In His Steps Retreat-2009

I went on my first church retreat...In His Steps..and had such a wonderful time. I left not wanting to go due to Roxi, but realized this is how Satan stops us from doing things that honor GOD and I was needing to go. I didn't know what to expect and am not a fan of sleeping in a cabin with 6 other women in your room, but let me say I left with a whole different feeling than when I came and LOVED all my roomates!! WOW....we stayed at United Christian Youth Camp up in Prescott and it was so nice and peaceful. They had all these walk paths so you could go be alone with GOD and just sit on a rock and talk with him, do devotionals etc. We had wonderful guest speakers and our main speaker Fran Love really was right on!!!! She spoke on the book of Ruth and the lessons from the story of Ruth and Noami.
***We are not always in control of what happens to us...
***But we can make commitments that stretch our faith...
***and we can TRUST in GOD'S sovereignty
Fran also taught us a Reflective prayer and it was so peaceful and just speaking to GOD through a different way..ahhh..
Reflective prayer...
***Review your day
***Thank God for your day
***Note when you felt closest to GOD (sense of peace, joy etc) Sit with GOD
***Note where you felt farthest from GOD. Sit with GOD
***Talk with GOD about these things. Listen to him speak.
***In the spirit of grace, ask GOD for the strength to do and be what he is asking you.
I enjoyed all the guest speakers and all the alone time with GOD, and having that support system to be able to talk to someone about what you are struggling with and to have the prayer support there for you. I surrendered a lot to GOD that weekend and let me tell you IT FEELS SO GOOD!!!! I came home emotionally exhausted, but in a GOOD way and am so glad I went!!! GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps."
1 Peter 2:21

We will miss you Roxi!!!

We had to put Roxi down on Friday September 18th...and let me say IT SUCKED!!! Roxi had been sick since July 9th, and after a bunch of blood work they had diagnosed her with an auto immune disorder. Every 2 weeks I had her in the vets office, because something would change with her,ex..vomit, diarrhea, odd behavior etc and they would send me home with a different antibiotic and she was continuously on prednisone. This of course made her pee and poop all over the house, but I knew she couldn't help it and it was the medicine. Well, this last week she just had gone 2 weeks without really eating her dog food, but would still eat table foods, so I grilled her a chicken breast with rice on Tuesday night and she scarfed it down...so I was SOOO HAPPY because she was eating. Wednesday I came home from the gym around noon and found vomit all in my living room with "perfect" cut cubes of chicken and rice...so she never digested the food in over a 10 hour period. I called the vet and he said he wanted to see her in the morning on Thursday to do an ultrasound on her tummy, the called me that afternoon and said she was so anemic that her spleen was enlarged and over 8 months had lost 18 pounds, and the vets words where "she is very sick and declining fast, you have one more option of antibiotics but if this doesn't work than we will have to put her down"!! So I went to the store got her prescription filled and did EVERTYHING in my power to get her to eat so I could get a first dose of medicine in her, after about 2 hours I did and of course she threw it all up...I monitored her all night and had a feeling this was not going to work since I couldn't get the medicine in her than how was she going to get better. As the night progressed on I spoke with my mom and told her what she was doing and my mom said she knows she is dying so just be by her side threw the night and call the vet in the morning. I slept outside with her all night...well I didn't sleep, but I was with her and she wouldn't stop moving and was just pacing all night long, and had diarrhea that was black!! Well, the morning approached and I called DR. Burke and he said bring her in...and I lost it...I don't know why, because I knew it was coming, but did I TRY EVERTHING to keep her alive before I go this road, I was asking myself???? I was due to leave by 9:00 on my church retreat in Prescott and my ride was coming and the vet wanted Roxi by 9:00, I called my ride and she said take your time and call when you are ready to leave. I honestly didn't want to go by this point....I was so upset what good would I be on a church retreat, well I prayed for a minute with Roxi in my arms and realized that SATAN was doing this to me and keeping me from going on this retreat. The kids and Cory and I prayed over Roxi and gave her BIG hugs and Cory took her off....it was the saddest thing to see, she got a little excited when she heard her leash, and just went in his truck thinking she was going for a "Ride".....Once Cory got to the vet with her he said she could barely stand up. I know I made the right decision, but it SUCKS!! WE had Roxi before we had AUstyn she was like one of our kids and she was part of the family.I did go on the retreat and it was AMAZING, thats another post with pictures to come!! I just got home today and I walk around sobbing, SOMETHING IS MISSING!!! I left pretty fast that morning that I haven't been in the atmosphere, so when I got home IT HIT ME!! Every time I look at something or hear Haydyn ask where she is I loose it!! I know this will take time, but I missing her!! I had a wonderful time at my retreat and was glad I went and got to sob about Roxi to my friends, but its soooo hard loosing a pet. She was such a GREAT DOG!! WE MISS YOU SO MUCH ROXI.....WE LOVE YOU!!!

Haydyn's first dance class!!!

All-ready to go...looking pretty

Just got my tap shoes on!!!

TAP TAP

Time to change into ballet shoes

I took this picture through the window....

Haydyn started dance on Wednesday and I didn't know how she would do, but she LOVED it!! She wore her tap shoes all day and even to lunch and asked to go back to dance today!! I LOVE IT!! Since her mom, her auntie and gammas all grew up dancers she has to be a dancer also, well after yesterday she even has it in her blood!!! Cory was hoping she wouldn't like it and wants her to have a softball or soccer ball but looks like that isn't going to happen!! He worries because it is so expensive and hears all the horror stories from my mom and dad and how much they spent over the years and he said it won't happen with her!! We'll see when she gets out there with her costumes and shaking her booty!!! HAHA....I know GOD has a special talent created in ALL OF US, so if he wants her to dance she will or if it is a softball player than that's great to, whatever her heart desires to do we will support her 100%!!! Haydyn is definitely our girly girl!!

Austyn's Field Trip to the Fire Station

Today Austyn's class got to go visit the fire station and YES you guessed it his daddy did the tour for the class. He did an awesome job and his teacher said in her 15 years of teaching at CGLS and all the fire station tours she has been to this one was the best! WAY TO GO DADDY! The kids had a wonderful time and loved that they got to go to the fire station with the pole and slide!!!

We have just arrived...half of the class

Captain Gerard showing them the kitchen

Getting a tour of the fire-engine

Steve dressing up for the kids

Austyn's kindergarten class!!!