What A Week...Whew...

Mercy sakes!!  We got back from Easter weekend and were hoping to rest up a bit last week.  But apparently we weren't vocal with our idea, because it was crazy and emotional to say the least. 

Wednesday I got a call from Boyd, saying they were taking his mom by ambulance from the doctors office to the hospital.  They thought she was having a heart attack.  He was pretty frantic and so he came by my office and I drove us up there.  (Side Note:  Tammy, my driving fast came in handy that day!! ha!!!)  When we got there she was gray in color and was having a hard time breathing.  We stayed in the ER ALL day long.  Finally, they admitted her and she got to go to a room.  They scheduled her for all kinds of test.  So Boyd stayed the night with her on Wednesday night. 

Thursday I went to work and waited to hear what was going on with Clara, when my dad called and said that my Aunt Lora was very sick, on a ventilator, and not doing well at all.  I talked with my cousin who confirmed that they were going to take her off all the machines Thursday night or Friday.  Well, I had to go and see her before then, so off I went again!!  (Thankful for such a caring and wonderful boss and office manager).  Boyd met me at Cox and we headed to ICU to see her. I was not ready for what I saw.  I had told myself to be strong, but I just couldn't.  It was so sad.

Friday morning I talked with my Pastor's wife who told me that my Pastor's dad had just died that morning.  So I knew there were be services that we would need to attend.  Friday afternoon we headed back to the hospital to check on Clara and called to see if Aunt Lora was still alive, and she was.  They had not removed her from the machines yet.  Went out to eat with Ethel, Sharon, Stepf, and Quentin.  We went to Nakato's.  Boyd had never been to anything like that before, so that we pretty fun.  I was worried that he might need a Big Mac after we left that place, but he really enjoyed it.

Saturday we had a benefit we needed to attend here in Bradleyville.  We got word Saturday mid morning that Clara was diagnosed with Swine Flu (H1N1).  I realized I had never had my vaccine for that.  The doctor warned me that I needed to isolate myself from people who had cancer, babies, and older people for at least 72 hours.  So I did not get to attend the benefit Saturday.  I was disappointed.  We worked outside all day Saturday and got a lot of things accomplished.

Sunday, couldn't attend church because of swine flu germs that I might have.  So, knowing I couldn't go to my Pastor's dads visitation that night we went Sunday morning instead.  Figured I couldn't infect anyone there.  Came home and worked some more outside, came inside to watch movies and got a call from my father-in-law saying that our cow was hung in the fence.  Went outside, sure enough, "the grass is always greener on the other side", so we spent until dark, fixing fence. 

Monday, went to work for a second.  Let them know what was going on with the whole swine flu, they nicely told me to go back home until my 72 hours was up.  Went home and started working outside again.  Then came inside so I wouldn't make a bunch of racket while the funeral was going on across the street.  Bumming because I am missing the funeral and being there for my Pastor's family.  Went back outside in the afternoon and washed the windows.  Window breaks and takes a chunk out of my finger.  Probably need stitches, but can't find the chunk that's missing.  Go inside, bleeding all over the place.  Call it a day and wait for Boyd to get home.  When Boyd got home we headed for Ozark to visit his mom.  I went to Wal-Mart while he visited his mom.  I love my mother-in-law, but don't want the piggy flu that she has.  (She is home and feeling much better by the way).  We got home about 8:30 last night and barely got sat down and I received a call from my cousin letting me know that my Aunt Lora had passed away.  Knew it was coming, but still very sad.  Got into bed, just went to sleep, phone started ringing.  It was DFS with children who needed a placement.  We declined, I just can't handle a placement right now with all that is going on.

So needless to say, on the scales this Monday, +2 lbs.  I'm thankful it wasn't more than that.  You see I am an emotional eater.  And when I eat out, I don't always make healthy choices.  I cried for quite a while on Sunday night.  Just so disappointed in myself.  Number 10,999th failure.  The whole weekend I would say, well, I better eat this now, because Monday it's back to healthy foods.  Or, it won't matter that I've eaten half this large pizza, Monday I'll get back on track.  I'm so frustrated with myself.  I truly am addicted to food.  Last night I really had planned to go to Wendy's (even though I had already made and ate lasagna for supper) and then hide the evidence from Boyd.  How sad and pathetic is that.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!  It makes me so stinking mad!!  But I did NOT go to Wendy's.  I resisted, barely. 

Even after the week I have had I am happy to report that God is still on the Throne!!  He has been with me and my family every step of the way.  In my devotions I read last night there was a quote that said...

"God's promises are a lot like stars.  The darker the night, the brighter they shine."  LOVE THAT!!!

Expecting great things this week.

Love to All,
Me

Happy Easter!! He is Risen!

We had a great time at Easter!  We actually got to head down to dad and mom's sooner than we had planned.  After a trip to the beauty shop on Thursday night (which was slightly traumatizing), we picked up Jessica and Ryan and headed to OK.  We didn't get to leave until 8:30 and got to Poteau about 12:30 a.m.  We were very thankful for the Lord's protection on they way down there.  I always dread traveling at night and being responsible for someone else children, but He was there with us every step of the way!!

We woke up Friday morning and we just stayed at dad and moms and waited for everyone else to come in.  Dad came up with some games for the kids to play.  This one below was fun.  It was a gun that he brought from Peru.  You blew into the end of it and a little sharp stick came out and so we all took turns popping balloons.  Even yours truly got in on the action and I'm proud to report I didn't hurt anyone and I actually popped a balloon.

On Saturday we got all the eggs prepared to hide. We hid 2.5 dozen of hard boiled eggs and 60 dozen filled plastic eggs.  We only had 8 kids hunting eggs so they each got to hunt almost 100 eggs a piece.  CRAZY!!!  We always hide that many though.  And it is so much fun.

Here we are waiting for the kids to arrive.  We always make them go to the park and play while we hide eggs.  It takes a while to hide that many. 

And here are the kids coming in.  

Trinity had to climb up on a ladder to find one of her eggs!

And here's Papa helping McKenna with all her eggs.  She didn't have time to get a new carton!

Saturday night we were all sitting in mom and dad's living room.  Talking and having a great time.  We were playing games that Grandma Murray had taught my mom and aunts.  They were so much fun.  We didn't need video games, board games, card games, etc.  We didn't have to be entertained by t.v.  We had a great time just being together and playing "old" games.  Then we sent the kids outside to play flash light tag and run some of their sugar high off.  The "adults" stayed inside and my aunt went to the keyboard and started playing every hymn she could think of.  We laughed, cried, reminisced, and cried some more.  It was such a great moment.  I couldn't help but think of my Grandma Murray in heaven.  I know she would've been so proud to have her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids singing about the TRUE reason behind Easter.  Don't get me wrong, she loved the Easter egg hunt just as much as the kids, but she made sure we always knew the true meaning of Easter.

Sunday morning I got up early, and Ron, Mom and I were the only ones up.  We were teasing mom about her useless potato peeler.  She said it was a great peeler and that she loved it.  Ron told her it was worthless and that it wouldn't cut anything.  So mom said that she could peel her potato with her peeler faster than Ron could with his peeler he liked.  So the race was on.

And the winner was RON!! ha!!  Mom about died!!!!!!  She couldn't believe that Ron beat her and her precious peeler!! Priceless!!

We had a wonderful Easter Service.  Jessica, McKenna, Ryan, Zach, Trinity, Sabrina, and Hunter got up at the beginning of the service and sang "He Knows My Name".  It was so sweet and KK was so proud of them.  They sound great together.  Then our whole family that was there (22 of us) got up and sang "Ten Thousand Angels" and the presence of the Lord was very overwhelming.  There were more tears.  Then Dad, Mom, Ron and I sang "Carried Away".  Dad had said that this church was kind of low key and they didn't get very excited.  Well, apparently they wanted to make my dad a liar because they were clapping and waving their hands and smiling.  Mom said you could have knocked her over with a feather, she was so shocked.  My dad then preached a wonderful messages about choices.  He said that the biggest choice he had made that day was what way to part his hair this morning.  Um.. yeah, my dad doesn't have any hair.  He's so silly.  But then he talked about making the choice to accept Christ as Personal Savior.  And talked about 

GRACE!  G-God's  R-Riches  A-At  C-Christ's  E-Expense.  It was a wonderful service.  

We got home and took some pictures.  Here's Ron's Family.

And here is Jessica and Ryan

And Boyd and I

And then 3 out of 4 of us kids.  Rob had to go back Saturday night.

Then we all got ready to head home.  Here is Trinity, Uncle Darrel (holding Mr. Quacker) and Papa.

And our ride home was a little noisier than coming down.  Boyd bought 2 ducks, and 10 chicks.  This is Sunshine the duck.

I hope you all had a very blessed Easter.  Thank you God for sending your Son to die on the cross for me.  During the times I feel alone and I am not sure that You are there, help me to remember that I am on Your mind, even when You were on the cross, I was on Your mind.

One last thing, I've been noticing a sign at a church that I drive by every day on my way to work.  I noticed last week that it said, Funeral for Jesus April 4th.  Then Sunday I noticed that in BIG red letter it said, CANCELED, HE'S ALIVE!!!   AMEN!!!