First Day Back

Yesterday was my first day back to church after being gone for 6 weeks. It wasn't my intention to be gone that long, but with snow storms and sicknesses, 6 weeks was the magic number.

It was so good to see everyone again. I missed worshiping with my church family. I also missed seeing the wonderful Cubbies that I have the pleasure of teaching. When I told the kids that I was glad to be back, but would be gone next Sunday, one child told me that I wasn't allowed to leave again. It warmed my heart to be missed too!

But today has just dragged along! Saturday can't seem to come fast enough. On Saturday, the kids and I are packing up the car and driving to Indianapolis. My husband has been blessed with a three-day pass with the stipulation that he remain in the state of Indiana. His three days are Sunday - Tuesday, but the kids and I are driving Saturday and Wednesday so that we get as much time with him as possible.

I know that when we are there the time will just fly by. But I'm hoping to make every minute count. We already have our hotel rooms booked (yes, 2 rooms), and I'm planning different things to do while we are there. If you have any family friendly suggestions on restaurants or things to do, please let me know!

Seth will be going to Afghanistan on March 8th. I don't know when I will see him again after I leave him on Tuesday night, but that is over a week away and I really want to focus on seeing him first. Oh, and I want to find out what's been sitting in a box on my kitchen counter for two weeks now. It's an anniversary present that he bought for me that I can't open until I am with him. We're going to celebrate our 10th anniversary early, so we've been buying each other gifts and having them shipped here since he can't receive packages where he is. But to have it here for two weeks and not let me have it? So not fair!

God Cares About My Sink

Rebecca and I have known each other forever. She was my maid of honor at my wedding and I was a bridesmaid at hers. Unfortunately, we haven't seen each other for 6 years. Today she stopped by with her husband and her new baby girl who was just a doll! It was so good to see them again.

Earlier this week I posted on facebook how my kitchen faucet was leaking. Rebecca's husband tried to help me online and finally asked, "So... what happens if I tell you that a faucet is really not that hard to replace..." I replied with, "I sit and cry, get mad at being alone, then get over my pity party and fix it." Well, that wasn't good enough.

They were on their way to Lancaster today and decided to stop by and take a look at my sink. It was dripping enough to fill a good size bowl with water over night. After about 5 minutes of looking at it, Daniel came out and said, "How would you feel if I replaced your faucet?" I happen to not like my faucet, so of course I said ok. He pulls out a faucet still in the box and said, "Do you like this one?" What?

Recently they renovated their kitchen and had bought that one on clearance. After buying it they decided on another one and just stuck that in their basement. They brought it with them, just in case, and ended up installing it for me. How cool is that! So not only did I get to spend a wonderful morning with someone I haven't seen in forever, I got my sink fixed in the process.

I am constantly amazed at how God provides for me. Who would have thought that my dripping faucet would have led to reconnecting with Rebecca? I am truly a blessed woman.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

What an idea! God cares about ME! I can give my leaky faucet over to Him and He provides for me! How easy it is to give Him the little things, shouldn't I also give Him my big things too? If God can provide a new faucet, can't He take care of my husband? Of course He can!

Philippians 4:6 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day. It's supposed to be a day filled with love and romance. My day is filled with puke.

The kids spent the weekend with their grandmother and I had a weekend to myself. I had lots of fun things planned and I got to do some of them. Friday night I went to a girls game night, Saturday I planned on going to a Pampered Chef party and in the evening I went to see New Moon in the cheap theater with some friends.

I didn't make it to the Pampered Chef party because I was waiting for Fed Ex to arrive. My husband sent me two dozen beautiful roses. I think missing the party was worth it!

After I got home from the movie I didn't feel so well. I ended up sick all night long. When I called my mother-in-law this morning to let her know I wouldn't be able to pick the kids up, she informed me that kid #3 was sick last night and this morning (and subsequently all day long). #2 had been sick earlier this week and I think we got the bug from him. Not a fun Valentine's day.

Of course, there isn't much romance involved when your husband is many miles away. Or is there? My husband sent me those beautiful flowers with a note that had the first verse of Longing by Matthew Arnold written on it. He's posted on facebook and twitter love notes to me today. He's called to wish me a happy Valentine's day. Do I really need anything more? Nope!

So my day has been filled with unexpected surprises, but it's still filled with an immense amount of love from my family. But there is one love that is more important than all the rest.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Fun Week

It's been a fun week out here in Pitt. It's also our last week here. I was planning on packing the kids up and driving home tomorrow night, but God's got other plans for us. There is a big snow storm hitting the east coast and it is supposed to start snowing in PA at the exact time I want to be on the road. So, I guess we're leaving on Sunday then.

In kid news, #2 and I had a date to Big Daddy's Donuts today. Donuts and hot chocolate were a great fix for us, that and a little one-on-one time. #3 got her first pair of glasses, you can read about it at The Benge Family blog.

Seth is doing well over in Indiana. His unit packs up tomorrow night and heads to Louisiana for most of February. At the end of February he'll go back to Indiana and get a 3 day leave and I'll be bringing the kids to meet up with him there. I'm looking forward to seeing him, as are the kids.

Time to put the little ones to bed. #3 is ready to pack her glasses into her Disney Princess Purse that is her case. Too cute!

Blessings All Around

So much for journaling on a regular basis! It is so hard trying to start new habits. But at least it's only been a few days, so here I go. :)

We had a nice visit with my parents last week. After they went home, it was a different story. The day after they got back my step-dad, Ray, was laid off from work. He was devastated. Why couldn't they have told him before they came out here on vacation? So many different choices they would have made during the weekend. However, my Mom got excited. She really felt like this layoff came from the Lord. She told him "Just wait and see, I don't know what's going to happen, but God has something wonderful in store."

Ray went home that day and started working on their house. It's been a work in progress for 11 years now. They are finally in the home stretch, but to lose their chief income is a strain. But God is good! The next day my mom received a call from a lady who has been trying for a few years to move into the senior care facility that my parents have been turning their home into. She called and said the house she is in is shutting down in 60 days. Oh, and can they take 4 other women as well? 5 clients total need a place in 60 days.

Habakkuk 3:17 - 19 says:
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on high places.

So how is this relevant? Without the loss of his job, Ray would not be home right now to finish their house. He would not be able to continually work on it so these ladies would have a place to move to. Ray isn't getting a paycheck right now, but he is rejoicing. He isn't at his job working, but he is praising God. He said the song "Awesome God" has been playing over and over in his mind since Wednesday. He knows God is in complete control of this situation and he is praising Him for His goodness.

Watching this play out has been a blessing to me. I saw the initial hurt and despair; the immediate desire for him to do something and work on the house; and the joy in the prospect of getting their senior care facility open with clients in just 60 days. Watching God move in their lives is as much a blessing to me as it is to them.