Merry Christmas 2008

Every single thing is changing. Nothing is left out. But the Lord is still on His throne. He will provide. He alone is my strength and salvation. Praise to His name. Amen.

Is This What I Signed Up For?

Appointments. Appointments. Appointments. Appointments.

Seriously folks, I am drowning in calendar boxes completely full. Stormy has a lawyer appointment tonight, then wants to go shopping for a Halloween Costume. Tomorrow, I rescheduled her psychologist appointment so it doesn’t conflict with my nail appointment (I mean, one MUST have priorities!) so Stormy’s phych appt is on Thursday now, mid-day.

Friday I go back to work. OK I did do something worthwhile yesterday, besides driving Stormy to school, getting a load of straw at my folks’ house, coming home, driving back to my folks’ for more straw,  driving back here, then taking my dad’s truck back and driving back here, then picking Stormy up from school and driving back here, then going to Bible Study and driving back here.

Yeah, I love my car, but yesterday I was in hate with it. I just felt trapped because EVERYWHERE I WENT required a 30 minute car-trip.

Oh the joys of motherhood. And arguing over radio stations. Blehhhhh.

Snow and Cars

Yeah, it’s been snowing here for two days. And the furnace stopped working this morning.

But all is well in our little corner of the world. Things calmed down remarkably. I didn’t actually do the WHOLE move thing with the woman at Avenue Q, but Rob and CJ did. Mindy and I went to the funeral home instead.

Yesterday was spent working at the Funeral Dinner. It was good to see my old friends at Branton and spend time with my parents and Grandma. And it was nice to come home to Rob and Mindy and the guy installing the Invisible Fencing for my doggy.

Mindy is spending the next two nights with her dad, and then she wants to move in here, she says, permanently. I think she’s entranced by having her own huge, beautiful room and by being the only kid. In my heart, I don’t think she will be here very long… or  maybe I’m not sure I want her to be here very long… and at the same time, I do.

I know I’m not making any sense… it’s just that I am used to being the only toad in the pond, and it’s funny for me to have spent the greater share of my time in the past week thinking about washing Mindy’s clothes and vacuuming her room when I do the rest of the house, or about picking her up to bring her back home.

Perhaps when it’s time for her to do her homework, she won’t think that this is such a great place to be.

Used Car Salesman

I get the feeling Rob’s about to be fired from his job. Not fired, really, but downsized. He won’t take a job that’s a 90 minute drive in heavy traffic, and he thinks his job where he works from home is about to end.

I told Joan today at work that Rob is amazing when it comes to cars, that he knows every little detail about almost every make and model of car, and that he reads Kelly Blue Book for fun. I also said that if she ever bought a car without first checking with Rob, she was just plain stupid, because he can tell you which one has the better crash test rating, and which has better gas mileage. He’s amazing and smart.

This evening, I related the story to Rob and told him he she be a car salesman. He agreed. “WHAT?!” I though. But he said that post-his current job, he was thinking about selling cars. “Well, you’ve already got the suits,” I said.

Praises, Cars, and Woes

 Little Caesar’s

Mindy took this photo of Rob and me one Sunday after church at the local pizza joint. It’s been a tradition for years to go to this place after church, but now it’s hard to get to, with us being at Middleton. We drive by it on the way home, but we don’t get there when our friends and family are all arriving… so they’re not even there by the time we arrive.

I detest how chunky I am these days, but it’s still a good pic of my darling and me. Rob and I have been eating sort-of healthy this week, after I looked at the scales in HORROR on Monday to see that (I hope it was water-weight from all the salt I ate over the weekend) I gained 10 pounds since 7 days previously. YIKES. Eat. Better. Missy.

Skipping Hospice

I have said before that my heart wasn’t in it this time for Hospice. I sort of tried to wriggle out of the commitment two nights ago. In the end, I decided to honor my commitment to God. Sometime yesterday afternoon, though, I was called to do a favor for a friend that I really couldn’t get out of, and Rob was still going to Hospice. With Rob’s blessing, I did the favor, he went to Hospice, and all is well.

I’ll go next week though, I promise. I just couldn’t this time.

Ladies Who Lunch

ItalianMom and I are going to lunch today. Her hubby, SemperFi, is at the top of my doo-doo list because he Will Not get her van fixed. I guess he feels like the big man when she can’t get anywhere without begging for a ride. So I’m loaning her our extra ride while theirs gets fixed.

ItalianMom has 5 of the loveliest children on the planet: 4 boys and a girl ranging in age from 15 to 2 years old. And their father? A major jerk who will probably run my extra vehicle right into the ground.

This morning Rob questioned my loaning them our Jimmy. He said that perhaps I was allowing SemperFi to not get their van fixed. That’s not the case though. I am ALLOWING ItalianMom to have half a life and feel like she can drive her van 12 miles to the Super Market without wondering if they’ll all die in the process.

Why Do I Care?

Big heart? No. I don’t think that’s why I care. It’s more I can’t stand seeing injustice. If I ever thought he was physically abusing her, I would step in the middle and beat the living daylights out of him and make him leave (he’s a little guy, but bigger than her… and I, of course, am an Amazon Woman).

I never know how to react when she tells me over and over about his yelling at the kids excessively and farming out chores that should be HIS to do. I go insane when she relates of how he is never satisfied with anything, and bends her to his husbandly will literally at will. I know there are two sides to every story, and I know she can be a bear to deal with at times.

But I always feel, in our friendship, as though I’m on…. a mission trip. And THAT is why I don’t ever see me going into the mission field, because there are tons of people right here in my life right now who need me. I don’t want to leave our little town because what if ItalianMom ever needed a place to stay? What if I didn’t give her Sanity Breaks sometimes? What if Mindy ever needed something and her parents were too drunk or stoned to care?

Given Up

When I start thinking like that too much, I have to give it up. The Bible says we should think on things that are good and lovely and pure. So I am going to stop worrying right now. I am giving my vehicle to ItalianMom in good faith that her car will be fixed in a few days and that it will help their family. And if SemperFi does something to it? Well… that’s just the way it goes. I won’t be used, but I do need to help my dear friend.

Promises Fulfilled

Prayers of Desperation

Just shy of two years ago, Rob and I were in a mess financially. We’d already started to come out from under it, but we were still dealing with crummy financial decisions we’d made YEARS previously. We hadn’t been tithing for very long, so we felt like we had a lot of catching up to do before we could be blessed in that way. Don’t worry, because we know not to limit God in ANY way now. Bear with me here.

So, just shy of two years ago, Rob and I took a drive late at night in our “nicer” car. It was a nice, OKAY car that God had blessed us with even though we were in financial turmoil. We went for a drive that night because we were in emotional turmoil at the fact that Rob’s car had been acting up and we had no idea how we were going to afford another one… even a junky one. Our finances were just so bad.

So in desperation, we prayed to God. We’d heard a speaker around that time who said not to limit God by asking for just “a car that runs.” “Ask for a brand new car,” he said. WHAT?! “Ask for two new cars. One for each of you, and then another new car that you can loan to a friend in need.”

This was so foreign to me. Asking God for SUCH EXCESS. But we were fired up that night, and we were in desperation for the “Car Situation” to cease. So we prayed that the Lord would bless us with two new cars. We didn’t say Cadillacs. We didn’t want Cadillacs. We just wanted two brand-new cars, so everything would fall under warranty and we didn’t have to worry about piddley little things nickel-and-diming us to death. And we asked that we be able to lend a car to a friend or family member in need.

Rob’s New Car

One month later, Rob came into my work completely giddy, asking for the checkbook. He’d had the day off and he lolly-gagged around town, looking at the car dealership. He came to ask me if he could buy a car. “Sure,” I said, “as long as we can handle the payment.” He asked if I had a color choice and I didn’t, because this was going to be his car. I already had a decent car which ran well, and I didn’t want a new one.

That night, Rob came home with his first-ever new car. We sat in the driveway and cried, thanking God for this amazing thing. We wouldn’t have ever thought it possible to have a new car at that time. Rob wasn’t even looking for a NEW new car. But the finance rate was better on a new car than on a used one, so he just went for it. We are STILL thankful for the ability to purchase that car because it’s been so good, not causing problems and able to cart around our construction materials and such. It’s a good little car!

Jay’s New Car

Just over a year later, this past January, my car started acting up. I was so sad, because again, WHERE ON EARTH would we find the financing? Rob went to get the oil changed at the car dealership where his car was bought, and came to pick me up at work that evening with a car just like the one I drive now. I wrote about it back in January. On January 18, just 11 days before my birthday, Rob and I were able to buy a new car FOR ME.

Now, just 8 months later, the second part of our prayer has been fulfilled.

Theo’s Accident

Last evening, Rob’s 83-year-old stepdad, Theo, was broadsided as he came home from getting groceries. He’s OK. The other driver was ok. His Crown Vic is not ok. Rob’s parents have only one vehicle between them because, frankly, they’re old people and they live in town across from the grocery store and they go everywhere together. So why pay for two cars when they only ever drive the one?

Bebe called us at about 7 last night. She was a bit upset. Had it been me, I’d have walked to the accident from home, as it’s only about 10 blocks and she could’ve gotten there before we did. Anyway, everything was OK, so Theo asked us to take the groceries back to their home. We did so, and picked up Bebe, and then Theo from the scene of the accident, and left after the tow-truck began it’s long process of hooking up and dragging the car onto it’s high platform.

We all decided for Theo that he needed to be checked out by a medical professional. He refused to go to After-Hours Care, because he didn’t want to “incurr unnecessary charges” but he did agree to do to the ambulance building in town to have his blood pressure and pulse checked. I assume they also checked to see if he had a concussion. Somewhere along the way, Bebe asked to go to her son CJ’s house to see if he’d pick them up for church in his NASTY, run-down pickup.

Lending of the Car

I could hold my tongue no longer. “Bebe, I’m sure this is OK with Rob. Please take one of our cars for a few days until you can get a loaner.” Rob agreed and said he was going to ask me if it was OK before he offered it to his mother. They were eternally grateful and thankful to have the use of Rob’s car until Monday night.

Since Rob works from home these days, he doesn’t have to go to Middleton Church for his office hours until Tuesday, then we really only need one car ourselves. We were able to offer Rob’s very nice, though a bit compact car to his folks for basically as long as they need it.

Bebe and Theo weren’t even out of the driveway when I realized what had happened. We stood in the drive and waved our goodbyes in the chilly evening air. The breeze blew lightly and the sky was enamel blue…. the dogs barked from the other side of the door, and I had tears in my eyes when I put my hand on Rob’s shoulder. I began to ask him if he realized what just happened.

He realized it. We just lent a very nice car to his folks.

God is so awesome. This promise was from years ago, and God still made good on His word regarding our faithfulness. The Word says, “blessings more than you can think or imagine,” and I believe that with my whole heart.

So I won’t stop believing that my baby is on it’s way, somehow, somewhere… on it’s way to me. I stand in the faith of a good God, who is always faithful, and who sent HIS son to die, so that I might live forever with Him in Heaven. It’s all too amazing to comprehend, but I pray that somehow in the enormity of what’s happened in my life, it can make a small difference in yours.

God Bless you all!

Ground Bologna and License Plates

Ground Bologna

The other day at Work, Joan and I were talking about GROUND BOLOGNA. Of course, it’s a ring of bologna, ground up, with Miracle Whip, onion and pickle relish added.

Spread this delicacy about 3/4 to 1 inch thick on white bread. Eat. Repeat as desired.

I’m telling you folks, it’s nirvana. Exactly. Like. Heaven.

So two days ago, I got the ring of bologna. Only Koegels, and if you don’t know what I mean, you just don’t know what you’re missing! I took it to Joan’s house and she made it up and brought it to work today. We pigged out on it, along with KC Masterpiece chips and Diet Dr. Pepper, and green apples, sliced.

It’s awesome when your coworker becomes your best friend. Good times!

License Plates

Even as I type this, Rob is in the driveway screwing my new license plate to my new car. Here’s how spoiled I am: We had the same license plate ever since we’ve been married. It’s crummy looking and bent up and rusty around the edges. So when I went to the DMV to have my driver license renewed and my plates renewed………. I asked Rob if I could have a new plate. It was only $5.

So now I have a new plate on my new car, and I am getting ready to feed Rob leftovers of ground bologna and bbq chips. hehe

Rocket’s Red Glare

So much has happened already today, I am going to take the lazy way out and make a list. I’m just so exhausted. You should know before I launch into the list that I am so happy right now, I’m grinning while I write, and Rob is walking around singing, “Devil-Fart Bread, Devil-Fart Bread.” (He’ll kill me for telling!)

- My parents and sister came here last night to take measurements for insulation and drywall. My sis was driving me up a wall, and my mom was copping an attitude over something, and my dad was just trying to git ‘er done.

- I had the best time at The Home Depot (THD) with my Daddy!!!! Mom and Dotty did girly stuff like looking at paint-chips (losers!) and Daddy and I picked out drywall, buckets of screws, plastic sheeting, insulation, interior doors, stain, and schtuff.

- To prove what a farming community this is, I’d like to describe (because loser me didn’t plan to have my camera at THD last night) the following scene. Dad and I were walking down the “two-buh-four” aisle, and you know how there are usually huge garage-type doors which open from the outside so they can get their fork-lifts in and take down loads of “two-buh-fours”? Well… looking down the aisle, the door was open and the sky was bright blue with huge, fluffy, cottonball clouds and about 20 feet beyond the door was a cornfield, higher than my 6′ tall head. The sun was shining on the corn and I smiled. It was a good moment.

- Rob finally was able to get away from work and made it to THD by 7:30. He’d had a work “emergency” which basically means that the individual who was acting as his team leader is a ding-bat who needs to be slapped repeatedly across the face. Puh-leez! Rob is the person their customers ASK for, and this chick took one of his tickets and made him do this other one. She messed up everything she touched, like the Midas-touch in reverse. So Rob cleaned up after her. She got to go home at regular time on the Holiday Weekend and Rob was a good-guy like always! (I love you Bibba!!)

- We awoke this morning at 6:30 AM. We had to haul ourselves out of bed and get to THD to load up 38 sheets of 4×8 drywall and various sundries to go along with it.

- Dotty called 5 minutes later announcing she was at Mc D’s just down from our house, did we want coffee, no we do not.

- We got to THD at 7:30. It’s in a town called Owosso and it’s about 14 miles from here. The BIG town, though it’s still pretty small. They have several fast food restaurants, all of which went in after I was 15 years old except Mc D’s, which had the only one in the COUNTY for 20 years, and now there must be 10 in the county just of Mc D’s.

- The chica at THD said we needed to have a proof of insurance, so Dotty and I high-tailed it back home to get the proof of insurance. We got back to THD and they’d rented our truck right out from under us. Laser light show at Rob’s face. Coming right out of his eyes!!! My calm hubby turned a little angry and luckily back again. The Guy who helped us at the store last night said that he’d give us the truck gratis for our multiple trips to GET the truck.

- Rob, Dotty and I all came back to Town to get breakfast at Nick’s. We called en route and got our food to go and ate at the park in town. My favorite one, kitty-corner from Little Caesar’s and Durand’s ONLY stoplight.

-The Guy called and we dropped the sundries off at our house and Rob and I drove like mad to get the truck. They used a fork truck to get the drywall loaded and we managed to get 6 huge rolls of insulation in Rob’s Car. The Amazing Hyundai Ellantra 5-door hatch, pictured below.

We loaded a bale and a half of R30 insulation plus two interior doors on top of the drywall in the truck and headed home to Dotty who helped us unload.

- We were just about dying by the time we finished and we were 15 minutes late getting back to THD, but The Guy didn’t charge us one penny for the truck because he’d messed up and we had to wait, etc.

- We got Taco Bell for lunch (oh yeah!) and headed back here to get the dogs and go hang out at my parents’ house for a while. I think we were so anxious about the morning and had prayed so much over the whole situation that we didn’t realize how tired we were. Coming back from my parents’ house, we were getting so sleepy.

- So when we got back to the house, I took a shower and fell asleep for 2 hours before Rob even finished his shower. We just woke up an hour ago and I’ll tell ya what… it’s so awesome to see three rooms full of building materials.

God is so amazing and so good to us. We are blessed beyond belief and I have such a hard time believing that this is US and this is our home we’re buidling on. It’s so amazing and I am in awe.

- Before I started typing this 45 minutes ago, Rob showed me the bread he got for communion at church tomorrow. I asked if they had any “regular” bread and he said, “Only Viennese and Pumpernickel… but Pumpernickel is the devil bread.” I corrected him, saying that Pumpernickel translates as Devil-fart bread.

Have such a great weekend! Pray for my dogs, Kodiak and Tutanka, that our neighbors don’t send out so many fireworks tonight that they are injured or that their nerves are shot. It’s not even sundown and the doggies are in an uproar because they’ve done two charges that sound like cannons.

Ken and Rob

Ken, our brother, who is older than dirt. along with MY SUPERMAN, resting after their gluttony at The Golden Coral.

Ken is Rob’s brother-in-law. For the past 17 years that I have known him, I’ve sung the “Daniel” song by Elton John, only obviously I change the lyrics. He has 3 brothers and no sisters and I’ve told him since the beginning that I’m the bratty little sis. He loves it.

I might have some paper pics of Lynne and the kids still in my camera… but I want to not develop the camera until my developing equipment comes into the store. I cannot wait to start my new job.

I CAN wait to fly to Minneapolis, though. Fear of the unknown, fear of panic attacks have gripped me for two days now, since I’ve known when my flight leaving. Net is coming with me, though, and not Kitty, so that should be a huge help to my sanity.

Our Pastor, R, was a pilot in the military for MANY years before becoming a college Engineering professor at Michigan Tech. and ultimately our pastor. I am beginning an intensive counseling session with him tomorrow after working at the food bank, because I trust him completely and I will actually believe whatever he tells me about flying. So the fear of the unknown will go away.

I was hardly able to even eat today, though, because I was just so sick over this flying crap. If I had the opportunity to just go right now, that’d be awesome. Go and get it over with and then I can relax and have a great time with Net and not being at work for nearly a whole week getting training on using the photo equipment.

The blessings outweigh the curses and that’s why I’m going. Because if I get over my fear, then Rob my love can surprise me with a trip to Paris… or Hawaii. And I can go see Dotty when she moves to California. I can go anywhere, Alaska, Prince Edward Island, Ireland, France. There is no limit.

God’s grace is washing over me and I’m gonna enjoy the first completely NON-FEAR minute of today.

90 Minutes = $90

I just called 2 different Kia dealerships to find their location and inquire if they had any open appointments for 2 hours from now when we’re going through Columbus. One of the dealerships treated me like crap, so I told them never mind. The other guy freaked me out by saying that it would be $90 for a 90-minute diagnostic. Rob says I should call information from my cell phone and find an Auto Zone, because their diagnostics are free and if it’s nothing big, we can fix it at home.

Deep Breath, Jayleigh. It’s gonna be fine.