Army Life

Life is ever changing for Cassie and RW. Now ...as of this morning anyway, RW won't be deploying until May. For my friends we former Army wives know all too well how things change by the moment and how very frustrating it can be. Please pray for the kids as they are preparing for this deployment. I am going to go out and pick Cassie up and bring her home when RW does deploy. Just want to be in the background at that time as I know how important that it is for them as a couple to do this alone. I plan on keeping busy with the kids and being there to help Cassie through it after the fact. I will say this much I don't miss that part and I know I will cry!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful that my Mom may have found the doctor to remove the stones from her bile duct. She goes to San Francisco on Monday I will update as soon as I know something. Oh and we finally have a name for her condition....Mirizzi Syndrome. I am also thankful for dear friends both near and far you are all blessings to me. Philippians 1:3-4 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

I am listening

It has been four years since Jeff went home to be with the Lord. That first year was tough one..all those "Firsts". What I found out is that even after that first year the "firsts" don't end. There will always be something new..for instance Jeffrey will be playing T-Ball this year and Jeff won't be here to coach, play catch or cheer him on. My child will once again be noted as the one who's Dad died. Mind you people are polite and kind, it's my son that will see all the other Daddy's and ask me yet again, "Why did my Dad have to die"? Those are the moments my heart breaks yet I am strong even stoic for my children. Of course we have all cried together many times. But, it is my job to set the tone, to be the example of Christ's love and grace. I yearned after Jeff passed away for a group of people like me and my kids. The one meeting I went to was all elderly women. I was given many books to read and some were even great. But, I desired a connection.

Two years after Jeff passed away a friend's husband passed away. Ryan was a great young man. We were honored to have known him and to have heard him speak on several occasions of his love for our Lord. My heart broke for Stacie and their three young children. I knew all too well what they were going through and my heart ached for them. From that moment I knew I was being called to do something just not sure what. I would think there needs to be better resources out there and who better to do it than another widow..me. I have struggled with how to begin this process and since I love blogging so much thought a blog would be great. Well, you know the saying "The Lord works in mysterious ways". Stacie had come over for Jeffrey's birthday and that day has she had been feeling the same way started a blog! Just days before I was told of another widow. And, just a couple days ago I was approached about another which prompted me to write this blog. I know the Lord has been leading me to this I have just been struggling with what to do and not listening! He has led me to it and now my job is to do it!

I pray that the Lord will help me to reach all those in his plan. I am listening Lord Jesus.

Awards

Grace received two awards at school today.

One for Scholastic and the other for A honor roll!

Way to go Grace!!

Greenhorn Park

With the sun shining today I thought no better time than to go and feed the geese! Here are some pictures of our afternoon at the park.

My Valentine's!

They have spent the day outside having adventure's!
Oh to be a kid again!

Happy Valentine's Day

I wish all my family and friends a wonderful day! This day always holds a special memory for me as 24 years ago today Jeff purposed to me! Today the kids are playing outside while the weather holds and I am trying to mend a cold while staying indoors crocheting.

Play Date!

Miss Lily

Jeffrey, Dawson, Grace and Hunter

Dawson and Jeffrey



Lily and Izzie

Smile!

Cassie and RW went to the Down Under Aquarium in Denver today with some friends. Here is a picture of the two of them. So cute!

Great Read

Unexpected Treasure
12 Feb 2009
Amy Carroll

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)

"Where is that goat?" the young Bedouin shepherd muttered under his breath in frustration. He clambered over the rocks as he moved up the cliff on his search. It was hot, and he was impatient. Rather than going into the darkness of the cave near him to look, the shepherd tossed a rock into the opening and listened for a protesting "Bahhhh!" Instead, he heard the breaking of a pot. Suddenly the goat was forgotten, and the shepherd's curiosity prevailed. He entered the cave to find one of the greatest archeological and religious treasures ever discovered—the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Visiting an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls recently captured my imagination, and my mind pictured the story above. The tale continues that this nomadic shepherd took the scraps of paper rolled in a cloth and stored in the pot to a merchant in Bethlehem. From there, the treasure passed from hand to hand until they came to rest in a special museum at Hebrew University named the Shrine of the Book. The fact that these ancient documents of God's own Word lay moldering, unfound in a cave for over a thousand years before being found in the search for a wandering goat seized my heart and mind.

Paul tells us that each believer is a jar of clay that contains treasure. When we look through scripture, we can see that we contain peace (Philippians 4:7), the forgiveness of sins, redemption, the riches of God's grace (Ephesians 1:7), joy (John 15:11) and the resurrection power of Christ (Philippians 3:10).

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls provides a powerful and biblical picture of how a broken vessel can release the power of God into our lives and those around us. Brokenness, although painful, is one of God's means of showing His all-surpassing power in our lives. Even when the cause of our brokenness is the result of living in a fallen and sin-filled world, God is able to show Himself as the Redeemer by pouring out His treasures through us.

Are you a broken or crushed pot today? Are you suffering because of the loss of a job or the current financial crisis? Are your emotions broken and bruised because of the rejection of a friend or husband? Are you experiencing crushing loneliness because of the loss of someone dearly loved? Is your heart torn and bleeding for a wayward child? If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, He says even in catastrophic times He is not only with you but longing to pour out through you. God's Word that you have been storing away in the quiet times with Him can be revealed through your brokenness. He sees your pain, and His heart breaks with your every hurt. You are dearly loved. Hold on to His promise that your brokenness is not wasted but releases His Spirit to do works of perseverance, power, character and hope.

At times, I've been a very intact pot, moldering and hidden in a cave while the world around me sinks into the abyss of the absence of His Word. I pray with my broken sisters today that God would use the broken places in each of us for His great glory and our ultimate good. I pray even as He walks with us through the broken places of our lives that His Word would be exposed and powerful in a lost and dying world.

Dear Lord, I come to you in brokenness today. I give myself over to you even in my weakness and frailness. No matter if I've been broken by sin or circumstances, I ask you to fill my broken pot and pour out through me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


The above article came from Proverbs 31 Ministries

Thankful Thursday

On this Thursday I would have to go straight to my Grandson on the way! I am so thankful that I get to be a Grandma! I look forward to reading and telling this little one about Jesus.

Psalm 127:3-5
Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

The best gift we can give our children is not in anything that we buy them but in the gift of Jesus. Nothing else matters without him. I sit here thankful that I came from parents that raised me to know and fear (respect) the Lord. I am thankful that I have two daughters that have gone on to accept Christ and want to serve him. I look forward to the day that Jeffrey does and then goes on to follow in baptism.

A heritage of Lord is the best gift of all. I hope that someday my children look back and say that the best gift they every received was that of knowing Christ as their savior. I also hope they look back and see that they had a Mom who loved him with all her heart as I strive to be that Proverbs 31 woman.

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

IT'S A >>>>>>>>>>

BOY! Cassie had a scan this morning and the Nurse Practitioner was able to tell them they are having a son! So bring on the blue yarn.. I have a lot of crocheting to do! Oh and he is being named after my Dad..David Ray. RW's parents used the initials D.R.R for all of their kids and the after many discussions Cassie said that she would go for that on the first born son only. RW said that worked for him thus..David Ray. Ray also happens to be RW's Dad's middle name.

Prayer Request

As some of you know my Mom has been having trouble since September with what started as surgery on her left shoulder then she called me one day and asked what is means when your turning yellow. Come to find out she had a gallstones backing up into her liver. This started a long line of problems. Her Liver Function Tests (LFT's) were elevated which caused her to become yellow (jaundice). Well, in October she had her gallbladder removed only to find when going in that there were stones that got into her bile duct. This is where we now have a mess! There have been three attempts to remove theses stones. They were able to get two out but there are three left that they cannot get to..they are too big and they can only do these procedures every four to six weeks. Mind you this whole time Mom has tubes coming out of her right side that are very uncomfortable and painful.

So the latest procedure was on Friday. And, once again they were unsuccessful at retrieving them. Now they are talking about DMSO (still trying to get the breakdown of this) which has not been used in twenty years and is very toxic to even those in the room. This also if it gets into Mom's blood stream will kill her.

There have been several things along this journey that my sister and I have not been happy with. But, Mom and Dad have been happy with the doctors to this point. Now we are all on the same page and have some research to do. My parents have a great Primary care Doctor (DR. Tak) and he has mentioned a physician in San Fransisco that we are hoping to talk with soon.

I am asking that you please be praying for us as we delve into this and that we find a physician who has treated this problem before. Pray for my Mom and Dad that they are given some peace as we plow ahead. My Dad has a colleague who lost his wife to the DMSO procedure twenty years ago which you can imagine is weighing heavy on him. My parents know the Lord and are resting in him.

New Life

Two of our friends have just delivered their precious bundles! Tina & Ben Walsh welcomed their first baby..Riley Ann 6 lbs 11 oz, and 19" long on 2/5/09 and Chris & Gabe' Sanders welcomed their second son..Gunnar Scott today he weighed in at 7 lbs 8 oz and 19" long. We are so happy for you. God Bless you all!

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; Jeremiah 1:5


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Thankful Thursday

If you have not been reading about A Place Called Simplicity I encourage you to do so. This family is a great example of God's Grace. Linn posts on Thursday's as "Thankful Thursday" and at the end of today asked the question "What are you thankful for this Thankful Thursday"?? So on that note I thought I would blog about that today. I think this is a great habit to get into.

I am thankful....

For Grace and her big heart. Mind you she is nine and gets into her share of mischief. But, she desires a heart after the Lord. I love that she and Ashton have devotion time at school. Not all the time but that they even take the time during recess to spend time in the word is such a blessing. I am also thankful for Ashton these two will be able to hold one another accountable as they grow.

For Jeffrey and his sweetness. I love that he and Grace hug and kiss each other goodbye every morning and hello every afternoon. He is always armed with a hug and kiss for me. I love watching him and Dawson help one another be it Dawson helping him pull his jeans over his boots on Jeffrey's birthday or Jeffrey helping Dawson with his coat. We should all be like this helping one another.

For Cassie that she has continued to stay in church and be an active participant. That Cassie knows that the Lord has got to be the head of she and RW's marriage. For her ever growing belly..a new creation in Christ!

For my health, my family and friends both near and far. I am thankful for where I am today. I see now that the Lord was preparing me all these years to be widowed and lean on him for all things.

So..What are you thankful for this Thursday?

Due Date

The Dr. is going to stick with the due calculated by Cassie's LMP. So the due date will be 8/11/09 not that it matters much as they come when they want anyway. She had an appointment today and all is well and the baby has great heart tones!

Cassie is 23!

My baby girl turned 23 today. It may seem silly to write about this seeings she is 23 and married..and pregnant.. but, she will always be my baby. She was born at 11:30 PM on a Sunday, February 2nd 1986. My favorite memory is of Jeff holding her for the first time. He was crying and patting her buns telling me "look she likes her buns patted". Such a sweet memory. Now Cassie is expecting her first of I hope many. Here is the birthday girl and her baby belly that has really popped in the last week!

I just can't stop!

I don't know what has gotten into me but I can't seem to put down crocheting. It helps that there are so many babies coming that I need a gift for I suppose. Here is my latest..I just love the way it turned out.

Birthday Party

We had Jeffrey's birthday party last night and it was so much fun! Here are some pictures from the event.