Monday

I need to catch you up on my Friday and Saturday....but I'm jumping to today or I'll never catch up. LOL

Today we enjoyed having Josiah home. He went out and bought two chairs to go with the dining room table that he rescued. He said that he'll find two more chairs that match to coordinate "sometime".

I think three of the kids have swimmer's ear. I went online as this is the STRANGEST ear infection I've ever seen. We usually self-treat...but I'm wondering if we'd best go in. Anyone ever dealt with this?

I did make it to the gym.

I played with new digiscrapping software. I learned all sorts of new things.

Mike made reservations at campgrounds for our August trip to Colorado - THE GIRLS WILL MEET US THERE! I'M A TAD BIT EXCITED TO SEE THEM AGAIN!

We had dinner. Burned some steaks, added rolls, artichokes, fruit plate and a salad.

Josiah told us about his awesome trip and showed us photos. Zander wants to go see the Natural History Museum.

I bought a new Tim Hawkins DVD and we enjoyed it for the second time tonight. Poor Jamin has still not seen it. He's working LOTS of hours now that he is done with school.

Jamin got a .75 raise and Josiah got a .50 raise....way to go guys!

I talked with Krista. Who would have guessed when she said she wanted to be a pirate when she grew up.......who knows....

There - that's what we did today.

CM STORYBOOK PLUS Software

My first two layouts with CM Storybook PLUS software. Just for Linda....I could save them as individual pages. I was given the option to use a local printer. These are with Gazebo templates which come with the software. There are supposed to be some of the digital kits. I haven't found them yet. I did find a button to import and I think the way you would save a template from say Shabby Princess is to save it to your harddrive and then hit the import template button in CM software. I'll try that next if I have a bit more time.

This is the first page of the PWOC album.

Below is the final page in the PWOC album. I had tried several smilebox templates trying to fit all my text into the design. My only option was the very plain one and I wanted a bit more punch. This worked well. I wanted to summarize my thoughts on the PWOC ministry at Elmendorf...and remind myself of the lessons I learned. I need SPACE.

I loved that I could use various fonts, change sizes of the font, manipulate text box size, move photos and such around.

I found the button to add shadows but it was grayed out. I'm going to have to figure out WHY because I want to add shadows by the 3 D type things so the layout will look more 3 D than flat. Anyone familiar with the program care to tell me what's up? I THINK it may be locked because these are templates. I can't FIND the design kits that would have allowed me to build my own. The top layout doesn't look real flat but I think the bottom one could have benefitted from putting shadows around the photos. LOL

I really LIKE these two pages...they have a bit of fluff but aren't overpowering with frippery. This is a pack of paper I was looking to buy for my "modest albums" and now I can make layouts for it right on the computer.

If I can find the time to go to the local scrapbook shop to print them out I will be DONE with the PWOC album for 2002 - 2005. They are saved as jpg Linda, so I see no reason why I can't print them in other places. Hope that helps.

*WE* ARE That Old Couple ...you know the one stalking unsuspecting young parents.....

I admit that I've been emotional.

Today we were sitting in Arbys (because we had planned to pick Josiah up at the airport and the plane was late but not late enough to cook a meal before chapel). Alright, already.....Today we were sitting in Arbys and a young couple walked in with a newborn.

I remember old couples smiling and watching our little ones. This actually still happens to us quite a bit. We'll notice someone is paying attention to us. Often as they leave they'll give us a compliment on our large family, or comment on how our children remind them of theirs and several times they've even paid for our meal. We've been good natured about this, especially the paying for the meal part. ::snort:: It's actually been nice to know that we have been able to resurrect fond memories for others.

Today we were sitting in Arbys and I couldn't keep my eyes off the young couple. They seemed SO young but a reality check revealed they were no younger than I was when Bre was born. They were visiting with each other but it was so OBVIOUS this baby was the center of their focus. The baby did this little snake thing with his tongue and both looked at each other and did it. ::snort:: They ate with a hand jiggling the carseat or leaning in to smile at Jr.

Memories flooded back. Our days of being so young with a newborn. It seems like yesterday but its been 23 years since BreAnne was born. Wow. Where does the time go?

I teared up. I CRIED. Mike said, "What's wrong" and then he got emotional too. I love that about my husband - there is no doubt that family is so very important to him. We discussed how quickly the years had passed, how we'd like to have held on to them a bit longer and how blessed they really were...and now I'm tearing up again.

Oh yes, Josiah DID get home today on a later plane.

God's Medicine ~ It's HIS Idea!

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverb 17:22 KJV

The original removes the word “like”. It literally says, “A merry heart does good medicine”. Merry in this verse means “joyful, glad, to show joy, those who rejoice” (8056).

Joy is far deeper than “happy emotions”; however, this word does specifically encompass showing joy. It is said that the average toddler will laugh at least 400 times a day. The average adult laughs only 68 times a day. It is good for us to cultivate an attitude of joy and gratitude. It is good for us to “show joy” even on “those” days that are less than joyful from our natural perspective. It does US good.

But a broken, stricken, wounded (5218) spirit dries our bones. Could it be that God commands us to “Choose Joy” (James 1:2), “Rejoice Always” (Phil 4:4), “In Everything Give Thanks” (I Thess 5:16) because he KNOWS that doing so is medicine to our wounded spirits?

It is interesting that the word merry can also mean “those who rejoice”. Those who rejoice do good medicine. I so want to be a balm, an agent of healing to those around me. This appears to be a good place to begin.

I am making a conscious effort to show joy and to cultivate a merry heart even when I feel dry and wounded. I’m not sure how God does it; I only know that time and again He meets me with gracious healing as I begin to exercise my less than merry heart.

Old Testament through New Testament we see a thread of joy. It’s important if God had it repeated so many times. I plan to up my laughing stats. On those days when I can’t manage laughter, I plan to smile more. This will be good for me as well as for those around me.

{I've been asked to post weekly devotionals on SHS and finally realized I could cross post them here too. }

©2008 D.R.G.

PWOC QUESTIONS - Darshia????

I am trying to remember where PWOC Fall Focus 2004 was held. I know it was NC. Was it Ashton?What was the name of the conference center? What about the big fancy mansion that you can tour - maybe the name starts with a B? Was anyone else at Fall Focus. Darshia are you reading? I'm working on the PWOC album from EAFB. (Wow - we were silly at Olive Garden. ::snort:: None of the pictures turned out except one of Carleen with something strange in her glass and the waiter...)

Help. I need this info. LOL

TODAY - Create your own catchy title?

I will blog. I don't think there's much to say...but I will blog.

Josiah texted and said he was at Hard Rock Cafe. Now, I'm sure this is hot news, but I'm not sure why. ::snort:: I know it's a t-shirt logo. I know that they have one in San Antonio.

Bre called Arielle to ask where Felicity was born....I guess that gives a hint as to where they are?

We had a play date at Mommy A's house today.

We met Mike for dinner at Burger King. OK - I KNOW - but this allows the youngers to SEE Mike as they don't usually see him on Wed or Thursdays at all. Mike and Jared aren't home yet. Jamin is at work.

As Jared left the van for CAP Stacia said, "Jared, promise you'll be back". It nearly broke my heart - but I've been emotional lately you know. ::snort:: He said, "Stacia, I'll be back tonight" and she repeated it. Then she continued to yell, "Jared, I LUF you" while he walked to CAP. He came back and leaned in the van and told her he loved her. A young man to make a mom proud. I love how Stacia gives her big, hulking, teen brothers reasons to be gentle and loving.

We played games tonight and had ice cream. Shhhhh...don't tell the young men or Mike....that's a treat for Sunday.

I sense a growing excitement that Krista may have found her niche in missions. I can so SEE her on a ship, traveling the world. She's always had missions in her heart and adventure in her spirit.

BEWARE of what you teach your children. We read a TON of missionary biographies when the kids were little. We taught them to see a need and be a part of the Kingdom solutuion. Having raised them thus, we can't tell them now, "No, turn your head." Earlier this week - I think on Father's Day - Mike or I were talking to Krista about pushing open doors God may be shutting. SHE had the audactiy to remind US of Gladys Aylward and Amy Carmichael...both women who pushed plenty of doors open and changed parts of the world for His glory.....I agreed.

Today, I am excited when I think of the possibilities for Krista. I'm letting her dream become my own. At first, I resisted her dream because I'd rather have her married, having grandbabies, moving every 3 years or so with us when the Air Force moves us. ::snort:: Today, I'm also realizing that the ships she is interested in dock in the UK - mabye God is setting things up so we'll be in the UK with a few of our babies???? You never know now, do you? I can still have a few dreams of my own. ::snort::

Hmmm....phone calls and text messages from all 3 of our grown up babies - this was a red-letter day.

Zander's Advice

Zander's lover called to talk to him. He gave her some helpful advice for any woman out on her own. I thought I'd share it here.

"If your car is out of gas, go to the gas station and fill it."

"If your car gets a flat tire, put the spare on and then call me."