Face it

Flee temptation.... but Face your troubles.

Troubles don't go away by ignoring them, do they?
They may be the vehicle to a higher calling- a destiny

Let us face them, toe to toe. armed with the glorious gospel of peace...after all,
nothing is too difficult for God. In His strength, we plow thru- we don't always get the result we wanted...at least I haven't...but I have come thru, and when I ponder outcomes, I usually have ended up in the good position, wiser for the wear,
and always more compassionate toward others going thru a similar thing...judgment falls away...
replaced by a quiet confidence that this too shall pass...

I am hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed.... -2 Cor 4:9

Piece of cake :)

Family Field Day 2010 teaser

MC CREW a combination of Carlson's & Maus's

The cArlson Team

is it just me...or is this a scene from Lord of The Rings...?

It's all how you carry it, I guess

Everybody has one...nobody wants to be one...


Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

My new study topic....

We have entered the world of caregiving, a world of mystery...the unknown. Well for us anyway...SO I might as well share what i'm learning...

The 6 Myths of Caregiving

a new day, a new life....

Rose came home yesterday...
she is in a wheelchair...and requires 24/7 care.
We have a caregiver coming in when Bob is not here, as
I am unable to lift her to transfer her....
so this is a new day and a new life for all of us.

we moved her upstairs next to us, and on the main floor so she have access to
the kitchen dining and front room....we built ramps to get her in and out of the house...we are installing grab bars and other equipment to help her.

Bob is shouldering the heaviest of loads and has lost
quite a bit of freedom in his life. What a wonderful son he is.

It will be quite a while until we can go for a walk...to dinner or a movie...
or even church together.

Please pray for us as we figure this all out....one day at a time
( and lest you think I am crazy...it was sarah's birthday yesterday, and hence the party hat)

The bloom is off the Rose

an update on our Rosie.
Last month Mom got ill with a UTI & cough.
She became so weak the Dr put her into the hospital.
she is now at a rehab center.....
where she should be getting her strength back and coming home.
however.... Lil miss stubborn won't due the therapy.
One day she walks 10 steps...the next she refuses to try. The powers that be have informed us that she is not progressing and will be discharged, needing 24 hour care.

Her reason's?
I don't feel like it. (i don't blame her)
I'm not a morning person...(2:00opm)
I could walk if I wanted to just give me my cane.
This is a bunch of @#$%.
My sister isn't doing any of this stuff.

Her twin, is still walking around (with cane) but doing very well.
This drives Rose crazy! She is furious that her twin can do what she can't...
Today I connected the dots...All these years (32)
Rose has refused to do anything that her twin wasn't doing....
She won't come to Mother's Day functions...unless Wanda is invited.
Christmas, Easter, thanksgiving...you name it...If Wanda is not included...she's not going. She refused to attend the kids "Grandparents Days" at their school- because her sister couldn't come too. Sports games...even lunch.... any invitation offered (not only by me, but our inlaws as well) was responded to with,
"Chuck and Wanda too?" If not, then she would pout and refuse to come.

So now she finds herself in a nursing facility, and all she can think about is,
"My sister doesn't have to do this stuff!"
We eventually accepted the fact that they were a set-one would get you three and we made our plans accordingly.. but now I see this stubborn soul tie is hindering her progress and could mean the difference between coming back home to live with her family...and spending her remaining years in a nursing home. How sad.

We have prayed! we have warred in the heavenlies...we have talked to her, explained over and over, tried to reason- explained the consequences...her twin comes daily and tells her to "just do it!"
Bob has shown up everyday to be there at therapy with her...all to no avail.
barring a miraculous intervention....her fate is being sealed, by self sabotage
and I don't know what to do. :(