It is HOT out there!!!!!

We are at the beach...at Boyd and Robin's house....spending a few days with Tommy's dad. It is REALLY HOT here. We went to the beach yesterday and it was almost unbearable. I had a migraine and didn't feel well to start with so I think that added to my misery.....but the water was wonderful! We went to eat at a local place called 'Sweet and Savory' so we had put off the sunscreen routine and when we got to the beach....I did a half-hearted job....so I got sunburned on the tops of my shoulders...not a good spot to miss...duh! :) Anyway....I hate to say it but I am just as glad that we are not going back today as it is just too hot for me....I guess I must be getting old. We are going to head out later today to Cosco and maybe a local thrift shop and to get some ice cream....which sounds like a great afternoon to me. :) Meanwhile we are enjoying the puppies....Doodle has a new toy....he is so ferocious.....ha.

Life is unfair.....but

Today was a difficult day but a day of confirmation…..a day where God showed me that he is still here for me. Life is not fair…this is certain but look at what our savior went through on this earth…was he accused of something that he didn’t do….was he treated unfairly? He knows how it feels. I wanted so badly today to defend myself….to show the logs that would explain every change in my schedule and every email sent to document communication attempted but I know it would not have done any good….the decision was made….it had nothing to do with me….it had nothing to do with the job I had done….it is political…it is personal….but it hurts Lord….this is a person I thought was a friend….a person I thought respected me….a person I respected…..why would she treat me this way? I don’t understand? She used to be someone I trusted…..and the person who is taking my job….she is supposed to be a ‘good Christian lady….a person that I have referred people to….a person I thought was real….a person who shed tears in front of me….who seemed so genuine…..who looked me in the eye and promised me she had no interest in taking my job….that she was no threat to me…..they claim they are interested in what is best for the kids but they will not even allow me to see the kids for follow up….they want me to see 15 clients for one session each for follow up….enough to tell them that they can either see the new therapist or come and see me at my office…..how is this best for them. None of these kids have transportation to come to my office so I have to sign these kids over to this therapist that stabbed me in the back….without Jesus….it will not be possible…..he was with me today in this meeting….I smiled…asked if there was anything I could do….when I was told there was nothing…I said nothing….when I was told I had been told before about my ‘inconsistencies’….I said nothing…..when I was accused of seeing a kid 3 times in a week when a previous meeting proved that I had only seen her once that week as she had told her teacher she was with me when she was in fact not with me….I did attempt to explain but when I saw the zoned out response…I stopped. It was pointless. I was told that there will be another opportunity….but I don’t know who to trust…..except my supervisor….Dr. Jane…she was there for me….she was very supportive and encouraging….she is the ONLY human in the work environment that I trust…..I will always trust my hubby of course and my LORD….but everyone else….I just don’t know father….I have been wrong so many times. Thank you Lord for my friends and family who lifted me up in prayer…..thank you for your strength and wisdom during this meeting….now help me with acceptance and forgiveness Lord….and trust…..trust in YOU for my future Lord!

Good Day

Today we traveled to Wilkes County to visit with my dad…..he was having sinus surgery this morning at Wilkes General Hospital. We didn’t get there in time to see him before he went into surgery but Shirley, James and Grace Meade were there when we arrived. Shirley said we just missed him and that he was in a good mood before heading into surgery. Her pastor (Rev. Grady) came by for Donnie as Donnie was out of town on vacation while we were waiting. We also saw Katherine Elledge, Mike’s mom, who was working there at the hospital. Mike was a classmate of mine at North Wilkes High School.

After the surgery was over, we were called into a room where we waited for the doctor (Dr. Ellis) to come in and talk with us. He told us that dad did well throughout the surgery. He said that he was ‘full of polyps’ and that there were polyps in all four of the sinus cavities above his nose, the sides of his nose and in his nose. He said that he may be able to smell again but sometimes the nerves are damaged too much so this sense doesn’t come back. He said that there will be some bleeding but if it gets bad, that we should call him and that his cell phone will be provided on the discharge instructions. He said it would be better if he was not left alone the first night and that he should not drive in the first 24 hours. He said he should not bend over for 24 hours and that he shouldn’t play tennis or bowl for a couple of weeks.

Dad was awake when they brought him to the room….he had a liquid brunch and then about an hour later….they brought him lunch. He did well. He had a bandage under his nose that had to be changed about every hour and he got up to use the bathroom about every two hours. Shirley left for a while to go home and rest as she stated that she didn’t sleep well last night. Tommy and I went to Glenn’s and got lunch when dad started to drift off to sleep….after they gave him some pain medicine for a headache. When we came back, Shirley was back. We hung out a while longer….I brought my computer in….I couldn’t get online but finished about 5 notes that were lingering from the past few days. Tommy checked email on his phone and got this email…..

As the other placement did not come through, I’m linking Thorben to you guys. We need to have all paperwork completed by Monday. Lee said that he sent your application to you to update. If you don’t have it email him. He is working today and all weekend at least a few hours a day. Also the Background check needs to be redone. You will get an email for that, too. You can also call him.

So congratulations. We’ll talk more about him when I get back as I’ll be gone all next week. You can get me over the weekend on my cell phone. Gerry

which led to a long conversation about Thorben…..and I shared pics from the application with pop and Shirley.

All in All it was a Good day….dad is doing well… he was laughing and joking….it was good to spend time with him. He was happy for us about Thorben….James was trying to connect with us….he shared how hard it is for him to see his mom with someone since his mom hasn’t been with anyone in so long. I told him it was hard for me too…..since it wasn’t long after my mom died….he seems like a nice guy….kind of like a little kid at heart.

We went by dad’s house and fed shadow and cleaned out his litter box as dad is staying at the hospital tonight….we will come back and see dad on Sunday….I told Shirley to call us if she needs us….she and Grace are going to stay with dad tomorrow night.

Birthday Blessings

Tonight I was invited to be part of the COOLEST thing at Grace Place. Jeannie was putting together a 'birthday of blessings' for our pastor's wife, Dawn and she invited the women of the church to be part of it. She asked each of us to pray about a verse that reminded us of Dawn and to come prepared to share this verse with Dawn. She prepared lasagna and we all chipped in to bring salad fixings so we all had a meal also. It was a surprise for Dawn as she was just coming to the church for a leadership meeting this evening. She said she suspected something when she saw all the cars in the parking lot as there are usually not that many people who attend these meetings. We all stood up against the side wall and when she came in we yelled, "Surprise!" They put a tiara on her head and after the meal, she opened her presents and then we moved into the sanctuary for the 'blessing' part. Jeannie had put together some common items and had linked them to bible verses and biblical applications and blessings...which was so cool! She had enough of these so that everyone had one to read to Dawn. We also read our personal verse to her and many had personal statements to make. Then we all gathered around and prayed while Jeannie washed Dawn's feet...it was VERY powerful!

I have only known Dawn for about a year and I haven't had the opportunity to know her real well but she has been very supportive to me. I know one time when I was concerned that I had really messed up with Bryson's mom....I called and asked her opinion and she gave me very practical and helpful advice. She is a very genuine person and you can feel the holy spirit's influence when she prays during services....she is a very REAL person and that is what I love about her! This is basically what I said....the verse that reminded me of her was Proverbs 22:11 "(She) who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for (her) friend.

"Everyone had such wonderful things to say about Dawn....she is a godly woman who has been such a good friend to these ladies. She has been their angel.....sent to meet their need....during difficult times in their lives.....what a blessing to know that you have had that kind of influence on someone's life. It gave me a new perspective watching this process.....knowing that this is the kind of thing that really matters...how you affect the lives around you....not how much money you make or the positions you hold....or even the measure of success that you have in the eyes of the world.....I think that I will go into this meeting next Monday with a different attitude because of this experience.....what if the way I react is what someone remembers.....after all....look at how Jesus was treated....and he was our example. Thank you Jeannie for inviting me to this wonderful event and thank you Dawn for being such an awesome influence on all of us at Grace Place.

Thanks Jeannie for all your hard work.....it was a GR8 evening!!

I think she was surprised!

Ladies ready to express love!

Beautiful flowers!

Sarah & Kim....cool shirts:)

Donna, Michelle & Jennifer at the party.

One of the blessings....attached to the back scratcher...:)

Great decorations!

Sherry & Susan!

Jennifer shares.

Kim & Jeannie having fun!

Sarah & Dawn smile:)

Laundry room rules....cool gift Donna:)

Donna enjoys a great card from Michelle.

Susan, Sherry & Deb!

Dawn & Theresa!

Dawn's birthday tart.

Jennifer reads a letter from Haley....had us all in tears.....so sweet:)

Birthday girl......it is truly a blessing to know you, Dawn:)

Is he the right one???

We talked with Gerri yesterday about Thorben….she said she thought he should be placed with someone else since he is interested in theater and West Caldwell does not have a very good drama department. Tommy and I talked and prayed about it…..I sent the following email to her today.

Gerri,

I just wanted to let you know......we have been praying about this little German guy.....he is diabetic, been on a pump for the past year.....and he wants to be a journalist when he gets older......2 STRONG connections with Tommy...as for the drama.....we have some close friends from our former church that are involved with the drama program through the college that we could introduce him to...I know God will place him where he wants him to be.....but just wanted to make you aware of these connections.

Thanks for all you do.

Deb

Jackpot

Today we received the three additional AFS applications that we had requested for review…..

Ivar---a 17 year old from Sweden

Raimundo—a 17 year old from Chile

Thorben---a 15 year old from Germany

Tommy started reading the applications before I did as I was working on some notes. When I saw some tears running down his face, I knew we had hit the jackpot. He was reading a statement by 15 year old Thorben explaining his experience with his type I diabetes. As most of you know, Tommy has lived with type I diabetes since age 7 so reading this young man’s account of how this disease has affected his life and his determination to experience every moment to the fullest….touched Tommy since he can identify with what Thoben is talking about. Thorben has been a diabetic for two and a half years and he has been on an insulin pump (the same insulin pump Tommy is on) for the past year.

We laughed and we cried as we realized another family is looking at this young man. However, he is NOT on hold and Gerry did send us his application so he is not spoken for yet. Please pray if this is the right kid for us. He is also interested in writing for a newspaper or magazine in the future which is what Tommy does for a living so he may be interested in doing some work with Tommy as he states he likes sports also.

Raimundo looks like a cool kid too as he plays soccer and basketball but he is another south American which is not recommended (to get another south American) and he speaks Spanish and may tend to hang with the other Hispanic students there at WCHS…..and Gerry says all South Americans are late for everything….ha…..even though I am not from South America and I am late for everything…J

First consideration

Today we requested information on two AFS students....Casper and Patrick....we have been looking over their applications today. I don't think Casper is the right one for us as his application says clearly that he wants to be placed in a home with other children but Patrick may be an option...he is from Switzerland.....he is into karate and football but he has only had 3 and a half years of English.....we have asked for three more applications....all boys but we haven't received them as of yet. I wish Brad were here to help us decided....:)

Time to Trust

Today we started looking at AFS applicants....not sure if we want to host again this coming year or not.....as we are still missing Matheus....saying goodbye was much harder than I thought it would be....Tommy and I talked about it and we both feel like we have a lot to give to a child/young person so we decided that we would pursue both the foster care/adoption angle and the AFS angle and led God lead us where he wants us to go....pray that we can let HIM lead us and that we can trust HIM fully with our future.