I'm so sorry that it's been so long since my last blog. My laptop needed some repair and I don't like using the kids' laptop so I have not been able to blog for a while. So I guess I went on a little blogging vacation, although not by choice. :)
I do have a blog to write and share and it will include pictures which is the main reason why I haven't blogged using the other laptop. I don't want to upload my pics on that computer. lol I just got my laptop returned to me last night so hopefully I'll get those pics uploaded and the blog written soon.
Thank you for your patience.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
A Week Without J
A couple weeks ago, J got to spend a week at Kansas Bible Camp. This was our first time for any child to be gone for this long. What an interesting week it was!
We got J all packed...except we couldn't find one of his flip flops. We searched and searched but could not find it in time. After the potluck at church that Sunday, we headed to camp. It was a very hot day. Seth wasn't feeling well; he had come down with yet another cold. We pulled up into the camp and got J's stuff out of the van and he started the check-in process. But not before he gave me a quick hug with a "Bye Mom" as if we were just leaving right away. lol
Check-in went smoothly and J was shown the room in which he would be staying. I took a quick picture and left him to set up his things and change to go swimming. Seth, the girls, and I sat waiting to say good-bye. But he didn't come out. Seth finally went in to see if he needed help with anything, but he was gone. So, we went on a small search, starting with the pool. No sign of him. We looked around again. Still nothing. Finally, we took one more trip and Seth spotted him in the pool area. We walked up to the fence, said our goodbyes, and left.
I did a lot of praying on the way home. My stomach was unsettled. Will he use enough sunscreen? Will he drink enough water? Will he sleep ok at night? Will he make friends? Will he shower? Will he change clothes everyday? "Lord, calm my heart. He is in Your hands and I know You will take care of him."
By Monday, I was doing fine. My girls were having a difficult time, however. A continued to ask where J was and if he was going to eat with us and if he was going to sleep with us. I let A and K sleep together most of the week. We wrote him letters and sent them on Tuesday. Seth and I realized during this week that J is the source of calmness among our 3 children. Without J, it was like someone removed the pin from a hand grenade. The girls went absolutely crazy!! K is generally the one to be loud and hyper, but this week she took A with her and their bouncing off the walls was multiplied by 10. lol
On Thursday, we went swimming at a friend's house. Several people were there from church. After a while, I saw K sitting on the edge of the pool looking very upset. I walked over to see what was going on. "I can't dive without J to dive with me." Poor sweetie was lost without her brother! It is true, when we do go swimming, they dive together. He gives her the confidence to dive in the water and without him, she didn't think she could. So, she sat there bawling because her brother wasn't there to dive with her. I told her just one more day, and he'll be home. We can wait one more day. "I can't! I can't! It's too long!" :( It's nice to know that she loves her brother that much and she missed him a lot.
Well, Friday finally came after a very hot week with temps over 100. Seth was unable to join us because of work. The girls and I could hardly wait until it was time to leave. Finally, the time came, and we got in the van and headed back to camp. As we pulled in, I noticed a few kids with T-shirts wrapped around their heads. "Why are there kids dressed like Ninjas?" I thought to myself. One ninja was kinda following our van, jumping up and down all goofy. Then, I noticed his face through the T-shirt that covered most of it - it was J. J was one of the ninjas and just as goofy as ever. lol As soon as we parked, the girls got out and practically mauled J with hugs. :) We collected his art projects among other things and then sat down for supper. I met a couple of his new friends as well as his counselors.
K was just too excited and took off to explore the campgrounds. A wanted to join and J did also. We all walked over the scary bridge to the tree house and looked at the animals. Finally, I got K to follow me back to the van. It was time to go home. I helped J get his stuff from his room into the van. He lost his sleeping bag cover which is a big bummer since the sleeping bag won't stay rolled without it. I had him take a few more pictures with the disposable camera I bought him. And then we all climbed back into the van to go home.
J had fun. We survived. And we'll do it again next summer. Except K will get to stay at camp, too. *sigh* They grow up so fast. :)
We got J all packed...except we couldn't find one of his flip flops. We searched and searched but could not find it in time. After the potluck at church that Sunday, we headed to camp. It was a very hot day. Seth wasn't feeling well; he had come down with yet another cold. We pulled up into the camp and got J's stuff out of the van and he started the check-in process. But not before he gave me a quick hug with a "Bye Mom" as if we were just leaving right away. lol
Check-in went smoothly and J was shown the room in which he would be staying. I took a quick picture and left him to set up his things and change to go swimming. Seth, the girls, and I sat waiting to say good-bye. But he didn't come out. Seth finally went in to see if he needed help with anything, but he was gone. So, we went on a small search, starting with the pool. No sign of him. We looked around again. Still nothing. Finally, we took one more trip and Seth spotted him in the pool area. We walked up to the fence, said our goodbyes, and left.
I did a lot of praying on the way home. My stomach was unsettled. Will he use enough sunscreen? Will he drink enough water? Will he sleep ok at night? Will he make friends? Will he shower? Will he change clothes everyday? "Lord, calm my heart. He is in Your hands and I know You will take care of him."
By Monday, I was doing fine. My girls were having a difficult time, however. A continued to ask where J was and if he was going to eat with us and if he was going to sleep with us. I let A and K sleep together most of the week. We wrote him letters and sent them on Tuesday. Seth and I realized during this week that J is the source of calmness among our 3 children. Without J, it was like someone removed the pin from a hand grenade. The girls went absolutely crazy!! K is generally the one to be loud and hyper, but this week she took A with her and their bouncing off the walls was multiplied by 10. lol
On Thursday, we went swimming at a friend's house. Several people were there from church. After a while, I saw K sitting on the edge of the pool looking very upset. I walked over to see what was going on. "I can't dive without J to dive with me." Poor sweetie was lost without her brother! It is true, when we do go swimming, they dive together. He gives her the confidence to dive in the water and without him, she didn't think she could. So, she sat there bawling because her brother wasn't there to dive with her. I told her just one more day, and he'll be home. We can wait one more day. "I can't! I can't! It's too long!" :( It's nice to know that she loves her brother that much and she missed him a lot.
Well, Friday finally came after a very hot week with temps over 100. Seth was unable to join us because of work. The girls and I could hardly wait until it was time to leave. Finally, the time came, and we got in the van and headed back to camp. As we pulled in, I noticed a few kids with T-shirts wrapped around their heads. "Why are there kids dressed like Ninjas?" I thought to myself. One ninja was kinda following our van, jumping up and down all goofy. Then, I noticed his face through the T-shirt that covered most of it - it was J. J was one of the ninjas and just as goofy as ever. lol As soon as we parked, the girls got out and practically mauled J with hugs. :) We collected his art projects among other things and then sat down for supper. I met a couple of his new friends as well as his counselors.
K was just too excited and took off to explore the campgrounds. A wanted to join and J did also. We all walked over the scary bridge to the tree house and looked at the animals. Finally, I got K to follow me back to the van. It was time to go home. I helped J get his stuff from his room into the van. He lost his sleeping bag cover which is a big bummer since the sleeping bag won't stay rolled without it. I had him take a few more pictures with the disposable camera I bought him. And then we all climbed back into the van to go home.
J had fun. We survived. And we'll do it again next summer. Except K will get to stay at camp, too. *sigh* They grow up so fast. :)
Thursday, August 4, 2011
An Adventurous Drive in the Storm
I stayed late chatting after prayer meeting last night and we didn't leave until around 9:45ish. As we walked out the door, it was very windy and there was lightning. Once I got all the kids in the van, it started to sprinkle. It was full raining before we left the parking lot.
I live all the way across town and before I even drove a mile, the wind was so strong, I could barely see the road. Due to some construction, I had to drive 3 miles to get to the freeway that would take me to the other side of town. Seth wasn't with me. It was just me and the 3 kiddos.
Walls of water crashed into the van. I was traveling about 10 mph and still could barely see the road. I couldn't even see intersections, or the curb. I didn't know where to pull over to wait out the storm because I couldn't see! I knew there was a QT just before I would turn onto the freeway.
Street lights went out right beside me. I finally saw the QT sign just ahead. I couldn't exactly see where I should turn left to cross oncoming traffic to pull into QT. I knew there was a small median there, but I couldn't see it. I lined myself up with the QT entrance, and turned in.
The wind shook the van. The rain pounded so hard that I had to yell to the kids to be heard at all. I called Seth. I yelled into the phone and he yelled back that he couldn't hear me. So I texted him. He called me back. We yelled into the phone, this time getting our messages across.
I turned up the radio reporting on the weather as we sat and waited in the storm. Several other cars were waiting in the QT parking lot. The storm had come in so quickly that cars on the freeway that I would be taking home had stopped in the middle of the road. I don't blame them. With zero visibility, no one could see where it would be safe to pull over, so they just stopped.
Finally, the rocking seemed to stop, the rain let up a tad. Cars were starting to leave QT, I followed. Still traveling slowly on the freeway, I made it across town to my exit without a problem. Visibility was still low, but I could actually see the lines on the road.
As I made my way north on the street that leads to my street, I drove through several deep puddles. I knew that flooding was likely, but I had never driven through such large puddles before. One, I wish I had never started through. All power was out so no street lights were on. I couldn't even see when I was going to hit a puddle until I was already in it. One puddle was pretty high and lasted quite a while, I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it out.
Finally, I reached my street. Seth had to run outside and clear the driveway of our garbage bins that had blown into it as well as a large branch. I pulled into our driveway and let the kids out and then I carried little A. The rain was still coming down pretty hard. The lightning was bright and the thunder had an occasional boom. With no power, and it was nearly 10:30 by this time, we all just headed to bed.
A ended up joining Seth and me in bed. I just wasn't tired and my shoulder was in pain (I don't know why) so I got out of bed. I blindly walked upstairs, took a couple of snoozes on the couch, and then went back downstairs and climbed into A's bed. Normally, I would move her to her bed, but since I couldn't see anything, I was afraid I would trip while carrying her or run into something so I left her in my bed and I slept in hers.
I woke up at around 6:45. The power was still out, but I could see with the early morning sun lighting up the room. I switched with A, but her bed messed up my lower back, I could not get comfortable. Seth got up around 7:30 for physical therapy and then work. The power was still out. I couldn't go back to sleep. I sat up and twisted and stretched and tried all sorts of positions to relieve the pain in my back. Finally, something worked and I went back to sleep.
By the time I woke up, power was back. This was the 6th time this summer we've lost power but this was the longest the power stayed out. Branches are all over the yard and street. A large branch broke off one of our trees. Thankfully, that's all the damage we have.
Even with the adventurous drive home and the practically sleepless night, I praise God for the rain!!! After setting records for high temps in the last few weeks, and everything turning brown, it was much needed!!
I live all the way across town and before I even drove a mile, the wind was so strong, I could barely see the road. Due to some construction, I had to drive 3 miles to get to the freeway that would take me to the other side of town. Seth wasn't with me. It was just me and the 3 kiddos.
Walls of water crashed into the van. I was traveling about 10 mph and still could barely see the road. I couldn't even see intersections, or the curb. I didn't know where to pull over to wait out the storm because I couldn't see! I knew there was a QT just before I would turn onto the freeway.
Street lights went out right beside me. I finally saw the QT sign just ahead. I couldn't exactly see where I should turn left to cross oncoming traffic to pull into QT. I knew there was a small median there, but I couldn't see it. I lined myself up with the QT entrance, and turned in.
The wind shook the van. The rain pounded so hard that I had to yell to the kids to be heard at all. I called Seth. I yelled into the phone and he yelled back that he couldn't hear me. So I texted him. He called me back. We yelled into the phone, this time getting our messages across.
I turned up the radio reporting on the weather as we sat and waited in the storm. Several other cars were waiting in the QT parking lot. The storm had come in so quickly that cars on the freeway that I would be taking home had stopped in the middle of the road. I don't blame them. With zero visibility, no one could see where it would be safe to pull over, so they just stopped.
Finally, the rocking seemed to stop, the rain let up a tad. Cars were starting to leave QT, I followed. Still traveling slowly on the freeway, I made it across town to my exit without a problem. Visibility was still low, but I could actually see the lines on the road.
As I made my way north on the street that leads to my street, I drove through several deep puddles. I knew that flooding was likely, but I had never driven through such large puddles before. One, I wish I had never started through. All power was out so no street lights were on. I couldn't even see when I was going to hit a puddle until I was already in it. One puddle was pretty high and lasted quite a while, I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it out.
Finally, I reached my street. Seth had to run outside and clear the driveway of our garbage bins that had blown into it as well as a large branch. I pulled into our driveway and let the kids out and then I carried little A. The rain was still coming down pretty hard. The lightning was bright and the thunder had an occasional boom. With no power, and it was nearly 10:30 by this time, we all just headed to bed.
A ended up joining Seth and me in bed. I just wasn't tired and my shoulder was in pain (I don't know why) so I got out of bed. I blindly walked upstairs, took a couple of snoozes on the couch, and then went back downstairs and climbed into A's bed. Normally, I would move her to her bed, but since I couldn't see anything, I was afraid I would trip while carrying her or run into something so I left her in my bed and I slept in hers.
I woke up at around 6:45. The power was still out, but I could see with the early morning sun lighting up the room. I switched with A, but her bed messed up my lower back, I could not get comfortable. Seth got up around 7:30 for physical therapy and then work. The power was still out. I couldn't go back to sleep. I sat up and twisted and stretched and tried all sorts of positions to relieve the pain in my back. Finally, something worked and I went back to sleep.
By the time I woke up, power was back. This was the 6th time this summer we've lost power but this was the longest the power stayed out. Branches are all over the yard and street. A large branch broke off one of our trees. Thankfully, that's all the damage we have.
Even with the adventurous drive home and the practically sleepless night, I praise God for the rain!!! After setting records for high temps in the last few weeks, and everything turning brown, it was much needed!!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Vacation Bible School
I never thought I would get so involved in a children's ministry because I do not consider myself a kid-person whatsoever. My college degree is for working with teens so I was somewhat surprised to have been asked to pray about working with the VBS.
We had settled on a new church home in 2004 after attending another church since we moved to Wichita in 2001. We fell in love with the people and felt more welcomed into their family than any other church we had attended. Just several months after officially making it our home church, I was asked to consider being involved in their VBS program.
I had never done anything like a VBS before. I was not a fan of dealing with other people's children. I hated being a leader in the AWANA program while in college. What on earth would I do at a VBS? I reluctantly agreed to at least pray about it.
I remember attending my first VBS planning meeting, having no idea how anything worked. Everyone seemed to know their jobs and came up with ideas to tie the theme together. Then the woman who had first approached me turned to me and asked if I could write skit on that theme. Hmmm, a skit. Well, I've written skits for fun but never really one to be performed by real people. I suppose I could try to put something together. This way, I would get to work with the teens and young adults in the church and not worry about the kids. Sure, I agreed.
That was 2005. This year I wrote my 7th VBS skit. My skits have become longer and more challenging. My cast has grown in numbers and as actors. And my writing has improved with each year. But, I know that I would not be able to throw these skits together without God.
The last 2 skits, I felt lost. The 2010 theme was heroes and I had a very difficult time coming up with a good plot. In fact, my original thought got completely tossed out the window and I started all over with something new. Seth helped me quite a bit last year, giving me plot ideas, character ideas, among other things. This year, I felt even more lost. In fact, I about backed out completely because I knew nothing about the chosen theme: Pilgrim's Progress. I asked God to just help me. And, what do you know, He did. :) All of a sudden, this flood of ideas came rushing into my head and I could hardly contain them! I did research on the book, the characters, the places. I talked to the man who would do the speaking for the week and got his outline and theme verses. I skimmed the book and watched a movie based on the book. Once I got approval to move forward with my idea - which took some things from the book but also added my own flavor - I typed out the 5-day skit within 3 days. Yep, only God could have made that happen.
Last week was our VBS. We did not have a single practice with everyone there except on the nights of the performance (and sometimes not even then!). We did not always have all of our props until the performance itself. One set was not even completely ready until the day we needed it. But God worked it all out in His timing. He used each of us to share the message that He sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross and take away our burden of sin forever and anyone who chooses not to believe in His Son as Savior will be thrown into hell. It was a strong message given in the skits. I was even moved by it as I watched my cast bring the skit to life. Although several people have told me what an amazing job I did on the skit this year, I cannot take any credit. It was all God. Every year, it comes from God.
2009, Pirate Theme
All of my cast members as pirates or parrots.
The villains of VBS 2010.
And the heroes.
VBS 2008 theme: Trains
The Celestial City
The tomb where Christian's burden was taken.
So, I thank each and every one of my cast members for doing such a great job every night. I thank all of the talented artists who created our sets. And I thank God for bringing such an amazing church family together to create an awesome VBS to share God's Word with kids. What an awesome God we serve!!! All glory to Him.
We had settled on a new church home in 2004 after attending another church since we moved to Wichita in 2001. We fell in love with the people and felt more welcomed into their family than any other church we had attended. Just several months after officially making it our home church, I was asked to consider being involved in their VBS program.
I had never done anything like a VBS before. I was not a fan of dealing with other people's children. I hated being a leader in the AWANA program while in college. What on earth would I do at a VBS? I reluctantly agreed to at least pray about it.
I remember attending my first VBS planning meeting, having no idea how anything worked. Everyone seemed to know their jobs and came up with ideas to tie the theme together. Then the woman who had first approached me turned to me and asked if I could write skit on that theme. Hmmm, a skit. Well, I've written skits for fun but never really one to be performed by real people. I suppose I could try to put something together. This way, I would get to work with the teens and young adults in the church and not worry about the kids. Sure, I agreed.
That was 2005. This year I wrote my 7th VBS skit. My skits have become longer and more challenging. My cast has grown in numbers and as actors. And my writing has improved with each year. But, I know that I would not be able to throw these skits together without God.
The last 2 skits, I felt lost. The 2010 theme was heroes and I had a very difficult time coming up with a good plot. In fact, my original thought got completely tossed out the window and I started all over with something new. Seth helped me quite a bit last year, giving me plot ideas, character ideas, among other things. This year, I felt even more lost. In fact, I about backed out completely because I knew nothing about the chosen theme: Pilgrim's Progress. I asked God to just help me. And, what do you know, He did. :) All of a sudden, this flood of ideas came rushing into my head and I could hardly contain them! I did research on the book, the characters, the places. I talked to the man who would do the speaking for the week and got his outline and theme verses. I skimmed the book and watched a movie based on the book. Once I got approval to move forward with my idea - which took some things from the book but also added my own flavor - I typed out the 5-day skit within 3 days. Yep, only God could have made that happen.
Last week was our VBS. We did not have a single practice with everyone there except on the nights of the performance (and sometimes not even then!). We did not always have all of our props until the performance itself. One set was not even completely ready until the day we needed it. But God worked it all out in His timing. He used each of us to share the message that He sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross and take away our burden of sin forever and anyone who chooses not to believe in His Son as Savior will be thrown into hell. It was a strong message given in the skits. I was even moved by it as I watched my cast bring the skit to life. Although several people have told me what an amazing job I did on the skit this year, I cannot take any credit. It was all God. Every year, it comes from God.
2009, Pirate Theme
Me with my own 2 little pirates.
I was Daniella Vince.
VBS 2007 theme: Titanic
VBS 2006 theme: Western
Unfortunetely, I have no photos of my first VBS in 2005. The theme was Deserted Island Treasure or something like that. lol
VBS 2011: Pilgrim's Progress. This is the City of Destruction.
The Celestial City
The countryside as Christian and his friends traveled to the Celestial City.
The cross where Christian was released of his burden.
The tomb where Christian's burden was taken.Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Other Side of the Bed
No, I don't mean the wrong side...just the other side.
I have been in a hospital bed a few times with my husband by my side. Of course, these were because of childbirth. Our first was born naturally, then we had a miscarriage, and our last 2 were born via c-section. I was in the bed with the gown and the IV's and in pain while Seth sat next to me wanting to help me somehow but couldn't.
Last Friday, the roles were switched. My husband was in the hospital bed while I sat beside him. I was on the other side of the bed and I hated it. I felt so helpless. Seth was doing fine before he went in for the surgery on his ankle. In February, a ladder slipped out from under him and he fell 6-7 feet badly spraining his ankle. After a few months of physical therapy, they decided they needed to do surgery. The surgery went well and he's recovering ok. But sitting there next to his bed before and after surgery was the worst feeling.
The first time I saw him in that bed, my stomach turned. There my best friend, the love of my life, was in a hospital with an IV and moniters. It wasn't anything serious, just a minor surgery, but I felt so sick seeing him there. He did a good job at making me laugh though, like he always does. Still, there were moments I thought the tears were going to flow. Finally, it was time to wheel him back into surgery and I had to just wait.
A couple hours later, I was brought back in to see him. This time he was very out of it. He said a few things but couldn't remember it later. It was a little better afterwards because then I felt like I had something to do, although I still didn't like seeing my husband of 13 years in that bed with the IV and gown. I gave him water and asked the nurses for more when he ran out. I helped him get dressed when he started to wake up a little more. It was such a relief when the nurse finally took his IV out. (The whole idea of the IV is what kept me from following my dream into the medical field). His ankle was wrapped up and Seth was still a bit loopy. After about 4 hours in the hospital, I was able to take him home.
I cannot imagine having to be on the other side of the bed as many times as Seth as been. It is such a helpless feeling, seeing the one I love on the bed in a hospital. I have a much higher respect for what he's been through as I labored and cried and birthed and recovered. I thank the Lord for giving me such an amazing husband and that he has been pretty healthy all the years I've known him.
I have been in a hospital bed a few times with my husband by my side. Of course, these were because of childbirth. Our first was born naturally, then we had a miscarriage, and our last 2 were born via c-section. I was in the bed with the gown and the IV's and in pain while Seth sat next to me wanting to help me somehow but couldn't.
Last Friday, the roles were switched. My husband was in the hospital bed while I sat beside him. I was on the other side of the bed and I hated it. I felt so helpless. Seth was doing fine before he went in for the surgery on his ankle. In February, a ladder slipped out from under him and he fell 6-7 feet badly spraining his ankle. After a few months of physical therapy, they decided they needed to do surgery. The surgery went well and he's recovering ok. But sitting there next to his bed before and after surgery was the worst feeling.
The first time I saw him in that bed, my stomach turned. There my best friend, the love of my life, was in a hospital with an IV and moniters. It wasn't anything serious, just a minor surgery, but I felt so sick seeing him there. He did a good job at making me laugh though, like he always does. Still, there were moments I thought the tears were going to flow. Finally, it was time to wheel him back into surgery and I had to just wait.
A couple hours later, I was brought back in to see him. This time he was very out of it. He said a few things but couldn't remember it later. It was a little better afterwards because then I felt like I had something to do, although I still didn't like seeing my husband of 13 years in that bed with the IV and gown. I gave him water and asked the nurses for more when he ran out. I helped him get dressed when he started to wake up a little more. It was such a relief when the nurse finally took his IV out. (The whole idea of the IV is what kept me from following my dream into the medical field). His ankle was wrapped up and Seth was still a bit loopy. After about 4 hours in the hospital, I was able to take him home.
I cannot imagine having to be on the other side of the bed as many times as Seth as been. It is such a helpless feeling, seeing the one I love on the bed in a hospital. I have a much higher respect for what he's been through as I labored and cried and birthed and recovered. I thank the Lord for giving me such an amazing husband and that he has been pretty healthy all the years I've known him.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Friendship Bear
When I was little, my grandma made each of us grandkids a Care Bear. We each got a different one. I got Friendship Bear. Friendship Bear is orange with 2 flowers on the belly. I loved him. I slept with him at night. And one night, I was sick. I had a throw-up bowl on the floor next to the bed. I woke up in the middle of the night, leaned over the side of my bed and threw up, and then went back to sleep.
What I didn't know was that my Friendship Bear had fallen on the floor....and I missed the bowl. Yep, my poor Care Bear caught it for me.
Well, my grandma got him cleaned up and I still have that bear today. I let my kids play with him and sleep with him. Last night, little A slept with him.
We had all gone to bed late, and I was having a hard time falling asleep. Obviously, I did fall asleep because I woke up to a strange sound coming from A's room next door. I wasn't sure if I really heard what I thought I heard so I layed in bed and listened. Sure enough, I heard it again.
I whipped out of bed and went into A's room. The tent that she likes to sleep in was tossed onto the floor. A was sitting at the edge of the bed, still getting sick and crying. She was throwing up into her dirty clothes basket. Thankfully it was empty. But, she didn't quite get everything in the basket. There was some on her bed, pillow, herself, and the very same Friendship Bear that was on the floor next to the basket. What are the chances of that same Care Bear getting thrown up on by me and then my daughter almost 30 years later?
Well, I got A all cleaned up. New sheet, new blanket, new jammies. She went back to sleep without a problem. I, however, sat up and wondered what on earth made her sick. She had no fever and this morning she is feeling just fine. I finally got back in bed and after a few minutes I heard some more whimpering. I got up again and got in bed with A. She was still fast asleep but the whimpering stopped when I climbed in with her. After a while, I moved back to my bed and fell asleep.
I must say, Friendship Bear lives up to his name. What kind of friend would lay down on the floor and catch vomit - twice? What a friend Friendship Bear truly is.
What I didn't know was that my Friendship Bear had fallen on the floor....and I missed the bowl. Yep, my poor Care Bear caught it for me.
Well, my grandma got him cleaned up and I still have that bear today. I let my kids play with him and sleep with him. Last night, little A slept with him.
We had all gone to bed late, and I was having a hard time falling asleep. Obviously, I did fall asleep because I woke up to a strange sound coming from A's room next door. I wasn't sure if I really heard what I thought I heard so I layed in bed and listened. Sure enough, I heard it again.
I whipped out of bed and went into A's room. The tent that she likes to sleep in was tossed onto the floor. A was sitting at the edge of the bed, still getting sick and crying. She was throwing up into her dirty clothes basket. Thankfully it was empty. But, she didn't quite get everything in the basket. There was some on her bed, pillow, herself, and the very same Friendship Bear that was on the floor next to the basket. What are the chances of that same Care Bear getting thrown up on by me and then my daughter almost 30 years later?
Well, I got A all cleaned up. New sheet, new blanket, new jammies. She went back to sleep without a problem. I, however, sat up and wondered what on earth made her sick. She had no fever and this morning she is feeling just fine. I finally got back in bed and after a few minutes I heard some more whimpering. I got up again and got in bed with A. She was still fast asleep but the whimpering stopped when I climbed in with her. After a while, I moved back to my bed and fell asleep.
I must say, Friendship Bear lives up to his name. What kind of friend would lay down on the floor and catch vomit - twice? What a friend Friendship Bear truly is.
Monday, July 4, 2011
I'm proud to be American
Although I've been sick, fighting a horrible cold, I had to push through and enjoy Wichita's 4th of July celebrations on Saturday. My family had gone to a Wichita Wingnuts baseball a couple of weeks ago for free. The Wingnuts lost but we had fun as a family - well most of us did. :) Every year for the 4th, the Wingnuts play and then fireworks are shot just outside the stadium so everyone who went to the game has front row seats to the show. Usually, we find a place high and watch them from a distance. But not this year.
Even though both Seth and I are sick, we decided to go see the Wingnuts play and stay for fireworks. In fact, we even decided to enjoy the food at the stadium. It was a fun evening. There were times I wished I was back on my couch because I was so dizzy, but the game got exciting. We started out 3 runs behind. Then we pulled in 2 runs. The game continued like this for a few innings. Then the Wingnuts made 3 more runs making the score 5 to 3. But the Kansas City T-Bones caught up, scoring 3 more runs. By the time we got to the 9th inning (nearly an hour after the game was supposed to end), the T-Bones were up 6 - 5. The bottom of the 9th, we were up to bat. One batter made it to base, stole 2nd and when the T-Bones over threw the ball, he went ahead and stole 3rd. He eventually made it home, tying up the score. Another batter made it on base. So the T-Bones decided to walk our next 2 batters. Bases are loaded, score is tied, and only 1 out. Ball, strike, ball, ball. One final pitch - another ball. Yep, they walked another batter, giving us the winning run. Wingnuts beat the T-Bones 7-6. Baseball isn't usually that exciting to me, but I was on the edge of my seat (if not standing).
What we didn't know is that after the game, before the fireworks, they have a little reward program. 2 people were rewarded for helping out after the Joplin tornado. A check was presented to help the people of Joplin and a town in Kansas that was also hit by a tornado. And then a Kansan soldier had come home the day before from Afghanastan. In April, he had stepped on a roadside bomb. He lost both of his legs and his left arm. He was not at the game as he was at another ceremony to honor him, but the crowd was on their feet. Then they had all of the military men and women, past and present, stand. I was surrounded by them. So thankful for all of them, although I didn't know a single one of those who stood up around me.
Then the fireworks show began. I had never felt more proud of my country than I was that night. God has truly bless our nation. The men and women who fought and are still fighting continue to make this country the great country that it is. I am proud to be an American. I am forever grateful to all of the soldiers who fight to keep this country free. I wish I could name you all, but there's so many that I know personally to individually thank you. I'm afraid I would forget someone. But I will never forget what you have done. Not only the soldiers, but also their families. They sacrifice so much as well, so that their loved ones can go and fight for America. And I thank God for America. I thank God that this is my home.
Happy 4th of July everyone!!
Even though both Seth and I are sick, we decided to go see the Wingnuts play and stay for fireworks. In fact, we even decided to enjoy the food at the stadium. It was a fun evening. There were times I wished I was back on my couch because I was so dizzy, but the game got exciting. We started out 3 runs behind. Then we pulled in 2 runs. The game continued like this for a few innings. Then the Wingnuts made 3 more runs making the score 5 to 3. But the Kansas City T-Bones caught up, scoring 3 more runs. By the time we got to the 9th inning (nearly an hour after the game was supposed to end), the T-Bones were up 6 - 5. The bottom of the 9th, we were up to bat. One batter made it to base, stole 2nd and when the T-Bones over threw the ball, he went ahead and stole 3rd. He eventually made it home, tying up the score. Another batter made it on base. So the T-Bones decided to walk our next 2 batters. Bases are loaded, score is tied, and only 1 out. Ball, strike, ball, ball. One final pitch - another ball. Yep, they walked another batter, giving us the winning run. Wingnuts beat the T-Bones 7-6. Baseball isn't usually that exciting to me, but I was on the edge of my seat (if not standing).
What we didn't know is that after the game, before the fireworks, they have a little reward program. 2 people were rewarded for helping out after the Joplin tornado. A check was presented to help the people of Joplin and a town in Kansas that was also hit by a tornado. And then a Kansan soldier had come home the day before from Afghanastan. In April, he had stepped on a roadside bomb. He lost both of his legs and his left arm. He was not at the game as he was at another ceremony to honor him, but the crowd was on their feet. Then they had all of the military men and women, past and present, stand. I was surrounded by them. So thankful for all of them, although I didn't know a single one of those who stood up around me.
Then the fireworks show began. I had never felt more proud of my country than I was that night. God has truly bless our nation. The men and women who fought and are still fighting continue to make this country the great country that it is. I am proud to be an American. I am forever grateful to all of the soldiers who fight to keep this country free. I wish I could name you all, but there's so many that I know personally to individually thank you. I'm afraid I would forget someone. But I will never forget what you have done. Not only the soldiers, but also their families. They sacrifice so much as well, so that their loved ones can go and fight for America. And I thank God for America. I thank God that this is my home.
Happy 4th of July everyone!!
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