Happy Birthday, Chad

Today (the 29th here in Germany already) is my husband's birthday.
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The kids and I have yet to go and get his gift so we're doing that once the PX opens tomorrow, I know, I know BAD WIFE! I will do better next year, because I'll have to mail it to him and so I'll have to be thinking ahead. I did get him a card already! Tomorrow I'm having the kids make him homemade cards. They'll mean so much more to him than anything we could buy!

I'm not 100% what we're doing for dinner yet...we're either going out to eat at his choice or I'm making his favorite: lasagna, homemade bread, and a salad. I will be making him no matter what a Cherry Cheesecake for his Birthday cake! :) It's his favorite so I know he'll love it!

I'm so blessed by this man and thankful for him! He's a wonderful husband, who had his flaws, but over all does everything in his power to make me happy. Poor guy has to work really hard sometimes at that one! :) He's an amazing father! If God allowed us to pick the father of our children and all the qualities we wanted in that father BEFORE hand, I mean long before hand...I'd have chosen Chad! He's truly one of the very best, dedicated Dad's out there. Our children are truly blessed to have him as their Daddy! They all love and adore him. Jordyn would run to the door to greet him everyday he came home when she was alive and the boys always light up and normally run to him when he arrives home and Emma if I'm holding her often tries to jump out of my arms to him or just gets really excited and snorts her cute little snort that she does, with her eyes just shining at him!

Chad's a man of substance. He loves the Lord and does all he can to serve him the way he feels led to. He's an example to our children in the way he's serving GOD, how he's a husband, and how to be a father. He's also a HERO. I do NOT believe every man or woman in the military is a hero, I think that term if thrown out there too much, but Chad is a hero. There are things he's done in his career, in deployments, etc and I'm proud of him for his courage, his wisdom, and his discernment. I'm truly blessed!

AWANA

Well another year has officially ended. By the time it ends I'm always ready, I have to say though that this year has been the best so far. I love the kids, it's truly amazing to see them growing in the Lord! What an awesome experience it is to see them memorizing God's word and keeping ahold of it! I wish I'd had this as a child, yet I love that my own are getting this opportunity and it's helping shape who they are. They LOVE Jesus and there's nothing more important than that!

Today was just a really long day. Last night the downstairs neighbor boy spent the night, they were up bright and early...thankfully Chad was up with them! :) Then it was time to head to church, once home Chad grilled while I finished up Awana things, then we walked down to the skating rink where we had the end of the year Awards ceremony/party. It was a busy night. I had more things to finish up once I was there, then we handed out the awards to all the kids, then because items weren't here on time we also had the final store night...that was somewhat controlled craziness. It was REALLY hot in the skating rink so I was sweating bullets. I'd like to say I'm one of those girls who doesn't sweat, but I do! Not everything went completely smooth, but it wasn't bad, just not perfect. Maybe next year! LOL The kids were able to enjoy skating, pizza, cake, drinks, etc. Emma was held by everyone but me it felt like, but it was nice to know she was being loved and cared for and I was able to do what I needed to do. I think the kids had a great time, and then we helped clean up a bit, and it was time to head home.

I will implement some changes next year to a few things in a few area's, but otherwise all is good. I have 2 options for secretary next year and both would be awesome. I am looking forward to having Sunday evenings free for a while though. It's always a well needed/deserved break by the time it ends. I look forward to Sunday evening BBQ's, letting the kids play outside, and just being able to come home from church and maybe taking a nap if I want! Oh now that sounds awesome!!! LOL

Let me tell you that if you have children ages 3 and up look and see if there's an AWANA in your area. Go to www.awana.org and there's a link at the top of the page about finding a club in your area, find one and get plugged in! Your kids will love it and you will too! You don't HAVE to volunteer, but it's so worth while.

I'm off to bed.

God Bless

God's Blessings, Satan's lies

Do you trust God completely? Before you jump up and say you do, think about that long and hard. I know I want to, and I strive to, but I know there are things that I have yet to trust him with. The thing is, it's rediculous. If there's anyone we should be trusting with everything, it's GOD. Yet we're selfish, controlling, foolish people, and so prideful. I know I may sound like I'm preaching but I just feel such desire to share this and truly believe it's from God and it's just something my heart aches over for so many.

Children. In our society today they are seen as a burden. They are. People will roll their eyes when talking about them, talk about how they can't wait for them to grow up, etc, etc, etc. Yet if you're a Christian God tells us that children are a blessing. He is blessing us with children. They are NOT a burden. So why are they seen as such? Why is it that God gives us these GIFTS and once a person's had one or two, or at the most 3 they say "ok NO more, that's all I can handle". Really? I don't get it. God tell us that they are a blessing, they are from him, our gifts, but we are telling him "no, sorry, I don't want it". Why because you don't think God is big enough to give you the ability to handle them? Or what seems to be the very popular "we can't afford them" or "I want to be able to give them a comfortable life, send them to college, have money so we can be comfortable, etc. etc. etc"....it all comes down to though one thing....trusting GOD. Do you trust him or not? Do you believe that God would give you a child to harm you? Do they/you not think he wouldn't show you a way to provide readily for that child and the others you may have successfully.

I want to know at what point in our society did children turn from a blessing into a burden? Why are Christians not trusting him in this part of their life? Why are they listening to Satan's lies? God doesn't say that following him will be easy. It's not and so often I have fallen flat on my face and failed God, but he helps me right back up and tells me to try again. He whispers it gently in my heart. God wants us to delight in his ways, in his blessings. It's not the "in thing" to do, but how often is following God the "cool thing to do"? Rarely.

We only have one shot at this life and if we don't take it and do the right thing. It's not easy, it's allowing GOD to call the shots, no matter how scary they appear to be!

I'm working hard on trusting GOD with everything. I have to, without that trust there's just so much I'm missing out of my relationship with Christ.

Friends

I know 2 blogs in one night. I was reading Emily's blog a few minutes ago and started thinking about the various people in my life and how they've changed it for the good and the bad. There's Chad of course, who I met at 19 yrs old, I was young, sassy, and so rediculously cocky it's not even funny. That man who when I met him cared about me before I even gave him a chance, but when I did he became one of my best friends, and now is my best friend. Our children. Right or wrong, Jordyn's had the greatest effect on my life. To hold a child in your arms who's made you a mother and hold her as she takes her last breath, there is nothing more precious or sacred than that. She drew me closer to Jesus. She showed me courage that I'd never seen before and don't imagine I'll ever see again. Jacob, showed me I really could love again. Jackson showed me that true deep laughter was once again possible, and Emma has shown me that love through tears is what it's all about. Then there's the friends. Tami has seen me in the darkest of places, who's let me cry at 3 AM, who's called me at 3 AM to cry. She loves me for me. Oh what a gift she is. Then there's Emily. I love that girl so much. I met her when I was pg with Jackson and she was pg with her oldest, we had no idea at that point where God would lead our friendship.

God has led our family all over this world, and the one place I've loved living more than anything is here in Germany. He's blessed me so much with PWOC, the small community we live in, and the friends. Bobbie is the sister I've never had. Aimee and Becky are women that I love so much, who I ache to think will leave me all too soon. Then there's Petra. This is a woman who has blessed me with her honesty, compassion, and love. Who's shown my children such love. What's such a blessing to me of all these women that I've written about is their love of Jesus. He has surrounded me with these amazing women and I can't imagine how my life would be without these women.

If you don't have strong Christian friends surrounding you, you're missing out. We need people to hold us up when we're down, who will hold us to the fire when we're wrong, and who'll love us as Christ leads them to love us.

There's Only One Way

I hadn't written about this, although a few other bloggers that I read had, but after seeing this tonight I just can not, not share this. Oprah imo is possibly the most dangerous woman in America, if not the world. Far too many people allow her to influence their lives, and now she's leading people literally straight to hell if they don't know better, are weak, or what ever their mindstate is. There's only ONE WAY TO HEAVEN, despite what Oprah says, that's through the BELIEF, yes people, the BELIEF in Jesus Christ as our Savior. If you don't have the belief that Jesus is our Risen KING, that he is God, you don't have the promise of Heaven. He died for you, me, and every other person that walks this Earth. We have free will to accept his FREE gift or we can do as Oprah has done and say no and secure a spot in Hell. There is absolutely no other way around this, you either believe all of who Christ is or you believe nothing. It is an all or nothing situation. There are many circumstances where life is Black and White, this is one of them.

Reality's Hitting

In just a few short weeks my husband will be leaving our family for 15 months. I'm not ready. I'm sad, proud, anxious, annoyed, not ready though. As the days inch closer and closer I will probably get to the point where part of me feels like "just go already, so you can get home" yet another part will be dreading that final Goodbye, I love you.

If you've never had to watch your husband get on a bus and know without a doubt you'd not see him for a year or more, you simply can't understand so please don't say you do. Having him go off for a weekend trip, or a week or two business trip is just not the same. I'm sending my husband to a war torn country to fight in a war. He will not stay safely on base camp, his job will require him to go outside of the wire often, very often. I know that where ever he's at over there he's always going to be under God's protection and that no matter what, nothing can or will happen to him that is outside of God's will for his life. I still pray though that God's will is to bring Chad home safe and uninjured to us.

Today Chad came home for lunch and Emma wanted him, when he gave her back to me she did something she's NEVER done before, she cried for him. I mean real tears crying. She wanted her Daddy at that moment. My boys love their dad, they adore him, they genuinely like him and just want to spend time with him. I know they're going to miss him like crazy. The boys are old enough that they to a point they understand. They see a great deal of their friends who's dads are currently deployed right now, so it's nothing new honestly, but it does not make it easier.

So...pray for our family please. In the military life, especially the Army life deployments are nothing new. This is Chad's 3rd OIF deployment in 4 yrs. This is our longest deployment as well.

I don't want to do this alone, but I know I'm never truly alone. I always have my Lord and I know Chad will be praying for me as much as I'll be praying for him.

Changes

So in case you didn't know, my husband is leaving in a few short weeks, for 15 months. He's a soldier, in the true sense. He doesn't have a cushy job of sitting in an office day in a day out, he doesn't get to see every milestone his children make...he goes to wars and lands that are often very undesirable. This is his job and one he loves and is proud of. In turn I'm very proud of him and supportive. I believe in what he's doing and why.

With this deployment changes are going to be happening for our family. One I plan on eating changes. We're going more natural. Eating less meat, little processed (if any), and eating more fruits and veggies. I am planning on making all of our bread, so I'll be experimenting more with my beloved bread machine and finding new whole grain breads for us. Please pray for us as we go through this change. I hope to have us established in this habit/change so that when Chad comes home it'll be an easier process for him to make the change. My goal is to be 75-80% natural. With that I hope to see weight loss. I'm also going to be walking a lot more, it'll be daily rain or shine (rain we'll go to the gym track and walk). I have to make these changes for my health. I want to grow and be nice and old when I die if that's in God's will...I want to see my Great Grandbabies and if God see's to it, maybe even a Great Great one or two! :) I can't do that if I'm not healthy. I want my kids to grow up healthy and not fight their weight. I want to be a good example to them, so that it's easier for them to make good choices.

I hope that by the time I go back to the states to have 20-30 lbs off. I can do it, with these changes. It's totally possible and oh man the difference that would make for my immediate health! Plus it'll be nice to go back home weighing less, I'll still have a LONG ways to go, but it'll be a start!

I know though that the only way I can do this is if I give it up to our Lord. I can not do this alone, it's just simply not possible. So please be in prayer over this for me and our children, as I know the transition will not be completely easy for them. Thankfully though they love fruits and veggies. They're used to eating what's been prepared for the whole family or getting nothing. This momma is NOT a short order cook! Anyways, I think they'll do ok with the change and I will be preparing them. We may start with breakfast and then move to lunch, until all 3 meals have changed.

I'm off to bed now, an hour after I told someone I was going! LOL

God Bless

Being silent

So after my previous entry with the song lyrics I've went back and forth about writing more, and well you see what won out obviously! Quick update, Ireland was wonderful. I took 1,075 pictures. I'm in the process of editing them now. We loved Ireland and plan to go back for Chad's R&R as long as he's not home over the holiday's. I'll share some pictures once I've finished editing them.

So the last few days I've been praying over so much. God is always revealing things to me. Tonight as I talked to Emily on the phone I told her how God's teaching me to hold my tongue, well he's been convicting me on it for quite some time and I'm working VERY hard on obeying. I've done decent in quite a few area's. In written form, I've done the best, then it'd be towards others ranging from strangers to those I know but not particularly close with, to good friends, then coming in last is my closests of friends...Chad, Emily, Tami, and Bobbie to name a few! :) I struggle the most with holding my tongue be it remarks (snide or otherwise) to my closests of loved ones and friends. So often I find it's out of my mouth before I even realize it, that is NOT a good thing. I get it, really I do...now it's just learning to stop and shut up for a second before opening it. If I want my children to do it, I need to be the example and since they're always with me, they're not exactly learning what I keep preaching to them! So that's an issue I'm working on now, very hard.

I know this entry will seem all over the place, so please just bare with me. I am discovering a lot about myself lately. I have discovered that I have so much in my heart that I have shared with God, but not a single other soul. I know he's the only one I need to share them with. I do worry though. I know that sounds rediculous. It's just that there are things in my heart that I know other people are dealing with, being led to, that are similar to what I am and my worry is they'll think I'm doing things only because they've voiced it to me, yet all the things that are in the forefront are things that have been on my heart for a few years now. It's just amazing to me how God places me in positions of silence at times and at other times I run my mouth all over the place. Being still, waiting is not something I've done by nature. I often have fought him tooth and nail, yet when I come to realize the things I have been stilled about I'm often amazed at just how still I have been. Patience, waiting...they're just not my strong suits. Not talking things to the floor, not something I'm known for. But God is teaching me, and most amazingly I'm learning.

I believe I shared it here about my friend Heather. God's allowed me to use my gift of writing (talking). While I was off in Ireland a couple different friends updated her page and they both did not enjoy the task. One of them is taking care of Heather's children, the other arranges rides for Heather's parents daily. I could do the taking care of her children, homeschooling her son...but calling people and asking them to drive her parents would not be a strong suite for me. I'd be more tempted to just tell someone they're driving vs asking. But that's her gift. What I find as something simple for me, isn't as simple for another and it honestly was not something I'd thought would be any different for anyone else. I figured they'd have a slightly different tone in their writing, but no big differences. They did a great job, just in less words. I am blessed that God has allowed me a gift of writing, of public speaking, because they're two things I absolutely love to do. If my hearts not into it though, I think it's obvious. There are times here my heart has simply not been in it and it shows. Those are the times I should have remained silent.

So this week's challenge to myself is to improve on being quiet. On thinking before I speak, and when I do, being thoughtful and most of all mindful in what I say.
On a side note...with in the next month my husband will be off again for deployment. I am prayful in making the most of these next few weeks with him. Please be in prayer for our family as we get ready for our 3rd and longest OIF.

God Bless

God With Us

I thought I was going to come here and write about Ireland and more so other things that have been and still are on my heart, but as I was signing on to blogger this song came on. I'd never heard it before and it just grabbed my heart and screamed to me. God so often speaks to me through songs to him and he's done it again. I'm truly so thankful for his gift of music, it's been a part of me for as long as I can remember. Literally. I can remember standing on my aunts porch at 5 yrs old just belting out country songs like no one could hear me, her neighbors could and clapped and cheered (so sweet yet terrifying for a dreadfully shy little girl, yes I was VERY shy to those of you who know me in real life beyond this screen! VERY SHY!!) Anyways...throughout my life music's been the one sure way to speak to my heart and tonight this is the song of my heart.

Mercy Me: God With Us

Who are we that You would be mindful of us?
What do You see that's worth looking our way?
We are free in ways that we never should be.
Sweet release from the grip of these chains.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord, You know our hearts don't deserve Your glory;
Still You show a love we cannot afford.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,We lay it at Your feet.
Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,We lay it at Your feet.
Such a tiny offering

Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,
We lay this at Your feet.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.