Character

With my upcoming surgery not far away, I feel the Lord has been ministering to me through the good wishes and prayers of friends. I am very blessed to see the love of God in a tangible way. I am thankful to all who are saying prayers for me and my family. I have also been finding that God is very concerned with the development of our character. One way that God develops our character is through trials, like the one we have been going through. Thankfully, God is not impressed by outward appearances, because I have not been a very together person lately. I am thankful that God looks on my heart, and that He sees what myself and others cannot. He knows what is best for me and my part is to trust that he does regardless of what I see up ahead. By faith not by sight, that has been my banner.

Jude 1:24-25 says, "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen."

James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

Today I bought my first package of Depends. My doctor told me to expect to have diarrhea and accidents after the reconnection of my bowel. It is going to take time to build the muscles up since they have been resting for over a year now. I also got my sparkling apple cider for the bowel prep cocktail. I just have to get the two bottles of Fleet soda (yuck). After doing errands I began to not feel well, sore throat, aches and slight congestion. I have not been sleeping well or much lately. I have been extremely tense, clenching my teeth, etc. Please pray that I will be well for my surgery and that God will fill me with His peace. Thank you.

Autumn Time

It is officially autumn and I've decorated my silk plant basket with some autumn color. The little sign was made by an artist who has a booth at Country Roads (my favorite antique mall). Here in sunny Southern California the weather is still warm, I am hoping it will cool down very soon.

I got some good bargains recently. I happened upon a clearance sale at Target while shopping for other items. I picked up a Shabby Chic valance for $2.75! I also picked up some velvet cotton pillow shams for $4.00 a piece, a chair pad for $6, some placemats for 48 cents a piece and a pretty amber glass toothbrush holder for $2.75! (pictured below)

There is good news to report! The boys are over their colds, and I am feeling better myself as well. I checked in with my friend Missy to see how Peyton did with her surgery. The surgery went really well and Peyton is feeling much better. When I was a child having tonsils removed was a big ordeal, but now with the use of lasers, having tonsils removed is not bad at all. I am so glad that little Peyton is doing well. If you prayed for Peyton, many thanks for your prayers.

Moments of Weakness

Do you ever have moments of weakness? Times when there is something you have to do and you are really scared? I am in that spot. The date is set, the time, what I need to do and it is only two weeks away till I go to the hospital. Of course I have an experienced doctor, an expert in his field and a good man as well. Even so, he is just a man; ultimately everything is in God’s hands. Last time I went for surgery, we made plans with the thought that everything would be fine. We live in Southern California and my husband and I went up to Northern California so I could have surgery with a specialist. He is one of the top doctors in his field, very experienced, a good man. I was only supposed to be gone 12 days as my boys eagerly waited my return, but, something went horribly wrong a few days after the surgery. I collapsed after my post-op appointment. The ambulance took me to the hospital as septic shock took over. I was rushed to an emergency surgery. When I came out my husband was told it was a very bad situation; I had a 50/50 chance of survival. I was hooked up to monitors, a respirator; two IV poles with loads of medicine and I had my very own nurse who never left my side.

I could not talk, due to the respirator, so my husband gave me a pen and paper and I wrote in tiny letters (not my normal handwriting) asking if I was going to die. I don’t remember doing it, but he showed me what I wrote when I woke up. I asked him what was his answer to me and he said that he spoke to me and told me I was going to live. He of course didn’t know and he left the hospital and cried. Three days later my breathing was strong enough I did not need the respirator. After it was removed I regained complete conciseness and I remember my doctor at my bedside on his knees telling me it was his fault. I was so weak I spoke in a whisper to him.

I remember a nurse washing my entire body while I lay in bed, because I couldn’t do it myself. I remember another nurse making me sit in a chair and it was too soon to bend my body that way. It caused me horrible pain even on heavy painkillers. I used a walker to walk and a nurse would stay by my side all the way around that ICU ward. The other nurses would cheer me on, everyone was filled with joy; it was a miracle I was alive.

I was in the hospital a month and that whole time I did not see my boys. I remember talking to them on the phone and hearing their pain. After awhile, my oldest son stopped talking to me, which hurt, but I knew why. I would lie awake at night wanting to make things better for them, but I couldn’t. The only thing I could do was work hard to get better. Some of those days I thought I was going to make it and other days I felt I wasn’t. I had to rely on God to take care of my sons, my husband and me. I know my cup was running over, God’s love and power were so evident in those days. Now that I am facing surgery once more, I am seeing God's wonderful love through so many people who are praying for us. But in the midst of it, I am watching my husband struggle with his emotions and sometimes one of my sons will have trouble sleeping. I myself am having trouble sleeping and I had to go to my GP and get some medicine. I think I should feel confident, but I feel fear. I want to be strong, but I am weak

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Multi-tasking

I am sure this is something any mother can nod her head at and say "YES! I do that." As a mom multi-tasking is part of the job qualifications. It is a skill that women have by nature, but as a mother we tend to reach the outer limits. Most times I am multi-tasking without even knowing it, but yesterday I actually caught myself in the act. Driving around town running errands, thinking of various friends, praying for them as I was driving or shopping. I also attempted a new horizon of multi-tasking I never thought I would stoop too. I ate an apple while I changed the filter on the fish tank. And not only that, I also washed a dish in the sink while eating an apple. Yes, scrubber in one hand, apple in the other. It must of looked ridiculous to any on looker, but I am sure you Moms out there know what this is all about. There never seems to be enough hours in the day. That horrible "To do" list seems to go on forever. The laundry, dishes, cleaning, cooking, shopping, gardening, pets, kids, etc. Lately, in the morning, I have been trying to not jump out of bed so quickly. Rather, I reach over for my Bible and read it and/or my devotional. Starting the day with quiet time, while my cats nag me for breakfast, has been refreshing. It is always nice to have the memory of that peaceful time to carry me through the day.

Quiet Weekend

Well, with only two of us at home (me and Eric, pictured above) it has been a quiet weekend. Mark and Brandon went camping up near Big Bear with the scout troop. Eric's cold moved down into his chest, which kicked up his asthma. Mark and I decided it was best he not go camping. Mark called in the morning and let me know him and Brandon got to camp alright. He said they got in to camp late and he himself did not get to bed till 1 am. Also, it was cold, down to 41 degrees. Brrr. Good thing I kept Eric home.

Since I have not been feeling well myself, Eric and I spent the whole day at home resting. I kept napping off and on all day. The both of us have enjoyed doing things together, like cleaning up the kitchen after meals, watching some movies and talking. We also cooked dinner together. We made a sour cream rice casserole that had zucchini and tomato in it. It was delicious and we both had seconds. Eric's chest is finally loose and he was coughing stuff up all day, he has not needed to take his asthma medicine and I am so glad.

I hope Brandon is doing alright. He had the cold in his head when he left for camp. He has a pretty strong immune system, plus he does not have asthma like Eric. I sent medicine along with him so hopefully it is helping. He was so excited to go to camp. I think it has been good for the boys to be apart this weekend. Eric has needed the rest (although I sense Eric misses his pesky little brother...LOL). Tomorrow Mark and Brandon will be home, along with all their dirty camp laundry. The socks are always the worst. ;-)

Becky

Sunflowers

Here is my dining table all decked out with a sunflower theme. I really enjoy sunflowers. Today when I went to our local Trader Joe's market, they had sunflowers displayed out front. A bunch of them cost only $3.49! They have plain yellow sunflowers and they have ones with a bit of Autumn tint to them (as in the picture below) . I love them all of course.

Eric did great with his studies today. Brandon was a wee bit of a challenge, but we got through the rough spot. Actually it was a very good day of homeschooling today. Even though I am not feeling tip-top, I was able to make a pot of my famous cream of potato soup for lunch. After dinner I treated myself to some "me" time over at Target. Bought myself a couple bottles of nail polish to paint my toenails. I got a pretty red color for Autumn and then a glitter polish to put on top. Mark said he likes the color so that makes it even more special. LOL
Tomorrow the boys go to school. After I drop them off I will go pick up my new glasses. I don't know what got into me, but I chose blue frames this time. I thought they looked more modern and up to date. They are the flex kind, which I really do like that kind of frame. Well, I am going to end here for tonight, I need to get some sleep.

Becky

Back to School

Well, school has officially started and along with it the viruses. Earlier, I posted that Eric had come down with a cold his first day back at school. Sunday he felt worse so he stayed in. Monday evening, Brandon came down with the cold and he is feeling pretty miserable right now. He is on the sofa watching TV and blowing his nose. He is missing Boy Scouts tonight. I myself have been experiencing some symptoms, but nothing as bad as the boys. If I am going to get this bug, I hope that I do soon so I can get it over with before I have surgery. I don't want to have to reschedule. Anyway, Vicks, Hals, Mucinex and Kleenex have been hanging around the house. And I have been brewing cups of herb tea with apple juice (it always feels good on the throat).

Monday was our first day of hitting all the books. We homeschool through a private school called Spirit Academy. The boys have class two days a week (Tuesday & Friday) and the rest of the time they are at home. We have an agenda to follow for the week. We teach a couple classes totally at home. Mark teaches math and I teach history. Although, I am not teaching Brandon history this year. Next year Eric will take geography at the school because it is too complicated for me and I will teach Brandon. I managed to get Eric through the first chapter already. I graded all his papers, maps, etc. He's got a B- so far. We have been learning together, we learned that the purpose of government is to restrain evil and uphold sanctity of life. Pretty awesome lesson!

Yesterday, was my phone conference with the anethesiologist. It went really well. I did ask him if I caught a cold should I reschedule surgery. He said unless I had a fever and cough, no. I was glad to hear that, because I do not want to have to draw things out. But, I do want to be healthy when I go in. Today I went and got my blood work done. It has always been hard for the techs to find a vien, but ever since what happened last year, it is even harder. They have to stick me in the middle of my arm or the back of my hand. Sticking in the middle of the arm stings, but it isn't a big deal compared with having an internal cyst drained or a respirator. Then sometimes the vein doesn't want to give blood. Today I got by with one stick. Yeah! I parked at the very top of the parking structure and climbed the stairs up. I did good, I am so proud that I am stronger now. When I got to the top, I found police and paramedics next to my car. A man had parked next to my car and he collapsed after getting out of his vehicle. At least he was at the medical center and they could take him right to the hospital. It was just sort of shocking to see someone on the ground, but he was being well cared for. Poor man.

Well, I better get back to work, I hear the laundry and the dishes calling me.

Becky

Thinking of Friends

Today I am thinking of my friend Missy who is an awesome stay-at-home mom. We met because of endometriosis. Both of us had endometriosis so bad we had to have a hysterectomy. Because we could not have our own children we both adopted. I adopted my boys and Missy adopted two girls who are pictured above. Madison is on the left, she is in 1st grade and getting straight A's! Peyton is on the right, she is 35 months old and she has been a sick little girl. She needs to have her tonsils and adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. Her surgery will be on September 23rd. Please say some prayers for Peyton as well as Mom, Dad and Madison. Thanks!

Becky

Garden Day

Hello All,

Above is a picture from my friend Barb in Texas. This is of her lovely garden. Isn't it gorgeous? It was a beautiful day here in Southern California as well. Warm sunshine, clear blue skies and the temperature felt like Autumn is near. Not much going on with us Finleys today, just a quiet day at home. I wanted to take a day trip up to Oak Glen where the apples grow, but Mark was not in the mood for driving. We usually go in November, but with me having surgery in October, I am not sure I will be up to it. This will be year #3 that we will miss going to Oak Glen due to my health issues.

Anyway, it has been a quiet day at home. Brandon and I are the early risers in our family of 4. We got to spend some special time together. I made him some hot chocolate while my tea steeped. We had oatmeal and toast with berry jam. While sipping on our warm beverages we filled in the blanks on a couple Mad Libs. We got to laughing real hard a few times. A great way to start the day.

Later on, I taught Eric some history while Mark taught Brandon Algebra. After I was done with Eric, he had geometry with his Dad. The rest of the day we have been tinkering around the house and the boys have been playing with their friends in the neighborhood. Mark and the boys did leave for awhile to clean out the Boy Scout supply shed over at the church. Eric is sick with a cold, but it is not anything that is keeping him down. Even with a cold he has more energy than I do. :)

Becky

My First Blog Entry

Hello Everyone,

I have finally created my first blog. I am all new to this so it will take me awhile to get the hang of it. I will be writing about my daily life as a wife and mother. I will also be writing about homeschooling, Boy Scouts, etc.

On October 9, 2008, I am scheduled to have surgery to reverse my colostomy. I've had it for 13 months. I am a bit overwhelmed about the surgery in light of what happened last time I voluntarily submitted to surgery. I am hoping and praying that all will go well. I am certain this is the path I am to take. Whatever the Lord wants is what I want too. So I am stepping out in faith that He will take care of me no matter what.

Becky