We Can Make Our Plans, But

If you had ask me just a few months ago if I would ever move back home to the Upstate of South Carolina I would have told you No.
As a matter of fact I signed a 3 year lease on this Awesome Condo thinking we'd stay here and take our time as we searched for the perfect place to buy somewhere on the coast.

But as we all know our plans and GOD'S PLANS are not always the same.

It breaks my heart to be leaving this wonderful place but we always Pray for God to place us where HE wants us to be, doing what HE Wants us to do. 
HIS PLAN Is Always BEST.

We may not understand it now but we know HE Has A Plan.

Proverbs 16:9
We can make our plans,
but the LORD determines our steps.

SLEEP

I'm so tired.
I want a night of SLEEP so badly.

For seven years and four months I have longed for SLEEP.

My days fly by with endless chores, paperwork (mainly forms for trying to get help), diapers changes and more.
By the end of the day I'm Exhausted.
All I want to do is lay down and get a good night of SLEEP,
BUT
I know that's not an option.
I lay down, set my timer for 2 hours and try to fall to SLEEP.
I guess my body has gotten so use to no SLEEP that one of the most difficult things for me now is falling to SLEEP.
Trammell checks David one last time before he goes to SLEEP usually around 10:00 and then turns the timer on.
I jump up when it goes off and reset it after I check on David.

The nights seem endless.

It seems as if the timer is going off right when I'm finally falling back to SLEEP. 
I check David's diaper, PRAYING that it's dry.  Hoping that if it is wet that his shirt and bedpad are dry.
(There's nothing like trying to change a 165lb "two year old" in the middle of the night)
Hoping that if I have to change his diaper that he doesn't do what he usually does by wetting the new diaper five minutes after I put it on him.
(We do what we've come to call the "DOUBLE DIAPER CHECK")
Checking his diaper after we clean up from changing his diaper.  Six times out of ten he has wet the new one AND two times out of ten he will wet a third diaper five minutes after that. Don't ask me why.
(And yes, we have tried all the suggestions about giving him liquids, not giving him liquids after a certain time, what liquid to give him and what not to give him.  We've tried it all.)

I Really feel at times that I can't go on. 
I'm so tired. 
I get so downhearted. 
I just want someone to take care of me for a change.
BUT then I am reminded of my favorite Bible Verse,

Isaiah 40:31
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Starting tonight Trammell and I are beginning an experiment we've talked about before but this time we are really going to do it. 
I feel I really Need this.
I will try and fall to SLEEP by 9pm.
Trammell will check David at 10pm before he goes to SLEEP and set the timer for 3 hours.
I will get up at 1:00am to check David and then set the timer for 3 hours and put it near Trammell (he has a VERY HARD TIME hearing the timer go off). He will get up when it goes off at 4:00am and check David, reset the timer for 7:00am which is when we usually wake up anyway, and place it near me.
Praying this gives me more rest. 
Praying this gives me more SLEEP.
THANK YOU TRAMMELL For All You Do For Your Dad and me.

The Simple Things

With all the endless chores I or any Mom/ Caregiver has to do 24 hours a day 7 days a week, we have little time to do anything "Enjoyable".
Therefore we treasure every moment that's filled with Joy.

I find, more now than ever before,  how much I truly enjoy the simple things.

My favorite times of the day are early morning, before anyone else is awake, when I sit quietly, sipping on a cup of coffee or tea, reading devotionals.  Spending Time with The Lord.
This brings me Joy.

And at night, after everything is done, everyone is tucked in and I can sit in my little bed working on crafts for my class of 2 & 3 year olds for the upcoming Sunday Morning.
This Brings me Joy.

Spending a few moments sitting down to lunch with Trammell as we watch a recorded episode of "Restaurant Impossible". (Although sometimes it takes us two days to watch one episode)
This Brings me Joy.

Spending time with David, helping him with Art Time and seeing his face when we finish his craft.  Seeing his eyes light up with childlike excitement.
This Brings me Joy.

What Brings Joy To Your Heart?

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.