Life moves fast...

Our first thoughts: "When do you want to tell everyone?", "Should we say something at Christmas time?", "Perhaps we'll wait until the new year...", "Do you think they'll be excited for us?", "Will family and friends be more inclined to visit?" Our conclusion: To tell you all, through this obnoxiously titled blog, that Christmas (or any time) will be a little more interesting for you if you come to visit us...in another country! Now, what did you think I was referring to? ;) I ts across the big pond for us! But not before a few details... Three and a half months ago, Jeff was selected for an unaccompanied assignment to South Korea for 13 months. (Did your jaw just drop like mine did?) I'll admit, it wasn't the most ideal news 2 months after returning from his deployment. Not to mention, there's only so much we could do about it anyway. So, we've been praying--hard...Honestly, our prayers for the first coupl...

I'm feeling semi-motivated to write a New Year blog. By that I just mean I like the idea of writing about it but don't particularly feel like explaining all my thoughts and the things I've learned, etc. You'll read enough from everyone else who describes such things. Don't get me wrong, I am quite thankful for all I have learned and for the ways The Lord was with me in 2013. I am also quite looking forward to taking Him with me into 2014 and leaving 2013 far behind. It wasn't my best year... Regardless, however; here I am-on the brink of entering the 14th year of this Millennium. (I thought if I worded it that way it would help put in perspective just how far we've come!) How far I have come. And it's funny because sometimes I get impatient just waiting to leave work or eat dinner or get from point A to point B. Then bam! It's 15 hours from 2014 and here I sit blogging when I should be working; reflecting on the past.  Thankfully...

"What are your plans for Christmas, Amy?" "Jeff and I are going to Vegas!" Probably not the most sought after Christmas destination, but Vegas proved to be a pretty good choice for our first Christmas just us after 5 years of marriage. They (whoever 'they' are) say, "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". Obviously, if that were true it wouldn't be so appealing to go because no one would ever know anything about it enough to consider it. So I'll break the mold and share a little bit of our vacation experience with you. It may surprise you to hear we really didn't witness anything outrageously crazy or offensive or anything else that would be eyebrow raising. The only eyebrow raising situations we encountered were the costs of eating at the recommended buffets! Good night...all we'd ever heard were how cheap the buffets were everywhere and how worth it was to eat at them. When was this? 10 years ago? Certainly things...

What a perfect day for one's husband to have his wisdom teeth removed. Wouldn't you say? Well, I do... Waking up early on this cold December morning to have his teeth ripped out may not have been Jeff's first choice on a given list of "things to do". Alas, the time had come - and so we went. We arrived at the dental clinic on base with the impression Jeff wouldn't be under anesthetic sedation. But to Jeff's relief, we were wrong...and I was looking forward to the end results in a couple hours. To my satisfaction, the doctor came into the waiting room and escorted me back to the room where Jeff was (after I had picked up his meds and moved the truck closer to the area of the building Jeff would exit from) and told me everything went well and Jeff had a few minutes left on the machine before they'd release him. I was greeted with a very large gauzy smile from a bright eyed Jeff. My husband-the now drowsy and entertaining comedian for the following 30...

I'm just going to use this post as a sounding board if that's alright. Normally, I'd do my best to reflect positivity in my writing and I often pray it's inspirational to others. I truly do believe God would have us all "shine bright", rather than walk around dimly lit. So I'll do my best to be uplifting as I share my thoughts-because The One who loves me most always uplifts me... But can I just say I get very, very irritated at times with this Air Force life? And before I tell you why, may I discourage any replies that start with "that's the military life..." or "now you understand hurry up and wait..." or something of the sort. I'm not an idiot and I've never been oblivious to the hurry up and wait aspect of the military. For goodness sake, every man on my side of the family as been active duty in one branch or another for X amount of time. My aunt served as well along side my uncle. Perhaps I didn't grow...

Well, it's no surprise to most anymore that I am completely taken with snowy weather. Be it a slight flurry or an all out blizzard-I'm as happy as a clam when I know snow is expected. Yes, it's cold...but it's SO beautiful! Out here on these hills and covering the evergreens...just gorgeous. Seriously, sometimes when it's dark out and the light hits the snow on the ground, it looks like diamonds all sparkly.  Today, one of my emailed devotionals I received compared encouragement to snow. It said, "Instruction that is wrapped with encouragement really works. No one cares how much you know until they know just how much you care. I have heard it said that advice and instruction are like snow. The softer they fall - the deeper they stick. Sensitive instruction is encouragement." I can imagine if I was the one in a "dark" place, encouragement brought under the "light" of grace would surely be something to behold and stand ...

Oh my Pride how much stronger are you than I? Wrestling my will to get your way. Surely you can't be here to stay. I follow you in defeat of my own inability to eat the savory words God breathed so that I could learn I shouldn't seethe in my self rightousness which justifies that tendency to miss the plank in my own eye. I see what happens, I see how it ends. And then another day begins... Faithful am I  to you my pride and True joy is lost as I admire your cost in this life  I should sacrifice. I see what happens, I see how it ends. And then another day begins...  How small I feel  when you seem so real. Don't you see I scarce can tell when I'm you or when I'm me. Answer me this Can you fight without a list of people to ridicule and risk feeling minuscule? Can you help me find Love and live as one above the vengeance and entitlement  without questioning what God meant?   If the answer is "no" You must go. ____...

Some of you may be wondering about the title here. No, it's not a mistake. Today is, or would have been, my grandmother's 74th birthday if she were with us today. However, I am completely inspired to write about her "1st" birthday. The inspiration comes from a comment a friend posted on my mom's Facebook page in regards to today and all it implies. She said, "Her first birthday with Jesus, how awesome."  It really got me thinking about the magnitude of awesomeness that truth is. I mean, I don't know about you people, but I sincerely can't remember a single thing about my first birthday. But to think in terms of how Grammie is celebrating now forever AND will always recall and be living in a state of celebration is seriously awesome. I'd argue whatever kind of party going on in eternity is far better than any one we could throw on this earth. On this day we remember, we celebrate, we perhaps hold our thoughts a little higher in regard simply...

I'm surrounded by water. Perhaps that may seem to have somewhat of a negative implication to it if maybe ONLY considering my last blog entry and certain things I spoke about specifically. But when I say I'm surrounded by water, I simply mean God's movement in my life and how it very much has increasingly become like water to me. It's need vital. Where it starts? Like water, there's no beginning and no end really. It's like trying to point out a single wave in the ocean from an aerial view and follow it all the way to shore. Basically impossible but certainly a challenge worth while; for what I may see along the way could surprise. Not that I need to explain myself to you people (whoever you are) or my relationship with God. I'm simply ironing out the details for myself "on paper" so to speak, knowing that my family far extends beyond the blood running through my veins. And for that I am thankful to my core because that thought alone brings me joy ...

Hmmm so apparently God is on this movie/music run with me lately. No "run" pun intended-though literally that was the case last time. It's rather surprising considering the movie scenes appearing in my thoughts are from movies I can't even remember when I last viewed them. In my last blog I shared about my walk with God and the fight for my heart as it parallels with a scene in the movie 300. The last couple days....it's Finding Nemo.... Go ahead and chuckle. I do so right now myself. But nothing happening for me as of late is of coincidence. All the intermingled thoughts about what I know to be true are unwinding into a straight  line aimed toward their Source. Incredible - just incredible I tell you. But still MANY moments of the day my forward motion (Thousand Foot Krutch) feels more like treading water. In my heart and in my head I am fully aware that there is no need to fear. But emotion still gets in the way! God doesn't dwell in fear but rather in ...

Alright, now I am REALLY going out on a limb, exposed here. But I simply can't keep it in - this burning passion in my heart. Periodically I'm sure to insert lyrical references so just a heads up in case you want to be listening to those as you read or afterward for increased clarity to my Ultimate inspiration here. Though I don't have anything rehearsed or planned for this entry, I'm just sharing my heart (my treasure) as it's being transformed and refined..."bearing the gift of a new heart", if you will. "Can I tell you a story?" (Flyleaf) Though I can ultimately only speak for myself and can't claim anyone else's life circumstance, I do pray you (whoever you are) can identify with me in one way or another, perhaps on one point or more if not the message as a whole. Any inclusive reference isn't intended to project my heart onto anyone else's - we are all simply His children, so I ask for you to "take heart" with me...