Today Chris called me to tell me that Dell closed down his department.  Out of 350+ people, 75 were spared of losing their jobs.  Only three from Chris’ team were chosen.  I begged God, cried, prayed, called friends to pray, it was pretty much out of my control.  Well…tonight Chris got a call from Dell HR letting him know that he is one of the THREE that they spared from firing…OMG.  I had a huge headache from crying all day and then God worked it all out.  We are safe!  Chris will be transferred to the EPP department.  Thank God he still has a job to go back to!  I am so proud of Chris for making such an impression on the leadership at Dell that he has secured a place for himself.  They won’t let CHris go because he is too invaluable to that company.  Praise God!  My husband rocks!!!

To my love: We’ve had a very scary day, but our love and faith in our God has overcome every trial so far.  I thank God for you and your ability to charm and impress the big boys at work and the little girls at home. I love you with all my heart, Chris!   And I thank God every day that He has provided for this awesome family we get to call our own…

Kari

 I went to Dwell tonight, it’s the Wednesday night experience at Northview.  I never go, mainly because I’m so exhausted, but it’s sooooo restful once I get there.  I need to make a habit of going more often.  They don’t have a set activity set up, it’s just candles and prayer stations, communion, and worship music playing in the background.  I sat and talked with God and felt at peace.  Peace is something I just don’t have a lot of these days.  It’s not so much the inner peace, but the outer peace-the chaos of being a mom to two, a wife, a cancer survivor, keeping house, ministry at MDO, ministry at Northview, my friends’ wedding stuff, and having friendships and relationships all wrapped up in my little life–sometimes is just overwhelming.  I love my life, don’t get me wrong.  But some days it’s just all too much.  It was really nice to sit and have a little chat with God amongst this crazy life of mine.  Of course, the minute I picked up the kids in the nursery it was back to the chaos.  Oh well, at least I had an hour of peace, right? 

In junior high I took home ec.  I baked a cake that tasted like a salt lick and sewed a pair of boxer shorts with a matching scrunchie.  The scrunchie was for extra credit.  I’ve been wanting to pick up sewing for awhile ever since I found out how much kids’ clothing customs go for on ebay. But more than that just to see if I could…

Finally today I got the sewing machine out of it’s box.  I watched the instructional DVD and started sewing.  I didn’t have a pattern, but that’s how I cook, too.  Recipes and patterns apparently don’t work for me, I do better looking at it and going from there. I made this dress and the matching headband in two hours:

I made one for her bunny, it is identical but strapless since those straps could cause a choking hazard.  Beginner’s luck, maybe?  Probably.  But it was fun. 

Trinity’s starting to make this face when I take her pic:

Or this, where she says CHEEEEEEEESE! Like her ‘hawk?

And here’s her new Emo pose. 

No fair not having any pics of Gracie, so here’s one of her in her mermaid top and twirl skirt.  Yesterday night in the bath she declared that when she grows up she will be a mermaid.

Well, I have to go.  Gracie just grabbed a handful of napkins from the kitchen and they’re now throwing them like confetti all over the kitchen floor. Ugh.   

Oh yes, the life of an old married couple.  Take Out from Chelino’s, watch a few Tivo’d things we haven’t seen yet, and now we’re watching Bring It On Again or Bring It On 3 Or Bring It On 16 or something.  This one has Hayden Pantierre in it, so it’s not bad, it’s just really not…um…good.  Okay, it’s not good.   At all. 

I have two bridal showers this weekend. Then two next weekend, and then a rehearsal dinner and a wedding. I’m overwhelmed.  It will be fine.  I’m more excited about the girls being flower girls, but I’m also the Matron of Honor.  It’s a big deal for me, because Meagan is a very dear friend.   

Oh, and it’s almost my birthday.  Family members have been asking me what I want so I’ll post it here: Estee Lauder Pleasures Intense, Target gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, a  Dyson vacuum (I know, I’m dreaming, just let me dream) and um, a day off so I can concentrate on my new hobby that I haven’t started yet–sewing!  I got a sewing machine for Christmas and it’s STILL in the BOX!  Oh how I want to play with it, but I haven’t had time! 

So there’s my list, family.  And…random people who want to buy me stuff haha. 

Tonight I went to SHOUT (support group for young breast cancer survivors), and the subject was reconstruction surgery.  This was of course, particularly interesting to me since I’m looking forward to starting that process late February.  Turns out since I have damaged tissue due to radiation, I can’t have implants.  Instead I’m looking at the DIEP flap, which will take tissue out of my abdomen and building breasts out of that.  There are pros and cons to each surgery but this one is what the Dr recommended to me.  So I’m going to look into it. I think the biggest inconvenience is going to be the amount of time I will spend in the hospital and recovering.  About 6 weeks total but 4-5 days in the hospital to start off, and then 3 weeks of not being able to do anything at all.  That’s going to be hard for this busy mommy! 

Speaking of mommy—Trinity is saying “Mommy” and “Daddy” now instead of mama and dada.  Big milestone! And sooooo cute. 

While I was at SHOUT, Trinity entertained Grandmommy and Grandpa, and Gracie and Chris went on a date tonight to the OCU basketball game.  It was Dell night, so she got to meet some of Daddy’s friends and eat yummy game food.  They went for ice cream afterward.  I’m sure it made her week.  I can’t wait to ask her about it when I wake her up tomorrow. 

Alright kids. That’s all I’ve got.