Army Mom and Dad

It is official.  David is in the Army. 

He won't go to basic training at Fort Knox until November.  He will be there for eight weeks, then an additional nine for specialized training. 

Going through this decision making we have seen maturity - he is thinking out what he wants to do.  He decided since he doesn't like school much and isn't sure what he wants to do - why waste money on college.  Go into the Army - learn some stuff, then he can go to college on the Army. 

Such mixed emotions - we are so proud of him, we are concerned for his safety, we have such a deep love for our son.

God is good.

Roller Coasters

While I do enjoy riding roller coasters - I do NOT like roller coaster emotions. 

Brian and I were totally blessed to go camping for a few days.  We were up near Lake Mary in Flagstaff (in a camp ground - yuk) where the skies were star-filled, the temperatures were cooler, we saw an elk!!   And somehow food cooked on a grill is so much better - grilled pizza around a camp fire...  Brian even caught fish!!

We came home to a party - not the kind of party that is acceptable or legal.  Our agreement with Jay as we left - if he made any bad decisions, he would be out.  Well, he is out. 

Our hearts are heavy as we hurt so much for our child who is making BAD decisions, who is unwilling to admit he has an alcohol problem,  We hurt for his friends (yes church friends) who didn't step in to stop, we don't know if they took part.  And we have holes in walls and cabinets that must be fixed prior to our move. 

Guess we are back at the Scripture God showed me a year ago January - Stand Firm.  We are standing firm in the Lord, letting Him deal with Jay.  We are demonstrating tough love (which, by the way, is tougher on the parents than the child).  We are holding on to Abba Father and to each other.

We know God will receive the glory through this and it will draw us closer together. 

God is good.

Crazy Love

It is so crazy how much God loves us.  We are seeing so many things that point to the fact that the Creator of the Universe cares about every aspect of our lives.

The details for the move are coming together.  David's car came together.  We are watching Him work in the lives of our friends. 

Brian is growing so quickly.  It is amazing to watch the prayers of the last year come to fruition in ways that are so beyond what my pea brain could even imagine.  God is doing great things in and through Brian's life.  His heart is so at one with God's. 

Can't wait to get moved to the new home - where the memories of this house are behind us. 

God is so good.

New Home

Last weekend we went out looking for homes to rent.  Looked at six homes, found one we really liked.  So we filled out the application (at least the page we received).  Susie, our realtor, sent it to the other agent.  Oops, we fill out the second page.  Then he wanted our credit report (free but annoying), then he wanted a letter as to why we wanted the house.  We are at Wednesday.

Wednesday was a poopy at work - too much going on.  So when our friend Kathleen called, I let it go to voice mail.  A while later I listened to her message..... they have a friend who is headed to Stanford Law School and they have a house to rent......  I forwarded the message to Brian, who called Kathleen.  Then he called Lauren.  We decided to do a drive by - check out the house and neighborhood.

While driving over there, Susie called.  Now the first place wants our credit score so he can make a decision Thursday.  One has to pay to get their credit score.  And, ours are horrible.  So I told Susie what was going on.  She said she would pray.

We drove by the house - liked what we saw.  Now the question - do we agree to a house sight unseen?, do we call them?, what about the application that is in??????  So we called Kathleen, who called Lauren. 

Lauren was out with some friends, but Kyle is home, taking a nap.  Our instructions were ring the door bell, the dogs will bark, a minute later ring the door bell again, the barking dogs will wake Kyle up.  Didn't work.  So Brian and Lauren are on the phone with us planning to go get Lauren.  The front door opens with a sleepy Kyle. 

He was so gracious, kept apologizing for the mess.  He showed us the house, answered lots of questions.  We have a home, the details still need to be worked through.  We withdrew our application for the first home all the while thanking God for His grace, mercy and timing.

God is so amazing - three bedrooms, den, great room, three car garage with built in workbench and cabinets, nice kitchen, RV gate, swimming pool, no problem with our dogs, on the golf course, 14 miles closer to work for Vicki!!  Brian is going to jump into a van pool.

Kathleen and Daniel will be our first dinner guests.  We are so thankful for wonderful friends, an amazing Lord and His timing.

God is good.

Packing

Packing is bittersweet.  It is a lot of hard work - I (Vicki) am actually sweating.  But, the photo albums and lighthouses are all boxed up.  While I wanted to look through every album I didn't, just a peek here and a peek there.  One of my goals is to get a scanner and get all 49 albums of pictures on a disc. 

It has also been a chance to do some weeding out.  Why was I keeping the photos from college photography 25 years ago?  If I liked them wouldn't I have hung them up?  Brian is amazing at sending me flowers - therefore we have 23 vases.  Which is insane because whenever we give flowers - we regift the vase and put in fresh flowers!

The other crazy thing - we don't know for sure when or where we are moving!!  Just trusting God.  We have an application in on a great house.  But, in this market, who knows.  And, if it isn't this house - it will be a better one. 

God is good.

Choices

God is so good.  We are having the privilege of watching Him work in the life of another couple.  (No, this isn't thank You Lord it isn't us!)   God is doing great and mighty things and whatever the outcome, He will get the glory.

At times it is hard - we want it to be fixed, we want them back together - to be honoring the covenant of marriage God has established.  Yet, we walked this road.  Brian chose to leave.  I (Vicki) chose to stay with my faith and trust God is big enough and Brian was smart enough to reconcile. 

We live in an evil world.  God has allowed the evil one to rule here.  He has given us free choice.  What an amazing God to love us so much to let us choose even after Jesus died for sins and defeated death by rising from the grave.

The best we can do is to continue on our knees for this dear family.  We will be there whenever she needs us and when he is ready - we will be there with open arms, right behind Jesus!!

God is so good.

Blessed

We are so blessed.  Today was a poopy day - all sorts of little odd things going wrong for both of us.  But, we rejoice, the evil one does NOT attack those who are doing nothing for the Kingdom. 

While several of the things that happened were meant to discourage - we are pumped.  There is a spiritual battle going on, not only in our lives, but in the lives of those we love.  And we know the end - God wins!!

A year ago I (Vicki) was walking alone, today, we are walking together.  Sometimes I look at Brian and am awed at the magnificent work God has done in and through him.  He is so passionately in love with Jesus and me.  We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. 

God is very good.