The danger of following the wrong person

We took a hike up the mountain.  I was assured that the view would be worth it.  Since I was the old lady, I was well behind the young folk...alone.  It was all about the climb and I wasn't in a hurry.  I came around one particular corner, there was a family hiking too.  I chose to follow them, assuming that they knew where they were going.  I thought it was a little strange that we were going down when I thought we were supposed to be going up.  After a short while, the man turned around and said "I guess that this was not a short cut".  Now I was farther behind the crowd and had to up again.  If I had followed on the path and not followed the person that caught my attention, I would have been saved the extra difficulty.
We do the same spiritually, don't we?  We are distracted from what we know to be right. We must continually remind ourselves that God's plan to follow for our lives is this:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (Prov 3:5-7)
The majesty of God's handiwork was breathtaking as you can see in our picture.  If I had not adjusted my path, I would not have experienced the beauty God had for me.  Be careful who you follow.

Just Another Day for Grilling?

          

Now, I love any reason to fire up the grill.  I always do on these summer holidays.  This year, even with no one at home, it was the same.  My heart was grateful.  Grateful for my Savior.  Grateful for my country.  Grateful for those who paid the ultimate price for my freedom. 

Two stories have had profound impact on me this week.  One young lady, Meriam Ibrahim just gave birth to her second child in a Sudanese prison.  She is in prison for not denouncing her Faith.  I can't imagine her suffering.  Unless there is intervention, she will die for her faith.  I feel so soft and pampered in comparison.  Heavenly Father, please comfort this mother and her children.  Strengthen her husband.  Impress those in charge to do what is right concerning these American babies and their mom.  Please remind me to pray for them and be eternally grateful for the freedom to express my faith.  Thank you for dying so that we can have life.

Michael Murphy....I have heard of Murph the protector, but did not until this week read his story.  He knowingly exposed himself to the enemy to call for help so that his men would have a chance at survival. I plan to watch His story and Lone Survivor to see the whole story of this human that willingly gave his life for my earthly freedom.

Yes, I grilled but I also remembered.  

Road Trip

Jimmy finally got a break from Sysco, so we decided to pack the car and visit Briana.  She lives in Boone and didn't come home when the others were here for spring break.  The crowd that visited for spring break left a ton of stuff so we decided to add Lynchburg to the visitation list so we could drop their things off.  As we were getting everything together, Jo called and said her car was dead in the church parking lot, so now we add Charleston to the list of places that we will drive to.  Of course, it isn't the places we are going to see, it is the people.  It seems as though, pieces of my heart can be found along the east coast.

First stop was Boone, NC.  Briana took us to the Billy Graham Museum.  What impressed me most about this museum was not that it was a monument to a man, but the cross.  The focus is what the cross represents; transformation.  Billy Graham was used by God through many very painful events in our history.  He spoke to many world leaders.  He spoke to crowds in several foreign countries.  His message remained the same:  lives are changed at the foot of the cross.  

Briana works for Samaritan's Purse and arranged a tour for us.  What a remarkable ministry.  It is amazing what God can do with mortals when they are willing to be used.  Everything done by this ministry reflects the activity of the Good Samaritan in the Bible.  He used his own resources to meet the needs  of a man that could give him nothing.  This is God's love.  When these people see God's love in their time of desperation, they often receive His gift of salvation.  I am so grateful that Briana has the opportunity to work with this team of incredible people.

Our next stop was Lynchburg.  This is place is, for lack of a better word, AWESOME.  Like Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell has been used of God to share the gospel with scores of people.  When ever he spoke, he boldly shared the Gospel.  Also like Billy Graham's ministry, Jerry's torch has passed to his sons who are continuing in their fathers' footsteps.  It is so incredible to see so many young people in love with God.  It is beautiful to see how Andrea's dreams and desires have changed during her time here.  We have met a great group of young people that we love dearly.  Our prayer list is longer and our lives are richer.

Now we are on the road to Charleston, where one year ago I said one of the most painful goodbyes.  I put my sweet Joanna on a plane to San Antonio, TX.  Our lives were all changed.  We are very proud of her.

Looking Back at 2013

 

Christmas 2012

This time last year we had an idea of what 2013 had in store for the us, but those ideas fell short of reality.  This is a long story as our year was very eventful.  There are many words, but many pictures as well.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, this blog is actually a novel.
I had been teaching at Ridgeview High School for 1 month and returned to work in January.  I was teaching Physical Science and one Chemistry class.  In order to continue teaching, I had to take and pass the Chemistry certification exam.  The price for the exam was $200 and a job, so there was a lot riding on my knowledge of a subject I took nearly 25 years ago.  I studied and studied and studied.  When I finished the exam, my hands were shaking uncontrollably until they handed me the paper with the ugly picture and PASSED below it.  This school year I am teaching only Chemistry (honors and standard).  I have never only taught one subject.  I feel quite inadequate in the company of teachers with whom I work.  I do enjoy the Chemistry.  Biology is such a broad subject.  Sometimes it seemed that you bounce around from topic to topic without continuity.  Chemistry seems to be simpler in that it builds on foundational concepts and progresses logically.

January, Briana and Andrea left for Liberty. Briana was beginning her last semester in college. Joanna was sworn in to the United States Air Force.  This was the beginning of many changes.  

There was the always fun Run for Shelter.  Sadly, I had been sick and recorded my first ever DNF.  For everyone else, it was a great run.

The Absentees

The Family

In February, Joanna turned 19.  It was getting close to her March 26 BMT date.  I ran my fifth Ortega River Run.

 

 March, Krista continues her tennis season. Briana and Andrea came home for spring break with a crew of friends.  This was a very enjoyable time.  Meeting their friends was awesome.  I am grateful that my girls have chosen godly friends.  They have been a nice addition to our family. 

Trinity Tennis team winning the Camden County tournament

Friends having fun

Andrea, Emma and I before the Gate

Finishing is always and accomplishment, but nicer with someone special.

Her training squadron

 

In processing in Charleston

 

March 25, we head to Charleston to put Joanna on a plane to San Antonio, TX.  My heart hurts and I tear up as I think about it.  It is not at all like sending the kids to college.  You still have contact with the kids at college.  Sending Briana to Argentina is the closest comparison. We had very little contact with her during her time there.  That was very difficult, but while she was in a foreign country, she was with Godly people.  This was not necessarily the case with the United States Air Force.  We talked to her only three times in the first seven weeks.  I had no idea what she was dealing with.















April left me with only one child in the house.  It was an adjustment for all of us.  Krista was very unhappy with the situation.  She wishes she was the oldest child so she could leave everyone behind instead of being left.  She finished a great tennis season by winning her district and playing awesome at her first state tournament.

Making her opponent cry

Winning Doubles against Episcopal

First State Tournament

 

May, wow what a month.  Briana graduated from college, with honors.  It was such an enjoyable weekend for the whole family.

Missing Joanna away at BMT

Celebrate

Very proud of Briana

Three generations

Missing Joanna at BMT

 

After Briana's graduation, Andrea headed to Texas to work at a camp for three months.

We lost a trusted family friend in May.  We were preparing for our trip to San Antonio.  Jimmy and Briana were going to gas the car and make final preparations.  They were sitting at the red light at Crystal Springs and was hit by a Civic.  It was raining a little and the girl took the curve too quickly, hit them and rolled.  Miraculously, no one was hurt badly.  We still miss Vinny.
 

 

 

 

Our trip to Texas was otherwise uneventful.  We enjoyed the time together and I was able to study a lot of Chemistry.

 

 

 

We were there a whole day before we could see Joanna.  We spent the day in San Antonio.  We saw the Alamo.  It is beautiful and full of history.

We first saw Joanna at the Airman's Run.  All of the training squadrons run past carrying their banners and chanting.  It is very moving, given that you haven't seen your child in two months.  We were so proud to see her with her fellow Airmen.

While Joanna was gone, we were only able to talk to her a few times.  It sounded like her squadron struggled with unity.  I guess when you combine that many young girls together and try to make them act together, it can be difficult.  They were very loud and proud when we saw them here.  The coin ceremony followed the Airman Run.  This is where she officially became an Airman.  We were finally able to hug her.

 The instructor has just handed Joanna her coin.

Due to my death and dismemberment threats, I was the first to hug her.  Clearly, I wasn't the fastest one so I had to resort to baser methods of threats. 

Notice the young lady behind us.  She was Jo's wingman.  She is from Puerto Rico.  She didn't have any family members to tap her out.  I eventually tapped her out and she is now part of our extended family.

 I did finally allow everyone else a chance to hug her.

Kari came with us.  we thought we were surprising Joanna, but she already knew. 

We are so proud of our Girl.

Krista is so glad to be reunited with Joanna.

 

Once again, we are missing one.  This time it is Andrea.  She is also in Texas, just not with us.  She spent 3 months working at a camp.   

 

It rained on graduation day.  Thankfully, it wasn't during the ceremony but I didn't get many pictures of Joanna in her blues.  We spent the afternoon in San Antonio with Gisela and Joanna. 

     This is one of my favorites

 

 

After Joanna's graduation, Briana left for Boone, NC to begin her internship at Samaritan's Purse.  After her internship, she was offered an associates position. She will work in that position until July 2014.  Hopefully she will be offered a full time salaried job at that time.

Joanna was off to Gulfport MS for tech school.  Krista and I were able to visit her in July.  Andrea and Briana were able to come home for a week in August.

 

Grandma people watching in the thriving downtown of Gulfport.  Fourth of July here was quite enlightening.

Abby was able to go with us.  It was fun for the cousins to get together in a very strange city

 

In August the cousins, minus Joanna and Bubba, got together for a picture.  It has been a while since the last group shot.

Here is a nice shot with the Grandparents.  Speaking of, my dad turned 75 in September.  We all gathered to celebrate this monumental event. 

A little bit of everybody

The Aunts and Uncles

 

In October, I ran the Marine Corps HM for the fifth time.  It was very hot and humid and I logged my worst time. But as always, I am glad when I am healthy enough to cross the finish line, especially in the heat.

 

  Joanna returned home in October and was able to make a trip to Lynchburg with us. 

 

 At the Airport, Joanna just landed.  We are very glad to have her home.

 Homecoming Game

                                                    Coffee shop with good friends

 

 

November was busy with work and school.  Joanna was home most of the time.  She had duty in Charleston and spent some time with her sisters in Virginia and North Carolina.  Thanksgiving, her roommate from Tech school came to visit us for Thanksgiving.  She went black Friday shopping with Briana.  She is a pro!!!!  Once again we were missing Andrea.

 

 

Some of the cousins

Joanna and her friend Maddey  

Grandpa chilling at the kids table.  Abbey and Krista are not the youngest, but they are the ones that usually sit here.

 December was Christmas, which brings us full circle.  This time last year we had no idea that 2013 would be so full.  It has taken me all day to write about it.  The most difficult thing about 2014 will be figuring out what to do with the rest of my life.  I am sure we will settle into a new normal at some point.  Krista graduates from High School this year so I will have some adjusting to do.

 

  May all of you be blessed in 2014.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the whole gang

                                                The girls and our new friend Vanessa