Anywhere but There, Lord…Please!

Being a military spouse, you get used to the constant moving.  Not that one always like it, but it just goes with the territory of military life.  But there usually is a place or two on everyone's list that ranks at the very bottom for desirable places to live.  We all have our different reasons.  Some prefer the cold, others warmer climates.  Some love the plentiful trees and flowers of the south, others the wide open spaces of the west, still others the heartland of America.  If you ask most military people, they can give you the one or two places they would least like to go…and the reasons for it.  There have only ever been two on my list…otherwise, I am pretty easy going when it comes to picking up and planting myself somewhere else.  The first place I would never choose…Alaska.  Why?  The six months of light deprivation would probably drive me crazy.  I NEED my sunshine!  It makes me happy!  The second place I would never choose…Oklahoma!  Now, for you Oklahomans out there…nothing personal.  This is just my list.  I wasn't too crazy about my own southern hometown either.  Two days ago, we found out where we are going next…want to take a guess? FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA!  Yes, number two on my least desirable place to live.  In case you are curious about this place I will soon call home...here we go:

1)  LOTS and LOTS of days of 100 degree weather.

2)  Home of the brown tarantula (Did I ever tell you I have arachnophobia?)

3)  Has my second least favorite arachnid - the scorpion.

4)  301% above the national average for tornado activity

5)  Higher than the national average crime rate…need I go on?

Yes, in September (Praise the Lord He gave me 8 months to get a handle on this one) we are Oklahoma bound.

But, the most discouraging news…the two things I prayed about most…finding a doctor who specializes in the care I need and a good church.  God knew that even Ft. Sill would be welcome if those two factors were met.  

I don't know about the church yet…but there is not a single chiropractic doctor that specializes in the care I need in the whole state of Oklahoma.  The nearest one…three hours away in Texas.

So, what am I to do?  Cry?  Check…did that!  Have myself a pity party?  Check…did that too!  Get mad at God!  Heaven forbid!  Does this mean He doesn't love me?  That He doesn't understand my needs?  That He didn't ordain these events for my good?  No, it doesn't.  How can I talk about the Sovereignty of a loving God and not believe it when things like this come into my life?  This is one of those moments when I do not see the hand of my God…but I choose to trust His heart.  I know He loves me…I know He knows my physical needs…and I believe that He will work ALL things for my good.  So, no more pity parties, crying spells, and rantings about the negatives.  God has ordained that I go to Oklahoma…what do I believe He will do?

1)  Give me lots of sunshine with that 100 degree weather…after all, sunshine makes me happy.

2)  Help me face my fear of spiders.

3)  Oh, and scorpions too!

4)  Show me that He is the God of the storms of life…whether they be the ones over the horizon, or the ones I face personally

5)  Show me that He is the One I put my safety in…not what man can do to me.

What about the doctor?  Well, I am trusting Him for a miracle…and Oklahoma is just as good a place for a miracle as any other!

Gospel-Centered Marriages ~ Part Two ~ FINALLY!

It has been forever since I have blogged.  Our children decided they would pass around viruses of all kinds for two months straight!  It was a little hard to find blogging time during that run of sickness.  But, I did want to share some more highlights from the conference.  One of the things I greatly appreciated was the fact that most of the speakers stressed just the day to day being in the Word of God.  There are suggestions and ideas to help families navigate through the courtship process, but the best preparation for courtship is to ground your son or daughter in the Bible.  Make sure they are hiding God's Word in their hearts.  If not, all the courtship do's and don'ts mean nothing because the foundation has not been properly laid.

It is only by being in God's Word that a husband and a wife know the correct order in a home…how a husband is to lead and a wife be the submissive helpmeet.  This, in itself, is a wonderful preparation for our children to enter into courtship and marriage.  And if you are like most families we met there, you will be the first generation in your family to navigate children through this thing called courtship. So, many of these waters are untested for us.  Another idea that was continually stressed was that courtship looks different for every family.  Yes, there are some main principles, but how you flesh those out among your own children will look different from the next persons.  In fact, it will most likely look different in your own family from one child to the next.

One of the main things I came away with was to make sure that my husband and I are continually praying about and with our children for their future spouses.  We have made it a practice since our first child was born to pray this way.  And now that my oldest daughter is fifteen, she too is praying almost daily for her future husband.  If a family bathes this most crucial time in prayer, I believe God will faithfully help you navigate through courtship with His leading.  

Next time, I hope to share some of the principles of courtship that were shared at the conference.  But, for those of you that are looking to go through this courtship process with your children, saturate yourselves and your children in the Word and prayer.  Then, trust God for the results.  He is faithful to provide all our needs.

Gospel-Centered Marriages Conference ~ Part 1

Well, we arrived home safe and sound from the conference.  However, my youngest daughter ended up getting sick the last day of the conference.  I think getting off our regular diet and lack of sleep was a little too much for her.  As is usual, it has gone around all the children.  I think in a day or two we will  be back to normal again.  For those of you that commented on my son's rash, it ended up being a viral infection.  I have seen rashes at the end of viral infections before, but nothing of this magnitude.  I am always amazed at things the body can catch and the different ways each of my children react to the same virus.

How can one family need so much for just a few days?  

One of the idiosyncrasies of our family…we have to have a fan for background noise to sleep.  So, we make sure we always take one with us.

I usually have my list of things that need to be packed.  I never thought I would arrive at this moment.  I remember having to pack for all five children and myself.  Now, I can sit and read off the list of things needed.  They run and get them, run it by me and pack it in the suitcase!!  It's GREAT!

Some of us wanted to get on the road a little faster than we could pack.

While on the road we saw some interesting sights….don't you just love vintage cars?  

Finally, after multiple stops for bathroom breaks and car sickness, we finally saw the mountains before us.  It was truly a beautiful sight.  It is one of my dreams to live in the mountains again someday, Lord willing.

The trees were not at their peak when we were there, but there were still some gorgeous colors.  It was so lovely to see this sight when we left our rooms every morning.

Undulating hills and fall trees dotted our landscapes.

Finally, we reached our destination.  Ridgecrest is a lovely setting and it was such a wonderful time in the Lord.  We met new friends, fellowshipped with many people and sat under godly teaching.  I hope to be sharing some of the insights we learned about there.  Until next time!

Happy Birthday Joy!

My how time flies.  It seems like it was just yesterday when I was wishing you a Happy Birthday for the big 14!  Now, you are 15 and growing more and more into a young woman.  What a blessing you have been to our lives.  I remember when it was time to think about naming you.  I wanted your name to come from the Bible…and Joy kept coming back over and over again.  The Bible is full of the word joy.  It is to characterize the whole Christian life.  And it has been a fitting name for you as you have brought such joy to our family.

You have changed so much in just a year.  The traces of the little girl are all but gone.  More and more you are giving up those childish wishes and replacing them with the desire to be a more godly woman.  It is a bittersweet time.  

I am so thankful for the help you are to me.  In times of health issues and deployments, you have been such a great source of encouragement and service.  You have pushed through and done things that needed to be done even when it was hard.  

You have always been giving.  Even when you were little, you would gladly give up your dessert to your father and me if we had wanted it.  Even now, you do the same for any member of your family.  And you are always quick to think of our sponsored children, donating money given to you to help them out.  I pray God continues to grow this spirit of giving in you.  You can never outgive God.

So today Joy…let me say Happy Birthday to my firstborn daughter.  Thank you for being so loving and loyal.  I hope the Lord allows me many years to share in your triumphs and your struggles.  I am so blessed to call you my daughter and cherishing more and more everyday that I also call you my friend.  May the Lord continue the good work He has begun in you.  I love you!

Keeping the Homeschool Vision Alive

Today I am guest posting for Heather over at Raising Mighty Arrows.  Please come and join me there.  And if you have not had a chance to be blessed by Heather's blog yet, I hope you will stop by and "see" her.  She has posts to encourage wives and mothers in their Biblical calling.  See you there!  Just click on the link above.

Also, I have my next installment ready for Wednesdays on my series on Training Daughters.  I will be tackling Modesty Issues ~ Part 2.  Please join me next week.  God bless you!

Watch this Movie for Free

I just found out that the movie Divided is now online and can be watched for free.  For those of you interested in seeing it, you can go here.  Happy watching!

Confessions of a Negligent Blogger

Okay, I must confess....I have been a negligent blogger.  I will try to do better.  So many things have been happening...I thought I would share a few of the things that have kept calling me away from my blogging world.

Well, there is the lovely campus to see.  Lots of things to explore there!  Oh, and we have just finished up our end of year testing...I was a little late on that one!

There are produce stands and farmer's markets!

Plenty of toads to keep a mother happy!

Beautiful butterflies outside my windows.

Skies only God could paint!

Our friends that come and feast at the edge of the property.

Some of the most beautiful moths I have ever seen!

The first Luna moth I have seen in person...landing on my wedding hat. 

And then there are the not so beautiful things...like huge slugs wrapping around my daughter's arm.  You would be proud of me...I didn't even jump.  I don't want to be "that" kind of Mom.

And did I mention...my five blessings...who make my days so blessed.   I really will try to do better...but if I am negligent again...you will know why!  Have a blessed day!

What the Last Few Weeks Have Been Like

I thought I would show you a glimpse of our last few weeks.  This first picture is from the hallway of the house we just moved out of.  Jonathan was getting boxes we stored in the attic so we could pack for our move.

We did a partial move ourselves through Uhaul.  As you can see, the truck was backed up to the front door for easy loading.  Here my husband is placing one of our red bookcases.

Many of the boxes that we packed ourselves were full of books.  Even though the boxes were small, they were a little heavy for one child to carry themselves.  But, our children still desired to help.  And they were a very big help at that too!  Here the girls are carrying a box together.  They would carry them out and then Jonathan would put them in place.

My boys in action.

Joy carrying one by herself.  She has a thing for going barefooted.

Finally hitting the road in the Uhaul.  The children took turns riding in the front with Daddy. 

After we unloaded the Uhaul at our new home, it was right back to Fayetteville to prepare for the movers to come and pack/load everything else.  When you move as much as we do with moving companies, you learn to have a "no pack" corner.  These are the things that you want to be able to put your hands on as soon as you get to the new place without sifting through hundreds of boxes!

Our den soon became an obstacle course.

This is the bonus room in the new house.  See why I have not been blogging much lately?  Most of the rooms looked like this. 

I hope to show you some pictures of this room when it is finished.  I still have quite a ways to go.  This is going to be school room/library/craft room...so there is a lot to put away and find places for everything.  I am so thankful it is a nice large room and there are so many windows.  I just love having the light shine through most of the day. 

Oh, I wanted to show you a creature that was attempting to be a stowaway.  So glad the children didn't catch him.  They would have been smuggling it to the new house.

And this is the view of the house we are living in for the next 14 months...until we get ready to do this all over again! 

And this my friends is what we all did when it was finally over! 

Introducing a New Blogger

My oldest daughter Joy has wanted a blog for some time now.  I told her when she was 15, she would be able to start blogging.  Well,even though it is still a few months away from her birthday, I allowed her to start creating her blog.  It didn't take her long to create in a few hours what I could hardly figure out in days!  So, I gave in and told her she could have her blog now.  If you get a chance, hop on over to Wheat in His Barn and say hello.  She is hoping her blog will encourage other young girls to love the Lord, honor their parents, love their siblings and take great pleasure in being wives and mothers in training.  I am very blessed to call her my daughter.

Domestic Artist in Training

This girl has been working on....

Making these crocheted dresses....and

This detail...and

Piecing together this quilt top...and

These blocks from leftover yarn...and

This embroidery project.  I think I see an etsy shop somewhere in her future!