Prairie Oak Homestead

My husband made it home from Haiti yesterday morning about 4 am. He worked really hard there and was able to build a whole roof (with trusses) along with other things like hauling rock and concrete work. They did experience a little of Sandy, but everyone was safe. They had to deal with A LOT of mud and sewage. He said there were a lot more nude children this trip. He learned a lot about leadership and was a great asset to the team. He is now looking forward to going to the Dominican Republic with our son Hunter in February. I will stay home. Please continue to pray for me. I am still in excruciating pain with my arthritis and nothing seems to alleviate it. I was really hoping to be better for when he returned home. I have been in my wheelchair more than I'd like. I'm doing everything I can to get my body's inflammation under control. The rest is up to God. Follow @titus2baker

My son went to a homeschool "homecoming" last night. He went with a girl from church as friends. They were both adorable. They had a really good time. I was really proud of Hunter for getting out on the dance floor and even the stage and dancing. They were both uncomfortable with slow dancing so they just fast danced. I was really impressed. When I was in high school, I mostly ended up sitting at the table until I got so tired and slap happy that I may have danced a little bit. He was a gentleman and I'm proud of him.  Here are some pics... After having such an awful morning of pain, this helped take some of that away...he is growing up so fast. He is already taller than me! Follow @titus2baker

Please pray that my husband will be able to return home to me on schedule. Hurricane Sandy was/is in Haiti and it has been raining non-stop.  We haven't been able to have much communication because of that. Also, please continue to pray for me. I have been awake since 2am with excruciating pain. It's horrific pain. I don't know how much more I can take. It's just too much, even for me. :'( Pain meds are barely taking the edge off and I feel like I just can't get a handle on the pain. My ankle is still red, swollen, hot, and painful. RA is no Fun.At.All. I get faint and nauseous from the pain. I just want it to end, dear God. Discouraged... Follow @titus2baker

I went in today for my heart test. It was awful. Tears were involved. :'( It would not have been as bad, but my RA is so bad right now I can hardly walk. I had to have a stress echo so I had to walk the treadmill. During the test I had an "episode" where my heart rate went from 100 to 120's. When I came in my heart rate was running in the 130's.  But, the bad part was that I had to get right back on the bed within seconds so the echo tech could get more pictures. I wasn't as quick as I should have been and was grabbed and put on the bed fast. In the process, my ankle was yanked and my legs were pulled and it hurt so bad I came to tears to the nurse's regret. She felt bad. Needless to say, I'm exhausted. I also had to come home with a Holter monitor and already had some episodes on it. I won't get results until Nov 1st when I go back to the doc. I've also got rib pain (costochondritis) from the RA which makes it hard to not be in pain when I tak...

 My husband had these sent to me while he is in Haiti. He was there for anniversary (still is). They are my favorite...wildflowers. :) I love them! It makes these medical issues more bearable :) Follow @titus2baker

   Today is our 16th anniversary :) I hope to get to talk to him today as he is in Haiti and we are not sure of the communication yet.  These last 16yrs have been good times, bad times, richer, poorer, sickness, and health. We have traveled to foreign lands together, done ministry together, been through the deaths of our fathers, welcomed a bouncing baby boy (still can't believe he is 15 now), and he's been there when I nearly died (twice). I love him with all my heart! God has surely blessed me with a loving leader whose desire is to be a better man for Him. What more could a girl want? ♥ Follow @titus2baker

Went to the cardiologist today and had an ekg done. It was abnormal. So now I have to have a stress echo done and wear a holter monitor for a couple days. That won't start until next week.  He said the way I eat (mediterranean style) is the best for me. So I will continue with that. :) I love it anyway. My kind of food :) My husband left for Haiti today and I am going to try to rest while he's gone. But, I more likely will be getting the house in order instead. ;) Hope you all are having a great week! :) Follow @titus2baker

The question is if God will ever be able to use me as a permanent foreign missionary with how my body is right now (pain, weakness, etc). I have had a wonderful reprieve for the last 6 mos. The last 2 weeks have been difficult though. It seems no matter what I do (even giving it to God) pain is going to be a part of my life. It's just the fact. Can God still use me in my daily struggles with pain on a mission field? My fear is that no one will want me on their field... This is just what I have been struggling with the last two weeks... Follow @titus2baker

  This devotion come from Streams in the Desert. This particular day (Oct 13) has to be my favorite in all of the devotion...yet so hard to bring forth for me. Something I am working on...  No anxiety ought to be found in a believer. Great, many and varied may be our trials, our afflictions, our difficulties, and yet there should be no anxiety under any circumstances, because we have a Father in Heaven who is almighty, who loves His children as He loves His only-begotten Son, and whose very joy and delight it is to succor and help them at all times and under all circumstances. We should attend to the Word, "In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." "In everything," that is not merely when the house is on fire, not merely when the beloved wife and children are on the brink of the grave, but in the smallest matters of lif...

 In less than a week, my husband will be leaving for Haiti and will be gone for 10 whole days. I will miss him greatly. I'm glad he gets this opportunity to go serve God there again though. We are working on getting things done around this ole homestead before he leaves. Hunter and I will be doing lots of school while he's gone :) I go to the cardiologist on the 18th. I have been having chest pains, shortness of breath, fatigue occasionally. I have rheumatoid arthritis and I am much more likely to have cardiovascular disease because of it. The inflammation of rheumatism is not just in my joints, but throughout my body. This inflammation can cause hardening of the arteries, pericarditis, etc. So I am going to get checked out. I only wish my rheumatologist told me about the heart issues when I was diagnosed last winter. It would have been helpful to know to watch for certain things and to make sure that I am eating a heart healthy diet. (I did mostly. I do more now). It's a ...

We went from 80 something degrees Thursday to just barely 50 yesterday.  We started a fire in the woodstove yesterday, so it must be fall. :) This morning my husband had to leave early to help someone with a roof, and he got the fire going before he left. It feels sooo good to wake up to a nice, warm fire :) That kind of heat is the best heat. I had a rough couple days this past week that had me discouraged. I was in a ton of pain and I didn't know why. It was the most pain I had been in in 6 mos. But, thankfully it only lasted 2 days. I am feeling back to my "new" self again. :) Hunter joined CAP (Civil Air Patrol). It's a program through the Air Force. I can't believe the opportunities they have for kids. It's awesome. He can even get his pilots license for a minimal cost. They go on missions for downed aircraft and all sorts of cool stuff.  If you have kids, check out their website. They have CAPs all over the country. Still studying hard. Still get...

 My how time is just flying.... October is here. It is a month that is full of good stuff. :) My husband goes to Haiti this month, our 16 yr anniversary is this month (hubby will be gone in Haiti), my 37th birthday is this month, and our fall festival. Today starts our back to homeschooling full force. I am looking forward to it. :) Tomorrow night, we have a meeting for the Civil Air Patrol. Oh and I almost forgot, this evening we have a meeting to see if we want to join a shooting team. Depends on expense :) We have a couple college fairs to go to this month for Hunter. It's just gonna be a busy month. :) Oh and I almost forgot something else. It's hunting season! I enjoy October. It's probably one of my favorite months. I hope to slow down enough to enjoy it. School is keeping me very busy. I am continuing to do well with straight A's. I am loving it. I think I will do a lot of baking and sipping of apple cider....:) Ahhhh.... Follow @titus2baker