Like Father Like Son

I love this picture of Josiah!



Big Kick

This is one of my favorite videos from Josiah's TKD testing.



Orange Belt

Why yes that is an orange belt!!!

He is how Josiah earned it...



Pencil

We had this great devotional on Tuesday at MOPS and I want to share this with you.

The Parable of the Pencil

A pencil maker told each pencil 5 important lessons before putting them in a box:

1. Everything you do will leave a mark.

2. You can always correct the mistakes that you made.

3. What is important is what's inside of you.

4. In life, you will undergo painful sharpenings, which will only make you better.

5. To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the Hand that holds you.

I think its so cool how God uses these small lessons to make HUGE impacts on our lives.  My prayer for today is that I can be the best pencil God  made me to be.

What's your prayer/requests so I can be praying for you?

One Week-warning may offend

In the last week our world has been ROCKED!

A deployment, a death, and lots of sickness...so we have had tears, sleepless nights, more tears, stress about having everything prepared and have I mentioned tears.

I have had some amazing woman come behind me and give me the lift that you sometimes need.  I have also had the tears of a bestfriend, to help me remember that I am not in this alone.

But then there are those who have said things such as, "Why are you so surprised?" "You knew this would happen." and "Why is he in the Air Force anyway?"

NONE OF THESE ARE HELPFUL SO PLEASE KEEP THEM TO YOURSELF!

Yes, we are very aware this happens!  We are surprised because you would be too if you found out your spouse was headed to a war zone!  Lastly he is in the Air Force serving for your freedom and so you don't have to!

One of my amazing friends pointed me to a blog that puts a lot of my fears, hopes and realities into words better than I can...Please check it out here.

He's Awesome!

This post is about my best friend, father of my children, Daddy of the Year and my Hero...

The last 11 years have been amazing!  I remember plain as day when we were driving on I-75 and you said you felt the call to the military maybe the reserves.  I responded with well you might as well join fulltime and be active duty at which point I thought you might drive off the road!  Right now I am kinda kicking myself for that.  Actually I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I know we made the right decision and God has blessed us and He will through this next endeavor!

I love you Waco!

Here are a few things I cherish...

I am so proud to be called your wife.  Thank you for all you do for our family.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

A Boy & His Dog

Sorry for the poor quality photo its from my blackberry but I didn't want to miss it.

Storm...

I would really like to be posting something more positive but my heart is hurting!  And I am trying my best to "Praise Him in the Storm."

In the last few days I have received bad news but also good news.  On Friday night I received an email for a precious friend telling me that her Grandmother went home to be with Jesus.  On Saturday morning I received a message that a friend's mother went home to be with Jesus.  Then Saturday night I received a call telling me that a friend/co-worker of Joe's was not doing well and he probably only had a couple of days.  Well today I got the call that he went home to be with Jesus.

So I feel very torn to have a hurting heart when I know they are not suffering anymore.  But I am finding it hard not to.  I think of all those left behind and some of the struggles they have to endure in the coming days and weeks.

Martha- I am so thankful for your Grandmother!  She raised your Dad to love my Jesus and your parents raised you to love Jesus.  And you have been a sister to me and I am thankful for you!

Josh-Your mother was an amazing Jesus loving woman!  She's touched more lives than you can even imagine.  She was a very special lady to my little sister.  I know she can be proud of you.

Laura and Landon-It has been a blessing to me to watch yours and Eric testimony of God's love even through Eric's battle with cancer.  I remember when you all shared the news and how devasting it seemed.  But through Eric's entire battle you never blamed God and that has spoken louder than you will ever imagine.

So for now I will just meditate on the words in the Casting Crown song...