TMJ Relief Effort – Day One and Two

Tuesday afternoon Mom B and I traveled to Lewisburg to have the final fitting for my new jaw device. He hooked me up to the TENS unit for an hour and half – which I hate – and then fitted the device to my mouth in a relaxed state. He made an appt. for Monday the 25th to check up on me and see how it is fitting and feeling. It feels awkward and bulky – but that is to be expected. I can hear a difference in my voice – but Jared can only really hear it when I say the letter S. I think that everyone can see my lower lip sticking out a little – but Jared assures me that it isn’t noticeable. I feel like I have cotton in my mouth and it’s getting pretty dry – but I have to take it out when I want to eat so I think it might cut down on snacking. He said that it should help the first night but I don’t know how much improvement I see. My ears are still ringing like crazy and I still feel full – please keep praying for me. As far as the TMJ Relief Fund – I have 14% of what I need – Thanks again to all of those who gave and are giving of their funds, time, and prayers – I cannot begin to tell you how much they are all appreciated. I pray that THIS is what God has for me. I pray that THIS is the time. I pray that you would pray with me.

Today is a little different than yesterday – I think I slept much harder and it hurts today – quite a bit. I woke up with pain in my back teeth on the L side – which is the most affected side – and it hasn’t really gone away yet – I am praying that it is just allowing my mouth to get used to this device – either way I am glad that I go back on Monday. Yesterday felt really good – other than getting used to it. Today – not so much. Thank you for praying for me and believing with me.

I am so excited for my senior shoot on Sunday – I can’t wait to try out the new spots that I have in my head to work with – alleys – phone booths – police stations and old fire departments – and much much more – be on the lookout for a new post ASAP after that session.

An update to the RAY challenge – seeing as how I have had NO submissions for the contest – that FREE photo shoot which could have be a senior shoot is drifting off into the wind. The deadline is August 20th – this Wednesday – by 9 PM.

We have sleepovers for PK once or twice a year. Friday night was one of those nights. Usually we have about 5 girls and 5 boys – tonight we had 1 girl and 2 boys. Thursday night I didn’t get much sleep b/c the street sweeper in Mansfield comes by our house at 4:00 AM in the middle of the month and Thursday night was THE night. So I had been up since 4 and worked 7 to 5 and then picked the kids up at 6. We took the 2 we had at the moment out to Papa V’s for pizza and wings. We brought back pizza for the one who was at soccer practice till later. We came back to the house and played Rock Band and I helped *H* with some bead necklaces. We had plans to go outside and play capture the flag but since we had 3 kids – we scratched that.

PM was bringing some RAY kids to crash the party and silly string us – but since we weren’t outside – it wasn’t nearly the right atmosphere. But it still HAD to happen so she silly stringed us in the house – and then brought ice cream to make up for it. We ate ice cream and watched Phelps win another gold – barely. We put *H* upstairs in the spare room with the boys sleeping downstairs in their sleeping bags – or so I thought. When I came down in the morning – the boys were each sleeping in a chair – in what I thought was not a comfortable position – but I forget that they are kids and nothing much phases them. I ran to Wal*Mart to pick up breakfast – tractor wheels – MMM good. The kids were all out by 10 and Jared and I were on the road to Ithaca to celebrate KT’s graduation from college – (for those of you who don’t know – KT is a friend who is attending MU and she lived with us for the fall semester last year – 2007).

We had been to her house before but at least 2 years ago or more – and neither of us drove that time so we weren’t too sure where we were going – although we had directions. The drive to someplace you haven’t been to is always longer than the drive back from that place. We got there at 1 and stayed till 4. It was nice to meet all her family and friends. I took some family photos while I was there with my new camera.

Her brother reminds me so much of mine.

Thanks again KT for having us.

I LOVE my new camera.

Then Jared and I went to Ritz to buy a new memory card for me – 4G – double YAY – and we stopped at Kohl’s to shop a little – but I still cannot find any non-jean pants that are long enough for me and nice enough to wear to weddings. We went on a date to the Outback – Jared’s favorite restaurant and had one of the worst onions EVER. We got back to Mnsfld and PM came over to watch Phelps win his last gold.

Sunday we went to church – went to PM’s for lunch –

– and then came home to chill and try to back up some of my pictures on DVD – which doesn’t work on my computer and makes me very mad – but at least Jared can do it from his machine. We met Laura and Krista for ice cream to say goodbye to Laura before she leaves for college again – last year was the summer of Laura but this year we only got to see a handful of times – not only does the weekend fly by but this summer sped by at record speed.

Still I will say –

Blessed be the name of the Lord – Blessed be Your name.

Last night our PK moved up to RAY with PM. Jared had made the comment that we are sad to see them go but happy that they are in good hands. We have been doing PK since June of 2005 – and the kids that left last night have been with us since the beginning – which makes it harder to see them go.

We started the night with some worship songs and then Jared and I told a little about PK and how much it has meant to us to have these kids in our lives the past 3 years. They have changed our lives more than we can express. We prayed for the two (out of the four) that were with us and asked God to bless their paths.

PM then spoke about the seniors that she is saying goodbye to – and we prayed for the two that were with us and asked God to help their lights shine.

Jared and I wrote letters to the PK that are leaving us – which was something I put off until I couldn’t put it off anymore – it was emotional.

Then we had smores and some good quailty time together.

NIV – Exodus 32

I love this passage – Jared and I recently came upon it in our devotionals and it struck us both as interesting. I shared it a few weeks ago with our PK during our bible reading time.

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

I asked Jared – why did God listen to Moses – who was Moses to say to God – HEY remember what you said – think about it again – don’t do it – and God said – okay Moses – I won’t. How did Moses feel confident enough to say what he said – I know that it isn’t translated perfect – but I don’t see the word please in that paragraph. I don’t see Moses whining for his people. I see Moses having a firm word and saying – God – You said …

And God did. He repented of His anger. I wouldn’t think that anyone – not even Moses would be able to change God’s mind. We pray for God’s will to be done – but we also pray for the things that we want – the things that we think we need. We pray for God to change His mind. I do. Moses asked God to rethink His decision and He did. We can do that.

And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

I find it strange that Aaron KNEW that God delivered them – he was there and saw it with his own eyes – and yet he made a calf for the people to worship – to thank for bringing them up out of Egypt. Aaron knew full well what God had done for them and what God had commanded of them – not to worship idols.

How many times do we do those things that we KNOW are wrong – that God directly commands us not to do. We all sin and fall short – and Jesus is the Saving Grace that leads us back to the Father – again and again.

This passage tells one of the biggest second chances in history – God was angry – God said He would consume His people – and Moses – MOSES – said God – don’t. And God didn’t. I find encouragement in this passage. I find forgiveness in this passage. Encouragement and forgiveness that we all need – that I need.

Tuesday night we incorporated our Matt and Johna time to include Amy and Jim time too. Pizza and wings on the deck – with entertainment.

*E* – the four-year old – is all about being a princess. And boy does she know her Disney princess trivia. I had to act out scenes with her – but it seems that I was always the evil step-mother, the witch with a rotten apple, or the growling beast. She knows all the princesses and their princes. She knows all the villians and what they do.

I haven’t gotten to hang out with them much lately so it was nice to have time with them. The twins are getting so chatty – naming body parts and animal sounds.

*E* and the new sweetie – *M*

She is such a doll baby.

*M* – the “younger” of the twins.

Jared and *A* – the “older” of the twins.

*E* was so excited to hold the babe.

She was also excited to take a picture of us.

I have updated my website – as you may have noticed.

Please refresh your browser if you don’t see the bride and groom at the top of the page.

Thanks to all those that visit barden photography and help me achieve my dreams.

I also have TONS of new packages

engagement – seniors – weddings – babies – pregnancy – family – you name it.

I have a kindred spirit. I have written about her before. She is a strong, Godly woman whom I admire and respect greatly. She is one of my biggest supporters with my photography and life in general. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a child of God, a soon-to-be grandmother … She is my Aunt L. She is one of the smartest women I know and love.

You know those personality quirks that we all have – and some drive others crazy – even ourselves crazy?

Mine is sympathy – or the lack thereof.

Empathy is identifying with or experiencing the feelings of another.

Sympathy is sharing the feeling of others.

I find empathy to be MUCH easier than sympathy.

The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I think sympathy is a fruit of the spirit that God is molding in me. I know that most of the reason I am at the job I am in now – not the photography – but the secretary portion- is to teach me sympathy. Working with the public requires lots of sympathy. I also deal with sympathy struggles outside of work – the lack of responsibility for people’s actions – AMAZES me.

God amazes me with His approach to teaching us the things that we need to shape us into the men and women He wants us to be.