And in other news...

It is really great having a ride to.chu.ch. And I find that one of the best things is not feeling like I have to leave right away because I am either borrowing a car or leaving Mark at home alone. (There are several reasons I don't like doing that, but they are all getting better.) So I have been able to spend a little time talking and getting to know people, and I found out they are trying to resurrect the hand bell choir they used to have. And my ride doesn't mind waiting if I want to practice with them once a month. Whoohoo! I am so thrilled.
Meanwhile, I really need to get Andy back to dentist under his new insurance. No use waiting for CHIP any longer, and I found a new double cavity in his teeth last night that is affecting his upper and lower molars on the left side. Four teeth in all. Ouch. I have been pretty good with brushing, but I think it is time for twice a day and I will be keeping the sugar-free all natural gum with me now to have him chew after meals when we are out.

Interesting

Two weeks ago there was a guest pastor at church. He spoke about promises and about his own childhood experiences bring raised in the same Catholic orphanage where Mark wa. born. It was very moving to me and afterwards, I managed to bite back my reticence long enough to speak to him and his wife a little about Mark. They prayed for him on the spot and promised to keep praying, and then his wife Asked for my name and address to send me info on her ministry and an upcoming seminar.
That afternoon I told my mom about it, and found to my surprise that she used to be a friend of my MIL. I wouldn't have said all the things I said if I knew that, but they were all true so what can I do? Just have to let the chips fall. It is only a matter of time before she makes the connection if she didn't already. And when I mentioned them to Mark, he said they were neighbors at one point and he used to play with their son. What are the odds of that?

Aaarrgh

Can someone please tell me why wireless posting leaves random symbols or letters in weird places when the signal is weak? How on earth does THEM become THAMES?

Thankful

Last year a. this time was not happy at all. This year I have a lot to be thankful for, mostly the small things that make the real difference.
I am very thankful to have Mark more or less clean and sober, at least for now. That is a first for us as a married couple.
I am very thankful for my family, my in-laws, and my children. Watching the boys with Mark and his brothers earlier today, I suddenly realized how much of a keystone they are. Most of us on this side probably wouldn't be talking to each other by now if it weren't for the common thread that Andy and Hunter provide. It made me cry and I prayed that God will use these precious kids to bring healing to their uncles and father and grandparents.
And I am very thankful that, for now at least, we still have a house and groceries. And that God has provided me with some caring and loving friends when I needed thames the most. And for my new sister-in-law and SIL to be. They are such wonderful young women. We are truly blessed.

Kids

Andy: (whining) "Mommy, I'm hungry."
Me: "Well you have to wait until dinner." (note this is his standard complaint when he is bored.)
Andy: "But Mommyyyy, my tummy's half empty!"

Fast one

I have got to get this posting from my phone down right.

This is just a quick post to say that Mark was able to qualify for the public defender, which is awesome. Also he was able to get some more contracts for the winter even though the place where he is working decided to stop having work done for the winter on like a week's notice. Thank God for that.

Last night he mentioned the "c" word while I was rubbing his back. I've been not wanting to say it because I'm so afraid it might be a reality. All the more reason to get him to a doctor. I just hope they do their job right for once instead of blowing us off when we have no insurance. I'm praying it's not that serious.

Drowsy

Well, I tried to post from my phone but I disremembered the email address I needed. I'll have to write it down today. Mark's court date was continued, for those of you who are wondering. It's going to be in December. Think we'll have money for a lawyer by then? I'm not holding my breath.

I still hate The Turd.

I am very grumpy today; the cold rainy weather and laryngitis and pain in my hip and the fact that I didn't sleep well can't possibly have anything to do with it. Lol. I will try not to make this a gloomy post because it was actually a good weekend.

The party was nice. Everyone was pretty laid back and just having fun for the first few hours. The bimbo who was causing trouble with Mark here a few months ago was there, and I didn't even recognize her. Haha! That made me happy. After all, out of sight, out of mind. Why would she merit a space in my memory?

She was every bit the shallow, nasty little whore I remembered though. And I didn't realize who she was until we left, and I asked Mark if his little brother's girlfriend was the one who left horrific black-and-blue handprints around his neck during sex a couple months back. He said, "No, that was Sandra." I'm like, "Who?" "You know, Danielle's friend." That's when it clicked. Good thing I didn't know before. I've been dying to get my hands on the bitch who did that. He should have called the cops.

One thing is for sure; any doubts I had about what kind of person she really was, with all the conflicting stories going around, are now cleared up. She's exactly what I thought she was. And I can't say I was pre-disposed against her, because I didn't remember her.

So, that may not sound positive to you guys, but please just trust me that it's a positive thing for me. It's good to have my instincts confirmed when things are so uncertain these days.

Everything was great for a few hours until Mark's buddy Leo found a bottle of Jack Daniels belonging to Mark's brother J.'s roommate (the party was at J.'s house). Apparently he is not the same person when he drinks and has some really serious issues going on. So we had to get him out of there in a hurry when he began to terrorize everyone. Other than that, it was awesome. :)

It poured rain all night though, and they got the birthday boy's car stuck in the middle of a field. Don't ask. After two days they got it out with the help of a friend who owns a massive truck, but now the engine is tapping really bad. It must be a bad year for cars.

On Monday night I got to go out with a friend who travels a lot. We haven't seen each other much, and we went to the mall and walked around and I stocked up on tea at my favorite store. Yum! I also bought a really nice hair clip and little presents for Mark and the boys. Mark's present was a pair of Phillies socks, hehe.

And no, before you ask, I don't really care if they win the series. I'm just catering to the fact that Mark does.

It's been a pain in the butt kind of week since then. My brother's truck broke down so he's been borrowing my mom's car which means I'm without a car all week. And didn't they pick this week to work on the water main, so they scheduled a shutoff on Tuesday that I didn't find out about until 45 minutes ahead of time. They never did shut it off, but I couldn't do any laundry or cleaning all day becuase I kept thinking it would be shut off any time. And I had to watch my neice and nephew at the last minute because their other grandmother's van keeps breaking down and she likes to wait until my SIL is on her way to meet them before telling her she can't pick the kids up. No time to call out of work or anything. And it is really hard for me to watch them at ou house. She pulled the same stunt again today, which is how I ended up here at my mom's typing and watching four kids. I feel so bad for my SIL. But at the same time, welcome to my world. This is why I'm not working.

If I can keep from getting sick, I'll be okay; but I feel it coming on hard and fast. And Andy is laying next to me with a fever. Yuck. I think I'll go grab some garlic. And pray my niece and nephew don't catch whatever we picked up.