"Grams"

Dale's "Grams" passed away on Tuesday night at the youthful age of 96. She was an inspiring, feisty, card playin', old fashion, loving, beautiful woman who touched more lives than you or I could ever imagine.  Dale, Myself and the boys will be flying home this coming Sunday to show our respect for such a great life lived.  As the family plans all the details that come along with the passing of a loved one, please just lift them in your prayers that everything will go smoothly and that her friends and family are able to celebrate all the ways that she touched each of their lives. "Grams" knew the Lord and Dale and I both take comfort in seeing her again. 

the sky is falling.. the sky is falling..

Today I was reminded by my husband that the sky is indeed still in tact and that there are no pieces starting to fall. Whew! Talk about a much needed reality check.  As many of you know, there has been a lot going on the past couple months. Like- adjusting to life on a big WET rock, ordering homeschooling curriculum (and actually start to use it), prepare myself mentally and physically for Dale to deploy for 2 months, not to mention the slew of doctors appointments thrown in here and there for all my "girl" problems. Ahhh! So what's a girl to do with all this on her plate, you ask? Plan- plan it all out as specific and rigid as possible, leaving NO ROOM FOR ERROR! Because that is just what a TYPE A personality does, you see. They plan and prepare and plan to plan for the plan. Do you get all those plans? Well I had my perfect little plan all planned out of course, and memorized to boot.. (yes, I know- I need help) But you see today is the breaking point.. Today is the day that I realized that I need help (thank you, honey)... Today, I realized that I can no longer function on a healthy, stress less level by neurotically PLANNING!!! Life is too dang bumpy. Life is too dang unpredictable. Life is day to day.. Do I know this- OF COURSE I DO! Do I put this into PRACTICE- well just read above one more time and count the word PLAN and get back to me on that question.. :) 

So after my husband gently rebuked me on my stronghold- I went to see what scripture had to say about my planning issues.. And I thought I would share with you some of what I read that really got my attention. (The scripture(s) in Matthew I should know by heart, I have read them so many times.. )

Psalms 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God"

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and no to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important that food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

Matthew 11:28-31

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.

Matthew 6:34

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

In a glimpse..

Tonight I was cleaning out my Photo Booth pictures and couldn't believe how much my little men have changed in a matter of 2 years.. I guess looking at the old pictures made me realize how fast kids change and mature right under your nose without you even knowing it..  Remember when you would go to the grocery store or the mall and little ole' ladies would walk up to you and say " Cherish these times, Honey- they grow up fast" and if you were anything like me you'd kinda look at them and think to yourself " Are you CRAZY, do you know how tired I am, do you know how many diapers I have changed today, or how engorged my ta-ta's are??" Well I guess now I am understanding more of what those sweet little ole' ladies where trying to warn me about.  When your in the moment of it all- it seems as if it will never end, and then when it does God has a funny way of making you miss those moments, Long for those moments, Want those never ending, long night, why did I think one more was a good idea moments back.. 

My Mosaic

1. Jenifer 2. Fish n' Chips 3. Nowwhere 4. Bright Green 5. Matthew McConaughey 6. Green Tea 7. Somewhere Warm 8. Fresh Brownie 9. Virtuous Woman 10. Jesus 11. Giver 12. Boxer

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Here's how it works:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image. 

c. Copy and paste each of the URLS for the images into hhtp://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php Choose 3 columns with 4 rows.

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The Questions:

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What High School did you go to? (or what year did you graduate?)

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite Drink?

7. Dream Vacation?

8. Favorite Dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One word to describe you?

12. Your flicker name or favorite animal?

The Mistress...

The Coast Guard calls this boat the Alex Haley, I prefer to call her the mistress. The mistress that is going to be taking the other half of me away for far longer than I would like.  I am not really sure why I am having such a hard time with him leaving for the next 8 weeks. He's left for far longer than this before but it was also many years, two kids and one very needy dog lighter.  Maybe it has to do with my health issues? Maybe the older I get, the more I realize that we aren't invisible, like we once thought we were. There are real dangers out there that could change our future in a heart beat. I guess the danger of Dale's job hit home with the crew that just lost their lives- not even on a deployment, but just doing routine training. All of those men had wives, and children that expected them to come home.  As much as I feel and cry for those women who in a moment had their world flipped upside down I can't help but be selfishly thankful it wasn't Dale, it wasn't his crew. Which got me thinking- the security of him coming safely home from this deployment isn't solid. And it reminded me how little control I have over not just this upcoming deployment, but day to day life. Oh, how I have been miserably failing at letting go and letting God.