A day in the life

I haven't really used this blog as a means to let people know of the everyday events of my life. Not that that's a bad thing. It just hasn't been the direction I wanted to take.


But that's about to change...at least in this post.


Here's a brief, and in no way complete, recap of recent events in my life.


My children are growing up


And talk about anticipating the empty nest. It's happening as I speak. I'm planning my daughters wedding, as well as getting ready for Nate's graduation from High School. The two of them are gone more then they are home. What with school, work, girlfriend, fiance...you name it and it'll take them away from home. At least my baby boy, Zach, is still around. But wait! He's turning 16 this summer. He'll be getting his drivers license. And he too, being the skater dude that he is, seems to be gone more and more these days.

And Mom just watches. Sometimes helplessly, but not hopelessly. I believe this is what we raise them for. We pour ourselves into our children, teaching them to the best of our abilities to be respectful human beings, good communicators (at least the Blaustone's do), competent in their abilities to take care of themselves and to be financially responsible. Then, as always...you pray, pray, pray. You let go, and let God work in and through their lives. But I have to say, my heart still hurts these days.
























Chris in Sedona

Chris took a trip to Arizona to spend some time with his mom. Carol has been fighting the battle against cancer for almost 5 years now. She gave up a lung the first time around. Now she fights with one. Her chemo has been changed to a pill that she will take once a day, every day...probably for the rest of her life. The goal is to shrink the tumors and provide a remission.

Carol Blaustone is a fighter though. She's a little spit fire who loves to talk. Let me say that again. She loves to talk...which sheds a little more light on my husbands passion for gab. She has been through so much over the last 5 years. The first lung removal, radiation, and then chemo. After this last remission more cancer was found and a second, little surgery happened. When you have one lung you can't just remove it, or pick at it for that matter. After this, another round of chemo. And now the once a day chemo pill. But like I said, she's a fighter, and she's strong. She blows everyone in the family away in that regard. I love her dearly.


To get a job, or not to get a job...

That is the question. I had the fun privilege of working at a Christian book store for over a year. I hadn't worked in a number of years before getting that job. I ended up quiting back in November and have been jobless ever since.

Now, the thought of going back to work isn't the most appealing to me, but it is necessary. I mean, hello...wedding. So, needless to say, I NEED direction. There aren't a whole lot of jobs out there these days. Not to mention that making more than $8 an hour would be special ;-)

Anything else?

Lets see. It's very windy outside. And, I'm going to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull tonight!

I said it would be incomplete.


Blessings to all

Quote for today...

"Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for:

to make them worth it."

C.S. Lewis

Guarded Heart

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

As I was looking through my journal, I found some thoughts I wrote down at our women's retreat back in April. The theme of the retreat was "Pure and Simple", taken from Philippians 4. My journal entry came from the above verse.


"What is it that allows me to dismiss the guard which my Lord sets around my heart and mind? Peace leaves as I take my eyes off of the Giver of Peace. Trust seems distant when I stop trusting in the Father of Truth and I open my ears to the father of lies. I exchange thankfulness for emptiness; gentleness for fear; And joy? Joy is traded for the fleeting, temporary, cloaked happiness...which always fades away.

But I know what to do. I will call on the Lord, Jesus...the Guard of my heart and mind. The One who loves me, protects me, comforts and fills me. The One who hears me before I speak, saw me before I was born, and called me by name to be His own. The One who saves me forever. For at just the mention of His name, the Name of Jesus...Light fills the dark spaces. And even as I say "Thank You, Jesus", emptiness is filled with blessing; fears are vanquished in His gentle love and protection. And Joy? Joy makes its home permanently in my heart, no matter what may come.

So come, God of Peace, and guard my heart and mind through Your Son."