Preschool graduation

Below are a few pictures from our kids' graduations...from preschool programs, that is! The kids were enrolled in a local Christian preschool this year which met a few mornings a week from 9am-12noon. Dylan graduated from 4K and will be moving onto kindergarten in a few short months. Jordan graduated from her mother's-morning-out room. She'll be in the 2-year-old class in a few short months as well! I always thought that preschool graduations were just a way to celebrate mediocrity...but when you're the momma it's SO different!

Sweet hand prints commemorating the occasion.

Dylan lining up. Only 1 of 4 boys in his class!





The full line up, ages 2-5. The graduates are in their caps and gowns. The crowned kids will return next year.

Haven't quite figured out my camera yet. Sorry :( But here DJ is receiving his "diploma".

Jordan's class took the stage since they are "moving up" next year to the "big kid" class.

Receiving her fake "diploma". Her smart teacher gave me the real one after it was over.

Not wanting to leave the limelight!

The preschool sang "So long, fair well, to you and you and you!" as they left the stage.

Overlook the screaming child in this picture, please. She was tired beyond words at this point. This is her teacher, Miss Myra. Some teachers are good. Some are gifted. Miss Myra was both. I found out this morning that Miss Myra is retiring and won't be back next year. We feel SO blessed that Jordan was able to be in her last class. You'll always be special to us, Miss Myra!

A little video of the kids singing.

More cuteness!

Looking ahead and behind

I'm posting a few pics today of our life here. My beloved gave me a new camera (just because :) and I'm still getting used to using it. I'm also still getting used to actually having to take a card out of the camera, pop it into the computer, wait for it to load, edit the picture, and then upload it. Yes, I am an iPhone user and boy, do they spoil us! But I digress...

TOTALLY staged!

The REAL D :)

The future:Today I took our son to get his kindergarten vaccines, a rite of passage of sorts. I can hardly believe that I am sending the baby boy that I just gave birth to last week to KINDERGARTEN! I understand that most moms make a big deal out of this whole "starting school" deal, doing things such as taking bookoodles of pictures the morning of their first day and shedding tears all the way to their classroom and all the way back home. Not me. I'm starting 3 months early. Moms, let the pitiful whining begin!

The past:And as for the Army? They have had my beloved for 290 of their 365 days…not that anyone's counting {whistle, whistle…} I'm not usually one to complain, but…Okay, wait. Let me rephrase that. I'm not usually one to complain OUTSIDE OF MY HEAD. The Lord is mighty to save in many ways, including saving me from letting many of the negative thoughts I frequently chase around up there slip out of my mouth! I have tried to be positive and focus on the good during this past year. But in order to be transparent and real, I'd like to state for the record that doing this thing that so many military wives are called to do is HARD. There, I said it. Lest you be deceived by my humor and normally cheery disposition, I am letting it be known that the days of doing life alone are hard, and the nights alone are even harder. But that is not the bad news. No, that is what's good. How, you might ask? I challenge you to find one book or story from the Bible, one character from within its pages that tells of anything but God working wonders during, in spite of, and through all kinds of adversity, trials, and suffering. He is TRULY working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

It's all about perspective

Our family? We are missionaries, even if nontraditionally . We moved a couple of years ago to a place where the need for ministry was greatest and where God saw fit to place our family. We quickly settled in, getting to know the people and the culture surrounding us. About the time our ministry was in full-swing, God called us to another level of ministry. It was a place that was so dangerous that only my husband was permitted to go. It was inadvisable for family to go and we were forbidden to accompany him. So we stayed behind while he ventured out into dangerous territory...all for the sake of advancing the gospel amongst these people we had been called to share Christ's love with. The kids and I continued the work at our mission field while my husband made strides on his. The separation was long and hard but finally when the work he set out to do had been completed, my husband came home and we were once again reunited as a family. It was through the separation and constant threat of danger that God used us to advance His Kingdom on the mission field He'd called us to.

This is our story as a Chaplain family in the U.S. Army. But it could be any military family's story who has committed to our country's defense and accepted God's leading in their lives. Surprised? You shouldn't be. Its all about perspective. As my favorite Chaplain likes to preach, you don't have to be a preacher to minister! God has called each of us to a specific purpose and has gifted us with certain talents. He desires us to use them for His Kingdom - even if that means you're a helicopter mechanic or a medic...or a Mom! You can further the cause of Christ by being the best at what He's called you to AND spreading the message of Jesus along your way -- which for the military can be some pretty unique and far-off places! And as for us? We're still waiting for that beautiful reunion...which is coming up fast! :)

A Mother’s Hope

Today the world is buzzing with words of thanks and appreciation for Mothers and all they do for us. I have been enjoying my very own Mothers Day with my chillins, although my breakfast-in-bed chef is away defending our country. *Proud Sigh* My son did bring me home a dee-licious muffin which I enjoyed for breakfast this morning. And my sweet li'l girl has been extra sweet. While reading through the book of Judges today I came upon a section of verses that gripped my attention and burdened my heart as a mother.

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the LORD's anger. –Judges 2:10-12

My heart cries out, "How?" How could the children of the very people who had been brought out of Egypt by God Himself fail to pass that legacy on to their children? They neither knew God nor what he had done for them! God, may it not be said of me that my very children could grow up and neither know you nor even know of the things you have done for them!!

God sent his people into Canaan not to make ties but to break down alters and false idols. What did they do? They only partially obeyed – which is disobedience! Instead of proclaiming God as LORD, abolishing all other gods, and establishing their faith for all to see including generations to come, they became lackadaisical and complacent. They let it slide with the second generation. And that second generation became as it were camouflage in the land.

Father, help me lead my children not to blend in but to stand out as warriors and royalty. May they never make ties with this world but covenants with You. May they daily hear from my lips praises for our deliverer. And may they one day tell of their God to the next generation.