Never too old for the Pumpkin Patch

The twins and I visited a nearby Pumpkin Patch today and had so much fun together. They didn't have school, and it was BEAUTIFUL outside, so we spent the afternoon enjoying the outdoors (surrounded by pumpkins!).

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Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere... Big ones...

Really big ones... Little ones...Weird ones...

DJ thought pushing the wheel barrel was fun...even when it got really heavy once they started picking out pumpkins to take home. I'm sure glad he liked it so much because I sure didn't want to push it through all those fields! After finding their pumpkins, we got lost in a cornstalk maze. I started to get a little worried that we wouldn't figure out how to get out, and it wasn't like anyone was standing nearby to help us. The twins weren't worried one bit. In fact, they thought it would be really funny to have to call dad to come find us.The Pumpkin Patch also had hayrides and games and a petting barn. This was my favorite picture from there. Aren't they all adorable?!

My Warrior

He's a Soldier.

He's a husband.

He's a dad.

He's a son.

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Into battle he will go one day,

No gun upon his chest;

Just a bible and our prayers,

For it's the cross he represents.

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He marches with our Soldiers,

No matter what the cost,

For the One who called him said,

"Follow me, for some are lost."

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He's my hero!

He's my love!

He's their chaplain,

For our God.

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As I was just about to sit down to eat lunch with a friend today, my husband walked through the door in his ACUs (camo uniform) and painted face. He had been in the field to see his Soldiers. I felt so honored to be his wife as he quickly grabbed his lunch and headed back out. Typically, I'll just start praying when I have thoughts of him going off to war, but today was different. I wanted to write a poem about the man I love who is willing to follow the Lord, even in times of war. Although he will never carry a gun, he's still a warrior...

After a long, hard day he still let me take his picture! He said it was a really good day and he loved spending time with his Soldiers.

Home Sweet Home

Well, since so many have asked to see the house, here you go...

This shows how the living room, dining room and kitchen are set up. My husband had to have his trophy bucks on the wall...even though there wasn't much room. There's a big wall behind the table, but I was adamant about them NOT going there!

Here's a close-up of the living room. It's a little strange because we couldn't get the whole shrunk in here, but it's nice and cozy! We have four large windows that take up the entire wall to the right. Here's a close-up of the kitchen. It's small, but I love it! It's easy to clean and was just renovated before we moved in.

Here's part of our master bedroom. It was tough to get a good shot. The bed falls right in the middle of the room so you can tell there's a lot more room on the other side and behind me, where there's also a master bathroom and closet. We had to put part of our shrunk in our room since we couldn't find anywhere else to put it.

Here's DR's room. We've still got a little decorating to do, but he's happy with it!
Here's DJ's. He got the larger one...sweet DR gave it to him!We're almost completely settled in...only 12 boxes to go! We miss you all back home!!

Please pray!

Today they will inspect our home for the buyers!! We don't foresee any problems at all, but I believe in bathing everything in prayer so please help us pray! I'm praising God we've made it this far and hope to be able to report good news that we no longer own this house by the end of the month! It's weird to sit here and look at this picture. We have a lot of great memories from our time in this home, but my prayer is that another family will have many great memories in this home!

Thank you, Lord, for hearing our prayers today. We trust you and ask that you watch over our house today. It's ready for a new family and we ask that everything continue to run smoothly so that it can be theirs by the end of the month. Thank you for friends and family who have prayed for the sale of this home for months on end, and thank you for their willingness to help us keep it clean and ready for showing. Thank you for your love and mercy. I praise you, God, even before I know the outcome because I know you know what is best for us. You gave us this home and we know in your timing you will give it to another family. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

There's a particular email I get every once in a while that means a lot to me as a mom. It's always titled "update" and always makes my day! My son's girlfriend sends them to me and with that I thought I'd post something about her...

Our son hasn't ever really been big on dating or having a girlfriend, patiently waiting for the right person to come along, but a few weeks before we left he finally let me in on his secret...he had a girlfriend. It wasn't something he wanted to tell me about because, suspecting he was liking someone, I had been telling him to not get in a relationship right before he left for training or it would make it more difficult for him. I'll admit - although it might be more difficult, I'm extremely happy for him. She's a wonderful, Christian girl who cares a lot about other people. It's evident in so many ways, and I feel blessed to have her in my son's life. It's interesting to me how God works. I know a lot of thought and long talks went in to making this decision to date before he left, but I see how God has blessed him in it all. He now has another family who loves him and invites him for dinner and to do things with them, which makes me happy because I hated leaving him when we left. He also has someone who encourages him and prays for him and wants for him whatever God wills for his life. It means a lot to me that she takes the time to write me and encourage me and fill me in on their time together. I thank God for blessing our son with such a precious girlfriend!

I know this doesn't have a whole lot to do with being a military wife, but it has a lot to do with being a mom. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my kids back home and I'm happy for him.

My husband and I have been enjoying a four day weekend together. I'm learning very quickly to take every chance I'm given to be with him...we never know when we might not have that opportunity. It's not just about being married to someone in the military; I think all married couples should never take time with their spouse for granted. When I started typing I wasn't talking about death...I was just referring to the times he will have to be away because of his job, but I think we all should realize that we're not guaranteed tomorrow and show our love when we have the chance.

The Giant and the Waves

This morning I was cleaning out a few more boxes, trying to find places to put those items, when the song "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns came on. For anyone who knows us, this has been a song that really touched our lives as it spoke so directly to both mine and my husband's heart as we were praying about the chaplaincy. Today it rang loud and clear again as it hasn't been an easy step of faith, nor has it been easy for my husband as he has arrived here and begun something so foreign to him.

Most people would probably think it's very similar to being a pastor, but he would tell you differently now. Maybe it's because he is in a brand new unit and there hasn't been a chaplain before him, or maybe it's simply because he has never done this sort of thing before, but it comes with fear that he won't do something the way it's supposed to be done. He describes it as the first day of school where you don't know anyone or anything....but lingering on.

I spend a lot of time in prayer for him as I know this isn't easy. I have full confidence that he is already doing a fine job. His humbleness would never allow him to see it though. I know there are moments when our faith is tested, and I just believe God is showing my husband that he can trust Him to equip him for every good work. For now, the giants are there, telling him he's not capable of doing this and the waves are so tall, whispering to his heart that he will fail (or sink), BUT we both know that as long as he keeps his eyes on the Lord he will accomplish everything the Lord has for him to accomplish, to the glory of God. We'll just keep telling the giant he has no say so in this matter, and to the waves we say, "He [Jesus] got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm (Mark 4:39).

It's been a long time since...

• I've cooked full meals for my family - not opening up a package and having one dish.
• Baked cookies with my kids. The twins and I have had so much fun making cookies in the afternoon the last two days.
• I've made my bed every morning!
• I've kept my house clean - every room and bathroom.
• I've been able to get little things done - those "not so important" things that we save for when we think we'll have time.
• I've had the time/energy to work-out at the gym - and it not cost me a small fortune!!!
• I've had the energy to spend quality time with my family in the evening.
• I've sat down and done nothing for an hour or two and not felt bad about it.
• I've been able to pamper my husband every day. I told him last night I love getting the chance to do this right now. He needs it. I need it.
• I've been a stay-at-home wife/mom - and I absolutely LOVE it!

There are seasons in life and this one has me home, taking care of my family. I don't know how long it will last as we might need me to go back to work if our house doesn't sell soon, but for now I'm grateful. It's always difficult to work full-time and then come home to have to cook and clean and do laundry and spend time with your family. I feel for every mom and dad out there doing that right now. I know it's also tough to be a stay-at-home wife/mom, too. Been there and done that before as well. But, it's nice when you've wrestled with those feelings of possibly letting your family down in some way, because life is just too busy and you have to work, to get to let go of that and just enjoy the moment - however long it may be.

Don't get me wrong, I had an awesome job, working for and with some great people (and knew God had me there for a reason), but, as a wife and mother of four, I sometimes got so aggravated at myself about the way I didn't feel like doing much other than going to get something to eat, because I definitely didn't want to cook, and going to bed, when I walked through the door in the evenings, exhausted from a long day at work.

So, for now, I'm just enjoying the things I haven't done in a long time!

Go Big Daddy Weave!

On Saturday evening Big Daddy Weave came for us to enjoy a free concert here on post. I say, "Go Big Daddy Weave!" because they didn't perform for us; they lead us in worship! It was an amazing time of worshipping and praising God, and my family was so grateful for that. They did a great job of leading, even having PowerPoint there for us to join in, and we were blessed. There was one song where they had us all jumping up and down and I looked over to see the twins and my husband laughing and having such a good time together. It made me stop (in my mind because we couldn't stop jumping!) and thank the Lord for the beauty I saw in their faces as they worshipped God together, and for the confirmation once again that I felt in my heart that we are where we are supposed to be in this moment in time.

Their song, "Every Time I Breathe" was a tool God used to get me through the summer without my husband, and I could tell there were many others there at the concert that it must have touched in a similar way.

Thank you, Big Daddy Weave, for following God's calling on your lives and for coming out to lead us in an awesome time of worship.

What will you do with your time today?

Our home has been in a little bit of disarray over the last four months so it's nice to finally be setting up a new home AND have my husband here with us. He's still learning the ropes of what it means to be a chaplain in the Army, and I'm still adjusting to being home and not going to work for a company, but it feels good...it feels real good!

I haven't blogged much lately because I've been trying to get my new home in order and, more than anything, I have so much on my mind that I'm not even sure how to begin putting it into words. I guess one of the nagging questions on my mind is how will I handle it when it's my husband's turn to go to war, and how can I reach out to those in my path right now. I'm meeting women whose husbands are there right now or have just returned and it's very difficult for them and I'm not really sure what to do or say. I've not really been there yet. The six months my husband was in a war zone while in the Air Force doesn't seem to compare to what they are facing now. I know the Lord will guide me as he was faithful to do yesterday, but we both covet your prayers as we seek the Lord's guidance in how to minister to those we come into contact with. We also ask that you pray for our soldiers and their families. If they don't come to mind every day, set out some sort of reminder for yourself.

We're learning this very quickly - it's a very difficult time for them right now and they need people praying for them, as well as encouraging and getting involved in their lives if you know them. If you know of a family who has a deployed family member, go visit them today. Take them cookies and ask them how you can help. Pray with them. Take their kids for a while or ask to stay with them while they run some errands. Take them meals. Anything to let them know you are thinking of them and want to be there for them in a time of great need. Do something! If you know of someone, but aren't close by, send them a card or gifts or something; give them a call. You never know the impact you might have on their lives this very day...