What an experience to be able to feel God taking care of you through trials. Yes, we are all going to have trials and tribulations, but that isn't what God is neccessarily doing. The devil does a lot more than most give credit for.
So in the next few month, like 3 or so, we got confirmation, after an appeal, that Matt was going to start recieving disability benefits! (#17) Praise God! By this point in time, he had not been working for about a year, I believe. It is such a long process to apply, and wait, then appeal, and wait again, for disability. I hear that is how it is for most people that need it the most. Sad, but true. All that time though, that we had nothing to hardly work with, and God took care of all our needs, and no emergencies came up to have to d)eal with, and we were protected the WHOLE time. Looking back, we feel as if God was testing our Faith in Him. That was all we could do.
Around this time, and for a couple years following, we would wonder if we would be able to do anything for Christmas for the kids. Not that that is what Christmas is all about, but as a parent, we really wanted to do something. We were not able to, and had many instances near this time (sorry, cannot remember all the years, but I believe about 4 years that this had happened) that we had secret santas adopt our family. AMAZING! (#18-21)
I started taking some classes through the community college near us. I took some classes in person, and then some online. I took it easy a couple years, then a couple years I took a lot of credits. (#22) On my back to trying to become an RN! I was so excited!
In a couple of years we found out that there was going to be another blessing. So in December of 2011, we welcomed another little girl. She has been our blessing and has taught all in the family different things. (#23)
I now have my CNA/CMA (Medication Aide) in Kansas, and trying to get a job. It took a little bit to figure out where I wanted to go, but while trying to figure things out, I had a friend come up to me and ask me (a couple times actually) if I would like a job at the nursing home that she was working at. (#24) I went in and did the formality of of filling out the papers and application that I needed to , and found my way working again. My baby is only 9 months old, I homeschool (#25) which ended up being a neccessity for safety for my kids, and a husband to take care of, taking college classes, and now am working on top of it! Am I crazy?! No I was just trying to take care of my family the best that I can.
Because of my working, we were able to take takes that next year, and take a family vacation (only big one we have ever had, or probably ever will) and took my parents with us, and went to Florida! (#26) We visited Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Sea World, Hollywood Studios, Epcot center, and Cocoa Beach while there. All before the summer season hit so we were able to get right on the rides, and not have to wait much, if any. It was AWESOME! We all had a blast and loved the time that we were able to spend together like that.
The next year was pretty eventless. However, come fall, I fell very sick. I was getting sick and/or running to the bathroom, in the end, every 15-20 minutes, for 6 weeks. Major weight loss program! lol No, wouldn't wish it on anyone. It started out 1-2 days feeling or being sick in a month, then each time the gap closed tighter and tighter. It started in August. I told myself that if it continued I would quit working. Taking the possibility of it being God telling me that I didn't have to work any longer. Work was becoming more stressful. I won't go into details here, as the management/upper people/ to work for were/are great people. I miss the residents and some of my co-workers deeply. But as of December 2013, I was no longer working. (#27 in disguise)I had to have multiple tests done to see what was wrong. Nothing ever came up. But I was told to go gluten and dairy free. So I did. Lost more weight (#28) and ended up finding other foods that bother me. So could hardly eat anything now. So I went a good year and 9 months before I ate any real substantial food. I was so hungry all the time!
By fall of 2014, finances were so bad. So many bills, no insurance, and we were losing everything. Tried working with companies, but they just didn't want to budge, on some, and others were doing everything they could to help us. Finally we had to apply for a deed in lieu on our home. I already lost my nice car. Loved that car. Now we were going to be homeless. Not knowing what else to do, we turned to God and constantly were praying and asking for guidance.
Now from the time we moved to Kansas (within 6 months) we knew we wanted to move back to Michigan. Matt claims within the first couple weeks. :) So we were always looking at homes and possibilities for this to happen. Just wasn't working out right. It wasn't God's timing for us.
This was a year though, that a lot of health issues were popping up for my grandparents. My maternal grandfather was getting really bad. My parents came to our place for Christmas, and got a call while there, that grandpa had fallen and had to have hip surgery. :( Then in January he declined very quickly. We decided that we were going to have to find a way to make it to Michigan for a funeral. Weather was getting bad, and we got news that good possibility only 24 hours. So we left earlier than we really wanted to. Got up to Michigan early the day following leaving, and went straight to the nursing home. Grandpa was still with us. I got to see, talk, hug, and love grandpa one more time! (#29) We were there about 9 a.m. and around 2:45 the kids were getting restless, so Papa took them and was heading home. I was there with my mom, grandma, and aunt when he took his last breath. I was able to be there for family and help them through this (from the medical side of it, as I dealt with it a lot in the nursing home). (#30) I was glad I could answer questions, and help them understand things a little better. The nurses hadn't been in but once all day. I was not happy about that.
Whilst up in Michigan, we had to do a few repairs on the van. But guess what, it was now winter approved! lol Just in time to head back to Kansas. We had some weather while visiting there. We even started into the ditch once, but was able to all but get myself out by driving through it. Two men that I love, were able to push us out the rest of the way. (#31) That incident could have been so much worse. I was blinded by a semi, and couldn't see where I was going on the highway, going like 25 mph. He flew past me, stirring up a lot of snow dust, enough to blind me. I had no clue where I was on the road or not.
When we returned home, we got word that the bank was going to approve our deed in lieu. (#32) So when that all went through we would have 7 days to vacate the premises. Not that we wanted that to happen so quickly, but had to take what help we could. So we fervently set out to look for other homes, that we could rent, in Kansas or even Michigan. Laws are that you have to have one bedroom for each gender, and no more than 2 persons per room. Yeah, like we are going to find a 4 bedroom rental on his disability income alone. No one had anything of the sort. No family had room for our whole family, or was willing to put us up. Then we were offered the option, that if we could get to Michigan, my grandma and parents would put us up for no more than a month. I promised grandma that. I was hoping we could find something in that time, since we would be in the state. We got the call, and actually only had 5 days to be out. So we hustled, and packed like 20 hours a day, and tried to say all our good byes.
We had help come down from Michigan to help us move. We had friends and family help us pack up. We took up the offer and temporarily moved in with my grandma and parents. (#33) We at least had a place to stay! Thank you so much for doing that for us. They didn't have the room, but was more than willing to help us out for a short bit. By the end of that time though, we were ready to be out on our own. However, one had a place for us.
More later . . . .
Monday, January 18, 2016
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Blessings part 2
So now you see we have 4 beautiful children. 2 boys, 2 girls; couldn't be anymore perfect right? I mentioned that things were getting rough with our marriage. By the time that the youngest was 2, I was working 45 hours a week, and my husband about 80! Yes, I said 80. He wouldn't get home until about 1-2a.m. and then was back to work by 5a.m., and he had to drive almost an hour to work! So he came home for an hours nap. Then it got to the point where some nights he would stay the night at work, or at a buddy's house a few minutes from there. Weekends were the only time we were able to spend time with him. We were all missing our time with him. Sundays are our church day, and we were going twice on Sundays, for morning and evening services. So Saturdays were the only time that we really had with him. We would usually do our running then. I didn't have a lot of time between working and picking the kids up at their grandparents, and getting them bathed and into bed. School functions for the oldest two, were usually by myself, and when they could, the grandparents would join me. I felt like a single mom for a couple years. It was getting really rough.
There was a small change in my husband about mid-summer. He was starting to come home around 11p.m. I was able to talk to him a little before I fell asleep! During this time he would mention on and off that he had some tingling in one side of his face and sometimes his hands. I thought, well maybe he was just wearing his body down too much. We didn't think too much about it. It would last about a week and then be gone. About a year of this, and he was having troubles holding on to things. We couldn't understand why he wasn't able to grip much.
Memorial Day weekend of June 2006 and we went to visit grave sites with his parents, of loved ones. It was raining good. He seemed to be tripping over his feet a lot. So we decided it was enough and went back to the house. Got through the weekend, and on Monday, he mentioned that he was going to go to the chiropractor before heading into work the next day.
Tuesday came, I had the day off. I was so glad. I could just relax and enjoy the summer day in Kansas. I got a call about 1'ish from his cell. When I answered, he did not sound well at all. When I asked him to repeat something, he started crying, and just said, "Come help me!" His co-worker, and ex-paramedic, took the phone and mentioned who he was, and that he had called the ambulance to come get him, where they had taken him, and for me to come as soon as I could.
I called his parents house, and no one answered. So I took the kids and we drove over there. My MIL was outside mowing, so didn't hear the phone. I was panicked. I don't get that way often but did. I finally was able to get her attention, and told her what was going on, and that I didn't know the way in Kansas City, and if she or my FIL could drive me there, and help by driving his car home. So she watched the kids, and my FIL drove me there.
When we got there, they were ready to discharge him from the hospital, with the diagnosis of a stroke. They claimed he wasn't in the middle of it, so there was nothing they could do. Yet, he collapsed at work and they called them right away, so how that wasn't in the middle of it, I don't know. So we took him home. In the next couple of days he was to go to his PCP for a follow up. He did.
When he arrived at the doctor's office, the doctor didn't do much but mentioned he was to go to the local hospital, and he would be admitted when he got there. What?! What was going on with him! His mother was with him, so I knew that anything major and I would get a phone call. His appointment was at 9a.m. By break time for me at work, 1p.m., I hadn't heard anything so I called his cell phone. No one answered. So a few minutes later I tried again. His mom answered the phone. Why wasn't he? She mentione that he wanted to call me, but they were doing more testing, so he wasn't able to talk for a while. All day long and he wanted me to just get through the work day. I was training new employees at the time. So I scrambled for a replacement for the last couple hours, and left early, to the hospital.
By the time I got there, they were getting ready to do a spinal tap. He wanted me there for that. So I did. I stood there along side of him, holding his hand. Seemed like many hours had slipped by. I made a few phone calls to immediate family, for prayer.
By like 7p.m., the doctor came in and mentioned that he had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Then he went on to explain more about this disease, and that with us being young parents, with young kids, we were going to have some adjustments to make, emotionally and physically. WOW! I was so not ready for this!
He wasn't joking! He had 11 days in the hospital, and many days of outpatient therapy following. He was paralyzed on his right side, his dominant side. Work worked with him, and was able to get him things that he could work from home on, on his computer. We were so thankful! (blessing #12?)
A few months later, we were ready to get our own home again. This rental had been broken into, and had creepers walking around our house outside, and I hated being home alone with the kids anymore. So we looked for a while and found a home in Burlingame (we were living in Lawrence), and hour away from where we were. We loved the home! Not real big, but big enough for us. 1100 sq. ft. (#13)
Not long after moving into our new home (July1, 2007), my husband had another relapse (his form of MS is unilateral and relapse/remit). It took him down good, and he was not able to bounce back very well. He had only gained like 75% from the initial attack. So he was down good. He was out of work for a while, and we were hurting bad financially. I was able to get a job, as a PCA, and was taking care of people in their homes. (#14) But I was only grossing about $150 a month. So not much at all. We were not able to make payments for many bills at all. That pretty much paid our gas for appointments throughout the month.
Within a handful of months, we were going to lose our home. We looked around to find a place for our size family that went by income. Nothing in any safe areas. We would have had to go to the ghettos of Topeka. So we prayed, and prayed and prayed. Found a place. Confirmed a month prior. Then we got the mail one day. In the mail was our date to move out by. The sheriffs sale for the house was going to be in 2 weeks. So we called and let the landlords of the new rental know that we were going to be needing it a week sooner than thought. She mentioned, "We never said you could rent anythinhg here." We told her the address, and she mentioned that she just rented it out to someone else that day. What were we going to do?!
So along came a week and a half of hard core prayer and packing. Saying our goodbyes, and much more. Not having a clue as to where we were going to move to. 2 days before move out day, we received in the mail the approval for Matt's disability! Thank you Lord! (#15) So we called the mortgage company right away, and told them what we had. The next day we faxed things in, and they put a hold on the foreclosure. Within 48 hours, foreclosure was removed and we were able to stay in our home! (#16)
More to come!
There was a small change in my husband about mid-summer. He was starting to come home around 11p.m. I was able to talk to him a little before I fell asleep! During this time he would mention on and off that he had some tingling in one side of his face and sometimes his hands. I thought, well maybe he was just wearing his body down too much. We didn't think too much about it. It would last about a week and then be gone. About a year of this, and he was having troubles holding on to things. We couldn't understand why he wasn't able to grip much.
Memorial Day weekend of June 2006 and we went to visit grave sites with his parents, of loved ones. It was raining good. He seemed to be tripping over his feet a lot. So we decided it was enough and went back to the house. Got through the weekend, and on Monday, he mentioned that he was going to go to the chiropractor before heading into work the next day.
Tuesday came, I had the day off. I was so glad. I could just relax and enjoy the summer day in Kansas. I got a call about 1'ish from his cell. When I answered, he did not sound well at all. When I asked him to repeat something, he started crying, and just said, "Come help me!" His co-worker, and ex-paramedic, took the phone and mentioned who he was, and that he had called the ambulance to come get him, where they had taken him, and for me to come as soon as I could.
I called his parents house, and no one answered. So I took the kids and we drove over there. My MIL was outside mowing, so didn't hear the phone. I was panicked. I don't get that way often but did. I finally was able to get her attention, and told her what was going on, and that I didn't know the way in Kansas City, and if she or my FIL could drive me there, and help by driving his car home. So she watched the kids, and my FIL drove me there.
When we got there, they were ready to discharge him from the hospital, with the diagnosis of a stroke. They claimed he wasn't in the middle of it, so there was nothing they could do. Yet, he collapsed at work and they called them right away, so how that wasn't in the middle of it, I don't know. So we took him home. In the next couple of days he was to go to his PCP for a follow up. He did.
When he arrived at the doctor's office, the doctor didn't do much but mentioned he was to go to the local hospital, and he would be admitted when he got there. What?! What was going on with him! His mother was with him, so I knew that anything major and I would get a phone call. His appointment was at 9a.m. By break time for me at work, 1p.m., I hadn't heard anything so I called his cell phone. No one answered. So a few minutes later I tried again. His mom answered the phone. Why wasn't he? She mentione that he wanted to call me, but they were doing more testing, so he wasn't able to talk for a while. All day long and he wanted me to just get through the work day. I was training new employees at the time. So I scrambled for a replacement for the last couple hours, and left early, to the hospital.
By the time I got there, they were getting ready to do a spinal tap. He wanted me there for that. So I did. I stood there along side of him, holding his hand. Seemed like many hours had slipped by. I made a few phone calls to immediate family, for prayer.
By like 7p.m., the doctor came in and mentioned that he had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Then he went on to explain more about this disease, and that with us being young parents, with young kids, we were going to have some adjustments to make, emotionally and physically. WOW! I was so not ready for this!
He wasn't joking! He had 11 days in the hospital, and many days of outpatient therapy following. He was paralyzed on his right side, his dominant side. Work worked with him, and was able to get him things that he could work from home on, on his computer. We were so thankful! (blessing #12?)
A few months later, we were ready to get our own home again. This rental had been broken into, and had creepers walking around our house outside, and I hated being home alone with the kids anymore. So we looked for a while and found a home in Burlingame (we were living in Lawrence), and hour away from where we were. We loved the home! Not real big, but big enough for us. 1100 sq. ft. (#13)
Not long after moving into our new home (July1, 2007), my husband had another relapse (his form of MS is unilateral and relapse/remit). It took him down good, and he was not able to bounce back very well. He had only gained like 75% from the initial attack. So he was down good. He was out of work for a while, and we were hurting bad financially. I was able to get a job, as a PCA, and was taking care of people in their homes. (#14) But I was only grossing about $150 a month. So not much at all. We were not able to make payments for many bills at all. That pretty much paid our gas for appointments throughout the month.
Within a handful of months, we were going to lose our home. We looked around to find a place for our size family that went by income. Nothing in any safe areas. We would have had to go to the ghettos of Topeka. So we prayed, and prayed and prayed. Found a place. Confirmed a month prior. Then we got the mail one day. In the mail was our date to move out by. The sheriffs sale for the house was going to be in 2 weeks. So we called and let the landlords of the new rental know that we were going to be needing it a week sooner than thought. She mentioned, "We never said you could rent anythinhg here." We told her the address, and she mentioned that she just rented it out to someone else that day. What were we going to do?!
So along came a week and a half of hard core prayer and packing. Saying our goodbyes, and much more. Not having a clue as to where we were going to move to. 2 days before move out day, we received in the mail the approval for Matt's disability! Thank you Lord! (#15) So we called the mortgage company right away, and told them what we had. The next day we faxed things in, and they put a hold on the foreclosure. Within 48 hours, foreclosure was removed and we were able to stay in our home! (#16)
More to come!
Monday, September 14, 2015
Blessings
Oh where to start! My, my! This past year has been so interesting, but our very pronounced blessings started years ago. I have felt though, as if others may be blessed by reading our story. This may go in sections; and I will rewind way back when my husband and I first met.
When I graduated high school I was actually accepted into 3 colleges! I did not have a good GPA, however, I applied, hoping to be accepted into just one college, to about a dozen different schools! Seriously?! Why would they want someone that could hardly pass their high school classes to come to their school and drop their average school ratings for GPA's. Well, I counted that as Blessing #1.
I then had a hard decision to make: what school do I go to? Here I have acceptance letters to Ferris State University (4 hours from home, could live with grandparents while going to school, but then pay for gas back and forth a half hour each way, or could stay in dorms; which I was scared to do), Liberty University (Lynchberg, VA; a couple days drive, near the ocean :), have to live in dorms :P, and don't know anyone there), or Northland Baptist Bible College (5 hours from home, others from church attend there, could possible join an extension group towards home, live in dorms). Well to make the decision a little easier I weeded out a few things. One, I have home sickness really easy, even though I would so LOVE to go to Virginia, it would be 9 months again, before I would be able to see my parents (wouldn't have money to travel during holidays). Two, I really wanted a Bible college, but yet wanted to get my nursing in. Liberty had both available, but was more liberal than what I was looking for at the time. Ferris had only the nursing, and Northland had only the Bible. Three, there was some financial needs in attending college anywhere. My dad worked a good job, but my parents were in severe debt to many places, so I didn't qualify for Financial Aide, and I was needing to come up with my own money for college. In doing this I ended up choosing Northland. Why? Well, Liberty was way too far to go, not knowing if I was even going to be able to stay for a semester, let alone a year. So I wasn't going to chance the distance and the money on that. I knew that I would have others to carpool with if I went to Northland, and our church always helped out the teens, when they got into a financial bind with that school. The youth group would do some kind of fundraiser, usually being cleaning up the highway of pop cans and beer bottles and cans for the deposit. Here in Michigan, it is 10 cents to return those things! You would be amazed at how much you can get. So off to Northland I go.
I ended up only saving enough money for half of a semester. The church did not help me to finish out the semester, not sure why, but they said they were NOT going to help me out. What did I ever do, that made them do that to me I don't know. They have helped out many more since then. I am the only one to this day, that had asked for help and didn't get it. But that is okay. Good things happened, and I see it as God's way of getting me to those things. In that semester though, I met some people, who I call friends, and communicate with still, on and off. Christian friends too! I also met my husband. I joke around, but truly believe that God allowed me to attend there just to meet my future husband. "He was an expensive find". LOL We have been together ever since. Blessings #2 and 3, my husband, and a more knowledgable background of the Bible.
After I returned home from college mid-March, I was offered a nanny job within a month of being back. This job would be tough, as this child was kicked out of day cares, they lost sitters after a time or maybe two, if they got lucky. This child had just turned 2! I mean seriously, how bad could this child be? That child changed my life. I still say that he is my first child, non-biological, but my first. I was with him until his 3rd birthday, which we celebrated by his parents taking us all to Disney World in Florida. That boy met and visited with me to go see my now DH, and I took that kid to run all my errands that I had to do, and just plain spoiled him rotten. His parents trusted his life in my hands. I was 19 and raising a little boy. I potty trained him, taught him manners, and memorized with him "The Lion King". I definitely had a introduction of what it would be like to have my own child. I was with him like 12 hours a day. I would say this was my Blessing #4, a heads up on parenting. I mean if I could handle him, then I could handle anyone, right? He was even there when my DH had proposed to me. :) What a special day that was.
Then our wedding. It was a small wedding in a big church. It was my church though. He ended up travelling 5 hours to our wedding, the day of. :) We got married on a Monday night, at 7 p.m. Why did we pick that? Well a long story short, I had a job, that I worked hard to get, starting on that Wednesday. He wasn't being given more than a couple days off himself for the wedding, as he was working for a temp agency at the time. So we would marry Monday night, travel to our temporary home (with his aunt) on Tuesday (just take our time travelling the 5 hours, do a little sightseeing) but not take too long, as we wanted to open our wedding gifts that night too, all this just so we could both be to work on Wednesday morning. I headed off to work, and got there, and no one knew who I was, who the manager was that wrote and signed my acceptance letter for the job, but yet acknowledged that the letter head it was written on was indeed their company and their letter head. Hmmmmm . . . . .That was very interesting. Not long after, maybe 4 months later, that specific building shut its doors. WOW! This was so weird! But through this my husband ended up getting a full time job, and I found out I was pregnant and we were in our first apartment, of our own! Blessings #5,6, and 7! [I am not counting my blessings to count them, but to point out where those blessings were, or where I considered them to be a blessing.]
Things start to fast forward a little more for a few years. So we ended up having 4 children (#8, 9, 10, and 11). We had a son, 2 daughters, and another son. First two were 15 months apart (I did not like that, nor want them that close, or even want that pregnancy; but I did not terminate it! I kept hold of that precious bundle of joy that God entrusted into my care, birthed that baby girl, and am raising her into a beautiful young lady.), the two girls at 2 1/2 years apart, and the last two are 6 days shy of exactly 2 years apart. So all a decent time apart, and time to spend with each of them a little more.
By this point in time, our marriage was not going well. What?! I know, I know, I labeled this Blessings, so why am I telling you about this? You will see. It matters and I feel it is very important to tell others about it. NO, we are not perfect, and this will show why, but why we are still together will be proved in my next post. :D
I will post on this and more in my next post.
When I graduated high school I was actually accepted into 3 colleges! I did not have a good GPA, however, I applied, hoping to be accepted into just one college, to about a dozen different schools! Seriously?! Why would they want someone that could hardly pass their high school classes to come to their school and drop their average school ratings for GPA's. Well, I counted that as Blessing #1.
I then had a hard decision to make: what school do I go to? Here I have acceptance letters to Ferris State University (4 hours from home, could live with grandparents while going to school, but then pay for gas back and forth a half hour each way, or could stay in dorms; which I was scared to do), Liberty University (Lynchberg, VA; a couple days drive, near the ocean :), have to live in dorms :P, and don't know anyone there), or Northland Baptist Bible College (5 hours from home, others from church attend there, could possible join an extension group towards home, live in dorms). Well to make the decision a little easier I weeded out a few things. One, I have home sickness really easy, even though I would so LOVE to go to Virginia, it would be 9 months again, before I would be able to see my parents (wouldn't have money to travel during holidays). Two, I really wanted a Bible college, but yet wanted to get my nursing in. Liberty had both available, but was more liberal than what I was looking for at the time. Ferris had only the nursing, and Northland had only the Bible. Three, there was some financial needs in attending college anywhere. My dad worked a good job, but my parents were in severe debt to many places, so I didn't qualify for Financial Aide, and I was needing to come up with my own money for college. In doing this I ended up choosing Northland. Why? Well, Liberty was way too far to go, not knowing if I was even going to be able to stay for a semester, let alone a year. So I wasn't going to chance the distance and the money on that. I knew that I would have others to carpool with if I went to Northland, and our church always helped out the teens, when they got into a financial bind with that school. The youth group would do some kind of fundraiser, usually being cleaning up the highway of pop cans and beer bottles and cans for the deposit. Here in Michigan, it is 10 cents to return those things! You would be amazed at how much you can get. So off to Northland I go.
I ended up only saving enough money for half of a semester. The church did not help me to finish out the semester, not sure why, but they said they were NOT going to help me out. What did I ever do, that made them do that to me I don't know. They have helped out many more since then. I am the only one to this day, that had asked for help and didn't get it. But that is okay. Good things happened, and I see it as God's way of getting me to those things. In that semester though, I met some people, who I call friends, and communicate with still, on and off. Christian friends too! I also met my husband. I joke around, but truly believe that God allowed me to attend there just to meet my future husband. "He was an expensive find". LOL We have been together ever since. Blessings #2 and 3, my husband, and a more knowledgable background of the Bible.
After I returned home from college mid-March, I was offered a nanny job within a month of being back. This job would be tough, as this child was kicked out of day cares, they lost sitters after a time or maybe two, if they got lucky. This child had just turned 2! I mean seriously, how bad could this child be? That child changed my life. I still say that he is my first child, non-biological, but my first. I was with him until his 3rd birthday, which we celebrated by his parents taking us all to Disney World in Florida. That boy met and visited with me to go see my now DH, and I took that kid to run all my errands that I had to do, and just plain spoiled him rotten. His parents trusted his life in my hands. I was 19 and raising a little boy. I potty trained him, taught him manners, and memorized with him "The Lion King". I definitely had a introduction of what it would be like to have my own child. I was with him like 12 hours a day. I would say this was my Blessing #4, a heads up on parenting. I mean if I could handle him, then I could handle anyone, right? He was even there when my DH had proposed to me. :) What a special day that was.
Then our wedding. It was a small wedding in a big church. It was my church though. He ended up travelling 5 hours to our wedding, the day of. :) We got married on a Monday night, at 7 p.m. Why did we pick that? Well a long story short, I had a job, that I worked hard to get, starting on that Wednesday. He wasn't being given more than a couple days off himself for the wedding, as he was working for a temp agency at the time. So we would marry Monday night, travel to our temporary home (with his aunt) on Tuesday (just take our time travelling the 5 hours, do a little sightseeing) but not take too long, as we wanted to open our wedding gifts that night too, all this just so we could both be to work on Wednesday morning. I headed off to work, and got there, and no one knew who I was, who the manager was that wrote and signed my acceptance letter for the job, but yet acknowledged that the letter head it was written on was indeed their company and their letter head. Hmmmmm . . . . .That was very interesting. Not long after, maybe 4 months later, that specific building shut its doors. WOW! This was so weird! But through this my husband ended up getting a full time job, and I found out I was pregnant and we were in our first apartment, of our own! Blessings #5,6, and 7! [I am not counting my blessings to count them, but to point out where those blessings were, or where I considered them to be a blessing.]
Things start to fast forward a little more for a few years. So we ended up having 4 children (#8, 9, 10, and 11). We had a son, 2 daughters, and another son. First two were 15 months apart (I did not like that, nor want them that close, or even want that pregnancy; but I did not terminate it! I kept hold of that precious bundle of joy that God entrusted into my care, birthed that baby girl, and am raising her into a beautiful young lady.), the two girls at 2 1/2 years apart, and the last two are 6 days shy of exactly 2 years apart. So all a decent time apart, and time to spend with each of them a little more.
By this point in time, our marriage was not going well. What?! I know, I know, I labeled this Blessings, so why am I telling you about this? You will see. It matters and I feel it is very important to tell others about it. NO, we are not perfect, and this will show why, but why we are still together will be proved in my next post. :D
I will post on this and more in my next post.
Yep those are those 4 children I was telling you about. :)
Friday, April 24, 2015
Long Time!
It has been forever, it seems, that I have been on here to post anything. It is true, you have to do it for like 30 days, everyday for it to become a habit. I so want to get more into this, I just haven't yet. There is so much to share.
Looks like last time, I didn't have much to say about my allergies. Well here is more.
I have had to basically go the Whole 30 diet, in order to help find what I am so allergic or sensitive to. It is that diet minus caffeine, carbonation, dairy, soy, wheat, gluten, fructose, citrus, fodmaps, nightshades, etc. Bare minimums. So I basically started out with raspberries, blueberries, kale, lettuce, honeydew melon, kiwi, and I think that was all. Oh and strawberries, but not anymore. So I am SLOWLY starting to add in more food items, but watching ever so closely as to any reactions. Then it seems as if I am reacting to old foods that I had added in a couple of months ago. So wipe things out and start over AGAIN! Not getting very far very fast. Becoming quite frustrating too.
I have read some recently about oral allergies. This is when you are allergic to certain trees, ragweed, or grasses, and those pollens are up, then a lot of what you eat (many of the above) will react in an allergic way, some causing anaphylaxis. Thank goodness in my case that has not happened.
We will be moving soon. So posts will be few and far between again, I am afraid. Keep watching, and you will something else.
We are also praying for another child. Right now is not the best timing, we know, but we are leaving it up to God for the right timing. I don't have many child bearing years ahead of me, so we want 1-2 more. Pray with us on that one please. I know many have said we have enough, but they just don't know the desires of our hearts, nor what God has planned for us. We may eventually adopt, but that is a ways from us right now.
Until next time,
Tabitha
Looks like last time, I didn't have much to say about my allergies. Well here is more.
I have had to basically go the Whole 30 diet, in order to help find what I am so allergic or sensitive to. It is that diet minus caffeine, carbonation, dairy, soy, wheat, gluten, fructose, citrus, fodmaps, nightshades, etc. Bare minimums. So I basically started out with raspberries, blueberries, kale, lettuce, honeydew melon, kiwi, and I think that was all. Oh and strawberries, but not anymore. So I am SLOWLY starting to add in more food items, but watching ever so closely as to any reactions. Then it seems as if I am reacting to old foods that I had added in a couple of months ago. So wipe things out and start over AGAIN! Not getting very far very fast. Becoming quite frustrating too.
I have read some recently about oral allergies. This is when you are allergic to certain trees, ragweed, or grasses, and those pollens are up, then a lot of what you eat (many of the above) will react in an allergic way, some causing anaphylaxis. Thank goodness in my case that has not happened.
We will be moving soon. So posts will be few and far between again, I am afraid. Keep watching, and you will something else.
We are also praying for another child. Right now is not the best timing, we know, but we are leaving it up to God for the right timing. I don't have many child bearing years ahead of me, so we want 1-2 more. Pray with us on that one please. I know many have said we have enough, but they just don't know the desires of our hearts, nor what God has planned for us. We may eventually adopt, but that is a ways from us right now.
Until next time,
Tabitha
Saturday, August 9, 2014
AIP food blog
I have, in the last year, developed some bad food allergies. All of this originated when I was working in a nursing home, and contracted Influenza A (Feb. 2013) and then H1N1 (Aug. 2013). At this point in time, with the stress from work, from knowing that my husband is having a hard time at home withe the 5 children (1 being only 1; and only 9 months when I started working), and homeschooling, and taking classes myself, my body just couldn't take it anymore. I was already lactose intolerant. I ended up in bed for 6 weeks sick; 3 of those weeks lying in bed vomitting every 15-30 minutes, round the clock. My body was so tired. I was having a hard time keeping water down. Doctor did tests to try to find something, but nothing was found. "Everything is perfectly normal, plus!" Why was I so sick though? The ER doctor finally pointed out that he wanted me to stay away from all dairy and gluten. WOW! Those are things I really enjoy! So I did, and in the learning process, I was obviously still getting sick. I have also found out that soy really bothers me too. So I just try to find AIP recipes that I can handle. So every now and then I will be posting recipes too. :)
Chicken Tacos
3 oz. grilled skinless checken breast
2 - 6" tortillas
1/4 c. black beans
1/4 c. rice, white, brown, or spanish
1/4 c. avocado, cubed
EVOO
shredded lettuce, tomatoe, onion, salsa
Use EVOO to grill chicken. Wrap grilled chicken breast into warm torilla stuffed with lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, and salsa. Enjoy with black beans and rice on the side. Remember, no cheese, sour cream, or special sauces! Can try shrimp or fish too.
Makes 1
This was made extra for the whole family. It was a BIG hit! The rest of the family added cheese, and sour cream, but that is a big "NO, NO!" for me.
Hope you all enjoy this one.
Chicken Tacos
3 oz. grilled skinless checken breast
2 - 6" tortillas
1/4 c. black beans
1/4 c. rice, white, brown, or spanish
1/4 c. avocado, cubed
EVOO
shredded lettuce, tomatoe, onion, salsa
Use EVOO to grill chicken. Wrap grilled chicken breast into warm torilla stuffed with lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, and salsa. Enjoy with black beans and rice on the side. Remember, no cheese, sour cream, or special sauces! Can try shrimp or fish too.
Makes 1
This was made extra for the whole family. It was a BIG hit! The rest of the family added cheese, and sour cream, but that is a big "NO, NO!" for me.
Hope you all enjoy this one.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Time elapse
Wow! Time has really gotten away from me on this. So much has happened in the last year. I think the last I posted we had/or were going to go to Disney World for our family vacation. We had a blast. We took my parents with us, and they were able to help with the grandkids, and get to enjoy them.
I was working full time until the beginning of November. At that point in time, I was really sick and had to quit until we could figure out what was wrong. All we can figure is I have a major Dairy/Gluten allergy. I still have bad days, no matter how close I watch what I eat. So I am still a work in progress.
As of the first of this year, we have decided to move back to Michigan where my family is all living. They need our help, and I would love to be back near them. So that is the plans at this point in time: to move around the beginning of July. So there may not be much posting until after that point. This was a quick over all recap of what has happened since I last posted.
I was working full time until the beginning of November. At that point in time, I was really sick and had to quit until we could figure out what was wrong. All we can figure is I have a major Dairy/Gluten allergy. I still have bad days, no matter how close I watch what I eat. So I am still a work in progress.
As of the first of this year, we have decided to move back to Michigan where my family is all living. They need our help, and I would love to be back near them. So that is the plans at this point in time: to move around the beginning of July. So there may not be much posting until after that point. This was a quick over all recap of what has happened since I last posted.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
#1 daughter (13 yr. old) on family vacation
Okay, my 13 yr. old and our vacation. I guess that is something else that I could do, so that I can share more pictures. :)
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Distant cousins (My husbands cousins family)
On our way to Epcot
Magic Kingdom
Cocoa Beach
Her with sister (DD#2)
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Animal Kingdom
With sister (DD#3)
Her with her Nana
May 13, Monday
This day was quite a day for our family! The weekend leading up to this day, we left for our family vacation, to Florida. On this specific day we attended Epcot Center. We did have quite a few issues in regards to handicap accessibility and accomodations, but had some fun too. I think posting pictures will explain more than I could in words alone.
This test track ride was a hit for all. :)
This test track ride was a hit for all. :)
We were having so much fun, I forgot to take pictures till the end of the day. I did get a couple good scenery pics though. :)
This was our family's first vacation. On it, we also went to the magic kingdom, animal kingdom, hollywood studios, sea world, and cocoa beach. I am just focused on the 13th though. As that is what this blog is all about eh?! :)
Comment below on what your family is planning on doing this year for vacation.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
April 13, Saturday
Again, the 13th has come and gone, and not much in this neck of the woods happening. I have been looking for 13's every where I go, and in everything that I do.
I did not have to work at all, so we had a lazy, fun, relaxing day together as a family. I worked on homework while dad and DD #3 napped, rest of the kids went outside to play. Then we all went outside together. I tossed a ball around with the kids, and pushed DD #3 around in the stroller. My DH took his scooter up to the top of the hill and then walked for little bit, while DS #2 rode his bike alongside of him.
It was a beautiful day all together. 65 degrees outside, but the wind was blowing and it was a cold wind. DD #3 and I were getting chilled so we came in the house. The rest remained outside for a while and enjoyed some more fresh air before all the rain that we were supposed to get.
When all were inside, we watched a movie together, had dinner, and off to bed. In between all that, I layed DD#3 down for another nap, and I did some scrapbooking.
Hopefully I can add some pictures of being outside to this post.
I did not have to work at all, so we had a lazy, fun, relaxing day together as a family. I worked on homework while dad and DD #3 napped, rest of the kids went outside to play. Then we all went outside together. I tossed a ball around with the kids, and pushed DD #3 around in the stroller. My DH took his scooter up to the top of the hill and then walked for little bit, while DS #2 rode his bike alongside of him.
It was a beautiful day all together. 65 degrees outside, but the wind was blowing and it was a cold wind. DD #3 and I were getting chilled so we came in the house. The rest remained outside for a while and enjoyed some more fresh air before all the rain that we were supposed to get.
When all were inside, we watched a movie together, had dinner, and off to bed. In between all that, I layed DD#3 down for another nap, and I did some scrapbooking.
Hopefully I can add some pictures of being outside to this post.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
$13
Today was a grocery shopping day. I don't usually care for these types of days, but we need to eat, so it has to get done. With a large family, we spend too much on food, and it becomes disappointing. I also ended up picking up some extra hours at work today, and after 3 days got our older 4 children back with us, from the grandparents home. We met in town at Walmart, did what shopping we had to do there and left. Dad took 4 of the kids home with him and put those groceries away, and I took a daughter with me to work for the 4 hours. She did great with the residents! She will make a lovely nurse someday. :) After work my daughter and I went to HyVee to shop with the rewards sales to up my rewards. (What this is, is when you buy certain things, they will add .01 to .10 on this rewards card and you can save on gas this way. So everytime you get gas, you save.) I made sure that I did this first to up my rewards to a significant amount. I filled my tank up from empty for only $13! I have not seen this in FOREVER! I ended up payin $1.20/gal. This made my shopping day even more exciting than usual.
Do any of my viewers have anything like this where they live? Comment below.
Do any of my viewers have anything like this where they live? Comment below.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
March 13th ~ Just another day
March 13th~
Well it fell on a Wednesday this year. It was our usual day, nothing extraordinary either way. The kids worked on their schoolwork, I worked on my schoolwork, then headed off to work. I did take a couple pictures that I will have to try to post with this post. Very low key day.
Helping with baby sister. It is DD2 turn with DD3
DD3 She keeps us on our toes!
DS1 with his puppy, sitting and working on homework at the table.
Well it fell on a Wednesday this year. It was our usual day, nothing extraordinary either way. The kids worked on their schoolwork, I worked on my schoolwork, then headed off to work. I did take a couple pictures that I will have to try to post with this post. Very low key day.
Helping with baby sister. It is DD2 turn with DD3
DD3 She keeps us on our toes!
DS1 with his puppy, sitting and working on homework at the table.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
DD#1
Last year, late in the year, I had each of my 5 children draw names for a sibling to make something for for Christmas. Well DD#1 had DD#3 name. She chose to do a plastic canvas barn for her, for her Littlest Pet Shop toys. Needless to say, she is still working on it; we got started on it way to late. So today that 13 y.o. was working on the gift, and was sitting on the floor. Time to eat, and she laid her stuff down, and proceeded to push herself up from the floor. In doing so, thought that it would be really fun to take a trip to the ER, so made sure that she pushed right on top of the needle that was being used. Yes, you got that right, she pushed the needle through her hand, not totally, but very close. I really need to post a picture of it, but am unable to right at the moment. She had her bouts of tears, but did not scream or nothing! She LOVED the pain medicine that the hospital gave her though; it made her eyes "go in circles". lol She was a great trooper through it all. Hey, she got a dinner date with daddy out of it. :)
Sunday, March 3, 2013
13!!!!
So I thought that maybe doing something with the number of the year, might be a little fun. So with this being 2013, I thought that anything that had to do with the number 13 I will blog about. So because I am starting this late, I will not have any pictures or anything from January or February. :(
On January 13th, my DH and I shared our 16th wedding anniversary! 16 years. No not every year was smooth as silk; we had our ups and our downs, but through the grace of God, and His loving hand we got through them. As of Jan. 13th we have 5 beautiful children. Son (DS) 14, daughter (DD) 13, DD 11, DS 9, and DD 1. I work full time as a CMA at a nursing home, take college classes full time, homeschool my kids, and am highly active in my church, and a mom and wife, and TRY to take care of the home (which the family does well at keeping up on that while I am at work.) :)
February 13th . . . looking back it is hard to see what might have happened on that day. We were close to the day that my DS #1 would be turning 15 and looking for a b-day gift. Could not decide on what to get him, but in the end he ended up with a new puppy, beagle/bassett/daschund mix. He named the little guy Scout. He is having so fun with him too.
No one will be turning 13 this year, so good chance no pictures of birthdays on here this year. There will be many other things that will go on though. This may be more like a public diary of what happens on those days. The ups, downs, and all arounds. Hopefully many pictures as well.
On January 13th, my DH and I shared our 16th wedding anniversary! 16 years. No not every year was smooth as silk; we had our ups and our downs, but through the grace of God, and His loving hand we got through them. As of Jan. 13th we have 5 beautiful children. Son (DS) 14, daughter (DD) 13, DD 11, DS 9, and DD 1. I work full time as a CMA at a nursing home, take college classes full time, homeschool my kids, and am highly active in my church, and a mom and wife, and TRY to take care of the home (which the family does well at keeping up on that while I am at work.) :)
February 13th . . . looking back it is hard to see what might have happened on that day. We were close to the day that my DS #1 would be turning 15 and looking for a b-day gift. Could not decide on what to get him, but in the end he ended up with a new puppy, beagle/bassett/daschund mix. He named the little guy Scout. He is having so fun with him too.
No one will be turning 13 this year, so good chance no pictures of birthdays on here this year. There will be many other things that will go on though. This may be more like a public diary of what happens on those days. The ups, downs, and all arounds. Hopefully many pictures as well.
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