Proud moments!

There are few prouder moments for a parent than sitting back and watching your children do something they truly love and do it well.

This last Friday and Saturday night I sat in the audience of Kennedy High School's Choir concert and watched both of my daughters sing and dance their hearts out. Shelby, being in her freshman year, participated in her first concert. Every moment she was on stage appeared to be pure joy for her!

Kathryn is in her last shows as a Senior. She has been doing this for 3 years now and loves every second. She took 3 classes this year so she was in almost every number. However, for the first time she had a solo. She sang one of my favorite songs from my favorite show, Les Miserables. She sang "On my own." Hearing her amazing voice singing such an emotional song brought tears to my eyes.

I miss the days of Wayne's band concerts, football half time shows and competitions.

(Shelby is in the first row of purple shirts, second from the left)

The good news? The moments just keep getting better and better.

I'll miss you Dan.

Each Monday and Thursday we have what we call "Community Assistance." We sit and talk to anyone from the neighborhood around Knott Ave. We get to speak to a lot of homeless people.

There isn't a day that goes by that one of our homeless friends doesn't ask "Where is that one guy?" At first I had to try and figure out who they meant. They said "You know that one guy!" "He used to be here all the time." "He was about this tall." They would raise their hand and hold it right about head high. They would be sitting down. I would say, "do you mean Dan?" I knew who they meant. I told them he had cancer and was going through treatment. Each time they would seem like they were about to cry. They would say I really miss him, he was a great guy.

I would see Dan on Sundays and he would tell me he couldn't wait to get back to helping out on Mondays and Thursdays.

Today I had to tell them that Dan passed away this morning.

Now I think I'm gonna cry, I'm really gonna miss him, he was a great guy.

Today Dan isn't in pain anymore. Today Dan's cancer is gone. Today Dan is with Jesus.

Today things seem a little more in focus. Liz, I'm sorry.

Today my pride seems less important. Liz, I'm sorry.

Dan, everyone who knew you will miss you.

Heal our Land!

Some days I feel like crying out to God! I cannot remember a time of such turmoil and uncertainty in the financial stability of our country. Every day I read more and more about the desperation of people to save their investment portfolios, save their retirement accounts, save their homes from foreclosure, what about saving themselves? It is heartbreaking the stories I have read, a man killed his family-wife, 3 sons and mother in law, then himself because of his financial loss? and then another man killed his family to spare them the "disgrace" of financial ruin but failed to hang himself in Vienna.

Every day I need to read more and more of God's word. Here is what I read today: 1Timothy 6:17-19 "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

These people do not know nor understand what is "truly" life, living for Christ and not for ourselves. Their hope was not in God. I need to say it more, show it more, pray more. Please help me!

2 Chronicles 7:14

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. "

I hate the Red Sox!

This past week I have had a real bad headache. I haven't been able to sleep. I had last week off and didn't do anything except paint the back door and install a doggie door. (Toby likes it, Ginger, not so much.) I was sweating like a pig. When I got done I was exhausted. I don't feel so good.

We went to Shakey's Pizza for Wayne's 20 birthday dinner last night. During dinner I watched the Angels vs Boston game. Angels were down 2-0 and during the 8th they tied it up, the place went crazy. Rooooaaaarr! It was kinda cool. Well, we left and I got home just in time to see Aybar miss a suicide squeeze. Willits tagged out at third. (Don't even get me started on if it should have been an out or not.)

Bottom of the 9th Angels lose. I was upset. As a matter of fact I felt a little depressed. I don't feel so good.

So, I come into work today and get two e-mails. Here are a couple of snippets from both of them. (I have removed the names)

"Spoke with *** this morning - she discovered a new lump on her breast and they are now testing it....Need your prayers"

This man's wife has terminal cancer and is undergoing experimental treatment. All of it painful.

The other e-mail:

"Just as things were beginning to look better at work, my son ******* was admitted to the hospital. On the morning of what would have been his second day as a high school freshman, and just 3 days short of his 14th birthday, he was diagnosed with type one diabetes. He was to be admitted to the children’s diabetic wing where he would undergo emergency treatment to lower his blood sugar which was dangerously high, somewhere above 600! We were told the hospital didn’t have a bed for him, to go home, gather his things and be ready when they called."

"finally almost 6 hours after he was admitted, our prayers were answered and his blood glucose dropped to a treatable 499."

"Just a week following ******'s unexpected diagnoses and a week in the hospital, **** (his daughter) was scheduled for a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy which were so enlarged they were obstructing her breathing at night, causing an interruption in her breathing as well as loss of ‘sound’ sleep and resulted in some daytime sleeping even in classes."

I want to say something profound. But, all I can think of is...well "CRAP!" Doggie doors and baseball don't seem all that important, do they?

I think I'm gonna go home and cry. I don't feel so good.

Belts are tightening, stress is mounting, pressure building, the months are getting tougher. Our family has really had to stretch our budget since my job loss in March. While I love my current job, it does not pay close to what I was earning before. I knew that going in, but we prayed and believed God was opening this door for a reason.

My schedule is 7:30am-3:30pm with a paid lunch. I am home by 4 which means I have time to cook with my girls and prepare a nice meal for our family. Something I have neglected for a long time. We have been sitting all together at our dinner table more the past 6 months than we ever have in the past. We really comparison shop for things we need and try to cut back on the things we want. Yet, we still are coming up short every month.

I have prayed about working a second job to help make ends meet, and started last week to work 2 nights a week at our church doing child care. I forgot how much I miss having little babies and toddlers around, I am definitely going to get my “baby” fix. I held a one month old last night in my arms until he fell asleep. Remember that GREAT smell babies have! (no not that one!) I missed the trip to AZ in April because I had just started my new job. I knew we simply could not afford for me to go this November. Robert asked me to attend the first meeting for the trip. Although I did not feel I should go to the meeting, fairly certain I was not going on the trip, I went at his request. I found out I am a secondary leader, which means KACC pays half my trip, and an "anonymous" check was given for my trip the same day. I guess I am supposed to go.

So many life lessons I am learning, how God is preparing us to live on less and find joy in His love and grace for us. So, as the season of our lives gets in full swing, I am praising God for his provision.