A Week With Family!

We just spent a whole week with my Mom, sisters Beth and Peggy and my two nieces, Maddie and Sophie. Hannah was thrilled to have her "sisters" here! All three girls are "only" children and really are sisters to each other. Maddie is 16, Hannah is almost 12 and Sophie is 9. We played hard...went swimming, to the movies, shopping, out to eat, more swimming and Hannah and Sophie made a cute music video the other night. The last of the crew left this morning and I took a power nap which lasted two hours. I NEVER get to do that and it was great! I am thankful that the girls are so close and that they have each other. We'll go visit them in Denver this summer when the desert becomes unbearable. We also spent time with my Dad and his wife Nancy who live here. Dad can't spend much time in Denver anymore due to his emphysema so he was thrilled to have family here. I think he gets lonely and misses his friends and seeing the grandkids.

So here's the deal...John renewed our cell phone contract for another two years with Sprint last night. He came home with the Rumor phones for Hannah and I. She hasn't stopped clutching it since. Now we have something that she really loves to take away if the situation arises. We are setting up stricter computer rules starting this week: no computer during the school week UNLESS it's for homework. It's just too easer for her to slide into the chair and get lost surfing her fav sites such as: Hannah Montana, Youtube, Club Penguin, etc. She won't like it but she'll learn to love reading books again (we hope).

Vicks VapoRub New Cure for Nagging Cough!

Hannah has had a bad cough for the last five days, which gets worse at night. A friend of mine shared a new remedy with us. Their daughter has had the same issue with coughing. Someone told her to rub Vicks VapoRub on her daughter's feet then put socks on. She said that they were amazed and that it worked! Being a doctor's daughter, I was skeptical of course....yet willing to try something new. John rubbed it on her feet while Hannah squealed because is so ticklish. We sent her to bed and waited....nothing....nothing but silence. Not one cough all night! She is coughing a little this morning but she slept through the night. I wonder why it works?

Hannah's drama classes start back up tonight for CYT Tucson. She's in a voice class but wait listed for the Hip Hop dance class. We're not letting her do the spring show but will be involved in working as back stage crew helpers. One of her best friends, Maddie, is taking her first CYT class. She will be auditioning for Peter Pan next weekend. It's neat to see Hannah want to mentor Maddie. She is giving her tips on what kind of song to sing for the audtion and wants to help her get ready.

Lots of Talk

Hannah and I have had lots of dialogue this year about friendship. She is at the age when some of those stable friendships from little girlhood start to change. It's hard when she comes home from school and shares that someone has said or done something hurtful. My human side wants to run out and protect her, sometimes have a word or two with one who has wronged her. She is at the age where it is important to teach her how to deal with unkind people and to do it as God would have her do. I have told her that the best book on how to deal with others is the bible. I did come across a neat book called Every Teen Girl's Little Pink Book on Girlfriends. Sometimes in the evenings before bed, we'll read a page or two and apply it to something that has happened recently. We recently read the three marks of a true friend which are: honesty, dependability and respect. We are called to demonstrate these to our friends as well, not only expect it from others.

One issue that I'm trying to figure out myself, is how to walk the fine line of standing up for yourself when others are mean, yet still follow what Jesus would do. Often, that is turning the other cheek. I struggle with that myself sometimes because as humans, we want revenge...we want to get 'em back! But no, we are told to love our enemies : (Matthew 5:44) But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

(Luke 6:35 )
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Even though I've already lived through and survived the "middle school years," it is my heart's desire to do anything I can to help the road be a little less bumpy for her than it was for me. I am convinced that being involved in activities, participating in a good youth group, keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus and having involved parents may give her a better chance of staying out of trouble. I'm finding that having a daughter who is turning into a beautiful young woman is exciting, challenging and terrifying!