And she shall be called Spinderella

Steven met Tommy (our neighbor) to pick up our washer today. The one that was ordered for me didn't come in and the floor model was sold earlier today. So, the owner upgraded us to a nicer, bigger model at no additonal 'cost' to us. God continues to amaze me.

And Daddy...your stand works perfect! Thanks so much for doing that for us!

When you BELIEVE....

We found a new church home and for the first time in my memory I am not only excited about going to church, but I feel very lost when I don't go. I have a new found interest in my faith. Don't get me wrong, I am still way flawed and have an extremely long road to hoe in this journey but I feel the promise of a new day. I was excited this week to have God show me His hand in my life. Truthfully, excited wasn't the word...scared is more like it....hard to explain if you haven't been where I am.

As I stated before, the washing machine I bought 8 years ago (used) for $150 spun its last load and that was all she wrote. I was livid. So mad that we are struggling the way we are and the thing picks now to die. Last year it wouldn't have been any big deal. We would have wheeled down to the Maytag store and bought one that same day. This year, the idea of replacing an appliance makes me tick. So I panicked then somehow I let it go. A week passed and Steven I met at the Maytag store to hunt for a 'scratch and dent' bargain. After a few minutes of speaking with the owner I realized that this was a new owner, new store name....DUDE NEEDS NEW SIGNS! So, we chatted and I gave him my card. He mentioned that he would work with me on whatever I needed if I'd work with him on a sign. DUH! Monday I talked to Todd about it, he offered to give the sale to a salesman, I said 'no', if he would help me, I wanted to sell it. I went back to the Maytag store Thursday morning with the intention of buying a washer flat out (still working with the man on his sign but it takes longer than a few days to get a sign deal together and Momma needed a washer). Ended up coming out of there with a nicer washer than I planned on getting with nothing out of my pocket. Got to the office and met with my old boss about cleaning the office and he brought me a photocopy of his devotional for that day. And it was what I needed to hear. At the end of the day, Todd went out to run a few errands and came back with a package for me that took the air out of my lungs. It was the Bible I had been eyeballing and just the night before had told Steven I wanted. I had not told Todd about the conversation with Steven. I picked up Isaiah from his tutor and she handed me a Daily Devotional for Dec-Jan-Feb. A perfect gift to help me in my journey and the perfect companion to my new Bible.

Before I would have told you that "my planets had aligned" that day and "man, what a coincidence Thursday was!" Today, I will tell you that I have no doubts in my heart that it was God. Plain and simple. I have felt what it is really like when you 'LET GO AND LET GOD'...and it feels so good.

For those readers not in my email address book:

Hey All!

Arissa was selected to serve on the safety patrol for her school this year. Not only is this an awesome learning experience but it also gives her the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC for the AAA Safety Patrol trip.

As you can imagine, the cost of a 3 night/4 day trip isn't cheap. She is selling cookie dough as well as coffee and candles to offset the cost. Arissa gets 30% of her sales applied to her trip bill.

You can visit www.classiccookie.com to see the flavors available. Arissa is selling the following categories:

Cookie Dough Tubs ($15.00)
Specialty Coffee & Cocoa ($15.00)
Pre-portioned Cookie Dough ($16.00)
Brownie ($16.00)
Mason Jar Candles ($16.00)
Premium Candles ($19.00)
Cookie Scoop ($11.00)


If you would like to help by making a tax deductible donation directly to her account, please let me know and I can get you the information.

The "goody" sale ends Dec 2 with a delivery date of Dec 11. "Straight" donations don't have to be turned until after the first of the year.

If anyone has opportunities for Arissa to earn money for her trip, please let me know. She really wants to go and has committed to working hard to raise the money.

We thank you SO MUCH for anything you are able to help with, including those very important prayers!

It truly takes a village-
Steven, Anne & Arissa

When the left hand doesn't talk to the right hand

I have been waiting for a week to hear from my neuro about a plan for my treatment since my stupid insurance denied my claim for Botox. The nurse finally got a plan from him and called me today. The plan? Have a sleep study. Um, yeah. Been there, done that. The problem? The sleep people didn't send the results (normal) to the neuro. Now, my neuro is out of town until Tuesday which means I am still in a holding pattern. This really aggravates me since I have had a migraine EVERY DAY FOR TWO WEEKS. I have been able to function with them and today was the first time it was really bad but even still, I don't consider DAILY MIGRAINES a high quality of life. Yes, I am using CAPS LOCK excessively because I am that AGGRAVATED. I wonder if these people just DON'T GET IT. They claim to. They are very sympathetic and feel 'just terrible' for me but apparently not enough to GET OFF THEIR ASSES AND FIGURE SOMETHING OUT ALREADY. I know if I call and throw a fit the only reply I will get will be to go to the ER if the pain gets worse and I can't get it to subside....which only makes me feel worse with the way I am treated. Talk about a crappy situation to be in.

Do you ever wonder why things happen? Do you ever wonder why some live their whole life with no more than the occasional cold while others struggle daily just to live? Do you ever think that "God never gives us more than we can handle," but think that maybe he loses count and 'double dips' on some people?

What's Up In Our World

Let's see what's going on with the Freeman's

• Isaiah brought home an awesome report card (all A's and B's). With the exception of his Business class (an elective class...meaning he picked it which to me means he should elect to do the work). This class killed the whole report card with a D. This is the class that has brought our family lots of laughs. Part of this class is a virtual world. He has virtual parents, turned 16, got a virtual car (a 1993 Chrysler Town and Country. Maroon. Simulated wood paneling), had to buy virtual tires and maintenance, has a virtual car payment. Of course, to spend money you have to make money. He is now your virtual pizza maker at Domino's. Boy is crushed his pay is only $6.10 per hour. He quickly figured out his plans to 'pimp his ride' would have to be put on hold. He is trying to figure out how to meet his financial obligations and still afford gas in his virtual van. Welcome to the real world, kid. Elective or not, we don't tolerate poor grades and more importantly, poor effort and therefore Isaiah is only allowed to breath and eat for the next 10 days which could be extended depending on his compliance.
• Arissa is still plugging along. Cheerleading came to an end last Saturday and officially closed this past Thursday with our banquet. Please remind me next year to keep my mouth SHUT and not volunteer for this gig again. Really, it wasn't that bad. Most of my frustrations were on Saturdays with the insane delays we had to deal with on game days and that was the fault of the 'powers that be' and not my girls or parents. Arissa is insisting on cheering again next year so it looks like I'll have to deal with the insanity for one more year but I'll be on the easier side of the bench.
• Steven is the same. He compares his life to the movie "Groundhog Day".
• Me in summary...very little change. Insurance denied my Botox; waiting on neuro to figure out what to do next. I had a migraine every day last week....something must be done. No change on the GI mystery. I've gained no weight but the pain has decreased so that is a blessing. I'm not sure if things are really any better or if I'm just used to feeling like shit all the time.
• We hosted our annual Halloween Roast and Toast. The gang was all here with the exception of Joseph (too cool for us) and Kathy (too sick for human interaction). We had a good time with it being on a Friday night and no rush to get it done and in the bed for school the next morning. No one lost an eye or ate a cold weenie, and I think we lost very few marshmallows in a ball of fire.
• Our washing machine is dead. It works...if you don't want your clothes to agitate and therefore get clean.
• Isaiah and Arissa are still 'working out' with Steven. Whatever that means....I don't get into that whole ordeal.

I think that's got you caught up for now...

Stop reading and GO VOTE!!!

Hunter Love and Crazy Day

I don't rise until 730am. Isaiah and Arissa wake themselves up, get ready for school, eat, brush, etc. then wake me up when it is time to leave for school. I roll out of the bed, pee, throw on my shoes, grab my keys and take them in my jammies. Most days I come home and lay back down for 30 or 45 minutes before getting ready for work. I used to be at work at 730 every morning. Those days are looonnnnggg gone.

This morning was different. Carol's sitter was sick so she needed someone to watch Hunter. His Uncle Tebie (Steven) volunteered to watch the little fellow. So that meant I needed to be up and ready by 7am. We were supposed to leave promptly at 7 to meet Carol in Oliver Springs at 715. Got the kids in the truck and it was dead. Not just a little dead. A whole lot dead. So after cussing I called Carol, told her she would have to bring Hunter to me, called Steven to vent, then called AAA for some roadside assistance. I told Arissa she would have to ride the bus, checked the bus schedule to see what time she needed to leave and sat back and waited. I sent Arissa out the door, in the 29degree weather, to hitch a ride on the school bus. She wasn't gone a minute when I heard her bust back through the front door and drop her bags. I met her on the stairs and she was out of breath, trying not to cry and see through her fogged up glasses. Apparently there was a strange car that pulled up next to her and stopped. She stood there for a minute then her gut instinct kicked in and sister turned tail and ran like hell home. I looked out the door but the car was gone. (We found out later today that it was actually a well meaning neighbor with tinted windows and since it was still dark outside it made it even harder for Arissa to see who it was. Regardless, I am proud of Arissa for trusting her gut and running).

Carol pulls up a few minutes later with Hunter and his gear. We got the low down from her. She gave her kisses and was off. We waited for the AAA man who finally showed up about the same time Hunter decided he was hungry. So I made him a bottle, sat him in his carrier on top of the video game and rolled a blanket to prop the bottle. Isaiah was pretty impressed with my skills and I informed him this wasn't my first trip to the rodeo; told them to make sure he didn't choke or end up with the nipple in his ear. Dealt with AAA man, got the truck started and off to the dentist we went, a mere 30 minutes late. Got Isaiah taken care of, dropped both kids off at school, sent Steven and Hunter home to sleep and couldn't find my phone. So I came home to see if it was here or at the dentist (Steven had it) left again and went straight to Starbucks for some sanity in a cup then FINALLY headed to work.

Slow day at work except for the fact that my guts were working overtime and my head was hurting. I hung around until 3 then came home for a nap before PT. I met Steven and crew at PT where I got Hunter, who hung with the receptionist while I did my exercises, then delivered him back to Carol. I am now firmly planted in my recliner and dinner is 'find it and fix it'. This Momma is D-O-N-E!!

The scene I walked into when I came home to look for my phone:

Isaiah took these:

Face Makers