WHY I don't have time to blog much these days................

Children, grandchildren, putting up a pool, treating leech bites, and fixing a broken vacuum cleaner with a 9 month old assistant, these are things that keep a lady's life full of  LIFE!!

Daniel is the REAL  helper here but it was a fun project with Charlie

 The Daniel update is that there is no update. All week last week I played phone tag with two doctor's offices only to discover that  since Doc #1  had filed our  insurance with a company we do not have our insurance with instead of the company whose card I  gave the receptionist, we were slowed down by denial of claims AND by the receptionist "not knowing " that we had Ins Co U  instead of Ins Co A. and that Ins Co U  requires a "pre-qualification" for any and all specialty tests, such as the MRI the neuro-surgeon wants  before he will see Daniel in person.  (a "pre-q" takes 72 hours ) MAYBE with no glitches we will have that "pre-q" tomorrow and maybe then  I can call and GET  an apointment for the MRI next week and MAYBE we will see the neuro-surgeon the week after that..........................My cynical and critical nature would call this a form of "medical abuse and or  neglect" but since I truly do understand that insurance has nothing to do with procuring health care, but everything to do with the doctors who agree to see me/us  being assured of pay, I can sit back and wait (and call to ask every day if the "pre-q" was authorized) I also do not forget that   insurance companies or not, these people whom I've called are working for ME, and will be providing a service for MY CHILD. I am not "privileged " that they will see Daniel, I am hiring them. That I have had to make so many calls to  hire someone is not the high point of my week, but Daniel is home with us and we will be getting care. I am feeding him fruits and veggies as opposed to just cereal and formula, he is on meds to help reduce the reflux and related acid damage to throat and teeth. I got him a wonderful rocking chair with gift money from a friend and he seems to like his chair  quite well., as you might see in his photos. It has a waist buckle system to hold him in place, it's a metal frame and fabric, so it's soft on his head, it reclines back at about 45 degrees so that his head doesn't flop forward and it will fit him for a long time to come. He is not real fond of getting his teeth brushed  but I think he likes how his mouth feels when we are done. Having his gums massaged with the brush seems to appeal to him; having his hair combed : NOT SO MUCH!  I am learning his many personality traits, sometimes at his expense, but we're getting better. Even with good conditioner and wide toothed comb, his head is so tender that even the tiniest tangle causes him to really protest. On my agenda for the weekend  is getting Daniel a  good haircut. Personally I'd love to do twists with his hair but he doesn't like that either............sigh! He loves to be held and cuddled in a close-up almost nursing position and he will coo till he falls asleep when I hold him that way. His big brothers and sisters are getting much nore relaxed about doing things with him. They understand his seizures, Jael is very good about helping him do body stretches and with giving hin water with his syringe;everyone is so helpful when he refluxes (which is still pretty frequent even with meds) and have all gotten to be  pros with the car seat buckles and catches.
Mornings are a bit hectic with Charlie arriving at 7 or so, Daniel waking up and both boys needing diaper changes and feeding, usually about when Jael needs to be taken  to work, but we  are working it out.
My favorite scriptures for this week are Matthew 11 : 28-30   "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  and from the end of Zephaniah 3... “ Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”   God gave me a strong clear word for our local body on Sunday during praise and worship.The passage from Matthew along with 1 John 1:9 was a big part of it. We had sung   "Holy is the Lord God  Almighty","Let Everything  that Has Breath Praise the Lord" "Shout to the North and the South" but God had shown me that while we need to praise and worship Him, some of our people could not join in the praise  in "spirit and in truth" because they  were heavy laden, they were dry, and  needed to be led into a season of prayer for that  weariness,  unconfessed sin, for restoration and for  personal revival. As I  then led in singing "Breathe on Us Again" I sensed  God was  indeed dealing with hearts during the singing and the prayer time He had me open up. I love how God directs the music as I allow Him to guide  me during my preparation time . Sometimes I look at my list of songs and their lyrics and think, "God what is the message here? How do these connect? " and He ALWAYS brings the music and His message together. Almost every week something that one of our elders or pastor have to share directly overlap what God has  given to me, and we have almost never discussed the particulars of what we are going to be doing ahead of time. I love how God prepares His people  (not just  me, but, yes HALLELUJAH : me!) for what HE intends to manifest! I love being reminded that I CAN come  to my Heavenly Father when I am weary and feeling heavy laden too,  that He  will quiet ME with His love, and I love to remind myself that HE delights over me with singing, HE is faithful and just to forgive ME when I confess MY SIN, and cleanse ME  from ALL MY  unrighteousness!  Just those reminders help to chase the weariness right away!