Baby Steps

Hi Friends,

Wow, almost a year has gone by since I last blogged. It has been a very long and windy road. The journey is not quite finished yet, nor is it entirely smooth, but I'm getting there. I feel I have changed a lot in the past two or three years. Some change has been good, some not. I have actually become more quiet....gasp! Don't worry, this isn't the case when I get together with good friends. I just feel like I listen more. In silence it's so much easier to hear God. My brain is a hyper-spinning brain and so, I'm learning to simplify the parts of my life I have control over so that the craziness that I cannot stop, won't overwhelm me. I am not always successful at this but I'm working on it. We've found a Mennonite church in town that we are going to try. We feel like some simple and back to basics, Christian fellowship is needed in our life. We are spending more time in prayer and as a family. We would like to add a church family into the mix. Lucy and I have really been enjoying cooking together. And this year, I am determined to stop being a serial plant killer! There is a green thumb somewhere in me and I am going to find it!

We have been in a new house for almost a month now. We were set to move out of state, to Washington or Oregon when God led us to a house in town. I have to admit that I was both excited and concerned. The thought of running away was and is very tempting. However, there is a reason we're needed here and as much as I sometimes want to run from that reason, I understand it.

My dad spent the month of August in the hospital. It was determined, amongst other things, that he has suffered 8-11 mini strokes on top of the big one he had in 2001. We knew he wasn't doing ok before this but he's such a stubborn man. Lucy was with him when his side started to go numb and was very wise in having him hold onto a wall and calling us. It was a very stressful month. When he returned home, we spent a month living with him while Barbara was in sober living. We were able to help dad a lot during that time but sadly, Barbara hasn't made any changes since returning home. My dad retired in October and we closed his office. There is always so much going on with that family and while it causes the majority of worry in my life, I am working on giving God the control. Obviously he wants us here to help and therefore I have to believe that He knows I can handle it.

Lastly, Lucy is doing very well in school. I am teaching her Italian, which she is very good at. She still loves her American Girl dolls and we went up to the LA store for her 10th birthday in February. Business is going well for Danny. We joke that we had a lot of financial blessing in 2009 but a lot of personal turmoil. This year we're praying for balance.

Hope all is well with you. Sorry I've been away for so long. I hope to be back for good.

I know, I know I'm using a new name....again....Shiloh. In the Bible it means peace and right now it is what I search for daily.