Recap

Pssst... guess what? I am actually posting. I had someone ask me earlier this month, if I was still going to post on my blog. I was actually offended and irritated that they thought my lack of posting for awhile meant I wasn't using it. I knew they would never understand what we are going through or that my computer did not survive the move very well, and I really shouldn't be using it now. It's the only way I can post on my blog though so I am hoping it will last long enough to finish this post.
So for those of you who have been wondering what our little family has been up to lately, let me recap.

Justin graduated from Basic Training at Ft. Benning, GA,the end of April, and was able to come home for a day and a half. We had to rush him back to Ft Gordon, GA, Easter Sunday afternoon by 3pm. We left right after Ted sang at Preacher's request and made it with 10 minutes to spare.

Then we prayed for James as he did not pass his PT to graduate. He was finally sent to a Fitness Training Unit and after 3 extra weeks in Ft. Jackson, mostly spent learning patience, he passed his FTU and was sent straight to Ft. Lee, VA for his next stage of training. Because he did not graduate and did not have the honor of marching with his company, we are looking forward to his graduation from AIT.

We have been going every other weekend to see one of the boys. James sat at Ft. Lee for 4 weeks before they finally started his training this week. He has already called home begging for prayer, because he got in trouble. God stepped into that situation and James was able to see the power of prayer and the wisdom of keeping his mouth shut. He is excited about his schooling and learning to work on tanks. He will learn in a couple of weeks where his first duty station will be and although he is hoping for Stateside, we are not counting on it.

Justin loves his training at Ft. Gordon and has really drawn close to the Lord, he has already received his orders and will be heading to Korea, October 10th for an entire year. Will you pray for him?

Currently, they are both set to graduate from their training courses the very same day. We are asking God to work this out so that we can see both of them graduate and not have to choose which one of us goes to VA and which goes to GA.

Ted has been working non stop, and compiled with taking care of a new house this can be extremely taxing on him. God has kept him really close and I love seeing him grow spiritually and be that spiritual leader to the boys that he was not in the years past. The guys are growing so close to their Dad now that they are away, and I rejoice to see it happening.

Well, this brings me to what has been going on with me. My job is still with the same company, and although I no longer stress about it as much, it takes a huge toll on me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Between the job that seems to consume most of my waking hours, the little housework that I get to do, teaching every other Saturday, and then traveling the other weekends, I found myself at the point of exhaustion. I had not had a vacation in over a year.

I put in for some vacation time this week, with the sole purpose of staying home and sleeping. I really should have asked for a whole week off. This is the 3rd day and I feel like I could still sleep for a few more days. And of course this is the weekend to go to see one of the boys. We went last weekend as well since it was Father's Day. So this trip will be back to back from the other. We realize that after September we may not get a chance to see either boy for at least a year.

I keep hanging on and going through each day with sheer determination sometimes. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and listening for His words of encouragement and guidance has been my delight. When I am overwhelmed, He listens to me and gives me the little things to brighten my day. I cling to those moments with Him. He sends beautiful double rainbows right out in my back yard, hummingbirds to delight my going to work and coming home, hugs from co-workers who need the encouragement too, and encouragement around every corner if I will only look for it.
I do not know when I will post again, as I just do not have time to pull out the laptop and wait for it to decide if it can or will work. This blog is much more then just posting family news, and I yearn for the day when I can sit down and share what God has been teaching me. If you want just family news, email me, I can handle that easier and shorter on my phone or tablet. If you want posts concerning spiritual help and encouragement and lessons God is teaching us, then pray with me that I can build up strength to keep up this whirlwind pace of work, teaching, travel, and little sleep and fit in posting on this blog somewhere in there too. Maybe, in a month of two Ted can look at my laptop and see if he can fix it, or if I will have to say goodbye to a faithful friend.
Well, both the laptop and I have been up too long already for this session, so I am going to let us both get back to sleep. I need strength for this weekend, since I won't get the sleep I had planned and hoped for.
Until then, Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.