Wow, It's June!

Where did this school year go? Missie is now officially a Junior! Unbelievable.
She did so well this year. She got the most 100's in the upper learning center, completed the most paces in the upper learning center, and got a medal for scripture. We are very proud of her work! Her courses for her Junior and Senior year are already laid out, and her Junior year is going to be very busy! She is not going to play volleyball this coming school year. Her hypermobility and her heavy school work load would make it just too much. So she is gonna concentrate on her studies and do her best.

Another big item of news is: MISSIE AND JAMES are now a couple again! They took a few months off, but they never stopped caring for each other. They are not going to get serious at least until her senior year. They are very happy! Missie is flying out to ID in July to go to his youth camp, and get to meet his family, etc. We are very happy for them! I never felt they were over. I knew God had brought them together, and Missie needed some time to grow up so more, and was stressed because she had so much on her plate. She is much more relaxed this time, at least during the summer, and they are much better at communication! She is also hoping to go to SC for 2 weeks later this month, to see her best friend, Kellie. Her mom and I have to work out the details, they have said they could probably meet me 1/2 way, and that would help so much! Missie is very excited because she has been asked to sing at a Nazarene Church on Sunday night in Indy! She and I are going over to our friends' home - Greg and Cathy Patterson, and go with them. Greg is doing a concert and has asked Missie to sing. She is nervous and excited at the same time! I'm going to take a video of part of the song so I can post it on facebook.

And yet another big event in Missie's life is that she is driving now! She got 100% on her test and is driving. She is very careful and is doing great. It doesn't seem possible my baby is driving! In less than a year, she will have her driver's license.

Preston is doing great! He has been able to ride his bike the last 3 days due to the cooler weather. It helps him so much to be able to do that. He went to psychiatrist and everything stays the same as far as his meds. I cut back on his sweet intake and he lost a few pounds. He loves those sweets! Eating is one of his joys in life and it is hard to say no to him. While Missie and I attend campmeetings, etc., Junior and Preston stay here and go to our own church. Preston doesn't like to travel much, and now that we have 2 vehicles, we can split up so Missie can attend special things.

Junior has applied for another job within his company. He would get $2/hr. raise and be in air conditioning! We are praying he will get the job if the Lord wills.
He has had $1.00/hr. raise lately, and we are so happy he has such a good job now! We are currently trying to pay off some bills that we want to clear out of the way, and only have our van payment. We want to get out of debt and when Missie graduates, try to buy a house. But right now, we are concentrating on getting her through school.

Well, I guess that is most of the news this time!

Missie made the local paper!

Missie and some of her classmates made the local paper! Our school had its first ever craft bazaar/bake sale, car wash, all taking place at our school, and raised $1,400! The proceeds go to the students who are going to International Competition. Junior and I let Missie make the decision to go or not to go. Due to some health issues, she decided not to go. Also, she hated to be gone on her 16th birthday, but the main reason was her health. She has been having a lot of fatigue! Then she got a severe sinus infection! She is currently on 4 medications for that. She was supposed to go to UBC for preview days today, but she didn't get to go. She missed 2 days of school due to going to dr. and being sick, and was only able to attend about 3 hrs. yesterday. She has her goals set until the end of the school year, in a couple of subjects, and she wants to be done in 4 weeks and get the last week off - early achiever's week. She has done so much pace work this year, and played on the volleyball team. Because of her hypermobility which affects her joints and muscles, she suffers a lot of pain. Chronic pain causes fatigue, but the dr. mentioned thyroid too, as she feels hungry all the time, as well. But right now we are concentrating on this sinus problem. She may end up having allergy testing done, as she does have a lot of allergies, and this spring has been bad! Anyhow, she is not going to KY for International Competition. When I told our principal, Bro. Coleman, he was so understanding and kind about it, and assured me she would not get ridiculed about it, and she hasn't. He also told me that she had told him that she suffers a lot of pain and that people do not understand. Only someone who suffers pain on a daily basis, can really understand. I do, with this fibromyalgia and arthritis so I understand. But she has done wonderful this year, and we are so proud of the work she has accomplished. She is already doing 2 subjects from her Junior year and she will finish one of those subjects in the next week or so.

Preston is going outside on these beautiful days for 5 hrs. some days! He rides that bike, then will rest a while, and gets up to 8 and 9 miles/hr. Then he usually sits in his swing on the front porch for most of the evening. The fresh air is so good for him. He likes to eat out still, when his check comes in we always take him out, go to goodwills, and go to church on Sunday nights. He went to bed before dark tonight, because he was so tired from being outside all day. He is sooo much better since the new shunt was put in in 2007! We almost lost him then, but he is such a happier person, and he brightens our lives so much! He is quite the character and has a wonderful sense of humor. We never know how long we will have him, so we will enjoy him as long as God leaves him with us.

Junior has his review at work, and they are very happy with him and he got a good raise. We are so thankful that the Lord gave him this good job. We wish he was on
1st shift sometimes, but we are so thankful for this job, and for insurance. He gets tired the weeks he has to work 56 hrs. but it is only every other week, so that is good.

Missie got to see some of you at IHC. She gave us your messages, and was glad to see you all. I hope, Lord willing, that she and I can go next year. I watched a lot of it online, and it was wonderful. The service Thurs. night (closing service) was a great move of God's spirit. UBC choir was singing, and God moved in a tremendous way, people were shouting, running the aisles, then people started going to the altar. People were delivered and got back to God, it was one amazing service. I got so much encouragement from the services watching them livestreaming, I can only imagine how blessed I would have been to be there in person!

Well, I guess this is all the news for this time!

Spring!

Spring has Sprung!!! We are all happy. It seemed like a long winter.

Easter was this past Sunday. We have a wonderful day. We had a wonderful crowd at church, over 300! We have 13 people from a brand new family in the service! Hoping they will continue to come. We had the children's choir sing, chapel choir sing, Keith and Sharon Waggoner sang and I LOVE to hear them sing. We had a special violin instrumental along with a sound track. It was a wonderful service. Bro. Mowery preached our Easter message. I had invited a couple that I meant once here at church, who live out of town, and they came for the service and home with us for dinner. We had a great time. I fixed spiral ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade rolls, frozen corn, tossed salad. I made deviled eggs and forgot to serve them, hahaha. We had cheesecake for dessert. They want to come more often to our church; they feel at home there, and Greg is seeking God's help for problems in his life. I hope they will attend at least on Sunday mornings! I had gotten to know them better through facebook.

Sunday night we had a singspiration. Missie was in a trio (they sang at the Good Friday service) and they did a wonderful job on "Broken and Spilled Out." What powerful words that song has, and she and the other 2 girls did a terrific job. If yuo would to see them and hear them, go hear and then click on view,

http://www.fbhc.info/audio.html


The school was having a car wash on Sat. and got rained out. We are trying to raise money for our high school to go to the International Competition in KY in May. We have a bazzar/bake sale coming in a week or so. I have been crocheting and making cards for that. A table is $20. Thankfully, Junior is off that day, so after I get Preston bathed, I can go over and work the table. Missie will do it when I can't be there.

A girl came to church Sunday that hadn't been there in a while, and Missie befriended her. They swapped cell phone numbers and last night, she asked Missie how to get saved. Missie walked her through the steps and she prayed and Missie was so excited. This girl says Missie is really the only friend that she has. So Missie has a ministry. She feels the awesome responsibility, and is awed by the fact that God used her to help someone get saved!

Preston is out riding that bike on these beautiful days. Last week he flipped the bike, and part of it was laying on him. He couldn't get up. He was yelling for Missie and blowing his horn, but she heard nothing. He was in the alley out behind our house. He was scrapped up in places, but he and bike are ok. He wears a helmet, so that was good. So he is slowing down more now when taking corners.

Junior is working overtime just every other week now. So every other Sat. he has off. We are so thankful for this! It is much easier on him, and we love having him home every other Sat. We are thankful he has a good job now.

So I guess that is all to update for this time!

March!

Well, it is over a month since I updated my blog!

Missie's high school went to ACE competition which was held at Ball State University Campus in Muncie, IN! She had 7 entries, and won in 6th of them. We are so proud of her! She won: 6th place for her short story, the small emsemble she was in won 2nd place, her duet won 2nd, her quartet won 3rd, her Bible bowl team won 5th and her volleyball team won 3rd. Our school did great! We are so proud of all of them. They are now planning to go on to international competition which is in KY in April. So we are working on fundraisers, to try and help the students raise the money to go. Each student needs close to $400. Missie will be gone for her 16th birthday to KY! I don't like that, but I plan to have her party before she leaves. 16 is an important birthday!!! I can't believe our baby is almost 16. And she is such a good girl, and a great student! She is doing work for next year, because she has completed a lot of her work for this year. She is working toward that college prep graduation in 2012, to go on to Union Bible College! She plans to attend their welcome week when it gets here! Missie decided to get contacts, but took them back and got new glasses. She couldn't handle the contacts; her eyes were irritated and she couldn't get them out. I think she would have gotten more used to them, but she didn't want the bother of them. So she is very thankful to be back to wearing glasses, believe it or not!

Preston is out each day that it doesn't rain, riding his bike. He loves being able to get outdoors and ride that 3 wheel bike. The exercise is so good for him and the fresh air as well. He has been staying out 3-5 hrs each day. He is doing so well; loves to go to goodwill once a week, and we take him out to eat sometimes, since he gets a disability check. He loves going to church on Sunday night and talking to lots of people.

Junior is still working the equivilent of 7 days a week, for 2 weeks, then only 40 hrs. the 3rd week. So we make the most of that Saturday that he is off, every 3rd week. He doesn't really like the work but he is thankful he has a good job. We have insurance too, and that helps.

So overall, things are good here. Spring break is next week and Missie and I are glad we can sleep a little later!

Valentine's Day!

Today is a day to honor the one we love! I am so thankful for a husband who loves me! We have been together almost 30 years and it has been a happy 30 years. It is true that Preston's special needs and illnesses have been hard on us emotionally and physically, but that doesn't change our love for each other. I had Missie take some pictures today, so will post some of Junior and I.

Jr. has been working a lot. I miss him being around home! 7 days a week is mandatory but since he doesn't work on Sunday he has to work the 8 hrs. during the week. So he has been working some 12 hr. shifts. That is quite hard on him. 56 hrs. a week is just too much. He went to work yesterday and had to come home. He was lightheaded and had a headache. He is not lightheaded today but said his head doesn't feel right still. It kind of worries me. He is going to dr. on Wed.

We got our tax refund and were able to buy new tires for the van. That is such a blessing! 2 of them kept losing air and we had to continually pump them up. We knew they were worn out so Jr. didn't try to fix them. I took the van yesterday and had the oil changed and new tires put on it.

Missie is excelling in school. She got to go out and eat with the principal and his wife for getting the most 100's in the upper learning center. She also completed the most paces in the upper learning center for the quarter. She is on the A honor roll and had the highest grade point average for 10th grade. She didn't have enough subjects to do as she has gotten so much done, so the teacher gave her 2 more subjects; one from her junior year and one from her senior year. She was so happy! The school is so happy with how hard she works. We are so thrilled, too, We are so proud of her! She is doing great with her piano lessons and in a couple of weeks she and our teen pastor's wife (also her piano teacher) are going to play a piano duet during prayer meeting. She is enjoying her lessons too, and enjoying learning to read notes. I told her learning to read notes and not just playing by ear, would be beneficial to her in the Lord's work.

Preston is doing well emotionally! He has matured and is very conscientous if he gets cross and will say he is sorry. He is having bowel problems, and also has started having trouble getting to sleep at night again. He goes to dr. on Thurs. about these issues. He doesn't like the cold weather very well or getting out in the snow. He loves to sit and watch it snow outside, though. But we take him out usually once a week, and then to church on Sunday nights. He can't wait until spring and he can get out and ride his bike! I will be glad for him, too. It will be good for him to be out in the fresh air and to get the exercise.

I am doing quite well. Missie and I got the job of church custodian, and it is a big job. Missie does a lot of it, and we split the money. It is an income for her as well as me. I also sit with the pastor's mother-in-law if their regular lady can't be there. I have been crocheting again and really enjoying that. I have been making afghans. I still make cards, too.

So that is the latest from the Watson family!

Wow, it's almost Feb!

Time sure is flying by! And every day we are one day older and one day closer to eternity. The Lord has been helping me lately. All last week I watched UBC's revival every night and heard some wonderful preaching. Then our revival started Tues. night and I have been watching it every night! What a blessing livestreaming is! I have found that emotional, physical and spiritual problems can be all intertwined! It is so hard sometimes, because the devil preys on my mind, and lets me see all of my human faults. I want to be sensitive to God and His Spirit and the devil uses this against me. But I love the holiness way, irregardless of many hurts we have suffered. It is the Bible way. It is the true way. It doesn't matter how people act or don't act, it doesn't excuse us from following the Lord in the holiness way. It is the only way to Heaven. I know people are human. I am human! I make mistakes; I have to apologize, but I am glad I am able to do that. It is not always easy and people don't always forget when you have hurt him (many times unintentionally) but when you humble yourself and ask their forgiveness, you have done your part. And I pray for the Lord to help me in that area. I am doing much better emotionally. The dr. switched me to cymbalta and it has made a big difference in my life; thank the Lord. I don't know if I shared this, but back before Christmas I almost had a nervous breakdown. Everything tore up my nerves so bad and I would cry and cry and I knew I had to have help! I prayed for God to please help me and He did, and then went to the dr. and she changed my meds. I feel so much better. I feel I am always falling on my face. But I am glad God knows my heart! Many times my heart is in the right place, but my brain doesn't work very well. Anyhow, having said all of this, will update you on our family.

Missie is doing great in school. For the quarter, she got A honor roll, most 100's, highest pace average for her grade, and most paces completed in the whole school. She was proud of herself and we are proud of her. She works hard to achieve so she can go to UBC. She said UBC is right there in front of her and she can almost touch it, lol, and she is sooo excited. She has had a dream to go to UBC for years. Mark Heskett is one of her good friends and works for the school, and we saw him Sunday night. He told her not to forget him and we told him he had better still be working there in 2 years when she arrived and he said he would still be hanging around! She is going to major in missions!

Preston is doing very well! He is much happier and calmer, and I understand that because I am now on cymbalta and so is he. He is having some bowel problems, not sure what all is causing that. I have figured out part of the problem, but not the whole problem.

Junior is working a lot of hours. I am praying it will slow down a little; he doesn't get to do much of anything but work and sleep. I am glad he has a good job, but he needs some rest. This week it was 7 days manatory, and because he won't work on Sunday, he has to make up the 8 hrs. before Sunday, so 2 of these nights he has to work 12 hrs. He works from 2:50 p.m. to 3 a.m. and gets very tired. I told him for Valentine's day I just wanted him to have a Saturday off so he and I could have a date!

We are filing our taxes on Sat. via the computer. We plan to use some of the refund for a 2nd vehicle; just a cheap 1,000 vehicle for Jr. to drive back and forth to work. Also we are buying a piano or keyboard with a pedal, for Missie. She is taking piano and doing great! She is actually enjoying it and Jody has already asked her if she would play on a Wed. night. I am so glad she has a ear for music.

Until next time...

Little late with Happy New Year

Well, I am a little late wishing you all a Happy New Year. I hope 2010 is a wonderful year for you and your family! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Season; we did for sure!

We are sooo thankful now that winter has arrived, that Junior has a job close to home! God is so good to have given him this job! He had a few days off the week of Christmas and also the week of New Years. This work he has worked 6 evenings. He gets very tired, but maybe it will slow down later and he will be off on Saturdays.

Preston is doing so well. He wrote a love letter to a single lady at church whom he says he loves. He wrote, "I love you." "Don't tell my mom Gwin about this." Then he signed it "a man." Well, when she walked in church he told her to come over there where he was sitting on the back bench and handed it to her. He told her if she couldn't read it, he would read it to her. She told him she could read it! I could not believe he did all of that without our knowledge! He confessed it all to us on the way home from church. We were flabbergasted! He told me today he thought of giving her his valentines (some he kept that we given to him in the past) and I told him no, they were used. I told him I would help him pick out a nice card for her and he could sign his name and give it to her for valentine's day. He said it took a lot of concentration and 3 tries before he got it right. Then he hid it in his pant's pocket. He said he knew if he told us we would tell him to not give it to her, lol What a character he is! He is not near as stressed as he used to be, even with taking the generic buspar! God is so good! He has a wonderful sense of humor and the people around him love him to death!

Missie is working hard on volleyball, school work, piano lessons, and working on a short story, solo and also a couple of duets for ACE competition. It will be here before we know it. Last year, she was all ready, and was too sick to go. I hope she will be able to go this year. She has a very busy life here but loves it! Tomorrow after morning worship, the upper learning center kids from our church are meeting at the school to eat lunch, then go on to the nursing home service to sing their songs, as a practice for the competition. Then we have church again tomorrow night. She went sledding today with some kids and young people from the church and met up with the youth group of another holiness church in our town, and had a wonderful time. She has bruised her tailbone though, and has been in pain. At least we think it is just bruised. Last night, she traveled with her volleyball team to Beech Grove, IN to play volleyball. They lost last night, but had a great time playing anyhow! She enjoys it so much! It has actually helped her hypermobility to be so active in volleyball. Running laps does bother her though, since she is not supposed to run at all. But so far she does it without complaint to her coaches. She is a busy girl and loves every minute of it!

We have had lots of snow this week! It is very pretty! We have not had any trouble getting around; you just have to go slow. Our tires are not the best on the van, so we just drive slow. Looking forward to our tax refund to get new tires and get Missie a new keyboard that has a pedal for her lessons.

So that is the latest from the Watsons!