Sorry, Little Blog

I didn't realize until today that I haven't posted since MARCH! Yikes. I'm so sorry little blog. So much has happened and I just got sidetracked by life. 
Starting with Spring Break, I was busy. My hubby wants to make sure we use our RV so he had scheduled many camping trips throughout the spring and summer. We even got to go to the Oregon Coast for our anniversary in June--just the two of us in the RV! It was wonderful. I felt well enough this year to spend a week camping with the kids and friends at our favorite park: Metzler County Park. That was a huge improvement from the previous year when just a couple of nights wiped me out. We traveled to Yellowstone and met my parents. We spent several days exploring the park and visiting the Grand Tetons. I got to take my kids to Craters of the Moon National Park (a favorite spot when I was a kid). We even camped "on the moon." That place is incredible and it's a surreal environment to be camping amongst the slag heaps of lava. It reminded me of Frodo and Sam's time approaching the mountain in "The Return of the King" by Tolkien. 
Over Labor Day weekend, we camped with my hubby's brother and his family. We spent all of one day visiting a Civil War reenactment. I'd love to be a part of something like that. On our last camping trip (in September), we even tried Paddleboarding for the first time. The fact that I could do that was, I felt, a miracle. I'm not healed but at least I'm at a place where I can have adventures and enjoy life with my family as a mom and wife. I'm grateful.
I started a new adventure with my son this fall. We enrolled him in an online charter school. There has been a learning curve for both he and I as we learned how to do this kind of homeschooling. I've seen a lot of growth on his part and it's helped me to preserve my energy for other things--rather than spending all my time planning and researching curriculum and such. I get to actually just teach and guide his learning and that's what was needed for us all.
We hosted Christmas for hubby's family this year and it was fun. I had fun planning and making a "tapas" Christmas Eve meal so the kids could experience something that they've been learning about in their language classes. Everyone was tentative but then loved the dishes and we sat around the table snacking and chatting for a long time. Maybe we have a new tradition?
Doctors are pleased with my progress so far. They think that I'm in a holding pattern but aren't going to rush into surgery to remove the wounded area. If I'm living life and maintaining general good health, they're pleased. If they leave the rectum alone, it might heal--probably not, but it might. If they remove it, I could suffer some bad side effects and it also closes the door if any new treatments come up. So, status quo for now and I'll just keep guard over my health and energy and enjoy my family and friends. God is with me and he has blessed me with an amazing life. I'm good.

Long Time, No Post

I've been focusing elsewhere and have let my blog be for a bit. I'm finally ready to get back to it. I finally feel I have something to say. I did set a small resolution. I want to develop a habit of thankfulness. I'm trying to capture those gifts and blessings that happen each day and number them. I've been influenced by Ann Voskamp's Book "One Thousand Gifts." My goal is 10 a day. What I'm finding is that as I write them down, I find more and more and more things I'm thankful for. God is indeed good all the time.

Sunday's Gifts

Today's Gifts: 21) Waking up when my body was ready and not feeling tired despite the "spring forward;" 22) Hubby's comforting, loving and protective arm around me; 23) The sound of hubby's voice singing strong and sure in worship to God; 24) My son's joyous smile and happy eyes when I teased him; 25) The camaraderie of combing and braiding my daughter's hair while she chatted and shared; 26) A friend's daughter, enduring a tough time, enjoyed going to youth group with my daughter; 27) unexpected sunlight bravely shining through the clouds after church; 28) watching my son and two other boys bonding over Angry Birds and the boys' regret at having to leave so soon; 29) the love I see shared amongst my church family; 30) finishing one side of the new (and challenging) purse design and liking it. 31) The fact that as I write so many things come to mind that I wouldn't be able to get to sleep if I wrote them all. God's gifts to me every day are innumerable.

Saturday's Blessings

Today's gifts: 11. Lilting, bouncy Irish music, 12. Hubby's hand finding mine. 13. Luxurious, guilty pleasure of sleeping in, 14. My son cuddling into me at the planting strawberries activity and the concert, 15. The sweet crunch of ice cream cones, 16. Seeing Leah TenKate and family at Al's. 17. The living red-gold of my daughter's hair, 18. The rainy drive home in the dark sparking memories of our courtship, 19. Hubby running my errands, 20. The calming, comfy sound of rain on the roof as I relax in my warm bed.

Today's Blessings (Friday)

Today's Joy Gifts:1. A good-morning "I love You" and "Thank-you" from my beloved, 2. a daughter's joyful face for drawing success, 3. rounding a corner to see my son encased in my pillowcase w/pillow and 4. his giggle as I laughed, 5. a yummy bite of pizza, 6. talking with my far away friend, 7. the joy and trepidation and teasing of my friend whose oldest turns 13 tomorrow, 8. the soft, warm, fluffy and purring body warming my feet, 9. laughter and joy as I celebrate being part of the Wetherbee's through the FB posts that keep us all in touch, 10. the wonderful bits of wisdom that God occasionally gives me--the "Wow! Did I say that?" moment today. Blessings!

Setting Goals

I decided not to make resolutions this year. It seems like a way to set myself up for failure to make all sorts of grand decisions about the coming year and what I will do to change myself. I think it's good to try to better myself. Just not all at once with too many changes. I work better at making new habits--one at a time.  I haven't decided what new habit I want to add to my day. I'm praying for guidance and wisdom. The Lord leads me in the things I need to do so I will trust He will guide me now. 
A devotional blog I read was talking about 5 steps to making resolutions. I agree with everything she said. The one that really stuck out to me was to "Set Time." Schedule the new habit. Give it a specific time and place. The successful habits I've developed all had set times. I never realized it until today. Set Time for the changes I want to make. Set Time to get together with people. Set Time to pray and read the Bible and hear from the Lord. Set Time for the Holy Spirit to lead me. Hmmmm. 
Maybe that's it.
Maybe my goal is learning to Set Time for the things that are important but get forgotten because I don't guard the time for them. 
My Tuesday morning craft time with friends? I fiercely guard that time. It's set. It happens. It's habit. 
Devotional time--not so set. Date time with my husband--not so set. Time with my daughter--not so set. This needs to change.
Holy Spirit, guide me as I work on setting time in my life for the relationships I treasure.
I guess I have a resolution after all! "Set Time."

The New Year

Here comes a New Year. 2012. I wonder at the possibilities. What will it hold? I have hope for new experiences and healing. I don't know if it will be, but I can hope.
I've been working today on tidying up from Christmas. It feels good to accomplish stuff and see my clean surfaces emerging from the pretty decorations.
I started my new medication yesterday. It did cause an upset stomach and made me tired yesterday and today. It wasn't unbearable and for that, I'm happy. We'll see what happens next Weds.
I hope that all those who read this will be blessed with joy and hope as we look into this next year. I know that God will be at work and we will all learn and grow through whatever He sends our way.
Blessings,
di