Monday, July 29, 2013

When the Lights Went Out....

When both of the lights that are under the microwave went out last night, I sent myself to my room. You might be thinking that is just so silly, but really it was the final Grrrrr.....for me. Let's do a six month review to explain me enforcing my own time out.

Chaz retired in January. Of course nothing was as easy as they promised. Our move was denied. Our postage was denied. WTB wanted to charge us $600 for our apartment. It was one thing after another. We finally get to leave and arrive home that Sunday to our beloved Arf. Our precious 10 year old Yorkie had gone into congestive heart failure just days before we arrived and now was entering his last days. We made the hard choice and had to put him to sleep. The next day he was buried on our new land. We had our "ground breaking" six months ago today. On that day the girls and I walked to the back of the land and told Arf good-bye.

We had immediately entered all the VA in-processing fun as soon as we arrived home. We were so bogged down in VA things we barely had time to grieve for the dog and an even bigger shocker happened. We get the news that one of our friends committed suicide. He was gone and left behind a beautiful family and it still breaks my heart.

Then Chaz had a flesh eating bacteria invade his body and had to be hospitalized, required surgery and was going to need a PICC line. Just days after the surgery, we get the news our dear friend, Derek had passed away. I stood in Chaz's hospital room just crying because I wasn't at Walter Reed to help Derek's family.

The day after I received the news about Derek, girls and I traveled to DC/MD while my mom took care of Chaz. That was such a hard trip to take. Chaz was supposed to have traveled with us to get his legs that had been ordered in November, but didn't arrive until after we had left. Of course they wouldn't let me have them. They had to do this that and the other. Now looking back I am glad they didn't give them to me because at the time the VA still had not granted Chaz's prosthetic adviser permission to work on X2s yet. We filed for it in January and they poor guy didn't get the permission slip until June and by then Chaz had used his GWOT privilege and got them fixed at Walter Reed when he joined me in June.

Ok back to March, I was working, taking care of the girls and trying to help our friends. It was such an exhausting trip. I got home and jumped into 3 PICC line treatments per day. Luckily our girls were on Spring break from homeschool during the "Daddy is sick again" phase. About the time we got his PICC down homeschool restarted. Then I was back to DC/MD for more work. (So thankful to have such a great job that I love so much). I had to work out more care arrangements and that's when things started breaking.

Here's the list. Please note all are separate occasions. I know I am forgetting so much, but oh well....
  • HVAC outside unit locked up.
  • HVAC unit in attic froze up.
  • Both garden hoses had ruined. We found out the hard way they had to be replaced. 
  • Had a recall on my car.
  • The bolt holding down the ramp to the concrete at the top is stripped and isn't holding it down anymore. 
  • Chaz broke a piece off of his wheelchair
  • Then the chair portion wore out.
  • One of the prosthetic legs (that the VA wouldn't give the guy permission to work on) broke.
  • The other leg started locking up randomly. 
  • HVAC outside unit crapped out again. 
  • Upstairs toilet had to have the kit replaced. Then a plumber had to be called in because the shut off valve was so old it had to be helped.  
  • Found hail damage to the girls' window screens. 
  • Found a leak under the kitchen sink. Determined it was the garbage disposal. It was repaired. 
Now let's get to the week that led me to time out.

First there was this....
Chaz's leg locked on him causing him to fall into the door. After rushing to see if he was ok and confirming he was, I immediately asked if he punched the door. He laughed and pointed out that if he punched the door the tint would not have saved it. He is totally right. ;) I looked at the door to see his whole arm left a mark in the glass.

If you look closely at the picture you'll see he is just walking right along. We are so thankful for my brother tinting that glass. Chaz could have easily fallen through all that glass and had been seriously injured. Thanks to the help of the neighbor, I got the glass out (yes it was a huge mess) and put the screen in for a temporary fix. (Yes to answer your question, we'll need a new glass door.) Then then kitchen faucet just stops working. Hello another plumber call. Faucet had to be replaced. Then he looks and the garbage disposal is leaking again. Now it has to be replaced. Chaz lets the guy check the rest of the house to determine we'll need a new water heater and new toilet within six months.

The day before all of this I filed a claim with our homeowner's insurance. After looking at the window screens, I found cracks and holes in our vinyl siding on three sides of our house. (There's no telling what I cannot see.) I bet now you can see why when the lights went out on the microwave, I just had to go to my room.

Why am I whining about this? Well to be honest, just get it all out. It just seems like when it rains it pours. The past six months have just been so stressful. Today I am putting my big girl panties on and getting all the whines out of me. I am going to make a list with an attack plan and get it all done.

I am declaring that things are going to start going our way. I am not going to allow all these little hassles to way us down. Great things are in store for us, I just know it. Today is another beautiful day and why not pick today as the day to forget about all the hassles and focus on the positive!

Alright time to go make that list and start attacking it!!

15 comments:

  1. You go, girl! If anyone can do it, it's you!
    Always praying in Seattle!
    I Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
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  2. You are strong. You have already proved that you are strong for your entire family. The strength you have shown since Chaz's injury will carry you forward as you deal with these every-day problems. There are many, but they are small. You can do it! :-)

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  3. Praying that today went better!
    1 Peter 1:18-19, 20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
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  4. Life can be overwhelming at times, but the victory is ours through Christ! Put your trust in Him! Praying!
    1 Corinthians 15:54-57 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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  5. Lifting up prayers to the Only One who can hear!
    Psalms 34:4, 6-7 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (6-7) This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
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  6. Continuing to lift up prayers!!
    Psalms 34:15, 17-19 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry...The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
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  7. Know that you're in my prayers!
    Psalms 61:1-4 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
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  8. Praying in Seattle as always!
    Psalms 32:6-7 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
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  9. Whatever lies ahead, the Lord is with you! Praying hard!
    Psalms 32:8, 10-11 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (10-11) Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
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  10. I missed Chaz's birthday yesterday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHAZ!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you had an amazing day!
    Know that I'm always here praying!
    Isaiah 43:1-3a But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel...
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  11. Pour out your heart to the Lord! He hears! Praying!
    Psalms 42:1-5 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
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  12. Praying in Seattle!
    Psalms 69:1-3, 13 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God...But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

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  13. Know that I'm always praying!
    Psalms 70:1, 4-5 Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. (4-5) Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.
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  14. Know that you're always in my thoughts and prayers!
    Romans 5:1-4 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
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  15. Continuing to pray!
    Romans 5:6-9 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
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