24 years ago today!

A very different birthday is celebrated with my littlest overseas today. Yesterday I had a lot of sadness in my heart as I thought about how different this birthday celebration would be.

I was pleasantly surprised though as I went to the Family Readiness Group (FRG) and my daughter was the first soldier to come on the big “skype” screen.  She was encouraged and happy to hear all the family members of the 257 MP Company sing Happy Birthday to her.

Twenty Four years ago I had no idea that she would be the woman she is today … strong in courage, strong in confidence, strong in leading others, Army strong and God strong.

Even though I miss her greatly today I am so filled with joy knowing she is exactly where God can use her in a mighty way. I am so proud of the daughter, the sister, the sister-in-law, the auntie, the friend, and the soldier she has become. I am so very grateful to remember the good work He has done and is continuing to do in Ashley!

Ashley may you have the best birthday away this year and may you know how much you are loved, cared for, prayed for and missed at this time. I love you way more …. Mom

Here, today in the midst of my thoughts

Start:

This morning I find myself in the midst of my thoughts running through my head. It is here that I make my do-to list and then I begin to wirte it down,

It is here that I begin to pray and then it is here that I begin not only in my mind to read the word but often aloud as I can stay more focused.

It is here where I think of others and ways that I can bring encouragement yet it is also here where I think my own selfish thoughts; I deserve this, I am entitled to this, why do they not think about the way I feel?

It is here where I begin to worry about an upcoming surgery.

It is in my mind, where at times, I get stuck in my feelings and emotions and yet to get out of the unrest and find peace I go here:

Where do you go to find "peace of mind"?

Stop

This is where I linked up today ... hope you can take 5 minutes sometime during the day and reflect and write for 5 minutes on the prompt "Here." Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

listen deeply

Wow I love this one by
my oldest ...

Still Grateful and Taking the Joy Dare

Linking up here today: http://www.aholyexperience.com

3 gifts that made me laugh

876. when my good friend Holly says "Oh yes sir, I got shot in the buttocks" a Line from Forrest Gump

877. My granddaughter Lenny who can't quite say nana

878. Text from my littlest "whatever" after I have texted her "I love her more"

3 gifts found in community

879. Dinner brought and grilled by my only son and my amazing daughter-in- Law Saturday evening and then time enjoying Olympics, couch time and conversation

880. The commitments made to one another and to Christ during the 1 to 1 study on Thursday evening

881. Coffee with a friend who desires to be bold in her faith

3 hard thanksgivings

882. A beautiful, caring, loving, neighbor goes on hospice

883. A good, good friend has surgery for breast cancer

884. Upcoming surgery

3 gifts In church

885. Prayer time with wonderful praying friends

886, Being the receptionist at our church and helping Elizabeth this morning

888. Worshiping with my good friend Helen

3 Gifts found in today's work

889. Stripping our bed, washing the blanket, and hanging it out on the line to dry

890. Serving Pru, my granddaughter breakfast in front of cartoons in the living room this morning

891. preparing a desert for my neighbor's family members

Staycation July

Ok I know I am a bit remiss in blogging as of late and I could give you a million excuses as to why I have not posted but I will spare you the excuses. Usually when we say we don't have time to "do" certain things it's really that we don't make time to "do" certain things and that is so true for me.

Because I have a love for writing you would think that I would do this more often yet .... I do complete an off-line handwritten journal almost daily but .... I do love to do the online journal as well. So for tonight my update is on our most recent July Staycation at the Wild River State Park.

River Walk

Camper Cabin bed and a good book

River Rest

This was the golfer's and my time away as a couple for our "monthly" anniversary and it was an extremely hot evening yet such a fun time away at another voted "best of Mn 2012" spots.

We stayed in a quaint camper cabin near the St Croix River. Even though it was hot we went for a long hike along the river. The only down size of this is neither of us had enough bug juice on so we both got pretty eaten up by mosquitoes.

After our walk we were pretty hungry so we traveled a few miles to the nearest Perkins for dinner.After dinner we got all nestled up on top of our sleeping bags and enjoyed the camping experience but in a cabin rather than a tent. We woke up to the sun and the birds the next morning and then traveled to Taylor's Falls (which who ever knew was never a falls, what's up with that?)

We did not ride on this just watched it pass down river

Overall ... a  wonderful, refreshing and relaxing time away from TV's, Phones, Computers and the like with much time for conversations, reading, walking, and just enjoying the company of one another!
Remaining in his (the golfer's) arms and enjoying every minute! B.

counting 861-875

861. a wonderful staycation with the golfer in Minneapolis, MN

862. a wonderful vacation with my TX daughter and her family with a bonus 8 hour pass with the littlest

863. a wonderful worship service at Dallas Bible Church and weeping as I heard this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t0mJAUGESQ

864. grateful 2 know that my littlest is not so comfortable and not so safe

865. grateful 2 know that I am comfortable and safe because of our troops (especially the 257 MP company)

866. knowing that I am more than lucky ... I am blessed

867. grateful and loving every minute  "rocking out" at this class for a cause here:
http://lisavanahn.com/lva-classes-workshops/lva-fitness-class/intensati-2/

868. grateful 4 the "stars" of this video my second youngest and the love of her life here:
http://youtu.be/N2csM_bjHdE

869. grateful 4 the presence of my Father even in the early hours of the morning when I can't sleep

870. grateful 4 Michele Norris' family memoir here:
http://michele-norris.com/

871. grateful 4 friends that ask How is Ashley? Thanks Ginny, Kathy, and Sally

872. grateful 4 Andrea who went with me to my doctor's appointment today

873. grateful 4 the medical test ... the doctor states, "looks good, we are ready for the next steps"!

874. grateful 4 a walk with my friend Kaye and an opportunity to pray for one another

875. grateful 4 the golfer and the dinner he is grilling

Until next time I am remaining In His Arms! How about you?

24 hours of fun!

On Friday, June 22 I arrived in Dallas TX to four smiling faces. It was not easy for the first 24 hours as I had been exposed to Whooping Cough so I was taking precautionary measures and wearing a mask.

I spent some sweet moments with Jacob and Cariie in the late evening and then we got all of the kids out of bed at 1 am and traveled to El Paso TX. We arrived 12 hours later tired but with much excitement to see Ashley during an eight hour pass.

All the girls (both big and little) took a little shopping trip to the PX while Jacob, our driver took a much needed nap at the Army Hotel. Later, I took a much needed nap as Carrie, Ashley, Annika and Eden took a little swim at the hotel pool. After the pool Jacob got all the girls orders from Macroni Grill (Ashley's choice) for dinner. He went to get take out and we ate together at the hotel while Ashley finished braclets for all Davis family members and per my request two more and different colors so I had fashion braclets to wear with my different color outfits ....

Saturday evening we hugged, I cried and Carrie took Ashley to the bus ....

We all crashed and got some much needed sleep and at 5:30 am on Sunday we started the trip back to Dallas!

Whew .... lots of travel, but lots of fun and some much needed quality time spent with family!

Staycation June

On Wednesday, June 20 Terry and I took our first staycation day around the Twin Cities seeing some sights that we had seen before and visiting some new sites. We had planned to ride the Lake Calhoun / Lake Harriet Trolly but when we arrived on a Wednesday we realized that the only days the trolly runs are Saturdays and Sundays. We then traveled around the lake and saw this for the first time:

We belevied this to be either a doggie daycare out for a walk or a dog walking service.

Then we headed to the "Rose Gardens" and walked through these beautiful flowers:

There I witnessed the "golfer" who I believe to be a very patient man get a little fluster and actually "give-up" on this (maiking a paper crane):

.... mind you I did not even attempt this as I knew ahead of time how inpatient I would have gotten.


Out second to the last stop was Jimmy John's where I had my first unwich on recommendation of my "oldest" and it was refreshing on a hot summer day. The final stop was at the 2012 Best of Minnesota bookstore: Magers & Quinn on Hennepin Ave. I, of course was in my glory but the golfer was not so impressed. I loved the shelves and shelves of books but neither of us were impressed with the lack of comfy reading spots unlike our local Barnes and Noble!

All in all it was a wonderful day! Grateful to spend some quality, uninterupted time with my best friend! Stay tuned for the staycation planned for July and August!

Story

Linking up here today:

The Writing Prompt: Story

Start

Do I have a story to tell? I do and so do you. We all have a story to tell. Sometimes I do not think my stories are worth telling but I still tell them to anyone who may listen. I have family and friends who like to tell stories, some are short and to the point but others are longer and I get inpatient and want to say to the storyteller, "just get to the point"! As for me, I love to think that some day my children and grandchildren may want to know my stories ... hence one reason for writing them down.

Another reason in writing down my stories now, is that the writing of my stories, online, handwritten, or in letters, is for the purpose of remembering ... remembering the faithfulness of my Father who is writing my story. I do not know the ending of my story but am confident in the One who is in charge of the ending.

I love a good story but I do find that the most enjoyable stories for me are the true stories. I love to write them, tell them and most often hear them being told.

End

Freedom with a Cost

We are free.  Completely free.  Free from sin.  Free from death.  Free from hopelessness.  Free from the law.  And the freedom is freely given by God (we do not and cannot pay for it).  But it wasn’t free. It cost God everything.  It cost His Son.  That is THE freedom, with a cost.

July 4, 2012

So grateful for my freedom in Christ!

So grateful for the call on my "littlest" daughter's life to give of herself for my freedom as a citizen of the United States of America! This comes with the cost of greatly missing her today!