Well, I've been a little bit AWOL. I haven't even thought about the blog I've been so busy. Well, kids tend to do that to you!

We are going today to get a pool.  This will be a good thing to help give the kids something fun to do outdoors.  I wish I had enough money to buy them a pool and a big water slide.  That would be cool! I am enjoying my new job and of course I am enjoying being home with the kids. 

About a week and a half ago our family got some bad news.  My brother, Derek, had a kidney transplant when he was 20 years old.  (My mom gave him a kidney.) Well, now he is 37.  He went for routine blood work and they found that his creatnine was high, hemoglobin was low and blood pressure was real high.  These are all signs of kidney failure.  Sure enough they took him to Savannah and then to Augusta where he spent a week up there running tests.  They did a biopsy on the kidney and found that the kidney is failing.  They kept him there to get him started back up on dialysis and try to get his blood pressure regulated.  I kept their son with me (who is a 7 year old bucket of energy!).  It was a long week for everyone but he finally got to come home on Friday, one week after he went in to the hospital.  He's now going 3 days a week to dialysis.  Of course he will have to have a transplant but we're not sure when that will be. My other brother and I will be the first ones tested to see if we are a match.  Hopefully one of us will be, if not I have faith that we will find a kidney that is match, Lord willing.  This is a true test of faith and hopefully a chance for him and his family to grow spiritually.  Please keep them in your prayers.

Now, I am heading off to Wally World (Wal-Mart) to load up on groceries and of course a pool!


 
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Today is my last day at Rotary. I'm a little sad. I hate to leave this place. It has been my second home for over 5 years! These girls have been my second family! They surprised me today with a little going away meal. I was really surprised. (They know how much I like to eat!) I am looking forward to the next chapter. I will begin Monday learning the ropes of a new job. I'll be working from home for Bland Electrical Heating and A/C in addition to homeschooling Matthew. I'm excited about that. It will be easier on me than keeping children. I can be more flexible and won't be tied to the house. I am looking forward to being a little less stressed. It will be stressful being home with the kids, I realize that. But, at least I won't feel pulled in quite as many directions. It's hard when I'm at work and Matthew is at home and needs something but I'm not there to help him or I have to be on the phone with him for a while because he's upset about something. It's hard feeling like you are being torn between two places. I know most Moms feel that way at some point. I know that this decision has been hard on Bryan. It took a lot of prayer on his part but I really feel that we are doing the right thing. It's going to be hard and money will be tight but it is for the best.

 
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Well, I have less than two weeks left at Rotary. It is a bittersweet time. I know it is going to be really sad for me to leave and I will miss my Rotary family. They have been good to me. But, I am happy knowing that I am going to be helping Matthew (and taking him to dr appts etc) and doing what I feel that I need to do for him. I’m so tired of being stretched between helping Matthew, work, spending time with Lily, not to mention housework and spending quality time with Bryan or helping him with anything he needs. Bryan does try to help with the dishes, the cooking and the laundry. But, it’s still hard, he’s not always able to help me around the house, with all of the responsibilities he already has.

 I am still debating on what I will do to earn money from home. I wanted to try to keep a couple of children but I haven’t had anyone respond on that yet. I am talking to someone that needs a secretary for a Heating and Air company and I could do most of the work from home. That might be perfect but we’ll have to see how much they are willing to pay and everything. I know one way or the other the Lord will provide. It may not be in the way we would expect but He never leaves us or forsakes us. Of course we are still waiting on the Lord’s answer on a position in the ministry for Bryan. Right now he has committed to filling in for our Pastor, Bro. Jerry until he is able to return to the pulpit. But, when Bro. Jerry comes back we don’t know what will happen. We have enjoyed being back “home” with our Calvary family. It is possible that Calvary will bring Bryan on full time as Associate Pastor. I am selfishly praying that this is what works out because I am so happy there (and also because Bro. Jerry could really use the help). But, at the same time if it does not work out I know that the Lord has something better in store for us.

Matthew took the CRCTs last week. We had to go to Jesup every afternoon. It was kind of neat though, meeting some of the teachers and other students and parents. I don’t know how Matthew will do. He wasn’t as prepared as he could have been but that’s really not anyone’s fault. It’s just the circumstances. If he doesn’t do so hot, then they will just give him remedial classes for next year which, might not altogether be a bad thing! We are going to be doing some review over the summer on our own anyways. Matthew has been doing somewhat better with his outbursts. The only outbursts he has is usually over the x-box. I have been tempted many times to sell that thing! He gets so involved with it that he gets upset when it's time to get off. Other than that he has done a lot better. I think he will do better also this summer when we get into a routine every day. Keep praying for him!

 
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19