Merry Christmas!

I can't believe how close it is to Christmas. Where has 2009 gone? It has sure flew by!

Preston has done soooo good this year. His gifts were even under the tree for quite a while! But yesterday I could tell he was starting to worry about it a little. Today he was a little irritable and I told him I thought we would change our Christmas plans. He asked what I meant. I said instead of us having our Christmas gift opening on Christmas Eve I thought we would do it Saturday. Well, he said, "I can't wait that long." So at 12 noon I went to school and got Missie. We had our Christmas (not the meal, though) and he will be fine now.

Missie got me a beautiful card, the front said: With Love From Your Daughter. Inside it says, Time spent with you Mom, reminds me how special it is that life made us Mother and Daughter...but love made us friends. I don't know what I'd do without you. Merry Christmas. Then she wrote: "I really love you mom, Merry Christmas" and signed her name. It really touched me. She told me the other day that I was her best friend. I love my daughter so much! I didn't really want to have a girl, for some reason. When I found out I was pregnant with her, I wanted another boy; I thought it would be easier since we already had Preston. But every woman needs a daughter! She makes our life complete! She is really close to her daddy, too. Sometimes he understands her better than I do. She is a gift from God.

Here is what the children got:

MISSIE:
from Nana - MP3 player
from Grandma/Grandpa Watson, grey hoodie
from Preston: 2 spoons for her spoon collection: teacup spoon and a Australia spoon.

from me and her daddy:
1. Avon perfume/shower gel that she asked for (Bond Girl 007),
2. another avon plastic case with stuff to put her soap in etc. to take to youth camps
3. 3 dvds: Dirty Jobs (this guy does the dirtiest jobs you can ever imagine, she asked for them, lol
4. 2 books: She Said Yes (girl from Columbine school who died for her faith) & another one about young woman who accomplished daring things like sky diving etc, which by the way Missie wants to do, lol She is a tomboy!
5. Aaron McCarty cd, she heard him at youth challenge and loved his singing!

PRESTON:
from Missie: handheld Connect 4 game

from Grandparents in NC - $10 McDonald's gift card

from Nana - Vtech computer

from me and his daddy:
1. 2 Avon Wild Country shower gel
2. Toothpaste dispenser that you can use with 1 hand since he has a crippled hand and makes a mess when he tries to get toothpaste on his brush. Came with battery operated toothbrush
3. Dvd with animal rescue stories on it
4. Little House on the Prairie VHS, has more than 1 story on it.
5. 2 Magic School bus computer cds - rainforest and ocean.

Missie got me a plastic container with 3 drawers in it, to put stuff in, and stocking with Bath and Body Works stuff in it: warm vanilla sugar hand sanitizer, shower gel, and lotion. Preston got me a cat rubber stamp I have been wanting. My mom gave me $50. My inlaws got me a nice pottery dish - blue.

Missie got her daddy a pair of warm pj's for winter, and the Guinness Book of World Records 2010, and Junior's parents got him a nice coat to wear in the winter to church. My mom gave him $50.

We may still receive a pkg. in the mail but we have received enough if we don't. God has been so good to us to give Junior this job right here close to home. We are thankful for His many blessings. I praise Him. I told Jr. I really enjoy the Christmas events at church! Sunday night Missie's class preformed their play again and then the choir sang. Missie and I both were in the choir. This Sunday a.m. is the children's church program in a.m., and Sunday night is a service with communion, carolling after the service, and we all eat together at the Pitts Building! Preston is so looking forward to this! It is great to be part of a big church with lots of activities. Missie has a friend whose dad pastors another church in our town, and she invited Missie to their school's Christmas program tomorrow night. So Missie and I are going there and Preston will stay here. He does fine for a couple of hours.

Tomorrow is Missie's last day at school until after the New Year. And it is party day! She and I will be baking cookies in a while for her to take. She has all of her teacher's gifts ready to go, and the girl's gift (they draw names in her class.)
So it is an exciting time.

God bless you all, and I hope you all have a wonderful Christ-centered Christmas!
Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Wow! It's Almost Christmas!

It is hard to believe how close to Christmas we are!
I am glad my shopping is done, gifts to relatives have all been mailed. And I even sent out Christmas cards this year with pictures! I am getting good, aren't I?

Missie and her class did great at the school Christmas program. She was sad that Junior had to work, but guess what? They are doing it again at our church on Sunday night, so her daddy will get to see it and see her perform. She had a main part in the program and did super! Our daughter is talented in sooo many ways. They are having to leave out a couple of scenes due to space, but I don't think she was really very active in those scenes anyhow! And she and I are in the choir and we will be doing our presentation after the play on Sunday night! She is doing super in school, and her volleyball team won 2nd place in the tournament they played in MI. She is so happy to be in here and in school for her high school years. She attends special events at UBC with a family who live in Frankfort and who have a son attending UBC. The mom teaches at our school and Charles graduated from our school last year. With Jr. working 2nd, I can't take her there anymore for special events. She loves UBC. She can't wait to attend there when she graduates from high school. She has started piano lessons again, because she wants to learn to read notes. I encouraged her to do this because I wish I didn't play so much by ear and more by note. I am not knocking the gift God gave me; but it is easier if you can read notes as well. I am glad she has a ear for music and also a good singing voice.

Believe it or not, after we took Preston off the klonopin, he is doing so much better and the generic buspar is working for him! God is soooo good. He was having trouble falling to sleep at night so the psychiatrist upped his bedtime medication. He is doing great this year and not worried about gifts, and told Missie we were going to open our gifts this year on Christmas Day. Usually we have to open them early so he can relax but so far so good! We are so proud of him. I feel God knew we needed a calm peaceful Christmas. When Missie was courting, she had planned to fly to ID for Christmas to spend it with the Giffords. But since they broke up, she will be here with us! I wanted her to have a wonderful Christmas with James and his family, but we would have missed her. So we will all be together for Christmas. Next year, Lord willing, I plan to go to Canada for Christmas if the weather permits. Preston is enjoying watching Christmas vcr's and dvds this year. I get them for him at the library. I found him a TV with a VCR built in, the TV doesn't work much but the VCR works great, for $5 at the Salvation Army. So now he has a bigger screen to watch his VCR's. He still loves his computer games as well. We take him out at least twice a week usually, one of those times being to church on Sunday night.

My step-dad was shoveling snow and had a weak spell and felt he was going to fall, so he went down on one knee to prevent falling completely, which was very good thinking on his part! So us kids, his and moms, have put a stop to his shoveling. He is, after all 82, so it is time for someone else to do it! He loves to keep active, and he walks a lot, but that is too much we felt. He and Mom are going to go to Jim's son's with he and his wife and Jim's daughter and husband on Christmas Eve. Then mom and Jim and Myles and Carol will spend part of Christmas day together.

Junior's job is going well. We are soooo thankful to the Lord for this job. And it is close to home! We are so thankful for God's faithfulness. It seemed for a while we had made a mistake by moving here, but God has been with us and kept us alive, and things are looking up! He seems to enjoy it pretty well. They did his 30 and 60 day review all in the same night, and are happy with him and his work! He is currently working 6 days/week. He had to get a letter from our pastor as to why our church stands against Sunday work, so that he wasn't penalized for not working on Sunday when they told him he had to. So the Lord answered prayer in that area. Another man from our church works there too and had to do the same thing. So they are willing to work with them on their religious beliefs.

Well, it is time to sign off.

You all have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year if I don't get back here before then.

Holidays!

Wow, how quickly time is passing!
It will soon be Christmas!

Our pharmacy informed us that the manufacter was no longer making name brand buspar. Buspar is an anti-anxiety medication that Preston has been taking for years and it has worked so well for him. Well, the psychiatrist wanted to try klonopin, along with the generic buspar. Well, it did not work well for him at all. I called the dr. but he wouldn't help me at all. He said he would address the problem at his next visit. I told him I didn't think we could wait that long! So I just weaned him off of it myself, and he is doing so much better. He is taking generic buspar and xanex as needed. It has made such a difference to get him off klonopin.

Missie has been overwhelmed at times with all that is happening at school. She is in the school play and there is much practice for that. She feels stressed because there isn't a lot of time to get her pace work done. The holiday weekend was so good for her. This next week will be kind of hard too with play practice, and everything else, but soon the play will be over and it will get easier. She already has completed 39 paces, so she is ahead! We are proud of how hard she has worked.

Our school's ladies volleyball team won 2nd place in the championship at Bird Lake, MI. They played hard and did great! It was a very tiring day and Missie was very sore as well. But they all had a wonderful time.

We had a quiet but wonderful Thanksgiving. I fixed sweet potato casserole, ham, brocolli & cauliflower with cheese, rolls, sliced cheese, pickles and olives. We had lemon meringue pie for dessert. Then in the evening, Missie and went to the Fry's house and she played games with their family. She really enjoyed that. I also let the children open their gifts from Nana, as well. Missie got a MP3 player with a nice sized screen which she loves! It was a surprise for her! Preston got a VTech computer with mouse and mousepad. He loves it too! They were excited to open her gifts.

Missie put our Christmas tree up today. So that is done. I have most of the children's gifts, some still have to arrive in the mail, and I have one to get in town for Preston. I do most of my shopping online; it is so much easier than fighting the crowds and many times gets things cheaper, as well.

It is busy during this season with school and church activities. Missie and I are in the choir at church, and have been practicing for the contata each Sun p.m. Junior was asked to preach tomorrow night at our church. It has been quite a while since he preached. And we have quite a large church, too! He may be a little nervous but will do great, I am sure. You can always go the church's website and hear him if you wish, or watch it livestreaming on Sunday p.m. Service starts at 6 p.m. http://www.fbhc.info/

Junior is doing well at his job. We are so thankful for this job! God surely gave it to him. He has to miss a lot of activities especially this time of the year, working 2nd shift, but we are thankful for the job. Missie is disappointed because he won't get to go to the school play and watch her perform. She is playing the part of one of the main actors in the play. But we have to do what we have to do. I will go. Preston can stay alone for me to go.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and wishing you all a very wonderful Christmas season!

Correction on number of paces

I made a mistake on the number of paces Missie has completed since the beginning of this school year.

She has completed 34 paces so far! She is doing great!

Parent/Teacher Conference

Today was our school's parent/teacher conferences. It is great to have such a wonderful daughter! She has completed at least 28 paces already! She is almost finished her elective for the school year, and Science. We were told by her teacher that she is one of the more spiritually stable students in the upper learning center. She has her struggles, but she is maturing spiritually as she is in every other way. She has been through a lot of emotional and physical pain, in her life, but God is using it to make her a better person. Many of the students; boys and girls alike, confide in Missie and tell her their problems. They trust her and have confidence in her. We are so proud of her! She was behind in Math when we moved here, but she has worked hard and is on track now. She is still working to catch up in English, but we feel sure she will be caught up by the end of this school year.

She is so excited about Saturday. They are traveling to Michigan to play their first game of volleyball! She will have a long day, but is so looking forward to it.

We are so thankful for our school. No, it is not perfect; but overall it is wonderful. She is so happy to be in school. It has helped her emotionally so much! It has lifted some of my load, too, as homeschooling was a heavy load the last couple of years that I did it, with Preston having that long hospitalizion and his extreme illness. So God has certainly helped us find a school for Missie. It has been hard financially since we moved here, but the Lord gave Junior a good job now and we thank Him for that!

Just had to share!

November!

Fall is one of my favorite seasons! So far we are having an unusually warm fall. But I won't complain!

It is a month to be thankful. Yesterday in my prayer time I decided to not ask for anything; I decided to thank the Lord for all His many blessings. I will list a few!
I am so thankful for the Lord; and all he does for us! We are very blessed.

1. thankful that we are not homeless.
2. thankful for a wonderful husband.
3. thankful that Preston is not lying in the hospital suffering as he did in 2007.
4. thankful for such a wonderful, beautiful daughter that has a heart for God.
5. thankful for my mom and stepdad who have helped us in so many ways.
6. thankful for our church, and both of our pastors.
7. thankful for a christian school to send Missie to.
8. thankful that I never have to send my children to bed hungry.
9. thankful that the Lord gave Junior a good job right here in Frankfort.
10. thankful that I was raised in a Christian home, and in the holiness way.
11. thankful I never got out into sin, as a young person, but have served the Lord.
12. thankful for my good friend, Janet, who goes to church with me.
13. thankful for my internet friends; I have many!
14. thankful for God's strength when my strength has failed.
15. thankful for thrift stores (that is how we survive).
16. thankful for sunny days.
17. thankful for birds & butterflies.
18. thankful for a washing machine.
19. thankful that Missie has a nice bedroom here (she didn't in SC)
20. thankful that I never gave up on Preston, and he is still able to live with us.
21. thankful for good inlaws!
22. thankful for a cooking stove; I went weeks without one when we moved here.
23. thankful for a warm house when it is cold.
24. thankful for the free clinic where we can go and get our meds.
25. thankful there are people who care about us!

I could go on and on. But these are just a few.

Today Missie is home and Junior and I go to a parent/teacher conference at 10:40, so gotta get around and ready for our day. Junior likes his new job, we are so thankful for it. God is so good!

Have started Christmas shopping. Have to get most of Preston's off the internet and hope to do that soon. Mom sends us Christmas money so that helps a lot!

You all have a great day and count your blessings today!

Flu!

Well, the flu has hit Frankfort. Some have the H1N1 flu, and some the stomach flu. At least I think there are 2 kinds of flu. Missie got sick yesterday evening and threw up all night. She was feverish during the night. Today she is very weak, and has had a headache but no fever. So we don't think it is the H1N1, but a stomach virus. But some schools have already closed to try and slow the epidemic down. It is a possibility that our school will be closed too. There are students in our school that does have H1N1. We are praying Preston won't get the stomach virus or the H1N1, both of which would probably land him in the hospital. We hope no one else in our family will get either one.

Missie and James have broken up. He is unable to attend UBC in Jan. They are 2,000 miles away and long distance relationships are hard. He is a wonderful young man. But Missie stays so tired from school and volleyball, she doesn't have much energy left to work at a good relationship. So they have parted ways. It is sad, but Missie told him if the Lord wants them together, He will bring them back together. James agreed. Pray for James. He graduates from high school in Dec., and is praying for leadership as to what to do next. He will be 18 on Monday. I pray that the Lord will work it out at least by next fall for him to attend a Bible College. We want God's will in His life and hope someday our paths will cross again. He is the kind of young man we want for our daughter. But we want the one God wants her to have.

Jr. is doing well with his new job. We are so thankful to God for this job! He is drawing a decent paycheck finally, and we praise the Lord.

So that is about all of the news for this time!

Busy week!

This has been a busy week!

Missie of course has had school. She got her new volleyball shirt today and was thrilled about that. She is so excited to be on the volleyball team. Her mouth is fine from the root canal. She talks each evening to James, and they usually see each other on the web cam. He is such an encouragement to us. Last night he and I were chatting on IM after Missie went to bed. We got to talking about prayer, and it really encouraged me. James was telling me that each day he writes down everything the Lord does for him, even the small things. Missie was still awake and I shared with her what he was saying. It encouraged her and she got up to look for her gratitude journal that she had started this summer. Today she posted it in again; her first fall posting. James is not going to be able to attend Bible School right now, close to us. It was a disappointment, but it is expensive and he needs to work and save some money. We understand that fully!

I have been working this week. Our pastor and his wife take care of her mother. Well, the pastor had gallbladder surgery on Wed. and was supposed to go home that evening. But he is still in the hospital. So I have been staying some with Grandma Fry. This week I have stayed with her about 15 hrs. She is a very sweet lady. But she cannot walk and sometimes it is hard to get her transferred from the wheelchair to the potty, etc. I had to call someone today to come and help me with her. Anyhow, Preston told me today that he just might get a new mother since I was working so much, lol. I have to take Missie to dr. in a.m. and then hopefully tomorrow afternoon clean my house!

Junior is working 6 evenings this week. So I know he will be tired out. Thankfully he can sleep on Sunday afternoon. But the overtime will really help! He seems to enjoy his new job. He has uniforms too, which the company pays for. We are so thankful for this job! God is good!

Preston has been doing well. We switched his medication so that I am giving him the new medication at night, except for 1/2 pill in evening. That way he is not so tired during the day. I am looking into getting home health to come in and shower him etc. He has suggested it himself several times, since my back hurts, etc. So I am gonna ask the nurse about it when I take Missie to the dr. tomorrow.

So that is the latest on the Watson family!

I want to add part of my gratitude journal here! I would love to hear yours too!

season of fall
good church family
my wonderful husband
answered prayer this week
work for me this week to make some money
my washer and dryer
my children
cup of caramel hot chocolate

this is just a drop in the bucket! I have so many blessings.

Root Canal!

Well, Missie had a root canal today. In July when she was at Santoy Youth Camp in OH her one front tooth that was injured several years ago became abcessed. She took antibiotics which I had sent and was able to get it better until yesterday. Yesterday it started to throb and she knew it was abcessed. So I called the dentist this a.m. and took her in and yes, it was abcessed. So they said they could do the root canal right then and it would take 1 1/2-2 hrs. and I could go and run errands if I wanted to. So I went to goodwill, got something to eat, and to Great Find which is another thrift store. Then I went back and got Missie; took her prescription to the pharmacy, stopped by library and came home. Then I remembered I needed cat litter so ran to IGA and got a few things. Then I got Jr. off to work. I then washed/dried 2 loads of clothes and folded 2 days worth of laundry and got them all put away. I cleaned up the kitchen and am so tired. I am not gonna do anything else today. But now both of Missie's front teeth that were partially knocked out with the pool ball back in 2004 have had root canals and I am hoping they will last and we can save those 2 front teeth. Thank the Lord we have medicaid on her right now, to pay for today's root canal. She is taking pain meds so the pain hasn't been too bad. We did get to clean out her clothes and see what she has to wear this winter, and what she needs. So I am glad that is accomplished. It is unbelievable how much she has grown since we moved here a little over a year ago. She has matured into a lovely young lady. It makes me sad sometimes because she is my baby, but she is quickly growing up. It is hard to believe she will be 16 on her birthday and I plan to have a nice party for her. She is working hard at school, has done a lot of work since school started! We are so proud of her! I am glad she has help with algebra, so I don't have to worry about helping her. My brain is just too tired to have to do algebra.

Preston is doing good. Seems to be doing well with the new medication along with 1 generic buspar. He goes back in Dec. to psychiatrist. I am currently working on trying to get him a flu shot. His dr.'s office has already run out of it??? Can you imagine, this is only September! They ordered more and said to check back at end of week and see if it has come in yet. I wanted Missie to get one as she gets sick every winter. James does not like flu shots and promised he would keep her well this winter if I wouldn't make her get the flu shot. There is something he is sure will work from the health food store. So I hope it does. It is not an option for Preston not to get one.

Junior is enjoying his new job! Last night he ran the machine all alone and did great. He enjoys running machines, so he is happier with this job than he was at the warehouse, and it is soooo close to home. We can go all week on $10 worth of gas. It is wonderful.

I am doing pretty well when I don't forget to take my meds. I don't forget very often but I can tell when I do as I have a lot of anxiety. Also, the increase in the effexor has helped my anxiety and getting back on my night time meds. that I had run out of. I can't live with having extreme anxiety about everything, every day. I can cope if I can keep my anxiety at a minimum.

James and Missie talk a lot; use web cams, write letters, etc. He misses her so much since he went home. Missie misses him too, but her life is so full with school, school activities, church, etc., that it is easier for her. But she can hardly wait until he moves to IN. They will get to see each other every weekend, unless the weather is too bad. We know that is a possibility in IN. He says she is the most beautiful girl on the face of this earth. She has never thought of herself as pretty, or attractive, so it is so good for her to know James thinks this of her! She feels so blessed that God brought them together; it is not a burden on her at all, as was suggested by the anonymous lady, it is a blessing to her. For some reason she never thought a guy would love her that much. She told me Sunday it felt so good to be loved. Also, he loves her as she is. She wanted someone to love her who didn't want to change her, but would love her as she is. He does just that. He said she is perfect for him; he told me and her, that she doesn't know how special she really is. He had prayed for years for a girl like Missie, and then the Lord brought them together. God doeth all things well!

Please...............

please send me a private email at normagwen2@yahoo.com if you were the anonymous person who wrote the message on here. I would like to know who you are. Because the devil can use my not knowing. It is better to know than wonder. I put a request on facebook and no one owned up to it. Maybe you are not on facebook. But I am asking you to be woman enough to come forward and let me know who you are.

Junior started his new shift - 2nd shift this week and did ok with that. I end up getting to bed too late, though. I cannot sleep until he comes in there and goes to bed. I get up to help Missie get a decent breakfast and take her to school. Sometimes I nap when I get back from taking her, but it is not a good rest. Preston has been going to bed earlier, so he gets up earlier. Anyhow, this a.m. I got some extra rest, which I needed. He got his first paycheck yesterday and was pleased and said it was the best one he had gotten in almost a year! We are so thankful for this job, and so close to home. God is so good.

Preston is sleepy with the new medication. We hope he will get used to it, though. I hate changing his meds. this time of the year. But overall he is doing great! He is a stinker! He loves to weigh himself and see that he has gained weight! He is one of the few people I know that actually likes to gain weight!!! I try to make him understand he doesn't need to gain any more weight! It is hard on his lungs and heart to be too big! He does admit to being shorter of breath when he is bigger.

Missie is doing well in school. Algebra is a challenge for her! But so far she is making it. We appreciate Mr. Coleman taking time to use a white board and work with her when she needs help! He helps several of the students with math. She has joined the volleyball team. I would rather she didn't, but she really wanted too, and her daddy made the decision that if she wanted to, she could. She spends a lot of time talking to James in the evening, and missing him. They do use web cams so that helps some. But it won't be long until he will be in IN.

So that is my update for this time!

Just a note!

I have had to change my settings, so that you cannot post on here without my authorization. It is sad I have to do this. But I will allow comments that are nice, friendly, Christ-like, etc. If you think I am wrong about something, then the Christ-like way is to come to me and tell me, not make it public for everyone to see. It is easy to get on here as anonymous and accuse me rather than facing me with what you want to say; that is a coward's way out. To post it on here for everyone to see without your name is not a nice thing to do. That being said, I will continue blogging as I see fit. You may or may not agree with us on various items. That is ok; that is your privilege. My husband, Junior, says the anonymous writer is probably jealous, and I think he is probably right! I have a wise husband!

Just to clarify: My daughter is in a relationship! She is 15, and James is 17 but we give God all the glory and honor for this relationship! God brought them together, via facebook, and whether or not anyone likes or dislikes it, it is still a fact. We are very protective over our children. My husband is allowing Missie to be in this relationship because he felt she was ready for this. He is the head of our home and makes these decisions. He wanted James to come so we could meet him. James did this, and we liked him! So they are continuing their relationship with our blessing. Both sets of parents feel happy about this relationship! James had been praying for a holiness girl that believed in the holiness doctrine as he did. If this relationship does continue and God leads them to marry each other; it will be received with great joy on the part of both families! It has been my desire, that Missie court, fall in love, and marry the same guy. It is wonderful if young people can marry their 1st true love. It doesn't always happen, but when it does, it is a wonderful thing! Missie is James' first love, and James is Missie's first love. I asked them point blank when James was here and they were together, as this subject came up.

James is moving here in Jan. to go to UBC. So he will be attending church with us every Sunday; Bro. Whitaker already told me he could. He loves our church, and is happy that he can be with Missie and attend our church.

You all have a great week!

Labor Day!

Well, this is one of the best labor days we have ever had. Missie was kind of sad on Sat. because she said every holiday is lonely for us, because we never travel or no one from our families ever come. But today we went to our church picnic at the Wilhelm's farm. We had a wonderful time! Preston enjoyed it so much. He sat in a swing and watched everyone else! He watched the volleyball games, and various other activities. Missie played volleyball for hours and her feet were killing her when she got home. We are sunburned but had a happy day.

It is nice we can do things as a family again. For a long time, due to the stimulation, Preston could not attend things like this. I praise the Lord he is able to, now, and he did great!

I am so tired, but wanted to share with you all about our Labor Day.

Sad news!

Jr's sister Pam, was married to Greg and they had a daughter. They are divorced but Ashley was close to her dad and has been living with him for the last several months. Well, they found him dead in bed this morning. Ashley is taking it very hard, of course. We are asking prayer for Ashley. She is 17 and will be 18 later this month. He was about my age, around 52, and as of yet, they don't know what caused his death. Please just remember Ashley in your prayers.

Missie and James are counting down! A week from today he will fly in! We are so excited to meet this young man! They have been using web cams and it is so neat that they can see each other like that. They seem to enjoy looking at each other for some reason, hahaha. They each have AT&T Go phones and can talk any number of times/day for $1/day. So that helps a lot too. They are 2 hrs. behind us in time, but he sets his alarm at 5:30 each morning so he can call her before she goes to school. I am so thankful God brought him into Missie's life!

Preston is really excited to meet James! I know he will tease them! But he is anxious to meet him. They have seen each other on the web cams. He was interested in what Preston's condition involved, so I was able to share Preston's problems with him.

Junior has a physical today for his new job. Then when he gets home we are taking Preston out on his outing since his check came in on Tues. We are taking him out to eat and to a goodwill right beside the restaurant, in Lafayette.

So that is the latest, just wanted to ask prayer for Ashley!

It's Monday!

It's Monday! This is going to be a busy week.

Tomorrow night we start revival with Bro. Rowan Fay. He is an wonderful man! He loves to say "Wow" and I like that word too, lol.

Junior went for job interview on Friday. This afternoon he goes to take some tests. It looks like he will get this job, and it is here in Frankfort!!! He starts off at $2/more per hour than where he is now, and we will save about $35/week in gas! We have been praying he could get a better job! He will be running 3 machines, and working 3-11. Missie won't get to see him during the week, when she is in school. But maybe later he can get on days, after he has been there for a while.

Missie has decided, with our permission, to join her school's volleyball team. So she was trying to make some money to buy her uniform. She was asked to babysit on Friday evening and then she babysit on Sat. for the photographers of a wedding that took place at our church. She made a good amt. of money. She bought some minutes for her phone, knee pads for volleyball and this evening we will order her shirt. She is excited! She is working hard on her paces, and I am so thankful she is so smart and studious! She is very happy with her new boyfriend and loves spending time talking to him, either by phone or on instant messanger. He will be flying in, in 10 days! They are both very excited.

I just have to share what James said to me last night. I am not bragging when I say this; but I have put a lot of prayer and effort into teaching my daughter how to be a godly young woman. James told me last night what a good job we have done with our daughter and he said, "Thank you." That was soooo uplifting and amazing to me. For him to thank me, it really touched me. That makes all the time and effort worthwhile. I am proud of our daughter too; and Junior has surely helped in the making of the young lady that she is. We have so wanted a young man like James when it was time for our daughter to court! It is so wonderful how God brought them together when they both needed someone! God is faithful.

Last week was a hard week. I was in a lot of pain and lost a lot of sleep. Some nights I just can't sleep. Anyhow, I was kind of down. Well, our pastor has had hip replacement, and last night was his first time to open the service since surgery. He just lightens the whole atmosphere. Well, He was telling us that our congregation has 12 preachers in it and my friend sitting beside me, said loudly, "Awesome." Well, Pastor Johnson had preached about the awesomeness of God and made a statement that the word awesome should probably only be used when referring to God. So without even thinking, I looked at Janet and said, "Only God is awesome." Well, all those who heard me cracked up and we had a good laugh. I told Junior it was worth it to go to church to have a good laugh (there were more laughs as well) as I really needed that. What a wonderful church we have.

Pastor Johnson preached last night about when we are storms in our life that we need God's people and not to hide ourselves away and withdraw from people. Well, I do that. Depression causes a person to not want to be around a lot of people, especially when you are in a period of depression. But I do need God's people. I just have felt the last few years that I really didn't have energy to put into friendship. I feel spread so thin emotionally sometimes. But I am going to try and do better about this. He mentioned doing something nice for someone else when you feel down. So I am gonna try and do that!

You all have a good week!

More news!

We had the most awesome prayer meeting ever! Bro. Travis did the lesson on prayer (how to pray) using A C T S tonight.

A - Adoration - scriptures were read, a song of adoration sang, someone led in a prayer of adoration, then testimonies of adoration were given.

C - Confession - scriptures on confession were read; we sang "Cleanse me, O God." we all got on our knees and confessed to God where we needed help; then if anyone wanted to confess publicly, they did!

T - Thanksgiving - scriptures on thanksgiving were read, song was sung, prayer of Thanksgiving was prayed, then testimonies of thanksgiving.

S - Supplication - scriptures read, song sang, prayer requests given, we all knelt and prayed for the needs of our people!

It was such a heart warming time; God's presence was there; I was truly blessed. We start revival next week, so we are getting prepared as a church.

More breaking news:::: James is flying in on Sept. 10th and stay until the 14th. He called Junior last night and talked to him about liking Missie and wanting to get to know her better. We are very impressed with this young man. But Junior and I felt they needed to meet in person before they get more emotionally involved. So! Needless to say, they are both very excited. I am sure their feet won't hit the ground for a while, lol. We are going to take him to UBC to see the campus and all while he is here, as he is graduating in Dec. and planning to go to UBC in January.
His mom called me this a.m. We had a nice long visit. We feel God has brought James and Missie together. It is truly amazing how they met on facebook by accident, but God makes no mistakes. Missie has grown so much spiritually since we have moved here and physically. She is a young lady now and it is so hard to believe! She is a strong and loving girl. We are very proud of her and her zeal to serve the Lord.

So wanted to update for those who are not on facebook.

Back to School!

Well, Missie had her 1st full day of school today, for the school year of 09-10! She is happy going to school. I am happy for her!

Well, we got the news today that the anxiety medication that Preston takes is no longer being made in name brand. The generic doesn't work as well for him. But lately he has been telling me he is so nervous even with the buspar so I guess it is time for a change anyhow. The pharmacy called the psychiatrist and told him but I am going to call him myself tomorrow and ask what we can try instead of the buspar. He does have xanex but not sure if the dr. wants him to take it full time or not. So we have to switch meds. and also the coming of the fall is always hard for mentally ill people. That is why I dread the holidays every year! It is much better than it used to be before his shunt got fixed, but it is still a bit stressful!

Well, Missie had a new friend! They met by accident on facebook. Apparently there is another Watson girl whose name is Missy (spelled with y) and James found her and thought she was someone else. Well, they got to talking and talking and talking and today he told her he is interested in her and wants to get to know her. She is so excited. He is 17, will be 18 in Oct., striving to end his senior year of homeschooling by the end of December and coming to Union Bible College for the 2nd semester. The first day they talked they discussed their beliefs and they agreed! And the fact that Missie doesn't dress immodestly attracted him as well. It pays to not let your daughter wear every fad and fashion that comes out. I have taught her modesty and a lot of the modern day clothes even in the holiness churches are not modest. If you bend over and people can see down your shirt and see things that aren't to be seen; that is not modest. I will get off the soapbox now. But a good spiritual guy wants a good spiritual girl with the same values as he has. Anyhow, he is Bible Missionary and his family is friends with some people from Bible Missionary that we have known for years! It really is a small world. But I was praying for someone to come into Missie's life. This summer was a hard experience for her in the fact someone showed interest and said all the right things, but when it came down to it, told her he only liked her like a big brother would. So that was hurtful, but God knew what He was doing. I really hated that Missie had to go through that experience at the age of 15. I could say a lot here, but I won't. I pray for him daily, and have no ill will against him. But James is just what she needed right now! The big problem is there is 2 hr. difference in the time. They are 2 hours behind us, so that is hard at night. But they get to talk when she gets in from school and throughout the evening. They are getting to know each other, and will have more time together when he gets to UBC, for sure!

Junior's hours have changed from 7-3:30 to 8-4:30, I like it better him getting off at 3:30. But we are still praying he will get the job here in town where he has applied. God knows all about it. We have to have more income. My having to work in the evenings, if I have to, only complicates our lives even more and causes Preston anxiety. I just couldn't do it every night! But I am taking what jobs I can get on a part time basis. I also hope he has a local job before winter.

So that is the latest! Will post a picture of Missie's fair-haired boyfriend!

Tomorrow is school!

Missie starts school tomorrow at 9 a.m. and goes until 12. She is happy, and excited! She misses being with her friends during the summer. But she did attend 3 youth camps so this has been a good summer for her. She got sanctified this summer, too. She said it has made it so much easier for her to mind the Lord, since she has been sanctified. We are so thankful for such a special daughter. She is on her way to being 16 years old; it is hard to believe. She has been through a lot of trials, but last night the Lord met with her in personal devotions and she said she realizes how easy she has had it. What a blessing she is! She is growing up much too quickly. It is hard to believe she is going into 10th grade. Soon she will be graduating from high school, and what a sad/happy time that will be. Pray for her this school year; she will have a heavy load. She did so well last year and got so much accomplished!

Preston is doing well. He hasn't ridden his bike this week because of the heat/humidity. But he is doing well otherwise. He has been fishing on his computer, and catching lots of fish!

Yesterday was a wild day around here. We were able to help some people have a good laugh, who needed it, and you all know that laughter is the best medicine! I will tell you what all happened.

1. When I went to pull the mini blinds up in the kitchen which I do every a.m. because I love as much light coming in as possible, the one fell and broke. Thye end of the top piece broke completely off!

2. I decided to clean the window the big air conditioner was in. I know, I had a blond moment, Missie said. I folded the window in and washed it, so far so good, but when I went to fold it back up to close it, the air conditioner flew out of the window. I screamed for Missie and we were able to get it back into the window. But it was not working.

3. I fixed me an ice cream cone and on the way to put the waffle cones back in their place, I dropped the box and broke them all to pieces.

4. While putting away clean dishes, I dropped a big knife on my foot.

5. While ironing, I burnt my hand, not bad, just hurt at the moment.

6. I turned the oven on to cook, and when I went to put the food in, it was not working. None of the burners were working either. We have gas. So I wondered if they had turned our gas off, couldn't imagine that as I just made a payment a couple of days ago, come to find out, the plug wasn't in good in the wall. So I had to start all over pre-heating the oven to cook corn muffins and brownies.

7. While we were eating, I picked up Preston's fan to move it so I could get some air and something happened to it and a piece came off and was flying around inside the fan and I had to turn it off.

8. While we were eating, I got choked on some corn muffin.

Now Missie sent a text to one of her friend before #6, 7, 8 and told him what had happened and he wrote back all worried and asked if I had cut myself and if I was ok. Well, this struck us funny and Missie laughed until she cried, and I laughed as well. I was thankful he at least was concerned about me! LOL

Well, at the supper table when the stuff happened to me, she once again laughed until she cried, and Junior and Preston were laughing too! Then we put it on facebook, and gave some people some laughs that needed a good laugh. So it was all worth it.

Update on the above situation: Jr. fixed the air conditioner, thank the Lord, it was our best one and cost us $250 last year. It was just the fan had gotten stuck! I taped the blind and have it up temporarily. I didn't cut myself, nor burn myself real bad, thank the Lord. Jr. was also able to fix the fan and it is working fine. The choking wasn't nigh unto death, so all is well! LOL

Then we went to church last night (Missie wasn't sure if she should ride with me) and I wasn't sure if I should drive even the few blocks to church. But we made it safe and half way through service our assistant pastor said there was a tornado coming and he had men watching the doors. Well, I knew if we did get one and I couldn't get home right away that Preston would be upset, and I always want to be with my family if something like this happens. I told Missie I would rather die with Junior than be safe and not with him. She seemed to understand my reasoning. Someday she will fully understand :) So we came home early, and didn't get a tornado, thank the Lord, just a thunderstorm and some much needed rain. Then when I was getting Preston's meds. ready for him to go to bed I realized I had forgotten to go to the pharmacy and get one of his meds. and he was totally out. So Missie and I got dressed and away we went to CVS. But around midnight, God met with Missie and blessed her and showed her some things and it was so wonderful! So all in all, it was a WONDERFUL day because God was with us. If your life is dull and boring, come stay with us for a few days and you will be glad to go back to your dull boring life.

Junior got a call from a temp. agencey about a job. We thought maybe this was a GOOD job, but needless to say, it wasn't. It was a warehouse job where he would make $8/hr. I don't think so! He is making more than that now, even though he has to drive. We will keep praying and trusting the Lord to open up a better job closer to home!

So that is a day in the life of the Watsons!

52 years old!

Well, today is my birthday, I am 52. It is hard to believe I am 52. Time passes so quickly. i was able to sit down and relax today and made 7 simple flower and hummingbird cards which are pictured on my Norma's Creations blog. I had a wonderful chocolate cake for my birthday and chocolate chip ice cream!

Missie has been helping me clean for the fall. She has done the kitchen except for the 2 little windows. We plan to start on our bedroom tomorrow. Soon she will be back in school so i am getting it done early while she is here to help me.

It has been hotter again this week. But overall it has been a much milder summer here than it was in SC. It is drier here, too. I am glad, since we don't have central air, but window units. We stay reasonably cool with the window units.

Please remember Junior's Grandma Holland. She was found on her apartment floor. She has been in hospital, but cannot eat or talk, etc. They did a CT scan but can't see where she had a stroke. They think it is just old age. She was moved to rehab today to see if they can teach her to talk, eat, etc. again. We are not sure if she will ever be able to live alone again. She is such a sweet person! I wish Junior could go and see her but we don't see any way. She is in VA. He spent a lot of time with his grandparents when he was little, and has been close to her.

Not much other news today! You all have a good rest of the week.

29 years!

Well, this is our 29th anniversary weekend. Tomorrow we will have been married for 29 years. It doesn't seem possible. A lot has happened during those 29 years but this I can say: "We are still in love." I am so thankful for that! God is so good. We committed our lives to each other on Aug. 9, 1980 and we are still committed to each other and the Lord.

For our anniversary we couldn't do a whole lot. But we did go to LaFayette by ourselves, relaxed by looking in a few stores, and then ate at Dairy Queen. It was enough for us to just be together alone. We really would like to spend a night away soon but money is a big issue. So I am happy we just got to go out alone today. Missie vacuumed, swept, finished washing/drying/folding laundry and hung up all the clothes that needed to be hung up. She put away all clean dishes and washed what few dishes there were to wash. It was her gift to us for our anniversary. And she stayed with Preston. So it is nice they are old enough that at least we can go away for a few hours alone.

Missie is very ready to go back to school! Her school starts on 21st, for 1/2 day then the next week it will be in full swing. She gets lonely here at home. She has attended 3 youth camps this summer which she really enjoyed. She enjoys texting friends every day, watching dvds, and reading. And she is helping me do my fall cleaning. Yesterday she worked for 2 different people for 7 hrs. babysitting, and made $62. She was so thrilled and used her money to buy a new phone that would send pictures. Her other phone quit sending and receiving pictures. Her and Jared wanted to send pictures and couldn't. So now they can, and she is very happy about that. He is still one of her bestest friends! He will be going back to Penn View this month also, and continue in the ministerial course there. They have a good, close friendship. She needs that. She also has her friend in SC, Kellie and they both have AT&T so they talk, and then she has friends here. She is so happy here in IN. Friday night was a end of summer youth party and also a send off party of one of the youth who has left to attend Hobe Sound Bible College. It was a great party at the Wilhelm's farm and she had a blast.

Junior has put in an application to work at a place here in town but it is 2nd or 3rd shift. He is going to try for 2nd shift to start off with. He will make over $2/hr. more and not have to drive so far. We pray if it is God's will he can get this job. We cannot keep living on what we bring in now. I am going to have to get a job in the evenings or something to supplement our income. We only have one vehicle, so that makes it hard too. We cannot afford another vehicle right now. I wish we didn't have payments on this van; we could do a little better if we didn't have the van payment. But we have to have 1 vehicle. He is working right now 40 hrs/week at the warehouse. It is better than nothing, but not enough income. Even with Preston's check we cannot make it. But God knows all about it. He will have to work it all out.

Preston is doing great! He is happy here. When it is not too hot, he rides his bike. He loves our church and has a lot of friends there. He is pretty well recovered from this last illness and the infection in his brain. I still have to give him his showers, but he is not real steady on his feet to get in the tub alone. We have a shower chair so that helps a lot. So we are hoping and praying this shunt will do good for many many years. We sure don't want him or us to go through what he did in 2007.

So I guess that is the latest for now!

July 27th!

Well, as of yesterday my sister and I are the same age. We are just 11 1/2 months apart. So until Aug. 11 we are the same age. Isn't that neat?

Well, things are better today. We have had a problem for about a week and it has resolved today, thank the Lord for that. I wanted it resolved the day after but God has His own time.

Missie got home from camp on Sat. evening. Junior went to OH to the Bell's house and got her. She had a fabulous time but was so sore and tired! She is still playing catch-up on sleep! She met a real nice girl who was at the Bell's house as well, that also goes to Penn View. Bro. and Sis. Bell were so sweet to her. And she loved the youth camp. She said it is the best one she has ever been to!

Tonight, a young lady in our church took Missie out for the evening. They had a blast! Missie relates better to older young people than the ones her age. She found Lyndsey someone that she could talk to about her feelings, etc., and Lyndsey understood. Missie has been through much in her 15 years. But she really has grown up in the last little while. I can hardly believe it. I am so thankful that Lyndsey is taking an interest in her. It means a lot!

Preston is doing great! If we invite people early in the week to come on Sunday night to eat, it makes him worry. So last night after church he was visiting with one of his favorite couples at church. So I mentioned them coming over to eat and visit. He rode home with them and he did great the entire time and after they left. So I guess this is how we can do it; it is nice to have fellowship sometimes. It gets pretty lonely sometimes. I told someone last night that I have more friends online than anything. But being homebound a lot, it has worked out this way, and I do not like talking a lot on the phone! And I am not a good texter! Missie said I am getting better at it, though, LOL. When she was gone this last week, we texted a lot! But I still don't like it much. Anyhow, we had such a good time last night and Preston really enjoyed it.

Junior is working 40 hrs/week, not making a lot of money, but better than the weeks we had no income. Anything is better than nothing. He is just putting a lot of miles on the van working out of town. But so far he hasn't been able to find anything in this town. But maybe eventually he will.

Well, our church is in an exciting time. We put an offer in on the Wesleyan Campground here in town. The offer was accepted. We raised almost $25,000 yesterday to help with some of the costs, and we will be moving our church and school over there. There is so much opportunity for more ministries too! It is exciting!!! Our church can't grow anymore until we can have a bigger church. So now we will!

Pray for our pastor; he is having hip replacement tomorrow. We are trusting the Lord to bring him through with flying colors and a swift and easy recover. We don't want him out of commission too long! His name is Bro. Mark Mowery.

So that is the latest from the Watsons!

Update on Missie

Missie was able to sleep all night and was pain free this a.m. I praise the Lord! She took mega doses of antibiotics and people were praying for her. I wanted her to be able to stay and enjoy her week. Jared and Missie love playing jokes on each other, and he is like a normal big brother she never had. They are NOT in a relationship, just great friends. He calls her his little sis, and he is a protective, encouraging big brother to her. Missie is not one to talk to people about her feelings; but she is able to share with Jared and he is a big help to her.
Just to clarify that, because they get tired of answering the same question over and over again about their relationship. She is too young right now to have a steady boyfriend, anyhow. No way would her daddy let her date anyone right now! Missie is afraid he will never let her date for years and years, LOL. I appreciate his carefulness with our daughter. She is a precious girl and we want God's will for her life. It is too soon to know what that is yet. She has 3 more years of high school! She has to concentrate on that right now! So, the way it looks now, she will be able to stay at youth camp and have a great week. Continue to remember her in your prayers when you think about her. I am going to post a picture of her and Jared at another youth camp.

Sunday, July 19th

Well, I did a whole update and it disappeared. So I will start again.

Missie is at her 3rd and last youth camp for the summer. Jared, her new friend, invited her to go to this one, it is his home church's youth camp and his parents basically run the camp. So I took her over 1/2 way up there yesterday and Jared and his mom met me and took her the rest of the way up. They are a nice family. But the problem is, she is in pain with a tooth. Most of you will remember she had an accident a few years back where 1/2 of both of her front teeth got knocked out with a pool ball. These were her permanent teeth too. They were repaired, but a little over a year ago, she had to have a root canal on one of them. Well, the other one is getting abcessed, and she is in OH. It was acting strange before she left, and feeling funny, so I sent some antibiotics I had here and she takes tylenol arthritis anyhow for her hypermobility. The tylenol isn't helping much today, though. I hope she can get the pain under control and enjoy the camp. A lot of people are arriving, and they have begin registration today. She met a girl who goes to Penn View (as Jared does, too) and they have become friends. They went with Jared's family to their church this a.m. and to their house for dinner. Anyhow, she is in OH and hopes to be there until Sat. On Sat. Junior will go up and get her. She gets so lonely during the summer when school is out, and loves youth camp. She sold her Ipod to be able to go to this one. Please pray the antibiotics will help so she can stay.

Junior is working 40 hrs/week, but the rate of pay is lower than he has made in years, and he has to drive a little distance to work and back. I so wish he could get a job in this town with a little higher hourly wage. But we are thankful he has a job at all. Even if he worked here in Frankfort, for the same hourly wage, he wouldn't have to spend so much for gas. He is working in warehouse driving forklift, packing and shipping orders. They ship a lot of brake drums sometimes. He likes it better than the job he had working all night. We like him working days better, too!

Preston is doing about the same. He is doing well. It has been cooler here and he has been riding his bike almost every day. And he likes to sit in his swing in the evenings. He gets out once a week to the goodwill usually, and goes to church on Sunday night. He loves the church, and the people.

So that is about all I have to report this time.

It's July!

Time is swiftly passing. It is July, and soon will be August!

Missie has attended yet another youth camp. This one was the hardest on her physically of any she has ever been too! But she did have a good time. There are 2 youth camps in OH that we are praying about her attending. They are back to back at the same campground. That would be 2 weeks she would be gone. I worry that she won't get enough rest and be sick like she was at the last one here in IN that she attended. I am asking the Lord to show us His will. Her hypermobility is a tiny bit better. She was to go back to Riley's Children's Hospital tomorrow in Indy, but I didn't have a way to get her there. Junior cannot take off work for us to go, and he would need to be here with Preston as it was an early morning appt. She did have her eyes tested and she has new glasses ordered. Her eyes were a little bit worse this time again but the eye dr. thinks in the next couple of years, it will level off. I sure hope so. We are thankful she has her medicaid back!

Preston went to his new dentist today. He didn't have any cavities. He enjoyed flirting with the hygenist, LOL. People get quite a kick out of him and his antics. But I am thankful he doesn't need any dental work, as he has to be sedated for that.

Missie and I went to a nice park here in town last night and had a relaxing time. I will post some pictures. Sometimes I feel sad that we can't do a lot together as a family. That is one of the crosses we bear. I am considering looking into respite care of something like that here, through medicaid. Preston is doing so well right now. Once he got used to a person staying with him, it would be ok. His favorite place to shop is still goodwill! He is building quite a library of VHS. And he always looks for computer cd games, and that is all he looks at. He never goes through the rest of the store. But that is ok, LOL, we spend less money that way.

Junior is working through the temp. agency at the shipping place. Thank the Lord the work is holding out. It looks like the economy is slightly improving around here. I wish he worked in town here, maybe soon he can get a job here. With only one vehicle is it very hard because it is too far to take him, and have to pick him up. We use a lot of gas as it is just getting him back and forth to work.

So all in all, things are good with us! The Lord has been so faithful. I am so glad we know Him and can trust Him. Until next time, toot-a-loo!

Wow!

It's almost July 1st! Where is the summer going? School will soon be starting. We are not ready but God will provide.

Missie is once again at youth camp. Her teen pastor is the evangelist. She loves these youth camps! I am so glad for the privilege she has to attend. Someone came to our home and gave her the entire amt. of money she needed to go! God is so faithful. She is growing up so fast. She is our sunshine, in sometimes our dark world. Everything in her life is an adventure; and it is so refreshing! She can turn the simpliest things into fun! I miss her when she is gone. But I am so happy she has a heart to serve the Lord, and she said she wants a godly young man! I have encouraged her to settle for nothing less than that in her life, as she grows up! She is more mature than a lot of kids her age; I think the hardships with Preston's illnesses, has caused her to grow up faster. She has a heart for people and their problems. God will use her I know in the future. She has 3 years of high school left so I know I will have her at least 3 more years, thank the Lord!!!

Our van is needing some work. Junior has already replaced the front brakes and found something broken that has to be repaired. And he thinks we need a new battery too. So thankful he can do the repairs. We also will soon need at least 2 tires.
I am so thankful he has a job right now. But money still isn't plentiful. But God always supplies our needs.

Preston is doing great. He was outside most of the day yesterday. It isn't as hot this week and he was riding his bike for about 5 hrs. Then he sat in his swing. Junior took him to his new psychiatrist here in town, and Preston really liked him. He asked Preston a lot of questions of course and one of them was, "Do you ever feel unloved by your family?" Preston told him no he didn't, he knew he was loved. I thought that was sweet. The new dr. gave him an extra medication for stress, but so far he hasn't had to take even one of them.

I looked out my front window earlier and lo and behold, someone had planted 4 tomato plants in buckets for us and left them on our porch. We have so overwhelmed at the kindness of the Frankfort church people. It is amazing!!! It never seems to end. God is so faithful. I am so happy we are here in IN!

Campmeeting was last week (Midwest Pilgrims) and I received so much encouragement and help! I wish I could have gone every service, but couldn't, of course. But I was so blessed and encouraged. Then we had GBS group called "Faith" on Sunday a.m. and they blessed me so much too. I have listened to them every day so far from the archives. Those young people really knew the Lord and sang with the anointing. Tears flowed all over the church. Some of the lyrics were, "Over and over again God is faithful." "Hasn't He done enough, don't you think it's time we trust?" On and on I could go, but I was so encouraged. I guess you can tell that by now!

So wanted to check in with everyone.

Hello everyone!

Well, it's been 10 days since I updated! So here goes!

Missie is gone to Friends Youth Camp in Munsey, IN. She was so excited. One of her friends spent Sunday night with us and they left on Monday. Our teen pastor drove one of the church's big vans to take the youth, and his wife had to drive their mini van to take their luggage, they had so much! Anyhow, she is gone. Have only heard from her once so far. I am so glad she has the privilege of going to youth camps! I grew up in Canada and we had VBS at campmeetings, but I have never had the privilege of going to a youth camp.

Junior was off for a few days, then got called back. He is back working in the warehouse. He is currently working 10 hr. days, 6 days/week. We are thankful for every day he gets work. Also, SC unemployment ruled he can still draw unemployment even though he refused to work on Sunday, due to his religious beliefs and the fact he didn't know when he started that they would ask him to work on Sunday. Thank the Lord for that! So he still has some unemployment he can draw if he gets out of work again. You never know when you work for a temp. agency how long your job will last.

Preston is still Preston! His side is better; we never heard a word from the gallbladder test, and he is doing better with taking gas x in a.m. so we are just leaving it for now. I didn't want him to have to have surgery unless it was completely necessary because of him being so high risk of infection and the shunt.
He is doing so well; very happy and relaxed for the most part. He loves riding his bike, and this is the perfect place to ride; the alley beside our house. He loves going to church on Sunday night and talking with everyone. He will be 21 on Sat! It is hard to believe! He has matured in many ways. We are proud of our son!


I am doing well; selling lots on the internet; the Lord helped us raise money by selling stuff to send her to the youth camp! God is good. Some gave extra money so she could go. I am so thankful we are in Frankfort, IN. This was a good move; Missie has flourished and is so much happier. The young people here are friendly and the boys talk to the girls; everyone has fun together! This is what she needed. Having her own teen pastor helps her a lot too. Bro. Travis has done so much for her spiritually. He is the reason we are even in IN! His wife Jody is such a blessing and one of the sweetest people I have ever met.

Our pastor has to have hip replacement close to the end of July. He has suffered a lot the past few months. I will be happy for him to not be in so much pain. He doesn't shirk any of his duties, though, let me tell you! He is a very active and caring pastor! We are so blessed.

The devil has really fought us about moving here; but the Lord has never failed us, and we love the school and church, and watching Missie grow in the Lord, and loving her school, etc., is worth every problem. We did it for her and it has paid off. Nothing is more important than our children's souls. She loves being around other youth that is like she is! She is 15 now; very hard to believe.

So that is my update for today!

Update!

I fall behind in updating this blog. Sorry about that. Those of you who are on facebook as my friend probably read my updates there.

Preston had a hide-a-scan on his gallbladder and we haven't heard any results from it. But the pain is better, and I don't think he will have to have anything done right now. We praise the Lord if he can avoid any surgery right now.

Junior got another job through the temp. agency. He worked about 9 days and was told he wasn't needed any more. So he was off for a few days but they called yesterday and said for him to go in today. So he went in and he is supposed to go in next week. So we will see. You never know from day to day if he will have a job the next day. But we thank the Lord for each day that he does work, and for the weeks that we have an income. When he gets a decent check I try to buy extra groceries so that we have enough in case he doesn't get a check the next week.

Yesterday was a very stressful day for me. My mom and step-dad were on their way to my cousin's garage in Napanee, where their car was. Dad was driving my cousin's car. He pulled out in front of a car; neither he or mom saw it coming. Mom always helps him look. Anyhow, it basically totaled my cousin's car. She called crying and told Junior she had had a wreck but he didn't know any details. I was on my way to get some groceries. So I didn't know any details for a while, and that was hard. I was very worried about them. But my cousin went to the scene of the accident and took care of having the car towed in, etc. and took them back to his shop. They stayed there until Myles got off work and picked them up and took them home. It was a hard day for them. Mom said it happened so fast! They could have been killed but they weren't and for that, I praise the Lord. I don't know how I would stand it if something happened to my mom. But I am thankful I still have her!

Missie finished summer school yesterday. She did 9 paces in the 2 weeks and is catching up on what she was behind in! We are so proud of her. She will miss her friends and going to school.

We plan, Lord and weather permitting, to have a yard sale next weekend. Junior won't get much on his check, and we are hoping to make some to put with that. Missie will be here to help me have it. It is a big job but we have stuff we need to get rid of and make a little money too!

So, overall, we are all doing good. Missie is still having the muscle/joint problems, but she can't take therapy right now because they took her medicaid away and we are having to reapply for it again and then maybe she can go back. But she has exercises to do at home, so she can continue that. She ripped a muscle in the back of her leg a while back, so that leg is weaker. Sometimes when she is on her knees and tries to get up, her legs give out. But we hope the exercises and therapy will eventually make the difference.

You all take care until I get back with another update!

Memorial Day!

Well, Memorial day is about over. I wanted to do a quick update before I went to bed.

Friday night was the school's award night. Missie got a medal for the A Honor Roll. She was on the A honor roll all year! She got a trophy for learning all of her scripture on time, too! We were so proud of her. The picture of her on stage didn't turn out :(.

Missie had her 15th birthday on Saturday! I can hardly believe she is 15. She was so sick, though, and spent all day in bed. I felt so sorry for her. She overdid it at a friend's house on a slip n slide and then at fun day at FCA. She ached all over and was sick. She was supposed to sing in a trio on Sunday a.m. but wasn't able to go. She did get to her FCA's graduation at 2:30 yesterday afternoon, and the reception afterwards. I will post some pictures of her and some of her friends.
It was a wonderful graduation service. Each of the graduates (Kindergarten, 8th grade, and 12th grade) presented their mothers with a rose; many tears were shed. Altogether there were 13 graduates! Preston was able to attend and we all went to the reception afterwards. It was a hot day, though, and by the time we got home, we were all hot and tired. But I am glad Missie was able to attend. Now today she has a cold. It was starting yesterday, but now she is blowing, blowing, blowing her nose. She gets so tired of being sick!!!

For her birthday, Missie wanted a glove and softball. So that is what we got her. A lady at church made her a cake! Then she got money from both sets of grandparents. She wanted cheesecake on her birthday as the birthday cake was already gone, so we got cheesecake for her. Hopefully next year we can have a party for her when she turns 16. She is just growing up so fast.

Junior is working for the temp. agency again; we are thankful for that. We still haven't received any unemployment from SC for the weeks he had no work. We are praying it will come through. Someone graciously paid our van payment, our light bill, and phone bill for this month, so that is a huge blessing. We are hoping this job will last for a while!

Continue to pray for us, when you think of us!

Latest news!

Good evening. I have some news tonight!

Junior got a call this evening from Employment Plus about a job. So he went and did the paperwork, and he starts in a.m. at NFI in Whitestown! We don't know what NFI stands for yet, LOL, but it is a shipping company. He will be driving forklift. He doesn't know how long this job will last, but he will take as much work as he can get. And it is day shift! I wish he could get a job in Frankfort, because it is very hard for him to work out of town, when we only have one vehicle. Missie has 3 appts. and I have no way to take her. Right now it is not an option to buy another vehicle. We don't have the money to do that right now.

Preston's ultrasound really didn't show them anything and they wanted him to have an IV and also drink some stuff and have a CT scan. He said no. He is sick of having to go through all of this stuff, and I can't say that I blame him. He wants to be anointed, but last night we had UBC choir, and the next 2 Sunday nights we don't have church, so it will be a while before he can do that, as he doesn't go on Sunday a.m. He still has pain some; but he wants to live with it if possible, but it may get so bad he won't be able to. Time will tell. Please pray that the Lord will touch him and take this pain away. It would be beneficial to all of this family if he didn't have to go into the hospital ever again. I know that is probably unlikely, but we can always dream! And pray.

Going to bed now. Wanted to let you know about Junior's job!

Long overdue!

I know! This is long overdue.

And there are new developments in our lives, as usual!

1st of all on Monday a.m. the phone rang and it was Employment Plus, the temporary agency that Junior was working for. They said ASI had changed the hours that he would be working, to 6 nights/week. Junior said, "that puts me working on Sunday and I don't work on Sunday." So they said that they would call ASI and tell them. So in a few minutes they called back and said they were sorry but ASI needed someone who would be available to work on Sunday. So that was the end of Junior's job. We did not see this coming! Even though he didn't like the job nor did we like his working all night, we were thankful he had a job. Well, no more. We are back to job hunting. We still have some unemployment left, but when he called in today, they said he had to call the office in a.m. I just hope they are not making us wait another week; we have already had 2 weeks of waiting period already! But we will find out for sure in a.m.

Many of you know Preston had gallstones in SC but since they weren't bothering him, they said they would leave them alone. But now every day he is having pain. So Tues. he is having an ultrasound. Please pray they can see the problem or the stones when they do the ultrasound so he won't have to have any more tests. I hate to think of his having surgery, but if he has to, he has to, and we will just pray he has no complications this time. I don't think any of us can spend another 9 weeks in the hospital.

We didn't get to go to Canada because by the time we figured it out, we realized it was too far for one day's journey and we didn't have enough days to go. Missie is trying to finish her school year out and we just couldn't be gone that long right now. But the problem is, after June 1st, we can't cross the border without passports. None of us have passports. Mine has run out years ago, and we all have to get them. I am not sure when we will have the money to do this. Mine is the most complicated one to get. Anyhow, that is why I wanted to go in May. But it doesn't seem to be working out. I want to see my mom so bad. But we talk every day on the phone which I love and Preston hates, LOL. If I can't see her at least I can talk to her. I hate talking on the phone overall, but I am so glad we have this means of communication.

Today was a wonderful Mother's Day. We had over 60 mothers at church this a.m. We had a wonderful Mother's Day service. We could chose a flower or a candle, and guess which I chose? Yep, the candle! Junior took me to Cracker Barrel Friday for my favorite meal of chicken and dumplings. The children each bought me a rubber stamp that I wanted to use on my cards. So it has been a happy day for me.

Will try and let everyone know when I get the results of Preston's ultrasound.

TGIT

Thank God it's Thursday! This is Junior's last night for the week! We always love the long weekends.

Lord willing, we are leaving a week from tomorrow a.m. for CANADA!!! I will drive the 1st few hours and Junior will sleep as he will just be getting home from work after working all night. We will get up there by bedtime. We are staying Saturday, Sunday and coming back Monday. Junior won't go to work until Tues. evening. I will get to be with my mom on Mother's Day! I am excited!!! Preston is wanting to go this time, so I hope it all works out. I haven't seen my mom for almost 3 years. I just have to see her this year.

School is winding down! I have 20 graduation invitations to make by next week from one of the girls who is graduating from high school, and attends our church.

Haven't heard anymore on the medicaid deal. Missie has therapy tomorrow. That muscle in her leg seems to be better; it hasn't happened again. We are thankful for that.

So that is about all the news for this time.

Medicaid!

Well, we got a letter today saying Missie's medicaid was ending on May 31st because we make too much money???? Oh me, it never ends. I took 4 check stubs of Junior's in yesterday so I hope that will help. He is only a temp. right now, but getting some overtime. I guess that will hurt him. We can't win for losing. Please pray this can be resolved, because with this muscle condition that she has, we need medicaid. The other option would be to go to Shriner's in Cinni, but that is about 6hrs. of driving, plus the appointment, etc. It will be another added burden to my life; because with Jr. working nights he gets so tired, and he can't do it; and Friday is the only day I could go up there, because that is the only day he doesn't have to sleep all day, and someone has to be with Preston most of the time.

At school on Thurs. Missie kicked a ball and something happened in her leg and she had excrutiating pain and could barely walk for a while, or sit, it hurt so bad. She has pain meds. at school and took those but she said it took about an hour for it to kick in. She was crying and shaking, both which means she is in a lot of pain. Well, it is still giving her trouble. She was walking this a.m. and the same thing happened. We don't know if she tore a muscle rather than pulled it or what. I am going to have to take her to the rhumatoid dr. if there is not a big improvement over this weekend.

You know, sometimes I question! I am sure everyone does sometimes! But our plate is full with Preston and all of his many problems since birth in 1988. Missie came along 6 years later and was so normal and fun, and could do everything he couldn't do and brings us so much joy. Why this? She wonders too, and our plate is full and running off the sides. But!!! We have the Lord to help us through. Otherwise, I don't know where I would get all my strength. Even then, emotionally I get so exhausted sometimes, and in every other area of my life. To see your child in pain, hurts. Especially one like Missie; she was so active! She loved to be outside, riding her bike, running, etc., now can hardly do any of it. But we just have to leave it in God's hands. That is all we can do.

If you haven't heard the testimonies in the "Building for Keeps" service at IHC, please to their website and click on archives and listen to it. A man told of his young wife having a stroke because of malpractice 14 yrs. ago. They had a 3 yr. old son, and he was a farmer. He became the bread winner, cook, mom and dad to his son, on and on, and taking care of his wife. He was told to put her in a nursing home so he could get on with his life, and he won't do it! We have basically been told the same thing. Anyhow, I couldn't help but weep! He called her up to the platform, and she has a crippled arm and hand like Preston and uses a cane. But she was able to sing the chorus of "Because He Lives." It was awesome! They have been through so much but he said he is not angry with God. God is His strength. That is the way it is with us!

Please pray about the medicaid situation when you think of us. Thanks so much!

Back already!

I just have to share how God used a man in our church to minister to us, especially Preston.

In SC, we attended church with Kendall Stetler (David and Marsha's son)and now that we are in Frankfort, IN, we attend church with Kendall's brother, Brent. Well, Preston instantly took to Brent; I think he felt a connection because of having attended church with Kendall.

Well a while back Brent asked me about taking Preston out. Well, I wasn't sure about it; not sure how Preston would do, etc. But we decided that today was the day we would try this! Well, Brent came about 4:30, and took Preston out for 2 hrs. When they pulled up Preston was smiling and was soooo happy. He was telling Missie and I where all they had been, and it really helped him!

Thanks Brent, for taking time to do this and make a "special boy" happy! As I told Missie, everyone needs a friend. Preston never goes anywhere without Jr. or I, but it was really good for him; good for him to have his own friend! So God sent Brent Stetler to minister to Preston.

It is so ironic, because we were in Bible College in Thomasville, when David Stetler was the principal and Kendall and Brent were little boys. Then in the last couple of years we have been attending church with them!

Just had to share.

So sorry!

To my blog followers, I am sorry for this long period between posts. Sometimes I forget to blog!

Life here is about the same. Junior is working 12 hr. shifts 4 nights/week at ASI in Whitestown. My brother says he is too old to be working all night, LOL. He sleeps most of the day. He goes to bed as I am getting up. It is a different lifestyle for us, but we are just thankful he has a job and this week he will get his 1st paycheck with 8 hrs. overtime! For that, we are grateful! We are just thankful he has a job. And praying Junior's health will stay well enough for him to continue this until something else comes along.

Easter was good. We don't do much for Easter except go to church. It is our Lord's resurrection. We celebrate that! I was able to attend both services on Sunday. We had 353 in attendance Sunday a.m. We were pretty full! It was a good time of celebration to our Lord. Sunday night we had communion and Junior was asked to help with that.

We have finally talked Preston into dressing casual for Sunday night, instead of dressing up. It was either that or not go to church. And he is so happy that he has decided to do this. Sunday night he dressed himself and came out and said he didn't feel as nervous as he usually does and was able to attend church and did fine! So ties, belts, etc., are done away with for now. Pants he can just pull up and over the head t-shirts with 3/4 length sleeves without a bunch of buttons to do up, is the way to go for him! So that has solved a big problem! Thank the Lord for that.

Missie is taking therapy at least again this week. She has exercises she does at home every day. We will see what happens with therapy after Friday. The dr. can appeal so hopefully she can get more therapy. It does seem to help. She can't stay on her feet a lot, though, or run or ride her bike yet. The part about her legs going numb is something pushing against a nerve. So! We are still trying to get her help with her hypermobility! She helped at the school Mon. p.m. with "Spring Fling" for all of the Sunday School children. She loves Frankfort, her school, and all the activities when she is well enough to do them! And she loves having friends!

So that is about it for this time! I will try to do better with blogging!

It's Saturday!

Well, we are glad it is Saturday. Junior started working 12 hour shifts Tues. night, so his hours are now 5 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and he gets home around 6 a.m. It is hard to work all night, but at this point he doesn't have a choice. And we are very thankful he has a job. And the overtime will be much appreciated!!! Hopefully the company will hire him on full-time.

Missie is gone to a teen girl's retreat; left yesterday at 4 p.m. and will be home tonight, not sure what time. She was so excited. It is called "Outlook Makeover." Her best friend from school, Britnee, went too, so she was very happy. She is so happy in Frankfort, IN! And she is the reason we are here!

Last weekend was kind of rough for us. Last Sunday night was our 5th Sunday night singing and our pastor opened the altar for those who needed to bring burdens to the Lord. Missie and I went, and I sobbed my heart out, and that really helped me. In the last few years I fully understand what the scripture means when it says that "He hears our groanings." Sometimes that is all we can go, is weep and groan. But the Lord did lift the burden and I have felt so much better. We have met a lot of problems since we moved here, and it has been hard, but we are so thankful for a church family that cares and prays for us.

Missie told me the other day that she stays strong for me. I thought that was so sweet and mature of her. She and I have become so close, especially since Jr. is gone at night, and she said she knows I need her and she stays strong for me. What a blessing we have in Missie. Life for her is an adventure; she finds excitement in all that she is involved in, and it is soooo refreshing. On the other hand, Preston worries about everything and makes things so complicated that her outlook on life is such a blessing. Missie was not planned; we didn't plan to have any other children because of Preston's many mental and physical illnesses. But God knew we needed Missie. It has been very hard for her; but hopefully she is a much stronger person because of all we go through as a family, having a special needs child. Needless to say, I am proud of them both.

So that is the update for today!

God Answers Prayer!

Missie is so happy today; God has answered prayer on her behalf.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE ARTHRITIS! She was so happy when they told her today at Riley's Children's Hospital! 3 people looked at her and examined her and all 3 agreed. Her muscles around her joints and her joints are too loose, causing them to move too much, and sometimes slipping in and out. Physical therapy can help this diagnosis! So we are in the progress of getting her set up for physical therapy! We are not sure how long it will take to correct this problem, but at least someone finally knew what the problem was and how to fix it! God is so faithful!

Just had to share!

Preston is loving the nice weather and riding that bike! He is out today, just riding up a storm, and loving every minute of it!

Junior still is working his 2nd shift job, 10 hrs/day Mon-Thurs. He loves having the long weekends. We are thankful he has a job right now! It doesn't pay enough, but some money is better than none! We are thankful for any work he can get right now! He is still a temp. but maybe that will change.

Wow! It's Saturday!

Time goes so fast. Enjoy each day because we never know when it will be our last.

Well, Missie did not recover to go to the ACE competition. She was so sick! I took her to dr. on Tues., and they said it could be pneumonia but the dr. didn't bother to take a chest exray. The reason for this was that Missie's regular dr. was not in and she saw someone else. She at least had asthmatic bronchitis with possible pneumonia. So she gave her antibiotics, a new asthma inhaler, 2 kinds of cough meds. She is not coughing at much; the antibiotics are helping. But she is having a hard time getting her strength back, and she is still coughing some. She was very disappointed but she was so happy because she got to talk to some of the girls every day via telephone or texting. Someone called her each day and a bunch of them would holler in the background, "We love you, Missie" and it made her so happy. It was so sweet of them. She loves her school and youth group friends. She can hardly do anything without having to lay down. If she is not a lot better by Tues. I am taking her back to her own dr. on Wed. a.m. This really hit her hard! She hasn't been sick with this lung infection since she was quite young. I put her on vitamin c and for years she didn't have it. But she got it this year. Continue to pray for her recovery.

Preston is loving his new bike. He is out riding as I type this. He rides for hours and it is so relaxing for him!

Junior is glad to be back at work. He worked 10 hr. shifts Mon-Thurs., from 3p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and gets home about 2 a.m. I don't sleep too well going to bed alone. But we are soooo thankful he has a job! Hopefully he can be hired by the company itself and not be a temp. for much longer. It would be nice to have medical insurance again for him and I.

So that is the latest! I guess we have a touch of spring fever. Even though it is just 44, I opened windows for a few minutes to get the house aired out and maybe get rid of the sick bugs that might be in here. We are doing some stuff around, and enjoying this cool sunny day!

Until next time!

Sickness!

Well, Missie started getting the flu on Thurs. p.m. while at bus convention. She was in a lot of pain and texted and called me from there. Well, she had a fever by the time she got home, and had the chills. She is trying to recuperate by Tues. a.m. That is when they leave for ACE competition. Another girl in 2 of the singing groups also has it, so they cannot do their songs tonight at church. I was looking forward to hearing them all sing, and Missie's solo! But they are hoping and praying they will be well by Tues. a.m.

Well, we got the van tags switched over and Jr. got his IN license, to the tune of $259! It took almost all of our love offering to pay for this, but at least it is done. But we couldn't have done it without that love offering! God is so good.

We had a good service this a.m. Tonight we start practice in choir for something for Easter. So I have to be there at 5 p.m. It has been thundering, lightning, and pouring rain. It has stopped now and sun is trying to come out. But Preston doesn't want to get out in this weather tonight, so I told him that was ok. Hope the sun shines tomorrow so he can ride his bike. Junior goes back to work tomorrow afternoon.

Just wanted to give a quick update and let everyone know Missie will not be singing tonight, but you can still tune in on our service!

Good News!

Good news from the Watson family!

Junior got a call last evening from Employment Plus, asking if he could go back to ASI on Monday, 2nd shift, same as before! Of course, he said, yes!!!! We are so thankful to the Lord. We will just take it week by week and be thankful for every week that he works.

We needed over $250 to get our van registered in IN, and for Jr. to get an IN license, and guess what? We received a $300 money order from an anonymous giver and the envelope was postmarked Greenville, SC. This is the 2nd $300 money order with no name or address on it except ours. We think we have an idea who it might be, or who is responsible, but we are not going to try and find out. We just trust the Lord will bless them for supplying our needs! God is so faithful, and so good.

I still have to get my IN license. I have to take a written test. Also, because I am a Canadian citizen there is more red tape. It took me several times in SC to get my SC license, I hope it is not that way here.

Missie has the flu. She has fever, and shaking with chills. She is in bed. She is to leave on Tues. for ACE competition. She sings a solo and is in 3 other singing groups. It will be hard on the rest of the girls in the singing groups, if she cannot sing. She aches a lot too whenever she is sick. But I have good news about her new doctor. The rhumatologists at Riley Children's Hospital in Indy have accepted Missie as a patient, and her first visit is March 24th. We are so thankful for that. Maybe we can get find out some answers now about her arthritis.

So that is the latest, but wanted to let everyone know the good news!

Preston's Bike!

Wow, Preston has had a wonderful day! Junior got Preston's bike finished with the speedometer and mirror put on, and Preston sat on it. He was nervous at first, and didn't think he could ride it. But we got him headed down the alley beside our house and he took off. He was moving slowly at first, but gradually got up more speed. He ended up riding 3 hours! He was so happy and loves his bike. He has had a much better day today! Depression is an awful thing; if you have never had it, you don't know how to understand it. I have, and it is awful. Anyhow, after he rode his bike all that time, he said he didn't want to die. Life seems hopeless for him sometimes, but this bike will give him a new lease on life.

Missie is gone with her school to Bus Convention and will be home late. I have watched it both nights so far on live streaming. The sermons are such a blessing.
Union Bible College's choir sang tonight.

I am posting pictures of Preston riding his bike!

News!

Well, there is more news from the Watson family.

Junior worked 3 weeks at ASI, and found out they were closing down 2nd shift and thought he would be going to 1st shift. Not so! Friday the temp. agency told him that ASI got rid of all of the temps. Junior was one of them. He was disappointed. He really liked that job, and thought he would be able to stay there.
It has thrown us for a loop, again, but all the changes are especially hard on Preston. It has thrown him into depression. He has been worrying about his daddy not having a job, and asking how we will pay the bills. I have assured him he won't have to worry about it. I told him he gets a check and he will always have food to eat, and a roof over our head. Plus we told him that Junior has unemployment he can draw. He has only drawn 1 week so far. So we are trying to rise above the problems and keep on living! God knows where we are, and all about the situation. The temp. agency told Junior that he will be the 1st one to be called back to ASI when they need someone. I know when they put everyone on 1st shift, their regular full-time people had to be placed first. We understand that; Junior just had hoped he could continue working there.

Missie is going to be done all day until late tomorrow night, to Bus Convention, near Indy. The school is taking a van or bus load. Then next week she goes with her high school, and chaperones, to Muncey, to the ACE competition! Sunday night she has to do all of her songs at church. We have livestreaming, so if you would like to hear her, tune in! It starts at 6 p.m at http://www.fbhc.info/ There are 6 singing numbers to be performed and Missie is in 4 of them! That is her entries for this year's competition. It is her first competition, and actually, it is our school's first time to participate too! So it is new for all of us.

Preston has cheered up considerably today! Junior has been putting together his new bike. It is sooo pretty! Tomorrow he plans to go out and sit on it at least so Junior can adjust the handlebars, seat, etc. He has decided he doesn't want to die now, since he has seen his new bike! I know his joys in life are few, and he tends to be a worry wart. I will be glad when it does warm up so he can get out each day and ride it. That will be so good for him!

So that is the latest! Maybe next time I will have better news.

Asking for special prayer

for Bro. Terry Going. He is once again coming to IN to preach Brent Bigger's funeral. The tragedy of this precious family; Brent, Patricia, and their children has been hard on him; he has known them for several years. Please pray for added strength from the Lord, and safe traveling mercies to and from IN. We love the Goings! We still call them "our pastor." And Bro. Mowery is "our pastor" too. We are doubly blessed to have had 2 pastors like these men. They are some of God's finest. Their wives are equally wonderful, as well.

An update on our family is in order I guess:

Junior started his 3rd week today at his new job. He likes it pretty well. He is working in the "decorative metal" dept. He works from 3:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. We are adjusting to this shift. I don't get out at all during the evenings now, not even to prayermeeting. I miss that. But if I need to run to town or something I do it in the mornings now.

Preston has had a cold, and is still battling it. He is feeling a bit better today. He has not had the influenza with the high fevers; we are thankful for that. Missie too is still blowing her nose. She gets so sick of it! I try to get her to take her vitamins and vitamin c, but unless I get it out, she forgets, so I am trying to help her with that. She is doing great in school. Friday night is the high school play. I know it will be good.

The kittens are getting so chubby and so cute! Kids are begging to keep them, giving us 5 cat? No way! We have to get the mom and Preston's cat fixed to prevent this from happening again!

So things are pretty good right now. Our church is praying about something exciting. I can't elaborate right now; but it is sooo exciting! We are all praying for God's perfect will in this situation.

Tomorrow is Brent's visitation and funeral in Terre Haute from 11-3. We are unable to attend, because of the distance, and Junior having to work. But please pray for his family, and friends. It will be a sad funeral I know. It is just so unbelievable that the entire family is gone, just since Christmas. You might think this is crazy, but I had the feeling there would be a tragedy before this actually happened. I thought it would be concerning us. But it was the Brent bigger family, and my heart aches.

That is all for today.