New Life...

It's only been one day since I last wrote but it's on my heart again. And with having my new laptop, it makes it real easy to be online. I have seen a pattern in my writings....'New Life'. Yes, I have a new life with getting married. Although, I had a life-changing life experience on June 19, 1988 when I walked forward in a small Baptist church in a small town just north of where I grew up.

My parents were faithful church-goers. We were there every Sunday, unless we were on vacation or the weather didn't permit. I have a perfect attendance pin to remind me of my time of going to Sunday School. It's a round pin with a circle around it with bars at the bottom for every year that I had perfect attendance. When it got the bottom, I got another circle to add more bars. I learned the books of the Bible but yet there was something still missing in my life. And that something was making Jesus Lord of my life. I was almost 23 years old when I walked forward to make that decision public. It was after a break-up with a guy that I had dated for three years. It was one of my lowest times in my life. I needed hope to bring this young girl back to life. Right before my junior year in high school, my sister was killed in a car accident. A devasting time to see life taken from somebody close to me. A day that changed my life of chosing death at that time and then having to walk it out to once again chose life.

Once Jesus was in my heart I told Him I wanted to 'make a difference'. Little did I know at the time, He would lead me into missions. Just to note that I didn't even know what missions was about. But He in His Soverienty did and He has led me these last 18 years in YWAM. With Him knowing me better than myself, He lead me in a way to touch and heal my heart and enable me to touch many others and make a difference. He gave me 'new life' and I will always be grateful to the Lord.

Although, I grew up in church, I didn't know Jesus as my Savior til I was 23. Do you know Jesus in your heart? Have you given your life to our Heavenly Father? I will always be grateful for the decision I made on June 19, 1988. It gave me 'New Life'. I pray that the Lord would continue to touch and draw you to Him.

Been awhile!

So here I am again....my computer decided to have it's video card go bad. A wonderful computer that I had for at least 5 years but now I can only see scrambles! I just got a new acer, which I'm enjoying.

Our two kitties are still learning to get along and learning to play together. Cali runs after Ginger, but when Ginger runs after Cali the hisses begin and the cries. Not sure if they have figured out that one has claws and the other one doesn't. Hopefully that will be our secret. It is fun having both of them in our home. They are finding that they have one thing in common. It's cute to see them sitting side by side looking out the back door.

It's that time of year and has been fun decorating and preparing for our first Christmas as a couple! We will spend it with his family and fly to Illinois the day after Christmas to spend it with my family. Hopefully the weather permitting, as they have been having snow and ice storms. Not sure I'm ready for that but I can't wait to see my parents again.

On December 14, Robert and I sang in our church Christmas cantata. A lot of fun. We had been practicing since September. It was a beautiful evening.

It's so amazing how quickly time has flown by. We celebrated our 7th month of marriage on the 17th! One day I want to write down everything that has transpired since we said 'I do'. Things are settling down for me and I'm finding my way in this new life. I'm hoping in the new year to start ministering again with my Ancient Path seminars. Plus I may have a led on another part-time position working here at home.

The Lord is faithful to give us the desires of our heart. I love being married, something I desired since I was a little girl. Sometimes I feel like I'm dreaming. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to us!

Excitement in the house!

This past Saturday, Bob and Vicki, brought my cat, Cali to live with us. They are leaving next Monday for Spain for 2-4 months. We already have Robert's cat, Ginger living with us....so we have had lots of hisses and grawls. So far, no cat fights. As the days are passing, the intenseness of the newness of each other is settling down. They are each finding their little nitch in our home!

Cali

Ginger

Trunk N Treat

Last Friday was Halloween night. Our outreach committee (which Robert is the leader!) held our 3rd annual 'Trunk N Treat' for the kids. We have a housing project across the street from our church and we have been reaching out to the kids and their parents. It was my first time to be a part of it. I enjoyed the evening going from trunk to trunk to see the creativity of our congrents from our church and building the relationship with them. Plus watching the kids go around and gather candy and mingle with us.

On Sunday, we announced the winners of the creativity of the trunks....






First place was a beach theme by my in-laws.....

Second place was a heaven theme....


Third was a winter wonderland theme.....









Does anyone want a free hotdog....my hubby sporting his new grill!


Lord, thank you for creativity and fun! Let it glorify you in the neighborhood!

Life goes on.....new challenges

Today is a pretty day! Sun is out with the crisp cool air of fall. One of my favorite seasons, especially watching all the pretty colors of the leaves changing. Kind of reminds me of life, knowing what season you are in and learning to accept all the changes in life. From the hot summer months when you need to be cooled off, to the changing colors of the fall leaves to the barrenness and coldness of winter...knowing that right around the corner will be new life birthing forth with buds on the trees and flowers blooming with fragrance from the ground.

Robert and I have been facing a few challenges with the business. Robert seems to handle it better than I do since he has been in this a lot longer than I. With each new punch, we still need to lean upon the Rock that we stand on knowing that He will lead us through. Now, with my life and leaving a life I have known for the last 18 years, I still walk that line of faith for God's provision of finances for us now as a couple. I always wondered how the families did it being in YWAM. A single can get by on a lot less but all of our faith is the same....our dependance needs to be upon the Lord. As I have learned over the years, God will provide what I need from finances to emotional to physical. He provided for me the last 18 in one chapter of my life....now to see the Lord provide for me in the next chapter of my life.

The Lord sent me a wonderful, kind husband. The other night he was the first to get home. (Just to note, that I'm still moving boxes in from my old home in Charles City.) He made me dinner. It was very sweet. The more I know him, the more I love him.

It is now that I should close so I can go unload my car from my last trip to Charles City. Only a couple more boxes and all my things will be in one house since the last 18 years!

Till next time....May you be 'Blessed to be a Blessing!' One of my/our quotes from the last 10 years of ministry. Thank you Lord for your provision, your grace to walk through each day and your strength and friendship!

The extended family

This past Sunday, Robert and I hosted his family to our home. It was their first time seeing his home since I started painting and redecorating since the wedding. Lots of changes, but they all seemed to like the changes. After church, we started cooking BBQ pork chops and chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn and Robert's yummy dessert of peach cobbler and ice cream.

We had a lovely three hour visit. Although, we were saddened that his grandparents were unable to come. His grandma fell just a couple of days before and didn't feel up to going out. She is excited to see the place so hopefully soon she will feel up to coming.

I can say it is fun having my own house to decorate and create a place for my husband to come home to every evening. A desire that I have had for many years. I still feel like I'm dreaming and there are days that I still can't believe that I am married.

'For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.' Psalm 84:11

Thank you, Lord, for fulfilling my deepest desire! May you receive the Glory.

Settling In....

Hmmm....settling into the new life I have now chosen! My husband informed me yesterday that he can tell I am more busier, as I haven't been on here for a few days. There are just some days that I don't know what to write, and there are some days where I don't have the time to write.

My schedule for each week is settling in and it's making life a bit easier for me. Mondays are my days to be around the house for projects, cleaning, laundry, cooking, etc. and in the evening choir practice for Christmas. Tuesdays I look forward to as Robert has them off and we usually do things together, whether it's working on a project here at home or out shopping doing some errands. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays are doing a bit of cleaning and hopefully a project in the morning and preparing in the afternoon to pick up the young lady that I am now keeping for four hours (3:30-7:30) while her daddy is at work. It has definatelly been a blessing for me to have someone else here in the house with me for a few hours. Wed night is church and Fri night is bowling. And I can't forget my Saturdays, with him working I find that this can be my 'play' day to make and build friends here in the area.

All through our courtship, I kept telling Robert 'no routine'. My life for the last 10 years have been praying, going, and doing what I feel the Lord is telling me. Getting married still has a bit of that but I am seeing the need for my new life to have a bit of routine. What is routine anyway....according to the dictionary I found the following definitions:

1. a customary or regular course of procedure.
2. commonplace tasks, chores, or duties as must be done regularly or at specified intervals; typical or everyday activity: the routine of an office.

So my routine is setting forth within this new life. From there I can then set my schedule to allow the other things that I need to get accomplished and to reach out to others. Setting new goals and dreams and adventures to each of my days. With gaining a house, there are still plenty of things that I need to accomplish each day to make it a home for my husband to come home to. I am grateful for him to allow me to do what I feel the Lord has called me to do, whether staying in ministry or getting a job or whatever it may be.

Lord, thank you for this home. You knew the desire of my heart from many years ago, to be able to stay at home. And now maybe to answer the next desire of...possibly....having a little one to call my own.

Nesting!

A normal habit that most females do is nesting, especially after they move. This is what I have been doing in the last three months. Yesterday, I spent the day painting our living room. It looks wonderful and both of us like it. Robert is wonderful with liking everything I have done. There is still much to do but this is finally becoming home for me.

We still have a couple of small project to do in the bathroom before it is finished. This project has been a long, drawn out thing. I will look forward to it being done! It's taken over three months what could have been done in less than two weeks!

Starting next week, I will be watching an eight old little girl three days a week. I'm looking forward to that with having someone here in the house with me for a few hours. My days can sometimes be long, as Rob leaves by 8:30 in the morning and doesn't return home till 7:30 that evening. Some days I love it and enjoy the time nesting, while other days they get long. Although, there have been afternoons when I venture out to Agape and help out at the store. One of my projects there have been working on the Wedding bulletins. We have a large supply of many different ones. This is where I found mine for our wedding.

Slowly, I have been gathering things I need for Sep 20 for our scrap book day at the church. I am still in need of getting my photos developed. And I'm looking forward to having my friends, Bob & Vicki, return home next Tues from there two month journey to California and Colorado.

Today, I'm doing little things here at the house. Going to cook supper and put it in the frig till we return after his night of bowling.

I thank Jesus for this day! A day He has given us to call upon Him and rejoice in Him!

Today!

Hmmm....today....I don't feel as if I have accomplished much. Robert and I got up a little earlier than normal. We headed down to Norfolk to visit our pastor while his wife was in surgery or just coming out of surgery. To our surprise, they weren't there. We stopped by the hospital on the way back to the store. The surgery was called off because it didn't look as bad as they thought. The doctor has postponed it for 4 months and depending on the speck if they will need to do surgery or not. Now, we can only pray that God will heal her so surgery will not be necessary.

It was a blessing to get to spend more time with Robert. We have had the last three days together, which is a huge blessing. Normally, we have Sunday and then usually Wed. But with Labor day the store was closed and we changed his day off to Tuesday....so it was a nice, long weekend!

Now, I sit wanting to paint my living room but it will have to wait till morning. I do better with things like that in the morning first thing. I'm excited...two of the walls will be a dark red, while the other two are ivory. I can't wait to get it finished.

So, now I'm working on getting some photos developed. A group of ladies at my church do scrap book days. We have one planned for Sept 20. I'm wanting to do a book of my time with Robert. Which in another month and a half, it will be one year since our first 'meet and greet'. Unbelievable where time goes!! Oct 15 marks our special day. We met at Tequila Rose Authentic Mexican cuisine. The joke of the night, I couldn't eat and poor Robert wouldn't eat without me. He had just gotten off work. But it was a night that changed both of our lives for the rest of lives!

A better day!

My spirit is beginning to lift! My talk on Sunday evening with a new found friend, Patty, has brightened my days. It's a blessing when you find people that you connect with. She has been married for awhile and has children. Plus, she has been to the Philippians, so she understands mission work.

Yesterday, I decided to play homemaker. I created a pasta dish for our dinner and made a heart-shaped cake to celebrate Robert and I. Then off to the grocery store to do some shopping.

Thinking back over these past 3 months, I told Robert last night I need to write about our experience. The things that have happened that you think would only happen when you are in another country and it was the beginning of our married life.

The first two weeks were wonderful and perfect! I couldn't ask for anything different for our wedding and honeymoon! Such sweet memories of our time in Wisconsin Dells, just the two of us. And then traveling in a 16 ft. truck with all my belongings in it from Illinois to Virginia! But then, upon our arrival home, we had no electricity the first night. Someone decided they were going to fix our bathroom for us while we were gone. Well, it wasn't finished and the bathroom was gutted.

So, for the first 2 weeks and 2 days we were without a toilet and shower! We made a makeshift toilet in our spare guest room with a handicap toilet. Then, for another 7 weeks we were without a shower so every other evening we journeyed over to his sister's house for a shower. And now after 3 months of marriage, the bathroom is still not finished. It has caused a bit of frustration and stress for me seeing all the disarray in the house. But there is hope that soon it will be finished!!!

And another thing that you think only in 3rd world countries would happen, we have been chasing American roaches around our home! They are big and ugly and fast! But the raid works wonderfully!!

We've been to two weddings since our own and a funeral of one of my friends. Been to Orlando for the Christian bookstore convention for 10 days. Then, upon our arrival back led the worship time for our VBS. Plus, for me painting our bedroom, hallway, bathroom and part of the living room and unpacking boxes and suitcases to settle into my new home! And not to forget that on June 8, we celebrated with our family and friends our marriage. So, I was able to wear my wedding dress twice before storing it away for memories of a wonderful day.

I think all of this combined started working on me and now I have faced the facts of what has transpired over the past few months and saying "everything is fine". This morning I awoke thinking 'I'm living my dream'. Now, it's to see how that dream plays out and the adventure that God has for Robert and I. And living life to it's fullest finding God's design in our life.

Now, I must go so I can do some errands in Williamsburg today.

I sense God is looking down and smiling! I'm so glad that He is in my life.

Finding my nitch

Yesterday was a good day for me. Robert has been wanting to have his Sunday School class to have a get together for several months now. It finally happened last evening. There were 16 of us who gathered at our church's pavilion for a night of playing volleyball, a cook out, fellowship time and watch 'Bananas' Christian comedy. It was a blessing for me as I met one of the ladies who I was able to connect with and share some of my thoughts and feelings. Everything is so new for me and now I'm in the midst of finding my nitch in life. I had been on an adventure the last 18 years of my life and now starting a new one with being a wife.

As I was reading this morning... 'The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him". Gen 2:18, it touched my heart. I will make a helper suitable for him. How can I be that blessing as a wife? How can I transition into a whole new life? I truly believe the Lord brought us together and I want to cherish these moments we have. As I have done in the past, I find myself doing again of leaning upon the Grace of God in a time of transition. From traveling the US, Canada, Europe and meeting different people all the time to settling in one place and making a home for us.

Thank you Lord for your grace! Thank you for My Robert!

Thoughts for the day!

A New Adventure when saying 'I do'!

God sent me a wonderful husband. There are many days when I think I will wake up from this dream. My mind can hardly grasp that the desire of my heart has been fulfilled. For me it seems like an eternity that I had this dream. Even as a young girl I dreamt of this day and then the last few years thinking it was never going to happen. And now I sit amazed that I'm married.

We just celebrated 3 months of marriage already! Where does the time go? Although, in the midst of it, my life has been turned upside down and back again. Or at least I'm waiting for it to turn back again. This is the third time that I have made a major move. My first to Arkansas without knowing anyone but yet, I knew the Lord was tugging on my heart to attend the DTS with YWAM. Then, seven years later, my move to Virginia with YWAM again. Again, not knowing anyone. And now, I find myself having moved again an hour from where I have called home for the last 8 years.

This time not knowing anyone and having to pursue friendships with people and the man whom I married. My home has changed, my ministry partner has changed, my church, my friends, my name...hmmm.....everything. It is once again, leaning upon the Lord's grace in a time of transition. So, it's finding my 'nitch' after saying 'I do'.