Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Homefront Update Continued...

So since the last update ... George ended up going back to the Dr. and having pink eye, a double ear infection, and was wheezing bad enough to go on the nebulizer. Oy! Thankfully they are both healthy now!

Also, Mike's leave date was pushed up 4 days and we lost our family weekend with him. So he left for NC Saturday Dec. 8 and got to NC on Monday. He started school today. He did tell me today that he was graciously blessed with a ticket home for Christmas. So he will be home on the 20th and we will get to enjoy him until the 1st!!! YAY!

I must say entering into this type of life-style is not easy. We have already enjoyed some rough days and I do, honestly, sometimes fear the road ahead of us. It's going to be a bumpy ride for the next year and a half. BUT I will continue to say that we'll get through it and I don't say any of that for sympathy - simply as truth! I am desperately looking to Christ for strength and just want to make sure that I rely on him.
So if you think of us pray for us. Pray for the kids and I at the homefront and pray for Mike as he is away from everyone and everything. We love you all!
Now some new pics!!!
George
EmmaThe Family

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Homefront Update

So it's been quite a while since we just gave an update on life. Facts: Emma is 19 months now & 26.5 pounds, George is 9 months & 22 pounds. Mike is really enjoying his new job at the base. He leaves December 12 for school but should be home for Christmas. I am now 14 weeks along and doing well - I have a check-up next week.

So, the last 2 weeks have been a drain on me physically and emotionally. The week before Thanksgiving both children got the stomach flu. Emma was throwing up about every 25 minutes from 4:30 until about 9 pm. George started the same at 8 and went until 11. The next day (Friday) Emma didn't throw up at all but was exhausted and had a fever but George kept throwing up. Saturday Emma still had a fever and George got one too. They both were consistently crabby and weren't eating. The diarrhea started on Friday and continued through the following weekend (the weekend after Thanksgiving) as well as the crabbiness. After Thanksgiving they both started getting colds - runny noses and coughs. On Monday (the 19th) I took George to the Dr. about and ear infection but he didn't have one. The this last Friday (the 24th) I ended up taking Emma to the Dr. with a temperature of 103 and she did have an ear infection. She cried the entire time the Dr. looked at her and was miserable the entire day. :(
Yesterday George had a temp too but only of 101 so we didn't take him to the Dr. and both their eyes have been draining goop.
So last week I definitely hit my breaking point. I was so exhausted and drained. Plus I wasn't communicating well with the Lord and wasn't getting the time with Him that I needed. I finally broke down this last Saturday and sobbed, telling Mike that I didn't want to be a mom anymore. I didn't know if I could do it anymore and I just didn't want to right now. I don't think I've ever felt that way before. I was so tired and so sick of taking care of everyone ... I wanted to be done - at least for a little while.

I'm still not where I want to be or even need to be emotionally to be the mom I want to be but it'll get there eventually. It's getting better - that's for sure. Today we had a hard day but a good day. Emma and I had some battles that she didn't want to lose but she doesn't get to win. The good part was that we didn't turn on the tv at all and we listened to worship music all day ... in the afternoon we twirled and lifted our arms and sang - it was so wonderful and adorable! Plus the kids loved it. I needed it!

So all in all things are getting better and I'm getting some rest and we're focusing more on what we should be focusing on - Christ!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Free - by a Marine

She called...

Blacks, Whites...wait
African Americans and Caucasians, Asians, excuse me.
Vietnamese, Philipenes, Koreans and Jamaicans or
Haitans, waitin' Hispanics y'all.

Please be paitent
Mexican, Puerto Ricans, Venezualean, Cuban, Dominican, Panamanian Democrats
I beg your pardon, you partied with the late, great Reagan?
Republican, Independent, Christian, Catholic,
Methodist, Baptist, 7th Day Adventist, 5 Percenters,
Hindu, Sunii Muslim, Brothers and Sisters who never seen the New York city skyline when the twin towers still existed.

But still She called.

From the bowels of Ground Zero she sent this 911 distress signal.
Because She was in desperate need of a hero,
and didn't have time to decipher what to call 'em,
so she called 'em all Her children.

The children of the stars and bars who needed to know nothing more than the fact that she called.
The fact that someone attempted to harm us
this daughter who covered us all with her loving arms.
And now these arms are sprawled across New York City streets.

A smoke filled lung, a silt covered faced,
and a solitary tear poured out of her cheek.
Her singed garments carpets Pennsylvania Avenue and the Pentagon was under her feet.
As she began to talk, she began to cough up small particles of debris
and said, "I am America, and I'm calling on the land of the free."

So they answered.

All personal differences set to the side
because right now there was no time to decide which state building the Confederate flag should fly over,
and which trimester the embryo is considered alive,
or on our monetary units, and which God we should confide.
You see, someone attempted to choke the voice
of the one who gave us the right for choice,
and now she was callin.
And somebody had to answer.
Who was going to answer?

So they did.
Stern faces and chisled chins.
Devoted women and disciplined men,
who rose from the ashes like a phoenix
and said "don't worry, we'll stand in your defense."
They tightened up their bootlaces
and said goodbye to loved ones, family and friends.
They tried to bombard them with the "hold on", "wait-a-minute's", and "what-if's".
And "Daddy, where you goin?".
And, "Mommy, why you leavin?".
And they merely kissed them on their foreheads and said "Don't worry, I have my reasons.
You see, to this country I pledged my allegience
to defend it against all enemies foreign and domestic.
So as long as I'm breathin, I'll run though hell-fire,
meet the enemy on the front lines,
look him directly in his face,
stare directly in his eyes and scream,
"I AM AMERICA! WE WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED!
WE WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED!
I REFUSE TO BE AFRAID!
I'LL FIGHT YOU ANY COUNTRY, ANY CONTINENT, ANY TERRAIN.
I'LL FIGHT TO MY LAST BREATH!"

And if by chance death is my fate,
pin my medals upon my chest,
and throw Old Glory on my grave.
But, don't y'all cry for me.
You see, my Father's prepared a place.
I'll be a part of his Holy army standing a watch at the Pearly Gates.
Because freedom was never free.
POW's, and fallen soldiers
all paid the ultimate sacrafice
along side veterans who put themselves in harms way.
Risking their lives and limbs just to hold up democracy's weight,
but still standing on them broken appendages anytime the National Anthem was played.
You see, these were the brave warriors that gave me the right
to say that I'm Black. Or white.

Or
African American or Caucasian,
I'm Asian, excuse me.
I'm Vietnamese, Philipene, Korean, or Jamaican.
I'm Haitan, Hispanic

Y'all, Please be paitent.

I'm Mexican, Puerto Rican, Venezualean, Cuban,
Dominican, Panamanian, Democrat
I beg your pardon, you see I partied with the late, great Reagan.
I'm Republican, Independent, Christian, Catholic,
Methodist, Baptist, 7th Day Adventist, 5 Percenters,
Hindu, Sunii Muslim,

Brothers and Sisters We're just Americans.
So with that I say
"Thank You" to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines,
for preserving my rights
to live a diverse life
and paying the ultimate price for me to be...

FREE!

All I can say is WOW.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007


This saddens, discourages, and disgusts me.
No mother should ever view the Marine Corps as failure ... especially when it's her own son.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Hey all ... it's been a long while since we've updated. Mike is now full-time Marine Corps. He is working full-time at the base here in MN. He's shadowing the guy who's position he'll be taking over next year as a diesel mechanic. He's also working on his green belt with the USMC. He'll be going to MOS school (job training) for diesel mechanics sometime between November and February. He will also be deploying next spring.

I am back working at Caribou temporarily. I just went back for two mornings a week to help bring in a little income and reap the benefits of working there! I don't know how long I'll be working there but it will most likely be through the end of the year.


And the latest and biggest news for us is that we are adding baby #3!!! Baby 3 is due May 29 and we are praying for a miracle in my body so that I do not need to be on bedrest in March/April. :) Emma will be 26 months and George will be 16 months when the new little one arrives. I'm not very far along so just be praying for us!!!

Saturday, September 15, 2007

This is a good reminder of the fact that we don't see what happens over there. We are not fighting for nothing ... though many perceive it that way.

"Good Morning:For those of you who don't have spouses in the military these topics are probably only seen and heard through newspaper and television if at all. Three hundred and seventy some of the men from 147th 2 BA out of Watertown fought for our freedom from December 2003 to February 2005. For those of you who were wondering where your tax dollars were going and what our soldiers were doing, here you go. Have a great day!"

Subject: Covering up the truth
Did you know? I didn't know! How could we?

Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq ?Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq?

Did you know that Iraq 's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5 -100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq 's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers every 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq ? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!
WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?
OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US!

Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes:It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage American citizens ---- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense website.......Pass it on!

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

An Interesting Road

For all those who want/need to know what has been going on in our family over the last few months! It’s an update but it’s long so be forewarned.

An Interesting Road . . .

That exactly describes the journey that God has taken me on over the last many months. Things have definitely been interesting and the Lord has taken me down a road that I thought would be much better paved and much clearer than it has.

The whole journey started in June when I got a text message from Mike saying, “I really want to go active duty.” I wasn’t surprised by this message; we had been discussing the option for almost a year before that but had never made a complete concrete decision. When he texted me that day, during his two week duty with the Marine Corps, I had a feeling that this time it was more than just a thought, that it was serious. Once he was home we talked through things and made some decisions. He decided to go active duty. This didn’t mean immediate deployment; it meant changing from working a full-time “civilian” job to working a full-time job at a military base. This meant that we would be moving out of Minnesota to an active duty base.

The first decision was with which branch he would go active duty with because his contract with the Marine Corps is over in November of this year and that would free him up to join another branch if he wanted. Well, we decided to go forward with the Air Force because we thought it was a little more “family friendly.” So Mike gathered the necessary paperwork and talked to a recruiter a few times and then turned it all in. There was a lot of back and forth in the decision to go with the Air Force and both Mike and I went back and forth with whether it was the right decision; we both have deep ties to the Marine Corps. The recruiter told Mike that he would call him back in 2-3 days. Well, he didn’t call and 4 days later when Mike called him, he told Mike that the office that processed the paperwork was closed for the week and at the earliest he could call Mike would be Monday of the following week.

Through that first week and the weekend, and the beginning of the next week the kids and I took many walks where I prayed over and over: “Lord, if you want Mike to go into the Air Force have them come back to Mike with the perfect or near perfect job. And Lord if you want him to stay with the Corps have the AF come back with nothing.” Well we waited and prayed for 4 days and the recruiter came back with NO jobs. I viewed this as a complete answer to my prayers! Mike on the other hand was a little discouraged and a little hesitant. We both had expected the AF to come back with at least something. He wanted to make the RIGHT decision for our family, understandably so. So I needed to wait, wait on Mike, and wait on the Lord. God was taking me through a big test in patience and trust. I needed to have patience with Mike and patience with the Lord – that He would communicate to Mike if it was the right decision. I needed to trust that if it was God’s plan for us to be a Marine Corps family He would move in Mike. I never once doubted that Mike was trusting God, I just needed to remember to trust Him myself!

Well, God did move in Mike and he came home one day, spun me around, and said, “We’re going to be a Marine Corps family!” Needless to say, I was ecstatic. God had given Mike the confidence and peace that He had given me earlier. All I had to do was trust the Lord, and trust that Mike was listening to the Lord, which he was – and is.

That started the process of completing the correct paperwork with the Marine Corps. Mike completed what he could at the base and was sent home with more paperwork to re-type and fill out which he started working on. In the middle of this (Tuesday 07.31.07) he was laid off from his current job at the Transmission Doctor. Most people would view this as a bad thing; we however viewed it as the clearest sign that God could have given us that Mike was making the right decision in going active duty!

So, he wasn’t able to fully complete all the paperwork without the help of his Staff Sergeant who was at WE Fest with the unit doing security. (That brings us up to this last weekend 08.04.07) So he decided he would bring it with him to his weekend duty and see if he could get one or two of the guys to answer his questions.

Saturday, 08.04.07, he went off to duty and over the course of the day talked with a guy about getting a temporary position at the base to cover his “waiting” time until his active duty papers went through. While talking with this guy he found out that a full time active duty mechanic position would be opening up soon – here in MN. This would mean that he would be Active Duty Reserve – active duty but working on a reserve base. This also means that we would not have to move out of Minnesota for 4 years. This would also mean that he would be deployed with his unit next spring, for sure.

That is where we are currently. We are waiting to hear back about the temporary position (ADSW) that would cover the time from now until he was able to start training for the mechanic position at the base. There’s more paperwork to be completed and filed. More waiting!

This has thrown me onto a very interesting and testing road. I was confident and peace-filled in the decision to go active duty military, and also with the decision to go active duty Marine Corps but this whole reversal of plans threw me for a loop. I seem to have this tendency where if Mike tells me that we’re going to do something – even if it’s not set in stone yet – I tend to plan it all out in my mind and run with it. This leads me to having certain expectations and certain timelines that aren’t real but I make them real in my mind. So, in my mind, we were going active duty with the Marine Corps meaning Mike would get this particular job working with Ospreys (new aircrafts) and would go through MOS training in another state – where we would move with him, and then he would get stationed at an active duty base in another state as well, most likely NC, AZ, or CA. In my mind we would be on an active duty base by the end of the year, we would be living on base in base housing, and I would be around other Marine Wives. I was excited to move, I was excited about living on base, and I was excited about the ministry that was possible with being around other Marine Wives.

Needless to say the events of Saturday changed all of those things that I had set in my mind. And I do not like when my plans get rearranged or changed! God keeps trying to teach me that I can’t make my own plans before His are fully laid out but I keep doing it. Most of the reasons that I am struggling are selfish reasons! I wanted to move (it was exciting to me), and I wanted to be in a house on base (more room and decorating potential), and I was excited about all the amenities on base (swimming pool, gym, etc), and mostly I was excited about being around other Marine/military wives – being able to be a support system to other women and to be around other women who were going through similar experiences, other women who understand the military life. I am slowly but surely realizing that these things are all still possibilities, it’s all just on a different timeline now. We will probably still move but not for 4 years, we’ll be able to work something out with the gym at the base here, and there are going to be other wives that I can connect with – especially when the unit deploys next spring. God is teaching me that His timing is different than mine, but usually it’s better. He is also teaching me that I can’t plan things out in my mind because He is the one in control. I am still fully confident in Mike and his decisions and I am trusting that God is leading him and leading our family.

We have not come to the end of this road yet and it’s going to be a long and bumpy one, but God is good and sovereign and I trust Him! I still have my own issues to work through and it’s all still a work in progress in my heart but this is where God’s taken me so far!

There are still unanswered questions I’m sure so please feel free to contact me if you want more details!

Monday, July 16, 2007

Remember Me

I know our posts have been very focused on the military lately ... but understand it is our life.
This video so clearly shows where our hearts are at in relation to the troops and it puts into perspective what the soldiers serving overseas need.
We are in a war ... whether you agreed with the initial decision or not, whether you support the war now or not, whether you support the continuing decisions being made about this war or not - does NOT change the fact that our soldiers are fighting. They need our support, our love, and our understanding. They need to come home to open arms and smiling faces - NO MATTER WHAT.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

USMC Family Day 2007


Emma
"Hey that looks like my papa!"

HumveeHumvee

The Firetruck

Emma & Papa
Mr. George


The Whole Family






































He's Giggling!

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Walkin Away

So she's been walking for almost a month now but for those of you who haven't had the chance to see her - here she is. (And she can walk a lot further than portrayed!)

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Remember

I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands. He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing but death and the carnage of war. He stands tough, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this …

I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.

I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains.

I left my family destitute to give you freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues, because it is bad for business.

I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.

It’s the airman not the reporter who gives you the freedom of press.

It’s the sailor not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech.

It’s the marine not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate.

It’s the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protestor to burn that flag!

“Lord hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.”

-Pastor John Hagee

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Operation WWII Marine Blessing

Today was a very special day.
About a week and a half ago we got a message from a woman named Sandy from a church in Eden Prairie. She had called with a story about a WWII Marine Raider Veteran named Edmund. Ed served in Guam, Gaudalcanal, and Iwo Jima with the First Raider Battalion. He took Psalm 91 with him into battle and was never harmed.
Sandy makes flag quilts and Ed saw one of her quilts and when he did became very emotional and asked Sandy how much she would charge to make a WWII quilt. Sandy kindly told him that she only made them for very close friends or family and left it there. That day and night the Lord put Ed on Sandy's heart and her and her husband decided to make Ed a quilt complete with Marine and Marine Raider emblems, WWII memorabilia and Psalm 91 quotes. Ed had no idea.
So ... the message was to ask Mike if he would be willing to be involved in presenting Ed with this very special gift today, July 1st. To say the least, we were honored.

So this morning the Pastor of Life Church honored all veterans and then in a very moving presentation Major Franklin, Sergant Johnson, and Corporal Kapala came in, in formation, and presented the quilt to Ed. Then in Marine Corps fashion they saluted him.
It was amazing.

I am so honored to be part of the Marines - even if only as a wife! Here's some pictures of the event.





Sunday, June 03, 2007

Memorial Day


It's the George ... and yes his bib says, "Future Grunt!"


Emma and Pa Pa playing Boccie Ball!

Monday, May 28, 2007

Please Remember

Remember
By Tess (12 yrs. old)

Remember the men and women who died
fighting for freedom on the American side.
Our nation's flag flying proud, flying high
gave our soldier's courage and told them God was standing by.
Wars are not a choice, but a necessity,
because we join to help others in need.
Although we may not like it, this is God's plan,
for He holds every battle in the palm of His hand.
Remember to keep your heart in the right place,
because this is a battle we all must face.
Pray for our soldiers in Iraq,
and ask that there would be no more attacks.
For God leads our army and our hearts too,
that's why I say today, soldiers thank you!
So, in January through December
please make sure that you remember
all the men and women who died,
while I have my freedom here.

This may offend some, but Memorial Day was created to remember those who died in battle - fighting for our country - for our freedom. It was not created for all who died period. This day is for remembering those who fought to give us this country and the freedom that we have and it should be honored as that - not made into a generic holiday where we remember everyone who ever died everywhere. I know that may sound harsh, but especially now in this day when our Military is not honored and not remembered in a good way, we SHOULD honor them on this day.
We NEED to.
So please honor our soldiers living and fallen today, and be thankful for what they gave up for you.
(It brings a close comparison to the sacrifice of our Lord doesn't it.)
I personally, am thankful for my husband and his service to this country ... he hasn't gone overseas, he hasn't faced a battle yet ... but he has served in the Marines for almost 6 years now and will continue to give himself to this country for the coming 15 years. I am so proud of his willingness to serve and his desire to protect this country and our family.


Monday, May 14, 2007

Purpose

LORD,
You have assigned me my portion and my cup;
You have made my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me.
Because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body will also rest secure,
because You will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will You let Your Holy One decay.
You have made known to me the path of life;
You fill me with joy in Your presence,
with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Psalm 16:3-11

Not where my heart is at all times but where I so desire to be.

Monday, May 07, 2007

"Life is full of ugly tea stains that splash against white washed walls. Reality often seems to be more obstacle than opportunity, more pain than pleasure, more chaos than calm, more hurt than happiness, more tension than tenderness. ... I must believe that as God's woman, God is using everything in my life to make me more like Himself.
Together, He and I can take the tea stains in my life and make something out of them. We can take the tensions and be tender, take the hurts and be content, take the obstacles and build opportunity. That is what God offers me from life.
And when God says that's what He can do for me, only my unbelief keeps me from experiencing it. If the Christian life is worth living, then God is worth believing. And if I believe God, there is no end to the possibilities."
*Ruth Senter*

"Self-sacrifice is against our human nature, yet it should be part of our 'new nature.' If each of us had an attitude of self-sacrifice, what a change would come about in the atmosphere of our homes. Self-sacrifice is total unselfishness.
Loving unselfishly does not mean making the least of ourselves but making the most of someone else."
*Jo Ann Lemon*

HQ

We have new headquarters. We are in Eagan now. We moved Sunday of last week - not yesterday. :) And we have settled in for the most part. It's really nice here. The actual apartment has new carpet, new cabinets, new linoleum in the kitchen/entry way, and new bathroom accessories. I think even the light fixtures are new! Also, the really neat thing about being here is the neighbors that we have already met - in less than a week! We met our next door neighbors - a couple with a 17 month old daughter and a couple down at the end of the hall that have a 9 month old daughter - new playmates for Emma! We also met the guy who lives above us - who actually went outside looking for our cat for us, how nice is that? And the people on the third floor as well - a man and his mother - who loves kids and is totally willing to babysit anytime.

It's been really sweet considering I was almost scared to meet any of our neighbors at our last place. It's also a lot quieter here. We just got through the weekend and there was no noise Friday. Saturday, during the day it was a little busy and
noisy but during the night it wasn't really at all! It's smaller in space but we've settled in nicely and I think it's going to be a really good place to live for this year.

On another note, we had celebration Sunday at church and it was great. The teens alone pledged $17,935 towards the "On the Move" campaign! It's amazing to see the faith of the younger generations. It really challenges me in what we're doing for the move and for the church in this campaign. The verses that struck me yesterday were from II Corinthians 9.

"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 9:6-7

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." 9:12

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Scoping Out New Territory

So, as many of you know, we have had news about the job with the church. Mike did not get it. He talked with one of the pastors on Monday and found out that he didn't get it. The reasons told for the other person getting it were related to flexibility and some experience.
This has probably been a harder struggle for me than for Mike - although he's had the disappointed and angry emotions - he's usually better about dealing with them! I on the other had am not always the best at dealing with my emotions.
However, I did for the most part, vent only to God and dealt with my emotions with Him instead of taking them out on anyone else. The honest emotions were anger and frustration and a lot of questioning. In my eyes this was perfect for us in every single way - there wasn't a negative about it. I thought that we were perfect for the position, and everyone I talked to thought that we were perfect for the position too! But I'm not God and neither is anyone else ... and apparently this wasn't the perfect position for us. God has something else in store for us.
The hardest part is going through something like this and feeling like the only thing we got out of it was a big fat character struggle! And also, knowing all the right answers and Truths of the Lord in my head but not feeling them on a real level or in a real way.

God has sure tested me through this. This was the first time - that I can really remember - where I was out-and-out angry with God. I was mad - and I told Him so! But it was also really good for me to experience that feeling and to communicate it with Him - just Him. It's a small reminder of what I'm supposed to be doing every single day with every single emotion that I encounter.

Well, on another note. We still do not know where we will be living and we are moving out on Sunday. We will either be in Prior Lake or in Eagan. If we can get our money back (long story) from Prior Lake then we will for sure be in Eagan. If we can't get our money back then we will probably be in Prior Lake. I'm torn between the two. I really like and want the Prior Lake apartment because we would be in a 3 bedroom with a really nice kitchen! And it's extremely affordable. The Eagan one is affordable too but it's only a two bedroom and it's smaller than the two bedroom we're in right now. :( But it's also closer to everything and everyone!
Oy!

I'm off ... to feed the baby! The wonderful baby George.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

 

 

 
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CONTINUE to Stand Fast ... an unenthusiastic ooohrah ...

We are unfortunately still waiting to hear about the job with the church. It's mainly my fault because I misunderstood what Mike told me about when they would be contacting him with the answer. I guess they told him that they would have the decision "the 3rd week of April." Which is, of course, anytime this week. I thought that Mike told me they would contacting him today, the 18th, at the latest. So, if you were one of the many that thought we would find out today - I apologize! I misunderstood and unfortunately mislead many of you.
Although I don't enjoy the, what feels like, endless wait I know that God is using it to grow me. It seems like patience with answered prayers is a continual area of growth for me. So needless to say, I feel like God is calling me to continue to stand fast and simply trust Him.

"However, whether I choose to believe it or not, if I am His child, the Truth is that 'His grace is sufficient for me.' (This is assuming, of course, that I haven't taken on myself responsibilities He never intended me to carry. If the burden is God-given, I can go on by His grace.) His grace is sufficient for every moment, every circumstance, every detail, every need, and every failure of my life.
. . .
What do you need God's grace for?"
-The Lies Women Believe-

This is my book study book and what I've been reading about this week. We have been talking about circumstances and the lies that we tend to believe about our circumstances. This chapter has come at a really good time for me. Part of me didn't want to read it because I knew that I needed to. With everything that's been going on with Mike's job situation and our house situation and the wait with the church job - I needed to read this chapter. It's been really easy for me to examine our circumstances and let them determine my mood, my attitude, and my responses. But God's been quietly showing me how I can't base the way that I think and act on our circumstances. I can feel the emotion of them but I can't act on those emotions, at least not all the time. This weekend God met me in my quiet times and gave me His unending peace. Peace with where we are going to live, even though we haven't signed a lease anywhere. Peace with Mike's job situation. And peace with the church job situation, even though we haven't gotten an answer yet. I don't feel this peace every moment or even every day ... but I know He has it waiting for me and all I have to do is take a hold of it and trust Him.

As far as the quote goes - it's what stood out to me yesterday as I was reading. That as long as I take up what God has given me, and not extra, He will continue to give me the grace to go on.

PS we've got some new pictures on the Slide - so take a look!


Sunday, April 08, 2007

Liberty

Then Jesus showed up
Said "Before we go"
"I thought that we might reminisce"
"See one night in your life"
"When you turned out the light"
"You asked for and prayed for my forgiveness"

You cried wolf

The tears they soaked your fur
The blood dripped from your fangs
You said, "What have I done?"
You loved that lamb
With every sinful bone
And there you wept alone
Your heart was so contrite

You said, "Jesus, please forgive me of my crimes
Sanctify this withered heart of mine
Stay with me until my life is through
And on that day please take me home with you"
Relient K*Deathbed*Five Score and Seven Years Ago

I am that wolf, you are that wolf, and it was I that killed that precious Savior of mine. My hands are stained with His blood and yet He washes them clean continually. Though I try, each day they are stained once more and no day here will they ever be pure. But thankfully, His stay in my heart is for forevermore and I am able to start and end each day anew. My soul praises His decision for death and even more, His purpose to rise on this day some thousand years past. For in His death we we find freedom and forgiveness, but in His life after that death we find meaning and purpose. For His rising changes everything. Thank You, my Lord, my Savior, my God.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Stand Fast

So... quick update.
Mike had his interview with Evergreen Lakeville tonight and he thought that it went really well. The one thing that threw me off is that they told him that the decision won't be made for up to two weeks. I thought they were making the decision this weekend!
They have a couple more interviews and then the pastors of Lakeville need to get together and pray about everything so that they are confident in their decision. So, I understand all of this, I just didn't expect it to take so long!

The one thing that I need prayer for is my own faith and trust. I am such a planner. I have my plans and when they change and get messed up I have a hard time readjusting. It's something that I'm constantly working on, but it's hard. So finding out that our home decision, ie: where we are going to live when our lease is up at the end of the month, is on hold shakes me up a little! I trust Mike and that he will always do whatever is in his power to take care of us and provide for us. I trust the Lord to do the same - in an even bigger way. Now I just need to put that trust into my actions! There is no need to worry or be anxious - the Lord knows what He's doing - and He's telling us to stand fast: to stay where we are and not move until He tells us!

"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Matthew 6:31-34
God knows what we need and He will take care of us. I just need to trust!

Ooohrah

*Ask God to show you His good plan for your life.*
"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

This is Lakeville's daily prayer for today and it's not only my prayer for the church but my personal prayer for our family. It is perfect for our family because it has been our prayer for the last, almost, two and a half years. Today part of that prayer was answered PRAISE GOD!! Mike accepted a new job today. He will be working at Transmission Doctor in Apple Valley starting on Thursday the 19th. This is an amazing answer to prayers because his new schedule is Monday through Friday 7-3:30! I am so very thankful for this!
We are still praying for the job with Evergreen Lakeville. Mike has his interview tonight and the decision is being made this weekend. We so strongly feel that this is where God wants us and are excited about the possibility of serving the church in this way, as an entire family. But ultimately we desire God's will for us, so if that means that we do not get this job - that's alright. We just ask for God's will to be what is done!


Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Figuring it Out

This is our first post on this blog and I'm still trying to figure it all out. I've posted before and know how to do all that ... just working on some of the details. :) This blog will be an occasional update on our life, our family, our kids, as well as personal thoughts from me - the wifey. We have a xanga site as well and you can still catch up with us there. :)