Lots have happened since I posted last! 

                              

         First things first, we are getting older!! Olivia is turning 6 this year and James is turning 4! My babies aren't babies anymore. Olivia has been enrolled in Spanish Immersion Kindergarten at Rose Park Holland Christian for next year. James will be going 3 days a week to preschool early 4's Spanish Immersion. Both are doing very well and learning lots! They love each others company. 

       

           For many, you know Eric and I have been waiting several years to get disability for Eric. After hiring a lawyer and waiting for a court date, going to court, the judge granted us disability. It has been several months since the court date, still waiting for the check to arrive. We are still looking up and are very thankful to be able to pay off some debt that has occurred during the duration of the last couple of years. Unfortunately, with Eric's mental health, I was not able to work full time as a dental assistant and be a mom. Praise God for Great support and help from our families!

         Both Eric and my parents have been more than helpful through these times. I can't even begin to thank them for all of the generosity and love that has been shown to us. They would drop everything to come to help us when times were hard! We are so very Loved and Cherished by them and I'm proud to call them my own! They have shown us how to trust in the Lord even when we were disheartened. 

         God has blessed us so much this year! We were having roof issues with water coming in! With a lot of work from TNT Roofing and a gift from Providence Church, we were able to get a new roof put on to stop the leaks once and for all. Unfortunately from water coming in we were not able to save the bathroom ceiling. My Brother in Law Mike came over and volunteered his time to put up a new bathroom ceiling.  The walls need some new plaster and we will have to paint but very thankful for all the volunteers who have come to help us! 

     

Praise God!

John 14:27- Peace I leave with you; The peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. 

Ups and downs

Hello Everyone!
So a lot has gone on in the past almost year. We have two beautiful kids and we love them so much! They have been such a blessing to have. It's been really tough the past 8 months or so. Eric was working at Dialog Direct. But due to the amount of stress he was having there he had to quit. So he hasn't been working for a while. About 3 months ago he applied at Peckham Inc. In order to work there you have to have some kind of disability. So going into working there they had to have all his medical records. So they know what kind of problems he has. So far he has liked it getting to know the building and what is expected of him there. We Praise the Lord each and every day for him providing for us. It took him a while to get everything approved but he is finally working and just in time. We were down to our last dollars in our bank account waiting on his first check working there. We want to thank everyone who has been there for us and supported us.

Some days it got very overwhelming and hopeless, but we were encouraged by our pastor and our loving church family who was surrounding us the entire time. We want to thank everyone who has been praying for us and who continue to pray for us. For those who might not know having a mental disability can be very hard for the whole family. Some days are good and some days you want to go and cry in a corner. This is coming from my point of view. Just think of those who actually are having the disability . 

Some thoughts that might go on in Eric's head some days are: Are they out to get me? Who should I listen to there are so many people talking in my head. I think that there is something out side. Why can't I cry I just want to cry! Am I ever going to be "Normal" again? Are these meds going to kill me in the long run? Where am I? What year is this? What just happened? Can't stop shaking! 
These are just some of the things we might go through in a day when he gets stressed and over whelmed.

It has defiantly been a journey trying to figure out what works what doesn't. How many med adjustments we have to go through. What meds he needs to take and what doesn't. 
Through it all we see God! Though we get discouraged some days and ask God why? We still know that he has control of us and we don't. We rely on him every day to have just one more good day! I go through days and ask God why? Why me? Why him? What did I do to deserve this life? Why can't we have a break? What next Lord? In all these questions I get mostly one answer: I love you! Trust me! I will never leave you!

I'm so thankful that he has given me a loving and understanding family. It's been a long journey and I don't think by any means that the next couple of years we won't have our ups and downs.

We are asking prayers that God directs us in these next couple of months. If all goes well with this new job we are praying that we are able to get a bigger house. The one we are currently in is only a 2 bedroom and we are praying for one that has at least 3 and possibly a basement. We also ask prayers for me. I'm currently enrolled at the M-Tech for Administrative/Dental Assistant. I have started but I'm having trouble getting there due to Eric working and only having 1 car. I'm hoping that after I complete the certifications that once the kids are in school I will be able to work as well, possibly before. 

I hope that this post helps everyone who might have a mental disability or other problems. It's REAL it's not fake. Our mental heath is important. So make sure to take the time and breath, take a walk, dont' worry, and Don't judge. You never know until you have been there or know someone who is there. It's a struggle from day to day. 

For all I included some pictures of our jounery to wrap things up! ENJOY!