In case you're interested

I have started a new private blog. If you are interested, just drop me a line in the comments section. I already have most of your email addresses, so I can contact you to let you know the website address. If I don't have your email address, just leave it in the comments block (I won't publish it).

Eventually, I may return to this blog, but for now, it will be silent.

I have a difficult journey ahead of me over the next few weeks and months, a painful loss to process, so please keep me close in thought and in prayer.

My Final Post

I will be discontinuing blogging.

The time has come to shut this place down.

I will leave this up for a few more weeks, but until then, it's time to say "goodbye" to all of you.

Thanks for all of your love and support and prayers over all of the years. I truly appreciate it.

I just have no more words to say anymore about being a mom. Or about my faith.

I am lost - but I am certain that someday, I will find my way back. When I do, I will let you all know.

Love, Val

The Decision

TP is in the process of making a life-altering decision. Please pray that God give her the courage and strength and wisdom to choose what is in line with HIS will for her life. Please pray that her decision is made not in anger, but in what is the right thing to do for her life and her future. Please pray for the whole family as we await her decision. We have tried desperately to help her, but she continues to be blinded by her anger. Her boyfriend has turned her totally against us and our values and her religion; and his parents are aiding and abetting this whole process. Rather than all of these people looking out for what is best for her, they are only putting their wants and needs ahead of hers. They are being selfish and not taking into consideration all that she has worked hard for over these years - her faith, her security, getting a college education in a way which minimizes her stress and debt load and time in which it takes her to complete it, and her close relationship with her family - and they are destroying it for their own selfish gain. And, she is listening to them rather than to us. We are now the enemy. It would fall on deaf ears if we even talked to them because they are so wrapped up into being the "cool" parents, the ones who are "rescuing" TP from such "horrible" parents who are drawing the line between what is right and what is wrong, the ones who have no clue what the sacrifices and sweat and tears that TP and we have gone through to get her this far - and they are destroying it all. Most importantly, they are supporting her immoral lifestyle, and are destroying her relationship with us because they are yanking her away from the whole family who have loved her forever and who have her best interests at heart. Please say some prayers for them, so that they can see the error of their ways.

A decision will be made within a week. If she moves out, it will be during the time when I am on vacation. I couldn't bear to be here, watching her pack up her room, and walking down the sidewalk that one last time, and out of our lives forever. It will kill me. But God will comfort, God will help me through. And I'll ask God to keep her safe in the palm of His hand.

Vacation Ahead!

Busy week ahead.

But, first off, a note to let you all know that I am doing fine.

I am really doing okay.

I've been through the worst two months of my life, but I have made the decision to live each day of my life, however many I have left on this earth, to the fullest. I owe it to God, to my daughter, to my husband, to the rest of my family and my friends, to honor them by giving them my very best.

After my two weeks away, I have an appointment for a full physical with my doctor. Please keep me in your prayers that all of my tests come back normal. Then, I am going to concentrate on helping to form a new bereavement ministry at church. I am going to hire a young woman (already have somebody picked out, but she hasn't agreed to it yet) to help me with my private practice. She'll be perfect with my clients, and it will help her with her degree. While she's grateful for the offer, she still has to make sure it won't interfere with a couple of other things in her life. After I hire her, I am going to work on building up my clientele, as we need some extra money coming in - what with the cost of gas and food going up, plus some unexpected medical bills, there's a little bit of pinch in our budget going on. Then, fall will be here, and the marching band season will be upon us - and I'm very excited about that!!

I'll post again before I take off on vacation - I can't wait (only a few more days!). And I'll post pictures of the puppies tomorrow, I promise!

News!

We finally have a diagnosis for DQ - she has scoliosis. We are starting out with physical therapy beginning today. And, she won't be able to drive a car quite yet because she still is experiencing "spells" (as the doctor put it). Our next appointment is in two months to see what he recommends next. It's hard to get a "read" on DQ's reaction to this news. I'll talk to her more about it today, as we head over to the hospital for PT. I'm not sure how this is going to impact her participation in band this year, but I hope it doesn't have any effect.

Today, we are weloming two new babies into our home!!! They are a brother/sister duo, and they are adorable. The little girl's name is Angel, and the boy's name is Tiger - and they are baby Bichon's!! We are excited. Angel will be DQ's baby, and Tiger will be my husband's dog (he named him - don't blame me). I already have my "baby" Bichon, Katy, who just turned 11. She's such a gentle soul, and she follows me everywhere - even into the bathroom. I shall post pictures once we get them. There is still one male left which needs to be adopted, but we aren't crazy enough to take him home . . . I don't think.

DQ took her SAT on Saturday, and will take her ACT on this coming Saturday. She gets her wisdom teeth out on Monday, and she has "swollen eyeballs" for which she has been prescribed eyedrops. I think it was due to all the studying she did last week for her finals - LOL. Actually, they aren't sure what it causing them to swell, but she can't wear her contacts until the swelling goes down. We go back into the eye doctor on Friday to see how they are doing.

A package with DQ's uniform for Interlochen came the other day. Her dream is finally becoming a reality! I am so happy for her, and it's fun to watch her excitement. We'll be in Michigan in 9 days, for a period of 3 beautiful weeks. The only sad thing is having to leave the puppies behind, although my dog will be coming along with me.

When we get home, we'll be making the guest bedroom into DQ's "dorm" room, complete with a loft bed and a writer's desk. The colors she has chosen for the walls will be an interesting combination (that's an understatement). Her present bedroom will become the guest room. And TP's old room will become my office doubled as another guest room. I haven't quite figured out the details for these other two bedrooms yet, but it will be fun pulling it all together. I may have to get rid of some of the bedroom furniture, but haven't quite decided what pieces will be sold yet.

So, I'm keeping busy, focusing on my daughter and my husband, and thanking God for all that He has given to me (including two new babies!).

Words of Wisdom

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

~Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta ~

Prayer Request Granted

Thanks for your prayers - they worked!

Now, if I could ask for additional prayers for my youngest daughter, DQ, who is going to a specialist at Children's next Wednesday. She's been having excruciating back pain and headaches and nausea for quite some time, and it's getting progressively worse. I pray that nothing is seriously wrong with her. She's scheduled to go to Interlochen in two weeks, and I don't want anything to interfere with that, either.

I'm looking forward to a busy weekend, with a to-do list a mile long. But, when I am kept busy like that, I have less time to focus in on the heartache. I have finally turned the corner in that regard, I think. I am beginning to see the beauty of God's work once again, I'm beginning to laugh again, I'm beginning to get on with my life and enjoy it once again.

Have a great weekend!

Urgent Prayer Request

Another urgent prayer request for a special intention for my family. It's very crucial that prayers are said for this particular petition. Thanks, everybody. I'll let you know if the prayer is answered. . .

Three Weeks in Heaven!

As mentioned in a post a few weeks ago, my youngest daughter was accepted at Interlochen for a three week Creative Writing program. Interlochen is close to my home town of Traverse City. I was only going to spend a few days up there after dropping DQ off, but I have been graciously invited to stay at my in-laws for the WHOLE three weeks that DQ is at camp. I'm at a loss for words. They have a main house across the street from their private beach with a beautiful small beach house - and I am going to plop my bottom down in that gorgeous white sand for those three weeks and do absolutely nothing. I will be surrounded by God's glorious Lake Michigan, my loving family, and some caring friends. What a time for healing, for relaxation, for regaining my strength.

Of course, it will take some coordination to pull this off - I have my own private business to worry about, plus I do the bookkeeping for my husband's small business, plus I pay our personal bills - so I will need to figure out a system on how to get things accomplished without me actually being around for that length of time. But, it's very do-able. And it's very necessary that I do this for myself. I will never have this golden opportunity again. I need to get away from all the heartache and the pain, and have my family and friends take care of me (and perhaps even pamper me a bit).

On a different note, I was the "biggest loser" at my women's exercise club over the last six week period! I lost a total of 14 pounds and 16 inches!!!! Yay! I'm wearing clothes that I haven't been able to fit into for about 5 years. I plan to continue with the weight loss at a slow and steady pace - I want to lose about twenty to twenty-five more pounds so that by the beginning of fall I will be trim again. There is a fashion show at my youngest daughter's school for which they need models, and I want to volunteer my services for that (along with DQ, who would make a gorgeous model).

In regards to TP, she is on her own. She is adamant about not ever returning home. I shall keep her in my prayers and will always love her, but she has made her choice. I still miss the young woman she once was, but the person she has become is a total stranger to me. So, please contine to pray for her. Thank you.