24 August 2011

My birthday and an earthquake!

What a birthday I had!!!  Pretty quiet and unassuming until about 1:52pm....then the 5.8 earthquake hit!  It was centered in Mineral, VA, which is about halfway between Richmond and Charlottesville.  It was almost a record for VA.  Back in 1897, there was an earthquake that measured approximately 5.9, so no record.  So on my birthday, our world was rocking!!

I got the sweetest card from my middle daughter, M.  She wrote me a poem that made me cry (in a good way).  That was the only gift, so I ended up ordering myself an iPhone!!!  There was a sale, so I really saved money.  (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

I'm still praying for E constantly.  I hope that she is doing well.  I know there are difficult days, but I pray that GOD gives her the strength that she needs each day.  I pray that she is learning about GOD and herself.  We each must learn our own coping mechanisms for the things that occur in our lives...and I hope that is what she is doing.

No other really exciting news.  What can top an earthquake!?!  Around the house, there is still school work being done (since co-op started on Monday), and I am still cleaning out all the stuff that has built up in our house over the last several years.  It is so freeing to find new homes for all the stuff that has been hiding in closets, in cabinets, on shelves, etc.  I really hope that other people can use what I am getting rid of.  I'm donating some things to Goodwill, and other things I am trying to sell.  It is a good feeling to get rid of stuff that we are not using and haven't used in forever!

I can't remember if I mentioned before that I am going to train for a 5K this fall.  I would love to "run" (or jog) the whole thing, but we will see.  My friend, Pam, and I have a goal of doing it in 30 minutes.  Today we walked/jogged 1 & 1/2 miles in 20 minutes!  That was pretty awesome since it's only the second time we walked/jogged.

That's all I can think of today.  Blessings to you!!!
~Amy

21 August 2011

10 days and she called!!!

I was so excited to receive a phone call from E tonight!!!  It was so good to hear her voice.  She actually sounded good and happy.  She said it had been tough, but she is doing okay.  It was only a five minute phone call, but it was good to hear from her.

Around here, we have had a busy weekend.  M had a friend (Lindsay) come over on Friday for a photo scavenger hunt at church, then a sleepover.  On Saturday morning, Lindsay headed home and M & I headed to a birthday party way across town (Tilly's party).  You know, I realized that if we didn't home school, then we would really only know people near us.  As it is, we know people from near and far!  We had 3 fun hours there with lots of pool time, cake, and gifts.  I enjoyed meeting some moms that I had never gotten to know before.  I met another mom with celiac disease.  I'll have to look into the difference between celiac and gluten sensitivity sometime.  Meanwhile, my husband took A to her soccer game (it's a tournament weekend).  After the party, M and I headed over for game #2 of the soccer day.  Finally, home, showers and bed.

Sunday, of course, is church day.  M and I worked in childcare for the early service, then Sunday school and church with Rick Via preaching.  Meanwhile, A and my husband were at an early soccer game before they came to late service.  The rest of our Sunday has been peaceful and quiet.

My highlight for the day was definitely hearing E's voice!!!  Thank you, LORD, for that gift on this Sabbath day.  Tomorrow home school co-op begins.  Busy day!

Watch for the LORD working in your life.  HE is there and HE is always working.  We must just be still and notice!

~Amy

18 August 2011

It's been a whole week

Hard to believe in one way, but feels like forever in another.  I was awake off and on all of last night, so I wonder if E was struggling.  I just continued to pray for her and those working with her throughout the night.  I have to remember that GOD is sovereign and He has placed her in this program for this time.  Things will be okay.

Life goes on here.  Everything has or will start back by next week.  A has started her travel soccer season and has a tournament this weekend.  M has had violin lessons all through the summer, so no real break there.  Co-op starts on Monday and then M's soccer (just the rec league) starts on Tuesday.  We still have a couple of other things that will start by mid-September, so we are kind of easing into our schedule.  It is good to keep busy and focused.  Keeps the mind working!

The other thing that is changing is my health.  I had to go gluten free 5 weeks ago because I was (finally) diagnosed with gluten sensitivity.  I'm sure that I have suffered with that for years....I wonder if it's been since childhood...  Anyway, taking all that gluten out has really made me feel so much better.  I have so much more energy and my thoughts and memory are clearer.  I play tennis on average twice a week throughout the summer---starting doing it last summer.  Well, let me just say that last summer after I played 2 hours of tennis, I had to come home and sleep for several hours.  I was exhausted!!!   That still persisted until just the last couple of weeks.  I had so much energy yesterday that I could have played for hours longer.  And after I came home, I cleaned, fixed dinner, read part of a book, did laundry, etc.  I never felt like I needed to rest.  Praise the LORD!!!  Is it difficult to take the bread, pasta, cake, cookies, etc. out of your diet???  Heck, yes!  But for the way I feel now, it would not be worth it to start eating it again.  I've even lost a few pounds without trying.  The first week gluten free I noticed that my bloated belly was starting to flatten---no weight loss at that time, but I felt thinner.  Now the pounds are starting to slowly drop off.  Another great thing to the gluten free diet, but not the reason I am doing it.

What's next for me?  Well, I have been wanting to do a 5K.  I'm not a runner, but it is just one of those things on my "bucket list."  I was just thinking I would go on Facebook on Saturday and see if anyone else was interested.  But I checked my e-mail first and a friend had sent me an e-mail to see if I was interested in doing a 5K.  I took that as a sign that the time was right.  I am going to start "training" (if you can call it that---going from couch potato status to actually moving around), and the end goal is the Drumstick Dash on Thanksgiving morning.  My friend has a goal of doing it in 30 minutes, so I am going to jump on board with her goal.  Sounds reasonable---10 minute mile for 3 miles.  I'll keep you posted.

I will end for today.  There are more thoughts swirling in my head, but I will share those another day.  Remember to watch for GOD's blessings every day!!  They are there if only we will look for them.

~Amy

16 August 2011

Day 6

Yesterday we received E's school schedule, and I realized something.  I felt strongly that GOD wanted us to put E into public school last year after having home schooled her for her entire life.  It was a very difficult thing to do, but a friend finally said to me, "If you feel that GOD told you to put her in school and you don't, what are you?"  My reply was...."disobedient".  I couldn't disobey what GOD told me to do, so off to school she went.  It was a big change for all of our lives.  And I had hoped that by being obedient, GOD would magically heal her.  That was not to be.  I was disappointed when the healing didn't happen and I questioned why we had to put E in school at all.  The other stressful thing that occurred was trying to get credit the subjects she had done while home schooling.  It took the entire school year plus some, but in the end we got all eleven credits that we requested.

Now, I think I might finally see why we had to go through that process.  Because of all the credits that she got last year, she only needs 2 core classes and some electives in order to graduate!!!  And the only real subject she has in English 12.  Otherwise, she has health and p.e., a life skills class, a theology class, and an interpersonal relationships class.  So her course load will not be overwhelming while she has to deal with her eating disorder.  GOD had it all planned.  I am so thankful that I was obedient to HIS leading about public school even though it was difficult.

I just wanted to praise HIM today as I realized the miraculous way that HE works!!!  May HE reveal amazing things to you as well.

Romans 8:28

New International Version (NIV)
 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

~Amy

15 August 2011

Day 5

In true form, I'm having trouble updating every day.  I want to write at night about what has occurred during the course of that day, however I end up going to bed because I'm exhausted!!  LOL

So Saturday was M's birthday.  We celebrated and enjoyed the day.  Sunday was church day.  We went to Sunday School and church service.  We saw friends who actually saw E on Saturday when the EATC girls were going door to door to raise funds for their Walk-a-Thon.  They saw her smile!!!  That is a great thing.  Believe me, I know harder days are coming (and may have already come), but a smile is something to write about!!!  I have missed E's smile and laugh for so long now...

Not sure how the days are going for E.  I had a friend (Rachel R.) text today saying that she and her family are on vacation, and the LORD woke her at 4 a.m. with "an overwhelming heaviness" for our family.  I wondered if E was struggling at that time?  The middle of the night is probably the most difficult time for E.  Thank you, LORD, for burdening the hearts of other faithful people to pray for my daughter and my family!!!  What a gift!!!  Thank you for obedient servants of the LORD who don't mind being inconvenienced (even while on vacation) to do what the LORD instructs them to do.  Prayer is powerful and must never be taken for granted.

So, today I have a thankful heart.  Help me, LORD, as I work through my issues on a daily basis, too.  Help me when fallen mankind is rude or harsh toward me.  May I, like Jesus, look at them and say,

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)


May your day be filled with blessings from the LORD.  But more importantly, may you see those blessings for just what they truly are!!

~Amy

14 August 2011

Day 3

Quick post because it's actually the morning of Day 4.  Yesterday was my middle daughter's 15th birthday, so we were kind of busy.  Shopping almost all day equals exhaustion.  Then we had dinner out at Applebee's and stopped by Kroger to pick up a red velvet cake for the birthday (it's a favorite!!).  It was a good day, but I didn't get to update the blog.

I forgot to mention on day 2 that I ran into another home school mom at Wal*mart, and she commented that I looked 15 years younger!!!  Isn't that awesome?!?  I'm sure it is related to my new gluten free diet.  I was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity on July 14th, although I suspected that was the case since September of 2010.  I am feeling much better.  Next I am hoping that my sleep will improve---wonder if I will look 25 years younger then?

Life continues on.  Now it feels like E is just gone to summer camp.  I mean she has been away for a week before when we haven't seen or talked to her.  So it's still not as strange as I thought it would be.  I am praying for her literally all day long.  LORD, please deliver her from this eating disorder.  Be real in her life.  Show her that Jeremiah 29:11 is true in her life!!!

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

There is a hope and a future for each of us in the world.  Are you walking in the plans that the LORD has for you today?  I hope so.  If not, I pray for you to have an encounter with the LORD today!!!

Blessings,

~Amy

12 August 2011

Day 2

It's been over 24 hours now.  It sort of seems like E might just be gone to work...for a long time.  I am beginning to feel myself relax slightly.  It is more difficult than I thought it would be though.  I have lived in a constant state of stress and anxiety for the last few years which makes change more challenging.  Perhaps each day will become easier for me.  I pray that each day will become easier for her as well.

I have thought of E often today.  Wondering how her first night was, how are mealtimes going, how is she getting along with the other girls and the staff.  E is such a sweet, kind, generous, giving young lady---unless she wants to act of her illness.  Then it is not so pretty.  I pray that the staff will be able to handle those trying times.  Those were the hardest for us at home.  My husband reacted with great anger toward her during those times, and I feared that he would hurt her sometimes.  I often felt deep fear toward her because of the depth drive to get to food.  I am sure that the staff is trained with how to handle those outbursts.  I am not trained, and I still don't know the proper things to do.

So as this day comes to a close, I ask the LORD to hold each of us in the palm of HIS hand.  Protect us and strengthen us as only YOU can, LORD.  I praise YOU, LORD, because YOU have the power and victory over this illness.  YOU are our healer and protector.  YOU and YOU alone can make each of us whole.  Please act in E's life to help her to see herself through only YOUR eyes....because ultimately those are the only eyes that matter.  I pray that for each member of my family.

Thank you, LORD, that you are already answering that prayer request!!!

~Amy

11 August 2011

Day 1

Well, today was "drop-off" day for our daughter.  We left E at a treatment facility.  What a bittersweet day it has been....  There is great sadness knowing that at least a month will pass before seeing our little girl in person again.  But there is great joy in knowing that the LORD is moving in her life.  There is change on the horizon.  There will be fruit from all that has occurred over the last 4 years.  LORD, please come and comfort E now and comfort me, her mother.  Help this transition be as easy as possible.  Hold her when she is weak, LORD....hold me when I am weak.


Psalm 119:27-29

New International Version (NIV)

27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
   that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
   strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
   be gracious to me and teach me your law.

Thank you, LORD, for leading, teaching and strengthening me...and E.

~Amy  

09 August 2011

New Direction

My life is about to go in a new direction.  My oldest daughter, who has struggled with an eating disorder for about 4 years, will be entering a year-long treatment program this Thursday.  It will be quite a change for our family.  I have decided to try to keep a blog record of this journey.  I'm sure that I will still discuss things from GOD's word, as that is a big part of my life.  I feel like HE has worked out all the details of my daughter even getting into this program.  We received the application in email on July 14th.  I filled it out and mailed it on July 21st.  We met with someone from the program on August 4th.  And she checks in on August 11th.  What a whirlwind!

I hope to journal here about what is going on with our family here at home and with her there in treatment.  It will be challenging to have my baby gone, but it is thrilling for her to have this opportunity to heal and learn more about herself.  Please pray that GOD will bless this time in her life and help her to grow closer to HIM and mature.

Blessings to you!!!
~Amy