Nightmares, Dreams & Crud

Please pray for my sister-in-love Donna, her family, and Mom & Dad. They live in the Huntsville area and were affected by the bad storms yesterday. A tree fell on Donna’s house but everyone is okay. I feel so bad for them. Neither Mom & Dad nor Donna have power and phone contact is scattered at best. My heart hurts for everyone who wasn’t as fortunate and lost a love one or his or her home completely. Please join us in prayer for everyone who was touched.

OMG is my husband is stubborn! His is really sick with a green slime, cough, clogged nose, vomiting crud and will not go to the doctor, ggggrrrrr…how frustrating. Please pray he comes to his senses and gets better.

Yesterday was a dream (before I found out about Donna’s nightmare). After I read the 60 some page employee handbook and confidentiality agreement my new boss and I went to get my ID that allows me on the back lot at will.

There are a lot more soundstages then when I was last there and the place was buzzing with people, cars, golf carts and semi trucks. I haven’t walked that tall in a long time or was I floating?

At lunch we went to the cafeteria and needed to go through a guard check point and when he swiped it and said, “Have a good lunch, Andrealynn” I felt lightheaded. I am still thinking this all is just an epic dream. 

Following My Dreams

In ’94 I moved to Orlando to work in television. I did many different things and ended my creative spree as a scenic artist for a new theme park. It was great. I didn’t work a day for 8 years. How could something so fun and in my element be work?

Then I had a revelation that maybe I should settle down and get insurance after having a double mastectomy. Luckily at the time I was in AmeriCorps and had the same insurance Senators have. It paid for everything. But I thought I should give up contract work.

It was a life changing decision. I was miserable. When I realized I had made a mistake the jobs had dried up. One of the problems was that most of the work, besides conventions, went back to NYC and L.A. I then went from, to me, dead end job to dead end job.

Being super creative, if I do say so myself, made me board in an office job to the point where I wanted to poke my eyes out with sticks. Over the past few years I started to get my groove back by doing book reviews for a Christian publisher and longed to get back in a creative role full time. With David being able to work again and having insurance I started to pray.

I reminded God that he created me in his image and that he is very creative (remember creation, the garden of Eden and the temple?) I couldn’t take it any more.

I looked on all of the sights that show production work here and nothing came up so I applied for admin assistant jobs. Last Wednesday I received an email for an interview, looked up the company and almost fell off my stool. It was a production company. I was stunned!

I spoke to three people in 24 hours, canceled all other interviews and pushed off an offer so as not to confuse God with my intentions. I wanted this. Monday I was offered the job after sending many thank you notes after each interview and finally Monday sending a final email stating “I would like the job, please.”

I come to find out they have no intention on keeping me in the admin role. They just want to find out if I mesh with the team and will move me to a production role after 90 days. It’s mine to loose.

I am in awe of my Father! Walking on that lot last Thursday, seeing the sound stages I worked in 11 years ago and consequently getting the job has given me a peace I haven’t felt in a long time. The job is a 9-6 and shooting happens during those hours. It is long term not a contract gig and no more 7AM – midnight like I did years ago on three-week cycles. It is a production dream job.

Follow your dreams. God has given them to you for a reason!

Blessings!

Last Day Of Scrubs

New beginnings are always fun but inevitably come an end of something else. I resigned from the Doctors office today and gave Betty Ann my scrubs. (I’ll tell you why later). She is really sick right now and neither she nor the Doc wants to see me go. It feels good to be wanted.

I have learned a lot in the past five months with them. It was good for me to share patients joy as they became better, empathy ran deep on a daily basis, my PC skills grew and the relationship I built with Betty Ann, I pray, will run a lifetime.

I am closing a chapter of my life that I pray I never revisit. But in that I find a bit of sadness and gratitude for the past 10 years and how I have grown.

I ask for your prayers of healing for Betty Ann and that the Doctors practice may flourish helping many.

Blessings!

He Is Risen! He Has Risen Indeed!

The Easter service was amazing. I haven’t been able to go to choir practice with my old job being as crazy as it was and working such long hours. That turned out to be a good thing. I cried during most of the service.

I am a creative so things like music get to me. Topping that off with my gratitude and love for God and what the resurrection means to my life sent me over the edge. I was so overcome with joy I could hardly stand myself.

On Easter the men always serve breakfast and mine are no exception. Saturday night they were at the church cooking up a storm for the big banquet. I am so proud of them. It is nice to see everyone settling into our new church.

It was good to share our first holiday meal in our new home. Andrew spent time in his garden. I am so proud of him. I’m thinking of mentioning 4H, knowing he would thrive there.

Please join us in our prayers that the children follow their hearts and grow closer to our Lord, David continues to get better and that those who don’t know the meaning of Easter see His grace and love. 


He is risen! He has risen indeed! 

Blessings!

The Nelson Boys

Friday was a day memories are made from. I had a second interview at ten, hair cut at noon, went shopping with Mom, a third interview at three and then the best part was making potato salad from scratch with Mom Friday night in anticipation of our Easter feast.

It is an old Pennsylvania Dutch recipe that my Nana pulled from the Philadelphia Inquire over 50 years ago, a family treasure now. I cherish every memory and moment I spend with all my friends and family but being so close to Mom makes my heart jump. I love her so much.

Saturday morning I hung out in the sun and swam until George and David picked Mom and I up to go to EPCOT to see the Nelson Boys for a Ricky Nelson Remembered concert. (I feel a Google search coming on) Mom’s favorite song of Ricky’s is Garden Party.

It was fun however very hot! It was in the low 90’s and walking on all of the hot concrete made me feel faint after spending 4 hours in the sun. (Mental note don’t go in the sun without drinking plenty of water first)

We had a blast and it was fun to see my mom tapping her feet and clapping remembering her youth. It was cool to honor her wish.

Please join me in my prayer that all of you have a making memory with someone you love moment this week.

Blessings!

P.S. What do you think of the Pooh topiary?

To Work or Not To Work

I have gotten to the point where I am looking for a job where I can use my creativity full time. God blessed me with an interview with a production company that just landed at Universal. I moved here to work in TV & film in ’94 so to get back into the field would be dreams come true.

I have had a total of three interviews with this company since Thursday. I am praying really hard that it comes through.

At this point I have my dream husband, house and kids. Now I just have to find the dream job. I am sick of being stuck in a cube all day praying for five o’clock or like Meatloaf said “The end of time”.

More and more I am realizing life is short. Maybe strike it up to being forty and seeing the end in sight but I want to live each day as my last and enjoy it.

Please join us in prayer that I find a fun and fulfilling job, David gets better and Ash gets into the Air force.

Blessings!

Shortcomings

This morning I read my Bible and meditation book. I needed to hear guarding my words, Proverbs 17:27; 21:23, Speaking graciously, Proverbs 22:11 and speaking the truth in love, Ephesians 4:1-16.

My words are not always gracious. I forget at times that David is sick and not just conveniently forgetting to tick me off or blowing responsibility off completely. It is trying at best. I need to be encouraging, supportive and keeping track of everything at all times. It wears me down.

The meditation was on self care talked about the difference between me first and me too. It has been hard lately to remember to take care of myself, you know, put the oxygen mask on myself so I can better serve others. For me that means praying, reading my Bible and meditation books, working out and eating healthy. I gained weight after the fire that I am still attempting to take off.

With David’s medical problems I fight (sometimes literally) to get him to take care of himself. I am reminded to take the splinter out of my own eye first.

Such is life. It ebbs and flows in different directions like a river ever changing. It keeps life from getting boring but at this point I don’t think boredom would be that bad. My humanity and shortcomings humble me and remind me I need God’s strength every day. Don’t we all.

Blessings!

Constant Struggle

Yesterday was a pretty good day. David helped by taking out the trash. Later when in the pool he noticed a bit of algae on the side and stated he forgot to brush it when it was cleaned Sunday so he brushed it down then took a shower, all with out a fight. That was a welcome relief since when he forgets and is reminded he gets mad and downright ugly. It wears me out. 

We have had offers from family to help with the bills but we are able to pay them ourselves and will save that generosity for a time in the future when we need it if David goes out of work again which at this point he might.

He cannot see what he is doing to himself and the family. It is part of the disease. So I need to stay calm when approaching him and realize he is sick and not just being a jerk. Sometimes that is easier than others. Memory loss is a struggle for everyone involved.

The one thing I know is God has put us all together for a reason and I must honor my husband no matter what his medical state. I am back to regular prayer (some time constant) and meditation along with my bible readings and it helps my patients.

It is said God doesn’t give us more than we can handle but sometimes I think God believes more in me than I do.

Please pray for my continued patience for my husband’s illness, his desire to get better, and the children that they might understand to the best of their ability.

The Fire's Final Chapter

The first thing we did was go to Walgreen’s to get David’s medications. Being a kidney transplant survivor he needed them at once.

When we woke up, in the beginning, we realized what we had lost. Choosing an outfit and shoes, razors, deodorant, robes and pajamas, putting on makeup, making coffee, reading our Bibles and meditation books, filling Mac’s food dish, giving him a treat and sending him to chew on his bone, searching the fridge for breakfast and to put something in the crockpot for dinner were all a memory and impossible the first days until we went to Wal-Mart for the basics.

Mac ate what we did the first few days from the breakfast bar and MacDonald’s. We stayed at the Days Inn until Monday when the Insurance Company put us in the Marriott Suites for six weeks. Then a flea infested apartment with rental furniture, the cheapest thing they could find, until everything could be worked out. But they did pay all the bills for the first three months.

Baxter came in with an eighteen foot dumpster that was filled with our furniture and personal belongings including the washer and dryer we had bought a month before.  

They took some stuff in an attempt to recover them. The only things that really made it were 8 wood pieces including my hope chest when I was little and the kitchen table, both to this day soot stained as a reminder of where we came from, along with some clothes, our dishes and anything glass…the beds, couches, toaster, anything plastic, with a cord or made of material, all gone. The change made it but the jar had melted around it.

We were counting our blessings. No one was hurt and we had amazing insurance. The house was bought at the top of the bubble so we were well insured and the Insurance Company eventually paid in full allowing us to become debt free and buy a new home that is three times bigger with a pool in one of the best neighborhoods in town that was a foreclosure and totally remodeled from the studs out for less than we paid for our charred structure. We have brand new furniture and clothes. Being a year into our marriage when the fire happened we had a mix match of things from our previous marriages and now everything is new just for us.

I realized with most things taken from us that material things don’t really matter. Stuff is nice but it is just stuff. Stuff can be replaced but people cannot. Family is what matters. Relationship is key with God and each other. I also realized nothing is permanent except Christ’s love. At any time things can change on a dime so I live each day as my last because someday I’ll be right. I’m doing my best to live without regret and thank God for every second. He made lemonade.


Blessings!

Cinnamon French Toast

Blessed Holy Week! Yesterday we went to church as a family praising God for family, friends and our security in Him. I always love holy week and the reading of the Passion. I started to get sick and ended up coming home and spending the rest of the day in bed.

After church we had my Mom’s secret French Toast recipe that is amazing! The children, being gone all day yesterday, cleaned up the rest of the palms that the church didn't take on Saturday. I was shocked to hear not all Christian denominations use palms on Palm Sunday.

I am ashamed to say I haven’t been as steady with my morning devotions, which I corrected yesterday and this morning. God is amazing. His love envelops me daily even when I am not as faithful as I should be.

David and I relaxed cleaning the pool and he worked out. Again my mom cooked, this time chicken-a-la-king. It was a nice break for me.

I like the new normal. Even though David still isn’t doing as well as we would like. In fact he is slipping backwards. His recovery comes and goes. At least we have a husband and father that has hope for a full recovery. That is a blessing.

Please join us in our prayer that David recovers from his set backs and that the children finish school strong.

We also pray for our friends who have and are caring for Alzheimer’s patients. May God give them the strength to hold on and see his blessings.

Also that Christ might come alive to those who don’t know Him and that they might find peace and love in His arm's and for all of those who are suffering or experiencing loss that they find solace from He who suffered and knows their pain.

Blessings!

As we are blessed I’m sharing the blessings. Enjoy my Mom’s recipe.

Cinnamon French Toast

1 stick butter

2 tablespoons light Karo syrup

1-cup light brown sugar

1 loaf cinnamon swirl bread

8 eggs

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon salt

Melt butter, brown sugar and Karo syrup. Pour in a large Pyrex dish. Fan out bread on top in two rows.

Mix eggs, vanilla, milk and salt. Pour on top coating all of the bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate over night.

Bake at 350 covered for 30 min. remove foil and bake for 30 min or until eggs are cooked.

Yummy! 

The Fire Part 2

As we walked through the house after it was deemed “safe” we saw the destruction, there was a small pile of residue where the shower and garden tub once were. They melted. The cabinet was half gone. The floor and wall had burned through and daylight was coming in. In our bed room a side table, the curtains, bed, dresser…everything burnt to a crisp. The whole house was covered in soot to 18 inches above the floor and soaked in water that was still dripping from the celling. Windows had been broken out, some due to the fire and others the firefighters. The only room that wasn’t a total loss was Megan’s since her door was closed and on the other end of the house.

The only person who was hurt was next-door’s son who had broken out the kitchen window to call for Mac thinking he was inside and wanting to save him. He stated that with the doorknob hot and smoke billowing out he realized if Mac was inside he was dead. He kept telling me he was fine with just a few cuts and bruises.

The Red Cross came putting us up in the hotel and giving us the brown paper bags. The power company rolled the lines from the house back to the pole so as not to start another fire. The water company shut off water at the street and Baxter, called by the Fire Chief, came to board up the windows.  

After looking through the file cabinet for the insurance information (praise God for my organizational skills) we plied into David’s car to take the children back to their Mom’s. Then picked up my car to head to the hotel and call our families. 

The Fire Part 1

A year ago today David and I were staying at the Days Inn each with a small paper bag that held a washcloth, toothpaste, soap, a toothbrush and a gift card of some type so we could get clothes at Wal-Mart. We had nothing but the dog, cell phones, our cars and a computer to our name.

The kids had had a slumber party Friday night so we were alone Saturday morning. We had taken a bath and talked about the children, what we wanted for our future, retirement…when all of a sudden we realized it was time to pick up the boys and I had an appointment at the Apple Store because my computer was acting crazy. So we hurried up and got ready and David blew out the candles.

We left within 15 minutes. Mac, being trained as a service dog, went with me to the mall. While I was talking to the Genius I received a text from my next-door neighbor “your house is on fire”.

Pulling up towards the house a police officer was in the middle of the road. I tried pulling around her and she hit the side of my car with her hand telling me to stop. Seeing the fire trucks I jumped out of the car running screaming for David and the kids as she grabbed me repeating no one was inside every one is safe.

I just stood there in shock not realizing yet that I had wet my pants. I saw David at the other end of the block and ran towards him.

We were questioned about our morning and where we had been. It turns out that the candle in the corner of the tub wasn’t blown out and lit the wall on fire. What the fire didn’t take the smoke, soot, and water did. The Fire Chief called it a total loss.

Tithing Veggies

We tithe off our gross (doesn’t everybody) but that also now has expanded to our crops. Now I know we live in town and we only have a small garden however those really bad storms in central Florida that you heard about on the news last week took out most of our plants. So now the angels in heaven are eating some lettuce with onions, carrots...they also have enough cabbage to make some amazing coleslaw. C’est la vie!

It was an interesting weekend over all. David had a bit of a set back which caused some friction. All in all things got done like the lawn mowed, pool cleaned, garden weeded and the like.

Ash and Ketchup had an amazing time at prom, which was held at the Phoenix Zoo. Seriously, how cool is that. He also filled out his Air Force paperwork over the weekend. He hopes to join and get into Pararescue. A noble cause if I ever heard one.

Yesterday we joined a new church. I terribly miss our old one but it is to far away to travel per David and the kids so now we have a new church home. Some of the nice things about it are it is small so we can get to know everyone, they have service opportunities, Sunday school, and I’ve joined the choir. So it does have its upsides.

Well, off to replant, again, some veggie seeds. At this rate the garden will be ready to harvest at Christmas if at all.

Please join us in our prayers that David does better, the children finish school strong and the veggies make it this time. We cherish each one of you and your prayers.

Blessings!