PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!

Because he is AWESOME!!!!

Okay, let's start with the small stuff: our dryer's broken, and has been for two weeks, so we've been washing clothes and then taking them to the laundry mat. Then today my nephew-in-law (I know, it sounds weird) walked in and started asking questions about why and when and how and all that stuff that mechanically minded people care about. Then he started pulling plugs and low and behold: the dryer works!!!!!!!!!!! The plug that it was plugged into was broken . . . is broken . . . doesn't work . . . whatever. So now, we get to dry clothes here!!! AND, our kitchen facet has been broken, and Mike (my nephew-in-law) is coming down tomorrow to fix that too!!!!

Now for something of medium size: I'm not in San Francisco!!!!! (Read following to understand why.)

Okay, something a little bigger (much bigger really): My dad has regained his senses. He is (mentally) back to his old self, complete with quick-witted remarks and a joy in picking on me. Mom decided that since Dad was no longer A.W.O.L, she didn't need me to go with her to San Fran, and I could get much more done here; so I stayed here and got LOADS of stuff done today, which always makes me feel better!!!!!

Dad say his heart doctor today, and the shingles and his heart are under control, what we're focusing on now is the spot on his lung. The doctors are running more tests tomorrow and then in a week or ten days Mom and Dad are going back to San Fran to see the oncologist about the cancer spot on Dad's lung. It's nothing to sneeze at, but it's nothing to freak out about either.

I'm going to go, I'm on kid patrol. I can't thank you all for your prayers, I know that they made the difference. I love you all!!! Happy New Year!!!!

Natasha

Merry Christmas!!!!

If you have looked at the date and time on this post, you will realize that it's 7 o'clock on Christmas morning. You might ask why any self respecting college student would be up at 7 o'clock on a Sunday, during a break, on Christmas morning, let alone posting on her blog!!! Well, here's the answer: I'm kinda sick, so my head is draining and all the icky gross snot stuff makes it REALLY hard to sleep. AND, I guess there's still enough kid left in me that I have to have something to do if I'm going to wait for the rest of the house to get up!!!

Before I forget: Delsiri, that comment you left brightened my morning, I know that it's true, but it's still good to hear it every now and then!! Thank you SOOO much!!!

In other news: (Although this really just turned out to be a prayer list.)
Dad Update: He had shingles, they are healing but are still very painful. His blood pressure was WAY high, it has come down and has started to even out. He went into the hospital in Chico (Enloe) on Tuesday night, and came home Friday around 3 pm. He has been confused since Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, the doctors said when you have a person of his age, who's sick and you then you take them out of their comfort zone and put them in a place where they don't know anyone and the people are constantly changing, that confusion is not uncommon. This scares my family the most, because we've dealt with the physical before, we know we can handle that. This is the area where we will have to be trusting in God even more. He has gotten a little better as far as the confusion goes, but if what the doctors said was right, then after being home for almost two full days, there should be marked improvement, and there's not, so again, we're having to trust in God and wait for His plan. The last thing is that they did an X-RAY of his long, and found a black spot. They did a biopsy on Friday morning, and have determined that it is cancerous, we don't know for sure to what extent, but the doctors sounded somewhere between hopeful and serious. Please continue to pray for my Dad, the physical is hard but we've done it before, and while it's good to have him home it's also trying to see him in such a state of confusion.

In a recent discussion with one of my best friends, we got to talking about the Lord. He (my friend) has a very negative perception of Our Father, and while I've been trying to lead as an example for years, this conversation was the first real one we've had on the subject. He's very . . . conflicted. This friend is VERY important to me, and I would appreciate your prayers for him also - when we talked, the words were ALL God's, because I could never have gotten through it on my own without breaking down, but God gave me strength - I know that God is in this situation, but please pray for patience and the right words for me, and an open heart for my friend.

My niece has recently decided to be baptized in our church in Gridley!! This is very good news, and I would again ask for your prayers as she starts to learn what it is to live a life for God!!!

Ummm, let's see.........oh, more on Dad. His regular doctors are in San Francisco (for those of you who don't know, my Dad had a heart transplant almost 14 years ago, and it took place in San Francisco, so his 'regular doctors' are his heart doctors.) and they want to see Dad next week. What this means is that I will be going down to San Francisco with my Mom to take my Dad to see those doctors on Tuesday, and I have NO idea how long we will be there. Again, please pray - I'm worried about what they will find, and about how I will spent whatever time is spent there.

I can't think of anything else that's going on in my life . . . one thing my sister always says, "It's never dull around our house!" And she's right, please keep me and my family in your prayers, we appreciate it!!!

Love always,

Natasha

P.S. While all this post is is prayer requests, please feel free to send me yours, I would LOVE to pray for you too!!!

GOD is good . . .

It's true, He is. And I love Him for it. Quick update - things are okay but crazy here. Dad REALLY needs prayer, so if you all would pray for him, I would appreciate it!!! He's having health problems and memory problems and it's just not good, so please pray.

Also, I have a unspoken prayer request (Well, it's spoken, just undefined), please pray that God continues to give me the right words, and that hearts and minds are opened!!!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good morning!!! (It;s 1:17, that's morning!!!!)

Natasha

Home, Home, Home, Home - HOME -

"It won't be long before we'll all be there with . . . 'a lil ole snowflake, Eskimo pie, chocolate and vanilla for you and I! Boom de de boom de de boom de de boom."

I love that movie!!!! And brownie points to anyone besides Rebecca who can tell me what it's from!!!! As you guessed, I'm home, for three weeks. Three long weeks. Christmas, New Year's, recuperation. That's the plan, and lots and lots of work. Lots and lots of it.

That's pretty much all I can say . . . finals are over (obviously), don't have grades yet cuz the stupid site won't work. Allergies are acting up, who's surprised?

Umm . . . okay. So that's all, I hope you all have a great break and I'm sure that I'll talk to you all between now and then. I love you all!!

Merry Christmas, and don't forget the Reason for the Season!

Love in Christ,

Natasha

5 down 1 to go!!!!!!!!!!

I am now at this moment only 2 and a half hours away from being DONE with finals this semester!!!! Granted I don't get to go home until Friday after work, but who cares?!?!? Finals will be done!!!!

Love to all, good luck if you're also taking finals!!!!

Natasha

I'm Sorry!!!

I am TERRIBLY sorry!!! I just got a comment and checked and low and behold it has been 13 days which now that I think of it is not really that long since I posted. But I do apologize, and do to the fact that I have some time right now, it is a rare thing you know, I'm going to update you!!!

First off, finals are in full swing now: I had 6 to start with and finish my third and fourth one today, only two left!!!! Music Theory and English 1220 tomorrow, and then I'm done!!! Of course I'm not leaving until Friday, but that's okay because it just gives me time to settle before going home!!!

Besides finals not much else is going on. One of my roommates is moving to a new dorm, and I'm kind of apprehensive about getting someone new.......

I'm excited about Christmas, it's going to be different this year: but I've decided different is good, different is necessary, and different can be good if you let it. I'm reading a book right now on the traditions of Christmas (That might make a good post.....) and how they have changed and evolved over the centuries, pretty interesting!! And it makes me think of how traditions have changed just in my own life. Like when I was little I, being the youngest would wake everyone up. Not so anymore, the past two years, mom has had to come wake me up to start the Christmas festivities. When my grandparents came up for Christmas all the time, Grandpa was 'Santa' and passed out the presents; now I do it. Mom used to do stockings for my sister and I, now I do it for Jocelyn and she does it for me. And I think about traditions that I remember starting; Jocelyn making cinnamon roles at 2 am and eating them fresh from the oven on Christmas morning, eating with Karen and her bunch, going out to eat at a fast food restaurant and exchanging gifts with the girls from school. Traditions are interesting things, and they are more numerous than you would think.

I can tell you one thing for sure: I am ready to be out of this dorm full of lots of girls with issues and loud voices and rude comments. I never thought going home would sound so good, but it does!!! And I get to see people, and hang out with those that I love, it's going to be GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This won't be my last post until Christmas, but Merry Christmas anyway!!! And I want to hear from all of you about your traditions and Christmas Plans!!!!

Love always,

Natasha