Window into our little part of the world...

Today I would like to share just a little of the chaos that goes on in our little world. ( :
This morning when we awoke Bruce asked if I would make some eggs. But as I began the day it slipped from my mind - as I was helping Anna with her hair, straightening the bedroom and such. It was as I was going through the kitchen that I noticed Bruce sitting there with his coffee, but no empty bowl of oatmeal sitting beside him, which is the usual scene on these cold and frosty mornings. It then hit me that he was patiently waiting for his request to materialize. I went to get the frying pan from the cupboard, as I apologized for the length of time I had made him wait for his breakfast. Just then Sarah chimed in that she would love to make the eggs and that everyone loves her secret recipe. I was doubting this a little and my mind was rolling back the curtains of memory to a not to long ago egg cooking event that turned into a huge mess, which I ended up spending quite a bit of time cleaning up. But then Anna spoke up on Sarah's behalf saying how she also loved Sarah's eggs! And then my conscience chimed in saying " Mary they must learn.....".

So I took advantage of the time to run downstairs to write out an excuse note for Sam, which was almost over due and he will probably get an unexcused any ways because his father and I thought the other one was going to get prior authorization for his trip to the winter tournament in KY and so neither of us obtained authorization. So after careful thought I tried to write an appealing and humble letter to the attendance secretary explaining just that.

In the mean time Anna came down and asked if there was anything she could do to help make breakfast and again my conscience (a troublesome thing at times) said, "She needs to learn...." after all her father is sitting right there in the kitchen what could go wrong.
So I told her she could probably handle sticking in some toast and buttering it. So... with sparkles in her eyes she ran upstairs to tackle this most mature task.

In the mean time I faxed in the excuse ( if I give them to Sam he always forgets to turn them in). And then I tried to quickly call the administration office of the school district to learn how to go about registering Sarah for school (she is not doing well with the cyber school and has been pleading with me to put her back in school with "real live teachers"!). I called only to find that the phone book listed the wrong number for the administration bldg., but the person I reached was very kind and gave me the correct number, which she had handy since she gets so many calls for the administration bldg. I finally dial the correct number as I hear the kids shouting that breakfast is ready. But the message at the other end of the line goes on endlessly and when I get to the extension that I need, it simply rings and rings. I try again several times and the same thing happens, to make a long story a little shorter I finally dialed 0 and was able to talk to a live person who patched through to another line that just rang forever.

As I finished my morning's futile dialing escapade, Bruce came down the stairs in a fluster telling me angrily that I missed breakfast. I thought that perhaps his anger was because he cared so deeply that I eat a good hot breakfast, but I soon found the reason behind the rage.

Apparently Anna had done a fine job of making toast until the last two pieces, which were not quite done well enough. So Bruce asked her to stick them back in the toaster. Anna, in her enthusiasm to please her daddy, turned the dial on the toaster all the way up. Before they realized what was happening smoke was pouring out of the toaster and setting off all the alarms. Now the one important alarm, which dials the security company and then the fire department has been placed in the church office so that small stove top accidents don't get the sirens blazing toward our embarrassed household ( which has happened more then once). But I suppose the toast had burned just a little to much and set off even that alarm, so Bruce was frantically putting out the smoking toast, racing to call the security company and turning off alarms before he could sit down and eat Sarah's now somewhat cold eggs. I was oblivious to all the commotion, sheltered away in the study downstairs.
So I suppose He had a right to be a bit ticked, and we both apologized after a small cooling off period and then the day went much smoother.
I hope that when life throws you those little curve balls, sometimes one right on top of another, which it is bound to do, you can find some humor afterwards, and always know God has everything under His control.

Just a little note of info: momchesney is Mary I Chesney from Harrisburg, PA. Maiden name Mary Stine. Martha was doing some reuniting with old class mates who couldn't find me because I always list myself as momchesney.

Abby gave birth to a health baby girl at 2am this morning. Abby is doing ok, i will write more later, am very tired.

I haven't written for a while. It has been hard to put my thoughts down in my writings. I will simply say that I and our family need your prayers as this has been one of the toughest winters we have faced, with several different factors weighing us down.
On the light side: The children and Bruce just returned from a fun filled time at the family winter tournament in Lexington, KY. They also took this opportunity to visit a famous horse farm and museum while they were there. A big thank you to Sarah, Kelsi and Hannah for sending me pics, you can view them on the left side panel! We also enjoyed a delicious roast beef dinner at Kelsi and Daniels apartment last evening, what a treat!
I spent this week at home anticipating Abby's due date which has now passed. She is scheduled for an induction on the 4th of Jan. please pray all goes well and that God's will be done. The quiet time I was able to spend at home during this time did help my spirits, however I am still fighting the shakiness, weakness, insomnia at times and fatigue. I find it very frustrating, but am trying to give it over to the Lord.
Martha came and joined me for a couple days which really encouraged me. We enjoyed the movie "UP" so much we had to share it with our parents. So we had them here for dinner and a movie and what a good time we had! They say laughter is the best medicine, well we got plenty!
But now it is back to reality and the need for the strength and wisdom to be proactive to make peace in our family. This is one of my biggest concerns for I have learned that for to long I have been a peacekeeper and not a peace maker. Keeping peace where there really is no peace is futile and exhausting. Peacemaking sometimes includes confrontation and this has always come hard to both Bruce and myself. So I have found that the Lord needs us to be strong in Him. That we need to strengthen up our feeble knees and walk the path set before us.

Snowed in, but kids are all here and having fun sledding!

The many trials we have been facing here are seeming less weighty as I am learning to turn my worries over to the Master as I realize His control over our lives and how very little control I have.
Abby is looking like she is going to burst and of course she is very uncomfortable. But through it all she is the only reliable worker at the daycare where she works and has been having a terrific attitude about her plight.
Bruce and Daniel have little to no work, as is the norm this time of year, I am hoping for something to break for them as they get cabin fever easily. I think they will probably use some of the time to go hunting.
Troy, Martha's husband could also really use prayers as he has been laid off from Harley since the spring and can not find work, he is a machinist. They have also had some threats made to them and their dog from their next door neighbor who is sure they reported him for animal cruelty, they did not but the man is quite enraged and will not listen to reason even after the warden explained there were several complaints from different sources.
I have not written much lately as I have had very little energy and still feel weak and shaky. Today was one of my best days for awhile and I am hopeful that the worst is past. Thank you again for your prayers on my behalf. The sleep studies (2 so far) leave me completely exhausted the next day, I am really hoping there will be no more, so far I have not heard the results from them, only that I don't sleep well.
I will leave you with this verse from Matthew 11:28: "Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

What a sweet Sabbath Day! Words can not express the love and kindness I have felt from my brothers and sisters in the church these past two weeks, thank you so very much, it is greatly appreciated!
God has warmed my heart through all of you and the encouragement and prayers were of great benefit! Thank you!
I am feeling somewhat better but still tremble in the legs and arms quite a bit, especially the tireder I get. I will be going for a sleep study tonight, Bruce asked the doctor to do it, I am not looking forward to it, but perhaps it will help!
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. AMEN! Gal. 1:3-5