Lord, I Lift my Friend to You.

I'm praying for a friend right now and this song came to me (the lyrics are below), it is so powerful and really says everything that I want to say to God. I'm sure we all have friends who stuggle from time to time...as we all do.

A good friend of mine and I have decided that this will be a year of committed prayer. We all say we are going to pray for people and how committed are we...I know for myself I get busy (or forget) and don't make it the priority that it should be.

Lord I Lift my Friend

by Casting Crowns

Lord, I lift my friend to You,

I've done all that I know to do

I lift my friend to You

Complicated circumstances have clouded his view

Lord, I lift my friend up to You

I fear that I won't have the words that he needs to hear

I pray for Your wisdom, oh God,

and a heart that's sincere

Lord, I lift my friend up to You

Lord, I lift my friend to You

My best friend in the world,

I know he means much more to You

I want so much to help him,

but this is something he has to do

And Lord, I lift my friend up to You

'cause there's a way that seems so right to him

But You know where that leads

He's becoming a puppet of the world,

too blind to see the strings

Lord, I lift my friend up to You

My friend up to You

Lord, I lift my friend to You,

I've done all that I know to do

I lift my friend to You

Here I am...

Once again I took a completely unintentional blog break (okay I take quite a bit of them). I actually don't mean to but sometimes I'd just love reading other people's blogs...but really can't think of anything to write.

Things also have been pretty busy the last little while. I'm working 4 days a week at school...which I love. Really what could any single mother want more than to work at the school where your child attends!!

I have been feeling so great since the summer as well. I did go through a trying period...God really used that to get me trusting and relying on Him more...something I must admit I'm still working on. He truly shows me His faithfulness daily!

I'm hoping to soon get back into my sewing and other stuff...I so wanted to have mostly home made gifts for Christmas presents (yeah that isn't going to happen). Although I will have to find an ornament craft for Michaela and I to work on...we did the cutest one last year that I found in Country Woman magazine.

I really have to tell a story that happened last week. I had brought my minivan into the shop to have a leak checked out. I was a little worried about the cost of this...and it was taking quite a bit of time. A friend and I prayed about it then I phoned the shop (about 5 hours after dropping it off), they said it was just finished and I asked if I should prepare myself for coming in to pay the bill. The service manager let me know that the problem was covered under my warranty...there would be no cost. GOD IS GOOD!!!

Biting the Bullet

Well after my last post, things kind of went from bad to worse. I really felt like I was in a pit and couldn't get out.

Four years ago I started a medications called Effexor XR for anxiety, I was not happy to be going on it but it really helped me a lot. I had often talked to the doctor about getting off of it...but the time never seemed right. Well this spring we decided that I could try and come off. Now you can't just stop taking this medication...you need to go down in dosage very very gradually. I was able to completely stop taking it in June, I felt such a sense of accomplishment.

After this last week I decided I needed to go back to the doctor and start up again. I spent a great deal of time in prayer and the Word, while I would like nothing more than to be free of any medication I know that right now I do need to be on this medication.

The first little while on this drug is tough, there are side effects...I'm just waiting for them to go away so I can start feeling normal again!!

On thing that makes me very happy is having Jen here with me!!

Time

I'm amazed that it has now been 2 years since Ron passed away, I'm not sure where those years have gone. I can see them in the difference in Michaela, how she has grown in these last couple of years...it breaks my heart that they have been without her daddy.

I'm feeling very down right now, for the last little while things have been pretty tough. We went on holidays, which was very good...I got to visit my family and Michaela got to see her grandparents. We were gone for nearly 3 weeks and that seemed to be a little too long to be away from home...I just really wanted to be home!!

When Ron passed away I discovered that he had very little life insurance, not something that when you are in your thirty's you think too much about. There was enough that I figured I wouldn't have to work and would be able to focus on Michaela for a couple of years...those years are done...and so is the insurance.

Now I'm responsible to support my little family on my own...that really stresses me out. I will be working at Michaela's school and really that is the biggest blessing that I could have been given. I know that I could find a job that pays much more and has more hours...but for a single mother working where your child goes to school is ideal.

I'm not sure what the future holds for me, I've been in prayer for God's leading. I want my life to be in His will and pray that I will be more dependant on Him.

Show Us Where You Live

So for the first time I've decided to participate in Show Us Where You Live Friday that Kelly at Kelly's Corner hosts.

Let me start by saying that I love my yard, it is child and dog friendly...that is what it most important about the back yard. I told Ron after he got sick that I liked out big yard when he was the one cutting the grass...when I have to do it I don't love it so much!! I now have a friends son cut my lawn! This picture is taken from out balcony...we also have a lower deck (so great for BBQs).

When Ron was sick he couldn't be left alone and wasn't able to get out (other than out on our balcony)...without a lot of effort. We decided to get Michaela the swingset for her 4th birthday...if we couldn't take her to the park we'd bring the park to her! She got the trampoline for her 5th birthday...it is a great place to play! The little blue shed is going to eventually become a playhouse...that is the plan anyway.

This maple tree our care group got and planted last year in remembrance of Ron, it was very touching...we call it Daddy's tree. This picture isn't very good, oh and you gotta love the heavy duty stakes keeping it straight.

The front yard I keep pretty simple...and someone trying to get in the picture! Most of the plants are in containers, I do have some roses planted...and they are gorgeous.

I just cut these yesterday...even Buddy had to get in the picture (I think my family likes the camera or something)!

We call this the upsidedown tree, I'm not sure what it is called. I got it a couple of years ago on sale, I just love the look of it. The branches just hang down, in the spring it flowers and now it has little berries.

There is my yard, I love it...especially when the sun is shining!! Time to get out and enjoy it!

Summer Holidays

Okay so it has been a while since I posted...I know big surprise!!

Last you heard I was planning on getting a lot done around here and guess what...I've done pretty good at it! I did get my spare room in order...yes pictures would be awesome...anyway! It was done in time for my friend Jen to visit and have a real room to sleep in, it isn't painted yet but that can be done when I actually have some time!

Not only did I get Oreo's cage outside (which he loved...because he could escape)! I've given him to a home that wanted to breed rabbits for food...on the condition that they wouldn't eat Oreo!! I figure he'd be happier getting to make babies, because that was not going to happen around here! Also I absolutely adore this family and I know he will be well cared for!

I did get my drawers cleaned out...and I even remembered to take pictures of it!

I emptied out all of my drawers onto my bed...and then began the big sort.

These are the bags that came out...one of garbage, one for donation and one for consignment. Ahhh it is so much nicer now!!

I also got my computer armoire cleaned out...these place has been driving me crazy for quite some time. I just keep my printer in there because I use a laptop. It became a catchall for so many things.

Before...everytime I used my printer I had to take down the paper sorter tray.

After...so much nicer...and a big bag of garbage out of there!

In all that we also went camping for 10 days!! Oh it was so much fun...even if our stretch of wonderful hot weather ended 2 days after we started!! We did get rained on quite a bit and it was at times a little chilly...but we had a blast and weren't ready to come home!

Today is Canada Day, we had a wonderful time at the parade and then a BBQ at my brothers...I found this material that I had bought on sale about 4 years ago.

My Canada Day Princess!!

Getting it all Done!!

So for the last few weeks of school the kindergarten class with be attending school full time!! That gives me 3 days a week at home alone...ALONE!!!

So I have a few big projects (and several small ones) that I'm determined to have completed by the end of the school year!! I figure if is is in writing then I'll actually get it done...I may or may not take pictures!

Get my spare room in order, clean it out and get a bed and stuff in there..actually make it a spare room instead of the storage room it is. I'm not sure if it will be done by the time Jen visits...but maybe or probably not!

• Get my family room area organized and have all of Michaela's toys down there.
• Get Oreo set up outside for the summer...Rabbits in the house kind of smell!
• Little organizing projects - these should take about a hour each:
• clear out my computer armoire
• clean out the craft room - again
• clean and organize my dressers
• get my books organized
• finish all my filing
• organize my pantry cupboard
• organize my kitchen closet and cupboards

Once these things are done I will feel so much better and my house will be so much better to live in!!!

Well I'm heading out to help my friend do some painting and maybe get to plant a few more flowers in the garden!!