Grace meets Chuck

There is a very good and sad reason why there was no blog last night about Grace’s party.  I had just bought a new memory card for my digital camera and it never occured to me to format it before I started taking the birthday pictures.  When I went to upload the pictures last night, the computer said the card needed to be formatted.  So I was just looking at options on my camera and accidentally hit “yes” to format.  All my pictures and videos were deleted.  Cry.  Most of the pictures were pretty much the same as the ones above from other people’s camera, with one exception.  The video of Grace opening her locket from Daddy.  She was so sweet and so interested in the process of her brother helping her open it.  I am so sad that is gone.  She did wear the locket the rest of the night and there are other pictures of her wearing it, just not the same. 

Anyway, the good news is that Grace had a ball.  She, at times, seemed overwhelmed, but mostly big smiles!  She played games, ate a little pizza, ate cake, opened presents, met Chuck, and played more games. 

Thanks to our family that came:  Menaw, Granny, Papa, Nana, Uncle Mike, Pam, Uncle Alan, Uncle Davo, Aunt Carla, Jordan, Susan and Jonah!!!  We had a great time and loved seeing everyone!  Also thanks so much for the gifts!  We played lots of babies today!

On another note, Joe’s mom and I will be taking the children to Wisconsin for a week.  We leave on Wednesday and I don’t have a laptop, so the posts may be few and far between!  Our friends Steve and Danielle are getting married and Stephen is the ring bearer.  I take total credit for this match up, so I have to be there to see it really happen!  They first started talking at the Super Bowl party last year that we held at our house for our church’s young adult ministry.  So cute! 

Lord, Please bless our family for being so supportive and interested in our little girl’s birthday party.  There were only a handful of people who would have chosen to spend a Sunday evening at Chuck E. Cheese’s and I am so thankful they did.  Family and their love is truly a gift from You! 

 

 

Birthday Eve

The presents have been bought, although not wrapped.  The cake has been ordered (that was one thing I decided I would not do myself).  The preparations are all made.  Chuck E Cheese doesn’t know what’s gonna hit him.  Poor big, scary mouse.  Grace is ready to go!  The party is not until 5pm tomorrow, so I am hoping to keep this birthday thing on the down-low until after church and her nap, or all is lost!  We’ll see if Stephen can handle it!  He loves birthday parties!

I almost typed “I can’t believe it has been two years…” but I really can on one hand!  Partly it is a blur and partly adjusting to two kiddos in my care has been hard!  But I am so thankful for my sweet little girl.  I look forward to many years of doing girly things together, hopefully not being too uncool, then as she grows up becoming best friends.  God has blessed me greatly with 2 healthy children, one boy, one girl to boot. 

Lord, Thank You for Grace.  She is a gorgeous girl, with a beautiful smile and eyes that sparkle.  She challenges me and draws every motherly emotion out of me.  She is strong-willed, yet still a mommy’s girl.  Lord, please make us close in heart.  Make me strong and firm and clear when discipline is needed, yet always tender and loving.  Please help her to come to know you at the earliest age possible.  Help her to know that a life following You is the sweetest way to live.  I ask that You prepare her future husband for her.  Keep them both pure and seeking You while they wait for each other.  Give me patience.  Above all make me the mom that YOU want me to be to both of my children.  I love them so much. 

WOOHOO!!!

Stephen had another T-ball game tonight.  Possibly his last, depending on whether the one make up game is rescheduled for while we are in Wisconsin or not.  Oh yeah, and I bet your wondering what the title of this post is all about……..(they didn’t win) BUT Stephen scored a point!!!  Woohoo!  Same scenario as last time, batted around to home, but this time he made it!  He looked up at the ump (teenage girl) and asked “Did I do it?”  She said “yes”.  I don’t think he believed her, because he asked his cheering section on the front row, “Did I do it?!?”  We all said “Yes, you did it!”  He was sooo excited.  He jumped up and down and stood on homeplate until the ump ushered him off to the dugout.  He started running off to the wrong one, then veered back to the correct one!  So excited all the way!  Way to go Stevo!  This was the first team they played this year and they didn’t look quite so much like giants this time.  Our kids have really “improved”, not one sits down, little wrestling involved, and paying attention to what’s going on!  The score tonight was 11 to 5, very respectable!  Sorry no pictures, but if you want to get the idea, go back one post and see Stephen playing catcher, but the second one picture him crossing home with a big grin!

Earlier today I went to get the kids pictures taken at WalMart.  You would never guess by how cute they turned out, how frazzled the moments leading up to the photos were.  It seems like no matter how early or how far in advance I start getting ready for a timed deadline, the last minutes before walking out the house are so frustrating!  So much has to be left until the last minute, go pee, put on your shoes, fix her hair for the 100th time, “I’m thirsty/hungry”, grab your babies/Transformers, where’s my diaper bag, give Granny kisses   Is it just me, do I only think I am very organized in my brain, but really I am very not?

Lord, Thank You for Stephen’s enthusiasm for life!  He is such a happy little guy in most circumstances.  Help me to learn from him.  Help me to enjoy the days that Joe is away, the best I know how.  I look so forward to when Joe is here to share our daily lives with us.  I already see that You are using this time to show how I can depend on You for what I need.  I love you.  

Tender-hearted T-ball

Tonight was a great game to cheer for our little kiddos!  Unfortunately, there was no win, but they are improving so much!  Our pitcher caught a fly ball!  The third baseman got several people out by getting the ball and having the where-with-all to know to tag the base and get the forced out!  Progress!  The score was 9 to 4, not bad at all!  Only 2 more games to go, there is still a chance! 

Stephen had a new position tonight as you can see from the second picture.  He was the catcher!  Still not much ball action, but he seemed even more involved in the game, right up there in the action!  As for the tenderhearted part, he would tell each of the other team’s batters “Good luck!” as they would take there place in the box!  This is even after being completely distracted and confused by being ”chattered” at in a previous game by their catcher!  The other tenderhearted part came directly after the third picture.  Stephen made a hit to get him to first base.  He then was hit to second, then third.  On the last hit to run him home, he ran his little legs so hard with the heartbreaking tag out so close to home plate!  He didn’t know if he was out or not, so he just stood there.  When he could get the ump’s attention, he asked “Was I out?” - When he heard the horrible news, his little shoulders shrugged to his knees, head bent over (Joe, you know the pose!) and walked off the field, crying into Coach Sam’s shoulder.  I quickly headed over to the dugout to get a high-five and tell him how proud I was of how fast he ran.  Big smiles!  What a sweet kid!

Earlier today we had lunch at the mall with Joe’s mom and brother.  The first photo is of Grace having a great time on the mini-carousel!

Lord, Thank You for Stephen’s tender heart.  Please keep it that way.  I know there is more heartache to come, but don’t let his heart become hardened because of it.  Let him see that You are there as his Comforter.  Thank You  for both of my children.  You have blessed me so much!  Set Your guard around them, help me to be the mom You want me to be. 

 

 

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!

Joe,

We sure do miss you!  We wish you could be here for Father’s Day!  We would let you sleep in and bring you breakfast in bed!  The kids would hang out with you and play all “your” favorite games! 

We are so proud of you where you are, though!  Please don’t worry about us, we are doing fine.  We will be anxiously awaiting all the other holidays we can spend together when you return.  You are the best father in the world (sorry other dad’s out there, you are a close 2nd)!  We know you love us and will be home as soon as you can.  You not only take care of us in the best way you know how, but you do your part so that so many other daddies can be with their children on this special day worshipping together! 

So please know across the ocean, you have a family that will be waiting for you, missing you, praying for you, and loving you!

A peak into a conversation between a 5 yr old and a 6 yr old (Stephen and his cousin Lillian):

Lillian:  Where is your dad?                                                                               

Stephen:  He’s in Iraq.

Lillian:  Iraq?  Where’s Iraq?

Stephen:  (matter-of-factly)  It’s another state.

Lillian:  Does he like it there?

Stephen:  Yes.

Lillian:  Does he like it alot?

Stephen:  I don’t know.

Lillian:  You should ask him.

So funny, such a grown up conversation, and very serious.

Lord,  Please be with Joe tomorrow and help him to feel the love from his family here.  We miss him so much, especially on a day that is meant to show him how much he means to us.  Let it be so apparent to him as he goes throughout the day tomorrow.  Thank You for being our Heavenly Father!  No one takes care of us like You do.  We love you, Abba Father!

 

 

Isn’t She Lovely?

 Today was our last day at my brother’s house.  We are leaving early in the morning for the trip back to Arkansas.  We went to the Bass Pro Shop, which is where the second picture was taken with Stephen target shooting.  His expression looks like it is just “all in a day’s work”!  After the Bass Pro Shop, we went to Chik-Fil-A for lunch.  Finally we were back to their house for a relaxing rest of the day hanging out.  Not much to report, just enjoying the last few hours together. 

The first picture was of our baby girl enjoying being very girly!  She saw the shoes and dress-up clothes of Lillian’s and said “Dress up!”  So we indulged her and she loved it!

With NSTR, I will keep tonight short and hopefully be home early enough tomorrow to blog! 

Lord, Thank You for another safe day for my husband.  Please give him peaceful sleep tonight!  I pray for the Boy Scouts that he meets with soon.  Please allow him to connect with those boys and let them see You in him.  Also be with the Stephen and Grace tomorrow as we say another goodbye and head back “home”!  Let them be restful and peaceful as we drive. 

 

 

 

A Peek into My Husband’s Email to Me

Sorry, no pictures today.  What was I thinking?  Maybe it was because most of the afternoon was spent with my sister-in-law and I having some grown-up-mommy-time!  We left the kids with my mom and brother and went to have a pedicure (only my 2nd one ever) and shopping a little.  After that we met up with the rest of the crew to see Kung Fu Panda.  Grace didn’t particularly care for it (big and loud) but the rest of us liked it!

Now all the little heads are in their beds sleeping away after another full day.  Ha, a poem!  So here I sit catching up on my blog and email and I just wanted to share a little tidbit from an email Joe sent me this morning.  I try to have a blog and an email waiting on him when he gets to work and I usually have something from him when I get up.  Then he usually calls in my early afternoon as he is about to go to bed.  This is our new normal, for the time being.  Anyway, I wanted to give a peek at what a godly leader I have as a husband.  Here is an excerpt from this morning’s email:

“As I was running last night on the treadmill, I prayed that this summer
would be a season of miracles….I told God that
it’s not b/c we’re unhappy or complaining, but because we know He is a
big God capable of big miracles and our faith or lack of it keeps us
from asking Him for big things. Why believe that He created everything,
provided our Savior and salvation and then pray such pansy prayers if
we
pray at all? I need to remember who I am talking to….[he gives specific examples of the things he is praying for]….So stand
by. It’s a bold prayer, so pray it with me and let’s see what God will
do. I wonder if the people who walked around the walls of Jericho
thought “What if they don’t fall? What happens on the last trip around
and we don’t hear them crumble?” Is it why they shouted so loudly or
was
it their faith that energized their screams? It was a big miracle for
them and they had to stare at it for so long before it fell. Right now
we’re in the staring phase, waiting and dependent on God to deliver
what
we can’t. I hope that when this is over, we’ll be blown away by it all.”

Isn’t he an encouraging, sweet, bold man for Christ?  I am not bragging or prideful, because he is mine for no other reason than God’s grace and mercy towards me.  So that being said isn’t God awesome?  The very next email was one with Joe giving me incredible news that is an answer to one of those bold prayers.  More to follow I am sure!  By the way, Joe has no idea I put this in here, so I hope he isn’t mad! ha.  I don’t want tomorrow’s blog to be quoting Joe yelling at me in his next email.  So be warned Joe, nothing is sacred ;) 

Lord, I know You are with us all the time.  Thank You for continuing to be with Joe and keep him safe as he is acquainted with the floor tiles.  Thank You for his outlook and leadership.  Help me not to complain, ever!  Thank You for Your answer to prayer!  You are so good to me and my family giving us Your grace and mercy.  Help me to remember those who are less fortunate.  Draw us to You.  I love you. 

 

Military Appreciation Day

As a coincidence, my brother found out that the local zoo was having Military Appreciation Day today.  That stuff always gets to me.  First of all there was FREE admission to the zoo (Joe is sobbing already!) then they provided BBQ sandwiches (I was fighting back tears and not just b/c of my newfound love of the heavenly sauces) or hotdogs, drinks and cookies and ice cream for all the military families.  The same restaurant we went to yesterday for BBQ catered today.  God is so good.  Anyway, It is really cool to participate in something like that, especially meaningful with MY Soldier doing his ultimate part right now.  So we enjoyed ourselves with food and then a trip around the rather large zoo.  It wore is all out, it is pretty hot here in southern Alabama (not Iraq-hot, but hot). 

The rest of the day was spent just hanging out around the house.  I really enjoyed the evening when my brother and I got to hang out on his porch and watch it rain and thunder and just have a great conversation.  We don’t agree on everything (imagine that! we’re brother and sister!) but it is good to know his heart is for God and wants to serve Him.

Photo 1 is of Grace, Stephen and Lillian (our monkeys) in front of the monkeys.  Photo 2 is of tired Grace and my brother.  Photo 3 is of all of them cooling off in the misters.  Photo 4 is of Stephen helping Grace pose with me!

Lord, Thank You that I am assured of most of my family’s salvation.  Help me to be diligent to pray for those in my family that don’t know You.  I especially am thinking of Nancy and her family tonight.  Please bring her loved ones to know You and Your intimate love in a real way.  As a matter of fact, increase my knowledge of Your intimate love, too!  You are already showing yourself in ways that are so true.  I cry out that I miss my earthly husband to You and You comfort me and answer prayers in a mighty way.  Let my heart be for You and fixed on You to find new dependence on You, as I can’t always run to my husband (as godly of a man he is, he is not You).   

Bubbles tonight!

It seems the theme of this vacation is water fun!  Today we returned to the “Y” for Lillian’s swim class.  While she was in class, mom and I took Stephen and Grace to the indoor pool and played.  They had lots of fun.  Stephen “braved” the big slide once before we got in trouble for me catching him at the bottom since he couldn’t swim across that little pool.  It is only 4ft deep, but still that is over his head as the slides shoot them out the bottom.  The look on his face as he shot out was of sheer terror.  But as we made it to the other side of the small pool, he was ready to do it again.  Until the life guard said it wouldn’t be happenin’.  Anyway, I was proud of his adventurousness, even though it was stiffled.  That’ll teach him, ha!

After we swam, we loaded up to go to the mall.  We shopped for a couple of hours, with a few modest purchases, then the kids (and me) were ready to eat.  We went to eat one of my new favorite foods, BBQ!  About 6 months ago, I did not like the sauce whatsoever, now I think I could drink it!  Weird, but I have been craving it, and the next obvious answer to the next obvious question is “NO, I’m not!”

Later this evening Lisa broke out the super-mega bubble machine.  I have to get me one of those!  That was really cool!  The kids (and me) loved it!  Grace also helped Aunt Lisa water all her pretty plants and flowers in the yard.

Lord, Thank You for today.  Thank You that Lisa was off work today and we all got to be together as a family.  I really miss Joe in times like this.  Last time we were here, he was with me.  Please make the days go by fast, without me missing a single thing with my kids!  What an odd situation to pray for!  Restore our family quickly.  I miss my Spiritual Leader tremendously.

 

Big Day – Part 2

Doesn’t my mom look like she is on vacation?  Debbie are you reading this?!  She is taking advantage of this time off!

My brother is a big kid at heart as you can see in the 2nd photo.  That makes my life a lot easier to have some way cool entertainment for the kids, with little to no effort on my part!  He turned their yard into a mini waterpark for the kids.  They had sprinklers and a waterslide, a water balloon fight and a kiddie pool “just for Grace”, as you can see!  The slide was my favorite part.  Instead of putting out the money for a Slipand Slide, that would tear up pretty quickly, he came up with the idea to use a painter’s plastic drop cloth for the slide!  So they had 10 X 25 ft of pure slippery-wet fun!  Cool Uncle!

The rest of the day has been spent in the house chilling out!  Tomorrow Lisa is off work and to the mall we go!  Woohoo!

Lord, Thank You for a fun day today!  The children are having a blast and building memories as cousins!  Thank You that I get to talk to Joe so often, and keeping up with him via blog and emails is so wonderful!  Please continue to keep him safe, as is my daily prayer for him.  Thank You for being there with him in worship!  Thank You for family!