Going back to church

So last week my sweet girl invited me to church with her and my Grandma. I went to the church that Grandma has been going to the past few months and while the fellowship with the other members after the service was nice and the minister was very kind his sermon really didn't move me. I enjoyed the morning with my girl but went away feeling like I was still needing more. I didn't really feel at home. I also have an issue (and I'm sure it's with myself and something I should work on) with scripted sermons. I just leave wondering if there is someone in a big office somewhere else telling the minister what he's supposed to be talking about on Sunday morning then how do I know that he's really listening to God. How does that other person know what the congregation really needs to hear this week? Does the sermon on the schedule really relate to what's going on in that congregations area?

So tomorrow we are going to the church that I went to as a kid. I really think that sending Kim to the Christian school has been good for her and myself. I've been feeling for a while that I needed to get back to church and now with her wanting to go it's good for both of us. Maybe someday Larry will want to go with us. And if not atleast I've done what's best for Kim and given her the faith base that I feel is so important.

Is the weekend really over already

Saturday was a nice quiet day at home. I spent the day cleaning house and only left to grab the mail and stop at the store to get things for dinner. Most of the day was spent in our jammies. I love days like that. Then after Kim went to bed a friend invited me to join her and some others out for a few drinks. I had a nice visit. It was nice to get out even if it was just for a couple of hours.

Then this morning my sweet girl invited me to go to church with her and Grandma Whipps. She has been really enjoying Chapel time at school and learning about God and the Bible. She's spent the night a few times with my mom and then went to church with Grandma Whipps. She went last weekend with her and then wanted me to go to. So we got up and quickly got ready. It was a nice time spent with me sweet girl. I told her if she wanted to we could go again next week. The deal is she has to get up and get dressed without a fight and we can go, but I'm not going to fight with her about getting ready to go.

So tomorrow is Monday again and back to the weekly grind. Only 41 days till Christmas break. And the count down goes on.

Getting back to normal

What a great week. With Gracie coming home last weekend I was able to get back to my normal schedule. I was so happy to be able to get back into Curves 4 times this week. And also happy that my progress hadn't been thrown off as bad as I had expected. I did gain 1.5 pounds but my measurements had stayed the same and my fat percentage had actually gone down. So where exactly that 1.5 pounds is I'm not sure. But now to get back to losing it.

I met with Kimmie's teacher today for her first conference. She really didn't tell me anything that I didn't expect to hear. Kim is doing great in all the areas of her academics but does need to work more on her attention and following directions. She has made progress since the beginning of the year though so that was good to hear. It is nice to see the improvements that have been happening in her behavior since changing daycares and putting her in a more structured school setting.

Looking forward to the weekend.....

Last Sunday we took the kids (Kimmie, Dallas-my neice, and David-my nephew) to the pumpkin patch. The kids had a blast running through the corn maze and riding the trains, Big Toot and Little Toot. It was a great day and then we spent the evening carving our pumpkins. I just love how into the holidays Kim is getting now. And Halloween is very exciting for her. All the fall activities and dressing up and getting candy. What more does a 4 year old need to get excited?!?

All this week she has been anticipating her 2nd field trip at school. We went to Cat Tales. It's a conservation zoo for big cats just north of Spokane. I've been there a couple of times with my nephews but this will be Kim's first trip. She was so excited to see the cats. And couldn't believe that they had a big black one that looked like her Sasha kitty.

After the feild trip we spent the evening trick or treating. She was so excited to get her ragdoll costume on and head out. The night started out pretty good and then about half way around the neighborhood it started raining. We were soaked by the time we got back home.


Her school pictures came back yesterday and I have to admit I was really worried about them. Worried that she would either give them that stupid cheesey grin or not cooperate at all. But much to my huge relief when I opened the packet they turned out really cute. Her smile is very sweet with her little dimples and her curls are tossled just right. I know I'm probably a bit bias but I still think she's the cutest kid ever to be photographed.

We have geat news about Gracie to share. Sunday they did another CT Scan and actually had to read it twice to make sure they weren't missing something. Her lungs are completely clear. Praise God and the power of prayer. Thank you all for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers. She was able to move out of ICU on Tuesday and will be coming home either Saturday or Sunday. She still has a ways to go but she's doing so much better. She will likely have to have some physical therapy do to being imobile for so long. And she's really worried about falling behind in school but the principal reassured her that if she needed they would send a tutor to her house to help her. She probably won't be back in school until December so the tutor will be nice help.

So next week we will be able to get back to our normal schedule after having it thrown off track for the month of October.

Our Prayers have been answered! YAY!!!!

Gracie has made a huge turn around the past few days. So much so that this morning they took her off the ventalator, removed her chest tubes and took her completely off the oxygen. They were also going to put her in their little wagon and wheel her around the hospital so she could see where she's been now for almost 3 weeks. She still has a way to go and won't be home for a while but this is a huge turn around for her.

I haven't heard if they got the biopsy results back yet. If those come back that there is dead tissue in her lungs then they will have to go in and remove that portion of her lung. But we will deal with that if and when the time comes.

Thank you for all your prayers for this sweet little girl. They are so greatly appreciated.

I RELAY BECAUSE.........

This past August Kim and I joined our first Relay for Life. Larry lost both his parents to cancer and we lost my Uncle Bob in July after his courageous fight with this awful disease. I decided that it was time to start teaching Kim that we do things for other people for a greater good. So we packed up our bedding, borrowed a tent from my sister (God knows where ours is in the garage attic) and went to spend the night in the park walking. Walking for those that we have lost, walking for those who are fighting, and walking for those who have fought and WON!!! The whole night was so amazing and emotional and just everything overwhelming that I decided then that I wanted to be a bigger part of it. I joined the committee.

Saturday I spent the day in Spokane at Relay University. I learned a lot and came away with some great ideas for fundraising. My head is realing with a couple of plans. One for a committee fundraiser and a few for out team.

So our first meeting is next week. I've been asked to be Sponsorship Chairman. Which I'm excited but at the same time a little apprehensive. The woman who has had that position for a long time and while I know she has a lot on her plate with her job, family and her own battle with cancer right now I don't want her to feel like she's being pushed aside. And I certainly don't want to step on anyone's toes. But what ever is best for the cause will be what I will do.

So be prepared for my requests for help in our fundraising efforts.

My hope is that there will come a day when no one ever has to say to a friend or loved one "I have cancer" again.

Having to take a break......

Unfortunately due to Gracie being sick and me having to pick up extra time at work to help out I've had to put my morning workouts on hold. I missed the whole week last week and was able to get to Curves on Monday this week, but it looks like I'll be missing the rest of the week. So I didn't even weigh in this week. I'm feeling like all is going to be lost and I'll be starting over. But I can't be upset about it because right now I have to do the extra to help out with Gracie still being in ICU. And I haven't made enough head way with myself to be able to do this on my own. I struggle with myself as it is with getting to Curves when I can. I have to admit that I really hate going. But I go because I know that I need to. I hope that some day soon I can become one of the people that is addicted to working out.

An update on Gracie. Sunday they were able to take 1 of the 3 chest tubes she has out. They have been getting a lot of the mucus and stuff in her lungs out the past few days. They said that if all goes well today then tomorrow they should be able to finally take her off the respirator. She's been sedated and on that respirator now for a week. It will be such a huge step if they can move her off of it. I also want to thank everyone who had been praying for her. I know that each and every prayer is so appreciated.