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.

COURAGEOUS the movie

I would be remiss if I didn't share this with all of you. A powerful film from the producers of "Fireproof", Sherwood Pictures. Premiers September 30th. I was blessed to see a screening of it, and you will NOT want to miss it.

Jesus – from Old Testament to New

I have mentioned before on this blog how I am amazed when God reveals something new and fresh to me in the stories in His Word no matter how many times I have read them before. I can count on Him every Christmas, Easter, etc. to bring to my mouth a fresh and fascinating morsel for me to savor. Thank you, Father, that Your Word never becomes stale or stagnant. It is the living, breathing, Word of God!

This Easter I have been listening to a sermon series from our pastor Bro. Brent Summerhill in Cabot, AR. As usual, all of it has been wonderful and has ministered to my heart. One of the things I so enjoy about Bro. Brent is his ability to tell a story and the way he will bring in history and background into a verse/passage to make it more real and relevant. In his sermon "Betrayed", Bro. B brought to light for me SO many wonderful truths that I just have to share a couple of them.

Picture the night of Jesus' betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane at the hands of Judas. Prior to their arrival, Jesus and His disciples (as recorded by John) crossed over the Brook Kidron to get to the garden. It is the dark of night and these men are crossing this body of water in the valley east of Jerusalem. There is striking symbolism here that I have never taken note of before. It is this same Brook Kidron that 2 Samuel tells us David waded across as he fled from his traitor-son Absalom and the capital city. Jesus, too was dealing with a traitor; but God's son "went forward" (Jn 18:4) to face His traitor. Some theologians believe it was while journeying through that same valley and across that same brook that David wrote the beloved 23rd Psalm. Jesus, too, was walking through the valley of the shadow of death. For that night He would give himself over to be crucified.

After spending much time praying and talking with His disciples, Jesus goes forward to face the accusers who have come to the garden to besiege Him. He starts the conversation by asking who they're looking for (as if He didn't know!). Their reply was "Jesus of Nazareth". Do not miss the significance of what He says next. He doesn't raise His hand and say, "That's me" or "I'm Jesus". No. He chooses to state the very phrase that was spoken from the burning bush to Moses...the very phrase that nearly had Him stoned by the Pharisees and Saducees...He says "I AM" (the he in italics that is added is not there in the original manuscripts). That is NOT the equivalent of Him saying "I am Jesus". Again, no. He is unmistakably equating Himself with YHWH. Can you imagine what was fulfilled in that statement? Thousands of years of prophecy along with the hope of all mankind. The power contained in Jesus' words was enough to knock Judas and all those with him down on their backsides. To me, the significance of this is right up there with the time that Jesus stood in the temple for His first Scripture reading. What did He choose? Isaiah, of course. "...the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor..." Oh to have been there for both of those occasions! To have heard the Savior fulfill the Scriptures and declare His place in the trinity and at God's right hand! Yet what do Judas, the guards, and the temple priests do? They rise again, not in belief of who He is, but to continue in their unbelief and carry out their arrest. Jesus is unfazed by all of this and asks them once again who they are looking for. Still, they do not see. Still, they do not believe. Not even when face to face with Him. Not even after having heard His words and been affected by His power do they believe. It is no wonder we see so many around us who, inspite of up-close encounters with God, still choose to turn away from Him.

I am challenged this Easter to look at Jesus in light of His connections to the old covenant. The story of Easter is one with roots deep into the Old Testament. From Moses to David, Jesus reveals to us the master-plan of His Father. A plan that would cost Him His life, but give us back ours.

Auto-pilot

3 months and 2 weeks. That's all we have left in this deployment. It seems so short, and yet sometimes it lingers. There is a light at the end of this tunnel...and it's NOT a train! I was reading back through some of my earlier posts during this deployment. And I must admit that my "fresh legs" at the start of this journey are weary. My sharp and keen mindset has become clouded and fuzzy. My enduring spirit has wavered from time to time. I had dreams and plans (many of which were unrealistic, I'm sure…yeah, I'm prone to do that, just ask Chaplain) for this deployment that seemed amiable and well-intentioned…and still do. But now I feel that in some ways I am on auto-pilot and this is now just about survival. I think what I am feeling and experiencing is normal, but I am treading with caution – for I don't want to miss any of the beautiful sights the Lord has for us along the way while my "cruise control" is on. On a lighter note, I was thinking to myself today (okay, maybe talking…out loud…to myself. Do not judge meJ) "We have been at this for 9 months now and seems like it's time for something to be birthed, er somethin'!" Just tryin' ta keep it light!

To my sweet boy…you have endured this hardship as a soldier. And still you have yet to come to the place where you have worked through and accepted it. As of late you seem so discontented, restless, unsettled. I long to see you satisfied and at peace. I wish I had the words to speak deep into your soul and tell you, "Daddy is coming home. Soon. All is well, you are loved." But alas, words are not enough for you right now. Each day you are on the prowl for "bad guys" at our house. You dress in your Army ACU's and your PT duds like a faithful soldier. If I give you one of something, you ask for two. If I suggest left, you insist right. You long to be the leader amongst your peers and you have a voice which you demand be heard. I too wish someone would whisper into my soul as well, telling me how to best love you and be to you what Daddy can't right now. So I place you into the hands of the capable Father, who watches over you night and day. Who sees your restless heart and knows your frustrations. He alone can satisfy the longings of your heart. He alone can protect you from the bad guys. And He alone can make you into the man you'll grow to be someday. I love you with all the motherly love within me, son. The times we have spent together doing projects, making crafts, cooking Jello Jigglers, reading Bible stories, building Lincoln Logs are like nuggets of gold, a value that will only increase with the years.

To my darling girl…you look like an angel! But I'm sorry to say that you often don't act like one. It is nothing that time won't fix, for you are nearing the dreaded two's. And those nasty colds which plague you often make you oh-so-cranky. You love your brother and can say his name with perfect speech. He is the first thing on your mind in the mornings and you call for him to come eat at our breakfast table. You are capable of SO many big girl feats, but you love to stretch your arms straight up to me – the signal to "hold me!" You seem less affected by Daddy's absence, but you are the first to point him out in any picture in our home. You are a joy to dress each day and your hair is your crowning glory. Not a day goes by that you don't touch my heart and make me smile. I find myself staring at you sometimes because you are truly beautiful. Anytime I plop down you see my lap as fair game for sitting. And you are deliciously ticklish. I think you have your daddy's arms, for those triceps did NOT come from me. When I drop you off at chapel or mother's-morning-out, you enter the room, turn around to give me a hug and kiss, and then turn back to your friends. Thank you for sparing me the Separation Anxiety Phase. That is incredibly sweet of you. And I mean that. I love you too with all my motherly love, lovely one.

Y'all, I know I'm prejudiced, but come on…SHE'S CUTE!!