Hafa Adai!!

I am writing this post in Guam!!!! Yes, we are finally here and we are currently living in a hotel. This hotel is lots and lots of fun....

First of all, I like the maid service. I could personally live here the whole time we are here but of course it would be way out of the budget....

So I am enjoying the time that we are here now! There are lots of activities for the kids to do here...waterslides, a splash pool, a kiddie pool, kayaking, a kids club....which makes it hard to do schoolwork!! The weather is so nice here...in the 80's and mostly sunny. It rained a few times while we were here, but not for long.

We went to a church this past Sunday and enjoyed the praise and worship and the message....of course it wasn't like Manna and we miss Manna so much! I don't know if we will find a church quite like that out here. I am praying that the Lord will lead us to the right church...even if it doesn't seem like the right one to us.

The girls have been making "friends" while staying here at the resort. I put that in quotes because some of these friends do not speak English and so it is hard to communicate with them...but somehow just playing with them and swimming with them is enough to be a playmate!

Many of the people here, especially in this area where we are staying speak Japanese, Korean, or Chamoru. We have been learning a few simple phrases in these different languages.

The girls are going to AWANA at a Baptist church here. They of course like it a lot and the people there are very friendly. They have a service there for adults and a nursery for the little ones.

I am enjoying all that God has blessed us with while we are here...I haven't cooked in a while and haven't had to clean up very much as the maids do a wonderful job of coming to the room almost everyday...
We are still house hunting and will hopefully find a place soon. In the meantime, I am enjoying this place so much and trying to get myself ready for the "real" world soon!

Well just wanted to stop here and say Hafa Adai (hello in Chamoru) and Adios for now. I will update again as the Lord leads....much love and prayers to you all!

the view from our hotel, 18th floor:

another view of Guam from the shoreline:

swimming in the kiddie pool at the resort:

update

Hello to you blogger friends!!!

Well it has been quite a while since my last update. We are in Ohio right now and will be leaving for Guam on Friday. We are busy packing suitcases and getting ready for the long flight. Hope to update this blog once we get there....we will be staying in a hotel for a while until housing becomes available on the Navy or Air Force base.

We are looking forward to going to Guam. We feel like missionaries ready to do God's will wherever He takes us.

Much love to you all!!! Please continue to pray for us....you are in our prayers!!!

So thankful for Jesus!!

moving on and moving forward....

Already it is the end of October, and....it is moving time!!!

The movers will be here Monday to pack up our stuff. This will be the first time we have movers coming to pack and load our stuff as we have done it ourselves for all our other moves. I am really looking forward to that....

So as we are in transition I hope to keep updated on this blog and facebook of what we are doing and where we are at and what God has in store for us. It is hard to say goodbye to all the friends we have made here. I am meeting so many more gals now with girls my oldest girls ages and so it has been hard not being able to really form a relationship with them.....
but...I know all too well that I must move on and move forward into the next journey in this life, knowing that our great God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans for a hope and a future.....

And so, before I go, I wanted to include some pics of the girls and the lil' guy cleaning out or playing around with their pumpkins we got on Friday at a local farm:

My birthday girls!!!

Well I wanted to make this post about my two September birthday girls. Yes, we celebrated a decade old girl and an eight year old and now I am starting to understand this whole concept of time flying by.....cannot believe my two oldest babies are 10 and 8. Yet I can believe it because I have been with them each day just about watching them grow and change into beautiful girls of God, sometimes not realizing and understanding what a blessing it is to be in each of their days. Some days got either a little overwhelming or we busied ourselves with too much activity or I just didn't stop enough to enjoy being with them in that day. I can't paint a picture of perfection here people, because of course life has not been perfect.... yet they have taught me so much and so I feel I have to post about it now before another ten years passes by....

-my oldest daughter excepted Christ before I did and she has taught me Christ-like faith. That I can come to Him in any situation and that I can believe that He is real, that He answers prayer, that He will help with big things like blessing us with a trip to Disney World or little things like dessert every night after dinner or for mommy to never pack any more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, ever again....
her prayers for a brother have been answered too and we can't even imagine having a better, more enjoyable, more dirty and stinky! lil' dude in our house than him.

-both the girls are of course different and opposite in usual and unusual ways. They are also different than mommy. Sometimes mommy has to pray really hard and ask God to allow me to embrace these differences and use these differences to glorify Him or as a training experience for our family. The girls both like to talk, K likes to ask questions and figure things out while she is probing for answers. Z likes to just talk and talk....K likes to play outside, read, and play educational games on the computer. Z likes to play inside, read, and play entertaining games on the computer. They both share a room and that has been challenging in that one is more organized than the other, one likes the door open, one likes the door closed, one likes the fan on, one likes the fan off (most of the time...unless her sister was nice to her that day, then she likes it on), one likes the overhead light on, one likes the lamps on....you get the point (I remember sharing a room too and the challenge of opposition...) It's these kinds of life situations that I think really teaches them the concept of what the word of God says, "...treat others better than you would want to be treated." And, "love one another as I have loved you." It is training me to instill these kinds of character building traits in them and in me....

-my girls have taught me how to be more patient, kind, and loving. I want a good relationship with my children and I know the Lord put them in my life to help me to not focus so much on myself...but to truly look to Him for Strength and Wisdom and Knowledge in training them up in the way they should go...in His Word and His Ways.
I can't give myself any glory or any praise in how beautiful they are becoming. Because it is not me doing it but the Holy Spirit who is working in my life and theirs to draw us to the Truth and to the will of the Father who has a purpose for each of us and for our family.

May the Lord God continue to bless and protect my daughters as they continue to grow....and may each day draw them closer to Him. I know I can only do so much as a parent. I want to continue to allow the Holy Spirit to fully operate in my life so that I can be all that God has called me to be as a mother. I consider it a priviledge to be able to have these blessed children in my life and I hope that we can make many more memories together, that we can continue to work together, as we strive to do God's will in every area of our lives.

Much love to my daughters and sistas in Christ.....

My man is coming home!

My man's plane comes in very, very early tomorrow morning. We are all looking forward to seeing him after a year-long deployment. I must get a couple hours of sleep before his plane arrives so I gotta go....thank you for all your prayers and support throughout the year. We are praising the Lord for his protection and provision for our family during this separation time. Much love to you all!!!

The Truth shall set you free!!!!

Hello again to you all!!

Well it is already August and this month brings my man home, so we are looking forward to him coming at the end of the month.

We have been getting ready for our move. The kids are at Summer Camp this week and next week. So I am getting some time to go through all our stuff and getting rid of things we haven't used or don't need any more.

I was looking through some of our baby boy clothes and just thinking of our lil' boy and how much he has grown. He will be running in daddy's arms when he gets home. When my man left he was six weeks old and not even rolling yet or sitting up. I can't wait for him to see how all the kids have grown and to spend time with us as much as he can before we move....

In other news I have been able to talk with my neighbors about the Lord. A friend of mine is currently staying with us this week and we go to our neighbors houses and visit them and talk about the Lord whenever we feel the Holy Spirit move us to speak. We have been able to plant seeds of the truth and even pray with them.

Just the other day I was at CiCi's Pizza and I felt lead to speak to a manager about the Lord. I told him Jesus loves him and then asked if he had a relationship with him. He began to tell me about how he reads the Koran and he believes the Bible was written by a man. He also said that God was female and referred to her as mother earth....on and on he went about the lies he trully believed in his heart. I shared the Gospel with him and told him I would pray for him. I was once an unbeliever and so I know that Satan has fed me lies along these lines and I believed them. So I will continue to pray for him knowing and believing that he can and will come to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. After witnessing to people like that, my faith deepens and the Bible becomes much more real. It says in the Word that Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers and he tries so hard to keep people away from the truth. That is why it is so important as Christ-followers to speak the truth to others. I am afraid sometime to speak about Jesus. Sometimes when I mention His name people roll their eyes or get offensive. But then I know when they do that, His name has so much power because of what He has done on the cross! Our sinful nature does not naturally want to praise and glorify God through Jesus Christ....it's hard to change and it's hard to think of ourselves as sinners. But praise be to God for the Holy Spirit to convict us and to lead us and guide us in the truth. I would not be where I am without the Holy Spirit working in my life.

So I say all this to say that I am praying everyday for the opportunity to witness to others. I am not an evangelist, nor is it a gift of mine to speak in front of others. But if the Holy Spirit moves me than I pray that I am obedient to opening up and sharing the Gospel message. Jesus has called us to do it. I do not want to see anyone going to hell and so I will live each day as if it were my last speaking and praying and believing that God will put people in my path to witness to in hopes of them coming to a saving knowledge of our Creator.

Here's to the truth and sharing the truth with others!!!

Update

Hello to my fellow bloggy friend(s)!!!

It has been one busy month and I am so thankful I have a little bit of time here to catch you all up on what we've been doing.

We got back yesterday from going to Columbus, GA for a wedding. It was good to see friends and sistas and brothas in Christ that I haven't seen for a while. We prayed, talked, laughed, ate, and just had a good time together. During the reception Sat. night my little mischievous princess 3 yr. old was running around with a wooden stick in her mouth and fell and cut the roof of her mouth open.....I will spare all the details and just say after lots of blood coming out on her dress and my shirt and then a trip to the ER...we were all better....Anaya says she will never run with a stick in her mouth again and I hope she remembers that and what happens when we don't obey mommy! Thank God it didn't get stuck in her mouth or in her nose or worse....the Lord was really watching over her....

In other news.....we are doing a Summer Camp at our house. A really sweet sister in Christ is sharing her gifts and talents and her two teenage daughters and they are teaching Spanish, Art, Music, and Dance to children in our neighborhood and from their church. We are doing it for two weeks starting this week and then into next week. The kids are having so much fun and I am really enjoying hosting this and getting to know this sweet Christ-centered family. They are also teaching the kids what a Biblical Worldview is and how to defend your faith. Just really useful stuff for the kids to learn and to develop their faith and trust in our great God....

And speaking of OUR GREAT GOD....He is so awesome.....because:
-He has given me revelation of how real and powerful the sinful nature is in us (me and my children) and how to work with my children to overcome the power of sin.
-He has given me scripture to say and pray over my children. Obedience has been a big issue with my sweet, princess 3 yr. old (yes, the same one that ended up in the ER with mommy during a wedding...) I see her eyes change whenever she is deliberately disobeying me and after I correct/spank her, her eyes just shine so bright...it's like she was askin' for a spankin so she can get right with me and the Lord and have peace for her soul....
-He's protected me from getting into a car accident that could have been serious and He has gotten me into and out of places that should have taken a long time but didn't...like car repair shops and doctors appointments....He has put His favor upon me....
-He gives me peace, rest, security and strength all the time even in the midst of chaos and commotion.......as long as I am surrendered to Him!

Praise the Lord....You are my everything!!!!

I want to write more about the Bible study we are doing every other Friday at my home...such sweet sistas in the Lord talking about Our Lord and Savior....

bye for now...dont' be a stranger...ya hear!

Happy 1st Birthday lil' man!!!

Happy Birthday to my sweet lil' man.

Dear son,

I love you so much and I am so happy to be celebrating your first birthday with you and your sisters. You bring me much joy and happiness. You make me smile. You are such a blessing in my life. I thank God for you everyday and pray that with each passing day you will draw closer and closer to our Lord and Savior because He has such an awesome plan for your life.....

The things I love about you:

-your sweet and genuine smile, when you smile real big and show all of your four teeth as drool comes dripping out of your mouth...
-when you hear praise and worship music you praise the Lord by lifting your arm up and waving your hand around and when the song is done, you clap!
-you love playing peek-a-boo with mommy and it is so cute how you try to cover your eyes with your hands but you actually cover your whole face and then when I say peek-a-boo you smile but you still have your whole face covered with your hands...
-you lay your head down on my shoulder and you put your thumb in your mouth when you are tired or when you just wake up...
-your are ticklish under the arms and on the bottoms of your feet....I love your laugh...so soft and cute!
-you love being held by Kamelah and playing with her and your other sisters...sometimes you will just go to Kamelah and not me...I don't mind cuz sometimes momma needs a break!
-you love to climb things....stepladders, couches, on tables, chairs, in boxes, and through doggie doors too!

I love you lil' guy and look forward to many more days with you.

Love,
your mommy

toddler talk

Prayer from my 3 year old:

"Dear God, thank you I not get a spankin' today.....Amen."

Questions from my 3 year old:

"Mommy, what are those ants on you?" "Honey, those are moles."
"Where did you get those poles mommy?" "No, you mean moles.." "Your moles, where did you get them?" "God gave them to me baby... " "Oh...I like your poles mommy..."

Directions from my 3 year old:

"Mommy, where are you going?" "Where do we go almost every Monday morning?" "I don't know....."(in a sing-songy voice) "Yes you do...." "We goin to school....." "Yes,....." "You're not going the wight way. Turn wight Mommy.....MOMMY TURN WIGHT!" "Honey, if I turned r-r-right I would be heading back home...." "Oh, well your not going the wight way so I say turn wight...."

I will not be afraid...

Dear Blog readers,

It has been a while since I last posted....more than a month! I would like to catch you up on what has been going on.

My man came home for R & R and stayed for a little over two weeks. We had a great time and the girls were so excited to see him. Lil' P also was excited and welcomed him with a smile, some drool, and a burp! He got to see the girls in the Easter play they performed at school and he was able to be here for his birthday (April 19th). We went to church together, went bowling with the kids, went to visit family, went out to eat, and he took the girls to work a couple of times. We are looking forward to him returning and waiting on the Lord to reveal where we will be next?!

The girls and I have been back at school and I have been continuing to work with the pre-schoolers. I love teaching them and am learning a lot on how to establish authority in the classroom and at home. Maintaining eye contact and attention with each individual student is challenging but what is rewarding is seeing them understand what they have been learning....A is in the class so I get the benefit of seeing her recognize numbers, letters and their sounds, and shapes at home, as she learns all that in school. It is cute and somewhat annoying when she calls me Mrs. J at home like she's suppose to at school.....

So with lots of changes in my life now, and more to come I cling to the verse that I consider to be my scripture verse for this season in my life, Proverbs 3:5, which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." I have that scripture framed and right above the words there is a purple flower (my favorite color). I have it right by my bed to remind me each morning to trust in the Lord no matter what. Each move I take and each decision I make I want to trust and acknowledge Him in everything....

I do so often, however, take my thoughts off of the Lord in my day and then when I do that I sink, just like Peter did when he walked on water to Jesus. He took his eyes off of Jesus and looked to his circumstance. I need to look to the One who will carry me through each day no matter what is going on around me...

Another verse I like is, "Unless the Lord builds the house, it is built in vain." or something like that. I like that verse because it reminds me that I can't do anything worthwhile unless I do it in the Lord. How many times have I trusted in myself to do things only to realize that it all counted for nothing and was meaningless? God has a perfect plan for my life, I do not want to get distracted from it by doing things that take me away from His plan...it will not count for anything....

I believe the girls and I are at that school for a reason. I believe the Lord has me there for His purpose. I am developing the gifts that God has given me there as He is being glorified through me. I am continuing to build my house (my decisions, my thoughts, my every move) in the Lord no matter what because, really, what do I have to lose? Maybe a few friends and family along the way but who cares??? "When I am afraid I will put my trust in you, in God whose word I praise, in God I trust. I will not be afraid."

I WON'T BE AFRAID, LORD!
I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN YOU.
I WILL NOT LEAN ON MY OWN UNDERSTANDING.
I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOU IN ALL THAT I DO.
WHAT CAN MORTAL MAN DO TO ME?
I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.

Love,
MK

Birthday girl!!

Yesterday was my birthday.....and it seems like the older I get the more that day comes around quicker than expected.....but none the less, it must be celebrated because 1. I have children who now know about dates and celebrations that include lots of gifts, cake, ice cream, and treats which they have no problem indulging in no matter who's birthday it is and 2. another day/year to celebrate my life that the Lord has given me and 3. I like cake and presents too!

Soooooo.......that is what we did.....we went to church and then out to eat with friends at a hibachi grill which has awesome food and then went shoe shopping (haven't done that in a couple years!) and then home to eat cake. I got the most awesome gift from my good friend Bobbi. It is a leather-bond application study Bible, and it is my most treasured possession. I love it so much and am so excited to read it. The maps, the time lines, the charts and diagrams, the application notes, the cross-references, and so much more make this Bible so interesting to read and study....I get so excited just smelling the cover and feeling how soft it is...and running my fingers over the gold-plated pages....b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!!

Sooooooo.....here's to my way past 3 decades of life! (by 2 years)....I look forward to growing and maturing in the Lord and to fulfilling His purpose for my life......I am so amazed at what God has accomplished in me already and can't wait to see what He has for me...."For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and and come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity....." -Jeremiah 29:11-14.

Well I must go eat some more of this funfetti birthday cake while the kids are in bed....cuz when they get to it they sure won't be thinking about saving some for the birthday girl :)!

I must be completely delivered from myself...

Hello bloggers and friends,

We are looking forward to:
-warmer weather and sunshine
-which usually leads to less colds, flus and viruses
-celebrating spring and Easter
-my man coming home for R & R in a few days
-my birthday this Sunday!

So much blessings now and in the days ahead...thank you Lord for the big and little things you do for us "behind the scenes"....

And with that said (or typed) I want to write some things down that I was thinking about after reading the March 13th devo. on "God's Total Surrender to Us" in the My Utmost for His Highest book:

I like the powerful statement that says I must be completely delivered from myself. So how do I do this??? I must focus on loving God and loving others all day, everyday. I must heed the Spirit of God on a consistent, continual basis. I must practice the presence of God (love that book) continually. I must remember that God Himself is residing in me...His holy and perfect self. He has a perfect plan for my life and as I let Him be in control of my heart and soul He will lead me into that plan which is His will for me. I must get to the point where I trully believe "the consequences and circumstances resulting from [my] surrender will never enter [my] mind because [my] life will be totally consumed with Him." I will think about Him, serve Him, love Him, pray to Him, be lead by Him, make decisions through Him, rely on Him, have confidence in Him, trust Him, fear Him, and be totally consumed by Him. These things I cannot do with my husband or anyone else because if I do they will fail me....only with HIM!!! Dear Lord, Lead me today. I know that I can do nothing without You. I pray that I will boldly and fearlessly do what you want me to do and say what you want me to say. Help me today to stay focused on You and if I start to stray away from You bring me back to Your perfect will by giving me a "check" in my Spirit. I love You, I believe in You and I know you have an awesome plan for me. May I continue to stay in the palm of Your hand and may you guide me always into your perfect will for my life.... Love in Christ,your daughter

devotional thoughts...

Here are some thoughts from "My Utmost for His Highest:

The Delight of Sacrifice (Feb. 24th)

The title of this devotion somewhat intrigued me as the human side of me sees no delight in sacrificing...

Yet the apostle Paul was a great example of one who delighted in sacrificing for our Lord and Savior.

How did Paul win people over for Christ? He became holy, and he allowed the Holy Spirit to work in his very being on a regular, consistent basis. He totally surrendered himself to Jesus and he gave of himself to the point of becoming a mere, humbled person and servant of God and he permitted the Spirit to lead, guide and direct him. All this that Paul did is readily available to any believer who surrenders him or herself to Jesus Christ....

We tend to be devoted to the things which allow us more spiritual freedom (like church, a mentor, pray meetings, places where we participate while others hold the position of Godly leaders) and not to Jesus Christ... Yet, freedom was not Paul's motive at all. Paul was in love with Jesus and that was all the motivation he needed.

So the question we need to ask ourselves is ...are we in love with Jesus Christ?
To be in love:
-you think of that person all the time...
-you talk to that person all the time or you at least want to talk to that person...
-you get "butterflies" or "happy" feelings when you think about that person or when you are around that person...
-you say I love you and other great things to or about that person..
-you do things for that person...

Can I do these things for Jesus and can I be in love with Jesus like I can with people that I am in love with now?

"Love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength..." When I love God like that there is no room for sin. I love Him by serving Him, working for Him in everything that I do.....

a lovely love month

It is already February...which means:

-my man has been gone for almost six months....halfway through deployment...

-Lil' P is almost eight months old....he smiles alot...can almost sit up by himself...is scooting around...loves to stick his arm out when greeting someone or saying goodbye....is a one-breasted fed fella (loves my right better than the left)...and loves being around people...

-the girls are in their third week of school...they seem to enjoy being there and enjoy all the work they are having to do and they are so so so excited to get more work to do at home that they joyfully get right to it when getting home....(if you believe this, than you also believe that monkeys can fly!)

-one more month til my man comes home for R & R....looking forward to seeing him and the girls are excited to see daddy....

-cold days and even colder nights....looking forward to warmer weather....(although this cold spell is a great excuse for why I can't exercise outside, since I would have to take the kids with me...wouldn't want my precious youngin's getting frost bite!)

-focusing on loving more....this month always reminds me of the greatest commandment...love my Lord and Savior and love my "neighbor"...love covers a multitude of sin...without love we would surely fail....love my neighbor as myself...love is patient...love is kind...it does not envy...it does not boast...it is not self seeking...love...love...love....just love and I will not go wrong...

Much love to you in this lovely, love month....


me lovin on my lil' man:

rest, rely, and relieve

Many changes are happening in our lives right now (my children and myself!) I am excited to move and be led by the Spirit as we make these changes. Change can be a blessing but it can also be challenging too! When it becomes a challenge I easily take my eyes off of the One who is bringing the blessing in my life. Distraction takes me away from the will of God and I am learning to work through the challenges by operating continually in the Spirit and by continually praying without ceasing! Those scripture on prayer seem to come alive as I am working through my day...staying in close communion with my Lord and Savior through prayer helps me to remember that He is always here with me and within me to rest in, rely on, and be relieved from the problems and struggles of this world......God bless you all and much love from me!

Update

Hello everyone in blog world!!!

I am in MS right now, staying with friends. It is soooooo cold out here and we have a little bit of snow. The girls had fun playing in it....they stayed outside for quite a while!!

Here's a brief update of what we've been up to:

-We stayed in Columbus, GA for two weeks and spend Christmas with friends. I would love to post photos but am at the library right now and unable to do it. Post pics later...

-We celebrated New Years Eve at a friends church and stayed at her beautiful cabin...lots of fun. The kids went hiking the next day and I took the little ones on a walk around the woods.

-We have been going to AWANA here in MS and the kids have been doing some schoolwork and going to the library/storytime. I've been able to go to appointments and to the gym with one or two kids and leaving the others at my friend's house to play or take naps....

-Been learning how to "Hear the Voice of God", a book by Joyce Meyer...and continuing to seek Him as this deployment drags on.

-I hope to continue to work out here and join a worship dance group in NC when I get back.

Well I must go get the kids now. We have free membership at the YMCA because of P's deployment so we are gonna go there....

Hope to write more soon and post pics of our adventures here and in GA.

Love ya, MK