From Hurricane Irene to Day 1 of Homeschool...

I really did have good intentions of keeping this blog updated. I feel like I have let so many people down. As I read through all the old posts it brings tears to my eyes of what our family has gone through sense I have last posted. In one word to describe the last five months sense the last post is: ROLLERCOASTER.

Let me bring you all up to date. This family from California has experienced our first Hurricane. Hurrican Irene was bad!!  So much destruction and loss. Our villiage here (we have been corrected so many times. It's a villiage, not a town) took alot of damage from the wind and rain. Many many trees down, roofs destroyed or damaged, water damage to complete loss. We were without power 4 days many others were without much longer. There are many that are still without power. We visited an area that was flooded with 5-8 feet of storm surge. Countless homes with all their belongings just thrown outside into large piles.  So many people lost everything. From the day the storm hit Perry has been out in force. He has such a huge heart and a desire to help others. A semi truck full of supplies from  the Church of Christ Diaster Relief was brought here. So many people were helped with food boxes, cleaning supplies, sheets, pillows, shovels, blankets, gloves.... This Disaster has changed us. Seeing so many people in the flooded community who were so thankful for just a mop or a gallon of bleach dry pillow and blanket. Yesterday the final supplies were sent our neighboring county to help Disaster victim's there.  As people contiune to clean up Perry is working on a plan to go into the community that was so damaged with flooding to offer his help in contruction. Our entire family will help in this. All his years in flooring with come into good use.

All summer we have been preparing to homeschool our children. Today was Day 1: First day of Homeschool. We followed a strick schedule which really seemed to help us. The children were all up and had their showers by 6:30am. They were so excitied. We began our day with a family scripture reading. We are studying the book of Job together.  As much as I planned it felt alot like we are flying by the seat of our pants. At times it was difficult. All three have their school work on the computer. We decided and went with Switched on School House or SOS. I didn't know and struggled with how was I going to teach three children in three different grades. So far I am very pleased with our decision. We didn't get to have our mock school day as planned but it all worked out. The curriculum is difficult. Our oldest daughter thought she was going to breeze right through it. At the end of the day, Sharon said she had not been this challenged sense we left Memphis. It was hard when all three had questions at the same time. All three are compeletly different. They learn differently  As they calmed down and we got into a rhytm the day just flew by. All work was completed and corrected and the kids did great.

Thank you all for your contiuned prayers and support.

In Christian Love,
Maria

Busy Bee

It’s been a busy productive week so far. While Perry is away in Georgia for a Gospel Meeting, I have been cleaning and organizing our home.  Still had a lot of books to put away from the Lectureship. After a wonderful trip to Memphis and Kentucky for the Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship it is nice to get the house in order. We made such awesome memories. To see all of our classmates and getting to catch up the instructors was amazing.  The memories made staying with our dear friends were  priceless! Staying up till 3am, our son preaching his first sermon at 9 o ‘clock at night in McDonald’s in Memphis,  Perry breaking out with Andrew Connelly DVD at 2am, all the kids playing together, such wonderful encouragement and support! You can never put a price on Christian Friendship! We are already counting down until next March.

Our lives are busy here as the school year is wrapping up.  We are very excited for the next school year as all three kids have asked to be home schooled.  There are various reasons; it has been a tough year with its ups and downs. We must do what is best for our Children.  I am very excited and nervous all at the same time.  I have spent many hours researching curriculum, reading blogs, researching our rights and the laws of North Carolina. The more I have researched and learned the more I know we are making the right decision.  I have a very special friend who home schools her girls. She has given me lots of advice and encouragement and I couldn’t do this with her! Thank you

Sharon is feeling great. She is pretty much back to normal. We are just patiently awaiting her next cycle. She is a little nervous but we must have faith in knowing  everything is going to be OK!

Perry’s work with the Prison is going well. He will resume his work once he returns from Georgia.  I have started volunteering at a local nursing home here in our county.  I was really nervous considering I had one day of training.  But my first day was incredible.  These people just want attention and someone to listen to them. It was heart breaking really. They have so much wisdom and life experience.  I look forward to each day I get to work with them.  Anyone have any advice or suggestions on activates please email them to me!

Can’t wait for Perry to return so we can get our garden planted. We thought we were behind but everyone has told us for our region we are right on time! With the cost of fresh vegetables we need this garden.  I look forward to fresh from the garden veggies.

Lesson for the day: Never Never question or criticize someone for what they have done  if your not willing to do it yourself!

Roller Coaster Ride

Life has been like a Roller Coaster and I am ready for a pit stop.  We are really looking forward to traveling back to Memphis for the Lectureship this year. Our children are excited and so are we. We look forward to some great lessons, fellowship and to be spiritually uplifted and edified. We need our batteries recharged!

Sharon is doing so much better and this we are so thankful for this. It appears that medication Sharon was given to shed her lining worked. The bleeding has stopped! We are now in a waiting period to wait and see what is going to happen.  Sharon is nervous; she thinks she is going to bleed for another three months straight once it starts again. I must admit so am I.  However the Doctor believes we are on the right track.  

I don’t know if life will ever be leveled out or just stroll along at a consistent pace.  I can take bumps in the road but I am really tired of sink holes.  It has been an emotional trying time this past week and I am thankful all is better.  I am thankful for God, who I know I can turn all my worries over and he will protect and guide me. I am thankful for our church family and friends all over this country who love us and are so supportive of our work!

At the end of a very ugly week this past Friday; I delivered the Meals on Wheels food alone. Perry and Mickey one of our Brother’s in Christ were putting windows in a member’s home here.  We have had the opportunity to get to know some of these people who we deliver the food.  There is one house where two sister live. To see their love and care for another is a truly beautiful thing.  As I walked in the door, I said, “Where are my two favorite twins!”  (They are not twins, but they could be.) These are the happiest, funniest most warm and welcoming two women. They always have smiles on their face.  I always ask them how are they are and if they need anything.  One of the sister’s spoke up said, “A lot of people could learn a lesson from you and your husband”.  I didn’t quite know what she meant. She must have seen the puzzled look on my face. She said more people need to get out and help others.  I replied with, “More people need to follow the example and teachings of the Lord”! She yelled, “Amen!” Three minutes had soon turned into 45. I knew I had all that hot food in the van to deliver but I couldn’t leave her. I listened to her cry about “her church” and the teachings there.  How she said she knows they are teaching wrong. She says she studies her Bible for hours and hours every day and she just knows what her “pastor” is yelling at her is wrong. She went in to describe all the non-sense she called it. She said she feels like she is going to a movie show instead of going to worship God. I didn’t know if I should give my opinion and yet out it came. I said, “It sounds like to me, is it was just entertainment”.   A big show.   My heart just broke for her.  I sat with her and just listened. I really wasn’t sure what to do but just but listen. I knew what I needed to say, but I just didn’t know how.  In my head I kept saying WHY TODAY why isn’t Perry with me.  I knew I had to help her. To me she is a woman who is searching for the truth to be taught.  I asked her if she would like me to come back and study with her and she said YES!  This week Perry is going back with me and we are going to go begin a Bible Study with them.  

Our community here is small but it just shows it is never too small to go out and spread God’s Word! I will never forget what Cindy Colley said at a recent Ladies Day Program here in North Carolina.  She said during her introduction that the day wasn’t about her, it was about God. She is just a tool. We are all tools that need to get to work!

Love,

Maria

Latest Update on Sharon

Yesterday we traveled to Greenville again…to see Sharon’s new Doctor. Sharon’s blood count went from 10.5 a week ago to 8.1 yesterday. It was excepted because of the extremely heavy flow over the weekend. Which came from taking the previra (to shed her lining, the D&C with medication).The doctor did not increase her Iron because Ms. Stubborn oops Ms. Sharon told the doctor she is just tired of taking it. It makes her sick! Well we knew what she was doing and have to gently remind her to take it daily!

The medication the Doctor called us back into the office for is a new medication that has only been approved for just over a year now. The medication when taken during her period will cause the blood clots to be more “productive” and slow down the bleeding. This medication is prescribed a lot in Europe not so much here in the US. The big discussion the doctor wanted to have; is the possible side effects of this new medication. She could pass a blood clot and it could travel. We have to watch for pain in her calf’s and swelling. If she has any of this we have to rush her right to the doctor. (This scares me because we live so far from the hospital. We live just under two hours) the doctor strongly believes that this Medication will do the trick. She also believes that will everything else being ruled out, that the problem is simply caused by Sharon’s brain not fully matured enough to regulate her cycle.

So, now we are just in the waiting mode. We are praying that the Previa worked and shed the lining and the bleeding will come to a complete stop. She has until Monday. Monday we are to go back if it doesn’t.

I totally trust this new doctor and so thankful that we finally got to see a specialist. I am just so frustrated beyond belief that they just can’t fix my daughter. As difficult as it is to admit, I just want an easy fix. But there is no easy fix in this. The more the doctor tells me this, the worse I get. I can’t imagine what it is like to have a period for 3 straight months. To be tired, cranky, sick to her stomach, throwing up, missing so much school, she missed softball ( her favorite sport she has waited to play) missing her friends, all the weight she has lost, to be poked and touched for months.

I was reminded last night waiting for Bible Study to begin that I need not to be frustrated and to fully turn this all over to God. That God will provide and He will take care of Sharon. God is the only one in control.

In Christian Love,

Maria

Update on Sharon

 I thougt this would be the easiest way to update everyone on Sharon's appotiment yesterday. I didn't mean to hurt anyone feelings with the last update when I accidently forgot some on the email through facebook.

I'm sorry I didn't send an update last night when we got home. We were all so exhausted that the children and I were in bed just alittle after 7pm. Perry had his weekly Bible Study at the Prison so he left for that. 

After getting lost in Greenville (Thanks Tom Tom) we arrived right at 9am. We were seen by two different nurses and thoroughly interviewed Sharon.  We were very impressed. Never have we been in any type of setting like we were in yesterday. It was like a mini Hospital.  I did feel a little at ease knowing we were about to see one of the top three doctors in the country for these sorts of problems and Infertility. After a short wait a female doctor came in and got us. I was a little surprised because this wasn’t the doctor who we were sent to see. (Sharon was given a female Reproductive Endocrinologist because it is in her chart she wanted only females.) I thought that was very nice and accommodating. She asked Sharon questions for about an hour. Took her complete history and confirmed them with her medical chart from our OB/GYN.  She explained to us that she must rule out a few different blood disorders with the first one being von Willebrand Disease which the doctor does NOT believe she has but wants a conclusive test done. (Sharon was tested for this in early January however the doctor could not locate the test results and explained to us that most OB’s don’t order the right test for this disease. It’s very difficult to confirm.) The conclusive test is there is no maybe, its either yes or no. The doctor also ordered blood testing on her thyroid. The doctor explained that if either of these tests comes back positive it will be ok and there is medicine that will fix either of them.

The doctor then ordered in the office another ultra sound of her entire pelvic area and did another exam. Sharon handled this very well. I am so proud of her. She was so brave and the Doctor was amazing. She was very patient and kind and took the time to allow Sharon to proceed with each part of the test at her own pace. Sharon was so comfortable with this doctor that she told me to go wait with dad in the waiting room; she didn’t think her father would want to sit alone. All of this came back normal.  Her ovaries and uterus looks normal. She did find Sharon to have a very thick lining of the Uterus.  After all of these tests were done we went back into her office where she explained to the treatment plan.

The Doctor said because the lining of the uterus is very thick Sharon will continue to bleed until it’s gone on the medication she was taking. Basically Sharon was taking the wrong medication for what is wrong with her. She doesn’t have enough hormones in her body to shed the lining at once. She told us Sharon is far too young and the risks are too high for her age and never having children to do a D& C. (Dilation and curettage) the traditional way with surgery. The risks are scar tissue and damage that isn’t an option, However She is going to do the same procedure but with medication. She explained in order to get her on a normal cycle she must get rid of the lining and start from square one. It is going to be painful with extremely heavy bleeding. She explained to us what to except. The doctor said this was the best option to get to “ground zero” and start from scratch. Sharon was given a prescription for the medication she must take for seven days. After the seventh day we have to call the doctor and inform her she took the last pill. Then we wait for the bleeding to start. The first day of bleeding we call the doctor and she is going to call in Sharon’s next medication she will take after 3-4 days of bleeding. This should be enough time to shed the lining. The new medication will stop the bleeding completely and hopefully the new medication will put her body on a normal cycle. The doctor said once we get through this we should start seeing 100% improvement with Sharon.

It was a tough day to see Sharon go through all of this testing yet again. Most women go through their female exams once a year, poor Sharon has had 6 done sense January. She is strong and brave and a fighter. She takes after her Dad this we have learned.

We are so very thankful for God. He has been our strength and comfort.

  In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  (Psalm 62:7)

We are so thankful for all the prayers, cards, emails and phone calls from all of our friends and family all over this country. It has brought us comfort that we have needed to get through this with our daughter.

Love,

Maria

Chicken Pot Pie

It's been a good Saturday. We woke up this morning and Perry felt we needed some family time. It has been a rough start to 2011 with our medical problems with Sharon. A day of shell hunting is just what the doctor ordered.  When we returned home I decided to make the Chicken Pot Pie from my new favorite cookbook, The Pioneer Woman. I love this book and can't thank Tina enough for sending it to me.

Being from California we never eat homemade Marconi and Cheese. I can't remember one family function ever that we made this. We moved to the South and my kids fell in love. I made this from scratch for the first time ever! The kids and husband loved it. I thought it was OK..They even thought it was better the next day.

Tonight we wanted something Little different and decided on Chicken Pot Pie. I was very excited because I knew exactly what recipe I was going to use. I love this cookbook. The recipes are easy to follow and what I really love is there really isn't any expensive ingredient's I have to go buy; which is the best part considering we live 40 minutes from the closest grocery store. 

The prep work wasn't difficult at all. Over all it took about 30 minutes to prep everything.

The recipe calls for a pie crust top. Which I love. I do not like dumplings. Sorry Husband I just don't. I prefer the pie crust. I used the recipe in the cookbook. The pie crust was easy to make and turned out very flaky.

I never claimed to be an expert in pie crust making. I know the crusts aren't perfect but wow they tasted good. It made so much I ended up with two Chicken Pot Pies. We had one for dinner tonight and will have one tomorrow after morning services. I'm going to sneak home and put it in the oven. That way when we come home the chicken pot pie will be ready to eat. This is what was left after dinner:

Receipe for those who want to try it. From The Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond).

3 Celery stalks
3 medium carrots, peeled
1 large yellow onion
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 cups cooked chicken
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream ( I didn't use this)
1 teaspoon ground thyme
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
1 Perfect Pie Crust

Finely dice all the vegetables. Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion, carrots, celery and peas. Saute until the vegetables start to turn translucent. Add the chicken and stir. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the vegetables and chicken and stire to combine. Cook for a couple of minutes stirring gently. Pour the chicken broth in. The flour will combine with the chicken to create a delicious gravy. Pour cream in and stire. Allow the mixture to cook over low heat, thickening gradually about 4 minutes. Pour the chicken mixture into a deep pie pan or small casserole dish. Roll out the pie crust until it's 1 inch larger than the pan. Place the crust on top of the chicken mixture and press crust gently into sides of dish. Bake 30 minutes at 400F . Enjoy!



Kindness

Kindness~

 Yesterday my son and I were out delivering food to some people in our community; when we witnessed something very unpleasant. We stopped for a quick bite at a small gas station. Behind the counter was a very unkind woman taking lunch orders. She had been very rude to every person in line.  Many of the things she said cannot even be repeated. I just thought to myself; you never know what someone is going through in their life. Everyone you meet is facing some sort of trial.

 It’s how we handle the trials in our lives that make us who we are. Joy is not the absence of trouble (James 1:2-4). Joy is achieved when we learn to accept life as it comes and make the best of it. If one is always consumed with the negatives in life, one cannot focus on the positive. Learn to let things go. Count your blessings not your troubles. Life is too short.

     Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.   James 4:14

Jane McWhorter gave these words of wisdom:

Just for the fun of it, let each dish represent a blessing in your life. By the time you have filled the dish drainer, you will be a more grateful person.

Thank God for dirty dishes;

They have a tale to tell.

While others folks go hungry,

We’re faring very well.

With home and health and happiness,

Why should we want to fuss:

For by this stack of evidence,

God is mighty good to us.

Author Unknown

Someone once said, taste your words the next time before you speak them. Think about that for a moment. Will they be sour? Will be they bitter? Will they lack that ingredient that will make them palatable, that ingredient of kindness? If they are lacking in this, why don’t you add it? Kindness should be found in our actions. Kindness should be found in our speech. Kindness should be found in our thoughts. If we are in kind in our thoughts, we will overlook a lot of the trivial things, that which would ordinarily ruin a day for us.

Remember, love is kind. It is the element of kindness that helps us to overlook many things. “Above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). It is the element of kindness which helps us to overlook the faults of others.

We must rise above the trials and tribulations of life; take great joy in knowing it will be worth it if we will but remain faithful to the Giver of life and joy.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.   (Romans 6:23)