Timber!

So, on day 4 (August 19th) of us living on the farm, Paxton decides to climb our big maple in the front of the house. As you can probably guess where this is going, he falls from the tree, breaking his fall with his left wrist. Glasses go flying and left wrist is completely discombobulated! After a super fast ride to the medical center, a quick x-ray, and doctor visit....we are then on our way, quite rapidly, to Marshall where the Orthopedist is awaiting our arrival at the hospital. One look at the x-ray, a little IV, some pain killers, and Paxton is in surgery getting 3 pins put in his wrist,along with a beautiful blue cast!

He was such a trooper through the whole thing...he was in a lot of pain right up until surgery. He fractured the growth plate in his wrist and dislocated his radius to a pretty bad degree! $8400 later and out for the football season, he is recooperating quite well and is getting the pins out on September 20 and then either a replacement cast or a splint for the remaining 2 weeks! Not a great way to start out his freshman year, but we are very thankful that he didn't get more hurt than that!

Of course, Brad is out of town on a business trip during the action...missing out again, on a wonderfully stressful situation....I think God purposely makes him absent for these things...lol!

Farm Life Is For Us!

Life for the Dandurands' has been busy to say the least! We moved to the farm the middle of August (a few days shy from a whole month). Life out here is great! It is so peaceful and private! I love just being outside and enjoying the little simplicities like gardening, mowing, pulling weeds, taking care of the puppies and the chickens, and watching Peighton enjoy farm life. These times are my therapy from all the business going on in the house and in our lives!

Brad has been really busy with the business and trying to keep up with work, the house, the grove, etc. There is a lot to do on the farm both with the house and the outbuildings, but it is so rewarding getting the opportunity to completely make it our own! Brad's parents have been such Godsends to us! They are always lending a helping hand. It is so nice to be around family again!

The boys have started school again and that has been a wonderful thing for both of them. The summer was getting to be too long! Now they seem to have a purpose again.

Preston got in with a wrong crowd over the summer and it is nice to see him off that path and unto a more straighter one! He is now hanging out with a great group of guys that enjoy fishing and just hanging out! We were really starting to worry about him and the path he was going down! Thank you, Jesus for bringing him back to where he needs to be! It is so nice to see the boys enjoying the farm, too. They go out and shoot their guns, ride dirt bike, mow the lawn, enjoy bonfires, etc. They enjoy being boys with a lot of room to move.

Paxton has had an eventful first few weeks of farm life....he was climbing our big maple in the front yard and fell out of it breaking his wrist, requiring surgery and 3 pins (see my next blog entry for the continued story)!

And then there is Peighton...to watch farm life through her eyes is priceless! She loves to play with the puppies, always making sure they have plenty of water and usually a bath or two while replenishing their water. She loves her chickens and looks forward to collecting eggs each day, 10 times a day she is checking to see how they are doing and if they have laid more eggs. When they do provide eggs she says" Thank you chickens for the eggs!" She stays so busy on the farm from morning until night! She rides her four wheeler around, plays with the puppies, collects eggs and hangs out in the chicken coop with them, picks produce from the garden, and her latest adventure is picking up "walmarts" from the ground of our walnut trees. She is so happy out here that nothing else seems to matter! I love seeing life in her way!

Well, my update entry of farm life must be cut short as the laundry room is calling my name...must paint and add the final touches so we can finally do laundry at our house...another simplicity that I will no longer take for granted!

Chloe and Company

Chloe, our BullMastiff that we got from Brad's Uncle Ernie, came to us skinny and pregnant...breed by his American Bulldog. Chloe delivered 12 puppies on July 1st. The 12th pup however was a stillborn male. It was such an amazing opportunity to be there during the delivery of all the pups. I was in Chloe's whelping box with her for over 9 hours! There are light brindle, dark brindle, and tan pups. They are so adorable! When the stillborn pup was born, that was hard to take! I have never been a part of the delivery of animals, since we always have gotten our dogs fixed before that point. You get so attached to your pets, it is devastating when you loose one! After a week, the pups were doing great,except for one we named Patch, because he had a little white tuft of fur on his neck. He began to really take steps back, wasn't growing and nursing. I began feeding him multiple times a day to try to save him, but it wasn't God's plan! Patch died on July 8th! The other 10 puppies (5 female and 5 male) are doing great! They are growing and nursing and their eyes are starting to open! They are so beautiful! We are looking to sell all of them but 1 or 2. We are getting so attached to them that it will be hard to see them go!

Peighton named the first born pup, Claire and she has named one Zsa Zsa, and she thinks daddy should name his pup Jackson. Where she comes up with these name is beyond me!

Feeling Lost In Minnesota

I know that God has a plan for my life, but when it isn't revealed and I am totally walking by faith, that makes for major confusion and hope that I am walking in His will. I look back on leaving Arizona and going to Colorado and I see God's hand on that move and decision because of Brad's heart condition and the amazing care he received while in Colorado, but as I was going through it, I didn't understand His plan at all. I am very grateful to be out of Colorado, but it seems that everything we try to do here, just doesn't turn out right. I am trying to start this Christian Preschool and I feel like I am swimming upstream like a salmon against the current! My intentions are good, I have a lot of experience and passion for teaching preschool, but I find myself up against so many odds!

I know part of it is that I am trying to do this on my own and not seeking God's direction and guidance. I feel like I have grown so far away from God and not letting Him take control of my life and what He has planned for it.

I feel so frustrated and overwhelmed with all that needs to be done for the Preschool to open in September:

1. licensing through the state of MN (and the state is shutdown)

2. financing to buy all the preschool supplies and furniture, licensing, and CDA

3. enrollment numbers (lack there of...only two kids are enrolled and one is mine)

4. getting my CDA credential completed

Not only am I feeling lost, but we all feel displaced in our own way. Paxton and Preston just got back from a two week vacation in Arizona, so their hearts are back their, along with mine! Brad has been traveling a lot for work in IN, KY, and OH. He hates being away from home, but doesn't really know why we are in Minnesota. I think if we were given the opportunity to move back to AZ, we would all agree to do it.

Preston is a senior this year, and I am so worried about what will happen to him. He has a lot of growing up to do and is pretty lazy without ambition. I really wonder what he will do after high school! He makes some pretty dumb decisions at times, not thinking about the outcome!

Our whole family has fallen away from our relationship with God. We have found a church that we think would be a good fit, but since we are not in the Granite community, it make it more difficult, since we feel so disconnected. Once we move out onto the farm, I know things will feel more real and we will feel more connected!

We have a huge move to the farm coming up as well and all the work that goes with that!

Not to mention, we are the owners of 7 chickens, 2 rabbits, 3 adult dogs, and 10 new puppies!

My garden has weeds galore..needs watering and WEEDING!!!!!!

We have bills to pay, dental work needed, truck to pay to fix, etc.

Life is just so overwhelming right now! I just want to climb in the arms of Jesus and just hide out in His love! Jesus take the wheel of my life!

Ham and Cheese Anyone?

Peighton wanted to create in the kitchen...she came up with her own version of ham and cheese...

Grandpa and His Growing Boys

Grandpa came out for a visit and was surprised at how much Paxton has sprouted up! He bypassed Brad and I and even Preston. I think he is ready to give Grandpa a run for his money now and then Nick! I do think that Peighton will catch up to Paxton someday, though!

Our Dancing Little Princess

Peighton has enjoyed her first year of dance class. She is the youngest in her class by over a year. All the other little girls have been mother hens to her, helping her find her spot during tap and ballet class and always looking out for her. She started dancing in August and in May had her recital. During her recital she did quite well during the first song, but then got timid for her next 2 performances. There were a lot of people at the recital since the dances ranged from ages 3 to adult.

Grandpa Earl and Grandma Shirley were able to come to rehearsal. They enjoyed watching her perform. Grandpa Doug and Grandma Betty, Daddy and Mommy, Preston, and Paxton attended the dance recital. She did so good and was absolutely adorable! We sent her flowers and a teddy bear in her costume to her room before she danced. I know she will keep on dancing and get better and better with each year. Treasured Talents is a great dance studio with a very passionate dance teacher! Peighty is looking forward to starting dance and preschool again this fall.

2010 in Review

As I look back at all the events of 2010 i can't help but see God's hand print on it all!

January we were starting our financial recovery from a very hard ending to 2009. Brad had his heart problems in 2009 and then after going back to work after his 2nd surgery, they left him go from work. We had to short sale our house, we lost our quads, and had to borrow money from family just to live. It was such a horrible way to end the 2009 year, but we were glad to move into 2010. Brad started selling telescoping flagpoles for Aaron Kranz. He started doing some trade shows in Minnesota and Iowa. He was traveling quite a bit, but we were able to resume paying our bills again. I was still teaching at Covenant Kids Day Out M-W-F mornings. Peighty was going to preschool with me and the boys were enjoying school at Castle Rock Middle School and Castle View High School.

February brought more recovery financially and a possibility of a great job opportunity for me in Larkspur as a Director of a Christian Preschool. I would be the director lead teacher at New Covenant Academy on Tuesday and Thursday and continue teaching in Castle Rock at CKDO on M-W-F. During this time, we were struggling with our church and our life group. PCCC just didn't seem to be meeting the needs that we were looking for, a lot of that was due to our church in Arizona and how much we loved and missed everything about it. No other church would have had a chance with our frame of minds and saddened hearts. It was really hard to get involved with the events of the church and especially teaching in the classroom environment...a movie theater.

Our life group relationships were dissipating due to a lot of judgement and opinions! The people in our group were very judgemental and not very supportive or understanding. They would make crazy accusations and were not handling themselves in very Godlike manners. Instead of reaching out in love, they reached out or didn't even reach out, in hurtful ways. We were starting to really withdraw from all of that! our neighborhood culdesac was full of the same judgement and materialism and clickiness that made us really withdraw from the church, considering all of those people attended and were even part of leadership at PCCC! Not the kind of church body I want to be associated with!

March brought about more financial recovery and the director job in Larkspur! I was so excited and overwhelmed at the same time! Brad was traveling A LOT, which left a lot of responsibility to come my way. Not only was I balancing 2 jobs, 3 kids, and the events of each day, but I had to do the bills, and run the house as well. I was wearing a lot of hats and was feeling quite out of control, which would explain my anxiety and panic attacks returning! I was in denial for a while as signs started creeping in!

April my anxiety came on full force! It took me over a month to get a halfway decent handle on it this time! I was pretty much inoperable for 2 plus weeks! I did all I could to get through each day. Brad was still traveling, given a dealership of the flagpoles for the Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky states. He was still traveling a lot, causing added stress because all expenses were out of our pocket now! I had to take a few weeks off of each job, to regain myself. All I did was walk, walk, walk. I wanted to be outside, because that is were I felt most like normal! I tried the homeopathic way, but I couldn't keep living this way, trying to find a remedy. I chose to get back on the meds that I knew worked in the past. So I started the Lexapro 10 mg again, which took 3-4 weeks to really start to work. I returned to work the end of the month and started to feel normal again!

May was a hard month for us as we contemplated a move because of Brad's heart and the Colorado elevation. He wasn't living the quality of life that he deserved in a lower elevation and he was traveling so much to IN, OH, and KY that a move just made sense. Things really started taking off after we prayerfully considered a move. We found someone to take over our lease, my school year would be over, the boys school year would end, we were finding a lot of possibilities of farms to live on in Indiana, we would be closer to my dad and our home of Minnesota. On May 31st, we finished the last of our packing and moving. 99% of our belongings were in 2 storage units in Denver and we were off to Minnesota for a month long vacation with the Dandurands and then on to Indiana in July to solidify a place to live, enroll in school, etc.

June felt great being out of Colorado and away from all the judgmental people! The hardest part of leaving Colorado was my job in Larkspur! I worked so hard bringing it together, and now I had to leave it behind! But honestly, that was the only thing I would truly miss about Colorado...that preschool and the conveniences of Castle Rock and Denver! We really had a great time with family and spending time with Doug and Betty! I enjoyed cooking and spending time with the family as did the kids. Brad was still traveling A lot! It was so nice being around family and people who genuinely are kind and loving!

July after graduation parties and family reunions, it was time to head to Indiana to find our residency there and start a new! The minute we arrived in my dad's driveway I knew this isn't where we were supposed to be. Doors didn't open for us there. It just didn't feel right. I wanted to be back in Minnesota. So, after a lot of prayer and seeking, we decided to go back to Minnesota. Things didn't come easy there either. Doors would slightly open and then close. We were having a hard time trying to find a place to live in Granite Falls. Finally 5 days before our belongings were coming from Colorado, I found a house to lease in Montevideo. It wasn't Granite, but it would be big enough and have to do.

August was spent unpacking and getting things organized and getting the kids ready for school. The boys decided to attend YME in Granite and I found a Christian Preschool for Peighton to attend on M-W-F. The summer was okay with the exception of mosquito infestation! I still missed Arizona and all our friends, our house, and our church. We were having a hard time getting settled and finding a church. Our neighbors across the street, were a lot of fun. The Omalleys' have 7 children ranging from 20-2. They home school and are a catholic family. They are full of fun and we have come to enjoy them!

September The kids are getting adjusted to small town schooling and living. We do miss the conveniences that a city brings, but we make due. The boys have made friends, Paxton went out for football and really enjoyed it. It was hard at first, but he got the hang of tackle and made new friends at the same time. Preston found himself a girlfriend from Monte. Things were starting to feel more normal for the Dandurand Family.

October I started to feel like I needed a purpose. The kids had school, Brad had his job, what did I have? So, I prayed about starting a Christian Preschool in Granite Falls. I contacted a local and established Lutheran Church and started to get the ball rolling. After a meeting with Pastor Steve Carmany, I felt pretty confident that this could really be God's plan for me and for the community. Preston had to start drivers training all over again because Minnesota wouldn't accept his Colorado permit...ugh! Brad had a good October with sales. We still haven't really connected to a church, which is hard because we are feeling the need to be fed. I started attending the local MOPS group, which is so different from the one in Colorado...more intimate and a lot less materialistic and clicky!

November Our family got hit with pneumonia! Peighton first...she was such a trooper at the emergency room, where they drew blood, swabbed her throat, and took a chest x-ray. She didn't even bat an eye! She was amazing and impressed the doctor and nursing staff. She had to be on an antibiotic and breathing treatments for two weeks. Daddy was on a business trip during all this fun. After he got home and Peighton was almost done with her recovery, daddy got pneumonia, which is not a goo thing for a heart patient! He was a great patient, too in the er...lol, but a little scarier with him. They put him on steroids, antibiotic, and breathing treatments. It took him a nit longer to heal than Peighton. So thankful that he did fine through all that and that he went in right away for treatment. we had the Dandurand Thanksgiving at our home post pneumonia. It was so nice celebrating with family. We had a great meal and a super time!

December we enjoyed having Brad the whole month, granted he kept busy with handyman job and hunting, but he was home every night! I was harder for us to get into the Christmas spirit this year with all the adjustments to being back in Minnesota. It helped having Christmas here with my family. It is always a lot of fun with the Carlsons' and all the games we play and laughs we share! The preschool planning is coming along quite well as things move forward. My prayer is to open in time for the 2011-2012 school year. There has been a lot of family drama with the Dandurand family since Cody and Amber have moved to Minnesota. I think there are expectations from others that don't always work out for people or are not in the best interest of others. That has been hard to deal with and has caused some hurt within the family, but I know things with work out. Jeremiah 29:11

We are thankful for all that God has provided for our family and know He has a plan for our lives and we look forward to continuing pursuing His will in 2011

A new start in 2011

2010 was full of change as we moved back home from a long and tough year and a half in Colorado. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss Arizona, but I know that God had brought us home for a reason and I seek His will in all that He has planned for us. He has already opened doors of opportunity for our family. I am in the planning process of starting a new Christian Preschool in Granite Falls. I do get quite overwhelmed with all the steps that need to take place on this amazing journey, but as long as I let God lead and guide my ways, my ways will be His ways!

I am in the difficult stages of the preschool process and that is the business plan! My gifting is growing and learning with the kids...not the logistics! I know a huge weight will be off my shoulders when I get this part finished!

Most of the plans are written down, I just have to put them in order with correct verbiage. I look to open in September. I anticipate how God will use this Christian Preschool for the Granite Falls Community. I am thankful that all the seeds that were planted in my life over the last 13 years will be used for this new adventure!

Until the doors open, I will be on my knees, seeking God's wisdom and direction. After opening, I will still be on my knees seeking God's wisdom and direction.