“No one probably even noticed when this . . . → Read More: We all need a Kowboy in our lives]]> I came across this blog post today on the House Family blog and I just had to share it.  It is such a beautiful story of Christ’s love lived out right here on this earth.  A young man named Luke sharing God’s love with a homeless man named Kowboy. 

“No one probably even noticed when this happened yesterday in the morning. It happened in the woods. In a tent. Probably alone. Kowboy was a homeless man who lived in the woods in Brooksville………….A man who usually wouldn’t get a second glance beyond the first glance of judgment. But those who knew him, and took the time to sit with him knew what kind of man he was. He was a man of honor. A man of dignity and hope. A man who was selfless. A man of compassion.”

Luke did something most people would never consider doing – he crossed the line into Kowboy’s world and became his friend.

A true love story.  What love – God’s love – is all about.

“Luke listened to the man a lot of people would simply wave off. He learned that Kowboy had a sister, a family, loved ones. He learned that Kowboy served this country many years ago in Vietnam. That he was haunted by memories of things he saw, things he did, regrets.  Luke also learned that he just met one of the most giving and caring people he would probably ever know. A man who had nothing, but would give you everything.”

Take a few moments and read the entire post for yourself. 

Then, let it change you.

First we had to wait until Daddy returned from his deployment right before Christmas.

Then we had to wait until we . . . → Read More: Trampoline School]]> Back in November, we took advantage of an online Black Friday special and bought a trampoline for the backyard.  Unfortunately, for the last 2 months it has been sitting in the box in our storage closet. 

First we had to wait until Daddy returned from his deployment right before Christmas.

Then we had to wait until we got a fence.  Some Army posts provide fencing with their housing, but here at Fort Bragg if you want a fence you have to rent one. 

The fence was just installed 2 weeks ago – right before we left to go on a family vacation – so we had to wait a little longer. 

As soon as we returned from our trip, we were finally able to set up the trampoline! YAY! Hubby & Lovebug worked hard for the better part of a Saturday this past weekend to set it up while I did the grocery shopping.   She has been on it every day since, even when it was raining.

This morning, Lovebug asked if we could do our schoolwork and reading on the trampoline.  Sure, why not?  Just because we CAN!

Homeschooling makes me happy!

Today Hubby and I celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss! An entire decade! Just 4 more decades to go till our Golden Anniversary! As I look back over the years, I am truly amazed at God’s glory.  We have been through some TOUGH times in our 10 years together, some really tough times.  Yet as I . . . → Read More: Our 10th Wedding Anniversary!]]>

Today Hubby and I celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss! An entire decade! Just 4 more decades to go till our Golden Anniversary! As I look back over the years, I am truly amazed at God’s glory.  We have been through some TOUGH times in our 10 years together, some really tough times.  Yet as I look back at our journey, it is so obvious that God was with us every step of the way.

Sometimes I just sit in awe as I look back at all we’ve gone through.

The year before we got married was actually one of the hardest.  6 months before our wedding my dad passed away.  The same day, Hubby’s grandfather had a life-altering stroke.  We literally drove from the funeral home after my dad’s funeral to the hospital to see his grandfather.  It was a very hard day.  That year we also dealt with months of unemployment due to companies shutting down, 9-11, and my aunt died a month before the wedding.

Needless to say, we were ready to say goodbye to 2001, and hello to 2002!

The trials didn’t stop though.  We went through much more in the past 10 years.

More death of family. Divorces of both family & friends. Illnesses. Unemployment. Major surgery. Infertility. Building a house. A miracle baby! A child with special needs.  Serious financial struggles. Lots of Ramen & beans. More major surgery. Early Menopause (& a very patient hubby!). Foster Parenting.  Adoption promises broken.  A car totaled.  Being separated for 4 months while Hubby worked in another country.  More unemployment.  New jobs. New dreams. Lost dreams. Hearing a huge, crazy call from the Lord – and answering it.  Becoming a military family.  Deployment.

I know many couples whose marriage has ended after dealing with just one of the things we’ve experienced, yet not once has our marriage been threatened (just our sanity!).  Not once have we ever discussed divorce, or even fought hard enough to consider it.  There has been no infidelity of any sort, and I can honestly say that I have not once been tempted in that area.

This is not our own doing!  I am human.  I am weak.  I am sinful.  I do not boast of my own strength, but of the amazing strength of Jesus Christ! I shudder to think about where we would be if Hubby and I had not been leaning on the Lord for the duration of our marriage.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Cor 12:9)

Right after we got married, we started attending a Sunday School class at our church.  The name of the class was called “3 Strands Woven”.  That class was a true God-send in many ways.  We made friends in that class that are to this day some of our dearest and closest friends.  Men who have walked with my husband through our life, strengthening his faith and encouraging him as he leads our family.  Women who have helped me to grow as a wife, a mom, a disciple of Christ and a leader of women.

The theme of the class was modeled after a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecc 4:12)

God is that 3rd strand in our marriage and we have made that a priority since the day we said our vows.  He is the one that holds us together.  Some days we are in a circle, each holding each others’ hands.  Other days, God has me in one hand and Hubby in the other just holding on to us and keeping us from falling until we can reach each other again.

It hasn’t all been easy, but I wouldn’t trade a single moment of it for anything.  We’ve learned a lot along the way, we have grown as individuals and as a couple through each and every trial and celebration that we’ve been through.  When those hard times come – and they will – you can choose to let them tear you down or you can let them refine you into something stronger.  Even pure silver first has to go through the fire in order to remove the impurities, but it’s so worth it!

Just look at how far we’ve come!

2002-2003

2004-2005

2006-2007

2008-2009

2010-2011

I am so blessed to be walking through this journey of life hand in hand with my best friend & the love of my life!  Where will we go from here? Only God knows.  We can only say, “Here we are, Lord!”.

We mailed it off and then today, almost 10 months later, we received this in the mail:

Sure enough, on page 38, her joke was published!  Look at #7!

So . . . → Read More: Lovebug was published!]]> Several months ago, Lovebug came to me with a joke she had written and wanted to submit to Highlights, a magazine for children.

We mailed it off and then today, almost 10 months later, we received this in the mail:

Sure enough, on page 38, her joke was published!  Look at #7!

So proud of my girl! 

Handwriting has always been her hardest subject due to fine motor skills and her perfectionism, so this is HUGE!  She did this all on her own & actually had FUN writing!  It makes my heart happy!

Knock-Knock

Who’s there?

Ketchup

Ketchup who?

Ketchup or you’ll be late! 

I am so behind on my writing and I definitely need to “ketchup”! I have so many posts just waiting to be written and posted, and I do apologize for the delay.  Hopefully all of my readers have not gone . . . → Read More: Ketchup or you’ll be late!]]> One of Lovebug’s favorite knock-knock jokes goes like this:

Knock-Knock

Who’s there?

Ketchup

Ketchup who?

Ketchup or you’ll be late! 

I am so behind on my writing and I definitely need to “ketchup”! I have so many posts just waiting to be written and posted, and I do apologize for the delay.  Hopefully all of my readers have not gone the way of the DoDo bird! 

I’ve just been busy soaking up every minute I can with my Hubby now that he’s home – he’s been working half-days so we’ve had lots of time!  I’ve also been trying to get Lovebug and me back into a household/homeschool routine now that the holidays are over. 

Today Lovebug and Hubby played the Star Wars Lego Wii game that Hubby got for Christmas, we all watched a hockey game together, and then we played a board game.  Good times!

I’ll be back soon – with pictures, even – so don’t go too far!

Aug. 31, 2010 – Rob was sworn into the Army (again), and left to begin his training as a “prior service” soldier first going to WTC (Warrior Transition Course), and then to AIT (Advanced . . . → Read More: He’s HOME!]]> So I had this post ready to post yesterday, but got busy and forgot to post it   You’ll understand why.

Aug. 31, 2010 – Rob was sworn into the Army (again), and left to begin his training as a “prior service” soldier first going to WTC (Warrior Transition Course), and then to AIT (Advanced Individual Training).

He was gone for 5 months. I saw him for a couple weekends during that time.

January 28, 2011 – We moved our family to Fort Bragg, NC

February, 2011 – We spent the month together! Hubby worked ‘normal’ hours.

March 1, 2011 – Hubby left to attend pre-deployment training at JRTC for one month.

April, 2011 – We spent the month together! Hubby worked for 2 weeks, and was off for 2 weeks.

May 17, 2011 – Hubby left for his deployment to Iraq

TODAY – December 22, 2011 (also the 11th anniversary of the day he proposed to me!)……

after being apart for 14 out of 16 months…

after 222 days of living over 6400 miles apart……

MY HUSBAND IS HOME!!!!!

The topic for Day 2 was my “Favorite Christmas Dessert”, and we were supposed to share the recipe.   I don’t have a specific recipe, but I do have a dessert tradition that is definitely my favorite to share with you all!  Every year at Christmas, we make a “Happy Birthday” cake for Jesus and sing . . . → Read More: Christmas Blog Carnival – Day 2]]>

The topic for Day 2 was my “Favorite Christmas Dessert”, and we were supposed to share the recipe.   I don’t have a specific recipe, but I do have a dessert tradition that is definitely my favorite to share with you all!  Every year at Christmas, we make a “Happy Birthday” cake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday to Him.  Every year we choose a different flavor or shape to keep it interesting.  One year was a chocolate cake, another year was a white-chocolate layer cake with fruit, and a few times we’ve used a fun tree-shaped pan I have.  I think we need to try a brownie or cookie cake, or maybe this popcorn cake! Doesn’t that look fun? 

Lovebug and any other kids that are around get the job of decorating the cake.  We use icing, and then an assortment of decorations – sprinkles, chocolate chips, candy coated chocolate candies, coconut – all fun for little hands!

Here is our tree-shaped cake from a couple years ago!

It’s a special tradition and something we all look forward to every year.  I love watching my daughter get so excited as she helps me plan and prepare for the most important birthday party of the year!

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Jesus!