This, That and the Other

Life these past few months has been...GREAT :) And I say that after back spacing over "going", as in, "Life has been...going". Because, when I think about it, it really has been great. It was chock full of trial and hardship these past couple of months, but it was MOSTLY filled with the Lord helping us in the midst of that hardship and trial which resulted in building our faith. There was the tremendous blessing of being able to spend Christmas and New Years' with my family (my Parents, brother, sister and brother in law) in Ohio. We enjoyed family game nights, stories, dinner, absolute SILLINESS which included "planting" an OPEN can of sardines in my parents family room (in my Dad's absence) while playing Trivial Pursuit...and blame it on the fact that perhaps it was the fish oil capsules my mom and I had taken earlier that day. Blasting Air-horns on New Years Eve...which didn't even wake the kids LOL :D So, we really did have a most blessed holiday.

Before we left for my parents, I had begged Brian to take 30 days leave so that I could "recover" from his deployment. I'll tell ya somethin' else too, this whole transition from homeschool to school and still homeschool has been, well, alot harder than I thought it would be! So, anyway, my body took the opportunity during Brian's time off, to completely go haywire on me and so did a few things with our vehicles all.at.the.same.time, but you know, a few or dozen blood tests with few answers, and a few hundred dollars of auto care later...I can say, God is so good and saw us through. He knew, planned and equipped us with the time off and the means to get the vehicles fixed and me some much needed REST. Brian was home to help me get the girls dressed,to and from school, homework, housework Lily and Ayden "schooled" etc. it was still tough, but we did it :) Money is ummm something that we definitely have been tried on since Brian came back from Iraq early (Praise the LORD) and we still had 3/4 of the school year to pay for. Both of our parents have been a help to us in this, which has been such a blessing. We made it to our pay day this past 15th on fumes....LITERALLY...as in Brian had to bring a gas can to the church parking lot while also on empty so that I could get our car to the gas station the next day, which was pay day. It has been a FAITH tester and builder. I have been a coupon maniac these past few months in saving about $30 each $100 or so trip to the commissary which has been something very new for me in learning to be a good steward-so a trial def. equaled a blessing in this instance. This is the best part, GOD is SO good in that we will be getting the largest tax return we have ever gotten back...and will be able to pay off their school bill with it!!! Folks...that is HUGE as it is almost $700 per month that we agreed to pay for 12 months prior to Brian's deployment. God is so good!! So, I would love your prayers since I am still struggling with this exhausting battle with anemia, but I have been referred, finally, to a hematologist, so even that situation is under control. It's tough out there my friends, but we are learning and growing in and through it all, praise the Lord!

As far as Face Book, my blog and such...sorry :/ not sure what else to say that doesn't sound like just an excuse, lol. But this is my reality right now: CLINGING to the Lord and waiting on Him to provide my every need. Love you all!!!