Finding Joy in the Journey: May 2009

Sunday, May 31, 2009

You know what they say about big feet....

.... long shoelaces! Haha, I had to throw that one in there.

I may allow my child to run around naked if he so chooses, and most days you can find him in a diaper and not much else (come on, he's a Hawaiian baby!) but one thing that can never be said about me is that I skimped on Noah's shoe selection. We should buy stock in Pedipeds and Robeez Tredz because I have bought him so many. Noah has about 3-4 pairs that he maybe wore once if at all. Talk about money down the drain...

In this last month alone, Noah went from a big foot to a gigantic foot for a 15 month old! Now, we expected that he'd have some big feet because Dan and my dad have size 14 feet, but we never thought they'd be so big so soon. Noah went from a good size 5 to a size 7 1/2 in a matter of weeks. That's the size many 3 year olds wear! Again, here is the reminder that he's only 15 months!

But you know what? Given what we were anticipating when I was pregnant with Noah (for those who didn't know, we had been told he had 2 clubbed feet but Noah was prayed for and was completely healed in utero. We had monthly ultrasounds and saw month after month that we would have a baby who would have to undergo casting and surgeries to correct the defect. Praise God he was healed!), I will gladly continue to buy him shoes because I rejoice in his perfect - and incredibly LARGE - feet.

(Check back in later tonight - I will post a photo of him kickin' it in his new shoes)

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Lazy Day at the Pool

Pools in Hawaii are just not like the pools anywhere else in the United States. This pool - just several miles down from our house - has a sandy shoreline with water that doesn't get more than 1' deep, salt-water with chlorine to sanitize it, fruity drink service (or you can brown bag it like we did!), and a playground right next to it. Stacie and I took our boys there today and had such a good time. I really love that girl and baby David is becoming like a 2nd son to me - we both discipline each other's boys without a second thought! That's how you know you are truly friends!

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Pool Day at Ko'Olina

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Friday, May 29, 2009

Moving Purgatory

Sheer exhaustion caused by the Air Force moving process has begun to set in. I go to bed entirely too late thinking of all we have to do and all we have going on and I wake up entirely too early thinking of all we have to do and all we have going on. We are officially down into the last 4 weeks of living in Hawaii and all of the sudden, our lives have become so insane.

We have our packing date which will take 5 days before it is all packed and shipped the 5,000 miles to Louisiana, we have our tickets off island for the end of the month but they will only take us as far as Dallas (thus, we have to buy tickets to D.C. then to Alabama), we still have to make arrangements to get both pets off island in 2 weeks (thankfully Maria's going to my mom and dad for 2 months and Piper is going to my sweet sister-in-law, Annie and Dan's brother, Todd for a while in Pennsylvania and then to Dan's parent's home in Virginia... wow, lots to coordinate), we got a date to ship our Camry off island and that will take 30 days to get to Dallas (150 miles from where we are moving), we are starting to advertise our Pathfinder, I am having to organize ALL of my make-up, toiletries and things that the movers won't pack so I can pack them myself and avoid throwing hundreds of dollars worth of good stuff away, we are taking inventory of our valuables along with photos in the event one of our shipments gets stolen (like it did when we left South Carolina for Hawaii... not cool), am I frustrating you yet? If not, just email me and I can go on and on with other things we have facing us!

Moving from and to Hawaii is for the birds; no one looks forward to the process. It is so far from the Mainland and there is so much to do - it is considered an "overseas assignment" for us. On top of all we have going on, we are going to Maui in a week so we have my friend Stacie housesitting (gotta organize for that trip), we have many dinners with friends planned so we can see everyone before we leave, going away lunches and dinners, and, brace yourself...Dun, dun, dun: NOAH BEALL HANGING ON MY LEG AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY!

If you will reference my previous post "Trying Not To..." you will see that my stress levels have only increased. I just want to shut down, go to bed and wake up in our new home in Louisiana with everything unpacked and organized. Pray for us!!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

A Place to Sit

Everyone needs a place to rest their "weary bones" (as my Mom-Mom used to say). Noah Beall is no exception. Now, he's got his milk, his snack, his "Backyardigans" or "Jack's Big Music Show," his ukulele (Hawaiian guitar), his books and... his very own lounge chair. He's at an age now where everything that is even remotely his size, he tries to sit on or in it. We had been looking at the 'anywhere chairs' at Pottery Barn Kids and finally decided to go for it and bought him his very own. He's in hog-heaven!

His best bud, David (my girl friend, Stacie's 13 month old) has also really enjoyed playing in it. They were caught curled up together yesterday several times ;) But of course, they split before we could catch them in a photo together. Typical boys.

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Noah's New Chair

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Just Us

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: beach day

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Get ready for a huge flooding of photo updates as we gear up to leave our beloved Hawaii. Now that orders are here, things are rapidly getting in order for our move in less than a month. And oh my... there is SO much to do.

So don't get annoyed with all of the photos and updates of our fun adventures before we move because once we have our home packed up, there will be about a month or more of zero photos and updates from me! I will miss writing but won't have a computer and will be "homeless" and traveling the U.S. visiting friends and family before we hit Louisiana to find a home!

Here is a short clip of Noah and me "jumping" in the bouncy castle this weekend. He could NOT keep his balance and was falling all over the place - but he laughed so hard! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWXW6OnQKgk

On another note: is anyone having a hard time viewing the blog? I got an email from a friend who reads it regularly and she said that a few times, her computer froze and she had to restart it. Let me know if that is happening with anyone else (just leave a comment) or if it is working fine. I hope it isn't freezing everyone's computers!!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Service

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This weekend has been a long one. Noah and I went to a playdate earlier in the week and both ended up with a raging cold/cough that really did us in (well, me more) for a good 72 hours. Then after Dan's 2 weeks straight of working, he finally got some time off. But within 2 days, we had committed ourselves to 5 PARTIES across this island! Whew. We are worn out - especially Noah who continues to sneeze everywhere. Poor baby.

But despite the back-to-back events of the weekend, there is so much to be thankful for. First of all, we got our orders that make official our transfer to Louisiana so that is an answered prayer. Now we are in the sticks of the moving process with tonnnnns left to do yet. But, we are able to start really scheduling the move, flights, out-processing appointments.

This weekend has also allowed us some much needed time with friends. We have been able to celebrate those we love most here on the island: my girlfriend, Lori's little girl, Tessa, turned 1 and had a fabulous island style birthday party at beautiful Bellows Beach on the east coast. Then we went to spend some time with Dan's work friends and their families. And today, after church, I was able to help celebrate my dear friend, Christen, as she prepares for the birth of her firstborn, Lexi (due in September). We have been truly blessed in our 3 years here with friends who really do love us.

Today in church, our sweet pastor called for those serving in the military to stand up - along with their spouses - so the congregation could lay hands on them as we prayed for the service members. Of course, Dan and I stood along with several other couples. It was so moving to have hands of fellow believers laid on us as they lifted us up in prayer. I often take for granted that my sweet husband gets up at the most random of hours, puts on the uniform of an active duty service member and goes into a job that is very stressful.... and NEVER complains. Not once. He just serves and for that, we should all be grateful.

Memorial Day isn't about politics or where we stand on this current president's policies; it is about being thankful for those who have given all that they have in honor of our country. Aside from being a mother, wearing the uniform of an active duty service member was the absolute highest honor that will ever be afforded me. Serving this country both as an Air Force officer and now an officer's wife is extremely humbling and I am very grateful for the freedoms that my family experiences because of the brave men and women of this country: both on the front lines and on the home front.

Today, I am thankful for my brave husband, for our friends and loved ones who have sacrificed so much and continue to sacrifice for this great nation. Soon, Dan will inevitably be heading overseas to once again fight for the freedoms we hold so dear. When that day comes, Noah and I will be very proud to help him pack his bags and stay behind to pray for him.

My sweet friend, Meryl, is about to send her husband Rob off for 6 months and I thank her for her service in Virginia as she not only stays behind to raise their boy, Rowen, but she does what she does best: save lives as a doctor (she's one incredible woman! I encourage you to read her awesome blog.)

You will never understand what it means to be thanked for your service. So today, I encourage you to thank a member of the military or a family member of a military man or woman who has sacrificed so much. I cannot describe the gratitude one feels when they are thanked for their service.

Friday, May 22, 2009

1 Month Left

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: fun boy may 09

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We still have no orders but now that Dan's major exercise is over, we are down to the business of MOVING. We literally are down to 4 weeks... with no pack-up date at all. However, we did get a date to ship our Camry off island to LA yet we still have to sell the SUV (boo - but that means new car when we get to LA: yay!). We also were able to book a luxury suite (chargeable to the Air Force!) at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for our last 2 weeks on island. That will be awesome to look forward to since we ship our animals back to the Mainland mid-June and then ship our car and pack up our earthly belongings in a matter of 3 days.

We also are going to Maui the first week of June and cannot wait! We are staying in an incredible resort there for 3 nights/4 days, are going to spend major amounts of time on the beach and go to the Maui Aquarium. In addition to our luxury resort experiences in Maui and Oahu, we are going to be spending a lot of time on the beaches for Dan to surf, as well as spend a ton of time with our dear friends - all of which we will miss way too much. Thus is life...

Noah is at the perfect age for us to really enjoy him and being in Hawaii for one more month. He loves to go to the beach, play and really enjoys being outside here. And for how hard he plays, he sleeps just as hard! I have been worried because he's been sleeping upwards of 15-16 hours a day total; but I think it is because he's got a huge molar (his last of the 1 year molars) popping through and he's been growing so much. This growth spurt has taken him well into 2-3 year clothing and almost size 7 shoes (that is HUGE for 15 months). So, 2 naps a day + 12-13 hours straight at night: BRING IT ON!

Here are some sweet photos from the past few days.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Pepsi and Chatter

Dan's been able to get home before Noah goes to bed (he's such an early bedtime kinda guy!) which is really unusual. Dan's been having to work 2 weeks straight, 14 hour shifts so he's been getting home at around 6 pm allowing us all some time to hang as a family.

With the long hours, Dan loves to come home and have a beer (or 2 or more!) and Noah, wanting to do everything his daddy does, wants to have one too. So, we put a cold Pepsi - or whatever is cold in the fridge - into one of Dan's koozies and without even having to open it, Noah pretends that he's drinking a big boy drink! After every fake "sip," he lets out a long and loud "mmmmmm" - which he's started doing for everything he puts in his mouth.

As you all know, Noah is a talker. He's got his own language and many are amazed how much the kid talks and how many words and phrases he already uses at 15 months. In the video, you can hear him saying "come here, Beaux" (he's still calling every dog "Beaux" since our trip home in March).

He's amazing: he says so many things like "ooo, pwetty" when he sees something he likes; "cheese," "peas" still for "please," "dank oooo" for "thank you," "kitty, kitty," "bah" for his bottle or cup, the list goes on and on. Dan calls him the "Fifth Element" because in that movie, Milla Jovovich's character literally has her own language and we are daily learning that Noah does too.

Here's the link and I promise to get some more footage that shows him talking more than this one does: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcjhrmWxK5Q

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Cute Childrens Clothing

Everyone knows I am from the South. And it is expected of us "good Southern moms" to dress our kids in smockings and monogrammed, seersucker outfits year round. However, I have been living in Hawaii where on our best day around the house, Noah is barefoot and in a diaper (that he will never leave on!).

We live on an island where if you have a wall unit A/C then you are lucky. And while we have 3 wall unit A/Cs, we refuse to pay $350+ a month in electricity bills because we don't want to sweat. So, our child lives in whatever clothing makes him comfortable and cool. Yet when we move back to the South at the end of next month, changes have to be made. A barefoot, diapered child tends to lead one to believe that the parents are negligent and don't clothe their child on purpose.... Wal-Mart baby, anyone?!

A while back, I noticed the status update of a friend of a friend on Facebook. She said she had just bought her little boy the cutest monogrammed shortalls online for ridiculously cheap prices. I always promised myself that I would NEVER be one of those moms who dressed her little boy as though he were a sissy anywhere past age 2. However, I have moved that age up to 2 1/2 because I have been living in Hawaii and haven't had a chance to do what all good Southerners do!

Anyway, I bookmarked that site and have browsed it several times with the intention of ordering Noah some outfits yet never really had a reason to actually purchase anything. So tonight, I perused the clearance section of this site and ended up getting 3 monogrammed shortalls and a blue/white piped shirt for less than $100. That is ridiculously cheap for those mommies out there who want to dress their kiddos in cute monogrammed outfits but don't want to have to sell your diamond rings in order to do so!!

If you are in the market for adorable smockings and monogrammed clothing for your little ones but want to shop within a budget, then click here. They are having a big Memorial Day sale right now too that discounts 20% on all regularly priced clothing. Check it out!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Bedtime Story

I just put our boy down for the night yet the tears that were flowing because of the story that I read to him refused to stop. Noah loves to pick out his bedtime story and usually it is either "Courdoroy" (from Aunt Annie!) or "A Pig's Tale" (one of my 2 favorites from my childhood - my Mom-Mom used to read it to me). But tonight, Noah chose one from the "top shelf" where the most special books are placed. **Note: those previously mentioned 2 books are also from the top shelf... Noah's got great reading taste!**

Noah's Grandma Carol (Dan's mom) is a school librarian in Virginia so we can count on the best of the best children's books to be given to her first (and so far, only) grandson. One of the sweet books she gave Noah for his 1st birthday was "On the Night You Were Born" by Nancy Tillman. Tonight, that was his pick for his bedtime story.

Dan finished bathtime and Noah and I were ready to read as we settled into the rocking chair for his bedtime story and prayers. Let me tell you: that book is by far one of the most precious, touching bedtime books a mother can read to her child. Here are a couple of excerpts:

"On the night you were born,
the moon smiled with such wonder
that the stars peeked in to see you
and the night wind whispered
'life will never be the same.'
Because there had never been anyone like you... ever in the world."

The book ends with the most touching part of the story:

"Heaven blew every trumpet
and played ever horn
on the wonderful, marvelous
night you were born."

I was becoming very emotional as I read that to Noah because if I ever had to put into words the emotions I felt on the night he came into this world, they would sound a lot like the words in the conclusion of that sweet story.

Thank you, Carol, for sharing your wonderful taste with our Noah. I know that the books you give to him that we read to him daily will help shape him into the confident and loved man of God that we all pray for him to become. Thank you for your love of the written word and thank you for giving Noah one of the most precious books that we will ever read to him. This story made my night!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Beauty

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Friday, May 15, 2009

Never Alone

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction." -- Antoine de Saint Exupery

There are limited people in our lives who will vow to stand beside us when no one else will. But I am certain that while I may feel beaten down, rejected, sad, and unworthy, every morning I wake up beside a man who adores me and who would lay down his life for mine.

My whole life, I had one overwhelming desire and that was to be swept off of my feet for a lifetime.... The heated passion that Dan and I immediately felt for one another was eventually joined by the spiritual connection that only occurs when "two become one."

When we wed on October 15, 2005, I was certain that my life couldn't become any richer. Then we found out that we were expecting Noah. I loved Noah from the moment I conceived him, but no one could prepare me for the waves of the most intense love imaginable that were about to descend upon me.

I hold my little boy now and breathe him in and it is in those quiet, peaceful moments alone with him that I am confident that I had never known selfless love until I became his mom. The way that he trusts me with complete abandon is beyond my comprehension; I am his entire world and Noah is truly the love of my and my husband's life. With no questions asked, I would give life and limb for my child.

Tonight was a hard night for me and my husband knew that. He just let me be and didn't require explanation or words. Dan just came over to me while I was washing dishes, wrapped his arms around me and whispered "I am sorry you are hurting." He didn't need to know exactly why nor did he feel like he had to do something; he just reassured me that he loved me and my hurt was his hurt. To be loved that completely goes beyond anything I ever expected as a little girl.

When all is said and done and everyone else on this earth might abandon me, I know that my boys require me; they need me. My family coupled with that handful of friends that have been my rock for decades now reassure me that I am indeed a blessed, blessed woman. And even better, I have the absolute certainty that when even my husband, my son, my family, and my closest friends have made their way to heaven - be it before me - that I am never, ever truly alone.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Trying not to....

... pull my hair out.

I don't think unless you have been in the military and have suffered the lack of organization that occurs when one is required to move that you can possibly understand the amount of C-R-A-P that goes into a military relocation. This is something that we military families face every 3-4 years and while it is extremely exciting - and the life we have chosen - it can be extremely frustrating. When it is from an "overseas" location such as Hawaii, the details get even more tedious.

One thing we know to be certain is that we are moving from Hawaii in June and that we are moving to Louisiana. However, we don't have orders yet and orders are those crucial documents that authorizes all the pieces to a military move to fall into place. Without orders, you have no authority to book out processing appointments, flights, lodging, or even an appointment to have movers come to your house to pack up all of your earthly belongings.

If I went into the list of what we have to do between now and when we arrive to Louisiana, I can promise it would stress you out. But here I am on a Wednesday morning, unable to do anything since we don't have orders and so I blog about how frustrated I am.

Here's a small list of what we have facing us: we have to sell our Pathfinder because the AF only pays to ship one car so we chose to ship the Camry. That means that we will have to deal with all the mess that goes into selling a car (parking it on a lot, bill of sale, test drives) and then when we sell it and have shipped the Camry before we move, we will be minus any transportation. We have to decide what we want to go into the suitcases that we will live out of for the next 3 months before our stuff arrives to Louisiana. We have to book flights and make arrangements for our animals on both ends of the ocean. We have to get flights off the island booked for me, Dan and Noah as well as then buy more tickets so we can go to Virginia to visit Dan's family after seeing mine in Alabama. We have to stay indefinitely in hotels here in Hawaii once our stuff gets packed and shipped and then stay with family then stay in more hotels once in Louisiana because we have to buy a house AND a car when we move there. On top of the logistics of moving, Dan is in the middle of a huge exercise with work that affords him zero out-processing time so we are in limbo even longer till he's done with that at the end of the month.

I wake up every day and stare into my freezer wondering what in the WORLD am I going to do with all of our food that we can't ship, or our cleaning supplies, or lotions, make up, toiletries... that's a lot of money down the drain when you can't pack up all the liquids that you have stocked up on in the last few years!

And moving is quite emotional. I have several dear friends here on Island that I will struggle saying goodbye to in June. I am not good at goodbyes at all... especially when you know you will likely never return to the place you have called home for 3 years. We love our church, too, so that will be especially painful to say goodbye to the friends we have there.

I struggle with not stressing out too much about things and I think I am getting much better than I used to be. I know that inevitably, this will all work out. But the minute details that go into moving - and moving with a very active 15 month old - is so daunting to me. I am having to wake up every day and make a choice to not worry. So please pray that I can continue to remain calm and just get everything done that needs attention.

And doesn't it seem sometimes that when you have so much on your plate, everyone begins asking more of you!? Please pray that our friends and family will also be sensitive to the amount of stress we are undergoing in these next few months. It is a big responsibility making sure you say goodbye to all your friends and spend enough time with each of them while also trying to schedule visits with both sides of the family and accommodating everyones busy schedules so we can make sure we see everyone when it is good for THEM as well. Not to mention the amount of expenses that are facing us in this move! Plane tickets to visit families and friends and shipping animals halfway across the world are NOT CHEAP!!! AHHH!

I didn't mean to stress anyone of you readers out at all today. But this is what is going on with our family right now and as each day comes and goes, we are one day closer to the moving process that we are not ready for. There is a family across the street moving the exact same time we are (end of June) and they have already had their belongings packed and shipped as well as their cars. They are living out of their suitcases and in hotels as tourists till they move. I just told Dan last night that I am going to the grocery store each week and acting like we are never leaving this place!!

Prayers and encouragement sent our way are much appreciated by this frazzled mom.

Monday, May 11, 2009

A Sick Mother's Day!

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This weekend for all intents and purposes was a good one. I had so much fun at the 14th Annual Aunty Belle's Mother's Day Bash in Waianae. I went with my girlfriend Stacie. Her grandmother, Tutu Belle, got mad at her husband 14 years ago and said "If you won't celebrate Mother's Day for me, then I will!" And ever since then, she's thrown a party for her women family and closest friends. They have amazing food, drink, music, games, and they always honor a special mother as well as raise money for charity. I wore the purple shirt that Stacie gave me to wear because I am now a part of her family and her sweet grandmother considers me an adopted grandchild.

We had plans to get up yesterday and go to church, go to lunch with Stacie, David and Baby David and relax yesterday afternoon. However, I woke up feeling terrible: nausceous, weak, and I thought it was just from a lack of sleep. But by the time we had taken our Mother's Day photos, gotten allll the way to church, Dan looked at me and said "We need to turn around." By the time the 3 of us got home, Dan and I couldn't run to the bathroom fast enough before throwing up. He had a fever and was so weak and I spent the rest of the day getting worse and vomiting more. It was AWFUL! Noah felt fine except for a little diarreah but we couldn't wait for him to go to bed so we could too! We put him down a little before 7 and by 8:30 pm, it was lights out for K & D Beall.

Dan went on to work this morning and I feel a tad better. But I am still extremely weak and achey. Dan called to say he's coming home early because he's still feeling bad and he knows I need some help today with Noah as I recover. (This is why living close to family comes in handy at times like these! I need a grandma or an aunt to come rescue me). Please pray that Noah doesn't get this virus - it was miserable for us yesterday and we are adults. I can't imagine him feeling that bad. Don't feel too sorry for me: I woke up this morning to a precious card and some Jello made with love that Dan left for me before he went to work! And on Wednesday night, Dan is taking me out to a fabulous restaurant where we have reservations while Stacie stays with Noah after he goes to bed. I can't wait!

Here are some of the photos taken on Saturday at the Mother's Day bash and then yesterday morning before we headed out the door and ALMOST made it to church! I did tell Dan that even though we were super sick, it was the first mother's day that I felt like a real MAMA. This time last year, I was at my sister's law school graduation with a 2.5 month old in Virginia and without my husband. I felt like a machine who was only needed to change diapers, feed Noah and be there when he cried (constantly). What a difference a year makes!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Dear Billy

Years ago when I was a middle schooler in Troy, Alabama, I met a guy named Billy Atchinson. He was an active member in the college ministry at First Baptist Church where I was an active member in the youth group. Billy was always part of our Disciple Nows and was a great mime (facepaint included!). He is so theatrical, funny, creative and on fire for Christ. I am not sure when it was that I first met Billy but he quickly endeared himself to my family somehow! He is a hilarious guy. Full of life and love for the Lord. We always knew that Billy would marry a great girl and have many fun kids.

I lost touch with him through the years but recently crossed paths with him and his family when I discovered their blog through other friends' blogs. I have spent the last few nights reading back to last July 2008 when their lives changed forever and have shed many tears for them. They were blessed with 4 beautiful babies and their oldest daughter, Alaina (4), contracted meningitis and within 24 hours and without any warning, she went on to Heaven. Her mom, Hope (Billy's wife), was the one who found her the next morning and had to perform CPR.

Reading back on their blog and seeing how God has been leading them on the journey through the valley of grief is heartwrenching. I have been reminded through their story that life is SO short and every minute with our babies and with our husbands and families are so important and precious.

I encourgage you to read through their blog if you want to be inspired to love God even more through the storms of life; theirs is a story to be admired and it is incredibly inspiring.

http://billyandhopeatchison.blogspot.com/

Their blog is also on my blog roll on the left side under "Along the Road."

New Camera

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A new camera is so much fun! It seems to provide a fresh pair of eyes to see the beauty and brilliance right in front of you all over again. I went ahead today and splurged on a new camera. As you all know, we take a TON of photos and the point-and-shoot Sony 7.1 megapixels had done a semi-decent job these past 2 years. But twice we have had the tracking come off within the lens so the camera has jammed and the only way to get it to work again is to send it back to the company. Yuck.

So I did some research and polled some of my mommy-photographer friends and decided to go for it. Normally, researching is not my job; Dan loves to research and research... and research a product and then after several months, he will get around to buying it. But I don't operate like that when it comes to cameras.

After Noah's 1st nap of the day, we loaded up and went to the massive Navy Exchange mall here on Island. It is like a Macy's for military members only - and it is tax free. I strolled into the camera section and right into a demonstration of Sony's newest and coolest camera. The Sony rep was there and was showing it to another elderly gentleman when I walked up. Then another man came over and within 5 minutes of telling us about this camera (coupled with the incredible price and it being tax free), we were all in line to purchase our own. There were 3 left in stock in the store so we all lucked out.

I thought Dan would be upset with me for being impulsive, but surprisingly, he was really excited to see that I had done my homework and had bought the best that was out there in our price range. So, if you haven't been innundated with Noah and Family photos yet, get ready! It will be a photography session like none other this next month and a half that we live in Hawaii.

These are a few of the photos I took within the first few hours of trying to figure out how to work the new addition. The flowers (plumbago, hibiscus, and Birds of Paradise) are all on our back patio and all of which I planted. I am very proud of the vibrant, brilliant colors that have come from my not-so-usually-green-thumb!

Contagious Laughing!

There is nothing like a good belly laugh. Tonight, we got a few minutes of Noah really laughing at his daddy on camera. He's such a ham!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Face for Friday

This redheaded, blue-grey eyed boy has a face to be treasured. I am so thankful he's mine.

Thought for Thursday

I don't normally do "daily themed" blog entries, but I think that there are just too many random thoughts running through my very active brain to not share them with you.

My whole life, my mom has taught me and my sister to "plead the blood of Jesus" over ourselves and our families and our daily comings/goings. I mean, I have been doing that since I was about 6 or 7 years old; starting our day or our trips, whatever by pleading the blood of Jesus was just the norm for me.

Just today, I stumbled across one of the most wonderful articles on WHY we are to plead that precious blood over ourselves, our loved ones, our lives. I just couldn't resist sharing this incredible article derived from http://www.bible-knowledge.com/bible-verse-for-terrorist-attacks.html and written by Michael Bradley:
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Some of you already know how to Plead the Blood of Jesus over the main areas of your life they want you want God's maximum protection on. In my opinion, Pleading the Blood of Jesus as an offensive weapon is the most powerful form of offensive prayer you can use to get God's maximum protection on you.

However, I did find in my battle verse system one rather long powerful verse that really shows how God the Father can protect His own from heavy attacks from the enemy. I'm going to go ahead and give you this verse in this article, as it will help give you knowledge that God can and will protect His own.

However, to get God's protection on you, there is something that you have to do on your end - and that something is to "pray it on you." You have to "plead" the Blood of Jesus in order to get God to protect you and you have to pray some of these other battle verses on you in order to move God to want to protect you.

Many Christians do not get this type of divine protection on them because they have either never specifically asked God to do it for them or they have never "pled" the blood or "prayed" the battle verses on them to get God to activate His protection on them.

The Bible says in James 4:2: "Yet you do not have because you do not ask." In other words, if you don't ask God to do something specific for you, then He may not do it for you because you simply have not asked Him to do it. Sometimes it is literally that simple!

For those of you who may be afraid of what may be coming down the road - really grab a hold of this powerful battle verse. This verse is very specific in that it will show you that God can give you His maximum protection right in the middle of a war zone.

Each Christian should be doing the following now that we have officially entered into both natural and spiritual warfare:

Plead the Blood of Jesus over your bodies, your houses, your cars, all of your loved ones who don't know how to Plead the Blood on themselves, and over all your office buildings if you are currently employed.
Take the following battle verse, "quote parts of it back to God the Father," and ask Him to give you the protection that this verse is talking about. Tell Him that you will believe in every part of this verse and that you will have full faith and belief to accept the protection that He will give you as promised by this verse. Tell God that you will stand on the wording that is in this verse and that you will have full faith and belief that He will protect you from these types of attacks in the future.

God loves it when you quote His own Word back to Him. This shows Him that you are doing your homework, that you believe in His Word, and that you are also willing to take a strong and powerful stand based upon what His Word is telling you to do.

This is putting your faith into action. God will move mightily on your behalf whenever you put your faith and belief in Him into action. Peter does not walk on water until he puts his faith into action by stepping out of the boat and actually starts to walk on the water. Then the miracle occurs.

Please notice that some of the words in the following battle verse really do apply to our current situation. It says that God will deliver you from "perilous pestilence." It says that we are not to be afraid of the terror by night or the arrows that fly by day.

Not to be afraid of the "pestilence that walks in darkness" could help us in the event of any type of biological attack. This verse also says that God will keep any plague from coming near our houses.

It also says, rather graphically, that God will protect you even though a "thousand may fall at your side." This means that God can protect you right in the middle of an actual attack.

There are plenty of incredible God-stories coming out about how numerous people were directed by God in the two World Trade Centers to get out before the buildings started to crumble. God did protect some of His own right in the middle of that attack - just like this verse says!

This verse also tells us that God will give us His angels to take charge of us. Now here is one big, whopper, mammoth battle verse straight from God the Father Himself. It is Psalm 91:1-16.

Also, look at the first part - Psalm 91:1. We always dial 911 for emergencies. This verse starts out at 91:1 in Psalms. Is the 911 lining up with the 91:1 on this verse? Coincidence?

Also - the first round of attacks occurred on our country on 9/11. Is the date 9/11 lining up with our emergency number of 911? If so, is God trying to tell us that we are in some type of "state of emergency?"

PSALM 91:1-16
Study the wording in this verse very, very carefully. This verse is giving us powerful revelation from God the Father on how far He can go to protect His own - even in the worse battle case scenario you could possibly imagine.

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

Conclusion
There is only one catch to being able to get this kind of divine protection on you. This kind of divine protection will only be for the people who have truly entered into a personal relationship with God the Father. Notice the following words:

1. "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

The word "dwells" is implying someone who has established a very good, close, intimate, personal relationship with God - someone who lives and walks with God on a daily basis - not just when an emergency presents itself.

He who lives and walks with God in a close, personal and active relationship will get the benefit of being able to abide under His shadow - which then means being able to be protected by God when the need will arise.

2. The next verse says:

"Because you have made the Lord ... your habitation, no evil shall befall you."

Again, the word "habitation" is implying someone who has established a close personal relationship with the Lord on a daily basis. Live and walk with God in this type of close personal relationship and then no evil will befall you.

3. The next part of the verse says:

"I will set him on high, because he has known My name."

The phrase "known my name" is also implying someone who has entered into a close personal relationship with God. You cannot really know God unless you have established a good, close, personal relationship with Him.
Establish a good, close, personal relationship with God - and then God will set you up on high and out of harm's way.

4. This verse then ends on a very powerful note:

"With long life I will satisfy him."

In other words, God will allow some of you to live a long life - protecting you from a lot of the evil of this world if you will truly enter into a close personal relationship with Him.

Michael Bradley
Bible Teaching, Commentary, and Over 150 Free Articles