Year Begins

Today a new school year begins.  Renn going into 5th and Zayvn into 1st.  Where does all the time go?  Both boys were excited to go to school.  I had a feeling this year they wouldn't want us to walk them into the school.  My feeling was right.  Zayvn says, I'll just have my brother walk me in but you can come and see me get out of the car mom.  Well, thanks Zayvn!! ;)  As tradition, Kev picked both boys up from school and took them out for ice cream to hear all about their first day.  When I finally met up with them they were just full of stories about their teachers and classmates.  Thanks Lord for making the boys first day of school a great one!!

Working Again

Well, the badge shows it's official.  I had orientation today with the Des Moines Public Schools.  School will start a week from tomorrow.  I will be working in Food Services.  Right now I am a floater, meaning I will go wherever they need me to be.  Eventually I'll be able to choose where I want to be.  Praying that Pleasant Hill Elementary will have a position open.  That way I can be less than a minute from where I live.  For now though, I'll go where they need me.  I'm excited, yet nervous.  Always nervous when I start a new job.  Things will be different than the school I was back in OR so I'm preparing myself for that.  It's really the best job for me at this moment in time where my children are concerned.  Getting off before them so I'm still able to pick them up from school.  There might be a few days I will have to start early so Kevin will be able to get them to school.  Before school starts next week I'll have to go buy some work clothes and hairnets.  Not use to wearing hairnets so that should be quite interesting!!  I just thank Jesus for helping get me the job.  Now I pray I can be a light to those around me.

Races

I won tickets through the radio station to the Deery Brothers Auto Races last night.  Kev was with Renn spending the day with him so I took Zayvn with me.  It was a lot of fun and Zayvn did pretty good.  We left a little early since Zayvn started to get restless and disinterested.  Me?  I could have stayed to the very end. 

Random

Just a random thought.  Last night we attended the wedding of  Danyelle who was once in our children's church the first time we were here in IA.  What joy to see her all grown up and marrying.  Then this afternoon we had the opportunity to go to a birthday party for little Caleb who turns 1 on Monday.  Someday little Caleb will be in Filling Station with us just as Danyelle was.  As I sat at the party I thought about last night and today.  Little 1 year old Caleb to Danyelle, who married.  Both of them a part of our children's ministries in two different era's.  Wow!  Kev and I are privileged to be able to minister to the children here and in turn see them grow into mature men and women of God. 

I'm Free. I'm Free at last!!

Tonight I was met with a test and guess what?  I passed!!  With flying colors!  I'm not trying to brag on myself but I have to share what the Lord has done the last couple months and tonight.  As most of you know I took a month and went back to Oregon.  While there the Lord did some amazing healing work in my heart and life.  Healing that needed to come from the months of anquish at my church and the things that were going on.  It's one thing to say you've been healed but it's another thing when you are actually put to the test!  I walked into a room tonight and made eye contact, said hello and had no hard or bitter feelings toward that person.  Over and over tonight that is what I did.  I made eye contact, said hello and felt so wonderful!!  Of course, there were some who could not make eye contact with me but I pray someday they will be able too.   Those things that happened in the past are in the past.  I'm not saying to be chummy, chummy with them but for me to be able to look them in the eye and say hello is an amazing step for me.  It was like total victory!  It was victory!!  Not only did I make the enemy mad when I did that but there was such freedom in doing it.  I'm grateful for a God that cares enough about me to put me through that little test.  He's amazing and so funny at times too!  On a side note:  if your reading my blog and your experiencing some of those things I've talked about know there is healing in Christ.  He does not want us to be filled with the bitterness and ugliness of the world.  He wants us to be free!  Totally, totally FREE!!   Ask for God to free you and see what He can do for you!!

Answers I Hope to Get

Do you ever feel like you have failed as a parent?   I do.  This week has been one of those weeks where I have felt like I have failed miserably as a parent.     I know I shouldn't let the enemy tell me those things.  I do the best I can do however there are times, like yesterday, that it was beyond me.  I could no longer help the situation.  Now it's time for the professional's and God to intervene.  I'm talking about my sweet boy Zayvn.   Don't get me wrong.  I love my boys with everything I have.  Where to even begin?  He requires much attention.   Not just a little, but a whole lot!  There are times where temper tantrums become huge in our home.  Times where I go to my room and shut the door because I can no longer deal with it.  Sad huh?   This mom who feels like she has completely failed her child and can't even handle him.  know it's not me.  I know he needs help.  There's something raging inside of his little body.  I know he doesn't mean to do the things he does, yet he can't help it.  For so long Kev and I have tried so many things.  Finally, we heard about this clinic at the University of Iowa that will do diagnostic testing for children.  Testing for developmental, behavior and emotional.  Kev and I want so desperatly to help Zayvn.  We want him to be able to have peace within his little mind and body.  We want him to grow into a happy, joyful child.   +We've tried to do it by ourselves but now we need more help.  That doesn't mean we have failed as parents.  We've just need some more insight.  Two weeks from today Kevin will take both Renn and Zayvn to U of I (my very first day of my new job begins that day. otherwise I would be going as well).  There they will spend majority of the day in several different tests that the doctors will do on them.  Both Kev and I are beliveing and praying that we will get answers.  Answers that will not only help us but Zayvn as well.   Do I sound tired?  I am.  Tired of dealing with this all day, every day.  Sometimes Kev and I are tired at the end of the day.  Yet, there's one thing I know.  No matter what Jesus will always be there beside all of us helping along the way.  Galations 6:9 comes to mind: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Even though I am tired today I will not give up.  My Zay needs me!  He needs Kev and I!   I can't wait to see that harvest!!
Lord, I know your already going before the throne on my little boy's behalf.  I believe you can give the doctors wisdom and they in turn can give us the strategy we need for Zay.  I pray you would give us all strength.  I pray we would not become weary.  I pray you touch Zayvn and do a massive healing work inside of him with his emotions.  I thank you because I know he's your child.  Thank you Lord for giving him to us.   Thank you for what you will do.

Filling Station

We've been working on renovating the area where we hold our kid's services on Sunday.  Filling Station is what we have called it.  Come expecting to be "filled" with the word of God.  We had one of our children's workers draw the gas pump.  Kevin worked hard to find the gas pumps and all the props.  He drew the characters and the kids named them.  What a fun time Kev has had with this!

Tim Hawkins

My friend Joni turned me to a great Christian comedian named Tim Hawkins.  His videos are so funny!  If you have a chance, go to his website and check out some of his stuff  http://www.timhawkins.net/index.php.

Water, Water & More Water

Last couple of days it's been very hot during the day.  Night time rolls around and brings thundering, lightening and rain.  The last two mornings we've had water in our basement.  We pulled out the shop vac and worked on getting the water out.  Several of our friends have had water in their basements too.  The rain has really taken a toll on them and their basements.  I was driving home from the park today and decided to go a shortcut.  Well, as you can see from the pic above my short cut wasn't going to happen.  This is only one of many flooded roads.   We went to our new house this afternoon to make sure it was dry down in the family road and it was dry as bones.   That was a good thing.   Supposed to rain again tonight so Kev has the shop vac ready to take on the water in the morning.

Right Key, Wrong Key or No Key

It would be No Key.  To a Harley Davidson motorcycle, that is!  This afternoon we spent about an hour at Plaza Lanes in Des Moines.  Last year Kevin signed up for a chance to win the motorcylce at the fair.  Only thing we had to do was sit through a presentation of Royal Prestige.  We sat through that last fall.  Fast forward to today.  Kev went earlier in the morning to register.  After an anniversary party we had to be at we headed over to Plaza Lanes.  As we drove over there the boys prayed asking the Lord for favor with the motorcycle.  Everyone who register got their named put into a bowl and a key put into another bowl.  Each name was drawn and then that person went to the motorcycle and put the key in the lock to see if it opened the lock.  Anticipation is running high with each key not opening it and disappointment as Kev's name is not chosen.  Finally, a name is called, the key put into the lock and it opens, much to the amazement of the gentelman who opened it.  What a disappoint to the boys!  They so wanted their dad to have a motorcycle.  What a lesson about asking Jesus for something and it not coming.  We explained that sometimes it's not the right timing for when we ask for certain things.  It was not the right timing for dad to have the motorcycle.  I love teaching  moments although this one was a hard one.  I told Kev as we drove away from Plaza Lanes to stay away from the Royal Prestige booth this year at the fair!

The Things We Learn

So I was talking to my cousin Sigrid today on the phone.  We got into a conversation about my other cousin and her husband who gave their baby up for adoption 26 years ago.  Recently their daughter found them and was extremly surprised and excited to learn that both her parents were together, married and had another daughter.  My cousin was just 19 years old when she got pregnant.  Both her and her boyfriend knew they couldn't give their baby the life she needed to have.  They made the choice to give her up.  For 26 years no one, except my aunt, knew about this.  It was quite a surprise to find this out.  Anyway, as my cousin and I were talking I sat there wondering how many secrets does our family hold?  How many more "adoptions" have been in our family?  Then I got to thinking if I think this way how many other families out there have these or some secrets they hide from other family members?  I think about my cousin who gave the baby up and wonder if there was some sort of relief for her and her husband?  Relief that they no longer have to hide the information.  Relief that they can talk about it without having to worry about who will overhear.  Freedom to talk about their baby they gave up so long ago.    I know of someone who doesn't have the freedom to talk about their baby they gave up such a long time ago.  They live in constant shame and guilt.  Shame and guilt for having a baby and yet giving it up.  However, God doesn't want them to live that way.  He wants them to be free.  Free of that shame and guilt.  I pray that someday they would come to the point that they can have the freedom that the Lord wants to give them.  As long as they continue to feel the way they do they will not be able to move forward.  Lord, I pray you touch them today and help them to release the shame and guilt of so long ago.  You forgave them a long time ago.  Help them to forgive themself.  Amen.

Balloon Festival

Last night we went with our friends, the Comers, to go watch the balloons lift off.  Every year Indianola has the Balloon Festival.  This was the first year we have went and what a great time we had.  It was so fun to see all the balloons lift off and see the different colors.  The kids even were interested!  After watching for a while we let the kids go play in the playground.  While there I noticed one of the balloons coming closer to us.  It was landing right in the parking lot that we were in!  We got to watch as they brought the balloon down and saw how they get all the air out and roll that thing up into this bag.  It was quite interesting to see.  After all that excitement we headed over to the DQ for some much needed ice cream!  Thanks Ryan and Joni for a great time!