10 years of Marriage

Brett and I have been married for 10 years as of June 12th, 2009.  Time has flown by so fast, I can’t believe it has been that long.  We have shared lots of laughs, smiles and tears together.  God has kept us together through those rough times and we have grown closer because of them.  God has provided many memories and precious gifts for us that we are so grateful to Him.

 

Katelyn turns 8

Happy Birthday to Katelyn!

Looking for Work

My employer just announced some layoffs and hours reductions, and as the good Lord would have it, I am one of the people being laid off.

I have until June 30th to find some other work.  So, if any of you know of any IT related work, let me know.  I would appreciate any leads at this time.  And, I would also covet your prayers, too.

Brett

What Happens When You Cross A Tired Boy With A High Chair?

Greggory Broken Collar Bone

Answer:  You get a broken collar bone!

Last Thursday evening we let the kids stay up a little past their bedtime, as Tracy was finishing up a dessert and wanted to treat the kids with some.  Sometime after 8:00PM we began dishing it up, and told Greggory he needed to get in his high chair if he wanted some.  Now, normally Greggory has no trouble accomplishing this simple feat, yet it was late and he was tired, and his motor skills were severely hampered due to this.  Nevertheless, he wanted the apple crisp and ice cream, so he attempted to climb into his high chair as I dished him up some dessert.

A few seconds later we heard a loud crash and saw Greggory lying on the floor, crying as he laid there.

I immediately set the dessert down and went over to him.  He appeared conscious and wasn’t bleeding, so I picked him up.  He kept crying.  Tracy and I cuddled with him for almost an hour, and his crying did not stop.  Finally, I decided I would need to take him into the emergency room to get him looked at.

If you have never had an emergency room experience, let me just say this:  Don’t plan on doing anything else for the next 6 hours, minimum.

We checked in, Greggory was exhausted from crying and started falling asleep, but would wake up crying every now and then.  We figured out before the trip there that picking him up hurt him, and that messing with his right arm hurt him.

The emergency room folks were obviously busy, because it took at least an hour before I even saw our nurse.  But, Greggory fell asleep, and the lady across the hall screaming about wanting to be let out keep me well entertained (I believe they had to restrain her, as she started assaulting the nurses).

Eventually, they got Greggory in for a CAT scan, as they were worried about the possibility of concussion.  I was really glad he slept through it, because had he been awake I’m not sure how he would have handled it.

At around 2:45am they sent us home, I got to bed after 3AM, and resolved to get to work the next day.  The next day came and while I worked, Greggory laid around all day, refusing to play.  He didn’t want to move, didn’t want to play, he just sat on the couch watching movies all day.  We were obviously concerned.

Our chiropractor thought he might have some bruising up near his ribs near his shoulder, given that he didn’t want to move his arm.  Physically he didn’t react to being touched, just moving his arm bothered him.  We followed up with her again and she was still concerned, and suggested we get x-rays.  Today, Thursday, we took Greggory in with us to Josiah’s one year checkup to have our doctor look at him.  She felt around, moved his arm, and didn’t think anything was broken, but ordered x-rays to make sure.  And, amazingly, Greggory sat perfectly still while they did the x-rays!

Well, we got a CD with the x-rays on them, opened them up, and to our untrained eyes it looked like little Greggory’s collar bone was broken.  And, when the doctor’s office called back, they confirmed that it was indeed!

Apparently, with a broken collar bone on a young child, there isn’t much they can do for it.  They are giving us a sling for his arm, assuming he will use it.  Other than that, they said it already started healing and was coming along nicely.  Just keep him pumped up on ibuprofen for the pain and wait it out.

So, what do you get when you cross a tired two year old with a high chair?  A recipe for pain!  I don’t recommend it!

Josiah’s First Year of Life

Happy 1st Birthday Josiah Richard Gorley!

Degree or No Degree. That is the Question.

Brett Getting a Degree

For some time now a friend of mine has been bugging me about finishing up my degree.  A co-worker has brought it up to me before as well.  I have always rejected the idea due to the time that would be involved and the uselessness of a Bible degree for someone working in the computer field.  Finally, I checked on what it would take, out of curiousity.

Well, it seems I am 21 credits shy of my Bachelors degree, and most of the classes I need are offered online.  Also, given that I work for the institution that I would be getting my degree at, I get a substantial discount- to the degree where the cost isn’t really an issue.

Now, I am still curious as to what benefits having a degree will give me, but everyone I’ve ever spoken to said it can only help.  But, I’ve been praying about this, and wondering if I should go through with this.  So, like most limited-faith men, I put out a fleece.  “God”, I said, “if you want me to get my degree, then make my wife 100% behind me on this.  If she is even at all hesitant, than forget it.”

Well, my wife is behind me on this, and willing to support me 100% in this.

I guess all excuses are behind me, and it’s time for me to get ready to go back to school.  I plan on doing online courses this summer, next fall, and next spring, and have my degree come May 2010.  I started attending Multnomah in 1992.  Strange that it would take me 18 years to finish what I started.  But, God leads us all along different paths.

I will require prayer to finish this.  Please remember me in your prayers.

P.S.  I guess my wife told me before to finish my degree, but I’m too forgetful to remember that fact.

Tracy, Kids, and Life

It’s been 6 weeks since Tracy’s hysterectomy, and so far it looks like that is going well.  We’ll find out today for sure after our doctor’s visit.  Though on the downside, it looks like she’s dealing with another sinus infection.  Today she woke up experiencing extreme vertigo, making her nauseous.  Sigh…. I hope and pray she gets better.  She’s been through enough she needs to just feel normal for a change.

Josiah turns 1 year old at the end of this month.  Greggory is two and obnoxious.  Obnoxious as in he’s a curious boy and gets into everything.  Kate hates school, she wants to go back to homeschooling.  We have applied to get her and Angelique into Arthur Academy, a charter school.  Lord willing they get accepted.  And Tanisha has a boyfriend.  They aren’t allowed to kiss or do anything that could get them into trouble.  So far she is being honest with us, and we’re being honest with her, keeping the relationship open.

And Brett is contemplating going back to school.  I have 21 credits to finish to get my batchelor’s degree, most of which I can do online.  But, we will see.  Time to do homework is really the only hinderance.

Materialism in Christians

My favorite new quote is made by Dr John Wecks: “You never see a Uhaul following a hearse.” That is so true yet Christians hold onto their possessions like they are going to stay with them forever. Our treasures are up in heaven but our flesh wants the toys down on earth. This past month has just been a eye opener for me cause I really never thought about things as not my own. Every thing Brett and I own do not belong to us it all belongs to God including our children and ourselves.

A few sermons ago they were talking about what can be defined as poor or rich. If you own more then 1 outfit, have a bowl of rice every day and you are dry then you are rich and what ever else that is extra God has blessed you. But if you don’t have that then you are truly poor. I have been asked why I always say “God will provide” because I know God will provide for us, it says in the Bible in so many passages. My family is rich cause we have more than 1 outfit, mountain of food and a good sized shelter and God has blessed us with so much stuff that we could live with out. Do we really need 3 computers and a laptop? No but God has blessed us with them. Does our kids need so much toys? Nope, they could be content playing with boxes and sticks out side then with the toys that God has blessed them with. Do we need all the furniture in our apartment? No way but God has blessed us with it. I could keep on going about all the stuff God has blessed my family with and we don’t own any of it. God could take it away in a heart beat.

So what would happen if you lost everything you possessed? Let’s give an example: Somebody stole the car. You walk outside your home and realized it was gone. Instead of saying “where is my car?” you would say “Lord, where did your car go?”   Which way would you respond in that situation? Do you own the car or does God? God owns it because He gave you the funds to buy the car. He could bring it back to you or He may not.

I have been really changed on how I think of things especially since I don’t own anything in my possession or do I own myself. I plan on getting some of the sermons (the record them) so I can chew on this some more and give more thought to it. But I pray I can look onto my blessings in a whole new light. If I lost my possessions would I be depressed about it most likely but I hope I can come out in realizing that I got blessed as long as I had it for.

I encourage people to go through their home and pray over everything and thank the Lord of His possessions He has blessed you with Also understand He could take it all in a heart beat. Once you start thinking like that you loose that emotional attachment you have for all His possessions.

Brett leaving Tracy at the Hospital

The surgery went well.  I didn’t do very well Wednesday morning, I was dizzy and light headed.  Every time I moved my head the whole room would spin.  Brett spent half Wed. with me which was nice.  I had a few visitors from church come by and my parents as well.  By Wed. night I was feeling much better.  On Thursday doctor said I can be released from the hospital since I was doing so much better.

I signed the discharge papers and the nurses called transport. So in the mean time of waiting for the transport Brett was suppose to go get the van and pull to the main entrance to the hospital. Transport came and got me wheeled me to the entrance and he wasn’t there yet. The transporting guy and I was just chatting away. I told I think I just saw our van go by and we thought he was stuck at the light to turn left into the hospital. After 5 minutes after that Brett still never showed up so the guy went to go check outside to see if he was parked where we couldn’t see him. Still no Brett, the guy asked if there was a way to get a hold of him. I told him we have a cell phone I can call him on. So I called Brett and asked where he was. Brett said he drove right past the hospital and headed for home. He drove about 20 blocks before he realized he forgot me there. So he had to turn around and come back for me.

Monkey Bread by Disney’s Family CookBook

I have been searching for a recipe for “Monkey Bread” without the use of store bought dough.  Well I found one and it was right under my nose in my own cookbooks from home.

Monkey Bread

Dough:

2 Tablespoons active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup milk

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour  (I didn’t have whole wheat flour, I used all-purpose flour instead)

3 to 4 cups all-purpose flour

Topping:

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup butter, melted
Instructions:

1.  In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water.  Mean while, melt the butter in a saucepan, add the milk and heat just until warm.  Pour the milk mixture in the bowl with the yeast.

2.  Add the eggs, salt, sugar and flour.  Stir well.

3.  Add the rest of the flour 1 cup at a time until you can form a ball.

4.  Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.

5.  Place the dough in a large, lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth.  Set in a warm draft-free spot.

6.  Once the dough has doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours, punch it down.

7.  For the topping, mix the sugars and cinnamon in a medium-size bowl.

8.  Melt the butter and pour it into a separate bowl.

9.  Roll the dough out into a log shape about 3 1/2 inches wide and cut it into 1 inch pieces.  (I did this part different.  I rolled it into a long maybe the length was about 5 ft long and width was 2 inches.  Then I ripped off 1 inch pieces and made them into balls.)

10.  Roll each ball, dip it in the melted butter, then toss it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture

11.  Place two layers of the balls in a greased, 10 inch tube or bundt pan.

12.  Cover the pan with plastic wwrap or a damp cloth and let the dough rise until it has doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

13.  In a preheated 350 degree oven, bake the bread for about 25 minutes.  Serve warm.  Makes 1 large ring.

Make sure you wait to take it out of the pan after 10 minutes of cooling cause if you don’t it will fall apart.  I learned that one today.