Hi Y'all

I am in the great San Angelo and have been since Tuesday. We celebrated Faith's 4th birthday Wednesday with a sweet little family party that was low key and stress free (and also Daddy free--which was a huge bummer). I must admit though, when I drive through town my heart hurts. When I got to my "turn" I couldn't breathe. It is such a bizarre feeling to actually feel these pangs of hurt as I drive by what used to be my life. I love it here. I want to be here. Cam gently pointed out that I am still on the San Angelo page in our life and am having problems getting onto the Fort Worth page. But can you blame me? I went from having pretty much whatever I wanted to having not so much. To watching my stuff being sold off, my bank account dwindle to nothing, my friends in the rearview mirror. I know I am supposed to be content. That the Lord commands me to be so. I know we are where God wants us to be. I know there are lessons to be learned and humility to be gained. I know these things, but my flesh is having a hard time following my mind. As much as I love to be here, it makes my life just that much harder when I go home...

Oops!

I forgot to play tooth fairy. Again. I did this last time she lost a tooth, and she came downstairs crying that the tooth fairy forgot. So I was sneaky and I put money in my hand and led her upstairs to "look really hard" for the tooth fairy's surprise. I slipped it under the pillow and "Ta-Da! It was there when we searched. This time, I was getting dressed (it was alittle before 7 because I have to go to the dentist this morning) and I remembered that I needed to do that quick before she woke up. So I gathered some money, sprinkled "fairy dust" all over it and skipped up the stairs. Her and Faith were awake!! Searching the bed. Her tooth was missing this time. Phew! So, again, I snuck the money under the pillow and proceeded to search for the tooth. Faith flipped over the pillow and cried, "Gracie!! Look!!!". Disaster averted. But it was too close. I have got to be better about this!!!

Snaggle Muffin

So. Yesterday, Gracie got hit in the face, and her front tooth (that was loose) was bleeding like a stuck pig (not that I really know how that is). Her chin was covered in blood, and it was dripping off. *gag*. Anyway, she complained of it hurting and wouldn't let us touch it. Then, this morning, she was messing with it because it was in front of the other one and looked retarded. She twisted it and didn't like that the back was showing, so she twisted it back and POP! Out it came. I am just shocked at how different she looks! And how grown up it makes her seem. And how old it makes me feel...

Ellie Goes to the Zoo

Can you see the lion cubs in the background?! We got to go the week they were born and have been back a few times to see their growth. They are so cute!

We did go to the zoo yesterday, but that isn't what this is about. This morning Ellie colored her tongue and lips with a black marker because it was scented like...I don't know. Fruit maybe. Then she spied herself in the mirror over the sink and looked. Turned her head. Looked some more. Then she puckered up and blew herself a kiss! It was just too funny to portray with words, but it sure did remind me of her dear Bubba (my brother couldn't pass a mirror without posing)!

Shrimp Boil Festivities

Last night I experienced my first ever shrimp boil. We, like most poor seminary students, had to work for our food, so Chasity and I peeled and deveined pounds upon pounds of shrimp. If it wasn't for the great conversation, I would have lost my lunch. *gag* Well, her man (Jason) got the boiling pot filled with water (I assume) and lots and lots and lots of spices. Then in went onions, potatoes, corn, sausage, and shrimp. It smelled a tad like China, but the taste was out of this world! My lips were on fire and my nose was running, but with good friends, no one minded the kleenex. We ate outside in the cold air next to a fire pit and just fellowshipped. There were 8 adults (and 10 kids inside playing) standing around a fire holding hands praying (blessing the food) and I just started to cry. I tried not to. I really did. But the tears started to drip down my cheeks as Jason thanked the Father for good friends and giving us people who are in exactly the same phase of life that we can talk to and pray with. It was powerful (he is going to be an evangelist and the other 2 men, preachers, and Cam a missionary--we had some men of God there last night!) and heart-felt and moving. Really, the memories and friendships made around my first ever shrimp boil will never be forgotten. Nor will digging around in an ice chest for food...

My Productivity after Church

Isn't this fun?? I saw it on a website yesterday, but I didn't want to spend $17 on it, so I made one when I got home last night. That fabric was left over from Gracie's nursery bedding...how sweet is that?!!

This is just your bonus for the day. I wanted to take her picture because she colored her tummy and underarms green with a scented marker, but she did NOT want me to take her picture.

Tuesday School Faux Pas

We started this new thing called Tuesday School. Where the homeschooled kids get to have classes with other teachers. My girls LOVE it. I, however, am not as much in love with it as they are. I am assigned to "assist" in a class each period. My first period is Study Hall (WHY do homeschoolers need study hall??), so I basically get to sit and read or visit with the teacher. I like this one! My second class is in a Financial class for middle and high schoolers. The teacher is fantastically prepared and doesn't mind lecturing at all. I have a hard time staying focused on the ins and outs of savings and stocks and risks. I probably should pay more attention, but frankly, I don't have money for those things, so when I do, I will worry about it then :). So, it a really loooong hour. Well, today, this lady came and asked me if I minded changing classes during that second period. I gleefully replied, "No! That would be great! I have been wanting to get out of there." To which her reply was a beat of silence then, "My husband is a better teacher than that". Oops! I turned red and started stuttering and the only thing I could think to say to make it any bit better was, "well, when people start talking money, my eyes start to glaze over, but I learned something today!!" I felt like a fool. I was so embarrassed. And I need to learn to keep my mouth shut...

My Valentine

My sweetheart got up BEFORE me (never ever happens on days when it doesn't have to) and went to get donuts for his girls. When I came downstairs, this new release book and the sweetest card I've gotten in a long while was propped up on my computer. I am reading furiously and loving every word of it!!

Honesty

I am going to be very honest in this post (eek!). Things here have been...hard. To say the least. Real Estate has been non-existant, and Cameron's music pastor job is very part time. So put all that together and you see the financial struggle we have been in. Y'all. It is HARD to change. We (and I really mean *I*) are used to shopping. To picking up bargain things. To eating out for lunch on occasion. I now have to say no. And it sucks!! BUT. The point of this honesty is to share with you how our Father provides in the most amazing albeit unusual ways. Last week we had a visitor stop by and pass a couple hundred to Cam for "Valentine's Day". Then my uncle called me two days later (he hasn't called me in almost 8 years! We talk when we see each other, but it isn't a close phone call type of relationship, although I wish it were and I should probably change that...). Anyway, he owns a Sonic and had 1000 coupons for free food. He shipped them all to me. 1000! THEN, yesterday, a letter of encouragement came in the mail with another fifty bucks in it! This is what has happened just in the last week. He has been providing like this for a couple months now. It is very hard for me to accept "gifts" like money. It makes me feel bad and humbles me very quickly when I must accept them out of need. But let me tell you! God provides. And He does it in a very creative, in His own timing kind of way. I feel soooo blessed to see Him loving on us like this. Just awesome.

My Sweet Faith

Umm. I forgot to update y'all on Faith. I really know nothing more than I knew before those invasive tests. She has inflammation in her colon, intestine, and esophagus. So they want more bloodwork. To rule out Collotis and Krohn's disease (I thought we already did that, but I guess not. ugh!) So that has yet to be scheduled. I am beyond frustrated. These two diseases were his fear with all her symptoms, so tell me. WHY didn't he do the blood test FIRST?? It makes no sense to me. This will be the third time we have to have bloodwork. Y'all. She's 3! Ridiculous. So, I refused the medication they gave her a prescription for (to reduce the inflammation). Because 1. he told me it was very minor inflammation 2. it was $65 3. I have a problem giving my kids drugs they don't actually need. 4. they aren't doing more tests to see if it has gone down, so it must not have been that big of a deal. AND 5. I just hate medicine. I HATE it. I don't like putting that in their little bitty bodies. It bothers me. It worries me. It makes me ill. So there. Take that. I am going to try very very very hard to reduce her dairy intake and make her drink more water. And I will pray that God heal whatever it is that is causing the blood. Which I think is the dairy. Because I am really a doctor in disguise. Didn't y'all know?!!

Cha-Ching!!

For supper tonight we had 4 packs of 8 piece chicken nuggets, a medium fry, and a large sweet tea at Chick-Fil-A. It cost me $3.46! Isn't that just the best deal ever??!!! I even brought home extra fries and nuggets!

*they were giving away free 8 pack nuggets to every person today before 5:00. So we made it cheap and shared the rest.

:)

Chinese Night

Dinner with chopsticks. Those veggies are lotus root and snow peas.
Gracie's dragon. And don't say it looks like a kitty. hehe

Jiaozi. Pan fried. Filled with chicken, napa cabbage, bamboo shoots, ginger, garlic, green onion, soy, sesame oil, sherry, and I'm sure something I am forgetting...

The family. Minus me. And did I tell y'all I cut bangs. BAD decision. I hate them. So no pictures of me for awhile...

We have been learning a bit about China in school, and we had a field trip yesterday to the Asian Market in Arlington. They had the neatest things! Things that we saw in China, but that I have never ever seen in the states. So we bought all kinds of stuff to make jiaozi and veggies for dinner. Gracie wrote a story about her trip to China (make believe) and created a big dragon for the wall. It was all supposed to be a big surprise for her Daddy. And to make the day even more special, we got to spend it with our best friends from home. Jaymie and her kiddos came with us to Arlington and to lunch at Pei Wei (to complete the Asian experience lol), then back to the house. They didn't get to stay for dinner, but they were a big part of our day! Here are some fun pictures of the night. And let me just say. Jiaozi is h.a.r.d. to make. It didn't turn out perfectly. I will have to keep trying...

I forgot to tell you! At the market, there was a temple set up (this is very traditional and common in China). It was small with homemade "gods" and the offerings were mostly fruit. The kids thought it was neat because it was shiny and right at their level...So I told them what they were seeing and told them that we must pray every time we see an idol temple. So we stopped right there in the frozen section of the market and prayed that Jesus would someday be worshipped there instead. Very neat!

Non-Update

I really have no news. Nothing much is going on around here. Gracie and Ellie both have ear infections and you will be happy to know that I have not missed one dose of their medicine (it is probably because Target has the BEST bottles that you get to turn upside down and fill the syringe. makes me feel like a nurse giving a shot. super fun)!! woohoo! I even got it filled the same day it was given. Guys--this is improvement! I also have sinus/allergy/grossness. But I don't get yummy pink medicine. bummer.

Today is the fifth business day since Faith's procedures. He told me five days for results. SO. I am hoping I get a call today. If I do, I will let you all know what he said. :)

My sewing machine is broken. I don't sew. I asked for one last Christmas because I thought it would be a neat addition to our homeschooling when the girls are old enough. So, I needed to learn first. Well, I "threw" it in closet and broke the bobbin winder off a couple months ago. I took it to the shop, and it was repaired and all new looking. yay! However, I didn't use it right away. When I got it out Friday to sew all day, it kept giving me an error and would shut down (It is one of those super fun electronic ones made by Brother--which I heard is a fantastic brand. But I guess maybe electronic was a dumb choice...). So, I ran it back by the shop and told them that it worked fine before they took it all apart and put that new little bobbin thing on. So he said he would look at and give me a call. That was Saturday. Wonder if they will ever call...

And that is what has been going on. Not much. I cleaned out my closet yesterday. That was fun. And washed walls. And did all the laundry. I even put it away! Another major improvement! hehe