Surprise Birthday Box!

I had friends and family add birthday cards to our box!

we took some sweet little pictures for Gary's birthday!

Enjoying this day!

4th of July

Being apart from the one you love during any day is hard but on nearly every holiday and weekend the gaping hole where your spouse is supposed to be can not be ignored. I found missing my husband while in he is in Afghanistan can not be the fore front of my everyday, even on holidays. While I was hurting on this Independence Day, I also was able to enjoy these children! Living in a constant state of grief will dry up your soul. Finding joy in your everyday life will give you strength. 

happy homecoming

To much relief, Gary was able to come home to for a short visit we naturally we enjoyed our family time together!

I went by myself to pick Gary up and we spent two nights together!

We celebrated with lots of food!

We surprised our sweet babies who had no idea that daddy was coming home!

Gifts all the way from Afghanistan!

Better to Give than recieve!

We donated our truck to a sweet single mom with two kids! She's been working hard to save up for a car...but we were able to give her our truck we aren't using anymore!

My Apple Tree

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
is my beloved among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
⁴ Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
and let his banner over me be love.

Song of Songs 2:3-4

Isn't it so true that when you meet and see the one that you love everyone else fades black? It's all about him! Just like this verse which I love in Song of Songs, Like an apple tree among the forest..
When you look at the forest you rarely will notice a single tree, its the clustering of trees that you see...so then as go along a beautiful tree with apples grabs your attention! The apple tree is so generous and is the perfect place to land! And when your love reciprocates the same affection, o what a magical place for love to bloom!

special dark date

We sat in the very dim light of a sweet noisy Italian restaurant! We excitedly held hands and ate a loaf of the most delicious Italian bread EVER! We talked about our old times we met in Korea and fell in love. Looking back always brings wonderful feelings or romance. Then about mid-date I pulled out my journal and we wrote down goals for the year and we talked about our vision for our life and our children! I wrote it ALL down!
While looking back is OK, looking forward together is crucial!

Proverbs 29:18

Common English Bible (CEB)

¹⁸ When there’s no vision, the people get out of control,
but whoever obeys instruction is happy

Since we will not physically be together this year we need a vision for our marriage and family! Because we both know that everything we do today affects our plan tomorrow. If I do shoddy budgeting that will delay our goal of getting out of debt. Since our goal is to get out of debt! I know that I have to keep tight control of our budget! Otherwise without a vision, you might find me(out of control) at Marshall's shopping every weekend! Instead you will find me happily out of debt next year!

pack it up!

Packing up my husband to go overseas for a year is no small task. We had to use these magic bag so air didn't take up all that precious space. As you can see Clee would have fi in his duffle bag but as explained she had to save the room for daddy's towels.  Packing all his clothes and supplies made me feel better knowing that I was doing something for him. Since I wont get to for a WHOLE YEAR! *tears*

warm and cozy

My hubs makes me coffee every morning before he rushes off to work. I love it! I'm grieving the thought that when i wake, there won't be warm coffee waiting for me.
*Weeping may stay for the night,but joy comes in the morning.*ps. 30:5
Grievous times do not last forever,  there will be a morning and we will wake up once again to a cup of coffee and other signs of love around my home.
The season of life is ever changing by God great design and wisdom!

In pursuit of finacial peace!

Remediation of Financial peace university is in order! Busting out the Dave Ramsey material to motivate and inspire!

In the name of LOVE!

En lieu of leaving the states I was given power of attorney.  I'm fortunate my cousin is an attorney and whipped one up for us real quick like. Informally and rushing we signed not even given thought to the matter.
Having power of attorney doesn't mean I use it for my sole gain, but always on his behalf and his greatest good!
Stewardship is acting in another's behalf! The Bible teaches us to be a good steward with all that we had! Every blessing and good thing in my life is from God's hand! Do when I handle my blessed life is it with respect,generosity and honor or do I flush it down the toilet?