my apologies...

Not that it matters but you might notice I didn't blog yesterday. Kate was home sick again and for whatever reason I just have zero creativity or thought when she's here. I guess she sucks it all out of me. (jk) Good news is she doesn't have bronchitis. Just a cold that has triggered a flare up of her asthma and seasonal allergies. Yay for us for getting her started on the hydromet only other meds needed were her inhaler. So that's good news. A nice long weekend will help also. I too am suffering from Allergies as well and so is Andy. He gets shots on a regular basis yet sounds like I do. Pretty much convinced me to pop a pill & deal. It's just part of life in Indiana. Pollen, harvest, grass, trees, hay, you name it and the counts for it are high and we are suffering. Oh well, this too shall pass. All the while I'll wonder what life would be like in Colorado! ahhhh....

Last time I blogged I mentioned that Matthew would be playing in his first football game. He did, and he did an awesome job. So So proud. It was a totally different experience for me though. A huge football fan I love going to the games. Watching the plays unfold; taking in the sights and sounds of all that's happening on the field. Or in the case of my daughters games, watching the cheerleaders as well as the game. But having a boy out of the field adds an entirely different dynamic to watching. I'm not really sure I saw much of the game. But never took my eyes off of #73! I was so proud. It was exciting to watch him block. He played 3 positions, right & left tackle and nose guard. He wasn't accustomed to left tackle and on the 1st play in that position he was offside but but other than that a fabulous job! I also tried to video him so that Andy would be able to see some of his play as he was out of town this week and had to miss the game. In doing so I discovered 1) I'm horrible at taking video and 2) I need to bring an 'extra' along with me to do the job. Aside from feeling proud of him and his effort, I was excited for him. You could see the joy in his 'swagger' if you will as he came on & off the field. I could tell my boy was having a blast! (i knew it). The 7th grade came away with a victory! 22-8. Next game is tuesday and I can't wait.

Holiday weekend is approaching! As well as some fall temps! woot woot! Andy & I will be heading up to Southbend for the PURDUE v. nd game. I'm excited and apprehensive all at the same time. nd aren't quite the football power house they used to be and Purdue is always unpredictable. The first game for both squads should prove to be interesting. I have a feeling I'll be a total mess the entire time. Last time I was in nd stadium, Brees was QB and for the 2 or 3rd year in a row we lost in the final seconds of the game. That, my friends makes for a L O N G drive back to Swayzee, In. So here's to what I hope will be a BOILERMAKER victory!

Loves: Andy, kids, football, ike & pj, great in-laws! Prayers: friends with health issues.

Until...??? who know's hopefully sometime this weekend!

A day of firsts...

Kinda a big day for the Van Ness house. Tonight at 6pm our boy Matthew will take the field for his first football game. Well, his first real football game. Until now it's been league play. You have to understand how much I love love love this game to fully understand my excitement. I'm excited to watch him, cheer for him, and all that goes with it. I am also deep down a bit worried. Someone is gonna try to knock my boy down. The potential for injury is there and far greater than it is if he were to be home on the couch. Lately I've seen in him a "stick-to-it-tiveness" that I've not seen before from him in sports and I admire that. I hope when he takes the field with his team tonight he feels and senses all that is happening. The sense of teamwork, school pride, awe, and hard work. I hope he savors the sounds of the crowd, cheerleaders, coaches and crunching pads. More importantly I hope he has fun! I hope he get's fired up and develops a fire in his belly for something. And like any mom I hope he doesn't get hurt. I kinda wish he could ride to the game with Kate and I because without a doubt she'd get his ire up and the good Lord would have to have mercy on him. So here's to my little Eagle who's growing up! Good luck, Have fun, & leave it all on the field.

Well, it's another 90 degree day here in Swayzee IN! ...ick. got in my 2mi walk, grocery shopping done and invites printed and addressed. Yay!

Today's walk was a good one. There were different people on the trail today. One in particular made me laugh out loud. Of course she wasn't all that funny but there's a little game I like to play to make life interesting, for me really, and I call it "what's the story?". This lady was on her bike today and passed us a couple of times. Now allow me to clarify, she wasn't lapping us, she was just passing us...repeatedly. Because with every man that passed her on her bike she would have to stop and converse. "...Hussy" ...not really that's just the story I gave her. Keep in mind I have an ornery sense of humor. I'm sure she not a all a hussy rather probably a very nice lady. What makes this funny to me is well, she's about 75+ years old. After repeated stops along the trail visiting with the men out for their walks she was approaching the end and sure enough 2 obstacles stood in her way...the last 2 men on the trail. I have to give her props, she hankered down all streamline like, rounded the corner and headed back in the direction from which she came. I didn't stick around to see but wonder if she was able to just bike on passed those who stopped her the first time around.

Well...a bit sleepy, so ta ta for now.

playing catch up

oksohereitgoes.....

Went away for the weekend with our jr. sr. high youth for THAT THING! 33 youth from Mt. Olive, Fairmount UM & CCC attended. We really had a great time, worship was fun, message was awesome and with luck lives were changed. Hope to return next year for another great experience.

Monday took my momma to a Rhuematologist (sp), was this ever an interesting experience. For 15 years (min.) she's been suffering & seeking treatment, relief for what she thought to be rheumatoid arthritis and fibermyalgia (sp). After having reviewed her medical records the Dr. informed her she didn't have either of the afflictions mentioned above rather she was suffering from GOUT! REALLY?!? for 15 years? Untreated and undiagnosed except when it would flare up in her foot. I couldn't believe it. I picked up a brochure on Gout and read through it and wow....my mom is the poster child for chronic gout sufferer's. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. After countless Dr. appointments and many meds with virtually zero relief FINALLY a Dr. that acknowledged the pain, and seemed to have answers and sensible treatment options. I'm a mixed bag of emotion. Thankful and hopeful this Dr. is correct. Annoyed and irritated that for the 15 years of misdiagnosis. Grrrrr.


Well, it's Tuesday 8/31/10. I was able to get my walk in this morning. Did a little banking (ick) and got all of my hairs cut. :) A hair cut always feels good. Kathryn is home sick from school today...Bronchitis. Bummer. Matthew plays in his 1st football game tomorrow. He's excited and bummed all at the same time as he was beaten out for a 1st string position and didn't get put on any special teams. I told him to not let that defeat him. To keep fighting week to week and when given the opportunity to play to give 125% and leave it all out on the field. The season is just getting underway and I've no doubt that he'll earn a starting spot. Heart and desire should count for something right?

And now for some random thoughts. Recently at youth we discussed how God uses unlikely people for things He wants done. Well, this got me thinking (i know, i know...you've heard those words before) thinking about unlikely friends if you will. How do you pick your friends? Or do your friends pick you? For me it seems as though friends I've made in my adult years have chosen me. I kinda like that. I wonder often why God has put certain people in my path but have been thankful for each one of them. Even the irritating ones (who i'm pretty sure are not reading this tee hee hee). Kathryn made an observation regarding my friendships the other day and basically said she thought they were confusing. Some she understood and others left her scratching her head. I've even had that feeling at times. As I've gotten older and the friendships more diverse I've often thought how odd it would be if all my g/f's were to show up at a party. Some of my friends don't even like one another and others have never met. In addition they come in all ages. On FB alone I have 1,597 friends. Now keep in mind most of these are acquaintances but among them are friends, new, old, close, distant and a few who have never met me personally (fb gamer folks) but nonetheless they've been tagged as a friend. Unlikely or not God has a plan for the people He puts in our path. And I think we need to slow down and take the time to appreciate them and allow His plan to unfold in the acquaintance/friendship. My unlikely friends are some of my favorite. Just a thought.