Grateful Heart

So much for posting with any regularity! Anway, the conference was amazing - heard what I soooo needed to hear about who God is, His character and unchangeable ways, and how I am not forgotten in His eyes or heart. Also, and this is huge, I cannot trust my emotions in my walk with God. I will, I repeat, I will have times of doubt because I feel lonely/sad/depressed etc, but those are emotions not truth. The TRUTH is that I am His child and He loves me and He is faithful and true. If I can hold fast to those things even while eating a pint of Ben and Jerry's amid a tearful night on the couch thinking about my mom and all that she's missing/I am missing with out her, then I am on the right path. I am unable to comprehend that there is nothing more beyond this world, if for no other reason than I am unwilling to never see my mom again. Beyond that, I cannot live this life without hope of something more - this world is simply too hard and there is a longing in my heart for that something more. So, there you have it! Can I get an "Amen"???
The Sgt did amazingly well while I was gone - house is still standing and wasn't too dirty either! He was so sweet - saying that he enjoyed his time bonding with lil' man. He even managed to coordinate with our friend to watch our kids so that he could help out with a church outreach project. Awesome Man! Another blessing in my life - I hear so much about husbands who are in the pits of pornography, infidelity, loss of faith etc. and while I always pray protection from these things (since we are all vulnerable) I am truly grateful for a man who works so hard and loves us so deeply. While we often joke about his inability to be "romantic" or whatever, he really is unselfish when it comes to his family. Gotta love the Sgt!:)
We're hanging home this year for Thanksgiving - going to the in-laws. I am glad to be keeping it low-key - not sure I can take too much hubbub, and Christmas is going to be crazy with everyone coming here. J is going to be baptized the Sun. after xmas - more on that later - so he will get to have his family with him for that!
Nighty night!

I'm off duty!

I leave this afternoon for my Women of Faith conference. So many little things have happened in the past couple of days, and one big thing, that at times I have felt like this door was closing...I just don't know. My friend who invited me to the conference has had a death in the family and so that has thrown a major wrench in the travel plans. As of five minutes ago, I am planning on driving myself to OKC, so that I can spend some time in Tulsa - solo- doing some shopping. I prayed last night that God would give me a very clear direction about this day...so far, not so much! I know that God does sometimes work this way, or rather, that my mind may be too busy to hear what He is trying to tell me. Hate when that happens, and it seems to be the case more often than not:(
I've got dinners to put up for the Sgt and kids, clothes to pack, the dog has a vet appt. What to do??? Just trust that God will work out my day in His perfect order, relax in this and not worry (too much) and look forward to spending time hearing other women talk about how He has worked in their lives, reading His word, and worshipping Him. Ok, so that doesn't sound too bad:)

MIT monday

Moms in Touch was amazing this morning. We were joined by new mom (not new to motherhood, just new to us) and one of our gals had a birthday, so we got off to a slow start, but boy did our prayers push on the walls! It is so sweet to hear these women pouring their hearts out to God, trusting Him to hear their cries for their children. It is also so comforting to know that none of us (or our children) are perfect. One of the ladies in my church said women so often live our lives just keeping it between the ditches of comparison and judgement! How true! We look at others and think,"Oh, look, their kids are so cutely dressed, their home so nicely decorated..." but really they got crud just like us:) So, it is a pleasure to share my crud with my MIT women!
Halloween was a success - even though lil' man was only happy in the main SpiderMan suit, no accessories. I do have one pic of him with the mask and hat, and as you can see he is clearly not pleased to be so goofily dressed! J was a cop (of course since I spent 13 bucks for a Batman costume that he BEGGED me for, only to discover that it was too itchy, as surprisingly was the pirate costume last year) and EK was a cowgirl. She even got to ride a pony on Halloween - at one of the trunk-or-treats. So fun. And this week is her trail ride that she has been begging for since last christmas when she got to ride a pony at the town square's free christmas event. So, finally this Fri. she and I will be mounting up for an hour long ride - wish me luck;)