Tyler vs. chicken pox

It all started last Friday, when Tyler was running a fever.  He continued to do so until Sunday afternoon and seemed to start feeling better.  I was all over the place last Monday so didn't get the chance to spend much time with Tyler.  After my crazy day of work, I called Jeff as I was driving home.  I asked him how Tyler was doing and what does he tell me?  "I was changing his clothes and noticed a bunch of little red spots all over his back, legs, and arms."  What's that?  Tyler has chicken pox.  Yep.  Luckily for Ty (and us, too), it was a very mild case.  The spots lasted until today (Sunday) and have vanished completely.  Does this mean he'll get the chicken pox again?  Quite possibly.  From what Jeff's mom has told us, Jeff had the chicken pox twice as a kid so it's possible Ty will follow in the same pattern.  Thanks for all your prayers, everyone!  He's back to normal :)

Your love is amazing...

God is so incredible!

Last night, worship practice was OK, but quite exhausting.  There were several frustrating moments and several mediocre moments.  Practice this morning was worse in several cases.  I just felt like we had these gorillas just riding us big time.  I'm pretty certain that we all didn't feel like things were going the way we wanted to.  That was just it, though.  Something happened because once it came time to play, God said, "All you had to do was remember who you were singing to," and we instantaneously forgot about the frustrations of Saturday night and this morning.  It was AMAZING!!!  It's so simple to lose ourselves in ourselves and forget God in us.  

Faithful

Earlier tonight, Jeff and I took a look at our bank accounts (we still have one in Indiana) and saw our monies dwindling even further.  We have less than $1,000 and counting.  I've got one paycheck yet to be deposited, one on the way this week, and we have yet to file our taxes (which may only be about $2,000, if that).  I took a look at the job email from Emmanuel and there just aren't very many jobs on it that are in the Johnson City vicinity.  I am not quitting the Coalition (yet, but I'd like to not quit for a few years) because God's still doing awesome things for me there.  Jeff did turn in an application to Salsarita's when we were there earlier this evening, so that was good.  Tomorrow he's going to Carino's (whether or not he likes it) to apply.  I feel like I'm sliding back into that doubtful hole I spent a good two months in and I most certainly don't want to be there.  I'm going to spend some good time with God in fervent prayer over everything and let Him take it all.  It's all His anyway and I know He's the only One who can truly find us in this wonderful mess.  Please pray that I have Job's faith: no matter what the world, and even those I love, say, God is my one true love and He'll never leave me nor forsake me.  

I love you Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu.

Unshakable, Unchangeable, Unstoppable

I am so incredibly blessed and hardly deserve it. God's been so good to me and my family and He's doing us another great favor. I'm proud to announce that I have been given the opportunity to lead a program, through the Coalition and the Johnson City Housing Authority, at the JCHA! I seriously can't even begin to describe how excited I am about this. I knew (from the note "Convinced") that I was right where God wanted me when I applied to the Coalition. I'll admit that it's been a financially weary time since we've moved down here, but I'm not the least bit upset. I love my job more than I ever have of any other job. Sure, it gets frustrating and, sure, there are bad days, but the good and great days at work far outweigh anything else. I love the kids I've met and tutored and I'm so proud to be a part of a program that truly honors God in it's work. I can't wait to start getting things in order for this new opportunity. Please pray that God will move (as He has been within the JCHA) and that hearts will be open and accepting to what the Coalition has to offer. I'm bursting at the seams with this news because it's totally God's everlasting grace that put me in this position in the first place. As I told my boss, I want to climb one of the mountain peaks and just shout about how great my God truly is. He is unshakable, unchangeable, and unstoppable. Believe it.

"Twenty-six letters is all I got to tell You how I feel about You." - Ben Glover

Christmas vacation - Tennessee style

Now that the last family visit is over, it's time to recap how the vacation played out.

Jeff's parents came down the weekend before Christmas and stayed until the Tuesday before Christmas.  They spoiled Tyler like crazy with Christmas gifts!  I can't believe how many toys he got from them.  Seriously, the kid made out real well.  He also got some clothes from them and an awesome DoodlePro from aunt Erica (a.k.a. a MagneDoodle).  We mostly just hung out here at home, but we went out to eat a couple of times.  We watch a lot of movies with Jeff's parents and that's what we did :).  It was a nice and relaxing time!

Dad and Jody came down next.  They came down the weekend after Christmas.  They brought several gifts of clothes from my mamaw and papaw and my aunt Judy, but they saved the big stuff for last.  I already knew dad was making Tyler a toybox (because I gave him the dimensions), but I had no idea they were going to get him foot-powered army-camo four wheeler.  It's so cool!  The only problem with him riding it around here is that there are several small hills.  He's going to need a helmet!  I finally got the chance to show dad and Jody Laurel Fork Falls which was quite an interesting trip.  Poor dad...he had to carry Tyler 90% of the way, including down the incredibly steep and slippery rock staircase to the falls.  He was a trooper!  We went out to eat a couple of times with them and they left early the Monday after Christmas.

Last, but not least, was mom's visit.  We started off with a nice dinner at Carino's.  We then made a quick trip to Target to spend a little Christmas money.  We came out and mom got sick before we left the parking lot.  That started mom's sickness.  She was sick till about Saturday (she came down New Year's day).  In that time we didn't do much outside of hang out here.  I had to work Friday so mom and Jeff took turns watching Tyler while I was working.  We decided to try going out to eat again on Saturday and we went to O'Charley's (since mom works at one back in Indiana, she gets an employee discount to eat at one).  We all ate pretty heartily and it was gooood (I had the Buffalo kickin' chicken sandwich, which, I think, was the beginning of my problems).  I had worship practice Saturday night so I was out from 6 till 8:15ish.  I came home, snacked on some Chocolate Charlie and wine, then watched the Colts game (boo...).  Around 3:45 Sunday morning, I got sick and continued to get sick every 40 minutes until about 8:30am.  It was not cool.  I hadn't been that sick since high school when I had a stomach bug.  So Sunday I didn't do a thing except sit, sleep, and drink a 2-liter of Sprite.  Mom took Tyler to visit cousin Tony in North Carolina, and I so wanted to go, but I knew I'd be absolutely miserable.  It was nice for mom to take Ty with her because that gave Jeff time to focus on my needs as a sick girl.  I developed a fever Sunday afternoon and that was basically the rest of my sickness.  I had a training session at the Rock the next day (which I was late for :(  ) and still had a fever even then.  I was able to eat some mashed potatoes at Cootie Brown's, but that was it.  Monday night we went out to eat at Cracker Barrel and I was able to eat a salad and some soup.  Ugh.  I feel bad for mom seeing as she was sick first, but then had to deal with me being sick.  I think she still had a good time, though.  I hope she did, lol.  Oh, mom had already gotten Ty some clothes for Christmas, but she also bought him some new Dr. Seuss books and a new Curious George book :) .  I can always count on mom for books.

Vacation is officially over for me (Jeff doesn't have to go back to school until February) and it's time to get back to business.  I'll write about my transfer to Indian Trail tomorrow.

God is good :)