Dear family and friends,
We have just a few minutes before we head out for Caroline's piano recital. It's been a good Lord's day.
I just have to quickly say MY PARENTS ARE COMING, MY PARENTS ARE COMING, MY PARENTS ARE COMING!! Until this point I've never gone longer than eight months without seeing my mother since she gave birth to me. I've gone a little longer without seeing my Dad. I haven't put my arms around either one since I stood at the curbside at the Denver airport on March 12, 2008. My last memory is throwing our ski coats in their ever welcoming arms as we were heading to Hawaii.
God is good and contentment comes from Him, for which I am so grateful. It's been okay as it's been clear this has been has been God's timing, and His timing is best.
Now that it's almost here...I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!
Lord, help me be content, in the big and little things. I want to honor you...
Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
I just love this man...can I stop and say that right here in the middle?
Dear family and friends,
I know I talked about a picture over two weeks ago. I'd love to share a picture every day, with a story of God's goodness, or faithfulness, or whatever we might see Him doing. He's at work all the time, not just when I see Him...I'm so grateful for that.
It's very appropriate that I post this picture today and God has used this day to reconfirm His plans. ALL OF THEM...
Last year when we found out we were moving to Hawaii the great car fest began. One point that I had concluded many years ago is that when military families move overseas they just loose money on cars. Buying and selling cars is expensive and most of the time, necessary. It's a sacrifice we make, all part of serving the country we love.
So we started where we always should...prayer. It was quickly concluded that we would ship the van (that is now over 11 years old) and keep the Honda. Ed's car has been fantastic and we have been so grateful for it. It's reliable with very low millage and we weren't overly interested in getting rid of it for two years while we were on the island. Both of our parents were willing to help, they serve our country to in their continued service to us by the way.
So with all the quick decisions we were having to make, it was a welcomed and delightful call when Daddy said he would be willing to fly up to D.C. and drive the Honda to Texas where they live. He couldn't make it until ski season was over, but he was coming.
We started praying about buying an island car for when we arrived in Hawaii. God is ALWAYS faithful to go ahead of us. We just get to watch it all unfold.
Before we even got here the gal Ed was replacing was gracious and kind and offered up her car for the year. Anne was heading to Baghdad and was more than happy to share and keep the car running. We really had to pray about her generous offer. To borrow a car from a friend for that long would be a big deal, but from a stranger. As we prayed, God quickly gave us peace that this was His provision. We have been so grateful.
The "plan" (ours not God's) was to buy a little island car for the 15-16 months that were left. The "plan" changed the moment we found out we were moving to London. So again, we began to pray. It was one of those things though that I just had to pray about and then move on while waiting for God to make things clear. I could have worried, but worry is not from the Lord. In fact, it's sin, telling God He doesn't have it all under control, when He clearly does. Worry does nothing to fix anything and by His grace, I choose not to do it.
We also had other car decisions to make...ship the van, sell the Honda, buy a used car here, leave the van on the island. Lots of options in which all had good and bad points. All of this to say, in the past two weeks God has given us a peace about leaving the van on the island and waiting to see what are options are as it unfolds once we are in London. We gave back Anne's car in April and have been sharing a car which was now the new "plan" which we were going to do until we leave.
So to my picture. I just love this man, can I stop and say that right here in the middle? This picture cracks me up. It's so Ed...
I know I talked about a picture over two weeks ago. I'd love to share a picture every day, with a story of God's goodness, or faithfulness, or whatever we might see Him doing. He's at work all the time, not just when I see Him...I'm so grateful for that.
It's very appropriate that I post this picture today and God has used this day to reconfirm His plans. ALL OF THEM...
Last year when we found out we were moving to Hawaii the great car fest began. One point that I had concluded many years ago is that when military families move overseas they just loose money on cars. Buying and selling cars is expensive and most of the time, necessary. It's a sacrifice we make, all part of serving the country we love.
So we started where we always should...prayer. It was quickly concluded that we would ship the van (that is now over 11 years old) and keep the Honda. Ed's car has been fantastic and we have been so grateful for it. It's reliable with very low millage and we weren't overly interested in getting rid of it for two years while we were on the island. Both of our parents were willing to help, they serve our country to in their continued service to us by the way.
So with all the quick decisions we were having to make, it was a welcomed and delightful call when Daddy said he would be willing to fly up to D.C. and drive the Honda to Texas where they live. He couldn't make it until ski season was over, but he was coming.
We started praying about buying an island car for when we arrived in Hawaii. God is ALWAYS faithful to go ahead of us. We just get to watch it all unfold.
Before we even got here the gal Ed was replacing was gracious and kind and offered up her car for the year. Anne was heading to Baghdad and was more than happy to share and keep the car running. We really had to pray about her generous offer. To borrow a car from a friend for that long would be a big deal, but from a stranger. As we prayed, God quickly gave us peace that this was His provision. We have been so grateful.
The "plan" (ours not God's) was to buy a little island car for the 15-16 months that were left. The "plan" changed the moment we found out we were moving to London. So again, we began to pray. It was one of those things though that I just had to pray about and then move on while waiting for God to make things clear. I could have worried, but worry is not from the Lord. In fact, it's sin, telling God He doesn't have it all under control, when He clearly does. Worry does nothing to fix anything and by His grace, I choose not to do it.
We also had other car decisions to make...ship the van, sell the Honda, buy a used car here, leave the van on the island. Lots of options in which all had good and bad points. All of this to say, in the past two weeks God has given us a peace about leaving the van on the island and waiting to see what are options are as it unfolds once we are in London. We gave back Anne's car in April and have been sharing a car which was now the new "plan" which we were going to do until we leave.
So to my picture. I just love this man, can I stop and say that right here in the middle? This picture cracks me up. It's so Ed...
I drove up a few weeks ago and there was our bike, right up at the front of the building in his reserved parking space. Parked, just like his car, with his helmet hanging there on the handle bars.
My parents are coming on Tuesday, which is another blog in and of itself. I've already made arrangements for a rental car for the week that Ed is taking off. Today my sweet husband called and told me I could cancel our reservations.
Anne emailed him today and said that next week she would like to drop the car back off and could we drive it until the end of August.
It was such confirmation of the decision we made to not buy another car here and to leave the van. I was so excited this afternoon. It was such a clear reminder of how God has this all under control, that His plans are best, and that He is worthy of our trust.
God has it all under control...cars, our children's education, timing of seeing my parents, vacations, London flats, dogs, piano and violin teachers, travel arrangements, military hops, houses, moves, sickness, math curriculum, renters, mortgages, new dentist, life, death. I know that it's a pretty big jump from new dentist to life and death, but it's true. Not just the little things in life, but the big things too. All, not just some, but all.
Thank you Lord, that you have everything under control, that you are Sovereign of all. Thank you for being trustworthy and faithful. Please help me to continue daily to see your great hand of provision.
Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops
P.S.-It's six a.m. and the birds are singing His praises while I just heard a boat horn on the canal that heads to Pearl Harbor. It's a good day to be in Hawii...
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
What are your children doing that you don't know about?
Dear family and friends,
When we moved to Hawaii last year the children were invited by dear friends to go to Awana's, a Bible club. They went and had a wonderful time which catapulted them into their summer campaign of wanting to attend Awana's this year.
I have to tell you I am cautiously careful about what we commit to as a family and individually. There are so many wonderful things to do, and I want to do so many wonderful things. On the other hand, I don't want to miss life. I want our children to have fond memories of being home, being together.
I also struggle as Awana's very much runs on a rewards system. This of course is not bad in and of itself, but I want our children to hide God's Word in their hearts for the right reasons.
When the fall came our sweet friend Emily offered to take them this year as she was going anyway and had four extra seats in the car. Well, and because she is a great lady who has been so wonderful to our children, and their mother. Ed and I prayed about it as there are very few things that we've just sent our children off to do without us being right there in the middle of it.
Awana's had a great focus on Bible memorization. At the beginning of the year I clearly told the
three older children that they would be on their own. There were basically three guidelines for the year. 1) They were going to have to be self motivated, I was not going to make them memorize verses. 2) They could only say verses that they had memorized at home and could not work on verses at Awana's. If they couldn't go to Awana's and say it without practicing then it really wasn't memorized. 3) They had to write all their verses on cards so they could review them in the future.
Awana's has been a great blessing this year.
So this Sunday was the last day and parents were invited for songs and presentations. The children all finished the books that they were supposed to for the year, with the three older children going above and beyond in some manner.
Okay this is where I am totally embarrassed. Melanee Kate has receited a few verses for me this year and I knew she'd finished several books but this didn't mean much to me as I just don't know the older Awana's materials. She was allowed to work on Awana's during school and I saw her working on her verses many mornings. I clearly remember when she announced that she had decided that she was going to complete all four books. The item that I missed...okay, I missed that Melanee Kate memorized well over 200 verses!
What a blessing...I know our children have done many things over the years without Ed and I knowing. What things did you do as a child that your parents didn't know? Well, when it's all said and done and the final list is made, it will bring me great joy that somewhere on that list is "memorized 200 Bible verses without Mom and Dad knowing".
I should have caught a clue this spring as we read Scripture and Melanee Kate interrupted and kept piping in, "Oh Mommy, let me say that one. Oh Mom, I know that one." She didn't do it 200 times though, so I just had no idea.
She also had a heart attack recently when the children were reminded of the cards I told them they had to write this year. I reminded them a few times at the beginning of the year and then just knew they would have to learn the hard way.
I love being, not just a mother, but I love being Caroline, Wyatt, Melanee Kate, and Jefferson's mother.
Lord, may the list not be too long...
Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops
When we moved to Hawaii last year the children were invited by dear friends to go to Awana's, a Bible club. They went and had a wonderful time which catapulted them into their summer campaign of wanting to attend Awana's this year.
I have to tell you I am cautiously careful about what we commit to as a family and individually. There are so many wonderful things to do, and I want to do so many wonderful things. On the other hand, I don't want to miss life. I want our children to have fond memories of being home, being together.
I also struggle as Awana's very much runs on a rewards system. This of course is not bad in and of itself, but I want our children to hide God's Word in their hearts for the right reasons.
When the fall came our sweet friend Emily offered to take them this year as she was going anyway and had four extra seats in the car. Well, and because she is a great lady who has been so wonderful to our children, and their mother. Ed and I prayed about it as there are very few things that we've just sent our children off to do without us being right there in the middle of it.
Awana's had a great focus on Bible memorization. At the beginning of the year I clearly told the
three older children that they would be on their own. There were basically three guidelines for the year. 1) They were going to have to be self motivated, I was not going to make them memorize verses. 2) They could only say verses that they had memorized at home and could not work on verses at Awana's. If they couldn't go to Awana's and say it without practicing then it really wasn't memorized. 3) They had to write all their verses on cards so they could review them in the future.
Awana's has been a great blessing this year.
So this Sunday was the last day and parents were invited for songs and presentations. The children all finished the books that they were supposed to for the year, with the three older children going above and beyond in some manner.
Okay this is where I am totally embarrassed. Melanee Kate has receited a few verses for me this year and I knew she'd finished several books but this didn't mean much to me as I just don't know the older Awana's materials. She was allowed to work on Awana's during school and I saw her working on her verses many mornings. I clearly remember when she announced that she had decided that she was going to complete all four books. The item that I missed...okay, I missed that Melanee Kate memorized well over 200 verses!
What a blessing...I know our children have done many things over the years without Ed and I knowing. What things did you do as a child that your parents didn't know? Well, when it's all said and done and the final list is made, it will bring me great joy that somewhere on that list is "memorized 200 Bible verses without Mom and Dad knowing".
I should have caught a clue this spring as we read Scripture and Melanee Kate interrupted and kept piping in, "Oh Mommy, let me say that one. Oh Mom, I know that one." She didn't do it 200 times though, so I just had no idea.
She also had a heart attack recently when the children were reminded of the cards I told them they had to write this year. I reminded them a few times at the beginning of the year and then just knew they would have to learn the hard way.
I love being, not just a mother, but I love being Caroline, Wyatt, Melanee Kate, and Jefferson's mother.
Lord, may the list not be too long...
Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops
Monday, May 11, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
What's better than sugar?
Dear family and friends,
I'm torn between two stories so I'll just quickly have to share both.
Today Jefferson and I were picking Caroline up at piano. We were sitting just for a moment while she was finishing up and Jefferson leans over to kiss me. Being the southern Mother that I am I said, "MMMM....sugar!" He responded, "Oh Mommy, your kisses are much better than sugar." How can you just not melt at lovin' like that?!!
I have a great picture I need to take to share with you. Remember Ed and I are sharing a car...I just love my man!
Love in Christ,
Dinah
I'm torn between two stories so I'll just quickly have to share both.
Today Jefferson and I were picking Caroline up at piano. We were sitting just for a moment while she was finishing up and Jefferson leans over to kiss me. Being the southern Mother that I am I said, "MMMM....sugar!" He responded, "Oh Mommy, your kisses are much better than sugar." How can you just not melt at lovin' like that?!!
I have a great picture I need to take to share with you. Remember Ed and I are sharing a car...I just love my man!
Love in Christ,
Dinah
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Which direction am I looking?
Dear family and friends,
Today I sat down to have a minute alone with Jesus and flipped open to Daniel.
Daniel 4:34 "At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored."
I laughed, I knew Jesus was giving me a quick...keep looking up, keep looking up!
Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops
Today I sat down to have a minute alone with Jesus and flipped open to Daniel.
Daniel 4:34 "At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored."
I laughed, I knew Jesus was giving me a quick...keep looking up, keep looking up!
Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops
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