Another Blessed Year

Yes, it's official...I am now to the point that I cringe as I see my birthday approaching....

In 34 years I have learned:

Frowning makes wrinkles

So does smiling

So do children ;)

All those years of eating whatever I wanted without so much as a dimple are starting to pay me back...with interest (okay, it's not THAT bad, but I def. have to watch what I eat now)

Everyone wants to feel special

People are mean when they don't like themselves

Children can see right through a hypocritical attitude

The very thing that you criticize someone else's child for...your child will do

Kids are very very very messy

Boys like gross things ( don't need to elaborate do I?)

Childish things may be annoying but not necessarily wrong

I'm not training up children to be pleasing to others, I'm training them up to want to be pleasing to God

My mom was right when she said the blue eye shadow looked guady and lots of other things which have resulted in the destruction of the evidence of such "what was I thinking" moments (ie pictures)

My prediction of bell bottoms never making a true come-back was accurate

My prediction of pegged bottom pants never going "out" was sorely wrong

"Jelly" shoes make your feet stink

Organization makes me happy

My house must be clean but it's not perfect and this is okay!

The key to a clean house is to clean as I go (only blog when the kids are sleeping riiiiight)

Embarrassing moments are what life is made of-especially with kids

The key to a good friendship is listening more than talking

Most offences are not worth even a second thought

It's not about me

If I think of a small thoughtful deed...I need to do it right away

Someone is always watching

Chocolate is my friend

PMS stands for Press Mouth Shut for the duration of the irrational hormonal roller coaster

Finding the funny side of a situation will save me from having a heart attack-this is what I tell myself

A simple smile can make someone's day

Nobody cares if I'm right and they're wrong

People don't want a solution to their problem, they want a listening ear

Time is wasted when it's not planned out

Most blessings are found when I am willing to step out of my comfort zone

I love people :) All types...I genuinely enjoy them

Loving my husband means overlooking his shortcomings

Making my husband happy comes before making others happy-including my children

Well, unfortunately, I have learned that deeply jealous people are dangerous and should be avoided

It has never benefited me to worry about something I have no control over

A good hug, a gentle touch to the arm, a squeeze to the hand-goes alot further than any word

God is always the same and is always good

A Good friend is truly a gift from the Lord

(having some major blogger quirk issues)

Day to Day...Fun

What ON EARTH??? Yes, I retrieved this real life mystery meat concoction from Ayden and Lily..."makin' butter!" Ayden revealed. Lily had apparently mixed butter with bologna(?) while I was *ahem* typing the ultra serious post below *what-can-you-do-shrug* to make this super (blllech) duper treat this morning. Bon Appetit!
I wish I had a picture from last week of the *entire* box of Kix that Ayden was able to dump in the .23 seconds that I left his side to put away a step-stool which more often than not is his trusty side kick in all his mischievous attempts and successes. Yes,he was able to grab the bottom of the newly opened box and as he pulled it, it toppled alllll over the floor. He was just delighted and did a little "smashy the Kix" dance as I scrambled for my new vac (which I hate *sob* but the other one gave up a couple of weeks after Ayden cleaned out the toilet with it). It was quite the mess. But I can laugh now!

110% On Gate 2 Street

" 110%" was David's answer to my question to whether he was sure of where he would spend eternity. He was sure..110% that his meditation and religious practices and studies of his "ancient" Hindu beliefs would land him in "heaven". He said it without hesitation. Scary. David appeared to be very interested in what I had to say and looked me straight in the eye as I shared what the Bible said...it was as if I could "feel" the Holy Spirit stirring him, causing him to question that 110%. His demeanor was soft and receptive and a great encouragement to me. When I finished talking with him (he needed to keep shop-I didn't realize), he studied the map we gave him to our church and sounded as if he would visit. It would take much more than the 5-10 minutes I had with him to point out the truths in the Bible needed to lay some groundwork for understanding and belief. God (lower case g) to him is completely different from who God the Almighty is in truth. I am sure there were language barriers as well. As I left him, I prayed for someone to water the seed that was sown and that he would truly make time to visit our church to learn more.

David believes he can meditate and work his way to heaven. My friend Alice ,a missionary to the Japanese, explained a bit more of his beliefs to me and again the magnitude of what the Lord does here on earth to reveal truth overwhelmed me. Nothing is more affirming of the Lord's work in people's lives than soul-winning. It is unexplainable and far beyond my understanding. Anyway, David has been deceived into thinking that his religion is ancient and dates before the Bible and therefore must be the truth. The lies of Satan reach in every direction don't they?

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

David was one of the many that Alice and I handed a tract to last Thursday... we saw mostly Japanese. Most Okinawans are either Shinto in belief or Buddhist . My missionary friend Alice was able to speak with many of them- which is such a blessing to witness! Alice amazes me :) I love when we go together in search of those who will listen. We met all types, the polite, the indifferent, the rude...one Japanese man called after Alice sarcastically in Japanese..."Oh, God will only help me AFTER I accept Him...AFTER". Yes, my Japanese friend, all things become new *after*...just as marriage is offered AFTER acceptance of a relationship, there is an acceptance and a giving of one's self to the would be groom-it is an agreement, a covenant, not some happenstance it is not a slavery- it is a choice.

The old man's chuckle followed us to the next group of lost souls...Japanese youth, still in uniform and giddy. One boy looked interested in what Alice was sharing, but the rest joked and laughed. I prayed for clarity and understanding as Alice spoke-she asked me to pray that she would "think in Japanese" to better explain the Gospel. She finished by asking them to read the tracts she had distributed, and we walked on down Gate 2 street as we had only a short time remaining. One of the boys Alice had just spoken with, probably encouraged by his peers, raced loudly passed us as we walked, he tagged a pole in front of us and then raced back to the cheers of his friends, Alice calmly looked at me and said, "He's showing off" which just tickled me for some reason. "Well, he is", she said, in the same matter of fact voice, *chuckle*. I can't wait until I can share more with you about Alice! Her testimony points to what an Amazing God we serve.

As we distributed tracts, Alice continued to handle the Japanese and I handled the Americans who were mostly GIs out to hit the bars and clubs on Gate 2 street. Jesse was the last person I had time to speak with before meeting back with my husband and heading back to church. Jesse was a young GI of not more than 25 years of age and when I began speaking with him, his breath was heavy with the smell of alcohol and a sarcastic grin played at his mouth. After some small talk and a turned down invitation to visit our church, he allowed me to share the Gospel with him. When I concluded, it was clear he was convinced I was just trying to push "religion" on him. He was "spiritual, not religious", he informed me...did he even know what that meant? Probably not-I have heard this many times.

The scripture I pointed out to Jesse in hopes of him allowing it to penetrate the darkness he was in, fell on dead ears and blind eyes, only the Lord really knows what was going through his mind as I looked into his blue eyes..glazed over due to the affects of at least alcohol -but who knows what else he was laced with to better deaden him to any truth offered. This night was fought over in the spiritual realm long before Alice and I came on the scene. He probably prided himself on having an "open mind" since he shared that the Bible was created by Kings to "control" the people- "wisdom" from the god of this world blinding his eyes to keep him on the path of destruction. Rather than argue the lies he had been fed, I just kept sharing the Truth-I would not be tempted down the dead end road to which arguing against lies leads. I would step over each lie and offer the Word in its place. The darts of discouragement burned as they hit my heart-he would not *hear*. I offered a few more "pearls" before I retreated in one last hope of the WORD being received which could cause the scales to fall from his eyes.

Dear lost soul, in the end, it is not your spirituality that saves you- or your religion...it is your trust and belief on the Lord Jesus Christ...only He can regenerate the heart dead in sin, but it is a concious choice to respond to the Holy Spirit. Finally, "That is your belief" J. dismissed me with, "I'm just along for the ride...then I'll see what the next life brings". I was silenced by this frightening remark delivered so casually after just sharing with him what the Bible says about his lost state...my heart sank as I gazed upon the seed that fell on the wayside (or appeared to) and was trodden down...the fowls of the air, or his preconceived false ideas plucked up the precious seed and left him standing unchanged-for now. The Lord did remind me though, that His Word will not return void which filled me with hope (in hindsight). I thanked Jesse for listening and prayed that the Lord would send another sower and prepare the ground for the seed or the water if Jesse read the tract and perhaps thought back on the Word that was shared.

In the end, the lost all say the same thing, I will go my OWN WAY, I will cling to MY OWN god of this world. If I choose to think on it, in a negative sense it really depresses me- to basically hear the same thing over and over-different words, same truth- "I will go my own way". They are lost and rejecting Christ- they will blindly follow a lie to destruction because they have turned away the Light. It makes me sick inside, to see so many who will not hear, but at the same time, I am urged to keep sharing in this knowledge: the Bible says the fields are white already to harvest. The days when the Lord allows us to reap...oh the JOY...but sow, we must, until He returns. This verse was key to my understanding our labor in the fields: John 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

It is the Lord allowing us the BLESSING to reap where others have labored! Along with our sowing and watering...yes, there will come reaping! When I think about that, I feel the obligation and better understand the commandment to share the Gospel. We enter into "fields", not our own and I think of those Believers who have DIED sowing and watering and here I am afraid to risk reaping?! How is it that my heart so quickly grows indifferent to the commandment to GO or even just to open my mouth when the Lord drops them in my lap, so to speak? Again, Eph 6:19...let it be my prayer for the rest of this life. We need to share the Gospel because there are many like David and Jesse who believe a lie... 110%.

Choose to be burdened for the lost. 2Cr 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Give-Away!!!

Pam from

Good News From A Far Country

is having a souvenir give-away! She is in Jerusalem and it is their 1 year anniversary so she has put together a neat little bundle of goodies! Stop on over BY SAT JUNE 7th!!! and get your name on the comment list...you must have either a U.S. address or an APO address so she can send it.

Busy Bees

At play
or getting ready for church...there is never a dull moment....and recording it here has just become a part of my life. I look forward to sharing a glimpse of our day to day with you. Through the good and the bad, my prayer is that our love for the Lord will shine through. I know you HAVE to see His grace ;) what with all our little adventures and such LOL-it is only by His Grace that I can laugh and cry and continue on!

....Or Not...

Okay, so Brian (my husband) has protested my blog closing. I assured him that I was going to open a new one upon moving...that I want to get that super talented Blog Designer to do me up somethin' super fresh and new... but he is sad that this one will be gone. He does not miss a post or comment on this thing...it is so funny that one of the first things he does when he comes home is gets on my blog and reads the post *blush* and then every single comment LOL!!! It is hilarious to hear him cracking up and asking about each of you and wondering who you are, how I "met" you. Too funny.

Also, it seems that from most of your comments that you think I got offended and went stomping off....not.at.all. I just wanted to address something that had been on my heart from the beginning of blogging and since I didn't know when or really if I'd be able to get another one going, I wanted to encourage you to reach out to the *obscure* blogger, or the one who is struggling, and encourage them when they share their heart-the broken part. Since I have had my bloggy feelins hurt...I know many others had and it really helps to be encouraged after you have shown your heart on something so public as a blog. Don't just be a sunny day friend-stick by when the rain comes too.

So, I guess for now, nothing has changed, Brian can't part with the blog...and I can't say he really twisted my arm either. I have a hard time quitting anything! You don't know how many mental notes I made to blog about...and then I was like "oh, yeah,...that's on hold for now".

Anyway...I hope you will have me back into my old bloggy community until my stuff gets packed out and we are on our way :) Purty Please?

JUST LAUGH Is Coming To A Close

edited to say this is very much a "just one of those days" posts..rambling and wanting to share my heart but not sure how...yeah, you know those days don't you?
A "I probably shouldn't, I'm just tired, and emotional but I'm gonna do it anyway" post.

PCS, or Permanent Change of Station is coming quickly. The time will soon arrive that we will be leaving beautiful Okinawa. Sometime in July, we will board a plane with all our memories and about 3 years of age and head back to the U.S. with a very slim chance of ever returning. It will be very difficult to say goodbye to the Church we have called home since Aug 29th of 05. It has been such a blessing. I am slowly surrendering my ministries and some are to a dear friend whose husband will replace mine as a deacon when we leave. My feelings are bittersweet. God has allowed us to run hard and strong in the midst of trials and difficulties...He has so strengthened us in the way and I look forward (with some nervousness) to what He has ahead of us.

Yes, this may be the end of "Just Laugh" seeing as how I started it to keep our friends and family updated on our lives across the ocean. I love the friends I have made on here and I do plan to keep in touch. I may start a new blog when we get settled in the states...I'm just not sure about that yet as I have shared an awful lot of info on here because we were outside of the US...we'll see what happens.

And, this, is difficult to share. It has been a challenge to discern what to share on blogger here...I don't think a blog truly paints an accurate picture(maybe I'm wrong?), but for me, I would start to write some things about our ministry here and many other things to round out what comes across my blogger image...and it just felt like it would come across as boasting. I don't think that anyone else is boasting when they share about what the Lord is accomplishing in their lives, their talents the blessings in their family...I guess I am aware of the painful fact that pride lurks around every corner in my life-even in that statement itself. Anyway, since I feel led to exclude many things that could have lent to stumbling on my part, it seems as though who I really am is not coming through. In my attempt to be *real*, in recording my thoughts and struggles...ideas, convictions and some lacking ones... I have had my feelings hurt, I am ashamed to admit, when I feel that I am rejected by other bloggers. We ladies have a sly way of showing our approval and our rejection of one another...let's be honest-I believe we even fool ourselves most times. We know when it's done to others and have a pretty good idea when it's done to us and honestly, we just have to love one another anyway :) I have gone back and read comments I made and had to recant...I have been less than gracious a few times I am sure. I praise the Lord for those who overlook my faults. It is truly a show of Christ like love when you *stick around* even when you don't see eye to eye on everything....when you see a besetting sin the Lord is working out, when you don't share the same convictions... I know we don't have time to get around to everyone's blog :) I'm not talking about that...I certainly don't get to visit everyone that I would like to...I go long periods of not being able to blog or visit, but I purpose to encourage each one of you that I can, I love you and care about you...I pray for you.

Thankfully, many of you know me personally and can see more of the true picture with all its faults and blessings as well. :) I have had to repent of accusing in my heart, as well....I know I am just a faulty human and I am never to be offended-as I am crucified with Christ, but in my flesh, I have been angered and upset when I see others judged and *ousted* by one another in the blogosphere and offended myself as well (not that it doesn't happen in real life). Praise the Lord it is only a fleeting thing and repented of immediately, but it is worth mentioning that ladies know when they are being rejected and it is discouraging. Let's be sensitive to one another. Okay, off my soapbox that rings of lingering self-pity and a touch of resentment, I'm afraid.

So, because I stumble in many ways, I will sum up our ministry here with this: it has been such a blessing a priviledge to learn and serve at Maranatha...I am so humbled...so blessed. What I do want to do is lift up the Lord-He not only sees the big picture, HE KNOWS our hearts. He has blessed and I do want to unashamedly thank the Lord for a godly husband who has so faithfully served His Lord and Savior amidst many a trial. He has taught and trained his children faithfully, been patient with me, had faith in me to be his helpmeet...held my hand in prayer...made me so proud to be his bride. As tempted as I am to share more, ...it still seems I trying to somehow be *approved*.

Please pray for us as we have much to do in preparation to leave. It is especially difficult right now because Brian is tied up with school and we still have lots of loose ends to tie up. Please pray for Maranatha Baptist Church as well-since this is PCS season...they are losing alot of faithful servants-pray for more laborers to carry on the ministry to the military and Japanese here on Okinawa. Love you my friends!

"Nevertheless"

He has somewhat against me in my lack of consistancy and my coolness towards Him....I have left my "first love" in my abandonment of the "vision" He has given me. Vision as in being faithful in the little things...*ahem*. It shows in my frustration, lack of organization...yeah, I've been here more times than I would like to admit. Defeated? No....learning, growing, moving on. And, I'm on my knees...again...and again. The following broke spoke to my heart today...I found it- rather, the Lord brought it to my attention, whilst I was off on a tangent researching some other "Biblical things" that interested me...but should have been attending to the "little" things. Yeah...the fact that my research was *ahem* Biblical, did not mean it was allowed to monopolize my time, and not just today, this has been going on for a while now...these "bunny trails" if you will.

(To the church of Ephesus, a famous church planted by the apostle Paul (Acts 19))

"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
Rev 2:2-2:4

Matthew Henry wrote..."Those that have lost their first love must remember whence they have fallen; they must compare their present with their former state, and consider how much better it was with them then than now, how much peace, strength, purity, and pleasure they have lost, by leaving their first love,—how much more comfortably they could lie down and sleep at night,—how much more cheerfully they could awake in the morning,—how much better they could bear afflictions, and how much more becomingly they could enjoy the favours of Providence,—how much easier the thoughts of death were to them, and how much stronger their desires and hopes of heaven." (I added the bold)

edited to say...I'm not in any way trying to be some spiritual giant in this "research"...it's just that chasing bunny trails is so much more fun than say putting away the 3 loads of crumpled up laundry in my linen closet...does that paint a more accurate picture?

Happy 7th Birthday Brianna

It seems like just yesterday that I was rocking you to sleep...smelling your sweet soft hair and stroking your silky cheek...the days go by so quickly and even as I write this I see that we've not much time before your grown. May I not waste a moment to listen to your little voice lifted in praise and laughter, to see the beautiful sparkle in your blue eyes, to hold you a little longer when you crawl into my lap....these sweet moments that I breath in, are priceless-I will cherish them always.

"I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always

as long as I'm living

my baby you'll be "

Happy 7th Birthday, Baby girl I love you forever...

The Church of Oprah Exposed

NEW AGE GURU OPRAH - WORLDS MOST DANGEROUS WOMAN

Some Important Info Before You Vote

Edited to say...I removed this post about Obama...I would just ask you to please do research!!!! Scary

Please Pray...

for Ashleigh just take a minute to stop over HERE at her mom's site so you can know how to pray for both of these dear friends. Thank you so very much.

Bloggylicious

I forgot to mention that I am taking these new vitamins thatI got from HERE. I can def. tell a difference in my energy levels all around in just the past 3 days I have started them.

In addition to regular multivitamins they contain barley grass, alfalfa grass....spirulina and LOTS more. $36 for a 3 month supply!

Signs In The Sky

So apparently this is what was seen in the sky about 10 min before the e/q hit. This site offers some interesting explanations and could serve as an early warnting system. http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/dec05/2367

Of course, God's Word comes to our minds...as both a comfort and as an urging to share the Gospel

Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

2Pet 3:10-14 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.


Matt 16:3 And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O [ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not [discern] the signs of the times?

Eclectic

Can I just say that I am soooo ready for this school year to be over? Brianna is on day 165 YAY!!!! I can't wait for our pool days, beach days and oh yeah...moving too, well, that will be ummm, an adventure. I'm just not even gonna go there on here because then I will have to think about it and with everything else that is going on, yeah, I just don't want to overload my brain. Having 4 babies has done some serious brain damage...or something.

The girls are recovering from their HFM just fine, I have a horrible headache and no energy, but other than that we are finally healthy. Yay!

Ayden thinks the tub is a potty...not fun, especially when he has Lily in there with him bbblech-SO not fun.

Brian is at an Advanced Acadamy for Gunnys which means he is up north for most of the week (except for the time I called him in tears and begged him to let me come get him so I could just spend some much needed time with him...yeah, I was frazzled) he comes home for Awanas on Wed and then the weekend.

And, I did a very unwise thing...I stayed til 1:30am talking with a friend of mine who stopped over after the kids were in bed. We had a great time talking and laughing, but I knew 1:30 am was pushing it...then the situation got worse...Ayden woke up at about 1:45am. Oh yeah...and he was *up* until after 3am. Fun times. This is also my team's week to cook the visitation meal and I *need* the energy and wits about me to juggle stuff. Okay, so have a great day :)

Training Them Up

...to be accusers of the brethren. We see it all the time don't we? Scary. From time to time I like to read the articles at No Greater Joy Ministries. Note that I don't agree 100% with everything that is taught, but there are many many good things I have learned in reading the Pearls' material. The articles are many times convicting but also encouraging- I can count on them to give me a fresh perspective. The question and answer session I read today addressed a situation that I see alot...in my own home as well, unfortunately.


"My 8-year-old daughter tells me everything. My husband heard her telling about some things that happened at church and he said it sounded like gossip. How can I encourage her to tell it without her engaging in gossip?"
"Many mothers establish emotionally intense bonds with their children by encouraging "telling all." The "all" the child learns to tell is how bad everyone else's children are and how he alone choose righteousness. Tiny details, such as the other child’s expression or attitude are discussed as well as "why do you think they...?" It is amazing how fast a small child can become subtle in knowing when to leave out or add a word, a phase, an expression, an emotion, or an opinion, thus changing the whole color of what really happened. Once this habit is established it is very hard for mother to see the deception that is so apparent to others. By your eagerness to hear the tale and respond you are encouraging the child into being an "accuser of the brethren."..... Never develop a "them and us" attitude. Don’t lead your daughter to feel superior to others. You should be sad when you hear of the failure of others. Discuss with your daughter ways to help the bad situations. Never allow your daughter to feel a closeness to you by tattling on others. If she emotionally profits from running others down, she will keep doing it even to the point of lying. " You can read the rest HERE.

Happy Mother's Day Mom and Mom in Love

When I think of my mom, I think of the following quote:

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." -- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Mom, I can't thank you enough for your prayers, for teaching me to pray and read my Bible and to never lose hope....I learned, by your example, that I can always trust in the Lord. I love you, and want to deeply thank you and Dad for loving the Lord and making Him the center of our home.

The Lord Blessed me also with a Mother-in-love who loves the Lord. I want to thank you so much for being such a great source of love and support. You have known me since I was just a 16 year old and have been there all along the way watching Brian and I grow and learn and fail and succeed...I know it's not easy being far away. Thank you so much for your love and prayers...and so much more. Happy Mother's Day!

WONDERFUL MOTHER
God made a wonderful mother,

A mother who never grows old;

He made her smile of the sunshine,

And He moulded her heart of pure gold;

In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,

In her cheeks fair roses you see;

God made a wonderful mother,

And He gave that dear mother to me.

--Pat O'Reilly

Sweet, Sassy...and Sick

Blech...nothing serious, but the Hand, foot and mouth "disease" (which is really just caused by a cold virus) has hit. It is spreading like wild fire in these parts. So, I have cranky little blistered children..only two, but the others I am sure will follow suit shortly. The pic reminded me of Ayden LOL...he's managed to escape pics and the sickies...so far ;)

pic from google images

On The Sweet And Sassy Side....

Just some pics of my girls from this past weekend....the boy is too quick for the camera ;)

He Breaks The Chains

...that I, in ignorance, had allowed myself to be bound.

"And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty— the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.
Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.
Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, "Go . . . and make disciples. . ." ( Matthew 28:19 ), not, "Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions."-Oswald Chambers (My Utmost For His Highest)

The Lord has really been doing some "light shining" in my heart and life...it has been painful. There have been some bitterness issues and ignorance issues that have opened the door to spiritual oppression....horrible feelings of anger that I had no idea where they came from..NOT FUN. I suddenly felt like I could relate in a way to Saul -one in need of a harpist to calm my soul. David's sweet music could only chase away the oppression for a time, Saul needed the only permanent remedy there is...a repentant heart and God as the Lord of his life. Well, in my suffering, I searched, He revealed, I repented, He is restoring and I am praising the Lord for His goodness and mercy.

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."Romans 1:21

Deut. 28:28,29 "The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee]."

Read what Matthew Henry said about the above verses - "That they should be infatuated in all their counsels, so as not to discern their own interest, nor bring any thing to pass for the public good: The Lord shall smite thee with madness and blindness, v. 28, 29. Note, God’s judgments can reach the minds of men to fill them with darkness and horror, as well as their bodies and estates; and those are the sorest of all judgments which make men a terror to themselves, and their own destroyers....Those that will not walk in God’s counsels are justly left to be ruined by their own; and those that are wilfully blind to their duty deserve to be made blind to their interest, and, seeing they loved darkness rather than light, let them grope at noon-day as in the dark."-okay, this rejuvenated a healthy fear of the Lord in my bones...we serve a JUST God, a righteous God...how often I choose not to ponder that... So often I hear Christians say.."Oh, well, the Lord knows my heart, He knows I'm not trying to offend Him"..I just heard that this past week from someone in defense of using a pet word that they in their heart KNOW is wrong. I am guilty as well with using "Oh, the Lord knows my heart" in a pat way to justify something that I don't want to go to the Bible and check out....*sigh*

Are you struggling with anger? Do you "FEEL" the spiritual "licks of fire" around you? Was there a "life storm" that you are holding onto bitterness over? Is there a false belief that you fell into because of the influence of others? Are you vengeful, unforgiving? Do you lack compassion for your fellow Christians? Do you suffer from the pride of life sin? Many of these sins are sneaky and we are hesitant to acknowledge them, but in all seriousness, they open a very real door to spiritual torment. Saul must have suffered exceedingly...Judas destroyed himself- the torment was so great. Dear suffering Saint, go to the Lord, to His Word-He wants to restore you. Much love to you!

They See...

...our true character.


"You want to mess up the minds of your children? Here's how - guaranteed! Rear them in a legalistic, tight context of external religion, where performance is more important than reality. Fake your faith. Sneak around and pretend your spirituality. Train your children to do the same. Embrace a long list of do's and don'ts publicly but hypocritically practice them privately... yet never own up to the fact that its hypocrisy. Act one way but live another. And you can count on it - emotional and spiritual damage will occur". -Charles Swindoll

Spidey

...getting a midnight snack? This is what I found when I went to pour the kids cereal one morning...lol...dare I even ask? I have found "bad" baby dolls in the fridge and stuffed toys in the freezer...you just never know what you will find in this house.

Is There Anything More Beautiful

to a searching and hurting heart than a timely Psalm?


Psalm 43:3-5





"O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God."- I added bold -photo from wunderground

Homeshcool Update (LONG!)

Feel free just to skim through or just post a question if you have one!

Just wanted to update you all on our homeschool this year...it is a challenge with 4 children who are VERY close in age. Believe it or not, though, there are some definite advantages to having children close when it comes to homeschooling...and when I find them out, I'll let you know- JUST KIDDING;) They are all within 4.5 years so their interests are pretty close for alot of things. They all love to sit and color, be read to, do puzzles and crafts...watch/ help me bake and do housework. They are all eager little helpers...even Ayden.

I use the Abeka DVD program, so if you have any questions please post them in the comments. Keep in mind, Brianna is only in 1st grade and so I am a new homeschooler :)

This a rough overview of our schedule

----The girls have chores before breakfast and Bible class. They all sit for Bible..this was a real challenge to train Ayden (who turned 2 in March) to sit for the class but totally worth it. He does not sit perfectly and I allow him to have a small toy or two for his fidgety little hands, but he "sings" along and picks up things from listening to the girls. I know he is a boy, (and a busy one at that) but teaching him to "sit" at an early age has been a blessing. I think it is easier too that he is the youngest and has 3 older sisters...the younger ones just follow suit if you have a good routine-at least in my experience thus far ;) That's not saying a whole lot is it! I know I post alot of our *disasters* but they really are, by God's Grace and Mercy, coming along well :) Lily who is 3 sits well...her attention wanders, but the routine is what is important. The first grade class has lots of songs with motions and the story is done using pictures...this is where having them all close in age is really good.

-----After Bible, Brianna continues with her class time while Ayden and Lily play in the play room. Anjolie sits in for phonics with Brianna. She has memorized phonics charts just by watching along with Brianna. I love the Leap Frog Letter Factory and put that on in the play room while Lily and Ayden play...Lily has learned some letter sounds this way and some recognition as well. Ayden calls any letter he sees "B" and it always says "cu" lol... ;)

-----Snack time! A break for everyone-outside if it is nice!

Brianna watches Arithmetic, Writing and Combinations on DVD. I many times must *pause* and repeat if they are using flash cards or a chart-or I pause it on a new chart and run through it with just Brianna so she doesn't get "lost". Anjolie works on some cursive, colors...she starts K-5 this fall, so I really want her schedule to be fairly relaxed until then...she begs for schoolwork each day, and I want her to be motivated at the start of the year.

----Lunch Time!! I try to prepare lunch as Brianna is finishing up class, but many times I am playing with, caring for the others... We take a short play break, and then Lily and Ayden go down for a nap ( I am adamant about them taking naps!) Anjolie (whom I am weaning off naps) has some special time with me and then she takes a nap as well, she still rarely misses a nap...

-----While everyone else is napping, Brianna does her worksheets...I tried having her do them along with her classes, but it worked best to just have her watch her classes back to back and then do paperwork back to back. Since it is quiet, we have some one on one time to go over and reinforce new concepts, but the videos are VERY thorough as long as the student is participating-they will learn it. I have had to start classes over because I caught a very distracted Brianna not participating :)

-----Brianna finishes classes and paper work around 2:30 if she starts at 9am (we aim to start at 8:30, but most times it ends up being between 9 and 10 which is my fault) and works at a fairly reasonable pace. :) I have her read to me intermittently throughout the day. Meal prep is a really good time for her to pull up the step stool and read to me. She reads the Abeka material, but currently she is also reading The Wind In The Willows with very little help from me. I continue to read to her so she can hear the speed and expression I expect...

Welcome!

Come on in...the babies are down for a nap

I picked up all the morning's toys just for your visit....:) We recently got these "cranberry" couches..the photo doesn't do them justice...we needed some new couches before we move. It won't be so much red in a normal sized house with our coffee table and other furniture which is in storage back in the US...

Oh, moving on...Brianna who has just finished watching her classes, is working away on her school work and Anjolie is working on a water color masterpiece. I LOVE days like this...

Then Anjolie takes a little break outside before taking a nap of her own :)

Ahhhh if only every day went this smooth...

well, if that were the case, I would have nothing to blog! :P

*sigh* fleeting...is the time with my little ones...

Blast From The Past

10 Years ago...sometime this week, I finished my enlistment in the Marine Corps. How ironic that I found this picture while cleaning out the closet a few days ago... amazing how in 10 years gravity has yanked the skin down on my face about an inch it seems! I was 23 in this pic.

I have very very mixed feelings when I look at this pic...thoughts of how I was successful by MC standards but so backslidden (ie, not walking with God as the saved Believer I was,) by His standards that I about lost my life in a car accident...it was nothing short of miraculous that I survived. Those of you that know me know this story :) this is more for those new readers and also those with whom I have recently reconnected with. This is a bit uncomfortable as well, for those of you who knew me from about 16 to 23 about 7 years...I was not living for the Lord and things just kept going from bad to worse. There is no depth to which even a Believer won't sink if they reject the Lord's leading and authority in their lives. I praise the Lord that He didn't let me slip too far...

I had just started terminal leave (leave that ends in honorable discharge) and my friend and I were traveling cross country from Ca to Alabama to get me to my parents home. I was to be married May 9th to the love of my life and highschool sweetheart, Brian. The second day into the trip, my friend had placed a tank of gas in the back and having just put the canvas cap on the top of the little Geo-Tracker, well, it trapped the fumes. We were asleep or unconscious within 20 minutes of heading down the road. The vehicle turned into the median at over 75mph rolling a total of 7 times down the highway-as was reported by someone from a vehicle behind us. My friend was ejected on the first hit and had to be airlifted out after arriving at the hospital. He had crushed some vertebra in his back and had a lengthy and painful surgery and recovery. At least one of my rings was crushed around my finger and glass had "grazed" my hands and face-but no stitches were needed which is unbelievable. Both my wrists and an ankle were broken, not crushed- the Drs said that the vehicle had rolled over on them!!! They have no explanation as to how I "walked away" from that type of accident. Even when we went to the place they towed the wreckage the guy unknowingly showed my dad and I the vehicle I had been in and said casually that [we] "they hadn't made it"! (Correct me if I'm wrong Dad!)

Each time I tell this story or reflect on it, I am so amazed and broken and humbled at the merciful God we have. The important part is this, even if the Lord had taken my life in the accident that day...at the moment that I "woke up", with my head under the steering wheel, leg out the window...frame of the car crushed so far down that they had to cut me out with the jaws of life -I was at perfect peace in knowing I was Heaven-bound. At that very moment I had not one smidgen not one inkling not a shadow of doubt that God, my Creator and His Glorious Heaven was 100% real. This was not just endorphins folks, but I will say, I felt almost no pain-which actually made me think I was indeed dying. I received no pain killer until I reached the hospital. I could not remember anything about who I was, or where I was going...for maybe an hour or two-can't be sure about that.

People who are dying and lost are afraid...they don't want to die because, they fear what they innately know to be...that there is a God and the truth is that a rejection of Christ's payment on the cross is a rejection of a debt free eternal life in Glory. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." I have heard the testimonies of Pastors at the bedside of those who are dying. The differences between the lost and the saved as far as assurance and peace (not to be mistaken with lack of physical suffering) is extreme. A dying Saint KNOWS where they are going. A born again Christian may suffer doubts...especially when they are not in the Word or due to other issues, and there were times in my life and have since the accident, times of false accusations by the evil one that caused me to doubt that I had truly by God's Grace believed and received Christ as my Lord and Saviour....but, in the up close and personal moment that I thought I was truly facing death, I KNEW-there was no doubt. I can whole heartedly say, the Lord is my Shepherd, and has been from the very day I surrendered my life to Him. There was no Pastor to pray with me or reassure me...I truly didn't need one...I had the Lord there with me in all His fullness! The only sadness I felt the entire time, was, when I did regain my memory and thought of the grief of my parents...and not wanting them to suffer loss...but there was no fear for myself, my soul.

Amazingly, this happened in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I found my salvation at the Cross and now a second chance to live for Him...at the Cross. I cried when I made the connection.

I don't know exactly what I experienced before I "woke up" in the wreck nor could I accurately put it into words...I kept telling my mom when I got home that there was something that I NEEDED to remember and wanted to tell, but alas it has been hidden from me. I will tell you in all honesty (and without the frills of a hazy memory)- that I experienced a touch, if you will, of Glory...and (as I have said before) however you want to take that is just fine, but I will also tell you with great confidence and tears and rejoicing that there is NOTHING to fear when you are truly a child of God. Not a worry, not a care when you are in His mighty hands and can't lift a finger for yourself. If He could hold such a wayward piece of filth as me in my wreck, I know He holds the dear suffering Saint, the sick child...the Pastor and his wife, the Missionary, the weary mom. Our sin doesn't in any way dilute His power to lift up His erring child if He so chooses. It doesn't seem fair does it...that all who trust in Him gain an inheritance, but we are all perfect IN CHRIST...Christ paid it all..none deserve it.

Romans 10:12 "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him". To the Believer, it is our reasonable service to give Him our utmost our all...He purchased us with His Blood....to the lost, there is no other way but by Him and through Him.

Titus 3:5 " Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; "

2 Cor 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. "

I know that many of you are thinking, well, good for her, she found "religion" , or that I am just a hypocrite...but even if just one of you looks to Christ, then this is for you. So, as for you dear friend, acquaintance, random reader, if you were the one lying in the wreckage unsure if you were to live or die....would you be certain of where you would spend eternity? Would you lie there in the perfect peace I described above or would you be faint with fear knowing that you let opportunity after opportunity pass you by...you might have the chance at that moment with a repentant heart to call on Him to save you,.... but what if you didn't? Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." You can know for sure.

I'm not trying to be "ultra" spiritual or to say that I don't struggle even today...I do, I am still just a sinner saved by Grace and not of myself. There is no denying what God has done in my life and I feel obligated to share it..especially with those whom I have so badly hurt my testimony.

Don't Touch My Mustache

Brian was telling me yesterday how to say "You're welcome" in Japanese. Well, I learned a little bit of movie trivia in the process. In Toy Story2, when Al (the guy who took Woody from the yard sale), hangs up the phone with the Japanese investor, he says "Don't touch my mustache." This refers to an English mnemonic for the Japanese phrase meaning "You're welcome": "Dou itashimashite." :) And, I just know you are SO glad I shared that with you.

Pizza In The Sky

Since coming to Okinawa, we kept hearing about this "Pizza In The Sky" which is difficult to find and with little to no roadside directions. Well, we finally got directions and caravaned with 3 other couples to enjoy this quaint little hideaway...the food was great, the view, even better and of course the fellowship with Christians contributed to an absolutely wonderful evening.

Getting Understanding

I should title this "A Rather LONG Confession of a Workaholic"...I say that with great shame.

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Wisdom, to me, was learning that there is such blessing in serving the Lord in the local church....understanding came when I failed. Failed you say? Yes, failed, in applying wisdom without understanding. "Get understanding" is proving to be a point of such gravity that it will take my lifetime to scratch the surface of it's importance when acquiring wisdom. On that note, let me shuffle away from complex matters that I don't understand and move on to the most recent much needed disillusionment I experienced. I can't do it all and the motive for wanting to is a prideful one...wow, that's a "duh" statement huh? Count on me to make the "yoke" burdensome vice easy and light-not that we are freed from our reasonable service-I'm not saying that. The key is dying to myself and choosing HIS yoke not my own...that is where weariness came in. The yoke I chose without understanding is one of sin...under the guise of service, it is actually a yoke seeking to please others (myself) and steal glory from God..OUCH.

Matt 11: 28-30 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew Henry wrote "The rest he promises is a release from the drudgery of sin, not from the service of God, but an obligation to the duty we owe to him. Note, Christ has a yoke for our necks, as well as a crown for our heads, and this yoke he expects we should take upon us and draw in. To call those who are weary and heavy laden, to take a yoke upon them, looks like adding affliction to the afflicted; but the pertinency of it lies in the word my: 'You are under a yoke which makes you weary: shake that off and try mine, which will make you easy.' "-(I added the bold)

I had the wisdom to know that I needed to be serving, but the understanding (of my real motives) came when I failed to serve with consideration to my children, and without proper planning and foresight. The understanding enlightened me to my sinful desire for praise from others which led to a continued burdening of myself...I just kept adding weight to my self-made yoke. This getting understanding has been a long time coming and with much chastisement for, not applying wisdom with understanding is a symptom of pride in my life.

My serving (being driven, not called) took on a life of its own ~apart from God, and left me so spent that I was not a blessing to my children, or my husband or my friends or even to the cause in which I was so fervently working to make a success. I need to remember that I am serving GOD....He is a God of order..when things get out of order and stressful and a burden, I need to look at who I am really serving-I need to take a look at whose yoke I'm bearing. You know it is bad when the people around you feel pained to look at you for the busyness you have put yourself under. ( I counted 4 "you"s in that last sentence...what a grammatical masterpiece this post is....lol)

My husband, I'm ashamed to say, had to quote this to me recently:

Proverbs 17:1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.

Wisdom without understanding in serving, leads to strife. Just because there is a Sunday school position open doesn't mean that you are the one to fill it along with the other 1 or 5 ministries you are straddling to include your first ministry to your family...wisdom says to serve, yes, but you may serve better and show understanding of that wisdom by approaching that new couple that just joined the church (with your Pastor's permission) who has grown children and may need some encouragement to serve. Wisdom tells me that I should homeschool...understanding means that I will plan accordingly so that my homeschooling is the blessing it should be and not the "burden" that gets placed on the back burner or frantically crammed in even when I am terribly ill because my schedule is so tight. There is nothing wrong with breathing room in your schedule...understanding, which came through failure, tells me I NEED breathing room in my schedule. Abnormal business is a symptom of pride...and that hurts to admit.

I may think my motives are correct in my desire to serve others, but when tension is building in the home and the joy in serving my family is lost in the shuffle of doing the next big thing....I need to take a look at what I am being driven to do and what I am being called to do. God has not blessed what I am driven to do...only what I have been called to do. That is, ironically what my husband's Sunday School lesson was on yesterday. He also told me in a gentle way, that if homeschooling our children does not lead to MORE joy in the home than what we have had this past year, that he is going to have to put them in a Christian school. The realization that the privilege of homeschooling may be taken from us due to my lack of discernment or understanding in serving outside the home, is a sobering one, but it is a definite motivator to take off my own yoke and put on the one with a perfect fit...just my size because it is created by God in His infinite Wisdom and UNDERSTANDING of all things. Wisdom.... Proverbs 31 is a good start...as is Titus 2....wisdom that humbly must be applied with understanding. In my case, most of my understanding comes with disillusioning failure. Your thoughts?

Mother Daughter Luncheon

So, it is that time of year again...and do you know that I was so busy planning and preparing last year that I did not take ONE pic? NOT ONE...I just want to cry...so calling all friends who attended the MD luncheon last year...did you take any pics? Do you know of anyone else who has pics? Please email them to me.

As for the rest of you...I will def. remember to take and post pics this year :) Our theme is
"Keeping Your Candle Lit" I am very excited because we don't have to prepare any of the food this year...we will be having it at the O'Club here on base. Please pray for this event! Ticket sales start tomorrow! This is to be my final "event" before leaving Maranatha *sniff* *sniff*...

7 Random Things About Me

I saw Ash's meme and even though I don't like to do meme's, this one doesn't look too involved....

1. I hate letting people down....I mean, I REALLY beat myself up about it, but what I have failed to truly realize is this, that if I insist on keeping too much on my plate, I am going to let people down...duh...it's only been beaten over my head, but you know, I am blond...and love to be busy...learning people, I'm learning. Speaking of people....

2. I LOVE people, all kinds, I really truly do. The Lord has helped me to actually enjoy people's quirks and learn to laugh at them! I still get my feelings hurt, yes, but I get over pretty much anything very quickly. That's all good, but here's the thing-I get overwhelmed easily and prove to be a *wince* flaky friend if I get overwhelmed. Not that I cancel or wouldn't bend over backwards for someone, but if I feel like someone is doing okay...I think of them often, pray for them, but don't keep in touch. I eventually come around, but this is a definite flaw that I could do without.

3. I miss my long hair.

4. I am scared to death of my aging skin. I look back at pictures from 8 years ago that I used to be tempted to rip up, and now I look at them and just long for the smooth skin and the youth I once had. Notice I only long for the *skin*...one day we will be made perfect...I'm just impatient. 10 years from now I will look at my pictures from today and be thankful for the growth in the Lord, but long-just a little-okay alot- for the younger flesh. You know what else is sad, when I was in my early 20s, I would look at 30somethings and feel sorry for them because their youth was fading...I LAUGH at that now! Growing older, when walking with the Lord is such a comfort and joy!! It was wonderful to be twenty something, but life gets sweeter and fuller as we go.

5. I can't get rid of the notion that I am going to see the entire world before I die-or Christ returns. It is absolutely ridiculous that my mind works this way. When I read about a country or see pictures etc, in my mind, I file it away on my mental sort of conscious "to-do, to-see" list.

6. I love to dance...not in an ugly fleshly way...though I used to struggle in my 20s with dancing to bad music for wrong reasons and in wrong places -so much so that hearing certain music physically makes me ill-not that the temptation ever completely goes away...but anyway, I'm not talking about that...and rambling...uhhh too much coffeeeeee. So, just hold on a sec... I really believe that sin has so corrupted every aspect of what the Lord had planned for us. Our desire to move joyfully and in harmony to music is not an evil one, in my opinion- I am not sure if I can even express what I mean. Everything has a rhythm to it...when I am even cleaning my house and putting dinner on the table...you know, when the day has been Spirit filled and full of harmony...it is as if I am dancing...I am swept up with the melody of the moment even without hearing it. I love seeing my girls twirl and dance their sweet ballet as well... even this is a joyful part of life that when done in the right way is an expression of a joy filled life. I hope I conveyed my thoughts on this properly...

7. I love black licorice...hahaha

Is This Funny...

...I thought it was, but maybe it was just a break in my sanity. Of course it is one of my shameless crazy kid stories...what else could it be???

While Brian was gone, I wasn't quite sure how to go about getting Ayden's hair cut...Anjolie gave me a clue, when she walked in to the bathroom and saw me cutting Aydens hair, she said "Mommy, do you know what you are doing?".."Nope!" I replied... in my best homeschool mom grammer.."I sure don't". I did think better of my original idea and decided to just stop before I had to buzz off all his hair and really hear it from Anjolie and everyone else for that matter. I got the vac. to clean up the hair I had already cut and saw no harm in putting the hose down for a second while I ran to check dinner on the stove. Multi-tasking doesn't always take into account the quick mind of a 2 year old boy. I was NOT gone more than about 10 seconds, as the bathroom is just adjacent to the kitchen. Time was of no importance I am sure, for, when I returned, I found little Ayden standing with my poor vac hose in hand and grinning as he watched the contents of the toilet disappear into my beatiful canister vac....!!!!! The past 7 years I had with that trusty hunk of galvanized steal suddenly flashed through my mind...the money we spent on that thing, the messes it had so faithfully cleaned, so dutiful, so reliable and most importantly ...would this little mishap be, by any chance, covered by the warranty???? I honestly, in that moment, didn't know whether to scream or laugh, so I did both. I am a wiser woman after seeing that..I had NO idea the mischief little boys could get into, nor did I know that a vac could be so tough!! When I pulled out the SOPPING wet mes of a bag, there was about 2.5 to 3 inches of water in the bottom...it had not gotten into the motor. I really truly think the Lord had to be laughing about that one...seriously. So, come on, isn't that funny? Or, am I losing my mind hahahaha... or both. :)

Hi, How Are You?

Well, it has been what seems ages...and ages since I got on here. I do think of it everyday and then wonder where to fit it in. Brian got back from Korea a few weeks ago and now is at the Advanced Acadamy during the week ..overnight for the most part. *sigh* I was hoping to get on here with a chipper upbeat post because I truly have so very very much to be thankful for...but I must be honest and say that the struggle to stay healthy has left me feeling "blue". That is one reason I hesitate to get on here... and now typing it out I feel like deleting every last word. Anyway, prayer would be good. I have alot going on right now...and I am really looking forward to a little break this summer :) So, how are you? Guess I should go find out!



I will leave you with some pics. :)This is where Brian "lived" while in K0re@...hey it's better than a tent! Brian and "the guys" thought they'd all come home and surprise their wives with a mustache...hehehe well, Anjolie and I decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em...virtually that is ;) Yeah, it lasted for about 10 min after he walked in and that thing HAD to go...sorry, it just did.

We decided to take a little trip to Ocean Expo...:) I don't have any pics yet, but Brianna and Anjolie have their hair cut in cute bobs :)





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Eeewwwwwwww!!

Yes I Did

...fall off the edge of the earth. Sorry about that my dear friends. It's a flaw in my personality that I can't seem to shake-when I am stressed in a good or bad way...I pare down to the necessities.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers and emails...they mean so much. I do want to clarify that my husband is deployed to Kore@ not Ir@q and that he will only be there a few more weeks. Unfortunately, until he gets back, I just don't have any time that I can reasonably spend on the computer :( Between homeschooling, the kids and my responsibilities at church...my time and energy is the better part of spent by the end of the day. It's a good thing :) It seems if I get distracted even for a moment, disaster strikes. For example, Lily and Ayden decided to dump out all, save a cup, of my bread flour....alllll over my living room and couch while I, worked out some Mother/Daughter luncheon details on the phone. *ahem* what fun that was to clean up. I know you understand....and I do miss you all terribly and wonder how you all are doing daily...I will have lots to catch up on when I get back :) Love you all! Please keep me in your prayers! You are in mine.~Heather