A chapter closing...

Hard to believe this night has arrived. The final one in the house that Mark and I walked into 13 years ago and fell in love with, knowing that this was the place we would have our first child and raise our family together. I'm not going to lie, tonight is rougher than I imagined it would be. I know that the Lord is guiding these changes, and I find peace in that, but it is rough and there is pain.

I can't thank enough, those that have supported me through everything that has happened. My neighbors and friends have been my legs when needed, I know you aren't going away, but this is just a new chapter in the miniseries of my life. 

Please continue to hold David and I in your prayers the next few days as we move, unpack and adjust to our new life.

I am considering a move ….

Wanna help me??

PLEASE!!

Please let me know which of the 4 you like best …

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

Option 4:

Off for the weekend

It's been a stressful and draining week. Just as I was feeling better yesterday, Tim came home from work early and let me know he had been laid off. We immediately went into "howthehellarewegoingtosurvive" mode.

We think we have it figured out, we hope we have it figured out, he's already got his resume in for another job and is on the road to pick up Abbie for the week. Clark and I are heading to the store and bank to get errands done and then we are packing EVERYONE including the dog up and heading out to the family farm to camp for 2 nights. Only costs us coffee, chips and hot dogs! What a deal!!

We have faith. The Lord will NOT leave us hanging, there are plans in place for me to become a partner in a well established business in September, and for 6 weeks we can "get by" if needed.

So that said ... we will see you on Monday. Have a great weekend! I'm sure I will have some stories to share!

Testing out Windows Live Writer

This is a new to me 3rd party blogging software that is free through Microsoft. I figured I’d try it out, heck, it’s FREE!

 

Playing with the photo options….

 

Ok…THIS will be fun!!

I definitely am going to keep this up for awhile …

Let’s see how it posts.

Wow ...

What a week it has been ...

Father's Day
Ed McMahon passing
Anniversary of my husbands passing
Dougy Center burning down
Farrah Fawcett passing
Michael Jackson passing
2 kids all week
1 dog all week

and a boat load of laundry to show for it all....

guess where I'll be hanging out!!

Quick update ...

Sunday was an emotional rollercoaster.

• We spread some of Marks ashes at Church,
• Celebrated with the High School Youth Group on their successful mission trip to Denver Colorado.
  
• Remembered the life of Jim Nelson, a wonderful man of Christ.

I thought that was enough ....

Monday morning I woke to the news that the Dougy Center Grief Support building that we have gone to for over a year, was burned down. It appears to be arson.

It was as if someone poured salt in wounds, the pain was tremendous. Why someone would target a place that provides comfort and hope to so many that are already hurting is beyond comprehension.

I watched and read the reports, cried, felt ill. Perhaps my reaction is a bit too much, but I truly do see the difference the program has made in our lives since we started there. I've seen it help others in amazing ways. To see it all in ashes is unfathomable, yet it is.

We go there tonight, we will hold group in the Office next door. Their will be a lot to process. Alot of unknowns at this point. The one thing I do know is that the Dougy Center WILL move past this. It will take the help of many and pretty soon, money needs to roll in for the project. It's more than a building, there was so much inside to replace, and yet so much that can't be replaced. It seriously is like a family member is gone now.

I will post more about this, My family is planning something to do...

I folded ...

My 11 yr old now has a pre-paid cell phone. Urgh. We've put strict rules on it, here they are:

Rules of David’s Phone

1) David can call Mom, Tim, Aunt Bibet and Clark ONLY.

2) David can receive calls from Mom, Tim, Aunt Bibet and Clark ONLY.

3) There are to be NO text messages sent or received on this phone.

4) David does NOT know his phone number and has no reason to know it.

5) David is not to access the internet or download anything on his phone, it is for emergency and update use only with those mentioned above.

6) David must ask permission to take the phone outside the house.

7) David’s phone use can be monitored at any time by any of the above people and if there is an issue with calls, any of the adults can pull David’s phone privileges.

8) David is NOT allowed to send text messages from his phone.

9) If David breaks these rules, he will lose this privilege.

10) This agreement will be reviewed in 3 months.

He's already taken about 20 photos, has showed it to our college age neighbor and has it on his sweat pants now as he rides to his friends house.

Why does this scare the heck outta me??? My kiddo is growing up!! AHHHHH!!!

Ch..ch...cha...changes

I'm getting back into blogging here. I am also following some pretty amazing blogs and will share them in the coming days and weeks ahead, too much to do right now though. I've added two Blog buttons to my right hand sidebar that I'm drawn to right now.

and

There are more, for now though I'll leave you with those. The Lord is working HARD on my heart today, I ask for prayers. I'm not sure where He is taking me at this time.

Blessings,

Marissa

Tough Day turned into Great Night!!

It's been a tough week. Not necessarily an emotional week, but no motivation at all to do anything. My body is craving sleep and more sleep, and not much more. Today I was texting back and forth w/ Tim and literally fell asleep while waiting for a response from him. I was out cold, for 3 hours!! I woke up at 2pm to realize I missed 2 phone calls, several text messages asking if I was ok AND I missed my Counseling appt.

I made the decision tonight that I needed to have a Family Fun Night, so I told the guys that we were going to the movies. Well Tim said "Nope, let's go bowling" and so we did! It was fun, we laughed and cheered, ate dinner and David played video games. It was sooo worth missing my Stephens Ministry training tonight to refresh with the guys.

Tomorrow I will be making phone calls to the IRS, Oregon Dept of Revenue, my Doctor, my Counselor, my School ... to set up appointments. I am most likely going to withdraw from school because I have some major legal battles to face in the next few months that are going to take my time up, financial issues also. I'll get more into that later.

It's quiet...

Friday, August 11, 2006 9:59 PM

It's quiet... After all the guests have left...wow is it quiet here!Now mind you, I'm not complaining, although it was chaotic and fun, but what a difference! Since Wednesday it's been 8 people in this 1800 sq foot house w/ about 900 sq ft being the main living area....ARRGGGHHHHH! Not sure how I'm feeling about things....I do know that I'm lonely....haven't been lonely in a long time...was given "permission" (so to speak) to start dating by Marks Aunt Donna this week (she said it is ok to do so if someone comes into my life). She feels that the Lord has the right man waiting for David and I, that he wouldn't have taken Mark so soon without a plan for us. That just seems so strange to me. Like I said, not sure how I feel about that...just not ready for that step yet, I haven't dated in 10 years...YIKES! Doesn't help that most of the guys I know are HS Youth or Alum that are 20+ years YOUNGER than I am LOL! Ok...can't go there....anyway....just brain dumping tonight. Looking forward to visiting a friend tomorrow who is expecting her first child anyday. Tomorrow afternoon David and I will go to The Bite of Oregon, have dinner and listen to Jacob Merlin play....and I found out that he is playing at Sunday Service w/ his Bassist...YIPPEE! We're gonna ROCK on Sunday!! So to all who read....please comment....let me know that you are here if you are...please???? Peace... marissa

Greetings from Sun River Resort

Monday, August 07, 2006 6:19 PM

What an AWESOME place!! I haven't been out here in so many years, I don't remember most of it. We're here w/ Marks sister and her family, and his Aunt Donna and her son Philip. David went to a Kids program today, then we walked to the Village Marketplace and hung out, he played on the Bouncer for a couple of hours! We then walked over to the main Lodge where David took Golf lessons (with the HUGE plastic clubs and wiffle balls...). He across the Driving Range but I was able to use my long distance zoom and get some shots of him. I'll post them when I'm home. Right now we're hanging out in the house, there's a wild Thunder/lightening storm overhead and the kids were just planning on going to the playground... Lynn has them playing Eye Spy in the house...it's a big scavenger Hunt. The funny thing is Robert and Philip are at the River Fly Fishing...they are sure to need the hot tub when they get back. Tomorrow we're going flying, David will go to a water class, the group is going horse back riding but David isn't excited about that...so we'll find something else to do and I'll probably read more....I'm almost done w/ book 2 of the Stephanie Plum series. I'm signing off now...am reminded daily how AWESOME our God is to us. This place is one of his gifts to us...love each of you!!

They Don't Understand....

Tuesday, August 01, 2006 6:35 PM

I've had several people talk to me about a song that describes some situations I've experienced lately, thanks to my AWESOME friend Mel for finding it for me...I heard it for the first time coming home from CreationNW on Sunday and WOW does it ever ring true: They Don't Understand by Sawyer Brown A mother riding on a city bus Kids are yelling kicking up a fuss Everybody's staring not knowing what she's going through Somebody said don't you even care? Do you let 'em do that everywhere? She slowly turned around, looked up and stared She said Please forgive them But they've been up all night Their father struggled but he finally lost his fight He went to heaven In the middle of the night So please forgive my children (They don't understand) Everybody's busy with their own situation Everybody's lost in their own little world Bottled up, hurry it up trying to make a dream come true (They don't understand) Everybody's living like there ain't no tomorrow Maybe we should stop and take a little time Cause you never really know what your neighbor's going through (They don't understand) A man driving on the interstate Slowing down traffic making everybody late Everybody's staring not knowing what he's going through Somebody hollered from the passing lane Yelled out the window, hey ain't got all day The old man looked around and caught his eye He said please forgive me You know it's been a long life My wife has passed away and my kids don't have the time I've been left all alone And its getting hard to drive So please forgive me children (They don't understand) Everybody's busy with their own situation Everybody's lost in their own little world Bottled up, hurry it up trying to make a dream come true (They don't understand) Everybody's living like there ain't no tomorrow Maybe we should stop and take a little time Cause you never really know what your neighbor's going through (They don't understand) A man hanging on a wooden cross Giving everything to save the lost Everybody's staring not knowing what he's going through Somebody said you don't have a prayer If you were keen you'd come down from there The man just turned his head looked up and stared He said please forgive them For they have not seen the light They'll come to know me when I come back to life Go to heaven, to make everything all right So please forgive your children (They don't understand) Everybody's busy with their own situation Everybody's lost in their own little world Bottled up, hurry it up trying to make a dream come true (They don't understand) Everybody's living like there ain't no tomorrow Maybe we should stop and take a little time Cause you never really know what your neighbor's going through (They don't understand) A mother riding on a city bus Kids are yelling kicking up a fuss Everybody's staring not knowing what she's going through Cause you never really know what your neighbor's going through (They don't understand) A man hanging on a wooden cross Giving everything to save the lost Everybody's staring not knowing what he's going through Somebody said you don't have a prayer If you were keen you'd come down from there The man just turned his head looked up and stared He said please forgive them For they have not seen the light They'll come to know me when I come back to life Go to heaven, to make everything all right So please forgive your children (They don't understand) Everybody's busy with their own situation Everybody's lost in their own little world Bottled up, hurry it up trying to make a dream come true (They don't understand) Everybody's living like there ain't no tomorrow Maybe we should stop and take a little time Cause you never really know what your neighbor's going through (They don't understand) A mother riding on a city bus Kids are yelling kicking up a fuss Everybody's staring not knowing what she's going through