Good Morning My Dear Friends & Family.
I have sincerely missed talking with each of you individually. I feel as though I have been absent from you all for such a long time. I know that we have a ton of catching up to do. I can't wait to hear back from you with reports from how The Lord has moved in your lives this summer.
I know that without a doubt God had his hands on me and my family as He led and guided us through all the twists and turns of the previous 3 months. I have learned so much about myself, and seen my children grow and mature by leaps. I feel as though we have truly been on the mountain top with God. He has given me a new hope and a new vision. I am so excited about what He is doing in our lives.
Just to bring you up to date:
My surgery went very well. It has been 3 weeks today, and I am already back at 100%. I feel wonderful.
Ashlynn and Caleb have been attending the public school here in our home town of Alabama. They are both doing remarkably. They have made new friends and reconnected with old ones as well.
Ashlynn was asked to be on the homecoming court. She looked beautiful and did very well.
Caleb is FINALLY growing! He jumped from a boys 7-8 to a 10-12. I think it is my mom's cooking; the words "fat-free" do not exist here. He also caught his first bass, 3 to be exact. He is very excited.
My mom is also healing from her surgery. She still battles to accomplish even the smallest task, but she is a fighter and a little stubborn too. So I know that she will be ok. Continue to pray for her healing physically and emotionally. She still has a long road ahead of her.
Wes is amazing. He has been such an anchor of support for me. He has done well being alone in Germany. Although, I know upon my return I will immediately have to visit the commissary because I think he has been living on cereal and tuna wraps.
He promoted to Specialist in August and should be on target to make Sergeant in 6 months. He is still having a lot of pain in his knee, and we received word on Monday that he will have to go before the Medical Review Board. There are several things that could happen. The worst being that he would receive a medical discharge from the army. WE DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN! But we rest in knowing that God has a divine plan and purpose for our lives. HIS Word promises us that ALL things will work together for our good and HIS Glory. Wes and I are still believing for total healing in his knees. Wes wants more than anything to become a Chaplain in the Army, and we know that can't happen if he is on a permeant profile. So we are still believing for total healing. Wes is set to go before the board on 29 October or 20 November. Please, keep him covered in prayer during this time.
The children and I will be heading back to Germany on Monday, 29 September. We are flying Space-A into Ramstien. This is a few weeks earlier than planned, but we know that it is the "right" time to go back. I will miss being here in Bama, and I hate that I did not have the chance to visit with everyone, but I am ready to walk out this next chapter in our life. I know that God has mighty things in store for us.
I am going to leave you with a verse that has been my rock this summer. May it bless you as much as it has blessed me.
Isaiah 55: 10-12
Rain and SNOW fall from the sky and do not return without watering the ground. They cause the plants to sprout and grow, making seed for the farmer and bread for the people. The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They will make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do. So you will go out with Joy and be led out in Peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees in the fields will clap their hands.
I love you dear friends. May you be blessed beyond measure today and always.
In HIS Care,
Stacy
Monday, September 22, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Heros
What is a Hero Anyway?
To me it is all those who surround & daily rescue me. My Friends, My children, My husband, and simply the stranger who holds the market door open for me as I shuffle into the store with two kids and a mile long shopping list.
Heros are defined in so many ways, and I'm certain that I'm surrounded my them EVERYDAY!
I believe that the greatest of Heros are our military men & women. Unless you live this life you'll never know all the sacrifices that are made daily. It is not just the ones who don't come home. It is ALL of them. So please don't forget where your freedom comes from because it is bought with a VERY HIGH PRICE!
But above ALL.....JESUS CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE HERO..He is still saving lives everyday for ALL who will call his Name.
AND then, there is EVERYONE who has the courage to follow HIM.
If you have never trusted Jesus as your LORD & SAVIOR...then today is the day of Salvation for you. There is NO Magic formula or special words that you need to say. Just simply call upon His Name.
The Bible says in Romans 10:8-11(HCSB) "This is the message of faith that we proclaim.. if you confess with your mouth,'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you WILL BE SAVED. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation."
Jesus paid the full penalty for your sins. By faith we recieve his work on the cross. Bow your head right now and surrender your heart to Jesus and ask HIM to fill you with The HOLY SPIRIT. Then find a church family to help you grow in your faith and knowledge of the word of God. Make a statement of faith to the world that you are a new person by following your commitment with water baptisim. Your life will never be the same! IF you prayed this prayer today...PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Be blessed today, my friend.
To me it is all those who surround & daily rescue me. My Friends, My children, My husband, and simply the stranger who holds the market door open for me as I shuffle into the store with two kids and a mile long shopping list.
Heros are defined in so many ways, and I'm certain that I'm surrounded my them EVERYDAY!
I believe that the greatest of Heros are our military men & women. Unless you live this life you'll never know all the sacrifices that are made daily. It is not just the ones who don't come home. It is ALL of them. So please don't forget where your freedom comes from because it is bought with a VERY HIGH PRICE!
But above ALL.....JESUS CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE HERO..He is still saving lives everyday for ALL who will call his Name.
AND then, there is EVERYONE who has the courage to follow HIM.
If you have never trusted Jesus as your LORD & SAVIOR...then today is the day of Salvation for you. There is NO Magic formula or special words that you need to say. Just simply call upon His Name.
The Bible says in Romans 10:8-11(HCSB) "This is the message of faith that we proclaim.. if you confess with your mouth,'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you WILL BE SAVED. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation."
Jesus paid the full penalty for your sins. By faith we recieve his work on the cross. Bow your head right now and surrender your heart to Jesus and ask HIM to fill you with The HOLY SPIRIT. Then find a church family to help you grow in your faith and knowledge of the word of God. Make a statement of faith to the world that you are a new person by following your commitment with water baptisim. Your life will never be the same! IF you prayed this prayer today...PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Be blessed today, my friend.
Friday, May 2, 2008
12 Years
12 YEARS WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Well, by now you should know me well enough to know that I must research this all. Let's take a look at what God has to say about this very special number and what He has in store for me & my Love in this new year of our walk as ONE.
12... 12 is the number that symbolizes God's Perfect, Divine accomplishment actively manifested.
It shows COMPLETENESS of a GROWTH or ADMINISTRATION.
TWELVE marks GOVERNMENTAL PERFECTION and is used 187 times in the Bible, 22 of those times are found in REVELATION.
* THERE ARE 12 TRIBES OF ISREAL (Numbers 1:5-6)
* JESUS CHOSE 12 APOSTLES THAT WILL SIT & RULE WITH HIM ON 12 THRONES (Matthew 19:28)
* THERE ARE 12 MONTHS THAT COMPLETE A YEAR & 12 SYMBOLS THAT ACCOUNT FOR EVERY STAR IN THE SKY (Job 38:32) & (Psalm 19:1-2)
*Elijah built an altar of Twelve stones, and fire from Heaven came down and consumed the altar offering.
(1 Kings 17:30-40)
and this is my FAVORITE:
*TWELVE spies were sent out by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:1-3) (Joshua & Caleb); When the children of Israel left the land of Egypt and started toward the land of promise, they came to ELIM, there they found TWELVE wells of water to quench their thirst.
(Exodus 15:27)
I just love this.. It thrills my heart knowing that the God of order.. rules in our hearts and lives. This 12th year of our marriage will be more than amazing. In it God will bring forth growth in our finances (administration), growth in our education (administration), and growth in our positions of authority. He will set up GOVERNMENTAL PERFECTION which to me means promotion, and favor with the government concerning Matthew, of which God led us to ELIM to find. :0) And through it all we will drink from the wells of Living water.. we will be refreshed and walk in Peace not lacking anything!
Well, by now you should know me well enough to know that I must research this all. Let's take a look at what God has to say about this very special number and what He has in store for me & my Love in this new year of our walk as ONE.
12... 12 is the number that symbolizes God's Perfect, Divine accomplishment actively manifested.
It shows COMPLETENESS of a GROWTH or ADMINISTRATION.
TWELVE marks GOVERNMENTAL PERFECTION and is used 187 times in the Bible, 22 of those times are found in REVELATION.
* THERE ARE 12 TRIBES OF ISREAL (Numbers 1:5-6)
* JESUS CHOSE 12 APOSTLES THAT WILL SIT & RULE WITH HIM ON 12 THRONES (Matthew 19:28)
* THERE ARE 12 MONTHS THAT COMPLETE A YEAR & 12 SYMBOLS THAT ACCOUNT FOR EVERY STAR IN THE SKY (Job 38:32) & (Psalm 19:1-2)
*Elijah built an altar of Twelve stones, and fire from Heaven came down and consumed the altar offering.
(1 Kings 17:30-40)
and this is my FAVORITE:
*TWELVE spies were sent out by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:1-3) (Joshua & Caleb); When the children of Israel left the land of Egypt and started toward the land of promise, they came to ELIM, there they found TWELVE wells of water to quench their thirst.
(Exodus 15:27)
I just love this.. It thrills my heart knowing that the God of order.. rules in our hearts and lives. This 12th year of our marriage will be more than amazing. In it God will bring forth growth in our finances (administration), growth in our education (administration), and growth in our positions of authority. He will set up GOVERNMENTAL PERFECTION which to me means promotion, and favor with the government concerning Matthew, of which God led us to ELIM to find. :0) And through it all we will drink from the wells of Living water.. we will be refreshed and walk in Peace not lacking anything!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Not By Chance
A few weeks 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 (2006-2007) 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 through the East. Needless-to-say, my heart broke. I cried all that morning. Then that night the children & I began praying for these forgotten babies. We have been praying ever since that day and said on many occasions that if God wanted to use us to adopt one of these children that we would open our doors. Off & 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.
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 when they turn 18 they are sent to an asylum till they die. 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. It was Wes & I with the our kids and a Polish interpreter to translate for us. 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 & I could tell he 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 had blonde hair and he 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. 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!!!
When we were there, they told us that we could take his picture, but Wes said no. He said that if we took his picture now.. people would just see just an orphan... but when we do take his picture and introduce him to our world... it will be as our son.
Keep us in your prayers concerning this. I can't wait for you to meet our new son.
Much Love,
STACY
Last year (2006-2007) 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 through the East. Needless-to-say, my heart broke. I cried all that morning. Then that night the children & I began praying for these forgotten babies. We have been praying ever since that day and said on many occasions that if God wanted to use us to adopt one of these children that we would open our doors. Off & 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.
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 when they turn 18 they are sent to an asylum till they die. 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. It was Wes & I with the our kids and a Polish interpreter to translate for us. 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 & I could tell he 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 had blonde hair and he 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. 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!!!
When we were there, they told us that we could take his picture, but Wes said no. He said that if we took his picture now.. people would just see just an orphan... but when we do take his picture and introduce him to our world... it will be as our son.
Keep us in your prayers concerning this. I can't wait for you to meet our new son.
Much Love,
STACY
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