I need prayer.

I just wanted to ask any of you that read this to pray for me and my family. I found out yesterday that my Dad's Mom died late Saturday night. My Dad's family has had a lot of family issues and it has only gotten worse over the years. I hadn't seen my Mamaw since last Christmas. My dad has been hurt by his family and I am worried about him. The funeral is Wednesday and if it wasn't for my dad I wouldn't even go.
Randy just called me this morning and one of his friends from work went home sick on friday, Randy went to work this morning and found out he had died over the weekend. Randy said " I really was talking to him about God and I thought he was recieving it. I hope it was enough." Randy is pretty upset.
I don't think this would get to me so much, but I am going on practically no sleep. i don't know if I am cut out for fostering. It is funny we have talked about this since before we were marrried. we even built a stinking house for it and now I don't think I can do it. It is all so overwhelming. i worry about my boys and what impact it will have on them. It just don't know if i can handle all of it.
I know God is a big God and He will show me the right way. I just thought it was the way all along and now I feel like on the outside I am strong and meeting everyone's needs and on the inside i am falling apart and don't know how to fix it.
If you think of us just pray- This is going to be a rough week without God's help.

Soccer time!

It is that time of year again.
We are busy, busy with soccer, but it is something we enjoy as a family.
Randy is going to coach both of the boys teams again this year.
It will also be mohawk time again, soon.
I think some of the other players are intimidated by the boys mohawks. They see this crazy boy with wild hair charging down the field at them and they move out of the way. I think it is our secret weapon!

Zoe-update

Traci- Thanks for the advice on tomato paste. i had heard of it, but never knew of anyone who used it and knew for sure it worked.
Unfortunately we had no tomato juice or paste.
So Elijah helped me scrub her with my lavender body wash.
I think it toned the smell down a little. You didn't gag when she walked near you last night.
So that is the latest on the adventureous life of Miss Zoe- Oh- No-E.

Our Zoe

This is Zoe last spring.

This is Zoe when we got her last Christmas.

She is a spoiled farm dog. She gets to run around and dig things up and be a mischievious dog during the day and at night she must endure getting cleaned up from her day of fun and gets loved on and spoiled and then sleeps on her blankie next to our bed. She is spoiled. Last night I brought her in and started to clean her up. Randy asked what that horrible smell was. It was Zoe. She had gotten into a skunk and she smelled so bad it almost burnt your nose. I guess my sense of smell was so bad from standing next to her for so long that I couldn't smell it at first. I don't think she got sprayed directly or I'm sure it would have been unbearable. She wasn't the princess of the house last night for sure. I think it was actually wearing off today- so I know it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I kept telling myself it could have been worse and I'm thankful it took her this long to discover the wonderful aroma of skunk!

The Children's Museum- NOT!

The boys and I made plans to go on a field trip today. We thought we would go to the Children's Museum and invited my Mom.
We get everything planned and I checked on-line this morning to see what road I exit from I-70.
Guess what? The Children's Museum is closed on Mondays in the winter. Ah, That stinks! So I call my Mom. She suggested the Children's Museum in Muncie- Great idea! Not! They, too, are closed on Monday. Wilbur Wright Museum- no go.
So I asked the boys "What do you want to do?"
"Play a board game, go out to eat and see a movie."
O.k. we can handle that.
I check movie times and we decided on Hoodwinked. We are all set, good to go.
I double check movie times and It has changed- they had left the Saturday times up and the next showing wasn't until 5:30. Ok, by now I am just a little bit irritated, mostly with myself, but irritated no less.
So I check movies 8 and they have Chicken Little playing- everyone is o.k. with that so we head out.
The movie only cost us $.50 a person and we all loved it.
The boys both had fun and my Mom and I just enjoyed getting to spend the day together.
Our day didn't turn out as we planned, but we i think the end result was the same. we got to spend time together and enjoy each others company.
So next time we plan something it will NOT be on Monday- Maybe the weekend was just too rough and no one could cope come Monday morning!
( BTW- the picture is of us at the St. Louis Arch. That is if anyone noticed and was wondering where that was at the Children's Museum!)

Today I had a visitor.
I NEVER have visitors.
A car pulled up and the dog started barking. I kept looking because The woman looked familiar, but I just couldn't place her.
And then it dawned on me. Erika! randy's younger sister.
This was a miracle. We hadn't seen her in over 3 years, we had no idea even where she was living.
She had messed her life up and completely rid herself of the family.
She told me she woke up today and wanted to show me her kids. She has 3 beautiful kids, we had never seen the youngest 2.
She said she was just compelled to see her family so she visited with me and then went to see her Grandma.
She said she would come back later when she can visit longer and so Randy can see the kids.
I was excited, but reserved because she has played on my sympathies before. i will just have to leave it to God.
And then I realized: It was Erika that I put on the little white card at church!