Friday, February 26, 2010

Friday 26, 2010

Bekah, you made me smile. You know he used to say that to our kids here too!!! He was such a jokester. I am glad that he can still bring a smile to your face. And I hope he can in the years to come.

Well, its been an up and down week for me. I told Sallye, it seems just when you feel like your making some headway.....you find yourself falling. That happened to me several times this week.

Course, you know about Rachel's birthday. That was hard. So hard. It is hard to do things as a family when you don't quite feel like a family. And I just can't even think of what to buy Rachel. John always had such great ideas. I just have tomorrow (Saturday) and then I'm out of luck. I miss him so much.

And, let me just say before I say what I am about to say....could be very embarrassing to me. But, you know, I'm not embarrassed because I bring it to your attention because you are my prayer warriors. You are my friends that haven't left me after 3 months because you have forgotten me, you are my hope.

I was served with a summons to appear in court. Now, I can't go into details...not because I don't want to, but because I don't understand it all. My attorney is working on it for me, but I am just beside myself. I pretty much cried all day today. In fact, one kid asked, "Mrs. Griffis are you okay?" I said, "No, I have been crying." He said, "Oh, I am sorry. It looked like you had a cold. But I am sorry you feel bad." I wish I could tell you more so you would know how to pray....but, I know you don't have to know the particulars....just that we need to pray for God's intervention. Pray for the wisdom of my attorney. Pray for me....that I will continue to give it to the Lord and not hold onto it.

Isaac is doing so much better. He has his moments, but isn't that every kid at his age? He is being more amicable with me. More respectable. Working harder at school. I think I told you that we had the opportunity to talk about giving our hearts to Jesus. I believe he is trying to comprehend that.

I still feel sad for him regarding sports. Daddy was always his team mate. They played together...every sport...whatever the season...they were outside. I hardly can stand to see him playing his ps3, watching t.v., or just sitting. Because Isaac was never like that. He was outside playing...and usually with John. I can't stand it.

I was at Jay and Marilyn's tonight. Rach had a birthday party to go to, Matthew was with friends, it was just me and Isaac. Gramps took Isaac somewhere so it was just Dawn, Marilyn and myself. We had been wanting to get together without the kids to look at headstones. Of course....it nearly killed us. I could hardly talk. Pray for us as we continue to do this.

I wanted to thank the Clines. They used to live across the street from us many years ago. They sold their house to the Crooks. Anyway, we have not seen nor heard from them since that time. Though, we enjoyed each others company very much.

But Melissa, who evidently had read my blog called to say that they had a full size frame, box springs, and mattress that they would like to give to me. So, I have my smaller bed. We are hoping that it fits on my queen head board and footboard. But, I just appreciated it so much. It was a prayer that Jeff, Sallye and I had been praying for. God knew how much I needed it.

I do miss John so much. When things happen, at school, with a kid, parent, etc...the first thing I want to do is text John and tell him. You can't know the times I have started texting him. I love him so much. We had such a wonderful future together. As we were looking at the headstones...I just wanted to cry out to the Lord "WHY???" But, I know I will probably never have the answer....but God will be glorified through it.

I am definitely learning to lean more and more on him. I am learning that that is what he wants. He wants me to lean on him only. Not on Jeff and Sallye, (though they hold me up most of the time), not through this blog (that lets me rant and rave, or just talk), but wholly on Him. And why I question Him, why I can't just relax, I don't know. He has been faithful.

There are so many of you to thank. I am trying to get my thank yous out every chance I get. It seems I just get caught up and then God sends angels to help me again. But....please....each of you...know that I appreciate every word you say, every thought, every prayer, and every kind of help that you have given me. I want to hug you and tell you how much I love you.

You know...that is something I have discovered. How my eyes have changed. I see things so differently now. Different things. Others pain, becomes my pain. The Bumpus family, I can barely think of it. But it doesn't have to be in death that I feel pain for others. It is that child that I know is going hungry, or the person that has had a wrong done to them. I think God is teaching me see people from His eyes now. My life has changed. It has changed dramatically.

My life, my children's life. We will never be the same. Our outlook on life is different. I told God the other morning in devotions....I don't think I will ever be able to accept John's death....but I can thank God for how he has used it to help me become more and more like Him everyday. Sometimes....change CAN be good. But you have to be willing to let it happen. I didn't have a choice, then, but I have accepted that I am changing and I am ready and willing to change according to His purpose for my life now. Whatever it may be.

Pray for us this weekend as we celebrate Rachel's birthday as our family always did on the week of that persons birthday. So it will be this Sunday. How awful. Sundays are my worst, I am celebrating my baby's birthday without her daddy. How much more pain can a person handle in a day? I just want it to be a happy day for her. Pray that I can at least do that.

I hate weekends. I hate them. I would rather crawl in bed on Friday night and Sleep until Monday mornings.

God, I miss John. Please fill that empty space that I am feeling tonight. Lord, how I need you tonight. I feel alone.....

Saundra

Thursday, February 25, 2010

urs. February 25, 2010

Another of those dreaded days. I know everyone says there has to be a first, but the firsts are the things I want to run from.

Today is Rachel's birthday. I almost think she is dreading it! She would tell everyone what she wanted...naturally...but she would not plan a party. I put it off and put it off till I couldn't anymore. finally, I asked her what she wanted to do, she didn't know, then I asked her if she wanted to wait until next week to celebrate with her friends.

All kinds of excuses and reasons for this I can come up with: she just doesn't want to celebrate with out daddy, or the house...being under construction is a mess, I am still sleeping with her....I don't know. The last time she had a friend come over...the first since....I slept on the couch and she came out and said she was sorry I had to sleep on the couch.

So, just pray for my little Rach. It just seems that she has a lot on her little mind for as Young as she is.

This weekend is the Middle School Banquet. She will be preforming in it. I hope you will get to see her. She is precious.

I have shed many tears over my relationship with Isaac. We get along pretty well, until studying time or he wants something. Natural I know that is what most of you are saying. But this week was the last straw. I just cant take the anger between him and I . He can become so hateful. We were trying to study and he and I just argued. About what was to be studied....etc. It ended in both of us in tears. One thing I have always been careful about is to never let any of my kids go to sleep angry or sad...that between us is nothing but good. But I couldn't deal with him that night anymore.

But, as I was walking by his bedroom, there stood Matthew talking....brother to brother with him. I don't know all that was said....but I pray that my pain....turns into their gain as far as brothers and closeness goes.

Yesterday morning as Isaac was waiting for Gramps to come and get him for baseball practice he came in and sat down on the couch as I was reading my devotions. I closed my books and shared with him how I felt. I told him how Matthew has a change of heart....how I have had a change of heart...and that I felt like he needed a change of heart. He acknowledged that he did. But I asked him why he was so angry with me. He told me he wasn't angry at me. I asked him, then what was bothering him? He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I miss daddy". Oh, we both cried. He said, he doesn't have anyone. He wants someone that will play catch with him, basketball with him.....etc...and daddy isn't there after school to do those things. They used to play catch or basketball before dinner most every night.

He said he loved Jeff...Jeff has become like a big brother....no a father figure to Isaac. He tries to talk with him when there is trouble and direct him. And he said he loved Jeff....but he missed his daddy. It broke my heart. He has been holding that in. Wanting to tell someone I am sure.

Our battle now is an airsoft gun that he found online. The boys down the street have one and ask him to come play with them. But his is not as powerful, so he said he just gets pounded! Ha! Anyway, he wants to buy one with his own money...which technically I can't keep him from that. But I just hate for him to buy it. So we are going round and round about that. Just pray for him and I.

Everything is starting to become more routine for me. I still sometime breakdown because it seems so unfair. And I am tired. Running here and there. Doing this and that for the kids...I feel like sometimes I can't take another step. I am realizing all the things that John did. Ladies....thank your husband for those things....they carry big loads.

Sometimes, I just have to say aloud, "I miss you Honey". I have to say it. I hate the thought that "things will never be the same", that we have to "become new and different in everyway". But we are doing our best.

Keep praying for us. Pray for the Bumpus family. I can't help. It is too raw yet. But my prayers are with them. I hope they lean on God and those that he places in their paths. Don't be too proud to take that help.. God put them there for a reason

.Pray for our peace, that God will continue to walk me.....one step at a time.

Love to you all....
Saundra

Jenna...the bedroom is Wisteria (dark lavender) with black and white and grey accents.

Monday, February 22, 2010

February 22, 2010

Wasn't Jason's message so wonderful yesterday? I gained so much from that! God, through Jason, reached into the depths of my soul and spoke to me.

As my faithful readers you know Sunday is the hardest day of the week for me. I would rather stay in bed. But, I know that that isn't what God wants, it wouldn't be what John would want...and it definitely isn't a good example for the kids. But, I was so glad that I went.

Sunday School was just as awesome. I believe in my heart that God is speaking through Dave. I sense the spirit in him. He is spirit led. That is why I am so anxious to go to Sunday School to see what God has given Dave to teach me....that I can be more like my Father.

Well, my bedroom is almost finished. You can begin praying. The floor is in, and the paint done. The paint is beautiful! Beautiful! As I said before, some ladies from the school said that they wanted to redo my bedroom from bottom to top. I told them that as soon as it was painted they could. So, it is just a matter of getting hold of them. I love it!

I just send out thank yous and love to all the men that showed up and helped Jeff Saturday. Thanks so much for what you are doing for me and the kids. When I walked into the bedroom the first time after it was painted I couldn't believe the calm that I felt. God was there.

I still can't sleep in there. It isn't completely finished as I said. And, I am not sure I want to sleep in that queen bed by myself. Doesn't that sound big for one person? I am actually scared of being so lonely that I can't sleep in there. So, if you know of anyone that has a full mattress....I would love to hear from them. It just makes me feel better ...I can't explain it.

My bathroom has the new floor in and the primer on the wall. It won't be long till that is finished also. Then it is onto the boys bathroom. It really needs to be redone. It is kind of gross!!!!

The kids are okay. Rach has been sick for the last 3 days. She stayed home from school today and I took her to the dr. No strep which is what I was worried about. So he ordered antibiotic and rest!

I started Hannah on some vitamins (against her will). I hope to see some progress and strength from her.


Matthew is beyond words. He has changed and matured so much. God is changing him one day at a time. It is incredible! And what a help at home.

I am not going to ask much in prayer today.....my heart is very heavy for the Bumpus family. It saddens me deeply and I feel they need prayers. You know what my prayer requests are...they hardly ever change. But we need to pray for God to be close to that family. To show compassion, and to comfort them as only he can.

I love you all. Keep in touch.
Love,
Saundra

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Feb. 20, 2010 Sat. a.m

Well, a new day dawns.

Yesterday was hard. So hard. I think this was the first day where I just didn't care that the kids saw me cry. I don't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. If I didn't let them see me cry and hurt, I would have had to leave school. It was pretty much all day.

I left home crying. I gave Matthew his letter from john, that I had found. Then had to leave. I didn't really want to be there when he read it. I don't know how he reacted when he read it, or how he felt. You know he doesn't share much of his feeling with me. But I hope it encouraged him some, to know how much his dad loved him and believed in him.

Then I got to school and still could not contain myself. I just cried. I shut myself in Mrs. Benda's room before school started and just let it come. Bekki walked in unexpectedly and right away she empathized with me. Trying to comfort me. I think the reason it poured in there was because I had returned a book that she had got for John and I ...."His Needs, Her Needs" ..I returned it to her because I thought, "I will never need it, WE will never need it. It just killed me to think that.

Then I went to Mrs. Adams room to teach for a little bit while she was gone for a while. I was still weak with tears, weak with strength. I got their attention (all 6th graders) and was honest with them. As I cried I told them that I was having a bad day and that I couldn't talk or teach. And I told them that I was going to stay in there, but I was going to let the aid handle the class. She did a great job, the kids were awesome. They sat quietly, respecting my needs. Margaret Ann did come back and we went into her office and I shared with her what had happened, how I was feeling. She hugged me and held me. Just held me.

As I left her room I was still crying. Yes, there were kids in the hall. Yes, they saw me crying. But I could not control the tears. Just could not.

I went to my next assigned room, which Bekki was in. By then, I think the word had gotten around to the the teachers that it wasn't a good day for me. Mrs. Wetwiska brought me a coffee...and I sensed her love and mercy as she handed it to me. I sensed a love from Bekki that moved me. I could tell she felt for me.

The rest of the day was similar to that. If one person asked me how I was I would cry.

I could not wait to get home. I did, climbed in my recliner, pulled a blanket up close and cried. Then began to relax and sleep. After I have cried that much I am just emotionally drained. Sallye showed up unexpectedly and I was able to pour my feelings out, and let the tears roll. By the time she left I was feeling better.

I took the boys (Hannah was at the school preparing for the game, Rach was with a friend) and we went to Quedoba and ate. It was nice to be with them. We laughed some. But there is always something....someone missing. I know we all sense it, but we never mention it....probably too afraid we will have a crying fest.

Went to the game. Jay and Marilyn and Sallye and Jeff met us there. Sallye just has a way of making me laugh. And we laughed the whole night.

Came home...Isaac had Brady spend the night, Rach had Morgan spend the night. I slept on the couch. It just was all so wrong. There was so much missing. No one will ever know.

In my devotions this morning...the Lord showed me three words over and over. COMPASSION: He has compassion on me. He knows my heart..He feels my pain. He knows. COMFORT: He will comfort me. He has a lot of practice in that. PEACE: He will give me peace.

While I do feel better this morning. I still hurt in an unexplainable way. But I am thankful that God knows my heart. He knows my needs. And he makes promises as he did above. I...it is my job, to trust those words. That is what you can pray for. That I will trust His word and I will see these promises come to pass.

Pray for Rach...and me. Her birthday is next week. It is so hard for me to plan things. John used to help in such a big way with this stuff. So, it is really hard for me. My mind gets mixed up, and I begin to feel overwhelmed. I try to do what she wants to do...especially for this birthday. I want it to be so special. But I don't know how. John always knew how to make their birthdays special. He was so good with the kids. So pray that I find wisdom, a sound mind, and ideas...and strength to do what she wants to do.

Pray for Matthew. He seems to have found a girl he likes. Yes, Jeff Lyles daughter. I laugh. I knew John is too. As Jeff and John were best friends. But, I want him to take it slow. I don't know if that is in his vocabulary. Oh, i love her. But, he gives his feelings away so quickly....pray for God's guidance in this. He is also going up to play golf at Roman Nose today. So, I will worry all day. Pray for his protection on the road...and where ever he may be. Also, he is starting to qualify again for a tournament. Pray that the coach find favor with him this time. Pray that God be with his hands, his arms, his eyes and his mind as he golfs...that the best will come from him.

Be with Hannah. I have had so many of you mention iron. I am going to start her on an iron supplement. I know John had to take them as well as myself. So, I can't wait to get her started on them. I found out that Friday she got permission from one of her teachers....they weren't doing anything in the class because of computer break down...that she got permission to go sleep in the locker room!! I didn't mind that only that that is so much sleep for her! She came home and pretty much, after I asked her to do a few things....went straight to bed. So pray that she begin to have strength and I have wisdom.
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Pray for Isaac. I thick I said yesterday that I dint know how to pray for him. He has a heart need, a heart change. Pray that God will change his heart. He has been sick Mon - Wed. So he has missed a ton of work. Pray that he will get caught up with his work.'

Pray for my Rach. Pray, that as her heart is already tender that God begin His work in her. That she will begin to understand His ways. And that she will be drawn to his will.

Pray for all of us today. That we will receive safety, peace, strength and wisdom from our Father.

Love to you all,
Saundra