Horse Anyone?

We are considering "horse power!" After all, they have to be just as durable and cost efficient. Two wrecks in two weeks. Steve goes most of his life without any accidents, and here we are in a two week stretch. Maybe his reflexes are slowing...hmmm...food for thought!

2 weeks this Sunday, we plowed into a truck doing about $9,000 worth of damage to our jeep. We however got out with barely a

scratch. That was our first air bag experience. That next Monday we were in a rental and on our way to Florida. We got word while we were in Florida that the jeep was repairable, but it would take a few weeks. That was good news, because we were already dreading new car shopping (although, I am enjoying this Impala I am driving with its dual a/c controls and remote start!).

Today, my first day in my new high school classroom, as I am driving home and filling Steve in on the day's happenings, he yells
and the phone goes dead. I am thinking, "that can't be good." I wait and wait and wait. He calls me back to tell me he has just been hit. He was driving on I20 when a car on his left hits the guard rail, bounces off and hits him, sending him sliding and spinning down the interstate. As he is trying to compensate and straighten the truck out, he gets hit a few more times by the same driver who has lost control of their vehicle. Finally, they both come to a stop. He gets out, checks on her, calls 911 and directs interstate traffic till the police arrive (LOL-only as I attempt to picture the scene...and he is not a happy camper, not laughing a bit).

He calls our insurance (yet again) and assures them this one was not his fault (Still...LOL), and they tell him he has to get a rental because the driver's side door is caved in and will not open. Ok...so off he goes tomorrow to get ANOTHER rental while BOTH our vehicles are in the shop! FYI....we are getting to know the people at Yokem and Enterprise quite well.

I did tell him that he is certainly going to desperate means to get a new vehicle....it would be simpler to just pick a new one out and buy it...or there is that horse option.

It Can Always Get Worse....

Even the worst of days could be worse....so I am told...and am sure is a real possibility! That whole do over thing I mentioned in my last post-still thinking that might not be a bad idea; however, this past week has been one of those weeks I do not want to do again!!!

Caitlyn was in the hospital for a week with pneumonia. We were in and out of there helping with her, and trying to make it possible for Tonia to go to work. In the midst of that, and exhaustion already setting in for everyone, we get a phone call. My mom is having surgery-which we knew-but weren't getting the correct information. We are weighing, go or don't go? It is Sunday week now and the decision has to be made. As we are heading to lunch on Valentine's Day, discussing all of this, we get in a car wreck. The air bags deploy, the cabin fills up with smoke of some kind, and we are sitting there stunned. Steve takes stock, makes sure we are both ok, and then tells me we have to get out of the car, which we do. As it turns out, our dear friends were a few car lengths back, had already pulled over, and were waiting on the police. The police were there in seconds, the car was towed, and our friends took us to lunch and back home. We changed clothes, went to the hospital and stayed with Caitlyn till late, and then came home to do laundry. So the week begun.

These kind of things are supposed to come in threes, but I am sure we were more in the six or seven range. Steve spent the following day getting the rental settled while I watched Caitlyn so Tonia could go to work. At 4ish when Tonia got back, ran back to the house, packed clothes, jumped back in the rental and headed to Florida. We arrived at Eglin AFB at about 4 am, got to the room, took a shower, got dressed and went to the hospital. I could give you a blow by blow but it would be too dreary, so let me sum it up mom had surgery, came through that, is in a regular room right now, and amidst the drama and lots of it, there was chaos, tears, lack of sleep, and GOD.

It was more than evident God was at work in the situation, in our lives, and the lives of my siblings. He provided for us in more ways that can be counted, and although it ended badly (for me anyway), I know that it is all in His plan. He opened doors that should not have been open to us, and made available resources to all of us that should not have been there. What we were able to do in a week should not have been possible. What lies ahead, I have no idea.

I do know, we are home now. Caitlyn is out of the hospital. My mother will be released soon, hopefully to a rehabilitation program. My brothers were phenomenal at a time I really needed them. Katie helped with Caitlyn so Tonia could go to work. My husband was supportive even in my lowest moments. I did get to spend a few minutes on the beach. We slept in bunk beds (quite comical), but didn't sleep much. We are really glad to be home, and were really glad to be in our bed and sleep, sleep, sleep.

A new week....this one is not going to be any easier. I have a job interview on Monday which I had really hoped to be a little more rested for. I have a unit plan due tomorrow which I will spend the rest of this day attempting to accomplish (while my husband surveys the financial damage done during the trip). The unit plan is going to be work enough, but I also have a research paper due on Thursday, yep, and.....a baby shower for my sister tonight at 4:30 that I just have to make! Hmmm....God multiply my time and fill me with wisdom in managing these moments!

With a Bang

This year began with a bang....and I have had moments when I was sure a do-over was not an unreasonable request! Let me sum up our January:

We began the month with Steve sick. He came down with strep throat and bronchitis, after a few trips to the doctor, lots of medications, and two weeks later, he was back to himself (reasonably anyway). Then my turn came. I got a sinus infection that I just could not beat and once that moved into my chest, I knew a doctor's visit was in my future too. I ended up with a sinus infection and bronchitis, lots of meds, and two weeks down with a few setbacks here and there. So I was nursing a sick husband, trying to balance school work and then I got sick; threw that balance right out of whack!

I ended up withdrawing from a class (something I have never done before) so I could get the other two up to speed. This has been a tough term, and I am not sure why. (Might be my really demanding math methods instructor!) My work load has been almost more than I could bear....and in crunch time now. Next quarter, I am only taking one class: middle school math methods, which should be so easy next to this quarter. (two more to go after that)

February is here....the groundhog was right, we definitely have more winter-snow to be exact. We haven't seen snow here in quite some time, and the last time we had snow coverage was back in 2001. It was such an amazing thing to wake up to this blanket of white. It is just beautiful, but cold....and we don't do cold down here! I am reaching to find winter clothes I can wear out and not be freezing! It would be even more perfect if....Caitlyn wasn't in the hospital. She has been sick all week, and yesterday we were really worried about her. We had had trouble getting any fluid down here all week, and yesterday nothing. She wanted to sleep all day, but coughed and coughed and coughed. She ended up being admitted last night for pneumonia. She is one unhappy camper. She has an oxygen line taped to her face and an IV in her arm. Miserable doesn't even begin to describe how she looks and apparently feels. Sadly....her first snow and she can't even get out in it.

Steve was concerned about our house. We aren't built for this weather, and snow is heavy. So far so good, but it is still snowing. We of course took lots of pictures which we will share shortly.

A few positive notes....our den floor is in. We had hoped to be done with the den but sickness and weather holding is us up. We are in the process of putting up wainscoting (sp?) which is requiring us to stain, measure, and install. That was a last minute decision, but it is a den, and I wanted to protect the walls, and NOT be painting all the time. I am pretty pleased with the color and texture of the room. The walls are an off yellow with a little bit of texture. The floor is our original living room floor, dark 6 inch. wood look vinyl planks. They are in on an angle (gluing those down was quite an adventure-that was the stickiest adhesive we have worked with). Would be nice if we could finish up in there this week, but snow makes it a little rough to stain and polyurethane!

Another positive....I have an interview for a teaching position. My advisor had just asked me if I was going to go student teaching or intern. I told her I had no idea. I had such mixed emotions about trying to work and finish school. The MAT is tough, and although lots of people do that, I am sure they are not rebuilding a house too! My friend, Ellen, at Sylvan mentioned it to me, and it sounded like a position that might really be a good one for me. I thought, well, I need to at least call and see what happens, so I did. I sent my application package in Wed. and got a call yesterday about interviewing for it. I was very excited. It is a little bit of a commute, and I am sure if I get the position, I will have some stressful moments (being as I am finishing up a year in someone else's shoes), but know my heart is ready to step out. I have been reading the GLE's and thinking about ways to accomplish this (through God's grace and in His provision) in a way that maximizes my time with these students' and encourages their success.

Steve and I so want to be where God wants us to be, doing what He wants. My prayer has been just that, so if this is the right place, He will let me know. Steve has been teasing me though, said when I go back to work, he is going to quit! :) (right). He wouldn't know what to do with himself!

Well...that is the update....and I have to get going.