One more year and its the big 50!!
My daddy was my hero
For my very youngest years;
Daddy kept me safe and happy,
And he chased away my fears.
I watched in awe and wonder
At each manly thing he did;
Oh, I looked up to my daddy,
When I was a little kid.
As the years passed, one by one.
He taught important lessons,
And he took some time for fun.
He was my firm foundation;
On my dad I did depend;
He was always there for me,
My dad, my guide, my friend.
Now that I am fully grown.
I love him and respect him,
The best man I've ever known.
I knew when I would marry
That my husband had to be
A great man, just like my father,
Dad, my hero you'll always be.
I LOVE YOU DAD!!!!
So on my lunch break yesterday I came upon this website. www.heelarious.com (see picture below)
So we had our ultrasound last Wednesday. We found out we are having a baby girl!! I totally cried when the U.S. technician told us there were no masculine parts to be found. :o) We are still on track for our due date of October 8. We have picked a first name. Kennedi. Still working on a middle name. I've been scoping out all the baby name websites and let me tell you there alot of names out there. I have only been though A & B and I got bored. Thank you to all who have help with the boy name. I will keep those for next time. :o)
It seems I've always thought of Memorial Day as a very special day for our country. Yea, it announces the "unofficial" start of summer with camping, barbecue, and time with family and friends. But there's a lot more to it
M is for the memory we have of those who put their lives on the line to give us the freedom and privilege of living in this blessed nation....
E is for the enduring gratitude we have for the sacrifices these
men and women make for those who stayed at home....
M is for the merit we recognize in those who serve our nation
when such service comes at such a high price....
O is for the obedience we honor when those in uniform follow orders that may, and many times do, cost them their lives....
R is for the reverence we give to the thoughts we have on this day, or any day, when we remember those who give so much....
I is for the integrity we salute when those in uniform stand up for all of us even when some of us do not stand up for them....
A is for the allegiance we have to the nation that these brave warriors fight and die for....
L is for the love that goes with those who are in harms way, and who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for you and me....
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Thanks to
W. Larry Chapman, Jr., Capt. USMC - Vietnam Era, for sending this in to Sgt Grit's Newsletter.
Thanks to all those that gave their lives for our country, so that we could have peace and enjoy the freedoms we have here at home. Thanks to all that have served; past, present, and future.
Before you celebrate Memorial Day, remember to pray for those that have paid for our freedoms with their lives and their families. And remember to pray for the men and women that are currently serving in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. And remember to pray for their families at home.
Our freedoms and way of life were purchased by the blood of others.
Haven't posted anything in awhile, in a word time seems to be moving faster than ever and I'm grateful to God. Mitosis was fantastic, thanks to all that helped with preparation and served during the event -- Fantastic!
We had a great vacation in Anaheim visiting Disney & California Adventure (3 days), a day at Universal Studios, and a trip to Sea World. Thanks to God for giving us this amazing time together as a family. God is amazing, awesome, and must have a wonderful sense of humor. Whenever I go to amusement parks, the thrill rides are the ones I usually ride multiple times. This always causes me to think that we are the only creation of God that not only enjoys being scared or doing things we know are dangerous to us but we pay
Vacation was also a reminder to be cautious and respect the power of the sun's energy. Our day at Sea World was the only day we didn't bring sunblock and a hat for me. We all got excessive sun, me the worst as my expanding forehead doesn't have much hair for protection any more. So, here's a link to our doc's blog to learn more about the dramatic effect of excessive exposure to the sun, this has some amazing pictures. http://mydoctorv.com/
Upon returning, increased hours were necessary at work to prepare for some critical events, a trip to Airbus in Toulouse to finish off April, and a trip to Tumwater for a fantastic equestrian vaulting weekend, http://vonw.org/, with two second place ribbons!!!
Throughout all this activity, God has been moving me to more quiet time with Him, more time in prayer (especially on my knees and face), more devotion time, more Word, more time praying in the Spirit, more priority to Him. It somewhat defies my logic that the busier I get, the more I NEED, MUST, GOT TO spend more time with Him. ... but it IS TRUE and I'm so grateful GOD is in charge. Nothing is impossible with Him and, afterall, HE is the beginning and the end so He's got control of time too! Praise God !
Last Thursday Shaun and I had our first baby appointment. We were suppose to hear the heartbeat but the doctor couldn't find it so he got the ultrasound machine and we got to see our little peanut. It was so cute. I forgot to look at Shaun's expression because I was so engulfed with our baby. It was amazing!!! Our due date is October 8. In 10 weeks we should beable to find out if it is a girl or a boy! Can't wait. We have a girl named picked out but we need a little help on the boy name. Any suggestions let me know!!!
This weekend I sent off on an adventure with my parents to Orville, Washington. Orville is where Pastors Al and Joannie Parsons live and my sister Sarah just happens to be staying with them. Yes I know Sarah in the middle of no where on a ranch with no mall with in 20 miles heck the nearest mall is in Spokane. Actually they have a store called "Princes" that looks like a 60's version of Fred Meyer. But they actually had some cute Roxy stuff there. I was impressed. Anyway back to my adventure. We left Friday night around 5:30p.m. We stopped in Leavenworth to eat dinner at Gustav's. Side note: After dinner as we were walking out my dad told my mom and I to be careful because it was really slippery. Just as he got done saying it. Yep he fell. It was in slow motion and people in the resturant saw it happen and were at the window to see if he was okay. Of course my mom and I waited to burst out laughing to see if he was okay. So this was a running joke all weekend. End side note. We ended up getting to the Parson's ranch at about 11:30pm. But I must say as we drove past Orville up a very long back road then up a very long gravel road I started to wonder if it was ever going to end. Well in ended at a beautiful house set on a beautiful field of snow. (See below for pics) We were embrassed by three adorable Boarder Collies, Daisy Duke, Pistol Pete and Hope aka hopeless or hopelicious(that was my name for her), horses,goats, a donkey named Buster, my sister, Al and Joannie. Oh did I mention it was 2 degrees when we got there. We settled in for the evening. My sister and I staying up until 3:00am. We woke up around 9ish and had some coffee. Then it was time to feed the horses. Sarah drove the truck while Al, the dogs and I piled in the back. We drove in a circle and drop hay along the way for them. It takes about 10 minutes. But oh it was cold. After breakfast, Sarah and I set out to experiance my first time on a snowmobile. All I can say is: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
That is what I did the whole time with a smile on my face. It was amazing. A little scary but a good scary! After we went back and had a good nap then Al decided he needed to take me out on the sled and see what I could do. I ended up going down a freakin mountain and loved every minute of it. Oh one hill Al went first and didnt realize there was a hump a the top and it was to late to tell me to stop so needless to say I hit it and sailed into the air and landed it. I screamed the whole time. It was uterly fantastic!!! So after sleding we all cleaned up and went to Canada for dinner. Yep Canada. You can actually see the Canadian Boarder from there house. No we did not go in illegally. We when through the official boarder. We ate at a resturant at a Holiday Inn called Sol. It was delicious!!!! After dinner we stopped by Princes and got some spark plugs for the sled. This is when I saw all the cute stuff they had. I could have went shopping if they were not closing. Sadness:-( Got home and went to bed. Was woken up by the dogs running around up stairs. Had some awesome breakfast. By the way Al did all the cooking. He is quite the chef!! After breakfast we packed up, said our goodbyes and headed home. On our way, right outside of Baring there was an accident involving a car and a truck towing sleds. We pulled up just as it had happend so we got stuck for an hour waiting. No one was badly injured thank God. But we did encounter a "Ranger" -Alta Lake people you know what kind of "Ranger" I am talking about!!!! It was a trying of my patience that I failed. But we got home safe and had a weekend I will cherish forever!!!
Thank you Al, Joannie, Sarah, Pistol Pete, Daisy Duke, Hopelicious, horses (I only remember Miss Piggy's name), Buster the donkey and goats for your hospitality and showing us how ya'll have a good time!!!! I love you!
Here it is 3:00 am in Monroe, WA, “Sleepless in Seattle”! I’ve been awake for awhile with various thoughts about work. Work is more challenging each year and this new year at work will clearly be the most challenging I’ve ever experienced. So, I awakened again tonight (this morning) with lots of questions and anxiety about my j-o-b. Tonight was different … Tonight I got on my knees to pray to God for His guidance and help.
How can I say that I believe in God, the Creator of the universe, my Father in Heaven, and in His Son Jesus Christ yet be anxious and worry about my job!!! How can I feel/say this when I know this verse in Philippians? When I just used this same verse for a family member ???
Phil 4:6 AMP 6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ([a]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
But yet, I must not believe for I still am anxious.
Do I think guiding me with His Holy Spirit through the trials and tribulations of my job are too difficult for God, the Creator of heaven and earth ?
Jeremiah 32:27 NIV "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Gen 18:14 NIV Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."
Kinda clear that it is my unbelief that is keeping me awake. Well, tonight was different!! I repent from my unfaithfulness and trust in Our Lord. As a spiritual descendent of Abraham, God has promised me many things and He is a God that keeps His promises!
The devil is a liar!
Tonight was different … tonight I asked for forgiveness for my unbelief and thanked God for who He is and all the wonderful, amazing things He has already done for me. … Tonight, I thanked Him for the challenges He is placing before me to enable me to grow deeper in relationship with and deeper dependence on Him.
Though I have no idea how or what to do about the numerous challenges I will face this year, I know that God loves me and He will get me through it. God has amazing things planned for His people, beyond our limited comprehension.
I know it’s not a question if we will have trials and tribulations in life, we will! The question for me is, will I try to figure out how to get through them by myself or will I give it to Our God in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, and trust in Him. Thanks be to God for loving me through my faults and guiding me to improving.
Tonight was different, tonight I am different .. thanks to God!
Thank God for the start of another year! Life with Christ as my Life leader, Lord, and Savior is awesome!! Thank God for His Grace and Love upon us that we can surrender to Him and have a relationship with His Son.
I am looking forward to the changes, challenges, experiences, learning, tests, opportunities, growth, and memories that God will give me, my family, and my church this year. Halleluiah!
As this new year starts, something is clearer than ever to me and I’m grateful. This is a clarity that is welcome but also alarming. Now that you may be tempted, I pray for God's words to help explain.
We’re all familiar with right - left, green - red, east - west, heads - tails, and some are familiar with digital communication ( a 1 or a 0) .... There is no ambiguity with these concepts
What about right or wrong ? …. Is this the same clarity or is this a little gray? How about replacing right and wrong with God and Satan ?
though many aspects of our culture try to cloud the lines of right and wrong, it's clearer than ever to me that we are either doing what God wants or we are not! We are either following God or we are sinning. This includes when we don’t communicate honestly and completely with our family and friends. This includes when we don't stand-up in boldness and love for what we know to be right and God's. This includes when we don’t have God first and foremost in our heart, mind, and soul.
Thank God that He shed His own blood for us and gave us His Son and His Holy Spirit to not only forgive us from our sinful ways but also to lead us away from sin.
May God be with you this year, blessing you beyond measure, and making you a new creature in Him each and every day. Halleluiah!!
