Decisions

I just lost a HUGE post... :(

Not up to rewriting all of the details but here is the just...

There are three major decisions being prayed over in the Pitchford household. If you will, please pray for guidance and listening to God's will as we make any decisions.

#1 Should Marlon go with Dr. David Kasali to the Sudan in May. He's been asked to go. My gut reaction is he should go. Yesterday our pastor friend Doug came up to me and said, "Marlon needs to go to the Sudan. They need to see him there." This would be for about 2 weeks.

#2 A staff challenge has been posed to us by one of our illustrious Senior Associate Pastors to climb Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the western hemisphere in 2009. For some crazy reason (crazy if you know me---umm..I don't like heights, I am very out of shape, I have an aversion to strenous activity)...for some crazy reason, I want to go. Plenty of time to prepare my mind, my body, my family...it's a 17 day trek to the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina. I told the Pastor--I am afraid that the more I think of about it, the more I will talk myself out of it.

#3 In May I will be done serving as worship leader in Kid Zone. I will still get to worship about once a month in regular service with my worship team, but I won't have a weekly job. There is a need for a shepherd over the Special Needs buddy program and I have always loved that ministry. I am just not sure if I am supposed to be taking a break or moving onto something new.

That's it in a nutshell. A lot to think about as I am reclining back with my heating pad!! lol

Update

So yesterday I went to the dr. and found out that I most likely have pulled muscles in both my right chest and should blade area. She took chest x-rays to be sure but those came back clear. My heart was good and all other vitals were fine as well. When I let her know that I really haven't done anything that could explain pulled muscles--she told me that the bad cough I had for those days probably did it! I had not heard of such a thing--but when I went to work today several people told me they have done the same! Our bodies are so bizarre! Anyway--I was able to come home after the appt. yesterday and slept off and on all afternoon and evening. The naproxen she prescribed relaxes me so much I could finally get a good solid 4 hours in a row of sleep. Today I worked 6 hours and that was just about my limit. I rested a lot this evening--probably not as much as I should...but I am sure many of you mommies can relate to why that is hard to do....just sit in a chair and relax?? lol
Tomorrow basketball starts for Izzy and Elijah. Marlon coaches both of their teams and Isaiah always goes along to practise to help so it's actually a fun few hours WITHOUT any boys!! Woohooo!! If any of you mommies have houses full of boys you can relate to a testosterone free home! From 4:30 to 7:30 each Thursday until the middle of March Jordyn and I will have a little reprieve--it'll be nice. It makes basketball season so much fun too because all I have to do is go to the games and enjoy on Saturdays--no running around for practises because Marlon's the coach!
I spoke to one of my old clients today (I used to be a social worker in Milw) and we had such a good talk. As I've said before, sometimes it does leave me wondering how can I still impact the city when my 9 to 5 isn't there anymore. I have to remind myself that the energy that job took from my family wasn't healthy and that for right now--with a 8,9,10 and 15 year old at home--the job I have is truly the right fit. I need to use my volunteer ministry involvement to reach the city and the hurting. As she shared some of her escapades in the last few weeks, it got me thinking about how much hurt there is in the world...how much we take for granted...how much kids deal with and see...then tonight my son Izzy (he's in 2nd grade) asks if when we pray before bed, can we pray for his friend. When I ask why he tells me that his friend wasn't at school yesterday and today when Izzy asked him where he was this boy told Izzy that on New Year's Day his parents were at a party and started arguing. The argument got so bad that his dad left his mom and he couldn't get to school. Heartache. Of course-being the sap that I am-I get all teary-eyed and let Izzy know that we can definately pray for him and his family. Then I remind him that he doesn't have to wait until he's home to get us all to pray....it's good to do that...but he can also pray for his friend by himself right away if he wants. And Izzy tells me, "Oh, I did that at school." It melts my heart and reminds me that not everyday is a hectic day of arguing and pulling teeth for things like wearing a hat or putting away toys. Some days are sweet tender moments of an 8 year old calling out to God to comfort his friend and knowing that God hears him. One child and one prayer can save the world. To God be the glory!

New Look & New Thought

So with the new year I decided to give the post a new look. I'm back to having a few links and thought this green looked fresh and reminded me of spring.
This morning my parents and sisters family invited us over for breakfast so I threw my coat over my jammies and we all headed over to my parents house. Came back-napped-and am now ready to tackle the rest of the laundry. I still have this strange ache in my chest (yes, I will call the doctor tomorrow) and Marlon woke up sick today as well. Hopefully we'll all be over it now!
As I was debating what bible study I want to start for the new year, I started glancing back through the Jubilee study that Elmbrook did this past fall. One theme was redemption and I was reminded of the Prodigal Son. When he returned-the father could have so easily lectured him. He could have so easily sent him away for the bad things he'd done. He could have slapped his face for the disrespect he'd shown. But instead he lovingly and joyfully embraced him. The son didn't even have to get on his knees and grovel...the father saw him in the distance and ran to him-kissing his face before the son could even say a word! Wow. Then the older brother who had always been a "good son" became angry and his words (read specifically Luke 15:28-30)sounded jealous and appalled. The father's words remind him that he's always been there and what he has is already his, but there must be rejoicing because the other has returned and repented--he was dead and is alive again!
Redemption. It's so much about your heart. As Christians I think we sometimes--and I include myself in this--use God's unconditional love and the concept of forgiveness as a crutch. We mess up but it's okay because if we "repent" then he will forgive us. But if we enter a situation knowingly being disobedient, with the intent that once it's done we'll be forgiven...that is a dangerous zone we need to avoid. In the heat of the moment I can lose my cool and afterwards I can apologize. If I take no measures to work on myself so that it might not happen again--does the apology mean anything?
And what about the father's side? His open forgiveness and ability to wipe the slate clean? Do I extend that to people? I fear that while I try to there are probably many times more that I do not. I have learned that there is so much heart work and even head work that goes into forgiving someone. It is a conscious effort and decision to start fresh. Does this mean getting suckered into the same situations with people who maybe aren't the healthiest for me to be in relationships with? No. I had this occurance the other day, which I haven't shared yet, but let me know that I truly had forgiven someone I wasn't sure I ever would.
Before I met Marlon, I was engaged to a man named Jesse. He was very abusive. It started verbally and although there were a ton of signs that it would get worse-I chose to ignore them. It slowly turned physical & finally ended in a horrible night that put me in the hospital. During the court precedings afterwards he 1st tried to say it didn't happen (silly because there were testimonies & all of the physical evidence) then he decided to plead guilty & the trial was avoided. For many years I didn't truly heal. Because I got rid of him & never had contact again, I thought I had dealt with it--but when I saw him in a parking lot once, I ended up puking by my car & quickly drove home shaking. For a long time I found myself hoping he was in jail or that something bad had happened to him. After becoming a Christian I really tried to work hard on forgiving him, but I was never quite sure if I had. I often thought I'd have to see him to know if I'd forgiven him. There was a part of me that secretly prayed I would never see him again so I didn't have to worry. A little over a week ago as I was heading toward Pick N Save-who do I see coming out of the store but Jesse. My heart didn't quicken, my head didn't fill with all of the mean things I'd rehearsed saying for years, I didn't want to puke or spit on him, I didn't wish Marlon was with me to protect me. Instead I thought, wow...he looks rough and sad. He was on a cell phone & not paying attention...but as we passed I actually found myself say a quick little prayer that his life was okay & that he had gotten help. When I got home I shared with Marlon how it felt to be at total peace & thankful that I felt I had finally truly forgiven him & in the process myself.
Thanks for letting me share. :)

Globetrotters

So much fun this afternoon! Of course it totally wore me out (so much so that I am aleady in my jammies!!) but it was such fun. Elijah had a blast--all the boys did really. It really touches me at how happy for each other they can be. There was no jealousy that Elijah was chosen for a "Jr. Globetrotter"...no complaining that he got to sit on the bench and clown around with the players. Whenver I see children acting foolish and being disrespectful--I am happy that we normally don't have to worry about that with the boys. Are they perfect? Hardly. But they know respect and know their place. Nothing worse than kids that think the world revolve around them. Of course-that's normally a parents doing---the kid is just who's going to have to suffer through teen and young adult years as they realize that isn't true! Can you tell there were a ton of wretched little tantrum throwers--fighting with their siblings and parents there??

So anyway...lol...since we decided to just stay home in our jammies and watch TV, make popcorm and play Monopoly until midnight I thought I'd get online and post some pictures. Since it's working well I stuck some of the Christmas ones on as well.




Have a safe New Year's! For those of you drinking--please don't drive. For those of you not drinking, but having to drive home from parties and bars--please be careful for those drunk drivers. May 2007 bring you hope, prosperity and a relationship with Christ in a way that you've never experienced! God Bless!

A few picture from Christmas Eve at Pitchfords

This is Micah-cousin Nori's daughter. She loves to play with the boys and they of course love to tease her and have fun. She is a total spitfire so she can totally handle them! This girl has house shoes (slippers) to match every outfit!!


Kwame and Tabia--had to catch a picture of them together--especially with him showing affection!!! lol



Uncle Jerome playing Santa---that man makes a production out of everything...lol...it's why we love him so much though!! Auntie Geri, Elijah and Phillip open their gifts.

Christmas Eve at Pitchfords

Here is our beloved Pops-hanging out probably wondering when all the loud and crazy people are gonna go home...lol! He usually gets in his chair and stays there most of the night.

This is Auntie Jean and Dee Dee. Auntie Jean always has some slick fancy shirt on for Christmas Eve.

More Christmas Eve at Pitchfords

Here is Pop's Christmas tree and all of our presents from Christmas Eve. By the time everyone brings their gifts there's not even room to walk through the living room!!



Here is the annual Connect Four tournament between the boys and Uncle Jerry. I think they love playing with him because he is NEVER gonna let a kid off easy, so when they beat him it means even more.

Friendship and Illness and Cool "Luck"

This is a picture of Izzy and his good friend Jalen at their Christmas concert. This is the buddy that came to play the other day. I finally got my camera back from Pops and Niecy's house so I just had to post this picture because it was so cute. Izzy just had to wear a tie to the concert-he loves getting dressed up!

Now Illness--that's because I am sick :( Yesterday I started feeling worse (we've all had little sniffle/cough colds) and my back started to hurt. Not hurt like it does from time to time because of my bulged discs--more like from congestion. Whenever I cough or take a deep breath it just aches. I slept horribly and napped off and on all day switching from the bed to the recliner to the couch just to try and get comfortable. Decided against going tomorrow for two reasons. One-if I feel like this there is no way I can make it with the 1 1/2 drive and then 2 hours of worship service and a 1 1/2 drive home--I'd rather give them a day to try and find someone else than cancel at the last minute and Two-germs travel so rampantly through prisons. Once one inmate gets sick it infects EVERYONE and so we try to never go when we are sick. Disappointing, but it's better to be careful and safe.

Lastly-cool "luck"--I say that because I really don't believe in luck-so it's just like a little joke. Anyway--I've talked about how the boys and Marlon are going to the Harlem Globetrotter game tomorrow afternoon. Well my mom just got a call from a girl at work that she was able to get her 3 tickets so me and my parents are going to watch a little of the game--mostly to see Elijah as a Jr. Globetrotter. It's funny because so many people have asked me if it was hard for me to let Marlon and the boys go. It wasn't because I know they need their "boy" time and with only 4 tickets there's no way I'd go instead of Marlon...but there was a little part of me that was going to miss Elijah being part of the show. Now I don't need to.

Anyway--going to lay back down for a bit. If I'm up to it later, I may post some Christmas pictures.

New Year's

So as I've said, Sunday I am going to John Burke by myself (Marlon and the boys will be at the Globetrotter game) I had so much fun speaking in Oct. when I went while Marlon was in Africa--so I am really looking forward to it, but am not sure yet what to speak about. There are so many topics that you really just can't take to women in prison because they aren't relevant or meaningful to them--like parenting, busy lives, juggling scheduling, marriage things...topics that I normally can speak about at great length...lol! So this morning of course it's heavy on my mind because it's only two days away. I decide to speak about negative patterns/self-criticism we as women sometimes fall into and what the bible says is true. So I am glad to have that done and be able to move onto the next thing--actually studying/prepping for it.

I actually got some more scrapbooking done yesterday. My mentee Jackie wasn't able to come by so we'll have to get her gifts a different day--what that did though was allow me to do a little cleaning and get about 4 pages of Jordyn's book done. I have actually hit year 2! Only 13 more to go!! lol... There will be some years that are smaller-depending on if I was in a "picture" stage or not...plus a couple of years ago when our computer crashed we lost a TON of digital pictures so there will be very, very few from that time period. I may just decide to switch this whole thing up and make ABC scrapbooks---so much easier than chronological---we'll see.

I should be in the shower getting ready to head into Milwaukee---but of course I am procrastinating. Actually between Jordyn and Israel, this is the first chance I've had at the computer today! Who knew MySpace and Disney games had such priority in life? If we leave by 2 that should be fine.

I am very excited for Jan. 17th. For Jordyn's "big" gift, Marlon and I got she and I tickets to Wicked in Chicago. We are going to take the train down and have lunch and then see the show at 2pm. It is going to be such a fun girl day!! Our friends saw it on Christmas Eve and said it was awesome--since Jordyn and I are musical junkies I know it will be! That is one thing I know she got from me...my love of musical theatre and the arts. Sometimes I miss not being a part of drama any more (well--other than the drama that is my life...lol) With a minor in dance and muscial theatre--well technically 2 credits away from a minor in musical theatre--it was such a part of my life. I'd like to get more involved--most likely at church during the coming year. That got me thinking about my thoughts last year at this time-so I looked on my old post and found this:

As for me, I usually don't do "resolutions" because there is so

much normally that I need to work on, but I do tryto recommit

myself to things with a new start. I am going to read more...make a concerted effort to read. I love to read and used to read frequently, but I let that slip so easily with busy schedules. We have an office full of books I have not yet read and I need to devote daily to the bible and give it the reverence that it deserves. I also am going to allow myself the privelege of taking time to slow down and relax. I am trusting God to handle stripping away the things that I don'tneed to be concerned with...He has been so faithful with that already. I know that when I am closer to Him...everything is that much better!

So have I stuck to that? Not totally I must confess. I have started to read the bible much more regularly, but other than a morning devotion, I still don't open my bible daily. I might come across scripture daily, but that really isn't the same as opening my bible and studying the word. I know this. As for taking time to slow down and relax--I definately have gotten good at that. I think our Jubilee at Elmbrook helped me in that regard. I have allowed Him to strip away those parts of my life--activities that I'm involved in that aren't of Him. I think it's so easy and even a little dangerous to---especially when it's church---get over involved in activities. Especially when they are things you are "good" at or where people are telling how much you are needed. On the flip side however, I think that it is also easy to use your own life and "busyness" as a cop-out and reason why you CAN'T be more invovled. It's a thin line to walk. Because I know that there are other things I am feeling drawn to in ministry--I am pulling myself from leading worship on Sunday mornings and coordinating the worship music for Kid Zone. I will be leaving in May when the school year ends. This frees up much time and energy on Sundays. It's both exciting and scary.

Anyway--posted much longer than I wanted to...lol...now I really have to get in that shower!!

Later :)

12 Days of Christmas

I forgot to post the 12 Days of Christmas. It was a really fun thing with the kids and a new tradition I think we might keep. I wrote this--and of course will have to change it every year if we decide to do it again. We started at one and then each day they were given the next part of the song. I'll just give you the last day so you can see it all:

On the 12th day of Christmas,

my parents gave to me...

12 cans of soda,

11 Christmas stickers,

10 packs of Juicy Fruit,

9 Crabby Patties,

8 packs of Pringles,

7 hershey kisses,

6 chocolate reindeer,

5 Candy Canes!

4 gummy worms,

3 Christmas pencils

2 tootsie rolls

and a

special ornament for the Christmas tree!

Anyway--I said I would post it when we were done-so there it is :)

Remember how I said it'd be a relaxing week? Lol---already a ton of plans! Tomorrow Izzy is having a friend over during the day, at 11 Jackie my mentee from Teen MOPS is coming with her 2 children to get their presents and our friends Dave and Sue are coming for dinner. Friday we are going to Marlon's moms so she can give the kids their presents and Friday night if we aren't back too late we might try the Cheesecake Factory. Depending on his day off, Collin will come over Fri. or Sat. and then I am going to see if my friend Jackie (different Jackie) wants to come for lunch and Sunday is soccer, the Globetrotter game for the boys/Marlon and a prison for me. Thank goodness I have Monday off too!