Free graphics.

I am making these available to anyone that might want them.

You can use this sign on your blog or website to show your support for our troops.

Or you can use these as the wallpaper on your computer if you like.

I am personally using them as a reminder to pray for our troops. Whenever I start my computer and see my desktop, I can pray for them.

You should be able to click on them and it will open a new window. Right-click on them and save them to your hard drive. A link back if possible would be great. Please don't alter them or use them for commercial purchases. You can put them on your commercial site to show your support for our troops, but not profit from them.

Enjoy!

Saturday Sendoff

Why was Hailey trying to take a nap yesterday on these hard, wooden bleachers?

Because yesterday, we got up at 5:00am to drive to Ephrata to see the farewell ceremony for her Uncle Jay.

He's the one right here on the right. He's commanding his batallion on their next deployment to the middle east for 15 months. This is their second deployment there.

I must say, I've never been prouder of my Brother-in-law!
(I didn't realize he was "The Commander". Wow. That's alot of responsibility...)

They had a small parade in honor of the soldiers.

Some men came around and handed us some flags to wave as they went by. The town had yellow ribbons up on the poles down main street.

Please remember to keep them, and all our troops, in your prayers!

We love you Uncle Jay!

Vote....then pray!

We voted today. Now it's time to pray.

Me sick...

We were supposed to head West of the mountains to Gramma-sit for my Dad until Sunday then stay couple of days to visit my Dad. Sunday night I started not feeling very well, went to bed early to get a good night's sleep instead of packing for the trip. Monday I was sick with the flu....or so I thought. Yesterday I woke up with full-blown tonsilitis and a 103.5* fever. Michael came home yesterday from work and I was in bed all day. Today I feel a tad better, but not much, my throat is still very swollen and hurts. Haven't taken a temp but have been taking Dayquil and Nyquil around the clock. I'm debating on whether or not to go to the Doctor. Last time I had this, they said there was nothing they could do since it was probably viral. The kids are soo bummed. They want so badly to see Grampa and Michelle! Please pray that this will pass and that we can head over that way next week for a visit. Thanks.

Wow, there just seems to be alot of sadness recently! A very sweet lady from our church in Az. just passed away yesterday from cancer. She worked with the "cubbies" in AWANA and was one of Jacob and Matthew's leaders. Please pray for their family during this time. She's in a much better place at the feet of Jesus but I'm sure that they are missing her terribly! She was an incredibly sweet lady and had the greatest joy that just radiated from her face. I'll always remember her smile. Blessings!

Anne Jackson

"Union 76. Gone. But not forgotten."

I just got done watching the memorial service for Officer Jackson on King5.com. Our news over here has barely mentioned it, much less shown the service. Knuckleheads. Anyways, I was fine until they did that part of the ceremony. Wow. If you've never heard it before, you should listen sometime. The dispatcher says over the microphone the officer's call sign. No reply. Repeats it 3 or 4 times. No replies. Then she says, "Union 76. Gone. But not forgotten." It's really moving. Please continue your prayers for the families of all the vicitms. Also, for the officers and their families. I know that it's hit the officers really hard...notice I'm home, not at Dad's.

Please pray!

I don't know if you all have seen this story on your local news, here's a link to the story but 6 people were killed in a shooting spree yesterday up here in Washington. The man was mentally ill. 1 person that died was a Sheriff's deputy, some others were "random" people, 2 construction workers and a guy just driving down the freeway. Please pray for the families of these people. This is our "hometown" area and I can actually picture the places that these things happened in my mind. My heart is just so broken....

Please pray

I'm calling on all my peeps (my 5 regulars, LOL) to please pray for us. We were going to give our 30-day notice with our landlord last week, being that it was the end of the month, and Michael's boss told us to "hold off". He has some loose ends to tie up before he gives us the go ahead to move. Anyways, over the weekend Michael was emailed by 2 different companies here in Abq that wanted him to fill out some paperwork so they can get him in for interviews. One even called him on the phone today to make sure he got the paperwork over the weekend and see when they can expect it back. One is for a "plant manager" and one is a "selling branch manager". Both sound like legitimate jobs and might even be decent paying (I can only hope!). Please, please, please, pray that if this is what God wants for us that we'll KNOW and know soon! This is the only real interest he's received in the last 3 months but with the timing it looks like maybe Washington isn't in our future???? Thanks!

Anymore drama and I might develop a tic...

Gonna make it quick tonight. I've been searching the net on any info I can get on tick bites. I found a tick on Hailey this afternoon. This is the 2nd one we've found in about 2 weeks. I found one on Matthew but it hadn't bitten yet. Anyways, I ran out and bought all the tick killin' stuff I could get my hands on tonight. Gave both dogs a bath and meds. Sprayed down both the front and back yards and Friday we're fumigating the house. I'm sick to my stomach reading all about these icky things but AGAIN, all I can do is give it to God. I'm going to call the Ped tomorrow and hopefully she'll do some preventative meds instead of waiting for an infection to show up. Please pray for Hailey that this turns into nothing! And that I don't find anyMORE. We can't get out of Abq fast enough:) This is the weirdest place we've ever lived!
P.s. We were told to hold off giving our 30 day notice. Looks like this buyout is going to go through and we won't be going to Spokane?? ::sigh:: How much drama can one woman take!

"The Plan"

Thanks for the nice comments and email. They really meant alot:) I have really great friends.

We've decided to move to Spokane. We'll be selling about half of what we own, only taking the essentials and renting a small 3 bedroom apartment.

At least that's the plan for now. His boss is optimistic that this "buy out" will still go through, and then Michael will still make his salary and hit the road like we originally planned. Then me and the kids would shack up with my Dad.

Even if none of that happens, we'll be moved closer to family and he can still be looking for another job.

So, that's the plan! It'll probably be a quick move, maybe Labor Day weekend. Definately not ideal but we'll survive:)

Thanks for your prayers and I'm done being a "drama queen" ::snort::

Blessings,

Storms

I've been doing a bit of crying today and I kept playing this song over and over again on my cd player.

We are in just such a weird place in our lives right now and we're just not sure where to go from here.

We made the decision last week that Michael would work for his old boss on the West coast and he would travel for the next couple of years while he completed his accounting degree. Me and the kids were moving up to stay on my Dad's property to save money on rent so we can apply that to our massive debt and get it paid off by the time Michael was done with school.

He would then open his own accounting firm and we'd live happily ever after.

One problem, this "plan" sortof hinged on his company buying out another company in California and Michael would be busy converting those offices for the next 2-3 years...

They're having some hiccups with the buyout. His boss called him today and told him that he needed to take a position in Portland or Spokane, Wa. He'd be paid his salary through the end of the year but after that, his salary would essentially be cut in half. This is a "two-step back" move for him. Back out of management. It's nothing to do with his performance, they just have no where else for him to go right now.

Needless to say, this is NOT great news. So, we're trying to figure out what to do at this point.

I'm willing to do whatever God wants us to do but I'm still sick to my stomach. How do you make that go away?

So, could ya'll please pray for us.

Thank you.

P.s. I know that we got ourselves into this mess. Don't think I'm whining. I just feel deflated because now that we've made the decision to take care of things it feels like the rug has been pulled out from under us...