New spot

I can now be found at http://trisharawlings.blogspot.com/ a little easier for me to have access to when those weird things come to mind 🙂 See you over there.

A simple Christmas and a Christmas miracle

As I travel from here and there, or as I sit and observe, I am amazed at life and what it brings. All in all life is good. It is all in the attitude that you face it with.
Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. It just amazes me that we were given such a great gift with nothing expected in return. Maybe this is where gram learned her unconditional love which in return she taught me.
Christmas is also a time that people become grateful for others and exchange gifts and such. This time of the year always warms my heart when I hear of things that are done for others without an agenda. I love being on the giving end. It gives me warm fuzzies throughout my whole body. This year for my family it is a little different. As most of you know our 2012 has been a huge struggle for us. With Dan being off work most of this year with no income and patiently waiting to hear a decision on his disability. I am grateful that there are some extra hours at work for the time being that can be put on the paycheck. We were blessed with many things this holiday season. A few of them are from our church family and from a random act of kindness at the grocery store.
This year Christmas is more down scaled to what they use to be in not only our immediate family but my family also. This past weekend we celebrated Christmas with my mom, siblings, and their families. No gift exchange, no stress about a meal, just snackies and spending time with one another. We all got together and played games and shared moments. What a fun time!
This year we will also be experiencing the Christmas season from an 8 month olds eyes. The visit to see Santa, the first taste of a Christmas cookie, and the reaction of opening a present.
I kept telling myself that I was wishing and hoping for a Christmas miracle. I was asked what it was. All I wanted was for Dan’s disability to go through and be a go. I don’t want to have to worry about being behind on the mortgage or where money will come from for other things. But after I thought about it and wondered what God has in store for us and asked myself is my miracle so much to wish and pray for? My answer was yes. He pointed out to me that he sends us miracles throughout the year and so many times we simply do not see them as that. This season he gave me the Christmas miracle of more years with my daughter. She was in an automobile accident this past weekend. She called crying “Mom! I need you! I was in an accident!” me: “Where are you?” she told me and off Dan and I went. When coming up on the scene my heart dropped to the ground! Tons of lights, firetruckS, ambulanceS, police carS…..Cayla’s car smashed sitting in the middle of a busy intersection. Things could have been so much worse! She was only a couple blocks from home. Cayla and her boyfriend ended up with bruises. The others in the other car to my knowledge did not have any life threatening injuries either. I can say that I have my miracle this Christmas! I don’t have to say, and she was only a couple blocks from home. I just think about it and think of seeing that scene and what could have been. I am satisfied! If we lose the house or anything else, that is okay….I have my Cayla 
I hope that each one of you that read this blog are able to share this special season with the ones that are close to your heart and that you share hugs and let them know how thankful you are to have them in your life. Life is too short to not share those words. May you all have the love, peace, and joy today and throughout the rest of time. Hugs to you all and thank you for your friendship and love.
~Trisha

Life at the Rawlings continues to change slowly.  Which I am very grateful (most times). It seems that I may not ever have to face my fears of having to face the empty nest.  Even with two out of the house it seems like we multiplied with the amount of people in and out of this home.  

Besides Brooke, Jason and Ashton making almost daily visits and Cayla continues to stop when she isn’t working or in between jobs. Logan and Tyler still at home.  Tyler met a sweet girl from Plover.  Nikki is a wonderful girl for Tyler.  She excepts him for who he is and does not try changing him.  She loves spending time with all of us and looks forward to her visits. She comes with her little buddy Abby.  Abby is a wonderful, well obeyed golden retriever.  We currently have her for the week.  I think Gracie is glad to have a new friend.  

Tyler and Nikki

 

 

 

Sweet little Abby

Dan found out last week he was denied disability and next week he will be under going a procedure in hopes to eliminate some of the pain that he has been living with for the last many months.  Prayers would be greatly appreciated.  In the meantime I have been trying to take advantage of the open hours at work to help with life here.  I now have a deep respect for men that have to work a ton of hours or women for that fact.  I also now appreciate my old life of not HAVING to work more than just what I needed to for just insurance that much more.  Good thing we have a bunch of patients that are awesome! It makes going to work that much more enjoyable.  

Until next time……….. 

“peace out” ~T

As of April 18th 2012 we are now proud grandparents of one Ashton James.  He arrived at 4:08pm and weighed 8 lbs 5 oz and was 21 in long.

Ashton is now 2 1/2 months old and life is grand!  It is amazing how different grand-parenting is from parenting.  I remember the days when I would hold my baby while feeding or just trying to get them to sleep and thinking about the dishes in the sink, the laundry that needed to be done, the meal that needed to be made, or the rooms that needed my attention to look presentable.  Being a grandparent, you simply do not care.  It is like when you hold them life just stays at a stand still for that short period.  The dishes, laundry, rooms or any other undone chore just simply doesn’t matter.  We are very fortunate that we get to see Ashton almost on a daily basis.  Over the last two months he lost his “new baby” look and is starting to develop his own personality (mixed with mom and dad’s) and his own look.  He has discovered his hands and they seem to be the next best thing to his bottle.  Forget the nuk! He wants his fist! He loves the soft toys that make noise and the other toys he can move with his feet that light up.  Life is amazing! Feels like he was just born.  Hand on….this life is going fast!!

Getting ready

Well the last couple weeks Brooke, Jason and the rest of the family have been doing their share to help prepare for Ashton’s arrival.  Brooke’s baby shower was 2 weeks ago.  We had a wonderful time and had a HUGE turn out!  Ashton got alot of fun, cute things.  Jason and Cayla have been cleaning up the apartment throughly and between Cayla, Brooke, Jason and I we had been searching for a dresser the past week and half.  We found one last week at an estate sale along with finding a changing table at a thrift shop.  Jason and Brooke painted the changing table to match their colors in Ashton’s room and yesterday they put together the crib and got other things ready (washed his clothing/bedding).   

Brooke has experienced high blood pressure and swelling of the face and feet this past week.  The doctor put her on bed rest this past Tuesday and she has another appointment this afternoon.  They are watching her for preeclampsia and monitoring her blood pressure.  Will keep you posted as the date comes closer and closer….only a few weeks left 🙂 

As I say…

Peace out for now ~~~

Spring??

Would I be tootin my horn to early if I say I do believe spring is here?  maybe I should just whisper it then 🙂   What an awesome day it was today!  boys out shooting hoops, cars/trucks being cleaned out, grill going, windows open…..thinking alot of people will sleep like babies tonight.

Oh and I have a new favorite game as of tonight…… Chinese checkers…..Up you read that right.  The game I hated so many years back.  Found one at the thrift store for $1.25!  Played Dan and won!  Now I am in search of a wood board with marbles like a family that was at work had.  Might take me forever, but in the meantime I have my 1.25 board and I will get my moneys use out of it.

Til next time….Enjoy the nice weather!

~T

Family health issues update

Dan heard from his pain doctor.  After the pain doctor and the surgeon reviewed the mri together they agreed that the next step for Dan would be to have yet another injection.  This time it will be an epidural nerve block steroid (something like that).  Here is to praying big time this works.

 

As for Judy (Dan’s mom) all is well.  Cancer is not back.  Protein in the blood but nothing to get excited about as this could have been there for some time as in years.  Goes back for a follow up in three months.

Heard that my step moms cousins are not doing very well.  Both have cancer (one for some time now) but the other one was just diagnosed and there is not much they can do for her as it is already in her liphnoids (sp?).  Please keep these two in your prays.  They are truly some neat ladies.

Family health issues

The only update I have for today is this:

Two weeks ago Dan had a episode of low blood sugar  (we think) while working and had to pull over on the side of the road in Milwaukee. Good thing, he was in and out of passing out.  Tyler and I drove down there to meet him at Froedtert hospital.  Let me add here that our experience at this hospital was the most horrible one ever.  I don’t suggest this hospital to the most horrible person in the world.  Anyway….after 3 hours of nothing…we were able to go back home.  Saw our family doctor and pain doc that same day.  Long story short….Dan will be off of work for another three weeks and in the meantime we hope to hear what the game plan is from the docs.  Please pray that things go good and faster than the 3 weeks.  Goodness knows we can not afford him to be off these last 2 weeks let alone three more.  ::::sigh:::: I do hope and pray that whatever is done will end this back issue in the future.  On to better things right?

Oh the bright side…..I am so very grateful that we didn’t get the snow that was predicted.  Woke up thinking we would at least have a couple inches but really had nothing except a wet ground with a slight covered ground.  YAH!

Have a fabulous day 🙂  I am going to!

Penance

Things come into my mind at the weirdest times….

This morning I was washing my hair and as I was this thought went through my mind…..

:::::::This post is NOT meant to offend anyone! It is mearly my thoughts.  No bashing is intended::::

Being raised as a catholic all my life I wondered this about penance.  The Catholics have penance as one of their sacraments.  I remember having my first penance back in fourth grade I believe.  Could be wrong as I am not good with dates/years.  You went into a booth and the priest was on the other side and you confessed your sins to him and so on.  The priest gives you absolution.  If it a very bad sin you have to have absolution by a bishop or the pope? Really…..besides maybe education and more experience that gives them more authority to abolish your sins. As I was thinking of this I thought (opinion)…Our God is a forgiving God.  All we have to do is talk to God, confess our sins to him and show him that we can live in a “Godly manner” and prove that we are sorry for our wrongs by correcting them.  God is forgiving and therefore has forgiven our sins once we do this.  Why go through the middle man.  Why wait until the Catholic Church has a penance session.  Can we not talk/confess to God 24/7.  Maybe I missed something in class at the parochial school that I was attending when we learned about penance.  I dunno…maybe some of the practices of the Catholics I struggle with and tis the reason of leaving the church that I have been a member of for 30 some years.  The church I go to now makes more sense.  The God they talk about (even though it is the same one) and the way they go about their daily practices is more down to earth.  It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, how much your income is, or who you are related to.  All that matters is that you have a personal relationship with God.  Isn’t that what it is all about to begin with? After all it isn’t the priests or the pastors that you have to answer to when you leave this world.  They are not the ones that will be judging you at the gates.  You only have to answer to one person, so I guess that is why I don’t understand the whole penance thing.  God knows me and he knows my heart. I try living the way God intends me to live.  I have a ways to go but like most, I am getting there….That is all that matters 🙂    No regrets, no shouldas, no couldas, no wouldas……. Yes, Life is good! No matter what!

Not so consistant

Yah, I am not very consistant with blogging.  I would say life in the Rawlings’s home is a bit dull but I can’t say that this time.  Actually life in teh Rawlings’s home feels like a whirlwind that is going out of control and I am unable to stop it before it gets way out of hand.  For many years Dan and I have imagined what life would be like the older we would get.  We both agree that whatever it is that we would imagine we are so off track!  It will be interesting to see where life for us leads. 

Back in June the girls moved into an apartment near the old Valley Fair mall.  It is a neat tri-level loft.  So roomy and feels cozy at the same time feels huge.  I think they adjusted to living on their own very fast.  I think they truely enjoy it.  I am blessed that both of them can get along so well that they can be room mates even after sharing their room for the last 20 years with each other. 

At the end of July Brooke got engaged to her boyfriend Jason and are in the process of planning their wedding for oct of 2012.  Then to our suprise and theirs they found out they will be parents in possibly May of 2012.  Life will be moving fast for them within the next year/year and half.  Lots to adjust to at one time. I think that if they are going to want to choose when they have children they will have to use double and triple conterceptives.  Apparently one doesn’t work for them.   

Tyler was able to move around for the company that he works for.  He was able to move off the line and out to the warehouse where his heart truely is.  He loves his job!  I am happy about that.  He has found a girlfriend that is respectful and that makes him happy.  They both are happy together and value family.  I couldn’t be more happy for him.  He has truely  learned what is important in a relationship and that involves respect and family.  He did not have this in his past one and he now sees that after the fact.  He finally caved and got a tatoo with the words “Stay True”.  This is very meaningful to him and shows me he has learned alot from the past.

Cayla is still struggling to decide what she truly wants to do for school.  She is now thinking about doing a CNA course and getting into that line of work.  She wouldn’t have to worry about getting any hours in that field. 

Logan starts his junior year in high school in a week and half.  Unsure if he is excited or not.  He says no but I think he is.  It is hard to believe my baby only has one year of school left after this one. 

It will be 5 months that gram has passed away.  I miss her more today then anything.  With all this going on with the girls and all I so want to talk to her about it.  About my fears, about her experiences, where do I go from here, her thoughts about where God fits into this and how he would look at my parenting.  It is hard to not feel like a failure as a parent and I guess I need grams reassuance that all will be okay, even though I know it will be. 

Well that is it for now.  Until next time,

Toodles 🙂

~T