cyndee_lee on Xanga

Weblog

Sunday, 04 May 2008

We went to my sister-in-law's home in Ojai for my niece's 21st birthday party! I remember the first time I saw her she was just a baby. I can't believe how fast times go by. They just moved into a new home there and it is Beautiful!! The backyard is fully of oak trees and looks like a mini forest. On the way there we picked up Robert in Santa Barbara. I haven't seen him since Easter. He has lost weight. I guess that's because he is either walking or biking to work just about everyday from the hills of Montecito down into Santa Barbara city. I would not make it up those hills, and there are so many curves I worry about him getting hit by a car. The house where he is living looks like Animal House! It is so gross....just a bunch of young guys, but it doesn't seem to bother any of them. I really pray and wish that he would come home, but I don't think that will happen for now. The tension between my husband and son is quite thick. I know that my husband is hurt and upset that he left against our wishes. But, I pray that some kind of relationship is restored there as well. I think there is some anger where it just hurts the situation even more. We had a nice time at the birthday though. Evangelina is here with the kids, so all of us were there except for Greg. I do love my family. All of my in-laws are great. I am continually thankful that I married into this family.

Thursday, 27 March 2008

so much....

Wow..., some changes have happened these last few months that have kind of knocked the wind out of me. I know that some of you know, that my older son left home. He is by no means, a baby. He is nineteen years old. But, the way he left threw me for a loop. I had MY plans for him. College/job/marriage/kids, etc. He withdrew himself from college and announced he wants to LIVE, and travel (mind you, no job, no money). And, as I write this, I realize that thousands upon thousands of parents have had this same lament over the years, I just thought it would never happen to me. (HA!!). I had a period of about 4 days where I didn't hear from him at all, and my mind had all sorts of scenarios running throught it. When I finally did hear from him, it was such a relief, but then I was angry as well. He came for Easter dinner at my mother-in-law's house and visited with me the night before, and he looks really good! That made me feel a lot better. Of course, his political views and life views have taken a 180 degree turn, at least temporarily, and I feel that I am a parent in the sixties, with my vegetarian, left-leaning boy. But again, even as I write this, I think it sounds so cliche, because so many other parents have gone through this exact same thing. I just thought it would never happen to me! Isn't it funny how we can get haughty and smug in our own parenting "skills" and think that we will be immune to what hundreds of other families have gone through? All I can say now, is Thank You God for keeping him safe, and keeping our communication lines open with each other. Thank You God for family and friends who are an encouragement to me, my husband, and both my sons. Thank You Father for all of your love for us and that your love doesn't change even when foolish choices are made.

Sunday, 25 November 2007

Nathan just got an electric guitar/amp. He is so excited! We bought him an acoustic not too long ago, but he really wanted both. In spite of being on the shy side, he is now playing with the youth band at church. He has also been taking piano lessons with the best teacher around (you know who you are). I never have to ask him to practice, in fact I have to tell him to stop, because he likes playing music a whole lot more than doing homework. Robert, (my son, not husband) isn't currently taking music lessons, but he has a good ear and can pick up on stuff quite easily. I don't know where these kids got this music sense from. I took piano lessons as a kid, but wasn't really good at it, and didn't learn much more than reading basic notes. These kids know different chords/major/minor, etc., which I guess for music people is common knowledge, but not to me.
What else is up - Let's see, we had a good Thanksgiving with family and my turkey turned out good! (I have only been the turkey person about twice before this, and am always paranoid my turkey will be dry and implode like on the Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation movie).
We had a get-together at our house in Alpine recently with the guys from Men of Praise and the Sober Living Home guys. Two of the guys (one of them is just a kid, barely 21) gave their testimony and it was so neat to hear what God is doing in their lives. I was looking around the room and noticed how many different people (backgrounds, ages, etc) were there. And, we were singing (Gus, Michael, Romel, etc had brought their instruments) and I was thinking how cool it was that we all chose to spend time in fellowship together. Just a great time!
I didn't grow up in Church and my mom was not very social at all, so we never had gatherings at our home. Life is so much richer when you can share it with others and open your home. I am glad I am experiencing that now.
Well, I am all blogged out for now. Hope everyone has a good week.

Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Some kid slammed into me on the freeway yesterday. I'm not sure how/why. I was on my way to work,actually moving along at a decent pace, 94 west almost to 15 (which for some weird reason is on the left side of the freeway), and I hear a squealing of brakes and then SMASH, right into my bumper. What was so weird, was that the first emotion I had was complete ANGER. I was completely ticked off! So, I get out of the car, and the person who hits me gets out of his car, and I see that he is a kid. (Okay, 18, but by most of our standards now, a kid). Guess what??? He doesn't have insurance. And, yet, I kind of feel bad, because he is just a kid and he looks scared. Well anyway, the highway patrol came and took down our info, and I was able to drive away, but the kid's car was undriveable, because the hood had smashed back into the engine. Thank God, neither of us was hurt, but my car is in the shop now, and fortunately the muffler didn't fall of until we got there. So, now I have a rental, which isn't so bad, because it is a lot cleaner than my car has been in a long time!

Monday, 08 October 2007

2 MONTHS AND THEN SOME...

It's not like nothing has been going on....I just haven't felt like writing. I have been struggling with some things at home, and it makes me realize that I like to try and "solve" everything on my own, instead of trusting God. So then...I start to wonder, if that is why the struggle hasn't ended? God is trying to teach me something, and I am stubbornly trying to fix it myself. Anyway, prayers are much appreciated. I have a great friend that I met here in Alpine, she is very strong in her faith, and has been able to help me see things from a different perspective, as have other important ladies in my life. Thank God for Christian friends, because the world gives completely different advice, and what's sad, is sometimes you want to follow that advice instead of staying obedient to the Lord.
On a different note...I visited a church a couple of weeks ago, and was about ready to pull my hair out by the end of the service. BORING~!!!!! Nothing that was being taught was wrong, the church even looked like a mini Midway, but it just dragged. The music was okay, but the energy was nothing compared to what we have at Midway. When Preacher said on Sunday, that we shouldn't take our church for granted, he was right on!!! Thank God for Midway!!! Thank God for Pastor and Daniel and Dustin & Joli, and all the other staff, and for our members! We are truly blessed, don't forget it.