Bring the Rain

BRING THE RAIN - MERCYME



We just saw an incredible concert at Faith Day at the Rockies and they played one of my favorite songs that just had me crying because of the stuff going on with Torrey's Family.

While I was worshiping My wonderful Savior I cried out and said to bring the rain if it brings Him glory. Well, I am trying to be ready but I must admit that my day today has been hard where I have had to take many moments of reflection with my Father. My circumstances will never change who I am in HIM. I want to be drawn closer during this time.

I came home from babysitting and shared with Torrey how God so loves to care for us in small details and since putting a scripture verse in my email signature, I have really seen some great things happen. We were able to get a few things we had been praying for because the freecycle people saw my verse in my signature.

Now that I have been home a bit, my heart is much heavier. I am just feeling overloaded with all the things that we need to take care of. I know that my Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills and will take care of me...I KNOW this, but I am having a hard time trusting this. Sitting in front of me are doctor's bills we still have to pay (all have been negotiated and being paid on so that is good) our water heater died last night...or started leaking, our dishwasher died today, I am working on estimates for a furnace that is 29 years old...on and on.

I told Torrey today that this is the time that either I believe what Jesus says or I don't. Why is it when you are have these things facing you does it feel like there is no way to get out. I told Torrey as well that I have seen God take care of us in the little things, so I know He can. The big things haven't been in our lives (well that isn't true even while I type this as we have Turner). So, I just needed to write this to help me remember that God is there and we are seeking him with all our heart and he promises to take care of us. We will have to figure out what to do and when. My hands might be really soft and clean for a while since a dishwasher is a complete luxury. I actually just told a friend the other day that I like to do dishes these days as I find it relaxing...I guess I will relax and spend time with Jesus.

Sorry that this has rambled all over the place, as you can see my head is swimming in details and trying to just ask God for wisdom and then to trust in what He will do in this situation.

Keep praying for Torrey and Sprouts. He called today and they are working to make decisions on managers this week and next and then will move on to the crew. We would love for Torrey to get a position as a manager in a department, but more than anything I just want him to have a new opportunity with a company that appears to really appreciate their staff.

Also, keep praying for the Myers family. Mary stood up to her son and told her she doesn't like how he is living his life and he pretty much said he wants nothing to do with her and that everyone has always favored Torrey....etc.

God is working in many places and I want to be found faithful...

oh and YEAH for Amy, she stood strong for her Jesus and shared her faith with a friend and we hope that she will be coming to church with us. She likes our family and thinks we are different, which is what provided Amy the opportunity to share why we are different.

enough of the ramble...thanks to those that made it to the end.

Projects, Projects and More Projects

I have been so motivated lately to get things checked off my project list and I feel so proud that I am getting them done.

Here are some things that I have been working on:
1 - Putting in new drawer guides in the kitchen because mine were broke (I HATE THAT)
2 - Regrading the backyard (I am sure I will need to do more later, but at least I do not have water sitting next to the house anymore.)
3 - Designing a new look to different parts of my house (I have lived here 8 years and need some new looks in here that says Myers and not just Larson)
4 - Made Strawberry Rhubarb Jam and it was GOOD
5 - Made some Oatmeal bread, it is one of the most moist breads that I make so far.
6 - Designed a "mantle" for my fireplace
7 - Finished laying tile in my bathroom and closet.
8 - Re-installed the toilet after putting down the tile (this is seriously one of the GROSSEST things I have ever done in my life)
9 - Made some Freezer meals
10 - Did some yard work
11 - EXERCISED - I heave been doing pretty well in this area - YEAH
12 - Read 3 books

There is so much more going on, but I just feel thrilled that I am getting some things done. Still so much more to do.

I really have no idea how women work out of the home and still get things done at home. I am so thankful to my husband that he sees the value in me being home with Turner David. It has not always been easy, but I wouldn't trade it. I continue to pray that I will rely on God for His provisions and mercy knowing that I am right where He wants me to be.

A Mouse in my HOUSE

So, it is that time of year again where the weather gets chilly and all the mice from the field behind the house decide to come in and make my house their home.

I am not at all happy about this. I have already killed two in my garage. I much prefer them in my garage, but today as I sat down in my chair to check my email a mouse crawled out of the cabinet and went into my kitchen. He went back and forth several times so Torrey set a trap and when he came back to his hideout, he took a seat on the metal part of the trap and stared at the part that would make it snap if he moved to it. Then he went inside the cabinet and came back to the other side to inspect and was getting ready to crawl on when Torrey came walking out and the mouse felt him and jumped back in the cabinet.

I am on my way to Ace Hardware to get some more traps, d-con and a sonic thing that is to help keep them out.

We cannot have D-con in the house with a new baby coming and our pooches and the traps make me nervous as my nephews and niece are coming over Saturday for workday.

I HATE mice in my house. You feel so DIRTY.

SWAT Team

So, last night as I was trying to go to bed, I heard a gun shot or so I thought, followed by 2 more that were 4 minutes apart and then rapid gun fire 20 minutes later.

We called the cops to let them know.

All night long I was freaking out and uncertain, but sure enough...

here is the story

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=101025&provid
er=top

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_10628545

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/03/swat-team-
surrounds-home-thornton-after-shots-fire/?partner=yahoo_head
lines

All for the love of Dogs...or Husbands

So, Elijah has been a trying dog since the time that he was a pup so I am told.

Elijah is very much a dog that desires to be with people and does not like to be left alone. He used to destroy Torrey's apartment when he was younger...and not just a little bit. He used to tear up and eat Torrey's furniture, curtains, books, games, plastic, etc...

We knew he still liked to have Torrey around when Torrey's mom lived with him because he would still get upset and pee on things, but that was not too bad.

When Elijah moved in last year with Torrey, he did the marking of his territory but otherwise it wasn't too bad.

We did try to figure out what we needed to do when we left the home. Saidee has stayed in one room when I would leave and it has worked for her, so we tried that with both of them. It worked for a time and then Elijah started to dig at the carpet. I wasn't going to keep him there as I had spent thousands of dollars the year before putting in new carpet in hopes of having it for years and hopefully a family.

From there we tried a bathroom with music and his bed and kong, but that didn't work either as he chewed up the bottom of the door. (I forgot to get picture of this one fore you, will try to catch that here soon.)

After this we tried just letting him be in the garage. Well, he was able to chew and claw up the bottom of the garage door and take off the weather strip.

So, now what? ...well we figured we would put them outside together as about 3 years ago I had extended the fence and put in an all wood fence. Well, Elijah found a way to break some boards and get him and Saidee out.

Now we proceed to get a doghouse to block him from that area and provide him with a place to den. That seems to work well for a while and then he starts to dig in the yard and next the garden. We found that putting his poop there would stop him for a time or putting pepper down.

We have him stopped and content again until one day we come home and he has started to dig under the fence...okay...bricks are in front of it.

Now we come home to a dog that is opening the fence gates...okay, now we have padlocks on the gate.

Next is a doozy...we come home to have a big hole through the fence as if a lion escaped in a cartoon and we hear Elijah but can't see him. We find him next to the fence, on the neighbors side, caught in a bush because someone put him on the tie down we have for him when we are in the front yard. So, he got out, someone found him, he let them touch him and hook him up but no note, no call, nothing...AHHHH.

Well, now what? We have tried everything and are running out of options.

In the winter when it was too cold we would put the dogs in the garage in their cages with a fan and music and that seemed to work, so we try that again.

I come home to find a dog that somehow opened the cage and was wandering around the garage. AHHHH

So, While I am home I attempt to work with Elijah and put him in the cage and come back to him so he knows he isn't in trouble and that I am coming back. I also put a master lock on it thinking there is no way now. Well, it seemed to be successful so we put him in it for a night out and we come home to a dog standing at our sliding glass door. We go out and see that he has somehow bent the cage and squeezed through the smallest opening and we have no idea how.

We are completely at a loss as to what to do next as nothing is working. We are currently thinking of Wrought Iron fences that have bricks underneath so the dogs can't dig, an underground fence/boundary system, behavior training, a doggie sedative when we have to leave....we are at a loss. Anyone else have a persistent dog that you can't get rid of because it would kill your spouse? I need some ideas on what else to try. I don't want to risk his life, have more things ruined and with the upcoming baby, I am afraid of what else he is able to do.

All the while, Saidee is being inflicted to the same solutions because I am trying to be fair, but am getting frustrated that Saidee, who is manageable, is getting the consequences and adjusting appropriately.

ADVICE????

Life's little turn of events

I had so many plans for today as I wanted to prepare for our anniversary and finish up a project I was working on.

The first thing that I did after Torrey left is do some organizing. I really like to do this and feel like I have forgotten how. Then I ran off to deliver something to a friend so I could get it off my table and then went to the Post office to mail something to my cousin...to get one more thing out of my house and off my checklist. (I also like lists and sticky notes. :D )

When I came home, I thought I would check on our refrigerator. Since we bought it last year we seem to continue to have fun so this week I bought some thermometers to watch how the freezer and cooler are holding their temps. I had just mentioned yesterday to Torrey that we might want to think about buying a new refrigerator before the baby comes as we have the extra now and later it will be harder and I don't want a ton of spoiled food at a time when we are trying to live tighter.

Anyway....back to the story...They were both not as cold as I wanted them and thought I just need to adjust the dials again as that is a pretty consistent thing that I have to do these days. After adjusting those, I went to Craig's List to try to find another one. I found a few that look interesting and emailed the people selling. My head is still torn and uncertain about going this route again as that is where we got the one having trouble. We also happened to get a brand that later I find out is TERRIBLE. I typical research more than that so am upset that we bought it in the first place, but we got our money out of it I guess.

Back to the refrigerator I go to check the temps again and to make some lunch because this little baby has me hungry more than I like to be. TADA...the temps are not good. Well, that is a very relative statement because if my house was at 60 degrees or if outside was at that instead of the CRAZY high temps we are running (100's) I am sure people would love that number. Food doesn't like it so much and the butter in the refrigerator was melting. That can't be a good thing.

I now check the freezer to see if maybe just half of it decides to not be cold. Trying to hold onto some optimism as this was not in my plans for the day. Well, the freezer is at 40 and things are melting. So I place a call to Torrey to let him now that he no longer gets to think about it and now we have to do something. He said that we can do it after he is off work.

I decide to start looking online for some deals to see what is out there. Then I call my sister-in-law to see if she would let me put my stuff in her extra Refrigerator. I told her I would bring it over later after my search for a new one. I call my mom to see if she has anymore coupons from their move and they don't. She said she could have dad look at it and I said that I am done and we are getting one that we can count on since right now we have the extra (not that I was ready to spend it but thrilled that we have it.)

The trip started at Lowes and every fridge that I looked at had 1 dimension that would not work. So then I went to Safeway to get gas and the gas truck didn't come so decided instead to say hi to Torrey and ask him to pray that I find a fridge and that I can get to a gas station as I am on fumes (I don't drive the car much as I walk everywhere and didn't notice how low it was. My car lasts almost 2 months WOO HOO). I head off toward the location of Sears and Home Depot and figure I have to pass a gas station at some point, yeah I didn't. I go into Sears and look and the guy informs me that if I buy it by 3 that I can have it delivered tomorrow. It is 2:50 at this time and I still want to check Home Depot. I know that we are trapped a bit and need something, but their prices were much higher than Lowes and I am a cheap skate and figure God had something better and wasn't going to rush into it.

I head across the street to Home Depot and they do not have a lot of selection at all but the guy was very helpful. I told him what I needed and then looked at the one I thought would work and 1 dimension was off. He said hang on and measured back behind the door hinge and it was the height I needed. I had NO idea that they counted the mounting on the top for the measurement. Could have solved that as I had a tape measure with me but was taking their word for it (dad would roll his eyes at me if he saw that). This opened all new doors now. He took me to some floor models that we could take home that very day, but only one would work and it was all dinged up. Not that anxious to get it. So we go back and check on the other fridge that I liked, but it can't be delivered until Wednesday...NO good....back on the road I go.

At this point I decided to head back to Lowes since they were the cheapest and now I think they might fit as well. Before I do that, I have to find a gas station as God is being gracious with the gas vapors because there is nothing left. I find the gas station and fill up with more gas than my gas tank says that it will hold. Praise the Lord for making it.

Back on the road to Lowes. I make it there and find the fridge I want, now to find someone to help me. Wonderful Cheryl comes out to help and I show her the fridge I want and she takes me to the desk and we start the paperwork. I ask her how soon I can get it and she tells me tomorrow. I am thrilled. She then asks if I want it in the morning or afternoon. I told her the sooner the better since I had a dead fridge at home, however, it wouldn't let her select it so she called for an override (I think she was being extra helpful because I just complimented her on her beautiful engagement ring. It was very decorative and unique and so she then shared some of her story...have to be a girl even when shopping under pressure and what girl doesn't like to hear about wedding plans?) So, I now hope to have one of the first deliveries of the day. As we are continuing with the transaction I mention to her that this became our anniversary present. I told her that we are trying to get this taken care of as we are heading out of town for our first anniversary. She looks at me and said that I qualify for 12 months no interest and free delivery. WOO HOO...I'll take it. I am thankful that we have the money as we had been working to pay of some debt and did that in less than a year so we started saving up and have enough for the fridge and enough extra for the 3 months of savings that I like to have plus some. I figure, If I qualify for that, lets keep the money earning interest as we can have it paid off whenever we want. I love it when things work out well.

So, all of this is done, the fridge stuff is at Kelly and Cristina's, our freezer stuff is packed in our garage freezer and the stuff we need is in a cooler on ice. I didn't get the stuff done for my husband for his anniversary, but maybe I will finish tomorrow and if not, he is so understanding and grateful that what I do have he will love. I am so thankful that I went out last night to help him and pick up the dog food so he could come right home as I was able to do the shopping I had hoped to do today.

This is the day the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
He also provided the funds so that it was less stressful in the long run, plus it was my day off so I didn't have to figure all of this out around work.

I am so thankful for His provisions even the ones that feel a little uncomfortable. This day did not distress me like others have. It is all because of Him and me spending time loving Him.

Myer's Workday

The 14th of June was our turn for the family workday. We just recently instituted the practice where the larger family would help each family out each month to make the tasks less daunting. So far it has been successful and oh so helpful.

We pretended to celebrate mom's birthday as well. It was her day and she had other plans. We have never done that and I think that is why the rest of the family stayed as we don't know how to not hang out all day for a birthday.

My sister and I hope to set up monthly cooking next. I think we are converting to some of the Amish traditions of family and friends helping each other out in the cooking, cleaning, barn raising, etc. I am really enjoying it and what helps is that I love my family.

Our workday was the longest day so far. It has been agreed that everyone will show up at 8:30 for a breakfast by the host family and then workday would start at 9 and go till 12. Everyone left our house at 7. Torrey was the first to leave and was given a load of flack for it, but he was scheduled to work even after putting the date on the calendar asking for it off. I didn't feel like I did much to help with the workday at all. I pretty much was the gopher and the cook. I didn't feel as organized as I should and I can definitely tell how pregnancy pulls from your energy as I was gone. The day before I had my nephews over to spend the night and spend the day with them. I had to lay down and take a nap while they were there which I don't typically do.

Even a few of the kids got in on the action. Little Casey LOVES to help and is such a fun little one to be around. Little Miss Adrianna was helping Auntie Amy with the windows as well. Casey and Adrianna usually just bug each other and they did a good job helping until they moved on to their next task.

Casey was helping Grandma in the back for a while and Adrianna was helping her Mommy too. Christopher and Logan helped Uncie Kelly pick up the twigs from the tree.

Here are the things that we accomplished.
- Windows Washed
- Scraping/Priming/Painting/Caulking the back porch
- Trimming the dead branches off the tree - the poor tree looks so sad now but much healthier
- Bathrooms cleaned
- Swamp Cooler setup and rewired for the water feed
- Baseboards washed
- Floors Vacuumed
- Kitchen Swept
- Wood Pile stacked from the tree
- Scraped/Filled/Primed/laid the floor in the vanity
- Weeds pulled
- Yard edged and trimmed

Here are some things that didn't completed:
- Flooring in the vanity area in the master bedroom
- Weeds - this is NEVER done

Here are the things we didn't get to:
- Cleaning out the gutters
- Fixing the water leak damage in the basement

I am pretty sure there is more to the list, but we got so much done and I was worn out at the end.

When Torrey got home he walked in the door and wondered what was wrong with me. I told him that everyone had just left and he was in shock. I told him that I was so tired that I couldn't move and everything hurt, but fortunately I was so numb that I couldn't feel anything. He had to help me to bed that night and my husband saved the day because he came walking in the door with an arrangement of flowers containing two of my favorites.

A backyard addition

We do not have a large backyard so have been trying to figure out ways to make it enjoyable for the adults, kids and pets.

I have been watching on Craig's list for a little tykes house. I am a fan of their stuff as it holds up well. I have a climbing/slide structure that I have had for 7 years and it has held up well. I haven't had it at my house for the last 5 as my little Logan needed something to play on. He now has a BIG backyard, a swing set of his own and 2 brothers that keep him occupied as well as a sandbox and a garden (which he planted so he could give to the food to people in need - This little boy is being used by God already and I love to watch it.)

They will be giving it back to us as soon as we can remember to take our truck there and pick it up.

We have set up the side yard for the kids. To me it looks like a little fairy tale house. I want to get some dishes and chairs for the house that can stay outside. There is sand underneath as I had the sandbox their prior, but thought it might be good to not move the sand since I watch My Niece and Nephews play with theirs and the sand from the sandbox always makes its way in there...I saved them a step.

We moved the sandbox up the hill and behind the house where there are a couple riding toys and wagon. The slide will go off to the side of both of those at some point and it should be pretty entertaining. I HOPE.

There's no place like home

My trip to San Francisco last week turned out to be a good trip despite the fact that I would have rather stayed home and been with my honey for my birthday.

I had the opportunity to talk with my "boss" about my position and what she desires my position to be. It didn't start out great, but I feel that at the end we both understood each other and better knew how to help the Automotive division move forward.

While I was in California, I got the pleasure of seeing some of my friends, so I really didn't have a lot of time to be on my own.

I went out for Sushi with my friend Kevin and we got caught up since the last time we had seen each other. We are both struggling in our careers right now so we got to spend some time sharing ideas and possibilities.

For my birthday, I had so many people call me and send me emails that I felt truly loved. There were people that I never would have thought would have known, that poured out their care on me. After my conference was over, I snuck out and caught a taxi to the Ferry station and then took it over to Larkspur where my friend Patrick picked me up. He and Ric treated me to a nice meal at a quaint little restaurant in San Rafael and then we went back to their home and Patrick had made me a cake, so they sang to me and we talked for a bit. It was nice to stay in a home and not a hotel.

The best part of the week was coming home, but I the expectations of coming home change a bit when you have someone to come home to.

I was so excited to see Torrey, but I was also incredibly tired from traveling for 8 hours. When I got home, my knight came out and got my bag. I came in to my room and on the bed was a cute little "stuffed" flower and to the side was a gorgeous display of flowers, some champagne and cake to celebrate with me. I laid down on the bed for a few minutes to try to rest so I could spend some time with my boyfriend, but as I laid down, he started to put the things away as he wanted me to rest. I just wanted him to lay with me and hold me for a bit and then I would have the energy to spend some time catching up. Like I said, the expectations of coming home are different when there is more than one living in the home.

I failed to appreciate his care as I should have and he didn't catch on to my needs. When you love someone it seems that you want them to hear the unspoken, but the unspoken is interpreted based on what you know or what you would want. It is always best to try to speak and remember to do it filled with love.

God has the best instructions for loving our spouse. I continue to learn more and more. I hope that I learn quickly before I spin my wheels too long that Torrey doesn't feel the love and care from me that he should.