Snow...snow...and more snow! Dee has missd school for two weeks. She isn't happy about it. She loves school and can't wait to get back. I'm glad she loves it and I still have conflicting feelings about public school and homeschool. She is doing great so we will wait and see. Corey is now moving back to Tennessee. He will be working for OSHA and I'm very excited to have him back in our hometown. He is also getting married in a few weeks to a wonderful young lady. We have known her since she was thirteen and we love her so much. Chris is doing great in Florida. He and his wife just bought a home and they couldn't be happier. Now, if I could only get some grandbabies...😊 As for my health...it has been a battle. Back in August I started having symptoms that were new to me. I was having issues walking and forming sentences. I felt very overwhelmed and began to suffer memory loss and confusion. My primary care doctor sent me to a neurologist. After 6 weeks of testing, I was diagnosed with Metabolic Myopathy. My body is missing an enzyme that my muscles need to work. There is no cure but with vitamins and medication, the symptoms can be treated. My doctors also believe that being diagnosed with Sphincter of Oddi disorder a few years ago may not even be true. The sphincter is a muscle also. So it makes sense that it wouldn't work properly. I have had no pain in my liver area since being on my new vitamins. It is amazing. I thank God for my healing and such wonderful doctors. We finally heard from our friend in Slavyansk. His home was destroyed but he and his wife are okay. It breaks my heart. I would love to bring him to the United States for a while. I just don't know where to start. Please keep him and the people of Ukraine in your prayers. God bless!

Back to School

School has been back in session for two weeks now. Dee is loving Middle School and so far so good. I'm not thrilled with the fact that she has no textbooks to bring home. Apparently, not enough for every student. I think it's ridiculous to think that parents can help their children with homework and know how how to properly teach them with this ridiculous Common Core method. Ugh! It's very frustrating. My son, Corey, did get a job. He is working as an investigator for the State of Tennessee concerning Housing and Human Rights. Let's just say, he enjoys it but some days are very stressful for him due to some of the cases he has to work with. I believe that he thought he might be making a change for good in the lives of these people but instead he is seeing a system that is not always fair and for the good. I told him that God sent him there for a reason and he will definitely learn something. Prayers are appreciated. ❤️ Christopher is settling in to his new move to Florida. He loves it and even though he is farther away from me, I am just glad he is happy. I miss him dearly, but I am also excited to see what God has in store for his future. Please continue to pray for the people of Ukraine. We still anxiously await to hear from our dear friend, Gennady, who lives in Slavyansk with his family. And for the people in Missouri, our hearts and prayers are with you. Prayers to the innocent victims in Iraq who are being tortured and killed by ISIS.

I'm back!

I am such a slacker! My photography has picked up tremendously and time has gotten away from me....again. Dee is now 12 years old. She is becoming such a sweet young lady. She started public school this past year. She was in the fifth grade. I was hesitant about sending her but she insisted that she was more than ready. I felt that letting her attend her last year of Elementary school would be a good idea since she will be attending Middle School this fall. Did I say Middle School?! Oh, the anxiety that comes with that word! Dee is such a social butterfly. She loves to talk to people and she worries about people. If someone is eating alone, she worries over the reasons why that person is alone. I also did that as a child. She is more like me everyday. She loves music and she started vocal lessons this spring. She loves it. The teacher has expressed that we should sign her up for acting on stage. We are looking into it for the Fall. Her dream goal is to be a Missionary. I do believe she will do it! My boys are both doing wonderful. Christopher has now moved to Pensacola, Florida. He is working for the DEA and he loves it. His desire was to live near the beach. He has met this goal at age 25. He and his wife are loving life. I am still hoping for grand babies in the next few years. Corey just graduated from college. His major is Criminal Justice and he minored in Political Science. Job opportunities are coming in daily and I pray that he chooses one close to home. He is engaged to be married within the year to a young lady who we've known since she was 13. She makes Corey want to be a better man. They are perfect for one another. They couldn't be happier! As for my health...it is the same. But I thank God for giving me more better days than bad. I am so grateful! My heart is broken for the town of Slavyansk in Ukraine. We spent over two weeks there and made a wonderful friend, Gennady, who we wait anxiously to hear from. Please pray for him and his family. So much destruction and turmoil in their small town. God bless!

Wow! It's been how long since I posted? No comment! Where to start? Dee is the big double digits now..10!! We are still choosing to homeschool this year. She doesn't want to go to school yet but we are hoping to have her ready for fifth grade...maybe. We do have a wonderful lady, Ms. Debbie, to come in on Tuesdays and tutor Deonna. She gives me the weekly schedule and it helps me tremendously. We love her! Dee is reading on her own and actually her comprehension has increased so much. She is a whiz in math and science. One issue we are working on is taking responsibility for your actions. She likes to use the words, "I probably", "I just", and "I don't know" anytime she does something wrong or disobeys any rules. She definitely understands what she is doing. I have decided to use a "probably, just and I don't know jar". She will have to pay money from her piggy bank each time she uses these words innapropiately. Not sure if it will work but maybe it will at least make her more aware of what she is doing. We'll see! Chris is home from Afghanistan and Germany. He is no longer in the Army and is living in Georgia with is wife. He is now in the Police Academy and will be working for the State of Georgia by the end of September. He is loving every minute of it. Corey is now a junior in college while still working for the Tennessee National Guard. I am so proud and happy for the both of them. Especially for the fact that they are both in the United States! Yahoo! As for my health, the procedure last year worked but scar tissue has formed and is causing some pain issues and sludge in the bile duct. New medication has helped with the pain and I am thankful for every painfree day. Let's just say, I have decided to accept that it is what it is and quit fighting it. I am alive and have more good days than bad. That is enough to be thankful for!

Healthy as a horse!

I am back..and healthy!! The procedure went well. I developed pancreatitis so I spent five days in the hospital. After two weeks, I still couldn't get over the nausea and the doctor couldn't understand why. I had lost fifteen more pounds and truly believed I was going to die. I decided to fly home with Dee and tried to have faith that the severe nausea would finally end. Long story short...it ended up being an inner ear problem that was making me so sick caused by the flight to Florida. It took another three weeks to start feeling some relief. It has been two months now and I am finally feeling better. I ended up losing a total of 32 pounds, but I needed to do that anyway...lol.
Corey is home from Iraq now and that is a huge relief. But, Christopher is now in Afghanistan for his second tour...AHHH!! I feel like my life has been a constant worry for almost three years in a row now. I just pray everyday that God keeps him safe and he can finally come home for good.
Deonna is doing great. We are still working on the speech issues and also her desire to not follow simple rules. It gets frustrating at times. The homeschooling is going good but I am looking forward to a little break this summer. We will still work at least three short days a week and review. If we don't, I think she will struggle with third grade.
God bless!!

Oddi???

So...diagnosis-Sphincter of Oddi??? Very rare, so it seems. It is a dysfunction of the "valve" in the bile duct. It isn't working properly so the bile isn't getting out which causes pressure and extreme pain. I have lost about 14 pounds and stay so weak. But, I asked God for an answer and he gave me one. So, now, off to Florida I go. It seems their are only a few doctors who specialize in this disorder and one happens to be about 20 minutes from my Mom and Dad's house..go figure. God is great!! I have an appointment with him on the 23rd. I am so excited!! My mom will be there to help me with Deonna and Kevin will fly down as soon as he can. I am praying for patience. I just want to feel good again. I have faith that God will make this happen.
Corey will be home in four weeks..yippee!!! He is flying to Germany right after he gets home to see his brother. They haven't seen each other in almost a year and a half. I am so happy for them!!! Chris's deployment is moved until the first of June. So, now I should have time to go visit him before he leaves..like I said, God is great!!
Deonna is doing great. She is excited for Valentine's Day and especially, the trip to Florida. She loves it there. Still working on speech. Her dialect causes her so many problems with her spelling. But is has improved some.
Please pray for me as I continue on this path of healing. Continue to pray for my boys and our other soldiers who gladly protect their country. Pray for Kevin and Dee as they make this journey with me. God bless!!

Quickly changing

Times are a changin...maybe not the way we should understand them but it is Gods plan and I will sing his praises no matter what.
I have been very sick. I was in the hospital for five days and afer many test confirm that it is a narrow bile duct. Not a good thing to have. I was diagnosed 13 years ago and have been hospitalized five times in the last 13 years, not too shabby, I guess. But, the pain this time isn't going away. I am home but am in terrible pain. Hopefully, the test on the 9th will finally help me get what I need. If not, I will be driving to Vanderbilt in Nasville to get some help. Please say a prayer for me and my family. We need it so much. Deonna is so worried. I try to reassure her everything is okay, but she knows. It breaks my heart. My son is due home in four weeks from his tour in Iraq. My other son is due to be deployed in May for 7 months to Afghanistan again. We'll see what the doctor says. I will have to see him if he has to go..somehow. My children are my life. I am still managing homeschooling everyday. Reading and spelling and math are a must. She is doing really well. Speech has improved tremendously. Again, please say a prayer for my family. I would greatly appreciate it. God bless!