Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Four Down and Three to Go

Miss M woke up sick this morning. So, that leaves Lil' Cowboy, Daisy, and Goose. They are all hoping for a miraculous immunity.
We did get home last night. It was just about 11pm when we drove into the driveway. I asked Boo for her house key. We are running short of these (long story) and so her copy ended up at our neighbor's house. My I remind you that it was 11pm! But, after about fifteen minutes of trying to break into our home without setting the alarm off we gave up and called our neighbor. Thankfully she had just gotten in bed. Whew!
We were all very thankful for our own beds. I particularly had a hard time getting to sleep. A lot of lonely tears were cried as I as reminded once again that my closest friend was not there to help us figure out another problem and was not there to enjoy the moment of settling back into our own home. The pain is no longer dull. It hurts more than I can even describe. I just can not imagine how someone does this without the Lord. Because even though this is the deepest hurt I have ever felt I am incredibly grateful for a "friend who is closer than a brother". He knows my deepest longing and my deepest fears. He understands and generously gives peace and hope.
This week is full of preparation for our BIG trip. We are headed to Illinois to stay with our friends the McDonalds. You might know James and Stacy as the owners of Family Reformation magazine. Stacy also wrote Raising Maidens of Virtue and Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God. The church that James is the teaching Elder of is a part of our denomination and they are hosting the general session this year. James and Stacy have become fast friends in a very short amount of time. We have had such a wonderful time getting to know parts of their family and are looking forward to getting to know the rest of them.
We will be there for about a week and then head down to the Creation Museum. After a day exploring we will be heading to Tennessee for some Civil War and other historical sites. We will also visit another church that is a part of our denomination and finally meet, in person, a dear friend I have only talked to online or by phone. That is what a lot of this trip is about. On to Missouri where we will finally get to meet homeskoolmom and her family. They are particularly special to us since Eric and I were instrumental in their adoption of a Liberian sweetie.
We will then head through Kansas into Colorado where we have even more friends and family to see. Lord willing we hope to visit Focus on the Family (we are fans of Adventures in Odyssey) and the Air Force Academy. We will visit with old friends and meet another whom I have only gotten to know online. She has a wonderful side business that I am sure you will love.
After spending a couple of days there we will head on down to New Mexico to visit yet another friend from the yahoo group. They have a wonderful family fiddling group, Desert Skies, that we are so blessed to know.
We should be home sometime in June. We will be traveling with our fifteen passenger van and our thirty-one foot trailer. Eric had taught Goose, Boo, and I how to drive this last fall. We will be traveling with another family of eleven so we will have lots of company and a lot of help if needed.
So, my biggest prayer request for this week is that I have the energy and mental capacity to actually remember everything that needs to be done. This is a big task since Eric carried much of the load when it came to getting things ready for trips. I not only have to rally the troups, disciple children, and pack but also make sure the van and trailer are all in working order. Oh, I need to make sure that all the finances are in order and all the bills are paid in advance since we will not be home till June. If you don't hear from me a lot this week you will know what I am up to.
~Lazyd

11 comments:

Miss Amy said...

Aw! I'm sorry some of you have gotten sick! :-( I'll pray the rest of you won't get it!!!

I can't wait to see you all next week! :-) (Lord willing! :-)).

I'm still praying for you all!!!

Love,
Amy

Anonymous said...

Praying for you all Heather!

Hey we have a family run business creating vinyl graphics for vehicles, and we are expanding into graphics for the walls in your home or on plaques etc... anyhow while researching other companies that do this same type of stuff I came across a plaque that for all I know was done for your family, and maybe not but it just made me smile and think of you...here is a link to the picture http://www.fruitfulvinecreations.com/images/lazydranch.jpg

I hope you can see it if not feel free, if you wish to e-mail me at 2corinthians517@cox.net and I can send it to you that way.

Gods blessings and peace to you and your family Heather!

In Christ,
Kelly
Tucson, Az

Nancy said...

Hey Heather and all! Have been thinking and praying for you all and reading your blog as my time schedule allows. I'm sure you probably remember that Troy and Erin, Maddie, Ella and Charlotte live in Colorado Springs as that's where Troy met Erin while attending the Air Force Academy. Maybe you can look them up as I'm sure they would love to see you all. Send me an e-mail at dnttt@comcast.net and I'll send you their contact information. Love and hugs, Nancy

Lazy D Ranch said...

Kelly,
You are right! My friend made that sign for me. I gave it to Eric this past Christmas. For obvious reasons it has become rather special to our family.
God bless on your business endeavor.

copperswife said...

Praying for no more sick children and for peace in your heart as you make preparations for your big trip. I'm looking forward to your return in June!!

godlover said...

Don't over do this week and lean heavily on the older ones. It may not be fair to them but that's just life. I will be praying for you to have a safe trip out and back. I don't envy you pulling that trailer but I know the Lord will take care of you. I'm just praying for a real period of healing and the creation of new memories. Please take your lap top and post periodically while you're away. (I wouldn't want to go into withdrawals!) I have three blogs I read every day and yours is one of them. I'll miss you while you're away but I will be praying for you daily so really things won't change much for me. But I will be wondering what you're up to on different days while you're gone. Sorry the gang was, is, or will be sick. That's a real bummer for you. And I bet it felt wonderful to sleep in your own beds last night. Take care, friend, kick back, and enjoy the trip. I know this trip will be extra hard without Eric and I will be praying along those lines too. You must have a million things to do before leaving. God bless you and yours.
Marj
Calaveras County CA
http://gdlvr.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Our family continues to pray for you all during this time of adjustment. You go girl...drive that camper and think of a husband that had the foresight to prepare you to do it.

We love you and hope to meet you some day. If you're ever in SC give us a ring...love, Denise

deniseinsc.blogspot.com

As One Voice said...

Sorry to hear that you have illness passing through the house :( We will be praying for you all to be healthy for your trip - which sounds wonderful outside of the obvious challenges and pain grieving brings to each new situation. Our hearts go out to you and we continue to bring you before the throne of grace.

We live about 3 hours from Peoria and were hoping to be there for the coming general session, but it looks like that is not in the Lord's plan. We were looking forward to meeting you all - perhaps another time.

Keeping you close in heart ~ Diana

CristyLynn said...

We've been praying for you all at least 2 times a day, regularly and then throughout the day with "arrow prayers" as one of my friends calls them.

Too bad you can't pull that trailer to Russia, we'd love to be included on your trip! :)

Have fun and try to get some rest and lots of silliness. Looking forward to meeting you, too, Lord willing, later this summer.

Cristy (for the boys, too)

sweetnika said...

praying for you here in Crystal Lake IL.
you are loved, and I am thankful to the Lord for blogs, that I might know how to pray...
a sister in Jesus
<>< anika

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you today. Praying for you and yours Heather!
In His love,
Kelly