Twice?

Pearls and Dreams

Liz ... tagged me (gee thanks ;) ..)

5 things you don't know about me.

1. My favorite pet fish is illegal in Oklahoma. It's the piranha. (no, not kidding)

2. My kindergarten report card said that I had an interest in stories, poems and books.

3. I love spiders. We'd have a pet tarantula, if I thought it would survive Benjamin ... and Sugarfoot and Twitch. In that order.

4. I also love pet rats. We don't have them, because of the immunosuppressant meds I'm on and ...again, the cats.

5. If I wasn't afraid of contacts, I would get brown contacts to cover my blue eyes.

Now, I was also .. kind of, but not really tagged by Artemis ..who said she wasn't tagging me, but wanted to know what my answers were to the meme that FD started (Way to go FD!!! Good MEME!!!) not sure how this doesn't count as tagging ...but ... here we go ...

favorite musicals for 2007

So, I'm supposed to list my favorite musicals.
Some, are going to be known ..and others, not so known. I didn't know if I was supposed to do just stage musicals or stage and movie musicals, so I did both.

1. Oklahoma
2. Sound of Music
3. Music Man
4. Four Tickets To Christmas (Christmas Musical, Broadway style my church put on a few years back ... I was Cornelia Washborne ...if you would like to see a picture of me in full 1905 costume ...email me at PearlsOfAnEagle@aol.com)
5. Wizard of Oz
6. Christmas Post (another broadway style musical I was in with my church)
7. Caberet
8. Annie Get Your Gun
9. Unsinkable Molly Brown
10. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
11. A Chorus Line

Ok ... stopping now ...

I am going to tag a couple of people *grin*
Deneice ... Wanda ... Moof ... Cathy ... Neuronursechic

not gone or forgotten

Pearls and Dreams

Alas my blog friends ... I have not forgotten you ... nor forsaken you ...

My body has decided that 3 months of living on adrenaline is more than enough ... and it is on the verge of crash mode.

I am trying to keep my head above water with my book ...and trying to keep a lupus flare from happening. Too late on the MG front ... double vision is quite the joy to live with. (not)

I wish you all HAPPY NEW YEARS if I don't make it back before Sunday evening ...and rest assured, even if I'm not commenting on your blogs, I am thinking about you, and praying for you!

Christmas at the Eagler's

by Peggikaye Eagler
Adapted, with apologies, from Twas the Night Before Christmas


'Twas the night before Christmas Eve, when all through the house
Not a creature was sleeping, not even a mouse;
The stockings were slung at the chimney with dispair,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were jumping all over their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;
And I in my 'kerchief, and Dad in his cap,
Had just sat down, many presents to wrap,

When in the kids bedroom there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the floor to see what was the matter.
Through their door I had heard a loud crash!
Tore open the door, was it a head that was smashed?


The moon through the window, would it show?
What was the cause of the very loud blow?
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But two mischievous children a hold of each other's ear.

With a look that said, they better quiet down quick,
They knew in a moment, quiet better had stick!
More rapid than eagles my scoldings they came,
And I whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, children! Now, sons! Now, brothers stop vexing!
Or I will be forced to treat you to a parental flexing!
To the top of the bed! and next to the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So I promised their presents would follow them too
If quiet would not very soon begin to ensue!

And then, in a twinkling, I heard a the cry of a wolf,
The child was yelling it could be heard through the roof.
As I reached down and turned around,
The cat had jumped, it was in the lights bound.

She had stuff in her fur, from her head to her foot,
And her fur was all sticky with something like soot;
A bundle of toys she'd managed to find in the back,
And she looked like a thief who'd found the pack.

Her eyes -- how they twinkled! Her meow how merry!
Her paws had obviously been in the pie, cherry!
Her little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And her paws were red, instead of white as the snow;

The stump of a ribbon she held tight in her teeth,
And the tape encircled her head like a wreath;
She had tape on her face and a little round her belly,
That caused us to laugh like a bowl-full of jelly.

She was chubby and plump, like a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw her, in spite of myself;
I gave the cat a wink, and I twisted my head,
Told the kids "quiet, you'll have nothing to dread";

They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
Picking up the room, then one kid said "you are a jerk",
The other kid answered laying his fist aside of his nose,
And once again the volume of fighting rose;

Dad sprang to their door and he gave a whistle,
And promised them he would sit them down on a thistle.
I heard him exclaim, to bed, get out of my sight,
"it's time for a
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!"

Pearls and Dreams

A year ago today, my life changed dramatically. My husband decided that he needed to let God be in charge of his life and he needed to stop being so angry at God.

It's amazing the changes that have taken place in our house since then. How incredible things have been.

Someone asked my husband last night how things were and he said "if they were any better, I just don't know what I'd do. Things are insanely good!"

*grin*

They are.

Well ... today, it passed insane.

A knock at the door ... a thump on the porch.

I opened the door and a package on the door mat.

I picked it up ...it was addressed to me, but with my legal name.

This confused me. No one uses my full legal name! Even the social security administration uses my legal nickname. No one ...but the DMV. So ...what could the DMV be sending me???

Oh ..wait ...one other ... the publisher is using my legal name.

The publisher.

A package ...

Oh...

It's ...

It can't be ....

Holy SMOKES!!!

I'm an AUTHOR FOR REAL!!!!

December 18

Pearls and Dreams

December 18 has always been an important day in my life. Always. Growing up ...it was a day of celebration. My mom, married my step dad when I was 13 months old on December 18, 1965. To our family, this was a huge day to celebrate.

To my husband and I, our anniversary ...is our anniversary. It's about the day we got married.

To my mom and step dad, their anniversary, was about the day we became a family. While they often would go out and have a dinner just the two of them, we were often out already for Christmas vacation and the whole day was a holiday.

We had a special breakfast and lunch. Many times, we'd go to Yosemite National Park and drive around and look at the snow covered valley. It was a time to celebrate the family that God had formed.

Then, in February 1979, depression took my step father's life. He mistakenly thought that we would be better off without him ...and took his own life.

December 18, became a very difficult day for a number of years. An ache so deep ... a reminder that our family was not the same.

Then ...15 years ago, ... I was pregnant and I was carrying a baby that was very large. So large, they were worried I'd need a C section if I carried to my due date on Christmas eve. I was supposed to go on the 16th ...but I was so weak from the undiagnosed Myasthenia Gravis that I fell into the toilet trying to get into the shower.

I called the doctor and told them. They thought I had chronic fatigue syndrome and said "well, come in tomorrow"

The next day, having rested the whole day, I was able to get up and go. They said the baby was even bigger than it had been the week before, and to go check into the hospital first thing in the morning. I went home and cried all afternoon.

I think the hormones of the pregnancy and the fear of being sick were just a bit more than I could deal with. I did not want him to be born on the 18th. That was a sacred day. No! I called back and said I needed it to be the next day. They said that that was not possible. I needed to show up on Wednesday. Period.

I was terrified, but showed up. I had no idea what my body would do. I was unable to dress without assistance ..and at times, was so weak I could not chew food. Breathing ... was sometimes a joke. What's a deep breath? Swallowing often led to choking ..especially in the middle of the night. How in the world was I going to deliver a baby?

I got to the hospital and the nurse had to help me get into a gown. She was annoyed because "Chronic fatigue doesn't make someone THIS weak, so I had to be 'putting on'" (well ... chronic fatigue might not make someone THAT weak, but Myasthenia Gravis does, and if they'd ran more than a thyroid test ...they might have known I had MG ..but that's another story)

Anyway ...they started the pitossin (sp?) and ... the contractions started. Thankfully ... the hormones worked in my favor. I felt stronger than I felt since an hour after my oldest was born (when the myasthenia gravis hit). I actually felt normal. Double vision cleared. Muscles felt normal! I felt fine! I felt STRONG! I was thrilled ... I felt like I'd been cured. I mistakenly thought that all this started with one delivery and was going to disappear with another. Life was good.

13 hours after they started the drip 8:11 pm ... a 9 lb 8 3/4 oz baby boy was born. Benjamin William Eagler. HUGE child with a BIG head. His cry was weak, his muscle tone weak ...and he could open one eye and that one was droopy. But, he was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

The day, no longer mattered. This boy would complete the family.

I felt wonderful.

All was right with the world.

Suddenly it hit. This day …this baby … was a gift. It was a gift to replace the mourning of the pain of the day. It was almost like it was from my stepdad …to say he was sorry for the pain. A baby to complete the family and a way to celebrate this day that had been so painful. This day, would never again be a day to mourn. This day, was once again a celebration.

The nurse had me get up and go to the bathroom, as they usually do … and I got up and went … I could walk … I didn’t need assistance. I danced a jig on the way to the bathroom. I was tickled at the strength I had. I walked out of the bathroom and my vision went double. My sister said something … I don’t remember what the words were, but I remember the alarm in her voice …she saw the muscle tone drain from my face. She was yelling at a nurse to catch me even though I hadn’t started to fall. A split second later, my body went limp. No one could get to me soon enough. I landed in a heap on the floor.

Unable to assist the nurses in helping me to the bed, the nurses seemed annoyed. This time, I wasn’t sure if they were annoyed with me, or the doctors who diagnosed me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. “Something serious is going on here, this isn’t CFS”

I wound up with nurses fighting doctors to keep me in the hospital for 2 days instead of sending me home just 14 hours after Benjamin was born. (a good thing too, because Benjamin had trouble just 17 hours after he was born … it’s now illegal to send someone home in the first 24 hours, but it wasn’t then, it was common)

It was a frightening period and exciting. I will never forget having to have the nurses help to lift my son to nurse and I wasn’t even strong enough to change him from breast to breast. My husband had to help me eat … feed me bites of the sandwich because I could not lift the food from the tray to my mouth.

The doctor’s discharged me, with the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome still in place.

A baby who could barely suck, and when he did … the milk came out his nose … it would be 2 ½ months before I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and we learned that he’d been born with the neonatal form.

We called him Popeye …because his one eye would not open.

All in all …we know we have much to celebrate on this December 18. So much could have gone wrong … Benjamin was born with a very sick mamma …and he had craniosynostosis (not dx’d right away) He has brain malformations and learning disabilities …asthma and a few other problems. But he is one dynamic kiddo.

Because of him, we celebrate today and I am ever grateful that he is my child.

A Mother's Heart

Every mother had Dreams,
Of a Child perfect and whole.
Every mother has Hopes,
For perfection, body and soul.

They told me you're not perfect,
Sweet loving child of mine.
They told me that your learning,
Is taking too much time.

They tell me that your tests came back,
Showing problems and low scores.
They tell me that you have to struggle,
This hurts me to the core.

Every mother has dreams,
They tell me you don't fit.
Every mother has hopes,
They say perfection you won't hit.

But they don't see what I see,
The smile that lights your face.
But they don't hear what I hear,
Your laughter reveals God's grace.

They don't see what I see,
My child loving and whole.
I have hopes and dreams,
Because my child you are a gift from God
And you have a PERFECT SOUL.



© Peggikaye Eagler

Happy Birthday Benjamin

Sunrise, Sunset

Today, I made 7 dozen cookies. Easy easy recipe ... cake mix (2 boxes, any flavor, I used chocolate and lemon)cool whip (half tub per box) and an egg (1 per box). Mix thoroughly ... roll into balls ...roll into sugar ..powdered or regular ...and bake for 10 minutes in a 350º and you have the most delicious cookie. Two boxes makes 6 to 7 dozen depending on the size of the balls.

When I make the chocolate and lemon, I usually make about a dozen or so of them mixed together so they are half chocolate/half lemon. Those are really really good.

These make really good cookies with ANY cake mix ...spice, gingerbread, carrot, strawberry, white, sprinkles ..doesn't matter ...favorite cake ... great cookies.

I made them for a Cocoa and Cookies party at church. It was supposed to have been a fellowship at church. It ended up being a reception for our resigning associate pastor. It was beautiful and wonderful ...

There was a quilt that was made by one of the women in the church with blank squares, with a picture of our church in the middle. On the squares, we were all able to sign the squares. I went to sign for our family and my boys had already signed it. They'd both thanked her for everything she'd done for our family. Benjamin thanked her for being super super wonderful. Samuel thanked her for being a wonderful example of an adult. (ok, so how am I supposed to top that???)

I was filled with awe when I went to say thank you to her. Several years ago, I went to sit down in her office the first time, a very insecure person who thought that I had nothing to offer anyone. She told me that she saw me teaching, and that she saw a 'gideon in the winepress'. We talked several times and she would get so excited as I'd share with her what God was doing in my heart. I'd get so confused at how what little bit I was sharing with her, she was turning into this great big adventure.

I was just this mom, on government assistance, who was sick, and didn't have anything to say ..and never succeeded at anything ... who would listen and what would they listen to? What was she talking about?

She talked with me.
She prayed with me.
She laughed with me.
She encouraged me.

Before long. I started to believe that spark in her eye. Maybe? Maybe someone would listen to me. I talked to the person sitting next to me. I started to listen more to her, and to those around me. I started to believe a bit more in me.

Between her, and my pastor, and my pastor's wife ... I started to see ... I was more than my past failures. I was more than my circumstances. I started to share my writings with her. She really became excited.

I shared with her that I wanted to write a book and I thought maybe I could do it. She KNEW I could it. Her excitement was infectious.

I applied for Habitat ... and she prayed me through it.

I worked my way through it ... and she celebrated with me. She mourned with me when the complications came and she thought our church was not going to get to work on the house.

No one, was happier than she was, when it worked out that they would. Our house, was her baby.

The end of this month, she resigns. She will no longer be our associate pastor. There are things that she needs to be able to do that no longer fit with in the constrains of the boundries of the pastorship. She's a bird and she needs to fly free.

I will miss her being our associate pastor terribly. But this is a good thing. We need to rebuild. We need to reconstruct.

We have gone from sunrise to sunset ..but soon, it will be time for sunrise again!

I SHALL NOT WASTE MY DAYS IN TRYING TO PROLONG THEM

Cathy, challenged several of us to a story challenge. Using the phrase
I SHALL NOT WASTE MY DAYS IN TRYING TO PROLONG THEM to end our story. This is my fiction story that I wrote as part of this story challenge.
Wolfbaby

Ipanema

Laundress

Dr. Schwab

At Your Cervix

Kim (Emergiblog)

The Wandering Author (?)

KT-RN

Frequency of Silence (JCR)

Truth is Freedom (Brian)

Patient Anonymous

Pearls and Dreams (PK)

Mimi Writes (Mimi)

Potpourri Of Writing (Mary Emma)

Charlie

Ladybug

Musings of a Distractable Mind (Dr. Rob)

Bankerchic

I SHALL NOT WASTE MY DAYS IN TRYING TO PROLONG THEM

She hung her head down as she walked into the Sunday School classroom. She was only 10 years old, but she looked as if she were 60 and the weight of the world was on her shoulders. No one knew who she was. Her dress was a little too big, and her shoes were worn out. Her hair was brushed, but needed cutting. Someone had put a ribbon in her hair, but obviously had no experience in doing little girls hair.

She took the empty chair at the table, obviously hoping that no one would notice her. The Sunday School teacher decided to just let her quietly enter the classroom, instead of making a big deal of the visitors who normally visit the class. She would find out her name, and something about her before introducing her to class.

As class began, the kids all were distracted by this little girl who seemed so out of place. Long skinny fingers fidgeted as she held her hands on the table. When she realized she was being watched, she quickly snapped her hands off the table and into her lap. The less attention the better. Maybe they'd stop watching her if they didn't see her fidgeting?

The lesson began. Today's lesson was out of Matthew Six. 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? The teacher read the scripture, suddenly aware that this may not have been the best scripture to have read aloud on that particular Sunday Morning. Children's eyes struggled to not stare at the little girl in the rumpled dress.

The teacher, blushing, read on, 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. by now, she knew, that she was stuck, she had no other lesson to prepare and she was too far into the scripture to back out. All she could do was pray that she would not humiliate this little girl. So, she kept reading.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

She quietly looked at the class and the flower on her desk she'd brought for the lesson. Suddenly, the flower looked so pale, so lifeless in it's little vase. The lesson seemed so ... dismal. What could she say with this classroom full of brightly clothed children, with hair perfectly brushed and bright shiney shoes? With this one child brought into their midst who is obviously not the same?

She picked up the flower and put it back down. The little girl raised her hand. Shaking a little. The teacher said "yes dear?" Nervousness took over both of them. The teacher having no idea what was going to come out of this little girl. The little girl, knowing she wasn't quite in place, and would she be accepted?

She said, "My name is Elise. Last year, my Mom and Dad were both working at good jobs. I was always at after school daycare. At friends houses. With babysitters. I had all the things my friends had. We had a big house. Then, my mom got sick. She has cancer. She had to quit her job. We had to sell our big house and move to a small one, and we have to take hand me downs for clothes. People bring us stuff. My Mom, is going to be Ok. I don't have all the things my friends have anymore. My mom is getting better. The medicines are working and soon she'll be healthy again and my mom will be able to put my ribbons in my hair instead of my Dad. The amazing thing is, that we've learned to be a family. No more daycare. No more babysitters. I may not have everything my friends have, but I have a family. We go on picnics to see the flowers and have fun together. I can have friends to my house because my parents have time. We may not have stuff, but we have each other."

The class, was a bit uncomfortable, but the teacher was touched deeply. The flower was suddenly the bright, pretty example she'd thought it'd been when she brought it. Perspective is everything.

This little girl, Elise, who looked so misplaced, was perfectly placed. The Sunday School teacher walked out of that class that morning learning an important lesson ...to leave everything in God's hands ... to not worry about tomorrow ...for God will take care of it. To not worry about the next moment, because God has everything under control. To not worry. She vowed "I SHALL NOT WASTE MY DAYS IN TRYING TO PROLONG THEM"

Wow

Friday Fellowship is at Amazon.com How totally awesome is that?

SQUEEK!

Tulsa Beacon also ran a press release on my book today.

"BA Author Releases Book"

I had a hard time finding the press release. I wasn't looking for the word author. I'm not used to living in BA yet ... very strange. Happy happy happy strange. But, strange none the less.

For those in the Tulsa Area, Tulsa Beacon is a newspaper you can purchase for 50cents at Quik Trip, amoung other places, on Thursdays. The release is on page 5. Sweet!

I managed to dislocate my shoulder this week. The one I had surgery on in April. It's quite painful. I need to notify my orthopedist. I promised the doc I would do so on Tuesday and haven't done it yet. Last night, I was trying to hurry and rammed right into a door with my shoulder. YIPPERS. A friend that's a physical therapist took a look at it, and said it's still intact. Just a bit swollen, which could have been from Monday's fiasco. It was awfully hot. What is bad, is that my joints are sooo loosey goosey ... (hypermobile is the medical term) I frequently pop my shoulders in and out, and rarely have to have medical assistance getting them back in ... so this was a bad one. Only once did they have to do the whole shabang that you see on TV with shoulders.

If you haven't been to my new website www.freewebs.com/peggikaye ... please check it out and sign the guestbook ...if you haven't been since the first day, please go back. I've updated it and added a few things. :D

As far as my Christmas wish list ...we decided to do something different this year. Instead of us, as parents buying for the kids, and Don buying for me, me for Don. We're going to take our Christmas budget, divide by 4, draw names out of a hat and each buy for each other. No one knowing who has who (idealy). The wish lists have gone onto the refridgerator. So no one tells anyone anything.

Various things

Sorry for my absence, I've spent the weekend building my website. I think, I actually have a website. Thank you all for your comments! I think that I have spent over 25 hours on it this weekend! I do know why people get paid $$$ for building websites! I do NOT recommend building websites when the only chair you have, is a folding chair! JEEPERS CREEPERS!!! My back is killing me!

Last night, I got talked into, by my sons, going to the youth group Christmas party. Because of that, I now have a much more comfortable chair. The host family, had been meaning to offer us a chair they loved, but no longer fit their decor. It's perfect! At least, until we can get a computer chair.

The Christmas party was fun. Lots of teenagers running around acting goofy. A few adults, that I love, and don't get to really TALK to very often.

They had a couple of games ...one was a huge 4' stocking stuffed with 'stuff' and you had to guess what was inside the stocking. The person who guessed the most stuff won. Samuel was determined. Samuel, won. Some strange stuff in the stocking, like ONE worn out slipper (exactly in Samuel's size *grin*); a DVD of an old movie he'd been wanting to see, a coffee mug, some tape, a scratched CD, a frisbee (with Whinnie the Pooh and Tigger on it, perfect gift for his 5 year old cousin!); a 25 pc Clifford puzzle (guess who?) and a few other odd things. The thing he was most excited about ...the stocking. :D

We then rode on a trolley to a neighborhood where most of the houses decorate (professionally) for Christmas. It was quite beautiful. The trolley ride was really fun. Teenagers singing Christmas carols, laughing, enjoying each other's company and just being happy!

It was a really good party.

The day had started out stressful enough. I told you a few weeks ago that our Senior Pastor had resigned, well, yesterday, our associate pator handed in her resignation. Change, begets change. So, now our 250 member church now has no Pastor, no associate pastor, no worship pastor and no youth pastor. Leaving us with a children's pastor and a secretary. Could, get very interesting. Very interesting indeed.

Unfortuneately, the rumors are flying wild. That she was fired on Saturday ...not true, she called me Wednesday and told me that she handed in her resignation on Monday. That this was unexpected and unplaned ...not exactly true ..while, a week ago on Sunday she didn't really know she was going to do it ... she'd been talking about it for well over a year. WELL OVER A YEAR. When she met with the board of trustee's, she decided that the direction that they were going was different than she wanted to go, and that she would hinder the process, not help the process and they would hold her back spiritually. It was not a contentious move. It was an emotional move, because, as she put it, she is a girl and she loves this church. It was, a move that was, to help the church move forward, not keep anyone back.

As crazy as it sounds ... I think she's right. I think our pastor is right. I think ...when our pastor resigned saying that sometimes things need to be torn down and rebuilt ... that is where our church is. And maybe, just maybe our church needs to do just that very thing.

I am exicted when I think of the ministry opportunities that await my pastor and his wife in non professional ministry life! I can't wait to see how they are progressing in their personal life. Randy would do things, because he has a heart of gold to help one person ...and 200 people would get upset. Only 50 people would understand why he did what he did. He is a pastor to the individual, which is what made him such great pastor. But to be able to do those things without having to answer back to 250 people? It really, is a good thing.

As far as our associate pastor ... I think she learned a tremendous amount that she needed to learn, administrative, computer, etc. I, really believe, she has a women's ministry in her future. Something far bigger than the administrative support stuff she's been doing. She's been boxed in long enough. She's this georgeous passionate wild bird who's singing at the top of her lungs ...and it's time to let the caged bird fly!

As far as our church ... when I got to Southpark... church statistics for the nation were that 20% of the people did 80% of the work. But, it wasn't true for Southpark. Most people enthusiastically participated. Our leaderships love and passion for God was contagious and people got behind them.

Then life got in the way ... and those who were hard workers moved away ..got promoted in their jobs ... lost spouses, aged ... whatever ... life changed ... and over the last 10 years ... apathy has set in and a good less than 20% does 90% of the work. It all got shoved off onto ...that's the pastor's job. That's why we have a support pastor. That's the children's minister's job. That's the worship pastor's job. Isn't that why we pay a youth pastor?

So, without a pastoral staff, save one, who pastor's the children, who really, have no say in who does what ... we are going to be forced to run our church. To behave as servants of God. Not the served. And, we're going to have to work together. It will have to be about each other, not about me.

I think, this is, going to be a very very good thing. Scary ...absolutely. We have to A) trust God not ourselves and B) trust each other to step up, not ourselves or someone we've paid.

I do think, this will be very good. Then a new pastor can come in, and we will be ready to function as a church again.

Merry Christmas

Ok folks ...it's getting closer and closer to Christmas ...so ...just what is it that you want for Christmas this year?

Seriously ... I'm looking for ideas here ... my husband has asked for a wish list.

My brain can't get past my book coming out.

I have my new house.

My marriage is great.

My kids are wonderful.

What more could I possibly want.

He's not satisfied.

He wants me to have actual gifts to unwrap on Christmas morning.

What are some of your 'ooooo makes me smile' things?

Please check it out!

Please go look at my new website.It's still being built, but I just started it tonight. For my new book, Friday Fellowship.

:D

Sign my guest book too if you would. Thanks all.

:D

I have a 17 year old son, junior in high school, who is extremely bright. Last year, he was functioning, well below his potential ...He brought home his Pre ACT and Pre SAT scores and went ...Oh my goodness .... I just might be a smart kid!

hmmm I think I've heard that before? His first practice test of the ACT had composite score as a 25. (you need a 17/18 to get into most colleges) you need a 25 to get into IVY league colleges.

He took this test, 5 weeks into his Sophomore year in high school, after having been homeschooled through the 8th grade. Mamma, was pretty proud.

More importantly, Samuel, realized that he was sliding by with his accepting being the smartest in the room. It was time to work. *whew* (Prayers answered!)

The school he went to, had the kids fill out interest forms. In addition to the Pre SAT and Pre ACT testing, they would give some career suggestions based on interests and scores.

The top career suggestion for Samuel ... Forensic Medical Examiner/Pathologist

His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree!
"I can do that?"

To him, anything like that, was out of his reach, because we are a financially strapped family.
"Samuel, you're a smart kid ...if you work, we're not paying for college, your brain will pay for college!"
"oh. I didn't realize that!"

He sat there quietly for a few minutes and then suddenly he was like a new kid. He got excited ... and he had a goal. Life was in front of him. Being the smartest in the class wasn't just enough, he needed to be his best.

He started to work to succeed.

This year, he's gotten a bit lackadaisical (SP?) and settling again ... and just in time ... another practice ACT score walks through the door ...
composite score of 29 this time ...with a science score of 32.
His Percentile ranking for the state ... Composite 96%ile ...for the nation ... 95%ile.
His Percentile ranking for science ... for the state ... 99%ile ... for the nation 98%ile.

He's realizing again, he needs to work, and he's got a gift he should not waste. His future is dependent on his ability to apply himself.

I'm a proud mamma. :D

Press Release by Publish America

www.publishamerica.com
For Immediate Release Contact: Shawn Street – Public Relations pr@publishamerica.com www.publishamerica.com
PublishAmerica Presents Friday Fellowship by Peggikaye Eagler Frederick, MD December 6, 2006 -- PublishAmerica is proud to present Friday Fellowship by Peggikaye Eagler of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Friday Fellowship is an expertly written book that will help the reader in their walk with Christ.

Intended to help those who want to start devotions, who want to be challenged in their Christian walk, and those who want to become closer to God, Eagler’s book will help the reader grow in faith while learning more about and how to better worship the Lord God Almighty.

Peggikaye Eagler is a wife and a mother of two teenage boys. She has weathered many storms in her life, including the loss of her stepfather to suicide when she was 14, surviving an eating disorder, chronic illness and sick children. In the battles, she learned the lessons from her childhood that depending on Christ as her sanctuary would not only help her to survive the trials,but to thrive.

PublishAmerica is the home of 20,000 talented authors. PublishAmerica is a traditional publishing company whose primary goal is to encourage and promote the works of new, previously undiscovered writers. Like more mainstream publishers, PublishAmerica pays its authors advances and royalties, makes its books available in both the United States and Europe through all bookstores, and never charges any fees for its services. PublishAmerica offers a distinctly personal, supportive alternative to vanity presses and less accessible publishers.

END

Book information!

Dear Peggikaye Eagler,

Congratulations on your book! It has been sent to print this week. The book is now available to order through the PublishAmerica online bookstore, and you should be receiving your complimentary author copies within the next 4-6 weeks. Your friends and family should receive their announcement letters shortly after your complimentary author copies are shipped.

The official release date for your book, Friday Fellowship, will be approximately two months from the date of printing (Monday, 12/4/2006), on Monday, 2/5/2007. This is the date by which other booksellers should have your book’s information in their ordering systems.

YIKES ... it's getting closer and closer and closer! How exciting!!!!


(if the link doesn't work ...does sometimes, doesn't others ... weirdness ....

go to publishamerica.com ... on line bookstore ... then on the search, you can look for either Friday Fellowship OR Peggikaye Eagler and find my book.

After February 5, 2007 ... my book will be available in bookstores, if they don't carry it, you can ask them to order it by the name, author name and or ISBN number ...which I do have ... but ..it's somewhere in a moving box right now *grin* and I will post as soon as it's found)

A Single Statement ... Out of Context

He said it to me, rather emphatically, pleading with me. It was imperitive that I hear him.

In context he meant one thing. He didn't know, and still does not know, that it would have far reaching impact into every corner of my existance.

In context, I was in physical therapy, it was 7 years ago. I'd been in physical therapy for about 2 months. My muscles were in a severely weekend, and there were days I could not brush my hair. The problem was, my back was in really bad condition ... and my posture was suffering ... and the muscles that were supporting my back were just slacking off.

They'd only been effected by the MG in a minor way, MG effects the arms and legs far more than the torso muscles.

What caused my slouch ... fatigue. Pure fatigue.

There was no real muscle weakness ... but the fatigue and lack of making myself sit properly ... was causing serious damage to my back and shoulders ...hips ..knees ... and well ... it just continues down the whole body.

So, my PT in one desperate passionate comment said to me "Change the way you live on this planet"

It struck me rather importantly. I knew him well enough by then to know that he was not telling me to do something I could not do. I knew that it was something I had to work on.

He only meant to sit straighter when I could. Stand straighter. Work against the fatigue and don't let the monster destroy me!

But ... the comment sunk into areas of my life where he didn't even imply it to mean ...

relationships ...
spiritual walk
health management

sit straighter ... go deeper ... push against the fatigue ...

when the battle gets hard ...push against the fatigue ...

When the marriage gets weary ... sit up straight and do the hard thing ...

When the parenting gets hard ... sit up harder stand up straighter ...do the right thing ...

Change the way you live on the planet

We've moved into a brand new house. Brand spankin' new. It's amazing how many times the phrase has ran through my mind ... especially in house cleaning.
Things I would have let the boys get away with in the trailer isn't about to happen here.
Something I would have waited to put away till the next time I get up, gets put away now.
Dishes are done when they are used ...not once a day.

The other trailer was old, and falling apart and it was hard to keep up with, partially because it was soooo falling apart it was why bother?

Part of moving was like physical therapy ... and forced the change ... and it enforces the ability to Change the way we live on this planet.

Christmas tag

I've been *gasp* tagged! Cathy ..thank you dear. 5 Christmas songs ....

Cathy thought it was easy ... I spend every week elbow deep in music files ... figuring out 5 songs ...is not easy!

1. Mary Did You Know?

2. White Christmas

3. 'Nuttin' for Christmas

4. O Little Town of Bethelem

5. Silent Night, Holy Night

Now I am supposed to tag people who haven't been tagged ... but I think most people have been tagged.

so ...if you're reading this and haven't been tagged (Alison ?) you're it!

:)

My book, Friday Fellowship, went to print today.

I am so excited I can't even see straight!

The cover is just beautiful! Not at all what I'd expected, or would have done myself ... far more elegant and lovely.

They also used the color picture on the back instead of the sepia tone ...

As soon as it's available ... I will definitely let you know. :D

In the meantime ...we're ankle deep in snow. My kids are going bonkers.

Samuel's Tourette's is unusually active today. I'm having a hard time remembering that he has an actual disorder and isn't just being annoying. It's hard ... when he walks around the house yelling "duck sauce" out of the blue for no good reason ... when he continued after having been disciplined (sent to his room) I realized that it wasn't just cabin fever but disorder ... whoops ....good mom ...punish a kid for TS ... good job!

He took his medicine ... I wonder what's causing it to act up.

Come to think of it, Benjamin's motor tics are unusually active today too .. hmmm

I don't feel good because of the weather changes ... stupid joints don't think too much of drastic weather changes like we've had. I wonder ... do Blizzards cause an increase of tics?

I haven't seen either one of them have an outbreak of TS like this in quite some time. Maybe it's the stress of the move and the cabin fever combined.

Calgon ...take me away!

Wall Hangings ....

My nephew sent me some pictures from my housewarming ... I thought I'd share a couple pics with you ...

This picture, my mom gave me. She heard that I was going to do my kitchen in Fruit of the Spirit ...


This one ... is extra special ... it was painted by my dear friend at Wanda's Wings ...yes, she painted it herself! I was so touched. Both by her gift, as well as her talent!



It's placement in the house hasn't been decided. My husband wants it in our room.

My children say it goes in the hallway where we call all enjoy it. :D It will probably go in the hallway ... we'll see.



There are more pictures to share from the housewarming ....

however ... it looks like we're going to be snowed in ...and I'll have plenty of time for blogging and I have a teenaged son begging for the computer ...so, for now, I will surrender to him.

Enjoy the pictures!

Prayer for a Fruitful Home

Prayer For A Fruitful Home
By Peggikaye Eagler

Every Morning as we begin our day,
May Godly Love guide each word we say.

Regardless of what the day may bring,
May Joy be the song that our hearts sing.

When trials threaten to overwhelm,
May God’s Peace be at our hearts helm.

When time is flying and money tight,
May Patience reign instead of fright.

Help us to always put others ahead,
May we remember, by Kindness be led.

No matter what we see in those around,
May Goodness in our lives abound.

When in dark times, we may not see the way,
May Your call to Faithfulness be our stay.

When life around seems to make us stumble,
May Your Gentleness keep us humble.

And finally Lord, but not the least,
May Self Control rule, in famine or feast.

Galatians 5:22&23

***************************************

Dedicated to the Habitat for Humanity Class, May 2004.

Here, home, happy

Well, except for a few things that are left in the storage shed and in the stored in the back room ... we are in the new house. Mostly unpacked too. Not quite ...about 75%.

Exhausted. I've been sick. That's not helping.

I have so much to say ... and no words to say it in. Besides, it's almost dinner ... and since, we now have a dining room table, and we all sit together ... I can't just type through dinner ... so. I just wanted to pop on and say I'm back to the blogging world. I will try to up date tomorrow.

Scarcity of Blogging

Pearls and Dreams

Well ... the next week or so, my blogging may get a bit scarce. This is my last night in the old house ... as tomorrow night, is our first night in our new house. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!

Ironically, it is also the birthday of both my husband and I. (no, we didn't plan it that way ...until my son said something about 20 minutes ago, we'd forgotten what tomorrow was as far as aging was concerned).

Happy birthday to us!

We were supposed to go out for a birthday dinner at Cowboy Sharkies ...but I seriously doubt we will ... we will be moving.

It will probably be this weekend before we are fully out of this house, but we move into the new house tomorrow and the new house has no phone line, nor any other way to get computer access ... and well ...when we're here ...we'll be packing. We'll be living in our home.

It will be ever so nice to be warm.

See you soon.

shock ... devestation ...

Today, my pastor preached a wonderful sermon. One of his best.

When it was over ... he came down from the stage and on the stairs he said what an honor it is to be in the ministry ... to be at all the births, the weddings all the celebrations in life and to even be at the funerals ... I started to get a bit 'oozy' at this point and then thought ..nah ... it's Thanksgiving ...he's just saying how thankful he is ...

Then he said that when he got here 10 years ago the teenagers were just nosed kids ... (ooozy again ...nooooo he's been here 10 years! That's it!)

No, wait .....

He resigned. Just like that ... a few sentences then he gave his resignation. In a few weeks ... he'll be gone.

He and his wife are leaving not only our church, but the ministry.

It's a shame. In my book, Friday Fellowship, that is coming out, in October, which is minister appreciation month, I write a poem about ministers and how they are special ...and the devotional is how they are leaving the ministry in droves ...and how ... we as their flock don't do enough to prevent that ... how ironic, that now ...as my book is about to come out ...my pastor, who I've loved and prayed for so much ...who I wrote the poem for, is resigning.

My heart is breaking, I've worked closely with his wife for 7 years. My ministry partner is going. I am not sure that the new worship pastor will need 'a Peggi'. That's my title "a Peggi". We've never given what I do a title ... the teacher's in our worship team have just deamed it 'a Peggi' and wished they had 'a Peggi' for their classroom. Carla is sure that a new minister will need me more than she does, but I'm not foolish enough to assume that ...everyone is different. Different people do things differently. Of coarse, I'm available and willing ... but ...not presumptious. I don't sing anymore, my voice is gone. So, with Randy and Carla leaving, I may be loosing my place of worship.

This means, that our little church .. our struggling little church, that has limped along so painfully without a youth pastor for the last several months ...is now down a senior pastor, a worship pastor and a youth pastor. Leaving us with a support pastor (who's been praying about leaving for well over a year) and a children's pastor ...who, I've wondered for well over 6 months if she's on her way out. She's so very tired.

Our church secretary is recoverying from Breast Cancer and has been the secretary for something like 25 years ... will she stay?

What will happen from here ... only God knows. Thank God that he does.

Party is over :)

Happy sigh ...

The house warming is finally over. It was a wonderful time.

We weren't sure how we were going to do the gifts, but we had planned on letting a few people get there, and our hostess get things settled in before we started to open ... but my mom got there and just started to insist that we get hers opened right then and there. Oh well ... it was a come and go ... so ... might as well ... after I got over the annoyance of her not paying any attention to the fact that she'd just walked in and pushed her way into the center of attention ... I got over it and started to open the gifts. Her gifts, were really beautiful ... but what was most touching is that she and my father went in together to buy the gifts! Considering that they've been divorced since I was born (literally) it is quite remarkable. I've never had a gift from both my mother and my father before.
To me, this was quite important, she kept trying to push to the fact that she picked out the gifts with my sister Debbie ... to me ... they were important that it was from her and my dad. Ahh ... my mom ...
What they got for me was some absolutely beautiful paintings for our house.

I also got the bedroom set that I wanted, and several other things that I will post in another post. When my nephew sends pictures I will try to give a more detailed post of this is what we got.

My most treasured things ... were ... the framed art from my parents ... and a really special painting from my dear friend Wanda ...from Wanda's Wings !!! Oh my gosh you bloggers! It was BEAUTIFUL!!! I am so touched by how wonderful it is! I was hoping to get a Wanda original ...and I'd seen how talented she was. I didn't realize that she was THAT good ... and she had it beautifully framed too!! The other things that I had asked for on my registry that were major decorating center pieces for the house ... a mat for the kitchen that was what picked the whole house color theme .. a shower curtain in the bathroom and the bedroom set ... were all chosen!

Also, the kids ministry at church bought us the programmable coffee maker! YEA MAN!

The funny thing ... most of the wrapping paper ... in purple ... of coarse.

The party itself ...decorated rather elegantly in the beautiful fall colors that I like so much.

More ...when I can think more clearly and have pictures to share.

The Honesty of Children

I was stopping at the store to pick up some cold relief medicine ... so I could feel a little better. I've caught a nasty cold. It might be allergies flaring from packing and such. Either way, it's not good and it's pulled the rug right out from under me.
I feel like a skunk in the middle of the road that's been ran over.

I'm standing in line, and I'm thinking about just how happy I am in life right now.

My new house. My new marriage. My kids ... as much as they drive me nuts ... I've really got great kids. Benjamin is 14, almost 15 ...and all that comes with ... but he really is a good kid. In the grand scheme of things ... my kids ... are really terrific kids.

So I'm standing there and the song "I'm on the top of the world looking out on creation ..." hits me ... and I smile.

Well ... I'm sick.

And this little girl walks by

and she's about 4 or 5. Might be kindergarten ...maybe k4 age ... and she says to her mommy ....

Look at the cranky old lady mommy ... why isn't she happy?

The mom ... was mortified at how loud the little girl said it.

I was looking around for the cranky old lady.

There was only one lady around ... me.

YIKES ...

I paid for my stuff and walked out to the car ...looked into the mirror ... and saw the cranky old woman ... yep ... I look like the skunk that's been ran over in the middle of the road ...

ACHOO!

Sign of Surprise, Thank You

Pearls and Dreams

A while back, I had someone ask to be my myspace friend. It was someone who owned a business in Broken Arrow. They own a business who puts up signs and flags for surprises ...parties and such in the Broken Arrow and Tulsa area.

The idea intrigued me. I thought it might be a kind of cool way to say thank you to the volunteers who helped to build my house. So, I asked for a price quote.

Rather than giving me a price quote ...the business contacted Habitat and asked if they could donate this service for the key ceremony!!!!!!

It was such a kind gesture! I wanted to not only say thank you to them for doing it, but make sure that I posted pictures of the signs at the key ceremony as a way of showing just what they did for us.

So, Sign of Surprise, thank you SO much for doing this for us on Sunday. It was absolutely wonderful and I hope you get a few calls because of it!

I'm not me?

Pearls and Dreams

I found this last night. According to this ... I don't exist.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions.

Q: Why isn't my name on the list?

The list of names from the census bureau isn't complete. For privacy reasons, names with relatively few responses were not included in the list. We used this data to create this site. Our site can only be as good as the data we have to work with.


Around 1 out of every 10 people will have a last name not on the list.
Around 1 out of every 10 people will have a first name not on the list.
Using the same statistical fallacy this site is known for, that means about 81% of people will have both names on the list. In a mathematical coup our scientists have determined from this information that about 19% of people will have either one or both names missing from the list.


"I think it's important not to take it as a rejection of you personally."
Gabriel Caine -- Diggstown.

On the proof that I do exist ... one of the church's that helped to build my house has pictures of yesterday's ceremony up. I thought I'd send the link.

When my nephew sends the pictures he took, I will send those along.
Now, we have the housewarming to look forward to on Saturday. People keep telling me they know what they're going to get me now ... curiosity is about to kill the cat!

I guess I've waited this long for the house, I can wait a few more days for the gifts lol

Dreams come true

We own a home ... the house key is truly precious metal! I don't know how many people were there. Quite a few.

It was a really neat time with everyone giving credit to God and prayers. I think, my face actually hurts from smiling ...but I'm still smiling!

Afterwards, we were given a living room set by a few couples in our church. I knew we were getting some living room furniture, but didn't quite know what to expect ... they did perfect! I found a picture and posted below what they bought for us! They'd asked me about what our needs and wants were. I told them that Don really needed a recliner, and there wasn't room for both a recliner and loveseat. I'd rather see him get the recliner than have the normal couch & loveseat set. Well, they decided that wasn't good enough and got us a loveseat that reclines in both seats, and a couch that reclines on both ends!!! So the couch and love seat has FOUR recliners!!!!

Diane and I had talked about how Don really wanted leather and I REALLY didn't want leather. I didn't mind the look, but I can't stand how cold it is in the winter and how you stick to it in the summer. So, they got this beautiful suede that looks like a brushed leather!!!

The color, a beautiful olive green! We couldn't have picked better if we'd tried!!!
So now the moving starts!!!

We were given a computer, a $75 gift certificate from Albertsons, a beautiful family Bible and a tool chest. The lady who lives in the Habitat house just down the street from mine presented us with the Bible and tool chest. She is a wonderful lady that I met at my classmate's building ... and she prayed WITH me that I would get into Broken Arrow ...and that regardless of the complications that all the pathways would open up ... it was a very special moment for both of us. She specifically had prayed the whole year that we'd get the particular lot we did ..she wanted us as neighbors.

We now have a solid house as well as a home.
Pk

nerves

You know, it's almost midnight, I have a huge day in my life tomorrow ... I should be sleeping. I'm not. I'm a nervous wreck. I hardly slept last night. I worked hard today ...what I could between back spasms (not normal for me).


I have to give a speech tomorrow on what homeownership means to me. A short one. Not sure I can do the speech part ... or the short part. I start to try to plan out what I'm going to say and I start to have a panic attack. This, is not good. I plan on having the worship team pray for me in the morning.


My heart broke this afternoon. I was getting very angry at my son, Benjamin, because he wouldn't help with the packing. It was one thing for him to stall and not do what we needed him to do. I know his hand is still a bit sore as well as his asthma acts up ...not to mention the step by step directions ... gets him confused ...it definitely crosses over into his learning disabilities. So, I kind of expected some kind of fall out at the packing stage. What I didn't expect was for him to get into MY way and be rude about it. He wouldn't get out of my way ...he was going to be on the computer ...period. I told him no, I had to be in front of the desk and he couldn't be on the computer at that time. He became very angry with me and with vileness spit out at me a verbal lashing I wasn't prepared for coming from my own son! "Why? Why NOW?! " I told him in a rather tightly formed tone of voice, barely controlled "because I am PACKING SON!" and he even more angry let it fly "Why bother?! They're not going to give us the house anyway!" He threw the chair down and ran to my room. Oh my! Oh my baby!

The poor kiddo, he's going through all of this and not expecting any of it to really be real? No wonder he's acting up so much! I gave him a hug and let him rest in my room and watch tv before we talked about his disrespect and the truth vs feelings and such. It's so hard for kids raised in poverty to see a step forward as something that is really going to happen to them.

Our Twitch is in the cat hospital tonight. He'll be home tomorrow. He's not happy with us having left him there for 2 days having given him surgery. But he's doing just fine. He's being rather rude to his care givers though. not aggressive, just hissing and loud meowing. But when they pick him up, he's perfectly relaxed. He keeps trying to climb under the towel in the cage. I told her that's ok, he does that at home. So they said they may get him another one to hide under.


Well my friends ... we are at 15.5 hours and counting at this point ... and I guess I should get some sleep. Or at least try to. I've checked the Target registry as much as I can and people are either ...not buying off the registry ...not buying anything ... or the registry takes time to get it registered. Because there are only 4 items marked off. The housewarming is next Saturday. So, some people could be going and buying it and not marking it off at the register so it's not being marked off. Or, they may just be waiting. Some people may just be buying what they want to buy us ...forget the registry. I did notice that the my bedroom set that I wanted sooooo badly is marked fullfilled. So I'll have a nice elegant bedroom :) ok ... talk to you after the Key Ceremony. Iheard that Reba was supposed to be in town for part of the Tulsa Centenial Celebration ...wouldn't that be cool if she gave me my key??? LOL ... just a laugh ... lol Reba crashes key ceremony! Hey! I'd rather her do it than Oprah crash a wedding!!!

48 hours and counting

We are on count down at this point. Everything we do in this house seems to be on a "we don't have to do this very many more times...." Every afternoon, the boys and I watch the reruns of the Reba show. They show the Reba/Habitat/whirpool commercial. Everytime they show it, I get teary eyed ... and each day ...the tears get bigger. When Reba says that a key is precious metal ... oh my goodness ... it might be a sappy commerical ...but to me ...it's soo true.

I found a website for one of the churches that had been taking pictures from start to finish. I think, this picture, says it all.


Thank you Heritage United Methodist church in Broken Arrow for putting up those pictures!!

Tonight is small group ... I'm even comparing that with my new house. Next time, we'll have to drive from Broken Arrow and it won't be so close! Isn't that cool? :D

Tonight's small group we're going to discuss Worship. I'm going to be teaching the youth group, high schoolers this time. So, I'm going to get some feed back from small group to use in my lesson ... some benchmark ideas.

I hope Sunday's weather is better than today. It's kind of dreary ...windy, cold. Icky. I don't know if it's rained or not. I took a long nap because my body responded to the cold front that swooped down over us. We were in the 80's the last 2 days.

Wednesday, I went into church and had to face my biggest fear ...actually, it's not a fear. It's a phobia. It's beyond fear into irrational fear. Which, would be a phobia, Right?

I walked into church (Wanda, stop laughing at me) and I let out a loud scream, and jumped, and then ..according to Wanda, I started to dance. I did not stop shaking until I went to bed that night.

What caused the reaction ... a snake. There was a HUGE SNAKE IN THE DOORWAY of the church ... HUGE I TELL YA! ok, so it was about a foot long and the thickness of a pencil ... but hey ... black and white stripes ... uglier than sin!!!!

I stepped on the thing. I guess, from what Wanda said, I made it mad. It danced as much as I did. One of our male praise and worship leaders, who's worked very hard on our house, was walking in behind us, and he saved us from torture worse than death.
He threw the thing back into the grass ... ewww.

What was worse ..driving down the expressway on Thursday ...going to therapy, I notice that the consruction crew is looking at the highway and pointing. Word of advice. If there is something that catches the attention of a construction crew ..and you have an unrational fear ...don't look ...
in the middle of the expressway ..slithering along the road was ... truly a LARGE snake! EEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW

Two times in 24 hours.

It's NOVEMBER! We live in the CITY ... why are these creatures tormenting me! I don't care if it was 85 degree's outside ... ACK!!!!!!!!!!

ewwie ick!

Sigh my babies

Pearls and Dreams

free kittens Three kittens, two females, one male. Approximately 15 weeks old. We're moving and can't take them with us. We own... Nationwide ads

Let me take you on a tour.

Come right on in ... oh wait ...first I have to check the mail ...



Okay ... let's walk on up the driveway to the house. I hope you really enjoy the house. We've worked really hard to get the house, and a lot of people have worked really hard to build it with us, for us.



Come on in ... The storm door, was something I'll never forget being put together! It took a WHOLE day! It's made by Pella. You'd think storm doors that are that expensive would be a little less complicated!



First, we come to the kitchen. I can't believe I have so many cabinets and drawers! Where I am now, I have ONE drawer and ONE cabinet!!!

No longer will we have to 'store' our skillets on the stove when not in use.
Across from the kitchen, is the living room. We had the choice of an 8 foot wall at the door, but it was just for decoration and to devide the room. I liked the openess of the space ... I think it makes the house look bigger. The carpet, is called Adobe.



Oh, and while professionals lay the carpet, my husband and son laid the kitchen and hallway lenolium. I think he did a beautiful job!
Let's go down the hallway to the rest of the house. First, take a look at the lighting fixtures ...




The bathroom is there at the end of the hallway, no pictures though. Not sure why. Maybe at the key ceremony.

Take a left here, and you see my utility room and side door. They call it a 'mudroom' and 'mudroom door'. It's one of my favorite features about the house!!

My laundry area has been IN my kitchen for the last 17 years, the 5 years before that, it was in a laundromat! UGH!!! I can't wait to have it out of the kitchen.
The door to the left, is the hot water heater and the doors to the right is the utility closet.

Back to the main hallway and to the bedrooms,


This one is Samuel's, but they all are similar, the master is a bit bigger and has a ceiling fan.
Let's take our coffee to the porch and we can enjoy the view oh, and you can see the pretty flowers that they planted for us.


These are the pink Knockout Roses.

I do hope you enjoyed the tour. Come again!

Happy Sigh

The house is done. Flowers and all.

The gardners came today. We didn't have the normal Habitat flower people. The flowers were done by a flower company that one of the churches that sponsored the house. This, was a good thing, it means mine is different than all the other habitat houses . (Read this as: NO PURPLE FLOWERS!)

We have 3 rose bushes ... called Knockout Roses (pink) on one side
Boxwoods and Nandina's in front
and Japanese Yews on the other side.
Yellow pansies on one corner.

Just beautiful!

As soon as Stephen sends me the pictures, I will send the pictures!

Sigh.

Blogversary

Pearls and Dreams

Yesterday, I visited my friend Moof's blog. It was her first blogversary. It got me thinking that my blog versary was coming up soon. So, I thought I'd look up when mine was. I thought, I might want to mention it. Surprise! It was November 3rd! My Second Blogversary!

I thought I would take this moment to reflect back and answer a couple of questions. One question I get by email (usually from strangers who visit, but never comment) is :
Why do you collect elephants?

You know, no one, who's ever known me, has ever asked me that question. So when I got the blog, and I started to get emails asking me that question, it really started to nag at me. I needed an ANSWER. I was 13 when I started my collection. I have some pretty unique elephants, my favorite, being one I got for my 40th birthday shortly after starting this blog ...from a friend, it's made out of shark cartilege.


So, I started to think...why elephants, I'm facinated with elephants as a creature. Not just the figurines. Then, while reading to a child one day ... the answer came to me ... good old Dr. Suess.
I meant what I said
And I said what I meant....
An elephant's faithful
One hundred per cent!

So, there is the answer .. I collect them, because elephants are faithful. 100%

In the last 2 years, I have shared about my step father's life, his death, and the love we've shared.
In the early days of this blog, I particapated in some blog writers "rounds" called Blogger Idol. It really got me started with Blogging.

Soon, I ran into Grand Rounds. It had just started shortly before. I've met, and continue to meet a whole lot of new bloggers through the weekly posting of Grand Rounds.

I was in the middle of working towards my goal of getting a house through Habitat for Humanity. At the time, the goal seemed unreachable. 450 hours of sweat equity to even begin to build. 500 to ownership. Impossible for someone like me. It was exausting, and I did not think I could do it. And ... now ... we've gone from ... the hours ahead to even get there ... to a lot ....


To a home that will be ready tomorrow!




And ours ... in just nine more days!

I've watched my boys go from kids, to young men.



I've posted about my cats and my health, my faith and my love for worship music. I've posted about my childhood battles that I don't even talk verbally about and I've posted about my eating disorder.

I think though, if I had to choose the the topic that touched me the most that I've posted about ... it would be ... my marriage. I hesitated to post about how bad things were before, and yet, I did. I was trying to reach out and not hide how bad things were anymore.

I didn't realize that shortly things were going to take a dramatic turn for the miraculous ... and had I not shared the dark ..the light would not have seemed nearly as bright.

So, thank you all for coming along my journey with me. I hope you all will keep riding along with me for some more. I can't wait to see where the road takes me ... especially after I move into my new house and get my book published. I have the feeling, it's going to feel like a whole new life.

Book Meme I can live with ...

Pearls and Dreams

Artemis had this on her site, I thought it was really an interesting meme ... so, I picked it up. I'm not going to tag anyone, so go ahead and feel safe to read on. However ... I challenge you ... to forge ahead and join the meme on your own.

Here are the instructions ...
Here are the rules and my selection:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next four sentences on your blog, along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest!

"You've tried that too? Just when I realized it was impossible, I also realized that it was not at all what I was wanting to do.
I sat down and held her tight little tummy against my chest. She began to relax."

Max Lucado's No Wonder They Call Him Savior

A few sentences later ... his 3 week old baby girl fell asleep inspite of the tummy ache.
What had he tried to do? To hold her, comfort her while getting stuff done with the other hand.

I had something happen this week that unsettled me. An email out of the blue ..from my childhood. I won't go into details, but, it caused a rather tumultuous tornado inside my spirit to errupt.

I went to church Wednesday night and in worship team practice we worked on a new song that we've been learning ... I blogged about it a while back ...STILL ... and again, I was reminded that God was still God ..and I just needed to be still and know that he's in charge.


Hide me now,
Under Your wings
Cover me,
With in Your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You, above the storm

Father, You are King over the flood

I will be still and know You are God
Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust
****************************************************

It's funny ... when I was flailing about, like an infant with a tummy ache, my heavenly Father took time out to hold me close to His heart ... let me hear his heartbeat ... and soon, I began to relax. It's not the first time, it won't be the last. But what a relief to know ... He will always be there, to get me through the storm ..and hold me close.

He doesn't have to hold me while answering the phone, he doesn't have to write a blog while holding me. He doesn't have to feed the dog, or cat while he's holding me. When my heart is hurting ...and I'm in a panic ... He holds me, close, under his Wing ... and gives me rest.

****************************************

Dreams

Pearls and Dreams

A few years ago ... I picked up pen and paper and started to write again ... at the encouragement of some friends ...mostly, internet friends. I'd forgotten what it felt like to let the pen flow on the paper and let my feelings ..emotions and ... even let my intelligence show onto paper.

I'd always wanted to write. I wrote my very first poem the summer before 2nd grade ... and it was published in the Mariposa Gazette ... "The Fair is fun, the little kids run, having hot dogs in the sun ..." I wish I could remember the rest of it. That was the first stanza ...

I never forgot the feeling of seeing my name in print for the whole town to see.

I would write in class when I was supposed to be doing math ... that was OK because ... I'd just write more stories.

The only thing that I never learned ... was to not use the three dots ... ... ... I imagine english teacher's find them very annoying. Sorry. I know better, just imagine me holding my breath when you see one. (Seriously, ask Wanda about talking to me on the phone ... Peggi? You there?)

I wrote and I wrote and I wrote as much as I could. In 7th grade, I was assigned a short story. It was 37 pages long. I got a D. Mrs. Warkentine said 37 pages was not short. She did let me re write it for a real grade though, and said the 37 page story was A work, I just hadn't followed directions on the SHORT part and she wanted to make a point. It did, sort of.

I still remember the 37 page story. I wish I'd saved it. It was a science fiction story about a car in the future called a "Bubblewhack Coupe"
Oddly enough ... I'm starting to see similar cars on the market.

I wrote all through junior high, high school and into early adulthood.

Then something happened ..and I put my pen down. A series of things actually.

August 18,1988 I was almost 20 weeks pregnant with a little girl. August 19, 1988, I was not.

My heart shattered and my writing became stilted and only was used for college assignments.

October 13, 1989 I went into the hospital to have Samuel ... Two weeks overdue, perfectly healthy: working 40 hours a week as a waitress; walking 5 miles a day and going to school full time as a deaf education major.

October 14, 1989, Samuel was born. And well ... life turned on a dime. My eyes felt 'weird'. Later that night my mom went to take our first family picture. My smile 'wouldn't work'
By Thanksgiving ... I could not brush my hair without propping my arms on the wall and could not walk up and down stairs without assistance. "Exhaution"

October 30,1989, 17 years ago today, I called the doctor. My precious little boy was running a fever. I didn't know that newborns weren't supposed to run fevers. They told me to get him to the hospital.

He had pneumonia and strep throat. It was the first of 5 hospitalizations with pneumonia in his first year of life.

At 11 months old, they would tell me, that he, like a cousin of mine, was immune deficient.

Asthma, repeated illnesses, hospitalizations and my own health ... it was craziness.

My pen and paper went into a cabinet. The pen rested ..the words too painful to put to paper. A crying baby in my arms, unable to tell me what hurts and my arms too weak to hold him another minute and no one able to tell me why.

I never wanted to write again.

It got worse before it got better. I became sicker than I could have imagined. Unable to feed or bathe myself ... Benjamin far sicker than his brother even dreamed of being ... I wasn't diagnosed till Benjamin was 2 months old and Samuel was 2 and a half years old.

Benjamin's first year of life was 7 hospitalizations ... MRI's because of craniosynostosis, learning of brain malformations and seizures and other things that caused him to stop breathing. Being made to learn infant CPR before he was discharged from the hospital when he was 3 months old ... something I still have nightmares about, but don't talk about. (just 3 weeks after I'd been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis)

Years went by ...and more diagnosis' came ... and we got the internet ... I sought out internet support ... and while it wasn't pen on paper ...

I started to use words again .. in written form ...

and realized ... I had things to say.

I wanted to write.

The words wouldn't stay quiet ...and the pen demanded to be picked up again.

I was afraid, but, I had encouragment.

I sat down with the goal of writing a book and I completed that goal.

Tomorrow ... I send in the proof corrections for that book. A childhood dream ... a pen on paper ... moving across the page.

It's been 17 years today since I set down my pen.

I didn't think I could ever pick it back up again because the pain was too great ... I think, to put it back down again, would be the greater pain.

Pearls and Dreams

Pearls and Dreams

I would like to introduce you to a friend ... she has a great name ... Peggy ...(note, spelling is different)we actually call her Peg, but ...it is Peggy.

Kansas Konversation

Peg has a new blog ..and has some cool pictures of her digging for salt crystals. I don't know, that sounds like a blast to me.

Peg and I have been friends for more years than I can count ... wait ... Benjamin was in kindergarten ..he's now in the 8th grade ... so ... we met on line through an email group and have stayed in touch. The beautiful beautiful flowers on my flickr and in any of my posts ...come from her garden. Peg has a green green thumb (hand, elbow ...). She is also quite talented at knitting ... so hopefully she'll blog about that too.

She's an animal lover, like me ...and has 2 GREAT kids. One of them is married. I'll let her talk about her kids though.

I got to meet Peg, her daughter and another friend of Peg's and mine a few years ago, when we went down to Texas for a weekend. Peg, is not an axe murder ... regardless of what my husband thought at first.

Go check out her blog ... oh ...and when my book comes out, you'll see in the dedication something about my friends on the Pink Bus ... Peg's one of those friends on the Pink Bus.

House warming

Pearls and Dreams

A couple of emails off blog have requested for information of where we're registered for the housewarming party. Easy breezy ...

Target ... Club Wedd .... Peggikaye and Donald Eagler ...event in Oklahoma November 18

Pk's Registry

Mailing address is 616 S. Cedar Ave.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
74012

But it won't be that until the 12th.

Before the 12, anything shipped should probably come to either my address here
4214 S. 103rd E. Ave
Tulsa Ok 74146

Or my church ... I'll edit this to get my churches address tomorrow.

Home Sweet Home

Pearls and Dreams

Back to the REAL WORLD

Pearls and Dreams

*grin*

Something seriously wrong with that thinking, only a real blog a holic would think on those terms.

I am back to the blog world. Home where I belong.

I will try to catch up sometime today or tomorrow, there will be massive fighting over the computer in the household.

In the meantime, if you go to my flickr, you can see the pictures my nephew took for our housewarming invitation!

We finish the house on November the 4th. We're taking a break tomorrow (which, will give me more of a chance to catch you up) and then we dedicate on the 12th (at 3 PM .... HINT HINT HINT TJ ....)

Wolfbaby, my yahoo is downloading as I type, I should be back to IM capabilities in about an hour (stupid modem) ...

I can't wait to catch up with everyone!!!

Next on my agenda ... visiting blogs!!!

I'm Still Alive

I'm not back, but I am still with the living, although computerless.

Our computer problems ARE under warrentee ...and after several tech calls and struggles ...they sent us a 'box' which arrived yesterday. Hubby and son packed up computer and sent it off to manufacturer ... they will fix ... and send back to us ... 3 shipping days ... 7 to 10 days for repair and then 3 shipping days to return. Ugh. At least there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you all for still checking with me. It is sooo nice to be missed!

Cathy, I do hope you're having fun this weekend!!!

Tj, your messages have made me smile and laugh outloud in the library!

The house, is almost done. It is SOOO Beautiful!!! Wanda and I just came from there while Don and Samuel are working on laying the flooring. The ceiling fans and light fixtures and dishwasher were put in on Monday. GEORGEOUS!!!!!

We lay sod, put up privacy fence this weekend. We will be done this weekend or the following weekend. We are literally at the end ... just detailing at this point!

I need to get. I'm wearing poor Wanda to the bone. She's running me around so that Don can do the floors today. I'm here at the library to take care of some details on my book .... which is moving so fast I can't hardly believe it!

I miss you all so much!!!

whoops

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news ...but our computer has decided it needs a vacation and gone caput!

It is still under warrenty ...however, we have to ship it to the manufacturer!!

So, I will be out of commission except for occassional library email checks.

Those of you who know how to reach me by phone and email ...please do so. :D

I will miss you all. MUCHLY!!!

Oh, and the house ..we got the siding up on Saturday, and we start to paint on this saturday! Pictures will come as soon as I have computer capability!!!

Judgmental looks ....

Pearls and Dreams

So ... Saturday, I let someone get to me. I worked harder than what my body had to give. It took me 2 days to uncurl my flared body from the position it went into when I finally stopped. I'm still paying the price. It's Wednesday and I still haven't loosened up enough to feel like I'm going to be OK by Saturday. When that happens ... the cycle would be endless.

So, my concern is mounting through the week and I'm praying.

"God, you know what I want to do! You know how much my hands want to be in the middle of this, you know how much it hurts when the looks come to tell me I'm not enough ... I HAVE TO DO THIS GOD!"

So, I argue with God, all day, every day. I HAVE TO DO THIS! I've worked too hard, prayed to hard, cried too hard and trusted Him too hard to not be a part of this now!!!! I cannot just sit back and watch ... what am I supposed to do sit still while my house is being built by others?

Sit still?

I've heard that before.

Still ... still? God? You want me to SIT STILL? How in the world can I sit still? My house needs to be built, what will people think? What will they think of my testimony about YOU if I just sit still?

So tonight ... we sing a new song ... Called STILL

Based on Psalm 46:10
If I could have ... I'd have been on my knees.
The scripture I memorized for a ribbon as a child rang loud in my heart

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Do I need to do anything for God's name to be exalted? Do I have to be the one to swing the hammer or sweep the mud?
Be still ... and know that HE is God.

So, I looked it up, in context ...
Verses 6 through 10
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

I sat back and realized ... I've talked repeatidly about how he calmed the war zone of my household. How He ended the war in our family ...and brought PEACE and calm.
I constantly am in awe at the family that I now call mine. That God gave me inspite of the war that once existed.

This is the same God ... be still and know ... I can sit back and watch him build my house ... and know that he is God. That doesn't mean that I can't do anything. But when it's time to sit, and let my body rest ... I can sit ...and rest and know that HE IS God ..and in HIM I take refuge.

Not in what other's think of me, not in what I can do or can't do ... not in whatever I am afraid that people will think of God if I don't do ...

It's not my job to do anything but
To be still and know that HE is God and he WILL be exalted.