Good-bye February!!!!!

This month has been pretty close to a nightmare for us!!! Everything that could go wrong, did...well, not really but it felt that way! I am so thankful that this month is behind us. March will be a new start hopefully bringing brighter days with it. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as many thing in our future are uncertain. I have faith that God will provide. I hope it is sooner rather than later.

I have to say a quick thanks to a few of my friends who have been listening to all of the issues that we have been dealing with. Thanks for being there!!! You know who you are. I love you & am so thankful that you are in my life...and in TX! I don't know what I would do without you. Love to each of you!!!

Thanks to everyone for the prayers you have already sent up on our behalf. Keep 'em goin'!

GOOD-BYE FEBRUARY...HELLO MARCH!! :-)

Better outlook

I woke up to a much refreshed look on life today. No, I didn't automatically wake up & think happier thoughts, but I did keep telling myself over & over that things are going to be ok. I'm actually starting to believe it...

I didn't want to say in my last blog what all was going on because we hadn't had the chance to tell family yet and there are some people who read my blog & fell the need to run to family members & tell them. It is like they get a kick out of knowing before my family does...which hurts my family's feelings (rightfully so!) So, I have learned my lesson & have started holding off on new information until all the appropriate people have been told. Sometimes that's good, and sometimes it stinks because I am not always able to write what I feel. Oh well. People are selfish by nature I guess (not family...others).

I was upset the other day because Ryan found out that his company lost their only account in the DFW area!!! Naturally, I began to panic and think of every bill that we can't cut out. Ryan stayed calm & level-headed about it all...thank goodness!! Things are looking up though. He has been contacted by a supervisor for the company that is taking over the account. Hopefully he will be picked up with that new company & there won't be any lags in pay. If not, I'm sure God has the plan we are intended to take. I just need to have faith & sit back & watch what doors he opens.

So many times in my life I forget that I am not in control. When things are going well it is easy for me to think that it is us who are paying our bills. It is never us. It is always God who provides...I just tend to forget. Maybe all of our "troubles" lately are just reminders that he is in as much control today as he was yesterday and the day before. I wish I could remember these things so that he wouldn't have to remind me! ;-)

I have also realized that our whole life is a test. I use to say that the trials are times when we are tested. I don't believe that to be entirely true. We are constantly tested & are probably more tested during the good times vs. the bad times. It is easy to look to him when times get tough. It is harder when things are running smoothly.

"Thank you, God, for putting food on our table, roof over our head, and people to love. May I NEVER forget that you are in control of my life. I completely trust you to take care of us and provide as much tomorrow as you did today. I anxiously await what doors you are opening as I see these doors closing. I love you & put my family in your hands."

Thanks to all who have been praying. Please continue to do so. Maybe pray that I won't be so stubborn to learn next time! :-)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Happy Valentine's Day to all!! I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Our day has had its ups and downs. Have you ever felt like you can't catch a break? I have felt like that lately. It seems as though I think we're past the bad, something else happens. It is so frustrating when life is like this. The best illustration I can think of is coming up for air & being pushed back down right as you start to gasp for that first breath. No, our life isn't horrible, but it does feel like this month just wasn't meant to go down in history as our best month. Oh well. We always have March, right?!

Sorry if this post sounds depressing. It is just where I am at right now. No, not depressed--only frustrated. I know that eventually our luck has to turn around. I'm just tired of waiting for it to do so. Ryan says that I tend to look at the negative side of things. He's right. I do. I wish I could see the positive side of everything. I tell myself that I am looking at the logical/realistic side, but he's probably right. It is the pessimist in me that just keeps showing her ugly face. Ah...too much writing about this subject. We could use prayers. We aren't in a bad place. Matter of fact, our marriage is as strong as it has ever been. We're just at a crossroads--most of which I have no control over. THAT drives me nuts!! I like the illusion that I have some control over life although I know I don't. Sorry. Too much rambling.

We're good. We're healthy. That's the positive side. :-)

What next?!

Yesterday, I finally began to feel better. My throat didn't hurt & I could breathe! Ryan got home from the Reserves & we decided to go out to dinner. We went to Cheddars since we haven't been there in a long time. Sydney watched the lights on the ceiling & then fell asleep. So, it was as close to a date as we could get without a babysitter. It was nice. Then we got home & I got sick!! Evidently I caught the stomach bug!! Just my luck. Get over one thing, and get another the same day. How nice!! So, I'm home today instead of getting to go to church to worship. I'm sure God will understand me worshipping from home. Eventually my luck has to get better...

We're Home!!

We have a dead fish and I'm sick, but we're home!! It felt so nice to be in our own beds last night. I was afraid Sydney wouldn't go to sleep in her bed since she hasn't been in it in a week, but she went straight to sleep. She is such a good baby! Luckily I'm not running a fever. I'm taking vitamins & meds to get this nipped in the bud.

I was so blessed to be able to be in Paducah during a tough time in my family. It would have been hard to go through that while in Texas. I have an awesome family that really pulls together during a tough time. I thank God for them and for allowing me to be there during all of it.

Hopefully we will begin to get back in our routine. I've always thought that Sydney does better on a routine. What I didn't realize was that Ryan and I do, too. So, today begins that routine no matter how painful it is! ;-) This week is a new week with new possibilities...hopefully good ones!

Paducah trip extended...again

We arrived at the airport, got our luggage checked in, went through security, and got to our gate. By the time we arrived at the gate, our flight was canceled!!! They gave us a 1-800 # to call. I got us on the 7 PM flight out that night. We had 4 hours to wait for the next flight, but at least we weren't stuck at the airport. We were told the reason the flight was canceled was because of ice in Dallas. When I called friends in Dallas, they said it *might* be a mixture. So, we hung out. Sydney did GREAT!! The few moments she did get fussy we walked and that calmed her down immediately. Then the 7 PM flight turned into 8:10, 8:10 turned into 8:35, and 8:35 turned into CANCELED! We then had to decide whether to spend the night in an airport with an infant and hope to get out the next morning or rent a car & drive back to Paducah. We chose the latter and arrived back where we started at 1 AM! Oh well, you can't say we didn't try!!

This week has been a W-E-E-K! Thanks to all for your prayers on behalf of my family in the passing of my grandfather. It means so much to be surrounded by Christian friends and family. To the KY group, we're glad we get a few more days with you. To the TX group, hopefully we will see you soon!