Oh, So Thankful....

My husband is thousands of miles away in a foreign country currently at war with itself, I have been a "single"mom for the past 9 months, homeschooling 3, taking care of an infant, and I'd give anything for a cup of coffee and adult conversation! - but I am the most thankful I have ever been!!!

Needless to say - I miss my hubby something awful! Or maybe it did need to be said...see, if you would have asked me 3 years ago whether I missed my hubby-the answer would have been very different ! Without going into great detail and rehashing stuff that feels so far away its almost like a bad dream...lets just say that our marriage was FAR from perfect! There were times when all I could think about was how fast and how far could I run...I mean really? I could re-name myself...I always liked the name Lisa.... I could just pick up and start somewhere else and who would know? Just to have a second chance seemed so tempting...and that time I would do it right!! (wink)

I can't pinpoint one talk I heard, or which marriage retreat it was, or which piece of advice I took that really changed it all. I only really remember praying daily "Lord, change me and change my marriage. The wine has run out..."

Fast forward now, a few years later, in a different state over a thousand miles(literally) from where we started, and James in Iraq.....Nothing like a a "little" change in your life to wake you up! ( Lord...change is what I prayed for, right?)

I prayed for change and all, but wow! I just didn't think he would have to take him clear around the world to do it!!! This past 9 months I have watched how God has moved in my husbands heart. Making him and leading him into the leader of our home that He desires James to be....and molding me into the serving, help-meet that He desires of me.

What a miracle God has done in my life and in my marriage-it started 7 years ago when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And the ride ain't over yet! You could never have told either of us this part of the story and have us believe you! To be where we are now in our marriage, with our kids, and with our walks with God? Crazy talk, I tell you!

When I look back at who we were then and how I thought things could and would never change, I am in awe of the complete miracle God has poured out on my family...

When we started, things just weren't moving fast enough for me...couldn't we just profess Christianity and then be immediately changed? Well, yes and no. We desired to change, but needed guidance on how to walk that out. So God, in His infinite wisdom, stuck myself and James in a spiritual "vat", stirred the pot a bit and let it simmer for a long time(that is how you get the best flavor, right?).

And today- I am soooo very in love with James...andI stand so thankful...yes,thankful for the long nights of wondering if we could get through the next week .....thankful for the tears shed on bended knee... and thankful for the cries out to Jesus to just "replace the wine, for we have run out..." Because without those long, heart wrenching moments, I wouldn't know that He still performs miracles...I wouldn't know His powerful grace... I wouldn't know His healing touch and I wouldn't know just how blessed I am ......thank you , Lord, thank you so very much ...

Canning everything!

Did you know that you can can almost anything!? My dear friend D intro'd me into this glorious arena! I have now canned peaches, pears, green beans, pinto beans, peach jam, chili and pork and beans!!! I plan on canning enchilada sauce and more beans this week. There is nothing better then going down stairs and seeing rows of fresh preserved food!!! Not to mention the savings!! And I won't have to drudge in the cold winds of winter frequently! Lovin' that!!

Because although I love the snow-I love to LOOK at the snow while sipping hot tea and working on a project! I do not love running to the store everyday for food! My plan is to only go out for weekly milk. I will bake my bread in my handy , dandy breadmaker. And I am serioulsy contimplating using dry milk for us anyway. It is cheaper and we don't drink much milk, on the whole. That would mean I could hibernate all winter!!!Send the children out to sled down the hill(it's actually our septic mound!) and be ready inside waiting with hot chocolate and a fresh plate of cookies!!! Am I dreaming? I love it!!!!

The Nutcracker : Starring our little girl!!

C. is going to be performing in The Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet on Dec 6th!!!!! Officially she will play the part of a snowflake-unofficially: she's the star!!!!

My mom is flying up for the "debut" and we can hardly wait! The performance will be held at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN.

Until then she is practicing diligently and making great new friends!

Flowers from Iraq?

No not really-it was our 13th anniversary on the 21st and via family James sent me half dozen roses. Although, my daughter keeps asking me how daddy was able to send them from all the way over there! I tell her"with lots of love..." Ain't it the truth....

I knew I wan't gonna be good at this....

Sorry, I have been horrible with keeping up on this-but I will try again!

It has been about 5 months and, as anyone who knows me well knows,that is enough time for my whole world to change! And it has!!

We have a new baby (details to follow when the case isn't soo sensitive), we moved to our dream home, and I had a small accident and hurt my leg.

Baby doing very well, house is amazing and leg has blood clot! Two outta three ain't bad!

The fall season is once again upon us and oh wow....you guessed it ...its incrediably beautiful! I have vowed to start taking more scenic pics to share because words just don't do it justice!! I know that seems kinda loofty seeing as how I just started this again-but a girl can dream!!!

Off to get started on my privilage and duty to my family!! It's Saturday and that when "Hurricane Mom" comes through and wipes everything out and starts anew!!! Love to all!!

Spam?!

Thats right. I need to talk about this deliciously, salty staple that Minnesota calls "Spam". My daughter, C. who lives on fruit and cheese won't touch almost any other "meat" (dare I call spam that?) except this! She loves it!!! She'll eat it hot, cold, fried , boiled, basted or roasted...the girl is crazy over it! With it's REALLY high salt content, I am not sure it is any better then just buying the girl a salt lick and attaching that to my kitchen wall! So I don't buy it often , but if you are in wal-mart and happen to hear the far away shrills of a very happy little girl crying out"We get Spam?!Yeah!!! Spam!!!" don't worry, it's just us...

Who knew?

Spring is sooo here!

I grew up in the Southwest where the only two varying degrees are hot and hotter. Where grass is a serious luxury, and most of us just have pretty colored rock. Nothing wrong with that in a state where water is scarce and cacti are the natural landscape that covers those gorgeous mountains.

We moved here to Minnesota only about 18 months ago. This time last year I was back "visiting" AZ and missed this most amazing transformation of the short days of winter to the long warm days of spring! The beauty of thousands of tall majestic trees "waking up" after the dorment days of winter is overwhelming to me... Once again I feel like God is painting this huge canvas just for me... I anxiously run to meet everyday, just to get a peek, wondering what artists touches he has added today!

I am sorry if it sounds trivial for those who are used to this-but so much green, these long warm breezes that just take the edge off of the sun, and these lakes! It's all so new and sweet to me! It is not just the kids that I have to keep focused on school-I want to go outside too! I am longing to go sit on my back porch and slowly work on my cross-stitch while I sip on some sweet tea and just quitely enjoy the day with my children....yeah, I'm sorry where was I?

Is this what is called spring fever?