You are going where?

Dear family and friends,

I briefly mentioned a trip to Thailand a couple of weeks ago and know I need to expound.

Caroline and I leave for Thailand on the 9th of January and return on the 20th. We are going with the online school that our children take some of their classes from (The Potter's School) and a group from our church home in Virginia.

We are going to help put on a conference for missionaries and to continue a relationship that we have with a school in the mountains.

This is the eighth year that our school/church has come alongside to help with this endeavor. The conference has grown expediently over the years and this year we are expecting 400. The missionaries come from 15 different countries in Asia, some knowing that this will be the one time of the year that they will be able to freely worship with other believers. They come with children in tow and our job it to provide programs, care, and love to these children. Caroline and I are so excited to have the opportunity to minister to, learn from, and fellowship with these Christian families.

Our service and ministry will continue after the conference ends, when our team travels to the mountains for a few days to experience the local Thai culture and minister to the native people. Our entire stay in the mountains is an opportunity to build relationships with Thai people, with highlights that include teaching English at a Thai elementary school and hiking to a remote tribal village of the “Karen” people (refugees of Burma) to spend the day with the families and teach the children.

I really struggled with taking this opportunity due to the children that will be left behind. Ed's work is only three minutes from the house and he will be taking a few days off. The children will be doing school by themselves for four days and my man promises that all will be well. Ed leaves four days after we return for a 10 day trip for work.

Ed had prayed about this trip and felt that it was something we needed to do. As I was struggling through this decision (Caroline had NO struggle, she is full throttle and ready to go) I was talking to someone and said, "Caroline is less than four years away from heading to college and we want to take any and all opportunities to have impact in our children's lives." The moment this came out of my mouth, I knew God had planned this trip and that I just needed to trust Him.

So we are packing and organizing this week...I can hardly believe it! Please mark your calendars and pray...

Oh, and on the way home, Caroline and I will be able to spend the day together in TOKYO...it just doesn't seem real.

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Does God ever have to remind you?

Our living room in our current house right as we moved in...curtains weren't even completely up!

Dear family and friends,

God has been doing so many things in my heart this past year, yet He still has to remind me. I so wish that He didn't.

One of the places that God has brought me to this past year is "whatever God". Not "whatever" like a teenage girl with an attitude, but a "whatever" that trusts and loves God and knows that He is utterly Sovereign. A "whatever" that is learning to want His best despite lacking immediate understanding. A "whatever" that wants God to glorify Himself in whatever way He deems right.

Yet, I know I'm not really there, just growing. On Christmas eve we heard that our block will be renovated next fall and we'll all have to move. I have to tell you that I was very overwhelmed and saddened. We move a lot, which in general I love. We've only been in this house for 6 months and the thought of it made my mind reel with thoughts of frustration.

I was talking to a dear friend from Italy about two hours later and when I was sharing the whole "whatever" thing and I was horribly convicted. It connects another thread that God has been teaching me the past few years...is He Sovereign or is He not...is He faithful or is He not...is He trustworthy or is He not? I say He is...so "whatever" God.

You know best, You are in control, You are faithful and You are trustworthy. Moves are really a little deal in life and I am willing.

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

P.S.-Anyone looking for a exciting summer Hawaiian vacation next year can contact the Hickam Community Housing and coordinate your dates with our impending move. We will provide food, entertainment, exercise, and an opportunity for you to serve our family and our country all in one fail swoop!

Do you know the downside to Hawaii?

Merry Christmas from The Thomas Troops! It's a beautiful day, children are outside playing, God has been honored, we've had multiple chances to minister and love, how precious it is to love...and I've killed three flies. Isn't it awesome that there will be no downsides to heaven!

Love in Christ,

Dinah for The Troops

P.S.-Caroline took the picture and was sweet enough to share it with her mother! What a girl...

Do you ever think about "have nevers"?

Dear family and friends,

The things I have never done on the 23rd of December, until today:

*I have never swatted flies while preparing Christmas dinner.

*I have never had my yard mowed for Christmas.

*I have never ridden my bike for 5 miles while talking to my husband who is running. (He questioned whether it was too hot today to run at noon, but then laughed at himself as he used to run at noon in San Antonio in the summer.)

*I have never watched Star Trek the Next Generation (we're having a Star Trekthon this Christmas as our children have never seen it).

I wonder what "have nevers" God has in store for this next year...

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

What's a turjagin?

Dear family and friends,

When our litter was little I realized that three weeks was NOT long enough to teach them all of the Christmas songs that we loved. So in February I pulled out my favorite children's Christmas tape and we started humming along. In May Ed began to protest so we only listened to it when Daddy wasn't in the car, no matter how much the children begged.

August that year we put it up and then in December WALAH! These precious children could sing verse after verse after verse.

Then there's the fourth baby. He missed the year of Christmas song training and I didn't realize how much he was behind the curve until the other day I heard, "Round you tur-ja-gin, mother and child."

Oh you just try so hard to not laugh in their little faces... I just let turjagin stand as I really didn't want to do that explaining to our six year old...

Off to have advent, watch movies, and eat yummies with our sweet children and my man! I hope everyone is enjoying the season. My solid theory, "Come Thursday, no matter what gets done, we're celebrating Jesus!"

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Have you ever read a party debrief?

Dear family and friends,

Yesterday we received a picture by email from the Christmas party that we attended last weekend. We had a great time and really were able to relax and enjoy ourselves.

The party was given by General Chandler and his lovely wife, Eva Marie. It was in their historic home that stood while Pearl Harbor was being bombed so many years ago. There were several things that were unique:

1) Ed really enjoyed himself and by God's grace was able to come out of work mode. Not only was the party at his boss's house, but it was attended by many community leaders which is right up Ed's Public Affairs alley.

2) I wore a sleeveless dress and did not freeze! You know all of those Christmas dresses that your limiting options are: 1) You are willing to catch pneumonia 2) You have to cover up with a coat/shawl in order to not catch pneumonia 3) You always hunt diligently for Christmas dresses with long sleeves and bypass the beautiful ones that you are sure will be risking getting pneumonia by purchasing.

3) The best part about the dress is that Caroline came running up to me just as I was finally in the front of the line at Ross's with this dress. She talked me into buying it knowing I could return it if it didn't fit as there was no way we were getting out of that long line. How fun to have my 14 year old choose a dress for me!

4) The last several weeks have been filled with unusual amounts of rain so keeping my hair dry all day was quite the challenge. The girls and I had just had our bimonthly hair cuts that morning and the dear lady who cuts it fixed it for special without charging me. When I came out from running from the Commissary Caroline willingly sacrificed her own hair in order to keep mine dry. She was so sweet to become a drowned rat in about 20 seconds flat.

5) We ran out of the house to drive a street away in order to stay dry.

6) This is the first Christmas party ever that I have left my shoes outside at the front door and remained barefoot the rest of the evening. Coming from Texas I had never heard to taking your shoes off at someones house and was quite surprised when we moved to New Jersey and found that this was common practice. It makes perfect sense when you live somewhere where your dripping feet will damage carpets. The four star comfortably donned his house shoes for the duration of the party.

7) I got quite tickled as we were in between round one and round two. This party was given in two shifts. We were asked to stay for both due the Ed's relationships with the community leaders. It started promptly at 4:30 and at 6:00, without being asked, everyone promptly left. 30 minutes to reset and the next party proceeded. At 6:30 they came, and with a little lea way due to knowing it was the last party, without being asked, by 8:10 everyone had left. It was a wonderful evening and no one had to worry about leaving to early.

I love Christmas parties, even when they are advertised as "holiday parties" which they are the majority of the time now in the politically correct military world. The Christmas tree was a light blue decorated with Air Force emblems and lights. Silent Night and The First Noel played from the top of the stairs by the Air Force band. Many people said, "Merry Christmas!" I love these moments, the moments that the world honors and acknowledges my Jesus whether they know it or not.

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Can you believe such talent?

Dear family and friends,

This is Jefferson pretending to have a mustache, all while he is doing math. He was so pleased with himself. Do think there's a job market for this skill?

If not, maybe he can fall back on his art work. I thought he was being diligent in math but apparently he was drawing pictures of the two of us...

Love in Christ,
Dinah

Do you love it?

Dear family and friends,

I hope no one construes this as bragging, but Ed said I really needed to post a picture of my baby Jesus jewelry! Isn't it awesome!

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

What's my favorite jewelry?

Dear family and friends,

If you asked me what my favorite jewelry is I would be able to quickly tell you:

1. Hands down, my favorite piece of jewelry are my wedding and engagement ring. A promise from my man! Ed worked hard in order to pay for my engagement ring so many years ago. His grandmother bought them for him and he finished paying her off right before we married. My wedding ring is exactly like my mothers. We had it made a few years later when I was pregnant with Wyatt. The diamonds are small, but they go all the way around, a full circle. The jeweler conitinued to insist that they would be bigger if we'd just stick to the ones on top, but they defintely needed to go all the way around, just like my mothers. I cherish them both and wouldn't trade them for the world.

2. My second favorite is a necklace with twelve strands of small pearls that twist and are worn as a choker. I bought them on a huge clearance in Dallas while we lived in Italy. They were purchased from a well respected clothing company that was closing down. I tried to call Ed (before cell phones) to double check with him and then just had to make the decision myself. At that point in our lives they were a tremendous amount of money for us. I struggled, but knew my Ed would understand. He was so wonderfully supportive and I'll never forget how precious he was in stating that he just trusted my judgement. I wear them all the time and am so grateful to have them. We've spent very little money on jewelry, a mutual decision.

3. I absolutely adore my baby Jesus jewelry! Who needs expensive jewelry when they've received baby Jesus jewelry from their children? I normally start wearing it regularly right after Thanksgiving up until Christmas day. Wyatt made me the necklace many years ago in Sunday School and Jefferson made me a bracelet. They are very inexpensive, one being of wood and the other made of cheap metal and a plastic string that I'm so grateful has not broken so far. They are so valuable in my heart, made by our boys, given with love and wild abandon. They picture my God and how He came because I need to have a restored relationship with God the Father. Tonight we went to a Christmas party and I was choosing to not panic as I couldn't find them. I don't have a large jewelry box but little bags with odds and ends. All of my jewelry was in a small bag that I carried on the plane when we moved to Hawaii. My baby Jesus jewelry in tow, placed carefully with my pearls, wedding ring on my hand and ready to follow my man wherever God sends us.

Yet they are all things of this world and not near as valuable as the people who Christ values...

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

P.S.-I keep forgetting to mention that Caroline and I will be traveling to Thailand on the 9th of January. I'll have to save the details for another day.

Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas?

Dear family and friends,

This is one of my favorite trees on base. Have I ever mentioned how beautiful and different the trees are here? I think it looks like a large darling pinapple.



My friend Sharla told me the rule when I arrived here in Hawaii. You must buy a pinapple everytime you go to the commisary. I rarely disobey this rule as I think it's fantastic and I'm more than happy to oblige.

In Italy I fell in love with gnocchi. In Hawaii I've discoverd that I think Spam Musubi is pretty amazing.

Now you need to understand that Hawaiians LOVE Spam. They apparently have a long history with it and it's become a part of their culture. So when you come to our house and you are just dying to have some, we can just run right down to the Burger King on base and I will fix you up. I had never put Spam in my mouth until I arrived here.



Emily, my sweet neighbor, and I went to the zoo in August and she talked me into ordering Spam Musubi. It's like a Hawaiian version of large sushi. Then several weeks ago she taught me how to make it. I made it all by myself on Monday night. I even bought a Spam Musubi mold at the BX in order to do it well and quickly. I was so proud of this little accomplishment. We all really like it, although at the end I see a little seaweed left on our children's plates.

Tonight after Caroline's piano concert:




We drove around to see the Christmas lights on base. We were singing "The First Noel" and I rolled down the window for a second, suprised to not have a flood of cold air rush in. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here, despite the lack of snow, or cold, hot chocolate, or heavy coats. God's teaching all the Thomas Troops (again for some of us), that all we need for Christmas is Jesus!

I hope you are enjoying the season...
Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Sidedish or dessert?

Dear family and friends,

I never shared about our Thanksgiving as Ed and really relaxed after all the preparations were complete on Thursday. Then we hit the ground running on Friday and accomplished all kinds of things over the next two days.

It was such a great day full of lots of team effort, phone calls with loved ones, laughter with dear friends, and refreshment.




The highlight of Thanksgiving for The Thomas Troops, past being grateful to Jesus and the sweet friends God provided, was hands down, the Strawberry Surprise!

When I was growing up there were many years where our guest list included Nana and Nan Nan, Sarah and Shawn Johnson, and Carl and Jo Schlect. Jo would always bring two dishes: Squash Casserole and Strawberry Surprise. I loved the Squash Casserole and my sister loved the Strawberry Surprise. Now the early years of making a Christmas dinner were not very encouraging as my children didn't seem to like any of it. It's a lot of hard work for no little ones to like it. Eventually I dropped the Strawberry Surprise, but oh how it has been revived.

The last two years in DC we had the privilege of spending holidays with my sweet sister's family. So here comes the Strawberry Surprise as my sweet niece would bathe in the yummy delight if her mother would let her. My children fell in love and were sure that it would go wonderfully with Mexican food. I was happy to oblige.

Then the great debate began...side dish or dessert? My children were very concerned without Aunt Melly here on their side that they'd be waiting for hours. They came in with great giggles of delight Thanksgiving morning with an email from Aunt Melly. It was read to our friends as we gathered to discuss the logistics of our meal right before we stopped to thank God for our bounty.




Dear Caroline, Wyatt, Melanee Kate, and Jefferson,

This is really for your mother but I want to make sure that you read it first and hold her to it!!!

STRAWBERRY SURPRISE - This is a side dish. It is to be served WITH the meal and not as a dessert. It adds beautiful color to every plate and should be used during the meal and NOT after. If you wait until afterwards, you might be too full and won't be able to eat as much as you want. This dish gets better with each serving so please have at least two or three!!!!

If you mother won't adhere to these guidelines, come see Aunt Melly!! I'll let you have it for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner AND dessert!

I love you and hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Love,

Aunt Melly



She rarely pulls rank on being, you know, being a whole 26 months older. I think every child should have an Aunt Melly.

As I finished up preparations I was tickled thinking about my menu and how it really spans across so many wonderful places and people: BB Paoli's salsa and tortillas (Italy), Doug Smith's guacomole (Montana), Stephanie Wheeler's refried beans (New Jersey), Eddie's fajita's (Montana), Susan Dunn's fudge pie (Lubbock, Texas), Darcie Newton's cranberry pecan pie (San Antonio, Texas) , and Dinah' ever changing apple pie (created and recreated from whatever I can remember year to year from what my dear Mother and Nana told me so many years ago). Oh and I use Theresa Odom's topping on my Apple Pie (knew and loved her in Italy, but was givin the recipe while we lived in Colorado). Emily Waters made more than her fair share of amazing food and her banana salad will be on my list in the future (Hawaii). This is such a small sampling of the friends and family for which we are thankful for...

Oh, and by the way, that Thursday we decided that Strawberry Surprise goes quite nicely with Mexican food! Notice that they were served right by the homemade tortilla's.




Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Did you hear angels?

Dear family and friends,

On Sunday we were sitting in church and I happened to be down at the end on the other side of Ed with most of our little ones on his side. We were singing praises to God and I was really enjoying worshipping with other believers. One thing that I've really enjoyed about worshipping in church in Hawaii is our church always has the windows open. Lately there's been a lovely breeze that can almost bring a slight chill. It's an amazing thing to have all your senses being touched by the hand of God. Hearing his people, seeing His creation, feeling His breeze, smelling His flowers. Well, minus the taste...but I can just think about Mexican food or Whataburgers and we'll consider that square checked.

We are singing "All in All" and all of the sudden I hear the most beautiful sounds amidst our singing. I quickly look around and realize it's our three other children singing the alternate part. They were not making a huge scene, just sweetly singing to Jesus, walking against the current with paitence and joy. It immediately ministered to my heart as this is exactly what we are raising them to do in life. Oh Lord, please give them the strength, courage, and grace to always sing for you, no matter how strong obstacles may be.

I know recently I said that their singing was almost as beautiful as the heartbeats I heard so many years ago. This was definitely more beautiful. Kate and I quickly joined in...it was truly an honor to sing His praises.

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

How do you make your apple pie?

Dear family and friends,

I certainly have a heart of gratitude to Jesus tonight. He has been so gracious to me. How He loves a sinner such as I, I do not know, I"m just eternally grateful that He does.

Tonight I was making my apple pie laughing at myself. I don't know that I"ve ever made the exact same pie all these years. I wasn't really given a recipe, just "you add about this and throw in about that". So that's what I do. Some years it's better than others, we'll have to wait and see tomorrow how it turns out.

Tomorrow we have two precious families coming over to dine with us. The Beasley's are friends (Ed's boss, wife, and precious daughter) of ours from Montana. They are on a little Hawaiian vacation and gracious enough to come and spend the day with us. They are bringing parents also, which is a treat as we are always grateful for a set of grandparents to grace the day. Our neighbors are also coming...our Hawaiian family. The Waters are here without Daddy this year and we are just so grateful they are an important part of our lives here in Hawaii. Emily is a great neighbor and just continues to love us good, bad, and ugly. You see all three when you live this close.

We're having Mexican food which is our favorite Thanksgiving meal. Hats off to all you people who can eat turkey fifteen times a season, but I can't. The first year we were married we had it so many times that we decided we were a Mexican Thanksgiving kind of family. We've done all different kinds over the years. The children have just made us taco's the past few years which has been a delight. This year we are sporting Fajitas with homemade tortilla's, hot sauce, and guacamole. Emily is bringing yummy turkey enchilada's. We'll end our day with traditional dessert.

I've never eaten a holiday meal on paper plates, but there is just a first time for everything. We are eating outside in our little island paradise and I just didn't want my good dishes over concrete with so many children.

It's been a warm week, but it has still felt like Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart, not cold weather and turkey's.

Happy Thanksgiving to all...please know that tomorrow we will be thanking God for the amazing families and dear friends that God has so generously placed in our lives...

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

This is the picture that I was talking about...I just love it!

Have you watched the Flintstones lately?

Dear family and friends,

MY MAN IS HOME...I am so grateful! He had a good week in Japan, Wyatt was able to take his Math test yesterday (another stressful part of my week), and we had a wonderful evening last night.

We love the little church that we are going. We haven't joined as of yet, but we've been going there since the beginning of September. It's in the community, which is a plus as it's our main opportunity to get to know people who live on the island. The teaching is dynamic, the people have been very welcoming, and the music takes me straight to the throne week after week. The only downside is that it's about 25 minutes away. For all you city folk, I know that's nothing, but for those of us who live on an island, it's a long ways away.

Last night we were able to go with our church down to a homeless shelter. They go down and serve every other month. Wyatt had seen it in the bulletin and continued to remind me that it was coming up, so we just secured the night on the calendar.

It was such a great experience, such a great opportunity to serve. On the way down there we reminded them about being part of a team, which includes that you do what the team needs, not just what you would like to do. Caroline was a greater, Ed carried the big trays to serve, Wyatt was a drink runner, and I folded forks and napkins for Jesus along with the younger children. They go through 800 forks a day and have to fold them in a specific way in order that people don't touch anyones forks.

At the end of the evening we gathered as a group and when we were asked if anyone wanted to share their blessing of the evening Wyatt proclaimed his gratefulness to his parents for providing food, clothing, and shelter. Caroline offered to close us in prayer when they asked for a volunteer. I was deeply blessed by our children last night. I saw a glimpse of the young adults that God is raising them up to be. At the end of the evening Wyatt told me, "Mom, maybe this is what I can do when I grow up, I would love to do this." I would be a very pleased mother to see my son serve others. No matter what God calls these children to do, may they love and serve Him deeply.

Melanee Kate and Jefferson watched the Flinstones last night. We'll take them next time. Kate's heart is so tender and we didn't know the younger children would be in the back folding napkins and forks for Jesus. She asked not to go and we certainly understood. Once we were home she hugged me and said, "Mommy, I always loved the Flinstones when we lived in Italy, but I was little, and I didn't know that Fred is really a big jerk."

Love to all...In Him,
Dinah for The Troops

How long is a week?

Dear family and friends,

How long is a week? Well, this time it's been really long. A great opportunity to trust God!

The moment Ed flew out of town, everything seemed to explode: The children, the puppy, the renters, you name it.

But, it has been a good week to cry out to God. It's been a good week to seek Him. Do I really need Him more on some weeks than others, or am I just more aware that I need Him? We know the answer now don't we.

My sheets are clean and towels are clean and I'm so ready for my man to come home! I hope you've had opportunities to trust Him too...

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Eddie come home!!!!

Scroll back down to my last post as I added a few pictures. I can't add my favorites until my love comes back.

Can Fridays get better than this?

Dear family and friends,

Friday was a big day for The Thomas Troops. Ed pinned on Colonel. As I was putting a silver eagle on his shoulder all I could think about was pinning on a butter bar in May of 1990. I had no idea what Ed had really asked when he asked me to pin him on that day. Ed was already planning on me doing all the pinning on in his life, I just didn't know it yet. I'm certainly grateful God did, and he'd even let Ed in on it. The Lord just knew I wasn't quite ready for that information yet, although it came quickly after.

God is so good to just let us know what we can handle. I'm grateful He gives us little bits of information on a need to know basis.

To God be the glory, great things He has done.

Love in Christ,
Dinah

P.S.-My pictures aren't uploading and Ed's in Japan...sorry about the delay. For anyone who was praying for our children singing The National Anthem at their Daddy's ceremony...Thank you! It was a beautiful opportunity for them to honor God, their earthly father, and their country. My children singing three parts together, almost as beautiful as the heartbeats I first heard when they were safely tucked inside me.



Isn't he handsome! God was so good to provide this wonderful cake. I didn't want just a normal sheet cake but felt very limited by the whole island thing. God had this cake in store, for which I was grateful.



This is a special picture for at least two reasons. First of all, after 18 years of being in the military I had my very own spot. It may never happen again and I just enjoyed every minute of it. Parking isn't always convient here and since I had this very heavy cake (my man couldn't get over how heavy it was), a parking spot was arranged. So, it wasn't that I was special, or that my sweet husband was getting promoted, it was simply because I was the cake girl, and I can live with that.

The second reason it is special is because if you look at the building behind my name, for those of you who can get past my name, you can see where bullets hit the building the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. The PACAF (Pacific Air Force) headquarters was a dorm at that time and over 60 men were killed in it. They choose to not restore the pock marks, a vivid reminder. There is a beautiful memorial garden in the courtyard and the flag that flew over Hickam that grave day is respectfully displayed.

So, what's God using in your life to make you look more like Him?

Dear family and friends,

I know I told everyone we got a puppy and then besides one picture with Caroline, I haven't even mentioned her. That's because I've been to busy trying to survive her!

The first almost two weeks were just great. The children loved petting her, walking her, watching her play. It was almost dream like in many ways. They got up early before school to get her a little exercise and just thought this was the best thing that had ever happened. Then the changes started.

Just about the time we had our first puppy lesson with an animal behaviorist our puppy was invaded by evil spirits (not really for anyone who is concerned). Her little puppy nips became harder and she decided she did not like to walk. Now this is a puppy that could make the energizer bunny look lazy you must understand, and the one thing that would relieve that, she decided she didn't like to do anymore.

The next few weeks are somewhat a blur...I remember running around the neighborhood with hot dog weenies, praying I wouldn't "accidentally" let the puppy wander out into the street perhaps in front of a car, and watching my children take to the furniture as the floor in our home was no longer a safe haven. There were actually days that I really struggled with the concept that this just wasn't working out. Yet, I knew God had clearly shown me to get this little white fur ball. Could it have just been in His will to have her for a short season I wondered and questioned?

Anytime I prayed about it, God would just confirm in my heart that this was the puppy for us...a gift. I certainly wasn't feeling gifted.

In the meantime our puppy therapist was going to the mainland for almost two weeks. You see, we quickly transferred from puppy lessons to puppy therapy. Kristin was so patient and kind. This woman is amazing by the way, we just all love her. I mean as a person, not just because she has saved our puppies life (from me killing it). She spent extra time with us before she left trying to set us up for success.

One of our issues at this point was Indee was doing some serious feet/shoe/pants/ankle nipping. The main issue was, it HURT! I was concerned that she was becoming aggressive and at what point should I really be concerned for our children. When Kristin came over she sweetly snickered and said, "This puppy is just having a great time watching y'all do the happy dance." We stopped, she stopped, well, she mostly stopped. Kristin says ignore the behaviours you don't want and reward the ones you do. Of course every time she says this I'm thinking about how this should apply to my children.

Indee is a very smart dog, which according to Kristin is not a good thing. She says that people tell her all the time that they want a smart dog in which she replies, "No you don't". In some ways this is our problem, in other ways it is our saving grace. The night before she left on her trip she came over one more time to teach us "leave it, take it". You put the chicken in your hand and tell her leave it. Of course the puppy immediately comes over to sniff it. Once she pulls back and leaves it alone, you let her take it. Indee got it right off the bat and on the second time she sat back and left it alone. I sound like a mother bragging on my baby, which she is not by the way, she is a dog. The next day you could put it in front of her nose on the ground and she would just sit there and look at it. This little game has been the best tool so far. It really calms her down and she's ALWAYS willing to play.

So we spent the next two weeks running around Hawaii with hot dog weenies and playing hours of leave it and take it to survive. When Kristin came back and we were all still in tact, I knew the crisis had past, and that Indee was here to stay.

We've come a tremendous distance yet have so far to go. In the past seven weeks weeks I've done things that I never thought I would, how can I love these children so? Running around with hot dogs is just the tip of the iceberg. Please imagine me fully clothed in the shower with Melanee Kate and the dog. Melanee Kate had called me as the puppy's feet had gotten very muddy. I told her to take the puppy out back and let her run around to get her paws clean in the grass. Kate sweetly abdicated this task to her little brother who just heard clean. Jefferson took the puppy out back and much to Indee's horror just hosed her right down. This was right in middle of the dark days so I only felt a little sorry for the puppy.

I am pleased to announce that on Monday Jefferson and I successfully showered Indee and this time she got wetter than we did. She does look like a rat when she's wet, I'm almost embarrassed for her at that point. Jefferson was the peanut butter spoon holder as you know peanut butter just makes everything in life better. He also played a mean game of take it leave it with the hamburgers that Wyatt burned last week. Our neighbors Westie apparently gets exhausted when they bathe her, not our dog. Could a shower be counted as an upper?

I have spent weeks taking this dog around feeding her chicken. This was our first homework assignment. Kristin wanted us to have Indee go fifty places, meet fifty people, and fifty dogs. Good things happen (chicken) around new people, new dogs, and new places. Other dogs bark and bark at her as they are being drug on by and she just kicks back like she's at the movies with her popcorn. This puppy definitely supports "Eat More Chicken". We have two more weeks. She hasn't been to fifty places yet, but she's already arrived in the people and dog categories. Please understand that I do all of this in my spare time. Actually this week we've actually been back to normal meals rather than just all the fast cheap things I could come up with. It's been so much fun to see her do so well and it has been a fantastic family project. We've all had to pitch in, sacrifice, and work hard, which are obviously great things for our children.

Wonder pup loves the Mastress (I don't really prefer the title of Mistress due to negative connotations and Mom is out of the question as I did not give birth to or adopt this dog, I just purchased her). The children love to talk about how much the puppy loves me just to get a rise out of me.

Melanee Kate is my number one poop picker upper. I can't tell you how much she has done this for me with a sweet servants heart. The original rule still stand: Unless completely necessary, Mommy does not do gross puppy things.

This puppy now has me running around all day with Cheerios in my pockets with a lovely clicker bracelet that is in a fashionable orange and blue. Today I clicked and rewarded Caroline twice. I only said click though as if wonder pup would have quickly found me as a promise is a promise. If we click, even an accident, the puppy gets a treat.

She can now sit when I say "Manners" and learned to "Settle" last night (a down). We taught her a recall last week but we aren't allowed to do it again until this weekend as Kristin wants her to forget the correction she received when I tripped over the 30 ft line. I was doing the holding the puppy back job because I thought I would mess the other part up. Our children thought they were funny when Wyatt quickly slipped out to make popcorn so they could watch the show. When Mommy went flying through the air, they had one.

She now wants us to rub on her tummy although this took five weeks for her to ask for from us. On week two of training the children were banned from touching her. Poor puppy, she was so relieved. On week five I was not allowed to talk to her for a week so she wouldn't be too attached. I didn't mind this as I have lots of other things to do than talk to a dog. I think I was as relieved that week as puppy was on week two. I know she rolled to get her tummy rubbed regularly with her previous owners, but she just wasn't quite sure she really wanted to be a troop.

Her original name was Precious, it's actually the first thing I said to Kim Abbott when I saw her walking the puppy down the street. We laugh that we should have stuck with the name as the moment she was named Madame Independence she decided squarely that she would live up to it. We were thinking of our country, not her personality. Caroline was so funny the other day as she chided, "Mrs. Abbott thought I was precious, but we all know I was lyin'!"

Oh, did I tell you she runs for tuna? So what if we all smell like tuna for the next 14 years. Wyatt has decided he's going to stuff it into capsules that dissolove so he doesn't have to touch it. Wyatt helps me run the dog while I parent and "mastress" from my bike. There are some days I don't know if the puppy or the boy need the exercise more.

Madame Independence is a very sweet puppy and we all agree that she makes a great addition to our already vivacious troop. I see God using her in our lives, for which I am grateful. Please come by and meet her. We are working on teaching her to not jump up on people when they come in...

Love in Christ,

Dinah for The Troops

Is it a beautiful opportunity to trust God?

Dear family and friends,

When we lived in Colorado I was feeling quite overwhelmed the second Thanksgiving that we were there. This was the first year I was homeschooling three children, Jefferson had arrived and was now part of our daily mix, and I had the privilege of leadership in BSF. My plate was quite full, yet with great things that God had called me to.

Ed was teaching our Sunday School class and we were being very blessed by this endeavor. We’d signed up to provide a meal for a family as a class. The day before Thanksgiving Ed and I, along with a gentleman from our class, were going to deliver the meal along with some other goodies. Everyone had their part and people were bringing things over. Ed actually came home early which was a small miracle in and of itself. I was ready to put my man to work, but withheld as he was so enjoying our children. After quite a bit of Daddy time I asked if he could stop and help me. Of course he was ready to pitch in but needed to go get out of his uniform. Right after he changed the phone rang. This is where I felt that my day started rolling downhill quickly.

The call was from work. Uniform back on, and out the door he went.

Right after he left I received two different phone calls, both from families from our Sunday School. One had an emergency and couldn’t help in the way they had intended. The other just called and announced that they had forgotten and didn’t have time. So the pressure was on. I was quickly trying to figure out what I needed to fill in and what did I have in my pantry so I wouldn’t have to trudge to the store with the millions of people who were just starting to plan and purchase their Thanksgiving dinners. Ed called back and said the world needed him and he wouldn’t be home until late. We were having company over the next day and I had been planning on our teamwork that evening as I’d been homeschooling all week. It also brought up the issue of now I was going to have to go alone with the other gentleman to deliver the meal. It wasn’t appropriate to take the children and I don’t normally hang out with other men without my husband. So now I also needed childcare for four darling children on the eve of Thanksgiving. I’m sure the baby was teething, Wyatt hit someone, the toilet overflowed, and a gallon of milk was spilled upon my kitchen floor all at the same time.

So, what’s a girl to do? Call her mother of course. I was clearly looking for a “Oh baby” but God had something much better. Mom was home with a listening ear for which I was grateful. I poured out my afternoon with a few tears mixed in as I explained the stress I was feeling and all the decisions and challenges that laid ahead. After I had put it all on the table my mother responded, “Oh Dinah I was studying this morning (God’s Word) and reading a commentary and this just all reminds me of what I was absorbing today. What a wonderful opportunity to trust God!” I don’t think I heard another word. You’ve got to be kidding? I’m feeling like I’m dying here and you’re telling me you are thrilled that God has given me this opportunity.

Next I called my sweet friend Ginny. She wasn’t any more help. Instead of “Oh baby” she said, “Oh Dinah, to have a mother who would point you to truth, that’s wonderful!”

Now I’m telling you I wasn’t feeling wonderful at all. After inviting and being rejected by both people who I wanted to come to my pity party I was deeply convicted to turn where I should have gone in the first place. Jesus was so faithful to me that night. When I went to bed, although exhausted, everything had been taken care off. God had provided, and I had had a wonderful opportunity to trust God.

The ironic thing about the whole situation was it was just preparation. God knew what was coming and He wanted me to have the opportunity to be prepared. In January we quickly found ourselves preparing for a move, needing to sell our house in San Antonio, refinancing our house in Colorado, finding a new house to live in for our next assignment, and needing renters for our house in Colorado. Of course this was all accomplished while the baby was teething, Wyatt was hitting someone, the toilet was overflowing, while a gallon of milk was spilled upon my kitchen floor.

“What a wonderful opportunity to trust God” became my battle cry. That spring it just seemed life continued to pour out moment after moment and we even laughed as we saw another opportunity to trust Him fly around the corner. It has been such a blessing to my life and six years later--often, not always--I even respond with this first in my heart, rather than feeling stressed or frustrated. We all know that is Jesus in my life...

Love in Christ,
Dinah

Can you believe that accidents happen?

.




Dear family and friends, Are you seeing why my vaccum wasn't working this morning? Now I will say that the child that broke the window was also the child who cleaned it up on their own initiative, so I'm not really complaining. It wasn't their fault that they hadn't had the cleaning up glass briefing as I've never taught it, I've just done it. For anyone who doesn't know...you should not vaccum glass unless it smaller than the end of Mommy's pinky nail. This is now an official standard for The Thomas Troops!

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Isn't she beautiful?

Dear family and friends,

Today I just want to wish my precious sister a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! How in the world can she be 40? When did that happen? I'd like to share 40 memories to honor my Melly...

1. I'm trying to think of the very first memory I have of Melly. I certainly know the stories like how she pushed me down when I first started to walk so I'll just have to start off with that one. She's only been picking me up ever since...

2. Actually I think my first memory of my sister was a time in Galveston that she and my brother made me be Catwoman while playing Batman and Robin. We had no Robin as she was able to be Batgirl. I obviously had no idea who they were, yet I certainly understood the pecking order. I guess I should be grateful they didn't make me be Robin.

3. I remember waking her up when we first moved to Garland, as we were already in bed, and I needed help getting Teddy's arm through her little yellow checked coat. Melly was willing to help, but unfortunately busted her head on her headboard as she started to sit up.

4. I remember deciding to wait until I was married as my big sister said this was her plan with such confidence and conviction.

5. I remember her announcing that she would never answer to Missy in middle school, which was when I was instructed quite firmly to call her Melanee. Several years later is when "Melly" began as I didn't really want to call her Melanee. In my mind that's what her friends called her and they weren't very nice to me. Little ironic as I now have my own Melanee Kate flitting around my house daily.

6. I remember her leaving for college and feeling like a limb had been severed. I cried the whole night and remember being sad for about two weeks. Then I discovered being the only child was a beautiful thing. I wouldn't trade that time alone with Mom and Dad for the world. It makes me look very forward to the time we will have alone with Jefferson. I already tell him, "After we get rid of those first three, we're going to have a party, just you, me, and Daddy."

7. I remember Melly coming to every performance she could ever possibly make to hear me sing.

8. I remember sleeping in the sorority house in the twin bed the fall before I joined her and Royal in Aggieland. She loved me coming and staying with her. What a thrill to my heart to be wanted by my big sister. The other twin was empty as her roommate never slept there anyway. This is where the whole best friend blessing began to cement.

9. I remember Melly coming to my dorm room just because she had a little time on her hands in between classes.

10. I remember my sister holding me tightly when I had a ring on my finger although she'd just taken one off. The joy she had for me despite her own heartache still speaks to my heart.

11. I remember her telling me through the tears at my first bridal shower, with a sweet smile on her face, that she'd chosen the same china pattern. I was now the one receiving the china and she was working through the fact that God had something better in store. It was never a surprise when we showed up to the dressing room with similar items in our piles, it happened often. She has great taste! I now wish I had the china she received at her wedding.

12. I remember when she forgot to take Ed's wedding ring to the front of the church. My sister being my maid of honor was never a question in my heart. My mother's sister quickly fetched it after signals had been silently communicated. It brought comic relief to a bittersweet day for my Melly.

13. I remember the times she came to Lubbock, like a sweet breath of air, saving her money so she could come see us. We talked of hanging a shelf in the laundry room so she'd have a place of her own.

14. I remember leaving for New Jersey like it was yesterday. I'm sorry I don't have the picture to post, of right before we left. I'm sitting on the ottoman with my sister on the floor beside me, arms around each other, with pitiful faces. Limbs severed again, what a bittersweet day for me. Off to see the world with my man, yet leaving a part of my heart behind.

15. I remember putting streaks in our hair in New Jersey while Ed was TDY. You could hardly see them as we were so afraid of looking too wild. We had a wonderful time though.

16. I remember the roses Ken sent her while we were in D.C. visiting. We listened to one of his messages at least 503 times. He sounded fantastic. Ken Permann...the waiting was more than worth it.

17. I remember the day Melly was in our driveway with Ken right beside her with a ring on her hand. To this day, I've never heard so much lovey dovey talk in my whole life. The first of so many time the four of us would be together.

18. I remember missing her at my baby shower only to find out she'd really tried to come but at the last moment it hadn't worked out.

19. I remember the first time she held our first baby. Of course I couldn't forget it as she'd sent a precious frame to my baby shower with a note that it was just for this moment. Fourteen years later, I still love that picture and the frame, you'd think she was the new mama. I'm the scary one in the background with mascara to my toes.

20. I remember the doodle patrol.

21. I remember how she flew all the way to Philadelphia to fly with Caroline and I to Texas the week before her wedding. We played dolls all the way there, Caroline being the doll.

22. I remember how my Melly came the first three of four weekends of Wyatt's life. "CinderMelly" we called her this time. She did absolutely anything with a smile on her face and joy in her heart. Caroline rewarded her by saying her name for the first time. Just the beginning of how much our children would love their Aunt Melly.

23. I remember when my sister and mother flew our babies from Texas to North Carolina so the little ones didn't have to do the drive.

24. I remember when Aunt Melly met me half way to take Caroline and Wyatt for the week. I was barely back to D.C. when I realized I was horribly sick. I laid in bed for days, so grateful that my babies were being loved and cared for by the only woman in the world that looks like and sounds so much like their mother.

25. I remember when we both had babies in our tummies, it only happened once.

26. I remember when the call came, Kyle was on the way and Ken was in another state on a job interview. Kyleroo was so excited to see her Aunt Dinah that she decided to come early. In two hours flat I was out the door leaving Ed and three little ones behind. I don't know that I've ever felt so desperate to be by her side. (Actually, I can think of one. The year we lived in Montana all I wanted for Christmas was to see my sister. What a sweet Christmas present it was!)

27. I remember the sheer joy of watching Kyle and Melanee Kate. It brought indescribable joy to my heart. My favorite picture of these two as babies is of them in our double stroller sucking on each others pacifiers.

28. I remember my pregnant sister with baby in tow coming all the way to Italy to surprise me.

29. I remember spending the day in Venice while Brett was being born. I was so grateful to have something wonderful to do that day to make the time go faster. I could hardly wait to get home to call and hear the news.

30. I remember holding Ellis tightly while crying buckets of tears as I could hardly bear my sister had a five month old baby that I'd never held.

31. I remember the countless times that my sister flew to be with me...wherever we lived. She's been in every home we've ever lived in, minus Hawaii. We can hardly wait for her to see this one, it is our 11th.

32. I remember a million conversations about homeschooling. These still take place and I'm so grateful for the sounding board she has been for me in this area of my life! Her fantastic ideas and advice are paramount. I love to watch and learn. She's doing such a great job with her girls.

33. I remember not even believing that it was true, God was going to let us live close to one another.

34. I remember great joy and excitement as cousins were able to play together more than they ever had. Now I remember the struggles too, but I believe that we are only stronger for them!

35. I remember sharing the responsibilities for holiday meals for the first time in my married life. My Melly can set a beautiful table with scrumptious food. Her planning skills are excellent and worthy of my admiration.

36. I remember her willingness to wait for my last minute decisions as much as I try to be organized, I'm not as good at this as she is.

37. I remember the Diet Cokes she showed up with. I'm working hard to not drink them right now, but nothing tastes better than a Diet Coke with my sister or my mother.

38. I remember having the privilege of looking like my sister. I don't remember this being that big of deal growing up, but at A&M is where it really started. It only increased in D.C. the movers were very confused as they thought I'd changed clothes.

39. I remember her dropping everything when my packers came early, I would not have survived the day without her. Yet again, a servants heart that I so admire.

40. I remember the day she took us to the airport last February. It was my fault that we were in a little of a panic, but she was so gracious. I don't think there is anyone past my husband that it is harder to say goodbye to, although I've not really had to say goodbye to our children yet. A feeling of emptiness swept over me through the tears as I let go.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELLY...I can't begin to thank you for all the memories, as these are really just a few. What an honor I have to be your little sister. I can't begin to express to you how much I love you. You are such an amazing woman and I love watching you year after year. Your steadfastness with the Lord blesses my heart. Thank you for being an example to me again and again as I watch you love Jesus, your husband, and three girls. I pray you have at least 40 more as there are so many more memories I want to make with you...

Love in Christ,

Dinah for The Troops

Did the horses come?

Dear family and friends,

Well tomorrow is a big day here with The Thomas Troops.

First we are getting up early and driving into Honolulu to take our much beloved violin teacher and to breakfast for her birthday. Nikki Routman is an absolute joy to our family. She's an amazing teacher, accomplished violinist, and dear friend.

We've worked hard this year in school and pretty much run a "normal" school schedule. I mean compared to when we were in early years of homeschooling and we just had so much more flexibility. So to be going out to breakfast on a Monday morning is very exciting.

Then I drop Caroline off to the orthodontist across the island to have her braces taken off. I remember this day so well in my own life, a few years back. Am I really old enough to have had a child in and OUT of braces. I guess so. Caroline is so ecstatic. She's worked very hard on her school as she'll have to miss class. I was really proud of her work that she did this weekend in order to not be behind this week. She will listen to the recording of her English class tomorrow night. That is one of the few downsides to homeschooling that I've found, they just don't get to miss school.

Church was wonderful this morning. A real blessing to be in the Lord's house with the Lord's people.

I can't imagine what it will be like someday to worship Him "in person". The music at this little church really prepares my heart for the teaching of God's word. They do something well that not many churches do (well). They pretty much sing 50/50 hymns and worship songs.

The kicker is that they do a great job of both! I am so grateful for this. In the past almost 18 years Ed and I have been a part of 12 church bodies, this number in no way includes the churches that we've attended for one to six Sundays. Most churches seem to lean one way or the other, a few in between. It always makes me sad because both have so much to offer. The hymns are rich with theology and poetry to honor my King. It's a privilege to sing words that so many before me have sung, words that have ministered year after year, even century after century. The worship songs are uplifting and help me focus my heart on Jesus rather than myself. They often take me straight to the throne room and give me the tiniest glance of what it will be like someday.

It saddens me when I hear believers in one camp slamming the other camp as I KNOW this doesn't honor Jesus. I've always played whatever we do not sing at church at home, as we really want our children to grow up with knowing and loving hymns and worship songs.

Now I will admit Ed and I got tickled this morning as we ended with How Great Thou Art, which is one of my all time favorites. You need to understand the Hawaiian flare that this church has, yeah?

I've sung this song so many different times in so many different ways...organs, orchestras, guitars, and accapella. I've sung it in the car, to my babies, in the shower, and in my closet. I've sung it slowly, love it quickly, and can twirl with it in between. Until this morning I'd never heard it with a western strum...in our little church in Hawaii. I thought they were bringing the horses down the aisles (wearing flip flops of course) any minute. I've heard nothing western sounding in that church until now. I'm just here to tell you that even with a bam buh de dah, this song brings me closer to my Saviour....

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

I pray that I will daily proclaim this in how I live, oh by the grace of God...

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

So what is normal anyway?

Dear family and friends,

This was my first day of feeling somewhat normal. I also ended up with Caroline's little bug. This week was not how I'd planned it. Yes, I know I said that last week. I'm learning though.

God gives us just what we need when we need it. I don't fully know all He had in mind for the week, but I do know He's trustworthy...

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Why can the obviously important things be so hard to embrace?

Dear family and friends,

What a week...boy the heat has been on. I'm not speaking of Hawaii but of life. Lot's of extras, the unplanned moments of life that you have no idea are right around the corner. Not the tragic, just the things that add up.

In the last ten day I've had to run children across the island twice for unexpected orthodontics needs, three got to get them to the doctor visits, and two ER runs in one day. In my spare time, or course. God has really reminded me this week that although these were unexpected to me, they were not to him. So I'm choosing to not focus on all things that have not been accomplished such as bathrooms, vacuuming, even science test. I'm choosing to focus on what God had in store, the more important things such as loving my children, caring for needs, trusting Him, and cleaning our air conditioners that we discovered were full of mold. Why can the obviously important things be so hard to embrace?

We are really grateful for all that Jesus has provided this past week.

So the pictures of the week include:

The best use I've ever seen of those coupons that come in the mail. Jefferson very carefully spent time organizing these for me while I was at the ER with his oldest sister. Didn't he do a great job? He told me that he had Wyatt look through them and pull out any that were "disappropriate".



This moment so reminded me of my own big brother and the moment he realized that he was wearing his house shoes in the Atlanta airport. At the ER I looked down, already feeling like a tired old lady, to discover that I had on a black flip flop and a brown flip flop. It was a moment of comic relief provided by God. When I came home I decided that I would take a picture with my pineapple plant that I'm growing to kill two birds with one stone. Isn't it beautiful!!



So off I go to bed. Everything will wait until tomorrow, it will all still be there. I'm grateful that my children feel loved, and Wyatt's going to clean my bathrooms in the morning.

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

P.S.-Caroline has viral meningitis but is starting to feel much better. The morning after we stayed at the ER till dawn thirty, Caroline was still sleeping off her narcotics and Wyatt and I were curled up in bed with the computer attending his online writing class. Melanee Kate and Jefferson had permission to ride their bikes to the BX and buy a card and flowers with the children's money for their big sister. Melanee Kate took it upon herself to go ahead and get her baby brother a haircut while they were there.

Have you lost sleep?

Dear family and friends,

I've really been loosing sleep at the thought of my messy kitchen being broadcast across the Internet. So this is what it looks likes most of the time, well, often anyway. I've taken great comfort in the fact that you haven't lost sleep over it!

Love in Christ,

Dinah for The Troops

Isn't that how God views us?

Dear family and friends,

When I came in from having lunch with my man, this is what I found.


A little discouraging as now they are 14, 13, 11, and 6 and I just wish they would clean up a little more without being asked. I will admit, they go through cycles. Valleys and mountaintops...recently I came home from the commisary with a beautiful and tidy living room, dining room, and kitchen. This particular day it was an all inclusive package that included lit candles, beautiful music, and a set table.

God was so good as he quickly had me zoom in on the site to find this part of the mess.

I had asked Melanee Kate to take Wyatt his lunch as he was doing school in his room and practicing staying there while Mother was gone. She'd been very sweet about it and said she would. I was delighted to see that she didn't just do it somehow because her mother made her, but she did it 100%. She served her brother lunch with beauty, grace, and style. It just made my day!!

Isn't that how God views us? He doesn't just see the mess, but He sees hearts. He looks further than the world, as He sees all. God does not miss the moments we serve with beauty, grace, and style. He sees past the clutter and desires to come along side us and help us organize, throw away, wipe up and bring back order that will produce delectable things in our lives.

Thank you Lord for seeing beautiful things in this family. Teach me to look past the mess and straight into the hearts our of children...

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

P.S.-When Wyatt came down at the end of my writing this I asked him to help me straighten up the kitchen. I said, "Wyatt, wasn't it wonderful the way your sister served you today?" He answered with a snide tone, "No Mom, she didn't serve me, she brought me this amazing lunch and then announced that she was CHARGING me. She wanted me to pay $1 for a Boca Burger!" BUT they really did lite the candles the other night...

Who took that picture?

Dear family and friends,

I've got to go and do math with Wyatt, but I'm just dying to get this picture up on the website. Caroline is just growing up so much. She amazes me in some way, shape, or form every day. Last night she insisted that I should ride my bike with her Daddy while she cooked dinner for me (wahoo, taco night). Melanee Kate took the picture for her, a collaborative effort. Now these are the same girls who interrupted my Bible time yesterday by being ugly to one another in the hallway discussing who had the "right" to walk the dog before school. Not to worry, dinner was amazing, but we have a long way to go. Today I'll just praise Him for how far we've come!

Love to all!!
In Him,
Dinah for The Troops

How long does it take me to get it?

Dear family and friends,

I'm working right now with Wyatt on his Math lesson. He's going to do great this year and we see him maturing so much. He grasps the concepts, but needs me to hold the reigns at this point in the year with everything being so new and exciting.

One thing I love about our Wyatt is once it's his, it's his. He learned to ride a bike immediately (although Jefferson has the record with one push from the neighborhood girl), he walked across the entire rug the first time he walked (actually at 14 months he took two steps to me, then walked a dozen to Aunt Melly), he pottie trained easier than any of them. Sometimes it takes a while for it to become his, but then he owns it for a lifetime. I'm waiting for that moment to arrive for Math. Don't get me wrong, he's smart and good at Math, but he doesn't own it, as of yet.

How often does God have to sit by me waiting for me get it. Just something I've been thinking about today.

I think sitting here is a good exercise for my mind and spirit.

Thank you Lord for being so patient with me, particularly as of lately. I want to get it!

Love in Christ,
Dinah

P.S.-This is Katie Filman sitting by Jefferson at the beach last spring. Katie was Jefferson's Sunday School teacher at Harvester last year. They were one of the wonderful families who had planned to come to Hawaii before we did. Her mother had emailed it to me this morning and I thought it did a great job illustrating. I think that Katie looks much more like God sitting next to me, than me sitting next to Wyatt. I'm working on it!

Could it be a dream?

Dear family and friends,

Jefferson has said "Mom this feels like a dream" over and over. I think he's right.

It was a highly successful birthday adventure. The children went on a scavenger hunt that lead them all over base. The last card said:

We love you with passion, our hearts fill with joy.
We love to delight you - so we give you this toy.
Not really a toy but something you'll find..
Go to the Abbott's on 10th street -
Your Mom's lost her mind!

At this point Caroline was the only with a hope of knowing what in the world was going on. She jumped, ran, and floated to 10th street. Guesses swam around in the other children's hearts landing on the hope that the Permann girls had come to surprise them. Kate finally looked at me and said, "Mommy, if the Permann's aren't here please tell me as I'm going to be so sad." I whispered they weren't to alleviate her stress.

A dear woman was walking down the street with these precious Westies. She quickly told them, "This one's yours!" She had a big pink hair ribbon tied in a bow that my own girls have worn so many times.

You can only imagine the laughter, delight and joy that ensued. So I woke up this morning with two teenagers and a dog. A little surreal on both ends.

We've named her Madame Independence but are calling her Indee.

Surfing is off the schedule as Wyatt is excited to just go shopping for the dog, spend some birthday money, eat a little lunch, and enjoy all that God's bestowed upon him in the past twenty four hours.

So we're off to buy dog gear, baby gates, and such...Jefferson's right...this seems like a dream. Oh the things we do for the sake of our children.

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

What do I think about birthdays?

Dear family and friends,

If you know me well you know I LOVE birthdays! Particularly mine and Jesus's...but I love other people's birthdays too. If you know me well you know I have a very hard time remembering anyone's but mine, Jesus's, Ed's, our children's, my parents, and my sisters. Although I forget...this forgetting thing is really starting to scare me, but that could be a whole blog in and of itself.

On Friday our Wyatt turns THIRTEEN...oh when did that happen. The day before he was born I had to climb up and chase Caroline into one of those monstrous climbing play towers. I'm sure it helped induce labor.

I think I love birthday celebrations because they just remind me of how much Jesus loves us. Jesus delights over me everyday, which really boggles my mind. Some day we are going to get to experience that in a more tangible way that I can't even fathom at this point. This is usually right up there with my best day of the year (except my 22nd birthday...ended up good but had lots of lessons for the newly weds). Yet I realize that being with Jesus someday will most likely make all these earthly days seem quite shadowed. The good ones are just a foretaste. Birthdays are filled with love, surprises, sweets and people we love (and who love us).

So our Wyatt is a planner. This causes problems around his birthday for two reasons....1) Because birthdays are a gift, not something you can plan and order 2) Because my planning is not as always as fast as he would like to be. BUT we finally have a plan of order, some of which he knows and some that he does not.

When the children were little we created our family birthday adventure. This was originally in lieu of birthday parties. As the children got older, somehow I ended up roped into both. Now that they are older, Ed has put a stop to parties (although there always seems to be something or other that could be construed as one) and we're supposed to be sticking to birthday adventures alone. Every birthday, I pray about what all God wants us to do. The order of the day has to fill two billets 1) to make the birthday celebratee feel loved and special 2) to not overwhelm the mother. I don't always make #2 but I always make #1. The last thing that is very important to Ed and I about birthdays is that they are always a privilege, not a right. We've had one birthday postponed for two weeks and one stopped half way through and not continued until the next day. The heart of the receiver must be in grateful receiving mode that honors the Lord and not themselves.

So here goes:

1) Birthday adventure begins at 4:30...the specific adventure has not been announced as of yet. There will definitely be pictures later this week. This is usually a surprise and involves all six Thomas Troops (except one year that everyone got a special spend the night away with Daddy).

2) Several families are coming by Thursday night for cake...no party...just cake and a prayer to thank God for our Wyatt.

3) Friday is going to be very different than normal as Ed has to work Friday night (Air Force Ball) and we will not be able to be with Wyatt on the evening of his birthday. Ed's been in D.C. this week so he's going to take leave on Friday and we are going to go spend the day together. As long as everything works out with reservations we are going to take Wyatt out for surfing lessons and a beach picnic.

4) Wyatt's siblings have been planning their birthday evening that they will spend together. Kate has chosen a movie, they are working on their menu, and lots of extra little surprises. Now the danger of this all happening without the parents is expectation management. We'll see how it goes...

So off I go, my day is full as it takes lots of time to make all these things happen. In the meantime the children are working on school.

Love to you all! I apologize for my silence this past week. Ed being gone just adds to my plate, but God is good...

Love in Christ,

Dinah for The Troops

P.S.-Birthday season in our house is from the 1st of March until the 18th of April. During this six week period we celebrate birthdays for Ed, Caroline, Melanee Kate, and Jefferson.