Well.....I'm in a bloggy mood this morning. I have been grading papers but needed a break, so this is a good a time as any to stop and praise the Lord for...well, everything!

I had a conversation with a friend of mine (she knows who she is) the other night and we were catching up on what had been going on in our lives over the last couple of years; she said to me, (being serious, not in a sarcastic way) "it's like you have this perfect little life!" I don't know that I'd say perfect, but I sure am blessed. I cannot take ANY of the credit for the benefits, blessings, gifts, whatever you want to call them, that the Lord has allowed me to see and enjoy.

The Scriptures teach us that (a) every good and every perfect gift cometh from above, (b) the Lord LOADETH us DAILY with benefits, and (c) His mercies are new EVERY morning. I am living proof of each of those three things--I am sitting in a closet at work and could just about have a little screaming/dancing fit when I think about just what the Lord has done for me. He has provided EVERY need I have ever had---financially, spiritually, emotionallly, romantically, you name it, the Lord has taken care of it. I'm so thankful that I can say proudly that HE has NEVER not been enough. I don't have any sob stories, but I can tell you that I have had my share of tragedy, trial, heartache, etc...I'm sure we all have our lists of family deaths, financial hardships, work worries, and I have my own list. But beside each item on my "list" (I don't have a physical list, which I'm sure comes as a surprise to the people who know my tendency towards such things) I can give a specific example, answer, benefit, blessing, or whatever you'd like to name it, for the way the Lord provided and took care of me.

Let me be clear--I have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to deserve anything the Lord gives me. If anything, my actions, heart attitudes, and thoughts would be enough on any given day to merit my immediate placement into Hell. I was born a sinner and, unfortunately, I live "up" to that name every single day--more so than I'd care to admit. In spite of myself, though, my Creator--my God--my Abba (Daddy)--my Friend--my Comforter--continues each day to reaffirm His love for me. Not only did He love me enough to send His son to die for me, He loves me enough to "show off," if you will (please know that I mean no disrespect here) every time He throws a blessing my way. In the form of family. Finances. Work. Warm-Fuzzies. Encouragement. Answers to unspoken, uttered-under-my-breath prayers. Deliverance from accidents while I drive. Safety for my husband. Bonus babies who love me. Colleagues who treat me like family. A church family that supports me, asks about me, and prays for me. A family who loves me. A husband who loves, supports, affirms, and encourages me EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. :)

I have no complaints. I'm one blessed girl.

Well, today makes almost five months since my husband left for Iraq for the first time. Since that time he has had one break (over Christmas, thankfully!) and we've logged A LOT of hours on Skype :) My last blog was about Casey getting ready to leave, and I posted a lot of plans/goals that we had...how are we doing?


(a) All of our revolving (aka credit card, student loans, car note, etc.) debt will be completely paid off. We're getting there! We're making lots of headway---recently paid off 4 pretty sizeable debts and my car was paid off in November!
(b) We'll both be skinnier...him from the profuse sweating, I'm sure, and me because of my intent to rejoin a gym somewhere. Um....not quite where we want to be, but better than we were :)
(c) We'll both be very savvy in the area of overseas communication via webcam and skype. We are both Skype savvy now, more than either of us have ever been. We've found creative ways to communicate, especially when there is a technical glitch or bad reception (this happens quite often where he is!) Casey is a much better typer than he was 5 months ago, too!
(d) We'll have some money in our savings account (to this point, we have said, 'savings? what savings?'...) :) Yes! We do! How long will it be there? Hopefully a while...but it's nice to have something to fall back on just in case.
(e) We'll be closer to one another. Oh, yes. We're newlyweds so we're close anyway, but I cherish every.single.second. that we get to spend together or on the phone. Sometimes we talk for hours. Sometimes all we can do is text. Sometimes we sit, look at one another and cry. I love my husband more than I ever thought possible, and we've grown soooo close because of this season of separation.
(f) We'll value the time we have together much more than we do even now as newlyweds. Absolutely. When Casey was home over Christmas we milked every moment that we were able to spend together; times when I would normally sit in the car while he ran inside, I went too. Casey came to sit with me while I gave my final exams just so we wouldn't have to be apart. I love him that much more for it.
(g) We'll be spiritually stronger because of all the Lord will have brought us through. I could write a novel right here. Scripture after Scripture has been shown to me--the Lord has revealed so many things in His word (proof that it's LIVING), and He has sent friends to share scripture with me in times of fear, anxiety, doubt, worry, and sadness dealing with His protecting hand, grace beyond belief, and refuge in times of the storms.

Confessions of a (Non)Military Wife

So Casey is shipping out. In less than a week. To a place far, far, away. I'm so very thankful for the opportunity I feel the Lord has provided us to take care of some financial burdens we have both had for quite some time. By the time he gets home next year, if everything goes as planned, we're looking for the following to have happened:
(a) All of our revolving (aka credit card, student loans, car note, etc.) debt will be completely paid off.
(b) We'll both be skinnier...him from the profuse sweating, I'm sure, and me because of my intent to rejoin a gym somewhere.
(c) We'll both be very savvy in the area of overseas communication via webcam and skype.
(d) We'll have some money in our savings account (to this point, we have said, 'savings? what savings?'...) :)
(e) We'll be closer to one another.
(f) We'll value the time we have together much more than we do even now as newlyweds.
(g) We'll be spiritually stronger because of all the Lord will have brought us through.

The Bible teaches that "In his heart man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Every single thing on this list may not happen exactly like we have planned it out, but I'm so thankful for the saying (and the truth behind it), "Where the Lord guides, He provides." I believe He has guided us to this choice and I am excited (though sad at the thought of being thrown back into singlehood for the next little bit) about the changes in our future that this job will make possible. I'm trying to look at a one year sacrifice as a huge investment in the quality of life we'll have in the future.

So...enough said for now. I'm going to remain positive and upbeat...if it kills me. I've cried enough for a lifetime in the last 48 hours alone, and I am determined to be positive, if for no other reason than to help my husband stay strong. I promised to honor him, obey him, and submit to him on the day I said 'I do' and I intend to do just that. I'm so thankful for his guidance and his willingness to sacrifice to provide for our family. I love this man so much!!! :)

Deep Thoughts....not by Jack Handy


I was out of town this weekend and had the chance to visit the church where I grew up—boy, did the Lord know just what I needed…in Sunday school the pastor taught out of the book of Luke; most of you are probably familiar with the story of Mary and Martha. I know I’ve heard it preached probably a hundred times, but Sunday morning something hit just right…

How often do we end up like Martha, overwhelmed with everything on our plates? Usually we hear this passage taught in the context of Christian service (working in the nursery, singing in the choir, teaching a Sunday School class, you name it)—but think about life in general. Grades to be entered. A spouse to love. Kids to feed. Laundry to fold. The car to wash. Bills to pay. The grass to cut. Phone calls to make. Just thinking about everything that has to be done in the time between my morning alarm and my evening shower sometimes is just too much to handle. I feel like Martha when Jesus described her as “careful and troubled about many things.” As I look back over my day and wonder just how I survived it, it hits me. Where did the Lord fit into my day? Did he? I didn’t pray when I got up. I didn’t set the alarm to make time to read scripture before I got ready for work. I sure don’t feel like it by the time I finally make it to my bedroom in the evening. I’m on extended day, so forget about any extra time between classes or during a light planning period. I focus so much on my work that I forget about worship. We were created to worship the Creator; the disciples were chosen to love first, and then serve. I get it backwards so many times and too often I’m satisfied naming the name of Christ when, in reality, I haven’t even spoken to Him—besides a quick blessing before I eat my cereal on the way to work or a quick prayer to thank Him for the near-miss on the interstate—in who knows when? Martha missed it, but Jesus reminds her that Mary knows what this relationship is all about—“One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part…” Don’t get so caught up in the overwhelming parts of life that we forget about the Omnipotent One who longs to spend time with us and settle our spirits before a hectic day.

“41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

A Love Hate Relationship

I'm reminded of the move, 10 Things I Hate About You (oh, how I miss Heath Ledger!)...just some thoughts running through my head today (among other things!) I am blessed beyond measure, blessed beyond my wildest dreams, blessed inexplicably....

I hate....

• When he has to be gone for more than a day...heck, more than a few hours!
• When he's feeling bad but won't let me take him to the doctor
• When he gets discouraged
• When he doesn't get to talk to the babies
• When things don't go as planned and they're totally out of his control
• When he says something that didn't come out just right (not because of how it makes me feel, but how broken he's going to be if I let him know it)

I love...

• Waking up next to him in the morning
• When we both get hysterical about something random
• When we have movie nights with all three of the kids snuggled up together
• When he buys me a SmartWater without me asking
• When he buys me flowers
• When he rubs my back
• When he looks at me randomly and says, "You're so beautiful."
• When he looks at me randomly and says, "I'm so glad I married you."
• When he looks at me randomly and says, "You're the best wife."
• When he works on the car...a car..any car...and lets me watch (or help!)
• When he cuts me off in the middle of a conversation and says, "looklooklooklook" at a classic car (yes, I really do love it!)
• When he initiates the conversation about us matching for church on Sunday
• When he writes something about me on facebook and calls me right away to ask me if I've looked on the site
• When he says in the darkness, right before sleep, "scoot over here and let me hold you."

Get Your Kicks on Route 66...or Hwy 27, whatever works....

We got home from the beach last night around 11pm. You should know that the trip down to Panama City Beach took us approximately 7 1/2 hours...give or take. Going home? We left the condo at 9:30am local time (10:30 GA time) and got home at 11:02pm last night. That's right, folks...12 1/2 hours later we arrived in Georgia at what had to be, at that time, the most beautiful house I'd ever seen. It's amazing how a sore bottom and ears weary of hearing children fighting in the backseat can transform any place into 'home, sweet home!!' What made the trip take so long? Well, let's see...

(a) a one-hour long stop at Alvin's Island for souvenirs
(b) a gas fill-up and potty break.
(c) a stop to re-secure the cover on dad's wheelchair (it turned itself on and almost rolled out of the back of the pickup; good thing it was pinned down.)
(d) a stop to move the cooler off the top of my car after the whistling almost sent Casey and me to the nuthouse....I couldn't take it!
(e) another potty break
(f) another fill-up that turned into a snack break
(g) hot boiled peanuts. On the side of the road
(h) a trip through Blakely, Ga, looking for lunch. The Garmin (Serena is her name) took us to three restaurants that don't actually exist (Casey said, 'wouldn't it be funny if this second restaurant (Mama's Place) were at somebody's house?)...when Serena said, 'arriving at location on right,' we looked to the right..and saw a house. With no sign. Grr.
(i) another fill-up
(j) leap frog so dad could get in the front after Serena tried to take me down a dirt road that didn't look right at all. Dad and his faithful atlas decided it was time to comandeer the course.

I wish I could have gotten to a keyboard on the way home last night to record some of the conversations in the backseat...but given the fact that (a) I was driving and (b) it is now illegal for people my age to do anything on a cell phone while driving except make and receive phone calls (good for them....hard habit to break for me, I admit.), I had to wait until now.

For those of you who were previously unaware, my father invited us to accompany them to the beach for a few days for a nice getaway and so that my bonus babies could spend some time with their other cousin, Evan (visiting here from NC for a couple of weeks). Off we went. For the trip down to PCB, Casey and I had the girls and MeMa and Papa had the boys. We swapped on the way home so everyone could benefit from the newly installed (thanks to Casey) portable DVD players in MeMa and Papa's truck. Somewhere around ArmPit, Georgia, I got put in the driver's seat because Brenda (aka MeMa) was falling asleep at the wheel. Off we went.

The following conversations are in no particular order...but a couple of them made me almost lose control of my vehicle...and one or two were as convicting as a sermon...so there ya have it.

Do you have fast glue?
Corbin and Evan both got wooden swords at the beach (I'm not sure whose idea this was, but....yeah.) Casey and I both bet that they wouldn't last 10 minutes once we got home before they got broken. We were both wrong. Corbin broke his sword before we ever left the Sunshine state (aka FL.) In his attempt to repair said sword, the following conversation ensued:

Corbin: Evan, check in your pocket to see if you have any fast glue.
Evan: I do not have any fast glue at my home.
C: But check in your pocket to see if you have any fast glue.
E: But I do not have any fast glue at my home.
C: That is not the question!

Let's Wrassle!
Somehow we got on the discussion of the military and the army, and Corbin asked Evan if he knew the song, "I'm in the Lord's Army." Evan confirmed that he did. They started singing the song. In case you missed VBS, Children's Church, or Children's Choir for the last several years, here are the lyrics:

I may never march in the infantry,
ride in the cavalry,
shoot the artillery,
I may never zoom o'er the enemy
but I'm in the Lord's Army (Yes, Sir!)

I'm in the Lord's Army (Yes, Sir!)
I'm in the Lord's Army (Yes, Sir!)

I may never march in the infantry,
ride in the calvary,
shoot the artillery,
I may never zoom o'er the enemy
but I'm in the Lord's Army (Yes, Sir!)

Simple, right? (Yes, I hear some of you singing along! Way to go!)

Now...for the alternate lyrics (brought to you by my nephew and Bonus Baby)

I may never march in the infa'try,
ride in the calvary,
shoot the utilities,
I may never wrassle (not wrestle...that's what people up north do..down here they wrassle) the enemy,
but I'm in the Lord's Army.

Just so you know, Evan made sure to add his credentials (I guess in an attempt to validate that these were indeed the words to the song..."One time I went for 4 days to 2 Vacation Bible Schools!") Who knew?

The A Word...
I'm not sure how, but the kids discussed EVERYTHING....including profanity (not sure how it came up....but I veered them in a different direction as quickly as possible.)I think it started when I mentioned not watching a particular movie without the TV Guardian because of all the bad language. Corbin told Evan that "Becky doesn't use bad words because she goes to church. Like, every Sunday. Like, all the time. Except that one weekend when she had to miss because my daddy was sick. And he was upset because he couldn't go to church."

It's amazing that even little kids associate every part of your life as a whole and they know what should and shouldn't go together. They recognize hypocrisy (even though they may not know what the word means) when they see it, even though we may call it "making an example," "teaching a lesson," or even "being an adult." Kids see right through it. Someone told me one time they liked me better than someone else...when I asked them why, their response was, "because you act the same all the time, no matter who's around." Wow. I don't say that to my credit. That's my goal in life...as a teacher, a wife, a daughter, a bonus mama, a sister, and ultimately as a Christian. I don't ever want anyone (especially the three sets of eyes...well, six if you count my nieces and nephews) to be able to look at my life and recognize that I'm churchy when it's church time (or when it makes me look good to some) and worldly when it's to my benefit. What a checkup for me. I have some changes that need to be made...soon. Disclaimer...this blog is aimed at noone in particular, (well, except me.). Promise, cross my heart. It was more convicting to me than anything. Please don't read into it about who I'm judging and who I'm trying to act better than. I'm not. If the shoe fits and you feel it's time for a change in your life, good for you---put the shoes on and walk around in them. If you get a laugh out of what Corbin said and nothing more, good for you. I'm glad I could make you laugh :)

So...now we're home. There is schoolwork to be done. Ansleigh volunteered (I promise!) to mop the kitchen floor this morning. She threw in a cabinet cleaning for good measure. Skyla helped me scrub the toilet and the tub, mop, and refill the toilet paper holder. She has appointed herself as MeMa's new housekeeper. Ivy came in and volunteered (again, promises..no coaxing!) to mop the bathroom floor. I let her. And I'm okay with that. :) On to fixing lunch for the motley crew and doing some more laundry. :)

Education from a 7 year old

So, it's not profound....but I have thought about it about 10 times this weekend, so I thought it warranted a blog.

I was doing laundry (and if you would ever like to come help me with this mountainous task, feel free. :)). Like a good launderer, I always check pants pockets. One time I found a note from my hubby telling me how much he loved me, placed there right before I collected his clothes for the washer...how sweet :) Most recently, I was washing Corbin's clothes. He is not nearly as careful as my Casey is about cleaning out his pockets, so I wanted to make sure that no clothes (or washing machines) got ruined by a stray marker or ink pen.

From my ventures in the laundry room, I have surmised that you can learn a lot about people by what they keep in their pockets. Priorities, goals, even philosophies on life. These, you'll find, are much different in the lives of children than they are in the older folks' lives. In Corbin's pockets this particular go-round? Well.....

A die cut of a holly leaf: Every day is a holiday. Daily life should never be mundane; the day doesn't have to have a national holiday attached to it to be special; rather, celebrations are in the eye of the beholder. Find a reason to make the day special.

A rubber ball: Never be too busy or too old to play. There is a time and a place, of course, but in practically every situation there is an occasion to revert back to younger years. Make a game of household chores. Make a scavenger hunt out of filing. Create a fun lab in the kitchen while making brownies. Dogpile your husband with the kiddos while you're getting ready to leave (yes, we did....and we learned that from now on, all dogpiles will happen in the middle of the bed so as not to have small children rolling off of said pile onto the floor...)

Four slips of perfume/cologne samplers from Kohl's: Always smell good. That seems pretty simple, but it escapes people at times. Good hygiene is just good practice. And it's not bad on the ladies, either (we walked in to Eric and Marie's the other night and Marie and Ashley both commented on how good my Casey smelled....and he does. Like 99.8% of the time. Yummy.) :)

A white ninja figurine: Always be ready to fight for what is important...or go incognito as necessary. :)