Had such a nice visit with Lauren yesterday.  Got caught up on all that is going on.  She had some mail here too.  Which she had her mail forwarded, so we don't know why it wasn't sent to her, but i was really glad she was able to open it here. The first quarter she made the Dean's list.  She had received a couple of emails telling her what a fine job she was doing with her grades, but when she opened the letter and there was a certificate, she was shocked.  Not that we put a whole lot of stock in making a "Dean's List", but we do believe we must do all things for God's glory, which includes doing our best in our school work or job or ministry or just in our daily lives.

We all got together last night for dinner, which was fun to have the whole family home for a meal.  My ear issues were a real struggle for me last night.  My ear and face were so fevered and swollen.  It really hurt.  So I mainly kept an ice pack on it while I laid on the couch.  This morning it doesn't feel fevered, and it doesn't feel as swollen as it was yesterday, but it is plenty painful to touch and the rest of the time it still aches.  But I do see improvement.  I don't think I need to see a doc...yet.  EO asked if he should take me to the hospital, and I told him, "no".  If it starts getting worse or changes color or whatnot, i will call my ENT.  i think the most painful part of it, is when I have to blow my nose, it feels like my ear is ripping and then i hear what to me sounds like bubbles.  needless to say, the pain is horrendous!!

I woke up this morning, in a terrible position, so my back, neck, hips and shoulders are all out of whack.  Like I wanted to add to my suffering.  I don't know how I got in the position I was in, but my body was sure happy to be straightened out.  So I got up early this morning and hit a good hot shower to relax my muscles. 

EO is up now so it is time to start our morning worship....  i think i will come back and continue this later.

Morning worship is over.  EO is doing some chores and then is bringing the truck up to be looked over. So I have to be ready to go if he needs me to pick him up.  

I'm keeping on track with my service time, even though I've been sicker than normal.  I've had to take so many extra pain meds this past month and not just because of my ears.  Plus i have been more fatigued and just struggling with my health.  i have to stop thinking about it, as it is just making me depressed.  So on to better thoughts.

EO was impressed the progress I have made in the spare room.  I keep picking at it.  Well, I never got a chance to do anything in there yesterday, but I am ok with that as I wanted to spend the time with the kids, and seeing how my ear issues were maxing out on me, I didn't want any other distractions.  I have some paper work I have to do today so I don't have it as a goal to work in there today, even though it is only for 10 minutes.  I need to just focus on the paper work.  Which I really should get started.  

plus we have an exciting meeting tonight. Lots of announcements about the Regional Convention.  We are very excited to hear about it.  The elders from all the congs have been going to get instruction on their assignments and about the changes.  Such diligent effort is being made in order to take care of the flock.  So I want to rest so that when I hear it, I can be alert.   

That is one thing we talked about yesterday is, almost every meeting there is another announcement and another change that is being made.  Well, not every meeting, but it kind of feels like it.  you just don't know when there will be another change, and if you don't attend, you will miss out.

Good news for Colton, he now gets every other weekend off.  And for just a few weeks, he will have to work some Tuesdays, until the new worker is trained in.  So he will have all Tuesdays off after that.  We are all so thankful for that.  We will keep praying that one day he gets all his Saturday nights off so he can attend all Sundays.  Steph has been going with Lauren more and more.  Superior seems to be a good fit for the girls. 

now i really need to get to my paper work.