Bags are packed!

THE RESORT


THE INSIDE OF ONE OF THE CONDOMINIUM ROOMS,
THE TYPE WE WILL STAY IN


See the resort's site here

Thankful Thursday

So, don't worry I haven't given up on Thursday Thirteen. I will do both Thankful Thursday and Thursday Thirteen. I'll switch off or do whichever one strikes my fancy each week.

Thankful Thursday: What ERICA is thankful for this week

1. On Monday, I did My Life Monday, you can see the post a few posts down. We were to write an in memory of post. Well, I read a bunch of other posts and there was one in particular that just struck a chord in my heart. You can read it By Clicking Here You will have to scroll down a few posts to find her Memorial day post. Anyway, the things she wrote at the end of her post are so very true and although we know those things, it can sometimes be so easy to get stuck in the day to day routines and busy with things we need to accomplish for the day, that we lose sight of what is most important. So, even though the story is so sad, I was so touched by reading her post and so THANKFUL for the little reminder it gave me.

2. As you may know, our family had been battling quite a bug, flu...whatever you would like to call it. The only one who didn't get sick, is the little miss. I am so THANKFUL for that because it is so very hard to see your little one sick and to know that you can't really ease their pain much. So, I am very very glad that she has stayed healthy.

3. I am THANKFUL to have married a man who is such a great daddy. Our family shares so much laughter in the evenings when my hubby and daughter play. They wrestle around and tickle. And the miss will just do the cutest things during this playtime and it always leaves us smiling and laughing. She is so very blessed and lucky to have such a loving, playful and wonderful daddy.

4. I am THANKFUL for the weather. I know I keep writing about how beautiful the weather has been, but seriously, it's been so gorgeous out. There has been just the right amount of sunshine and light breezes. And when you walk outside, you are welcomed with this light, crisp scent. It's wonderful.

5. I am THANKFUL for the ways I have been hearing God speak to me this week. Especially in the areas of love and patience. When I knew that I was starting to get cranky or maybe a little not so gentle with my words or actions, I felt God's loving correction and it helped get me out of my funk. So, I am THANKFUL for those moments where peace would start to wash over me and flood out the not so nice attitude I was starting to cave into.

6. I am THANKFUL that DH is in training classes right now. He has been getting home at noon each day from the classes. That means tomorrow, he can drop the miss off at Kate's parent's house for them to watch her this weekend....and still get back here in time for us to head out the second Roinn's mommy picks him up. So, hopefully we can make it to the resort on time for the first seminar that begins at 7:30 P.M. Roinn gets picked up about 5:15 and the resort is 2 hours away. So, hopefully we can make it. If not, we'll just walk in late. Yep.

7. I am thankful for each and every hug, smile and kiss I get each and everyday from my little girl. And I am thankful that Isaiah seems to be healthy and developing well. I truly am blessed.


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Introducing the clutz

Well, I went to the nearby community college today to do my proctored final exam, since the school I attend is based out of Virginia. Anyway, it started raining pretty hard as I was walking around the campus in my flip flops at my New York pace, so as you can imagine, all those factors equals a fall. I tripped over a part of the concrete that was raised up a bit and went sliding for a little bit on my knee. Thankfully, I didn't fall on my belly. I think I was around 35 weeks with Audrey when I fell flat on my belly and I remember that was scary I had to be monitored and have ultrasounds done to make sure she was okay and what not. Anyway, this morning, when I fell, I was totally focused on getting to my test on time. I couldn't miss it. I felt okay. I had ripped my pants and my knee was stinging, but nothing too bad. So, I got to the testing center and there was a line, so I took a seat. I then looked at my knee and noticed that it was bleeding pretty badly. So, when it was my turn to be helped, I asked if they had a band-aid, not that it would have helped much since my entire knee was scraped and bleeding, and explained what had happened. The gal immediately asked how far along I was in my pregnancy and had me follow her to the campus security office. When I got there, the gal at the office wanted to make a report of it since I am pregnant and had a fall on their campus. She then had to call the paramedics for the same reason. So, the paramedics from a local fire department came and put a huge bandage on my knee and that was that. It's funny, they didn't even clean it first. Oh well. So then I went and took my final. I felt good about it, going into it and was hoping for an A, but once again, I got a B. I know it's still good, but I really wanted to ace it. Oh well. I'll probably end up with a B in the class, I am not sure. But, for going to school with everything else on my plate, a B is pretty darn good. Yep! So, anyway, I am fine by the way, the knee hurts just a bit though. the baby seems to be fine and no part of my belly hit the ground.

Pictures, as promised

A Soul Satisfying Survey

Okay, I stole this from another blog a couple of weeks ago with plans of getting to it. I saved it, but didn't save the link to who posted it. So, I can't credit them, but the gal I got it from, did say in her rambling that it originated from
Heather So thank you to Heather.

1) What is your life verse:

I honestly think that this is going to change soon. I mean all the time I am finding new verses that speak to me and where I am in my life right now. When I went away to a Christian College, I was asked by many what my life verse was. At that time, I didn't have one, nor did I really understand how to know which verse could classify as my life verse. I started going through verses that I had underlined in my Bible and I came to Psalm 139:9-10. It says that "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." I loved it. I still do. I think it is so poetic and beautiful. At that time in my life, I had just gotten over some rough patches in my life. And I felt God's hand in my life so strongly that spring and summer before heading off to school. I knew that no matter what I was facing and no matter where I found myself, God would always be there. I will always love this verse so much, but sometimes I see other verses and think, wow...that's such an awesome piece of Bible right there. I just think that as we experience new things in our lives, different verses speak to us that may not have before. But for now, Psalm 139:9-10 is my verse.

2) Give a bit of your testimony:

Well, let's see. I grew up in a not so religious family. My dad wasn't really into church, but when we lived in Connecticut, he loved the community of the small town church and knew my mom loved it, so he tried to get involved with it as best he could. My mom came from a very strict Catholic background. I think she had some bad experiences in her Catholic school, because she had such a weird perception of God. I know that at her age, they were disciplined with the ruler on their wrist for many things. With my mom, I grew up hearing things like, "Oh, you stubbed your toe, that's because God is punishing you." Anyway, when we moved to Arizona, my family tried out a bunch of churches, but never really found a church home. So, we stopped attending church. On Christmas and Easter, we would attend the nearby Catholic church. But that was the only time we really went. In Junior High, I became friends with an awesome Christian gal, Gina Lamb. I don't remember going to church with her, but she would invite me every now and then to attend Christian concerts with her. So, at 13, I attended a White Cross concert with her and her mom. I had never heard of the group before, but I liked them. They did an altar call near the end of the concert and I felt it, that stirring, that desire and I accepted Christ in my life as my Savior right then and there. I remember being so nervous about having to go to some room after the concert to talk to a bunch of people. But of course, everyone was nice and rejoicing for me and I was given a Bible.

In High School, I became involved in a church through a high school friend. They had a pretty active youth group that would hang out on Wednesday nights and do church camps and things. I remember my dad telling me that he thought that I was in a cult. It was hard trying to grow in my faith at that age without my parents really being Christian. I remember being so confused by things I'd read in the Bible. But I never questioned my salvation during those years, because I remember after the day I asked Christ into my life, I had a peace within me that I hadn't felt before. And that peace helped me through a lot of difficult times growing up. Anyway, like all sheep, I began going astray after high school. When I went away to a Christian College when I was 21, I remember beginning to cry during one of the chapel services I was attending. Right then and there, I had a quiet conversation with God. I apologized for the turns I had taken in my life, for the things that I had done that were against His word. It was then that I re-dedicated my life to Him.

3) Do you have a favorite preacher?
Hmmm....not really a favorite, no. I really really like my Pastor at my church, I think that he is awesome!


4) What's the best Bible Study you've ever done?
Right now, I am doing a Beth Moore Bible study called Living Beyond Yourself and I love it. It is my first time doing a Beth Moore Bible study and I have grown quite fond of her. I love watching her videos. They make you think, they tug at your heart, they teach you, they make you cry and they make you laugh. I love it.

5) What do you feel God's calling is on your life?
Wow, I wish I knew that answer. Right now, I think He is working on me for a bit and changing my heart in places. I can just tell that He has something exciting for me, but He is preparing me right now for it. I have two things that I am passionate about. One is working with and helping hurting kids and another is singing. I would be so happy to be used by God in one of those areas. However, I also would love to go on missions trips, to help out orphans, to work in other countries with their unsaved children. I also think it would be fun to work with youth in a church as well...like the jr. high or high schoolers. So, we'll see. Whatever God's calling is, I sure do hope I take the time to listen and follow His path. It can be so easy at times to go in our own direction, isn't it?

My Life Monday #2

For today's My Life Monday, we are supposed to write a memory about someone close to us who has since moved on to heaven. Thankfully, I've only lost one person ever in my life, my grandfather. Unfortunately, I was a child and I really didn't know him well at all. So, I wouldn't really have much to say about him. I know it's sad, and I wish I did.

So, then I was going to write about a little baby girl, Allie Scott. She had a huge impact on my life, although I never met her. I read her mom's blog that she'd update all the time about her daughter's battle with cancer. Sadly, she lost the battle at nine months of age. So, I was all prepared to write today about little Allie and how her life and death affected me so much at that time, but instead I decided to honor our soldiers today.

Since it is Memorial Day, I think I should stick with that topic. I will write about Allie another time.

Since becoming an Air Force wife, military stories and videos have so much more significance to me now. I know how easy it can be to not be reminded of the sacrifice of our soldiers when it doesn't really affect you first hand. I was looking for Memorial Day tribute videos on you tube, and so many people had videos from their Memorial Day weekend trips. And many of these appeared to be college students out partying. And I thought, gosh..so many have died for your freedom to take trips, for your freedom to post videos on the internet. But to so many, it's just a fun three day weekend. Anyway, I posted a video below that was done as a tribute to our troops. I believe that it mainly focuses on the current war, but I am so appreciative for all of our fallen soldiers from many many years past. It is such a sacrifice that these men and women make and have made for us. They leave behind so much in hopes that they will return to it soon and sometimes, they never make it back home. They give up soooo very much to keep all of us safe and free. Today, take time to reflect on all that these men and women have done for you and for how blessed you are to live in the United States of America.



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Durin's Birthday Party

Well, we got back a bit ago from Durin's birthday party. As promised, I took some pictures. I put the thumbnails on here. Just click on the picture to see it in a larger size.










Getting all wet


Having fun in the sand