Let the Good Times Roll!!

As you will see, that title is slight, just slight sarcasm.  Last night very shortly after my last post, our basement flooded! Awesome right?? The pump just could not keep up.  Our house was built in 1910. It comes with beautiful wood work surrounding each door way in the molding and huge windows and lots and lots of great character.  It was completely redone 4 years ago. Windows, furnace, water heater, plumbing, heating/cooling, carpet, all flooring, siding...everything.  So while it still maintains that 1910 character, it has all new things.  However, when you head into the basement, it is ALL 1910.  No fixing up there.  There is soggy dirt floor and its just plain scary.  Right out of a horror film.  The only modern things down there is the furnace and things of that sort surrounded by 1910 freakiness. LOL.  So when we heard a buzzing sounds and opened up the basement door to hear running water and see 2-3 inches in our basement, we knew our 1910 was showing.  Thankfully, there is 3 rooms and the driest room is where we stored some of our stuff and that seemed untouched.  Thank the Lord. So needless to say, we are getting a visit from someone to take a peek and see what can be done. The water is gone now but it sure is soggy.

We now have another camper out for the count.  Curtis broke his nose and has to have surgery:(  Disappointing but of course that is a pretty good reason to miss summer camp.  A broken nose is kinda like a broke finger. You never realize how much it gets used or moved until it hurts to move it.  I could just see him getting a softball to the honker...ouch.  So pray for Curtis.  Poor kid!

As I type, Bella is twirling around me in her tutu and singing, "Trust and Obey for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to Trust and Obey!" She loves that song.  I have been trying to go over the meaning of that song with her as well.  She is so smart and SO GIRL!!! There is not an inch of tom-boy in that girl.  She is all fairies and butterflies and singing while twirling.  Livy on the other hand...well, maybe not so much. LOL.

Today's is Lexi's last day of summer school where she got a 100% and made up an English credit! So proud of her.  I know she is excited to get a little break before it starts all over again.  It seems like the summers just fly by these days.  Before we know it, it will be school shopping and prep for the school year.  This mommy is prepping herself as much as possible for Owen going to school.

Well, those are my random thoughts for the morning. Have a blessed day!

BUSY!!

BUSY BUSY BUSY!

This week has been overwhelmingly busy and it is only Tuesday!! Between preps for camp, getting Owen all set with Kindergarten, being a mom of 5, play dates, and organizing rent at teen...I'm wiped.  I would love to just give a shout out to my husband. After returning from a camp prep shopping spree, I was not sure I could put one foot in front of the other...I was sitting there contemplating whether or not I even had the energy to eat my meal.  Chris was asking what all I needed to get done and I halfheartedly rattled off the list: switch over the laundry, wipe down the bathrooms, etc. About 10 minutes later I heard the dryer being started and smelled that familiar smell of bathroom cleaner assaulting my senses. My sweet husband had taken it upon himself to knock a few things off my list, allowing me to snag a 45 minute nap.   "AND THE HUSBAND OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO....MR. CHRISTOPHER OTT."  Its amazing how a little Lysol and laundry detergent being used by someone other than yourself can really turn your day around.  The other plus is that my Duggar size meal from last night yielded an extra 9x13 of Tater Tot Casserole...thus, no need to cook!  Yay for me!

Speaking of the Duggars, I have been reading their book, "A Love that Multiplies," and its has been such a blessing. A major portion of the book covers the birth and struggles of severely premature, Josie Duggar.  I have cried and laughed while reading this book.  One verse that is mentioned frequently is Romans 8:28 which states, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose."  I grew up knowing that verse but as a child, it can be difficult to grasp that verse entirely.  As an adult, with all the cares of running a family and finances and struggles, that verse comes into a very clear view.  I have been very stressed over camp and how we are all going to make it, stressed about Owen going to a school and the good/bad influences he could face,  stressed for my darling CASA kids, and just stressed as a mother of 5.  Having said all that, I am trying to remind myself that all things do work together for good to them that love God so my focus needs to be on pleasing and loving God more than ever and he will take care of all the rest.  When trials have come and boy, have they and will they come,  2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for thee:fr my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  Also, "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."  Its great to know that in our weak and fault filled spirit, we can gleen from His strength and that through His power, we can shine through. Reading of how this amazing family went through the trials they did and only trusted and loved God more, brings into light how little my problems are and how in God, I can rest assured.

As a CASA, I am bound by confidentiality regarding each child's case as they are minors. Having said that, I would like you to pray for a brother and sister that are having a major struggle and are in relative care.
Also, if I might ask, could you pray for me as I prepare my devotions for the girls at Summer Camp. Pray that the Lord will guide me as a prepare and that the youth group will hear what God has planned for them this week.

Bath TIME!!

Rough Few Days

What a week! 

I have felt fairly defeated this week. Its just seems to be one things after another preparing for camp.  So proud of the teens for working so hard to earn their way to camp.  Great kids:) 

I was pretty much awake off and on all night consumed with a runaway brain.  It kept rehashing recent struggles of the week and I could just not rest.  I am praying for guidance on how to deal with certain situations but sometimes find it hard to see beyond hurt feelings.  This is a big struggle...seeing God in the midst of it all can be tough.  Thankful for my wonderful man who has been so encouraging to me this last week.  He has really been in tune with what I need here lately.  

Sometimes when dealing with conflict, its hard to remember that this is JUST A TEST.  That Satan is trying our faith and we have to see it through.  1 Peter 1:7 says, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be  tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"  This verse has been sticking in my mind.  When these trials come along, whatever they might be, I have to picture that TV in my mind saying, "THIS IS ONLY A TEST."  The end result of this trial is that through the trial, I can bring glory to God.  Its very hard to grasp that in the midst of the trial but I am really trying to see that.  How I react in my trial will either glorify or bring shame to my Lord.  Humbling thought.  

Most times I feel very inadequate as a leader, mother, and wife.  However, I am praying that God would take my comparison spirit away and just show me who and what I need to be according to HIM.  

This was kinda a jumbled mess of thoughts but its what was on my mind. 

If blogging were a class...I would fail.

I have had this blog for nearly 2 years and I have written less than 10 times.  That is pretty sad.  Finding time for hobbies can be hard around this place and when you find it, you should probably be catching what little sleep you can for the evening.

I am officially the mother of  5 children. That's right.  Alexis is 17 and about to start her sophomore year of high-school.  Owen is going to start Kindergarten next year. Its just insane. I can't believe he is so big. He is such a brain too. Isabella is our song bird. Mommy and Bella are going to start preschool at home this year.  Olivia is our little crazy girl. She dances to everything she can and much to mommy's dismay, her favorite word is "no" at the moment. She brings CONSTANT giggles to our world.  Evalyn is a whopping 2 months old and such a sweet baby.  She is already sleeping 6-7 hours at a time.

Chris has a great job with At&t. The downside is long hours.  He works pretty much non-stop most days. Days off are cherished in the Ott family.  I stay at home currently but I am finishing up my Paralegal Studies degree in the 2013-2014 school year.  I am so excited and if I do say so...proud of myself for doing this with 5 kids.

The Ott family has had lots of changes this past year and I only see more coming.  I am excited for this season in my life where I have had my children and now I get to sit back(or run around like a crazy person:) and watch them grow up.  Its a sweet season....and a sweet life.