the results are in......

Well, great news from the home front. My biopsy was benign. Which means....for those of you who aren't sure about medical teminology......there is no cancer or anything to worry about for now....in other words the tests were negative. I'll have to have another pap in 6 months to recheck and make sure it hasn't changed or progressed. So I want to say thanks again for those of you who lifted up prayers to God on my behalf. He seems to have heard us.......so thanks be to the Provider and Healer of my everything.

We just got back from a weekend retreat that the Air Force provided for deploying airmen and their families......to help get them ready for the separation. It was held at the Quartz Mountain Lodge here near Altus. Its such a blessing when the ones' in charge of sending my husband off to war, remember him and his family and the struggles that go on before, during, and after his deployment. It was lead by the base chaplins, which I'm sorry to say that I've never had the pleasure to meet before this event. They were very encouraging and uplifting during the whole thing. God definitely works thru His people, no matter what "religion" they might be. And I've learned that there is a bigger world needed to be reached besides those that we see as "God-less". As an airman's wife, I'm beginning to see that our military is a big, huge mission field.....in need of the peace-giving, all-knowing, ever-present love of the one true God of the universe. Our military members, as military members, are more or less combat oriented.....but there is so much more to the person in camo gear with a rifle on their shoulder. They have families and fears and hopes and dreams too. And more times than not have to put those oh-so-very-important things in thier lives to the side for the job that so bravely work for every day. Even when God in important to their personal beliefs, sometimes, Satan uses their jobs as tools to hinder their faith. So.......what my point really is, is that we need to do some major praying on behalf of our military and their families they leave behind. We need to encourage and thank them any time we can, because they tend to feel forgotten.

Well.....now that I've preached from my soapbox I'll get back to my original reason for this post. We had a very wonderful time on this retreat. They fed us well and had plenty of things to do as a family. We rode horses...all 4 of us. Wes and Emi on one horse and me and Zoey on another. It was a little nerver racking, especially for Wes because he has never been on a horse before and had Emi in his lap too. The girls were super excited about the horses though and weren't afraid in the least. I wish I had pictures of everything but I have seemed to have misplaced my camera again. I'm so disappointed too because there were so many great photo ops. Anyway, there was a bonfire and hayride. The girls had a great time throwing hay off the trailer. The temperature was perfectly wonderful. We went swimming in the heated pool and the hot tub. My girls just love the water...any opportunity and they are in it.
During the sessions they had for the adults, the Air Force provided child care. As a stay at home mom, I was both excited and leary of this concept. My girls have never stayed with anyone but family and close friends for any length of time without screaming and crying the whole time. So I was worried if I dropped them off and they cried the whole time after I left, would they come get me or just let them cry. It would be so traumatic, I thought. So the first night Wes took Emari to her class and I took Zoey to hers. As soon as I walked in the door with Zoey, she got down, ran off and went to playing with kids and toys. She never even looked back for me. So I left and went to check on Emi expecting to find her still crying and wanting me.....but I couldn't have been more wrong. There she was sitting at the kiddie table coloring and talking to the kids around her. So much for my kids needing mama so much......So when we went to pick the girls up an hour and a half later...Emi was still playing and not wanting to leave with us. OUCH! That stung my heart a little. She is big enuff now that she needs others in her life too. I have to face the facts, right?! Then we went to get Zoey, and thats when I saw her sitting in arms of one of the workers, face red, and tears strolling down her cheeks. My heart really sank. They just let her cry....so much she threw up. Poor baby. And afterwards she wouldn't get more than arms length away from me, afraid I'd leave her again. And even the next day she was the same way....she wanted nothing to do with playing with kids or toys if I wasn't holding her....so....she went to our sessions with us.
Well, thats about the end of the drama for this weekend. I learned several lessons.... 1. God has work needed to be done in the military hearts... 2. Emari is growing up too fast and it makes my heart ache.... 3. Zoey is way too attached to her mama, but I love feeling that needed....4. And I have work to do (and I'll just leave it at that for now)

No news yet

I've had several people ask about my test results from my biopsy.......well, honestly, I don't know. They haven't called me yet......which I'm thinking....... if it was bad results that they would call me sooner than later. It has nearly been two weeks. So if they don't call by tomorrow lunch time I will call them. Thanks so much for the prayers that were sent up on my behalf.......I have peace about the results now, no matter what they are. God knows what He is doing!

The world around me

I mostly share my pictures for my friends and family to enjoy, but I also post them so if my computer crashes again, at least they will be somewhere to see again. I took all of the pics except for the one of the sunset.....mom took that one. Enjoy.

Pumpkin Patch pictures

Seasons' change

As I was sitting outside enjoying a rare few minutes to myself, I noticed one of the trees in our yard. There were a few leaves that have started turning yellow. The yellow is a drastic difference to the green of the rest of the tree and it caught my attention. And I realized how much like the details in the changing of the seasons we "Christians" are when it comes to changes in our hearts and minds and lives. As I looked at the few leaves that had changed, I thought how our thoughts are like the leaves, whether good or bad. They change the color that the world sees a little at a time, until our whole life or tree is a new color. It can change because of a seed God has planted in your heart, or it can be a "small" sin that has grown and effected your whole life somehow. Some trees change their color early in the fall and others wait until winter is almost here before their change begins. God's plans are never the same for any one tree or person. Then there are those trees that never change colors, that are always constantly green, and I like to think of these trees as those strong and devout lovers of Jesus......always strong and faithful. And isn't change beautiful when you see all the trees side by side in their many differnt shades of fall. But whatever change comes in the colors of the leaves, the inevitable always happens, the leaves fall off and blow away. And even though it is beautiful, God must prepare us for the season of growth by letting us rest during the winter season. Most don't like the winter season because they only see it as death and not-so-pretty. But even then, when are lives are stagnant and our hearts may seem asleep, God still sees the beauty we possess deep inside and knows that when He is ready, He will let us bloom with brilliant colors and thrive and grow to be bearers of His glory. And then, even the bad and the heart-ache of the cold and winter season, seems like such a small price for the glory of our loving God. Then comes the confusing rainy season of spring. Those days when tears come so easily from hurtful words of other, or dreams that seems unreachable. And then again, there are blessings in the downpours and rains of the heart. Tears are helpful waters for the growth of our tender and fragile hearts......without the presence of the bad, how can we truly understand how wonderful the good really is? We can only strive to see ourselves and others the way that God sees all of His children......as special and wonderful beings dropped down in the middle of His garden to admire and love..... every inch of our souls.