Extraordinary moments in an ordinary life

Second Stop: The Petrified Forest

2012-02-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Petrified Forest was another one of those places that was geologically interesting. The kids were amazed that the "trees turned into rocks!" They expected a forest of rocks but they could clearly see the tree shape and eventually they seemed to understand. We were late coming through here and the park was closing so we did not get to go to the museum but maybe someday we'll plan another visit to do that. And an FYI if you plan a visit, most of the petrified wood and logs seemed to be on the South side of the park. The North end of the park was primarily the "Painted Desert" part of the park. That post is coming up next!
The Petrified Forest

Susie, are you having fun yet?

After being in the car seat for a few hours, sitting still for a picture was NOT on her list of To Do's.

First Stop: Valley Of Fires Recreation Area

2012-02-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

Ok first let me clarify that several of these "stops" were not literal stops. Several of our tourists visits were done drive-thru style. We wanted to see so much in our three days that we couldn't get out and run around at every single place.
Valley of Fires was one of these drive by visits. I had no idea how much volcanic activity there has been in the desert southwest! Through out or trip we kept seeing so many volcanic, seismic related sights. This area is covered with old lava flows and volcanic rock. It really is amazing to see a frozen lava flow in the middle of the desert. So here are a few pics and a link to the park website. It looks like a great place to spend a morning or afternoon while Rich is deployed. One of my favorite deployment activities is exploring so I bet that we'll be back.
Valley of Fires

Weekend Escape

2012-02-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

Our family got away this weekend to have some fun and see some sights.

We did a whirlwind tour of ...

Valley of Fires

The Petrified Forest
The Painted Desert
Flagstaff, AZ
The Grand Canyon
Wupatki Ruins
Tuscon, AZ
Saguaro National Forest
Tombstone, AZ
picking up my mother-in-law at the airport in El Paso
and then back home!
That's over 1500 miles that we traveled in 3 days!!
Updates coming as soon as I get over the germs I brought back as a souvenir.

For every parent of a bald baby girl...

2012-02-17T09:59:00.002-07:00

New Growth

2012-02-16T13:57:00.001-07:00

My little seedlings are growing happily on the window sill! I love watching them and caring for them. Trying to give them just the right amount of moisture - not too much and not too little. Sometimes I take them outside to harden them off for the permanent move outside. That day can't come soon enough for my husband. The poor guy can't understand why I would want dirt in my house. He never complains but I know he'll be happy to see the gardening process moved outside again.

I can't help looking at my seedling without thinking of this verse...

John 12:24-25 Very truly I tell you,

unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,

it remains only a single seed.

But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Anyone who loves their life will lose it,

while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

And then I wonder... Have I "fallen to the ground and died"? Obviously, Jesus has already taken the punishment of death onto himself. He was truly dead and buried just as my seeds were "dead" and buried but he was raised again to conquer sin and death. However, he still calls us to die to self. The process of sanctification calls us to die to ourselves, to give up our will for God's will. We have to give up our self-centered life to serve God and to serve Him by serving others. Thankfully He does this work in us because we could never do it in our own strength.

I've been thinking lately how I have to die to myself in my relationship with my kids. I am not supposed to serve them because my kids are so perfect or worth serving, but because God is perfect and worth serving. He calls me to serve them, care for them, and love them so that I can show them who He is. I suppose we should do this in all of our relationships but as wives and mothers our family is our primary mission field. And don't get me wrong, I love my kids and I love my life but sometimes what I feel like doesn't match the reality of what love is!

Sometimes we don't feel like loving our children. Sometimes it's because they don't act very loveable. Yes, my sweethearts can be less than charming and if you tell me that yours are always loveable, I won't believe you. Children are fallen, sinful people just like their parents. But most of the time, I find that my attitude is simply selfish. I don't want to solve another fight or fix another meal for purely selfish reasons. "I want to sleep in." "I want to read a book with a greater than 3rd grade vocabulary." or "I want to sit and blog." (ahem! Not that I would do that...) In those moments, God calls us to die to ourselves, to die to our sinful nature. We aren't called to do this just for our kids' sakes or for our own, but for God's. Sometimes it's hard to sacrifice one more thing for my kids, in spite of my great love for them. But when I remember who that service and sacrifice is REALLY for, then it gets a little easier. Just as Christ died for my sins, so also my sinful self must die for service of Him. And as God is destroying the old sinful me, he is enjoying the new me as a "living sacrifice". That's Sanctification.

And perhaps someday, the new me will be used to produce fruit in the sanctified form of these three little hooligans running around my house.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 6:11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Hands

2012-02-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Also known as "Jaws - Toddler Style"

Exercise

2012-02-14T08:57:00.024-07:00

Exercising when the kids are loose is always an adventure.

Sometimes they figure I need help. I guess my feet looked cold.
But don't you think that the in-your-face-purple sock was the best choice for my exercise sweats?

But kids are great workout buddies because they're always ready to do one more and always ready to join you.

And they can be better than any trainer at any gym.

Josh said that I wasn't done yet and he had one more exercise to teach me. (Slave driver!)

Jurassic Baby

2012-02-13T06:07:00.003-07:00

This is about 3 years old. I think that in those first few years of parenting, our kids were our biggest toys.

No

2012-02-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

We found this again today. We made it about 4 years ago. More goofy family videos coming soon.

Thai Delight

2012-02-11T10:20:00.004-07:00

Last night Rich and I got an early Valentine's Date! Yay! We were on our way to an ordinary chain restaurant in Las Cruces but it was past dinner time and our tummies were growling so that last half hour to civilization looked like an eternity. So just over the Organ Mountains we stopped at a "little hole in the wall" Thai restaurant.

Thai food has a lot of memories for us. In our newlywed days our favorite restaurant was a Thai place just down the road. So here we are in Alamogordo with nothing but Chinese buffets and some of them were shut down for serving pigeons shot in the parking lot. Go ahead read that last sentence again. I'll wait here. Has that sentence sunk in? Yes, I'm serious. Back to the non-pigeon menus...

So just over the mountain, we took a chance and I have a new favorite restaurant! I can't wait to go back again. For a drink, I started with water, trying to be calorie conscious, but when I tried Rich's Chai Thai Tea Latte, I threw diet concerns out the window!

If you love sweet tea or lattes then imagine the combination of the two and this is a thousand times better.

I would go back JUST to get one of these!

We decided to try an appetizer, but they didn't have any of my usual Thai favorites. Bummer! I don't like the normal Asian appetizers like deep fried egg rolls but this Chicken Satay was pretty yummy. Rich obviously liked it. He couldn't keep his fingers out of it long enough for me to take a picture! The dipping sauce was really, really good - sort of spicy sweet - but it was good plain too! There's an extra sauce in the picture that they let me taste. It was a ginger sauce that goes on one of their dishes. She let me taste it to help me decide which of two dishes I wanted. The ginger sauce was ok but this...

was even better! This is the Pad Si Ew. It was just like my favorite dish from our newlywed restaurant!! I've never found anything like it at other Thai restaurants so I'm so excited to find it in the middle of the NM desert! Like most Thai restaurants, you can choose if you want your dishes, mild, medium, hot, or really hot. I got mine mild. So this wasn't spicy but very flavorful and a little sweet.

Rich, a man of unchanging taste, ordered green curry. It's always the first thing he looks for on the menu at a Thai restaurant and he loved it. He got his medium and said his only complaint was that he should have asked for hot. He likes his curry good and spicy.

They do have more traditional American dishes and some kid friendly choices too

but why would you order a burger when you can have this amazing Thai food?

So if you are ever driving through the middle of nowhere in NM, look for Thai Delight, just over the Organ Mountains between Alamogordo and Las Cruces. The outside will not impress you but the food will!

Dental Fun

2012-02-10T07:00:00.001-07:00

Not long ago, I told you guys about my favorite poster hanging in the base clinic. We'll I've been catching up on dental work lately. I didn't go to the clinic on base but it sure feels like that mallet, wrench and horse-sized needle were all in my mouth.

Maybe they rent those tools to dentists in town.

But on the up side, if you can't chew then it gets really hard to get too many calories!!

Overalls

2012-02-09T11:05:00.001-07:00

I LOVE kids in overalls, especially my kids.

Crazy Man

2012-02-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

This is how my husband shows he cares. He does strange things with my childern's toys and then leaves them somewhere for me to find. Ah, love! It's a beautiful thing!

Eddie did not appreciate being interrupted in the middle of taking care of business.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

2012-02-06T08:46:00.005-07:00

And this Mother needed an invention! I needed a cough syrup that was safe for the baby. My tiniest sweetheart had a nasty deep hacking cough. It was keeping her awake at night (and me too) and I was getting desperate to give her some relief. And my sleep deprivation was not healthy. For example, I tried to put deoderant on my toothbrush. But there is no such thing as cough syrup for babies. Now they don't even sell cough suppressant for children under 6. We had a humidifier with camphor in it. We had Vaporub on her chest but none of it did a bit of good. My baby was miserable.

Eating soup with your fingers is a unique dining experience at our house. You should try it.

The invention process went something like this...

"Ok I know honey and lemon in tea are good for a cough. But i can't exactly see my kids sitting down at the table with a mug of chamomile. There must be something. Let's try just the honey and lemon. Ok juice two lemons...A few tablespoons of honey in there ... a little taste .... Woohoo that stuff is strong! ... dump the rest of the honey jar into the lemon juice...hmmm, not bad... come here Susie."

"numm numm"

That's high praise when your vocabulary is under a few dozen words!

Ok but would it help? I am not exaggerating here... 6 hours later her cough was gone!!!

I mixed this up around lunch time.

I gave her a tsp or two about every other hour and by bedtime the cough was GONE!

She woke up two times that night coughing again.

I gave her another couple of tsps and each time she went right back to sleep.

I gave her some more from time to time yesterday.

Last night - NO COUGHING! Not even a peep!

I'm not a doctor. This is the Internet, for goodness sake! I could be a lunatic. I probably am. Be careful. I just had to tell you about this stuff. It was like a miracle at our house. I only wish I had found it when my older two were this age. A few things to be aware of... Children under 1 year, should not have honey. Too much honey can cause stomach upset so don't go crazy. And in the interest of fair reporting, Susie did go on antibiotics recently. But still!! Two days of a serious, deep, body-shaking, breathless cough turned into no cough in just 6 hours?!?! I think I'm on to something here.

one cup of honey + the juice of two lemons = homemade, natural, and safe cough syrup!

The Story of A First Kiss

2012-02-04T10:40:00.010-07:00

Have you ever had one of those moments when the plan didn't work out but it was obvious that God's plan was still in action? I did! Aren't those moments exciting?! I was supposed to be at a dinner for families of deployed service members but with the kids under the weather and my own body succumbing to the germs, I had to miss it. I was disappointed because that's the sort of thing that I want to do here and the opportunities seem so limited by my family responsibilities. Instead I ended up at the commissary getting more soup and tissues.

In the checkout line, two teenage baggers were chatting. I couldn't help overhearing.
Boy: So are you going to keep yourself pure for marriage or something?
Girl: Yep. That's what I think is the right thing to do.
Boy: I couldn't do that!
Girl: Why not?
Boy: Cause I couldn't just marry someone that I had never been with!
It was all that I could do to keep myself from reminding him that a he was talking about his future wife and not test driving a car!

The rest was basically unintelligable and I didn't really want to eavesdrop. Well not much.
After my stuff was bagged I walked up to this wise young lady.
"I couldn't help overhearing your conversation and I wanted to tell you that you are doing the right thing! My first kiss was with my husband on the day that he proposed. And it was worth it to wait! You will NEVER regret waiting but you will regret the times that you went too far." The young man just laughed nervously.

This sweet young lady took my groceries to the car and we talked on the way. She said that no one ever tells her that it's worth the wait and that it's hard to hear so many people tell her the opposite. I shared a little of our love story with her. And she said that it encouraged her! It was always my goal that our love story be something that we could joyfully and freely share with our children or with anyone for that matter. I hope that it helped this young lady and now I share it here with the hope that it will encourage someone else out there. It is almost Valentine's Day after all!

I've shared a little of how we met here but here's the story of our mutual commitment to purity in our relationship. We talked early on about what we each thought was appropriate and right before marriage. I had always thought that kissing was only for a couple that would spend the rest of their lives together. I told Rich this and was surprised that he agreed! And if kissing isn't for casual dates then neither are a lot of other things.

I still remember the day that he quietly asked "Can I please hold your hand?" It was so sweet and special to feel our fingers intertwined. It was a beautiful moment that nearly brought me to tears. We sat quietly, just enjoying it.

We spent most of our time together outdoors or in public places. We went to the mall to walk around or to the movies - all of those normal date night things. We spent time getting to know each others' family or studying the Bible together. For one date, we had a picnic lunch at the park and fell asleep in the sun until dark clouds and rain drops woke us up.

We made rules to help us to be careful. We did not sit in a parked car. We did not spend time alone indoors. I don't share these things as "rules of dating". This was just what we felt we needed to do to protect each other. This was where we both felt safe. It kept us from crossing lines that we might regret later. It was a beautiful special thing. I always felt loved and valued and respected by the restraint that Rich showed during this time of our lives. And it gave me a greater respect for him.

The day that Rich proposed had been a rough one at work. We had even fought the night before because he had been stuck late at work. But he showed up at my classroom with a dozen roses and a ring. I had thought that he was at work! He asked me to marry him and we shared our first kiss. It meant so much more to me than some random unplanned spontaneous kiss after an ordinary trip to the movies. It turns out that the previous night, he hadn't been stuck at work after all. He had been at my parent's house asking my dad's permission!

And when restraint was fully lifted by the covenant of marriage, it was beautiful and special. We could trust each other because we had already trusted each other throughout our relationship.

You will never regret waiting, but you will always regret the times that you went too far.

Christian vs Non-Christian

2012-02-03T10:23:00.002-07:00

Should there be a difference between how we talk to Christians and Non-Christians?
Should there be a difference between how we talk about Christians and Non-Christians?
These are questions that are rolling around in my mind right now.

I recently heard a conversation in which someone's sin was attributed to the fact that they were not a Christian. I don't think that this person is alone. Admit it. You've said or thought something like this: "Well that person doesn't know Christ so that's why they blew it." Lest it sound as if I'm judging these folks, let me say clearly, I have done this! Recently!! I think that every Christian at some point slides into this mistake. It's so easy to do.

I know these people and I know what they were trying to say. They just didn't express it well but it's important to be clear. It's not like we, Christians, suddenly stop sinning and it's dangerous to accidentally imply something different. Divorce was the subject of this discussion and it's a great example. The divorce rate is just as bad in the church as it is outside the church. And on the flip side, there are marriages formed without consideration of Christ that last "until death do us part." So can we really attribute someone's divorce (or other sin) to whether or not they know Christ? Have we forgotten Romans 3:23? "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." We may be Christians but this verse still describes us! Isn't that the whole point? A Christian is someone who recognizes their fallen nature and cries out to God for salvation. Romans 7:24 should be a cry that is familiar to a follower of Christ.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

The only difference is that we have heard the answer to that question and even that "hearing" is only by the grace of God. Even the gift of salvation is not earned. So we should be the first to sympathize with another person's fallen condition and share with them the joyful answer that has changed us forever.

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven

given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Both Christians and non Christians need the gospel! They equally need the saving work of Christ in their lives both for their justification and their sanctification.

I think that Christians should be very, very careful when assigning the label of "Christian" or "Non-Christian" to others.
There are two reasons. The first is that we simply don't always know who is who.

"But the LORD said to Samuel,"Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Yes, sometimes it’s obvious. If the person has clearly stated that they are not a Christian, then it’s pretty safe to assume that they are not, but does it work the other way around? Does everyone who claims to follow Christ, truly know Him? Matthew 7:21-23 answers that question.

My second reason for caution with labeling others is that it often doesn’t help us to do what is best for the other person. It is often our first response to change how we talk to or talk about a person dependent on the label that we give them. With a "non-Christian" we can easily slip into a superficial and arrogant evangelism mode, or worse judgmental mode. And with a fellow "Christian" we forget that they also need to be reminded of the joy that is in the gospel too, especially when they stumble and fall. What we really need to do is look at everyone around us and see the exact same sin nature that is our inheritance from Adam. We all deserve the same label - "Sinner". As a Christian, you may know the joys of Christ’s work of sanctification but even that sanctification is not yours. It is Christ’s work in you!

When we recognize that we all have the same sin nature, then we will feel love and sympathy for others. When we view each other this way then we will tell them about the joy that is in Christ and the hope of the gospel because we all need to hear it.

The heart of this issue is judgementalism. Go read Matthew 7. Obviously, God says it better than I ever will.
Sincerely,
- Someone who is still learning this lesson

Comfort Food

2012-02-02T13:43:00.002-07:00

This image pretty much illustrates my last couple of days...
Come to think of it, it's missing a few things: pain and fever meds, camphor ointment, the humidifier, cough suppressant, honey and lemon, dosing syringes, allergy meds, chicken soup, and the list goes on.
It's amazing how much stuff it takes to care for a house full of sick kids!

We finally made it to the doctor today and I took my three prescriptions to the store. While waiting for it, I wandered around trying to think what else would sooth and comfort my kids... I got some camphor for the vaporizer, some more tissues, some oranges and then I spotted the apples. Bingo! Homemade applesauce is a cinch to prepare, so good for a cold and it's a treat for my sick babies.

Give it a try. Take 3-5 lbs of peeled and sliced apples. Those twirly peeler/slicer/corer things are brilliant! Toss them in a crock pot. Add some sweetener. I really recommend agave nectar. It's healthier than highly processed white sugar. It is a different but very mild flavor. We really enjoy it. Another option is to add a few spoonfuls of apple juice concentrate. Get the stuff without high fructose corn syrup. Honey is a good choice too but it has a stronger flavor. Sometimes I do add a little bit of brown sugar to get that apple pie flavor. Don't forget some cinnamon but go easy if it's for little ones. Cinnamon can sort of burn sensitive skin. Turn on that crock pot and go wipe a few snotty noses. Just come back to mash them every couple of hours. The apples that is, not the noses. How chunky you want it is up to you. The longer you cook it, the smoother it gets. We like ours chunky so 4-5 hrs on low is usually plenty. Mine is cooking now and will be ready in time for our chicken soup dinner.

So what's your favorite comfort food for a sick day?

Nesting

2012-02-01T07:00:00.002-07:00

No, I'm not pregnant. But I'm acting like it. It's like I'm a few months out from a due date and trying to prepare for a new arrival. But this time I'm actually preparing for a departure. I've started calling it "deployment nesting." I am deep cleaning everything and organizing like a lunatic. For two days now, I've been sorting and organizing all of the clothes that Liz has outgrown and that I've saved for Susie. After a couple of moves, the sizes didn't match the labels on the bins anymore. Poor Susie's room is a mess right now.

And that's just the stuff at home. I am making dozens of appointments for the kids and myself so that we'll be ready. Doctor, dentist, classes, school info sessions, summer programs, swimming lessons, ... I can't believe I am even thinking about swimming lessons. It's February!! I'm signing up for everything and somewhere in the back of my mind is the idea that maybe, just maybe, I'm overdoing it. If you have ever been pregnant and felt "nesting" kick into high gear, then you have been there. This feels exactly the same ... except no Braxton-Hicks contractions and I can see my toes.

So is "deployment nesting" something other military wives have experienced or am I just strange?

I Married Mr. Clean

2012-01-31T07:25:00.004-07:00

If you shaved his head and give him an earring, then my guy would be Mr.Clean. Actually my guy is much more handsome, but he's sure got Mr. Clean's personality. There are family stories about his childhood that show his early love of Cleanliness. For example, two year old Rich went into tears when an ice cream cone dripped down his arm. The tears were for the mess, not the ice cream. I would have cried about the ice cream being wasted like that. In fact, I probably would have licked the drips off of my arm.

There are family stories about young Rich helping himself to the vacuum and then getting irritated when someone would walk on the nice neat vacuum lines he just made. He still struggles with this one but I only know because I can read it in his face. He would never say anything now, but he's still sad when those beautiful rows are marred by footprints.

And the ultimate example of my husband's enthusiasm for Cleanliness ... he makes the bed ... while I am still in it.

I usually read my Bible before I get out of bed. Often as I read, he's there tucking and tugging on my covers. He does his best to get them neat and straight with a human sized lump in his way. The fact that I will mess this all up as soon as I move is irrelevant to him. It must be made the minute he wakes up. It simply must.

Left - His Side
Right - My Side

I'm going to miss this while he's gone. I don't care (much) about making the bed. I am NOT Mrs. Clean but I will miss the smile and giggle that I get when he makes the bed on top of me.

Cooking

2012-01-25T09:54:00.002-07:00

Today we made chocolate chip cookies. They are Rich's favorite. (And I wanted to pretend that there was no laundry to fold.) Josh was helping pour in flour, salt, etc. and said..."You know which job I'm good at? Licking. I'm really good at licking the mixers."

You bet after that cuteness, that he got to do that job.

And yes I let my kids lick the beaters. I'm crazy like that. I'll be sending them out to play in the street after nap time too.
Oh and one more tip for you... Remember when baking cookies to turn the oven ON. It's amazing what a hot oven can do cookie dough. It's so much better than hearing the timer beep and seeing the same thing that you put in. But then there's something to be said for raw cookies too.

Gardening in the military

2012-01-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

I don't usually do product review stuff. But this seemed so useful for the military community that I thought I would make an exception. Most of my readers are military folks. Most of the military people that I've met figure that they can't garden. If you have to move every few years then they figure it's impossible. But if you are in the same place for even a few of the warmer months, then you CAN do this. Here's something that might help you out...

I'm having so much fun gardening. In some ways this hobby doesn't make sense for someone who moves frequently. And I started with just a few containers because I wanted a portable garden but that wasn't enough for me. I wanted to grow more. I did build a small wooden raised bed but the expense didn't seem worth it. It was every bit of $50 to build a small one from cheap wood. I realized that I wasn't going to get my money's worth out of that. In a couple of years, I will have to leave the dirty, warped, water logged wood behind. If I stayed in the same place for a while then the wood would do it's job for years. But that old wood isn't something that I think the packers would load up for me and would I want it when I got there? So I thought I was done with raised beds until I found this product.

It's a raised bed made from galvanized sheet metal. Maybe someday I will have to leave the dirt and plants behind but not my raised bed! This thing can be taken down in seconds, hosed down and packed up with anything else that moves with us. It's lightweight, washable, portable and durable. What more could a military spouse gardener want?

I did have problems with odd instructions. The middle of the 6ft side is supposed to lock together. I have no idea how they meant for me to do this but a couple of zipties did the job just fine. The wood around the bed is just old wood from another project. I just thought it looked nice. It's not holding it up in anyway. So as I'm writing this I think to myself "I should give everyone the link to get their own." I am SO sad that Gardener's Supply Company stopped carrying this! http://www.gardeners.com/Galvanized-Raised-Beds/38-549RS,default,pd.html But they have other similar raised beds that seem sturdy enough for gardeners who move often. (By the way, Gardener's Supply Company has no idea who I am. I just bought stuff from them and liked it.)

Really what I'm trying to do is talk you into gardening, not a specific product. If you are interested, then don't let the military life stop you! The military life has challenges but there's very little that this life should prevent you from doing. In fact I think that the military life means more opportunities don't you?

I'm thinking about starting a series about gardening in the military. There are so many great resources for the nomadic, small-space gardens that are necessary to this lifestyle. What do you think? Is anyone interested or am I the only one? Maybe some guest posts on this subject too?

Flying!

2012-01-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

Every parent has done this. The kids love it and I get exercise. But this time we took pictures. The kids were amazed. These are pictures of them flying! The presence of Mommy's feet doesn't take away anything from the kids' imagination. To them, these might as well be pictures of the kids actually in flight.

The Venus Fly Trap Episode

2012-01-20T06:30:00.002-07:00

I enjoy any conversation with the kids that I can turn into something valuable. Anytime that the subject is not bodily functions or boogers, I'm ready to encourage that. So a few nights ago the subject was plants. It was dinner and we started by talking about which foods are fruits and which foods are vegetables. Somehow we ended up on the subject of the Venus Fly Trap. We were trying to explain a plant that eats bugs but it didn't make sense to them. I had one of those "I am Super Mom!" attacks and I decided to make this into a teachable moment. It's one of my super powers. We got out the computer and I started showing them pictures of a venus fly trap. I felt like such a brilliant mother! I was being educational! I rock! I should start homeschooling tomorrow!

They were interested but still didn't understand how a plant could eat a fly. I used my YouTube super powers and found a video of a fly trap. Perfect! And it was BBC. British accents are automatically more educational.

The first time, they watched it in complete silence. I could see their IQ growing. They were hanging on every word and Liz was halfway to her biology degree when the video ended.

They sat quietly for a minute and then asked to watch it again.
"You bet! After this let's look for a video on cellular mitosis!"

I'm about to start round two of the video when I realize that not all is well. Josh asks "Why did the fly scream?" "ummm...Well, Sweetheart, the fly didn't really scream. When they made this they put in pretend sounds."

I hit play but this time I hear a lot of other sound effects that I hadn't noticed before. The fly bumps the hair of the fly trap and you hear a pin being pulled from a grenade. There is the ticking of a time bomb counting down to detonation. The fly bumps the hair again and an ominous voice announces the doom of the fly as the plant ruthlessly slams closed on its victim. And in the background, there is the echo of iron prison bars slamming closed in a dark dungeon.

And the fly...screams.

And he wasn't the only one. I'll be picking up my hearing aid in a week. The doc says that if the baby had screamed too then I might have lost all hearing.

My Super Mom moment was over. What I assumed was deep fascination with the wonders of creation was actually sheer terror. I completely gave up on my super alter ego and just laughed... a lot.

But the experience had it's benefits too! Future discipline will go something like this...
"You stop throwing that tantrum or I'm going to make you sit in the corner with the venus fly trap!"

And now, I invite you to view the latest in preschool horror flicks, "The Venus Fly Trap".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7eQKSf0LmY

There Is A Viking In My Van

2012-01-19T14:25:00.002-07:00

It sounds like I live in a Dr. Suess book. Maybe I do. That could explain some things...

But really there is a viking in my van. He has a dragon too. All the other Christmas presents have disappeared into closets and boxes but the $5 viking helmet and the dragon have stood the test of time. Test of time? He's three. When you are three, if a toy has been your favorite for a month, that's HUGE. That's 1/36th of your life! So when we go to Walmart I have a Viking with me. It's easier to get to the apples. No one gets between a Viking and his apples. I wonder if the guards at the gate are starting to recognize the kid who yells "Hi" from the back seat with a Viking helmet on his head.

He says that when he grows up he'll be a real viking. And then he'll have a mustache. But then he'll shave it off like Daddy. And he'll fly to the moon. That's where the dragons live. You didn't know that? Oh yeah, he's got a sword too. It's for fighting the bad dragons of course. He has been praying that God would give everyone viking helmets so that we can all be Vikings together. But not Susie. She's a baby, and as you know, a baby can't be a viking. That's just silly, Mommy!

And did I mention that Vikings wash windows? Really! They do! See back at his Grammy and Papa's house the kids met the guy who comes to wash windows for them. And you know what his name was? Viking. Seriously.

Yep! I'm crazy!

2012-01-18T15:51:00.001-07:00

There are two things that I can't stop thinking about lately. Deployment (you knew about that one) and the other is my garden. The garden has become my oasis. Ummm... except ... well ...there's nothing growing in it. (Maybe I am crazy.)

But I'm planning everything that will grow in it. AND I started a few seedlings! Yay!!

Growing stuff just makes me happy!

And donuts. Donuts make me happy.

And watching my baby try to eat a donut as big as her head.

That makes me happy too. Aren't you feeling happy just looking at that?

So even though there's not much out there, I like to just walk around and look at the dirt. (Does that make me crazy?) The baby likes the garden too. She walks around with a little hand shovel and just says "dut, dut, dut". If Mommy digs in the "dut" then Susie digs too. Very cute. And I am planning and thinking while I look at the dirt. You know planning things like what to plant and where to plant it... in 2 months.

There's so much to plan and think about in the garden that it keeps me from dwelling on deployment.

So I don't think about how I'll miss this...

My men hanging out together on the stairs.

Daddy with his coffee and Josh just telling him every thought that goes through his head.

Come to think of it there is stuff growing out there.

I've got a few herbs and strawberry plants that I nursed through the winter.

I just repotted them because... well ... just because.

I'm planning to plant tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, cantaloupe, beans, lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, carrots, radishes, cucumbers, tomatilloes, strawberries, maybe pumpkins, more herbs, and maybe a few edible flowers just to see what the kids do when I eat one. Wait, why am I growing tomatoes? I hardly eat tomatoes. The kids don't eat tomatoes. Rich is the only one who eats tomatoes. Ok I'll learn to can them.

Then he can eat the tomatoes when he gets home. That's it. Wait ... I have jars. But ... I have no... tomatoes.

Tune in next time for more in the continuing saga of the mental collapse of the chaplain's wife.

Join us for our next episode, live and on-location at the funny farm!

Am I Crazy?

2012-01-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

We are still a few months away from the big day but I can't seem to keep thoughts of it out of my head. It's a constant thought in the back of my mind. Everything that I do lately and every decision is made with deployment in mind. Which is crazy, right? I know that these last few months will go quickly but at the same time, we're still talking about months! There really is a lot to do in these months. He's got all of the normal paperwork, shots and work stuff to do. It's a whopper of a list that they give these guys. But we also have family preparations to make. I need his help completing some jobs around the house. And we would really like to take some little trip for just the five of us to get some family time. Maybe a trip to see extended family too? Making decisions about the kid's education is a big one for me. He won't be here when they start the new school year. I want to decide WITH him about what school and/or homeschool arrangement will work for us. There are various technology preparations so that making phone calls is as easy as possible. Not a very interesting post, huh? Just talking out loud I guess. So much to do and so little time.

Possibilities

2012-01-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

Oh the possibilities of a big pile of dirt! Last year I timidly stepped into gardening. This year I can't wait to get it all going again. My new raised bed (Thanks, Mom!) is ready. My watering system is ready. The seeds are chosen. Who knows what we will grow this summer? Tomatoes, lettuce, beans and melons are all on the list but maybe we'll get giant caterpillars or some more mutants. It's sort of like the rest of life. Even a deployment holds the possibilities of new growth and new life and always the unexpected.

I blew it ... Thank God!

2012-01-12T10:57:00.002-07:00

I mentioned in the last post that lately I have had a riotous mess of thoughts that couldn't be organized into anything intelligible. Well with more time, some more of that mess is settling into a more understandable, articulate form. Here it is...

For me, the biggest challenge of being the "chaplain's wife" has been the theological differences. This has been a very odd first couple of years with some very unusual challenges. I can't explain it all in detail because there are others involved but one result of that mess was that our beliefs were "explained" to others by others. If you can call it an explanation. Many people formed a VERY inaccurate picture of what we believe and who we are through the misrepresentations or downright lies that were told. That whole mess was the first of many things that left me feeling isolated and started me down a road that was beginning to make me angry.
"How could they say that about us?"
"What is wrong with these people?"
"Why don't these people look for the truth?"
"Can someone just ASK me what I believe?"

I confess I was getting really angry. And that anger was building into a gruesome nasty mess. Never a good place to be. And recently, I lost it. I'm embarrassed to say that I lost my temper and I got angry at someone. I didn't even realize how angry I had become as a result of all of this. I had held onto it and although I SAID I had forgiven people, I hadn't really. Even now I am still struggling with forgiveness and I bet you can see it in this post. But when I lost my temper, God used it to show me the truth. He didn't just remind me to take out the "log in my own eye" (Matt. 7:3). He let me trip on that log sticking out of my eye, do a cartwheeling somersault, and fall flat on my face in a pile of emotional dog poop ... and in public.

And THAT was just what I needed.

It was very humbling. It was a public exposure of my secret sin - anger. We all sin daily, even moment by moment but it's often not until we sin publicly that we feel the deep remorse that we should feel. And when we don't feel remorse for our sins, we tend to minimize the sin and exalt ourselves over others who have made "bigger sins". Now whenever I am tempted to get angry with someone else, whenever I am tempted to look down on another person, I remember the time that I REALLY blew it. I remember that remorse and shame that I felt. I remember to look at myself with that same shame. BUT THEN I remember the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for that sin and the millions of other sins that no one else will ever see. I remember His forgiveness. Do you see the progression there? From exalting myself and condemning others to exalting Christ and rejoicing in His forgiveness. Isn't that exactly the place that our attention belongs?! Not on others, or even on my own failures, but on HIM - the sovereign, merciful, loving God the Father.

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

God has continued to use this failure in ways that amaze me. I have apologized to the other person and not only did I enjoy their generous forgiveness but I also think that we understand each other better through this. And as my attention has shifted from others to God and His forgiveness, I find myself more open with others and more compassionate with their weaknesses.
And now I find myself praising God for my face plant in my own sin! Only he could take that mess and make something beautiful.

Lots to Think About

2012-01-05T10:05:00.001-07:00

Hi again! It's been a while since I blogged. It has not been for lack of anything to say. I think it's due more to an excess of thoughts that have been so mixed together that I couldn't form a coherent sentence.
We have entered the year of the deployment. It's coming. And I recently watched as a good friend saw her husband off to another side of the world. My husband went to the airport to farewell this good friend, but I couldn't do it. It made it all too real and too near. And when Rich came home from that trip to the airport he was definitely "feeling it". Of course he was sad to see his friend go but it wasn't that so much as seeing what we'll be experiencing in the not so distant future. I noticed that he gave the kids a lot of extra hugs that afternoon and he was much more eager to participate in their games.

We've been talking about what is the right response to this. How do we handle the pain of separation? When he leaves, am I going to sit at home all day and sob? Maybe but I hope not. Our husband and father may be farther away but the responsibilities that God has given us remain the same. Obviously I still have to take care of the kids, the house and my trash-eating beagle but I'm referring to more than that. My husband may be far away but I am still married to him and I still have the responsibility to love and care for him in whatever way I can. Sometimes that's just a whispered prayer. I can't hug him but I can write to him. I can't cook him dinner but I can pack a care package. There's no real loss if you believe that God is in complete and total control. It's just a different way in which God calls us to serve Him and each other. Even the kids are not truly loosing anything. Our good and sovereign God has designed this deployment not to destroy or harm them but to shape them. Would I dare to deny my kids this experience that has been planned by God undoubtedly for their ultimate good?

But I'm still trying to get at something even bigger. He also asks us to face each trial with joy, contentment, and trust in Him. When the sorrow overwhelms us and we feel the need to cry, there's no harm in that BUT what is our attitude? We must also remember that anytime something other than God controls us then we have made an idol. If only the presence of my husband brings me peace then he has become an idol. If the sorrow controls me instead of God and His word then even it can become an idol. There's nothing wrong with the tears. It's a matter of what is my attitude in the midst of the tears. I am sure that even in this situation Christ can give me a heart that rejoices in Him and His will. I can praise him for using these challenges for His honor and glory. I can praise Him that my husband has the opportunity to be a witness for Christ in a unique time and place. I can praise Him for being in complete control of our lives, our circumstances and our world. At least I hope that I do...

Childhood

2011-12-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

Blogging is relaxing. I look forward to just sitting here babbling about whatever but sometimes I don't have anything to say. Today is one of those days so I went to Mama Kat's Writing Prompts.
The prompt "Your childhood neighborhood" inspired all sorts of memories.

I grew up in Oregon. We saw beautiful mountains everyday on the way to school. We played in trees that towered over our house. For an afternoon snack, we picked blackberries or cherries from the plants growing wild in the backyard. And we built forts in the woods until after dark. It was a beautiful place to grow up.

Our old white siding house was built by the previous owners and had all sorts of odd nooks and crannies. One of them was a little attic room that you entered through a hidden door in my closet. It was a fun place to hide with a book on a rainy day. The main attic wound all over above the house and was a great place to explore or to let your imagination transform into a secret wonderland. One year I found my Christmas presents in there. I should have known better but temptation got the best of me.

Down the road, lived my friend Aletha. She got me interested in raising rabbits for 4H so we had a row of rabbit hutches under the tree house. Then there was the chicken coop, painted with green enamel by me and my 3 brothers. The paint only went about 5 feet high. My brothers used my dad's BB gun to hunt the rats under there and probably imagined all sorts of battle scenarios.

One day we planned a grand exploration of the woods. We decided to spend the day hiking. The starting point was the woods behind our house and the goal was to reach the woods behind Aletha's house. We packed backpacks and set out to explore the route like Livingstone searching for the source of the Nile. We didn't find the source of the little stream that we followed but we did get to Aletha's house. It was a grand adventure and from my child sized perspective we must have walked for miles to accomplish this amazing feat.

I miss that old place. My brother went back to visit our childhood home not too long ago. He and his wife met the family who bought it from my parents years ago. Their little boys grew up playing in those same trees and wading in that same stream. But development has taken over and the land that is so priceless to me, very nearly is so in reality. They plan to keep the home until their boys grow up and then they'll get back the sale price many times over.

My children's lives are so different. We're close enough to our neighbors to look in each others windows and my oldest has already lived in 5 different homes. I know that they will have wonderful memories too but I hope that someday, before they're too old, my kids will also know a home that is full of places to explore and God's creation to admire. I hope that we will someday have a place that is so big that their minds can't imagine the end of it.

I have fun with birthday cakes

2011-12-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Lizzie's Birthday Cake

Tinkerbell on her hill,

coconut grass, marshmallow flowers, maple candy rocks, broken cookie path.

Meringue Mushrooms

These were hard! All of the websites said that these would be easy. They were NOT!

These were the only three that survived out of about a dozen.

Most importantly, Lizzie loves it!

Christmas Devotion

2011-12-06T11:50:00.001-07:00

So I have a devotion to give. I'm not a public speaker. I like writing (thus the blog) but I'm not a good speaker. I talk too fast. I get flustered easily. It's not my favorite thing but I said yes. I was asked to use Isaiah 9:6 to talk about raising children. I felt like that was a bit of a stretch but I tried to tie it all together. Here's my manuscript. It's awkward reading because I wrote it as I would speak it. So the grammar and spacing is strange in places to help me speak more clearly. I welcome feedback AND prayers that I would do this right - For Him.

I was asked to speak tonight about our children. We have women in this room in all the various stages of motherhood. Or we have nieces and nephews, grandkids or even the children of friends that we love with our whole hearts. As part of the community of believers we all share in the responsibility to lead and encourage even our very small brothers and sisters in Christ.
Christmas is a wonderful time to share Christ with these children that we love.
Right now we are surrounded by Christ. In the carols and Christmas cards we see the story of the fulfillment of God’s promise of a savior.
The one true God
born as a frail, poor, human child
so that he could grow into adulthood,
he revealed himself as God incarnate,
and then took the punishment that each of us deserved.
And then after doing so much
he made His victory complete
by conquering death and leaving that tomb!
Christmas celebrates the beginning of the end of the reign of sin in this world.

What a wonderful opportunity to share the message of salvation with our children.
I want to share with you tonight some of the things that we have learned to use in teaching our children about God, about faith, about worship and even some big theological issues.

I have 4 ideas that I want to share with you…
1) Soak your kids in scripture
2) Apply scripture
3) Teach them to worship
4) Teach them Sound Doctrine

Some of you have met my kids. I have Lizzie, Joshie, and Susie.
So I’m relatively new to motherhood. I have a lot to learn but these ideas came from those wiser and more experienced than myself. From mentors who have helped me as I stepped onto this road of motherhood. So even though I’m new to this, these ideas carry the weight of those who have forged the road ahead of us.

The first idea I would like to share with you is “soak your kids in scripture”.
As we go through Christmas, memorize verses with them that remind them what Christmas is truly about. Our theme verse for tonight’s event is a great place to start.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,

The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Meditate on these verses.
Practice them during family devotions or at breakfast.
Recite them on the way to school or during their homework.
Why not do it on every commercial break of their favorite TV show?
Whatever you do each day,add God’s word make it a regular part of your time with your kids.
And start now! It’s amazing how much even very small children can memorize. Most kids can memorize verses at 2 yrs old!

The other night Susie surprised me. She’s my one year old and she sits with us during Bible time. She listens to us recite these verses but saw it as just practice for how to sit still. I was so excited one night when we were going over our Bible verses and baby Susie tried to mimic us. You could here the rhythm of the verse that we had just reviewed in her sweet baby babble words!
And I know that it will bless my children. Listen to God’s beautiful description of the power of His words.

Isaiah 55:10-11

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

The second idea that I would like to share with you is “apply scripture”.
Whether your kids are 3 or 30, they are facing challenges that will benefit from the application of scripture. Here’s an example from my experiences.

There was a day not too long ago that my son, Josh, had a rough day.
He seemed to get one boo boo after another.
We ran out of his favorite jelly.
A loved toy was lost.
His sister teased him
and by the end of the day he was just a mess.
I was hugging and cuddling him and he sobbed into my shoulder “I’m just having a bad day.”

My mommy heart broke for my little man. I wished that I could make it all better but all I could think of was to hug and kiss the little guy and put him into his bed.

Well from that day on, for months, when something went wrong, he responded with
“I’m just having a bad day.”
And it became his excuse to melt into a puddle of tears whenever he didn’t get his way. Don’t we all have those moments? I bet you still have those moments too when you excuse your tantrum with “I’m just having a bad day.” I do! When Josh was having these “bad days” then I mine weren’t exactly awesome either!
Finally I went looking for the scripture’s solution to this problem. We found

Psalm 118:24

“This is the day that the Lord has made,

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

We made this verse our next memory verse and soon the conversations went more like this…
Josh would collapse on the floor - seriously overreacting to something minor - and he would moan in his most pathetic voice the phrase that had become annoyingly familiar…“I’m just having a bad day.
Now instead of sending him off to the corner hoping that it might remedy his bad attitude,
I would pick him up and say “Josh lets remember what God says in Psalm 118:24 …”
I wish that I could say that there was an instant change in his attitude but don’t we all sort of like to wallow in that “bad day” moment….
BUT Now we had scripture in front of us reminding him (and me!!) that no matter how many things went wrong “This was the day that the Lord had made and he wanted us to rejoice and be glad in it.”

So I encourage you to use scripture as you teach your children. Find a verse to help with their challenges…
When they disobey, remind them of what God wants from them with Ephesians 6:1 “Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.”

When they worry… maybe it’s about something that worries you too like a deployment or why Grandma is in the hospital…remind them and yourself that Matthew 6 says

“So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’

or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’“

For the pagans run after all these things,

and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.

Memorize these verse with your children and watch it help all of you to know and serve God better.

The third idea that I would like to share with you is “teach them to worship.”
Now your first thought might be, “Well we already take our children to church.”
But remember that worship is not limited to Sunday.
It’s not limited to singing.
It’s not limited to praying.
Worship is a daily and all-day activity that defines every Christian’s life.

I had a moment when I realized that I could teach my kids
to sit still in church,
to assume the right posture,
to say the right things
but it all meant nothing if I didn’t teach them how to truly WORSHIP

Psalm 35:28

My tongue will speak of your righteousness

and of your praises all day long.

1 Thess 5: 16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

None of this happens without a heart that is focused on Christ. Teach this by example but also as you teach your children address the attitude of their hearts.
Are they worshipping God in that moment and through that activity?
Are they serving Him and His people as they interact with others?
You don’t have to be a Christian for long before you have a moment when you find yourself worshipping God in the most mundane circumstances. Show those moments to your kids.

Show them how they can serve and worship God by sharing with others.
Or by helping with chores around the house.
Or by spending time reading scripture on their own.
But of course don’t neglect to teach the more visible acts of worship, like what we do together on Sunday.
If you want to teach anything then you can’t limit yourself to teaching it one day per week. I was a HS teacher for 3 years and I guarantee that if I had taught my math classes just on Monday and the rest of the week taught history or English, then I would have been fired by Friday.

Make worship a daily part of life. You will be surprised at how much easier it will be to teach them to worship on Sundays in church.
Our family has a daily worship time.
We practice our memory verses.
We listen to God’s word read.
We learn about Him.
We pray together.
We sing together.
We set-up our family time to have all the elements of a church worship service so that when we get there on Sunday, they will understand and recognize each event in the service. The two easiest to teach are “praying” and “singing”

-Teach them to pray.
When they are small it is easy to help them memorize “The Lord’s Prayer”.
We start our little ones out by teaching them to just say “Thank you God” for something.
Susie is just starting to talk but she has been trying to say Amen lately.
Here’s another idea that I just started doing … remind them to pray and confess when they have sinned. Even a 2 yr old can fold their chubby little fingers and say “I’m sorry, God.”
That can be such a difficult prayer for any of us. Our sin nature fights against that prayer. I hope that by starting them now they will find confession more natural than I do.
-Teach them to sing His praises. We’re still not very good at this. Right now we’re in a bit of a singing rut. Let me just say that we’ve got “Jesus Loves Me” DOWN! Neither Rich or I are musically gifted but we want them to know all of these songs that are part of how God’s people worship together. And so many songs are so rich with truth and loaded with scripture. Our next step is to get a good CD that we can use to sing hymns together so that they can learn these songs that have been so important to God’s people for generations.

And finally teach them sound doctrine.
Listen to this sober warning from

2 Timothy 4:3-4

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.

Instead, to suit their own desires,

they will gather around them a great number of teachers

to say what their itching ears want to hear.

They will turn their ears away from the truth

and turn aside to myths.

None of us would want to see our children fit this description. What Christian mother would find this anything less than terrifying!!! Teaching Scripturally Sound Doctrine to small children is surprisingly easy.

A good children’s Bible is so helpful. This is a great way to get the facts of the stories down and to familiarize them with the grand and great story of all that God has done for us. As they get older pull out the real Bible and go beyond the stories. … but they can learn more then just who Noah was or what God promised to Abraham.

I strongly recommend that you find a formal program or study that will help you with this. I find it so difficult to teach them without some guidance. Think of it like a curriculum to guide your teaching. School teachers use it. Why not us? This is important stuff!! I don’t want to make a mistake!! I’ll leave out something important or butcher an explanation of some important point.

For our family we use a prewritten set of questions and answers and the kids memorize them. As we introduce a new question and answer we talk about what it means and share some scriptures about it. Sometimes I think, “Oh they only know the words. They can’t grasp this.” and then they shock me by applying what they’ve learned.

Here’s an example: One of the questions that they memorized was “Can God do all things?”
And they have memorized the answer “Yes, he can do all of His holy will”.
It’s good stuff but seriously?
They’re preschoolers, what can they really do with that?

Well recently we were talking about how Mommy and Daddy couldn’t do something. I think it was “make electricity”. And Lizzie said “But God can! Because he can do all of his Holy will.”

It lead to a great conversation!
We went on to talk about how God does make the electricity because he made the world and all that is in it
and even the process that the engineers use to make that electricity is God’s process. He made the science that makes it possible.

It is my prayer that years from now this training will be there when my children will be in some situation and they will remember the scriptures that they’ve memorized or they’ll hear someone preach a sermon that doesn’t line up with sound doctrine and they’ll be able to stand firm on the truth of God’s word.

But so what? All of these ideas that I’ve shared are a great way to teach our children but there’s something much more important at stake here.

Our children could memorize the entire Bible.
They could sing the most beautiful songs in church.
They could write their own theology textbook by the time they are 10.
but SO WHAT?!

Why would we teach them all of this?
Is it so that they will be happy?
Or be a part of the church?
Or maybe it’s so that they will live Godly, moral lives?
Or hey, maybe it will make our children easier to deal with?
The truth is that, none of these reasons have any lasting value.

Philippians 3:7-8

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

What is more, I consider everything a loss

because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,

for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage,

that I may gain Christ

Our first reason for teaching all of these things is so that these children would know Christ.
Just like we would seek to share Christ with unbelievers
we must also seek to lead our children to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
But even THAT is not a big enough, important enough goal.

Why do we want them to know Christ?
So that they go to heaven and not hell?
So that they will know the joys of knowing Him?
If we stop here then we still haven’t grasped the depth of who God is and how magnificent He is.

We are given the responsibility of raising these children,
not just for their salvation,
not just for the blessings of raising them,
not even for the Godly witness of a Christ-centered family.
All of these things are true blessings but they are a small part of something greater
–bringing honor and glory to God.

Romans 11:36

For from him and through him

and for him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Let us raise these children so that someday, we’ll all stand together in heaven,
not for our own comfort,
or so that our families will be reunited,
or so that we will be free from pain
but so that we can praise God together calling him…

Wonderful,

Counselor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Hello Blog!

2011-12-05T10:25:00.001-07:00

Hi there! Sorry for disappearing! We spent some time in TX with family and it was CRAZY! My mother-in-law had to go in for major surgery and we spent much of our trip helping her and loving her during that difficult time. She is still recovering in the hospital so please pray for her. I hated coming back. With so much going on there and so much going on here it is a little overwhelming to try to step back into the normal routines of life. We miss our family and our church family back in TX and coming back can feel so isolating sometimes. Visiting our old church was like getting a giant hug. It was warm and familiar and safe. It makes me nervous about going back to the chapel. It feels so different there. Not that there isn't love at the chapel. It's hard to explain. It's just different. I have to give a little devotional at the chapel next week so I'm busy working on that. I might post it up here to get some feedback from you when it's done. For now I'm going to spend this snowy day baking bread, cleaning the house and chasing the kids. See you later!

I am so cruel

2011-11-17T14:38:00.001-07:00

Yes today, I did the unthinkable. I took the van to the carwash... with Susie. My children hate the car wash. The older ones have accepted it and can now face it with just a mild case of nerves. As babies they were terrified too but now a reminder that the car is taking a bath like them will give them the courage to face the water jets and dryer fans. But Susie doesn't believe me. In her mind I am clearly taking her and the van and the entire family into the belly of an evil, water squirting monster. If Rich is with me then I climb into the back to cuddle her. But today I was driving so I did the only natural thing. I photographed her.

Poor baby! I wish that I could convince that girl that she is perfectly safe.

Hey wait a minute. I think that there's a reminder here about our fears and our heavenly Father. Hmmmm...

Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Trick or Treating

2011-11-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I never posted trick or treating pictures. I had to show you my adorable kiddos.

My fairy princess

My mother-in-law and I sewed the Luigi costume! It came out so well!

The Myth of Theological Neutrality

2011-11-14T10:00:00.013-07:00

A concept which I have seen again and again in my first year + as a chaplain's wife is the idea of theological neutrality. Study materials, resources, events are all chosen based on an attempt to be theologically neutral. The Christian portion of the chapel's ministry makes only one division - Catholic or Protestant. This implies that there are only two views. So the Protestant chapel functions as a single unit and attempts to find theological neutrality with in those limits. And many of those in leadership believe that theological neutrality has been achieved. They believe that they are not presenting anything that will cause division within the Protestant community. Sometimes this is called "Non denominationalism" or "Non sectarian" but whatever you call it, it's the same thing - completely impossible. The problem is that you cannot claim to be a follower of Christ and remain theologically neutral. Whatever issue you look at there are at least two sides of the debate. You cannot believe anything unless you choose one side of the debate to stand on. If you do believe anything then you have come to a conclusion about what is right, true and good. And then you are teaching it to others. Yet within the Protestant community I have heard the following...

"Let's stick to the doctrines of salvation. No one can disagree with anything there!"
Wanna bet? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation or that there are many roads to heaven? Do you believe that God gives us the faith necessary for salvation or do you believe that it is an act of will on the part of the sinner? Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again for our salvation or do you believe that he was simply a good person who led us by example?

"We'll just teach the Bible."
That's the point. The Bible has something very specific to say. While some parts are abundantly clear, many issues have been debated for years, even centuries! Even the concepts that you and I might agree are obvious have been debated by others. Whether you know it or not, you have a formed a belief about what the Bible says about you, about Christ, about salvation, and about who God is. And if you teach anything about God, scripture, life, etc. then you are teaching those beliefs.

"Doctrine divides so we won't teach theology. We'll just teach Christ."
What view of Christ will you teach? Is he God incarnate? Is he a good man? We're His words in scripture independent of the rest of the Bible or are they linked? This IS theology. Theology means the "study of God".

"Ok but we don't have to teach anything that is controversial."
So what topic would you propose we teach and study? If the very foundational issues of Christianity are debated then what topic would you like to cover to avoid debate? I dare you to find one.

"Well we can at least worship together."
Worship cannot be devoid of theology either. Every song, every prayer is soaked in views of God and His word.

"We'll just teach and lead according to the theological majority."
So all that's left now is we'll teach and lead what most of the people believe. What if most people are wrong? Will you teach what is false?

This is why most teaching in non-denominational or theologically neutral environments has degraded into moralism. Teachings about God become humanistic, man-centered views of how He can make our lives better until he is represented as little more than a genie to grant your wishes and whims and make life better.

I'm saying all of this because whether you are a group, an individual, a teacher, or a student you have an important question to answer. If you believe that you are theologically neutral, ... if you believe that you are non denominational, ... if you believe that you are non controversial, .... then what do you believe? And more importantly, what are you teaching?

I don't even know what to call this post

2011-11-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

I took my blog down for a few days. Suddenly having so much of my life and thoughts on the internet for anyone to read got really creepy. This is going to sound nuts... Dear readers, I am not a drama queen. I am not prone to exaggeration. I don't get excited easily. With that in mind, consider the following. My husband had a minor issue with what I would call a stalker. I wish there was a better term for it but I can't think of one. It sounds so overdramatic.
Someone he was counseling got a little too friendly. Seeking him out much more frequently than is healthy. Calls on the personal phone even though they were never given the number. And once this person was even seen outside our house... just standing there.
I am SO glad that we live on base, right now. Security forces is handling it. Other folks in leadership are handling it but for a few days I had to think about this. Do I really want to blog about my life where ANYONE can read about it?
I'm going to try this again. I've got a program to monitor who is reading my blog, where they are from and what they are reading... but if I disappear again, you'll know why.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Toddlers

2011-11-08T15:39:00.006-07:00

I know it's barely November but I'm already making Christmas plans. This is the time of year when I start watching for inexpensive stocking stuffers or little things that go on sale. Filling the stockings is probably my favorite part of Christmas because I try to get more creative. I made all of our stockings myself. I know some people see the stocking as just another place to put presents but I have a little rule about stockings - each item must be less than $5. I try to get things even closer to $1. It's not a hard and fast rule but I stick with that as best I can. I want the stockings to be super affordable but super fun. Have you ever done an internet search for stocking stuffers? Some of those items would take up my entire Christmas budget!! So here's my list of affordable toddler's stocking stuffers.

Coloring books or pads of paper
Crayons (Try putting them in a homemade crayon roll.)
Stickers (Even the cheap little colored labeling shapes make kids happy.)
ViewMaster reels (Last year they each got a ViewMaster so this year I'll add more discs.)
Mini stuffed animals
Band-aids (Get the cute ones with characters or fancy colors.)
Mini packages of crackers or cookies.
Toothbrushes
Matchbox or Hot wheels Cars
Mini nail polish (A special treat for princesses.)
Pony tail holders and barretts
Costume jewelry or beads to make their own
Make a ring for your princess
Magnets
Craft supplies - pom poms, pipe cleaners, feathers, popsicle sticks, finger paint, glue, felt bits, googly eyes, tape, etc.)
Self Inking Stamps
Socks or underwear (Again a character or special color turns something ordinary into something exciting.)
Winter gloves and hats
Bubbles
Flashlights (Probably my son's favorite present last year.)
Suckers (Buy one bag and split it between the kids.)
Make a felt play set like these, or these, or this one and buy a package of plastic toys or figures to go with it.
Kool Aid or other flavored drink packets
Favorite fruit
Make their favorite cookies or better yet give them a cookie cutter with a cookie mix. Make them together!
Kids' dishes, bowls or spoons. (special colors and characters!)
Tub toys
Measuring spoons or cups just like Mommy's (Makes a great bath or sand box toy!)
Books (The thrift store has second hand books at a great price. Your toddler doesn't know or care that it was used.)
DVD's (Check the cheap bins in the electronic section.)
Uno (A great game for kids who are learning their numbers or colors.)
Record yourself reading their favorite stories and burn a CD or download some from Storynory.
Burn a CD of their grandparent's version of "Saturday cartoons" (aka Old Time Radio)
Flashcards
Playdough (Make your own!)
Kaleidoscope
And finally try the party favor aisle!

Deployment?... Nah, I'd rather not

2011-11-05T15:17:00.001-06:00

So we might have final details on the deployment. Of course I'm not putting specifics on here but it looks like they may have made up their mind. But I won't count on it. There are still several months to go and I've learned my lesson. I will not be planning anything major one way or the other.

In the meantime, here are some funnies from the kiddos that I have scribbled down to record in my journal later...

Susie is going mobile so I found her on the floor of the pantry recently with an opened box of raisins and so many in her mouth that she could barely chew.

Stuff I never thought I would say #331: "Don't eat stuff on the bathroom floor!"

Joshie walked past me on his way to the bathroom and explained "Excuse me. I have a booger emergency." He blew his nose and went back to what he was doing.

My kids have found the word "years" and now everything is extra exciting..."I've wanted to play this game for YEARS!" "I've been looking for this toy for YEARS!" "This is the best oatmeal I've had in YEARS!" I had no idea that they've spent their short lives with so many unfullfilled longings!

A few weeks ago, I groaned about getting old as I got my tired joints off of the floor. Lizzie piped up with "You're not old. You're a young woman! But sometimes I feel old too."

A recent tender moment with my firstborn...
Mommy: "I love you Lizzie."
(She leans in to give me a hug)
Lizzie: "I love you too...(she sits up) ...and I'm sorry that I just got snot on your shirt."

Another conversation...
Lizzie: Do you know why I am stomping my feet like this?
Mommy: Because you have to use the potty?
Lizzie: Good guess! (She yelled it over her shoulder as she ran down the hall.)

Daddy was heading out the door...
Daddy: Lizzie do you want to come with me?
Lizzie: No, but don't worry. God will be with you.

Lizzie told me that I can never die. I felt all loved and mushy until she told me that if I was gone then nobody would make her food.

Lizzie finally got Josh involved in playing "Wedding" but it was on the condition that they bring his tank in case they have any trouble.

And my favorite... Josh has begun saluting me when I ask him to do something. I LIKE this part of military life!! :)

Spilling the beans

2011-11-04T19:20:00.000-06:00

This is a post that I've wanted to write for a long time. Can I possibly share this and have anyone understand?

The Air Force, like the rest of the military and government, is not necessarily about doing a good job. It's about politics and who you know. It's about laying low and staying out of the way. It's all about "don't confront the problem" and "don't make waves". I had some foolish idea that it wouldn't be like this in the chaplaincy. Or at least if it were, then to a lesser degree. Well I'm beginning to think that it's worse.
There are good people in the chaplaincy. Really there are but the system doesn't necessarily encourage them. I've always compared the chaplaincy to a mission field. You go in to live among the people, speak their language and live their life. Just like any other missionary, you adapt to the culture and work within the confines of that culture as best you can. But this part of the culture stinks.

I have one hope... God is bigger than the Air Force.

Romans 13:1,2 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

and later in Romans 8...
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Some might read this passage and see God working to protect our interests here on Earth (or in my case, my husband in a difficult situation). I believe that the passage is refering to God's gaurdianship of our salvation. And isn't salvation, more important then anything else? That's why Rich and I are here. And the challenges along the way... well that's all part of the sanctification process. And for that I will praise God.

Fried Green Tomatoes

2011-11-03T14:00:00.000-06:00

Last night the freeze got my tomato plants. I had covered them so it wasn't too bad. I might have even been able to nurse them back to health but what's the point with the weather getting so much cooler? And I've still got some cool season crops like spinach that are doing just fine. I might even plant some more!
Tonight I'll take my ~~lemons~~ green tomatoes and make ~~lemonade~~ fried green tomatoes. I've never had them before so this will be fun.

And the yard looks clean and uncluttered with so many plants pulled out.

It may be Fall and the weather definitely has a chill but it feels more like the fresh start of Spring.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-29T14:18:00.000-06:00

At the chapel's Harvest Festival...

It's creepy over here!

2011-10-28T21:01:00.001-06:00

There's an eerie glow in the backyard tonight.

A ghostly face peeking through the fence.

It's like something from nearby Roswell. "Beside the bush you could see a sheet covering an alien autopsy..."

"... as two landing craft glowed nearby."

Or ... yeah... it's just some tomatoes covered and warmed by a light.
My halloween decor is just three little pumpkins on the front porch.
But I wonder what the neighbors are thinking ...

Why I've been AWOL...

2011-10-28T08:26:00.000-06:00

It has been a long week over here. There have been base exercises, prep for visiting family, deployment changes and then finally a trip to the ER.

My sweet son helped himself to the Tylenol that I left within reach. My mistake cost my son 6 hours of misery in the ER. Blood samples. Liquid activated charcoal. Upset stomach. Until he finally fell asleep. Parents, where is the medicine in your house right now? I had grown careless and it cost my son a lot of pain.

As for deployment stuff, some genius sent in Rich's paperwork saying that he is a catholic priest. This same person has made mistake after mistake that has cost the chapel credibility and respectability over and over. The result of this error is the higher-ups scratched Rich's deployment. Sounds good until you find out what happens next. What would have been a 3 month deployment at a great time of year will be replaced by another deployment of unknown length at an unknown time and the period of time that he can be selected has grown to almost a year. It can be as little as 60 days notice. I know God is sovereign and he has planned Rich deployment. God knows exactly when and where Rich is deploying but all these changes are wearing me out and Rich too.

I'm so glad that my in-laws are coming. I need some family time.

Puzzles are dangerous

2011-10-24T15:20:00.000-06:00

I had stuff to do today...

Laundry to fold.

Dishes to wash.

Toilets to scrub.

Closets to organize.

And my in-laws come this weekend.

There's a lot to do.

But then there was this puzzle ...

and my plans fell apart.

Some things are too much to resist.

- Nutella

- Thrift stores

- Facebook

- oh yeah, my husband

- and puzzles.

(Not in that order.)

Puzzles beg to be reassembled. If you don't put it back together then it will never be whole. The little world that is in the puzzle is shattered and you must save it!

Yeah, I'm nuts. I've never claimed to be sane. Well that is to say, this personality admits it. The other personalities think that they're normal.

I tried to finish it over the weekend because I knew that this would happen. Everytime that I've walked into the kitchen to get something done today, that puzzle has been sitting on the table tempting me. And I'm afraid that my puzzle addiction is genetic.

The house may be a mess but at least the puzzle on my kitchen table is now perfectly whole and as it should be.

Ok now I can finish the rest of the house.

Carlsbad Caverns

2011-10-21T21:54:00.000-06:00

Such a wonderful day! A long drive talking and laughing with my sweetheart, treking through Carlsbad Caverns, saw a big herd of elk and then watched the sunset as we drove down the mountain for home. Perfect, marvelous day!

Almost there!

Amazing sights everywhere you look.

Even Susie truly enjoyed it! She kept pointing and oohing. :)

So we told the kids that one of the formations was called popcorn. She made the next logical step and asked "Is this where popcorn comes from?"

A glimpse (not a good one) of our beautiful ride home.

Wordless Wednesday: Butterflies Flutter By

2011-10-19T06:00:00.001-06:00

A scorpion walks into church...

2011-10-18T06:00:00.001-06:00

About once a year the chapel holds a service outdoors at the park. There's the normal singing and sermon followed by a cookout and potluck. It's lots of fun ... but ...there was an uninvited guest.

He came crawling out from under my chair (Eeeeek!) and wandered to the row in front of me where he was spotted by somone with big thick shoes. And the scorpion was dispatched. Or so I thought.

A few minutes later he was twitching and squirming not even three feet in front of me. (Eeeek again!) I was so glad that Susie was content to sit in my lap and not in her normal independent "let me crawl" mood. I wanted to finish him off but I was wearing open toed shoes and was too afraid of getting stung. I have been stung before and it HURTS! After the service the previous big shoes got him one more time but that's a picture of him several minutes later and we was STILL alive. Rich tried to get him out of these pine needles to end its suffering and protect the little kids but he gave up when it nearly stung him a few times.
At the next outdoor worship service, I'm wearing boots!

So that was my first New Mexico scorpion. Unless you count this guy...

but he's not a real scorpion. Ya, like that's supposed to make me feel better. A little over a year ago this monster was in our backyard. It's actually a vinegaroon or whip scorpion. It's completely harmless but twice as creepy looking as the little guy above, dontcha think? When we learned he was harmless we caught him and tossed a nickle in the box to give an idea of his size.

He may be harmless but he is also NOT invited to the chapel worship services.

Laundry Room Do Over

2011-10-17T07:34:00.000-06:00

So a few weeks ago (or is it months now?) I made my own laundry sign I loved it but then I found something I like more. (I don't believe in long term relationships with my home decor.) I found 2 full page ads for Swan soap for $5 each at a thrift store! Score! Shortly thereafter I found that awesome website full of vintage advertising. Then a couple of weeks ago I found 4 matching frames in another thrift store for $5. Put it all together and here we go!

Now what to do about the red and blue bins on the other wall that don't match this more rustic vintage look?

I ♥ Fall!

2011-10-12T09:20:00.002-06:00

There's something special about picking your own fruit right off the tree. I grew up with a couple of cherry trees and blackberry bushes growing wild in our backyard and we would often pick a snack on our way to play in the woods. Recently the kids and I went with some friends to get a few bucket loads of apples - right off the tree. I made tons of apple sauce that was gone before the week was over. And my sweet friend made us a pie. Her pies look as good as they taste and they made my pies look like ... well I won't say, but it's not appetizing. But HER pies ... perfection!!!

Then a few days ago I got the kids a couple of pumpkins, handed them poster paint and told them to go decorate those pumpkins!

Pumpkin decorating is serious business!

I wanted to turn them into pies but that made the kids sad so I'll have to get my own pumpkin.

I think I'll get a big one too. I want a big bowl of roasted pumpkin seeds. Mmmmmm!

I ♥ fall!

Learning a Lesson

2011-10-11T22:18:00.002-06:00

If you read my blog regularly then you might remember that I was having a hard time with the Bible study at the chapel. I wrote about it here. I'm in a theological minority here. That's hard and sometimes it's even isolating. I didn't want to just sit quietly in the middle of the study that I disagree with so deeply. I realized that I had to be quiet but I was doing it almost against my will. I knew I had to but I didn’t want to. Something happened that changed that.

Recently someone attended the Bible study who expressed her opinions publicly and eagerly. I know that God wanted me to see why it does not honor and serve Him for me to open my big mouth every time that I disagree. He gave me a glimpse of what would happen if I acted on my desire to speak. I saw the results of following through on my foolishness. When you attend a Bible study you are putting yourself under the leadership of that study. That leadership is appointed by God...

Romans 12:1-2 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

If I challenge or derail the study then I am not submitting to the leadership that God has put in place. Now I still have my own opinions but do I want to express them because (a) my opinion is SO important or (b) to bring honor and glory to God? Obviously I was not focusing on my Savior or His will. And I was not focusing on what is best for the group...

Ephesians 4:2-3 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

My desire to speak my opinion is not what will help the group "to keep the unity of the spirit through the body of peace". And there's one big reason... my attitude was not motivated by love. There's the ugly truth. Sometimes it's hard to love. When we disagree it gets harder. And I confess to you that I was not motivated by love and I certainly wasn’t in the mood to be “humble and gentle.” Later in Ephesians 4 comes this...

15-16 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

If I do not love these ladies, if I’m motivated by anything other than love, then my words and actions will be destructive. It will tear down the body of Christ. I'm so grateful that God taught me this lesson before I damaged my relationships with others.

New Mexico Museum of Space History

2011-10-10T14:45:00.002-06:00

We spent the day after the air show showing our out-of-town family the area. One of our stops was the New Mexico Museum of Space History. This was our first time there too and it was really worth it! I was a little doubtful but there was a lot to see and do. The gentleman at the top floor had a bunch of interactive displays that were truly fascinating. I'm not really into aviation and outer space stuff but even I really enjoyed it.

It's a very interesting building and I loved the reflection of the mountains in the windows.

I like rust. Maybe that's strange but I like rust.

The robot building station

Even Baby Sue got into the robot building.

This was the space station model. I have to tell you what Lizzie's imagination did with this set-up ...
"This is our space station and that lady is the bad space lady that we caught and put in that box."

The "space station" had lots of buttons to push.
When you are three, it doesn't get any better than a whole wall of buttons and you can push everyone of them.

Deployment Plans

2011-10-10T14:34:00.002-06:00

Getting ready for an invocation

I am happy to report that Rich's deployment is pushed back. It's closer to the time of year that we originally expected. It's still a little bit earlier BUT it's also shorter. I'll take it! If he has to go, then the shorter the trip, the happier I'll be. I snapped a picture of him looking handsome in his blues before he did an invocation for a POW remembrance event. I had to leave early because of the kids but spending even these few minutes with him seems extra important with the knowledge that he will be leaving in the not too distant future.

Air Show

2011-10-10T10:25:00.000-06:00

Air shows are a nice perk to living on base. We got there earlier than the general public and got a great seat. Rich's sister and her family came all the way from Texas to go to the air show with us. We all got a little sunburned and then a whole bunch of folks came over for burgers and hot dogs on the grill. It was a GREAT day! My camera died but my brother-in-law got some good pictures.

Sometimes you gotta laugh

2011-10-05T13:34:00.008-06:00

I have been an emotional disaster zone lately. Today as I was driving around the base I was already near tears when I saw flashing lights behind me. I pulled over and before these two nice senior airmen even made it to my window, I was loosing it. I couldn't find my paperwork and much of what I did find was out of date. I apologized through the tears and they took what I had back to the patrol car to run it all through the system.
I can only speculate about what happened next but here's my guess...

SRA 1: "Can you believe her? She couldn't find half of her paperwork and this stuff is expired."

SRA 2: "And I bet that those tears were fake."

SRA 1: "Wait... her name is ... B."

SRA 2:"You don't mean B? ... As in Maj B? ... Like, Maj B our commander? .... The commander of security forces?"

SRA 1: "Crap! I think that we just pulled over our commander's wife!"

SRA 2: " $#%^@$ !!! No we didn't! We pulled over the commander's wife and made her CRY! "

SRA 1 and 2 in unison: "%$#%^$#!!!!!!!"

SRA 1: "Maybe she's not."

SRA 2:"You're right. B isn't an uncommon name."

SRA 1: "Go ask her"

SRA 2: "You go ask her! You've got more seniority!"

SRA 1: "Ya exactly! And I said go ask her!"

SRA 2: "$#%$#%!!"

A moment later, I saw a face nervously poking around my window frame.
He looked at my tear streaked face and quietly ... timidly ...
SRA 2: "Um, ma'am, I'm SO sorry to bother you again but does your husband happen to be ...(gulp) ...Maj. B?"

Me: "Yes, ... well...wait, I mean no. Well, his name is B .... but he's a captain not a major."

The officer perked up. "Oh ok. Well thank you, Ma'am." And he tripped on back to the patrol car. He was clearly relieved and practically skipped away.

It took me a while but later I realized what happened and I've been laughing ever since.
And, yes, I got a ticket but the laugh was worth it.

Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones."

Just Processing

2011-10-04T16:49:00.002-06:00

So he's leaving. It's 90% for sure. It's still a few months away but it's much, much sooner than I expected. So I'm sort of absorbing this new reality and beginning the preparations that I thought I would make with more time between me and that big deadline. I'm planning a trip to the library to get some resources. I'm starting to take a few extra pictures of the kids with their Daddy. I'm starting to make sure we have the best technology and software to "talk" during his absence. I'm starting to plan a special date night or weekend before he goes.

In the back of everything now there are thoughts like "Soon he won't be here when the kids say something funny." or "He'll miss that big event." or "How will my kids, especially my very gentle, sensitive son, handle this?"

I'm looking for extra opportunities to say, "I love you." "You're my best friend." and trying not to say "Please don't go."

It reminds me a little of mourning. Of course he's not dying! But it is a loss. You are losing precious time and contact with someone you love. And you have to let go of that. It's not an instant thing to switch from one situation to another. You have to process it and think about it and come to terms with a new reality that isn't your first choice.

I know that I'm one of thousands and thousands who go through this. And of course I'm excited that he gets to do what he does. I'm proud of him and I wouldn't change anything. I'm not whinning or complaining. I'm just thinking out loud.

The D Word

2011-09-30T10:44:00.001-06:00

Today somebody in the Air Force bureaucracy said "deployment" and pointed their finger in my husband's direction. We don't know much but it looks like we might be facing this sooner than we expected. I'm trying to not get too wound-up. I'm just trying to live life as normal and not dwell on it. Deployments are a part of this life and we knew it was coming... we just didn't know it was coming THAT soon. And "THAT" could mean days or months. And the way the Air Force works they might change their mind tomorrow anyway. We just don't know. But God knows and he is just as much in charge now as he was when I thought I still had almost a year to go.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Vintage Advertising! Free!

2011-09-28T11:03:00.001-06:00

I found a new favorite website! I love vintage advertising. I think that it's fun to frame and hang on the wall or make things from the images. Today I found this...http://graphic-design.tjs-labs.com/ And I'm having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have!! This website has thousands of FREE, HIGH QUALITY images!! (PS These people have no idea who I am. I just stumbled on their website last night.) Here are a few that I'll be hanging around my house and then I'll let the creative juices work and find some more uses for these soon.
In the laundry room...

In the kitchen...

In the bathroom... (I have other vintage vehicle ads in there.)

I'm thinking of my living room makeover to cream and black...

And I've got fit an Air Force one in the house somehow!

Oh and I like this one too!!

GASP! Or this one!!!

Ok I could do this all day. Must ... have... self...control...

I love my deep sink!

2011-09-27T07:12:00.004-06:00

Warning: The blog you are about to read contains the extremely random babblings of a tired housewife. In an attempt to find joy in the little things, she becomes mildly bizarre.

Something that I have always longed for is a deep sink. In spite of our many, many moves, I've never had a deep sink. Here, at our base house, I finally have a deep sink. (Squeal of delight!) And it as truly wonderful as I dreamed it would be. Have you ever thought about the amazing-ness that is "The Sink"? And why is it that we "pack everything but the kitchen sink"? I mean if there's one thing that I have to have, it's my kitchen sink! And what brilliant person invented the "sink" in the first place? It was surely a housewife. I would survive the loss of the dishwasher. I would limp through the loss of the oven but the sink...never! But then there is the King of all Sinks (fanfare) ... the DEEP SINK! What raptures and joy I find in my deep sink. It can do everything that my kitchen sink can do... and MORE! With my deep sink, I can easily pot and water plants. In my deep sink, I find a safe place for even the most horrifying laundry. In my deep sink, I can remove the pungent aroma of the beagle. And when potty training goes awry, I can even clean my precious child. Oh deep sink, how I love you.

You prank the ones you love

2011-09-26T07:17:00.001-06:00

Rich and I have been pulling pranks on each other since before we were married. Once my car was towed but I was sure that it was Rich pulling a fast one. At 37 weeks pregnant, I fooled Rich into thinking that my water broke. He didn't belive me when it broke for real. And there's a long list of other hilarious pranks and jokes over our 9+ years of marriage. Last night I tried another one...enjoy

I will pay for this within a week when he gets me back. I'm sure it will be good.

Painting?

2011-09-25T22:25:00.000-06:00

The last time I painted a wall was about 3 years ago. I LOVED my mural (click here) at our TX house. I know that the best thing I can do to pull a room together is paint but... I live in base housing. And if it wasn't base housing then it would be a rental. We're not buying when we are likely to move every few years. I wish I could building something! Can't I please put in some bead board? Maybe just a chair rail? Or maybe change out the ceiling fan?
Can I do this?

My picture wall looks like this but that wall color would be PERFECT.

Or this?

master bedroom perfection

And imagine this in the girl's room!

Or this in my kitchen!

I think that I'm having paint withdrawals. It's like I miss those fumes or something! Ok not really.

It's pinterest. This marvelously addicting website shows me all the thing that I would do... if... but what's the use of moping about it?

Yet... I was talking to a milspouse today who's moving on to the next base. As she prepares for moving, she is repainting her walls to "base housing white" after painting it her colors for their roughly 3 year stay here. I can't imagine repainting, then painting it when you move and THEN painting the new place when you arrive. I think that part of it would be the sadness of covering up your hard work with plain ol' white. There's also the risk of child size "help" with my painting. I've seen other homes on base that are clearly painted. Am I missing something? Do some of you other milspouses out there do this? I don't see how I could.

Then there's this...
Luke 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Ouch! There's nothing wrong with painting ... but... am I content with my white walls?

And really I am so grateful for our house here, the neighbors, the park down the road, the savings of base housing, and so many other things. I'll just save these great ideas for someday and work on the color of my heart. ... Gotta work on the green in here...

Gardening

2011-09-23T07:00:00.001-06:00

Six months ago, I thought that I would just plant a few seeds to educate the kids...

Now, I think I'm addicted! I LOVE spending time in my garden and I'm already planning what to add next year!

Peppers, Tomatoes and Herbs OH MY!

Bible Study At The Chapel

2011-09-22T10:52:00.001-06:00

I love going to Bible study with my sisters in Christ... but right now...it's hard! The Bible study that I am currently a part of is based on a theology that is very different from my own. I would not normally sign up to attend a study that I disagree with at such a fundamental level but this is THE chapel's women's study. What can I do? This is my church. It is not a place where I can find much theological common ground but is the community that God has called me to be a part of and to serve. So when my usual group began a new study, I signed up.

For weeks now I've been studying the material and better defining my own viewpoints on these issues. I disagree with this study deeply and profoundly but it is LOVED by the women of this Bible study. I love healthy respectful debate about different theological viewpoints. I love understanding other people's interpretations of scripture and comparing them to my own. I think that it is an important part of learning. None of us should be proud enough to say that we have a perfect understanding of God or His word. The best way to learn is in the community of Christ so that iron can sharpen iron. But in a Bible study like this, I think that expressing my very different (and very minority) viewpoint would be destructive to the group and to my opportunity to form relationships and serve others. I am not good at keeping my mouth shut. If someone says something that I disagree with, then I like to talk about it. I'm not an aggressive or disrespectful person. (If you knew me, you would have no doubts about that one.) I just enjoy comparing different points of view. So I plan to sit quietly through this study but it's going to be really, really, REALLY hard. If there is an opportunity to speak then I will find a gentle, positive way to point the issue more towards my own viewpoint without criticizing the author, her viewpoint, or those who love her.

So have you ever been a part of a group with which you did not have much theological common ground? What did you do? Why did you stay in spite of the differences? What would you do differently next time? All input welcome!

And in case you are wondering the study is about, then here's an article that is a good representation of my views of the issues relevant to this study. http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue98.htm

My Baby Is Walking

2011-09-21T10:39:00.000-06:00

Excuse the iphone picture. It was all that was within reach when she suddenly took off. Every mommy knows that mix of joy and heartache that comes with the little milestones of the youngest baby. We have planned for this to be our last one because of the difficulties that I had with pregnancy. I hate to say goodbye to the joys of the baby stage but I am looking forward to the joys of the toddler stage and all of the other adventures of parenting that are still ahead of us.

Deployers Retreat

2011-09-19T21:56:00.000-06:00

This weekend the chapel hosted a depolyers retreat. Rich was the POC so he, and of course all of the chapel staff, worked really hard on this. It was a busy weekend full of hard work but we got to spend a weekend in the mountains and I hear that the attendees got a lot out of it.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

2011-09-16T06:31:00.002-06:00

Join the fun at Wife of a Sailor.

1.Right now, our weather is rainy and cool but what I’d really like is more rain and even cooler. I'm excited about fall!!
2.I like to let my hair down and eat ridiculous amounts of sugar.
3.Mommy Rambles made a post about heroes… my hero is my husband, because he has been working SO hard lately but he still loves the opportunity to minister to others and show them Christ. And he still finds time to hug and kiss his wife and kids and show them that they are more important than work.
4.It’s a weird combination, but I swear cranberry juice and spaghetti are a perfect pair! I always want a glass of cranberry juice when we are having spaghetti.
5.Some may see the glass half empty and others may see it half full, but I ... just want a drink of water.

A Proposal

2011-09-14T22:24:00.000-06:00

Today Lizzie came home with a shocker. One of the boys at school proposed! It was actually a cute little story. She says that this little boy doesn't like to play with the other kids at recess. In Lizzie's words "They play chasing games and we don't like those games. Well I do sometimes but he doesn't so I keep him company." This young man says that he thinks Lizzie is beautiful. Well I wholeheartedly agree but hold your horses, little man! You better have a talk with her Daddy first!

Our Four Legged Mop

2011-09-13T13:31:00.001-06:00

The only time that Lucy shows signs of life (i.e. moves faster than a slug) is when there is food to be found. She has a rather delicate palate and prefers what can be found at the feet of the chef, or perhaps the enticing aroma of the trash cans or the unique gourmet treats to be discovered in the yard. However she does have one favorite dining experience ...

She rarely misses an opportunity to haunt the floor around the baby's high chair.

She spends the meal in constant motion back and forth across the floor.

The sound of her nails, click click click click, is part of the dinnertime soundtrack.

See that lightening fast turn of the head as something hits the ground behind her!

She has this part down to an art - the intense observation of the floor.

Then there's clean-up duty after the baby is done.

Then it's time for an after dinner nap, followed by an after nap nap and then a pre-dinner nap and then....

9/11

2011-09-11T14:55:00.000-06:00

I want to write about this day,
      about it's significance
           about the memories
                  about the impact on our country

but everything I have to add sounds
     trivial,
           unimportant
                small

Our culture is all about
     MY experience,
             MY words,
                     MY opinion

What can I say that hasn't been said.?
     What emotion can I share that isn't felt by millions?
             Are my experiences at all different or special?

I don't think so.

There is only one view that is
     important,
           valuable
                  unique.
God's view.

So I will not spend this day focused on
     the tragedies
          the memories
               the politics

I will remember
     the eternal kingdom
          the King of Kings
                the only wise God

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the LORD has done,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease

to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the shields[d] with fire.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Mixing Family History With Home Decor

2011-09-10T16:29:00.004-06:00

Has anyone else noticed how handwriting shows up on EVERYTHING lately for home decor...

And I love that look BUT I'm a cheapskate when it comes to decorating my home. If I can make it myself or find it second hand then I that's what I'll do. I'm slowly working on remaking my living room in a cream and black color scheme. So this look is perfect but how to get it without expensive home store prices? Well I've given it a start. After the death of Rich's grandma everyone was scanning and saving special documents from the family history. I got copies of some of the sweet letters written by Rich's grandfather. They are so special even if they are just scans so I had a light bulb moment and realized that I could use these letters to decorate and also enjoy seeing this part of the family story everyday!

So I printed the scanned letters with a photo quality printer and then arranged them in a frame into a collage. I enlarged key parts of the letters like the phrase "My very dear" or "I love you".

I'm very pleased with the results. I want to spray paint the frame black later.

The signature of Rich's grandfather

One of the letters up close.

I love his sense of humor! Here's an excerpt from one of the letters written after one of those weeks that every married couple experiences. You've been super busy, you've hardly seen each other and you begin to wonder if you're even married...

"My very dear Mrs. B_,

the above salutation is based on the rumor that there really is a Mrs. B_

~somewhat similar to the belief that there really is a Sant Claus.

Starting with the hour of 10 PM last Saturday night, I compute a total

of 115 hours up to 5 PM tonight. I have seen and talked with you for a

grand total of 8 of those hours.

Not complaining of course, but please write more frequently so we can

stay in touch and exchange ideas on the upbringing of the children, the

international affairs, arts, religion, politics, the needless existence of

mothers-in-law, etc.

In brief please write and enclose a snapshot as I really can't place you.

Very truly yours,

Harrison

I plan to use the images of these letters in other places somehow. Iron-on's for pillows? Decoupaged lamp? The living room still has a long way to go to get the overall look but this is my favorite step in that direction.

Linking up at Beneath My Heart

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

2011-09-09T08:05:00.000-06:00

1. My plans for Labor Day included camping but what really happened was we ended up resting at home. We had hoped to go camping with some friends but we had to change that because Rich needed to stay within reach of the chapel.
2. Call me crazy, but sometimes I just need to have complete and utter silence. Quiet is a rare thing in my house.

3. One of the funniest things I’ve seen lately is my son putting on his underwear inside out, backwards and sideways.
4. It’s strange but hearing music when others are present drives me crazy, but music when I am alone is perfectly fine with me!

5. One, two, buckle my shoe… three, four there is no more!

Friends

2011-09-07T21:15:00.000-06:00

I've been grateful lately for friends. I've been told that in the military you make really good friends, really fast. It's true! I've got friends with similar interests. Friends from Bible studies. Friends in the neighborhood. Friends whose kids are friends with my kids. But one friend in particular is truly a gift from God. During my miserable last week, I was able to rely on a really good friend. And I knew that she would understand when I wasn't myself. We could just hang out and there was no pressure to be anything. She's been going through some stuff lately too. And we're just THERE for each other. We're in the same stage of life. We've got kids the same age. Our husbands are in similar jobs. And here's something else... we respect each other. At the chapel, the issue of denominational differences and the huge variety of backgrounds can make respect hard to find. Friendships are a gift from God and I'm very grateful for this gift.

Wire Crochet

2011-09-03T23:34:00.000-06:00

I'm still enjoying jewelry making and tonight I finally tried wire crochet! I love it!! Easy but impressive. That's my kind of project!

DIY Home Decor

2011-09-02T17:13:00.000-06:00

I've always wanted some sort of cute sign for the laundry room. A couple of days ago I pulled out the wire I used on a previous project. (Hanging Wall Vases) And started experimenting. I twisted it into a cursive "Laundry" then I thought that it need to be mounted on something. I picked up a few 1x4's at the hardware store. I screwed them together in a way reminiscent of a packing crate, attached the wire and a few clothespins and here's the result.

I like it. I think that it's pretty cute. And I can change up the stuff in the clothes pins. I had kid's artwork up there earlier. I'm still considering staining the wood, maybe with some sort of color wash, but for now I like it.

What a week...

2011-09-01T14:08:00.001-06:00

Can I just scratch this one out of history? First my dog bites my son. (It was my baby girl last week.) I had to take him to the pound. I've been crying several times a day for days. They seemed pretty sure that they could find him a good home. They all but guaranteed it. I'm relieved that he didn't have to be put down but I'm so sorry that he couldn't stay with me. (And don't you judge me or lecture me or you'll see my nasty side as per the previous post.) I did what was right for the safety of the kids but it still hurts. Then today I got a flat tire and spent all morning waiting for it to get fixed. Sorry blog world but I am not much fun to visit today. I will try to have a better attitude tomorrow. In the meantime I will go spread nutella on something... or maybe I'll skip the "something" and just dive in the jar.

So what do you do when a dog bites?

2011-08-30T14:25:00.004-06:00

I love my terrier. He loves to cuddle and give kisses. I love taking him for walks and he' s my friend...
but I am crying as I write this....
He has bit my kids, twice now. It was minor, no blood but it was scary. I don't want to give him up. In desperation I posted something on a local web board asking for help in finding him another home.

"I love this dog. I hate to see him go but this is not working. He has nipped and growled at my children twice now. He LOVES people. He loves going for walks and playing fetch. But he does not love my toddlers. He is such a good dog. I don't want to say goodbye to him but I have to take care of my children first. He is a blond terrier mix benji type, about 25 lbs. He would be great with older children or adults but he is not safe for small kids. He does well with most dogs but he is an alpha type dog and he has had a hard time with some male dogs. I've had him for two years. He knows how to sit, shake, stay and he is kennel trained. He does pull on the leash at first but he settles down after a while. He loves to run too. If you would be interested in helping me I would be grateful. He would give the right person so much love."

Then I got this beautiful e-mail...
"You should try training the dog. You made a commitment to him 2 years ago and now you are going back on that promise.
Will you do the same when your kids become teens and get grouchy with you? It will happen."

Here's my response...
"Well aren't you the brilliant solver of all of the world problems? I HAVE trained this dog. Did you read my post? AND I have trained my children. They know what is or is not appropriate behavior around dogs. Do you know me? Do you know my situation? Are you going to drive my kids to the hospital and hold their hand when one day it goes too far? Are you going to change the bandages on their stitches when the dog rips a hole in their face? He's already bit them twice. I LOVE this dog. I am committed to taking care of him until we find a place that he is SAFE! What if he does do something terrible to my children or a neighbors child, then what? Then he is far from safe right? Then he gets hauled away and put down and I have no say in the matter. Or maybe you are one of those people that thinks dogs can't do anything wrong. They're innocent and perfect and would never do something to hurt anyone. Well when my neighbor's daughter DIED in the mouth of another neighbors Rottweiler, I switched over to the side that says sometimes a dog is NOT safe. Thank you so much for taking something immensely painful and making it harder. You're probably to egotistical to even read this. You already have the right view of the world and no one can tell you differently. Go stick your fat nose in your own business because it's not welcome here."

This lovely person had already blocked my e-mail addres!! How cowardly is that? Shoot over an e-mail and then block me from responding. They don't want an honest discussion. They just want to be a self righteous know it all.

Please pray. I don't want to say goodbye to my dog.

Folding the laundry is boring... unless...

2011-08-30T07:00:00.035-06:00

Unless your kids suddenly discover the joy of wearing underwear on their head.

And of course they have to put some on the baby's head...

... and at some point you have to join the fun or you're an underwear party pooper.

My favorite junk shop!

2011-08-29T15:02:00.001-06:00

Alamogordo is full of thrift stores but this one beats them all! If you ever get sent out here by the military (and you will never have reason to live here unless you are in the military) then I highly recommend The Tacky Shack and Early Bird Yard Sales out in Boles Acres. It's on 54 toward El Paso. They are only open on Friday and Saturday and they are worth the scheduling and gas. They have four buildings that are literally packed to overflowing and I always find so many strange and interesting things.

I love this old thing but I had to ask myself. Where would I put it and what would I keep in all those tiny little drawers. (All those little drawers were full of more junk for sale too.)

And you know that you need a fake hand. And this one comes with the jewelry already attached!

Don't you love how this rather insulting welcome is so beautifully presented?

Or maybe you're in the market for a mini golden toilet? Or maybe the white one right next to it?

Here's one of the four buildings. My eyes can't take in all of the glorious junk!

I did find a few goodies in the middle of the strange and bizarre. A necklace, one pair of earrings and two brooches. (Total $7.50)

And if you come shopping in Alamogordo, then I recommend Eddie's Burritos for lunch. It's near the Walmart (and another good thrift store too!). Great Mexican food! And their horchata is the perfect cool drink on a hot day of junkin'.

Crochet Ring

2011-08-29T10:19:00.000-06:00

I crocheted this little rose ring for Liz today. I told her it was the kind that fairies wear and she loves it. In case you want to make one, I've written out a pattern. It barely qualifies as a pattern because it's so easy. This is meant to fit a child's finger. If you want it larger just add a couple more chains at the beginning. The yarn will stretch so don't make it too big.

Fairy Rose Ring
I used a 2.75mm hook and some scraps of light weight yarn that I had around.
With green yarn, Ch 8, sl st in first ch.
sc in loop 15 times
sl st in first sc
fasten off and work in loose ends.
This makes the ring.

To make the rose,
using red yarn (or any color) ch 20
2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc in each of the remaining chains,
fasten off and leave a long tail to attach the rose to the ring.

The rose should be just a spiralling cord right now. Twist it into a rose shape with the tail portion on the outside and the other end at the center of the rose. Sew it onto the ring with the long tail. Be sure to attach the center of the rose firmly to keep the flower's shape and pass through the "petals" in a few other places to keep your rose tightly bunched together.

I might try this again with a few sparkly beads worked into the yarn.

LIke I really need another crafty hobby

2011-08-27T07:12:00.001-06:00

Now it's jewelry. I've been making earrings, bracelets, etc. And it's so darn easy! I'm having lots of fun with it. It started with trying to dress better. I'm enjoying dressing better and just looking less sloppy. But I quickly realized that I had very little jewelry. When I stopped at the Walmart craft dept for some kids' craft supplies, I spotted a jewelry making kit. I gave it a try and now I'm addicted. Here are some examples. These are a little hard to see but I made all of these earrings. Very Very Easy! Some of the beads are off some old necklaces that were my grandma's. And some parts are from damaged or broken necklaces. I love turning trash into treasure!

Most of these were from the jewelry kit that got me started.

Now I'm on to crochet jewelry. I can't wait to try wire crochet next!!

Medical Clinic Posters

2011-08-24T11:10:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I went to the med clinic. I walked past all the usual pictures on the wall illustrating the awesomeness of the military medical teams. There was a picture of soldiers practicing CPR. There were pictures of med staff sorting patient files. There was a picture of someone getting a shot. And then there was this gem...

Look closely. How many times did I walk past this and not see the giant tooth held by a wrench or horse sized injection or the mallet? Someone had a great sense of humor when they quietly stuck this in the middle of all of the mundane posters. To that mystery person, I salute you.

A Drill I Hope They Never Need

2011-08-23T11:37:00.000-06:00

It has been a busy morning.
    ...running the kids around,
         groceries to buy,
                    a quick stop at the med clinic...
                           and then I froze...

For a moment, I thought that it was the real thing.

...the guns preparing for the salute, the banners waving...

the flag covered coffin

I'm grateful for the service that these airmen perform and I'm grateful that they prepare for the final honors of another soldier.

But I hope ... that somehow... in some miraclulous way ... they never need to use the lessons learned in this drill.

Roswell

2011-08-21T07:00:00.087-06:00

Most people hear of Roswell, NM and they think of...

aliens

or UFOs.

But after a stop at the McDonald's that is shaped like a UFO...

We headed for the childhood home of Rich's grandmother.

And then we went to the cemetery.

This used to be the caretaker's home, but it was also the home of Rich's great grandparents.

His great grandfather worked as the caretaker here for several years.

Rich's mom chased squirrels and jack rabbits down these lanes when she was a little girl visiting her grandparents.

And it is also their final resting place.

How special to have been stationed within reach of special family memories.

It was a beautiful drive and a very special day.

Meet Me At The Fair

2011-08-20T21:22:00.000-06:00

I love a county fair. I grew up going to county fairs.

For some people it's about the rides or the food but for me...

It's the fuzzy friendly faces.

The smell of hay, feed and even the manure.

The personalities.

We grew up with chickens and rabbits.

I have many happy memories of showing my rabbits and horses with 4H.

I hope that my kids grow up with similar memories.

Mutant Vegetables

2011-08-19T07:00:00.001-06:00

My gardening adventures have taken a turn toward the twilight zone.

My cucumber plant and my watermelon cross pollinated and the outcome is bizarre.

So would this be a cucumelon...

or a watercumber?

And what is this? It's yellow but all of the other...watcumberelons? ... are green.

So what do you do with mutant gardening products? Do I dare eat them?

I might grow an extra arm. Wait! I'm a mom! How many uses could I find for an extra arm?!

(Now taking a bite.)

Blech! Bitter and strange.

What do I do with the rest of them?

Too bad Rod Serling isn't still around. I'd invite him over for a twilight zone special - watumbermelon salad.

Mountain Wildflowers

2011-08-18T13:01:00.000-06:00

All of the rain we have had recently has created a burst of wildflowers all over the mountain sides. There are so many that you can smell them. It reminded me of a great verse...

Matthew 6:27 - 34 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,

will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

First Day of Preschool

2011-08-16T13:28:00.000-06:00

Ready for her first day of preschool

Today we made a big step. Preschool. We did a trial run of homeschooling a few months ago and the conclusion was...This is not the time. I'm seriously concerned that chasing the younger 2 is keeping me from giving my oldest enough educational attention. I've always seen myself as a homeschooling mom but it's hard. Yes I know that she is JUST in preschool but I want to do what gives her the best education possible. Our conclusion was that she would benefit from a few mornings per week at a good preschool. It's also better for the younger two. They need some individual attention too. The other homeschoolers that I know have all told me that I'm trying too hard, worrying too much or whatever. Why are so many homeschoolers die hard homeschool or else kind of people? If you are a homeschooling reader then please do not add to this. I firmly believe that you do whatever form of education is best for your children at that moment (private, public or home) and after much prayer and struggle this is what my kids need now.

That being said, it was hard to drop her off for the morning. I can't tell you how many times today, I asked myself if we were doing the right thing. The good news is that she loved it and almost cried when I came to bring her home. We'll do it again tomorrow. I hope that I survive.
And homeschooling...someday.

First Birthday Cupcakes

2011-08-15T09:46:00.002-06:00

And here's the cutest birthday cupcake!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

2011-08-12T06:56:00.001-06:00

Join the Milspouse Friday Fill In at Wife of a Sailor.

1.The best thing my parents taught me to do when I was a child was _________________.
How to use the bathroom. Oh wait, that's probably not what you meant. Sorry we're in the potty training stage at our house. Ok something more practical...hmmm...well ... it doesn't get more practical than potty training...Ok seriously ...They taught me how to learn. I was homeschooled for the last 3 yrs of highschool. I think that it had a HUGE impact on me. Through homeschooling I learned how to study, how to dig into a subject and truly learn.

2.However, one thing I wish they did differently was _________________.
I wish that they had pushed me harder to learn to play an instrument. I really wish that I knew more about music but back then I wasn't interested. They were ok with that. Now I know that childhood was the best time and now I don't have the time. Potty training...

3.One thing I’ve always wanted to try but haven’t is _________________.
Run for office! I would love to get in there and be a part of making our government financially responsible. Quit spending money that we don't have. Quit buying cable and booze for everyone who says that they can't get a job!! The system is so loaded with fraud that it's not worth preserving. Don't worry about votes and chuck the whole thing or you'll send us down the financial toilet... hmmm... are we back to potty training again?

4.One thing I never thought I’d try but I have is _________________.
Gardening. I never thought that it was very interesting but now I am hooked! I might go buy the supplies for a raised bed and expand a little this weekend.

5.If I could give my 16-year-old self one piece of advice I’d tell myself _________________.
Quit wasting time and energy on what others think of you. Be yourself but temper that with what is most honoring to God. Don't choose whether or not to do something because of how you think others will percieve you. Do it because of what God thinks of you.

No Shi*!!!

2011-08-10T20:56:00.002-06:00

If you're a mother you know that your kids possess a great talent for creating deep and intense humiliation. I thought that my last episode couldn't be topped... until today!
I'm trying to get more involved in PWOC. Somehow I ended up on the PWOC board. I was asked to help as a Prayer Coordinator and found out later that it was a board position. Whoops! So today I attended my first board meeting. All the women were there with their kiddos so we turned them loose in the nursery and got to work. We were talking, working and brainstorming when it happened.

From the nursery comes "NO SHI*!" Oh yes. You read that right. From the sweet little nursery, the place of chubby knees and innocent childhood games, came an unmistakable four letter word. I heard it. We ALL heard it. But where did it come from? Every mother's forehead wrinkled. Every mother thought "That CAN'T be my kid!" The pause was brief but business continued as usual. No one was confident that it was THEIR kid, so no one stood up to go ... handle it. We all pretended that nothing happened and we got back to work.
Then it happened again...but this time... It was loud, repeated and that little voice meant business. And that little voice was very familiar. It was...my...daughter. "No Shi*" "No Shi*" "NO SHI*" "NOOOO SHIIIII*!!!!!"

I quietly stood up and did a speed walk to the nursery. You know that walk. It's nonchalant. It says "I am SOOO in control." It says "Maybe no one else heard it so don't draw any attention." It says "GET THERE NOW!" and "PLEASE, make it stop!" and "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

I cornered the little hooligan, tried to hold the tiny shoulders without cutting off circulation and reminded myself that if she did NOT know that word then I didn't want to introduce it now. She could never have heard that word! I CALMLY asked "What did you say?"
     "Nothing"
"No. What did you say?"
     "I said that I don't want to play that game."
"How did you say it?"
     "I said 'No ship!' "
My brain could not understand this perfectly reasonable answer.
"How did you say it?"
     "I said 'No Ship' "
I still could NOT understand.
"How did you say it?"
    "I sa-id "N-O shi-P!"
As I was hit by child spittle from her efforts to enunciate, I could finally comprehend this simple and reasonable explanation.
"What game are they playing?"
     "They are playing pirate ship but I don't want to."

Do you hear that? No it's not the wind. No tornadoes or hurricanes. That's me taking a deep breath.

I talked about how to play kindly, returned to the earlier mentioned nonchalant, don't-draw-attention walk, and returned to my seat.

I thought that would be the end of it... but no... At a break in the meeting, a mother asked "Kristi, did I hear one of the kids say ..." I didn't let her finish. As fast as I could, I rattled off what happened... about 3 hours into my rambling, panicked, babbling explanation, I gave up. They laughed.... But I know... The reputation of the "Chaplain's family" was made, sealed, and set in stone today.
NO SHIP!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Water Sculptures

2011-08-10T07:28:00.000-06:00

Motherhood As A Battle Ground

2011-08-09T14:23:00.000-06:00

I just read a really great article and I encourage you to go take a look at it too. But it got me thinking about the battlefields of motherhood. Not the Potty Training battles, or the Attitude battles or the "Eat your green beans!" battles. I'm not talking about those battles. I'm referring to the spiritual battle in my own heart. Motherhood requires bucket loads of self sacrifice but I don't do it easily. I don't want to give up my free time. I don't want to give up my hobbies. I don't want to give up my sanity. Not that motherhood denies me any of these, but it certainly does make them more difficult or less frequent. Except the sanity. Ya that one's gone. :) Somedays I look at how my time was spent... laundry, dishes, solving squabbles, teaching, training, ... and I feel resentful. On most day, I feel joyful but on the bad days, I know what God is doing. He is shaping me, sanctifying me, changing my ways into HIS ways. When I fall into discontent, resentment, anger or self-righteousness, He is always there convicting me and I know what He wants. He wants to change me to be more honoring and glorifying to Him. Christ made the ultimate and final sacrifice on the cross but now he wants to teach me to be self sacrificing too so that I can better reflect my Saviour.

I think that Motherhood has been the battlefield where God exposes all of my weaknesses. He allows events that bring these sins out where I can see them. He shows me what my natural tendencies are so that I can go to Him and to His word to seek sanctification. It is similar to an army marching through a newly conquered territory. They expose the enemies that have escaped the battle. The victory has already taken place at the cross and the battle has been won. However that doesn't mean that the entire territory has submitted to the victor. My husband used a similar (and more peaceful) analogy in a sermon recently. You don't weed your garden to make it any more YOUR garden. You remove the weeds because they don't belong there anymore. So God is "weeding" me through the challenges of motherhood. It is a painful process, so the battlefield analogy fits my mental struggle better. But I am grateful to know Who has the final victory and I know which side of the battle I want to be on.

Splash

2011-08-08T16:32:00.000-06:00