The first day

Well, like all other schools in Texas, today was the first day of school. Phew....what a day.

When Garrett started Kindergarten I started a tradition of taking his picture in front of the car with his backpack. His K pictures was absolutely adorable! Melted my heart every time I saw them. Anyway, I kept it up and had some sweet pictures of him throughout the years. But, when I started teaching, I seemed to not get it done. I headed out the door in a hurry and Lonnie was left to get him to school. I soon lost the tradition but promised myself I would get it done for Guthri. Well, I don't actually get the picture in front of the car but I do get it at school. This morning she looked absolutely adorable and was actually excited. I wish I could have caught her excitement on camera. She just thought I was annoying and wanted me to leave. Just thought I would post some pictures of this morning and years past.

Guthri remains to be such a bright spot in all out lives. She keeps us grounded and dreaming at the same time. I thank God for her and her beautiful, positive outlook on life!
(Garrett would not pose for a picture this morning!)

It's a Lazy Day

Today, I have the entire day to myself! WooHoo! I slept until 9:00, played on the computer and took a nap at 11:00. I am still in my PJ's and haven't even brushed my hair. Not a pretty sight but who cares? There is no one here to see me!

You see, the kids are at my parents and Lonnie and I have worked all week. He is swamped and has so many things going on. I had tech workshops Mon-Wed and then worked in my classroom in the evenings and all day Thursday. One evening I worked on school stuff, one evening I helped Lonnie on his dossier (career step thing) and came home Thursday evening just wiped out so I vegetated on the couch. It has been a good week. Got lots done.

I am so thankful I have parents that will take my kids and just enjoy them. We pick the kids up tomorrow so it will be back to a dirty house, fighting, TV watching, eating non-stop (Garrett is a teenager you know!), and school routines! I miss them so I am ready to have them back but it has been a peaceful week that I can just focus on what I needed to do and get it all done and not be stressed next week and then throw Guthri in front of a TV so I can work.

So today, I am just taking it easy until Lonnie comes home and needs help with his dossier again. Don't think I will get dressed but I will have to do something with the hair. He'll need to concentrate and he will not be able to keep his eyes off the mess on my head!

I could have it worse...

My last post was telling all my woes of medical bills and not being able to pay them all off on my time frame. Wow, do I need a reality check!

The last few weeks I have been bombarded by friends and family who own their own businesses and they are struggling like crazy. They are in jeopardy of losing their business, their income, their homes. They are looking into alternative careers, supplemental incomes.....I am just worried about having to do without cokes.

The financial state of our country is in turmoil and none of us know when it will get better. I don't know how to tell my friends and family to hang in there. I don't know how to reassure them that they will be fine eventually. I don't know how to help them survive this. I don't know how to make them feel better. When you see those around you suffering, it hurts.

I do know we all have to get on our knees and pray. Beg God for guidance, for help through this situation. I read a letter to the editor the other day that really hit home. People normally write about how horrible our leadership is and they are killing us financially (which I do believe) but this writer asked the questions "Have you prayed for our leaders to help them make the right decisions? Have you prayed that God intervene and help our nation?" She went on to say that putting our energy into condemning, into ridicule, is not putting our faith in God.

So, instead of being angry at the medical bills, be thankful that God gave someone the knowledge to help. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, take Jesus' attitude of service and help those around me that I can. I could have it worse....

It is all adding up!

This year has been extremely busy with trips to the hospital! I had knee surgery last summer and thought "hey, we can pay this out and no big deal." Well, December comes up and I have a huge infection on my face and had to spend the night in the hospital. Turns out I have nasty fever blisters! Guthri to the ER for a medication reaction. Garrett to the ER with a broken toe. Then Garrett has trouble with his hand turning purple. A trip to the Norhtwest Texas ER and two specialist, one CT scan, one heart sonogram, and two dopplers gave us NO answers. Lonnie hurts his shoulder so there is an MRI. Phew!!!!!

We always take the gamble of the high deductible insurance and this year we LOST BIG TIME! When Lonnie had his MRI he was under the impression that we had met our family deductible (you would think, wouldn't you!) Anyway, got a letter today that we hadn't and there goes another $1,000! The trip to NWTX cost us $1,838 because they were "out of network". We have just chalked up an enormous amount of medical debt.

I know all the rules, pay ever cent you can to reduce the debt, make an agreement with the hospital for a lower amount in cash, pay the lowest off first, etc..... Right now it is just overwhelming! I love our hospital and think they are the best so I feel more obligated to them than the others but I can't stand to only pay $10 a month to the others. Ugh!!!!!

I am just depressed about it and I feel like it is taking over my every thought, my every move. School is coming up and we all need clothes, shoes, supplies. Show season starts in September and Garrett needs money for pigs. It is all mounting up!

Now, I had someone say "Garrett doesn't have to have those pigs. It isn't a necessity." Really? Does their son have to have football? Does their daughter have to play volleyball? I can promise if you put pen and paper to it, we come out way cheaper!!! Just a little side line....

Just needed to vent a little. I know it will all work out and there are solutions, I just need to take the time to sort through it all. Thanks for listening!

Ring...Ring....

Lonnie's phone rings off the wall all day long. He uses about a thousand minutes a month on his cell phone. When the phone rings at home, it is for him. (except when MY mom calls) Now, I admit I am not very nice when his phone rings here at home and he is taking care of business. It is a daily affair so you would think I would just get over it. But, no not me!

Years ago I threw away the answering machine because it was always full of messages from telemarketers! I just figured if you needed us then you knew us and could call our cell phones. Right? Anyway, we do have caller ID so that is good enough for me.

Yesterday on the way home from Cloudcroft, I told Lonnie I could not believe his phone had not rang in three days! He said, "I know, it is weird." He checked it to make sure it was working and that was that. This morning I check the caller ID and NO ONE had called the house. Now, that is weird. I caught myself scrolling threw calls and practically hoping for a new call to show up. Nothing....it really bothered me that no one had called. Not even tried to call us. What is up with that?

I am never satisfied!

A Life of Service

Lonnie and I have both chosen professions that calls for us to serve others. Most jobs have some service involved but ours seem to be consumed with doing for someone else. I'll admit there are days I absolutely despise having to help someone else when I need help myself. I become bitter and resentful because everyone wants something. All times of the year are busy for us, there is no down time.

Yesterday, we were unloading drinks from the back of Lonnie's pickup for the upcoming concession stand. It was hot, I was sweating, Guthri was fast asleep in the back seat of a hot truck, and those silly cases were heavy. I felt myself getting hotter and hotter. Not physically, but mentally. I looked over and there was a 4-Her and his mom sitting at the stop light looking our direction. All I could think was "Well, don't just stare. Come help!" When they drove off I was fuming.

I started to say something when I looked at Lonnie and sweat was rolling off his face. He just kept picking up one case right after the other. He never said a negative word. He never grunted, even though he has a hurt shoulder. He just did his job because that is what he is supposed to do. Some times I hate it when he is right!

I had to take a step back and rethink my feelings. Why was it any less my job to unload those drinks than anyone else? Had we called anyone for help? Did that 4-Her and his mother have somewhere they had to be? Maybe my SERVICE ATTITUDE is not what it is supposed to be.

Jesus set the example of a life of service. He never complained, he never cared that he sweated, he just did what God wanted him to do. We are commanded to serve others. Whether it is volunteering or our job we are to live a life of service.

I Will Never Get Used to It!

Lonnie's job is demanding and there are some times that it seems he only has time for his job. This last year has been extremely tough because he has not had a co-worker and it has ALL fallen on his shoulders. He takes his responsibility very seriously and always wants things to be perfect. His obligations doubled this past year, so he has been on the road more than usual.

I am so proud of his accomplishments, his awards, his appointments. He is chairman of so many committees that I cannot remember them all. He is a director for his professional organization. He has been honored to be appointed to a leadership program called S.A.L.E. He is a busy man!

Today, he left for the District 3 Horse Show for three days. As usual, this morning he was finishing up his packing, helping me get Guthri ready and I was running out the door for school. I ran back to the bedroom to kiss him good-bye and we were gone in our separate ways in no time. By 5 o'clock this afternoon, I was missing him terribly. This is his 3rd trip in three weeks. He usually leaves in the morning or during the day when I am at school, so sometimes it is hard to remember he has left town. When things slow down at night, the kids and I really miss his presence. Today, Guthri was laying on the sofa and she said, "mom, I miss dad!" It almost made me cry. I know how she feels. Just a few minutes ago Garrett asked, "When is dad coming home?" Lonnie's absence has become so regular we have begun to forget to tell the kids he is going out of town! I keep thinking I will get used to him being gone so much, but no way. I will never get used to it!