Ragtag Mama

If you read my husband blog this is stolen material but who can resist these sweet faces!

How Great Is Our God from Chris Walker on Vimeo.

My favorite part of the video is Ephriam singing. It is nice to hear his voice!

Between Two Kingdoms is our teacher pastor, Joe Boyd, at VCC book that was just released today! I really can’t wait to get my hands on a copy so that I can read his incredible story. I know how can I say it is incredible if I haven’t read it? One week Joe read part of the story to us as part of his sermon. I was so taken in by it and am sure  that I won’t be able to put the story down when I get it. Not to mention that if the story is told anything like Joe tells stories at church I am sure he will suck me right in.

Congratulations Joe on book. I am praying that it sells millions and blows peoples minds.

Let me know if you have gotten a copy or if you plan on reading it. If you click on Joe’s link above it will take you to his blog where he talks about the book and more details as to what to pray for for him.

FW

As I post this I am listening to Help Haiti Live. I really love what Compassion does for the people around the world. To know that right there are at least a million children being sponsored and that these kids grow into adults who do great works for God. I find it really hard to be rich. Yes I am rich, I am in the top 10% of income in the WORLD. I love to give money away. I wish that Chris and I could sponsor more children through Compassion, but right now we are in the process of getting rid of our debt. I think that I have mentioned before that one day I want to give away either Chris’ or mine salary. For now we do what we can. Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion or helping out else where. There are A LOT of people in need.

Thank you too Shaun Groves for putting together this wonderful concert for such a great cause. Thanks to all the people who work, blog, and support Compassion. May God’s light shine down on you. Thank you also for all the artist who donated their time and talent for tonight.

Today is the day I suppose to receive my laptop, however dell has delayed it another week. So I am still waiting as patiently as I can. If you really know me, you know that it is KILLING me to have to wait. The only real time that I am having a problem sharing the computer with my husband is at night. I have spent the last week at home and if I want to look at something at night well I either have to wait or ask nicely for Christopher to share.

I have been enjoying my time at home. I love getting to watch American Idol and the Olympics at night. I really don’t like the decrease in my paycheck but I am hoping that will only be till business starts to pick up. I am hoping that with us changing hospital systems that we will draw more business. Who knows though what will happen.

I am getting my butt kicked in my karate class. The type of karate is Aikido. It has to do more with causing pain in defending yourself then it does it actually starting a fight and kicking butt. I have really learned a lot and my hands, wrist, and arms are very sore. Next week my teacher’s instructor will be teaching us. Makes me a bit nervous because I know nothing but what she has taught us so far.

Other then that there really isn’t much going on. I wish that it would stop snowing and bring on the warm weather and sunshine. At this rate it will be snowing for Estrofest 2010. I hope not. I don’t want to take a coat with me at the end of March.

Well it is time to go get the kids from school and feed them lunch. Will up date more often once I have my own computer (then of course I will be working more! ha!)

FW

A few days ago my laptop bit the dust. So for now Chris and I are sharing a computer, and this is something we haven’t had to do in a LONG time. We are doing pretty good with it considering I have been working. When we are here at the same time their might be issue. I will try tomorrow while the kids and I are at home to get some pictures upload and show you what things have been like around here. However this all depends on how things work out with computer sharing and how long my kids will let me sit at the computer. So if you have been looking for a new blog post from me I just haven’t had a chance to get to the computer. I wish that work wouldn’t have blocked all my favorite sites but they did so no blogging from work. Well I need to lay down for a nap but look forward to posting more soon.

FW

Okay so I somewhat stole my title from Perry Noble the pastor of New Springs church in South Carolina. He usually does  a Sunday night reflections after preaching all day. I learned a lot this weekend at church. For those of you who attend the Vineyard on Sunday mornings this is a little bit of a spoiler for you so you may want to wait till after church to read but if you don’t care well then read on.

First off, I am always a fan of worship. I love that I get to sing my heart out to God and connect with him on a different level. My eyes are usually welled up with tears the whole time and I usually have to close my eyes to keep them from running all over the place. It is the part of the week where I probably feel the closest to God.  While singing tonight a few words popped out at me, Wisdom, Love, Trust, and Obey. God has all of these and calls us to have them.

I have been struggling a little bit with Ephriam moving on past Preschool next year (you can learn more here if you didn’t get an e-mail). Not that I won’t continue to do what is best for him, it just stirs up emotions that come with having a kids that has extra needs. He will be fine and so will I as long as I remember that God has given me great wisdom to take care of him and that God has greater wisdom then do I. God LOVES Ephriam more then I do and will take care of him. I have to trust that God knows how to lead us in the right direction and get Ephriam what he needs. I need to obey God’s plan for Ephriam and of course for me too.

Another word that keeps coming up lately is FREE. We are getting ready to start a new series at church called Free. I am also started reading Beth Moore’s book called “Breaking Free”. Not to mention that in Chris’ and I daily Bible reading we are reading Exodus about Moses FREEing the people from Egypt. So while I am WAITING this year I must all be FREE.

We also watched a clip from the movie RUDY. I of course thought of Ephriam. (yep if you haven’t guessed it yet that little boy has been on my mind A LOT lately).  I look at how hard Rudy worked in order to obtain a few seconds on the field and a life long dream. We also watch the internet clips for the 17 year old who had autism play the last 4:19 of a high school basketball. I can only think about how hard he worked in order to get there. Ephriam works hard too, everyday, mastering skills that to most people come easy. I am sure that Ephriam will not only get his few seconds or 4:19 but a lifetime of rewards.

Lastly, I am pretty sure that God told me that I need to start my work to stop the slave trade and help out prostitutes  here in Cincinnati. I am going to do what he told me to do and go from there. I will let you know how it turns out. It will probably be a long process. We will see what will happen.  I am still not sure where my skill as a nurse fall in this either but I am sure God is preparing me for a big ordeal. So here we go.

In the end of all of this as Dave Workman says “Who knows how God might move you.”

What is God showing you at Church?

Or at least I thought that it was going to be. Sunday was great by going to church and then spending the rest of the day at home. Chris and I enjoyed having our nephew Luke over. I was a little worried since it would be his first time at our house with out his  Mom and Dad but he did great.  Monday started out with a band getting the kids to school and going back an hour or so later to pick them up. Then on to the eye doctors for Kendra where we found out that her vision had changed and she has a stigmatism in both eyes. So a new pair of lenses in her glasses for her. Then on to speech therapy for Ephriam where he did awesome. I can’t believe how much he has changed and how hard he is working. I just know that one day we will be able to have a whole conversation with him. Then we went on to McDonald’s for lunch since it was already after one in the afternoon. The kids ate well and then it was time to head home. Kendra fell asleep on the way home but didn’t sleep after we got back and neither did Ephriam. Not that I expect that Ephriam to nap anymore, I mean he is five and all.  Then we had dinner and played in the basement.  On Tuesday I took the kids to school and then went to the grocery store, came back and put the groceries away, picked the kids up from school, napped and then cooked waffles for dinner.  Then the kids and I played by pretending to be different animals as we went around the house. Ephriam usually picked either a polar bear or a butterfly. Kendra picked all sorts of thing. I changed it up and would do a new animal that we didn’t do yet. Then I settle the kids down with Go, Diego, Go and an apple for a snack. Today so far has been the usual cleaning spree. I think that the kitchen looks great and am glad to have it under control. I will be working on getting the living room picked up so that I can do the same for it tomorrow. Tonight will be making heart shaped finger puppets with the kids. Kendra has been asking to do a project so I thought that since Chris will be having his small group bible study that the kids would love this. I am just hoping that through the weekend we can keep my house looking as good as it does now. We will see though.

I have been just happy to hang out at home and not have anyplace to be. Next week I won’t just be able to take the call off and stay at home. I actually will have to float out and work. I am really not looking forward to that but I have to make a pay check too and when your PTO bank is low it is what you have to do. I am hoping that things will look better in March if not I will be on the look out for another job. If you have any suggestions where I can work night shift that would be great. I don’t want to go into work any earlier then I do now.

So that is life here. Tomorrow look for pictures of our fun with Luke.

FW

I am glad to say that this week is almost over! I am finished with my last STNA class and will be taking my test on Feb.13. I am looking forward to getting it done and over too. Then it will be complete!

Today has been a pretty normal at home day. I wish though that I could get my cleaning beyond the kitchen but that doesn’t seem to be happening. Next week it will since I will be at home a lot more.

The only thing that won’t be too routine is going to dinner at my in laws tonight. We have started back up having family dinners, which means that all of my husband family will be there for dinner. It will be great to see everyone every other week. We are taking turns making the main course and bringing side dishes. Tonight we are responsible  for cooking the kids dinner of hot dogs and mac and cheese.

Tomorrow is Ephriam’s IEP and Kindergarten transition meeting. Please keep us in your prayers as we set more goals for Ephriam to achieve.  I am sure that it will go smoothly it is just a long meeting. I am hoping to be home by 4 but we will see what happens. I will post more about him on the kid’s blog.

I will probably not have to work tomorrow night either. It will be nice to be at home with the kids. I know that Kendra is dying to have me home. Yesterday she said all day that she didn’t want me to go to school. Every time I saw her she would say “Please Mommy don’t go to school today. Stay at home with me.” I told her that we have to hang tough through the rest of the week and that next week Mommy would be home more. Still not a great answer in her book. She even cried for me at bedtime.

Well I am back to doing some more laundry and things. I am looking forward to blogging a bit more next week when things aren’t so crazy.

So how was your week? Are you ready for the weekend? I would like to hear from you.

So this is my last week of this term at school! I am so excited! I will be able to be at home more with the kids and get some more organization done around here.

Here is a run down of what my week looks like:

Monday- kids to school, grocery store, pick up kids, lunch, Speech therapy, change clothes, class, home, dinner, set up things for next day, finally bed which won’t be probably till around midnight.

Tuesday- up early for OT, take kids to school, home to do laundry, dishes, and pick up, pick the kids up from school, lunch, nap,  playtime (maybe 30 min.), dinner, work till 7a.

Wednesday- home from work, sleep, take kids to school, sleep, pick kids up, lunch, nap, go to school, home, dinner, bed.

Thursday- take kids to school, finish up laundry and house work, pick kids up, lunch, nap, 30 min playtime, dinner, work.

Friday- home from work, sleep till noon, lunch, Ephriam’s IEP and Kindergarten transition meeting, home, dinner, work.

Saturday-sleep, lunch, sleep, dinner, work nursery at church.

Sunday-church, lunch, maybe nap?, playtime with kids while my nephew gets to come over for a visit.

The following week isn’t half as busy because there is no class for me or OT! Just school for the kids and hang out time for me.  I am so looking forward to doing more of this:

Playing with the kids.

Late to getting to the kids from school already oops!

FW

Here are photos from Jan 10th when we celebrated Chris’ Mom’s Birthday and Ephriam’s Birthday together at one party:

Ephriam’s Snake cake. Didn’t turn out too bad.

Kendra and Luke. I love this picture of them it is SO cute!

Up close and personal with Kendra

The Birthday Kids.

Ephriam and his cold hard cash.

Grandma and her book.

Ephriam opening presents

UNO moo! Is a great game to learn colors with.

Grandma and more gifts.

Gotta love the Vera Bradley!

All of the kids couldn’t wait to play with Ephriam’s Castle. It is one gift he plays with A LOT!