Update

Well, here is the latest. The car doesn't have a broken timing belt. It has thrown a rod which means a new motor. So! We will see what works out. We only had 5 more months to pay on this one and it would be paid off. We cannot pay on 2 cars; financially it just doesn't seem possible. A motor is at least $1,000 which we don't have right now. So we are driving a friend's car for a while, until we can see what we can arrange.

Jr. is still coughing and blowing blowing blowing his nose! Missie is now getting it. Preston has been having insomnia despite the fact I give him meds. to help him sleep. Have got to make him another appt. with his psychiatrist who we have to pay out of our pocket. Will it ever end? Needing more money than we have? I know a lot of people face this and we are not alone in it. Jr. has not had a raise in 3 years! The company sold and now they are saying it is not doing as well as it should, despite the fact he always has lots of work. The company he worked for before this, actually shut their doors and closed down or he would still be there.

So that is the latest. It is pouring rain today. I know Jr. and Missie cannot go out, and it is very hard to take Preston when it is pouring. We had a wonderful New Year's eve service last year.

I wish you all a happy New Year!

Friday

Well, it has been an eventful day. Missie and I ran to town to go to the bank and get a couple of things, in the pouring rain, with plastic and a tarp over the window to keep from getting wet, and she had to help me by watching for traffic. Then we came home and ended up going to another town to get Jr. some cold meds, and pain reliever. We stopped and checked on our car and it had an orange sticker on that the police had put there. If it was still sitting there in 48 hrs. it would be considered abandoned and would have been towed away. So when we got back the rain had slacked off and Jr. and I went, and he steered our car and I towed it with the car we have been loaned (without one window.) 3 times it came undone, but we made it home safely, and I thank the Lord for that. So it is sitting in our yard. When the weather permits and his health permits, he will start to take it apart and see for sure what is wrong. He thinks it might be the timing belt. If so, they are only about $22 and he can replace it. So time will tell.

Missie asked me a couple of times today how I could keep trusting the Lord in all the battles that we have and I told her the rain falls on the just and unjust. Later I said something and I cannot remember what it was, and do you know what she said to me? "The rain falls on the just and the unjust." I thought that was so cute. She and I had quite a time inb the pouring rain with the window out. But we had some laughs and made it through.

So that is the update for now. Unless we get a ride or another vehicle to use we won't get to church on Sunday, because we cannot take Preston in the car with no window. We will see what happens.

Discouraged

Well, maybe I shouldn't blog when I am discouraged, but here goes.

I am very discouraged. Why does life have to be so hard for some people and easy for others? I just don't understand sometimes.

Hubby is very sick. He had to stay home today and will have to tomorrow; hoping he can use vacation days so we don't lose too much money. Getting paid every 2 weeks is so hard on us. And the landlord didn't pay attention to the note and the date on the check for the house payment and put it in too early and it cost over $100 in fees at the bank because it messed up our checking acct. They gave me back $39 which I am thankful for. But we couldn't afford to lose $70. This week is not the week Jr. gets paid and to top it all off, our car (our only vehicle) broke down today. It is still sitting over there because it won't even crank to get it home. A friend of mine came and picked Missie and I up and took us to her house and lent us her car until we can get ours home, and it needs to be towed, we have towing on our insurance but we have to pay for the towing up front and then they reimburse us. And we don't have any money to do that. The problem with the friend's car is one of the windows is all of the way down and won't go up. It was chilly coming home today. We will not be going too far and Preston cannot ride in it that way. We tried to put plastic over it and then had to tear a hole to see out of it at intersections.

So you see why I am discouraged? I am tired of never having enough money; not having any family to help us when we need help. I am so tired of it all; every year seems to get worse for us. In 2007 a tree fell on our house, and Jr. totalled our van which was our only vehicle. This year Preston was in the hospital for 9 weeks and that took a toll on every area of our lives; and now this. I feel like crying my eyes out. I wonder if we are out of God's will somehow??? But to move takes money, which we have none of at this present time. I don't have any answers, but if you read this, please pray for us. We desperately need it right now.

Christmas 2007

We had a good Christmas, except for the fact that Preston was soooo sleepy Christmas morning, because Mon. p.m. he couldn't go to sleep and had to have extra medication. He finally got up around 11 I guess and I went in and he was trying to dress himself and was buttoning his shirt but didn't even have one arm in the sleeve. So I helped him finish dressing and came out. He stood up to get his cane, and took a tumble. We heard a huge crash and Jr. and I went in and he was sitting on the floor. We helped him up and then he sat on the bed and was crying, "I get so discouraged sometimes." It broke my heart. The things we all do that we take for granted every day, are hard for him. So he got to feeling better and came out. My inlaws got here around 10:15 or so I guess, and he was able to open their gifts, eat dinner and visit. So all in all it was a good day and he was happy because he got $15 cash to spend. So tomorrow his aide and I are going to take him to the goodwill, which is the store of his choice, and look around. He is so happy to be getting out. I know I will be extremely tired by the end of the day. Especially since I have to get up at 5:15 and take hubby to work. Oh, for the joy of having 2 vehicles.

We felt so blessed to still have Preston with us this Christmas. Missie asked me the other day how long I would grieve for him if he died, and I told her I didn't know, but I think it would be a loooonnnng time. I have taken care of him for 19 1/2years and he is such a big part of my life. I cannot imagine not having him. I can't imagine losing either of my children; it must be so hard on parents to lose a child.

Junior has a terrible cold or sinus problem He was sick yesterday, but made it through the day. I felt bad for him feeling so bad on Christmas and when his parents were here.

Going to post a couple of pictures of yesterday.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Well, it is Christmas Eve and it was about 60 degrees here today. After being born and raised in Canada, it doesn't really seem like Christmas with such warm weather. But I should be used to it by now. Next winter if we are in PA, we will see lots of snow.

Today I had an unexpected blessing. Missie was lonely so I called a friend to see if she could play with her daughter for a while. So I took her over there and the mom wanted me to stay and eat a piece of pizza with them and we worked on some cards. I enjoyed that little time away doing rubber stamps and relaxing with a friend.

Jr. and I did most of the Christmas cooking today. My inlaws are driving down in a.m. and sometimes get here by 10 a.m. Dad is an early riser and likes to get on the road early. So I didn't want to have work most of the day cooking. We cooked the turkey and dressing today; I made a sweet potato casserole that is ready to be popped in the oven for the last stage of cooking; and made a 7 layer salad. I am going to do homemade rolls in a.m. and mom is bringing dessert. I will make gravy and open the cranberry sauce in a.m. That will be our meal. They will stay 3 hrs. or so and leave to go back home.

So I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! They come and go so fast.

It's Friday again!

Well, it has been a busy day.

It wears me out to get up at 5:30 and take Junior to work, because we only have 1 vehicle. Then I took Missie and her friend to ice skate and it was packed, because school is out. But they had fun. Then brought Missie home to stay with Preston as the aide had to leave, and go and get groceries and get Junior from work. I am not as young as I used to be, LOL.

Well, Missie is thrilled! Sometimes she feels like God has forgotten about her. Anyhow, a stranger saw a post I had on freecycle that Missie wanted a UNO attack game. Well, at the end of my emails there is a signature line that has my blog address. A lady named Suzanne who lives closes to me, went to the blog and read our story. I guess she went back quite aways and read about Preston's illness, etc., and she said it touched her heart. She sent me an email that she wanted to buy Missie a brand new UNO attack game and give it to her for Christmas. Needless to say, Missie is one happy girl, as the lady just called me and they found one, and she is delivering it in the a.m. I am so glad for this experience to show Missie that she is loved and cared for. She wonders why we have so many problems etc., when we serve God. It is hard to explain it all to her so that she understands.
Anyhow, I am so thankful for this small miracle in Missie's life.

Well, I am so tired and am off to bed; just had to share this story with you.

Suzanne, if you read this, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and I know the Lord will richly repay you for your gift to a little girl (she wouldn't want me to call her that, after all, she is 13!) that feels forgotten sometimes.

Moving!

Most everyone who reads my blog knows that we are planning to move to PA in April.
I really don't want to move. We will be leaving everything and everyone here (we have no family here, but friends) and that will be out of my comfort zone. I so wish we had a holiness school here so we could stay here. It is hard to think of just having our tax refund to move the long distance, get a house for us, pay all of the deposits, buy our meds since we won't have insurance, find drs. for Preston, and it can be quite frightening. Missie is important, and her need for a school is very important and crucial, we feel, but nonetheless it is scary. I try not to think of it alot. I just have to put it in God's hands. Time is running out. We have our refund by the end of Feb. and as weather permits we will move by April, Lord willing, IF my husband can get a job. If he cannot get a job in PA, then we have to make other plans. We are leaving the climate here in SC for the climate in PA which means cold weather and snow in the winter. We have gotten spoiled here. We could move the other direction to FL, but that intense heat is something I don't think we could tolerate; it would take us a while to adjust to that! There was a man at our church from Hobe Sound last year and he said it took him 15 yrs. to adjust to the heat to where his suits wouldn't be soaked every time he went to church. Preston minds the heat, as I do, so I cannot think that is a good idea.

Just had to share my feelings on this subject. We have been here this 2nd time since 2000.

If God could open the door for a holiness school here; I would be grateful. I am willing to help out, if we could live on the property of the school so that Preston could be alone some with me close by, and where I could check on him periodically. But I don't see a holiness school opening here. There was one; the churches around here didn't really cooperate, and they didn't have good, qualified teachers, and people went back to homeschooling. Homeschooling is great, but in our situation, Missie needs to be able to go to school.

Pray for us concerning this matter, if you would.

Tired of headaches

My sinuses are so messed up still; I am not sure if I have a sinus infection or what. It is hard to breathe when I lay down to sleep, and I have headaches that tylenol arthritis won't knock! I just feel like sleeping all of the time. I want to be better soon.

Today was a big day for Preston. He walked down the front steps at our house, all 14of them for the first time since April 30th! When he got down to the car (of course Jr. helped him) he asked me if I was proud of him. I told him I was. Jr. took him out for a little while today, to the Traveler's Rest Christmas parade.
Missie went with her SS class to the mall and to eat at a Japanese restaurant and had a wonderful time.

Just had to share about Preston's big accomplishment today!!! Missie is so happy as we won't have to tear up her room every time now so he can use the back door.

Gotta see if I can get some rest tonight.

Sick!

Well, every day I make sure all my family gets vitamin C to keep them well, and guess who gets sick? Me! But I have to confess I don't take vitamin C. Vitamins mess my stomach up and I cannot take them. But I have been drinking juice every day and getting some C from it. Anyhow, I started getting sick on Sat. I had a terrible sore throat from drainage, now I have a cold or sinus infection. Tonight Preston said his throat is sore and for the past 2 days he had taken a nap in the afternoon because he is so tired. I am hoping he will be ok by morning! We cannot afford to let him get very sick. I hope and pray Missie doesn't get it either, because she always gets it so bad! So I have been drinking a lot of decaffinated Cappachino the last few days. I am headed to bed with more cold medication and my regular meds. to try and get some sleep.

Just wanted to let you all know what is happening.

We have a very special unspoken request too if you think of us, please pray about it. God knows all about it.

Twice in one day??

Actually my other posts for Saturday were at 1 a.m. this morning. I had drank a small cup of holiday peppermint coffee yesterday a.m. and I couldn't sleep because of the caffeine. I am hoping to get to sleep much earlier tonight.

29 cases of whooping cough have been found at BJU. Students will be leaving Fri. to go home; a week early. It is highly contagious. I had it when I was a child. You don't hear much about it lately; but there is this outbreak now. Hoping we will stay clear of it, for sure.

Today has been quite a good day. Preston got up himself out of bed, dressed himself, then undressed this afternoon and got in his pj's. He is improving! He is so sweet; that is one of the best parts of his recovery. Usually every year he worries every day about Christmas and getting gifts, but not this year. He has hardly mentioned it.

I have a splitting headache tonight. I worked on altering a tin this evening, will have to take a picture of it. It is a tin I found at Salvation Army with a snowflake on the top. I used paper, ribbon, rubber stamp, and snowflake stickers and decorated it, leaving the white snowflake on the top of the tin. I am making (I have 5 done) a set of snowflake Happy Winter greeting cards to put in it. I will either sell it or give it as a gift.

Both kiddos are in bed, and I am about done my work for the night. So I am going to try and relax a little bit.

You all have a blessed Sunday.

Prayer

I just read Martha Castle's post about whooping cough at BJU. I am asking for prayer that this does not get into our church. We have some BJU students that attend our church, and we are so thankful for them! But God is able to keep this germ from spreading among our people. It concerns me about Preston because he could not have the vaccine for the whooping cough because of his seizure problem. But he is in God's hands, and I have to trust the Lord to take care of Him. But prayer never hurts in a situation like this. We don't need any thing else to happen to him after all that has happened this year. And with his lung problems it could be fatal.

Thank you for praying.

TGIF!

Thank God it is Friday! I have been running around most of the day, and it is past my bedtime, and I am glad I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow. Preston's aide came from 11-2 so Missie and I went grocery shopping and did a little Christmas shopping, came home and got most of the stuff put away, then had to go and get Jr., then home and get the mail and Preston, and to Easley to take Preston to a thrift store and out to eat. He really enjoyed it. He was happy to get out. So I have been gone a lot and that wears me out more than anything!

It has been a pretty good week. Schooling is doing good; Missie is buckling down! Thank the Lord she seems to now see the importance of getting her schooling. She is sooo excited about the prospect of Penn View. We are too! I met a lady on myholiness and she gave me the name of 3 places for Jr. to try and get a job up there. Now that the word is out among the holiness people through myholiness we will get some help with job prospects and maybe a place to live.

I have sold quite a bit of stuff on ebay this week. Missie cleaned out her stuff, and I have made enough money over the past few weeks to buy the kids Christmas. I am done shopping now, and have to wait the arrival of 2 gifts that are coming through the mail. I did the majority of it online which was a big help to me.

Gotta get to bed.
Wanted to check in, and let you all know we are doing well.