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Outside in Kansas City~ It is already hot and muggy at 7:20am this Saturday morning. According to Weather.com: The common weather themes this holiday weekend are what you would expect them to be during the first week of July: heat and thunderstorms.
I am thinking~a lot about Biblical Counseling, biblical change; especially how it needs to affect my life, and about anger specifically.
I am thankful for~God’s grace and mercy and the insight and dedication of his people. On another note I am grateful that I got a full night’s sleep last night for the first time in months, both babies had a super good night, no dog barking, no husband snoring, and no older son coming in late. Bliss!
In my kitchen~there is a happy, well-rested three-month-old playing happily in her bouncy seat and a 13-year-old boy munching his way through a big bowl of cereal.
I am wearing~Gray capri sweat pants and my Faith Christian Academy Walkathon t-shirt.
Last creative endeavor~was to start writing my first biblical counseling certification paper. It may be a very challenging and painful endeavor because I have not written a paper in years. My book choices are Why Christian’s Can’t Trust Psychology which I read months ago and really loved and Competent to Counsel which I am currently reading.
I am going~to attend the IABC National Bible Conference in Colorado the first week of August (Lord willing). Julie Ganschow will be one of the conference speakers.
Can’t wait for~school to start…I know weird. I will miss the some things but I really prefer for the kids to have the structure of school. In our neighborhood there are not a lot of good options and it is hard to provide recreational opportunities that work for 3 months to 16 years.
Family News~My son, Nicholas and, his wife, Staci, graduated from Dordt College this spring and moved to Holland, Michigan where he is working for Gentex and she is working in a shop that sells wine from a nearby vineyard.
Current Read~Getting a Grip: The Heart of Anger Handbook for Teens by Lou Priolo. This book was recommended to me recently and I am so glad to have it. It is written in a really practical way. Lou Priolo is a newly discovered and appreciated author for me. The church I attend, Faith Community Church, recently had men’s book studies utilizing his book The Complete Husband and his writing and heart for Biblical counseling is refreshing.
I am hearing~our little foster son babble from his stander.
I am hoping~to get lots accomplished over this holiday weekend. I may use the 15 minute approach because I have such a variety of things that need to be done. We will see how that works-15 minutes of decluttering my bedroom where every stray piece of paper and clothing seems to congregate, painting on the ongoing woodwork project as we move from brown trim to white, etc…
Around the house~still working on the trim throughout the interior of the house and I love the change to warm white so much. It’s amazing how there are constant repairs to do to any house you own. We have a list right now that includes replacing the garage doors (unfortunately a necessity), mudjacking the driveway, rebuilding a crumbling brick area in the front of the house (caused by the need for mudjacking the driveway) among other less pressing things like finishing the exterior painting started last summer and repainting/staining the deck which was just done last year but because I chose the wrong stain has to be done again already.
Simple pleasure~Iced Coffee
Outside in Kansas City~28 degrees with freezing drizzle…gloomy and gray outside. Forecasts for this week include record snows and low temperatures so everyone seems to be preparing for the worst.
I am thinking~that I will be glad to have all my family home safe and sound tonight before the bad weather hits. Brent home from work in Topeka and the kids home from school. I kept our newest edition home from his daycare today.
I am thankful for~The safe arrival of the dental team and Emily Duffey back from their mission trips this past weekend.
In my kitchen~I’m ready to start whipping up some comfort food to keep us warm through this frigid weather. I think I’ll start with a batch of Hamburger Buns in 30 minutes, these make such great bread for a variety of uses. Some simmering soup seems to be a logical second step.
I am wearing~Paint clothes-jeans and one of my husband’s comfy long sleeved paint shirts along with warm wool socks to keep my feet cozy.
Last creative endeavor~ Worked on some embroidery a few nights ago and just ended up pulling it all out, just not feeling the needlework thing. Dining room wall will have to be my “creative” outlet for now.
I am going~to introduce J our newest household addition. He is a sweet one year old boy who is operating at the same level as a pretty newly born infant in a lot of ways. He has brain damage from a lack of oxygen and it affects his vision as well as his control of/use of his whole body. Sweet J is fed through a G-tube and takes nothing orally. He is on a strict schedule but otherwise has moved pretty seamlessly into our household.
Can’t wait for~a visit from Taylor, I’m missing him! Got to see Nicholas unexpectedly this week and it was a blessing.
Family News~Nicholas and Staci will be graduating from Dordt College this spring. Nicholas has a job interview in California in February. Please be praying for wisdom for them as they make decisions regarding their future.
Current Read~What Did You Expect? by Paul David Tripp it is really very good. Family Feasts for $75 a Week: A Penny-wise Mom Shares Her Recipe for Cutting Hundreds from Your Monthly Food Bill so far so good, I’m trying to tighten my food budget which has gotten out of control in the past few months.
I am hearing~The humidifier in J’s room, very quiet here today.
I am hoping~to finish my dining room project before the day is over…
Around the house~the refrigerator is restocked as well as the pantry, prescriptions refilled, firewood stacked, necessary paper goods double checked, sidewalk treatment restocked and broken snow shovel replaced. Bring it on!
Simple pleasure~Big mug of hot sweet tea.
I had mentioned to some of you that we heard from our homestudy contractor that we might not be able to take more than two kids for the first year. At class last night I talked with our trainer, Susanne, and she said there is no guideline to that effect. It can be a recommendation from the person doing the homestudy but it is not a requirement. So we are going with the original plan and have six weeks to get the two bedrooms set up appropriately. Which means some closet space free, at least two drawers per child available in a dresser, bunk beds in each room along with bedding, linens, etc. To make all this space work we probably need to build as many shelves as possible. Please be praying. we really need to be working steadily toward this goal and need provision of the items on our wish list to complete the rooms. Nicci mentioned a set of bunk beds she has that needs work so I will be touching base with her. Alicia mentioned that they might be able to send their futon for Taylor to use. We have one set of bunk beds but will need a new bunky board for the top bunk of that one.
We have a “two-to-three” hour homestudy meeting at our house this Saturday, a required full-day medication class Saturday the 18th, and a full-day CPR/First Aid class on Saturday the 25th so please be praying about those things. We really need wisdom on managing the time we have left and the energy to utilize it well.
Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement and support. I can begin to focus on the inadequacy I feel, the lack of preparation at home, how uncomfortable I am with the training styles (not my learning style at all…just give me a good book), and a dozen other things and get discouraged. Then I remember the desperate need, the call God has given us clearly in scripture, the repeated call I have felt for many years, and my gratitude for all that I have been blessed with and there is no question whether to proceed.
We hope to have good news soon about a new development that will free a substantial amount of time up for Brent! Stay tuned…
“Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute.” Psalm 82:3
