College and Insurance

We took a little family vacation to Rusk, Tx to a KOA campground.  It was nice to have a change of scenery.  We got to see the pine trees of East Texas.  We also got to see how this drought is indeed affecting so many people.  Please Lord, open up the skies and send rain to this parched land.
On the way up to our lodge we went through College Station, so we drove around Texas A&M to show the girls.  A few months ago Katie came up to me and said, "Mom, I want to go to ATM for college."  I said, "You mean A & M?".  She said "yes, but it says ATM."  Too funny.  So as we were driving up there, I was thinking how in just a few short years, one or both of our girls could be driving these same roads to go to school.  Then I was looking at how dangerous these roads could be, how far it is from home (I know there are further schools---), how they will be living on there own and be making decisions that can affect them for the rest of their lives, how we have them for such a short time.  But then I thought of the excitement of going to college, to further education, to see what doors God opens up for them.  I will pray, pray, pray for these little ones, for their future spouses, for them to desire God above all.

We returned and in mail was a lovely bill from the hospital for $820.  It is what I am responsible from when I went to the ER for strep throat back in June.  Wow.  Must be an error.  I called our insurance company and it is not an error.  The hospital charged the insurance company $3800 for IV fluids, IV medication and the use of the ER.  $2000 of it for being triaged.  I was pretty upset.  I used to work in the ER...I know what a nurse makes, I know what a doctor makes.  I understand the cost of running a hospital, but please...I called the billing department and they offered me 15% off immediately.  This is why our healthcare in the US is going downhill so fast.  It shouldn't cost this much to be in the ER for ONE HOUR...no labs, no x-ray.  I was dehydrated and needed IV fluid, it was Sunday, my doctor's office was closed.  Also, I had been to an urgent care clinic earlier that week and the antibiotic they prescribed did not work.

My issue with the insurance and hospital is that I am not good at confrontation or negotiating.  I get defensive and my tone of voice can be less than pleasant when dealing with these people.  I had to be reminded this morning before I called that I serve the Lord.  I prayed when I was doing my Bible Study for God to open my eyes for something because I was dreading having to deal with this stuff.  He did.  It was 2 Kings 3: 14 when Elisha said "As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve...."   That spoke to me.  Since I serve the Lord, my tone of voice better be of one who serves the Lord.  It ended up being a nice lady in the billing department who is going to send me an itemized bill of the ER visit, then we will negotiate a little bit, possibly confront a little and then we will pay what is due. 

Basketball 2010/2011

Pre-game prayer.  This is church-league basketball.  Such a sweet time.

 Katie didn't quite grasp the concept of basketball the first couple of games. Mike and I would say "raise your arms up."  So she kept her arms raised the entire time she played--whether it was offense or defense--but her goal (and Lisa's)was to avoid the ball at all costs.  That kind of thinking will not get you  an MVP award.  Of course we are not playing this for awards or for winning, but for them to learn basketball, the value of sportsmanship and working together on a team for a common goal.   They are both having fun (and on a winning team none-the-less, but not due to the expertise of our daughters).

 Lisa looking up at the time.  She was calculating how long she had played and about how much longer she has to play.  She looks forward to bench time. She does good on the bench.  She likes the bench.

They are on the same team which is great for practice and games.  Lisa is a good runner, loves to run.  She just doesn't like people running so close to her, getting in her space.  I am thinking basketball may not be her thing.

Mike reviewing with the rules with the girls.  Our necessary rules for the girls: 
1.  Listen to your coach.
2.  Leave your attitude at home. 
3. Watch the ball. 
(We need to add one more: don't be afraid of the ball.)

Fluffy Flamingo

Prior to the Christmas worship programs at church, Aunt Cindy buys the girls new outfits.
This year Lisa's was bought on the day of the performance just hours before it was to be worn.
We came home from school, and there it was in all it's pink glory.
Now--Lisa's favorite color's are blue and green, not pink.
She looked at it and was thankful, but....it was pink.

She said "It's cute, but I will look like a fluffy flamingo."

The End.

Fun at Seaworld

We went to Seaworld over the Thanksgiving break to see the decorations and let Mike, Lisa and Katie ride a few rides.



You cannot really see--but that is Mike and Katie finishing on the Great White. I am not a roller coaster fan and Lisa was not a fan of this ride. It has a pretty steep drop--it gives me palpitations just looking at it. Lisa did ride the Steel Eel with Mike and Katie and LOVED it. Again--I am not a fan of leaving the perfectly fine ground and twirling around on a piece of metal that has the potential to at the very least leave me dizzy for the rest of the week and at the most die:-)

4-D Polar Express

This is more my style!

Spring time fun

Life has sure been busy around here. The last leg of the school year, new job with hospice, BSF, Katie's soccer, Lisa's art, Griefshare, STARS retreat team (I am giving my testimony and will be a table leader and the nurse.) There will be so much to share in the near future about my job and the retreat, but for now here is a short recap of what we've been up to.

We had a long weekend at the coast last weekend. It was nice to get away.

We were able to bring the kayak again and this time actually get it off the top of the suburban. The last time it was so windy that we could not even take the thing down. Speaking of wind, I went for a run on the beach and headed off, it was so...easy, relaxing, even fun. But then, I turned around to come back to our spot and it was...hard, not relaxing, and fun had escaped my mind. It was a work-out.

The girls were VERY excited to give this kayaking a shot.

There they go. Fun times ready to be had by all.

Oh no! What happened to the fun times?

Lisa and Katie were not happy with the tipping of the kayak. It scared them and neither one of them have the desire to kayak again. At least for this trip. They seem to have short term memories on some things. At least they weren't out too deep and they had their life jackets on and their daddy was right there to help them out:-)


On Saturday I got to go to the Beth Moore Simulcast "So Long Insecurity." It was a great simulcast that I attended in Rockport. It was based on Ephesians 4: 17-24:
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off you old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to like God in true righteousness and holiness.

6 statements that describe a secure woman based on Ephesians 4.

A secure woman is:

S-saved from herself (insecurity is idolatrous self interest; God's security takes us out of ourselves, security makes us think less often of ourselves)

E-entitled to truth (deceitful desires: if I could just have this, achieve this, be this...then I would be secure, perfectionism is an insecurity at an art form) Eph 4:21

C-clothed with intention (Be intentional, we will not walk in security accidentally, Prov 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity)

U-upended by grace ( grace them as Christ Jesus has graced me; people who believe they are deeply graced deeply grace others)

R-rebounded by love (Jesus loves me THIS I KNOW, we are loved, live like a dearly loved child)

E-exceptional in life--this one was my favorite. Let Christ overtake me so I will be secure in my relationships, work life, church life, social life--then I will stick out like a healthy thumb and people will want to know what my hope is.

Some example were: everyone is out for her own...except her
no one can handle that...except her

nobody was nice...except her

nobody handles aging well...except her

threatened by other women....except her

Be the exception. What is it about you? Jesus

Summer Blast 2009

This summer has flown by. It has been very hot and the best way to beat the heat is to find some cool, refreshing water.
Here are the girls getting ready to snorkel at Landa Park.



Here is a "duck's eye" view of the water.

Another way to beat the heat is to go ice skating. Here are the summer blasters getting warmed up next to the wall. Will they venture out?

Eventually the ventured away from the wall and ice skated around the rink. Here are Lisa and Sydney.

This was a trip to Austin's Barton Springs. It was FREEZING!! It is 68 degrees all year around, so the locals say. I say it is 45 degrees. The 106 degree heat felt rather refreshing after getting out of the water here.

Holy Flying Bats, Batman!!
We went and watched the bats fly out from under the bridge in Austin that evening. There were millions of them. And also some serious bat watchers. Austin even has a "bat phone." I kid you not, there is someone who actually picks up the "bat line" and will answer any question you may have about the bats--like what time they leave, where they go, when the come back, what happened to the batmobile, where is Robin. Not that I would ask those questions, no, Mike called the "bat line" and asked.

You can't really tell in this picture, but those are a cloud of bats flying around the tree line.

Port Aransas, August 1, 2009

Here is my sweet Lisa girl. I'm sure whatever it was she was holding was interesting.

I just love these close up pictures. Still get to catch a glimpse of a little girl. A little girl deep in thought.

Another one of my favorite pictures. Daddy with his girls walking and talking down the beach at sunset.

OK, I had great intentions for this picture. Imagine the dimensional view of the pier with the waves rolling in and my child in the front all in focus. It has artistic potential-but I should have deleted it.

This was a fun picture. All of those little clams come up to the surface as the waves rolls back to the ocean. They try to get themselves back into the sand as quickly as possible, so it is fun to put your feet in the sand while they tickle them as they frantically dig themselves back to safety.

The girls participated in Summer Blast this year. It was so much fun for them. They went on many field trips and have made a lot of new friends. Except for a couple of bumps in the road, like the biting incident, the nose incident, the hitting incident, it was well worth it. The biting and hitting incident happened between my two girls, but we worked through it.

Fun Run

We met Melody at McAllister Park to do the Fun Run.
It was a kids sprint, 1/2 mile, 1 mile and 3 mile run.


Melody and Sandy, waiting to get started.


Mike finished the kids 100 yard sprint in 1st place!! Kidding-he took the girls to the starting line and ran back before they started.


Lisa only knows one speed-fast. We have to learn to pace ourselves.



Katie does not get the same feeling for running as Lisa. She did run the dash, 1/2 mile and 1 mile, very reluctantly, but she finished it.

Lisa ran her 1/2 mile in 3 minutes and 37 seconds.

Her 1 mile she ran in 10 minutes and 17 seconds.
Melody and I ran the 3 mile in 37 minutes, she was a little disappointed, but I was thrilled. It was alot of fun and the girls got little trophies.

Becky and Chase

My cousin Becky married Chase on May 30.
It was a beautiful ceremony in the same church that my aunt and uncle got married in.
This picture is at the reception.


I couldn't get a picture of the bride walking down the aisle, but here is Katie, Lisa and my dad.


Cindy and Brian at the reception. My picture taking skills were not up to par this day-sorry about the shadows, but they both did look fabulous.



Mike and Sandy at the reception.

Becky and Chase

This was taken at Eisenhaur Park. We walked the trails to get to the tower. From the tower you can see San Antonio. It is really an awesome park with different types of trails.

The "Fur-minator"

Mike bought Frankie a gift- the "Fur-minator".
Yes, think Arnold, I did.


You must have the vacuum ready because the fur flies.



After the fur is "furminated", it is time to be bathed and blown away.
I would have NEVER thought to use the blower to dry the dog.


One happy dog.