Tuesday, September 23, 2008

My Kids, My Blessings!!!


Today's Bible study was awesome! Our current Women's Bible study is "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed, A Study of David," by Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, and Kay Arthur. I can't even begin to say how blessed I am and how much I'm learning more about God's love for me and who He wants me to become. Today, though, something really stuck out at me and literally brought me to tears...my kids are both Christians! I mean, you look at David's life and how God used him, even though he wasn't always perfect, and his family line, as promised, was that which produced our Savior!!! That is so incredibly awesome! And my children have chosen that same Savior and will carry on down our family line a legacy of God's hand in their lives. It struck me so strongly today, and I don't know if I have ever thanked my kids for their choice to follow the Lord!


Having the full responsibility of raising my children in a Christian household wasn't always easy, nor was I always perfect, as I'm sure Cameron & Chelsea could fill volumes of books with how imperfect I was, but having my children know God in a true and meaningful way was always my goal in life, even before I had my kids. Yes, my kids were raised in church, but oftentimes kids are raised in church and don't grow up to serve the Lord! Yet, both of the kids have been through things this past couple of years that we've prayed together about, and how awesome it is when they come to us and ask for prayer, knowing that they each know God will answer those prayers!


This is such a different stage in my life as a mom, Cameron is close to 21 and Chelsea is close to 20, they each are experiencing life somewhat on their own and are growing up. I've been dragging my heels this past couple of years as I learn to let them grow up, and it's been really tough not being their go-to person anymore! I have been so focused on their not needing me anymore, that I lost sight of the fact that God has blessed me with the knowledge that He has His hand on each of their lives and they both are seeking Him in their lives and seek His Will for their lives and their futures!


Cameron & Chelsea, thank you for being who you are. Thank you for understanding when I try to hold on too tight! Thank you for making wise choices, and learning from not so wise choices! Thank you for blessing me by being your mom! But mostly thank you for choosing to follow Christ! So many other parents pray daily that their children will "return" to the Lord, but each of you have made the wisest choice to stay with the Lord, and you've let Him heal your hurts and disappointments and you've praised Him for your many gifts! Thank you so much for being Christians and giving me the satisfaction of knowing your future in Him! You are such awesome, amazing people, and I can't even begin to tell you how proud of each of you I am! I know you each have amazing talents and gifts, and it's pretty amazing watching them unfold in your lives as you continue to grow up! I love you guys and am so thankful for you!


Love, Mom

Monday, September 22, 2008

Training Update!
















Well, what's that saying, "All the best laid plans"? We had great plans for last week. These pictures are of our first day training in the hills of Solvang to prepare for our 1/2 Century in November and our Century in March. The first day of training was also our last day of training for last week!
The ride didn't start out too bad...I was a little winded just preparing the bikes for the ride, but figured that was simply from not riding for so long. So we headed out on the road. I was really enjoying the smells of the area...it smells so clean and crisp out on those roads. There's no smog, no stinky car exhaust. Just fresh air. I knew I wouldn't ride too great the first day because the 13 days prior I hadn't been able to hop on Mad Dawg and get in a ride. I was slammed with work the weeks before vacation, so I knew the first couple days of rides would be tough, but had such high hopes for our training and hill work this week. John's back was out, but he's a trooper so I figured, if he can do it, let's do it!!! 8 miles into the ride I couldn't breathe! I was so upset. I got to the top of a little hill and couldn't catch my breath! I couldn't explain it to John because it wasn't like my legs gave out, nor was it like my cardio was that bad, I just couldn't get a deep enough breath...well, then try breathing when you're crying...not so good! For the first time in our training I called it quits. The scary thing was my legs were shaking, I was shivering from chills, something just wasn't right...poor John. I felt like I let him down so much, but what the heck????? We made it back to the motor home having only ridden 15 1/2 miles, at an average speed of 10.5 mph...oh, boy, how am I going to do it? John then announced we may have to rethink our goals...okay, more water works from me!! What???? Is he losing faith in me? Does he not believe I can do it anymore??? Have I totally let him down????
Well, waking up the next morning it was quite clear why I couldn't breathe, the Mother of all Bronchitis attacks decided to pick our vacation to rear its ugly head!!! I haven't had a cold in over a year and thought that was a part of my past that was well behind me...my lungs thought otherwise! Thankfully I had antibiotics in the motor home for emergency attacks such as this and was able to get right on them, but a week later, I'm still not breathing normally. John's back was out the entire week, so no training for him either. He's on his way to Dr. Duddy again tonight to assess the situation...so, that was it for our training week!! We got a lot of rest, which is obviously what each of us needed after this past 6 months of craziness in our life. My goal of at least 200 miles for the week...only 184 1/2 miles short!
You know the saying, "If you fall off your bike, you gotta' get back on." Or is that horse?? Whatever...my hope is to hop on the bike tomorrow night and get at least a few miles in...will we make the 1/2 Century Prelude ride on November 1st? Probably not, unless something miraculous happens, but I'm not giving up my hope of finishing the Century in March! I'm still planning for that one!! I keep reminding myself, this is a lifestyle change for me...it's not just about a one-day event! One day and one pedal at a time...God has given me the strength to go from giving up physically to physically challenging my body, and I know He will continue to give me the strength to get my body where my brain is!

Monday, September 15, 2008

One Hockey Mom to Another!


Need I say More?! We believe in miracles and FINISHING WELL!!!

Danielle & Wes to the Rescue!

Day One of our vacation: I get up early to finish up one last job and scan it and one other. In between the scanning I showered, scanned, brushed my teeth, scanned, did my hair, scanned, ironed clothes for church, scanned...church starts at 9:00--out the door at 8:55! We walked into church during the first song! Bad, bad, bad! But worship was AWESOME so I think John forgave me! Then incredible service and Sunday School was phenomenal! Well, I notice John gingerly walking...his back is jacked! Great...vacation and a bad back...what a combination.

Well, we get home, finish loading up, and hit the road...only like 20 minutes after our originally planned send-off time...I was pretty impressed!

We drive to Solvang, get checked in, set up, three hours later...we're camping! Whew...we're camping! Such a needed camping trip...it was as if we wanted to cry we were so happy to FINALLY get to go camping again! John's back is pretty bad, but he figured he just needed a break and some rest!

Then Chelsea calls again...she hasn't been feeling well and had planned to go to the doctor on Monday. After several different calls she is now crying because the pain is so intense. We advise her to head straight to the hospital...maybe it's something major! Great, we're like 3 1/2 hours away, what if she has to have surgery??? Good gracious! If there was an emergency surgery she could have it and be out before I even got there...Well, Papa George and Barbara would be there for her...oh, wait, they actually are out of town in San Diego! Richard's there...oh, crap, he's down in San Clemente and can't get back with her. Gram's with Lil...Wes is at work...Chelsea's now getting scared and is crying from fear and pain at the emergency room all by herself. "Call Danielle," John says. What, call the busiest girl in the world. Who knows where she is...she's at home for once in her lifetime...she's at the hospital within like 5 minutes! Whew! Now we feel better. Then like 20 minutes later, Wes is there too...okay, Chelsea feels better now...is it the company of her heros Wes and Danielle? Maybe it's the morphine shot that helps!

While this drama with our little girl is going on Cameron is playing a game with the Detroit Red Wings. It's his first game of the tournament and as a mom I'm concerned about his nerves. So, I'm praying! I've got one kid in the E.R., one on the ice, a hubby with a jacked up back...this is vacation!!!????!!!!

Well, Danielle calls and gives me an update...they think it's either a really bad kidney infection or possibly kidney stones. She said the morphine is helping to edge the pain, although she still is in pain. Chelsea has the highest pain threshold of anybody I've ever known, so for her to be complaining of this much pain...it must be really bad! What a vacation!!!!

So, Chelsea calls, it's just a really bad infection, she's headed to the first Pharmacy, Sunday evening, they're closed. Now they have headed to the second pharmacy! Wes and Danielle drop her off so they can go pick up his truck, which he had left at the hospital to drive her car home. Then she finds out that pharmacy is closed too, so she has to walk across Beach Blvd. to the other pharmacy...drugged out on morphine talking to us on the phone...what a combination! Relief she's okay, but now worried the ding-bat is going to pass out from the morphine. "I feel weird," she says! Great...this is vacation????

Well, in summary: She got her medications and got home and settled, thanks to Danielle and Wes! They took care of our little girl.

Danielle said I can't thank her anymore, but one last time, Thanks so much for being there when we couldn't be!! She said God obviously knew Chelsea was going to need her because for once in her lifetime, she didn't have 100 other things lined up to do!

Wes, thanks for getting there and making sure she ate and staying with her! He stayed until she fell asleep, treating her like a queen!

Okay, so Chelsea's home and settled in and drugged up...Cameron text messages me that he played well. They won! John's settled into "vacation mode." All's well, now can I get into "vacation mode" too? When Mom's kids aren't settled, Mom's not settled, so now that they're both okay...I think I can sit back and get into "vacation mode."

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Good Luck Cameron & Kurtis!!

Good Luck Cameron & Kurtis-Cameron heads today to Michigan to play for the Detroit Red Wings in the season-opener rookie tournament. Kurtis heads today to Phoenix to play with the Phoenix Coyotes in a tournament as well. After the tournaments both boys will participate in training camp with the respective teams...all in hopes of making a great impression and getting that pro contract!!! Good luck boys!

It's been quite a week with Cameron getting traded from Edmonton to Prince George. He found out Monday afternoon, called me at like 4:10 as soon as he got in his truck to head home to pack up for the move. By 4:48 the news was posted in the newspaper in Prince George and on the team websites...it's so fast!!!! So Tuesday Cameron drove the 8-hour drive from Edmonton to Prince George to get settled into his new house. Then Wednesday got up for a practice with the new team and a quick flight back to Edmonton to spend the night with his Mucha Family, so he could catch his flight this morning for Michigan!

Crazy, crazy couple of days! He's handling the whole thing so much better and with such a positive attitude than either Lee-Ann or I am!!! It's so funny when our kids are much more mature than we are! I know these kids have to grow up, but isn't always just too fast!!!!

With the move out of the Muchas' home in such an abrupt way, and then all the packing and traveling, and craziness the nervousness as moms has been overshadowed by our emotions. Lee-Ann, Cameron's Canadian mom has been slammed this week with the loss of her "other" son, slammed with work, lest she forget about Kurtis' try-out as well!!!

Well, Boys! Do us moms (mums) proud! Make an impression and seize your spots on the teams!!! Lee-Ann and I need to get together with some good news to see our boys in the "Show." God bless you both and may He give you the peace of knowing that He has the perfect plan for each of you!