Oh how I love thee.....

Today, we are heading West of the mountains for Michael's brother's father's funeral tomorrow morning. After the funeral, we are heading up to stay at Dad's house for the weekend.
Saturday is also our 11th anniversary so we are celebrating tomorrow night by going out to dinner. I just wanted to write a quick post to publicly acknowledge my husband and how much I love him.
Aside from God, he has been my provider, my rock, and my best friend through quite alot in our little 11-year marriage. We've been through the death of a parent, a miscarriage, parents divorcing, depression and other mental illnesses in the family, a brother deployed in Iraq, the birth of our 5 children, and 9 moves. He has been there with me through it all. And he has handled what has been thrown at us with bravery, dignity, and strength. I would not have survived it all without him.
Tomorrow he'll be the "chaplain" at his step-father's funeral. He was asked to do so last night. The VA chaplain fell through. He has no time to prepare or study since he's working and traveling today and has college schoolwork to do tonight in the hotel. He's never even done anything like this before....but he's accepted the challenge anyways. That's just him. He's there when you need him. It will ease his brother's burden of not having to look any further and his brother is free to attend to long list of other things that he has to deal with during this time.
So, Happy Anniversary Michael.
I love you and cherish you more than you could ever imagine.

I feel it....

Do you?
The $828 billion dollar "wedgie" we all just got yesterday......ouch.
I'm hoping they prove my republican-self wrong, because I've got bills to pay and house to sell sometime in the next year.
**Edited** In my disgust yesterday, I accidentally wrote "million" instead of "billion". I've never had to even think in terms of "billion" before because the number is just so ridiculously high. That's how serious this really is folks......

God's answer to our economic woes....

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14


Blessings!

Change can be good...

I smile at every person I see in our neighborhood, even though I feel like crying.

This actually is a new neighborhood. We have to get used to a new place, new people, and create a new routine one more time.

When my kids have cried over moving again, I’ve let my tears flow with them and then I’ve rightfully said, “It’s o.k. to be sad. Just remember to accept the good that will surely come.”

In saying those words to my crying children, I’m really saying those words to myself...

"Remember to keep your heart open to the little whispers of joy that will come; because there is a God who loves us, and He is near."

He doesn’t give us change to punish, He gives us change to grow us into the type of person who can more fully understand and appreciate Him.

There is a method to His ways. They always lead us back to Him, and if we let them, they also lead us to see the people around us as He sees them, and to appreciate the plan He has laid out for us with His Son at the center.

That is His pattern every time; in every change, and in every new beginning.

And when I remember this truth, I can take my kids by the hand and help them wave to the new neighbors too, or have fun with them as we memorize a new phone number or figure out a new grocery store or try a new restaurant.

If I am a leader to my kids, it is because I know there is One greater who is leading me. If I plan for their futures, it is because I know He has a bright future out there for them.

If I teach and prepare them to take care of themselves as they grow, it is because in the growing there is joy and satisfaction and good.

I believe that there is One greater who is leading me. Also, a husband who stands beside me and partners in that understanding.

Good things can happen in our family even through the mess of new starts and the confusion of losing that which is friendly and familiar.

We can still plan for a bright future, and we can revel in a past that has brought friendship, happiness, and growth to us and to our children.

New neighbors, new friends, new stores, new patterns of daily life, all of it means something; and that something is important and eternal.

Blessings!