Peyton's 1st Birthday Party

Here are some pics of Peyton's birthday party...towards the end she was so tired that she went into meltdown mode...LOL.. but she was SO good overall.

Happy birthday sweetie!

Our Precious Peyton

I just read Auntie Shannon's blog, and decided to follow suit. Everyone has their own story about the day our beautiful little Peyton Marie King was born, one year ago tomorrow. Here's my story:

January 8th, 2008...Brian & Katie were supposed to be at the hospital around 7am for Katie's induction. I woke up around my usual 5am or so, and was enjoying a quiet waking up moment with my coffee. About 5:30am someone knocked on my door. I don't know about YOU, but when someone knocks at MY door at 5:30am, it can usually mean only one thing:bad news! I flipped on the light to see Brian & Katie there! Seems they had just left home for the hospital, and I can't remember if they'd called the hosp., or if the hosp. had called them, but at any rate, there was a delay. So since they didn't have to be to the hosp. until 9am, Brian had a cup of coffee with me, then he & Katie went back home to catch another hour or so nap before things started happening.

Jim & I left for the hosp. about 9am, knowing that there would be much to do on getting Katie settled in and the pitocin drip going, so no rush. We were geared up for the long haul. A change of clothes in the van for me, snacks, sodas, a blanket, and of course, my camera. We actually got up to her room around 10am, and she was already pretty uncomfortable, and dilated to about 4cm...about 10:30 Katie was very uncomfortable, and VERY politely called her nurse and said 'I think I'd like my epidural now please'...we always have a good laugh about that, because MOST women would be like 'gimme the %&*#@ drugs NOW!!!'...but not Katie. It's just not her nature to be anything but kind. Thats one of the things I love most about her. Anyway...Sandy (Katie's mom) and I decided around 11:30-ish to go down to the cafeteria and have lunch. We got back to her room about an hour or so later, and around 1pm Jim & Brian decided to go have a bite to eat. Not so fast Brian...all of a sudden Katie feel something happening, and feels like she needs to push! Call the nurse....ok. Nurse comes in, checks Katie. She's at 9 cm! So much for lunch Daddy-there's no time now! I get on the phone and call Shannon, who is up at Deer Springs Station visiting:

Mom;Hey Shan, where are you?

Shannon: Actually, I'm just getting of the 15 onto Pomerado Road. Why? What's up?

Mom: Umm...Katie's at 9 and about ready to push...

Shannon:Oh crap! And I'm stuck behind some old guy who's just cruisin' along!

Mom (Laughing): Ok well, just get here as quick as you can.

Apparently it wasn't TOO long till she got up to the room...and you can read HER account of how fast she got there on HER blog...LOL

So Katie starts pushing, and the nurse calls the Dr., who is in surgery, figuring that Katie, with a first pregnancy, will still go several more hours...NOT! Let me tell you something here: Katie was an absolute trooper! With Brian, Sandy and me coaching her on, we soon see the top of Peyton's blonde little head. Keep pushing honey, we can see her head! THEN...."Stop pushing Katie, the Dr isn't here yet" from the nurse. Now those of you who have had babies know that if someone tells you to stop pushing, well, that's almost an impossibility. I know from experience, but Katie, bless her heart, kicked it into high gear, and you could just see the focus on her face, and it was WORK, but she panted her way through another 20 minutes or so before the Dr finally arrived gave her the go-ahead to just pop this baby out. 5 hours, start to finish. Incredible.

Aw man, I cannot begin to tell you the joy of watching a grandchild enter the world. It was indescribable.

Peyton has been such a source of joy in our family, and it's still reeling that tomorrow she turns 1. She's not only beautiful, but she's got this GREAT little personality, and is now coming into her own, temper and all, and it is SO precious.

Happy, Happy Birthday our beloved Peyton! We love you beyond words.

P.S. Yes, she really IS as happy as her pictures show!

He Is Faithful.....

Even when I am not.

I confess, these past few months I've been SO stressed about finances, and my faith has waned. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for today has enough problems of it's own. I forgot that Scripture passage. I've forgotten ALOT. I haven't been faithful to God. And yet, day by day, He STILL carries me. I can't tell you the last time I was in church. I miss it. But I go to church down the hill, and sometimes the money for gas just wasn't there.

But it will be now-God has provided me with another client to care for. Pretty much dropped her right in my lap. I sent out an email late last week, to most everyone I have email addresses for here in Ramona. My Cousin Kathy gave me the idea. She suggested that I email and ask the word to be passed along that I'm looking to pick up another client in addition to Mary Kay. Lo & behold, Saturday I received an email from a lady who works in a care management ministry here in town. I interviewed with her yesterday, and she hired me on the spot. She'd gotten my email forwarded to her by another Christian lady here in town that I'm familiar with, but don't really 'know'. That's how God's Family works-we all look out for each other. Another perfect example of His faithfulness.

So hopefully I'll start on Thur. I'll get more details tomorrow I'm sure. I'm not worried about details. That's God's job. He opened this door for me, so He'll provide the details that I need in time. I feel like a giant weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

In this care giving profession, especially with advanced aged folks, you pretty much live paycheck to paycheck, and you don't count on a paycheck until it is in your hot little hands, but for now, God knows what I need, and He's providing it.

The song 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness' has been going through my mind today. With good reason. He is faithful....even when I am not.

Blessings~

Happy New Year!

Wow-time to start a new year huh? I know that alot of folks make New Year's Resolutions. The ONLY resolution that I make every year is to make NO resolutions. Half the time I can't remember what I resolved to do, and the other half of the time I fail. So it's just easier to say that I hope this is a better year than last year was, and I will strive to be the best Penny I can be.

Happy New Year everyone. God Bless and prosper each of you in 2009 and always.

P.S.....PLEASE don't drink & drive!

Back To Reality

Yep, the holidays are over. Time to get back to reality.

Reality reared it's ugly head awhile back, and gave me yet another reason to worry, although I try hard not to. I keep reminding myself to give everything to God, that He will take care of us....but for some reason, I keep taking everything I give Him back! Grrr!!

Our illustrious Governor, 'Uncle Arnie'-I call him that because I can't spell his last name-has said that if the federal government doesn't bail California out by February, state employees won't have a paycheck. Now, I don't know if this means ALL state employees, or just some. Jim is a state employee, once removed. His paycheck comes from the school district, who is funded, of course, by the state. I can't fathom how all state employees wouldn't receive a check, it just doesn't make sense, which means it probably won't happen.

And, of course, if Jim doesn't get a paycheck, well....well, I don't want to 'go there', because basically we'll be S.O.L....

So, I guess it's time for me to dig deeper for faith, because faith is the ONLY thing that will carry us ('us' meaning everyone) through these hard times. Time to quit freaking out about where the money is coming from to pay the bills, and time to quit losing sleep over things I have no control over. Time to lay EVERYTHING at the feet of Jesus. After all, He cares for me. He has plans to prosper me and not harm me. Plans for hope and a future.

Now THAT'S a reality check!

Blessings!

Holiday Fun

Wow, hard to believe the holidays are over! We had our Christmas on Friday, and I wanted to share some pictures with you. A wonderful time was had by all, and the holiday was made more special because we were all together, and, of course, it was Peyton's first Christmas.

By the end of gift-unwrapping, she was going into meltdown mode, but after a nap, she was once again her wonderfully cheerful self. Alissa and Justen were thrilled with their gifts. We all made it a point to get them at least one thing on their lists, and the look of joy on their faces were priceless.

Once again, we feel so blessed, and we look forward to a Happy New Year~I hope your New Year is happy, healthy, and prosperous.

God Bless~

What I Forgot To Tell You....

Is that winning 2nd place last night was nothing short of a miracle....

Jim has the light display on a timer. It goes on around 5-ish, and goes off around 9 or so. Well, last night they didn't go on at 5....or 5:15, so Jim went out to check. Remember a couple of blogs ago I told you that we've been having 'issues' with cords and lights and such....well, last night, of ALL nights, was no exception. No matter what he did, something kept tripping the breaker, and POOF-gone! Now, I am married to a man with a Type A personality. A Type A personality man who's been fighting a cold for several days, and in fact came home from work early yesterday because he felt like crap. Need I say more? After about 15 min. of fighting with the lights, he popped his cork, said some things that I cannot repeat, and stormed into the house, hands in the air, bellowing 'I'm DONE!'....

So I figured, 'Ok, that's that. We've had this display up & running every single night with no problems, and now, on the night of judging, we have nothing. Oh well.' I called the park manager & explained to her what we were battling, and she said if we couldn't get the lights to work she'd see if they could postpone the judging till Tue night. Then I saw Gary outside, and told him what was going on, and bless his heart, he offered to help Jim figure out what was going wrong, so the two of them worked steady for a good 20 minutes.

Voila! We found the problem! 1 stinkin' cord was tripping the whole thing-so we just left it unplugged (it belongs to a snowman). We got up & running at 6:25, and judging started at 6:30....by 6:45 we'd won 2nd place, and a $75 gift card to Stater Bros. (works for me!)....but it doesn't end there......

The light display took it's final bow at 7:02pm. Jim said 'It's out for the night.'

We think what happened is that something got too damp with all the rain we've been having. Jim had wrapped the cords tightly in plastic to protect them, and will check all cords today. The snowman has a brand new strand of lights on it, and yet that particular cord was the culprit.

Hopefully we'll be up & running tonight.....