Day 243 of 365

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Waiting........and patience

I woke up this morning to not one, not two, but three emails from Proverbs 31 ministry that I thought I would share some snippets of in hopes that it will be just what you need today as well.

I struggle not to try to do things under my control and my timeline. I try to trust that God knows just what we need and just when we need it. It's stepping out in faith. So I believe that was His nudge this morning that everything will come in His time and on His perfect wisdom.

www.proverbs31.org/dailydevotions/dailyDevotions.php

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need." Colossians 1:11
In a heart that values instant gratification like mine does, patience seems hard to come by.
We want stuff and we want it now. We want results and we want them now. Yet the Bible repeatedly says that patience should be a way of life for followers of Christ.

(Patience that when the time is right we will know where our next home will be with the Marine Corps, when our children will listen & obey, when we will have our third child, when a relationship will be repaired, and the list goes on and on.)
We also have to exercise patience with God as we wait for His full plan to unfold. At times we must wait for answers to prayers, for deliverance, for provision, or for Him to dispense justice or reveal His will. We really have no choice but to wait in these circumstances, but a woman developing patience will endure the wait graciously. It helps to remember how very patient God has to be with us on a daily basis!

(Patience that all things are good in God's timing.)
Dear Lord, thank You for being so very patient with me. Help me to develop patience, and display that quality for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Waiting and praying for those I know and love to accept Jesus as their savior.
Dear Lord, You know the person I am burdened for. You see their need for You. Help me to not give up in sharing You. Give me creative and non-threatening ways to make You real to them. And soften their hearts to receive what You are offering. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Waiting and not being impulsive but patient.

Dear God, thank You for desiring more of me than just quick, impulsive prayers. I want to grow more like You every single day and seek You with purpose, not impulse. Please show me how You want me to do that. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Friday Flashback (Pet edition)

This is back in 2005. We were getting ready for my husband's first deployment and the dogs knew something was going on. They are always cuddling together but I think that Geronimo's face says it all right here.

Visit Alicia for more Friday Photo Flashbacks!

Friday!

MilSpouse Friday Fill in
for more visit http://wifeofasailor.com/

1.What is your spouse’s best feature? Physical feature would have to be his baby blue eyes and his smile. Sorry I can't seperate the two :-)
2.Mild, Medium or Hot sauce? If any sauce, it would be mild. I am not a spicy kind of girl.
3.What is the worst uniform you had to wear for a job? Hands down my nursing school uniform. It was as old school as you could get!
4.You have invisible powers… where is the first place you would go? Hmmm...good question. It has stumped me. Maybe behind the scenes of "The Bachlorette."
5.What’s left on your “to do” list for this summer? A better question would be what's not? I made a list that I really haven't worked on much. I am trying to enjoy the kids & then when school starts I will tackle that list!

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And...here we go!

1. I'm going to Gatlinburg, Tennesse at the end of August to hang out with my mother-in-law!
2. My son is full of adventure and daring.
3. Perhaps today you can make it a point to read my blog :-)
4. My husband has a true adventurer’s spirit.
5. Compassion is a blessing and a curse.
6. Pray to God no matter how difficult it seems at the time.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to small group, tomorrow my plans include Lissa's birthday party & church and Sunday, I want to work on some house hold projects!
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1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?
I had a raggedy anne & andy blanket and also a doll (named phyllis) I was inseperable from them & yes I still have them in our storage.
2. Do you dream in color?
Yes, I miss my vivid pregnancy dreams.
3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller?
I am roughly 5 foot 3 inches tall. Some days I wish that I had longer legs but overall I am pretty happy with God blessed me with.....
4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be?
I would have my hubby's big ol' loud voice doing it!
5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot?
RETURN it!!! It annoys me to no end how lazy people have become.
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Day 242 of 365

“All good things come to he who waits”
Proverb

Week 34 of 52 (baby shower and reunion of sorts)

Shoot Me! It's time to stop hiding behind that camera of yours. Your family is missing you in the picture. So it's time to post a picture of YOU (yes, you) every Thursday with your child, your spouse, your friend, your dog, or even by yourself. Just get in the picture, you'll be glad you did! And just jump in now with 1 of 52, you can do it!
With my high-school & college friend, Becki, who is due with her first baby. I don't always get to see everyone that I want to when we are in PA but I was thrilled to be there the weekend that her baby shower was going on.

We were the "4 Muskateers" in high school and still hung out a lot during college. Sadly, life takes turns at seperating us with various moves, activities, children, etc. This was the first time that we were all back together again in 5 years. (We got to see each other at our 10 year HS reunion that time!) Here's hoping it won't be another 5 before we see each other again!

Wednesday on a Thursday. (Orders finalized)

Wordless Wednesday

Ok,ok so this might be a little bit wordy. I am pretty verbose most of the time. Before we went fishing during our visit at my parents, I stopped at my great-grandparents grave. This is the first time since my great-grandma passed in 2003 that I have been back. It was nice to clean the grave sight up a little bit & to just reflect a bit.

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Wordful Wednesday
This is Ben in all his Marine glory :-) He will be up for the August promotions board so he had to take a picture to update his file for the Marines. (Now that doesn't mean that he will be promoted in August, he will have to wait for his number to come up & they only do promotions twice a year so....it's complicated ok! I always feel like I have to explain these crazy, daily life decisions!)
Anyway, we also got the email from his career monitor saying that we have been extended in his current squadron until next summer. Woo hoo! (That is what we were hoping for.....now in December we will have to make some very hard decisions on what we will be doing next summer. It very well might include moving us far from our church, home, friends, & everything else that we have built up here over the last 6+ years.) Regardless of what next summer holds I am content to know that we are here for another year and that God will lead us where we need to be next. (For all of those family member reading this post, we really don't have any favorites right now so everything will be told in time!)
For more Wordful Wednesday stop by

Day 241 of 365

“The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen.”
Ralph Marston

Completing him Challenge- Following your husband's vision

It's week #7 in our Summer Completing Him Challenge! Here's this week's challenge: Support his vision. Discuss his vision for your family. Where does he see your family in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years. Share with us how you let your husband lead. (Ben has been asking to do this for about the last 7 years! Maybe we can work on it now! He will be thrilled.)
Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church."
Pray for him as he leads and trust God that he will protect you as you obey Ephesians 5:23 in allowing your husband to lead. Indeed this is a challenge isn't it!
Today - listen to your husbands. Talk with them about their plans, dreams and visions for your family. Share yours in return. Don't let it become a debate. Close your mouth and simply listen. Imagine how you can help him reach those goals. Remember - behind every great man is a great woman.
For more visit

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How do you start thinking the right things about your husband when you realize you have been thinking the wrong things?
"whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8

Lord, help me to take every thought captive about my husband. Convict me of when my thinking is wrong and help me to think of him in a way that is true and noble, right and pure, lovely and admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. And when I'm weak and not seeing my circumstances clearly, please get my attention and teach me to think in Your ways. And as each reader considers this familiar verse and how it applies to marriage, would you show each of us the very personal difference it makes in our own relationships?
For more visit Julie at

http://comehaveapeace.blogspot.com

Monday Mugs (purple)

Today over at Oswald Cuties is Monday Mugs. The theme is PURPLE today. I fortunately didn't have to look very far since Kendall wanted a PURPLE tutu for her birthday photo shots.

Day 240 of 365

You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him. ~Leo Aikman

Our week in photos (since I am so slacking on project 365!)

My sweet little man (probably dreaming about flying since he is surrounded by planes and helicopters!)

My second attempt at a sack dress!
New pink cowgirl boots.....

Sweet on each other

Potty training is FUN!!

Haircut!!

After the haircut

Monthly coffee with friends!

July Date Night

Ben and I have been trying to make a concerted effort to get at least 1 date night in a month. Seems easy right? Well with Friday night fellowship every week & church on Saturday nights, it is not always that easy.

We have been luck this month because we had two date nights. My parents watched the kids for us while we were home & we met 2 other couples out.

Our small group was canceled on Friday night this week so we decided to grab the opportunity and run with it.

We dropped the kiddos off at a local hourly drop-in (Kidz Bizz) and went to the shooting range. We have still not settled on a handgun for home defense so we rented a 9mm to play with. We both had fun and very good aim! If I could just get the slide back on this gun I would be pretty lethal!

We went out to dinner at a new Mexican resturant, Papi Chula's, and then rescued the kids to come with us for ice cream at Carousel Sweets.

What a great time! I am SO looking forward to next month!

Slight height difference with us :-)
Posing because the hubs asked so sweetly!

And so I returned the favor!

Scripture Sunday (strength)

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

—Philippians 4:13

Getting to know you

The Q's..

1. Thong or Granny Panties? Hee,hee....you can ask my mother-in-law since she likes to fold my undies when she is in town :-) Let's just put it this way they are definitely not granny panties!
2. If you see a guy with his fly down, do you tell him?Hmmmm....depends. There are a select few male friends (of both my husband and I) that I would tell. Of course I would tell my hubster or little man.
3. Spanx or no Spanx? Way back in the day I had to wear them for 2 or 3 of my activities for school! It would probably be in my best interest not to wear them now :-)
4. Do you sleep in your sheets?Ummm....yes. I have my sheets, comforter, and a in-between blanket. (I have to have heavy covers!)
5. What is your favorite Disney character? I can't pick!! Grumpy, Goofy, Ariel.....
6. Dream vacation spot?Tahiti....I may be dreaming but MAYBE for our 10 year anniversary? Babe?!?
7. What is your dream job? I love oncology nursing. I was able to set my hours a few years ago and it was a perfect mix between stay at home mommy & RN. Unfortunately with the economy so down, they really don't need another RN right now!
8. Who is your hero and why? My oncology patients (they rock!,) my parents, my in-laws, my grandparents, most military spouses, and last but not least Jesus!

Day 239 of 365

Key points to being happy:
-Be kind to yourself; take time out to appreciate your happy moments
-Attitude, make up your mind to be happy
-Relationships, focus on your loved ones
-Work, have a passion for what you do or find a job that you are passionate about
-Faith, believe in something bigger; those with strong faiths have a positive outlook on life
-Participate, don’t wait, just do it, be involved

Friday,friday!

Way back in 2005 during our first deployment. I was lucky enough to visit with Michelle (second from right) during the past trip to PA and Claire (second from left) on my trip to AZ. The Marine Corps may seperate us but it is so great to know that I have wonderful friends around the globe!

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And...here we go!

1. I feel wonderful after last night. It is always good to catch up with your girlfriends! Thanks Roni!!
2. I need to call several friends to catch up.
3. Do I really look that tired?
4. Each person is completely unique.
5. It's hard to know how much food to make for dinner parties.
6. Convince one friend and the others will follows suit.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to GASP, relaxing at home with my family (I will miss our Friday night fellowship but a break is certainly welcome every once in awhile!), tomorrow my plans include probably something with the house and Sunday, I want to get into trouble!
Actually, maybe we will take this opportunity to have a date night :-)
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1. What were your school colors?
kelly green and white!
2. What's the best compliment you ever received?
That my children were such a blessing and adorable
3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper?
midrange (did I just classify TP as midrange?!)
4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? Or have you had one for someone else?
I have thrown a few for Benny. (One really big one & one small one)
Becca threw 2 or 3 for me in Pensacola!
5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"?Probably the tv or computer :-)

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Week 33 of 52

It's time to stop hiding behind that camera of yours. Your family is missing you in the picture. So it's time to post a picture of YOU (yes, you) every Thursday with your child, your spouse, your friend, your dog, or even by yourself. Just get in the picture, you'll be glad you did! And just jump in now with 1 of 52, you can do it!

Playing at Jumpin' Jungle in Idlewild with the kiddos

Taken by Benny per Kendall's request!

Wednesday already!

Wordless Wednesday (Last fish of the evening)

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Wordful Wednesday at

Kendall Autumn

4th birthday portraits
36 lbs and 39.5 inches tall

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Kendall crawled into bed with me this morning. She does that every so often when she wakes up early. One of my favorite quiet times with the kids is my own individual cuddle time with them. I was reflecting on that and wanted to share. I think that this is the only picture that I have of either kids and me cuddling. This picture was taken September of 2008 in the hospital after Isaac was born.

day 238 of 365

Three things in life that once gone never come back.
1. Time 2. Words 3. Opportunity
Three things in life that can destroy a person.
1. Anger 2. Pride 3. Unforgiveness
Three things in life that you should never lose.
1. Hope 2. Peace 3. Honesty
Three things in life that are most valuable.
1. Love 2. Family & Friends 3. Kindness
Three things in life that are never certain.
1. Fortune 2. Success 3. Dreams

Rodeo (Part 1)

One of the many fun memories that we made this past trip to PA was going to the rodeo. It was a first for the kids and I. We had a great time & the kiddos even came away with new cowboy hats!