A Long, Overdue Update

Things around here have been kinda on the tough side, and I've been debating about whether or not I should talk about it here. I hate sounding like I'm whinging or complaining, but on the other hand, I figure if you're a grown-up, you know life has its ups and downs; and we've been hit with a lot of those downs lately. As it turns out, it's hard to write about some of the ups that have come our way without referring to a down or two, so the temptation has been to clam up a bit.

Right now, it seems like we're finally seeing some changes that we were desperately praying for. Financially, things have been pretty tight, and that's been further complicated by the lack of work coming through the union for Steve, as well as some difficulty that has been ongoing for Mike at Sears. Long story short, Mike's been putting in applications at other shops, and Steve had to strike out on his own to find a company that was hiring (and actually is doing business close enough to our area). I know that the country supposedly isn't in a recession, but tell that to the working class (or the working poor as my mother recently took to calling it). So, praise God that both my guys are working! I know God's got a job waiting for Mike. It's just a matter of His timing over our own impatience as Mike's job situation continually worsens.

Caedyn's first year of middle school in the college prep magnet was a huge adjustment for him, and I have to tell you how absolutely proud I am of him. When he started in the fall, he was just a baby, and I can't tell you how much he's matured into a smart, sensitive young man in the process. He wasn't just challenged academically for the first time in his school career, but he was challenged socially and emotionally as well. We had a few dark days when he wasn't sure he could handle it, but he ended the year on the B honor roll with some good friends to look forward to seeing next year. He's brilliant and gifted, and I'm absolutely blessed that God has put him in my life.

Caedyn and I have started a summer reading program for ourselves, and we compiled a list together of the books we'll be looking for each week at the library. Gas rationing kept us from going this week, so we've both chosen books we haven't read yet from the overflowing bookshelves here at home to read by next Wednesday. 56 pages a day of...get this...The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy (and no, he's never seen the movie) for him, and 5 chapters a day of Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan for me. I used to read all the time, and in the last 5 years, I've really just ground to a near stop, and I wanted him to see that this wasn't a "Caedyn only" project like some kind of penalty for being on summer vacation. If today was any indication, we're off to a good start, and the best part is that we get to tell each other the story of what we're reading as we go.

I think I might also have gotten him interested in listening to a few old time radio broadcasts like X Minus One (linked on the sidebar), especially since I found a link to this site where there are quite a few different kinds of shows to choose from. He especially likes mysteries (not sci-fi? Are you sure he's my kid?), so we'll be checking out the Hardy Boys and anything else that looks like it might capture his attention.

In any case, between all that, visits to Mom's to use the pool, and anything else we can think of, in hopes our summer will be more eventful than last year (when my busted ankle basically couched us).

Please keep my brother and his family in your prayers, as they're still having a rough time of things. Until they're able to save enough to get an actual apartment (that must have a minimum of 2 bedrooms), they're living in a rent-by-the-week efficiency. And as if tripping over each other, a toddler, and a baby isn't hard enough, they're expecting again. Joe's working nights, so my sister-in-law is incredibly frazzled, as you can imagine. To complicate matters further, Joe was rushed to the hospital on Friday night from work and sent home with a diagnosis of pneumonia; and then last night, the baby was in the hospital with a fever of 102.9. Thank God, the baby doesn't have pneumonia, but it was a scary night nonetheless.

I can't even help out over there until we've gotten the gas situation worked out and I've gotten over yet another allergy-induced sinus infection, so my mom has been running herself ragged trying to give them a hand, so my frustration with this entire situation is...well, not small. While you're praying for them, keep Mom in there too, because I'm worried she's in way over her head.

The good things are that, while they're struggling, things have finally begun moving forward for them. They've gotten some help through medicaid and WIC, and my aunt has been able to help with formula and babysitting. I'm not saying it hasn't been rough, but having them closer this time around is making a difference by giving us ample opportunity to step in and help whenever/however we can, and that's what family is all about.

I think that's everything that's worth telling at the moment. I'm so very grateful for the blessings in our lives, and I'm humbled by the amount of love and generosity of family through the course of the more difficult times. My mother-in-law has been a huge help in keeping us from drowning financially, and as many times as Steve's truck has broken down, his dad's been there to help get it running again. The last few months have been a lesson in love and patience that we'll never forget.

God bless.

Addendum (added in later edit): My sis-in-law called with an update on the doctor visit the kids had scheduled for this morning. My niece is being referred to a cardiologist, as they've detected a heart murmur, and a hearing specialist, as she failed her hearing test for her left ear. Both things will probably amount to very little to worry about in the long run, but for now, it just seems like one thing after another for them. Please pray for peace and strength for Kim and Joe, and for health for the entire family.