Emotions on HIGH alert!

NEVER did David and I discuss one time when we dated or were engaged how hard parenting would be. I just couldn't even imagine how emotionally draining (because of joy and difficulties!) marriage and parenting would be as a teen/young adult! If I had one dollar for how many emotions I've had or how many times I've ridden the roller coaster of emotions in almost 20 years of marriage and 17 years of parenting, I'D BE A VERY RICH WOMAN!

My next post will be more about my thoughts on Abigail graduating, but let me fill you in with Audrey An and Chan news. AA tried out for soccer this season, and she absolutely loved it!  TBH I had serious doubts she'd like it at all, but being the good parent I am (ahem!!) I gave her facts before try outs...not a lot of encouragement (I know, I know...terrible!). Fact #1: soccer season is outside during rainy and cold weather. Fact #2:  AA hates cold and wet.  She says she's cold in 75 degree weather. Fact #3: AA doesn't like to run.  Fact #4: Although she's becoming quite the little athlete, AA is a girly girl (aka sweating and playing in the mud has never appealed to her!).  Fact #5: Mom was tired from volleyball season. Fact #6: Mom hates cold and rainy weather. Did I mention mom hates cold and rainy weather?  Fact #7: I really did want her to try something new...I just preferred it be inside! Fact#8: AA gives everything her all, and she did great as a first time soccer player!  They made it to the first round of play offs!

She sacrificed her face for the sake of the team...way to go Audrey An!  

Proud soccer mom moment.

Chan has been busy as a beaver with robotics club, tech team at church and winning team chess tournaments.  He was undefeated in his first tournament! 

In February, David and I took Chan to Delaware to see some specialists I'd learned about through various facebook adoption and special medical need groups.  This particular set of doctors names kept popping up so I decided to give them a call, send his file, and waited several months for an appointment.  Honestly, it was one of those times we had no idea what to expect.  We hoped to learn maybe something new or different but didn't really think we would.  WOW, was I wrong! David and I were so incredibly thankful for God leading us to this team.  They were fabulous.  They spent lots of time with us over a two day period, and they included Chan in the discussion- as they should! We even got to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.  That was another unexpected blessing. Long story short, our boy is going to need another surgery.  This time on his back.  IT's not a matter of IF but WHEN. It's going to be pretty intense, but we are so grateful to God for the new information we gained in Delaware.  We've been in contact with his orthopedic here so he's in the loop and putting another set of eyes on this latest MRI.  We will see him soon.

SO.  MANY. EMOTIONS- grateful, sad, grateful, overwhelmed, grateful, peaceful, frustrated, grateful...and over again.

SO...maybe my stress levels can be explained a tad (and a flare up of my dermatomyositis to go along with it!)- first born graduating and moving away along with facing another surgery and recovery with my favorite boy plus being single mom many many days because my man is flying ALOT lately.  I've had to really scale back on my "extracurriculars" right now since the prom organizing is now over.  I'm praying for God's strength to sustain us all during yet another crazy year.  It's all exciting and daunting at the same time.  God has seen me through so many seasons like this.  I do trust He will again!  "Thy will keep in perfect peace; him whose mind is stayed on Thee." Isaiah 26:3 The Lord is my strength and my song.  A strong deliverer in times of trouble.

Senior PROM

Micah, thanks for being a great date for Abigail!
You both looked fabulous!

Daddy's girl...

Typical

Sweet ride!

Yes, Abigail was thrilled (ha!) her parents were chaperoning her senior prom! She and and her friends were good sports though. If ya gonna organize it, ya kinda gotta be there is what I told her from the beginning! The night before the prom the flower shipment hadn't arrived at my housebefore I left for our Good Friday service and received an email I had to leave permission for them to deliver if I wasn't there. Plus, I knew they didn't deliver on Saturday---eek! I sent a blast text to our MIP (Moms In Prayer) group at school, and guess what? The shipment was sitting on my front doorstep when we got home. I texted back right before the service and apologized for the frantic text because in the light of eternity and what I was about to help lead worship in, a hydrangea shipment really didn't matter!

Such a fun nite!

Couldn't have pulled the night off without the help of these
fine ladies right here- Grace, Doria, Tina and Angie! 

Abigail and her closest gal pals at school this year- Annah, Mali & Korrie.
Love each of you!

Delayed in posting...again

So...this has been sitting in my "draft box" for many MONTHS. This was written back in August 2018,  but I'm just posting because I NEED to read this again! I mentioned in my last post my daughter, Abigail.  She posted again (and you can find it here). She mentioned a book we've been reading and studying- Lies Young Women Believe .  I'm completely humbled that my daughter actually got something out of me teaching her class the past couple of weeks-lol.  You see, one of those "lies" she was talking about I get wrapped up in as well- and for most people in general I'm observing.  The lie of "I'm not good enough."  Well, actually that's truth, but I think we all need to expand the sentence to I'm not good enough, but Jesus Christ is! I'm pretty wretched apart from Christ.  The more I grow, the more I realize that for sure! I cannot begin to tell you how satan has tried to distract me, frustrate me, cripple me (literally...with this silly flare up!), whisper  shout in my ear since we decided to start this study a few months ago.  I was in full court press the first week I was "on" to teach.  Who doesn't want TRUTH spoken to a bunch of precious junior and senior ladies who are pursuing God and trying to make sense of this crazy world they're living in? satan...with a lower case "s". What this flare up has done for me is to remember several things: I'm completely and totally dependent on God for everything in my life, God can use the slow in life to reflect and refresh, He may choose to not permanently remove this "thorn" (ugh!), and give thanks when He chooses to allow a reprieve...and maybe not be too anxious to taper off so many meds/supplements even when I'm feeling good (ha!).

I've had some really concentrated time to read, to study, to pray.  I realize I often "think" about many things through out the day. I've shared this with my family and another gal with whom I meet.  There's a difference in"thinking" and "praying". I get very distracted in my thoughts, and I've been making a more conscious effort to pray aloud when I' alone.  It just makes me more focused and quite frankly, I feel like God hears me better.  I know He doesn't care about the audible sound- but just one of those small things that He made me aware, and Ive found helpful in the adjustment.

Update (11.8.18): MAJOR life has been happening since this draft! Chan had surgery to remove all the hardware in his right femur (accident on playground back in January that required surgery). we just went yesterday for his month follow up, and he's healing nicely and was even cleared to ride his bike (his first and only question of the doctor!).

Abigail has been accepted to all three universities she's applied plus was awarded the Wendy's High School Heisman for her school! With those acceptance letters come excitement, reality, and a weight on her shoulders (and her daddy and mine, too!).  "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your OWN understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He WILL make [our] paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

For me, my health has taken a swing for the better, and I'm SO thankful!  My lab numbers are down (a good thing!), and my symptoms have decreased drastically.  Thank you for those who have prayed! I've started a new bible study which has been a huge blessing in many ways- great Truth looked at in a different light and new ladies to get to know.

God has been showing me and convicting me of many things through this study. I shared last Sunday with our high school juniors/seniors we help with at church, and I kinda got some blank stares.  It  IS what's been on my heart and mind for so long, and this study is what is solidifying it for me.  So I had to share! "The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart." A simple yet profound statement by one of the authors, Henry Brandt.

Fab 5 do Paris!

Paris has been a dream bucket list for Abigail for years.  Our plan was to make this trip before she left for college, if possible.  Honestly, I wasn't sure it would happen...surgeries, pneumonia, flare up, busy life! In true Fab 5 fashion, we decided to just go for it at the last minute, and of course, we made an adventure out of it! It was fast and furious but so worth every moment of effort getting there. It was VERY surreal to see on the news a week after we returned home that Notre Dame was in flames!  I just sat in from of the tv in awe that we were able to see it just days prior! 

Arc de Triomphe Paris

Notre Dame

Perfect day for lunch at this cafe!

Jardin de Tuileries

First purchase for Chan to take back to our flat.

Musee d'Orsay is an incredibly cool building...not just because of all the famous artwork, but it's an old train station.

crepes near the one of I think five views of the Eiffel Tower....

looking our over the city from
Sacre Coeur
http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/english/

just a little giggle at the Louvre...

most exquisite chapel...Saint Chappell

Musee de Orsay

hanging' with Van gogh

Monet's Water Lilies

stopped for a Dr. Pepper at McDonalds...and found this!  Yes, at Mickey D's!

Guess who fell off the subway seat?

Everyone trying to get a glimpse of the Mona Lisa!

Here she is...very small painting, but thrilled I got to see it !

So...David's HS friend (and now my friend!) Jill Coxis an author. One of her books, THE BRIDGE, is based on THIS bridge (Pont de Arts).
Check out her book. It's awesome! https://smile.amazon.com/Bridge-Jill-Cox/dp/0998220000/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Jill+cox+the+bridge&qid=1554511591&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull 

Notre Dame

Saint Chappell

Siene River

My favorite shot of the entire trip!

departing Charles de Gaulle

Not sure why the pics got out of order, but you get the idea!  Fabulous trip...so thankful for David's job and flight benefits!