Going on . . .

It's been a busy past week and a half and very hot here. I think we skipped our Michigan spring and practically went from winter to summer - with now, low 90 degree, humid weather. The kids have been running threw the sprinkler and having fun water fights! :)

We had several puppies in and out quickly with our puppy business, which was a blessing - but now we need more puppies, so pray someone calls us with a nice big, young litter! :) We had several graduations to go to this past Saturday. It was another bittersweet day, seeing people we had not seen in sometime. Most avoid mentioning anything about Matthew, which makes it hard. I think it hit Norm more, where other Christians just do not care more that for the superficial stuff. Here he lost his son - and there's no mention. I guess women talk better about emtional things, and several did say things to me. One person who had not seen Norm since well before Matthew died mentioned how he has aged. I did not really notice it until we got some pictures back from Katie's birthday on the 27th. I saw the sadness in his face. It makes my heart ache for my dear husband - and I know his pain, yet, it hurts even more to see him hurting. I think it's hit him more lately than it did at the beginning, and our doctor even told us it would be this way. I've seen more tears escape his eyes lately - just listening to a song, or rocking a little one. Pray for joy to begin to be restored in our home. During these times of being down, it's easy to let the non-important things seem important and let it become an issue.

I've also been struggling with lupus symptoms again. I was first diagnosed with lupus after our baby girl was stillborn 7 years ago. I often wonder if it was from the 3 blood transfussions I had to have to save my life because of the placenta abruption that took hers. Lupus is a hard disease to diagnose, as are most auto-immune diseases. It is something that somewhat goes in and out of remission. It has "flare-ups" and I am at that point again, which is common with this disease, when there is major stress. I guess I'd qualify for that. For me, at this point, the type of lupus I have is NOT life-threatening, which I am very thankful for. We'd appreciate your prayers for the flare-ups to subside and my energy and health to return.

Norm has a job interview tomorrow. A personnel service called - not sure where they found his resume, but we have sent so many out in the last several years. We have such mixed feelings about it. God is allowing us to make end meet with Norm home. He is not a lazy man, and keeps very busy from gardening to repairing lawnmowers to working on our remodeling, and pups seems to come along just when needed and the buyers come too. Something "seems" to come along at the right time for bills to be paid and needs being met (and wants too). Norm has such a burden to be a part of the children's lives, and knows we can make ends meet without working 40+ hours out of the home. Ideally it would be great if he could find a close part-time job, that would be "steady" income. But, he is going to check out this job tomorrow. We know if God wants him to take it, it will all fall into place. It is first shift which is a "requirement" after the many, many years of 2nd shift (and long nights for me).

Stephen also has a job interview on Friday at an automotive repair place. We are trying to encourage him to towards something part-time, as he has all his life to work many hours, and we want him to be able to study too for his automotive and welding classes in the fall.

So, there is always something going on here, decisions to make, and just the continual reminders of sadnesses, and still finding that "new normal". So, we take in a deep breath, continue, and are so thankful we know without a doubt, God has NOT left us or forsaken us!