Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had an AWESOME Christmas! We went to the 6pm Candle Light service at church, came home and opened presents and then, got up Christmas morning at 4am and left to drive to the property. Nothing is really open on Christmas day - not McDonald's, not Hardees, nothing but Waffle House where we ate breakfast and dinner and the "On the Run" Exxon station where we ate nachos and hot dogs for lunch! It was hilarious! We spent Christmas night at the Dillard House then went up to the property and stayed Saturday night. It was COLD, crisp and clear and, on Sunday, we drove to the Smoky National Parkway and found SNOW! The girls had a BLAST (Don did, too) and then, we drove home Sunday night. All in all - F-U-N was had by all!

Back to a routine ~ sort of!

I started back to work, part days, this week. I've been TIRED! Crazy that I feel this way. But, so far, I have only used 2 hrs. of "sick time" coming home early Monday and today. I am taking all day Friday off for Hannah and I to spend the day together and have a short week next week, too. I can slowly feel my strength coming back. My energy levels are sky HIGH in the morning but I peter out by 1:30 or 2 in the afternoon. I am trying to listen to my body and not overdo it but, for me, that is EXTREMELY difficult!

PS: Claire danced Victorian Christmas last Friday - freezing cold and windy weather - and did a beautiful job. Her class also danced with the Advanced class for Camellia Gardens Nursing Home last night. She is so graceful and flowing when she dances! She is a JOY to watch. We will be at Hannah's Christmas Band Concert tomorrow. She made District Honor Band again this year - 4 years in a row! Both the girls are so talented :)

My last week at home - Yay! and Ahhh...????

This will be my last full week at home after surgery. In many ways, I am anxious to get back to work and to feel productive again! On the other hand, it has been nice to be home for awhile. I really like my house and being in it. I am probably the epitome of the "home body" because nothing makes me happier than cleaning the house, folding laundry and just being home but, since I started back to work last March at SWSH, I have also come to realize how lonely I was staying home. I really enjoy the people contact and the sense of urgency an office situation brings to everyday life.

I have much to be thankful for this season and much to still work on as we near another "new beginning". I have discovered a renewed sense of who I am in God being through so much surgery over the last month. I have also come to realize how much Don loves me and how deeply concerned he is about me. I have also seen that my girls are growing up right before my eyes! They have been so willing and so able to do things for me and to take the burden from me. As we approach the new year and "resolution time", I have decided to not make resolutions but, rather, to make changes in my life that will positively effect my family and those with whom I come in contact. The changes will begin as I renew and strengthen my prayer life. From there, I am sure God will provide the path.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

My surgery is over and I am in the recovery phase. Slowly but surely I feel my strength and stamina returning. I have hit a little "bump" in the road but, hopefully, after I see the doctor tomorrow, that bump will be smoothed out.

Hannah cooked a DELICIOUS Thanksgiving dinner for us, complete with yummy stuffing, a golden, roasted turkey and a pumpkin pie to rival any I've tasted. She really stepped up to the plate to help out. Claire pitched in as she always does, with a beautiful smile and a song on her lips, she played "assistant" to Hannah's chef act and helped the holiday run smoothly and effortlessly.

Hannah marches the Christmas parade tonight, the 1st one I will have missed in a long time. Don turns 61 today and we are celebrating with hamburgers on the grill, baked beans and potato salad. I'm am just looking forward to a quiet recovery and getting back to work and a regular routine again, after the holidays.

I am so thankful for having such a loving, supportive family from Don & the girls to my parents and sister. I have also had wonderful friends who have called to check on me, sent notes to let me know they are thinking of me and others who have been lifting me up in prayer. God is good all the time and I am thankful to be His child.

11/3/09

Not only did my dad celebrate his 77th birthday this date but, I celebrated the removal of my inflamed appendix. Soon, there will be fewer organs that I am retaining than I have already lost. Gallbladder will go, along with other parts, on November 23rd. I am thinking of going ahead and donating a lung and kidney (I have a spare, right?) just for posterity sake. Joy.

Fall is back

The weather has been just beautiful this week. Cool at night, warm-ish and sunny during the day - perfect Fall weather. I took a couple days off this week to recoup from last week - so nice! I will be taking alot more time off in the month of December as I am having surgery... I should find out next week about when it will be scheduled. I think I will enjoy having some major time off, even if it is to recover from surgery!

IT IS OVER...

I have worked 66.5 hours this week, slept less than 5 hours each night since Monday and supplied upwards of 300 charts to DOJ attorneys and experts over the last 3 days. And now, IT IS OVER!!

Just another day...

Summer weather has returned with a vengeance~! I am having Fall allergies with post-nasal drip, sore throat and cough and I am EXHAUSTED! 1 week from tomorrow, my life will somewhat return to normal (the DOJ will be GONE from campus) and then, the holidays will be upon us. I sure hope the weather starts to cooperate :)

FALL BREAK

The girls are officially "off" as of 3pm today until Oct. 13th. Nothing planned; just sleeping in, reading books, FACE BOOK (for Hannah), texting and TV. Oh to be 14 (or 12) again! The weather has turned to glorious Fall weather; cool at night, bright and sunny during the day and absolutely delightful! In 14 days, I will be through with the DOJ and plan to take some R&R time - well deserved, I might add! God is great, my family is sweet, life is good. I AM HAPPY :)

If it's "officially" Fall, why am I still so hot?

I am so ready for a break in the weather! Because of the impending visit from the DOJ, we won't be taking our usual Fall Break jaunt to the mountains this year and I am BUMMED! The only good thing is that I have LOTS of comp time built up so, we should be able to take several long weekends in November, after football season ends and, in December, too, around Christmas. For now, though, I will just have to watch The Weather Channel and ooh and aah at the lower temps up at the property and anticipate being there...

How Do YOU Spell "Life"? B-U-S-Y!

Work is HECTIC with just 5 weeks until the DOJ visit. Claire started back to dance today and will be dancing Monday and Tuesday. Hannah continues with band after school 2 days a week and Don is HOPPING trying to finish up a few jobs just so he can start a few more. BUSY doesn't quite seem to encompass it all!

Go Jackets, GO!

1st football game tonight against Thomasville - rainy right now. As long as there is no thunder/lightning, the game and (most especially) the 1/2 time show will go on! Don and I are working the concession stand - free COKES, woo-hoo! I am so excited for Hannah! I can still remember the thrill of marching onto the football field with everyone cheering and clapping!

The weekend ~ at LAST!

Thankfully, the weekend is here. I fell victim to the flu Wednesday (no symptoms for Don :)) and the girls and I spent most of the week lying in bed, coughing and waiting for fevers to break. I believe, after multiple doses of Tylenol and Tamiflu, that we are "well". Hannah & Claire will go back to school Monday and I went back to work yesterday - to be greeted by 84 e-mails and a desk full of paperwork! Job security - Anywhooo... life is returning to normal and we can declare ourselves SURVIVORS of The Swine Flu Outbreak of 2009 - I think I'll have t-shirts made!

2 down, 2 to go?

Claire is the 2nd Sivyer victim of the Swine Flu - same sudden onset and almost the same time frame for fever, cough and vomiting. I hate to admit this but, my throat is scratchy and dry feeling, just like Hannah & Claire complained about at the beginning of their symptoms. I am just going to have to will myself not to be sick -- I am TOO busy at work and home to be sick now... ugh!

The Piggy has landed

We have the first case of confirmed H1N1 flu in the Sivyer family... Hannah. She is SO sick; fever of 102.6, nausea & vomiting, aches, chills, cough, sore throat, the WHOLE 9 YARDS! She is on Tamiflu but threw up her 1st dose - ugh :( Say a prayer that she can keep the next 4-1/2 doses down so she may start feeling better sooner. No school for our little Freshman for 1 week. Wonder which of us is next on this little piggy's journey...

A regular ol' weekend...

I am looking forward to this weekend for no reason in particular. I plan to clean the house, buy groceries and lay around the pool. Just a normal, quiet weekend for a change. We seem to stay on hyper-go most of the time and, now that school is back in session, the weeks just fly by. I truly enjoy the hub-bub and frenetic pace of Monday thru Friday but I SO enjoy the peace and quiet of coffee on the back porch on Saturday mornings before the girls get up and a leisurely Sunday afternoon after church by the pool.

We have begun the "Graduation" Countdown...

Well, it is official, Hannah has 3 years and 178 days until she graduates from TCCHS!!! She LOVES being a Freshman :) She loves her classes, she loves band, she loves her Math teacher (literally - he's so CUTE!), she LOVES having a locker... the list goes on.

Claire can't wait ... 1. for her first homework assignment 2. to get started on her Science Fair project 3. to finish FAHRENHEIT 451 so she can take an AR test... she LOVES school!

Don is tired but happy. I am tired but happy. The dogs are FAT but happy.

Life in the Sivyer house is good. Thank you, Lord :)

The count down has begun...

Open house for Hannah and Claire is tomorrow night so the 1st day of school can't be too far away... so little freedom left for my poor girls! Hannah is beside herself with joy to actually be getting a locker - that's all we've heard about this summer! So, of course, her school supplies included lots of magnetic things to put in her locker:) I hope there is room for her books and backpack! Claire will move to the 7th/8th grade side of the building - big thrill. She is less anticipatory of the 1st day than Hannah since she knows her way around TCMS so well. Hannah is still a bit unsure but will settle in just fine, no doubt.

Don and I are excited for school to begin - less fussing in the mornings about getting up when you know you have NO choice! Plus, school somehow signals the beginning of cooler weather; not right away but soon enough :)

Not very beachy weather...

I had planned to take the girls and a friend each to the beach today for a "Girls' Day Out". Of course, right now it is very cloudy outside and, when we checked the weather map, it is actually raining at the beach and is supposed to rain most of the day! This was not a good day to plan a beach trip, obviously.

Don is working this morning so, maybe he can goof around with us this afternoon and the day won't be a total bust!

Hannah starts 12-hour day Band Camp on Monday thru Thursday and then, Friday and the following week, 4 hours each day. Open house at the high school is Thursday night of the last week of July and on Friday at the middle school. And then, MONDAY AUGUST 3rd -- Back To School!

Back together as a family

Don picked Hannah up from camp today. She had a GREAT time. I am so glad that, after tomorrow when we get Claire from Music Camp, we will all be home together! I have enjoyed being by myself these last few days but, I am ready for some noise and mess around the house again!!!

5 days of relaxtion and then a week to myself....

We are heading to the mountains for a long-weekend. Can't wait for some cooler weather and no STRESS! Don will leave Sunday afternoon to head for Annville, KY and his mission trip while Hannah, Claire and I will stay at the property until we take Hannah to camp Monday morning. Then, Claire and I will drive home and she will head to Norman Park Tuesday morning for music camp. Then, my REAL vacation begins!

Home at last...

I have been in Atlanta at the main DHR office since Monday for training and then, Don & the girls picked me up (Thurs.) and we have spent the last 3 days in Otto. I am SO glad to be home! It wears me out to be away for so long. I miss the dogs, the chickens, my bed, familiar smells and sounds and just being in MY house. There's NO place like HOME!

News from a new 46 year old!

Well, it has happened. I am now closer to 50 than I am to 40 - ugh! But, I had a GREAT birthday. I used my "spa" package from the girls and spent 2 hours being pampered and massaged and treated elegantly! On Saturday, Don is taking us to the Apalachicola River Inn for the weekend! The rooms are all riverfront with balconies and there is dining right on site. We will spend Saturday at St. Joe beach and then, on the way home Sunday, stop for the day at St. George. Then, Monday afternoon, we are off to Atlanta/Otto for the entire week.

Both the girls have been busy at VBS this week; Hannah as a Youth Worker in 4th grade and Claire as a participant (her last year - boo hoo!). I think they are looking forward to a week alone with their daddy (at least 3 days) and having a fun time swimming in the Little Tessentee River (COLD!!), shopping in Dillard and Franklin and sleeping in :) I am looking forward to seeing just how wild and overgrown the property is! If the rain up there has been anything like it has been down here, it will be a jungle!

June is busting out all over...

We had a scare over last weekend with my dad. He had a heart attack and has had to have a pace maker implanted. As of Tuesday, he was home, resting and feeling better. In about 4 weeks, he should be able to resume normal activities and should begin feeling "great", according to his heart doctor. We are so thankful that God chose to work in the situation and allow Daddy such quick, miraculous healing.

The girls have both been busy. Hannah is babysitting alot for the Clendenin kids and Claire is back to volunteering 2 days during the week at the vet's office. She also has worked 2 Wednesdays for me and has been a HARD worker! Next week is VBS at church and the following week I will be in Atlanta at meetings Tues. - Thurs. and Don and the girls will be at the property. They will pick me up Thursday night and we will all spend a long weekend together at the mountain house. I am looking forward to that!

Next Wednesday, I turn 46 - ugh!!! Pray for me that I don't start feeling too old and crotchety!

First "official" day of Summer break...

We had a quiet (NOT!) weekend... Claire turned 12 on Saturday, had 2 dress rehearsals for her Dance Recital (which was Sunday), Don "worked" for me at my new building for Medical Records, building shelves and a counter and drilling holes for computer wires, we went to church, Sunday School and Claire's dance recital on Sunday. She is maturing into such a beautiful dancer. The recital was so uplifting and fun, as always. Claire went to "Shipwreck Island" all day Monday with church choir, Don and I did mounds of yard work and today, Hannah is babysitting, Don and I are working and, I suppose Claire is recovering from such a wild weekend! Both girls had FABULOUS grades and were "high averages" for both their companies this year. We are so proud. Claire will move to the "other" side of the middle school for 7th & 8th grade and Hannah moves across the street to the high school!!! Time is marching (actually, running) on and poor Don and I are just trying to keep up!

The countdown to summer begins...

It is finally here (to hear the girls say it) ~ the LAST week of school! Hannah will be going on a band field trip to The Fun Station on Tuesday so Claire is going to come to the office with me to earn some $$$. Their Honor Assemblies are both on Thursday morning and then, Friday at 2:45, officially ends Hannah's Middle School "career" and begins Claire's 7th grade year. Claire will turn 12 on Saturday - how can that be? She also has her dance recital on Sunday and a week from tomorrow is Memorial Day. It has all gone way too fast. I am struggling with Hannah being a Freshman in high school. I remember high school so well - how can my daughter be in high school??!!!

We will have a busy summer, I am sure. We will be at the property a week in June and the long 4th of July weekend. Claire will be at Music Camp, Hannah at Camp Pinnacle and Don on a mission trip in July and we are going to try to fit in a couple of beach weekends, too. Both girls will be working 1 day a week for me and volunteering, too. Hannah will also have a week of high school band camp before school starts back in August. I am really going to try to enjoy this summer and not rush anything for the next 11 weeks :)

Happy Mother's Day 2009

What a lovely day - weekend, actually - I had! The girls gave me a METTA Day Spa certificate for "The Works"! I cannot wait to use it; 1 hr. massage, organic facial, up-scale mani & pedi! Ooo la la! Don gave me a beautiful watch and I had the breakfast I wanted cooked for me and steak for lunch without lifting a finger! Absolutely divine :) Too bad everyday can't be like that! Actually, while I enjoy the "pampering", I really just enjoy my everyday life, too. I am truly blessed with 2 beautiful daughters and a thoughtful, loving husband.

All 4 One...

Hannah and the NJHS group arrived back safely on Friday about 11:30am. She had a good time but is still so very tired. She napped Friday afternoon, went to bed early Friday and Saturday and fell asleep in the car on the way home from the beach this afternoon. I got a bit of an early Mother's Day gift and we spent a relaxing day at St. George Island. It was beautiful! Sunny, breezy and just perfect :) The girls have 15 days of school to go and Claire's birthday is 20 days away - WOW... time sure does fly.

Missing a chick from the nest...

Hannah has been in Washington, DC since Saturday evening - actually, the bus taking her to DC left at 9pm Saturday. They did not arrive in DC proper until about 8pm Sunday night! They drove all night, got to Williamsburg about 1:30 spent a couple hours there and then, back on the bus for the ride to DC. We have talked to her several times a day and she texts me when she can. She is having a WONDERFUL time! Her daddy is sad and misses her, her baby sis is enjoying sleeping in her room with the TV and I am realizing that my "baby chick" has taken the first big step towards leaving the nest behind :( Well, this is what we do as parents. Grow 'em up so they can take flight and make nests of their own!

BUSY!

B-U-S-Y! That best describes the Sivyer household in a nutshell. Busy at home. Busy at work. Busy for the girls at school. Don has been working for 2-1/2 weeks in Tallahassee, his truck has been getting "undinged" for a week, Hannah has had... band concert, marching practice, Rosebud parade this Thursday, leaves for Washington, DC on Saturday, she and Claire have been on Spring Break, are back at school taking CRCT, Hannah turned 14, Claire's birthday is a month away and school is out on May 22nd! Oh, my heavens!

I feel like I get up, work, go to sleep and repeat all in a day and it has actually been a week! I am LOVING my job - so challenging, rewarding and satisfying -- God has been so good in giving me this blessing :) I feel appreciated for my knowledge, welcomed for my opinions and challenged beyond my wildest dreams but coming up successful. I have enrolled for my on-line Post-baccalaureate RHIA degree program at Stephens College - classes will begin in late July and I am just plugging in and getting things accomplished! Don has about 10 jobs on the schedule - challenging, big jobs that will provide work through the summer. We are running the business on "Quickbooks" and God is blessing us there, too. Both the girls have really matured this Spring, what with me going back to work. They are sharing the load with me around the house and really putting their best foot forward. We got baby chicks (6 initially but a mishap :( has left us with 3), planted the garden, registered Hannah for Teen Camp at Camp Pinnacle in July and will get Claire registered tomorrow for Young Muscian's Camp at Norman Park for a week this summer.

B-U-S-Y... it just fits!

My 1st paycheck!

I got paid today! Yippee :)

Beautiful Sunday

Unfortunately, Hannah's name was not on the posted list for the girls who made the Dazzlers Flag team. She is handling it quite well and has decided to get a full year of highschool band under her belt and then, try out again next year. I am very proud of her. We have had 2 days of pouring rain and so, ended up with a gorgeous Sunday! Don planted the garden, we washed cars, I ironed 2 weeks worth of work clothes and tonight, we will go to the Youth-led 6pm Worship service at church.

I am now an "official" state worker!

I am in the middle of my 2nd week at SWSH. I have been more than thoroughly oriented to the way things run in a State agency and I am thigh-deep in papers in my office that no one wants to put into storage should they happen to need to justify something in 2009 based on something that happened in 2003! I am "in-office" storing, weeding through what can be shredded and basically just trying to get things in my office where I know where they are and then, next week after my first Medical Records Committee meeting, I will dive into the "nuts and bolts" of my job! Hannah is trying out for The Dazzlers Flag Team for band at the high school and Claire is on St. Simon's Island at the Driftwood Science camp. She gets home tomorrow. As ALWAYS... life is busy :)

Down to Work!

I have 4 days left until I begin my new job at SWSH. Tomorrow, I complete my pre-employement paperwork, see my office and sign my employment contract. All that after I find out if I have TB or not! Fear not - my ppd test site is completely unnoticable so I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear :) I have had 3 weeks off and it has been nice. I've managed to accopmlish so much around the house so now, I am ready to dig in and get started on Phase II of my career life! EXCITING TIMES LIE JUST AHEAD!

PS:

Claire placed 2nd in her category at the ABAC Regional Science Fair - we are very proud! Hannah had a wonderful weekend at DHB and Claire at Choir Festival. I think things are quieting down for a bit - at least nothing going this weekend!

'Bye 'Bye!

It is official, except for the "negotiating" of my contract, I am OUTTA here!!! I was offered the HIMS Administrator position at SWSH and will be giving notice at KWB as soon as the details of my salary/compensation package are worked out! What an answer to prayer. What a weight lifted from my shoulders. What an exciting opportunity that awaits me. I cannot wait to get started on this 2nd phase of my career path. It will mean going back to school to obtain my RHIA degree and learning all sorts of new people and procedures but I am VERY excited! God has laid this wonderful new start at my door and I am anxious to step through and begin. AMEN!

I'm outta here ... maybe?

Last Tuesday, Feb. 10th, I had an interview for the HIMS position at SWSH. I felt pretty good about it and was told I would hear something back, either way, within 1 week to 10 days. Yesterday, I got a phone call/email requesting that I meet with the Clinical Director at SWSH, Dr. LeRoy!! I will meet with him on Friday at 9:30! YIPPEE!! Life may be changing soon :)

Mountain Retreat

We spent 4 GLORIOUS days in the mountains this past Friday thru Monday! And, even though we had a busted toilet tank (frozen), broken water pipe to the bathroom sink (frozen) and frozen kitchen sink drain (did I mention "frozen"?), Don easily repaired them all and even managed to put up insulation (warm!) before Saturday night and we had a great time! We went to Helen-back (inside family joke) and got some much needed grits from the Nora Mill Granary and some much desired fudge (yum!) from the Hansel & Gretel Candy Shop. Then, on Sunday, Don got all the wiring and water done to hook up the range and washer & dryer on our next visit. That means stove-top cooking (no more boiling water in the microwave or cooking grits in it, either) and no more hauling dirty clothes back to Thomasville after a long weekend! Yippee - am I weird to be happy that I can actually do laundry at our "get away"? Probably :)



I don't think I have slept as much in the past month total as we slept over this weekend! De-lightful! We have no TV so we play games until about 8pm and then, GO TO BED!!! It stays darker longer in the mornings so we weren't waking up until after 7am most mornings. 11 hours of sleep - it almost felt decadent!!

February

Okay, so Puxatawney Phil and Gen'l. Beau Lee do not agree on the timeliness of Spring! This is why I live in the South where groundhogs have the good sense NOT to see their own shadows and predict the stalling of the coming of Spring! Thank goodness Spring will be here soon - hey, the General has only been wrong something like 7% of the time he's been predicting the arrival. I'd say that's better odds than most weathermen with college degrees in meteorology!

We had a busy weekend. Why is that? I want to just sleep all day Saturday, get up and go to church and Sunday school on Sunday morning and then, go back to sleep for the rest of the day Sunday but I have never yet gotten to do this. Why do you suppose that is? Oh, let's see. My kids are BUSY and cannot yet drive so, they insist that I drive them the 12 miles into town for whatever activity they have going. Really, they couldn't walk? It would be great exercise. Then, once I am up I no longer feel guiltless to sleep all day and I start doing laundry and yard work and house cleaning. And as for Sunday, I am too wide awake and alert after 2 hours at church to climb back into bed immediately upon my return home but, I do sometimes manage to catch an afternoon nap, unless Hannah has Youth Choir or Claire decides she forgot a report or project and needs: poster board, markers, Valentine Day cards, apple juice or something else or we get invited to be sociable and go over to a friend's house for a birthday party. Then I really feel too guilty to take a nap. Don't get me wrong. Once I am up and moving, I am very glad for all that I get done but, one of these days... zzzzzz for an entire weekend!

P.S.es from a few days ago

Preston Nix does not have pulmonary fibrosis as his parents feared just a rather non-symptomatic form of asthma - that is a praise! And, D-Now was actually pretty fun! Hannah made some great connections and has begun a personal Bible study and I think she really enjoyed connecting back with her FBC friends after having been at another church for 2 years. I drove about 1000 miles (haha) between Friday and Sunday and was VERY tired but, it was a good weekend of praising God and seeing the Youth at church really come closer to our AWESOME Father. AMEN!

Almost over...

It is hard for me to believe that January is all but GONE! By Sunday, we will be 11 months away from the "holidays" again - WOW! This month has flown and I am sure, unfortunately, that the next 11 will move just as quickly. We have a BUSY February ahead, that's for sure. Hannah has District Honor Band at Norman Park on the 19th and 20th, Claire has Choir Festival at Norman Park on the 20th and 21st (hmmm, that seems redundant!) and Regional Science Fair in Tifton on the 20th (hmmm, that seems impossible to be in 2 places at once) and Hannah has her Challenger Space Center Field trip in Tallahassee on the 16th, the same day she is supposed to be in Thomasville at an Orthodontist appointment! Do these people NOT realize there are 27 other days in the month of February on which to hold an event??!!! Life moves on! I actually cannot wait until Hannah is old enough to drive! That's pitiful to say, isn't it?

Disciple NOW

Tonight we start our involvement with the youth program, Disciple NOW. Hannah will be staying, along with 5 other middle school girls, at a "Host Home" for the weekend, going to worship services and Bible Studies and having some mission time on Saturday while Don and I are the "transporters" for another host home. We will be driving the kids, college leaders and host home parents to all of the activities this weekend. It sounds very fun, very busy and very likely to bring some challenges to Hannah and Don and me. We had a dinner last night and met the kids we will be working with and I feel excited to be a part of the whole experience. I know that it will bring Hannah closer to the Lord and I feel she will benefit from meeting new people and reconnecting with some of her friends on this level. It is always wonderfully amazing to me how God can use simple things to open up doors for His people.

1 down, just a few more to go...

We had a SUPER successful yard sale Saturday, albeit COLD! The girls were such a big help and Delanna (bless her soul) served us very HOT chocolate and Rob set up the propane outdoor heater so, all in all, it was a GREAT day. We sold most of the "big ticket" items, got rid of lots of clothes and small things and took the rest to Goodwill. After all was said and done and the girls were paid their 10% for helping, we now "own" Hannah's braces!!! I'm sure Dr. Smith will be as happy about that as I am!

We had such a great Sunday school class yesterday, too. Just a time where I felt so connected to everyone and so up-lifted. Our friends (David & Paige Nix) son, Preston, needs prayer as he undergoes some tests to determine whether or not he is afflicted with a genetic lung disorder that took Paige's mom and grandmother so, we are prayer warriors for the Nix family today, praying for God's hand to be upon them all as He guides them through this journey. If you read this, please pray for them, particularly Preston.

YARD SALE!

I am just about done pricing all my yard sale items and have taken the first "load" over to Rob & Delanna's. Their kids were so funny as I was putting stuff in the garage - they wanted all our "junk"! Delanna would have a fit :) Anyway, I will be able to finish pricing things today and take the bulk of the stuff over to their house tomorrow and have Don bring the "big" stuff (TV, bikes, furniture, etc.) in the truck on Friday. Of course, it is supposed to be 20-degrees Saturday morning!! I'm thinking of having the girls set up a coffee/hot chocolate station! This should be a pay-off for at least 1 debt on the "snowball" list, maybe more! EXCITING!

Funny thing happened today - tonight, actually. I realized I don't have to get up at 0:dark:30 tomorrow so I am getting to enjoy some quiet time after everyone else has gone to bed! It is really nice :)

Almost mid-way thru January...

I am posting this from work - yep, that's right, I am now having to work in Tallahassee! (Groan) It has not been too horribly bad. Thank goodness for the MANY hours of sick time and vacation I have banked. I am planning at least 3 days a month off and, I am sure, there will be others when I "catch a cold", have a "headache" or "don't feel well"! It is causing me to get back to my better time management skills and to appreciate Don and the girls more. They have all stepped up and are really being helpful with the morning things I've always been able to keep up with. Funny that I am now the 1st to leave the house in the mornings :)

P.S.

My biopsy results were benign and my colonoscopy/egd results show no polyps or gastric bleeding. AMEN for good news!

2009!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Claire is at all day choir rehearsal/pizza & skating party, Don is hunting (how unusual), Hannah is cleaning her room (even more unusual) and I have just finished setting up my new bank account/bill pay at TNB! We rang in the New Year with noise makers, fireworks, sparklers and party hats. We were all asleep by 1am and up by 8:30. Life goes on! We are planning a BIG year in '09. (Actually, I am planning a little year!) I am set to launch my program for weight reduction & lifestyle change on Monday, January 5th and have my goal set at reducing 25% of my body weight by December 31, 2009. This is going to be MY year! I am also starting my "Grace Journal" with Max Lucado, of course we are on target with FPU and Dave Ramsey and I am planning lots of time off and special days with the girls and Don. I have determined that 2009 will be positive, glowing and festive in whatever way I can make it so. May God be with me every step of the new year, that is my special prayer. :)