As if a new baby wasn't exciting enough... we'll be headed west this spring too. Denver, in fact. As I write, er, type this, it is currently snowing in our new soon to be home. If you know me at all, and I like to think you do, you know I hate the cold, snow, ice, etc. Growing up in northern Indiana and splitting time during the winter between there and the frozen tundra of Ohio, I experienced my fair share of cold winters. The cherry on top is the one incredibly long winter we spent practically snowed-in in Wisconsin. You know that story your grandparents told about walking miles through the snow, uphill both ways to school? Well, I really did have to walk uphill both ways in knee deep snow. Granted it was only to the bus stop but it was a long walk, and it was even longer to my 5th grade legs when it was 30 below. Let's just say the past 15 years south of the Mason-Dixion has made my blood as thin as water. Any visit north results in loud complaints from yours truly about said cold weather. I spent my most recent trip, last week, in Indiana wrapped in a quilt. In fact, I'm still unthawing. So you can imagine I fought the idea of moving into the snow covered mountains tooth and nail. And now I am fully realizing I have spent more than half my life in the bless-ed South! Although, after this 4 year duty station, the north will again claim half of my existence. I mean, I'm going to turn 30 and 31 in the bitter cold with the possibility of snow on the ground on my birthday! Oh where's the justice?! I'm a Southern Girl! A Carolina Girl! And will soon be residing in the Mile High City. There's a lot to be excited for too... Like I can wear my boots all the time! And we're looking at buying a house, so finally I get to paint some walls!!! And unintentionally kill flowers and tomato plants! Kay will have room to play outside and Frankie has promised her an outside kitty. Lots to look forward to, but lots of great people to say good bye to. That, we're dreading.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Hello Friends, it's been a while!
Hm. I should not be awake. I have 15 more minutes left of my lazy Saturday morning sleep-in session. Truth be told, I don't really think I slept last night. Then my sister-in-law called this morning at 8:30 to shoot the breeze. Who does that? ;) I mean, I guess it's ok, she gets a pass, she's new and doesn't know that I'm a slacker mom who only 'works' during the week. It's not like she was keeping me from the deep restful sleep my pregnant butt needs right now, anyways. Oh, what's that? You didn't know?! Welp, it's true, baby number 2 is due April 27. Yippee! See, told you it's been a while. Actually I'm 12 weeks today, so maybe now it's finally time to tell the world. My husband is such a blabber mouth!
Lots happening here, you just heard 1 big piece of news, let's see if I can get you again...
God has been doing crazy transforming work in our lives the past few months. The process started back in April at the Ladies Weekend Retreat. We had been going back to church for a year, and made great friends, but something was missing. Someone, rather. And it's the Big Guy, you know, God. Frank and I were happily faking the Christianity we both grew up on. We never dreamed of something more until He started pounding at our hearts. Realizing we both wanted God, and more of Him, we rededicated our humdrum lives to Christ! We were baptized by water in the Atlantic Ocean in Sandbridge in July. Our baptism by fire seems to be on going. You can read my husband's blog for more details but this is like the news feed, just the highlights. Although, I suppose with God in the center, it should all be highlighted...
Our transformation up until about 2 weeks ago has been individual, but then something happened one night at the Men's Bible Study. Frank started confessing all kinds of sin. Hard stuff to say, hard stuff to hear. But surprisingly enough, not hard to forgive. We were both crying (this is payback, Frank :P) and hugging and I all I could say was I love you. He was so torn up about everything, I stupidly asked if there was anything I could do to make him feel better. I'm thinking reading scripture, praying... He says, "Yeah, maybe you could share some sin with me." Of course by the world's standard, I'm thinking, I haven't done anything that bad. "Uh, pride." Up until this point of our marriage Frank would tell you he thought I was perfect, and let's be honest, I am. Ok, ok, that's a joke... But he honestly had no idea what kind of sin I even struggled with and as I think more about that, I liked that he didn't think I sinned. Totally my flesh. So I gave in and we started sharing sin back and forth, silly things, that never would have mattered, bigger things that could have changed our marriage, and huge things that could have ended our marriage. But through God's amazing grace we were able to forgive one another. Back in April, I had a friend share a similar thing that happened in her marriage. She told me, that their marriage had never been better and that it had seemingly changed over night. I didn't believer her then, but now, well, just believe me, our marriage changed in 2 tear-filled hours. Never have I experienced the freedom that comes with absolute abandonment of self. Since then we have shared everything, we are honest with one another. Sometimes it's hard, mostly it's just easy. Our church had a family retreat last weekend and something the speaker said has just stuck with us: Be dead-men/women walking. Die to yourself! You can't lose your Salvation by being honest! And you probably know my husband took that to heart. He shared his entire testimony by blog, and has made sure everyone on God's creation has had the opportunity to read it. To God be the Glory!
So that pretty much brings us up to speed. God has continued His fine tuning work in us in the past week. Even to the point of giving up professional football for Frank, which is huge. We've cancelled our cable. Sold a TV. Selling the PS3.
God also answered a pretty huge prayer request yesterday. We finally got orders for Frank's school. He leaves mid November. We have been trusting the Lord to work out the timeline, especially now, with the baby coming. Praise the Lord, Frank should be home mid March! We have been given the opportunity to choose orders now, for after school. And have until Monday to decide. We are trusting the Lord to reveal His perfect plan for our lives. So prayers are appreciated in that department. But we know that we will be obedient to His will, even if that means moving to the frozen Wisconsin tundra. Eeek!
Well, I guess it's food time, Frank and the baby say so... Until next time, many prayers and much love! R
Lots happening here, you just heard 1 big piece of news, let's see if I can get you again...
God has been doing crazy transforming work in our lives the past few months. The process started back in April at the Ladies Weekend Retreat. We had been going back to church for a year, and made great friends, but something was missing. Someone, rather. And it's the Big Guy, you know, God. Frank and I were happily faking the Christianity we both grew up on. We never dreamed of something more until He started pounding at our hearts. Realizing we both wanted God, and more of Him, we rededicated our humdrum lives to Christ! We were baptized by water in the Atlantic Ocean in Sandbridge in July. Our baptism by fire seems to be on going. You can read my husband's blog for more details but this is like the news feed, just the highlights. Although, I suppose with God in the center, it should all be highlighted...
Our transformation up until about 2 weeks ago has been individual, but then something happened one night at the Men's Bible Study. Frank started confessing all kinds of sin. Hard stuff to say, hard stuff to hear. But surprisingly enough, not hard to forgive. We were both crying (this is payback, Frank :P) and hugging and I all I could say was I love you. He was so torn up about everything, I stupidly asked if there was anything I could do to make him feel better. I'm thinking reading scripture, praying... He says, "Yeah, maybe you could share some sin with me." Of course by the world's standard, I'm thinking, I haven't done anything that bad. "Uh, pride." Up until this point of our marriage Frank would tell you he thought I was perfect, and let's be honest, I am. Ok, ok, that's a joke... But he honestly had no idea what kind of sin I even struggled with and as I think more about that, I liked that he didn't think I sinned. Totally my flesh. So I gave in and we started sharing sin back and forth, silly things, that never would have mattered, bigger things that could have changed our marriage, and huge things that could have ended our marriage. But through God's amazing grace we were able to forgive one another. Back in April, I had a friend share a similar thing that happened in her marriage. She told me, that their marriage had never been better and that it had seemingly changed over night. I didn't believer her then, but now, well, just believe me, our marriage changed in 2 tear-filled hours. Never have I experienced the freedom that comes with absolute abandonment of self. Since then we have shared everything, we are honest with one another. Sometimes it's hard, mostly it's just easy. Our church had a family retreat last weekend and something the speaker said has just stuck with us: Be dead-men/women walking. Die to yourself! You can't lose your Salvation by being honest! And you probably know my husband took that to heart. He shared his entire testimony by blog, and has made sure everyone on God's creation has had the opportunity to read it. To God be the Glory!
So that pretty much brings us up to speed. God has continued His fine tuning work in us in the past week. Even to the point of giving up professional football for Frank, which is huge. We've cancelled our cable. Sold a TV. Selling the PS3.
God also answered a pretty huge prayer request yesterday. We finally got orders for Frank's school. He leaves mid November. We have been trusting the Lord to work out the timeline, especially now, with the baby coming. Praise the Lord, Frank should be home mid March! We have been given the opportunity to choose orders now, for after school. And have until Monday to decide. We are trusting the Lord to reveal His perfect plan for our lives. So prayers are appreciated in that department. But we know that we will be obedient to His will, even if that means moving to the frozen Wisconsin tundra. Eeek!
Well, I guess it's food time, Frank and the baby say so... Until next time, many prayers and much love! R
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