A Note (ok, longer than a note) to the Faithful Readers & Fellow Bloggers Out There:

I can't tell you all enough how much it means to me to read your comments! I have my account set up so that all of the comments left on any of my blogs go directly to my email account. So, even on days that I don't have time to log onto Blogger (and lately there have been a lot of those), I still get to be encouraged by your messages via email :-) Sometimes, they really are what turn my day around, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please don't stop

I hope I don't make it sound, from my sporadic posts, like I am miserable and depressed. I'm really not! God has been so good to us. Starbucks is a great place to work. The part I am struggling with is just working at all. I have been so spoiled these past couple of years. Paul has been so good to allow me to stay home, first so that I could keep up the home while Tristan was in school, and then, when Silas came along, it really made it so that I could give both of the boys a lot of personalized TLC. I think it is the dream of most wives and mothers to be able to do just that. So, I should be thankful that for those two years I was literally "living the dream".

The struggle I do have at work is just with my desire to have it all down "perfectly", and that would definitely be a prayer request of mine. I think it is really hard for me to still feel so "new" when I have been there for over a month now. There is not a work day that goes by when I have not made multiple mistakes, and I am starting to feel like I must be driving my co-workers crazy ... I know it drives me crazy! I don't know if it is hard for me to retain what I am learning just because there is so much going on in my personal life right now, or if it is just normal for "newbies" at this job. I just don't want to be "that girl", the one no one wants on their shift, you know? :-(

I miss blogging. It is such a great outlet for me. I LOVE WRITING! And, it has meant so much to me to have so many of you post comments letting me know that you, too, miss my blogs! I miss reading yours too :-( I try to steal a little time away at least once or twice a week, if I can, to sneak peeks at my many favorites, but that's nothing compared to before I got my job. It used to be once or twice a day!!! Ok, so I was slightly addicted back then ;-)

Keep praying for the Manata's as we have many uncertainties in our immediate future, but many reasons to hope. We have our legal mediation with the buyers of our property rapidly approaching on Monday, June 30. Beyond that, there is a very real possibility that my parents may change their plans a bit and relocate from West Virginia, where they have been living the past four months, to Grand Rapids, Michigan. -- My mom has been, strangely, having a pretty hard time finding a job in W. Virginia, even though she has tons of experience in the medical field! So, kind of on a whim, but powered by a lot of prayer, she decided to apply online for some jobs, in the Grand Rapids area. She got a call back, and she and my dad will be traveling to Michigan this week for an interview (and some house hunting). She is being considered for 3 separate positions! -- Trying to summarize all that is going on is hard, but to boil it down; If they end up buying, or renting, a home in Michigan, they have invited our family to come and stay with them for a time. So, that is a definite possibility that we are considering, and a HUGE answer to prayer! It would make it possible for us to rent out our house here while this legal battle continues/wraps up, or while we wait for the housing market to get a little bit better so that we can re-list it, etc. It would mean that Paul could start school, AND I would be able to be close to my parents (I have been missing them like CRAZY!). Definitely something else to be in prayer over.

I think this post may be very rapidly turning into a novel. So, I'm going to wrap it up. I just wanted to close by sending a little "shout out" to each of you whose encouragement, friendship, and blog comments have been my fuel over the past couple of months. It may be another one of my sappier moments, but you know how I like the "sap":

Mom, you already know everything I'm thinking, don't you? That's what makes you so special. Thank you for always loving me, listening to me, praying for me, and brainstorming with me. Besides my husband, you are my BEST friend! I love you!

Anita, you are so much more than a mother-in-law! What would I have done this past month without your help? You jumped right in, without so much as a bat of your eye, when I needed you. You have been a confidant, a prayer warrior, and I would have been done for without all the help you gave in regards to Tristan's schooling. I love you so much!

Katie, even with all of the changes in your life, at present, you've made adjustments on my behalf, and I don't want you to think that it's gone unnoticed. Thank you for always taking time out to talk to me when I call you, no matter where you are or what you're doing. Thank you for being one of the "weekly sitters" for the boys since I've had to go back to work. Most importantly, though, thank you for being my sister/bff :-) I love you!

Grandma, I think you often times give me more credit than I deserve (I know you do), but you always make me feel like I can be honest with you when I'm tired or frustrated. Since my mom's been gone, I've really grown to appreciate you in a way that I haven't had the opportunity to before. I've seen you as the mother that you are, and it has been such a blessing!

Christina, ever since we met, you and your family have held such a special place in my heart. Even though many months may have gone by when we didn't have the opportunity to talk with each other, it means so much to me to know that you are there (like family) none the less. Thank you for the support and love you give me, and for the help you have offered by caring for my boys while I work. I love you!

Andie, life may be crazy for both of us lately, but I know you are thinking of me and praying for me just as I am you, and I love you for it! It doesn't matter how many days, or weeks, go by. Nothing changes between us, and I love that!

Crista, it's amazing how much I have come to value you as a friend in the relatively little time I've gotten to spend with you since we've met. What a blessing the internet and the good ol' Cry Room have been in that regard! Your comments really encourage me (don't stop), and I love reading your blogs! You really have a gift with words and describing EXACTLY what it is that you've set out to say, so don't stop writing ;-)

Daria, you are so hilarious! I actually get REALLY mad when my computer is running too slow to download your blog videos :-( I have a feeling that there are many more dimensions to you that I can't wait to discover as we get better acquainted :-) You are a lot of fun!

Erin, what an example you set for the Christian women in your life. Thank you for always being there with an encouraging word and a promise of prayer. Thank you for your words of wisdom.

Kelly, how's my little "Oky"? Thank you for getting back in touch with me, and for your faithfulness in staying in touch with me! I love you!

Kristen, I am so thankful that God put it on our hearts to find a new home for our dog, Raigen, and that it was you and your family that took her in. Without that dog, I don't know that we'd have had an opportunity to get to know each other the way that we have, and I'm so glad for that!

Lisa, when are you going to hurry up and start posting on your blog? I keep checking it! I can't wait to have an easier way of keeping up with my buddy "down under". Your friendship to me is such a gift, and I long for the opportunity to grow closer to you!

Michele (Wagner), I don't think you could possibly know how much it meant to me to have you approach me on Sunday after church with your concern for my family's present situation. Your sincerity really touched me AND encouraged me. Sometimes we offer a kind word or support to someone, but we never really know how it was received. Well, I just want to let you know that I walked away that day totally encouraged and feeling very loved by you -- thank you!

Michelle (Ryker), what can I say? With a million things going on in both of our lives, you have still managed to make our friendship a priority, even to the point of baby sitting for me on your day off! You are definitely my pal for life! I love you so much!

Rachel, I think every time I've posted a blog, spilling my guts about all the "stuff" going on, you have been one of the first to post a comment, always endearing, and always with a promise of prayer ... you don't know how much I have valued and cherished each one. What a blessing your encouragement and prayer have been to me!

Sharon, I have had such a blast reading each and every one of your blog entries! Talk about someone I can relate to! You and your family have made me laugh many times over, and I have absolutely loved getting to know you. When I ran into you at Target the other day, I can't tell you how special it was to have you remember and acknowledge that it was my "day off" (how'd you do that?) and tell me to enjoy it :-) What a gift of hospitality and encouragement you have!

Stephanie, I think you were the first one (outside the circle of those I was already acquainted with) to really open your arms and welcome me when I first came to New Life (I remember when Paul and I bumped into you at Nordstrom). Then, when you and I had our boys, you really brought me in to the "Cry Room fold" ... you immediately made me feel excepted and part of the group - like I had always been there! Now that's a gift, too :-) Thank you.