God is Amazing!

Today, I'm just so thankful God is who He is! Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. As Greg preaches on the Names of God found in Isaiah 9:6, the Lord continues to remind us, as a family, that these are not just words, but loving characteristics of a REAL GOD who constantly intervenes in our lives and circumstances ... we are so blessed!

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

I am supposed to be cleaning my house. My in-laws will be here in a few days (yippeee!!!), and I have a list a mile long of things that need to be done. I cleaned the pantry earlier today. And that's where it stopped. Instead, I:

Enjoyed a hot shower. I think I deserved it ... I ran in the cold rain this morning and finished up at the gym with my friend, Theressa who is helping me get back in shape (a huge task, I might add)

Played with Shane. Always a must, in every day. He's usually a lot of fun. Today, he is a bit tired and cranky, so our play time hasn't been great.

Watched a Christmas video. Shane needed a break, so he picked last year's Christmas Spectacular from Thomas Road to watch. Interesting choice for a 3 year old. We enjoyed it.

Answered email. Lots of it.

Checked out Anntaylorloft.com. Just 'cause. (Didn't buy anything, thanks to Finanical Peace University, I rarely part with a dollar these days.)

Ate lunch with my sweety. Greg came home for lunch. It was great!

Now, I am anticipating the arrival of my girls -- and our afternoon/evening routine will begin. Oh, cleaning ... when will you get done????

Hiding God's Word

I want my kids to know the Bible! One of the greatest benefits of attending Christian school while growing up is that I learned a lot of scripture. At the time, I'm sure I didn't appreciate it. It was more homework. I remember times in High School when I would leave that verse (or passage) to the very last minute, cramming it in last thing Thursday night or even before school on Friday morning. But let me tell you ... God's Word is living and active! I REMEMBER those verses. Throughout my life, I have had the blessing of recalling scripture when I need it most.

Now, Greg and I want to pass this gift along to our children. Because we are SUPER busy all the time, we've looked for some help in this area -- and we found it! On Sunday evenings, all 3 attend AWANAS at the local International Baptist Church. And they are ALL learning verses weekly. We try to familiarize ourselves with the verses on Monday and then review daily. On Sunday afternoon, we kick it into high gear and make sure Ashley, Lexi and Shane are ready to recite the verses to their leaders. And I've decided to memorize the verses along with them. Ashley thinks it is cool that I learned 4 verses in one week (I had to admit, it was all reveiw for me), but I also told her she will be doing the same thing as she continues to get better at memory work.

Of all the things we fill our brains with on a daily basis, this is by far the most important! I encourage you to help your children hide God's precious Word in their hearts ... and to memorize scripture yourself. What a difference it will make in your life.

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Blog Background

Hi everyone! This month, Alexis picked out this fall-themed background for our blog. Ashley wants you to know it will be her turn next!

WHAT???

I am mortified that the last time I posted anything was in August! Here is my weak attempt to explain ... we've been so busy (couple of trips, school and Bible Study started, we MOVED, we've been SICK). Plus, we lost our internet the first week of September and only got it back this past Monday. I had a few opportunities to check email, but never really had the time to blog. So, I'M SORRY! Here's a brief update on our lives and what we've been up to:

Travels:

A most amazing several days was spent in Jungfrau, Switzerland! We camped with several families from our church. Hiked gorgeous paths leading to breathtaking waterfalls ... ate great food around the campfire ... enjoyed wonderful conversation -- and lots of laughs -- with our friends. It was a GREAT time! Our kids got to experience freezing weather in a tent, but they rebounded during the day when the sun would finally peak out from behind the mountains. I will post pics -- and must say, Switzerland has moved to #1 on "My Favorite Place to Visit" list! Have to mention, the night we arrived it was POURING down rain. We pitched our tent and prepared dinner on the grill in rainy, cold weather -- and we didn't pack up and leave!!!!

Last week we returned to Garmisch, Germany (in the German Alps) to the Edelweiss Hotel. Greg had training classes during the day, so the kids and me headed out on our own! We walked into town one day and did some window shopping (and ate at McDonalds). Another day, we drove to Linderhof Castle (a nice trip up a mountain road ... Ashley was GREEN!) Again, I will post pictures. I love how my girls love listening to the tour guides and are learning so much! We enjoyed the inside of the castle (Lexi especially loved the bedroom with the HUGE bed, all of the blue velvet bed coverings, and the 1/2 ton chandelier.) The gardens outside were very beautiful, too and we enjoyed our picnic lunch. Edelweiss has a great pool and hot tub,so we spent some time there. The HIGHLIGHT of our trip was the cable car ride to the top of the Zugspitze -- the highest mountain peak in Germany. Have to admit, while trying to help my kids not to panic, I felt a little afraid myself as we climbed higher and higher. Near the top, It looked like we were headed straight into the rocky face of the mountain! At the top, however, it was AMAZING! We spent some time in Germany, then crossed over into Austria. We also sat in a little restaurant overlooking the clouds. It was awesome to drink hot chocolate and eat pretzels while sitting in the sky! The trip back down didn't feel as scary ... except for the fact that they stuffed us like sardines into the cable car! So glad we had the experience! Something the kids will (hopefully) never forget.

Ok, this has turned into a mini-novel, so I'll stop for now and post some pics. Will be back SOON to update some more. Thanks for sticking with me, friends!!! We treasure your continued prayers and apologize, again, for the "blog silence"

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What a summer!

I'm a BAD blogger! By the looks of my posts, you would think we had a quiet, uneventful summer after our trip to the States ... but that is SOOOOO not the case! We've been super busy. Here's a few highlights:

Crocodile Dock. VBS went GREAT at RB. Directing VBS was a new challenge for me and has kept me on my toes since May. But August 3-7 was AWESOME! We had amazing community support ... with nearly 60 volunteers ministering to 74 children. It was especially great to see so many dads come out and pitch in (this is why we chose to do it in the evening!). What a blessing for the kids! We prayed with LOTS of kids to recieve Christ ... and baptized two of them on the Sunday after VBS. Tiring, YES! Worth every minute? YES, YES, YES. We give God ALL the glory for this huge success.

Strasbourg, France. Last weekend, we headed out for an overnight adventure in Strasbourg, about 1 1/2 hours from Stuttgart. Loved the sights of this quaint area in France. Notre Dame Cathedral was a highlight for me. The kids loved the boat tour and mini-train ride through the streets of this old and historic city. Of course, we ate some good food! Still amazes me that we have been given this awesome opportunity to see the world ... and introduce our children to it. Next trip: camping trip in Jungfrau, Switerland. Can't wait!!!

Last but certainly not least, Greg was able to baptize Ashley on Sunday, August 9. Such an emotional experience for us ... and a privilege beyond words for Greg! She was one of eight baptized that night. Ashley accepted Christ on Mother's Day, 2007, while her daddy was in Afghanistan. What an honor for me to pray a salvation prayer with my little girl! At that time, we decided she would wait for her daddy to baptize her. To see her publicly declare her relationship with Jesus Christ was awesome for us.

The fall holds much in store! We're looking forward to a couple of trips, a visit from Greg's parents, a leadership appreciation banquet for our chapel congregation and lots more growth at our chapel services. We continue to thank the Lord for putting us in Stuttgart, Germany for "such a time as this."

Pretty Cool ...

Yesterday, I had kind of a different experience. I took Alexis, Shane and a couple of kids from our church to the bowling alley. Nothing special about that (except we had a really good time!) ... until I stepped outside to get reception on my cell phone to call Greg. I noticed an MP (Military Police) at the end of the road stopping traffic. Before I even had a chance to investigate what was going on, I heard this tremendous sound and looked up to see a Chinook landing in the field right across the street from where I was standing!!! I was trying to leave a message on Greg's cell phone ... but it was so loud I couldn't even hear myself talking and my hair felt like it was going to blow off my head! It was pretty exciting. A crowd was starting to gather outside the bowling alley (including my wide-eyed son) as two Blackhawk helicopters landed beside the Chinook.

Now, why this made such a great impression on me is hard to understand. I mean, I guess it is not every day that those kind of planes land across the street from the family-friendly bowling alley. But I think it has something to do with the fact that this is how my husband traveled for more than a year of his life ... kind of in the same way you and I jump in the car! He never stayed at his "home base" for more than a couple of weeks at a time before he would be off again, flying around Afghanistan to different smaller bases to minister to soldiers. And he had lots of really interesting experiences while flying, including "going down" in a Chinook that had some mechanical problems (thankfully, they landed in the sand, no one was hurt -- not even a scratch) ... flying through tremendous rain and wind storms ... and times when the gunner in the plane had to do his thing in defense of our country and this war against terror.

So, while I watched these massive machines reach the ground, I guess I was just struck with the reality of what continues on in Afghanistan ... and the fact that my husband was a part of it. I was instantly grateful to the Lord for HIS protection over Greg's life. No matter how big and strong those "war planes" are ... GOD is bigger and stronger!

Pretty cool day at the bowling alley, huh??? Made up for the fact that I had to share all of my bowling turns with my 3 year old ... he probably did better than I would have done anyway!

(The pictures were an aftersight ... just to prove what I saw!!! Wish I could have snapped a pic when those big ol' things were still in the air coming down. It was pretty amazing!)

A Vacation to Remember

Our trip to the States was, well, AWESOME! I'm sure this blog could turn into a mini-novel, so I'm going to do my best to keep it short. The flight from Stuttgart was mostly uneventful. The only problem: it was LONG! After the 11 hour flight, more than 4 hour layover in Atlanta, and another hour flight to Lynchburg, VA ... the kids were a mess! Thankfully, it was 11:00 pm when we got to the hotel, so everyone went right to sleep. The rest of our time there was spent with family (my sister, Cami and her family) and friends (the "gang" from our days at Falwell Ministries). We loved every minute! Greg especially loved his Father's Day lunch at the local BBQ restaurant. The kids loved time with cousins Claire and Ella McBride and we ALL enjoyed Cold Stone Creamery!!! Greg and I love Lynchburg, it is place filled with great memories for both of us. We were glad Greg's job took us there for a few days.

After Lynchburg, we headed to the mountains of Asheville, NC to the Scenic Wolf Resort to stay a week with my family. What a blast!!! There was a great pool for the kids and the house was perfect for just sitting around and talking (and eating, of course!) A highlight of our week was dinner at "The Fiddlin' Pig" ... food was good, company was GREAT -- but it was AWESOME when the dancers pulled my Alexis and Collyn's Addysn onto the dance floor, they were so cute!!! Then, Ashley, Ava, Alivia and Shane got their chance to dance, too. It is priceless to see the cousins playing together and getting to know each other. My family has always been -- and will always be -- incredibly special to me. Our time together was amazing.

We stayed in Asheville at Collyn and Billy's house a few extra days to meet with my wonderful friend Jennifer Ramsey from our Fort Stewart/Richmond Hill days. She and I literally pulled one another through the deployments of our husbands (we did it by LAUGHING ... A LOT!). Our children are the best of friends ... and it was such a blessing for us to get to see them this summer!!!! We had a great few days.

Ended our trip in WV with the McVeys. Couldn't have asked for a better ending ... except that it made it REALLY hard for all of us to leave! Greg, his brother Dustin and I spent a day "in the trees" on a brand new zipline -- what a blast! The girls and I had great shopping day with Nanny and Aunt Kim ... and we enjoyed lots of trips to the Ansted Dairy King. The Fourth of July picnic with Greg's family gave him the opportunity to see many family members who we hadn't seen since before his deployment to Afghanistan. And Greg was able to share with his home church about our ministry and his time in the war zone. What a special time for us! I could go on and on! Oh! I forgot to mention about our "date day" ... when Greg's parents watched the kids for several hours so Greg and I could spend a day together. Amazing. We went out to eat (Olive Garden, yum), to Target (like Heaven!), to see a movie, and ended it all off with ice cream from Maggie Moos (do you all sense a theme of our trip -- the McVeys love ice cream!) It was a great day for Greg and me ... uninterrupted hours to talk, laugh and enjoy each other -- THANKS NANNY AND GRANDDAD!

Our return trip to Stuttgart was tough. Flew from Charleston, WV to Atlanta ... where our 4 hour layover turned into 6. Then, 9 hours on the plane to Stuttgart. Unfortunately, no one was able to sleep a whole lot. And we're still feeling the affects of jetlag. But it was worth it! We loved every minute of our trip and are incredibly grateful to both of our families for making it possible for us to spend time with them this summer.

Side note: While in the States, our church family in Gaffney, SC experienced a horrible tragedy. One of our precious members was gunned down in her home along with her daughter. Our hearts and prayers go out to our friends who are undoubtedly still dealing with this senseless loss. Thankfully, Ms. Hazel Linder is in Heaven with Jesus! We will see her again someday.

USA 2009

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Schools out!!!

Summer vacation has begun! Thursday was the last day of school for our kids ... and boy, did we party!!! The moms in the "neighborhood" got together and planned a celebration cookout, complete with hot dogs and ice cream ... and water games ... and kick ball. Of course, the weather did not cooperate. It was REALLY windy and in-between bursts of sunshine, the sky would darken and the rain would fall.

But that didn't stop this group of dedicated moms! Greg opened the Chapel Annex for us and we moved our party inside. It was a lot of fun. Living on post is a new experience for us. And it is great! The kids have made lots of great friends -- and there is never a lack of kids to play with. I'm also thankful for a group of really creative and fun moms ... they love to plan a good party! In fact, we had ANOTHER cook-out Friday night, to say goodbye to a couple of families moving back to the States, a birthday party at the craft center on Saturday -- and another birthday party at the bowling alley tonight. FUN!

The picture was taken at our celebration on Thursday during one of those bursts of sunshine.

Lost in Translation

Okay, so one night last week we decided to go the little restaurant here on post for dinner. It had just opened under new management ... and not a soul on the new staff speaks a word of English. We ordered Schnitzel for Shane and Donor Kebaps (kind of like a gyro) for the rest of us. When Greg's plate came out, it was covered in a large salad, pile of french fries and meat ... which we were expecting to be inside of some type of bread. Mine was. Ashley's was. Lexi's was. But not Greg's. So, he tried to explain. The waitress was clueless. But the cook came out (no, we were not making a scene ... it is a very small place. We were the only ones there at the time ... and we weren't upset at all, just trying to be understood.) Anyway, the cook was like, "oh, oh, ok!" He seemed to get it. We were happy. He disappeared into the kitchen with Greg's plate.

When he came back out a few minutes later, the meat was inside the bread, just like the rest of ours. However, we quickly noticed that the plate was empty and hanging out of his sandwich was EVERYTHING from the plate. Cucumbers ... tomatoes and lettuce ... AND FRENCH FRIES. We waited until the cook was gone before we just cracked up!!! And we've laughed about it ever since! I'm just sorry I didn't have my camera to take a picture of this very interesting concoction ... which, by the way, my husband DID consume!!! (After picking off the fries)

Sometimes, you just have to LAUGH.

A name came to mind last week. In fact, it often does. And although I can't tell you the name, I can share with you why this person ... someone I never had the opportunity to meet face-to-face ... made such a lasting impact.

It was Greg's first week of work as an Army Chaplain. He had just joined us in Richmond Hill, GA after being away for 3 months of training. He had also just received word that he would be deployed to Afghanistan in just 8 weeks, 3 of which would be spent on the "field" in training. To say the least, we were reeling. Desperately trying to deal with the overwhelming emotion. Those were some incredibly difficult days. And then, I heard her name.

Greg got a call one evening that one of his soldiers, deployed with a Military Police unit to Iraq, had been killed in a roadside attack. She was young. A newlywed. And it was his responsibility to do the death notification. He had to knock on a door and tell a young guy that his bride would not return home to him. My heart broke for the husband ... and for my husband, too. I thought about this girl and the sacrifice she had made for her country. It was like something out of a war movie -- except that is was real. And we were in the middle of it.

That week was like a fog to me. While trying my hardest to keep my morale up for the sake of my husband and children, I really wanted to just stay in bed. Greg did an amazing job. His training and genuine love and compassion for people came shining through. He ministered more than was required to the young widower and to the girl's hurting family. I helped him prepare what he would say at her memorial service and I remember how painful it was for me to type each word. When the day of the memorial service finally arrived, I was mentally exhausted and physically sick. Now, looking back, I think it was God's grace that I had a tremendous cold and no babysitter for Shane on that morning. I don't think it would have done a bit of good to see the emotionally fragile Chaplain's wife weeping uncontrollably at the memorial service. It was hard enough to listen to Greg recount the details!

Today, nearly 3 years later, it is still difficult to think back to the events of that week. Just days after the memorial service, Greg left for his field training. Not long after that, he was gone for 15 months to Afghanistan. I also know, looking back, that what happened in those first few days really impacted our ministry. Today, Greg is more respected by other soldiers because he has "been there, done that." We are both more sympathetic to the hurts and pains of soldiers and their family members. Sadly, there were more memorial services for Greg while he was in Afghanistan. And many opportunities to counsel with soldiers who were dealing with heartbreak, depression, even thoughts of suicide. Today, as I remember the name of the brave soldier who died in our first week of service as an Army Chaplain, I can also say I am thankful for what God took us through ... and how He did not leave us alone to suffer. We are more equipped to serve Him, and more assured of His constant presence and love. And I know I will never forget that name!

April 17, 2009 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, GREG!!!

As a little girl, you dream of what marriage will be. In spite of the fact that you live in the "real world" ... where people are three dimensional and don't have fairy godmothers with magic wands, you want to believe in Cinderella's happily "ever after." It's just the way little girls' minds work!

But today, I can truly say, my marriage to Greg McVey ... with all its imperfections and "real life" ups and downs has been more incredible than anything I could have ever imagined! What an adventure we have been on! During those down times, I have learned that the man I love is steadfast and faithful. He doesn't quit. He doesn't even doubt. I have never been disappointed by the way he has handled adversity. His strength rubs off on me and on our kids. We are a much more secure family because of his strength of character and reliance on the Lord.

And when we were seperated for 15 months? I learned the man I love is worthy of my trust. I fell asleep every night knowing he was thinking of me and our children. His commitment to the Lord, to our marriage and family gave me the courage to keep on going. It cemented the bond between us like nothing else ever has. We learned to communicate more openly, weigh our responses to one another more carefully, and to never take one another for granted. I see him differently than I did before he left us for a time. Even though we were a part, we were still one. We were still able to move forward. The way he talked to me, encouraged me and let me know he loved me made his return that much more special ... a feeling that continues even today.

After 10 years of marriage, there is still no one I would rather be with than my husband! He makes me laugh like no one else can. I still can't wait for him to get home at the end of the work day ... and his smile still melts my heart. Sounds a little like Cinderalla and her Prince Charming, after all! Thank you, Greg for being the most amazing husband and father! What a life you have given me ... I would follow you ANYWHERE!!!!! Can't wait to see what the next 10 hold in store.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Italy 09 pictures

Bello Italy!

Italy was amazing! Our family vacation was laid back and fun. We toured some very interesting spots and ate some GREAT food! I thought instead of writing a long, drawn out blog, I would just do some “snippets” (believe me, this IS a word!) from our trip:

Our drive was so gorgeous! We started out in spring-like Germany and within a couple of hours passed into the Austrian Alps, complete with snow-capped mountains. I took pictures out the window, but there is just no way my little sony digital camera did justice to God’s magnificent creation.

The weather was fantastic, warm and sunny with a gentle breeze. We stayed in Tuscany, near Florence in a very small, country town. Beautiful rolling hills and farm land. We got our fill of the city when we visited Venice, Florence and Siena (our favorite).

Shane loved all the farm animals! We opened the windows of the car once to watch some sheep. When we started to drive a way, Shane looked a me with a face of sheer joy and wonder and said, "Sheep talk me." Those sheep were talking just to him!

The artwork in Florence was almost more than 6-year old Lexi could take! We saw a replica of the Michelangelo "David" ... and Lexi said, "Where is his underwear????" She was shocked.

We ate Gelato every day. YUMMY! We also had a lot of pizza and pasta... but the ice cream was the BEST. The kids always went for chocolate, but Mommy and Daddy tried lots of different kinds ... coconut (my personal fav.), pistachio, tirimisu, white chocolate. Those of you who know how much I LOVE ice cream can imagine how hard it was for me not to eat more than one scoop a day!

Without even thinking, we drove our mini-van into Florence BIG MISTAKE! It was like New York City ... with more traffic, and the craziest drivers I have ever seen. Plus, the mopeds, bikes and motorcycles outnumbered the vehicles ... and they ruled the road! It was a REALLY stressful few minutes while we searched for a parking garage. (And don't forget -- we couldn't even read the roadsigns) Don't think Greg will ever drive into Florence again.

LOVED Siena! It was our favorite spot. Laid back and beautiful. Lots of great art and architecture. We started out and ended at Il Campo, the main city square, filled with restaurants and pizzerias. At the end of the day, we just sat and watched people. It was awesome. Best part for Shane: after a week of asking for chicken (meaning, nuggets), we found a McDonalds for him and he got his McNuggetts. Ashley was thrilled we finally found the "Italian McDonalds" ... that made me laugh. Nothing but pure United States there!

Venice was very interesting, with all the water and "water traffic." We took a bus from our hotel and then a Valparetto (water taxi) to San Marco square. What an interesting way to live! The kids were in awe of the marketplace ... and especially the fact that the vendors dummped their leftover fresh fish right onto the ground for the seagulls and pigeons. What a smell!

I'm going to stop, for now ... and post some pics. This might not be the last blog about our trip! Thanks for praying for us (especially when the earthquake occured ... it wasn't too far from us, but we felt nothing!)

A Great Weekend!

On Friday night, we celebrated Shane's 3rd birthday! We found a great McDonalds with a play area ... and a full cafe inside. It was actually called "McCafe" instead of McDonalds. Then, Shane opened his gifts ... mostly various sizes of "bojas" (bull dozers) and new spring clothes. What a fun evening! We are so blessed with this little guy.

On Saturday evening, Greg escorted the girls to the "Me and My Guy" International Ball (a Girl Scout event). They had such a good time! They were able to finally wear the handmade dresses Greg got them in Afghanistan. They did some line dancing and the "funky chicken" ... and learned to waltz. Greg said Ashley really "got down" when they did the Macarana (I have no idea how to spell that!). When they got home, the girls were full of smiles and stories. So much fun!!!

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A Spring-like day!

Yesterday was AMAZING! For the first time since winter began, we had an "unseasonably warm" day. It was near 60 and the sun was shining. Ashley had been sick all weekend, so as soon as we hit the 24-hour mark since her fever had broken, we grabbed light jackets and headed outside.

Kids were everywhere, moms and dads had gathered to talk ... people were even breaking out the grills! What a day. We played outside until the kids were ready to drop ... and until we saw Greg's red car coming around the bend. He had been away all week, so we ran to greet him. A perfect ending to a perfect day!

Sidenote: Today, it rained all day and was quite dreary. However, the day was not a total loss! Shane looked me straight in the eyes today and with a smile that would melt any mother's heart told me I was cute! Love it!!!!

I didn't forget!

Valentine's Day was great! I didn't have a chance to blog that day ... so I will tell you now -- I LOVED having my Valentine at home! We actually got to go on a date. We headed to downtown Stuttgart for lunch, shopping and coffee at Starbucks. And I can still say, ANYTHING with Greg is more fun! It didn't even matter that it was cold and snowy, we just enjoyed being together.

I love you, Greg!

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Shake it up baby, now!

Today, Shane and mommy made a banana shake. Our blender was out on the counter for Greg's protein shake last night, and Shane was curious! So, I pulled my kitchen step up to the counter and he helped me pour the milk, toss in the bananas ... and push the "on" button. His eyes were huge as he watched our masterpiece go round and round. He was so proud to drink his shake!

Altogether, the "event" took no more than 10 minutes, and that includes watching Shane drink his creamy shake with a straw, until the last drop was gone. But what a little spirit-lifter it was for me and for my son! Precious time together.

Unfortunately, I have let some other "precious moments" with my children pass me by ... as I fretted about getting housework done, or finishing my work. But lately, the Lord has gently reminded me to pay attention, create memories -- and ensure my most-loved possessions that they are indeed loved and treasured. So, I'm building lego tunnels with Shane ... sounding out and reading countless three-letter words with Alexis ... gluing and coloring pictures with Ashley -- AND having my hair done on occassion by all three. WOW! It is awesome to be a mom!

Prayers in the night

The other day, Ashley said to me, "Last night, my foot was hurting, so I prayed to Jesus and asked Him to make it better," I thought she was done, and I was so happy she turned to the Lord! But she wasn't done, she went on ..."And He put His hand on me, and the pain went away."

Wow.

I've thought about it several times. She is 7. Her faith is pretty brand new. She is learning scripture and Bible Stories. We talk a lot about character ... forgiveness ... and salvation in our house. But what she said -- sounds like a real EXPERIENCE to me. Could it be that during the night, she literally felt the hands of the Lord?? I believe God and have felt His presence many times in my life. But to see it happening in the life of my precious little girl is phenomenal to me. My prayer is that she will never forget the "hand of the Lord." As a child, the "things" of God are easier to accept. Our faith is more pure and we don't need as much hard proof. It is why we pray daily for the faith of our children to grow. It is why our responsibility as parents is to live a life that shows them Jesus every day. And it is why I am thankful for prayers in the night!!!

Just thinking ...

Dangerous, right!!! But I just can't help but share how thankful I am to know Jesus and to have Him in my life, calling the shots. Why am I thinking that right now, in the middle of my day on January 14? Well ...

Our computer died. It was a long, slow death that basically began the minute we purchased it two years ago. Three times it has completely crashed, and Hewlett Packard has replaced the hard drive. This time, they wouldn't do it for free. And I refuse to put another cent into a machine that has caused me so much grief over the last few years. Done.

So, right after Christmas ... we had to buy a computer. It was not a joyous event, like "Hey, I got something new and fun to play with." It felt more like, "Ugh, we have to do this ... when we really can't afford to do it." Now, in the grand scheme of life, my new computer is not a BAD thing. We dug into a Savings account and purchased what we needed. However, combined with some other move-related unexpected expenses, we don't feel as good about some of our options for the spring and summer now. Especially heading home to the states. A very expensive proposition. We were talking about it last night, and just couldn't come to a decision about what to do.

I want to go home. A couple of weeks to see our families is definitely important to me. Our lives have been so crazy for the last few years, we've not had the opportunities to connect with everyone. And Greg and I are both close to our families. In fact, we're both close to each other's families. So, I want to go home.

Today, with no clear direction, and no miraculous deposit of travel money into our checking account, I am giving this issue to the Lord. Because I trust Him. Because I know HE cares about the things I care about. And because I know HE knows what we need. I'm just not going to worry about it. I'm just going to BELIEVE GOD.

This is why it is so cool to love the Lord. And I just thought I'd share it with my friends!!!

Is it already January 6????

Wow, nearly a week of 2009 has passed by, and this is my first time getting to the website. Yikes!!! My New Year's resolution ... more blogging! Maybe I shouldn't call this a resolution, just do my best to do a better job at updating our friends and family on life in Germany.

Well, let's see ... Christmas was GREAT! We had lots of family time and definitely a much-needed "change of pace." Santa brought us a Wii. WHAT FUN! Definitely the best gift of the year, hands down! It was funny because one of my gifts from my AMAZING and thoughtful husband was a massage a few days after Christmas. She noticed a knot in my right shoulder and was asking me about it. I was so embarrassed to say, "Well, we got Wii for Christmas and I've been playing some tennis ..." She just laughed. She'd heard it before!

Germany loves fireworks, so New Year's Eve was an experience! Because of the age of our kids and the extreme COLD here, we didn't go out "on the town" ... just watched out the window at midnight. Unfortunately, Ashley and Lexi fell asleep at 11:20 pm and didn't even move when all the noise started. But Shane popped out of his room right at 12 ... ready to see some "pireworks." Awesome!

Now, with the holidays behind us, we are looking forward to what the new year will bring! I will be teaching the "Enhancing Your Marriage" Bible Study for the ladies' group here, starting next week and I'm really looking forward to it. We have also planned our first real trip and will be going to Berlin at the end of next week. It is about a 5 hour drive and we'll be staying in a German apartment. I'm sure it is going to be quite an experience and I'll definitely post pics!

I'm posting the picture of Miss Alexis, because she lost her tooth!!! What a cutie, with that hole in the front!!!