Sing For Joy

Quick update

There is a lot going on here and we're headed out of town tomorrow, so I wanted to write while I have a few minutes.

The sad news:

Joe's Grandmother passed away early this morning at the age of 97.  We have been expecting this news for a few weeks.    It is good her suffering is over and she is in Heaven.  Of that I am certain.

The happy news:

We have purchased a "new to us" van!  It's another Honda Odyssey-4 years newer than our current one and 75,000 less miles!  It is ALMOST  Carolina Blue.  We did not choose the color-we bought it from a man who works with Joe.

Ellie had another teacher spend time with her last night and she was able to talk to her!  She also talked to a new friend at church who is also a member of our church.  That is answered prayer-that Ellie will have a friend she can talk to in Sunday School.

The Today Show and People Magazine did stories this week on Selective Mutism.  I am so excited to see it getting more attention so more people will understand it-or at least not say, "I've never heard of that!"   

I've got many things to do before we leave.....I hope to post more often again starting in the next week or two.

In which I blog to procrastinate.....plus some exciting news

Gracie is home sick today.  Nothing too major, but her throat was sore last night and she was coughing and just generally not feeling well.  I'm hoping a day at home and some extra rest will keep her from getting worse.   Because I'm at home with her, I have to miss Bible Study and a couple other things that were planned for the day.   I thought great, I'll have all this time at home and can finally tackle some of the projects I've been wanting to get to-cleaning out my closet, organizing some other boxes that need to go in the attic, planning meals for the coming days.....but now that I have that opportunity, I'm just not in the mood to do it.  Kind of like when I have money to spend and I can't find anything I want to buy, but when I don't have the money, I see all kinds of things I could buy.    But also, I haven't written anything here since last Friday and there are a few things you really must know.

1. We are now a "wireless" family.  The old computer is upstairs and the new computer is downstairs hooked up to a wireless router.  Joe and I did everything ourselves and we love it.  Now the girls don't have to keep asking me when I'm going to be done with the computer so they can go to web*kinz and other sites.  Also, I'm thrilled to be able to access the original iTunes I started with my iPod last summer and not have to worry about getting it from the old computer to the new.

2.  We are going to see Casting Crowns in concert this coming Friday night.  It will be the girls first concert and we are all so excited. 

3. I believe in "signs" and I believe they are one of God's ways of communicating with me.  Here is an example.  The Voice of Truth is one of our families' favorite songs by Casting Crowns.  It means a lot to Ellie because of her Selective Mutism, too.  This past Sunday, in our study of the names of God with the kids,  we studied the name Jehovah El Emeth which means The Lord God of Truth.  I do the music with the kids during Sunday School and Saturday night, the words "The Voice of Truth" just popped into my head.  I had a hymn in mind already to enforce the meaning of that name, but I knew this song would be even better.   The kids loved it because it was a familiar song to so many of them.   Sunday afternoon, I was checking out the blogs and noticed that Shannon had linked to a video of the song.  ( I promise this is going somewhere, I'm not just rambling.)   Last night, we had plans for Ellie's favorite teacher to come over and spend time with Ellie and Gracie while Joe and I were not at home, in the hopes Ellie would feel comfortable talking to her.  When Ellie came home from school yesterday, she needed to straighten up her room.  First, she went to my bag with my Sunday School supplies in it, found the Casting Crowns CD and played it loudly while she cleaned.  Including the song "The Voice of Truth."  Last night was a success.  About 30 minutes after we left, Ellie talked to her teacher and they had a great time together.  Now our prayer is that this carries over into school and that she can talk to at least one teacher at school and to more kids, and eventually to more teachers.  I felt like things would go well last night, especially after hearing The Voice of Truth so many times leading up to the visit.  I am so thankful for Ellie's teacher and for her willingness to spend time with us outside of school.  It also takes time away from her own family.  She is one of the many blessings in our lives.

Edited to add:  I just received the following email from Ellie's teacher. 

Ellie did talk to me today... outside of the class... don't tell her I told you. I was glad. :)

She understands

In a couple of weeks, Joe will be changing jobs here in Texas.   This was not something we expected to happen when we moved here.  We thought he would have the same job from 2006-2008 and then we'd move to a new location.   He will no longer be a squadron commander, but the job he will be starting is a step up-#2 over all the squadrons in the group-and because of that, we get to live here longer-hopefully until summer of 2009.  We are happy about that.    Tuesday I met H.,  the wife of the man that will take over Joe's current job.  I wanted to share with her some details about things I've done with the squadron and just get to know her.  I started telling her about our family and wanted to include details about Ellie-since I know she will have contact with her from time to time.  I started out by saying it's hard to explain what Ellie has to someone for the first time because so few people have heard about it and understand it.  When I said the words Selective Mutism, she looked me as I continued to talk, nodded her head and raised her hand.  I said have you heard of it?  She said, "Yes.  I had that as a child myself."    I almost couldn't believe it.   She said growing up she didn't realize her condition had a name and that when she started high school, something just clicked with her and she realized it was going to be ok if she talked to more people.   How comforting to have someone who can understand what Ellie is going through.  Oh-and she also played the Clarinet!  Ellie is doing really well with hers and is great about practicing.  The Band teacher told Joe Ellie is her #1 Clarinet player!  Ellie is excited that they have started their Christmas music for the concert next month.

I hope that H. and I will get to be friends and spend time together outside of our Air Force spouse duties.  They have 2 boys, ages 6 and 4.   Have the S.M. in common, along with being wives of C-130 pilots should be a good foundation for our friendship.  And they bought a house just 2 minutes down the road from us!

What did you wear on the first day of 6th grade?

The night before the first day of school, Ellie was setting her clothes to wear.  Long denim shorts in black, a shirt with butterflies on it and a jacket, in case any of the classrooms are cold.  It brought to mind MY first day of 6th grade.  I was finally going to be in the oldest grade in the school and it was the school I had attended for the longest amount of time since I started school.  I had been there since half way through 4th grade.  I had friends, I knew the teachers and I was excited.  So excited, I wanted to wear pantyhose with my dress on the first day of school.  I think maybe I had worn pantyhose to church already, but I can't remember for sure.  Anyway,  I felt the need to get permission to wear the pantyhose-and not just put them on in the morning.  But I was really scared about asking.  I'm just now remembering that my best friend, who was starting 5th grade, already knew she was going to wear pantyhose that day and wanted me to do the same.  You know, it was going to help us look more "tan."  So, I asked my sister to ask my Mom for me.  I did not want to hear "no" for an answer myself, nor did I want to hear any laughing or be made fun of.  ( You can see here where Ellie gets some of her anxiety issues!)   I knew both of those things were a good possibility from my Mom. Well, having my sister ask her didn't work.  So, I nervously went upstairs to the kitchen and helped her empty the dishwasher and asked her then.  She was kind about it and said, " Yes.  But why couldn't you just ask me yourself?"  I admitted I was scared of what she would say.   I can't even remember which dress I wore that day.  And by the way, Ellie thought it was crazy that I wanted to wear a dress on the first day of school in the 6th grade!  She said she could see Kindergarten girls wanting to do that, but not older kids!

As for Gracie.  When we were in NC and they attended a private Christian school-they had to wear khaki shorts or pants everyday-or a skirt.  Well, Gracie has been handed down some of her sister's khaki clothing items and I guess she feels comfortable in them because that's what she wanted to wear yesterday-khaki shorts-with a new pink shirt. 

As far as how the day went-we ALL survived.  Gracie likes her teachers and had someone to play with at recess.  Ellie was frustrated that all the teachers kept giving her things to bring home and she has no backpack or locker this year-not allowed.  She likes her teachers too, and was also excited that her math teacher, a man, is a Christian and he asked for prayer requests in class. She is also thrilled that April is in every class with her.  What a blessing that is.  After last week's meeting, everyone was prepared for Ellie and how to handle communicating with her-except for some women handing out the gym uniforms.   It was the worst part of Ellie's day-and her friend April's day, too.  April tried to help out and speak for Ellie, and these women, I have no idea who they were, would have nothing to do with it.  One of them got very angry at Ellie and another woman got angry at her for getting angry at Ellie.  I wish the P.E. Coach would have been nearby when all this was going on, but it's over now and hopefully Ellie won't have to deal with those women again.   There are so many new things going on this year-not to mention all the changes in her physically and emotionally.  Her anxiety and selective mutism were really on her mind last night and she told me she was thinking about it, but didn't want to talk about it.  I told her to pray and reminded her of a couple of comforting Bible Verses.  Phil 4:6 and Phil 4:13.   She seemed to feel better this morning and was ready to go.  I thought about them all day yesterday, and probably worried some too.  By dinner time, I was exhausted.  It felt good to lay my head on the pillow last night.  I fell asleep quickly between 9:30 and 10:00 and woke up suddenly when our key hanger fell of the wall in the kitchen.   If that has to happen, why does it have to happen at night?  It happened about 12:15 and I eventually went back to sleep.  Time to meet today's challenges.   There is a lot to be thankful for.  Here are two of my biggest blessings: