Changes...

Most of you probably know (although I'm not sure if there are any of "you" any more! :) But our life has had lots of changes lately. Blogging has not been part of my routine much, but I've taken lots of pictures, so today I thought I'd try to catch up a little. And it helps to put it in writing too!

My grandma broke her hip in August. Since losing my job in March, I've loved being at home with Madi, but it has been a huge change too, and I'd been praying about something more to do to be a blessing. Not exactly the "job" I was thinking of but God has worked it out for me to help my grandma right now. She has had 2 surgeries and over a months worth of nights at the hospital, so we have kept plenty busy. We have decided to put our house up for rent, and move in temporarily with Grandma. Ever since Grandpa passed away, my parents have had their living quarters in her full sized basement, to help keep an eye on her, but right now she needs full time companionship. She has a huge house, so Seth, Madi and I have moved in upstairs with her. WOW! 4 generations all stirring around in the same house has made for lots of fun! I DO feel very blessed right now. I'm happy to have this close time with my family and am thankful to get to know grandma better. We have definitely had our ups and downs emotionally, dealing with pain, some memory loss, loss of sleep, loss of independence, on and on. But I'm very contented and thankful. I've loved being in the country in a beautiful farm home, with acres and acres of farmland around me....Here's where we have been spending our time!...

The view from grandma's front window...

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Purse-onality!

Last weekend was "Ladies Day" at our church.
Our theme was "Purse-onality" which was a fun one for decorating! :)

We decided to use a very pink girly theme in the church where the sessions were held and then different styles of bags on the tables in the fellowship hall.

Here are a few pictures.

...a little closer

Wedding Planner Bag

Medical Bag

Music Bag

Red Bag

Safari Bag

Baby Bag

Aqua and Black Sophisticated Bag

Pink and Green Fun Bag

Updates will have to wait till later...

This is an unusual week for us.

Mom and Dad are vacationing with Anthony and Adrian so we agreed to come up to their house and stay with my grandma while they are away.

We slept in this morning (after a VERY busy weekend) and then Madi and I took grandma to a doctor's appointment today, made a trip to Wal-Mart and then to the Elementary Program to see some of "grandma's great" perform.

PLENTY I need to be doing around my house this week, but am going to try to just relax and enjoy our time here with grandma (she is a wonderful saint!) and maybe help her with some projects she needs to do.

FINALLY...an update!

I've considered merging my two blogs, but for now, I like having Madi Moments for Madi, especially since I haven't kept up a Baby Book!

Soo... this will be where I ramble! :)

I hope to start a "Simple Woman's Daybook" on this blog soon. :) I thought today would be a good day to start, but soon realized that all my entries would end up being about the mouse I saw in my kitchen this morning! :)

AAHHH!!!

From my kitchen - In shambles trying to keep the mouse out of the drawers!

I am thinking - About how to catch the mouse!
I am hoping - To catch the mouse!
You get the picture!

Today was a very rainy day. I took a few pictures from our driveway.

Above: Looking across our road up our neighbor's long driveway.

Above: Looking at the other end of our U-shaped drive. This creek usually runs under the road, but today it's running over!

Below: Random truck passing on the road.

I love being able to be at home with Madi. Right now I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. When you work a 40 hour week, that dictates so much of your time and you just cram all the other necessities of life into the little time that is left over. I have so much time now that I am struggling with how to organize it and make the most of it.

I'm asking God to help me. I want to be in the center of His will. I want to be a Godly wife and mother and a "Keeper at Home". But more than just having the laundry done and the floors mopped, I don't want to forget that there is a whole world out there that needs to know Him.

This is a busy week for us. I'm filling in for the Children's Church Director on Wednesday.

Jerry Hay will be here for a FREE concert on Friday! 7:00 PM at the William Inge Theater on the Independence Community College Campus by the way!

Saturday is LADIES DAY at our church. The theme is PURSE-ONALITY. And we are looking forward to a really good day. Mom, Maria and I are doing the decorations, so that is going to keep me busy between now and then. I've had a great time finding some cute purses to decorate with! Hopefully pictures later.