Zach's First Sleepover

Zach usually has to settle for hanging out with Joseph's friends, but Saturday he got to have his own friend over to spend the night. Our friends, Dan and Brandi, have a a son who is Zach's age. Brandi asked Ashton if he would want to spend the night with us and he said yes. Neither of us knew if he would actually stay all night or not, but he stayed with no problems. He and Zach had so much fun and he was very well behaved (wish I could say that for Zach...actually, Zach was on his best behavior all night which makes me want to let his friends sleepover more often :o)). They played in the playroom, watched Kung Fu Panda, and went "swimming" in the bathtub (with swim trunks on)! When we picked them up from their class on Sunday, their teachers said that they had heard all about the sleepover. Here are some pics from their adventure....

This Week.....

This week we are getting back into a normal routine....the boys are home from my mom and sister's where they had alot of fun! Joseph is in his usual play guitar hero all day and fuss when I make him read and practice his piano mode....Zach is as active as ever even though he has been dealing with a staph infection!! I first thought they were ant bites but decided I should take him on to the doctor...good thing that I did. The antibiotic seems to be working. Dan went to his counseling session on Monday, not sure how it was, he didn't say much about it....I have a session today, alone. I am looking forward to it because there are alot of things I want to talk about. Next week I think our session will be together again....anyway, that's what's happening in our life! Hope everyone is having a GREAT summer :o)

First Counseling Session

Well, I didn't know what I expected the first time around but I guess it went OK. The counselor only talked to me about 10 minutes and talked to Dan the rest of the time. He managed to avoid answers to her questions about him by redirecting them to me some how. She finally asked him, "so if we fix Christie then everything will be ok?" Of course, he said no. It ended with her asking for him to come alone next week. He made an appointment for Monday. Everyone please continue to pray for us, especially for Dan's coming appointment. On a positive note, after we got home I went to sit on the sofa and Dan had put a card there that says, "I don't know how you do it, you give so much to both work and family....and you do it so well. I don't know how you do it- but I want you to know I really admire you". Very sweet and I hope it is a sign of things to come....I was sure to tell him that I appreciate him going to counseling, especially by himself.

Turning Point

It seems that we have reached a turning point in the midst of all this turmoil. Dan and I had a long talk yesterday during which he said to me that he knows that I have been praying and that something has broken through to God because God has been talking to him (Dan)about it. Those are the greatest words that I have heard in awhile. Dan also agreed that he would move his office here and have the people he works for fax information that he needs and we will discuss all aspects of his business, and we are going to marital counseling. Our first appointment is tomorrow afternoon at 5pm. This has been a LONG time coming. I am so glad that things seem to be moving forward. I really did not want my marriage to end but for years we had been skirting around the same issues and nothing ever changing. I am being cautious as we move forward...I realize that just making the commitments doesn't fix the issues, but it is a first step. Anyway, I am going to hold on to this verse today, from Philippians chp. 4: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". Everyone please pray for us that both of us will change what needs to be changed so that we can move forward in all God has for us!

Surreal

I think right now I feel like this is not really happening. I know that it is the right thing to do but it is just so hard. Last week I gave Dan the divorce papers but he isn't making any fast moves to sign them. I have tried to talk to him several times and get him to understand all that I am feeling and why I think things have turned out the way they have but he insists that I am making a bigger deal out of things than they are and that everything he has done was the right decision for him. He just doesn't get that it isn't about him, it's about our family and what is best for all of us. it is impossible to talk to him and it frustrates me to no end!!! No matter what I say I can't get through to him. Someone who hardly knows Dan asked me if I was familiar with a Narcissistic personality and said that it describes him. Was it God giving discernment? After doing a little research, I do have to agree that he definitely has some of the traits. I need alot of prayer......

Psalm 27

I read this chapter today and thought how appropriate for this time in my life.

Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh, [a]
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his [b] face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.
13 I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Prophecy

My life lately has been a little crazier than normal (I know, some of you are going...is that possible). It seems that things that I thought were fixed are not and I have had to make some VERY hard choices about my life, especially concerning my marriage....I have been praying and asking God to really give me some direct answers and at last, my seeking Him seemed to break through and a word was spoken to me that has brought much peace....I am so excited now for the things that God has in store and determined to seek Him even more. If I knew how to upload the word that was spoken to me on here I would, even though most people reading this would not understand what it meant. I guess my point to this blog is that my God is faithful, my God is faithful....Deuteronomy 4:29 (New International Version)
"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul". I know that I have found Him.