Marathon Saturday's have begun.....

The girls finished their first week at school and they are still alive. Today was a marathon for us as Abby had a double header this morning while Gabby was at volleyball practice. After volleyball practice, Gabby had to load up on the bus for a marching band parade in an area town. After the parade, she was off to a volleyball cookout. After Abby's double header we headed home to mow the grass and bake brownies and cookies. My DH was wonderful in making sure he got to the ballgames and parade.

I had a wonderful morning and early afternoon at a prayer summitt at church. Jim Cymbala (pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle) has a video series on prayer and it was awesome! Man, do I have a long way to go!!

Tonight I am drained both emotionally and physically. Tomorrow after church we have a family reunion for my DH's family. I absolutley detest going to this reunion every year. Last year I was adament that we were not going and we didn't but this year I was told we had to go. Don't get me wrong, his family is fine (everyone of them is certifiably crazy) but I have never really "connected" with any of them. So, we will sit with my MIL and chat with her until it is time to get home.

I am still working on laundry tonight. I decided a few weeks ago that I need to really cut back on using my dryer (it usually runs 12 hours straight on laundry day twice a week) and start hanging things to dry. Our neighborhood won't allow us to use clothes lines outside - really great neighborhood for going green right?! So, I ordered these for me to hang all my wet clothes on. They work great and don't tip over!! My only problem is that I can't do all my laundry on one day as the clothes need to dry before I can put more clothes on them. I picked up some pant hangers from Walmart to hang all our pants and shorts to dry. Once they are dry, I throw them in the dryer for about 10 minutes to soften them up and then I put them away. It works great and I am anxious to see what a difference it makes in our electric bill. I still dry all my towels, socks and undies because I just can't stand to use stiff towels and socks and who likes scratchy undies?! So, now I do laundry everyday - something that makes me crazy but is worth it to save some cash.

Blessings on your Sunday and Hugs to all!

Jeanette

School Days!

With all of the issues that Julie has been having, I have not been able to show you pictures of my girls on their first day of school (Monday). So without further ado......


They got up without any trouble (this has changed as the week has progressed!) and they started primping as if they were headed off to prom (this has NOT changed!). Abby (left) was all nervous about what 8th would be like for her. She has all the same teachers that Gabby had last year and YES that is a good thing! Gabby (right) is a freshman was a little afraid of being pushed around by all the upper classmen - she did fine and there was not pushing around.

That said, here is a picture of them going into kindergarten and 1st grade.

Don't they look a bit more relaxed? It is our tradition to get the first day of school picture in the same spot. That way we can see how much they have grown! They will probably kill me for loading this picture but I like it and, well, it is MY blog!

I gotta get going and head in to get my nails done. YIPEE!!! Wait, can you hear it? The sound of silence - don't you just love that first week of school!!!!

Hugs!

Jeanette

Julie Update

First and foremost! THANK YOU for all your prayers! The "down the throat" thing worked and they were able to find and remove 4 blockages. They were also able to put in a stint that will be removed in about 6 weeks. The doctors think she will be able to go home on Friday. I just talked to Randy and he was home with the kids. Julie is resting comfortably tonight and is enjoying the drugs :} Hugs to all you great bloggers out there - we all felt the prayers that were being lifted up for our family!

Hugs!

Jeanette

Yet another Julie UPDATE

Well ladies, the saga continues. Julie is doing much better today but is now having problems with a drain they put in. It looks like they will put a tube down her throat to see if they can fix the problem without openning her back up. If they can't, she will be in for another surgery. Ladies, please PRAY for her! Her hubs and family are doing really good considering mom has literally been gone since Sunday. I am headed over to take care of little Cody tomorrow morning and I am praying that she will be on the mend by tomorrow night. Randy was hoping she would be able to come home tomorrow but it does not look like that will be possible.

We are thankful for a wise younger sister that would not take the initial diagnosis from the doctor. He suspected that her back was out because of her complaint that her back was hurting. She about jumped off the table when he pushed on her stomache. When Janeie, told the doctor that more of her pain was in her abdominal area than the back, he decided to run some blood tests. Julie just wanted something for the pain and she was going to go home. WRONG! Thanks Janeie, for insisting that she stay!!!

I'll keep you updated as I hear more tomorrow. I know Julie is frustrated and having blogging withdrawal - she may have her laptop brought up to the hospital by tomorrow. She would not allow any pictures of this event (boy, I would have had some good ones!) I know she will cherish any thoughts and prayers sent her way.

Hugs!
Jeanette

Another Julie Update!

Good morning all! Well, Julie had an eventful day yesterday. The drs. ended up having to completely open her up and unwind the gallbladder that had wrapped itself around her liver. She ended up in surgery for 3 hours and in recovery for 2 while they tried to get her pain under control. She will be in the hospital about 3 days and then home for rest. Her hubs has not made it up to the hospital this morning as he is just now dropping the kiddos off for their first full day of classes. I think everyone is relieved that they are back to school for a full day so they are at least taken care of. Thank you for your continued prayer!

Hugs!
Jeanette

**UPDATE** JULIE @ BLESSED WITH FIVE - PRAYERS NEEDED

Most of you know that Julie @ blessed with five is my sister. I got a call this morning from my other sister, Janeie, letting me know that Julie was admitted to the hospital last night. She has been having back pain but that pain moved around to her belly. She has a sonogram at 9am cst to check her gallbladder. If the sono shows issues with her gallbladder she will probably have surgery today. Please pray for her and her family - her kids started school today and you can imagine how things went this morning with mom not at home! I'll keep you updated as the day goes on as I'll be with her all morning.

Hugs!

Jeanette

**UPDATE - Julie was unable to do the laprosocic surgery that she was supposed to get so I guess they have to open her up like in the olden days. No further news on surgery status.

A new Sunday

Today we started going to a new church. Our old church of 12 years has started another church. We call it a church plant. Staying at our old church would have been closer and easier, but we felt God leading us to go with the church plant. Today was the "soft" launch in our new location. You can read about it here. It was an exciting day for everyone and we actually had a few new folks. Our official start date is September 7th. Please be praying for all of us involved in reaching out to our community. Today's sermon was awesome (Pastor Daniel always does a great job).

Our question for the day is, Who is Jesus? What would your answer be? My answer is: Jesus is my savior, crucified, risen and coming again! The sooner the better!!

After church, Abby wanted to run over to our local sporting goods store to pick up catcher's gear. She is a catcher for her middle school team and does not like the set that they have. She has been saving up for her own set so we ran by real quick to pick it up. This is my Abby in her new gear!


Now, before you start to think that I have raised a total tom boy, take a look at her tootsies.

Isn't that a riot?! She looks so much like my brother when he was young and catching. She loves to get dirty and the hotter the better. Her usual games will have her face streaked with sweat and dirt. But deep down inside, she is a girly girl at heart :}

School starts tomorrow (YIPEE) so the girls are deciding what to wear on that all important first day. I'll have pics for y'all. I am simply looking forward to grocery shopping and house cleaning without anyone at home. I will feel a little lonely by noon but by then the girls will be breezing back in the door. They only have 1/2 days on Monday and Tuesday (wouldn't want the teachers to work too hard those first few days) so Wednesday is my first official day of fun and freedom.

Enjoy what is left of your Sunday!

Hugs,
Jeanette