The love of a son for his mother

Joshua. Our third son. Our sensitive child. Our most emotional as well as sentimental son. Has a beautiful smile. Is a giver of great hugs. Is the one that will keep me on my knees more than the others.

Tonight, as we were driving home, Joshua, after I told the children that it was 'straight to bed' when we got home, told me he still had homework he needed to finish. That figures.

Ok. No biggie. He has two pages in his English workbook to do and in my opinion, it shouldn't have taken that long. Finally, at 10:00 tonight, he finishes. I send him upstairs to get into bed while I finish watching the half-inning of baseball I was intrigued by. I walk into his room to find him in bed, his light off and Josh asleep. I lean over him, give him two kisses on the cheek, whisper 'I love you' into his ear and give him one more kiss.

As I'm walking out of his room I hear a 'Mmmmm.' I turn around and see his arm sticking out from his covers, reaching for me. Smiling, I walk to his bedside and lean down to love on him. Then he says one of the sweetest things I've heard as a mom.....He says, "I almost fell asleep without giving you a hug goodnight."

Wow. What a statement. He let me know in 10 short words that his day wouldn't be complete unless he ended it by hugging his mom. I leaned down again, gave him another kiss and said, "I love you, Josh."

"I love you too, mom."

12 years

Today is our Anniversary. 12 years of putting up with each other's quirks, idiosyncrasies and plain craziness. We've come a long way in 12 years. 4 kids. 4 states. 7 moves. 4 different churches. 2 stints on Active Duty......and on and on it goes.

We decided to spend our anniversary away from the children in Destin. Neither of us have ever been but have been told it's a wonderful place to vacation. Julie and Michelle..........you were right.

Destin is simply beautiful. Touristy, but beautiful. The beaches....powdery white. The water.....warm. The sun....shining brightly. The condo we are blessed to be staying in......simply amazing. The food...........indescribable.

We've eaten at Ruth's Chris Steak House, Dewey Destin (fantastic seafood) and tonight, for our Anniversary we're going to Zampieri's. I cannot wait. Tomorrow will be spent at Johnny O'Quigley's watching some baseball then heading to AJ's to board the Sea Blaster for a Dolphin Cruise, then to Lousianna Lagniappe for a casual, Cajun dinner.

It's been a wonderful weekend away. A weekend I hope to repeat in the near future......either with just Joe, with two other couples......or just the girls.

Special thanks goes to my father who dropped everything to come to Georgia to watch the children when our inital child-watcher was unable to come. Big-time Kudos to Grandpa Bob for carting the kids to karate, ballet and baseball; getting them up and out of bed and to the busstop, and putting up with countless phone calls by this mama wanting to know how the kiddoes are faring without her.

Thanks, Dad. You're the best!!

And here's to my husband, Joseph......the man God placed in my life for such a time as this. Thank you for putting up with me and my consummate 'girlness.' For loving me through it all. For giving me 4 fantastic children. And for showing me the same love that God the Father has for His church. I'm looking forward to the next 12 years....and many more beyond that.

Happy Anniversary, Darling!

He's HOME!!!

Today was the day. The day my man came home.

At exactly 9:21 this morning, my cell phone rang with a ringtone that I hadn't heard in 5 months. "When I call on Jesus....all things are possible. I can mount on wings like eagles and soar. When I call on Jesus....mountains are gonna fall, 'cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call."

That's Joe's ring.

I was surprised that he called as I wasn't expecting the plane to land until 10, but he was early and he wanted his wife. So, I gathered my purse, put on the rest of my jewelry, grabbed my phone and headed out the door. By 9:55 this morning I was looking at my man, dressed in his fatigues waiting for me.

He's home.

For the next 15 days we will be going to Braves baseball games, watching our children play their baseball games, hanging out with friends, going to the Newsong concert up in Rome, completing a 'honey-do' list, going out to dinner, going to church and heading out of town for a 4 day weekend.....just the two of us. On the 26th, Joe will head back to Baghdad to finish up his work with the Civil Affairs Brigade and to plan on coming home for good in December. Chances are he will be in his home on Christmas Day.

I praise the Lord for keeping Joe safe and bringing him home to us for this short-but-surely-to-be-sweet R & R time.

God is good.

Opening Day

The Fall baseball season has begun......Ya gotta love it!!! Daniel and Trey are on the 11/12 Indians. Josh is on the 9/10 Braves.

Needless to say, I got my exercise in today, as both games were at noon and the fields were nowhere near each other. I did make sure I watched all of my boys bat---Trey and Dan each struck out once and walked once. Josh walked once and was hit by a pitch. And I saw some of Dan and Trey on defense.

I didn't get to see Josh play much defense as his team was up to bat far more than they were in the field. Josh's team played against another team that had just moved up into their age bracket, so they were younger and a lot of the kids had never played before. Because of this, Josh's team run-ruled them every inning they played.

Josh said the score was 9-1, but I think it was more like 15-1. Maybe the mercy rule was in effect. Joshua started in the outfield and played the whole game, with his highlight being his head-first slide into homeplate to score on a wild pitch. He just had to get that uniform dirty!

Daniel and Trey's team lost 10-6 and it was a tough one. They were ahead for the majority of the game, but lost it toward the end. Trey was the starting third baseman and played the whole game, even making a great defensive play---throwing the runner out at first. Daniel started in the outfield and played all but the last inning.

Game 1 of 10. Indians 0-1. Braves 1-0. It's going to be a fun season.

Home Sweet Home

This last weekend I had the chance to head back 'home' to New Jersey for my cousin's wedding. It was a wonderful time....the wedding was beautiful....and I had a blast catching up with aunts and uncles and cousins that I don't get to see or talk to very often. My mom was there too, so of course that was wonderful.

If you ask my kids what their favorite part of the weekend was they will tell you that going to the Boardwalk at Ocean City and riding the rides at the amusement park takes the cake for them. Of course, they weren't having to pay for the tickets to ride each ride.....Yikes! For me, the weekend as a whole, was wonderful, but Sunday from 1:35 until 4:20 had to be my most favorite part, as I had the privilege of going to Citizen's Bank Park and watch my Phillies, my first team, take on the Braves, my second team. Baseball-----America's past-time and a sport that I follow closely.

There's probably few of you out there who really care, but 'Sophomore' Sensation Ryan Howard hit three home run's against one of the game's best pitchers, Tim Hudson. It was an unbelievable time.

But times that that.....when people are cheering and chanting for their hometown hero.....makes me wonder one thing. Why is it that we don't cheer for our Father, who has blessed us exceedingly abundantly? Why don't we talk about His great works like we do our favorite sports figures? Why are we so willing to spend freely at the ballpark for tickets, food and souvenirs, but recoil when the Pastor talks about the budget or Missions?

Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven..........

I fall short in my relationship with my Father far more than I would like, but thankfully, my Father is unwavering in His love for me.....He is unmoving in that, when I realize my sin....I know exactly where to find Him to seek His forgiveness.

This has been a year. A lot of ups. A lot of downs. But one thing has stayed the same. My Father in Heaven has been watching over me.....Loving me. Protecting me. Guiding me. Pruning me. Making me the woman He designed me to be. He alone is worthy to be praised.

Home Sweet Home......a place of love, joy, safety, comfort, laughter and peace.......both here with my earthly family......and my Heavenly Father.