Sometimes I Write

So a few months ago I got the bright idea to start a mommy blog. My thinking was that it would be a good place to encourage other moms and share funny stories only a parent can appreciate. I was (again) overly optimistic and I have since realized that I don’t have the time or the energy to keep up with two blogs. So while MY Journey continues…SUPERMOM must end. I’m still a supermom, and I still want to encourage other moms, it will just have to be here instead.

I’m determined to get caught up on my blog reading this weekend. There’s been a lot of change at our house over the past few weeks, and we’re just getting settled a little. I’ll say more about that in my next post.

Please pray for Petey. I’ve posted about his allergy problems in the past, especially related to food, and after several months of improvement, he’s slipped back into the old Petey again. He’s scratching so much and so hard that he makes himself bleed. We have an appointment in the morning to get him checked out and hopefully retested. There has got to be an answer out there somewhere. We need to find it so my little guy can get some relief. He’ll be 2 on the 29th, and he’s had this condition almost since birth. He has a happy disposition most of the time despite his constantly irritated skin, but lately he’s been crabby and not sleeping well. Just pray for some answers and relief. Thank you!

One year ago today I began this little journey. What a year it has been. For those of you who have been here since the beginning, have you seen my growth? 🙂 Oh well, I sure have. It’s amazing what God can do in 365 days. The year has held deep pain and overwhelming joy, pride and anger, excitement and new beginnings, and so much more. I’ve tried to keep my blog about whatever I want to talk about and not limit it to one subject, though I hope struggle and faith have been the central themes, since that’s been my life.

It’s been a joy sharing my ups and downs with you, my old and new friends. Thanks again to the one who got me started, and to the ones who keep coming back to read to my wisdom and ramblings. hehehe

MY Journey continues…

O.k. So I thought I’d have plenty of time to blog on Thanksgiving. Did I mention that sometimes I tend to be overly optimistic? 🙂 It was an interesting day. Football was about the only thing that went as planned, and there was much mourning at the Nowell house when the Broncos beat the Cowboys. (So, I exaggerate too – we like the Broncos)

I got into it with a 7 1/2 foot tall Christmas tree…and lost. We inherited a beautiful pre-lit tree a few years ago. It was so nice not having to spend hours stringing the lights just right. Last year Benny spent 3 hours getting all the lights to work right, and this year we spent almost five (yes hours) doing the same. We never could get ALL of the lights to work and had dark splotches all over the tree. After much stress and a few choice words for the guy who invented circuit lights, we decided to cut the lights off the tree and buy new ones this year. The poor kids were very disappointed we didn’t get to decorate the tree as planned. It’ll happen…just as soon as we get all of these dumb lights off…

We had a great visit with Benny’s family in Buena Vista over the weekend. I was also able to spend several hours with Linda. That’s always a priority when I’m there. She accompanied me to the emergency room in Salida on Saturday. Zoe was running and tripped, and she fell hard on a rock in grandmas yard and split her chin open. It was deep and wide enough that we thought she might need stitches. Dermabond saved the day instead. One of the disadvantages of living out in the boonies is having to drive 30 minutes to the emergency room. The advantage was that there was nobody else there when we arrived. Zoe was the only patient and the nurses were absolutely wonderful with her. The doctor could use a refresher course on bedside manners with a child, but all ended well. My pretty little girl won’t even have a scar.

On Sunday we gave a Dry Bones update report to the church there, which is part of our support team. I love to watch Benny speak about Dry Bones. His passion and heart for the ministry is so obvious and he’s very good at conveying them both. They sent us home with alteast 30 blankets they had collected for the streetkids. It was awesome. One of my favorite things about Benny’s report was watching his mom. You could see the pride on her face. I hope Benny saw it too. She told him she was proud of him when he was done speaking. I love that for him!

Pool night was a little wierd for me last week. I only knew about 3 people, not including our teammates. A girl came up to me a gave me a big hug, then stepped back and said, “Oh, you’re not Joyce!” I said, “No I’m not, but thanks for the hug anyway.” Cheeto was standing there and said, “That’s Niki, you’ve never met her???” Maybe he assumes since he knows me, everyone else should too. I also met “Twist” that night. He had the shakes really bad. (a sign of heroin addiction) He asked me if we could start serving supper early because he was really hungry. He also asked if we brought any clothes with us. I told him there is a guy who comes down on Thursday’s pretty often with clothes and shoes. The guy (Chris) showed up a few minutes later and I introduced him to Twist. Since I had been home with my family all day wrestling a Christmas tree, I didn’t wear my make-up, and I just twisted my hair up in a clip. I was wearing my jeans and a Dry Bones t-shirt under my jacket. I had never met Chris and his wife before, and they thought I was a street kid! Chris offered me a sweater, and his wife, who had brought gingerbread and licorice with her told me to eat as much as I wanted because there was plenty. It really caught me off guard. They also gave each of my kids a stuffed animal and offered them clothes too. Pete was wearing his blanket sleeper pajamas – the kind with the feet built into them – under his coat. That’s when it hit me that they thought my children were children of the street kids. I didn’t know whether to be offended, or proud. Afterall, Zoe and Max both were sitting down on the sidewalk talking with a few of our street friends like they’d known them forever. When Nikki, Matt and I started serving the meal, Chris’s wife noticed me standing there but didn’t say anything, so when the line died down I introduced myself to her and pointed out the rest of my family, telling her the children were mine. I think she was a bit relieved to know they wouldn’t be spending the night out in the cold. Does this mean I’m not visible enough in the ministry? I don’t think so…my role is just very different than the rest of the team. I’m thankful for the opportunity to participate in pool night occasionally.

I received my first Christmas card in the mail this weekend! My friend Vicki is on the ball!! (Over achiever!:)) I guess I’d better get mine started. Let me see, where is that list?…

I was happy to help my friend Nikki redeem her cooking reputation today. Every Wednesday Karen cooks a big meal for the 7 or 8 streetkids in the Wednesday Bible study group. Since the Goldman’s are gone for the week, Nikki volunteered to cook. Evidently, there was some cause for concern by the staff and streetkids alike since Matt and Nikki have shared her cooking disaster stories with everyone. No worries friends – she did great! She was very busy lastnight putting everything together for today. Here’s one of the things I love about her…she tried to make atleast one favorite dish for each of the kids in the group! She made roast, cheesy broccoli rice casserole, green beans, pistachio salad, homemade rolls, and two homemade pies – one apple, and one pumpkin. It was awesome! How did I help? I peeled and sliced the apples for the pie. Nothing glamorous, but I helped. I also did the dishes after lunch. That counts for something doesn’t it? 🙂 There’s something so comforting to me about two women in a kitchen cooking, talking, and laughing as they prepare to serve a meal together. Nikki did all the hard stuff, so I was glad to be there to help her with all of the last minute stuff. It was also funny to me that we’d both turn and look when someone called out our name – happens a lot.

I’ve been thinking all week about what I am thankful for and what I’m going to post tomorrow. It’s going to be a nice relaxing day at home, so I know I’ll have time to blog a bit. Benny and Zoe are going to make us all breakfast, then we’re going to put up the Christmas tree. That was probably my favorite Thanksgiving memory from my childhood. We’ll also watch the Macy’s parade, then the Broncos are playing the Cowboys. I’ll be baking homemade pies to take to the family dinner in Buena Vista on Friday. Tomorrow being Thursday, we’re staying in town to be with our friends on the streets at Shakespeare’s, then we’re feeding them at the park as usual. It’s nice to know this is one of the few weeks of the year some of them don’t have to look for food – there are lots of organizations, and churches that come out a few times a year to feed the homeless. I wish they cared like that throughout the whole year, and I’m thankful for the ones that do. Some of our kids will have eaten “Thanksgiving Dinner” a few times by the time they reach us at Shakespeare’s tomorrow night.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving wherever you are and whoever you’re with. Travel safely or enjoy your time at home. God Bless you!

I love Saturdays.
In the summertime I get up early and head out to garage sales for some much needed Niki time. I usually make myself some chai to take along and grab a banana or bagel and I’m gone – just me, my change bag, and my bargain hunting skills. Since moving to Denver, Jennifer and I have made it a Saturday morning ritual to go to ARC, Denver’s version of Goodwill. Every Saturday everything in the store (except 2 tag colors) is 1/2 price. I have an eye for good used stuff and usually come home with a few treasures for my family. Max’s favorite jeans came from ARC, cost me a $1.99, and they look brand new. I have completed a couple of book collections and even found supplemental materials for homeschooling there. Aaaahhhh I love a bargain! I’m a good treasure hunter. I wasn’t born that way, my dear MIL taught me everything she knows! 🙂

Then Autumn hits and garage sales eventually come to a halt. ARC is still there, but I don’t get up quite as early. Saturday is our day to get things done around the house. Not general cleaning, but special projects. If we don’t feel like doing those projects, or money is tight, it’s cartoon/movie day, and catching up with friends through email or on the phone. There have been many Saturdays the kids stayed in their pajamas the whole day just watching movies, wrestling with Benny, and playing with their toys on the patio. Friday is our fieldtrip/Library day so they have plenty of videos, books, and stuff to keep them happy and busy.

Now winter is upon us and the days are colder. Early Saturday mornings are spent cuddling as a family in our king size, and watching cartoons together. I make oatmeal, pancakes, or cinnamon coffee cake for breakfast to warm us up, and then we get busy doing our own things. It’s great! It’s not as Norman Rockwell as it sounds, but it’s relaxing and fun. We also spend Saturday getting ready for Sunday. House cleaned, menu planned, clothes ready for the next morning, etc. (Thanks again to Flylady!) It makes Sunday mornings run smoothly and we’re all relaxed and unrushed, which is a far cry from what it used to be like around our house on Sunday mornings.

I love Saturdays!