Stuff

We just got back from Geneva on the Lake. Every year we go to the lake with Chris's family. We had a great time. The weather was perfect and the lake was really cold....We went putt putt, ate at Eddies grill, watched fire works, took a walk for ice-cream, hung out with great friends, got to meet Griffen, visited the beach and had lots of great stories by Biff (Dad Dilbone). Anyhow, we are back and I am getting ready to get those summer projects done. Lots and Lots of painting in store. I will just feel so much better if I can just get it done. It will be one less thing to worry about throughout the school year. I will be taking before and after pics...our bedroom, Macee's bedroom, the hallway, all the white trim outside.....ahhhhhhh.....Anyone who loves to paint...let me know. Getting ready to head to the pool...too hot to paint :) Enjoy the cute pics of the beach bums...

Summer fun!

In the past the summer time has been filled with hardships and difficulties for my family, I don't mean just Macee, Chris and I but my whole family. So far things have been going pretty smoothly. I also have a better out look on summer and am not about to speak some type of difficulty. I am looking for great things ahead. There have been so many great things already and I am so thankful to the Lord for each new day. As well as each new opportunity to serve him on my own, with my best friend (my hubby), as well as with our simple church and the many friends the Lord has blessed us with.

We really have been trying to keep Miss Macee busy. This summer she seems to want to be on the go 24/7....at the end of a long day, as her eyes roll back in her head she barley opens them and peeps out and says in that sleepy slurred voice "where can we go now?"....I really have to be careful, there are times that we run too much and we end up running ourselves ragged. Anyhow, so far so good and on most days :) we have had a blast with Macee.

Places we have gone, things that we do and things that make me happy:

*the zoo

*the pool (where we see all kinds:)

*the Library

*the park

*meeting Emily and her mom at the park.

*the Blinns

*seeing my friend Michele.

*fathers day at my aunts (that was cool)

*going to Kings Island with Mom and Dad Dilbone, Tina and Dan and baby Seth...was great.

*Hanging out with my sis and eating her homemade stir fry...dang good....

*seeing my aunt Gwyn.

*hanging out with all of our dear friends at various places and times, living life together, learning and growing as we go.

*talking and being with my family

*St. Marks: bittersweet feelings flooded my heart.

Lunch at El Zarape, with some of the most important people in my life...really awesome....

worshiping with those around the table I was at...priceless.

The Lord is so good. Even when the darkness comes and in the Light his glory shines.

Psalm 34:

I will extol the Lord at all times, his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

In joy and affliction may I always praise your name....

Hi & Hello :)

Happy Summer everyone!

Here are my two favorite kids...Sissy and Old Man Coley...How cute are they?

It sure has been awhile, but I am back and hope to keep up with blogging again. I had a really tough summer last summer and could not blog until I got my own head figured out...not that I have it all figured out...things are just a little more clear now...

However in the midst of things I have had a great year, the good was good, the bad and the ugly got a little ugly...but even "bad days" are good...Life has seemed to even out and we are back in action...well..on most days. Macee is growing so fast and in the blink of an eye I will be taking her to school with me to attend Kindergarten....it is so hard to think of her starting school....but I am so excited too. She has grown almost 4 inches in the last year and is still wearing her 6-9 month shorts....she is such a bean...but such a blast too.

There have been so many things that have been going on. Too many to type today. Our journey in the simple church realm has continued and the Lord is working in great ways. It has been really awesome. We have begun to see great changes in ourselves as well as others around us.

Well I think that will be it for today. I just wanted to get a little start. I will be back later....

yada, yada, yada....

There has just been so much lately that I have not blogged...not sure what to say or how to really put my feelings into writing....
Yes, Praise God that Macee's test results came back negative for Lupus. The doctor seems to think that it is an allergic reaction....But we are celebrating once again for continued growth and healing over her little body.

I was able to see my Aunt Abby and Uncle Bill...(Emma's mom and dad) from Arizona this past week. It was so great to see them. It is amazing to see how God is working in their lives. The boys are so cute and Emma was desperately missed. We had some times of tears but also we laughed so hard. It was a bittersweet time...

This summer has been difficult in a lot of ways and so absolutely amazing in others. My dad and step mom have been going through some serious issues. My dad resigned from preaching due to a relationship that was going on outside of his marriage. Needless to say this has been a difficult time for my dad, as well as my family. Please continue to pray for him. There is just so much to it, and so much pain. I am not always sure how to help, or how to be real, or how to be honest, and how to be "all" that seems to be needed at the time. I have grieved over the past few years because I lost my mother, and soon there after felt like I had also lost my father. Yes he is still living however the man and relationship that I knew is for sure gone. Don't get me wrong the relationship I have with him is still good. I have no doubt that he loves Dawn and I ...Furthermore I would have been completely a wreck even a year ago about all of this...and yes I do hurt and have pain, deep pain, BUT....

it is amazing to see how the Holy Spirit can sweep in and take over. I feel as if this summer I actually know and have felt what it means to live a spirit filled life. I have relinquished my father, (just as we do Macee) to the Lord each day and I have such a peace. I have had great friends who have been there to encourage me to stand strong and live in the peace the Lord has so greatly given me. We even did a 24 hour prayer vigil for dad...it is amazing to see what the community together can do. There were people that I do not even know that were praying for my dad...it is amazing what his church can do when we are bound together by spirit...commuinity and faith...(simple church does work for me :)

Anyhow the Lord continues to teach me through his word, through situations, through seeing his hand orchestrate everyday...it amazes me how I see him daily. Which also makes me a little nervous...it seems that the summers are such hard times for my family, but it also seems like I learn so much and grow so much that I hate to think of having to go back to school...getting busy and getting busy and....well you see, I walk hand in hand with my Jesus daily, and I don't want anything to come in between that. Not my dad, my job, my family...I have finally put Jesus first in my life...how do sometimes we get so far away.....anyhow, it has been a purging and cleaning kind of thing...I am happy school is almost here, I just want to see great things there, but I soon realize my community and my friends are not with me, I am put out there all on my own...I know that Lord will use me, and that he is in control...anyhow there is just so much to stuff right now...

Last night...I was putting away some dishes...I saw this beautiful sight....I asked Chris to come outside with me. There under this huge, full, beautiful, bright, red moon we stood, celebrating his glorious creation. I felt loved not only by my heavenly father, but also by my best friend, my Wesley. It was priceless...and all the worries melted away as I was wrapped in their arms...and the princess went off to sleep with sweet dreams and lived happily ever after....sort of...:)

Macee Donna

I was told by Sara that I needed to post on here for her since she is out of town.

We were told yesterday that both of the additional tests came back negative for lupus. We are praising God for it...and I'm sure she'll have more to say when she gets back.

Chris

Jesus is so big !

It is funny that so many times in life I have"looked" for things that I call "Jesus with skin on stuff"...sorta like the "writing in the clouds etc.", well being the very kenistetic learner that I am, the Lord has reveled himself in many ways to me over the years....oddly enough, one time it was even on a really foggy day, on the front step, sitting by a spider web, yes that is when I knew once again the Lord has a sense of humor...anyhow;

But I woke up today, worried again...man I suck...and the Lord said to me, "read and pray". So I went and picked up my bible...thinking, so.... I need to reread Phil 4..(which is what we are working on for church right now)....hmmmm...so I read it and cried...I became flat on the floor and cried out and prayed..not just for Macee but for so many things...it was a powerful time in prayer...the Lord told me to "eat my words"...of course in a nicer way than that. You see Phil 4 is my life chapter and my life verse that I have spoken during darkness and joy, not to just myself but to others is Phil 4:8...wow...I needed that today...and it spoke to me...no matter what, no matter what...our Lord is praise worthy....

Other "Jesus with skin on situations"...you have to know me well to understand the meaning in some of it...

*Last night a friend gave me a verse..."No weapons formed against Macee shall prosper"...well guess what folks...guess what the name "Macee Donna" means "Weapons Lady"...hummm, she has been a fighter since the first second....the neo icu nurses called her tenacious....

*I saw two hawks today after not seeing them for about 2 months.

*I was walking through a store I often visit, and as I was walking around I was starting to get worried...I told the Lord how sorry I was for that and that no matter what I trusted him...even with Macee, I looked up and there was a stone rock wall hanging...that simply said "Believe in miracles"...

*Macee prayed tonight and thanked God that the "bumps" on her face are going away...man, that makes a momma cry....

*An amazing husband who loves me.

*great family who prays for us.

*a sweetheart named Madison, who as we were leaving the other night said to Macee "I will be saying a little prayer for you tonight Macee"...she is 3 years old....tears came to my eyes...

*a great day, with great friends, good night sleep etc.

*Amazing grace

*knowing that this is not the worst thing that I could ever go through...

*Making sure that no matter what I get my head out of the sand and stand obedient and praise my God, no matter what...he is honorable and worthy of all praise !

Please pray....

This week we took Macee to the doctor...she (for the second time) has developed a red raised rash on her face...the doctor at first told us it is an allergic reaction...this time it got worse. We went to the doctor again...again it "could" be an allergic reaction or it could be something more serious....possibly Lupus. We will get the test results to find out if it is Lupus on Monday afternoon.

Please join with me in prayer for Macee. She is a walking, (well running usually) little miracle. This is hard for me. I remain faithful and in belief of his great healing hand, but have to talk the fear down. I have given her over to the Lord on a daily basis for the past 4 years...Through all the hospital stays etc. the Lord has renewed his strength in her. She is an awesome little peanut....please pray. Pray for complete healing, pray for her body to be whole, pray for her organs, (we prayed over them when she was so very tiny)...and still do today. Pray that her spirit can feel the Lords presence even at her little age...

He is faithful...I do know that, I have lived it...yes, he has always been faithful to me.

Pray, pray, pray!