Life Changes

Hello friends! I have loved reading your daily blogs and now it is time to start blogging. I realize there is so much to share and that I need to keep up on my blog or I will be writing novels each time. I need this as so many ideas and events have happened since our last Florida blog. Great to get it off my chest.
The first of the summer is a blur. We played hard and enjoyed our time with Lauren. A great thing happened which was a precious roommate for Lauren. Here is the story. I called Pine Cove(PC) to get our family into family camp. They told us the waiting list was 20 families long. I was discouraged, but went on. The very next day PC called and they had an opening for week 8. This week is a where several Bartians attend. The Doe family is whom I am referring to. Their son and Lauren were talking and he told her he had a good friend he went to PC with , a week 8 family, that needed a roommate. Wow! The girls were already signed up in the same dorm, loved the same colors(this is important to gals), graduated from a small christian school, mom's are teachers and dad's are accountants. We spent the entire week with her family and the weekend at their home. We couldn't have asked for a better situation.Our great God worked out the exact week we were to be at PC, the roommate and a wonderful time to visit with Lauren. God has swung the doors wide for A&M and we are embracing it all.
Lauren leaving was hard for us all. We hugged cried and tried to pretend that everything would be the same, but we all knew that it wouldn't. It was sweet to see my big boy, Chandler, have tears slide down his cheekds as he tried to remain tough for his wilting parents. She was ready to work at PC, but still loved having the summer in B'Ville. Ray and I cried alot the first weekend and then it has been easier. Of course, we saw her at PC three weeks later and we get to talk on Saturday and Sundays, but it's not the same. God has really shown me that He is there and will help fill the void. Having a little lady around is fun! The house is a bit like a Frat house with brats on the grill, dirty socks and baseball cups laying around, but I am going to make it. Really more than make it!
Chandler is so much fun! He is in the full throes of adolescence. My goal is to keep him busy, broke and tired. He plays hard, has many chores and loves his friends to pieces. He loves to talk and share all about baseball, therefore I am working hard at learning all the ins and outs. We had a special time at PC called Rite Night. I wrote him a letter and shared with him how proud I was of him. We also did a temperament study. I discovered that he doesn't like for me to stroke his hair and needs lots of encouragement while he learned that I need lots of hugs and encouragement. We are both trying to respect our boundaries. He is trying out for the B'Ville Bruin baseball team. We hope it works out. Tough group of kids at times, but we hope to make a difference.
I will be working at ACS this fall as a secretary. This is a great thing for me. I will be part time. I can go and visit Lauren and have a lot more flexibilty. I will miss the little ones, but an important change for all of my family.
One last note. I had a great Bible study this summer with a group of 10 ladies. We studied No Other Gods. This was a study that Beth Moore used with all of her fellow bloggers throughout the world. It was amazing. I realized how important staying in the Word is, again. I also know that I have many God's that take up a lot of places instead of God. We tackled so many issues, not your usual tv or entertainment god's, but deep issues of the heart. I am always amazed at the vastness of God's Word and teachings. I am really excited to start a new study called The Empty Nest. This is a study for those with total empty nests or partial empty nests. I am really excited to study with a group of ladies that are going through the same changes in life.
I promise not to be a stranger.