Answered Prayers

I'm sitting here tonight with a "to do" list a mile long. Drew will be married by this time next week with Jeremy's wedding to follow 5 weeks later. Keith, Tyler, and Austin are out tonight celebrating with Drew and some wonderful men from our church. I have put my sick girls to bed and the house is unusually quiet. And so I sit and ponder instead of tackling the cleaning that needs to be done. Oh well, the dust and grime will still be there when I get around to it. Funny how that happens...it never cleans itself.

Anyway, I started this blog as a blessings list of sorts but I have done a poor job of keeping up with it. These last few months have been filled with things that make one really search to find the blessings, and maybe I won't even see them until some time yet future. Nonetheless, I could not let this season pass with out recognizing the blessings that are, oh, so obvious.

Years ago, even before our boys were born, Keith and I began praying for their future spouses. We prayed, even when they were toddlers, that somewhere out in this big ol' world, God would be raising up little girls in godly families that would grow to be godly women to someday make wonderful wives for our sons.

Today I attended a bridal shower for a God-crafted answer to prayer. As I sat across from Alicia (Drew's fiance) and listened to some of my dearest friends whisper about how beautiful she is, I was overcome with thankfulness to God. Alicia is beautiful on the outside, but so much more important than that, she is beautiful on the inside. She has been raised in a family that knows the Lord, and her heart for Him evidences that. She knows that she is an answer to our prayers because we have shared that with her. I am so thankful that God has chosen such a one to be Drew's bride. She is a blessing!

Besides the wedding, this next week will hold another special moment for me. On Friday, I will finally get to meet another answer to our prayers, Jeremy's fiance, Tiffany. They will be coming in from Colorado for Drew and Alicia's wedding. We were supposed have met Tiffany the week after Christmas but our trip was cancelled due to a surprise blizzard and family illness. I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to share with Tiffany face to face, that she embodies God's well-designed answered to prayer.

I have seen pictures of Tiffany and so I know that she, too, is a physically beautiful young woman and though I have not yet met her, I am certain that she is truly beautiful on the inside as well. How do I know? Because I know my son. I know what Jeremy has always wanted in a wife, and I know that he has always had very high standards for the one that he would eventually share his life with. I can't wait to be able to blog again after next week and share what I will then be able to speak of first-hand. I am looking forward to the meeting, to being able to wrap my arms around another of God's sweet, sweet blessings in my life.

My boys have chosen well. I am so excited for them...for the adventure they are about to embark upon. I am so thankful for a God who hears and answers our prayers. He is GOOD, and He loves to give GOOD things to His children.

How cool is that!

My Chatterbox

Trip to Grandma and Grandpa's House

Two cups of coffee - $Free from home :)

One tank of gas - $60.00

One McDonald's lunch - $6.00

2 1/2 hours in the car with my daughters - Priceless

Kara, who is normally the quiet one, was quite the little chatterbox today as we made the drive from Wichita Falls to Plano. I thought I would share some excerpts from our conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

About 1/2 hour into the trip...

Kara: Are we still in Texas?
Me: Yes we are.
Kara: Well Texas sure is a big world.

Kara: Would it be funny if those cows over there were dancing in the middle of the field?
Almost immediately followed by...
Kara: Mommy, do you remember when we saw that buffalo poop?
Which was followed up with...
Kara: I smell a skunk. I think it must be skunk time. Mama, how can we smell a skunk in the car?
Me: Skunks have a very strong odor, Kara.
Kara: Do you mean they stink?

A short while later...
Kara: Are we there yet? My tummy is really hungry.
Me: Not yet, we still have a way to go.

When she wasn't rambling on she was singing to herself in the back seat. She loves to sing and when she can't think of a song she will make one up. I couldn't make out what she was singing today but given the conversation of the morning, I'm betting she was making it up as she went along.

The chatter continued with...
Kara: Where's Emma? I can't see Emma! Did we leave her at home?

Just before we made our mid-trip potty stop she asked...
Kara: Are we almost to Gatorade?
Me: To where?
Kara: Gatorade! You know...where we always stop.
Me: It's Decatur, Kara.
Kara: Oh...well are we almost there?

Kara: Mama, can you tell us when we get to a different state?
Me: Grandma and Grandpa's house is still in Texas.
Kara: Oh, well are we there yet?
Me: No.
Kara: I'm hungry though.
Me: I know, Kara. Just a little further.
Kara: Is there a McDonald's there?

After our potty stop...
Kara: Is Plano not far away from Grandma Judy's house?
Me: Plano is where they live.
Kara: But I thought you said they live in Texas.

Kara: Are we gonna sleep there?
Me: Yes, Kara.
Kara: Emma, too?
Me: Yes
Kara: All of us?
Me: Yes, Kara.
Kara: Why?
Me: Because we are going to be there until next Thursday and we can't stay awake that whole time.
Kara: But what if the phone rings?
Me: Well, someone will answer it.
Kara: LIKE ME?!
Me: Uh, NO! - like Grandma or Grandpa.
Kara: Oh.

Shortly before our arrival...
Kara: Does fired mean when you have a job you don't have a job anymore?
Me: Yes (wondering how much more random you can get than that).

Just after we hit the exit to Grandma and Grandpa's house...
Kara: Mommy, I'm tired of sitting.
Me: Me too, Kara.
Kara: Why do we have to stop at the red light? Move cars, move, I'm tired of sitting.

What a total crack up! She is never that talkative. I wish I would have had a way to record it all because I'm sure that I didn't remember all of it just as it happened. On the flip side of things, Emma was unusually quiet. I guess she couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Today is the Day!!!

Almost 24 1/2 years ago I had the distinct honor of watching my husband-to-be graduate from the United States Air Force Academy and become a 2nd lieutenant in the Air Force. Two days later we were married and the great adventure began. Within a month of that, we moved to Arizona and a few short months later he started pilot training. And the rest, as they say, is history!

It has been a good 24+ years. We have made some wonderful lifelong friends and we have enjoyed everywhere we have lived. We have seen many friends from the old days get married and we have stood by as a few very dear friends were laid to rest. We have met a lot of people and we have said lots of "goodbyes".

As I have worked on Keith's Air Force scrapbook these last couple of weeks, I was struck by the inevitable "finis" flight at each base...the final flight before moving on to a new station. There are many of those flights chronicled in his scrapbook. It reminds me of the saying that "all good things must come to an end". And so...today will be the final "finis" flight of his Air Force career...weather permitting...followed by his official retirement ceremony. As Keith's time in the Air Force comes to an end, I am moved by the fact that our God has always proven Himself faithful to us. He has seen us through the ups and downs of the last 24 years and has honestly blessed our socks off. On top of it all, because of God's grace, we know that we have eternal life...one good thing that will never come to an end. So...thank you, Lord, for your grace, your hand of protection, and the many, many blessings that you have bestowed on us these last 24 years, and thank you for my husband.

And, since I don't get to speak at the retirement ceremony, I figured I would take this opportunity to publicly thank my husband for letting me come along on this ride. It has not always been easy. When the boys were all little and Keith was flying F-16s, yeah...many of those days were tough. But the memories are so sweet and I wouldn't change any of them. God showed himself to me through those sometimes difficult circumstances and I learned much about Him and myself in those days.

I am proud of my husband. He is a man of honor and integrity. He has served his country well. He loves me and his children; but he loves the Lord most of all, and that is what makes him special. He has very high standards...he says what he means and he means what he says. He is gifted, motivated, trustworthy, and seeks to honor God in all that he says and does. I am honored to be his wife.

So...Keith...thank you for sharing your life with me. It has been a grand adventure and rather than look at today as an end or even a new beginning...I see it as a new day that we get to spend together, and I am thankful. I thank God for the man that you are and for blessing my life by putting you in it. I love you dearly! Congratulations, Hon, on this...your special day and thank you for all that you have done to preserve the freedom that we enjoy!

Not to be outdone by her sister...

...today is Kara's 5th birthday!!! It really is fun to have the girls' birthdays so close together. It adds to the excitement of it all. Happy, Happy Birthday to my girly girl...the one that always has a song in her heart. We love you!!!

Happy 7th Birthday Emma!

Today is Emma's 7th Birthday!!! Seems like it's impossible that she is 7 already. Yikes! I hope you have a wonderful birthday Emma...my little bundle of energy that keeps us from ever having a dull moment. We love you!!!

Answered Prayer

It has been a busy summer around here. I have a lot that I need to update on here but since several people have asked about my Facebook status, here is the story.

Tuesday night was the first meeting of a four week inductive Bible study that I am leading at my church on the book of Ruth and our Kinsman Redeemer. It is a Precept Upon Precept Bible Study. I have worked hard to get ready for it and was really excited about it.

This first week was supposed to be more of an intro to the study and a how-to lesson for those that had never done a precept study before. Keith taught me how to use powerpoint and I had worked up a fairly lengthy pp presentation teaching the method of inductive Bible study. I was all set.

Then Satan went to work trying to mess everything up. It started at 3:30 Tuesday morning when Emma woke me up. Both girls were wide awake and it appeared that they had been for some time. I won't bore you with all the details but 2 hours later they were still awake and consequently so was I. So, I was tired from the get go. It was one of those difficult days where everything you do seems to be wrong or go wrong.

I fixed an early dinner and started packing up to head to the church. I started a pot of coffee to take with me and the coffee pot was sounding very strange. I went to check on it (it is a new pot that we have only had a few months) and I had forgotten to put the lid on the carafe before I put it in the coffee maker so the water wasn't flowing through to the pot it was just filling the basket and running over into all the guts of the pot which was now full of grounds. Ugh! Keith cleaned it all out for me and ran a pot of water through it and then made another pot of coffee. It worked fine, thankfully.

So, then I get to the church. The projector at church has been having some issues but I really needed it for that powerpoint presentation. Keith had helped me set it up Sunday night after church. It took him a good 20 minutes to get it to work. Then he just put it on Standby so it would be ready to go Tuesday night. Well, when I got to the church the projector had been moved and unplugged. My heart sank because I just knew after the way the day had gone, that projector wasn't going to work and there went my entire pp presentation, which was all of the info that I needed to cover that night. I was going to have to wing it and I was nervous enough already. You know, that standing up in front of people thing.

I plugged the projector in and the power light wouldn't even come on. Turns out the plug I was using had been disconnected earlier that day. I switched to another plug and initially got nothing on it either but then the power light blinked so I knew that at least the plug was working. I worked for a solid half hour to get the projector to come on and it wouldn't even hiccup. I was down to 10 minutes and still had to set everything else up.

My head fell into my hands and I prayed, "God, Satan has been working against me since 3:30 this morning. I'm tired, frustrated, and discouraged. I know that this is your will and He doesn't want it to happen but I also know that you are so much greater than him. Please make this projector work and light a fire in these women to know your word. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

I lifted my head and put my finger on the start button and that projector lit up just like it's supposed to, not even a hint of a delay. I kid you not. All I could do was sit there and bawl like a baby. It was so incredible. That had to be the quickest, most obvious answer to prayer that I have witnessed in a long time. "I am the Light of the World" comes to mind. Beautiful!

The rest of the evening went well without even a hint of a problem with that projector. So for those that were wondering about my Facebook status...there you have it. God is so good and this is going to be a great study!

22 Years Ago Today...

Wow...I can't believe it has been that long! 22 years ago last month, I was hospitalized with pre-eclampsia. The day that I was admitted to the hospital, 5 weeks before my due date, the doctor said that I would be there until I was a mother...and I was.

On May 4th, 1987, when the doctors could no longer control my blood pressure, they induced labor and Jeremy, my firstborn, came into this world at 2:06 pm. It was a glorious day and we were so excited to be entrusted with the care of this awesome little being.

Jeremy...on his "birth"day

Jeremy at 2 years old

Jeremy at 5 years old

Jeremy in the 5th grade

Jeremy in the 9th grade

Jeremy as a senior in high school

22 years later, Jeremy is living and working in Africa. Who knew when that little baby was born what God had planned for his life. Jeremy, we are praying for you and excited to see what comes next in your life. I wish we could celebrate with you today but know that we are thinking about you and loving you dearly.

Happy Happy Birthday Son, from your proud Mama!