Yesterday, Jehovah gave me a wonderful gift.  With all the drama that has been happening, and with all my extra activity, my brain has had a seriously hard time filtering through all my emotions and thoughts.  Then yesterday was the last straw.  I had been praying all morning trying to filter my feelings and I was just seconds away from a full blown panic attack, I let out one last cry and there was a knock at the door.  A small service group stopped in to see me.  Oh how I needed that and Jehovah knew it.  Not only did I get encouragement, but also wonderful support and they shared how they had similar problems that they too had to go through.  It really helped in such an enormous way.  I couldn't filter what was happening, but being able to talk about it, just made everything fall into place and I could see which issues I needed to focus attention on and which ones I could set aside.  

I want so much to help my kids, but at the same time they also need to learn how to cope and deal with their own issues.  As much as I would like to just grab them and say, "listen to me", I hold off.  If I solve all their problems how are they going to learn the value of relying on Jehovah and how are they going to learn patience and endurance.  It is a challenge, but I have to let them find their own way.  I may say "I", but I really mean "we".  EO has the same feelings as well.  

It reminds me of when the kids were little, 3, 4, 5, I was teaching them how to do little tasks around the house,(picking up toys, picking up their clothes), and as they got older, the tasks would be bigger.  Like when they were about 7, they learned how to wash the dishes, sure it was easier to do them myself, but they don't learn unless you show them their mistakes and have them correct the problem.  I would point out a spot they missed on a dish or I would just look at the item and put it back in the water for them to rewash.  They hated that, but it got them to be more aware of the job they were doing.  They may not always have wanted to do household chores, but it sure made a difference in their lives now.  

Colton & Steph see it a lot when these kids start working at DQ, the ones who never have done any household chores, more often than not, don't want to have to lift a finger at the job either.  they sure see the value of their own training.  I can't count how many times I recited the scripture 2 Thes 3:10...if anyone does not want to work, neither should he eat.  Ever since I was a kid and even though I am sick now, every day I ask myself, "what did I do today to deserve to eat?"  Granted there are days I can't even get out of bed, but mostly I try to do something.  Even if I can't physically handling a task there are other things such as helping one of the kids with a personal problem.     

Well, my headache isn't as bad today as it was yesterday.  I am pretty tired.  My digestive track is still really touchy today.  Everyone is gone so much this week.  Poor Steph...yesterday, today and tomorrow she works from 6:30 am to 1:30 pm (or 3:30pm) and then goes straight to DQ until closing (which is 8pm).  She doesn't even have time to eat or anything in between. On top of it, she is sick again.  I wish would have thought of it sooner, but we think it is allergies she has.  She is only sleeping a couple hours a night because she is up coughing so much.  Actually, she doesn't have a day off until Tuesday. I don't know what her schedule is for Sunday, I just know she has to work.  the poor girl is going to be dead by Tuesday.

Colton is trying really hard to make sure she gets a full day off.  And it won't be too much longer (couple weeks or so) and Colton won't need her so much.  Steph said she doesn't mind working a couple days a week, but until the newbies get acclimated to the job, he needs her to work with them.  Steph is really good at training in the new ones.  Colton said the DQ inspector was there and they got the best report that this store has gotten in a number of years.  YEAH for Colton!!  That really boosted his confidence.  About the only problem there was, is the new Orange Julius system they just had put in, needs a certain adjustment to it, and that was about it.  Colton was glad to learn more from the inspector about the OJ system as it was brand new and his bosses don't even know the whole system to it... cause they only just had it installed.  

Steph has put Hersey (Treasure Leo Lady) up for sale.  Steph wants to move this fall, but Grandpa says we will have to basically give her way in the fall because of the cost of feeding her.  He said if she is going to sell her to do it now as Steph will get what she is really worth.   BTW Steph calls her Hersey because of the brand on her hip... it is a H with a rocking mark under it.  So she wanted to call her by a name starting with H.  Anyway, we were going to buy her from Steph, but EO went out for a ride the other day and found after only about a mile, his back was killing him.  He thought he would be able to ride, but he just can't  :'(  

So in spite of the issues and drama, I am at peace with it all.  I don't feel over whelmed anymore.  Jehovah knew just what I needed and who to send that could relate.  He gave me a wonderful gift and I am so thankful for their willingness to be used by him.  Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you for your help!!!!!!!