Twas the Night Before Halloween. . .

with no sugar to be found,
still my girls acted different, definitely wound
with funny hats
and swinging acrobats,

but all is well now,
as we prepare for trick-or-treating,
stay tuned for a ghostly show
and someone cartwheeling. . .

My Sweet Noelle

My sweet Noelle. In all of the pictures I have of my girl, she looks incredibly healthy, especially considering the severity of her heart condition. I know God is looking out for her and I trust in His timing and wisdom.

Happy Halloween

We went back to the pumpkin patch but with similar results as last week. It was about a hundred degrees and after about 30 minutes we left for the air conditioned mall. We got treats there and ended up getting our pumpkin at Wal-Mart (most of the pumpkins at the patch were beginning to rot). I think we'll find another, closer pumpkin patch for next year.

Pumpkin Patch, II

Our pumpkin patch trip did not go as planned. The 1 hour drive turned into 2 hours with traffic into the patch at its worst:( By the time we got in we had only forty minutes for fun before they closed. We hit the candy store and the craft fair, but will return next weekend for the hay ride, corn maze and pumpkins. We'll go early (they open at 9am), hopefully before the crowds funnel in. We've been going eight years and this is the first time I've seen it packed.

Pumpkin Patch

We're going today. YIPPEEE! Autumn is my favorite season.
I'm heading out for a jog and when I get back, it's to the Y for the girls' gymnastics classes. I'll do a little writing while they have lunch and play, then we're headed to the patch. It's an hour's drive, but they know what's waiting at the end of the road--a corn maze and hay rides, craft booths and sweets. After picking out our pumpkins, we'll be ready for dinner. Soup Plantation tonight.

His Way

I'm walking through the fire.

I've been doing it for two months and, I'm sorry to say, I haven't always had the best attitude about it.

I know what God's doing--forging a better me. A me who is steadfast in faith. I've been doing something like this--"Thank you, God, for coming through for me. For getting me the waiver.. .for the grant. . .for the book." And then, when some weeks went past with not a word or a sign from Him, I've fallen into worry. Worry bred doubt. Doubt bred anxiety. And soon enough I was wondering why God was silent. "Have you left me? Why are you making me wait?" I'd wallow in the anxiety until I just couldn't stand it anymore, then reaffirm my faith that God's will and His timing are perfect. I'd go another week or two, resting in that knowledge. Then anxiety would come for a visit and destroy my peace. That fast, I was back to wallowing.

I'm determined now to break that cycle. To remain in peace. Which means I have to strike down each and every doubt as it rises--not entertain worst case scenarios, no whipping out pen and paper to try to come up with a plan B. Because, really, I don't want plan B. I want God's plan. And this means I must find peace with His timing, truly believing that He will be there at every turn, with every need.

One of my biggest fears is car trouble. Specifically, being broken down on the side of the freeway.

My Volvo is 13 years old and has many issues (mostly cosmetic, with the gas hatch falling off in my hand, my visor breaking off its hinge and, if not for the blue tape fix, dangling from its light cord). The electronics, even after $1700 in repairs, only works sporadically,the tailgate doesn't always stay up so loading and unloading groceries is a pain--literally, and the fluid in my radiator reserve is black.

I just had my car in the shop for new brakes, front and back, an oil change and tune up, so she's not neglected. And I do plan to bring her in for that reservoir issue my next day off from work. But back to me fears:

They became a reality a few weeks ago. The kids weren't with me, thank God. I was cruising along the freeway on my way to work and it was barely dawn. I started feeling a problem, but told myself I was over-reacting, as I tend to do with any little noise my car makes. Soon, though, the steering wheel was jerking and keeping the car on the road was like trying to pin a sumo wrestler.

I had to pull over. What happened next was all truly a matter of Divine intervention. I don't even know if I can do it justice after thinking about it for several days. But I'm going to try:

Once I had the car stopped I crawled over the console and climbed out the passenger's door. Definitely a flat tire. My brand new tire, too. I have Triple A and so I climbed back into the car, sat in the passenger's seat and put my seatbelt on. I tried to get my bearings and realized I parked right in front of a call box. I didn't need it, because I had my cell phone with me, but I think this was God saying I have you covered--double coverage, there's no way I'm going to let you fall looking out for me. I pulled out my Triple A card and dialed. I wasn't on with the lady more than 20 seconds when there was a knock on my window. Cal-Trans. He wanted to know if I'd like him to change my tire. No charge. The woman on the phone from Triple A assured me he was safe. I said yes. The man was super nice. Changed my tire, made sure all of my tires were good to go, and when I got back behind the wheel, he directed traffic to slow down so I could make it back onto the freeway safely.

I was on the side of the road no more than 10 minutes. I had more help than I needed. And when I returned to Costco, they replaced all 4 of my tires with new Michilens and I paid only $60.00.

No doubt about it, God was with me, and a few of His angels, too.

Weekend Round-Up

Gymnastics and church, of course, but we also got a little baking done and a little texting.

Aunt Janet interrupts our baking fest for a little love.

My big girl, on my bed, texting with her aunt's phone. Am I looking into the future? Oh, yeah:)

Homework!

This Week

Maddie has started playing the clarinet in her school band.

Healthy and back to normal :)

This was a very busy week. Maddie is loving school and has joined the band. She was disappointed when the school decided to change from orchestra to band--she wanted to play violin--but is thrilled with the clarinet. A friend at work had an extra and is letting us borrow it until we see if M is going to keep up with it--if so, we'll buy it (thanks Cathy!). It's a wood clarinet and produces a beautiful sound (my friend is a professional clarinetest).

Ava started back to school on Wednesday, after being out sick for a week and a half. She is still trying to decide if she likes school--I think so. She talks a lot about her teacher and even wrote a letter to her yesterday. Kindergarten is a big adjustment--less play time and being away from home all day. But Ava is a very good student and likes doing her homework:)

We're off to church in a few minutes. I am so hoping to have a few mountains moved this week in our adoption journey. And I have Z group friends who are also needing prayer their way. There are children needing surgeries and families . . . I am grateful for the opportunity to bring them before the Lord, knowing that He promised to return for His children.