I won the bet with Grant.

Here is my guest entery at the G sides.

The G Sides had an interesting post on decision making this morning. I started to write a comment on it, once I got to paragraph 3 I decided it should be a post on my own blog.

Grant was talking about a couple of people that have come to him this week for advice on making tough decisions. I did the same thing when we were deciding on whether to stay on staff with FamilyLife or not. He didn’t give me any answers but what he did do is ask me a few key questions to help me formulate my thoughts and help equip myself to make a good decision

I also started reading a book by Gary Friesen called Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View. I cannot recommend this book enough. Go get it.

Back to our hard decision…
We are not yet on the “other side” of it. I am living with my parents, Karen and the kids are 600 miles away. Karen is about ready to pull her hair out, its already going gray,  waiting for our house to sell. (anyone looking for a 5 bedroom 2300 square foot house in Pleasant Forest?)
But, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, something I couldn’t see on the other side of the decision. All I saw was a very large, very thick brick wall. After we commited to our decision, its like that wall just crumbled in front of us. I got a good paying, fun job in less than a week with no interview. That was like the weight of the world being lifted off my shoulders.

Another thing we wanted to do in this decision is continue to seek places where we can be used by God to further his kingdom. The place where I work is about 70% Chinese, 15% Indian and 15% white American. I am working in a mission field. There is a chinese woman who leads a Bible study with a handfull of other Chinese Christians here. I want to work with those guys to help reach out to our co-workers. And I am in the process of laying a foundation with one of the younger guys here, his name is Hao. I invite him to play basketball with me at lunch and had him over for dinner last night, then we played Starcraft for a couple of hours with my younger brother. I don’t know where he stands spiritually, but I am in the middle of earning the right to talk to him about it.
We have also visted another church here. We decided when we move back that we are going to visit several churches and plug in where we can best be used. That may be the church we left when we moved to Little Rock but it may not be. Anyway, this church we visited is big on the members serving the body of Christ. The first sermon I heard there was about just that, about serving in the church using your talents and abilities. It struck a chord with me.

So, like I said, we are still in the middle of this decision but we see God at work in the midst of it and we take comfort in that.

I have been coloring my hair myself to cover up the gray. This was a last resort as the price for highlights around here are expensive. I also haven’t found a person (reasonably priced) to do my hair.  Anyway, the hair color box says it is the best for stubborn gray hair.  I must have some REALLY unruly gray.  I left it on for the extra time Plus some for the “stubborn gray.”  Didn’t work! On my way to get a haircut I noticed gray popping out all over the place.

I turned 35 and can’t get rid of the gray! Ugh

The Colts play the Denver Broncos on Sunday. I emailed my friend, Grant English, giving him a few thoughts on the game. He is a big Broncos fan.

We made a wager on the game. The winner gets to “guest blog” on the losers blog.

For now, I’m keeping my mouth shut. Just as soon as I start talking trash before the game, it’ll come back to bite me.

Elizabeth was on cloud nine yesterday.  On the way back to Little Rock from Columbus, we stopped in Tennessee.  One of Elizabeth’s very favorite movies is Coal Miner’s Daughter. It is the rags to riches story about Loretta Lynn’s life as portrayed by Sissy Spacek.  She just loves that movie (and Mr. Holland’s Opus). Whatever town it is, we went stopped by the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch. It is quite a spread. Elizabeth was just ecstatic.  I told them they could each get a little something in one of the four gift shops. Elizabeth’s newest prized possession (that went to school in her backpack today)?  It is an 8×10 autographed photo of Loretta Lynn.

Times like now I question my sanity.  The kids and I left Little Rock at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.  After a 45 minute traffic delay in West Memphis and an hour stop for supper in Jackson, TN we arrived in Columbus at 3:30 a.m. I had been up for 22 hours, handed the kids over to Mike and went straight to bed. I woke up around 9:30 or so. I have been fortunate enough to have naps everyday. 

We looked at houses all morning, yesterday. I found one I really like. Mike found 2 he really likes.  Think they are the same? NO!! I have to admit, one of the 2 Mike likes is really cool.  The problem……It sits on N. Wood Lake, yes, a lake. 4 kids, under 10 and not allowed to have fences up…….MOMS, need I say more?  The back side of the house has 2 decks, up and down, kids leaning over, falling off and going splat.  Anyway, cool house, wrong timing. 

The one I like is in town but on a quiet street. Has a huge front yard and a long driveway.  No associations or anything so we could put a fence up if we wanted.  It has a pool and hot tub in the backyard.  We would have to put up another fence that locks directly around the pool. It is a very traditional 2 story house, functional and we can be there, long term.  It has 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, laundry room, hardwood floors in the living, dining, and a bedroom. (Pretty sure it is throughout and just covered by carpet.) Family room has a fireplace, there is a full unfinished basement.  It is a great house to host a small group and entertain. Ideal for some kind of ministry outreach.  It is one block south of Parkside Elementary and the community soccer fields, park, and People Trails. It is also within reasonable bike riding distance of Grandpa and Grandma’s new house.

Someone please buy our Little Rock house!!! Pray for our home to sell!  

He did it! He pulled it off without telling me. Mike arrived around 3:00 on Friday afternoon.  After a big hug and kiss he handed me a “key” to a hotel room.  He had arranged childcare with 2 families to keep the kiddos. He told me to go to the hotel and he would meet me there later. He took care of packing up the kids and dropping them off. I had a couple of hours to myself in TOTAL SILENCE. It was AWESOME!! We had two nights at the Embassy Suites-Little Rock. 

When I first arrived I wasn’t sure what to do. I sat down and read the downtown Little Rock guide, did some journaling and then….took an hour nap! It was great…a fluffy bed, fluffy pillows. 

When Mike arrived we walked across the street to Kobe. It is a Japanese steak and sushi place.  As a birthday treat, we had our picture taken by the Kobe staff and I was sang to in Japanese.  It was fun! I kind of felt like a kid again.

We enjoyed swimming in the pool and soaking in the hot tub.  The silence in our room that evening was nice.  No one to tuck in, no one’s teeth to brush but my own….. We enjoyed the breakfast buffet on Saturday morning.

We picked up the kids, let the dog out, and then went back to the hotel to swim.  The kids were thrilled!!! Later we went to the Big Dam Bridge. Yes, that is the real name of it.  It is the world’s (largest and/or longest) pedestrian/bike bridge. We got some great pictures. We also got to watch a boat go through the lock at the dam. The kids really enjoyed that! We then ordered pizza and went back to the hotel. The kids had an absolute blast swimming and hot-tubbing. 

Mike, you outdid yourself. Thank you for an awesome birthday. I miss you and I can’t wait to see you later this week. I love you.  

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th. It is also my 35th birthday.  That sounds weird….35.  Only 5 years away from 40……ugh. 

I have been thinking about what each of my children’s “love languages” are, and mine.  I love giving gifts. I just haven’t been able to give the kind of gifts I love to give because of having a limited income for so long.  Anyway, I like to receive gifts too

I am getting the best one ever tomorrow.  It is MIKE!!!! He is driving here and has the whole weekend planned out.  He is quite awesome at planning surprises, he just can’t keep it secret very well I have an idea of what he may have in store. I will just wait and see if my suspicions are correct…

Weird Al has a new song out based on my life…

White and Nerdy

Elijah. I miss our “I… love… YOU!” game. I miss how he actually prefers me over Mommy (our only kid that does.) I miss his hugs and kisses.

Isaiah. I miss how he “jokes me.” I miss how he acts goofy on purpose. I miss how he mispronounces words.

Luke. I miss his energy. I miss his curiosity and how he asks insightful question, the kind that let you know he’s really thinking about stuff. I miss his drums. I miss him wanting me to play with him.

Elizabeth. I miss her hugs. I miss reading to her and her reading to me. I miss helping her with her homework. I miss riding bikes with her. I miss how she can sometimes say the sweetest things out of the blue.

Karen. I miss everything about her. I miss her hug and kiss when I get home. I miss helping her around the house. I miss having her in bed next to me. I miss how she does that one thing when we are… well, never mind. I’ll keep that one to myself.

Someone hurry up and buy our house. Please!

The house was “listed” last Thursday and there have been 8 showings and Sunday there will be an open house from 1:30-3:30.  It is interesting the feedback from those who have seen the house.  Someone liked the house and the space but not the “different colors” of paint.  If someone doesn’t purchase a house because of the paint color they may have some bigger “issues” that need addressed.  Another did not like the way the formal living room and dining room furniture were arranged……….. UHHHHHH, need I say more on that one?! Last one was that they didn’t like Berber carpet. Ok, compared to the other two, I can live with that one…..seeing how Berber carpet is in almost every room.

As my friend, Anne, said, “People are just weird.”

I was so overcome this week by the expression of God’s love as deomonstrated through some precious people.  I sent out an email on Monday or Tuesday asking for help when I realized there was no way I could finish getting the house ready to sale.  Tuesday Debbie and her two daughters came over to help with laundry. That was like a lead weight being lifted off my shoulders.  After Bible study on Wednesday Sue came over and helped me clean…..even things I didn’t think of cleaning…..I just love Sue, she has been like a mentor to me.  Also on Wednesday Susanne came over to help…….her request was to clean my bathrooms…..WHAT?! gasp gasp…..you want to what???!!! I pray God blesses her in a special way…..we have 3 bathrooms….3 FULL bathrooms, two of which males regularly use. The downstairs and two of the bathrooms are now off limits, in an effort to keep the house clean.  Mike O and Doug came over to do lawn work…They went above and beyond what I needed help with. ( I guess I didn’t realize how much needed to be done!)  Mike O was Mike’s accountability partner. They have similar personalities and sense of humor.  He organized the garage, too!

Tammy picked up the kids numerous times for me last week to take them to school.  Very helpful as I was in the midst of a raging bladder infection and dehydration. Thursday night my back went into a muscle spasm so bad that my legs buckled and I fell  to the floor.  Holly brought us supper one evening. 

Now all we need is for someone to buy the house.  The pictures online are great. 

I am thankful for each and everyone of the people who have helped and/or offered words of encouragement.  I couldn’t do this without their help. Thank you, LORD!!

It is official, the house is for sale and there were 3 showings on the first Saturday it was listed.  Please pray it sells quickly.  Today is the 7th day of single parenting.  I stand in amazement when I think of how single parents do it.  I am to the point I just try to laugh when the kids do something irritating.  I am looking forward to a small break tomorrow evening as a babysitter will be coming over for a while.  Tonight we go to Target to buy a boardgame. (I am looking forward to shopping at the Columbus Target.  It opened shortly before we moved….it is bigger and better than the one here in LR)  We end up in the accessory department with all of us trying on hats, scarves and mittens.  Isaiah was a hoot. I wish I had had my camera with me for that……speaking of which, I am not sure where it is at the moment.  All the while, I believe, we left a trail a popcorn throughout the store.  We all miss “daddy” and can’t wait to be with him.  Next time you meet a single parent give them a word of encouragement.