We are still here...

So, a lot has changed over the last year...
We sold a lot of our things, or gave them away...we are deciding to try to be more self sufficient. Michael and I have both come to the realization that we will never be fully happy unless God is in control of our lives.
This is going to be a short update, but I wanted to share a new blog that a friend and I are doing together...it is called Lettuce Eat Fresh...Its about our two families journeys to the life of being more self sufficient, and being a more Godly people! It's new, and doesnt have a lot yet, but we plan on adding weekly! Such an exciting thing God has put in our lives! Please check it out and join us on our journey!!

Darn, I cant figure out how to share the link on here.....I will try to add it in a minute...

Gabe is almost 11 now, Charlene is 8 and JoJo is 5 and the three of them are being homeschooled as of yesterday! Its going to be an exciting journey for sure!!

Cooper is 16 and a sophomore in Kansas living with his dad and is doing great. We miss him more than words can say, but we are glad he is happy!

I will try to get the new blog link in my comments!

God Bless you ALL!!

Sarah

finding time...

I have been having a hard time finding the time to blog. Being a "single mom" while Michael is deployed leaves little time for myself. I do want to say that we found a great church here. East Leesville Baptist Church. They have an AWESOME childrens program and my first REAL Sunday visit, the message was the end of a recovery series. Talked about their recovery program they have at the church...and about how we think we cant do something, but God knows we can! Recently I decided to go back to college, even though I have always thought I just couldnt do it...Something told me I could...Im sure it was God :) Anyway, I decided to major in Addiction Studies...and to find out that the church God led me to (A girl at BK PlayPlace told me about it!) has a program that maybe I can get involved in and its in the area of service that I want to do as a career someday! What a God thing huh!? Anyway. I wanted to blog about this great experience, but like I said, timing just isnt there...So I thought I would share this little bit with everyone. Praise God for the way he works in our lives even when we dont know it!!

Sarah

Todays Devotion...How fitting

So the devotion in my book that I decided to read today is entitled "One-Woman Juggler" HAHA So fitting isnt it! Often times, being a military wife, I find myself playing the role of single mother...That is, both mother and father....It talks about how things seem to get out of control, or rather, I get out of control. As I read it, I felt like it was my story. She tells of how she would wake up in the morning "dreading to face the new day and my seemingly endless chores and duties" WOW...Is she in my head? I never want to wake up in the mornings. I hate the mornings. For me, waking up is just another one of my CHORES! Her prayer time was suffering because of this, and for me, my prayer time is sporatic and very seldom happens in the mornings. I feel overwhelmed with my daily responsibilities. I am so worried that I will forget an appointment, or forget something important for the kids that they need at school, but you know what I do...I take on MORE... She speaks about how she decided to start taking "One Day at a Time"... truly... She started writing down what she needed to do for just that day. It was just so CRAZY to find the devotional today to be JUST what I needed. God has a way of doing that though. SO, my goal for the rest of this deployment, and hopefully the rest of my life!, is to take it one day at a time. I spend too much time stressing about EVERYTHING that needs to get done. So me and my post its (I am a post it JUNKIE) are going to get close and make a list each morning, after Ive spent a little time in prayer thanking God for the beautiful day he has given me (and maybe after asking Him to help me see the beauty in a morning :).

Reflective scripture for this is Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Dont be quiet for society's sake!

So, I picked up Michael's bible today, and decided to turn to the scripture reading recommended for today's date.

Matthew 20:29-34

I like to do this sometimes in hopes that God will use it to help me with something I am struggling with. And while I cant think of a particular time or event that this scripture applied to me, I started thinking about being a Christian in general in today's society. Its a hard role to play sometimes. We want to "Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing" but the people around us don't want to hear it. In other words they are telling us to be quiet. Imagine if those two blind men sitting at the side of the road outside of Jericho would have been intimidated by the crowd (society) and shushed when they were told to! What an opportunity they would have missed out on since Jesus heard their cries, and HEALED them! He gave two blind men sight who were yelling out over the crowds for Him! Amazing. So the next time you feel like calling out to God or speaking of/for Him, DO it, and don't let this world keep you from sharing your faith! I know I wont! I will always be reminded of these two men! :)

Have a great Monday!!

Friend of God

So ever since I moved back to the mainland I have been missing the close connection I had with my friends there. I have great friends all over the world, but the girls in Hawaii...we just had something special...

I keep thinking I will never have it good again...and then God reminded me that Ive had it great...I just wasn't seeing it. Not only have I made some good friends here...God also gave me a WONDERFUL family, and 4 amazing kids who LOVE to hang out with me!!

While my husband is my BEST friend...he is often gone, and that can be hard...but guess what...I AM A FRIEND OF GOD!! He calls ME friend! Amazing huh? So that lead me to read this scripture...

John 15:13-15

(13)And here is how to measure it-the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. (14)You are my friends if you obey me. (15)I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

So my thought is this...I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and embrace my friendship with God!! Thank you Lord for giving us Your word to help us through the tough times in our lives. Not only your word, but your friendship!

Its ME again

I'm telling you. If we were graded on how well we blog, I would fail miserably! Its been MONTHS...

A little update, and then maybe I can remember to start doing this again...

We got to Louisiana the second week of December. My parents were awesome enough to help me and the kids down here to join Michael. We live on post and LOVE it! Finally I have a nice "military" house. This one is NOT scheduled to be torn down anytime soon:) HALLELUJAH! Gabriel and Charlene are going to school on post this year, but next year, when JoJo starts Kindergarden, they will all go to the same school off post.

Surprise Surprise, Michael is not here...

A month or so after we got here, he got orders to Iraq...We are INCREDIBLY thankful they are only for a few months, but still...I have really forgotten what its like to have a husband with me LoL He is doing great though, and we are already counting down the less than 100 days until his safe return.

HollyWood-Lee Is doing good. She got spayed after we got here, and did great. It was strange seeing my high strung pooch soo out of it though! She has adjusted well and loves bein a southern girl :D

Chloe, the cat, is getting old...We will just love her while we have her and make sure she has the best life ever!

I am surviving. I miss my husband (duh) but found a good church online that we are going to check out on Sunday. The kids and I really miss our worship time! Nothing will compare to our amazing church back home...but Im sure we can find something exciting!!

I will end this here...and spend this evening thinking of a quirky way to post each day...and if I cant think of anything good...you will all just get the boring ole update :D

until then..

Sarah

"Hi, my name is Sarah, and I am addicted to BooKoo"

The School year has OFFICIALLY started

Gabriel and JoJo on the first day of 4th grade and Pre K

Charlene on the first day of 1st grade

JoJo with his "daddy" smile :)

Gabriel ready to GO!

Gabriel, Charlene and Joseph on their first day of school August 18, 2009

So this year is the first year that all 4 of my kiddos are in school.

Cooper is living with his dad for highschool, so I didnt get to embarrass him with a first day of school picture...But he is enjoying highschool so far and one of the highlights for him, besides FOOTBALL, is that he can eat and drink IN CLASS hehe Thats a big NoNo in Middle School, so its exciting :)

Gabriel started 4th grade this year. It is still hard for me to accept he is growing up! He loves his teacher. It is his first male teacher. He is a young guy and has a lot of fun ideas for teaching, so its just what Gabe needs!

Charlene started 1st grade, and that just seems impossible...She loves school just like Gabe, and is lucky to have her best friend (Coopers sister, Taylor) in her class this year. She is so excited to get to school each day and tell us all about it each night!

Joseph started PRESCHOOL this year and MOMMY is loving it...err I mean, JoJo is loving it. He doesnt ever want to go to school in the mornings, but when I pick him up after lunch, he seems to have had a good time. Its hard for him because its been me and him for so long :) Ok ok..its hard for mommy too!! Haha But we are both adjusting and he is really learning a lot...He can already write JoJo and is learning to write Joey...and he can type both with noooo help! Smart lil man :)

Well there ya have it...my kids are all growing up and I cant make it stop!