Wow.. Long time no see..

Wow! I can not believe it has really been that long since I have blogged! Life has just passed by.. Quick catch up.. I will back up a bit... lol

I got a job I wasn't looking for.. I wanted to volunteer to interpret on post and was denied because I didn't have a piece of paper. It was prophesied over me that it was my time to step into the lime light and that God was going to expand my ministry. The next day I got an email to interpret on post! That client started coming to church and became quite an experience for me, good and bad. Not long after that as I continued to work with the office in town as a volunteer to learn more about the Deaf community, I was contacted by a Technical College in the area to interpret.. Yep, I wasn't looking! So I thought ok.. I will see where this goes. I was hired and worked there for two years. Three clients and lots of fun and experience! :) Plus the extra money wasn't too bad either..

Hubby came home from a short deployment that I talked about before! :) Safe and sound!  Went on a much needed family vacation to Disney world! :) Had so much fun!!

Ministry continued. Good and bad. Learning process continues..  God is faithful.

I witnessed two beautiful miracles of children being born. One was not a great experience and I thank God for getting me through that situation. The baby was very early and was not fully developed. She lived an hour. I was the one to tell the mom she had passed. I was the interpreter. The other was a sweet friend and her hubby was deployed, so I was able to do pictures. That baby will always have a special place in my heart.

I worked and hubby worked, kids went to school. Boy scouts, girl scouts, church, and gymnastics. Plus FRG stuff and E's tutoring.

Another family vacation. I made a rule no talking of upcoming deployment! Mother in law went with us. Really wasn't too bad once hubby told her there was no talking about it. I wanted to pretend it wasn't happening. (funny how I remember those feelings)

Hubby deployed again a year later for a year... :(   He came home for two weeks around Thanksgiving and time went too fast! He made it safely home this past summer! :)

I ran a Cub Scout pack (den mother, advancement person, Cub Master). Then I resigned due to the changes in their policies. We continued girl scouts and gymnastics. Plus working and trying to function at home. I did not volunteer as much as I would have liked with my work schedule, but I tried. I really enjoyed working and it kept me busy while hubby was gone.

We took another family vacation and moved!

We are here for a short time and a new adventure for us has began. I am homeschooling the kids. I had felt lead this last year to do it. E couldn't get the help he needed with reading and even though he was improving, it was due to the private tutor we paid for. It had nothing to do with the school there. I was deeply disappointed. A concerned parent should mean something. Just my opinion.. anyway.. Maybe it was friends pulling kids out and doing it. Maybe it was friends already doing it. Not sure, but I was praying. Then we found out we were moving for training and it was 6 months. That meant the kids would be in 3 schools in one year! So, we are doing the K12 online. I am really liking it and I am still in total shock that I say that! lol  Yes we have crazy days where I want to go crazy, but I like it. I think E is doing good with the one on one attention and I pray it is helping and not just a momma's heart. :)

Thanksgiving was good. Family came to visit and we did a lot of tourism around here. It was good to see some of the places we have not seen in four years.

Life went on.. I think that is a quick recap.. I am sure there is a lot of things left out, but that is a majority and most would bore you! :)

Be blessed!
Hugs

God is G- double O - D Good! :)

I have to admit, I am not feeling all that great.. I think this new ministry is really great! However, what does the enemy do when we try to do something to grow in the Kingdom of God? You got it! ATTACK! So, with that in mind, I want to give a praise not a complaint!

Sunday was our very first Deaf Ministry baptism!!! It was so exciting!! I felt honored to be a part of that wonderful life changing experience! Most of our church was all on a high that day. We had one other to be buried in the name of Jesus that day as well. The last two Sundays, we have baptized four!! God is really good!  I have a video of the baptism, but I cannot get it to upload, so I will have to do that later. I was disappointed when I watched the video, because I realized I had used a few wrong signs, I am moving on though and trying not to let that get me down!

I loved how E smiled most of the morning at church. God is really working in this man's life. When he first started coming back since I have been interpreting, he didn't say much to any of us. He came in late and left as soon as he could. Now, he is praying at the altar and he is staying to talk to us a little. He even calls me on the VP from time to time. :) On Sunday, he just seemed to smile the whole time! It was truly amazing! When he came up out of that water, he started to pray. He even started talking and saying "I love you Jesus" and Hallelujah!! :) For him to use his voice was a big thing, because I have been trying to get him to use it while praying and he did!!!!! :) I couldn't help but be so excited and cry at the wonder of God! He is truly AMAZING!!!

Here are a few pics of the baptizing! I will tell you that I am going to add one that isn't great of me, but I have to share because that sweet smile on E's face makes it all worth it! :) It doesn't matter that all my emotion from the prayer was shown! I have been told that I interpret with attitude, I guess that could be right. :) I have some proof now.. lol  However, I am learning more and more that emotion says everything to the deaf. I will try to upload the video soon if I still cannot get it to work today. :)

 

Be Blessed!
Hugs,
Lanitha

The Lord is working...

I have a lot to catch up on here, but tonight isn't going to be the night... we'll I don't think so.. LOL

We had a good time at the GCMC, Sunday School Conference. Lots of folks there and many had very nice things to say to us about our deaf ministry. I was a little surprised after they had asked me to go to interpret, that it was advertised, but maybe that was for the best. Also saw a few people from our last church and they were surprised to see me. I guess they thought I was in NC or maybe even still Japan. They told me I had been holding out on them with the interpreting.. Not really, God has done this! So I shared that story. :)

Saturday was our 11th Anniversary! I don't know where the years have gone. I sure know one thing for sure, I cannot imagine my life without that man! He has really changed me along the years and I think we have really grown together. I am so proud to call him my husband and even more so to call him my HERO! I cannot wait til he gets home!  I will have to say that after about three weeks of no contact from him, I was about to pull my hair out. It really drives me crazy. Friday night, well Saturday morning for him, I got a call.. I heard those favorite words I love to hear.. "Hey Babe.. " Yes I YELLED!!!! The girls in the car knew immediately who it was! :) I had to pull over so they could drive and I could talk. I couldn't concentrate on how to get into that McDonald's when I was so excited! :) It was great and made my day!! I have to admit though, that once we were getting off the phone I got all choked up and cried. It was happy tears, but sad at the same time. I sure miss my man!

Sunday at church was awesome! I am still battling something and trying to find the direction I am supposed to be going. I know I was brought here, well maybe I should say, I think I was brought here to start this deaf ministry. However, is it just to start and then step down or what? I am confused and I feel a leading in different ways and so unsure. Part of me feels it is the spirit of fear and that I got my confirmation of sorts on Sunday. The sweet deaf gentlemen that comes sometimes, that for some reason everyone is afraid of and says he gets offended easy over signs. Well, so far so good! :) He seems sweet to me and he just smiles at me when I mess up or I don't understand him. He is patient and I think the fact that he keeps coming back, says a lot! :) Anyway, Sunday he went to the altar and was praying! I was so excited! I prayed with him and D (deaf lady) talked to him later and he has decided to be baptized! He called me on the VP last night and asked me to call the Pastor and see if he would. I knew he would, but I called and everyone is so excited!! This will be our first deaf ministry baptizing!! I am so excited!!!!

Well, I had to share those tidbits of my last few days. I hope all of you are having a blessed week so far! :)

Hugs,
Lanitha

Pickle Jar

Got this in an email and after reading it after service tonight, I thought it was definitely worth sharing. Enjoy!


The Pickle Jar    

The pickle jar, as far back as I can remember. Sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.

As a small boy, I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar.    They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.   I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the  bedroom window.

When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank.   Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck. Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back." Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me."

We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other.   "You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters," he said.  "But you'll get there; I'll see to that."

No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill,and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar.   To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me.  "When you finish college, Son," he told me, his eyes glistening, "You'll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to."

The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed.   A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.

When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me. 

The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents.

After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild.

Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. 'She probably needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.   She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. 'Look,' she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. 
  
To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.   This truly touched my heart. Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings.  Never underestimate the power of your actions. 

With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse.   God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for GOOD in others.   The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller   - Happy moments, praise God.   - Difficult moments, seek God.   - Quiet moments, worship God.   - Painful moments, trust God.   - Every moment, thank God. 

Good times.. :)

The last few days have been exciting and fun! :)  I had some family come down to visit and hang out. We had a great time! We didn't do a lot, but it was still fun just to visit and spend time with one another. It has been too long!


They only had one request when they got here, that was to eat at Paula Deen's. :) So, we tried to make a reservation online, but couldn't. You can only do it online if it is for 10 or more people. They start making reservations there on the curb at 930. So, we had hoped it being a weekday it wouldn't be too bad. We went shopping here and then got my kids out of school around 2. Drove over there to see if we could get a reservation, we could but it was for 8 p.m with four kids, that is NOT going to work. Tried to make the reservation for the next day while we were there, but they wouldn't. So, we surprised the kids and drove over to the beach! :) They loved it! It was cold here, well in the high 70's but the water was cool. We only let them get their feet in. They still had fun and played in the sand and even found a few shells. :)  Since we hadn't planned on the beach, we just drove through the drive thru and got supper and drove on home. :)

The next day we decided to drive back over earlier and make our reservation. It meant two trips there and back and it is about an hour drive, but we decided it was going to be worth it! :) After I got my kids off to school, we finished getting dressed and headed on over there. We got there about 1030 or so, and couldn't believe it, but they had room for us for an early lunch!! So, needless to say we hurried up and found us parking and went to lunch! Most of us got the buffet, but one of us ordered the Chicken Pot Pie. It was okay. The buffet was pretty good and had a lot of different stuff, so we were able to try a little bit of everything. For dessert we got to have a a pick between bannana pudding, warm peach cobbler, or some chew chocolate chip thing. We each got a different one and shared! :)  Yes, no worries I took pictures! :) lol   Well, I didn't bring my camera, but my cousin had hers so we all borrowed her camera! :)  We also found out while we were eating that one of her son's had been there a little earlier that morning, but had left for some interview or something.. Oh MAN!  After we finished eating, we went to shop at her little shop next door to the restaurant. Neat little gifts and keepsakes. I don't know much about Paula Deen, but it definately got me interested! :) I think I would really like one of her country cookbooks and should have gotten me one, but maybe next time! ;)  I did get me a t-shirt, magnet, and S.L.U.T.S pen.. (Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress!) LOL   Just couldn't resist.. lol

Between our four kids, it was fun just to let them play, after we were able to get in yesterday for lunch and all, we decided to just spend the rest of the evening/day at my house. I was finally able to cook for them! I had planned on cooking while they were here. Plus, that would keep hubby happy that I wasn't spending money. :) (If I save while he is gone, I get to get my new living room suit when he gets back.)  :)  The kids I think liked that better anyway. They played at the park and just running around the house. Good memories! I didn't get many more pics of them all playing like I meant to. When we came back from Paula Deen's, I was able to get pictures of my cousin's girls playing at the park, and meant to take more of them all playing, but hubby called and then D came by so, I was distracted and missed the opportunity to get more pics of them all together.

The picture of the three of us didn't turn out to well either.. LOL   We had Bubba take it at the beach, but I was squinting and the wind was blowing, I don't think any of us liked any of the shots he got.. LOL  They are funny to look at though. I wanted to get another shot of us, but we didn't have time this morning. They wanted to try to get on the road and stop at an outlet mall they saw on the way here. I was tempted to follow and shop! :)

Their visit was definitely a good distraction and I think we all had a great time! :)  Even if one of her girls was sick (ear infection and cold) and not a happy camper and they left here with scratchy sore throats and I am still coughing and have  lots of head congestion.. It was still fun!  I told them they had to come back when we could get the men to take care of the kids and we could go shopping and have a girls night with just the three of us. :)

I hope you are all having a blessed week!

Lanitha

Simply Because "You" Asked

 This was on an email I get and I just had to share! Enjoy! :)

Simply Because "You" Asked

By Cindy Meadows

 

I remember my district superintendent telling us that he could call his wife in the middle of the night and tell her to meet him anywhere, and she would get up and come - without explanation - simply because he asked. His point was that she trusted him and loved him that much! I was impressed. I was also wondering in my heart, if I trusted my husband that much. Not that I don't have a great trust in and love for him, but my own reasonings and questions are what would get in the way. I finally concluded that her trust and love were greater than mine.

Trust and love are truly the fruit of planted seeds that have grown over time. When I pondered on that wife leaping out of bed in the darkness, driving off toward the unknown, I couldn't help but relate the incident to our own personal responses to the Lord's requests. How many appeals does He bring, in prayer or in His word, and is our love and trust deep enough "to leap into action," simply because He asked? Or do we respond with our own arguments (Lord, come let us reason together) and questionings?

Are we easily led?

The Bible, besides being a wonderful love letter filled with promises and blessings, also includes His desires for us, what He would like us to do to please Him. How much attention do we give to those mentionings? In our Year of Covenant, I want to lower my yielding point. Was that a request, Lord? I want to hop to it! Like David's mighty men who risked their lives to bring him water from a distant and dangerous well, I want the Lord's designs and desires to quicken in me immediate action, simply because He asks. My responses acknowledges the greatness of the One who is asking.

In II Chronicles 15, Azariah, the prophet, had a "word" for Asa, king of Judah. Asa had already done much cleansing in the land, and Azariah confirmed to him that his work would be rewarded and that he should continue. He did proceed to destroy idols and also repaired the altar for burnt offerings. He then gathered the nation together to offer sacrifices to the Lord. Verses 12-15 really surprised me:

"And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to yearn for Him with all their heart's desire and with all their soul; And that whoever would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. They took an oath to the Lord with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets and with cornets. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath . . ." (Amplified).

The nation was so zealous to get back to God and to please Him wholeheartedly that they were excited about entering into a covenant with Him. This was not a forced consecration but complete love and trust. If God was asking, they were saying yes. They even wanted those who wouldn't enter into the covenant to be put to death. Perhaps that zeal was slightly overdone, but who could deny their passion to please their God? They took their oaths with shouting and music and rejoiced at the entire affair! One scholar said they were so excited to please the Lord that they had to rejoice in their vows, and yet took it all so seriously they didn't want anyone around who didn't feel the same!

What an example they left for us, footprints to follow! Theirs was a path I would like to follow. What is it You want from me, O, God? What might You be requiring? I want to be zealous to perform it - simply because You asked!

Bunched up big girl panties...

Yes, I actually wrote that title! LOL  I looked at it and laughed! Oh well... it is the truth these days.. :)

Some of you may remember, one of my favorite sayings is "Put on your big girl panties and deal with it!"  Well, needless to say I have had them on these days. However they are not feeling all that comfortalbe anymore! I am ready to let someone else deal with things here..

Let me explain a little...

Hubby has been gone about two weeks and four days. In that two weeks and four days, I had to get a new alternator put in the car. Yes, he tried to get it done before he left, but there wasn't enough time so it still counts in my book! :)  Finally get that fixed on Wednesday, the following Monday I was doing the good wife thing and trying to clean up the car. So, I took it over to the auto center and was vaccumming it out. Went to pull up so I could spray and wash it, it wouldn't start! So, thankfully there were two gentlemen there that one had jumper cables (for some strange reason hubby had taken mine out, they are back in now!) and the other pulled his truck over there and jumped me off. I drove straight to WM. I was worried that if I came home I would be stranded here so I figured best get it fixed now instead of waiting. At this point, I was still trying to be optimistic, this isn't so bad, Right?  Right! I only had to pay for labor on the alternator because I had just had that replaced the last time hubby was gone and the shop here worked with the mechanic in the other place and replaced it under the warranty. Thank you Jesus! My battery was also FREE! :) I guess it was still under warranty as well. So thank you Jesus!! :)

Well, I have to admit I prayed Lord, it has only been almost two weeks and I don't want to have to deal with anything else... I guess he laughed.. although, I am not really feeling like laughing at this point..

My dryer is acting up.. Sometimes it wants to dry and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I have to run loads of laundry two times or more.. It is really driving me nuts. I guess I need someone to come check it out. Although, not on the top of my list right now. You will understand in a bit.

The car, is still making that noise I think. Yes, the same noise that the NEW alternator was supposed to fix! So, now I have to find sometime in my crazy schedule to go and spend the day at the repair shop to let them see if it is the alternator again or something else... UGH! I really dislike auto issues without my hubby here! I have no idea about any of that...

I have a cold! UGH! Well it is the same old stuff I always get with my allergies or sinuses.. YUCK! I am trying to stay in today well, until boy scouts tonight and hopefully that will help.

I am trying to work on some burp cloths for my SIL to give to someone as a shower gift. I finally have the designs done, but for some reason my software keeps giving me an issue and shutting down. So, I uninstalled it and went to reinstall it last night. However, in the process of trying to get my book out for the code to reinstall this software, I found a leak and mold in my closet! I had called maintenance last week to come and fix a leak where my return unit is. Well, evidently they didn't get it all fixed much less really try. Anyway, it is still leaking and now has leaked under the base boards and into that closet! It has damaged and probably ruined my embroidery software books, two for sure. I am praying that when they dry out a little it will be better. Right now, if you try to open the pages, they just rip... Any suggestions on how I might save these? I need that code that is on the very front page! UGH!!!! So, I called maintenance last night and he came and looked at it and said he would have someone over today.. Still not here. I have moved everything out of the closet and the unit return closet so they can hopefully get it all cleaned. I want all the mold cleaned as well. I am also going to call the housing office to see if they will do anything about my damaged books!! UGH!!!!  Which I doubt they will. I don't need these books all the time, but there are times I do. There are still lots that I don't know about my software. I might could find some used ones, but will it be reasonable price without the dongle and software? I doubt.. :(

So now do you see why my big panties are all wadded up? They are definetly in a bunch! I am trying to take a deep breath and deal with it all one thing at a time.

Hope you all have a blessed week!
Love and hugs,
Lanitha