Chaplain fight night...

I love my husband. He is such a boy at heart. This video absolutely proves that about him!! Now you can see what he was really up to while in the middle east.

"Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do
not [box] like a man beating the air." I Corinthians 9:26

nothing Gold can stay...

I thought that I would share one of my favorite poems with you today. I always think of it this time of year. Enjoy!

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

-- Robert Frost

fall...

Yesterday was the first day of Fall. It is my favorite day of the entire year. I feel like I am standing on the precipice of the most delightful time of the year. I love the fall season. I like fall because it is full of all the sights, smells and sounds that I love the most. The weather gets crisp and family draws closer together. It is a time of harvest, reflection and thankfulness...a time to delight in our inner child and connect with those who mean the most. I've met some people who do not like the fall, because it reminds them of death. Even though the earth is entering the death phase of it's yearly cycle, I love that God chose to make this one of the most breathtakingly beautiful seasons of the year. It reminds me of the scripture,

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."Psalm 116:15

Besides, this isn't the end...new life is just an eyeblink away.

the wedding video...

The boys found out the other day that we have a video of our wedding ceremony. This really intrigued them and they have been asking for a week to watch it on the television. Yesterday afternoon, while Genevieve was napping, we cuddled up on the couch and began to watch. They giggled and made a lot of comments on how different we looked. Carter made an assessment of me, David and my mother with the following comments:

1. Mommy, you're face looks different and now you have glasses.
2. Daddy, now you're old and you're bald.
3. Grandmommy looks really wierd!

Okay, so we've established that we don't look quite the same as we did almost 13 years ago. And by the way, neither do some of you who are reading this...so be careful not to laugh too hard, because we have the video to prove it (wink!). Anyway, they seemed to enjoy the video and Dawson summed it up best when he said, "I'm so glad that you are married now!"

My sweet boy, so are we!!

weekend Wisdom...

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18: 16-17

freedom...

I was impacted by a quote that I read this morning.

"We routinely disqualify testimony that would plead for extenuation. That is, we are so persuaded of the rightness of our judgment as to invalidate evidence that does not confirm us in it. Nothing that deserves to be called truth could ever be arrived at by such means."

It is a quote that seems to grow richer the longer you meditate on it. As Christians, we are sometimes afraid to examine the truths that we hold so dear to our hearts and souls; as if they will crack under the pressure of scrutiny. But they are God's truth and, therefore, can handle any inquiry. In fact, the more we test their validity, the more sure and precious they seem to become. Our fears are what constrain us, not God's truths. God promises that the truth will set us free (John 8:32). I am making a conserted effort to stop being fearful. I don't mean that I won't scream when my children jump out from a hiding place and say "boo". I mean I won't sit around worrying and fretting over all the "what-if's". That kind of fear really limits God's power and limits our ability to enjoy the freedoms we have been granted in Christ Jesus.

"...let us throw off everthing that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

the best Banana bread...

I love to be in the kitchen and cook, especially this time of year. This morning I was inspired by 3 overly ripe bananas that were a day or two from their trashcan fate. I made my o' so delicious chocolate chip banana bread. I got the recipe from a family magazine and it is the best that I've ever had. I believe that food is at it's best when shared and that recipes are not to be kept to one's self. So, I've decided to share this fabulous recipe with you. Enjoy!!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 medium-large very ripe bananas (1 cup mashed)
1/2 cup sour cream

1. Heat the oven to 325°. Line a 5- by 9-inch loaf pan, preferably one with a light interior, with enough waxed paper to drape over the long sides. This will make the baked bread a cinch to remove and the pan easy to clean. Set the pan aside.

2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. In a large bowl, cream the butter using an electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Next, add the vanilla extract and blend briefly. Set both bowls aside.

3. Peel the bananas and place them in a separate bowl. Mash them with a fork or a potato masher and measure out 1 cup. Add the sour cream and stir to blend. Set the bowl aside.

4. Using a wooden spoon, blend a third of the dry mixture into the butter-sugar mixture. Add the rest of the ingredients in this order, stirring well after each addition: half of the banana mixture, half of the remaining dry mixture, the rest of the banana mixture, the rest of the dry mixture. Next, add 2/3 cup of chocolate chips.

5. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spoon. Bake on the center oven rack until a tester inserted deep into the center of the bread comes out clean, about 70 to 75 minutes.

6. Transfer the bread to a cooling rack and cool it in the pan for about 20 minutes. Using the waxed paper, lift the bread from the pan and place it on the rack. Pull down the sides of the paper and allow the bread to cool thoroughly before slicing. Makes 10 or more servings.

my Father's world...

I walked outside this morning to wave goodbye to my son as he went off to school and there was a noticable nip in the air. Now, you have to understand that I live in Florida and that means something different to me than to my northern countrymen. Nonetheless, the air felt cool and fresh. I absolutely love mornings like that...where the day just seems to vibrate with life and possibilities. This morning it put a song on my heart that I just cannot shake:

This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears all nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise the morning light, the lily white declare their Maker's praise.

This is my Father's world. I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas, his hands the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world. O' let me ne're forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world. Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is king, let the heavens ring. God reigns. Let the earth be glad.

This is my Father's world. He shines in all that's fair. In the
rustling grass, I hear him pass. He speaks to me everywhere.

weekend Wisdom...

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." James 1:17-18

family...

David arrived back home yesterday. It was a truly joyous day. The kids were absolutely beside themselves to have their Daddy back. Once we got home, they wanted to show him every toy they've ever owned and tell him every thought they've ever had. It was really sweet. I found myself feeling like I wanted to do the same thing. I had to remind myself that he is here to stay for awhile and that, Lord willing, there will be plenty of time to catch up.

As happy as I am to have him home, I find myself feeling nostalgic for the summer. I don't think I fully realized what the children and I had accomplished until he stepped back into the picture. We really survived a difficult time and I will never look at them or myself the same again. I think that we are better for the experience. I am so grateful for their warrior hearts!! We realized that we can survive without Daddy here, but that we don't want to be without him. Family is such a gift and a privilege and we should never take one moment with them for granted.

Please take a moment today and tell your family how special they are to you; or better yet, show them!

touchdown #2...

David has safely arrived back in the States. He is spending the night in Baltimore and will be flying out first thing tomorrow morning. Lord willing, and there are no delays, he should be back home by lunch time. Please keep him in your prayers.

touchdown #1...

David called me a little before 5 a.m. this morning and he was safely in Germany. He is now somewhere over Europe/Atlantic Ocean on his way to the United States. Please continue to pray for his safety. I will let you know when he has arrived in country.

the power of the Dark side...

We went to Target today after Dawson got out of school. That normally incites much excitement from my children, but today it reached epic proportions. You see, my children have been waiting patiently for the Halloween merchandise to be put out on the shelves. I know a lot of Christians have mixed feeling about Halloween; but at our house, it is a fun time to dress up and overindulge in family and candy.

My boys have known for a month what they want to dress up as for Halloween. So, we decided to go ahead and get the costumes, while the selection was good. Carter had been squealing and jumping up and down each aisle, but his volume reached decibels that are not fit for human ears when he spotted his Darth Vader mask. My mother asked him to calm down and he said,

"Well, I'll think about it..."

(then pulling on the mask)

"...but you don't know the power of the Dark Side."

sweet Hour of prayer...

Here are some memorable phrases from tonight's prayer time with my children.

Dawson:

"Thank you for Grandmommy and all the other holidays."

Carter:

"Thank you for going to heaven when we are all done here."

Genevieve, what do you want to thank God for?

"ummm... pink girl (her favorite Barbie video), ummm... Bibble (a character from a Barbie movie), ummm... cheeburg (cheeseburgers) and Nemo."

And the church said...Amen.

a great day to be a Woman...

Ok...I admit it...you were bound to find out sooner or later, but I am a registered Republican. I really struggled with this decision in college. I love the "help the downtrodden" philosophy of the Democrats, but I couldn't ignore the fact that my morals seemed to line up more with the Republican party. I come from a family who has always taught, "vote for the man, not the party." So, every election, I decide my vote based on this philosophy.

This year is no different. I have listened to the speeches and the debates on both sides and have again sided with my party. I hope that this doesn't offend my Obama-supporting readers, but I am a McCain-Palin supporter. I am awed at John McCain's story and how he has overcome so much to serve this great nation of ours and how he always looks for the good in our country and it's people.

The thing that excites me the most about this election is Sarah Palin. Look, I know that she is human and she is not perfect. But her wonderful human flaws mean that she is a lot like me. I am proud that we have such a beautiful, no-nonsense, articulate and down-to-earth woman representing us in this election. I am proud that my daughter was born during a time when women are not bound by their gender, but by the measure of their character. I am raising my daughter to be God's girl in all things and to follow His purpose for her life. Whether that leads her to a life of raising her children at home or to the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office...it's a great day to be a woman.

a Thankful heart...

One day last fall, my son Carter, who is 4, was helping me make dinner in the kitchen. I love this age, because he wants to be in the middle of everything and he hasn't made the distinction about what is "women's work" and what is "men's work." Of course, I am secretly hoping that one of my sons will be a gourmet chef one day. Anyway...I was making soup and Carter helped me make the cornbread that was being served along side. He was quite happy with his accomplishment and I was excited for him to share this information with the extended family who were joining us for dinner. As he said the prayer for our food that night he included this memorable sentence,

"Thank you for the bread that I helped to make and thank you for the yucky soup."

Although that makes me laugh, to this day, when I think about it, it also presents a beautiful lesson on having a thankful heart. God has a plan and a purpose for every moment of our life. Even in the midst of the "yucky soup", we should be thankful.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Happy day...

My daughter recently turned 2. It seems that she really enjoyed her birthday. I know this because, for the last 3 weeks, she has been singing "Happy Birthday", making imaginary birthday treats with her new princess tea set and carrying around her gift bags. She even stuck her pretzel sticks in her sandwich at lunch yesterday and pretended to blow out the "candles". Whenever she is engaged in this behavior, she always says, "My Happy day."

Oh, to live in the world of a two year old, where every day is your "happy day." But, maybe we can. Maybe it is more about a state of attitude, than the innocence of youth.

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful..." Proverbs 15:13

Infinite possibilities...

I have had this blog for 3 years and I have never posted a thing. Writer's block, busy life, procrastination...any of these are "valid" reasons. I've had a desire to post, but never really known where to start. As I sit here now, looking at the blank screen, I am waiting for something creative or profound to hit me like a bolt of lighting. No sparks, but I am struck by the thought of infinite possibilities. Instead of getting blocked in by perfectionism, I should simply start and let my thoughts take on a life of their own. They don't always have to be deep or profound or even perfect. They just have to be.

When our children are born into this world, we don't expect them to come out waxing philosophical. We just expect them to be ours and grow into themselves. Isn't that what Christ has called us to? A life of being what He has called us to be. He knows we won't always be profound or deep or perfect. But He wants us always to be His. When we get blocked in by what we think we should be, we miss all of the infinite possibilities that He has for our lives.

So, it is with that imperfect vision that I start my blog. I am simply going to let it be and see where it goes. Thanks for going on the ride with me.