I'm back...is anyone still reading?

No excuses for not posting since May. None. Nada. Zilch. My apologies though if that counts for anything? Let me get you caught up...

May: Finished school. WHHHHHOOPPEEE!!!!

June: Took Brooke to Disneyworld and had a blast. She did super! Rented a house and loved it - will definitely do this again!

July: Mom had surgery and Leslie had surgery. Rough time. Briana's 1st anniversary...yea Annie!

August: Graduated from WBU 1st in my class Magna Cum Laude. GO GENA! What a great feeling to have accomplished this and to be done. It's been so nice having "free" time.

September: Dad has been gone 5 years. Miss him so much! Working on genealogy some and started my book. Don't hold your breath on this one...school took 10 years so no telling how long a book will take me!

This brings us to now: Work is crazy and exhausting. Every new hair that comes in is now gray. My BP is lower but still higher than I think it needs to be (even on meds). I think I may be the coolest 40-something chick in town driving a van. And I'm officially a big girl...I got labs drawn yesterday without passing out. (THIS IS HUGE!) Don't laugh...I'm tough in other areas.

Brooke is doing well - still keeping us entertained. I cut 11 inches of her hair off a few weeks ago for Locks of Love. She looks cute, but it took a few days for her anger to leave. I had no idea she was that attached to her golden locks. Woops!

Mike is in his last year of teaching and super excited about being done. I'm ready! How many people have to deal with child care woes for 18 years straight? Geez. I'm ready to have Mr. Mom at my beck and call. :)

The sweet red head (our dog Brandi) was Taco Box pet of the week last week. Earned us a $10 gift card and a nice email from my buddy Thomas. Sweet. That a girl B! (I appreciate her posing for 30 pictures with a bandanna every way it could be styled.)

You are now officially caught up on our lives. If anyone still reads this - I hope to do better with my posts in the future. We love you all and thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers over our family!

FINISHED! I am no longer a college student (thank goodness!)

I did it! I finished all of the requirements needed to graduate with my Bachelors degree. I walked out of the college for the last time last Thursday and spent the rest of the day crying. Not exactly the way I thought I would react, but what can I say? Don't get me wrong...I'm super happy and relieved but achieving this particular goal really made me miss my dad. He was so proud of my decision to go back to school and I'd give anything to have him on the other end of the phone right now so I could tell him. I will walk in August and before you ask...there is no master's in the works at this point in my life. It's time for Mike and Brooke!Oh yea, and for ME. I've got some serious geneaology research to do!!!

I am not the only family member to graduate...my niece Tiffany graduated from UNM in December, Briana graduated from WTAM yesterday and Caitlin graduates from Friona high school in a week or so. Busy time in our lives right now! So proud of everyone's accomplishments! Briana, Caitlin and I graduate with honors, which is pretty neat. For me, once I saw that I could "do it" I set a personal goal to walk with that gold cord. It became my mission. Wayland doesn't tell you you get one...they "cord you" the day of graduation. I have a 3.8, so I should be good to go.

Blessings to everyone!!!
Gena

Spots - Christmas Tree - Laughing - Wii Dance

I'm seeing spots! Not a good comment considering how dangerous they can be on Brooke. She's had about a month of spots, but this morning some have red rings around them. That usually indicates a bit of cellulitis. I took her to the doctor Wednesday because she's felt awful for about a week and he put her on a ZPack for her allergies. It's not helping. She can't breath well, she's still snotty and the darn spots continue to grow/multiply. It's like she's totally out of gas and has no fight in her body right now. What I need is for the wind to go away and the weather to make up its mind! A little rain wouldn't hurt either. Please pray for Brooke's body to kick in and fight, and we'll keep doing what we know to do.

So for the last two days, Brooke has been asking for the Christmas tree. This morning, she told Mike to go open the shed (that's where we keep all of the goodies). What's up with that? Silly kid!

Brooke has developed a new laugh. Out of the blue...a totally different laugh. It's hilarious. It's a deep belly laugh and every time she laughs - we laugh. It's priceless.

Brooke just brought me her new Wii dance game, got the controllers and is wanting to "get the groove on." Gotta go.

Until next time...

Rrrrrrrr.......

No matter how much I do or hard how I think I work...I cannot get caught up on anything. 5 more weeks of school and there are no words to describe how very ready I am to be done. It's a good thing it's over because I could not handle another class! NO WAY NO HOW!

Birthday - Cardiologist - Spots - Baby - School

Brooke turned 21 on the 9th...where did the time go? We had a family party for her the Saturday prior and she had a blast. A firetruck even showed up to take her for a ride. Life is good!

On the 14th, we took Brooke for a follow-up on her heart. Oddly enough, she sort of fell off the radar after being diagnosed with a blood clot in her heart in June. I made sure she got back on the radar and that she will remain there. Brooke's awesome Cardiologist (Dr. Berman) retired in January (our loss!!) so we are seeing his partner, whom we've seen in the past. He did an echocardiogram and compared his findings to the one Dr. Berman did in June while she was in the hosptial at Presby. and they are identical. The "mass" hasn't grown any and is not restricting blood flow. Good news. He says it is not a tumor or else it would've grown. He feels, like Dr. Berman, that it is a blood clot. Since Brooke is already on Coumadin for life - that's the treatment plan. He will start seeing her every 6 months to monitor some regurgitation issues in two of her valves. This was noted in June as well, but is something new. Pray that it never gets worse and that no treatment is ever needed.

We are closely watching 9 spots that Brooke has developed the past week. It's odd how we go so long with one or two occasionally and then get 9 at once. I continue to do weekly bathings in bleach and Hibicleanse, which I feel has helped greatly.

I'm a great-aunt again to my fourth great-nephew! Auden Joseph Mauldin was born yesterday in Phoenix to my niece Kendra and her husband Josh. The proud big brother is Jonas. Briana, Caitlin, Jaclyn and Tiffany...GIRLS ARE NEEDED!! No rush...just saying...

School is about to do me in. There are no words to how SICK I am of it right now. I know...only 7 more weeks and I'm done for good, but it's all I can do to make myself get homework done. And I have a LOT! I'm carrying four classes which I do not recommend for a working mom. Lord...give me strength!

Sympathy to my Aunt Kim on the death of her dad, to my great-uncle David on the passing of his wife Shirley, and to our belove special olympic teammate - Stephanie. Life is short...it's up to each of us to make it sweet.

Blessings all...

Forgiveness

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

While researching the topic of forgiveness I ran across an article titled Why is Forgiveness so Rare? I’ve never thought of forgiveness as being rare, so this got me thinking: (1) Why is it so difficult to forgive others and believe that we can be forgiven for our sins; and (2) Why do Christians struggle with the concept of being worthy of forgiveness? Matthew says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (11:28)

In Hebrews, Jeremiah talks about the blood of Jesus being the ultimate forgiveness for our sins. There is no greater statement as that. And the Apostle Paul preaches to Philemon about forgiving those who sin against us as God forgives our sins against him for Jesus’ sake. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6: 14-15) Forgiveness is certain if we ask God.

In fact, the words forgive, forgiveness, forgiving, forgiven, forgives and forgave are mentioned approximately 27 times in the New Testament (NIV version of the Bible). So what does this all mean? It’s simple: We serve a merciful God who is both loving and forgiving. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Ready for summer!

Flu. Sinus issues. Allergies. Viral infections. Summer...please hurry up and come!! If Brooke isn't feeling bad - one of my sitters is. My mom is under the weather today so here I sit, at home, with Brooke who is not feeling the best either. Can't say that my allergies are behaving too much either. So ready for warm weather and minimal wind. I just left Walgreen's where I got a 96-pack of Sudafed for Brooke. I have to switch places where I get it so the Meph. cops don't get suspicious. Ha. Really...the sudafed IS for Brooke. Promise! She also has a couple of spots that I'm watching, so please pray for healing.

I spent last weekend cleaning and organizing our office. What a chore! It looks so much better though! I need to take advantage of being at home and get the rest of the house cleaned. We're having the family over Saturday for a cookout...an early birthday party for Brooke. She turns 21 on the 9th. Where has time gone? Where did my baby go?

Time to get busy. Have a blessed Tuesday!
Gena