It is now 2012. What a year 2011 has been.....
We found out my father in law had cancer...
We packed up and went to Texas to help out....
He left us in March....
We stayed until May....
Mike went to Singapore....
We stayed behind, the summer flew by.....
Found out that we will go residential....
Little sister finds out she's expecting a boy!
We prepare to move to South Korea.....
What a year 2012 will be!
Lord, You have gotten us this far.....I know You will not fail us now!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Life's Loops
Sometimes life can through you for loop. Boy, have we had ours. Now, we are heading to a different country in less than a month. Also, we have decided to go ahead and try to get JC in the foreign school. It is an excellent school with lots of extra curricular activities. The teacher/student ratio is also low.
Just praying he adjusts well. I talked with him about it. He is excited that they offer basketball. Haha!
I am praying that this new adventure makes us a stronger family who ministers to others and safes the good news!!
Just praying he adjusts well. I talked with him about it. He is excited that they offer basketball. Haha!
I am praying that this new adventure makes us a stronger family who ministers to others and safes the good news!!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
A Beautiful Sight!
We are in Texas right now visiting Mike's family. I just went to the post office. The car next to me had a little girl and her parents. The girl had a Bible and was reading it with her dad. It was the most beautiful thing I have seen in awhile!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
It is really here........
I have been moving out for days now....and had Christmas on top of that!
Now, as I am finishing packing and cleaning the house....it has become really real....we are moving.
I will be driving to Texas tomorrow after we finish packing. We miss our family there so much!
I am excited about this new transition, even though the past few days have been crazy! I think I hauled over 40 bags of trash to the road today. I got myself a "Bob Harper" workout. (It reminded me of the episode when he went home with Sunny....when she was loading bags of feed in the truck...except mine was trash!)
Then, on went another load to charity.....and one to my parents' home.
I am officially exhausted and ready for a break. I am sure we can find a few moments of rest once we get to our Texas family!
And on we go.....on our adventure! (and living out of suitcases for about a month!)
Now, as I am finishing packing and cleaning the house....it has become really real....we are moving.
I will be driving to Texas tomorrow after we finish packing. We miss our family there so much!
I am excited about this new transition, even though the past few days have been crazy! I think I hauled over 40 bags of trash to the road today. I got myself a "Bob Harper" workout. (It reminded me of the episode when he went home with Sunny....when she was loading bags of feed in the truck...except mine was trash!)
Then, on went another load to charity.....and one to my parents' home.
I am officially exhausted and ready for a break. I am sure we can find a few moments of rest once we get to our Texas family!
And on we go.....on our adventure! (and living out of suitcases for about a month!)
Monday, December 19, 2011
Our Mississippi church family - Willow Pointe
Several years ago, we moved in closer to the Hattiesburg area. We felt God leading us to serve in a church closer in our community. We had visited some, then decided to visit Willow Pointe. I already knew the Watts family (they lived in where we used to live). I also found out that we had a lot of connections there. There have even been guys who worked at one time or another with Mike and my brother-in-law!
I will never forget that morning in September of 2008. I had seen where the children's director's name seemed familiar...so familiar that I thought I may have taught her little sister when I first starting teaching years ago.
We walked into the doors and were showered with love. I also had a devasting blow. That children's director was not there....she had just received a call that her mother had passed away. I knew her mom. My heart was so broken!
However, through that sadness, Lennie and I had a bond that no one else had in that congregation. I also had a bond with one of the elders....he was very good friends with a family member (who is also now my parents' pastor). Years ago, he and his wife adopted twins...from South Korea! (Yeah, I think God was planning this trip of ours over twenty years ago???)
I also have met so many who have mutual friends of mine. They supported us during my second pregnancy. They help me with the boys when Mike is gone. They prayed and prayed over us during Mike's dad's illness and death. They checked on the house for us when we were gone those months to Texas. Even one of our prayers warriors tried to call Mike when he was in with his dad during his last minutes before death.
God is moving in this congregation in a mighty way! When I came, I was able to get involved with the youth and children's ministries. That is where my heart is...since I had been in church ministry for 15 years prior to becoming a mom. The youth and kids at Willow Pointe are more than church members and friends...they are family! They have literally helped me raise these boys with Mike gone so much. The whole church has helped me raise them! There are so many Godly men who have stepped up and given me support when I needed it!
My boys are in no lack of spiritual guidance when their dad has to be overseas. That is for sure!
We love you more than you will ever know, Willow Pointe. You will always be home to us! :)
I will never forget that morning in September of 2008. I had seen where the children's director's name seemed familiar...so familiar that I thought I may have taught her little sister when I first starting teaching years ago.
We walked into the doors and were showered with love. I also had a devasting blow. That children's director was not there....she had just received a call that her mother had passed away. I knew her mom. My heart was so broken!
However, through that sadness, Lennie and I had a bond that no one else had in that congregation. I also had a bond with one of the elders....he was very good friends with a family member (who is also now my parents' pastor). Years ago, he and his wife adopted twins...from South Korea! (Yeah, I think God was planning this trip of ours over twenty years ago???)
I also have met so many who have mutual friends of mine. They supported us during my second pregnancy. They help me with the boys when Mike is gone. They prayed and prayed over us during Mike's dad's illness and death. They checked on the house for us when we were gone those months to Texas. Even one of our prayers warriors tried to call Mike when he was in with his dad during his last minutes before death.
God is moving in this congregation in a mighty way! When I came, I was able to get involved with the youth and children's ministries. That is where my heart is...since I had been in church ministry for 15 years prior to becoming a mom. The youth and kids at Willow Pointe are more than church members and friends...they are family! They have literally helped me raise these boys with Mike gone so much. The whole church has helped me raise them! There are so many Godly men who have stepped up and given me support when I needed it!
My boys are in no lack of spiritual guidance when their dad has to be overseas. That is for sure!
We love you more than you will ever know, Willow Pointe. You will always be home to us! :)
Revolution Church: My Texas Church Family
Last January, I made the decision to temporarily move to San Antonio to help my inlaws. My father-in-law had just been diagnosed with lung cancer and was getting weaker by the day. With no family around other than the immediate family, I knew I just had to go help.
Thank goodness we were homeschooling. I was able to pack up the boys in one day and head out the next. We only stayed in the house for a few days when we learned that my father-in-law could not be around the boys during chemo treatments. So, we became the "errand runners". And, we moved into a hotel....which lasted three weeks. However, the boys were so flexible! I could not believe it. We spent a lot of time at the park, children's museums, and playing in the hotel. We even got to see it snow.
My husband flew in from work a few weeks later, and we found a corporate furnished apartment to move into. It was such a blessing! However, as the weeks went on, we were hit with tragedy. Almost 3 months after we came to Texas, my father-in-law passed away. My husband stayed a few more weeks to help. I agreed to stay and help his mom with whatever came up. We kept the apartment so that we didn't crowd the house. (If you knew my two little boys, you'd know why! haha!)
But these boys were taking every step like true troopers. My oldest son was great, but you could tell he was missing friends at home at church. So I started visiting churches. Frustrated after a few visits, I found a website of a church that met at a gymnastics gym less than 5 miles from my inlaw's home.
It was Revolution Church. We were "bombarded" with love from the time we stepped out in the parking lot. JC loved the children's program! Micah even stayed in the nursery with no problems. (He has had his moments in nursery..haha!)
After the service, an angel, I mean, JC's teacher came running to me. She invited us to a small group meeting the next night at her home. Her family welcomed us in as if they had known us for years! JC was able to make friends who I know will be lifelong friends of ours. There were so many times during the two months we worshipped at Revolution Church that overwhelmed me.
There are so many I could name....Rick and Karyn, Zak and Amber, Micah, Connie, Krystal, Mary, Denise, David and Amanda, and so many more.....you will never know how much your love sustained us through that tough time.
We were truly needing the love of God drenched on us during that time. We were far away from our own precious church family in Mississippi....and you stepped right up.
No matter how far away we will, Revolution Church will always be our Texas church family!
May God continue to do a mighty work in all of your lives! We love you all!!!!!!
Thank goodness we were homeschooling. I was able to pack up the boys in one day and head out the next. We only stayed in the house for a few days when we learned that my father-in-law could not be around the boys during chemo treatments. So, we became the "errand runners". And, we moved into a hotel....which lasted three weeks. However, the boys were so flexible! I could not believe it. We spent a lot of time at the park, children's museums, and playing in the hotel. We even got to see it snow.
My husband flew in from work a few weeks later, and we found a corporate furnished apartment to move into. It was such a blessing! However, as the weeks went on, we were hit with tragedy. Almost 3 months after we came to Texas, my father-in-law passed away. My husband stayed a few more weeks to help. I agreed to stay and help his mom with whatever came up. We kept the apartment so that we didn't crowd the house. (If you knew my two little boys, you'd know why! haha!)
But these boys were taking every step like true troopers. My oldest son was great, but you could tell he was missing friends at home at church. So I started visiting churches. Frustrated after a few visits, I found a website of a church that met at a gymnastics gym less than 5 miles from my inlaw's home.
It was Revolution Church. We were "bombarded" with love from the time we stepped out in the parking lot. JC loved the children's program! Micah even stayed in the nursery with no problems. (He has had his moments in nursery..haha!)
After the service, an angel, I mean, JC's teacher came running to me. She invited us to a small group meeting the next night at her home. Her family welcomed us in as if they had known us for years! JC was able to make friends who I know will be lifelong friends of ours. There were so many times during the two months we worshipped at Revolution Church that overwhelmed me.
There are so many I could name....Rick and Karyn, Zak and Amber, Micah, Connie, Krystal, Mary, Denise, David and Amanda, and so many more.....you will never know how much your love sustained us through that tough time.
We were truly needing the love of God drenched on us during that time. We were far away from our own precious church family in Mississippi....and you stepped right up.
No matter how far away we will, Revolution Church will always be our Texas church family!
May God continue to do a mighty work in all of your lives! We love you all!!!!!!
Can't Sleep! Ugh!
I have been sick all week with alllergy/sinus/cold/cough "crud". I finally broke down today and went to the clinic since I had no voice to even teach Sunday School or sing in church!
They gave me a script for some antibiotics, plus a shot of steriods and a shot of more antibiotics to kickstart my recovery. The Good Lord knows I need to be well this week!
I am full force moving out. It is real now. There are bags of clothes, boxes of toys and memories everywhere.
Mike leaves tomorrow for South Korea, amongst reports that the leader of North Korea has died. Praying that things turn for the good of that country.....and for my husband's safety, along with the safety of all the other friends we have met through my online research.
I will be making a few posts tonight. God is reminding me of so many that I need to remember and thank tonight. Most are asleep tonight, but I hope they find the posts on facebook about the posts I am writing on this blog.
I do need some sleep.......but I will follow His leading first......
They gave me a script for some antibiotics, plus a shot of steriods and a shot of more antibiotics to kickstart my recovery. The Good Lord knows I need to be well this week!
I am full force moving out. It is real now. There are bags of clothes, boxes of toys and memories everywhere.
Mike leaves tomorrow for South Korea, amongst reports that the leader of North Korea has died. Praying that things turn for the good of that country.....and for my husband's safety, along with the safety of all the other friends we have met through my online research.
I will be making a few posts tonight. God is reminding me of so many that I need to remember and thank tonight. Most are asleep tonight, but I hope they find the posts on facebook about the posts I am writing on this blog.
I do need some sleep.......but I will follow His leading first......
Monday, December 12, 2011
It is becoming more and more real....
We are really moving. It become more and more real with everyone box I pack up, every stack I sort through, every room I check off the list.
I am so ready to see my husband! We have not seen him since September. And, it has been a long three (soon to be four) months!
Today, JC broke down...we had a "bad" day on some errands....and things got pretty bad. After discussing punishment and what we should and should not do.....he broke down. He was really missing his dad. I did not realize how much he was missing him. I guess I get caught up into "life" that I don't take notice. He is a lot like me....we bottle things up, then when we are full of it....we burst!
I talked with him, hugged him in the parking lot of the fish house...yeah, he was crying so much that I pulled over....it was a moment that I knew I could not wait on until we got home four minutes later. We talked, hugged and cried together.
Lord, help me get all these things done that I need to for us to move. And, help me to also be ever aware of what the kids are going through. Thank you, Lord, for making a way for our family to be together everyday!!!!
I am so ready to see my husband! We have not seen him since September. And, it has been a long three (soon to be four) months!
Today, JC broke down...we had a "bad" day on some errands....and things got pretty bad. After discussing punishment and what we should and should not do.....he broke down. He was really missing his dad. I did not realize how much he was missing him. I guess I get caught up into "life" that I don't take notice. He is a lot like me....we bottle things up, then when we are full of it....we burst!
I talked with him, hugged him in the parking lot of the fish house...yeah, he was crying so much that I pulled over....it was a moment that I knew I could not wait on until we got home four minutes later. We talked, hugged and cried together.
Lord, help me get all these things done that I need to for us to move. And, help me to also be ever aware of what the kids are going through. Thank you, Lord, for making a way for our family to be together everyday!!!!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Once again.....
I have said it a hundred times before....but I need to lose this weight, get into shape, and get healthy! I have started a new blog that will follow that part of my new adventure.
It is http://kksnewlifeat40.blogspot.com/.
Follow me! I will be posting videos, tips, struggles and victories!
Wow! I thought I had gotten a lot done around the house....but there is so much more to be done. I was going to try to get over to Texas before Christmas, but JC got a precious birthday party invite today....which is next weekend.
So that we can stay longer and visit more, we are going to wait and go the day after Christmas and stay that next week. That way I can be moved out and raring to go! :)
Please pray for me as I go through all this. It is overwhelming, but I know God's got this!
That is my new motto.....GOD'S GOT THIS!
It is http://kksnewlifeat40.blogspot.com/.
Follow me! I will be posting videos, tips, struggles and victories!
Wow! I thought I had gotten a lot done around the house....but there is so much more to be done. I was going to try to get over to Texas before Christmas, but JC got a precious birthday party invite today....which is next weekend.
So that we can stay longer and visit more, we are going to wait and go the day after Christmas and stay that next week. That way I can be moved out and raring to go! :)
Please pray for me as I go through all this. It is overwhelming, but I know God's got this!
That is my new motto.....GOD'S GOT THIS!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
A Date That Will Live in Infamy!
Today is the 70th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
How do you explain war to a six year old? Today we talked during homeschool and throughout the day about what happened in Hawaii on that dreadful day. We watched clips of history...and even the episode of the Walton's that was created to remember Pearl Harbor. I don't think JC fully understands it. But, I do know he knows what bad is. I hate having to explain that we go to war. But it is a fact of life.
We are in a spiritual war. Each of us, even JC, is in a spiritual war every single day. We are called to be warriors for Christ.
Today I am reminded to fight. I cannot imagine what it was like on that day in December in 1941. I have heard stories of how churches filled with people praying around the clock. Young men were lining up to enlist. Women were driven to the workforce in the years ahead since many men were sent to war.
We are all called to fight the good fight....the fight for Christ. "Take up your cross and follow me....".
It is time to be courageous. I am reminded of the theme song of the movie "Courageous". JC and I decided that this is our family's new theme song. It is appropriate for many reasons....
They sing Micah 6:8 in the song......and we have our own "Micah".
JC is named after two of the courageous spies who went to the promised land.
And, God is calling us on this adventure with Him.
So, tonight, I get ready to take up my cross again tomorrow.........
How do you explain war to a six year old? Today we talked during homeschool and throughout the day about what happened in Hawaii on that dreadful day. We watched clips of history...and even the episode of the Walton's that was created to remember Pearl Harbor. I don't think JC fully understands it. But, I do know he knows what bad is. I hate having to explain that we go to war. But it is a fact of life.
We are in a spiritual war. Each of us, even JC, is in a spiritual war every single day. We are called to be warriors for Christ.
Today I am reminded to fight. I cannot imagine what it was like on that day in December in 1941. I have heard stories of how churches filled with people praying around the clock. Young men were lining up to enlist. Women were driven to the workforce in the years ahead since many men were sent to war.
We are all called to fight the good fight....the fight for Christ. "Take up your cross and follow me....".
It is time to be courageous. I am reminded of the theme song of the movie "Courageous". JC and I decided that this is our family's new theme song. It is appropriate for many reasons....
They sing Micah 6:8 in the song......and we have our own "Micah".
JC is named after two of the courageous spies who went to the promised land.
And, God is calling us on this adventure with Him.
So, tonight, I get ready to take up my cross again tomorrow.........
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Countdown to Clean-Out
I have had a week! Last week we had plumbing problems which flooded some of the carpet in our bedroom....so, we had to have some repairs outside...and new carpet inside. The new carpet should be installed within a week.
I have put a major dent in toys in the living room and hit our bedroom hard. Now to finish the upstairs and our bath closets....then pack up knickknacks, photos, kitchen stuff, etc.
My goal is to get this all done by the end of next week. I want to be able to head over to my husband's family in Texas for a few days before Christmas, get back here for Christmas, then move out shortly after. We are planning on staying with my parents from the end of the year until we move to South Korea.
Boy, it is really hitting me......soon I will be in another country! I never dreamed I would be doing this.
I also watched "The Help" today. Boy, it was amazing. I was kind of disappointed with the ending....wanted it to keep going....showing the success of the "help" and Skeeter.
It moved me so much......much like "Radio", "End of the Spear", and "Blind Side". It makes me want to stand up more for those who deserve it!
God, please give me courage. I have so many times backed down....help me to stand up for what is right....and FOR YOU!
I have put a major dent in toys in the living room and hit our bedroom hard. Now to finish the upstairs and our bath closets....then pack up knickknacks, photos, kitchen stuff, etc.
My goal is to get this all done by the end of next week. I want to be able to head over to my husband's family in Texas for a few days before Christmas, get back here for Christmas, then move out shortly after. We are planning on staying with my parents from the end of the year until we move to South Korea.
Boy, it is really hitting me......soon I will be in another country! I never dreamed I would be doing this.
I also watched "The Help" today. Boy, it was amazing. I was kind of disappointed with the ending....wanted it to keep going....showing the success of the "help" and Skeeter.
It moved me so much......much like "Radio", "End of the Spear", and "Blind Side". It makes me want to stand up more for those who deserve it!
God, please give me courage. I have so many times backed down....help me to stand up for what is right....and FOR YOU!
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