Two Year Old Blog!

Well, I have had this blog for 2 years now! My first entry was November 28, 2005. I listed all the things I was thankful for. I am going to do that again.

I am thankful for my husband who is the best partner I could have in life. Kristin-my first baby who is growing up and will leave soon. I can't believe it is almost time. She is beautiful, talented and funny and an interesting person! Korie is the sweetest person in the world and she teaches me something about life every day.

I am thankful for my home, my church/school family who are showing their love for us by helping us purchase a van...Highest Praise and how we support each other and love each other. For email to keep in touch with mom, Tom and Steve and my old friends. For Ohio State sports..I have watched, enjoyed and loved the basketball and football program since I can remember. For the FFF Forum and the new friends I have made there. For the gift of music and the joy that it brings me and how it allows me a way to praise God.

For family who accepts me and loves me...my two brothers are the best brothers I could have. For the legacy that I have through my parents and my ancestors. I am thankful for my dishwasher, washer and dryer and oven...I don't take them for granted! For my eyesight and for hearing and the ability to walk where I need to go. For doctors and specialists who kept Korie with us and continue to care for her. For shunts and wheelchairs and catheters to make life better. For laughter and family time...for dinners and holidays.

For my pastor and for the women in my life that I look up to and teach me.....Bebe, Chris, and Elsie. For Beth Moore who gave me a love for the bible. For the men who have taught me the bible to help me grow...David Wilson, Billy Graham, Lee Roberson, and Jim Cymbla. I am thankful for bodies of water because when I am near them, not only do I delight in their beauty but I find peace of mind. For my Bible Study ladies and the joy we take in spending time together learning God's word. For my three friends...of which I am four...you know who you are. What a ride! For my new neighbor and very good friend, Rebecca and the encouragement she is to me. To my circle ladies who have always been there for me and who I know I can trust.

For the contentment I have found in Christ. I know that I don't have to perform or be a certain way or look a certain way or work myself to death in order for Him to love me or accept me. He cares about me and my relationship to Him and He wants me to be closer to Him. That has brought me more joy and peace than I could ever imagine.

For the stars that are always in the sky...I love them so much. For the color of leaves in fall...I drive around just to look at you. And for sunshine that gleams off of the water. For the sound of the soldiers on Mulberry Island as they practice defending us and the sound of the fighter jets going over my house. For the men and women who allow their loved ones to leave them and go overseas to protect the USA. Many are gone over a year...I can't imagine. For the ones they leave behind and the courage they show me.

For special days...I love fireworks on the 4th, the Grand Illumination at Christmas and the lights on homes, for the bands that play on Memorial Day and the day of singing how Christ Arose. I love those things. I love watching my daughter play team ball...she is such a team player and she is so good. I wonder how someone who belongs to me can be so talented. I love how she plays with her whole heart and takes it so serious. I love to hear Korie belly laugh..there is no greater sound in the world. I love it when the 4 of us are sitting at our table eating together. I love it when the 4 of us are in our van going somewhere together...just us. I love it when Kris is in the kitchen helping me clean up. I love it when she comes over and puts her arms around me. I am thankful for Victory Junction and how we feel like a normal family there. How Korie looks there because she never stops smiling and she knows she is loved and accepted. I love how she LOVES NASCAR because it has made such a difference in her life.

I am thankful when Steve comes home from work and his day has been good but he is thankful to be home. We are all there together. It is peaceful and quiet. I also love being home alone and listening to the quietness. But I don't want it to stay that way!

I am thankful for poetry, newspapers, cds, cell phones, libraries, choirs, concerts, gum, pizza, chinese and mexican food, baths, lotions, jokes, and a good movie. I am thankful I have made it to my age but I don't relish getting older but it is better than the alternative so I am thankful for each day. My life is a blessings. Thank you God...most of all...for YOU!!! I love you!

Halloween 2007

Photobucket Album

The Youth Group had their Annual Costume Party this Wednesday which happened to be Halloween!! Kristin dressed up with Beka to come as a football player and cheerleader. Korie was a bag of leaves! The weather was perfect. There was a bonfire, lots of snacks, pumpkin carving and games. Then Kristin went to a party at Taylor's. It was a good evening for all.

Kristin and Eman's Sports Pictures

Korie's last year of middle school

Well, this is not only Kristin's last year of high school but Korie's last year of middle school. She started 8th grade this week. Today was picture day and we took one before she left the house, too! It was a rough week to start. Korie has an ear infection and Kristin had 3 games this week..and it was only a 4 day week! So we have been busy but good. We did manage to get Korie to bed by 9 each night so it wasn't TOO bad.

Her class is on the second floor this year. So she catches the elevator by herself when arriving and leaving school each day as well as when she goes to the nurses station twice daily. So she is really getting around. Everyone seems to know her well and she kinda "rules the school"...at least her part of it.

Thinking about next year is a little daunting....the high schools are so big and so much more.....I don't know...scary!? But we will get through it. I thought middle school would be hard but we loved it.

Other blessings this week:

An 11th grade boy at our church, Nick, went to Menchville HS. He asked me a month a go to pray that his parents would let him come to Denbigh..he really wanted to go to our school! Kris came home from youth group Wednesday night all excited because Nick said he was starting at our school the next day! So he is there now. I saw him last night at the game and he was so happy! That just made my whole week!

Bible study started up again...we are doing Beth Moore's study JESUS, THE ONE AND ONLY. It is going to be so good! It seems like forever since we last met in the spring together. I had a really good group. I think we will have around 15 ladies in the morning class and at least that many, if not more in the evening one.

Mom is coming next week. It will be good to have her around. She will see Kristin play, hear my group sing and go with me to Ladies Auxilary which starts back up next week after a summer hiatus.

So, everyone is now back to school and things are back to "normal". My normal will change next year. So I am going to enjoy it for now!

Senior Pictures

Do you know what I did today? I took Kristin to get her senior pictures taken! I can't believe it....where did time go? We had quite a trek...all the way to Va. Beach. The photographers were young and fun and made the experience memorable. Kris saw Gary, from her class. Eman was coming at 1:00 but we got done early and didn't stay. We saw pictures on the wall of Becky Prillaman and Steven Legg with Nikki.

Anyhow, the MOMENT came when they took a picture of Kris lying on her stomach and resting her arms and head on a basketball in front of her. When they had me look at the picture aftewards...I almost lost it! There is a picture (I will post it) of Kris when she was a baby...lying on her stomach...with a basketball in front of her!! I had a flashback of that picture and it was almost too much!

The poses were GREAT! I will post them when we get them online in a few weeks. Afterwards, we went to FIVE GUYS on Independence Blvd to eat lunch. We drove thru Viginian Weslyan and looked around. The traffic on I 64 was terrible so we went the long way to I 664...but it was a fun time together. I was sorry Steve and Kris didn't get to come but we noticed Korie seemed to have UTI this morning so Steve took her to the doctor. (We were right).

So, the day has come...Kristin is a senior and I am going to have to find a way to deal with it. I am going to try to enjoy every little thing she does this year. So...senior year....here we come!!

Missing Friends

This past weekend I attended a viewing. That was sad enough. But the people I went for --live out of town now. I was close to them when they lived here and I just don't see them often enough. It was hard to leave them because there is no plan on when I will see them next. There are a lot of people in my life like that!! It kind of stinks....not that they are in my life...but that they aren't in my life regularly! Lila, Dennis, Holly and Evan are the ones I was thinking of as I write this....I just miss being around them.

That lead me to think of others....the most recent who moved away and that I miss would be Lisa Fowler. When she was here, she lived in Williamsburg so I only saw her at church functions but I miss her a lot. Blair Livesay was another like that. I miss Mary Beth Norcross, too. We always got bagels on Tuesdays and talked about politics, current events..and how different we were from each other! She was so much fun.

I don't see my family much either but at least there is always a "next time". I think that is why heaven is going to be FOREVER and EVER....I have some silly thoughts on that...besides spending time with Jesus and and worshipping Him, which is the best thing we will do, we have so many people to spend time with...and we will have the time to spend QUALITY time with them....as long as we want. The other silly thought I had was about singing in heaven...I imagined that all the worship/song leaders will want to lead...at least one time...so by the time they all take a good long turn...a thousand years may have gone by...then maybe everyone will want to sing a solo to the Lord...although I perfer a good group blend! There will be so much to do...but I will get to spend time with the Chappells!! That day will come.

So, those are my random thoughts for today.....

Korie at Victory Junction

Well, today we took Korie and left her at camp! It was thrilling because as soon as we got out of the van, I heard over and over again..."Hey Korie!!". She hit the ground and took off. As our names were called to go to the "hospital" to check in, she announced in front of all..."Let's get this party started!". She got lots of laughs. She was so excited. But it was hard because I left my daughter with Spina Bifida alone in NC with a broken leg and a sinus infection. I am glad that she is still able to do all the activities! They told us that tomorrow morning, their team is heading to the Zipline! That is what she has been looking forward to!

Her nurse was new, which is a little bothersome but her counselors seemed on the ball. One of them even remembered Danielle's name (her doll). There are only 4 girls in their big cabin....and 4 counselors...so I think they should have fun. It is NASCAR week so I am praying that a NASCAR driver stops by and a pit crew. She would love that. They gave us a voucher for the Pit Stop so we got her a red Victory Junction shirt. Steve got his black Victory Junction jacket and he was so happy about that.

So, I hugged and kissed her goodbye and somehow left her there. I know she will have so much fun and make lots of memories. Nothing on earth is more exciting to her. I just pray her sinus's don't bother her too much and her leg doesn't get worse...but most of all, I just hope she has the time of her life!

Independence Day 07

July 4th, 2007

Tom and Sharron were here this year for the 4th. It made for a special day. We had a cookout at our house and then we headed to Victory Landing Park on the James River in downtown Newport News. The weather was warm but down near the water, there was a nice breeze. We walked around and checked out the water and navy ships. The kids threw around a volleyball and when it got dark, we got out our glow sticks.

The fireworks were very nice even though half way through, they stopped. Apparently, the barge broke loose from the winds and was headed toward the navy yard. In about 20 minutes, they started again and there was a GREAT finale! We got home late but had pie and ice cream for dessert.

I am thankful for the freedom that we have and for our way of life. We are very blessed. Happy 231st birthday America!!!

The Outer Banks

I just spent a wonderful 2 days at the Outer Banks. I hadn't been feeling well and it was the perfect medicine for me!! Sharon shared her beach house with me and we just relaxed! We ate at my favorite beach restaurant....The Rundown Cafe. We went to the Sound and waited for the sun to set. It was so beautiful! The next morning, we spent some time on the ocean...the sound of the surf is soothing to my soul! Sharon and I were talking about one song that talks about the "who tells the ocean, you can only come this far......." and of course, it is God. As we watched it, it stopped in the exact right place and then back out it went! In perfect harmony of God's symphony! Nothing is more peaceful! I am thankful for the opportunity to live close to a place like that and to be able to visit it for a time.

This day in June

I always say that if you blink in June, it will be over! This month always seems to just go by so quickly that I can hardly remember what happened in it. I know we went to Ohio...very quickly for a graduation and we went to Amish Country. That was such a great trip. Korie finished up school and Kristin has been going to the YMCA. Yesterday, she left with the mission team for Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to work with our missionaries, the Jacobsen's, as they minister to Haitian people. Kristin is in charge of leading grades 8-12 during game time in VBS. She was a little worried about not getting much time to make one on one relationships with the kids but she is going to help Danielle and Brendan during teaching time so that will help.

It was kinda hard to say good bye to her as she got on the plane yesterday. It seems each good- bye is a little closer to THE good bye as her senior year begins. But, it was a good feeling to know she was going to have some great experiences serving people of another culture. And it was a great idea last week for the team to shadow us as we worked in OUR vbs. Now they have a little idea of what they are doing. Besides Kristin being close to my heart, I am also praying and thinking of the music team who worked all last week with Bebe and I..Alan Pitt, Sara Simmons, Bobby Newman and Nick Doyle. I know they will do a great job and I can't wait to see pictures of them on the blog as they serve. I wish I could be there to observe.

Well, I still feel weak, healthwise, today. I feel like my body just isn't catching up from being sick or something is still wrong with me. Even though that is going on, I am going to drive to Nags Head tomorrow for day or two with Sharon Warren. The beach and the waves and the atmosphere there is always so healing for me so I am hoping I am making a good decision about going.

So, I am trying to hang on, to pray for and wish growth for my oldest, whom I miss very much and I am glad that Korie has something new to do this week by going to her grandparents house while I am gone.

Wow! It has been awhile!

Well, it has been a long time since I wrote in this blog! I have been kinda busy. A lot has actually happened since that ring banquet....my my...that was a year ago! Since then, Kristin got her drivers permit, finished her junior year, went on a missions trip to Honduras, played on four teams....I am way behind. Korie has reached her last year of middle school, had a surgery, gone to camp by herself...why didn't I wrote then!! She had a BLAST!

I am facing some health issues right now. I will probably have lots to write about that soon. I have learned some STUFF already! Pastor has been preaching about Faith for several months now as we study Genesis. As Abraham's faith was tested, I wondered a lot about that. My faith was tested when Korie was born in some ways I failed because it took me 2 years to forgive God and not blame him. Then all the stuff with my dad really challenged me. He had such an awful death and he was such a faithful man. I couldn't put the two together. I wanted answers and didn't accept it with out any. I knew God was close through those two trials but I was kinda mad at Him. I got over that and I regret those reactions. As I pondered Abraham's choices and as I am studying Job again for the 3rd time in the last 10 years, I have come to admire them.

I have been praying a lot these past few months to God and telling Him I really trust Him but I have begged Him not to test me in that through Korie, Kristin or Steve. It never ocurred to me to add myself. Now I am facing some things. And I have a feeling that Satan had a hand in what I was tested in, such as he did with Job, and God allowed it. My only thought about that maybe being true is that he picked the thing that scares me the most....anything with the word LIVER in it. So I feel I AM being tested and I am trying to totally trust God this time. I need prayer and I need God for this.

So that is where I am now. I want to be more faithful in my loggings....we will see.

TTFN, Donna