Sweet Sweet Provision today!

I have to write about today. God has really been showing me the provision He provides a lot more in the New Year. I know He provides, however He is providing in EVERY step and every tiny detail In fact I picked out my new memory verse for Feb 1st as " The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23 Ahhhh! Boy does he EVER!!
I am doing Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory Team. If you have not heard of it check it out at http://blog.lproof.org/
So today I was going grocery shopping (with out HG and Hubby!) it really is relaxing when you can just take your time and not have to tell them, No all the time. LOL! So I head over to ALDI's my new favorite place to get groceries. If the Amish and the older people shop there, you know it has to be good! Well it has awesome prices. ANYWAY! You have to pay a quarter for a cart to get one. I go to get a quarter out of my purse and I have NONE! All I have are pennies. YEP! 23 of them! REALLY?!?!
So I go searching the car and praying for 2 more pennies. It was 0 degrees out and I was looking all in the car. I found one lone penny! Ok, so I have 24. What am I going to do? Go in and get a pack of gum get a dollar back and ask for quarters? Take in my 24 and tell the cashier I will pay her the penny when I get done shopping. UGH! I am walking in praying Lord, please let me find a penny on the ground on the way in. Lord, I see that every penny counts and I promise to NEVER forget that!
I am standing in line to get my quarter for my cart at the only cash register open. They open another lane and I look over and see my friend Nada. Nada!!! I swear I cried out! Walked over and we started to chat.I told her about my quarter ordeal. She laughed and said, let me pay and you can have this one. I told her here are 24 pennies I will pay you the other penny at Awana's Wednesday! She said NO! It was her 1st time visiting and did not know that you had to pay for a cart and a nice old lady asked her did she want her cart and she said Thanks so much and walked off! The lady looked at her very rudely! She did not realize till she was in the store that you had to pay for the cart. So I get her cart and get my groceries. When I got done I gave my cart to a young couple heading in and told them don't worry about the quarter, to pay it forward!
Now tonight we were on our way home via the gas station from dinner and Hannah-Grace asked us how does she get Jesus in her heart. So John and I explain to her and pray the prayer of Salvation with her. When we got to the end we said Amen. She said, no we have to say ALord or AJesus! I asked her why, she said because we pray to God or Jesus not men. AMEN! Baby ALORD!!!

January 15th means, 15 days down and only 25 more to go!

So the 15 days down, really 15 days? It does seem to be flying. I wonder why? I miss everyone one on Facebook and seeing what is going on in your lives. So you would think that it would drag by. I wish, days are slipping though my fingers like grains of sand. I want to stop time from flying by. In a little over a month, John will have been back in the states 365. I would love to say home, but he has training to go to. In 15 days he leaves again for another 15 days of training.UGH! Then in about 2 months we will once again have to say "See you soon", for another year away from his girls.
It does not seem fair, but life is not fair. When we told the Lord we will go anywhere and do anything for Him, we had no clue what our lot was. If we had known our lot would we chosen it? I can say no. That is why we leave it to the BIG MAN cause He has all the plans and He will see us thought it all! I was worried about John leaving now I am at peace. At least I know what to expect. God did not leave me or forsake me a year ago. He was right here with John and me the whole time. He made John's paths straight in the dessert, He walked them ahead of John and up held his righteous son! He will be just as faithful and true in Afghanistan.
So what have I been doing since I have been off Facebook? Well I have been reading a lot. I finished The Shack. I stated it in August and well got all but the last 3 chapters read and then put it down. I am very proud of myself, cause I am NOT a reader. I am not trying to make myself a reader, however I find it relaxing. I have been caught up on my Bible Studies and not scrambling to find time to complete them. I have only 3 chapters left to read in my one Bible Study book and going to start our new Bible Study book this week. I am stoked about this class. We are doing the 5000 Year Leap. We are going to be going over the 28 founding principles of our Founding Fathers. It should be a great study for this history lover!
PWOC has been rocking a long. We are doing our Spring Kick off in a few weeks and I hope to be teaching a class next semester. We will see, what the Lord has in his plans. I have gotten to catch up on reading some magazines and blogs. I read this one article in my P31 Woman's Magazine. It is by Shauna Naniequist. I decided to start my own. It is easier to make a don't list than a do list. LOL! Now does this mean I will NEVER do this? No, just means right now in my life I am not concerned with it.
I don't garden, well I can't I live in Narnia and not sure how to do it here. I am really not about trying to beat the snow and all. I don't clean my house everyday. Even right now there are dirty dishes in my sink (GASP!) Well I might get them done before bed, if I can find the time. A dear friend told me, You can clean your house when the kids are gone, they are not going to be there forever. Does this mean a live in a sty? Well who is to judge me? LOL! I don't make things from scratch. LOL! Yes, I like to make somethings from scratch, however every day and every meal is not made from scratch. I am not into all the organic stuff. To expensive for my budget. LOL! I believe that my family is a family not matter if our food come from the heart or a box. Cause I use heart to make it from a box too! I don't get everything done on my To Do List, if I don't get it done today, well tomorrow is not promised, however if I am here I will do my best to get it done! =) These are just somethings I have come up with so far.
I have also been able to see God's provision for our family so much more. I know that I have been looking for it, however it seems to be very abundant and amazing! God is your provider daily if you will look you will see Him in every little thing!
Hope your having an AMAZING 15 days of 2011 yourself!
Love and Blessings,
Meredith

5 down and 35 to go!

It has been five days since I last logged on to facebook. I have to say that it has been nice however I do miss you all! I wonder what is going on in your lives. However I know that I am being called to examine mine even more. In these 5 days of reflection have been very open and well they have hurt.
I have seem that I am being a brat in my areas in my life. I am acting like a 4 yr old having a pout party in the corner about this upcoming deployment. I was sitting there saying "I don't want to do this again!",  "Why us AGAIN God?", "We have through to much this year to have to be apart another year!", "The people that John work with are crazy and are all about numbers and not the well being of the soldiers.",
Well God, showed me though a dear friend that most Godly men in the Bible well they served under very ungodly men themselves. However the roads under their feet were protected. They were able to go on and do MIGHTY things with God! Then she gently reminded me, Meredith remember in your testimony how you spoke of not always walking with the Lord. Do you think that the Lord was away from you when you were not walking with him? No, you did the walking He was right there all along. So even if they are not Christians the Lord is there with them weather they choose to walk with Him or not.
Now back to my bratty attitude. He is working on me, what can I say, I am hard headed. I am also strong willed. He made me this way and needs me this way for a reason. I know that He will share His heart with me. He has seen us through a year deployment in 2009 and will see us through it again in 2011. So please pray for me and my bratty attitude about this upcoming deployment. No, it is not fair and yes, we did sign the line and know that this is the Lord's will for us in our lives, I am just not sure why I can not get out of this "slump". So prayers please! Miss you guys! Hope everyone is having a WONDERFUL 2011!
Blessings....

In 2011 I Will Earnestly Seek Heaven!

In 2011 I Will Earnestly Seek Heaven!

What can I say other than it is 5am on December 31, 2010. WOW! Where did this year go? I have been awaken by a pull, tug or shall I say shove from the Holy Spirit. Each year I have made a resolution to not make resolutions. Resolution has many definitions. However it does not say it is forever changed. I think that is what we need to look at new beginnings as being forever changed. It has been many years now that I have done a 40 fast of “something”. I have fasted sweet tea, well I still love tea, however it has been replaced with un-sweet. In 2007 I fasted soda, had my gastric bypass and never looked back. I can officially say that as of tomorrow it has been 4 years since I have had a soda! Praise the Lord. I have fasted Facebook and MySpace in the past. Last year I fasted all Fast Food restaurants. Being a single Mom at the end of a one year deployment, that was a challenge. However it inspired me to find, new, fast dishes to serve my family. It has changed my life.

So this year, I had not “settled” on what to fast if anything. I keep thinking, well I have John back and he leaves again early 2011 and well that is a fast that is hard to take and deal with. Why should I fast anything? So, I had been in prayer about it and just had not felt a definite answer from the Lord as to what I was to fast for 2011. As we know the Lord’s timing is perfect. He has awoken me this morning, with a very excited, joyful, and alive spirit about 2011! I feel that the Lord is asking me to Fast Facebook for the 1^st 40 days of the year.

 In the past week I have been on it in sheer boredom.  I have even looked up status shuffle stuff about being board. WOW, really? Why am I board? Why is that I go to Facebook 1^st thing most mornings. I have it on my computer & phone. I post things that cause people to get into heated discussions. I pray that most of my post are life giving and show my love and desire to follow the Lord every step in every day. However I should not do it out of boredom. I feel the Lord asking me to step back. Not to be so addicted to what other think or feel (comments to my postings). No, I am not going to be going “off line”, “off my rocker”, maybe!  However it will be for the Lord and I am honored to do so!

I feel the Lord wants me to still engage with the world through tweets and my blog. So to post things out there on the World Wide Web and well not be addicted to what others think or say. I love to read comments from you all. In fact I love it too much. So the Lord ask you to seek with your heart what is first and that is an idol, so I feel like Facebook as become an idol for me. I want that to be broken. I want to the Lord to be first in my heart! So as 2010 comes to a roaring close and well 2011 it is a new beginning a new start, and yes a challenging year. I am excited to seek the Lord’s Face not Facebook!  That is why my banner for 2011 is:

In 2011 I Will Earnestly Seek Heaven!

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Even the devil believes in God. However He has called us to have a relationship with him. To trust Him in all things and seek His face alone!

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” God ask us to seek Him in our thoughts and desires. Him and him alone! God gives us a choice to choose His face daily.

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” God does not plan on moving away from us. However we move away from Him. Many times we put up a wall between God and ourselves. So I am seeking God now, while He can still be found.

I do ask for your prayers please. Please pray for our family as we have been reunited almost a year and we face yet another deployment in the very near future. Yes, a year is a “long” time; however we have had some hard test (reintegration as a family, my surgery, a move, field exercises, deployment work ups & a miscarriage) this year and sailed through them with flying colors.  This time it feels different. I did not expect it to be harder, however it does feel harder. So please be in prayer for us as we soak up every moment together we can before we have to live a life apart for another year. Please pray Psalm 91 over my husband and home. We know that the Lord has called us to the Army to serve and minister and when we do things for the Lord, He will stretch us and only make us better disciplines for Him!

So yes, you will see posting on my Facebook wall through my Blog and tweets. However I will not be on Facebook till February 9, 2011. Please feel free comments them, to call me, text me or e mail me anytime. I am not cutting off communications, just not logging on to Facebook! Have a wonderful New Year and New Beginning! God Bless! 

Travels Across the US.

A month ago today we left our home for the past 22 months and headed East. I have to admit it felt good to head East. To be able to live back on the same time zone as most of our family is nice. We headed across on 90. Well over the Cascade's and into Eastern WA, there was a lot of farms and dessert. It was neat to see that side of the state. We had not had a chance to visit it before.

The first night we spent in Spokane, WA. Then we headed across ID and MT. Well lets just say there is lots of untouched land. We really enjoyed the beauty of our country. To see the land the way it was (or as close to it was) when the settlers came over. Our God is very creative! 

MT and ND have tons of ranches. It was miles and miles and miles and miles and miles, did I mention MILES of Ranches? It was neat to see all the openness of the the BIG SKY COUNTRY. I know now why they call it that. It seems to look as if the sky goes on forever. 

Then we moved into MN. The northern part of MN is beautiful with green grass and rolling hills. It was not till we got to Minneapolis that we felt like we were back into civilization.  It was so nice to look at my phone and see 3G! We went to the Mall of America. We had a blast at Nickelodeon Universe, American Girl and just window shopping. We stayed till the mall closed. It was nice to have a day off the road and just have fun!

The next stop was IL and we took in the sights of Chicago. We did the Chicago Sightseeing Tours and hit the "High Spots" as would say in the south. We had Rain Forrest Cafe for lunch. YUM! We then finished out our tour and hit the Navy Pier. We rode the Ferris Wheel just as the sun was starting to set. It was a great end to a great day!

Then we finished out our drive across the US. It was after Chicago we started hitting the Toll Roads. We don't have them down south and well I have to say that we felt the PINCH! What made it hurt worse was the roads were horrible! It was not till we got into NY that the toll roads started to pay off. The roads were nice. We did stop and see Niagara Falls. We took the Maid of the Mist tour. It was very neat to see the Falls and how powerful they are. All I could think of was the Lord and his Mighty Power! 

We pulled into Fort Drum August 27th at about 9 pm. It was a sight for sore eyes! We are excited to start our new life in the North Country. I have to say I am loving the rural area here. The rolling hill and the leaves are starting to change. When we pulled into town, I rolled down the windows! Hannah-Grace asked me "Mom, what is that smell?" I told her Freedom! LOL! It was cow and horse farms we were smelling. It is nice to not have to smell the the car exhaust fumes of WA. I loved our time in WA and we meet life long friends but I am digging the rural life up here. Watertown is a town that has everything we need. Tons of stores, restaurants and we are even getting more! Syracuse is just an hour up the road IF we should have to need something that we can't get here. I love the 1800/1900's Victorian Homes. They are breath taking. I love the Black River that RUSHES through town. We are going to explore Watertown even more this weekend. I am looking forward to living here in the North Country! 

I wanted to sit down and blog about my WA experience. I felt like it is best to put what is in my heart to words. I need to show you all what the Lord has done. We pulled into WA Sept 20, 2008. It is really hard to believe that it has been almost 2 years. Being a “NEW” Army wife, not new to the military I have to say I was scared of what our future held. I knew that the Lord had OPENED all the doors necessary for us. We pulled into town that Saturday, listening the ECU football game on our XM Radio. I really longed to be home and well see my Pirates play. How could the NW possibly even love football the way the south does? WA welcomed us with well a DOWNPOUR! It was quite funny. I told John, man I know it rains a lot here but this is rough. As we were going over the passes (could not see a thing) we would come about the clouds and there was no rain and then down into the clouds we would drive in the down pour. It was a very neat experience. On into Auburn, then Kent and then Puyallup.

We had been told about an apartment complex that we thought would be great. We headed there to check them out. Had our 1^st meal at Applebee’s! The place was packed and we were able to see our Gators play! AHHHH! Sigh of relief. We then got settled into our hotel on Fort Lewis (Now Joint Base Lewis McChord) and were ready for church the next day. A sweet waitress in ID had told us about Puyallup 4 Square Church. We looked at a sermon on I tunes and feel in love!

So we headed into Puyallup. We left an hour early, because we did not know how long it was going to take us to get there. Let’s just say we were 20 minutes late for church! It was the last day of the FAIR! The church is oh only a block from the Fair Grounds. They welcomed us with open arms and still to Hannah-Grace into Child Care. I was so impressed. We did wear our Carolina Panther’s jerseys to church that morning. The people there were so funny! They had their Sea Hawks jerseys on too! They razzed us and well we razzed them back. This is starting to feel like home! Roger preached and great sermon and John and I looked at each other and we KNEW this is where the Lord wanted us. In all my LATE NIGHT FRANTIC internet searching for a home, church and school, I did not come across 4 square! It was so the Lord’s way of showing me He was in total control. We were getting Hannah-Grace into the truck when we hear, “HEY! How about those Jacksonville Jaguars?” I turned to give and EXCUSE ME look! When lo and behold it was Roger! He walked over to us and starts laughing! He asked us where we were from and we explained our situation and how we loved the sermon. He told us that afternoon was the New Comer’s Dessert. So we went grabbed lunch and headed back. Roger was so open to us and really answered a lot of our questions about the church. It amazes to this day how the Lord arranged us to be feed by an amazing Pastor and Church! Foursquare we will forever be grateful!

Within 2 weeks of moving here we found out that John would be deploying for a year in less than 5 months. Not to count all the training to get ready I knew our time would be very very short. I knew I had to put on my BIG GIRL PANTIES and well suck it up! I was sent out to WA for a reason. The Lord had people he wanted to put in my life and me in theirs. I was scared, because I did not know anything about the Army ways and traditions. I know you are thinking military is military, well it is NOT in any way the same! I learned really quickly with the Marine Corps if they wanted you a wife they would have issued you one in boot camp! It helped to have a Sgt Maj tell me that too! I knew I better be seen and not heard. In the Army, they generally cared about the family and well amazed me with the Army Family Covenant. I took AFTB classes and got in to the groove of being an Army wife really fast.

My first friend out here was Tami! I loved getting to know you and your wonderful family. Thank you for taking me by the hand and really showing the ropes to Fort Lewis. Thank you for opening your home and heart to me and my family. I know that we will be friends for a lifetime. I love our late night text and how we can go a week or so without talking and know that your there no matter what! I am so proud of you in all your accomplishments and you’re my Army sister from another mister to me! I love you Hun!

Mrs. Carol you have been an amazing well of knowledge. In meeting you in the AFTB classes was so amazing. You have opened your heart to me! Thank you for being that wonderful example of an Army wife! Thank you for all my silly questions and wanting to know what Army Reg is this or that! Thank you for always showing me love! I will miss you and Samara so very much! Love you both!

Kessie, what can I say. You’re the best battle buddy I could have ever had! Yes, you’re my little sister but you’re so much more than that. Thank you so much for always being there with a smile and a hug. Your love for me and Hannah-Grace is so contagious. I loved our nights of Dancing with the Stars, Big Brother, Bachelor, and Army Wives. I thank you for giving me a chance even though I am a Republican! You’re a wonderful hostess and cook! Thank you for your encouragement and helping me get to be a decent cook.  You having HG days and giving me a break meant so much! I will miss our breakfast! I felt like I knew Brandon when he got home, even though I had never meet him. I am so glad that our silly hubby’s get along so well! You will always be my little sister and I love you Hun!

Getting into the ESC was one of the best ways to network for me. I have met wonderful lifelong friends from this. Tami, Cindy, Brandie, Kelly, Katie, Carol and of course Carla! You ladies have been the best pals a girl could ask for. You all have opened your arms to me and shown me true love! Thank you for taking this old Marine Corps wife and showing me how to be an Army Wife! You ladies always know how to have a good time and great laughs!!! You all hold a special place in my heart!

PWOC was also the best way for me to network. Through PWOC I have meet amazing women of Faith. You all have seen me though the good and bad. You all are amazing prayer warriors and sister of Christ. Tina and Candice I thank you so very much for telling me about PWOC. Tina thanks so much for pushing me to meet you there! You know I am not a morning person. Through PWOC I have been aligned with so many sister of Christ. Thank you Tina, Candice, Deb, Dee Dee, Diana, Dawn, Jessie, Sara, Lea, Chinook, Mary, Robyn, Nikki, Johnena and Carol. You ladies have been just so open and wonderful to me. We have had our tear and our HALLELUJAH’s! Thank you for always being there with an ear and a prayer. PWOC really networked me with A LOT more people than this. All the sisters of PWOC are amazing women. PWOC bible studies allowed me to grow and mature as a Woman of God.

WA has amazed me with her natural beauty. I have been blown away by Mount Rainier. I can never get use to seeing her. The 1^st time I saw her she took my breathe and has not stopped. The state of WA is so beautiful! From the coast to the Cascade’s being able to discover some of the gems has been a blast. I have loved showing you off to friends and family that have come to visit. I will be back to and recommend ANYONE to come and visit WA! She is a nice keep secret! Fort Lewis now JBLM has been an amazing Army post. I was scared at how many gates this placed had and how big of a post it was. We have never been stationed at a place quiet so large. Fort Lewis has been a great 1^st post for any Army Family!

Our 22 months here have flown by! I have learned what it is like to live with dusk being at 3pm in the fall and winter and at 10pm in the summer. I have learned that fog, well it rolls in like it does in horror movies! I know now where that comes from. The reason people love coffee here (I am just a guilty) is because it is cold and wet all the time. It makes you want it. I have learned that summer is not just May-Sept. It can be just a couple of weeks in July and August. I have learned to live without AC and for this southern belle, it has been an EXPERIENCE! I have learned that you can keep in touch with your other friends from the past via Facebook. One of the 1^st arguments John and I had when we moved here was that I was always on the computer. Well that is where my friends were! That is where you all will be. You all are friends for life.

Being a military wife I have learned that you never say good-bye. You always say see you soon. I will see you all very soon! Like I have told most of you, see you here, see you there or see you in the air! Thank you all for being there for me, I love you!!!

Bad Girls...

Yesterday HG and I went to the mall in Tacoma. I can count on 2 hands how many times I have been there since we moved her almost 2 years ago. Well as we were walking in with our neighbor and her kids, all of a sudden 2 mall cops are wrestling with a lady. She is screaming "I didn't take anything!" Well everyone has stopped and we are all staring. She is FIGHTING. She knocked over a sign and well it took 3 mall cops to take her down.
My sweet and adorable HG yells "STOP!!!" When they did not listen she started to cry. I was trying to walk on, she is screaming at me. I felt so bad that my innocent child had to see something like that. I ended up having to pick her up and comfort her. I am NOT suppose to do that, well the Mommy in me took over....
We talked and I told her she did not have the money to pay for something and took it. It is against God's laws that we don't take things or steal.
My kiddo asked she is a "Bad Girl?". I had to tell her yes. Well then her little mind started to wonder. She starts telling me Mommy I want be a Bad Girl cause I don't want those Mean Guys to get me. I tell her they are not mean guys cause they are doing their job, and they don't get you unless you are really really bad.
On the to the car, the lady is sitting in the cop car in front of our car. She see's her "Behind the cage" as HG said. She tells me, "Mommy I want to live with you forever." I told her she can leave with me forever. We would love to have her live with us forever. She said I don't want to be put in the cage.
She tells John at bedtime, " I am going to be a good girl and not be put in a cage." I feel so bad that my child had to see something like this. It is so not fair to see her innocence taken from her in regards to people getting in trouble with the law.
I would love to have a conversation with that woman and tell her not only did you steal 2 pairs of pants but you took something from my child I can NEVER get back. It just makes me realize that our actions in public might not just effect us but others too.....

Disconnect from Technology = Connected to Reality

I am guilty as charged!!! I have been so attached to my BB that I think I could not live without. What if I miss an e mail, what if I miss a text message, heaven forbid if I miss a FB message or comment??? WHY??? Seriously?


Well I was challenged by God to leave my BB at home turned off on the charger. I thought, I am not sure I can do it God. Of course I get the whisper, "with Me all Things are possible!". Sure! I will take you up on this challenge. For the past year I have become so attached to this Device that it was taking 1st place. NO WAY! God is 1st in my life!

So we set off to Ocean Shores for 3 days. John asked me 3 or 4 times before we left, are you sure you want need it. NOPE! I am fine. All thought in the back of my mind I am thinking, I NEED IT, I want it!!

We had a blast! I was not checking that darn thing every 5 mins. Yes, I missed texting my friends. I know that I need to reconnect with my family!

We had to go back to the simple way of life, and find things to do! We had to have conversations in the car, and at dinner.

I have to say that it was a very freeing and inspiring experience. Yes, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I can go without being "connected" at all times. I can make conversation and we can have a good time without the computers or phones!

I am going to being going off line more often. 1st I am starting by not allowing FB updates on my BB. I can check FB, but it will not notify me of every little thing that happens. I will be spending more time with my family without my phone! We were not a family for a year!! In that whole year all I wanted was to be a family again. Then I throw this phone in there like it is a family member. NOT!

So if you call and I don't answer or txt and I don't answer it is not against you, it is against the phone! I am spending time with my family! My family is my reality!! I love you all and will get back to you kind of like 5 years ago when you just left a message and the person got back when they had a free moment. Hope this inspires others to do the same!!

Family Vacation

We went to Ocean Shores for a get away! We needed to disconnect from the world and reconncet with each other after a LONG one year deployment. We got there and headed for the beach. On the beaches here you can drive! We found sand dollars! Sand Dollars are so special to me. They remind me of my Nannie. When ever I would visit her at the beach she would have a sand dollar for me. HG found one that was broken and after searching for awhile, John found a whole one! It was super special! Walking on the beach in boots or UGGS is the thing here. The water is freezing cold! We also found clam shells! We had a fablous end to the 1st day with an amazing dinner on the beach and got to see sunset! AHHHHH!

On the second day we started out with a massage for John and I! Just what we needed. We then headed out to find some family fun! We went and rode go carts, bumper cars and rented a 3 seat bike to ride out to the beach and fly HG's new kite! We had a wonderful day!
We had some time before dinner so we rode out on the beach again in a different direction (toward the Jetty). The sand started to get soft and John went to turn us around and got us STUCK!!! I was so scared! I started crying and praying! If you ask HG what Mom did when Daddy got the car stuck she will tell you, "She was crying and praying!" So much better than yelling, cause that is what the old me would have done!!! John and an on looker try and push us out to no avail. He sink even futher! John said do not turn it off the exhaust is in the water.
I am really praying now!!! We have NO cell phone service! HG starts to panic cause their is water out on her side of the door. GREAT the tide is coming in now!!! Lord please get us out of here!!!! I am praying for a miracle!!! The nice on looker sees a jeep coming up the beach. We flag the nice guys down! Not only is it a Jeep they have a WENCH!!! I am THANKING THE LORD!!!!
They had to use the wench and pull us out by a MILE!! I gave the nice guy a twenty and told him, "I don't know if you believe in God, but you have been our saving grace!! Thank you so much and God Bless!" He told us " No problem glad I could help, just want you to know that in 10 mins you would not have had a rig!" I started to cry!!! Thank you Lord for getting us out of there!!!

Day 3 was rainy and well what better to do on a rainy day? Go to the Rainforrest! We took the beautiful 40-50 mile drive up the Pacifice Coast to Lake Quinault. I had no clue that we had a rain forrest here! It is georgous! We also found a waterfall!! We passed by it twice before we found it! It was so magical!

Then we headed back to Ocean Shores and did some shopping. We found the funnest shirts. They say Tsuami Evacation Instruction with the deal on the front. On the back it says RUN LIKE HELL!! We laughed so hard. Needless to say we bought 2 of them!!!
We then headed back to the Jetty this time on pavement! It was neat to see them and see how the harbor is right there. Lovely views!

We then walked back up the beach to where the car got stuck. We also wrote our names in the sand. We ended the day with a beautiful picture of us with a Rainbow in the back ground. That is right God Always Keeps his Promises!!! We had a wonderful vacation or escape and reconnect as a family again! We Thank the Lord for brining John home safe and sound! Thank you Lord!!!

4 years? REALLY???

WOW! It seems just like yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with our miracle. Today we celebrated her 4th BD! She also shares this BD with my wonderful Dad!! I am so BLESSED!

Today she got a Baby Doll. She named her Baby Jordyn. Well after all was cleaned up we took on the task of getting the Baby out of the box and showing her what all she does. Well it was not long before Hannah-Grace was ready to change the baby. I showed her once how to do the diaper. That is all it took, next thing I knew she was putting on and taking off the diaper like a Mom of triplets! She also was holding and feeding her like she has always known what to do. This blew me away!

It was just 4 years ago that I held her, fed her and changed her diaper. Lord, I think you for the wonderful 4 years and memories I have had with our precious Baby Girl! Thank you for trusting me with your Precious Jewel! I am honored you would pick me to raise her with her wonderful father!

Ok to move on....

Today we took Rella to the Dog Park. Rella is our 14 week old puppy. She is a mix of Blue Healer and Black Lab. She is the sweetest thing. She has been a great addition to our family. She was potty trained very early and I might add very easy to train. She adores Hannah-Grace and Hannah-Grace adores her too. They are great for each other.
I have not let myself get to attached or close to Rella. She was more for Hannah-Grace than for me or John. Although John has bonded with her just as much as Hannah-Grace has. I have to say it was not till today that I was able to really move on.

Scarlet was our dog for 10 wonderful years. We got Scarlet our 1st Christmas together. She taught me A LOT!!! I had never trained a dog or knew anything about dogs till we got Scarlet. She was a wonderful dog and I miss her still every day. During the deployment I missed having a dog at night. She would always stay up with me till I went to bed. Well today we went to the dog park. There was a lady that was walking her dog and her dog's name was Scarlet. How odd was that. When I heard her say No Scarlet, my stomach got a huge knot in it. It was like I was hearing myself. When she got to us, I was blown away how much this Scarlet looked like our Scarlet.
We talk with the lady and let the dogs play awhile. She was nice enough to let me take a picture of Scarlet. As I got to thinking about it, I thought how amazing God is. He knows my feelings with Rella and how I was not bonding like I should. I know he set that meeting up so I can move on. I know that Scarlet is not hurting and would want nothing more than for us to have a dog to bring us joy and love the way that she did. Lord, Thank you for using the little things in life to help us in BIG ways!!! I am amazed by you daily!!!
This is Scalet from the Dog Park!

Just thinking...

John filled out the census today. I got to thinking, where were we 10 years ago? Well we were in Yuma, AZ with no children. Where will we be 10 years from today? I can best assume we will be done with the military and back in NC. We will have a 14 year old and I pray a few more pattering feet.


In thinking about the 10 years, I wonder what statists we hear daily based on the 2000 census. Well with that, being said the world is NOT what it was in 2000. We had a false sense of security as American's. We thought we were invincible. No one could harm us, and never on our own land. I wonder should it be done more than 10 years. With the technology the way it is we can really do it faster and more often right? Just thinking....

February 20, 2010

Well today is the day!!! I have to say I have dreamt of this day for over a year now. I can remember when we were in the Marine Corps I would hear about the Army's deployments for 12 plus months. I would feel so sorry for the Army wives and thought I could NEVER do that!




Well God had other plans for us. When John told me he was coming into the Army, God instantly put it in my spirit that he would deploy right away. God had been working on preparing me for this deployment a good 6 mo. out.



Well Feb 22, 2009 came and it was one of the hardest days of my life. It was cold, rainy, at o dark thirty that we had to say “See you later” because we don’t say goodbye! I remember a gut wrenching feeling that well I know I will experience again, however it does not make it any better.



As I pulled out of the parking lot and looking into our Baby Girls eyes well I really lost it. I felt so horrible for John. We had prayed and wanted our precious gift from God for years. Now he was going to miss out on a year of her life. I knew at that time, my husband was making more than the normal sacrifice of a deployment. I knew that God would see him and me through it. I also knew I would take TONS of pictures (as you can see from my many albums) as for him not to miss out on too much.



The 1st night was horrible!!! I did laundry that day and well waited to fold and put it away that night (never again). Seeing his clothes and putting them away for a year hurt so bad. I remember calling my Mom at midnight my time and well 3 am hers. She was there ready to talk. She told me don't look at it as a year. Take it one day at a time. That night I know God was there in our room holding me and rocking me to sleep. I could have never gotten to sleep any other way.

Hannah-Grace's 3rd BD came and well I have to say it was one of the hardest for me. I remember the glowing look on John's face when he saw her born. I just want him to be here for this too. Yet another sacrifice he made for this country he loves.



I have to say my several trips to NC made the deployment go by a lot faster. It gave me something to look forward to. I could never have done it without my Mom and Dad. I have to say it gave me a break from the everyday to make it easier.



I have to give God all the glory on the success of this deployment. He has taught me a deeper level of prayer. When I would not hear from John for 4 or 5 days, well what else can you do? Go crazy? Nope not an option. He would remind me in his sweet calming voice "Meredith, no news is good news." He taught me how to rely on Him as my husband. I use to rely on John for everything. Well with God and His strength and courage I did things I would never thought I could do! The Lord also showed me a deeper relationship with John. It is hard to have relationship separated by miles. God would put people or books in my way that would give me ideas to help us grow deeper! He was a source of wonderful encouragement through friends and family. He allowed me to meet and love on some wonderful friends. I have to say us Army Wives well we are a breed all our own. God gives us strength and courage that is amazing!!



R&R was wonderful. 15 days of well Bliss!! I have to say, I am very thankful for the little time we got to spend together. I would not trade it for the world. Thanksgiving and Christmas well they were tough. God taught me to look at them totally differently. It was more about Jesus than me or our family!



I have to say staying busy volunteering and sharing the light of Jesus really helped me though this year. It has not always been easy, but the outcome is not for me, it is for God!



PWOC was a saving grace. It was my weekly pick me up that I needed. Puyallup 4square church helped me keep my head up. Hearing encouraging and humorous messages from Roger well they allowed me to grow and have a deep relationship with God. Roger and Tina made me feel so special; they would always have an encouraging word or just ask how I was doing. In a church that size, they would remember me and our family!



My friends and family were always there for me no matter the day or time. Your loving e mails, encouraging words and well just listening ears helped me so much. You all keep me busy and I love you all for it.



Today is a beautiful Sunny day here in the Pacific Northwest. Today is a day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!! Today is a day that God wrote in my destiny before I was even born; He amazes me with His love for me!!

Thank you Lord for your Strength and Courage to not only survive but thrive through this Deployment!!!

In the Past Decade

WOW!! It is crazy to think that 2000 was 10 years ago! Well in the past 10 years I have....
Done 2 cross country moves, Rededicated my life to Christ and really walking the walk, Baptized with my wonderful Husband, seen our marriage grow by leaps and bounds, fought to have a child for 7 years, gave up and gave it to God, Have a miracle of a 3 year old, lost 189 pounds, supported my husband as a Marine and now a Soldier, done a 1 year deployment, grown as a Christian and found relationship with Jesus not religion, made a ton of wonderful friends from all over the world, seen most of the US!
I can not wait to see what the next 10 years hold for me and my family. I do not know what my future holds, however I know WHO holds my future!! Cause when you give God control, the ride is AMAZING!!!

Solider's Wife

A Soldier's Wife
Roxie Dean
Breaking News from a desert town
Smoke and rubble on the ground
The names we do not know right now
And it cuts me like a knife
With a tearful goodbye kiss
I sent him off to this
But I've gotta stay strong for our kids
I'm a soldier's wife
I run the houseI sleep alone
I live for e-mails
And the phone calls home
I tell my children he will be all right
And I hope it's not a lie
I'm a soldier's wife
We do the things we used to do
Go to church, go to school
But you could drive a truck right through
The hole that's in our lives
My little boy shoots me a grin
And says he wants to be like him
And I feel my heart start caving in
I'm a soldier's wifeSometimes I'm angry
Sometimes confusedI live and die by
The evening news
But I tell my babies he will be all right
And I hope it's not a lie
I'm a soldier's wife
I pray for strength
I pray for peace
I pray that he comes home to me
And if you would please pray for me
I'm a soldier's wife.

“Desert Time”

S- “In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron” Exodus 2:16
O- Have you ever felt that you were in the desert? You feel like NO one care, NO one is around you to help you out and you have NOTHING. God will draw us out of our comfort zone. He will draw you from your everyday normal routine to the desert. Our move to the Army and to WA was a big drawing to the desert. We had all we needed and wanted in Havelock. We had a wonderful church that was our family, we had wonderful friends and we were very Comfortable in our lives. A- The “Desert Time” is going to be a dessert time when it is all said and done. God is my Strength, My Rock and my Sweet daily Manna during this desert time. I will rely on the Lord for my strength. I will stand on his word. I also will take is word and make it Sweet Manna to share with others.
P- Dear Lord,
Draw me out Lord to be closer to you and feel your presences in every step. Lord you are my Manna in this “Desert Time”. This growth that is being done is to Glorify You! It is going to be a sweet sweet “Dessert” in the end!
Your Princess,
MD

Strong Foundation

Strong Foundation

Scripture- Luke 6: 46-48"Why do you call me Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who come to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck the house but could not shake it, because it was well built."

Observation- We got thru building times in out faith. We add more stones to our foundation. We build it up for the upcoming storms in our lives. Sometimes those storms are foreseen and sometimes they are not. Sometimes they come one right after another or at the same time.

Application- During thease storms, I will remember the building times. Look back over sermons, scriputres, SOAP's and continue to seek the Lord. My foundiation is in Christ! I can weather ANY STORM!!!

Prayer- Dear Lord,Please help me to remember you are my foundation,. You will see me thru it all! I can trust you and know you are here for me. You will see me thru the darkest times!Your Princess,Meredith

You Tube lays out the facts.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5tZc8oH--o

We have to educate people about this! I have been educated. I also feel like I just to a hard core econ class and man, it makes a lot of sense. Remember what is going on here in the US is not ALL the president's fault. See he can only put bills in from of our lawmakers and they deciede weather to pass it or not. Remember the Checks and Balance. Well I think it needs to be revised.
So yes we have had a Republican president for 8 years, HOWEVER our Lawmakers (checks and balance system) has been majority democrates. So YES, the election for President is VERY important, however our Congressmen/women and Senators is even MORE important, cause they are the ones doing the checks and balance. Oh and by the way, when we had a Democrate for president (removed) Bill Clinton, we had a REPUBLICAN checks and balance... HUMMMMMMMMMM..... You do the math! Just make sure your friends and families are educated before November 4th!

Because God said so.....

Well getting into WA was a big worry fest for me. I tend to do that all the time. Well I would stay up to 4am most morning back in NC. I was trying to figure out the lay of the land, where we would live, cool churches that we might be interested in. Well see God has showed me that He is my source. I know this, and now I see it!!!
See coming thru the US we stopped in Idaho Falls. We wanted to have a nice lunch. Turning to Tom Tom we looked to see what was available. Well there it was OLIVE GARDEN! John and I love this place but have only eaten there may be 3 times. So we thought, YUM Olive Garden! Well low and behold we had gone past it by 5 miles. We still thought that is cool. So we turned back and went to Olive Garden. We had a wonderful waitress. She was very friendly and knew right off we were in the Army and heading to Ft. Lewis. Odd I thought. We got our YUMMY salads and breadsticks and bowed our heads to pray. Bringing us our lunch she said, "I love how God puts Christians at my table." Then she asked us if we had looked at churches online in the area? I told her yes and we had a few in mind. Well in bringing us our check she told us that her mother lived in Tacoma and went to a church there called Foursquare. I asked her what is Foursquare? She told me it was a non-denomination church in Tacoma. It sounded interesting when she started to explain it. I told her in my searching that I had not come across this church. Then she handed me a piece of paper with her mother’s name and number on it. I thanked her and placed it in my purse and we went on to Boise.
Well John had a great friend of his from receiving and school in Fort Leonard Wood that was being stationed out here with us. He had been out here and looking for places for awhile. He called us to tell us that he had found a place in Puyallup. We were like where e is Puyallup? So he told us we are north of the post and right outside Tacoma. He told us what the entire apartment had to offer. It has indoor/outdoor pool, basketball court, and home movie theater, business center, gym, sauna, Jacuzzi and a cabana.
He also told us about the 3 bedroom and 2 baths what all they offered. So we thanked him and when we got to Boise we looked it up on the computer. We were in awe of the place, prices and amenities. So we prayed that night Lord, if this is where you will have us, please let us know. So the next morning we were driving into WA, we called and talked with the leasing agent. She was due to leave at 5, but would stay for us to come in. We would be there about 5. We thought ok. So when we got here, she showed us 2 bedroom 2 baths, they were nice, but we needed more. Then she showed us 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. We feel in love and it felt like home.
So we filled out the application, praying ok Lord, if this is where you want us, it will be. She came back and told us we had been approved and that we just need to put down the deposit. So we did. We told her we would be back to sign the lease either Monday or Tuesday. She told us you can come back and sign whenever you want. So upon leaving we decided to see how far the Foursquare church was from here. Low and behold it is only 2 miles!!! OK, Lord we see where you are leading us.
So Sunday morning we got up and headed to church at Foursquare. Well you see the fair was in town and our church is like a block from the fairgrounds. Well we were in traffic for like 30 mins to get thru the fair and on the church. We were NOT letting anything stop us! So we went to church. HG went in her room, no fussing and told us Bye! OH MY!! We went to the service. The music was wonderful. It was really neat how God had brought us here. Ok, so the church is a perfect blend of Liberty and C3!! John and I were blown away. We told each other going to get HG, this really feel like it. So we get HG and get her into the car, and then Pastor Roger comes up to us. He starts talking with us about us and being 1st time guest and where we have come from. He was very nice and really made us feel an extra welcome. He then told us they have a new comer’s dessert at 2, if we thought we might want to come.
John and I went on the lunch and then we talked about the dessert. We went to the dessert and feel in love even more with the church and what he has to offer all of us! We then knew that in Puyallup is where the Lord wants us. So we called the leasing agent and she told us we could come and sign today if we wanted. So we went and signed. See I had in mind where I thought we would live and go to church. When I should have been praying and seeking God, I was up worrying myself SILLY!
See God knew all along where we would live and attend church. God has put people in my path to shine light on what we need to do. So we have to feel the soft nudges of the Lord and know that He is in control, not matter how much we try to take the reins! See, this is God’s will for us. When he said to go into the Army, we accepted it, Because God Said So! When it was time to find a place to live and worship I did not rely on the Because God Said So. I relied on Meredith. When all along God Said So…..
Lord, I give You all the Glory and Honor for our new home and church. It was You who showed us where to live and serve You!

I'm voting Democrat because...

This would be funny if it wasn't true!



I'M VOTING DEMOCRAT BECAUSE:

I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would. I'm voting Democrat because I believe three or four pointy headed elitist liberals need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe kooks who would NEVER get their agendas past the voters. I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene, but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn't. I'm voting Democrat because I believe that paying $4.00 a gallon or more is no reason to drill for the mountain of oil we are sitting on in THIS country. We wouldn't want to have to move a couple of polar bears or elk now would we? I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq, I trust that the bad guys will stop what they're doing because they now think we're good people. I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it. I'm voting Democrat because I love the fact that I can now marry whatever I want. I'm going to marry my TV. I'm voting Democrat because I'm not concerned about the slaughter of millions of babies so long as we keep all death row inmates alive. I'm voting Democrat because I don't want to be able to use my natural rights to protect myself or my family when I'm out running errands or in my own home. I'm voting Democrat because I believe that churches should only be allowed for political speeches. I'm voting Democrat because I believe that businesses should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the employees and the government. I'm voting Democrat because I believe that I don't want medical doctors who were at the top of their classes to operate on me. I want a government employee who makes $50K a year and couldn't hack it as a contractor or an engineer . I'm voting Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius. I'm voting Democrat because I REALLY believe there is no bias in the media.