Busy Bees

This week and weekend are going to be so hectic! Chris and I are going to pick up the newest addition to my mom's family.... a mini dachshund! Mom decided to name him Jasper and figured it would be a good replacement for Jaxon Bo since he's moving with me and Chris when we move into our apartment. Poor Jaxon, he won't be the baby anymore! We are thoroughly tickled about picking him up tonight and cannot wait to get him home and love on him!
Tomorrow, I have to take him to the vet to get him checked out of course and then tomorrow night, we are FINALLY getting to hang out with Brittany and David! Things have been so crazy lately, I think I sometimes forget to breathe. Hopefully Monday we will be able to rest and catch up on things. I have wedding showers the next three weekends in a row, be it mine or friends!

Heritage Eastside told mom today that they were thinking about releasing Maw Maw the first of next week...and we are both sick and they will not allow us in if we sick, so we have to get better so that we can see her...soon! I miss her and I know I don't need to go up there with my nose running and sneezing and what not.

Please enjoy the pictures of us and Maw Maw and Paw Paw.

Downhill?

I know God gives us peace about things, but why is it still hard to let go of our human lives when we clearly know that Jesus tells us that will have such better things await us above? God promises us that when we get to Heaven, there will be no more suffering, illness, and, of course, sin. But it's so hard for us to give up what we have here on earth. Our earthly belongings....something that belongs to us. Something that we think we own. But it's all in God's timing to where and when it's our time to go. I have no doubt that when this day comes (we all know that's it is inevitably going to happen to us one day or another), that I will be ready to walk...no, run, into the arms of my Savior. I have been struggling with peace about this for my grandmother. I have no doubt that she will go to Heaven, but when she goes, it will be hard to let go of her here on earth. I say to myself and to others that I have peace about it, but do I? This wonderful woman is a true part of me through and through. She helped raise me because when mom and dad were at work during the summers, that is where I stayed. She let us do some of the craziest things, and I can't help but sit back and think of the glorious days I had with her and Paw Paw. We were all sitting at dinner tonight talking of all the good meals that she used to cook us and how she would make us any cake we wanted for our birthday and Christmas. Oh, those salmon patties! :) Haha...what ever she touched was good and yummy! Tonight when we went to visit her at Heritage Eastside, we was sitting there moving her hands in the delicate motion as if she she was sewing. Mom and I both regretted for a brief moment that we ever went to go see her. Well, no. I do not regret it. Because, every little moment that I have with her here on earth is precious, even though she may not remember me, I will remember her always. And her beautiful white hair.

Chris and I just completed our second counseling session with our pastor, who instructed us to learn about our love languages. This is turning out well, and some of the mis-communications that we have had the past are all coming into light now that we are getting to know each others languages. Now all we have to learn is the certain dialects! It just gets better and better everyday getting to know my future husband a little more.

Pre-marital

Chris and I started our pre-marital counseling through the pastor that is going to marry us this October. It was eye-opening and actually a great experience, and we can't wait to finish our next 3 sessions. Our homework for this week is to independently derive a budget. Hmm, that should be interesting. That's one thing that we have done, but we really haven't concentrated on it at this point because we haven't put our finances together. And it makes me feel selfish. I realize that this will not be mine, or my stuff, it's OURS. Wow, that's a big step. And this Coach purse is staring at me. Geez. So, I'm going to make my budget, figure in all that we have to spend and everything. I wonder how different Chris's is going to be. Hmm. Monday we will bring out budgets together and make one....how wonderful! A great start, but I have to admit, I'm a little scared, which I guess is normal starting a whole new chapter in your life with someone else. We also realized last night through talking to Charles that we really don't know each other. Well, we always new that, but it just sunk in a little further last night. I think about the scene in "Fireproof" when Caleb's co-worker tells him that you can never stop learning about woman. And that's true also with a man. Chris and I are both scared, but I told him that I wouldn't want to experience this with anyone else but him and God. It's not going to be easy by no means, but it will be worth it in the end. I will keep you updated on our other sessions.

What a week!

So it has pretty much been a busy week, rather busy month! Monday we placed Maw Maw in a nursing home, and boy has that been a trial. She was okay the first day, but yesterday she did not sleep for about 48 hours and was out of control. She has gotten to the point where she doesn't know anything going on around her, and she does not know us most of the time. It's the saddest think I have ever seen. I can't help but feel emotional every time I think of it. But as they say, crying is a language only God knows. He knows what I'm feeling and I know He has given us all peace about this. It's definitely one of the hardest things my family has been through, but God will see us through it. This will make the walk in October more appreciating once I have completed it.

On a lighter note, Chris and I are signing the lease to our first apartment together this Saturday! We had to move the wedding date up AGAIN because he is joining the Air Force. We went last night to talk to the recruiter and she basically told him that he needed lose about 15 more lbs. and to practice the math more on the ASVAB. That's the only thing that is killing him is the math. I told him that if he can memorize car parts, gun parts, and parts of an airplane, then he can most definitely do some algebra!

I have been looking back over where the past 2 years have brought us. We have been through so much already, and I cannot imagine my life without him. We have laughed, cried, and everything in between, and we have still managed to make it through everything. Now, it's the next step in our life: marriage and the Air Force. I wonder where God is going to take us next? We are hoping Germany, but that probably won't happen. We would like to go there before we have kids so that we can experience that now. I'm not worried about where we will be...where ever he is, I will be, so as long as we are together!

In other news, it's official...there is a Lacy Street Gang in Monroe! Haha! Too funny seeing as we had a trial yesterday with some juveniles that were supposedly throwing up some "L" signs with their hands that apparently represents this gang. Ah, Monkeyroe.... :)

Just some thought.

I have decided to walk for the Alzheimer's Association on October 17, 2009 in honor of my grandmother, Orene P. Head. I never thought when I was a little girl that she would develop such a debilitating disease that would steal her memories and thoughts away. My goal is to raise at least $500. She is such a wonderful, beautiful woman. I'm surprised that a lot of people are not wanting to donate and try to end such a horrifying disease. Yes, I know that breast cancer affects many many people, but Alzheimer's is becoming one of the leading causes of death of people, including many under the age of 65! It's not very commercialized at breast cancer and people need to be aware of this!

I'm trying to get this information out there for people to realize, but I really don't know if it's a true concern; at least, until someone in their family is diagnosed. It was never a concern for me...until Maw Maw was diagnosed.

So many of these people suffer, and if I could have one wish, it would be to rid the world of this sickness. Please go to this site if you would like to donate:
http://memorywalk09.kintera.org/athens/shelnutt?faf=1&e=2594972919

What Do You Expect?

“Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you’; and their sight was restored” (Matthew 9:29–30)

God will touch you and let you know what your calling is in life, but you have to have the will and drive to accomplish your dreams and your calling. This is something that not I, but Chris has been struggling with. This is our blog, and would like to share what we are struggling with.

Chris has come to the determination that he wants to join the Air Force. This has been a continuous option since he first lost his job in February from Akins. He considered it, but still continued to look for work here while receiving unemployment. He found a job at Academy Sports in Athens, but he feels like he's at a "dead end" working here, just as he did at Akins. He is not satisfied with himself and does not feel that he is accomplishing his purpose. He has the drive to commit to something that will not only be a sacrifice for he and I, but will allow him to really achieve what he wants in life. It will boost his self-esteem and fulfill his feeling of self-worth. I will have to, of course, quit my job and move where ever he goes. My new motto: "Home is where my husband is." Even though he's not technically my husband yet, he will be.

Please pray about our decisions. It's scary for both of us, but we will get through it.

Alzheimer's

Sometimes I wonder why God invented such debilitating diseases that affect millions in this world? What is the purpose of it? Alzheimer's Disease is one the leading causes of death among elderly people. What causes it? No one really knows. It has been linked to aluminum...which is in a number of things: Coke cans, deodorant, etc. But the CDC does not regulate this at all. It is at such a high number now than ever before. Maybe because people are living to be older?

My grandmother, Orene Head, has this horrible disease. She began about 9 years ago when she first lost her sense of smell and things have gone down hill ever since. She has always been a great and wonderful cook; this disease made her forget the simplest ingredients. She has had a love for my grandfather, Preston, since they were 16 and 17 years of age. This disease has caused her to forget him at times and even be afraid of him. She thinks family members (Aunt Nora and her mother, Mary) come to visit her on a regular basis. We have to tell them to go home and leave her alone. Sometimes, the things she does is humorous...you have to laugh at some of the things she does, like putting the dish detergent in the refrigerator, or the oven rack next to the washer. But it has continued to get worse. Things started progressing even worse when her sister, Rachel, died in March of 2007. Oh, how this broke her heart!

I remember when I was little, they would talk with each other everyday about things that was going on in their lives. They would see each other and visit with each other everyday. MawMaw always let Daniel and me do the craziest things - like jump on the beds, play kick ball in the house, build tents with blankets and chairs in the living room, and she would even get down under them with us even though her knees would be hurting her that day. She would cook anything you would ask, and make us fake snuff so that we could be like her...(oh, how we didn't know that snuff was really bad!) She would mix up cocoa and sugar and we would dip it just like her! She tought me how to make biscuits and how to be a good person. When I would leave the house, she would always say "remember who you are...you are a Head." I have always remembered that.

Things you take for granted everyday...
How they are so important once you realize what you have lost.
She is still alive, but it's so hard watching them die.
And she is only getting worse, day by day.
Please God, give us direction and give her peace.

She knows in her heart what is right and who we are, even though her mind tells her otherwise.