What A Week!!

Sometimes, life just happens. No matter how well we have planned, hoped, dreamed and prayed, it just seems to keep moving in a direction that we do NOT want or expect.

After suffering with severe facial pain (off and on) since January 2009, a visit to the emergency room last Monday, and an appointment with a neurologist, Hilary was officially diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. We had been pursuing every natural treatment (accupuncture, chiropractic, herbs, etc.) and getting some relieve (even several months with no pain). I prayed sooooooo hard that the natural treatments would work or God would heal her because I didn't want her to go on the medicine they use for this disease because of the side affects. But...she is now taking the medicine and experiencing the side affects. :0(

In the midst of all that was happening last week, someone very close to me said the meanest, most cruel thing that has ever been said to me in my life. I felt and still feel like someone put a dragger through my heart. But, it's not someone I can walk away from, so I'll follow the advice I used to give everyone when I worked at the church office:

This week is another insane week:

Monday -- My Mom had 4 doctor appointments and a pre-op appointment at the hospital. Hilary had a doctor appointment.

Tuesday -- Lyle has all 4 of his wisdom teeth pulled. (I just PRAY that it is not the horrible experience we had with Hilary's wisdom teeth).

Wednesday -- Hilary has a doctor's appointment.

Thursday -- Have to take my Mom to the hospital by 7:15 a.m. She will have a 4-6 hour major back surgery.

Needless to say, I AM A LITTLE STRESSED!! I am trying to rest, minute by minute, in the fact that God is good and in control!

P.S. I probably won't be posting anymore this week! If you think about Lyle, Hilary, and my Mom, could you please pray for them? Thank you!!!!!!

Diner Dinner

Last week we had a Diner Dinner (say that 10 times REAL fast)! While I was looking in the cupboard for something, I came across the red plastic baskets and paper liners Bob and the kids had given me one Christmas. So, I took them out and got the Pepsi glasses down and invited Ethan and Grandma for a "Diner Dinner". We had BBQ hamburgers, pasta or potato salad (in little styrofoam containers with lids) and chips. Of course, we had Pepsi (what else would you drink?) and even had red straws:

Sorry you missed out, Lyle!! We'll do it again soon!!

Okay, The Scenery IS nice!

After I saw some of the pictures Emilee took on Lyle's backpacking trip, I will agree with my children that the scenery is soooooooooo beautiful. BUT, I'm still not interested in going. Here's some pictures for the WHIMPS who like beautiful scenery but have no interest in going backpacking:

It was a l--o--n--g day!! Driving from Redding to the trail head in the Trinity Alps and then a 9-mile hike into Morris Meadow:

Finally there!!! Drop those packs and pose for a picture:

Dinner time at camp. After a long, tiring day, I guess that freeze-dried food tastes pretty good:

At night, the kids talked and talked and played cards. One night, the people camping across the meadow challenged them to a game of ultimate frisbee after dinner:

Hey, here's that little deer that ate Lyle's clothes (see post below):

One of the rattlesnack skins:

They went on several day hikes:

Here they are at Sapphire Lake. P.S. They caught 3 ladies skinny dipping (can you imagine how cold the water was) in the lake! When they saw the group, they hurried and got out and into their clothes. :0)

Here's Emerald Lake:

Not My Definition Of Fun

Let me just say, "Backpacking is not my idea of fun." But, my kids both LOVE it!! Last week, Lyle went on a Backpacking Trip to the Trinity Alps with RCS's Venture Club. Here's some pictures taken on Monday morning before they left. The group shot is missing Mr. and Mrs. Henry since they came up a day later.

Strapping on a 35 pound pack and walking a total of 20 miles just is not my idea of a fun time. Hiking an additional 18 miles with a day pack doesn't sound like fun either. Seeing bears and hanging your food high up in trees at night is NOT an "adventure" for me. Not getting to take a shower or bath for a week makes me cring. Killing 3 rattlesnacks, skinning, cooking, and eating them does not appeal to me. Taking 2 shirts and 1 pair of shorts for the whole week sounds crazy to me. Eating freeze-dried food does nothing for my appetite! :0) Guess I am a WHIMP!!!

Here's some pictures I took when they got home on Friday. You wouldn't believe how dirty EVERYTHING was:

Lyle didn't get his clothes hung up high enough in the trees, and the deer got ahold of 2 of his shirts and a pair of boxers and ATE THEM!!! Yes, can you believe it? Here's a picture of one of his shirts. It was covered with hundreds of holes. Guess the deer love the salt from your body sweat. UGH!

Lyle came home from the Trinity Alps on Friday, and Hilary left to go backpacking in the Trinity Alps on Friday (different areas, though). Ethan and his family are really into backpacking. Here's a picture Ethan e-mailed me after their trip:

So, supposedly (as I was told by my two children) one of the advantages of backpacking is the beautiful scenery. I think I'll just enjoy what scenery I can see out my car window, thank you very much!

God's Blessings Come In All Sizes and Shapes

I have a new (well, new to me) car!!!! It is a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero. It only has 31,000 miles on it and looks brand new (both inside and outside). I don't think anyone I had ever even sat in the back seat. The car belonged to my Moma's friend, Pauline. Unfortunately, at age 84, she had to give up driving because of poor eyesight.

What do I love about my new car? EVERYTHING!!!

• It's sporty looking (unlike my station wagon)!
• It's a "cookie cutter" car. It doesn't stand out in a parking lot. Believe it or not, I would have people say to me, "How was Target?" To which I would respond, "I didn't see you at Target." Then they would respond, "Well, I saw your car."
• It has a little "clicker" that opens the door and/or trunk with the touch of a button. It's soooo handy when you arms are full (wish I had that when my kids were little).
• I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the power windows and locks!
• It has a trunk!!!!!! HURRAY!!! I hated that I had no where to "hide" my purse or purchases in the station wagon.
• It has a CD player. :0)
• It has a great radio. :0)
• The back seats come down if I want to put something long in the trunk.
• It doesn't overheat all the time!
• It doesn't break down all the time (what a major blessing!). Side note: I know the guys at Keith's Towing are going to miss me though. We were on "first-name" basis!!

We weren't in the market for another car, but the Lord brought this one across our path, and it was too good of a bargain to pass up.

We were able to sell the station wagon "as is". We told them about all of its problems. I must admit, having that station wagon taught me a lot about "being content". Needless to say, I didn't cry when they drove away:

A Blogging "Funk"

Generally feelings follow actions, so as soon as you start doing something, eventually you start feeling the desire to do it. But is the same true for blogging? If you don’t feel like blogging, is it time to blog? This past month I haven’t felt much like blogging. Not sure why. After a while I wondered what I would even write about. I didn’t have much to say. Coming up with something original required too much effort.

But today is a new day, and I am determined to write a “catch up” post (except I now realize there is not much to “catch up” on because I've been in a picture taking "funk" also). Oh well! As my friend, Kim, would say, "It is what it is!"

We all went to a great jazz concert with our friends, John and Liz Ritz (Lyle was taking the picture):

Hilary's friend, Elaine, passed through Redding and spent the night with us:

My brother, Wes, came up for 4th of July weekend and stayed with us. On Saturday, Wes and his "Brother-in-law Booby" (yes that's what he calls Bob) did yard work at Moma's house. On Sunday, we celebrated Wes' 54th Birthday. He picked to go to Logan's (because that's Ethan's favorite, and he likes Ethan best):

After dinner, we ate cake and ice cream, opened presents, and played games.

On the 4th of July, we watch the Redding Fireworks from our sliding glass door in the kitchen. Every year the kids beg to go up on the roof to watch the fireworks, and the answer is ALWAYS no! Well, this year Daddy said, "YES!!!!!" HURRAY!!! Ethan, Hilary, Bob, and Lyle enjoyed the fireworks from the roof while my brother and I stood at the sliding glass door. As far as the kids are concerned, this is now going to be an every year tradition:

Last, but not least (since several of you have asked), these two are still an item!!