Happy Anniversary!

Eight years ago, I was busy getting ready for my wedding. I can't believe it's been eight years! Time flies.
We have mostly celebrated our anniversary. We spent the weekend together, just the two of us (well the dog was here, but she didn't interrupt much). Ian spent the weekend with his grandparents and had a great time. Today he was telling me that he missed them. He'll see grandma on Wed. I'm sure that will help.
We had planned to spend the weekend in Westport, but decided it cost too much. I'm really glad we stayed home. I have been so tired lately, I'm afraid it would not have been the best weekend to go away.
Colin surprised me with roses and a balloon (which Ian wanted of course) and a card. Ian started telling me "Happy Anniversary! Happy Anniversary!" I told him our anniversary is tomorrow. He said, " Happy Anniversary! Does that mean no school tomorrow?" Nice try, but we have school tomorrow. Silly boy.

His Loving kindness

Last night I went to my Bible study, even though I was tired and I hadn't gotten my homework done. I really wanted to skip, but I didn't. I'm so glad I didn't. First, I was able to ask them to pray for me and whatever this weirdness is that's going on with me right now.
Second, while we were going over the Bible study lesson there were two great questions. The first one was what has happened in your life that if someone had told you would happen, you wouldn't have believed them. I have several of those. Surviving cancer, meeting my husband on the internet (ha! even the internet would have been unbelievable several years ago), moving away from Kansas and now owning a house. All those things seemed impossible, but God made them happen.
The second question was about where do you see God's loving kindness in your life directing you or leading you? Sort of God's hand in your life. That one I can look back at my family and marvel that I am here. On my dad's side there are three soldiers in three generations. My dad's grandpa was in WWI. My dad's dad (my grandfather) was a marine in WWII, he was a flamethrower (they didn't have a high life expectancy during that job) and my dad was a marine in Vietnam ( a machine gunner, they also had a very poor life expectancy during that job). So just on my dad's side three soldiers had to survive terrible wars for me to be here. That's pretty amazing.
I was thinking about the same thing for Ian's life and it's even more amazing. He has the same soldiers as me plus both Colin's grandfathers were in WWII and one was also in Korea. Then you have to add that I had to survive cancer and not go into menopause from the chemotherapy. Plus meeting his daddy over an internet connection.
I marvel that people can believe that life is random and just happens. I look at my life and my family history and I can see God guiding. Do you see His guidance over the steps of your life, too?

Bummer

I haven't written much lately. I've been sort of bummed, I guess. Recently I have started shedding, a lot. It's probably my thyroid, which I'm having checked today. Anytime I start shedding hair in small handfuls, it worries me. That was one of the very few symptoms I had before I found out that I had Hodgkin's.
I'm trusting God, but I'm just a bit nervous. I don't suppose that it really helped that on Monday Ian's devotion was about dying and then I watched Oprah, which I almost never do. Can you guess the topic? Death and dying. It was a good episode, but perhaps not the best choice to watch when I'm feeling uneasy about my health.
I am glad that I am getting my thyroid checked out today. The last time I shed like this, my thyroid was way out of whack. I think it might be again. I know I'm really tired and somewhat moody and I was then, too.
Please pray for me that I find out what is making me shed and feel weird and that it's something easily remedied.

Scrapbooking Crop

Saturday I went to a scrapbooking crop. It was at a local high school (a fundraiser for its FBLA club). It started at 1 and got over at 9. I had so much fun. I didn't accomplish a whole lot, I never do at crops, I talk too much! I did do a layout of Ian's soccer pictures and started on his t-ball pictures. I got the story of Colin's 30th birthday party written down and added to that layout. I also got to do a couple of cards that were "make and takes" from a couple of scrapbook companies.
Mostly, I got to talk and talk. Uninterrupted thoughts. Nobody wanting me to 'do this or do that' for them. No crisis. Just pure fun. I haven't gone to a crop in probably three years. I didn't realize just how much I missed it. I can't wait until they have the next one. Sign me up now!

Our First Field Trip

We went on our first field trip with our homeschool group yesterday. We went to Lattin's Cider Mill. We had apple cider and apple cider donuts. There were 40 kids and their parents, so it was a good sized group. The lady from the cider mill was trying to tell us stuff through a bullhorn while they were passing out cider and donuts. Everyone was reasonably quiet, but she still ended sounding like Charlie Brown teacher half the time. Do you remember what his teacher sounded like to him? Wah wah wa wa wah.
After the yummies we got to feed the animals and then we rode on a hayride to the pumpkins. Ian picked out a very nice pumpkin. After the pumpkin patch we went into their little store and bought some very delicious apple cider.
I took some pictures. If I have some good ones, I'll try to post them soon!

The Not So Scary Boys

Tonight was friend night at Awana for Ian. We have a hard time finding friends for Ian to invite. Every time we invite a new friend, they end up joining Awana, meaning we have lost them as a guest forever! I'm happy that they like Awana and that they want to go, but it can make life challenging on the friend seeking department.
Part of the problem is that we live so far away from where we go to Awana, about 45- 50 min. I don't really feel comfortable inviting kids in our little town that we have just met to go that far away from their parents. Plus, I'm sure their parents would be a little leery about that, too.
So I racked my brain trying to think who we could invite to Awana. I came up with a slightly unusual choice. My friend Kim's two boys. The reason I say unusual is that the last few times we were at their house, Ian had a definite thing about those boys. He wouldn't play with them, he wouldn't listen to them if they wanted to play and he hid from them. I asked him if they had been mean to him, but they hadn't, he just didn't know them well enough to feel comfortable around them. This afternoon he thought that he might have felt uncomfortable because they had grown so much since he last remembered playing with them.
Ian was at least comfortable with inviting them (after a little coaxing), and so this evening we went to their house and picked them up to go to Awana. We took them to Pizza Hut for dinner, which all three boys loved, and then we took them to Awana.
Silly Ian. He has gotten over his thing about those boys. On the way home he told me he missed them! I guess they weren't so scary after all.

The Last Order

Well, I have submitted my last order to At Home America. I haven't told them yet, but I am ready to be done. I love their products, but not their quality control. I only had about 5 or 6 parties, but I've probably done close to 20 exchanges. Too frustrating. Plus, I just don't have the time needed to do the parties and shows.
I think God must agree with me, because He really convinced me with this last party. It had problems with closing it. I just closed it today, 10 days after the party!
So, farewell At Home America. Hello to staying at my home!