June 6, 2008

I'm so thankful that God has allowed me to be well enough during this season of the lives of my kids. I don't know how we would be managing things if I were still in bed and unable to drive. It's an exciting time at Casa De Gore, but incredibly busy. The life of a teenager still dominates most of our time, but to be honest you won't hear us complain very much. We are enjoying seeing Whitney blossom in so many areas of her life. And, she has been a great example to Sydney and Spencer. It's a joy to hear them being excited about following in her foot steps.

I think gone are the days of us planning a leisurely summer with trips here and there. Right now our schedule totally rotates around Whitney's summer basketball schedule. Her new high school team has formed for the month of June. So, she has been playing in tournaments nearly every weekend. It's exciting for us to be a part of a new high school program and lay down a strong support base for this school. There is so much pride already in making this process a positive one and to lay a strong foundation down for those that follow behind.

Whitney seems to be moving towards being on Varsity, although she would be fine with JV. She just loves to play, so her motto is just put her anywhere she can run up and down the court. I love that about her. No muss - No fuss!!! But, she has really improved since Winter and she has been playing on a separate league this Spring (while playing golf...yeesh) with girls that are older than her. We think this experience has given her some good confidence for moving up this next season. This weekend she will be playing in a tournament at Meadowdale High School with the Varsity squad, and next weekend it will be off to Wenatchee. At the end of June she will rejoin her Select team and travel to Oregon City. The next weekend will be in Seattle, and then a short break so that we can take our vacation to Spokane/Idaho. We get back on a Sunday from Idaho (12 hour drive) and she turns around and heads back to Spokane again for a four day tournament over there. I think that will be her last one...we pray.

Somewhere amongst all this craziness there will be three birthdays stuffed in to the mix, Sydney and Spencer's summer camps, driving school for Whitney and hopefully a few rounds of golf. It all sounds good in theory but I feel tired already :-). I guess it will be a good kind of tired.

I recently went to see one of my naturpathic doctors and she has been helping me sort out my hormone confusion. I'm taking thyroid, adrenal and progesterone hormone creams and sometimes I can really feel out of sorts. So, I'm still trying to get that dialed in. She also started me on a supplement that is used to heal the intestinal system and we are hoping that it will help me be able to tolerate more foods. We'll see. The good news is that I've been able to tolerate the new supplement and for me that 99% of the battle. Any good that comes out of it is just the gravy :-). God just continues to give me guidance and healing one step at a time. It is true that when we ask things according to His will...He does answer us. I'm awe struck at the times I just feel so stuck in this process and as I wait patiently and have faith that the answer will come, it eventually does. But, when I get impatient and try to figure everything out on my own, that's when I notice things get difficult.

I can say for the first time in over three years that I am actually looking forward to this summer. I know that I will be able to get some sunshine, spend quality time with my family and enjoy a break from the regular winter schedule. I feel so incredibly blessed by my family and even though these years have been painfully difficult, to see how we stayed together through it all means more to me than anything. We certainly aren't perfect and have our "moments" but I love how the Lord has knit us together just as He does when we are in our mother's womb. It's just amazing grace that has been poured out to us and we realize it and are so grateful.

God is good!
Blessings, Tanya