What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

It was a long journey getting home. Yesterday we were on the road for over 12 hours! We discovered when we got home that we didn’t have any power and couldn’t get in our house (garage door openers don’t work without power, of course). And my house key was in the garage with my car. Darryl’s house key was in Wayne with his car. So we thought, “Oh we’ll just drive on over and pick up the keys, and by the time we get back the power will be on.”

Haha...such silly thinking. We didn’t realize the extent of the flooding in the area. But we soon found out how bad it was when it took us over 2 hours just to drive the 30 miles to return the van that Pastor Karl so graciously let us borrow, and pick up the keys. So many roads were closed!! It was crazy out there.
We just never expected that at all. So late last night we went to a hotel to spend the night. Today we went home to pack up some stuff and got a hotel because we weren’t expecting to have power until next week. But we were very surprised when we got it back at 4pm. So, we did finally go home and had a nice home-cooked meal. Tomorrow we will have to clean the basement because our yard was so soggy that our septic (?) started backing up into our basement. I’ll also try to remember to take a picture of our backyard.

Praise item: we didn’t lose much food at all!!

Even though the power went out days ago when Irene came through, and our insurance company said it would all be bad, we never opened the doors to look inside until the power had been back on for like an hour or two, and so I guess that is why it didn't go bad. The fridge in the kitchen did an amazing job!! The frozen food was still frozen!!! How can that be? Some of the food in the fridge was bad but that’s ok. The meat in our basement freezer had thawed out but it was still a bit cold, so we are going to keep it. We ate some of it for supper and we’re not sick yet so we figured it was ok. The freezer in the garage had all thawed out too but fortunately there wasn’t much out there except drinks and bread and veggies. So, seriously we escaped with very little loss of any kind. Thanking God for that!

So, here is begins; our first night back home without the boys here. It is insanely quiet. I actually turned my radio on for a while.

Ryan is doing a great job of getting his concert video chopped up and put on YouTube!! So proud of what he has accomplished.

Kyle is so busy that he said his days are like “eternities” (but in a good way). He loves Grace Adventures!

Thank You, God!

For anyone who is worried about me, don’t be. I’m fine. Just taking things one day at a time. See where it leads me.

there's a hurricane in my heart

Ryan got an apartment at Grace Bible College. We didn't realize what type of place he was getting, otherwise we would have brought household items with us. He will need to buy pots and pans, dishes, utensils....basically everything! Wish we had known that before we went to Michigan. Oh well, there is a Goodwill nearby.Lots of "stuff" but no furniture.
A couple pictures of the kitchen and living room.

Outside his front door.
Out front of the cafeteria.
Out front of the new commons area.
Inside the new building by the 2-way fireplace.
I really didn't think I would be too sad leaving Ryan at the college. He was so excited to go back and he has tons of friends there. I know he will have such a great year. But I completely fell apart as we were getting ready to leave. Seems all the thoughts, fears, and emotions I have been holding inside the past few months just came flooding out. I can't even explain how empty I feel. How totally ripped out my heart feels. I know it is basically sinful to worry, but honestly I am so worried. I'm worried about the boys getting hurt. I'm worried about Kyle getting school work done. Worried about Kyle hearing his alarm in the morning. Worried about car accidents. AND I'm worried about me. I'm worried that I might not ever feel happy again. I'm worried that we won't be close anymore.

How to stop worrying? How to stop hurting? I don't know. When I get there, I'll let ya know.

The hurricane has passed now. I called the NJ State Police to see how the roads are by our house to make sure it is safe to come home from Michigan. They assured me we can get to our house with no problems, so we're really hoping the house isn't flooded, and hoping for no damage outside.

We will have just enough time to unpack, do laundry, get some work done and then pack up to go on the cruise. I suppose the emptiness of the house might not hit me completely until we get home from the cruise. Really can't imagine not having the boys around. Can't imagine it at all. Can't even think about how quiet it will be. How empty, how lonely.

Kyle Vegh goes to Grace Bible College

This wasn't exactly one of my better days. We had to take Kyle to college and leave him there. It was positively dreadful. I cried. I know, I know, he has to go. He has to experience this, grow, become independent, meet friends. Yep, I know all of it. But nobody can make my heart feel any better. Ugh...I can't believe I won't see him until...????...Thanksgiving?

We got stuff moved into his room, but he will still have to do a lot of rearranging when he gets back from Grace Adventures next week.
I left him a very meaningful note on his white board before I left. hehe...
LOTS OF HUGS!
Lots of tears.

After we left, Kyle went to play volley ball. So, that was good.
Later on, Ryan got me to smile.
Not looking forward to tomorrow and the next day, and the next week, the next month....

So, there is a huge hurricane (Irene) moving towards our house. We got an emergency phone call from our township about the severe weather and damage possibility. We have lived there since 1993 and never got a phone call like that before. Oh, I forgot to mention, there was an earthquake there last week too. So weird. We aren't there when all this stuff happens. We had to call someone to go to our house to secure our outdoor items, things on our deck, so they wouldn't blow away. I feel bad for people near our church who may be evacuated because of flooding.

So depressed....I actually had my first big splurge with junk food. Now I feel sick. I need to get back on my rebounder. I need to get my emotions fixed.

God, be with Kyle! Keep his heart happy and peaceful.

fun dinner in GR

We had the very lovely opportunity to have dinner with Mark and Kim and their 2 cute kids, Elijah and Ella. What a fun time we had. So nice to be able to get together with folks!



We went shopping today to get some school supplies for Kyle. And I got a new hat... hehe.

bowling adventure

Decided Ryan needed a new guitar strap since his kept falling off during the concert and rehearsal. Figured it's easier to buy a new strap than a new guitar!! So, here's the flashy purple one he picked out!Yesterday we went bowling (partly for Kyle's birthday). Kids were playing Ninja while they waited. Can't believe Kyle is 18! So happy that he had 2 fun days with so many friends in Michigan. It helps to make up for a lack of friends in NJ! I think he is going to like it in Michigan. I'm sure Ryan is excited to go back and see all his friends too!!
I got a 101. I didn't think that was too bad, considering I haven't bowled probably since I was a teenager!!

I had a blast! (except for sore knee and finger).


Today we leave Canton and head to Grand Rapids to start the college process. I'm trying not to think about it. Trying not to dwell on how it'll be after we drop them off. Will I be an emotional train wreck? Or will I have a peace and calm that passes all understanding? The reality is, I'll probably have both. People keep telling me I should sell my cake balls, or some other food I make. hehe... who knows what I'll do yet. Not in any hurry to do anything!

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

new Tribeca

It’s Tuesday. We are in Michigan. We are trying to get organized!! It was utterly hectic getting packed up to come here, especially with all the concert prep going on. I lost my camera. Ryan forgot his school books. I forgot my prescription and some other things that I need.

So I got to drive the new car today. It is so awesome. I’m very happy that the boys will have a nice safe vehicle to drive in snowy Grand Rapids.

More thoughts to come later.

our Heavenly Ethnicity

The Ethnicity concert was great!! Ryan and Kyle both did an amazing job with getting things done over the summer… planning, practicing, and perfecting their show! I am one hugely proud momma!! Thank You, God, for 2 wonderful sons!
We spent all day Sunday at church, getting equipment set up and going over the show details.

It was a long, tiring day, but so very rewarding at the end of the day!


So thankful for our friends coming, especially Danny! If it hadn't been for him, there wouldn't have been an encore song! It would not have been a Ryan Vegh concert without Danny! A few other fans from Grace showed up, but not as many as we had hoped.



Kyle looked very cool and he did a very cool job with his yoyo routine.

Here's a video of it

Think a lot of people were surprised to hear the music and sounds that came out of Ryan! I wonder if anybody got scared! lol

Blazing Light of God

Sista Search

All I Got Left is God

Walking In The Garden

And thanks to Pastor Karl and the church board for allowing us to have the concert there.

(Videos of Ryan to come later)

The Moonlit Sunrise is on the horizon

Another very busy day is coming to a close.

I got lots of cake balls made for Ryan’s concert. Ryan completed his CD cover and it looks totally professional. The boys did an amazing job on it. So proud of how much they are accomplishing. And speaking of that, I forgot to post a picture of Kyle’s helmet cam that he made for taking yoyo shots for his tutorials on Rethinkyoyo. Very cool indeed! So, we are getting stuff done. Ryan has now 10 songs on his CD I think. He may be adding one more before he starts burning and printing them. So much to do in the last couple days of crunch time! I am all done packing for Michigan trip (I think) but the boys haven’t even started yet, and that makes me nervous. Trying to go with the flow here, while also attempting to remind them many times a day that they do need to pack for college! Especially Kyle!! I know it will get done eventually; just rather it wasn’t last minute. You know me, OCD.
Ryan's first Ethnicity CD! It's beautiful!
I made 2 trays of Ethnicity cake balls!
Kyle Vegh's helmet cam! Sickkk

Kyle Vegh's pre-18th birthday

We will be in Michigan for Kyle's birthday again this year so we decided to celebrate a little early so he could have his birthday at home. We went to Cinder's in Mine Hill. It was a very nice place with a unusual menu; Ostrich, KOBE beef dawgs, Bison burgers, Duck, Lamb lollipops, truffles...lots of stuff we've never seen on a menu. The food was great.

my beautiful boys
the proud parents
momma and her babies
the whole happy fam
Ah yes, Kyle, the time lord...he even got a sonic screwdriver
and the new top hat...hey, every guy needs one, right?
sweeeet



It was a very fun day. I got 3 jars of almond butter made, cooked a roast, made a double batch of granola, went grocery shopping, did laundry, started making cake balls for Ryan's concert...and whatever else. I never did have time to work out today.... *sad face*. I think we have to go on our last bike ride tomorrow.

I don't think I will have time to get a job when the boys go to college. I must'a been dreaming.