Hugs and Kisses or Kisses and Hugs?

Where did November go?  I'm not sure.  But I know I spent two weeks of it sick.  In fact, I am still not 100%.  I have not been this sick for this long for a very long, long time.  I am incredibly thankful for time to rest and recover, kids taking care of me ( although I did have a commerical mom moment where I emerged from my bed in horror at the shape of the house), and antibiotics. 

While sick, I did manage to instant message with Eric quite a bit.  He kept checking in on me.  And I seemed to receive lots of extra kisses and hugs or x's and o's as we know them through cyberspace....or are they o's and x's? 

I'm not sure how the conversation started but it was asked, "Are the x's kisses and o's hugs or the other way around?"  I hadn't really given it much thought.  But I stated that I thought the x's were hugs because they were arms crossing and the o's were kisses because they are shaped like a kissing mouth.  And Eric replied, "No, the x's  are kisses..two people kissing in profile, and the o's are endless arms wrapped around each other."  Yes, sometimes it's too hard to discuss deep subjects so we spend a lot of our time chatting about simple matters. 

And so the chuckles continued over the next few days as we signed off xoxoxoxox or oxoxoxoxo.  And then on the way to church I posed the question to Logan, Laramy, and Ayden; "So what do the x's and o's stand for"?  Ayden quickly responded that he thought the x's were hugs and Logan and Laramy thought the x's were kisses and the o's hugs.  But I think we have all determined that we don't care..we just like lots of both preferably in person and not through instant messaging.

I have decided this year has been quite a gift so far.  Eric and I have had time for all of these silly little discussions but also lots of big discussions and even goal-setting at times.  We will most certainly have to learn how to communicate in person again.  But I am looking forward to it.

Thank you everyone for sending colored pencils. 

Luke 1:68-73 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.  He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old; salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Prayer Requests:

1) Continued healing for myself and protection for the guys, too, from illness..here and abroad.

2) Praise for continued safety for Eric and Brady.

3) Praise for exciting holiday news for Eric and Brady

4)Please pray for continued peace and no anxiety for all of us as we journey through the winter.

5) Praise for still no snow!!  Woohoo!!  Please continue to pray for manageable snow in Winterset for us this winter...possibly all of Iowa for those who desire it.

God Bless,

Love,

Monica

Persevere and trust

The weather has finally turned cold.  Not too cold.  But cold enough to remind me that the one season, the holiday season, I have not been looking forward to is upon us.  When I found out last year the guys would be leaving, my mind quickly went to wondering how we would survive the holidays without them.  Eric and I spent Thanksgiving apart in 1987 when he was stationed in Georgia for AIT.  Other than that we have been fortunate enough to have spent every Christmas together for 25 years.  Many people take that for granted.  But being a military family, I know we are very fortunate to have never faced this before.  There are military families who have endured multiple holiday separations.

I have been wondering if we should do something different or follow through with our same traditions.  And knowing, too, that it will be even more difficult for them without any family while we still all have each other.  Eric did tell me he received a small Christmas tree and a Santa hat in a care package...(we'll expect to see you in that hat when we skype on Christmas day!).

After Tuesday evening, I realized we would simply trust and persevere through this as well.  Ayden and I were fortunate enough to hear Father John Riccardo speak in person Tuesday night.  He is one of my favorite radio station talk shows.  In fact, one of his messages completely changed my views as a wife and ultimately changed my life.  His message this time was simple: trust.  It is a message I hear over and over again.  Why are we sometimes so slow to internalize what we know? I can trust in our heavenly Father and Jesus his son to carry us through anything we have to endure here on this earth because my salvation rests in them.  This is my peace as I am guided by the Holy Spirit to understand, know, accept and be exactly where I am supposed to be each moment of my life.

Trust is leaning on something so completely that if it was taken away we would fall over. We lean on people, jobs, cars, or our health.  And all of those things fail us at one point in our lives or another. 
I don't ever have to worry about my God and my Savior being taken away and this is where I will continue to place my trust.  This is my peace for this holiday season.

So we continue.  We will have Thanksgiving dinner and head straight into Christmas without stopping.  And January will come and we will be 6 months in for Eric and 5 months in for Brady!

Thank you for your continued prayers for Eric, Brady, and our family!
God Bless!
Love,
Monica

If you would like to hear Father John Riccardo, check out programming on KWKY.com and listen through live streaming or check out the You Tube link below for a sample.

 Father John Riccardo

Tears and Laughter

Tears come at unexpected times.  I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks.  When I signed in this morning, I checked the other blogs I follow.  One of them is written by a fellow soldier of Brady.  He has been on the same journey and has already arrived in Afghanistan.  As his pictures came up of his travel overseas, my tears started.  The feelings about a mother of a soldier and a wife of a soldier are completely different. 

As a mother there will always be a part of me that wants to just rescue my baby and bring him home.  And I know in life there will be those moments when you are there rescuing your children even in their adult lives..even if it is just to stand by their side.  Eric and I experienced that with our parents when our children were born particularly with Brenden and Laramy.  But I also know this is Brady's dream and he doesn't want me to rescue him but to just know that we are standing by his side.  So know this, son, we are here and we have your back in whatever we can do and especially as we kneel to pray.

As a wife I don't feel the need to rescue my husband but to honor him by doing the absolute best I can here at home.  And by doing my best, I am staying very busy.  The gardens are done.  The porch is painted.  The garage is sorted and tools put away.  I've emptied the pond and staked up the redbuds.  I've sorted his clothes and given many away (he's lost weight and I'm shopping to replace).  I'm painting and sorting and scrubbing and cleaning. 

And then there's work, friends, travel, family, bills, errands, boxes to ship, and Logan, Laramy, Ayden, Bren and Sarah.  Oh..and a wedding!  I am working on the guest list for Brady and Jayme's wedding and we have our niece's wedding coming up at Thanksgiving.

All these thoughts started with a couple of comments said to me this week.  I went to the Assessor's office with my DD 214 in hand to get a military reduction on our property taxes.  And as some of the paperwork was being done she said, "You have a son over there, too, right?  I don't know how you are doing it".  

Well, I do have my moments like the one I had this morning.  I had a huge moment a couple of weeks ago when the phone rang and I thought it was Brady calling after no communication for a time.  It was Brenden.  I hadn't talked to him in awhile either.  So we shared a good laugh at my confusion and tears.  Most of my moments come when looking at pictures or skyping with Eric.  People continue to ask about them and it truly touches my heart. 

So my reaction to all of this is the only choice I have.  I could stay home and worry and stress. Or I can stay busy and do my best.  And all of my friends are doing a great job of keeping me busy. 

So for the month of October, Lisa and Dawn win for the best job of keeping me busy with a quick trip to Vegas! And, yes, Eric loved that I went and was able to see Donny in concert which was a lifelong dream for me.

Fun and laughter most certainly help.  I can't wait for the guys to return so we can make some wonderful memories!

Check out Lee's blog if you wish  http://www.oef2011.blogspot.com/ !

Prayer requests:

1) safe travels for Brady

2) physical stamina for both of them

3) emotional strength for all of us esp. the boys here at home

4) praise for easy and often communication and Eric's laptop once again

5) praise and thanks for lots of awesome friends

6) praise for those who barely know us but ask and say we are in their prayers



1 Thessolonians 1 2&3 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

God Bless,

Love,

Monica

Fall Things

When chatting with Eric one day, I realized there were things I was forgetting to tell him.  I am thinking I am telling him everything.  But with as big of a family as we have, things do get forgotten.  So I spent some time today uploading these videos and pictures to give them a taste of home from this fall.  We miss you both and love you and can't wait for you to be home with us to enjoy all of these activities with us next fall!

 Jr. High Marching Huskies

Covered Bridge Festival Parade 2010

(video featuring Ayden marching with his french horn)

 Marching Huskies

2010 Season

(video featuring Laramy with his marching tuba)

High School 11/12 Choir

Laramy at center top

Liz and Lisa down to watch Laramy march

Melody and baby Taylor

Ayden marching

okay..this was taken last winter but I thought it would make you laugh...why don't Logan and Laramy want their picture taken?

Monica and Selah

Cyclone Erin (isn't this awesome?)

My dad can strike up a conversation with anyone!

New Beautyberry bush for Eric...I was not influenced by the purple berries at all

My Christ Renews Carroll Outreach Sisters... me, Jean, Cindy, Kristi, Kasey, Angie, Pam, Heather, Deb, Carol, and Janelle.

The Christmas decorations are up in the stores and another season is upon us.  Time marches on as usual.  And we continue with our days and activities.  But, for me, not a second goes by without a thought of either of them.  And I know so many of you are praying for them because you tell me and you ask about them. Thank you so much for all of your continued support. 

I have reports of pencils being received from the Methodist church in Grimes.  Thanks, Shellie!  And I have reports of pencils received from Papillion.  Thanks, Mike and Chris!  And I have another report of pencils received from Clinton.  Thanks, Carol and the bank!  Hopefully he will remember to tell me about each package he receives.

God bless,

Love,

Monica

The Bucket Not List

I came back after a long weekend away to find a picture of Eric sitting down having a meal.  And, of course, I naturally looked over what was on the menu.  I spied a dish of beans and wondered how that went for him.  And I chuckled to myself quite a bit about the beans.  For those of you who know Eric well, you know why I chuckled.  For those of you who don't let's just say Eric doesn't eat beans....ever.  Lucky for me I was able to ask him about the beans this morning during our chat time.  It went something like this:

Me:  I saw the picture of you eating.

Him:  Oh, good.

Me:  How were the beans? (I am totally snickering and chuckling with this comment)

Him: Same as usual....

For a few short seconds I thought..he ate them?  he didn't eat them..  was he just being polite? and then I started to feel impressed that he was putting aside his extreme dislike and horror at the thought of one even touching his lips.. and then he finished his comment...

Him: ...still just laying there in the dish

Phew!  Now I know one doesn't spend a year away from home without changing.  But if he came home liking beans I was going to wonder if I got the same husband home.  And then he said....

Him:  had a bad run in with some mutton, too.  Those things need to be added to my bucket never to do again list. 

So I know that many people make their bucket lists of things to do, but there needs to be a bucket not list..just in case your memory fails and you forget you didn't try something or to remind yourself that you weren't going to do that anymore.  And maybe there needs to be a bucket over and over again list...things you can't get enough of like Mt. Rushmore.  It is something you could see time and time again and still be in wonderment and awe at it. And I know there are a few restaurants I could put on my not list and moments with friends on the over and over again list.  I know the older I get the more important all three of those lists have become to me.

Prayer Requests:
1) Brady is finishing some training this week.  We haven't had much contact with him.  Pray for him through each transition. 
2) Eric is well but feels daily stress.  Pray for him physically and mentally.
3) Praise for the continuous endless list of friends and acquaintances who ask how they are doing and how we are doing. 
4) Praise for my Christ Renews outreach sisters and for the wonderful weekend we had together.

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.  When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. 

love,
Monica

Another news video

http://www.whotv.com/videobeta/21605e77-aa8e-4531-9f21-fc4eab1eccac/News/Iowans-train-for-combat

Check out this link!

http://www.youtube.com/user/IOWAADT