We are fine

Just wanted to let everyone know we are fine. I was on the bus to Missouri when we found out what happened at Hood. Luke was at home and did not even know until I called him. He went home early so he would be there when the kids got home. Thank God he did because the base was locked down for hours and he would not have been able to leave. Also the kids were not let off the bus without a parent there to get them today because of what happened. We do not live on base but they were still being very careful everywhere.

I am at a PWOC (Army women's ministry) conference in Missouri right now. There are several army and air force bases in this central region group and they are here together. There is a main speaker here she is an army wife (retired I think) but not someone famous Amy! She is from WV though! I will be here until Sunday then I have another 15 hour bus trip back.

I only have internet in one spot here and not much time so I don't know when I will update again. I will try to check email tomorrow. Thank you all for your love, prayers, and concern for our family. Please be in prayer for all the people at Hood affected by this tragedy. Thanks and God bless you all!

Birthday pics and info

I am leaving tonight for my women's ministry conference and I am doing a million things right now. I should not be on the blog but I wanted to put up the pictures of B's birthday before I leave and forget about them for a month like I did K's pictures. I need to finish packing and cleaning the house.

I am excited to be going to the conference but I am nervous too. I will be riding a bus. 15 hours one way. Sleeping in a room with at least two other women I do not know. And I will be away from my kids longer than I have ever been before. Pray for me that I am not in a horrendous bus crash (I am only slightly kidding, it does make me nervous) and that I get something good from this time with God--"spiritual renewal" as the brochure says.

I am taking my laptop so that I can at least check my email. I can't be having internet withdrawal symptoms while I am trying to connect with God and fellowship with other women!

My baby is 12 today

Happy Birthday B!!!!! I love you and miss this baby and little girl....

They grow up way too fast!!

Sunday

Day and night they never stop saying:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come."
Whenever the living creatures give glory,
honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne
and who lives for ever and ever
Revelation 4: 8-9

No rambling this time

Dressed up in her Iraq clothes...

Playing cheerleaders in the front yard...

Just pretty...

Ouch!

Crazy hair day at school Friday-

Dressed as girl from PureNRG

Love them....

God is so good

My bible study class was SO GOOD this morning!!! It wasn't so much the class as it was the prayer at the end. This lady came in and she prayed at the end of class-she is not a member of our class, she is blind and I think someone in the class was driving her home or something. I have seen this lady before and always noticed the joy on her face. When she started praying, it was so awesome. She was so spirit-filled that I felt it all over the room. We prayed and sung and praised God together and it was so good. I got something there this morning that I never expected to get there no matter how much I usually enjoy it. This was not my usual experience there but I needed it! I have been in the best mood ever since!!

Tonight the PTSO is having Family Night at E and K's school. I am going early to help set up and then do whatever they need me to do during. I hope my good mood can last the rest of the day because I may need it later! :)

I have a cold and have been feeling bad, but at least it is nothing worse! I will have to take more cold medicine soon so I won't start feeling bad tonight.

And an update-- my stitches came out just fine and didn't even hurt. But it is still not healed and I don't like that. There is one part that is still gross and kind of opened back up. It looks like a small hole but it may only scar like a bad chicken pox scar--if it ever heals!! It scabs and looks better when I leave it uncovered but then when I have to cover it back up (any time I wear pants I need to cover it with a band aid) it gets gross looking again. I promise no more pictures but I am telling you again---WEAR SUNSCREEN!

Well I was in such a happy mood, I was indulging myself with the computer but now I need to go get some things done before the kids get home and we have to leave again!

Bloggers Care: Operation Christmas Child

*I am participating in a blog carnival about Operation Christmas Child where we tell our story about OCC. Since I do this every year and am so passionate about it, I have to get in on the carnival!*

Yesterday at church I reminded everyone that it is time for Operation Christmas Child again. Next week I am supposed to show the video and give my “pitch” for it. There are already several people interested in it. I cannot wait to see how many boxes we get. One portion of the video I am going to show tells one girl’s story, how she was saved and her life changed because of the shoebox that she received. I love to see that. I would love to collect a lot of boxes, but that video shows how each single one matters.

I have tried to explain here before how much this ministry means to me. I wish I could do more than I have. Four years ago I first learned about it, and God told me very clearly that he wanted me to get involved with this ministry. That year we took in 275 boxes and the next year, 402. I certainly did not do that myself, I got three other churches and our girl scout troop involved. One of those three churches was my MIL’s church and they have done an amazing job with it, last year they did 507 boxes themselves. Our church collected 27 last year and I know we can get more this year.

I always tell people that I know there are a lot of charities out there and a lot of people who need help. But this is not just a charity, it is an amazing way to spread the Gospel to countries that sometimes don't even allow missionaries into their countries. The stories that come from these boxes are amazing. God is using OCC to reach so many people. Jesus said "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to all the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) I have no plans to go to the "ends of the earth" anytime soon. But I know my shoebox will!

If you are interested you can click on the link to their website to learn more, or just ask me! Click on my OCC category to see my previous posts about it. Please do something to get involved, even if it just praying.

Collection week this year is November 16-23.