A Lifetime of Love

I've not posted in a few days because I've been crazy busy with school and life, plus I started to not feel well yesterday morning. I also got a job on campus and tonight was my orientation. I have training Sunday afternoon between church services and I officially begin on Tuesday evening. I am going to be calling University alumni to update their personal information. . . and while I happen to have them on the phone, try and solicit a monetary donation for scholarships. Now, I am not too sure how I'll do at this job, but thankfully it's only for 6 weeks. Just long enough for me to tolerate the schedule (Tuesday and Thursday evenings) and save up a little bit of cash for the holidays. If I call you, please don't hang up on me!

I just want to tell you what a wonderful husband I have! I had class today (yes, on Labor Day) and when I got home this afternoon, I found TJ had cleaned the downstairs of the house for me. He cleaned the bathrooms for me yesterday while I was working on a paper for school. It was such a blessing to come home to that surprise! I was able to better concentrate on my paper today because I wasn’t focusing on all I needed to do around the house. Thank you, TJ!

*WARNING* This is another long post. Not as ugly, but just as long. Read only if you have time to kill. In my last entry, I left off at the date of my salvation. That is where this picks up. . . In Basic Training, there were two flights, or teams, that did everything together: eat, drill, train, etc. I was in an all-girl flight and the other flight was all-boy. Since we spent so much time together, I got to know everyone on both teams very well. I spent every waking moment with them for 6 ½ weeks! After BT, I transferred to Wichita Falls, TX for job training. About 2 or 3 other people from my flight in BT went with me. We all ended up being in the same class at that base, too, although this class was much smaller with a total of 8 or 9 people. I really got to know everyone well because of the small class size. About half way through the training period (about 4 weeks into it), we received our orders for our permanent duty station. We were all in a class for airplane mechanics on the KC...

The 10 year anniversary of my salvation is approaching. I have been reflecting on my life since that day, and actually the years before, and God’s goodness throughout. I would like to share with you, but I warn you, this post is long and not for the faint of heart. I also want to add that I am going to share some ugly details of my past, so stop reading now if you think it will change your opinion of me. Finally, I want to add that although I am not proud of my past (I am dreadfully ashamed!), God is so amazing and forgiving, which is why I am sharing. If He can forgive me for my most horrific sins, He truly can forgive anyone (Psalm 103:12). I hope from this post you will better understand the God I serve. He is an amazing God, full of love, forgiveness, hope, compassion, strength, more than any man can know, and all that I am lacking. It is because of His love for me that I was saved 10 years ago and have changed to be a new person, conformed to the image of Christ His Son (2 Corinth...

Tomorrow is the 1 year anniversary of Joseph's birth and death due to complications from Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). Since I am going out of town, I am posting this today. In my mind the last few weeks, I've been thinking of ways to best honor him, his family, his life. I can't really express my feelings; for some reason I am having difficulty putting my thoughts and feelings into words. The Lord has just really layed it on my heart to tell everyone AGAIN about what a special little boy Joseph was/is, and the incredible strength his family has. To honor his short life, my post today is dedicated to him. I am including links that his family feels are important, and my hope is that this will help spread awareness of CDH. I also want to share how God has used Joseph to bring me, and undoubtedly others, closer to Him. Romans 8:28 says that the Lord works all things together for good. The Olson family has suffered terrible pain and loss, but God has been working in t...

I feel like I am sleep-walking. I am mentally drained. This has been a difficult week for me. I started the semester Wednesday, so I now have the added responsibility of school along with my other duties as a wife and mother. The lack of sleep this week is getting to me, too. Last night was the best night of sleep I've had in a long time. I was asleep by 10:30 and didn't wake until 6:20. Almost 8 hours! Watching the children went better than expected. My verse for the day was Philippians 4:13. I woke up at 2:30AM because I was paranoid I wouldn't hear my alarm go off at 4:15, so from 2:30 -4:15 I just sort of dozed for about 20 minutes at a time. During this time I prayed and prayed that the Lord would give me the patience and endurance I would need to face the day. I also prayed He would allow the children to behave (mine, not the others). God is good and answered my prayers! There was some fighting between my kids, but overall we had a good day. The sugery went well, too...

I am panicking tonight. I normally try not to let stress of the unknown get to me, but tonight it is. I offered to keep my friend's youngest 2 children (ages 11 months and 2 1/2) for her tomorrow because her husband is having back surgery. I know what it's like to not have family nearby to help with childcare, and I didn't want her to not be with him at the hospital because of lack of childcare. So. . . I am keeping them for her. No big deal. Except the baby doesn't like to take a bottle (sound familiar?) and doesn't care for food too well. And his surgery is in Charlotte. And he has to be at the hospital by 5AM. Yes, you read correctly. I am getting her children at 4:30AM. I just pray they go right back to sleep! I've been up since 4:20 this morning because of my own children. I know God's grace is sufficient, and I am thankful I am able to help her out. Just pray for my sanity tomorrow as I care for a 9 month old, 11 month old, two 2 1/2 year olds , and 4...