No longer a Captain

The day before Thanksgiving, we got to celebrate Travis' promotion to Major. After being a Captain for 6 years, he was anxious to finally pin on a different rank. Most of his family was able to come which was EXTRA special. I didn't originally plan on tearing up, but Travis said so many precious things to the girls, his parents, his brother/sister (and spouses), and me...that it was hard not to. Lynn, the picture of the cake is for you. They actually did a great job!

Peace on Earth

As I look at my girls, I feel hopeful about the future. If we could all be as optimistic as little children...to believe anything is possible...to love people just as they are...to lavishly demonstrate that love...to sincerely be proud of others' accomplishments...to wake up in anticipation of the wonderful day that lies ahead. The greatest lessons in life can be found in watching children simply be.

Getting Bigger

The Magic House...

Travis was off for Veterans' Day and we had a blast visiting the Magic House and Science Center. Downtown St. Louis offers so many wonderful things for little ones to do and see.

http://www.magichouse.org/ (Nationally acclaimed children’s museum offers more than 100 hands-on educational exhibits for kids from one to 101. Explore the Children’s Village, Math Path and three-story slide.)

http://www.slsc.org/ (Super cool!!! The even have the latest Harry Potter in the IMAX theater...too scary for the kids, but Travis and I would love to go back for a date night.)

Change...

In some parts of the country "change" can be seen so clearly. As I was walking this morning, I was struck by the beauty of the trees in my backyard here in O'Fallon, Illinois...such brilliant colors (reds, oranges, yellows, and golds)...absolutely gorgeous. I was struck by the "changing" of the season...Fall turning to Winter...soon to be Spring.
For years, I haven't been able to witness such beauty by our Heavenly Father...due to the dry climate of both West Texas and Colorado...and yet here the colors are so majestic. As I reflected, on last night's events with the Presidential race, a sense of peace filled my heart. Change can be good. It can be a beautiful thing...a natural process. My heart couldn't be happier for seeing blacks realize that they too could be president...or any minority group for that matter. I thought about the children I taught in school, and how they would reflect upon this election. Would this inspire them to achieve greatness? Would this give them renewed strength? Obama inspired people that had never voted before to take a chance...unprecedented numbers at the polls. In some ways, I wish McCain/Palin could have inspired us more. I prayed so hard that God would breathe on us yesterday, that the Holy Spirit would renew our hearts and God's will be done. Literally for 3 hours among different friends, we prayed diligently for our country...for compassion, for mercy....I fought down on my knees for the unborn. I went to the polls. I chose LIFE. I guess I thought, when McCain didn't become president, I would be hurt or upset, fearful, perhaps anger...but I don't feel any of those emotions. I awoke with one singular song on my heart.

Send Your Rain (Kelly Carpenter)

Send Your rain, oh Lord
Send Your rain, oh Lord
Send Your rain to your people (repeat)
Send Your rain bring Your Kingdom
Chorus:
Soften our hearts and pour out Your Spirit
Fill us anew, let Your rain come
Soften our hearts and pour out Your Spirit
Fill us anew, let Your rain come
May Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
On the earth as it is in heaven
May Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
On the earth, bring Your kingdom

Have no doubt that I want Obama's heart to change for the unborn. I wish he would fight passionately for them and their protection. Join me in praying that God softens his heart. My heart is heavy with the reality that the Democrats are the majority in the White House and both House/Senate. I worry about "Checks and Balances." I worry horrible legislation will quickly pass due to this majority. Here is the Scripture though that keeps coming to mind.
Philippians 2: 1-12
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Let us continue to remember Jesus + anything is less than Jesus) 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Get rid of agendas...be strong in Christ alone.) 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Stand strong, but in humility, be obedient to His Word, continue doing what Jesus calls us to do: feed the hungry, give hope to the hopeless, be compassionate, not giving into our sinful desires--endure persecution for this if need be.) Then because of Christ's obedience and humility, God exalted Him. 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (May I never be the reason someone doesn't come to Christ)
Change can be scary, but yesterday I asked God to CHANGE ME. In our churches, we have feared change. We have been afraid to do things differently then we've always done them...and that fear has paralyzed us...to where we are no longer effective...clinging to this idea that the church is merely a small remnant of God's people. Do you remember the Million Man March that Promise Keepers did almost 11 years ago? GOD'S LOVE...in its' purest form...could have brought way more people to Grant Park last night than Obama did. I don't care about being the majority. I don't care about being seen as different. But I know in my heart that if others TRULY could grasp God's love for them...there would be no stopping them. Shame on us for adding anything to Christ Jesus. We have added and watered down His message long enough. Jesus is ENOUGH!

Precious to my heart...

WOW! Three different posts in one day. I'm going for some kind of record. Really, I've just been slacking off on posting. I guess too busy making memories.
This is a random collection of photos, but precious to my heart.
Photo of: The puppet with Grandpa Walters and the girls. --You have to know Travis' dad. He is hilarious. He was cracking us up so bad one morning. He was being so silly, and we all couldn't stop laughing. The girls really love him and Grandma so much. Since living in Illinois, we get to see them so much more, and it has been so precious to us.
Photo of: Travis and the girls on the couch--Travis is just an AMAZING DAD! I can't tell you how wonderful he is with the girls. Here they are reading together. When I flew down for my 10 year reunion at ACU, he kept all 3 girls. They had an absolute blast together. Unfortunately, he isn't one for taking pictures...so no evidence. LOL
Photos of Mollie's friends and Ellie's friends: These are precious because it is a reminder of how good God has been to provide friends here in Illinois. The one of Ellie's friends cracks me up, because I thought I was leaving a church that was very fertile (15 showers I helped host in one year) only to come to a church with many babies, too.
Photo: of Carlie's artwork--She did this picture the other day. I know I'm partial, but she truly has a gift for coloring. The ducks are AMAZING! She thinks of this stuff in her head and then draws it on paper.

It's a Church thing...

Well, I have to admit my weekend in Abilene was AMAZING!!! God was so good! I really got to spend at least sometime with many dear friends. Every moment I was there, I was catching up with someone I love and cherish...first, Robyn...then Becky H....then, my MOPS girlfriends at Tuscany's...then the carnival at ACU's Homecoming...the next morning, the parade (Oh, how I love Karin)...lunch with Megan (oh, how I love her)...my old neighbors...the ACU football game...WE WON!!...then Starbucks with Lori, Heather, Shana, Allison, Julie (some precious Bunko/Church girlfriends.) It truly was INCREDIBLE, and there were so many others that I had hoped to see and spend more time with. Unfortunately, I was only there for a total of 48 hours. The best part of all, though...was going back to Southern Hills. I had heard many things about their new service called "Refresh" and decided to go to both services that morning. I figured "Why not?" I can not describe in mere words how strong the Holy Spirit was working that morning in my heart and in the hearts of my brothers and sisters in Christ. You can see a portion of it from my friend's blog http://tammymarcelain.blogspot.com/2008/10/refreshcardboard-testimonies.html They did what they call "Cardboard Testimonies." Such a flood of emotions...to see Jack looking so good and Lindi and Mark. I just can't describe it. To know someone's struggles and then see their complete dependence on Christ was inspiring to say the least. They did a video about how x +n

I also wanted to post some pictures from our new church here in Illinois. They have a dynamic program for Carlie's age and up. This particular Sunday, Travis was selected to carry the Ark of the Covenant and Carlie played one of the spies that Rahab hide. We also are helping out with Bible Hour...hence, "Grandpa Jones" the old man puppet played by Travis. We do a puppet show where basically Grandpa Jones goes through the Bible explaining how it is God's love story to us...beginning with Creation. Then we interjected several songs to get the kids moving.

It's a Fall thing...

Here is one photo I like to call "Pumpkin Cascade." Cathy's little boy is right above my head, and once he got to his spot...the pumpkins began rolling. CRAZY!

This is Carlie as the girl from Hunchback (sp?) from Notre Dame. Esmeralda...I think. She is especially proud of her black wig. She ended up wanting to be a mermaid for actual Halloween night. I'm glad we had several "Fall" things to go to.

Then here is Mollie wearing the Princess Belle dress I made her. Not too shabby, since I can't sew clothes. Though, I was sick to find an absolutely gorgeous Princess Belle dress at Target for what the material cost me to make her one. Oh, well. I guess since she chose a different dress to wear for actual Halloween, I will go back to buying all of her clothes. :)

Then this is my cute little strawberry. Isn't she precious! I could just love on her all the time.