"You have a way of turning winter to spring,
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering"
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering"
Oh, and I really miss worship dance too.....
Friday, February 27, 2009
Dance Video
If you like the "Resurrection" song I've added, here's a cool video of a modern worship dance to the same song. I think the song is powerful and the lyrics are full of deep truths. My favorite line is
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Things I've Done......
I received this "Things I've Done" poll from my new friend and fellow army wife Megan. The object was to bold all of the the things on this list that I had DONE. I love these little surveys because it helps people get to know a bit more about each other. So here are my humble responses and I am tagging everyone reading this to do it too. Copy and paste and send back to me through an email or post on your own blog and send me the link!
Started your own blog
Slept under the stars (lots of Girl Scout camping trips)
Played in a band (I played flute and saxophone in my high school band and church orchestra)
Visited Hawaii (I've been twice, both times while I was working for Delta and got free passes. The first trip was a vacation with my parents, I got them "parent passes" and told them we'd go anywhere they wanted. The second trip was my honeymoon. I enjoyed it so much the first time I wanted to go back.)
Watched a meteor shower (Bo would never let me miss something like this.)
Given more than you can afford to charity (Bo and I made a pledge during a church campaign to witness the gospel, I raised the money by selling stuff in a consignment sale.)
Been to Disneyland/world (I was born in Orlando so I got to know Minnie Mouse at an early age.)
Climbed a mountain (Does Stone Mountain count? If not, I climbed a part of Mount Rainer with my fellow-hiking-and-photography-loving girl friend Vickie. You can still hear the resulting damage in my knee when I bend it :)
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo (I sang "You Light Up My Life"!)
Bungee jumped (Yes, but strapped in a cage with our buddies the Moodys. I screamed my head off.)
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitchhiked (kind of, my car broke down on the interstate and a truck driver gave me a ride before I even had to stick out my thumb)
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (when I was working full time and going to bible college part time)
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Been to a Broadway show in NY
Ran a Marathon
Been in three states at once
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset (I LOVE sunsets on the beach.)
Hit a home run (I think I hit one when I played girls softball in high school.)
Been on a Cruise (just a dinner cruise, not the whole thing)
Seen Niagra Falls in Person
Visited the birthplace of your Ancestors
Seen an Amish community (while teaching a dance conference in Ohio)
Taught yourself a new language (sign language)
Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I've learned we don't need as much as we think.)
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo’s David (I used to see him all the time in my family's living room. My mom had a miniature statue. My sister and I would be so embarrassed when friends came over, we taped tissues around his waist :)
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (There's this guy in Albany named Slappey Slim.....)
Visited Africa (hope to one day)
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted (in New Orleans many years ago, the artist used chalk)
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (I went scuba diving with a family I babysat for, and snorkeling in Maui with Bo on our honeymoon.)
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Been to Grace Kelley’s grave in Monaco
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business ("Ballet His Way", a Christ-centered dance school)
Taken a martial arts class
Swam in the Mediterranean Sea (almost, the Red Sea)
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen (I'd serve and dance at a place called "SafeHouse" in downtown Atlanta with my friends James and Sue. It was for the homeless. One of the dudes stole the offering :)
Sold Girl Scout cookies (back in the day, you carried the cookies door to door!)
Gone whale watching (with Vickie in Washington, Pugent Sound I think.)
Gotten flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma (no, I pass out when I have blood drawn)
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
Bounced a check
Saved a favorite childhood toy (I have a few treasures from my grandmother)
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Broken a bone (my ring finger)
Been on a speeding motorcycle (my dad used to take me for rides on his motorcycle, even took me to kindergarten on it!)
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem (awesome!)
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared my own meat (that's disgusting)
Had chickenpox
Saved someone’s life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous (I met Michael Jackson when he came through the Atlanta airport while I was working there.)
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one (My dad died in 2006.)
Had a baby (yea, I've done this a few times)
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee
Started your own blog
Slept under the stars (lots of Girl Scout camping trips)
Played in a band (I played flute and saxophone in my high school band and church orchestra)
Visited Hawaii (I've been twice, both times while I was working for Delta and got free passes. The first trip was a vacation with my parents, I got them "parent passes" and told them we'd go anywhere they wanted. The second trip was my honeymoon. I enjoyed it so much the first time I wanted to go back.)
Watched a meteor shower (Bo would never let me miss something like this.)
Given more than you can afford to charity (Bo and I made a pledge during a church campaign to witness the gospel, I raised the money by selling stuff in a consignment sale.)
Been to Disneyland/world (I was born in Orlando so I got to know Minnie Mouse at an early age.)
Climbed a mountain (Does Stone Mountain count? If not, I climbed a part of Mount Rainer with my fellow-hiking-and-photography-loving girl friend Vickie. You can still hear the resulting damage in my knee when I bend it :)
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo (I sang "You Light Up My Life"!)
Bungee jumped (Yes, but strapped in a cage with our buddies the Moodys. I screamed my head off.)
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitchhiked (kind of, my car broke down on the interstate and a truck driver gave me a ride before I even had to stick out my thumb)
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (when I was working full time and going to bible college part time)
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Been to a Broadway show in NY
Ran a Marathon
Been in three states at once
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset (I LOVE sunsets on the beach.)
Hit a home run (I think I hit one when I played girls softball in high school.)
Been on a Cruise (just a dinner cruise, not the whole thing)
Seen Niagra Falls in Person
Visited the birthplace of your Ancestors
Seen an Amish community (while teaching a dance conference in Ohio)
Taught yourself a new language (sign language)
Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I've learned we don't need as much as we think.)
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo’s David (I used to see him all the time in my family's living room. My mom had a miniature statue. My sister and I would be so embarrassed when friends came over, we taped tissues around his waist :)
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (There's this guy in Albany named Slappey Slim.....)
Visited Africa (hope to one day)
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted (in New Orleans many years ago, the artist used chalk)
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (I went scuba diving with a family I babysat for, and snorkeling in Maui with Bo on our honeymoon.)
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Been to Grace Kelley’s grave in Monaco
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business ("Ballet His Way", a Christ-centered dance school)
Taken a martial arts class
Swam in the Mediterranean Sea (almost, the Red Sea)
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen (I'd serve and dance at a place called "SafeHouse" in downtown Atlanta with my friends James and Sue. It was for the homeless. One of the dudes stole the offering :)
Sold Girl Scout cookies (back in the day, you carried the cookies door to door!)
Gone whale watching (with Vickie in Washington, Pugent Sound I think.)
Gotten flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma (no, I pass out when I have blood drawn)
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
Bounced a check
Saved a favorite childhood toy (I have a few treasures from my grandmother)
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Broken a bone (my ring finger)
Been on a speeding motorcycle (my dad used to take me for rides on his motorcycle, even took me to kindergarten on it!)
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem (awesome!)
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared my own meat (that's disgusting)
Had chickenpox
Saved someone’s life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous (I met Michael Jackson when he came through the Atlanta airport while I was working there.)
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one (My dad died in 2006.)
Had a baby (yea, I've done this a few times)
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Oklahoma Part Two
Okay, if you're still there hanging with me......
Isaac and I woke up Wednesday after a fairly peaceful night's sleep. He woke up once and ended up in the bed with me, confused about where he was, but willing to initiate a sweet kiss to poor mom, in essence saying "thanks Mom for taking care of me without basic baby necessities, I know this is hard". We drove to the post and I got my first glimpse of Lawton in the daylight. Hmmm, Oklahoma is very brown. Flat and brown, no green anywhere. No leaves or shrubs, just dirt. Mountains in the distance. They're brown too. Fort Sill was awesome. I had to go through two security gates and was directed to the Inn where the Family Day events were being held. All the families of the graduating soldiers were there, buying t-shirts, ordering graduation DVDs, milling around, waiting to see loved ones. We were welcomed by the battalion commander and "briefed' by the platoon commander. They'd put together a demonstration of all the training and that was neat. I took pics but the lighting was awful so they're pretty dark. Finally, the platoons entered in dress uniforms and were released to their families until 9pm that evening. It was a sweet reunion for us and Isaac went to Bo right away.
Demonstration
Push ups
So glad to see him!
Real army men push baby strollers
The end of a great day. See the mountains?
Isaac and I woke up Wednesday after a fairly peaceful night's sleep. He woke up once and ended up in the bed with me, confused about where he was, but willing to initiate a sweet kiss to poor mom, in essence saying "thanks Mom for taking care of me without basic baby necessities, I know this is hard". We drove to the post and I got my first glimpse of Lawton in the daylight. Hmmm, Oklahoma is very brown. Flat and brown, no green anywhere. No leaves or shrubs, just dirt. Mountains in the distance. They're brown too. Fort Sill was awesome. I had to go through two security gates and was directed to the Inn where the Family Day events were being held. All the families of the graduating soldiers were there, buying t-shirts, ordering graduation DVDs, milling around, waiting to see loved ones. We were welcomed by the battalion commander and "briefed' by the platoon commander. They'd put together a demonstration of all the training and that was neat. I took pics but the lighting was awful so they're pretty dark. Finally, the platoons entered in dress uniforms and were released to their families until 9pm that evening. It was a sweet reunion for us and Isaac went to Bo right away.
What?
Getting tired here....
Mama
Demonstration
Push ups
Daddy! I like your shiny buttons
So glad to see him!
Real army men push baby strollers
Bo's army ring
The end of a great day. See the mountains?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Oklahoma Part One
It's been so busy around here, this is the first chance I've had to share my Oklahoma Adventure.
Tuesday afternoon I drove to Atlanta with Noah and Isaac. My mother-in-law and niece met us near the airport. Marilyn took Noah with her to stay the week, and Chelsea came with me to help with Isaac at the airport. MAN AM I GLAD SHE CAME!!!! Traveling with a toddler is hard. Traveling with a whole bunch of stuff is hard. But traveling with a toddler AND a whole bunch of stuff is REALLY HARD!!!!! We parked the car and walked forever to get to Delta's ticket counter. I couldn't do self check in because I was traveling with a baby, they needed his name. So we waited in line forever because there were only three agents working the ticket counter (sounds like Wal-Mart!). It was finally our turn and Chelsea hoisted my huge suitcase onto the scales. 62 pounds. I'm only allowed 50. Wonderful. I'm charged $115.00 to check one bag. Yikes!!!! Bo asked me to bring his bibles and movies, and their combined weight were the extra twelve pounds. When I heard the amount I groaned but then asked myself "how can I be upset about shipping bibles?" I decided to not stress over it, Bo needed them, and it's worth $100 because he's discipling some of the guys in his platoon. Next hurdle, security. This was a big one. We took up the whole belt with our shoes, jackets, diaper bag, toy frog, stroller, Bo's laptop, and Isaac's car seat. He had to come out of the stroller, have his jacket and shoes taken off, and be carried through the metal detector. There's no way I could have managed all this by myself. We proceeded to the train which took us to my concourse.
Chelsea my hero
Riding the subway?
We made it to the concourse and had to walk all the way to the end to my gate. I'm flying on a small commuter jet and it doesn't get to hang out with the big boys. Doesn't even get it's own jetway, everyone has to walk to the plane on the runway. I sat down and called Joshua to let him know I'm at the airport and Chelsea took Isaac to get us some Starbucks. No sooner was she back with the coffee than the agent asked me to board (because I've got a baby and a ton of stuff to stash!). I took Isaac from Chelsea to put him in the stroller and the agent said "I'm sorry ma'am, you'll have to carry him". I pulled him back out of the stroller and he threw up. I cleaned him up real fast and Chelsea and I try to figure out how I am going to manage everything on my own. I asked the gate agent for assistance but there was no one to help me. Chelsea isn't allowed past the gate either. So I fold up the stroller and put it over my shoulder (it has a shoulder strap, I love this stroller!), grab Isaac in one arm, the car seat in the other, and just then a fellow air traveler noticed I'd run out of arms and offered to help me (Heather, this was when you were praying for me!). He carried Bo's laptop and Isaac's diaper bag and I carried everything else. We proceeded like pack mules down the stairs, outside the airport, around one plane, to our plane. I thanked the nice man and gate checked the stroller and car seat. Fortunately, I had an empty seat next to me so I had some room to handle Isaac. He wouldn't stay in the seat so I held him in my lap for an hour until he fell asleep. We landed in Oklahoma, I rented a car, and we headed for the hotel, which gave us a great rate and a great room, but they were out of cribs! I'd been holding this child for three hours, now I've got to hold him all night????? I ended up making a bed for Isaac on the floor and we crashed, exhausted, but anxious to see our man in the morning......
Tuesday afternoon I drove to Atlanta with Noah and Isaac. My mother-in-law and niece met us near the airport. Marilyn took Noah with her to stay the week, and Chelsea came with me to help with Isaac at the airport. MAN AM I GLAD SHE CAME!!!! Traveling with a toddler is hard. Traveling with a whole bunch of stuff is hard. But traveling with a toddler AND a whole bunch of stuff is REALLY HARD!!!!! We parked the car and walked forever to get to Delta's ticket counter. I couldn't do self check in because I was traveling with a baby, they needed his name. So we waited in line forever because there were only three agents working the ticket counter (sounds like Wal-Mart!). It was finally our turn and Chelsea hoisted my huge suitcase onto the scales. 62 pounds. I'm only allowed 50. Wonderful. I'm charged $115.00 to check one bag. Yikes!!!! Bo asked me to bring his bibles and movies, and their combined weight were the extra twelve pounds. When I heard the amount I groaned but then asked myself "how can I be upset about shipping bibles?" I decided to not stress over it, Bo needed them, and it's worth $100 because he's discipling some of the guys in his platoon. Next hurdle, security. This was a big one. We took up the whole belt with our shoes, jackets, diaper bag, toy frog, stroller, Bo's laptop, and Isaac's car seat. He had to come out of the stroller, have his jacket and shoes taken off, and be carried through the metal detector. There's no way I could have managed all this by myself. We proceeded to the train which took us to my concourse.
Who are all these people MaMa?
Chelsea my hero
Riding the subway?
We made it to the concourse and had to walk all the way to the end to my gate. I'm flying on a small commuter jet and it doesn't get to hang out with the big boys. Doesn't even get it's own jetway, everyone has to walk to the plane on the runway. I sat down and called Joshua to let him know I'm at the airport and Chelsea took Isaac to get us some Starbucks. No sooner was she back with the coffee than the agent asked me to board (because I've got a baby and a ton of stuff to stash!). I took Isaac from Chelsea to put him in the stroller and the agent said "I'm sorry ma'am, you'll have to carry him". I pulled him back out of the stroller and he threw up. I cleaned him up real fast and Chelsea and I try to figure out how I am going to manage everything on my own. I asked the gate agent for assistance but there was no one to help me. Chelsea isn't allowed past the gate either. So I fold up the stroller and put it over my shoulder (it has a shoulder strap, I love this stroller!), grab Isaac in one arm, the car seat in the other, and just then a fellow air traveler noticed I'd run out of arms and offered to help me (Heather, this was when you were praying for me!). He carried Bo's laptop and Isaac's diaper bag and I carried everything else. We proceeded like pack mules down the stairs, outside the airport, around one plane, to our plane. I thanked the nice man and gate checked the stroller and car seat. Fortunately, I had an empty seat next to me so I had some room to handle Isaac. He wouldn't stay in the seat so I held him in my lap for an hour until he fell asleep. We landed in Oklahoma, I rented a car, and we headed for the hotel, which gave us a great rate and a great room, but they were out of cribs! I'd been holding this child for three hours, now I've got to hold him all night????? I ended up making a bed for Isaac on the floor and we crashed, exhausted, but anxious to see our man in the morning......
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Graduation
My handsome army man in his dress uniform on graduation day. Reuniting with the hubs was exciting. The ceremony was awesome. Being on post was cool. The visit with Bo was great. Air travel with a toddler was challenging. Watching the interaction between father and son was precious. Saying goodbye was hard.
I'll be back in town tomorrow and will post pics and trip details in the next few days.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Oklahoma Bound
Isaac and I leave tomorrow to fly out for Bo's graduation. Pray for me, I'll be travelling alone with a baby, and.... a stroller......a car seat.....diapers....bottles, snacks, juice, baby food......Bo's laptop.......coats for snowy weather.....and that's just what's going with me as carry-ons! Everything else will be crammed into the one suitcase we're allowed. And it looks like now the airlines charge you to check your luggage. Thank you.
We'll participate in "Family Day" Wednesday and get to observe a demonstration of what Echo Battery has been doing these past ten weeks. I'm looking forward to meeting Bo's friends and seeing the base. Thursday is graduation and Bo should be granted a pass to spend the day with his wife and babe. I'll fly into Atlanta Friday and probably spend the weekend there (Joy, call me!). So, I'll chat with 'cha next week. I'm headed to bed. Isaac has been waking up several times during the night and it's caused me to be delirious with sleep deprivation. At some point in the middle of last night, I went to my bathroom, retrieved my toothbrush, went back to my bed, and laid it on the pillow beside me. What the heck? My dentist would be proud, and Joshua and Caleb have baby duty tonight.
Bo sounds good and is still undergoing tests. He has an MRI Friday morning. I'll be able to go with him for that. I passed on everyone's sweet messages to him and he was very touched and thanks everyone. I'll post pics when I return. Have a great week.
We'll participate in "Family Day" Wednesday and get to observe a demonstration of what Echo Battery has been doing these past ten weeks. I'm looking forward to meeting Bo's friends and seeing the base. Thursday is graduation and Bo should be granted a pass to spend the day with his wife and babe. I'll fly into Atlanta Friday and probably spend the weekend there (Joy, call me!). So, I'll chat with 'cha next week. I'm headed to bed. Isaac has been waking up several times during the night and it's caused me to be delirious with sleep deprivation. At some point in the middle of last night, I went to my bathroom, retrieved my toothbrush, went back to my bed, and laid it on the pillow beside me. What the heck? My dentist would be proud, and Joshua and Caleb have baby duty tonight.
Bo sounds good and is still undergoing tests. He has an MRI Friday morning. I'll be able to go with him for that. I passed on everyone's sweet messages to him and he was very touched and thanks everyone. I'll post pics when I return. Have a great week.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Update
Bo finally saw a neurologist this past week. He was diagnosed with "post traumatic brain injury". Since I'm not there to go with him to appointments or ask the doctor questions, I contacted the army resource department and was directed to a website that explains the diagnosis. It scared me. People with less head trauma than Bo reported significant challenges physically and emotionally as a result of this kind of brain injury. From the little research I did, I feel like I know too much. The symptoms Bo is experiencing are memory loss, and extreme mood swings and irritability. His AIT (job training) will probably be delayed. He needs to rest and heal and is on medication to help his brain recover.
This week has been hard for me. I've been frustrated with the limited communication with Bo, and worried about his health. I've had to fight fear about long term disability that he may experience, and the relational struggles that may produce. Will he be the same man when the dust settles? Will the memory loss resolve? How does all this affect his army career? How will this affect our family?
The bright light in my dark week has been the sweet words from people who love me. More than five times this week I've been encouraged by people who either don't know me, or are old friends who've popped up with tender words that make me cry. Terry. Megan. Belinda. Billy. Joy. Angels of encouragement who've shown up at the right time to help me bear up under a heavy load.
When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
Psalm 84:6
This week has been hard for me. I've been frustrated with the limited communication with Bo, and worried about his health. I've had to fight fear about long term disability that he may experience, and the relational struggles that may produce. Will he be the same man when the dust settles? Will the memory loss resolve? How does all this affect his army career? How will this affect our family?
The bright light in my dark week has been the sweet words from people who love me. More than five times this week I've been encouraged by people who either don't know me, or are old friends who've popped up with tender words that make me cry. Terry. Megan. Belinda. Billy. Joy. Angels of encouragement who've shown up at the right time to help me bear up under a heavy load.
When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
Psalm 84:6
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