Tuesday, January 30, 2007

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

We just found out that Teagan's long-term disability has been approved!!!! The check's in the mail!!!! Praise God!! His timing is perfect. We just used the last of our money to pay this month's bills. This takes so much pressure off!

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Wow!

All I can say is WOW WOW WOW!!

Okay, maybe that's not all. ;-)

We went to a new church today, and I was so impressed. It was a great experience! The people were friendly, the worship was wonderful, the message was good. But most importantly, the breath of God breathed in that church and in those people. It was alive.

We've been going to a dying church for a long time. It used to be alive and thriving, reaching out to others, taking care of its own, being the hands and feet of God in the community. But not anymore. The sad part, it doesn't even know it's dead. I didn't fully realize it until today. Wow, what a difference.

So, needless to say, we will be attending the new church again next week. They have 2 other families (3 children) in the church with autism, and they are happy to work with us regarding Jade. That was such a relief. The "Jade factor" was my biggest fear in finding a new church. But they are really interested in the spiritual health of the autistic child and the family as a whole. It sounds great. We're going to meet with the pastor and find out more, hopefully this week.

I was worried about the change, but I'm so glad we did it. I feel like God led us to this church in particular and I'm praying that we will fit there.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Exciting Morning!

Well, we've had quite the excitment here today! I woke up to Jade trying to leave the house (again). I thwarted her plan and all is well. So, I'm making breakfast, getting my coffee fix, and I look out the window. Suddenly this truck comes flying down the road, spins around, and crashes into the brushy area on the north side of my front yard!! It knocked a couple of smallish trees over, and was stopped by a bigger tree. It was a couple of teenagers, probably late for school. They managed to get themselves out, but not before I took a picture...
Muhahaha! Poor teenagers. They need to slow down and try not to crash in people's lawns...
Teagan said I should call the sheriff just in case, but since no one was hurt they said I didn't need to report it. So that was my excitement today.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

The Deed is Done

Teagan officially quit his job yesterday. He is now unemployed. It was the logical next step. He hasn't worked in 7 1/2 months. He won't be going back anytime soon. It was becoming a case of "quit before you get fired". Yes, technically they aren't supposed to fire you for being unable to work due to a disability, but they do. They fired Will, and would have fired Don if he hadn't quit when he did. So Teagan decided to beat them to the punch. This won't affect his long-term disability claim. He's still entitled to that. We technically don't have health insurance now, but are in the process of getting Badger Care. The big benefit is that we will get his profit sharing later this spring and hopefully that will pay for our block house project.

Speaking of the block house... The lower level is empty!! Teagan & Will have been working on the upstairs. Unbelievable as it may be, the upstairs had even more junk than the downstairs, and bigger junk at that! There is a ton of old furniture up there. If the roof hadn't leaked for so many years, it would probably be worth quite a bit, but it's all water damaged and therefore, junk. Why oh why they put all the heavy furniture upstairs we will never know. With no stairs anymore it's a real bear getting it out of there. But they are working on it bit by bit.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

In Loving Memory

This post is in loving memory of my child who was born to heaven on December 28, 2006.

It seems the reality of my miscarriage has finally sunk in. At first I didn't really grasp what was happening. I mean, I knew, but it wasn't real. I thought I was doing okay with it. But this week it finally sunk in. I think that Grampa Wallace's funeral was what did it. There was a floral arrangement to symbolize his great-grandchildren who were awaiting him in heaven. Four perfect red roses. One for Shay, one for William, one for Adrian, and one for my baby.

My baby. My baby with no name. My baby that no one even knew about until it was gone. My baby that died only 16 days after being conceived.

Teagan said that God knew my baby's name. I prayed that the Lord might see fit to tell me what it was. That night at Grampa's visitation a family friend walked up to me. She said, "Did you have Sadie Rose picked for a name?" I was taken aback. This woman could not have known about my preganacy or miscarriage. Then she said, "I keep calling Ruby Sadie Rose for some reason. That's wierd." And she walked away. Then it hit me. God was giving me my baby's name.

Sadie Rose Anthony
Born to heaven on Decmber 28, 2 006

The next morning we went to the cemetary for Grampa's burial. He was buried next to the babies' graves. There was Shay's headstone, and William's and Adrian right between them. I didn't even know Adrian had a headstone. That was also a first trimester miscarriage, but they had a burial and a headstone. There was no Sadie Rose. There was no headstone, no memorial, no concrete place to mourn. My baby was flushed down the toilet. There was no recognition of her personhood. There was nothing but an empty womb.

As we leave the cemetary I say to Teagan, "I didn't know Adrian had a headstone." He says, do we need to buy one? No, I say, that wouldn't be right, since there was no burial place. Instead, he came up with the idea of a memorial garden. He will make an ebenezer. An ebenezer is a pile of stones to symbolize what God has done. The Israelites used them many times in the Old Testament. Teagan will make an ebenezer and we will put it in a garden of beautiful flowers outside of our new home. And there we will remember Sadie Rose.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

On Modesty and Feminity...

Recently I have been pondering what it means to dress modestly and be feminine. I don't feel that I dress immodestly, but I certainly don't look overly feminine in my standard grubby blue jeans and t-shirt, and even less so in my pajamas (which I wear a little too often). The idea of wearing skirts & dresses instead has been popping up in my brain for awhile now, but I shove it back in the closet of things I don't want to think about. LOL

I've never actually talked to Teagan about it, because I figured it didn't matter to him what I wore. He's always said he loves me just the way I am and all that. Well, silly me, I asked him what he would like to see me wear. I was most suprised by his answer. Skirts and dresses would be nice, he says. Imagine my shock! Imagine my horror! My dislike of skirts is now an issue of submission and pleasing my husband.

Now you must understand, my hatred of feminine clothing is deep seated in my childhood. Being forced into itchy pleated wool skirts, and made to wear dresses for chapel throughout my school days. I raged against the machine whenever I could, looking as sloppy as possible while being within dress code. I rarely wear skirts as an adult because I feel self concious and after all, those things are evil and uncomfortable.

So I am faced with a dilemma. Wear the skirt and please my husband or shove it to the back of the closet and know I'm going against him. So I am wearing the skirt. I know he is pleased and that makes me happy. I picked a rotten time of year for this decision (I freezing!!) but a happy husband is good whatever the season.

The next time you see me, if I'm in a skirt, don't think I lost my marbles or am trying to be "holier than thou". Just know my reasoning and pretend I'm wearing jeans.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Happy New Year!

Okay, so I'm a few days behind. but we've been busy and sick and trying to get back into routine around here.

We got to spend New Year's Eve up north at Crescent Lake Bible Camp with Dad, Karyl, and that side of my family. It was really fun! Teagan got sick on the way there and I got sick when we got home, but otherwise it was a fun time! I apologize to any family members who got sick from us. Sorry!! At least we had fun!

Jade went back to school yesterday and I think she's really liking being back in her routine. Kordell & Teagan went to Dad's this morning, so they're back to their routine too. I'm still trying to get my bearings after the holiday and everything. I'm working on a pair of Valentine longies for my hyena cart, and have some wool play food in the works as well. I really need to start a blog just for all my projects!

Editing to say... visit my project blog at www.divinely-appointed-yarn-thrower.blogspot.com !!! :-)

I hope you all have a great 2007! God Bless!