Sick and tired of being sick and tired!

I don't have time to be sick!!! I could feel it starting Monday when I woke up. THAT FEELING in my chest. IT is coming. Later that day A.J. was diagnosed with it. I DON'T have TIME to be sick! Tuesday afternoon, Dr. says, "Good self-diagnosis...yep, it's bronchitis."
YUCK!!!
I usually don't get sick. I called to make an appointment with my Dr. about three years ago (the same one I have gone to since my pediatrician.) The receptionist asked if I was a new patient because I was not in their records. It had been so long since I had been in, my files were determined inactive. This time, when I went to Walmart to fill my prescription, they asked me if I still lived in Joliet. "Uh, no." I choked out as I laughed and coughed. "That address is from at least seven years ago!"
I guess I can't complain too much, but I still don't have to like it. Maybe it's the infrequency that makes it that much more miserable.
Here's a stock tip for you...Kleenex and the company that manufactures Amoxicillin! We are doing our part to support them. Christi has a mild case so far too. Please pray hers stays mild and that the other 50% of the clan escapes it. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I'm ready to be done!
One more question...
Has anyone else heard the "home remedy" for putting Vick's Vaporub on the bottom of your feet with socks on at night? It supposedly has something to do with your feet absorbing essential oils. Jeff laughed at me. I tried it. It wasn't much of a scientific experiment. I also took a stronger cough medicine the same night. I was still up every hour needing a drink of water! Now I'm rambling. I think a REAL night's sleep might help.
There's an idea for Mythbusters!

Sticks and stones...

This thought started weaving through my mind early this morning as I began to wake up. I have a feeling this may take a while. Bear with me.
As kids we had all heard and most likely said, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Even as those words came out my mouth as a child I knew better. Words are powerful!
In the first chapter of Genesis, there are 11 quotes of God speaking. Most of them, "And God said..." The world began with words spoken by God. The sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, the water, the land, the plants, the animals...all spoken into existence.
John's gospel starts with, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
I am not so presumptuous to believe my words have the same power as God's. I do not have the ability to create life into existence only by speaking it, but I do have the power to make or break someone's day. We all do.
The words I/we choose can have an enormous impact. I know I am not the only one who believes this. A while ago, my friend Kelly shared a story about how her coach's encouraging word following a swim meet made the whole difference in how she felt that day. It still impacts her years later. Another friend, Lor, shared a vulnerable moment in which she realized that the things she said during her son's wrestling match really bothered her. (YOU ARE NOT ALONE, LOR!) Jeff almost banned me from A.J.'s soccer games a couple of years ago. We can compare tapes later. Dennis, my pastor, spoke just today about the importance of the "red-letter" vs. "black-letter" words in the Bible. (Anyone wishing to hear it can go to www.churchofrockrun.com for the podcast for today.)
The things we say can help someone feel comforted, beautiful, loved, encouraged, important, proud...
On the other hand the things we say can also make someone resentful, rejected, small, unloved, hurt...
So much for "sticks and stones." They may be able to break bones, but words have the power to cut deep or to heal.
I am going to leave this thought here for now. Another thing about words is sometimes there are just too many.

So the answer to the question is more questions...

Have you ever asked God to answer a question, and He does; but the answer you get only leads to an exponential number of MORE questions???
AAAAAAAAHHHH!
It can be quite frustrating! I'm probably leaving you all with one question right now. "What was the question?" Sorry. Can't tell you yet. I need a few more answers to the new questions or I'll have many of you in the same boat I am. (By the way, this boat is definitely piloted by God, but He has blindfolded me for this part of the trip.)

**Also, I don't remember praying for patience. Maybe He just decided I need that without asking.**

Hello, I'm Rachel...

...and I'm a pack rat. (They say denial is the first sign.)
I'm asking for help. I need some accountability!!! When you see me, ask me what I have done to downsize. I get too sentimental. I have boxes that I have not even opened in 5 years. Before anyone says it, I will, "Don't bother opening them. Just put them out for the Amvets truck." Sounds great, but it's hard to change old habits.
For all you organized people out there...what are some of your top tips? Kelly, your kids had room to sleep in their closet. I know you have some advice for me. I think my girls just discovered their closet has a floor!

My baby young lady

Saturday night was the big night. Kaitlyn attended her first Winter Ball at high school. She looked so elegant and beautiful. I must admit I was rather proud of my accomplishment. I did her hair. For anyone who knows my hairdo past, will realize that creating a french braid puts me in a sweat!
She had a great time. No dates at this point. I am very glad that the majority of her friends are content to go and enjoy these freshman events as a group instead of as couples. We'll talk about the date thing down the road. :)
I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

Whoa mama

As I had mentioned on Dennis' blog the other day, I am now officially the mother of two teenagers! They are doing their best to make me feel old. Kaitlyn has a formal dance this weekend so I took her dress shopping for her snow day Friday. She tried on the first dress and she looked like a princess. A grown up one. Not the four year old in dress up clothes. I felt like crying. By the way, that was the dress that we bought. (I'll post pics after the event. She has to have her hair done you know.)
I was looking at pictures of A.J. It is amazing how quickly the little boy is evolving into a young man! Just comparing a picture from September to one taken a few weeks ago made me stop in my tracks. My round-faced, apple-cheeked boy is about 1/2" from looking down at me. If I can have Jeff help me with the scanner (I don't have the software) I'll post a picture from last year and this year. Wow!
Alaina will be a "tween" this year. February 14 marks the last of the school parties for her. I have been the cupcake lady since Kaitlyn was in Kindergarten. Those little things are going to be missed.
I know I still have Christi. Her school experience is a bit different. I still cherish the moments, but things just aren't done the same. We have a theory that God has kept her from growing so fast so that we are able to linger in each stage. The other three are growing up so fast. I think in a way that has prevented us from being frustrated that at 7 1/2 she is still very toddler-like. She has been such an incredible gift.