The Review is Complete

Thank you to all our friends who have been praying for us. Wes had his med board today. Everything went wonderfully. We were very blessed by the caliber of people that went to speak on Wes's behalf. We are humbled by the outpouring of love and words of encouragement spoken over him.

Looks like we are in the Army for the long haul.. 20 years here we come!

We will also be staying in Germany! Wahoo!

There is one little detail that we are going to have pray about. Wes was made a great offer.. and a month ago we would have jumped on it, but now I have a good job here and the kids are finally feeling settled.. so we don't know what we will decide...But we know that God will direct our steps because that is what HIS word promises us.

Please, rejoice with us. We are thrilled. All praise, honor, and glory be to God our Father Jesus Christ.

O.. the Anticipation

Well, My Loves today is the BIG day for Wes. Please, keep him in your prayers today. Though most of you will not even read this until after it is all said & done because of the 7 hours ahead thing. Never-the-less, prayer is ALWAYS good. Any-who. I'll share the outcome with you soon.

May the love and peace of Christ rule in your hearts and minds.

Let It Snow.

WAKING UP TO OUR FIRST SNOWFALL OF THE WINTER

Ok.. So being the southern girl that I am, I love snow. In our sweet little home town of Alabama, the occasional snow flake would fall, shutting the whole town down of course. Even the threat of snow would cause mad dashes to the markets where you can better believe that milk, bread, water, and batteries would be scarce. Now I have never really figured out why those four items were on the top of everyones list. After-all what in the world could you do if that is all you had to survive on. 

Any-who, we woke up to our first official snow of the winter yesterday morning. We were all so excited. Then again this morning on the way to chapel.. more snow.. Now it is falling like crazy. OOO we are all so excited! 

Funny thing is there was talk that it may snow Friday night. So a friend of mine said that her grandmother always told her that if you wear your PJs backwards to bed that there will be snow on the ground in the morning. So of course my kiddos went to bed friday night with backwards jammers. Now they are wanting to sleep like that every night. ;0)

Well, Enjoy the photos. Hopefully, we will get lots more. Maybe enough to build a real snowman. hehe

VIEW FROM OUR LIVING ROOM.. RIGHT NOW ;0)

Thinking Outside The Box and Into The Manger

Thank you Jill for this video. It is so challenging. I am very excited about how God is going to lead us in this season. This will be our second Christmas away from our families and "normal" traditions. Last year did not quite count though because we had just arrived in Germany. We were in temporary quarters and did not have anything including a tree. So Christmas morning was spent with new friends and unwrapped gifts that we bought last minute at the PX. Everyone was happy though and we enjoyed the day so much as we ended the day with hot cocoa and Luke chapter 2. 

So.. This year we are going to do our best to think out of the box... out of the idea that presents are the center of the day... out of the idea that the more you spend the better the day is.. And into the manger.. the manger of our beloved Jesus Christ who CHOSE to leave all of Heaven.. all the splendor... all the glory behind and come as a baby into a dark, dying, and cold world. He came to set us FREE from sin and its curse on earth. O.. let us think.. let us remember what Jesus GAVE for us. 

I have no idea the specifics of how this Christmas will be different. I am just going to listen intently and follow the leading of the One who once laid in a cold manger.   I am challenged to think differently this Christmas. I hope that you are too.  Enjoy the video.... Thanks again Jill.. I love you and your beautiful family. 

OOO.. PAUSE THE MUSIC AT THE END OF MY BLOG PAGE BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY ON THE VIDEO!!! 

I hear the sounds of Mountains Moving!

Hi Loves...

Here is the latest update from Lacey.. Thank you all for praying.. I can hear the sounds of mountains moving! 

Just wanted to update everyone...

I started an anti-seizure medication called Keppra on I believe Thursday or Friday of last week. I started on 500mg and then had the dose upped to 1000mg on Tuesday. On Monday and Tuesday I only passed out/seized 1 time...WooHoo! That is a record low for me. Then yesterday it didn't happen a single time!!!!!!!!!! I haven't had a day without passing out/seizing since August!!! I am so thrilled. If I can go 1 week without passing out my nuerologist will allow me to be left alone again. I will still need my walker and things, but I so what...Josh can return to work and we can stay in the Army! Praise the Lord! He is always right on time! I have had a good day today too...no passing out yet!!! Next week, I will be going up to 1500mg. Once I go 3 months, I can drive again...WooHoo! If you know me you know I love to drive...I get that from my Dad. 

My neurologist Dr.Rafiq said though the Keppra is working, it doesn't mean that there isn't something else going on. Since I have so many other problems, we are going to keep testing to find out what else is wrong. The incontinence has gotten better which is great!

We move on December 4 to a single story home. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! The freedom to be able to get around my house will be wonderful! I won't have to worry about falling down the stairs or getting my walker through a doorway! 

I had been told to stop drinking diet drinks to see if that helped...I went Monday without anything diet drinks and forgot on Tuesday...so I started again today. Hey I will try anything.

Here are a list of my doctors appointments so you can join with Josh and I in prayer...

Friday November 21 @ 9am - I go in for a Lumbar Punture/Spinal Tap
    -The actual puncture is at 11am and then I will have to wait atleast 2 hrs before I can go home.

Monday November 24 @ 1:30pm - MRI of the Whole Spine with and without contrast
    -The test will last about 3hrs...I am very claustrophobic...it may be open, but I still have a very hard time staying calm.

Wednesday November 26 @ 1:30pm - John Hopkins Epilepsy Center - WOOHOO!!! 
    -My Nuerologist has already my tests by FedEx to them and they scheduled an urgent consult with us! God is so great!

Tuesday December 2 @ 9:30am - I see an endocrinologist. I am on a waiting list for cancelled appointments. He is working closely with my neurologist on trying to find out what is wrong.

Thank you so much for all your prayers! I know they are working! God is so faithful and knows the right timing for every situation!!!

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.    (Mark 11:22-23 NKJV) 

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.    (Mark 11:24 NKJV) 

Lacey Redditt :o)

Prayer For Lacey

Some of you already know my dear friend Lacey Redditt. For those of you who do not.. let me fill you in a bit. This is her family pictured above. It was taken this past summer at Disney. 

I met Lacey while my love was completing his very long AIT at good ole FT. Gordon. We became instant friends as we both were learning the ways of the army life. We have been through so much together the thick and thin.. (wink wink Lacey). Any-who, over the past few months Lacey has been hit very hard with some unexplained medical madness. I am going to paste the blog that her love Josh posted as an update to her condition at the end of my blog. After reading his blog, I felt so compelled to share this with all of you, my friends and prayer warriors. 

I am asking that you read it entirely and join me in prayer for Lacey and her family. My goal is to build a 24 hour prayer wall along with 40 days of fasting.. You may fast whatever you feel lead to do. For me the thing that drives me is coffee. For those of you who know me well.. you know that I LOVE coffee. Well, for the next 40 days I am surrendering it in submission to the word for Lacey to see a miracle in her life and be totally healed..  Here is the word we will stand on together:

(Matthew 17:14-29)

14As they approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. 

15The whole crowd was very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him.

16He asked the scribes,“What are you arguing about with them?”

17A man in the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that won't let him talk. 

18Whenever it brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes stiff. So I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they didn't have the power.”

19Jesus said to them, “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”

20So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground and kept rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 

21Then Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He said, “Since he was a child. 

22The spirit has often thrown him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us!”

23Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?’ Everything is possible for the person who believes!”

24With tears flowing, the child's father at once cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief!”

25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that won't let him talk or hear—I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!” 

26The spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy was like a corpse, and many said that he was dead. 

27But Jesus took his hand and helped him up, and he stood up.

28When Jesus came home, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn't we drive the spirit out?”

29He told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting" 

Let me know what time you would like to choose to pray for her. You may also find her on myspace page or facebook and drop her a line to let her know you are praying. The 40 days will begin tomorrow and end on 27 December. 

Thank you all so much.. Here is the post from Josh about Lacey:

Well, I guess it's about time for a new update on the Lacey experience. Recently our main Lacey-sitter took a much needed vacation. She will return on the 18th, but until then, I am on leave to take care of Lacey. It's a good thing that I took off too; Lacey's condition is getting considerably worse. At this point it's actually bad enough that the older ladies in the church will no longer be able to help Lacey, but I will talk more about that in a minute. 
As far as the homeschooling goes, the kids are doing great. Although, recently our concern has been more that we are overworking them. Writing letters starts at 9 am. Math follows at 10. Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts are on rotations and usually last until 11:30 or noon. After that is lunch and then PE. As far as character and discipline go, we are growing in methods of administration. Sometimes running 4 times around the playground is extremely effective. Other times, running up the stairs a few times seems to do the trick. It sounds mean, I know, but it is the most effective thing we have found so far, especially since Hudson is oblivious to spanking now. Their character is slowly returning back to what it was before they started public school. 
When it comes to me, I have been struggling with some medical issues of my own. My blood pressure is going through the roof. Part of it may be from the medicine that I have been taking for anxiety, but the other part of it is probably just age and the overwhelming situation at hand. 
That leads me up to the events of this week. On Thursday, I went in to see the family doctor here on post and of course, brought the whole family. While sitting in the chair for screening, Lacey who has recently been having trouble walking went from leaning on the wall next to the kids to face down on the concrete floor. I tried to at least catch her head but almost ripped the blood pressure machine apart. The poor pregnant nurse didn't know what to do except for call for help, but her belly couldn't fit through the door since Lacey was blocking it. Within a minute's time, there were 3 more nurses, 1 doctor, and a wheelchair sitting on the other side of the door trying to figure out how to get to Lacey without hurting her. Before they could try anything though, Lacey came to, just as I had calmly told them she would. Next thing I knew, I was standing against the wall with the kids and Lacey was in the screening chair getting checked in instead. 
Soon enough we were all in the exam room with the doctor. She was kind enough to take care of both of us. I got my meds changed and am now on HCTZ as well. Then just for kicks, I had to get a chest x-ray, EKG, and stress test. Something about chest pain and high blood pressure earns you such special treatment. We're still waiting on those results.
Then it was Lacey's turn. As she sat in a wheelchair, the doctor patiently tried to look at all of Lacey's symptoms again since there are several that have gotten worse and more new ones. In light of all that, she thinks that narcolepsy may not be the answer, especially since Lacey's medicine is not working at all. Instead she mentioned Multiple Sclerosis or some other nervous disorder. Our appointment with the neurologist was the next day on Friday anyway. In the mean time though, Lacey got another MRI scheduled for Wednesday this week for her entire spine. She also got a walker. Not just any walker-this walker is sexy red with a flip down seat, four wheels, and brakes."> 
As sad as it may be that my vibrant, young 25 year-old wife is having to use a walker, it is great to see her be able to walk through the grocery store without collapsing on her knees out of sheer exhaustion (yes this is separate from passing out, which still happens 4 to 8 times each and every day). We have been doing a lot of laughing and crying. Aside from having trouble walking, other new symptoms include incontinence, extreme afternoon fatigue, numb toes and fingers, and more cognitive issues. 
Friday's visit to the neurologist was both encouraging and discouraging. Our fears had recently been that he was leading us down the road that Lacey would end up at a Psychiatrist. Instead, he told us that MS may be a possibility, but more likely is an Autonomic Nervous Disorder. He started a new round of tests. He and the family doctor will be looking at the spine MRI (C, L, and T Spine). Also he gave us a Psychiatric evaluation, Lumbar puncture, endocronology appointment, and anti-siezure medication. Basically, he just wants to have all the tests ready for when he refers us to Johns Hopkins Hospital. 
This is both great news and bad news. The good part is that Johns Hopkins is a university hospital, and they have a lot of specialists. We should be able to find out something soon. The bad part is that they will probably be admitting Lacey for 5 days to a week at a time to run tests. 

In the mean time, her trips out of the house are growing more limited especially since I have to pick up her legs to put her in the car. This holds true for the tub and going back up our steps to get into our house. The other thing is that Lacey has spent a lot of time lately questioning her value as a wife and mother. I constantly reaffirm my love for her no matter what, but it doesn't seem to be enough. Just keep us in your prayers. I know God is gonna work it all out. Hopefully, I will still be in the Army, but I know we will be ok if not. My company has been understanding for the most part, but I know there comes a point when it becomes necessary. 

Doing The Happy Dance

Woot! Woot! 

I am so thrilled. Heidleburg called today with my job offer to begin working at the elementary school! Yea.. I am doing the happy dance. I have to go in tomorrow and complete my background paperwork before it is "official". After they receive the BG check then they will call me with a start date. OooO, I am so excited! Thank you all so much for praying for me! To God be all the glory for what he has begun in my life. 

In The Hot Seat

I am so excited. I turned in my application packet to work at the elementary school a few weeks ago and I got a call yesterday for an interview. It has been so long since I have been on a job interview. I was really nervous, but I think that things went well. I tired not to "try" and just be myself. I answered all my questions honestly and clearly. I really hope that I get the position. If so, I will be the teacher's assistant in one of the Special Ed classrooms. I know that I will fall in love with those little ones, and I think that it will help prepare me to be a better mom for Matthew by seeing another side of mainstreaming children with special needs. Any-who.. I should hear a final word by next week. I am praying! 

In My Daughter's Eyes

This previous week on my way home from an exhausting week of PWOC Worship & Study, I realized that my relationship with my daughter was in serious need of attention and that the women that God has surrounded me with who have daughters around the same age as mine, are all dealing with the same issues as me. I desperately want to have a close relationship my daughter and to have joy and fun with her. But this is very difficult for me because I do not have a close relationship with my own mother. So I do not know what a healthy mother/daughter relationship looks like. 

As I shared my heart with these women, we all realized that we each needed to celebrate our daughters. So we decided to make a commitment to one another and hold each other accountable to building a strong, loving, and fun relationship with our girls. One of the things that we are going to do is have a monthly "Celebrate Our Daughters" day.  Today was the first of many. We all met at a local Italian restaurant and one by one shared our 3 favorite things about our daughters then we presented each daughter with a gift that will be a daily reminder our our love for each other and our commitment to work on improving our relationships. It was a beautiful time as each mom shared. Needless to say there was not a dry eye at the table. The gift that I chose for Ashlynn & I to share is a set of mood-rings(fun!) that say I love you in German (Ich Dich). 

We all had a blast. I hope that you enjoy the photos and are encouraged to begin this with your own daughters. 

Pressing On

(Picture of Elim Mission)

Many of you know our story of MATTHEW. For those of you who do not, the testimony will follow this update. 

Here is the update:

This summer brought many twist and turns in our life with surgeries, deaths & births in the family, not to mention Wes facing the medical board. So many things have been uncertain, but all the while we have been praying earnestly for our little Matthew. We have not stopped. Yet, we began to wonder exactly what our place in his life is really suppose to be. Are we to just keep him covered in prayer or is God really going to bring him into our home as our son. I even began to doubt my ability to be a "good enough" mom for him. I thought that if we had our home study not only would we not be approved to adopt, but that they would take the two babies we already have. BUT... The devil is a liar and I will no longer be moved by his lies. WE ARE PRESSING ON! On Thanksgiving we will travel to Poland to serve the people there and while we are there we will be able to spend some time with our Matthew. We are praying that the children's' home will release some of his information to us so that Wes and I can locate his biological parents and seek to adopt him. This adoption is unlike most, in that we are not going through an agency because Matthew is not in an orphanage.. he is in a children's home where the parents still maintain legal rights to him even though he is completely abandoned by them. 

Here are our prayer needs:

That God will direct our every step in this process

Travel expenses to and from Poland

Favor with the children's home

Finances to hire a private investigator to locate Matthew's parents 

We will keep you posted on the progress and hopefully we will be able to share his picture with you as soon as we return from our thanksgiving trip. 

Here is the original testimony of Matthew:

Now is the Time As you already know, few months ago we had the privilege of going to Poland to work in a mission. We went as a family and is was nothing short of amazing what God did in our lives there. To bring you up to speed, I'll have to give you some background information.. So bare with me. Last year when we were living in Fort Gordon, I was on my way to work one morning and I heard a radio cast about a little boy named Levi. He was a special needs child from China and because of the current laws there.. his parents chose to set him on fire to get rid of him so that they could try to have a "normal" child. Some missionaries found Levi laying in a field barely alive. They took him and God healed Levi and he is alive today. This couple started a foundation in Levi's name and was trying to bring awareness of this horrible tragedy that literally happens everyday throughout the Eastern world. Needless-to-say, my heart broke. I cried all that morning at work. That night my children & I began praying for these forgotten children in our world. We have been praying ever since that day and actually have said on many occasions that if God wanted to use us to take care one of these children that we would open the doors of our hearts and home. Off and on since that day, we have talked about adopting a special needs child and how if it were a boy or girl we would incorporate Levi into their name someway. So that is the background information.. Now let me share the current developments. While we were working in Poland we passed by a children's home that is about 200 yards from the mission. It is not an orphanage, however all the children there are orphaned because all the children there have various special needs. But most of them are not "adoptable" because the Polish government considers these kids disposable and though they are orphaned by their parents the parents still maintain "rights" to the child. Sadly, when these angels turn 18 they are sent to an asylum until they die. To add to the problem, two years ago the director of this home was a former communist and hated Americans. He would not allow them to come or donate anything to this children's home. He called these children the "garbage children" and could not understand why anyone would want to help these kids. The home was a very dark and cold place. Now however, that man is gone and the new director is open to the gospel and to Americans coming to help. When we saw this place and were told the story, we knew we had to meet these children. We didn't know if they would let us in, but we went anyway. When we got there the director was not there, but a worker let us in and said that she would show us around. The place has changed so much since the days of the former communists rule. It is now a very bright and clean place. The kids were actually watching Alvin & the Chipmunks in polish. Is was very funny. As we were about to leave, we walked by a single room and the door was half open. Wes asked what was in there and I could tell Wes was choked up and that God was speaking something to him. The lady told us that it was a child who had been sick with some sort of chest cold and that he couldn't join the other kids until he was well. Wes asked if we could go in and pray for him. The lady agreed. As soon as we walked in the door. Wes started crying and so did we. The little boy about 6 or 7 years old was sitting on his bed.. I can still see him. He was wearing a little white shirt and red tights (all boys in poland were tights??) He has blond hair and blue eyes. He also has down syndrome. We all laid hands on him and prayed for him. He just sat there and smiled. After we left the children's home, Wes & I took our kids back to the mission and went into the prayer room to pray. During that time.. God revealed to us that this boy is to be our son. We have made appointments with the Army Lawyers and have begun the process of adopting him. It is a very long process and most of all VERY expensive, but we have no doubt that God will provide all the favor and finances that we need to make this final. But we still needs your prayers for God to make this process clear to us. Now.. for the best part... All the kids in there have these crazy, I can't pronounce or spell names... EXCEPT for our son. His name is Matthew, which translated in Hebrew is Levi... meaning "Gift from God"..... I LOVE IT. It makes my heart leap!!! We have made arrangements with the mission to go back to Poland for during the Thanksgiving break. We will prepare and serve a hot meal at the mission, but more importantly we will get to visit with our son. I can't fully describe how my heart feels. Tears flow down my face even at the moment just thinking about him. My whole life has prepared me for this very moment. I don't begin to try to understand God's ways.. For HIS thoughts are higher than mine, but I do know this.. Through whatever circumstance Matthew entered this world... He was created to be my son. Please, please bath this in prayer. I love you and am so excited that God has released me to share this with you at this time.

You speak His name with your lips and deny Him with your life!

Thanks to my lovely PWOC chapter and chapel, I had the opportunity to go to Willigen this week. It is such a beautiful place. It is a ski town so there are lots of quaint little shops and places to grab a kaffee zoma mit namin (coffee to go) (pardon the spelling) (I obviously can't speak or write german, but I am trying) ;0) Any-who, it was the PWOC Fall Worship & Study this week. I had a wonderful time. I gleaned a lot, laughed till I cried, and made some life long friends. 

It was quite amusing at times. While we the 350 Protestant women were holding our conference, the new age scientologist were holding their conferences just a room away. I am sure that they were as confused and curious about us as we were them. I wonder how in the world that one could be so tricked and fooled by such ridiculous ideas like scientology. All the while I am sure that they were saying the same things about us women. It should make you stop and think. Why do you believe what you believe? 

For me the answer is clear. Jesus is real and alive and active in my daily life. He is as real as my husband, as real as my children, as real as the sun that brings light into my window, as real as the air that fills my lungs. He is my life. I can not doubt him. I can look back over my entire life and see how nothing was by accident. Even the things that hurt me so bad, have made me better. I believe that the bible is God's spoken word to us his people, and I have seen it first hand be true in my own life. Without Jesus I would have no hope. How can I live each day without the belief that Jesus holds my life in his hands? How could I ignore the voice that speaks to my heart and gives me direction, purpose, and faith to keep pressing on when I just want to quit? 

I am not talking about RELIGION. I am talking about a living breathing relationship with my creator. 

Ya know I have decided that the reason many people seek these ridiculous things is because of CHRISTIANS. People who confess christ but deny his people. People who think that they are better than others. People who think they have all the answers and reject anyone who disagrees. Religion makes me want to puke! The church has hurt so many more people than the world and it breaks my heart. How can you say you believe in Jesus and treat people so nasty? 

Wake up Christians.. get a clue to why we live in a dying world? We must STOP preaching and START living like Jesus. Better yet.. LOVING like Jesus. Touching the untouchable, taking care of the orphans and widows, healing the sick and raising the dead. 

I want to be more than what I currently see in the Christian world. 

Ya know, I have seen so many of our friends receive so much nastiness for supporting a democrat in this current election. Why I ask? Are Christians suppose to be republican? WHY? You may say morals.. abortion, gay rights and things like these. But are these things more of a sin, more offensive than gossip, rejection, judgment? Aren't we suppose to hate the sin and love the sinner? So why don't we? Why do we judge and reject anyone with different views that ours? Even among christians.. I see the baptist reject the methodist.. the methodist reject the "spirit-filled" churches.. and all these reject the catholic. Why?? 

O I want to be better. Ya know one of my dearest friends is an atheist, another agnostic, and another buddhist. Most of you would run the other way from them. WHY??????????? 

Did JESUS? 

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to scream and cry! 

I pray that my life... NOT simply my words.... are a reflection of Jesus. He is real. He is alive. I hope that you can all see him in me. 

faster than a speeding bullet...

It seems like yesterday that Wes and I were laying on the bed praying for a good strong name for the miracle that was growing within my body. I had always wanted a son. I actually wanted three sons to be exact and I wanted them to be big. So that when I am old and feeble they can carry me. LOL. Any-who, we did not have three sons, but the one that God gave to us is everything we could have hoped for and more. 

Our Caleb James came into this world 1 November 2000. He literally came into this world kicking with all his might...(Wes describes the moment as something that you would see right out of an alien movie)...(I have more happy memories) nevertheless, the moment is forever etched on my heart. 

Here he is the day he was born...

O. how the days have flown by. I miss those sweet little cheeks and tiny fingers. Caleb has always been able to break my heart faster than a speeding bullet. He is so caring and compassionate. He loves his friends and prays for them all, no matter how long it has been since he has seen them. He is also quite the character. He is funny and quirky, and his laugh will stop you in your tracks.

 

Looking back, I simply can not believe how fast the days have gone by. O. How I pray that I am the mother God intended me to be. Help me Lord to be the example that my children need. Protect them all the days of their life and create in them a pure heart that will touch the nations with your glory.

 

Caleb's 3rd birthday

Dec 07

Happy Birthday Caleb! We love you!