To Be Strong And Courageous

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of reading though a letter my friend Treva had written- In it, among other things, she say's ':

No matter what happens in life God is with us. He says over and over to not fear because “I am with you.” He also says 11 times in the book of Joshua – “Be strong and courageous.” This is not a prideful strength, one dependent on ourselves….but a strength that comes ONLY from Him.

So comforting that 'no matter what' God is with us- in control, watching over, guarding, and protecting us.........Hallelujah that we do not need to fear and another hallelujah that the Lord calls us to be courageous- Our courage coming completely from Him!!

Thank you for the encouragement sweet Treva- God Bless you friend :)

Treva Showing us her strength....hee! hee!

Treva and I

Through The Hurt To The Healing

The words I said to Matt a couple of morning's ago were from deep in my heart- I know Matt feels the depths from which I spoke it just as much as I do.......'babe, can you believe we've been married for almost 18 years?' 

It's a miracle

It's possible........
With God, all things are possible......

I was 18 years old when we got married
pregnant by 19
Had written Matt an 'I'm leaving note' by 22
but............
found out I was pregnant again just before moving out
We had 2 precious boys and a broken marriage by 23

It's a miracle
It's possible......
With God, all things are possible........

God opened the door for us to see a Christian Marriage Counselor
I was the one that wanted to leave so it was me that poured out my frustrations in our session           
I wanted to give up
Matt wanted to hold on

It's a miracle.........
It's possible.........
With God, all things are possible..........

God allowed the memories of what it was like growing up in a broken home come flooding back
Did I want my boys to know the pain of choosing sides, choosing holidays, choosing to belong as a 'step'
God also gently reminded me that I choose to say 'I do' even during for worse
By the Grace of God Matt and I held on
Through the hurt- Through the anger
Through to the healing

It's a miracle.......
It's possible..........
With God, all things are possible........

July 30, 1994

I love you Babe...
Through the hurt- Through the anger
Through to the healing!

 

Aloha Hawaii One Year Ago (2 day's short)

Ryan, Oklie, and I flew off of Kauai Fri. June 10, 2011 for the last time as residents of Hawaii- As I was thinking about this today, I became curious as to what was the first picture I took after we moved to the Garden Island and what was my last picture taken as a Kama'aina.......

Taken May 17, 2009

 As you walk out of the terminal in Kauai this is one of the many welcomes you will receive- I remember looking around as we were waiting for our mountains of luggage to start circulating on the round a bout- My eye's caught this sign- This sign brought my attention away from the fact that it has been such a long day as we had been on a Cruise to Alaska (for Eli's 13th Birthday) for a week prior and had disembarked the boat really early this same morning.  I had dig deep in my purse to find my camera for this photo but I wanted to remember (and be able to share with our boys) what the first moments of our 'big adventure' looked like.

June 5, 2011

My nephew Jesse had come out to visit us (Hey Jess- you were staying with us a year ago!!)- He and Ryan made leis with the Plumeria flowers that had fallen out of a tree in our front yard.  What a fitting last picture to close this chapter in our lives.....It is said that Leis are a tradition given in Hawaii at celebrations of all kinds- It would be just a little under 2 weeks later that we would celebrate the birth of our daughter.....

13...Happy Birthday Ryan!!

Ryan's sitting right by me hear at the San Francisco Airport (On our way home from Pennsylvania)- His 13 year old arm around me......pestering the living day lights outa me- I just got off a 6 hour flight across the United States where he was sitting in front of me ripping farts- never minding the air space of others in the cabin around us ........I am the mother of teenage boys :)

I love you so much Ryan Chase- Happy Birthday son......

You were born at 5:25 p.m. June 5, 1999 to a whale of a mother (I gained 60 pounds when I was pregnant with you)- One of the first things you did after you were born was stare up at me with your big blue crossed eyes and purse your lips like you were just dying for your first kiss from your mommy- I held your hairless head and brought your little face up to mine and just stared at you- in amazing awe....and then kissed those precious little lips-

God Bless you as you begin your teenage years....please remember to always put on deodorant and brush those teeth.....it is also customary in America to shower at least once every couple of days-

Your my heart sweetie

Love,

Mommy

New Holland, PA getting ready to tour the New Holland Tractor Factory

Statue of Liberty or Cabela's

I saw my boys grab the flyer, that was advertisement for Cabela's here in Pennsylvania, when we were leaving  Dienners Restaurant yesterday morning- I really didn't think anything of it and noticed that shortly after they looked at it, they left it crumpled on the table....ppfffeeewww :)
I thought we only had 2 options this morning as we were discussing what we would be doing today:
1. Go to church with Dan and Lena (The Mennonite couple we are staying in the guest house of)
2. Go see the statue of Liberty/ Twin Towers Memorial/ plus this mama could get in a little shopping downtown Manhattan - We are only a couple of hours away from the Big Apple and I try not to make a habit of 'avoiding' the big cities.
After much discussion and my persuasion of going to New York falling flat on it's face before 3 sets of boy eyes my day summed up like this-
I spent a bigger part of today roaming the aisle of the Largest Cabelas in the United States- They boast about the large 'life like' animal displays (Did you know that the owner of Cabela's, whom I cannot remember his name......shot a large Elephant somewhere in the world...maybe Zimbabwe..., had it stuffed, and it is on display in this Pennsylvania store........how could that be fun to hunt an elephant- it's not like they could run fast or hide inconspicuously).  They also boast about the stuffed animals being posed in life like re-inacting scenes of the hunt.....They have the alligator teaming up with his buddy to get the antelope (deer, moose, whatever the poor creature was) at both ends- one at it's head and one at it's hinny while all the stuffed zebra look on (for pete's sake girls turn your back side around and use those kicking feet to defend the underdog.......one swift kick delivered out of each of you would give those alligators a good lesson not to bully that poor antelope). 
As a self defined (among other things) true shopper, I could not let the day go to waste......After looking at all those stuffed animals and a having a slight grossed out feeling (same gross out as cauliflower vs. planters warts) I headed into the clothes section.....the guy's section had the perfect graduation gifts for a couple nephews and their camping section had a Camel Back sippy cup I've been meaning to get Elle's-
All in all a great day!!

The cowardly Zebra

One Too Many Whoopie Pies

We have had a whirl-wind week sight seeing here in Pennsylvania- Pennsylvania's Railroad Museum, Hershey Chocolate Factory, Hershey Amusement Park, Amish Country, Valley Forge National Park, Lots of road side/ home based Amish businesses selling produce and home made items, the list could go on.........
Along with all of our touring, we've eaten A LOT........A WHOLE WHOLE LOT........who in their right mind turns away home cooked food that is delicious- warm/ homemade buns, beef topped fluffy mashed potatoes, Eclairs, homemade butter, (Rachel this one if for you) and WHOOPIE PIES uh-huh uh huh I like.....Matt likes........Ryan likes........Eli likes............
When I went to get Eli up this morning to tell him we were leaving for our jammed packed day in Washington DC he was saying he did not feel good......'do you think your gonna throw up kid?'
Yes......
Poor Eli has eaten one too many whoopie pies :)
Ryan didn't want Eli to feel like the lone ranger so he decided to come down with a fever and sore throat.
My poor boys- We had not scheduled a 'complete rest day' into our vacation but honestly it's been a great day of reading and just hanging out!

Whoopie Pies........so good!

Hey Babe.......Open Your Eyes!!!

It's a big joke now in our family- If Matt is in the picture his eye's are going to be closed- He swears it's not on purpose..........yeah whatever babe- I see that twinkle in your eye when I scroll back through my pictures and look up at you with my half scowled eyes- Today, when it was picture time I took the motto 'if you can't beat them join em!'