Sunday Scramblings

So I am not blogging about big Buckeye games anymore. I think my blog is jinxed. But I have to say that the Buckeyes played a good game and I am still proud to be a Buckeye this am. Those boys have nothing to hang their heads about.

This is our first weekend without Matt here. So far it still has the "daddy is on a business trip" feel to it. Matt travels so much, especially from January to July (which won't be even half that in Japan, woot!), that we are used to fending for ourselves. Once we hit about 10 days I am sure reality will start sinking in.

Friday night after Emily's practice the kids all stayed for a 3 hour open gym. I used that time for myself (Just like a orovo user treating herself for the night). Went to dinner (and not fast food), got my toes painted (it was the best pedicure I have ever gotten) and treated myself to Starbucks (note to self: No more lattes at 8 pm). I figure there won't be many more opportunities for myself in the next few months so I took advantage of it. Then somehow I wound up with 4 extra kids (I deserve mother of the year) for the night, bring me to a total of 7 kids. I was totally outnumbered.

Yesterday morning I went grocery shopping. Matt would die if he saw how much I bought considering I am supposed to be thinning out my never ending food supply around here. (Note to self: Look into finding food shopping addict help group) We then had Chris's football game, where they put another line in the win column, remaining undefeated for the season. Afterwards we went to dinner with our neighbors to a Japanese Steakhouse that opened here in town. The owners are actually from Tokyo so I was able to practice some of my Japanese with them. My teacher would be so proud. Then of course we had the game.

Today I am using the morning to get our house back in order. Trying to get everything ready for Matt over the past few weeks has turned my usually organized house into a land of chaos. I just need to figure out where to start. This afternoon the kids have their Japanese lesson and then mine follows that.

Over the course of the next few weeks I need to start going through drawers and closets weeding out what we will take with us and what we will put in storage. It is easy deciding furniture and such, but the small things, not so much. One of Emily's teachers had been overseas in Germany for 4 years. She told me that it was funny to get their storage back after that time and see what they had put in there.

So there you have it. Our boring weekend in a nutshell. And you will hear no complaints from me. Of course if my children do not stop slamming doors and chasing each other screaming how horrible each other are I may have to start blogging from prison (note to self: Check into Internet access availability in jail).

On a side note I have a few friends that I would love to have some extra thoughts for. First, our good friend Kate's (her DH is Matt's BFF) dad was diagnosed with lung cancer on Wednesday. Jim is an awesome man and I ache for the family. Then my extra special friend Jamie was rushed to the ER and had emergency surgery yesterday morning to remove her gall bladder. During the surgery they found some issues with her bowels and she is having another surgery this am to correct that. All of this came out of the blue and is so strange considering I was just there 2 weeks ago. Finally, my ultra-talented kick butt friend Val is having surgery on Thursday. When it rains it pours, huh? So many things going on and I hate not being there for any of them. I just hope they know that they are never far from my thoughts.

Especially Heather

You may remember my post about Heather a few weeks ago. Heather is this amazing woman who just a few short weeks ago was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She is only 32-years-old. Yesterday she had surgery to try to remove the tumor and right now she is in recovery and stable.

Heather and her husband have a beautiful daughter who by all medical standards should have died 5 years ago. And now a husband and three small children are facing the fear of losing their mom and wife to a horrible tumor. And through all those trials and struggles I have never "met" two stronger people anchored in their faith.

A few days ago Heather posted this on her blog entry:

I read your comments about how “amazing” and “strong” and “inspirational” I am, and I smile, because in reality I am no different than you. Its great to hear those things, I won’t deny that- but the truth is I had a horrible horrible thing placed in front of me, for the second time in my 32 years, and I had to face it. I, just like with Emma Grace, didn’t have any other option but to walk through this. The amazing, strong and inspirational part of my story is due to Christ alone. He alone carried me through this with Grace, and continues to do so. If I had to walk through this without Him, there would be so much anger and hate in my posts- because my heart without Him is nothing short of disgusting.

Anger, bitterness, and hatred are Satan’s tools. They steal the hope that has been given to us at such a huge price. There are people that I haven’t been able to pray for in years, yet I find myself praying for them now- even in the midst of this, Christ alone gives me that strength. He reminds me that His love is not just for those I deem worthy, because I am so unworthy myself. His love is far reaching, it is all compassing, and in all honesty it is completely undeserved by any of us.

I guess what I am trying to say, and failing at miserably at is this. Let it go. Embrace Christ’s promise to never leave or forsake you and remember that He, in His darkest hour, asked that God take the cup from his hand. But God didn’t. And Christ continued to walk the path that he knew would lead to his death. Some relationships will never heal. Some hurts will never subside. Yet Christ’s love is sufficient to mend what we cant. He will not leave you, especially in your darkest hour.

Don’t let Satan in. That is one of the many things I have learned in the last 7 days. Whenever I feel that pull of anger towards someone, I pray for them. Whenever my heart feels bitter about something, I lay it at His feet.

Because, hear me very clearly, life can change in the blink of an eye. In the end, our entitlement means nothing. Our anger means nothing. Our bitterness means nothing.

Our testimony is all we will leave behind.

Wow. Can I just say how much I feel that entry was written for me.

Go to Heather's site. Read it. Hear about her amazing strength, courage and unfaltering love for God. Then offer her prayers of healing, comfort and hope for not only her, but her husband and children as well. She is living proof that God does answer prayers.

Update

Dale was life flighted to the Cleveland Clinic last night and they were able to stabilize him overnight. He was diagnosed with an Aortic Aneurysm and he made it through surgery. That is all I know at this time. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers.