The Waiting…

As the time grows near for our family to be whole and together again, the waiting grows more unbearable!  We don’t have specifics, of course, on when Joe will be home.  We know it is supposed to be soon!  There are many details to be ironed out on both sides to prepare for his return.  I feel like the bride waiting for her husband to come steal her away in the night with no warning!  I want to be prepared for his return, so I make myself ready!  I don’t want to be spending the day of his return in a tizzy trying to get last minute preparations finished.  We plan to have a Welcome Home Party for Joe soon after he arrives.  I definitely don’t want to be shopping and planning for that in the few short days we will have here with family after Joe returns.  That would take away the joy of having him in our presence.  In other words, I don’t want to be a “Martha” in the kitchen on the day of his party.  I want to be “Mary” sitting with him and listening to his stories and just looking at him!  But so much of the planning is on hold until we find out when he will actually be here to attend his party!  So in the final days of “waiting for him” I will keep checking items of my list in anticipation of being in his arms.  I will try to do what is important and let the rest go.  I will keep my lamp burning, I will remain watchful, I look out my window (email!) for signs of his return.  It will be so sweet to be back with my love, my leader, my best friend, and my hero.

Lord, Please keep Joe safe in his final days in Iraq and travel home.  Thank You for the anticipation, it confirms our love and dedication to one another.  Thank You for love and that You give us marriage as a picture of Your love.  Your Word is so relevant and so comforting.  You teach us how it is important to be like Mary.  You promise Your return.  I wait with joyful anticipation for You and for the one You gave to me to show Your love to me on earth.  Next to You, Joe knows me better than anyone, my faults and failures.  He, like You, loves me anyway.

You have got to be kidding me!

No pictures today, but what a day!  Would anyone like to warn me about how sneaky my husband is?  This is the good kind of sneaky!  Was Spa Day enough for me?  Yes!  How about add on a day at the photo studio?  That is great!  But wait!  There’s more!  I have one more surprise that completely caught me off guard!  Joe arranged, of course with help from his accomplices, for me to have a Post-Army Ten Miler massage!  And I have a new best friend!  That was the best massage I have ever received (out of all 3 or 4 of them!), but Dori is the best!  I will have to come visit her every time we come home to Fort Smith!

I am living amongst a bunch of fibbers, I tell you!  Although, all this has made me feel so special and thought of from my hubby!  Thanks, Baby!  Wow!

Lord, How undeserving I feel for all the spoiling my husband does to me.  Help me to make him feel just as special and loved.  Thank You, once again, for blessing me with such a wonderful man!  I can’t wait to get him home!

Big Girl Bed

This is post #3 in one day.  So much to catch up on!  Please read the other 2 posts to get caught up on the last few days!

Joe, this post will be news to you even.  This has materialized since nap time today!  Our little girl dictated how quickly she would graduate to a toddler bed.  Today, she once again, was refusing to nap.  Her cries became more and more panicky and loud.  I finally went in to check on her and ”there she was” straddling the high end rail of her crib.  The floor via a chair on one side and the crib so far down on the other.  Which way would she go, must have been her dilemma.  In the mean time, she was quite scared and vocal about it.  So to avoid a repeat scenario, we made a trip to WalMart this evening.  Tonight our little girl is sleeping soundly in her new Dora bed.  Hopefully she will remain in it all night and this transition, although sooner than I had hoped, will go smoothly!  I really had hoped we would be back in NC, settled back in our home there before we went this route.  But she continues to set her own pace and helps me to realize that our children are so different from one another.  Her sweet little body looked so cute in that bed.  Her eyes were big and looking around the room as I prayed and sang to her.  A new look on life!

Lord, My little baby has become a big girl so quickly.  I pray she will make this transition easily, for her sake (and for mine).  Comfort her and help me to comfort her to help with this new phase in her life!  I love her and am so thankful for her.  Help me to recognize how different my children are and equip me to relate to each of them in the unique way that fits their individuality.  Thank You for those sweet blessings!

Army Ten Miler

Lord willing, I will do that again next year!  What an awesome experience!!!  If you want another perspective, click on Gina’s blog to the right in my blogroll.  They are our buddies that took our extra spot in the race since Joe couldn’t be there.  They did awesome and it was so good to hang out with them and share in that with them!  Stephen was his usual outgoing self and worked hard (read- irritated the life out of) their oldest daughter to “get the shy out of that one”!  I think he was a little overwhelming to their girls, but he was so excited to see them, bless his heart!

So not to copy Gina, but my favorite parts were similar to hers.  When the national anthem was played, 20,000 some odd people stopped in their tracks to face the music in silence.  I really appreciated the respect and patriotism.  It was the first of many times I choked back the sobs!  Passing the soldiers that were running even after having lost limbs in action was an inspiring part, too.  As other runners would pass them they would clap and “Hooah!” to encourage them.  What an inspiration.  Still others were running in “honor of” or “remembrance of” someone they had a picture of on their shirt.  I had my own picture pinned to the back of my shirt.  Joe in uniform with Stephen and Grace in his lap and a suspiciously real looking pistol in Stephen’s hand(?)  Joe will have to confirm or deny that one.

The course was beautiful, or so I hear.  I thought I would be engrossed in the monuments and sights, but I was too focused on not tripping someone or being tripped and just generally focused on what was in front of me.  I was in the zone, I guess!  My mom asked me if we ran certain streets, and I couldn’t tell her much at all!  There were not too many hills, the end did have a nice one over a bridge back to the Pentagon.  I do remember seeing that! 

Thankfully we were able to do a lot of sightseeing the day before and the 2 days after the race.  I finished with a blister and a time I was well pleased with!  When I first signed up to run the race, I had in my mind to finish in 90 minutes.  Ten 9-minute miles.  After much training and a dose of reality, I amended my goal to 100 minutes.  Ten 10-minute miles.  I actually finished in 93 minutes, so I was thrilled!  That was a 9:22 min/mile pace.  Next year…Joe will need to run with me (like it or not!) and I will have to beat that time! 

Now I want to train for a half marathon…only 3.1 more miles on top of that 10.  I am hooked, obviously.

Lord, Thank You for the awesome experience.  Thank You for the countless times You have kept me from injury and lead me to prepare for this run.  Please help me to continue to honor You in this sport and give You the glory.  You know I could not have had the strength to do this without You.

First Things First

I know most of the people who read this blog read Joe’s, so I will not duplicate his words, b/c I can not articulate the day’s events better than he did.  The BLUF is that Stephen does not have cystic fibrosis.  The relief is huge, to say the least.  When Joe emailed me this morning with words of comfort while waiting on the results, he said that God already knows the answer and He will not change when we find out the results.  God has shown me more of His infinite grace today.  Again, I see how blessed I am to have a husband that can be here with me from thousands of miles away AND I will never know what He has spared us by Stephen not having CF.

Lord, Thank You that you are the same yesterday, today, forever.  You never change, Your compassion never fails.  Joe and I vowed to praise You no matter the outcome, and Your grace has allowed us to praise You from this side of the results.  Blessed be Your name.

Running, Running, Running

These past few weeks have been pretty consumed with running.  I have grown to love the sport.  What a difference a few months can make!  Once I got passed the feelings that happened when you first start running like I was going to puke and that my lungs were on fire and that my side was splitting and that I was sucking wind the whole time, I have really enjoyed the transition to being able to run 10 straight miles!  Tomorrow I leave for Washington DC, to run the Army 10 Miler!  The run is on Sunday.  I have worked up to it, but last week I ran 10 miles straight, so I know I am ready.  It was not easy!  I went thru a whole range of emotions, like… Can I finish?  Oh yes, I can finish!  Should I pee now or in a mile or so?  I am super excited to get to experience this with 26,000 some odd participants who want to show their support of the Army and just get together and run around in our Nation’s capital!  I am thankful that my mom, Joe’s mom and dad and brother and both my kids are going to be there waiting for me at the finish line!  That will be such great support and motivation!

Also, last weekend, my mom, my cousin, his friend and I ran in a 5k (3.1 miles) here in Fort Smith.  I surpassed the time goal I had set for the race, so I was proud of that.  What is even more cool, is that my cousin came in 2nd in his age division (Isn’t he cute!!!  And single-serious inquiries only )and MY MOM won her age division!!! (Also single!!!  but I won’t let her look!  Not time, gotta train)  Woohoo!  I was so proud of them!  They only rubbed their medals in my face a little! 

On another note, I have really missed Joe these past few weeks.  We are in the time that he was supposed to be home.  I wish he was going to be running with me (or ahead of me!) in the race this weekend.  I wish he was here to do life in general with.  I think I was prepared for the 4 months, but now that they are over, I am ready for him to be home.  Just over a month left to go.  We can do it.

Lord, please give us safe travel this weekend, an enjoyable time sightseeing and just hanging out together.  Help me to glorify you with the results of training and the strength I have attained.  This has been a journey with just You and me on each run!  Thank You for being there and giving me the ability to do this.  To You be the glory.

120 Days… and counting

Today was supposed to be THE day.  Finally the days are all marked off Stephen’s calender.  Though as most of you that read this and Joe’s blog know, we are still counting.  But in spite of the yuckiness of this day, my sweet husband has done it again!  I am getting a little worried about his ability to keep things “classified”!  What is he learning over there!?  Apparently today was Phase 2 of “Operation Overwhelm”.  This surprise had been planned a couple of months ago, along with Spa Day.  The timing was perfect.  So “there I was…”

…Waiting for my ride to “dinner in Conway, AR” with great friends (and sneaky, now I know…) Barry and Chris.  Joe’s accomplices (my mom and Gay F.) had to widen his Trust Tree this time to pull another major surprise off.  It couldn’t just come from the same people!  Many thanks to the people in on this and the secrets you kept…?… and the trouble you went to!  But I was on to something… I am not sure what it was, just something was a little suspicious.  All it was, is that I had in my mind, that this fancy dinner was just a front for Joe to actually be home on time to meet me for a romantic dinner.  I think I was mainly in denial that he wasn’t coming home.  But when the LIMO was waiting on me as I went out the front door, I was flabbergasted again.  As I drove to my secret destination, I pondered where I could be going and where Joe would be meeting me   Sad, I know.  But my spirits were lifted as I discovered the plan.  We pulled into a local (reputable!) photography studio.  A lady met me at the door, taking me back to the place where they do the photo shoots.  Hmmmm….  She tells me my husband wants me to feel special and take some “sexy” photos!  Oh boy!  An accomplice had already been by to bring a few changes of clothes for the shoot!  (Gay F. you should work for the FBI or CIA or some other agency with secrets!)  These outfits were pre-arranged or pre-ordered by my husband!  Skip this sentence if you don’t care to know what they included…my black dress I was wearing, a gym outfit, a man’s white dress shirt, and my bikini (that has not yet seen the sun!).  The lady was so professional and really sweet (and tasteful!).  The proofs will be ready Monday, with a copy to send to Joe and one for me.  What a fun and inventive and creative way to make me feel special.  I hope he enjoys the photos as much as I enjoyed making them!  There are some pictures that would be suitable to be posted on this blog, (none were X rated, mind you!  Maybe some PG-13!) so if I get a chance I will post some when I get them back.

Today was a perfect way to reassure me that if Joe could, he would be here with us.  He loves us and misses us and is so involved and cares to the sweetest, orchestrated detail.

Lord, Thank You for my husband.  Do You ever tire of hearing that?  It is an offer of praise to You, because I know he is a good and perfect gift for me, from You.  You orchestrate the details of our lives to the good of us and Your glory.  A godly, healthy marriage is a good way to glorify You, and I pray we do just that.

First Day of Homeschool

 

I think the blogs have been loaded lately with sentiments of their “babies” starting school.  Here I am, no exception.  Well, maybe a little of an exception.  We have prayerfully decided to homeschool.  It just makes sense for us for so many reasons.  Not to defend it, although I do feel like I need to explain to complete strangers why our son is getting a haircut on the first day of school, while everyone else is sitting at their desks.  People ask of my concerns of his “socialization”.  If anyone knows Stephen, they would quickly agree that he is quite social!  He makes me more social.  As we walk up to new places, I am somewhat timid, but he says “Hi!” and carries on like he knows everyone.  We went to see Wall-E and we were the first ones in the movie theater.  When the next people came in he says, “Hi!” and asks if they are here to see Wall-E, they say they are, of course.  Then he excitedly says, “ME TOO!”  Like it was some huge coincidence all worked out to his advantage to make a new friend!  Maybe it was.  I sheepishly said “Hi” so as not to be outdone or rude. ha.

Anyway, that was a huge digression!  I am here to say, the first day of kindergarten was not that bad for me!  I did not say “bye” to my baby, and watch him leave for a whole day in someone else’s care.  Not that I look down on those who do, we may be in that boat next year.  We are taking it one year at a time.  But for now, I am thankful.  I get to be the one who teaches him to read, add, subtract and most importantly about God’s Word and how He loves him. 

The pictures are of a possible new tradition.  We made “back to school” cookies last night.  The pictures above are of the decoration process and the finished product.  He said it was the best cookie he had ever tasted and that he is going to open a store and sell them with a sign that says “Best cookies in town, only costs 1 penny!”….We will get to cost analysis later!

Lord, I am so privileged to get to be my son’s caregiver and now, teacher.  I pray that I will do it justice.  I am humbled by how much there is to teach him.  I am thankful that I get to see this early process of learning.  Please keep my attitude patient and loving and not overwhelmed.  Help me to look to You everyday for what he needs to know.

 

Branson, MO

This weekend was another fun-filled, exhausting time for Stephen and Grace!  We are doing a pretty good job of filling up a lot of the time Joe is gone with fun diversions for these guys.  It also seems that those diversions are all accomplished with my great in-laws!  My Mom and Granny are the constant ones we live with and see, day-in, day-out, so there are no cool pictures of us cooking or eating dinner, or pulling our hair out at 4pm when the afternoon melt down occurs.  All I do is blog about the fun trips I take!  Just so you know, there is another side, that is not seen so much.  We gotta get those two in on the fun!!!

Back to the fun trip!  We spent the weekend in Branson.  The only full day we had, we spent at Silver Dollar City.  It was perfect for the kids.  Lots of rides for them.  Grace even went on the log ride and the large raft that goes around the river that gets you soaked.   She wanted to ride everything “My ride that”, but when she got on it, “All done” as it started.  Stephen is less brave from the get-go, unashamedly.  The log ride was like child abuse after the plunge.   Both children were crying and Robert and I were doing our best to get them back into the fun of it!

The pictures above are of Grace and Stephen with a bunny in the petting zoo section.  Secondly, Stephen on the big raft, looking so relaxed.  Third and fourth are of Grace with her Papa and Nana.

Lord, Thank you for diversions!  We are on the down hill slope of this deployment.  I pray that You will continue to sustain us and fill us with Your peace.  Thank You for joy.  Thank You for family.  Thank You for my hubby.  The kids are “diverted” on times like these, but I miss sharing them with him.

 

To Nana’s and Papa’s House We Go!

This past weekend was spent at Joe’s parent’s house.  We had a great time.  The kids were the center of the universe and they loved it.  The pictures above are of Grace after lunch, Stephen and Grace waiting to go to dinner, Grace in the inevitable bubble bath. 

It was a weekend to mostly stay in, besides going to church on Sunday, and we played and played.  Uno, babies, cooking, lego’s, videos, puzzles, and most regal of all, the TEA PARTY.  See the pictures below of our most refined time. 

We snacked on cookies, crackers, and tea (apple juice).  It was a most formal occasion with proper dress required.  Stephen wore a splendid American tie and Grace looked most elegant in her (tablecloth) of fine gold.  She was, of course, accessorized with the finest of jewelry.  Nana, did it up, ya’ll!  I regret to inform their father, that Stephen quite enjoyed himself.  Although, this could have been due to the cookies alone, and not the dignified manner in which we partook!  Anyway, very cute and fun time….

Lord, Thank You for Grandparents!  I pray for many memories to be built over this time here while Joe is away.  A beautiful picture of Your love for us, is the joy seen in a Grandparent’s face for their grandchildren!