You might be a military wife at Christmas if....

Today is the last day of the Christmas blog carnival at Wives of Faith!

I have really enjoy this week of blogging, reading the other posts and 'meeting and getting to know the other ladies'. I hope this is the start of me continuing to blog and getting out of my own little pity party!

You might be a military wife at Christmas if....

You spend many Christmases away from your hometown.

You have a poinsetta as a tree because you moved into your apartment 2 weeks before Christmas for your first PCS and the apartment complex gave you the plant as a gift.

You decorate a Christmas tree with a patriotic theme.

Your kids wants a pink camouflage stocking because it reminds them of their daddy.

You see more green than red because of all the uniforms you see.

You purchase Daddy's presents early so you can mail them to make sure he gets them in time for Christmas.

You cry at songs like "I'll be home for Christmas" or "Sending you a little Christmas".

You have a houseful of single soldiers and married soldiers over for dinner because they too can't go home for the holiday and you LOVE it!

You are praying the holidays hurry up and get here and over with because it marks the half way point of deployment!

You are secretly a little anxious of how you all will do without Daddy here for Christmas! :(


This has been so much fun and encouraging. I pray everyone will have a bless Merry Christmas especially to all our soldiers serving oversea and their families!

Merry Christmas!

Perspective

I am enjoying the Christmas Blog Carnival over at Wives of Faith

Day 4 of the carnival is titled Best non material Christmas gift ever. For me this gift would be perspective. I pray and hope I can put into words what I am thinking.
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Our first Christmas together at a new duty stationed thousands of miles away from my family, I learned not all people celebrate like me. I learned to see our life together is what we make of it. Whether we live in my hometown or miles away with the military.

An earlier Christmas, I was a collage student living at home and my mother had had a heart attack. As we were preparing dinner, my father received a call to come to the hospital as soon as possible. We dropped everything and rushed to my mother. I am so thankful she survived and actually lived 10 more years. But I learned it didn't matter to me if Christmas dinner was cooked or if you got presents.

This Christmas is our first Christmas with my hubby not here at home. I really don't know what it will look like or how the girls will be but I know we will be fine. I know in the long range outlook, this is just a tiny speck.

My perspective is ever changing and hopefully for the good.

Favorite Christmas Memory

I am participating in a blog carnival over at Wives of Faith

Today's topic is Favorite Christmas Memory.

I really have struggled with this one not because I had awful memories but I just can't remember a lot of details.
I remember one Christmas we (2 boys and 2 girls) all got bikes for Christmas. That was special because we really didn't have a lot of money growing up. I also remember any presents we got were never wrapped but in a neat little pile but we always new which pile was ours.

But there is one Christmas that stands out. I think I was about 8 or 10. My older sister and I both got a dress made by my grandmother. This was in the 70's and the dresses were long all the way to the ground with a ruffle on the bottom. I loved it and I felt so pretty in it. We were so excited. I remember we put our dresses on and ran down the street to show our friends. While we showed off our presents, we asked them what they got. I remember the look on their faces as they told us they only got a lip gloss from Avon. I felt so sad that day for them, I will never forget that!

Maybe not a typical favorite memory ones thinks about but one that stays with me even now. I pray I will never forget this memory and what I learned from it that Christmas day.

"It's a Wonderful Life"

Christmas movies, I love them. I could watch them all year long and sometimes I do.
But my all time favorite Christmas movie is 'It's a Wonderful Life'. It is actually my favorite movie of all time!

George Bailey! What a man!! I love his servant's heart and his sacrifices for others!

George wanted to go to school, travel to foreign lands and see different things but God had other plans. (now I know the movie really doesn't speak much about God) When his father passed away, in order for the family business (the Building and Loan) not being taken over by the town's scrooge (old man Potter), George had to stay in town and run the business. Something he did not want to do but did anyway! He had to give up his dreams...dreams of travel, school and a life far from Bedford Falls.


But what a life it is!

George doesn't even realize how wonderful his life is until one fateful Christmas Eve. Feeling hopeless and despondent, George contemplates suicide but his guardian angel Clarence intervenes. Clarence decides to give George a gift. A very rare gift! The gift to see what the world would be like if he did not exist.

I think this is an awesome gift, very valuable almost priceless. To be able to see how much you matter to those around you, how your life changes the course of everyone you touch, how valuable you are! I think most people would love to know how much they matter to those around them.

I love how in this movie, the good guy wins!!! I love how George sees how life is worth living, how blessed he is, how wonderful he has it.

I think this is an attitude we all need to be reminded of sometimes especially me, especially tonight.

Tonight is our last night together for a while. My hubby returns to his duty station overseas tomorrow.

Even though I know a rough good-bye is coming, we have a blessed life. We have a wonderful life. It is not perfect but it is wonderful nonetheless.

(click below)

 WOF Christmas Tour 2011 

Veterans Day 2011

Just wanted to say THANK YOU! to all the veterans who have gone before us, to all the veterans serving now, and to those who will stand up and serve in the future.

Especially to my veteran, THANK YOU!
I am so proud of you, the girls are so proud of you!
We do not take this day for granted!
We know the cost, the price, and the sacrifice it takes to serve! We serve with you!

We love you and miss you with all of our hearts!

Chosing to be Thankful!

Lately being positive or thankful has not come easy to me. I am more of the opposite these days. And I must admit, I am tried of it!
Deployment, work, kids, activities, etc, all wear this girls out.

But I have decided I will choose to be Thankful!
I will count my blessings which are too many to number!

I will be obediant, even though my feelings don't match my words, I know they will match in time if I choose to be Thankful!
I will use this month to show and give thanks to My Lord and Savior!

How can I not be thankful?
I am so blessed!

Today I choose to be Very Thankful for the 2 good night sleep my girls had, NO nightmares!! Praise the Lord! Thank you Lord for sweet dreams for my sweet girls!!!

Psalm 30:11-12 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

I sometimes forget

I sometimes forget they are not me

I sometimes forget they can do somethings but may need me to do them for them

I sometimes forget schedules are not God's timing

I sometimes forget being late is just life 

I sometimes forget they may need a minute more


I sometimes forget they need me to chill out

I sometimes forget they need me to have fun with them

I sometimes forget my words can build up or break down

I sometimes forget they don't always need to learn a lesson

I sometimes forget how small they really are

I sometimes forget they are only 8 and 6 years old

I sometimes forget they too are going through this deployment

I sometimes forget they are hurting deep inside

I sometimes forget they don't understand why 

I sometimes forget they need to vent

I sometimes forget tears are good for them

I sometimes forget there are profound sadness in the happiest of times


I sometimes forget they are ALWAYS missing him, wanting him, and needing him

Anger

Nothing like reading a children's devotion to your children and realizing this is not for them but for you!
That happened just tonight!

A situation at work has caused me great anger.
I have fretted over this for several days.
I have stirred up wrath, been hot tempered, and very prideful.
My body and soul has had no peace at all!
It really consumed me, consumed  my thoughts, my conversations, my heart and my spirit!
I did not like who I was or what I was doing about this!

But God gently reminded me, 'why'
Why am I still fretting or worrying about this?
Why am I stiring the pot?
Why am I demanding some action or accountably from others when  I have not even given it?
Why haven't I turned to HIM first?

God reminded me "slow to anger"
Do you want to be like this? 
Do you want peace or fear and bitterness in you?
Do you want to be rested or restless?
Do you want me to help you or you going to do it on your own?
Do you want to abide with me or be alone?
I can't be abiding with God and be overcome with anger, bitterness and stife.

God reminded me "let it go" 
Do not worry!
Do not fret!
Do not live with this!
Confess it to Me!
Listen to Me!
Forgive them!
I have forgiven them and
I have forgiven YOU!

My prayer tonight:
Dear Lord, please forgive me of all this anger I have held on to. Please forgive me for my unforgiveness of them, bless them so that they see YOU! Please forgive me for not trusting you and coming to you when this first happened. Lord, I want to be slow to anger and slow to speak but quick to hear, esp. to hear from YOU! I know I can't hear from you unless I am in your word abiding in YOU! I don't want to be anger, stirring up wrath but I want to be a person who is kind and compassionate. In Jesus name! Amen!

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:19

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:8

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31,32

An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. 

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. Proverbs 29:22,23

blog your heart

I have been challenged by this Blog your Heart challenge!

I have struggled with this blog for many months for many reasons some being not feeling I can be real for fear of hurting peoples feelings. Other reasons have been not doing it well, feeling very inadequate and jealous of how well others do it. But I really feel God wants me to be real! so here goes.

I fear not having a story to tell!

I am trying to be patience but when my hubby who is deployed doesn't hear from people who say they will be there and aren't, it upsets me for him. No one has reached out to my hubby since he left in July. Please don't let it be "out of sight, out of mind".

I want to have a ministry, to encourage women and share my faith! But I feel so unprepared for it! I don't have a miraculous story to tell.

I want to be more organized. My house is a mess. Some people say it doesn't matter but it bothers me.

I don't know what I am doing most of the time when it comes to parenting! But I love my girls! I worry about how much these deployments really affect them.

I haven't cooked a decent meal in weeks!! LOL

I am working on my quiet time, having more quality time with God.

I think I could go on but I need some sleep.
Thank you for doing this Stephani Howell

Praying for my girls!

 pray continually! 1 Thessalonians 5:17

We surprized the girls and woke them up with a skype phone call from David, they loved it!! It has been the first time they have seen David since July 21st. Way too long!!!!
They talked to him, made funny faces, blew kisses and hugged my computer! It was precious. :)

But we had to say good bye on the phone call and head off to school! They were so quiet on the ride there and so hesitate about going in!

It is so hard on them, they serve also!! Everyday they deal with their Daddy not being here! They miss him cheering them on soccer practice, helping with homework or giving them a hug when they had a bad day!

I tell them I am here for them and God is here for them and they are loved by many but especially God but in their little minds, is it enough? I pray it is enough for now until their Daddy comes home to them.

I pray they find comfort and peace, friends who will be there for them, rest especially rest and sweet dreams!!!

Long night

Sunday night was a long nite.
I woke up in the middle of the night to find both girls in our bed! Not good! I don't sleep well when they are in our bed! Then I happened to oversleep and did not get up until 6am so it was a mad dash out the door (which makes the day feel stressful and unorganized) but we made it to school and work in the nick of time.
I can tell the girls are really missing David!
It shows in the quick tears that appear over nothing and everything! Many tears tonight! MANY TEARS!
so I will be praying specifically for them tonight (Monday). And praying for David as this is a big week!

Prayer Request:
1.David and his unit! Safety!
2. the girls sleep through the night with no nightmares.

3. that their sleep would be restful and peaceful.

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
   for you alone, LORD,
   make me dwell in safety.

strong hearts and courage

Summer Vacation is over!
We had fun!!
We swam, we read, we play and played hard!
We went to Dollywood and Nashville!
We stayed up late, we slept in!
We ate ice cream and sweets as much as we could!
We laughed and we cried and then cried some more for we had to said good-bye!

So as the girls prepare for 3rd and 1st grade, I pray their hearts will be strong!  I pray for strong hearts even when they miss him so much, strong hearts that are rooted in your love Lord, strong hearts to get through this year!
I pray they will have courage, courage to make new friends, to be kind to others, to learn, to try new things, to enjoy this year, to laugh, and to cry. I pray for courage to go on when they want to give up, courage to turn to you Lord.

 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD! Psalm 31:24

Psalm 37

Such sad and horrible news we woke up to yesterday!
31 American soldiers died in one tragic event...shot down in a helicopter along with 8 others fighting for freedom.
I wanted to say or do something....
I didn't want to post the whole news story for fear of scaring someone...
But I knew the story and with that information...I knew the Lord wanted me to do something.
I did post a verse and said many prayers but I wanted to be comforted and somehow to be a comfort to someone.
I tried to think of other stuff and go about my day...but with the news you think of your soldier and others soldiers and their families...
I know my soldier was not in harms way at the time but this event made me miss him that much more...
It solidified my need to pray and to trust God that much more...
It encouraged me to go to the Word quicker and to linger longer....

And while I went to Word, the Lord showed me He is still in control...
Psalm 37: 1-13 (verses in bold really encouraged me)

Do not fret because of those who are evil
   or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
   like green plants they will soon die away.
  ³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun.
 ⁷ Be still before the LORD
   and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
   when they carry out their wicked schemes.
 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
   do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,
   but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
 ¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
   though you look for them, they will not be found.
¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land
   and enjoy peace and prosperity.
 ¹² The wicked plot against the righteous
   and gnash their teeth at them;
¹³ but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
   for he knows their day is coming. 

I am so heartbroken for these soldiers' families but I pray they find comfort in knowing their soldier's sacrifice will never be forgotten and we are so grateful for their service!

Pressing on!

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14


Sometimes I feel like a failure, failure at parenting, at work, at being a friend, at being a wife, and in my relationship with God. I even feel like a failure with this blog.

I have had the same nagging confusing thoughts lately.
'Why do I blog and should I even blog?
It has been too long!
Am I blogging for attention or affirmation for myself or do I blog to give praise to God.

But today I realized something very important to me. I have been deceived!!! I have allowed these thoughts to be twisted into something awful! I have been deceived to not blog!
So therefore by not blogging I have added another failure to the list of many failures. It crushed me to think another failure was on the list then to add insult to injury, I was so confused to where to begin to right this wrong. I didn't even know how to write a post, the words never came until today when the Lord showed me this verse.

I admit I like words of affirmations and I like a little attention, but there are many things I love. I love my husband, I love my girls, I love my Lord. I love to praise my God and I love to grow closer to my God! I have always wanted this blog to be a blessing and a record of God's presence in our lives. It can't be a record if I don't blog! I have also wanted to use this blog to journal my thoughts, prayers and prayer requests. I want it to be a tool to grow closer to God!  But it can't be used as a tool if I don't blog.
How can it be a blessing to anyone or God and how can it be blessed if I don't blog. How will people pray for my husband and our girls if I don't ask them to?

But no more! I realized today after reading this verse and after my girls came home (which will be another post), I needed to change this thought. I needed to move forward.

I need and will forget what is behind!
I will strain (reach) toward what is ahead!
I will press on!!!

I will blog whether I am good at it or not! I am not a very good writer, I will fail at times. Other times I will press on and move forward, growing closer to God! Hoping and praying it will be a blessing!

So I will press on!

Dear Lord, thank you for giving me clarity on this subject, I know you are not the author of confusion but of Peace, thank you that our past are behind us and we can leave them there and move forward!! Help me to press on!!!
I love you Lord!


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Dads

 ¹ After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: ² Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately^[a] got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. ⁴ But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
⁶ And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. ⁸ But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. ⁹ Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
¹¹ Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
¹⁴ This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

I love this passage from the book of John 21.

I love how Jesus calls the disciples "children".
I love how Jesus gives them the advice they needed to catch the fish.
I love how Peter once he finds out it is Jesus, jumps into to the water and swims over to the shore! How excited he is!
I love how Peter drags the net up full of fish! To me the excitement is still with him and he just can't contain himself.
I love how Jesus meets their needs, He fixes breakfast for them.

I love how Jesus is caring for them as His children, calling them children, giving advice, and meeting their physical needs!!! I love this!

I share this because, I miss my own dad. I miss how he cared for me. I would run to him in a heartbeat is he were alive, just like the girls will run to their daddy when he returns soon. It has been 20 years since my father past away and I miss him everyday. It has been less than 2 weeks since David left and the girls miss him terribly.

Yes, times heals for me but I wonder the effects this has on the girls! Tears and more tears come quick and without provocation some times.

I have heard the Lord call me his child, I have heard His advice and guidance, I get so excited when the Word comes alive, and He has provided so much for me!
He has been my Dad when my dad was call home.

And I pray He will be their Dad when their dad is gone.

I am praying they can hear Him call them 'children', I am praying they can hear His advice, I am praying they will run to God when they miss their daddy so much, I am praying for excitement to fill their spiritual walk, I am praying God will provide for their needs and they are able to see it.

Two months

Two months ago, I planned to be at Disney World this week.

Two months from now, I will be saying good-bye.

A lot has changed in two months and a lot will change in the next two months.

These two months have flown by and also dragged by, most likely the same thing with the next two months.

But we have two months to prepare, to enjoy, to live, to love!!!

I intend to make it the best I can. I have much to do, my body stops before my mind stops. It never shuts off.

But I am learning to 'be still' and know God!

I sometimes wish this would just be over, but I really don't want to miss what the Lord has for us.

There will be joy, tears, happiness, fear, anger, peace, anxiety, calmness. But I will know God is God!

“Be still, and know that I am God;  Psalm: 46:10

"I'm not going to say good-bye"

Words spoken by an 8 year old to her father.

 A good-bye was coming.


It has been a hard week. We told the girls David would be leaving...they knew he would have to leave for training but we told them the big news...leaving for a year!
It was hard...the tears started to roll...the questions came...we answered what we could and we assured them as much as we could...but it never gets easier.

It has been a sweet week..We surprized the girls by getting them out of school early, going to the store, watching a movie and eating pizza...just being together as a family...but I knew what was coming...

In the corner of the room, while the girls quietly watched their movie, their Daddy was finishing up packing...packing for a short training trip...but nontheless...a good-bye

It is time...he must leave...we get some pictures...he starts hugs and kisses...down the stairs...load the car...
back for more hugs and kisses...time to go...down the stairs this time a girl clings to him...she wont let go...
she whines 'no don't go'...she starts crying...at the door she startles even me..."I'm not going to say good-bye!!...and she doesn't! She doesn't have to...he turns to her...looks down...leans in..."you don't have to say good-bye...I will be back before you know it...I love you Hollyn!"

People I Love!

I love these girls!

I Love this man!

I Love this man in uniform!

I Love this man with our girls!

I Love my Lord!

I Love no tears at bedtime!

Thank You Lord!
I will chose to Love deeply!

Above all, love each other deeply.. 1 Peter 4:8a

Things I Hate!

Sorry for the title and for such a strong words but there are some things I hate.

I hate being cold, wet while stuck outside.
I hate being wrong.
I hate not responding like I should.
I hate not praying like I should.
I hate rushing around and being late.
I hate wasting time.

I hate argueing with my husband.
I hate telling my daughters their father is leaving for a year.
I hate to see them cry.
and I really hate to see them cry and not be able to do anything about it.

* I have done all these things in the past 24 hours. I am drained emotionally, spiritually and physically.


But even though I endure or do things I hate, I can't help but to think there is Hope!


Hope for a future, hope for a new day, hope for new beginnings, new experiences, new joys.

There is Peace, peace that passes all understanding, peace that flows into you unexpectely.

There is Love. Love that is so great nothing will be consumed, us, our marriage, and our girls.


There is Faith. God's faithfulness. I am going to fail, I fail everyday but God doesn't. He is faithful, Great is his faithfulness!

Lamentations 3:19-24

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,
   the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
   and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
   and therefore I have hope:

 ²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
   therefore I will wait for him.”

My hiding place!

The feelings come over me like a flood. They may be triggered by a smell, a word or in this case a situation. David left for Drill on Friday night, no big deal....a few days just with the girls...some girl time!

But as the day wore on, the feelings, thoughts, fears and anxieties come over me...hindering me...overtaking me.
I don't want to do this again...
I want some relief...
It is too hard...
Will we make it...
This is what I have to look forward too...

I want to runaway...I want to hide...I want a safe place...I don't want to be alone

Then the Lord speaks to me...a soft voice telling me...reminding me...'remember the tents the girls made this morning...a place to go to rest, to hide, ...I am your hiding place...come to me Joanna...I will carry you...You are not alone...I will protect David, the girls and you...there will be deliverance.... Praise God!

Lord thank you for being my hiding place, my protection, my deliverer.

You are my hiding place;

you will protect me from

trouble and surround me 

with songs of deliverance.  Psalm 32:7

The girls' tents!

Bad dreams!

Bad dreams, how I hate you! You are evil and make it hard to sleep. You are not welcome here.

I just spent the better part of this evening consoling my little girl because of a bad dream. A dream so bad she would not even tell! A dream so bad she just cries and cries! A dream so bad she just wants it out of her mind.  A dream so bad she just asks 'can we pray they go away'?

My heart melts! As her mother, I want nothing more than to dry her tears, to fix her problems, to make the pain go away, to make this bad dream disappear. I rack my mind thinking of what it could be. I beg her to tell me the dream to get it out of her mind. I assure her, it will not hurt me or her anymore. I hug her and tell her Mommies and Daddies make bad dreams go away. I wipe her tears, I speak good thoughts into her ear, I whisper I love you and it is okay. And yes we can pray!

We hold hands, close our eyes, bow our heads and pray.

I pray no more bad dreams, no more scary dreams, I ask my heavenly Father to fill her mind up with good thoughts, to take all the bad dreams away, they are not welcomed here. I ask God to give her thoughts of love, her family, her grandparents, her toys, the flowers she sees, the beautiful weather, her friends, crafts she loves to do.

We thank God for loving us and tell him we love him. We say amen, look up, and smile at each other.
The tears have stopped! Peace has come to us! The smile has come back! She is happy! She asks me to play with her! I ask her how do you feel, with her awesome smile she replies good and leans on me and says 'thank you'.

No, Thank you Lord! that you took her bad dream away, you filled her heart, her mind, her present with your love.
Thank You Lord that to a 6 year old girl, who is scared and doesn't know how to fix the problem knows to pray and that YOU will take care of her. And Thank You Lord from this 40ish girl who can't fix all her children's problems or her own but knows to pray and that YOU will take care of her and her children!

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.


 

In Awe!

Lord, I have heard of your fame, I stand in awe of your deeds..Habakkuk 3:2a

I am in Awe!
In awe of my God, my Lord and Savior!

I can see His hand so clearly before us. He was not surprised by this news of deployment. He knew all along.
He set in motion events to help us, He placed people in our lives to comfort us, to encourage us and to pray for us.

So tonight I am in awe of Him!

I am in awe of how God works in other peoples life to bless us...We were ingesting this news with all of it's questions and uncertainties when the phone rings. A friend, a godly man calls and tells us, for some reason David has been on his mind all day and he wanted to call and check on us. We tell him the news, and he is surprised by it also but God wasn't, He placed us in this man's thoughts and heart...to pray for us...to encourage us.
God knew we needed to hear that.

Upon hearing the news, I emailed a friend to simple pray for us. She did more than just pray, she responded to my email with encouragement and prayers. God knew I needed to see that, He also provided an opportunity to meet with her knowing I could use some time with godly friends to share and pray together.

I am in awe of events God orchestrates...That Wednesday, I had a get together with a godly lady at church...a meeting that was made 3 weeks earlier before we knew the news...but God knew...He knew weeks before what I would need that day and how I would need to spend that time being encouraged by these two friends...pouring out my heart, sharing my thoughts, fears and tears. He knew I needed to be prayed for and to be prayed with.


I am in awe of how God puts people in my life, new friends who I may not know in person...new friends who become such an encouragement , such a blessing to me...I befriended a lady on Facebook whom I don't know in person, but we share some same interests... I now consider her a friend...She too is going through a deployment. She too is a Christian...She too know what this life is like... God put her in my life knowing I would be going through this...He knew we needed to be friends.

So I am in awe of God and His people. His caring for us through friends who are praying for us, encouraging us and loving us.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 
 

Preparing for the sweetness!

I have been thinking about something all day.
I have to help Hollyn decorate a cake...a Dr. Suess cake...
Now, she likes to watch those cake shows but I have news for her...I am not good at decorating cakes! This will not be one of those cakes.
I did prepare a little bit by baking the cake yesterday. So today we go decorate it and I realized I should have done a lot more preparing... I should have planned better, read more, practiced and made sure I had all the ingredients. Now her cake is good and sweet but we rushed getting it done and it shows.  But by the end of the task Hollyn was very proud of her cake! and she should be...she did the best she could with what she has been given.

Now what I have been thinking about is preparing for this deployment.
I know there are going to be some sweet moments in this deployment and I need to be prepare for them. I need to start now and not wait until the last minute. I need to start in the Word! I need to read, to pray, to worship, to do, and to be still and know!
Be still and know that I am God; Psalm 46;10a

News!!

We heard the news two weeks ago.
News that catches your breath and makes your heart skip a beat...well my heart skip a beat.
News we were not expecting!

News that would crush our daughters, news that would knock me to my knees, news that no matter what we have planned, God is in control!!!

Our news....Deployment!!

Yes, our 2nd deployment within a year!!
This time around, not Iraq but the other place...
This time around, not 7 months but a year...

News...God is in control...God has gone before us...God is with me....God knows and loves us...God is here...God is in this...God is in this news...God is in the other place...God has a plan...
God already knew the news...

Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goes before you (me) and will be with you (me). He will NEVER leave you (me) NOR forsake you (me). Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Happy Birthday Corryn

Hey Baby!

Eight years ago, our home was blessed beyond measure! You came! We were so surprized when we found out we were expecting you! But so happy also!

You are a ball of excitement! You love to aggravate your sister but also love to hug her! You like your space some times but prefer to be with her! You are the sweetest girl I know. You love to color and the more pink markers the better! It amazes me how you can lose something that was just in your hand! LOL
You must also be the messiest girl I know and you are so proud of it.  You are so smart, beautiful, fun, silly, talented and happy! Thank you Lord for blessing us with Corryn!

I worried when I was pregnant if I would have enough love to go around, but I worried for nothing. You are so easy to love! You give so much joy and happiness to our life!

Corryn, I pray the Lord will bless you and give you an awesome year! Keep your faith so simple and yet so pure!
Mommy and Daddy love you! and sissy too!

Eph 3:20  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Corryn, God has a plan for you! He loves you and knows everything about you!
Have a blessed, awesome year!

Happy Birthday Hollyn!

I know this a few days late, my computer is down and you have been so sick with the flu. But I wanted to tell you, how much I love you and I am so proud of you. It breaks my heart that you are sick on your birthday!

Eight years ago, our world was rocked! You came into our lives and we have never been the same! LOL
You have brought us so much joy, stress, happiness, frustrations, love, madness. You name the emotion we have felt it and we wouldn't changed anything.

Many times I wonder if I am a good parent but even if I am not, your hugs and smiles to me tells me you love me anyway! :)
I am so thankful you are so forgiving of me and my shortcomings.
I pray the Lord will bless you so much this year. I am so thankful you made a decision to ask Jesus into your heart a year ago. I hope you will always love Him and put Him first into your life. You may not understand all this but God will teach you and as your mom I hope you will see God in me and allow me to teach you also.
I can't wait to see how God will mold you and how He will use you! He has a plan for you Hollyn!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

You are such a special, talented, beautiful and smart girl! Mommy and Daddy feel so blessed to have you for a daughter!

I hope this year is so awesome for you. I hope this year brings you so much joy and love  and peace and happiness.

Hollyn, I don't know everything but I do know how much I love you and how much God loves you!
You and your sister and Daddy mean the world to me. I will always be here for you!
I love you!!!

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to Him. 1 Samuel 1:27

Have a great year!

Love,
Mommy