Little Blessings

6 years ago I couldn't sleep either so it only seems fitting that I should share this story now.

Aaron was on his way. At 40 weeks I was induced by my OB and attempting a vbac after not 1 but 2 c-section births. I was a good candidate for success...they said.

By morning we knew I was not progressing. A decision had to be made. A 3rd cesarean. The risks were higher.  They had me on a pitocin drip for 8 hours prior to surgery. My 6th full term baby was about to be here.

In the OR I knew something went wrong. I met aaron and they whisked Frank and him away so quickly. Then I heard my Doctor say *Oh my ......*

Everything went dark.  I remember thinking I never got to really meet Aaron.
All I wanted was to hold my new baby.

The 1st thing the nurse told me was they had saved my life and then I could still have more children.

I would meet Aaron nearly EIGHT hours later after the hemorrhage. My doctor saved my life. If you have ever wondered why I hold Aaron a little tighter sometimes...well now you know. And on October 27th at 10:27 am that little ginger that stole my heart arrived and I have never been the same.

Cherish every single day.  Every moment.  Your life is but a vapor. Here for such a short time on this earth. I am so thankful that God kept me here to raise this daring adventurous sweet boy.

Happy 6th birthday little man

Life in snapshots

I see life in pictures. Raw unposed and fun. The pictures are too many for any media, mostly a collection for me. I cant even delete the bad ones, as they are part of the memory. Sometimes they are simply a journal of where we have been, memories we have made.
I sometimes wish I could post all of them. Every. Single. Blurry. Fuzzy. Out of focus because we were laughing photo.

Sometimes though pictures are not taken. At least not on anything tangible.
those moments that are imprinted on our hearts.
A trust gained, a smile, a moment to cherish. 
Lost would be the significance if each time we opened the lens.
Some things are simply meant to be held within our hearts.

Days go by

Life is an adventure. I tend to tell our stories in photos on facebook.
You can find us at
www.facebook.com/narrowroadschoolers

Last week we had a cookout with friends.  In the hustle of daily life it is always important to teach your kids how to safely, and ONLY with daddy's help, build a fire. Sometimes campfire conversations are a great remedy to relax. I see the workd through snapshots in my head. I am always delighted to find other talented kidred spirits that also see life through a lens.

Life is good. We have continued to shuffle from campground to campground. But we have also taken some day trips. Frank's dad is also down visiting. We keep busy watching the neighborhood wildlife... and swimming and playing with friends. We are blessed tohave quite a number of friends here in Florida
Today 3 families hung out at the pool. 4 of my kids, 5 from another family and 8 from yet another ftf and that did not even include the people we didn't know.

Changing Direction

That's legit. I wrote an entire post about changing direction earlier today and I went to post it and the entire thing except the title disappeared.  Clearly God wants us to change direction in our posts but rather than tell you about it ( like I had thoughtfully thought through) perhaps we are just supposed to do it so ...here goes.

As I was driving back from the laundromat today I realized living in and out of campgrounds is a lot like living on base.

Well, not really. But there is a guardshack at the front with a gateguard. Sometimes.
And community pools.
And a community center...we call it the lodge. Or clubhouse
Everyone is supposed to obey the speed limit but most don't.
Occasionally there is a community event
You may have a grumpy neighbor or 2

But overall its a good community where people connect and care about each other.

And today that is enough.

BLINK

It's been 2 weeks. I told myself I wouldn't let posts go so long this year.  I have gotten behind reading my Bible. Life happens. It's cerainly a good thing God doesn't judge me based on my performance. 

Sometimes as life on the road happens and ministry or sick kids or swimming in the pool define what I do or do not do...I am glad that the God I love doesn't define my faith by what I do...or forget to do.

But doors have opened. Always different than we expect or anticipate. Around campfires, shared meals and swimming.

But if you're like me you may have set new years goals. What does that look like in your world today?

And often we dont see how we impact anything....

Today January is half over  ...our oldest daughter ( who doesn't travel with us) turns 20 in just 2 days.

I can't believe we have been on the road for over a year and a half...

That our youngest is rapidly approaching another birthday.

Time has almost sped up being on the road.

Making time with friends that much sweeter

Being blessed meeting SO many new people.

I am waiting with wrapt anticipation what God has in store for us in 2015

But we will chose to live in each moment.....take lots of pictures and make tons more memories...

Bring it.

But don't blink.

Breathe

What a whirlwind the past few weeks have been. Mom in ICU... then on a floor... then sent home & the very next day back in the ER with congestive heart failure, complete with a ventilator and a dismal prognonsis... but she is a fighter.  Back to ICU again... and yesterday a new room on a new floor of the hospital. We are waiting on test results. We moved our camper from Palm Desert to a friends house in Joshua Tree.
My mom asked me to tKe the day off and not vo tothe hospital.
I have gone every day since the 2nd.
It felt weird. But ok.
We went to church then swung by my moms to get a few more things in working order. Justyn installed her cable box in her bedroom so she will have it in her bedroom once again once she finally gets back home.
I am finding I am just so tired. Life is a little bit in a holding pattern again til she gets home.
We brought her dogs here with us yesterday. Normally they are little  couch potatoes but currently they are rediscovering their inner ranch dog. we simply do not have the ability to let them watch animal planet.
Frank & the kids went with friends on Saturday serving in the local community at a park serving the homelessan afternoon meal. Justyn evenbrought his guitar. I am not sure what this week holds.
Oh & starting a jamberry nails business in the middle of all this makes for an interesting dynamic. Frank has offered to wear a set of Jamberry nails once weget 250 likes on the narrowroadschoolersjamz facebook page. Nothing like a little support from my retired USMC hubby toofferto wear nail wraps :) so help us out & see just a few of the cool combos that jamberry offers

https://www.facebook.com/narrowroadschoolersjamz

Tucson, lunch & opportunity.

Our time in Tucson is at a close. I am up way too late baking a variety of homemade bread rolls from ham & cheese to bratwurst & cheese way too late preparing for our next stop. Tired tonight... I made a crucial mistake as I prepared these rolls (I have only used 2/3 of my dough). The 1st batch took forever! It seems the warm setting on the toaster oven doesn't really bake...who knew...right?
Tucson has been wonderful! Visits with friends new and old, a big full time family roadschool rally, lots of swimming too!
Obviously after a busy day sightseeing around Tucson from the Saguaro national park, the mission& then the air force base you would think I would have it all together. Not to mention pack up, a healthy dinner of banana chocolate swirl milkshakes and catching up on laundry & a way too overtired & grumpy little Judahbug.
Frank has trained all week learning how to install lifetime RV roofs. He will be working on the side to help support us on the road until we can be funded. There just is no other way to do this. He has been hired at Amazon Camperforce for the fall season. We will be living/ camping in an Amazon campground in Nevada from September until Christmas this fall. Hopefully that will help us balance the equation for our adventures.
Sometimes when you pray for provision God gives you a job...we are trying to look at this as an opportunity & praying it doesn't take away from our ministry potential or family time.

It is Thursday

And no matter what I do I just can't seem to get it together today.