I have been feeling very blessed lately. I'm thinking that there are new doors to open for the better if we just can find them and we have to seek dilligently for them.
In our last Stake Conference, our Stake President challenged everyone to get off of government assistance if they could. We felt at the time that we couldn't with Curt's job being in limbo. Lately, He has been working for Dignity Health (formerly Catholic Healthcare West) and really likes the people he works with. This has been hard financially for us, however, and we have really lived by the saying, "Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without". We are used to this and feel that we will be blessed with living super frugal and therefore try to make it on our own. Things have been really HARD and we've had to have some help along the way.
This last Friday, Curt interviewed for a permanent position with Dignity Health. They are getting rid of the contract positions and making the IT guys into DH employees. We are really praying hard for this change.
A few months ago, we followed our Stake President's encouragement and have ceased help with the belief that we will only accept this if necessary. This means right now, our family is receiving no healthcare and assistance. It scares the life out of me, but believe that we will be blessed with help because of our faith. We have all been pretty well except for a stint of sharing a flu for a few days. We have learned to eat very inexpensively and use the internet as a source for some great recipes!
I have enrolled Olivia in SSI Disability and Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) and if accepted, this would be beneficial in for her health. Since we are not on AHCCCS, her wheelchair will be delayed until we receive benefits again. We are excited, for Curt if he gets the job, but in addition they have wonderful health benefits!
I really love the 13th Article of Faith: the part that says,"... We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
We, in our home, have started to make an extra effort to seek for things virtuous and lovely. We do believe all things, we have endured with hope and we will continue to hope...
Come what may.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
First day of school
Alyssa started 8th Grade at Carson Junior High.
She's such a smart little thing and was excited to be at a different school than Aaron
Speaking of Aaron, he's in 9th grade at Westwood High School.
This is hard for the Mama who's a Mesa High Jackrabbit through and through.
I'm learning to wear Blue and Orange, but I still bleed Purple and Gold!
I didn't get his first morning picture because he was off bright and early for
Marching Band Practice. He's on the Drumline and so far this year they've put him in "The Pit"
So, he's playing xylophone and other fun things!
Tato started his first day of Kindergarten at Franklin West.
He was so nervous and scared of "the unknown" as he put it.
His teacher, Mrs. Jankunis is super awesome and he really likes her.
This was on the way to school. He's happy! YAY!
Here he is at his desk on that great day!
I'm so happy that he's in just 1/2 day Kindergarten.
I was nervous to send him to Franklin because he's such a Free Spirit, but he's thriving!
I have Olivia at home with me in the mornings. It's SO QUIET!!!
Wheelchair Clinic... and a happy girl!
She's so excited to be getting her chair in a few months.
She has a mobile stander and I'll post pictures later for that,
she's speedy and loves running into people (we're going to have to break that!)
Sick Day!
Today was an interesting day.
Olivia woke up with a fever and runny nose. Oh, yeah, she was cranky, too!
We cancelled everything we had to do today: PT and piano help for the Jr. High.
I tried to keep her happy until I realized that I have a cold too.
I just get achy and sweaty, so I hope it'll end soon.
After Tato came home from Kindergarten, he helped keep her happy.
He spread cereal all over the front yard and had her watch for birds.
They are so cute together.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Where I've been.
My life has been a little crazy lately.
Curt's contract ended on Decemeber 30th and so we are back looking for a job for him. They told him on the 20th that it would be ending. I'm not fond of Wells Fargo at the moment.
Christmas was an adventure. We had a very hard last 6 months. Between Curt's job that ended in June and the one that ended this month, we've been living minus $500 a month. Needless to say, it's been a struggle. We are ever hopeful that he's going to find a steady income sometime. I guess I should say "prayerful". That's more accurate. Faith is a great helper.
We had for Christmas this year, financial help from a sibling, parent, and extra awesome anonymous elves. We used most of it to pay rent, our car payment and get a basketball hoop for the backyard! We also bought Just Dance 3 and Star Wards Unleashed 2. Hayden got a bike that I found on Craigslist. The previous owner of said bike included a smaller bike... we gave it to Wyatt, my nephew.
I had surgery on December 15th that started a 5 year clinical trial. It's called the Recharge study. Essentially, I have a pacemaker for my stomach. It's attached to my Vagus nerves and so I'm supposed to feel full faster and 1/3 of the patients receive an inactive one. We won't find out for a year if it's active; after that, if I don't have an active one, I can have another surgery to put one in. They also include in the study nutritional counseling, fitness counseling, and anything else that I need (This is why I joined it!). I'm doing pretty well and I'm happily on my weigh down the scale! I've never noticed some of the bad habits that I've picked up food-wise and now that they're being pointed out, it's nice to be able to stop them!
Olivia's doing fantastic. She's an awesome crawler and we are hoping to get leg braces on her in the next few months, get her into a stander to help strengthen her legs and muscles... and possibly into a walker by her 2nd birthday!!!! She's learned a bunch of new words and in the morning, she yells "UP! Momma! UP! GET UP!" It's a great way to wake up; I'll take it over crying anyday. She's not "turtelling" anymore. She recently learned to roll over, which has taken a while to learn. She's a speed demon on her knees and get's out the door if you leave it open. She's still the cutest little thing though, she hasn't gained a pound in 9 months. She weighs 18 lbs. and is 18 months old. We're working with her to get some extra calories and are hoping that the Dr can get the insurance to cover Pediacare. We have a goal to have her gain 3 lbs by February.
She still has UTIs about 1 every other month, but she hasn't been hospitalized since April and we are every grateful for this.
I gotta go and get to bed. ♥s to all!
Curt's contract ended on Decemeber 30th and so we are back looking for a job for him. They told him on the 20th that it would be ending. I'm not fond of Wells Fargo at the moment.
Christmas was an adventure. We had a very hard last 6 months. Between Curt's job that ended in June and the one that ended this month, we've been living minus $500 a month. Needless to say, it's been a struggle. We are ever hopeful that he's going to find a steady income sometime. I guess I should say "prayerful". That's more accurate. Faith is a great helper.
We had for Christmas this year, financial help from a sibling, parent, and extra awesome anonymous elves. We used most of it to pay rent, our car payment and get a basketball hoop for the backyard! We also bought Just Dance 3 and Star Wards Unleashed 2. Hayden got a bike that I found on Craigslist. The previous owner of said bike included a smaller bike... we gave it to Wyatt, my nephew.
I had surgery on December 15th that started a 5 year clinical trial. It's called the Recharge study. Essentially, I have a pacemaker for my stomach. It's attached to my Vagus nerves and so I'm supposed to feel full faster and 1/3 of the patients receive an inactive one. We won't find out for a year if it's active; after that, if I don't have an active one, I can have another surgery to put one in. They also include in the study nutritional counseling, fitness counseling, and anything else that I need (This is why I joined it!). I'm doing pretty well and I'm happily on my weigh down the scale! I've never noticed some of the bad habits that I've picked up food-wise and now that they're being pointed out, it's nice to be able to stop them!
Olivia's doing fantastic. She's an awesome crawler and we are hoping to get leg braces on her in the next few months, get her into a stander to help strengthen her legs and muscles... and possibly into a walker by her 2nd birthday!!!! She's learned a bunch of new words and in the morning, she yells "UP! Momma! UP! GET UP!" It's a great way to wake up; I'll take it over crying anyday. She's not "turtelling" anymore. She recently learned to roll over, which has taken a while to learn. She's a speed demon on her knees and get's out the door if you leave it open. She's still the cutest little thing though, she hasn't gained a pound in 9 months. She weighs 18 lbs. and is 18 months old. We're working with her to get some extra calories and are hoping that the Dr can get the insurance to cover Pediacare. We have a goal to have her gain 3 lbs by February.
She still has UTIs about 1 every other month, but she hasn't been hospitalized since April and we are every grateful for this.
I gotta go and get to bed. ♥s to all!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Today while the Sun Shines.
Today, While the Sun Shines, work with a will
Today, all your duties with patience fulfill
Today, while the birds sing, harbor no care;
Call life a good gift; call the world fair.
The last line says, "Prepare for tomorrow by working today."
This has always been a morning hymn to me; another hymn that I love is There is Sunshine in My Soul Today.
(Being a native to the valley, I don't appreciate sunshine as much as friends who don't live here. I wait for summer to be over and I love the few months that I don't have to stress about my A/C bill!
I wish for rain, I pray for rain, and I cherish the rain. I love that it makes the ground soft. I love that it helps plants grow. I am in awe of thunder and lightning, I am grateful when the newscasters say it's going to rain and it does. I'm happiest when the sky is overcast and gloomy; I'm like Eeyore.)
I think the reason that these songs are my favorites is because it's talking about the soul. I find that when I sing these songs, I feel loved. I feel calmed and reassured that the Savior is closer than we know. I'm happy because they make me feel like the work that I am doing in my home is not futile nor is it worthless. These hymns make me feel like smiling and more willing to serve others around me. I was told in my blessing that I need to start the day with a song, and I find that these two are particularly dear to my heart.
I usually end my day with a song also. The top 3 for that are Abide with Me - the long one, The Army of Helaman, and I Need the Every Hour. There are other hymns that I sing, but Abide with Me really is the best one to end the day with. It makes me fall asleep as I remember that regardless of how the day went, I am not alone; that He is always aware of me and my needs.
Be Still My Soul will always be the song that I link to my dear little one Olivia. It's amazing how much this song calms my soul when I think about Olivia's future. I know that the Lord is in charge and I'm grateful for the little things. I'm blessed to have a child who teaches me to slow down!
Today, all your duties with patience fulfill
Today, while the birds sing, harbor no care;
Call life a good gift; call the world fair.
The last line says, "Prepare for tomorrow by working today."
This has always been a morning hymn to me; another hymn that I love is There is Sunshine in My Soul Today.
(Being a native to the valley, I don't appreciate sunshine as much as friends who don't live here. I wait for summer to be over and I love the few months that I don't have to stress about my A/C bill!
I wish for rain, I pray for rain, and I cherish the rain. I love that it makes the ground soft. I love that it helps plants grow. I am in awe of thunder and lightning, I am grateful when the newscasters say it's going to rain and it does. I'm happiest when the sky is overcast and gloomy; I'm like Eeyore.)
HOWEVER...
I think the reason that these songs are my favorites is because it's talking about the soul. I find that when I sing these songs, I feel loved. I feel calmed and reassured that the Savior is closer than we know. I'm happy because they make me feel like the work that I am doing in my home is not futile nor is it worthless. These hymns make me feel like smiling and more willing to serve others around me. I was told in my blessing that I need to start the day with a song, and I find that these two are particularly dear to my heart.
I usually end my day with a song also. The top 3 for that are Abide with Me - the long one, The Army of Helaman, and I Need the Every Hour. There are other hymns that I sing, but Abide with Me really is the best one to end the day with. It makes me fall asleep as I remember that regardless of how the day went, I am not alone; that He is always aware of me and my needs.
Be Still My Soul will always be the song that I link to my dear little one Olivia. It's amazing how much this song calms my soul when I think about Olivia's future. I know that the Lord is in charge and I'm grateful for the little things. I'm blessed to have a child who teaches me to slow down!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
I didn't notice before!
I have a Nook Color and I have been very frustrated that the Pandora Stations don't project very loudly.
Since I can't do anything without playing music, especially chores; life has been very frustrating
UNTIL...
I noticed an old pair of computer speakers in Curt's computer closet while putting
away a stray computer-mouse.
I plugged them in and VOILA!
I have music!
LOUD, glorious music!
Can you see my GINORMOUS smile?!??!?!?!????
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)