Josiah's 9th Birthday!

Josiah turned nine this week-- on 9/9/09. He absolutely loves the old Star Wars movies, so he asked for a Star Wars cake. Here is a picture of him with the Millennium Falcon. As I was piecing it together to frost and decorate it, Isaac (who is four) looked at it and said, "It's the Mill... It's the Mill... It's Han Solo's ship!" I was really thrilled that it was immediately recognizable, even before it was decorated!

We had a great day complete with Josiah's favorite dinner-- grilled steak with baked potatoes (both white and sweet potatoes)! I can't believe he's nine!

Chocolate Kisses

I have been praying all summer about this little blog of mine now that Paul has returned from Iraq. I know it isn't very significant as blogs go, but the Lord has used it in my own life as a written expression of the ways He is at work in our family. As I pray, I keep coming back to the idea of "Chocolate Kisses"-- small bits of sweetness from the Lover of my soul. Chocolate kisses seem to fit with the theme of "Chocolate Syrup and Cookie Dough", and I desperately long to see and savor the sweetness of Christ-- on good days and bad.

I will still share pictures of our family, but I also believe the Lord would have me share simple stories and small sweetnesses that He brings into my life as He continues the good work that He began in me (Phil. 1:6). It will be a written record of the ways He is molding and teaching me, and I pray that it might encourage a few people along the way. We are still adjusting to our lives here, and my posts might be few for awhile, but I will be able to start writing more once we get settled back into our lives together.

Chocolate kisses are small, and my entries will be short, but I pray they will be filled with the overflowing goodness of Christ. By God's grace and for His glory, I will taste and see that the Lord is very, very good.

The 8,134 Mile Road Trip

On Friday, May 29, we started our four-week-long "road trip of a lifetime"! The children and I drove first to Fort Benning to pick up our dear Daddy who was just returning from Iraq. We picked him up on Sunday, May 31, and we all headed to Orlando for a ten-day vacation. We then drove from Orlando to Seattle with overnights in Illinois, South Dakota, and Montana.

While we were in the Seattle region, Paul reported to Fort Lewis, Washington, where he completed his paperwork to get out of the Army. (He is still in the Reserves.) We were in Seattle for a week, and then we drove to Denver to see my parents. After a few days in Denver, we headed for home and arrived exactly four weeks to the day from when we left.

All in all, we were in 18 different states and drove a total of 8, 134 miles!! The trip was an amazing experience, and we relished the opportunity to be together again. The Lord blessed us with safe travel and great family time. What a gift!

I hope you will enjoy this little photo album!

The first kisses from Daddy at Freedom Hall, Fort Benning, GA!

Daddy with all of his happy kids!

Daddy with a very happy (although teary-eyed) mommy!

Isaac wrapped up in his travel pillow on the way to Florida.

The boys with Buzz Lightyear at Magic Kingdom.

Our princess with a princess!

You can't see it in the background, but Micah's smile comes from his love of the ride "Splash Mountain", which he has now ridden 14 times!

Micah by one of the beautiful aquariums at Sea World. You can see a manta ray behind him in the tank.

Our kids up inside the viewing tube in one of the aquariums at Sea World!

Paul's parents came and spent several days with us in Florida. We had a great time with them, and they were glad to see Paul back safe and sound!

Josiah playing in the splash area at Sea World on a hot, hot day!

We spent two days at Disney's Animal Kingdom and three days at Disney's Magic Kingdom! Our entire family enjoyed it immensely!

Sarah with Grandpa in line at Animal Kingdom.

Isaac squeezin' the stuffin' out of Grandma!

Grandpa bought our whole family matching shirts before leaving Disney! It was fun to wear them together on our last day at the park!

As we drove across the country, we got to see several fun places and sights. Here is the first stop-- the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

At the bottom of the Arch...

...and at the top of the Arch!

We rode on the little tram that is part elevator, part ferris wheel to get to the top. Here is Micah looking out over St. Louis. You can see the Cardinals' stadium in the background of the picture!

On our way through South Dakota, we stopped at Wall Drug for lunch. They had all kinds of activities for kids, so here we are searching for precious stones and gems in the mining area. The kids got to go into some little mines with head lamps on helmets and search in the dark for treasure. Here they are with sluice boxes, separating the dirt from the stones.

You can't drive through the Black Hills without stopping at Mount Rushmore!

I took this picture of the Garmin when we were finally almost to Seattle. It shows only 25 miles to our destination, but it also shows more than 4,000 miles driven and 60 hours of driving time since the kids and I left home on May 29. As for the max speed of 94.2 mph, all I can say is that we had driven through Montana that day. Anyone who has driven through Montana knows that it is easy to go that fast without even realizing it! We realized it rather quickly, but the Garmin still caught it, and now it is preserved for all posterity!

Daddy and Josiah playing chess at the Children's Museum in Seattle.

Beautiful Mount Rainier as seen from Fort Lewis. In the week we were there, it was only clear enough to see it on the one day I took this picture.

We went to the lovely home of Paul's aunt and uncle, Greg and Cheryl White, for dinner while we were in Seattle. Here are pictures of the kids canoeing with Paul's cousin, Sara.

At the top of the Seattle Space Needle with the beautiful city in the background.

We took in a Seattle Mariners game at Safeco Field while we were there. It was absolutely frigid considering it was the middle of June! Paul is hoping to watch a game at every ball park in America before the boys leave home! Mark off Safeco Field!

A few pictures of our happy travelers. They did so well on such a long trip!

Isaac playing dress-up at Oma and Opa's house in Denver. The kids really enjoyed being out of the car for a few days!

The Denver Museum of Science and Nature.

Putt-putt golfing with Oma and Opa! What a fun time! We also got to visit a candy factory in Denver and eat at The Old Spaghetti Factory! I miss Denver and its blue sky! You can take the girl out of Colorado, but you can't take Colorado out of the girl!

On our final stretch, we were able to meet up with my brother and sister-in law, Erich and Jen, in Omaha. Here are the kids with their sweet cousin Jack!

Isaac and Jack saying good-bye!

After Omaha, we drove home and began settling into our life as a family again! By God's grace we had a wonderful trip, and by God's grace, we travel on from here!

The Finish Line

Here is the end of our paper chain.  We leave tomorrow to go pick Paul up in Georgia!

An empty skittles jar that once held more than 6,000 skittles.

We are exceedingly thankful to God for carrying us every step of the way on this journey.  A picture is worth 6,000 words of thanksgiving to a very Present Help.

It's Been Awhile...

It's been awhile since I posted anything on my blog-- a month to be exact.  I have been so swamped trying to finish school and get ready for Paul to come home that I haven't had time for much else.  Isaac had a birthday (cake pictures coming soon!), and we have had a full schedule with church and homeschool activities.  Despite the busyness, the month of May still seems in many ways like it is crawling along.

Paul will be home a week from Saturday!  What a blessing!  Then we have our vacation and begin a new life together.  We even have a week-long anniversary trip coming up this summer!  (Paul's sweet mom is coming to stay with the kids!)   Strangely enough, we both keep calling it our "honeymoon".  It almost feels like I'm getting married next week!

I wish I could describe all of the emotions that swirl in my head, heart, and stomach right now.  I am excited and nervous all at the same time, and sometimes it all seems so paradoxical.  How can I be so excited and yet so nervous all at the same time?  I've pondered it a lot, but I still can't wrap my mind around it!

The Lord has given me opportunities to share some of the things He's done for us this year, and I am so thrilled to look back and see how He's met us at every turn.  Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble."  I just noticed today for the first time that my Bible (ESV) has a little footnote saying that the word "present" can also be translated "well-proved".  He has proven Himself to be very big this year, and I love the idea of God being a "well-proved" help in trouble.  Thinking of God being "well-proved" reminds me of the following words from the hymn "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus":

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er.

Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus,

O, for grace to trust Him more.

May the Lord continue to pour out His grace through all of the adjustments and changes that lie ahead.  He is a very "well-proved" help in times of trouble (or in times of nervousness and excitement!) 

First Blooms

Just yesterday

Spring smiled at me

With cheery yellow face.

The winsome daffodils

    emerged,

Green arms stretched out

To mark their place.

As if God spoke,

"It's here. That sign of hope 

You've waited long to see.

A little longer now, dear one.

My child, please trust in Me."

With dark of winter

     almost past,

The waiting almost done,

That ray of hope--

A balm to me, 

My face turned toward the Son.

Just yesterday

Spring smiled at me

With cheery yellow face.

And warmth, sheer joy, delight smiled back

From a thankful heart

Upheld by Grace.

Our Skittles Jar

When Paul was getting ready to deploy, I started looking for ideas to help the kids mark the passing of time.  One idea I came across spoke of letting each child have a Hershey's Kiss every day as a "kiss from Daddy".  We liked that idea, but because Josiah is allergic to milk, we came up with something a little bit different.  I thought I would share it here!

Sometimes we like to call hugs and kisses "sugar", so when Paul left, we made the decision to let the kids have "sugar" from Daddy every night before they go to bed!  They each get four Skittles per day. (One Skittle is like one potato chip-- it's impossible to eat just one!)

When Paul left, I bought a giant jar and filled it with Skittles.  I needed four skittles each for four children for 380 days, so that came out to about 6,000 Skittles!!

I think it has meant the most to Isaac.  He watches the jar like a hawk!  When Paul was home at Christmas, Isaac asked him if he was home for good.  Paul said, "When the Skittles jar is empty, Daddy will be home for good."  Isaac responded so sweetly, "If I look in the jar and see only one Skittle, I will eat it so you come home!"

Here are some pictures of our Skittles jar!

This is the jar when we started.  It was almost entirely full!

I took these pictures yesterday!  When the jar is empty, Daddy will be home!!!

Not too much longer now!  Just about seven and a half weeks!

10 years ago...

...my prayer was answered.  On March 27, 1999, I sat on a snowy mountainside at dawn in Buena Vista, Colorado, as Paul knelt down and asked me to be his bride.  Absolutely no regrets.

Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid

(as we're inclined to do)

I do not need a handsome man

but let him be like You;

I do not need one big and strong

nor yet so very tall,

nor need he be some genius,

or wealthy, Lord, at all;

but let his head be high, dear God,

and let his eye be clear,

his shoulders straight, whate'er his state,

whate'er his earthly sphere;

and let his face have character,

a ruggedness of soul,

and let his whole life show, dear God,

a singleness of goal;

then when he comes

(as he will come)

with quiet eyes aglow,

I'll understand that he's the man

I prayed for long ago.

                       --Ruth Bell Graham

"Forward-Fearing"

I spent some time talking with two friends yesterday, one of whom was another Army wife whose husband is deploying to Iraq very soon.  We started talking about how easy it is to imagine things that could happen in the future.  Once we begin imagining these things, then our thoughts become filled with fear and worry-- what I will call "forward-fearing".  One friend, Angela, brought up something that I had never really pondered before, but it has been on my mind ever since.

When we forward-fear, we are imagining what could happen and our reaction to it, but we imagine it completely based on our own ability to handle a situation.  One of my favorite passages is Hebrews 4:15-16-- "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."(NASV)  One giant problem with forward-fearing is that it occurs in the mind absent the grace and help that God would be giving us if we were really going through that situation.  God tells us in those verses that in Him we will find grace to help in the time of need, not in the time we imagine a "what-if".  We are to take no thought for tomorrow, so forward-fearing is a sin and a lack of faith in GOD's ability to handle whatever situation comes into our lives.

This has been a great truth to digest, because it is easy to let my mind run away, especially right now with my husband gone.  However, I am commanded to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  Three truths stop my "forward-fearing".  First, nothing happens outside of God's control of even the tiniest details.  Second,  He will never leave me or forsake me.  And third, whatever comes, I can draw near with confidence to find mercy and grace in any situation or need.  I won't go through anything without the grace of God sustaining me.

What a great blessing to ponder today! 

Eleven weeks from today...

...we will drive to Fort Benning to meet up with the love of my earthly life!  Only 77 days left on this journey!!!!  God has been so faithful, and I've tasted His sweetness like never before!

The adventure won't end in 77 days, however!  A whole new life awaits us.  The Lord has shown us clearly that our time in the Army is drawing to a close, so when Paul returns to America, he will be getting out and looking for a job in the civilian world! 

The plan as it stands right now is for the kids and I to drive to Georgia to pick him up on May 30th or 31st.  We will immediately drive to Orlando for a family vacation, including time at Disney.  Some people in our church own a condo down there that we are renting for ten days!  I absolutely cannot wait!

Paul is technically stationed out of Fort Lewis in Seattle, so after our vacation, he has to get to Fort Lewis to out-process out of the Army.  When faced with another separation, we made a big decision.  We will all drive together from Orlando to Seattle so that we can stay together.  It should be the road trip of a lifetime!  Paul bought me a Garmin for all of my traveling (a very gracious thing for my navigationally-intelligent husband to do for his poor, easily-flustered wife),  and the other day he was joking that when we input the address for Seattle as we leave Orlando, the Garmin will just flash a message that says, "Are you people crazy?!"  My only sadness with this plan is that Paul isn't here to see the looks on people's faces when I mention that we are driving from Orlando to Seattle with four kids!  It is priceless! (The kids ARE good little travelers!) 

So that is the plan.  Once we finish up in Seattle, we will make the long drive home and start our new life together.  To say I am looking foward to it is the understatement of the century! Oh, to be a family again!

Here are some recent pictures of the kids:  

Josiah was trying to show his muscles!

Sarah decided to cook one day while listening to some tunes.  

She had my ipod shuffle hooked to the top of her tights under her dress!

Micah is the lego king in this family!

Isaac routinely sticks his sword cover in his pants

 to help with the quick draw!

God continues to meet our needs and give rest when I feel too weary to continue.  Paul's mom came for about 10 days, and it was a tremendous blessing to have her company and help.  She even painted murals of a castle and sailing ship on our basement playroom walls.  What a gift!