# 9 Hey Dad September 7th 2007 (a great post for Veteran's Day ... Letter from one soldier to another)

Well, I'm sitting in class right now waiting for it to start. We just finished eating chow and now we have all afternoon for more classes. I'm looking forward to Sunday though we won't have any classes tomorrow either because we go to the range to see the set up and learn procedures. I'm really hoping to qualify expert with the pistol. I have to at least get sharpshooter in order to stay in "Best of the Best". Please pray that I'm able to get one of those two. How is work going? Soon enough it will be snowing so your'e gonna have to pull out that winter jacket! I hope there's not too much snow when I get home. Have you been looking at any cars for me? I don't really think I want a Saturn anymore. What do you think I should get? I know you were talking about getting a loan so I can work on my credit. Do you still think that's a good idea? How much is gas right now? I'm just curious cause I still really want an SUV :0p Have you and mom found a new RAV 4 yet? Well class has started so I need to go for now. I love you so much daddy and you have no idea how much your love and encouragement helps me through all of this. I miss you dearly. Talk to you soon hopefully. ;-)
Love Always, Ash # 5

Slowing Down

A couple of weeks ago I was able to take a drive out to Deerfield and enjoy space on a friend's farm for a 3 hour time frame, uninterrupted, to speak and hear from God.

The most important task was to slow myself down so I could find meaning in everything; every word I read, spoke, and wrote.

So when I started with 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" I knew how important it was for me to release my concerns, review what concerns actually led me into sin, and then remember God's faithfulness. These were the three areas, release, review, and remember that made it possible to slow down enough to find meaning in everything that day.

The view outside my window at the farm ...
breath-taking and peaceful

Nora is 2

Nora,

Oh My! It is hard to believe you are already two. It seems like such a short time ago that I met you as a baby and spent time rocking you in my arms.

I remember our first car trip together to go and see Aunt Ashley just before she left for Afghanistan. You were such a good traveler.

I remember going to the pool and holding you in the water as your sisters splashed around us.

I remember you liked to throw your Cheerios off your tray.

I remember you coming all the way to Minnesota this summer and how much you laughed and talked.

Tonight I remember how much I miss you and look forward to holding and hugging you again soon ..... Happy 2nd Birthday Nora .... I love you more, Nana






Nora is 2

When he was 5 and now he is 6

So when Sid was the first grandchild to turn 5 I started something new .... I remember when our children turned 5 they got a "table knife" for the first time. Seems odd but our younger kids always wondered when they would be old enough for a table knife so the golfer and I decided that 5 was the magic age for each

of the children to have a table knife.

 

When the grand kids started turning 5 I decided to start a rite of passage as a

5-year-old grandchild. I have prayer beads that I made and I use to pray for my immediate family members. When the grand kids would stay over night or when I would stay in Texas overnight they would ask me about my prayer beads under my pillow. I thought to myself it would be a wonderful time to teach them about my prayer beads and for them to get a set of their own. So .... the first grandchild to receive the beads was Sid and I included this card with the beads:

 

Dear Sid,

Many times you have slept over at nana's house and many times you have asked me about my prayer beads in my night side table. When You're mommy was little and she turned 5 years old she received her own table knife at the the table for the first time like her big brother and sisters. It was a "rite of passage" so to speak. For you because You're 5 Nana has made you your own set of prayer beads. You can keep them in your bedroom under your pillow, if you like, to remind you to pray for your daddy, mommy, you and your little sisters. Happy Birthday! I love you more, Nana

 

 

Sid plays on the teeter-totter ... the same handles from his mommy's teeter-totter (made by the golfer) and the same handles from the orginal teeter-totter

made  by grandpa Walker for Lisa (3rd generation backyard toy with a new board) 

 

 

Even though the motorbike says number 5 Sid turned 6 on September 10th 

writing between the lines of the message outline

They were not the blanks to be filled in on the message outline but instead they were the words written on the pages of my journal. They were the words my pastor used last Sunday that I have read over and over again. I’ve read them because they have touched me deeply during a time when I find I am captive by my thoughts rather than taking my thoughts captive to the mind of Christ. How do I take every thought captive to the mind of Christ. I do this by re-reading my journal pages from Sunday’s sermon as we looked into and learned for Genesis:

“May the word of God shape your view of circumstances.”

They were not the blanks to be filled in on the message outline. They were the words written on my heart and on my journal pages to be read, recalled and lived out … not only on Monday but throughout the entire week. A reminder that indeed He is in the midst of my circumstances and it is to His word that I run to for comfort, peace and hope! Praying now that the word of God will shape my view of my current circumstances. I am reminded today my circumstances are for His good and for His glory!

Linking up here ...

http://michellederusha.com/
 

finding joy in Friday night pizza

971. "In the beginning ...

972. Your word that displays wonder

973. the golfer and how he cares for me

974. Caribou coffee from Kelley, Ashley, and the Larson kids

975. unexpected struggles and fears

976. first days of school

977. my freedom in Christ and our countries freedom

978. His mercies new each morning

979. rest that leads to sleep

980. a job with benefits

981. that I am a sheep who belongs to the Shepherd

982. evening walks with the golfer

983. time away at Camp Shamineau

984. the thoughts, words and actions of my co-worker, Courtney

985. finding joy in what matters,

Friday night pizza!

 

 

 

 

Friday Night Pizza

Missing the Davis' and the Vanahn's for Friday night pizza times but throughly enjoying these cousins

loving on one another!

 

Not sure what this expression is except that Kelley I think was talking with Sid about how when Beckett opens his eyes they are so wide open so Sid I think said "like this?"

I am loving every minute of holding this little one and tonight when he was awake he was smiling and talking a bit.

It's an Ordinary Day or is it?

loving to participate in the 5 minute Friday link-up here:

http://lisajobaker.com/

no edits ... just one piece written in 5 minutes and I give it all I got ....

It's an ordinary day or is it? Is any day really ordinary? Has God not made every day extraordinary? Indeed He has! Some for me are filled with joy and expectation from the minute I open my eyes on the pillow while others are ....

The battlefield. And for me, the battlefield is in my mind and thoughts. It is then and not only then that it is not an ordinary day but rather another day to get dressed in my armor.

So ... as I shower and let the warm water and soap wash over my body I put on:

the helmet of salvation
the breastplate of righteousness
the belt of truth
the shoes fitted for the gospel
the sword of the Spirit
and the shield of faith

This is no ordinary day but rather a day I must fight against my flesh and spirit. It is a day I look up to the mount of Zion to see His arms extended high in intercession for me.

This is no ordinary day!

This is a day of His intercession for me and my intercession for the generations of Walkers and Pederson's now and to come.
It is a day to lift His banner high!

Indeed this is no ordinary day!

The Crying Out

Now under the covers of darkness I could let myself cry. I wiped the tears away on the pillowcase but the more I wiped the more they came. I pressed my face to the pillow. Finally my eyes cleared enough to fall asleep in my Savior's arms.

His words:

Seek the Lord while He may be found: call on Him while He is near.  

Isaiah 55:6

Jesus is my constant friend!

In a sense, sometimes the crying out is because I am being taken captive by my thoughts ... but then I wake in the morning knowing I stand in victory as I take every thought captive to the mind of Christ ...

So tonight under the covers of darkness as I lay my head on the pillow, may I be mindful of the truth that brings my thoughts into the light, into His presence!

Remaining In His Arms night and day! B.

A no family pizza week .... but tummy time in more ways than one!

We did not have our regular Friday night time of family pizza the last week in September so .... my lovely daughter-in-law invited us over for dinner fixed by her husband ... chicken on the grill and potatoes yum. Good food for the face and tummy! As usual, my daughter-in-law thinks of me, and she made gluten-free brownies for dessert. I am always grateful when she sends me home with left-over brownies for my school lunch.

 

But the best tummy time for the evening overall was spending this time with Beckett on his tummy looking at me with those eyes! He's growing so fast and was extremely alert this evening!