Feeling blessed

Every other Wednesday since my dad got sick with late stage cancer, I have picked up my mom to go visit my brother, Tim, in Newark, NY. He was brain damaged at birth when the Drs made a mistake and gave my mother too much Pitosin (sp?), which caused her to stop breathing. We drive about 40 min to get to his house, and then take him out for a drive where we talk to him and enjoy the scenery. He doesn't answer us back when we ask him questions, but I know he understands. When I talk about different things along our drive, such as a camper parked in a bunch of trees, or a beautiful horse, he always looks at what I'm talking about. Sometimes I talk to him about my kids or our sister's kids. Today I told him that Martha and James have put their house up for sale, and when it sells they will move to a property that is easier for them to take care of. At the end of our drive we go through the Wendy's drive through, where we all get a small chocolate frosty...Mmmmmm! We sit there in the car just enjoying each other's company, and people watching. For the last 2 or 3 visits at the end of our time together, Tim gives us each the most wonderful, loving hug. He has never done this with me until recently and I can't help but wonder what he's thinking. I know that when my dad got sick, the rest of my family became so much more special...not that they weren't before, but when you know you're going to lose someone you love, you realize that sometimes you take for granted what you have, and you treasure them so much more. I can't help but wonder if my brother feels this same way because when he hugs us it's almost as if he doesn't want to let go. Visiting him has become such a blessing, something I really look forward to.

Taking time to be silent

Psalm 46:10- Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.

Psalm 4:4- When you are disturbed, do not sin. Ponder it on your beds and be silent.

Psalm 62:1- For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

Today I worked all day and then had a staff meeting afterward. I got home around 5:40pm, made dinner, ate with my family, chatted for a bit with the kids, and headed off to small group with Dave. Mondays can be crazy, and I often feel too tired to go to small group . Staying home and relaxing with my family is much more appealing, but I always feel so blessed after getting together with this special group of friends. Tonight we talked about our schedules and our daily distractions. I have to admit, my life is pretty "noisy". How can I possibly hear God's voice if I'm not taking the time to just be silent and listen? I feel ashamed that I have allowed my life to be cluttered with so many insignificant things, and haven't taken the time for some of the more meaningful things. I know it may be a struggle at first, but I want to take time every day just to be silent and listen. I think having a day where no electronics are allowed is a good idea too. I wonder what we'll find to do as a family!!...

Goings on...

Saturday while I was doing laundry and general pick up of clutter, I noticed that Steven had taken my vacuum cleaner apart to examine it. He is very interested in how these things work. I suppose it's good experience for him to do stuff like this. It actually reminds me a bit of my Grandpa Plotzker who was very good at taking broken things apart and making them like brand new again.
On Sunday afternoon Dave and I went out in search of new mattresses for our kids. The ones that they have been using were very old and were given to us by Dave's parents. Lately the boys have been having allergy symptoms (mostly in the morning) and it killed me to think what was inside those old mattresses. The box springs were the old metal kind. Anyway, the new mattresses came today and I have covered them with dust mite covers. I had told Steven that when their new mattresses came their beds would be higher, but it is higher than I had imagined. Their bed frames look like miniature frames now, the headboard is barely even visible. I had to clip his reading light on the shelf above his bed since his headboard is now too low.

I wonder what Michael will say when he sees this picture. The little bunny sitting on his bed is Cutie Bunny. He has been Michael's favorite stuffed animal since Michael was 2 yrs old, and he has taken many trips with us (including our trip to Florida last month). Michael snuck him to Florida for his traditional ride on the ceiling fan...so he says. ;) He no longer sits on Michael's bed though since Michael is now almost 15, but has been sitting on a shelf. I think Cutie deserves a place on Michael's bed regardless of Michael's age. :)