3 Days to Go!!!!

We are in the midst of last-minute preparations for Karl's return! I want everything to be as close to perfect as possible, so he doesn't feel like he has to come home and go to work around the house. I'm mowing, washing the car, replacing our petunias and snapdragon with pansies and ornamental cabbages, getting everything caught up for the craft show and getting the house in shape. It's so exciting to be planning and shopping for family dinners again and to know that I am doing all of our weekly activities alone for the last time before he gets home. I'll try to keep you all posted on his return, but I can't promise I'll be spending a lot of time with my computer.

I sent an email to some in our church who have been very supportive of us all during this deployment with their prayers, phone calls, emails and offers of help. I told them that I know Baltimore is a long way, and I certainly don't expect them to go to the airport to greet Karl, but I wanted to extend the invitation to them anyway. I wanted them to know that they were welcome there if it was something they wanted to do. I truly did not expect them to go, as it is a work day and a long drive. I was wonderfully surprised to learn that the pastor is driving the church van and several people are going with her - even taking vacation from work - to be there with me to welcome Karl home! We are so blessed by our church family! It will be a special day, and we will have some special photos to share, thanks to their presence.

Catching Up...

It's been a wonderful week of catching up with old friends and spending time with family! Garin and I spent several days in Illinois with Matt and got to watch him march in the band and run cross country. We also spent time with some very special friends who feel like family. It felt so good to be back there and to realize that some friendships don't change, regardless of the distance between us.

This weekend was my 20-year high school reunion in Texas! I still cannot accept the fact that I've been out of school longer than I was in it, but I had a great time and the best possible date to fill in for my husband at our dinner: my sister, Marci, who graduated one year behind me and knew everyone too. I expected that people would look older, heavier, worn and weathered; it's been 20 years, for heaven's sake! But I was just so impressed and amazed at how great everyone looked!!! We decided that our class has definitely aged well; we were all looking pretty hot for almost-40. Yay for us! It's amazing how much and how little things change with people. I will probably blog about that in the near future, as it was an eye-opening and thought-provoking experience, but I haven't processed my thoughts yet and don't even feel like it tonight. I have, however, attached some photos from the week.

Karl has his official orders to return home and will be back where he belongs in approximately 8 days!!!!!!!!!!!! Please pray for his safety as he flies back.

One more thing....

Karl is up for a promotion to the rank of Major, and the promotion board will be reviewing his performance reviews, etc., in the next two weeks. They take two weeks to look over all of the candidates Air Force wide and choose the ones they want to promote based on how many slots there are available. Please keep the board in your prayers these next two weeks, as their decision has a major (pun intended) effect on our future. We won't know if he made it for a couple of months, but we will let you know when we get the good news! ;-) Thanks!

ESTIMATED DEPARTURE DATE!!!!!!!!!!!

Karl has one!!! It was posted tonight when he got to work. Of course, it cannot be posted here, but feel free to call me if you're interested! He hasn't actually been assigned a flight yet, but he's finally in the "people leaving" column, so to speak, and that feels SO good!

Garin and I had a good day. He still had fever this morning, so we couldn't go to church, but he has felt so much better and been much more pleasant today. His fever jumped up to 101 again tonight, just before bedtime, but I'm hopeful that he's on the way back to health. It's been a rough few days with no one to give me a break and a very fussy and clingy little boy to care for. Of course, I am so thankful that his illness is just a very common, curable one. With all of the information about Childhood Cancer Month, it really puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

A Choice

This has been one of those days where you have to make a decision to either fall to pieces or buck it up and be thankful that your problems aren't the kind that will change your life forever. About 10:00 this morning, I was leaning toward the first option, but I'm glad to say that I changed my mind and got through the day without tears.

Garin woke up from his nap yesterday with a fever but no other symptoms. I was up on and off throught the night with him. This morning, I skipped the shower and makeup and planned to clean house and then shower before our small group Bible study tonight. Garin seemed to be better, and he was driving me crazy to play outside. I decided to go ahead and let him go out before the day got hot. Problem was that I accidentally shut the door behind me, and in these goofy old houses, the doors automatically lock. By the time I got in touch with our base housing people, and they came to open the door, Garin was red-faced and hot. I had been keeping him in a shady, breezy place, but he obviously was getting feverish. As soon as we came in, I took his temperature, which was 103.5. I put him in the bathtub to cool him off, gave him some Motrin and called the doctor. They wanted him to see a doctor right away, so off I went looking like something the cat dragged up. We ended up spending 2.5 hours at the clinic to learn that he has a bad ear infection. Then we had a 2 hour wait for the antibiotic at the base pharmacy. I ended up taking him home for a nap and going back for the medicine, but I had to wake him up again to go get it before they closed.

It wasn't an earth-shatteringly crazy day or anything, but it was just one of those days, and with Karl gone, it seemed worse. I just wanted him here. It was probably the day I've most needed him since he left. I guess I can count myself lucky in that regard. One friend has taken her son to the ER twice since her husband deployed, and another deployed spouse has been twice with her kids.

I think what I really need is just some sleep, so on that note, I'll say goodnight. Have a great weekend!

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that…
In the United States, cancer is the number 1 killer of children by disease.
Each year, about 3,000 children die from Cancer – more than from Asthma, Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, Congenital Anomalies, and Pediatric AIDS combined.
Currently, one in every 330 Americans develops cancer during childhood or adolescence, before the age of 20. On the average, 46 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every weekday in the United States.
Nationally, the incidence of cancer in children is more than 20 times greater than the incidence of AIDS in children.
Pediatric cancer funding is nominal in comparison to other more publicized diseases, such as pediatric AIDS or juvenile diabetes, which increase in awareness each year.
Awareness of much needed funding for Pediatric Cancer is virtually absent from the public eye due to lack of media attention. For example, the funding for pediatric AIDS is four times greater than the funding for pediatric cancer, yet in comparison, twice as many children die of cancer in one month as do die of AIDS in one year.
The cases of pediatric cancer are increasing at a rate of 1% every year, while funding for research continues to be minimal.
Cancer during adolescence and young adulthood is increasing and unexplained; progress in treating cancer in these age groups is lagging.
Although cancer survival among children, in particular, those with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), has risen, there are still several childhood cancers that continue to have a very poor prognosis; including brain stem tumors, metastatic sarcomas, relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, relapsed Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia.
Cancer in childhood occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region.
A number of the advances in adult cancer treatment are due to breakthroughs in childhood cancer research.
Only about 20% of adults with cancer show evidence that the disease has spread to distant sites on the body at diagnosis yet 80% of children are diagnosed with advanced disease.
Chances are that your child will not get cancer: the odds of your child developing cancer by the age of 19 is approximately 1 in 330. But, cancer is second only to accidents as a cause of death in children.
And, just as you put your child in a car seat or a seat belt each time you get into the car, just as you teach your child to play safely, just as you watch your young child constantly so that he or she does not get hurt, so you also need to watch for signs of childhood cancer.
Signs of Childhood CancerSigns of Childhood Cancer:
Continued, unexplained weight lossHeadaches, often with early morning vomitingIncreased swelling or persistent pain in bones, joints, back, or legsLump or mass, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis, or armpitsDevelopment of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash
Constant infectionsA whitish color behind the pupilNausea which persists or vomiting without nauseaConstant tiredness or noticeable palenessEye or vision changes which occur suddenly and persistRecurrent or persistent fevers of unknown origin
As a parent, you need to be aware of the symptoms of childhood cancer. Your pediatrician is probably a very good doctor, but pediatricians are busy, they do not know your child as well as you do, and they may never have diagnosed childhood cancer. You need to know to trust your own intuition when you feel that there is really something wrong with your child, even if the doctor initially interprets the symptoms as a common child ailment. Your doctor may be right, but you need to make sure that certain tests are performed to rule out cancer.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Increase your awareness. Childhood cancer is not all that uncommon. The public needs to be aware that childhood cancer occurs in 1 in every 330 children by the age of 19, and that childhood cancer has not yet been "cured". Awareness will hopefully lead to increased private donations as well as increased governmental funding of childhood cancer research.
Awareness Organizations
There is a plethora of organizations, small and large, that work to raise awareness for childhood cancer and to advocate for children who have or had cancer. Most of these organizations also help cancer families in one way or another. CureSearch, the fund-raising arm of the Children's Oncology Group (COG), is probably the largest such organization in the US. Candlelighters is another large and influential awareness group; it is founded and run by parents of children who have or had cancer.
Become a Blood, Platelet, or Bone Marrow Doner. So many adults and children die before a Bone Marrow match is found. www.marrow.org and www.americasblood.org
Become a ChemoAngel. Chemo Angels are a group of volunteers that are dedicated to bringing a ray of sunshine to those undergoing the treatment of cancer. www.chemoangels.net
Support Sites:
www.curesearch.org
www.candlelighters.org
www.stbaldricks.org
www.goldribbons.com
www.stjude.org
www.locksoflove.org

Orphans of God

Time to Climb!

Garin has fallen so in love with the outdoors in the last few weeks, and I wanted him to have something to play with besides the nozzles for the water hose. I went looking and searched online for a play set that was appropriate for his age but that wouldn't be too small by next summer. Anything I found that fit the bill was $400! CRAZY for something they'll only use for a couple of years. Then Julie told me that the people catty-cornered across the street were trying to sell a little gym. I stopped by this afternoon and bought it for $100! It's in good shape and it's perfect to keep Garin occupied in the backyard for the next couple of years. Plus, I can feel like we got our money's worth when it no longer interests him. The couple we got it from was kind enough to come over and help set it up for us, and they even threw in some of their 2-year-old's cute clothes he'd outgrown!

My Stargazer Lilies

Karl sent these to me on our anniversary. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

It's been three years since Karl and I said our vows: three long years and three very short years all the same. We will have to wait until his deployment is over to celebrate together, but I will celebrate today anyway because he is my husband, and I am the most blessed woman in the world because of him. I am a cheeseball, I know, but I am a happy cheeseball! Below is the poem that I wrote for Karl and put in his anniversary present. He still hadn't received it as of this morning, but since he can't read this blog where he is, it will still be a surprise when it arrives there. (Don't spill the beans!)



THREE YEARS

One-thousand ninety-five days have now passed
Since the one when I pledged you my life.
And each day I feel more amazed than the last
By the blessing of being your wife.

The love that we share is a gift from above;
There is no other way to explain it.
Only our God could construct such a love,
For this world could not ever contain it.

The first time we met, it was part of His plan
Spun long before we ever knew.
My heartaches were mended as only God can,
By the precious and dear gift of you.

Each moment together affirms that our love
Is more than most people will know.
The strength of our marriage, most only dream of.
As we weather the storms, watch love grow.

We are blessed by our children, some near and some far,
And the joy of their love and their laughter.
We are a family, wherever we are,
Today and from here everafter.

I treasure this gift which is more than I dreamed
When I prayed; for I waited so long.
How could I have known how much more He would give?
A true love, a soul mate, my heart’s song.

Too much fun

Garin and I ran errands all morning and grabbed lunch at Sonic on the way home. As you can see, he didn't have the energy to finish his food before taking a nap. It was all just too much.

TGFB

Thank God For Benadryl! Garin and I both woke up yesterday having allergy fits: sneezing, watery eyes, runny and itchy noses. I took Claritin but couldn't find anything for an 18-month-old for allergies. I gave him decongestant, but it just didn't touch it. After another crabby, miserable morning for him, I called a friend who has an allergy child. The doctor told her that you can give Benadryl at a dose of 0.5ml per pound of weight. So off we went to buy some Children's Benadryl. The very first dose made a HUGE difference in his comfort level and demeanor. The nose has almost completely stopped running, and he is acting like my baby again! Anyway, thanks Kim! I felt so guilty about taking Claritin when he couldn't have any that I skipped it this morning to suffer with him.

And more good news...We each got a letter from the State of DE, Division of Family Services, stating that we had passed our FBI and SBI background checks, which are required by the Federal Child Protection and Safety Act in order to be a foster or adoptive parent! Of course, we weren't worried that there would be a problem, but now we have the proof that they need, so it puts us one step closer in our faith journey as we work to adopt D and K.

I was in a bowling tournament today and placed fourth on the women's side. There was a small monetary award, but my scores were more exciting than the payout. I had a 163, 177, 135 and 159! That is a 159 average!!! I'm rather pleased about that.

Hope you've all enjoyed a day as beautiful as we have! Have a great weekend!

TGIF!

It's funny how we grow to appreciate some days of the week more than others because they symbolize relaxation, freedom, family time, etc. It seems that mindset lingers even in the desert, where there is no such thing as a weekend because there are no days off. There is a Friday ritual among Karl and his new buddies on the base where he is deployed. Instead of going back to their bunks to sleep (or in Karl's case, to work on his Masters' classes) after work, they change out of flightsuits and into PT uniforms (basically Air Force P.E. uniforms), which are much cooler in the sweltering heat. Then they meet up to talk, laugh, talk about home and relax. I get the impression that it's the one time of the week when Karl feels normal, and that makes my Friday happier just for knowing it. I've been hearing about these fellas for almost three months, and I was tickled to open my email this morning and discover that he FINALLY sent photos! I thought you all might like to see him and his friends too. (The guy in the picture with Karl is also from here and also a devoted family man who is very homesick. Sounds like he and Karl have really looked out for each other over there.)

Update: I had to crop and reattach the photos for two security-related reasons: One, the file names of the photos had the guys' names. I didn't realize that those file names came up when you clicked on the photos in the blog. Two, our camera is way too good! When enlarged, the military ID's on some of the guys were totally readable....WAY too much info. Not that I think any of you would misuse the information, but this is out there for everyone to see if they can find it. It might not be that big of an issue, but I'd rather err on the side of safety for our men in uniform! :o)

The New House

One evening this week, Garin and I took a walk over to the construction site to get new pictures of our house in progress. Here they are! In the first photo, our house is dead center. In the second, our house is the one just to the right of the house that is being blocked by the truck in the picture.
Karl is doing well today, and so are we! After a week, okay weeks, of meetings and obligations, starting tomorrow I will have a number of free days. The ones that aren't free are at least not overbooked. There is hope!

The Week in Review

This much I know: God is present in the details! I can't begin to tell you about all the little moments this week when I realized how perfect God's timing is, but how it is! I realized it again today when I thought of the timeliness of Karl's deployment. I mean, obviously, it makes my life more difficult right now, but in the grand scheme of things it is perfect timing, especially in regard to the adoption.

Garin had his 18-month checkup this week. He's grown 3.5 inches in just over 5 months! I knew he had been holding out on us. I guess he was saving his growth spurt, so he can surprise Daddy in October with how big he's gotten. Three shots this time, but thankfully there was no fever to speak of!

We had a blast at story time on Tuesday at library. Garin loves music! Of course that shouldn't surprise anyone; it's in his genes. He is keeping me on my toes these days, climbing on everything. His laugh is always at the ready these days. All I have to do is look at him just right, and he cackles with delight. I enjoy him so much, but I look forward to October when I can do the hand-off to Daddy now and then and make a meal (or even just take a shower) without interruption.

Matt is getting back into the swing of things with school. They are having band practice and cross country practice daily. He is registered for classes, and they'll start in another week. Of course, the kids are all reconnecting after a summer of mission trips and vacations, and they are reinstating their Saturday afternoon hang-out at Perks (think Friends....Central Perk).

After a hiatus from the praise team, I'm going to be helping with music for the service at the new satellite location in Dover, starting in September. Should be fun! It will be great to get back into it with only one service per week. It was just so hard on Garin to be at church for five hours on Sunday morning.

Other than that, I'm just getting ready for my first real OSC Board meeting as President on Thursday and trying to get finished up with my Hermeneutics and Music papers and my Greek and Music tests, so I can stop stressing out about school for a little while. I guess I'll take Greek II next semester, but I think with all the other things going on I had better take just one class.

Well it's time to bury my nose in my Greek textbook again. Happy weekend to all of you!

Oh, the excitement!

We're moving right along at a rapid pace here. So much to get done and never enough hours in the day, but life is good! I'm finding it difficult to work on school, OSC, move preparations, adoption, keeping up with Garin and still find time for blogging. My apologies to those of you who have shown concern that we might have fallen off the face of the earth, and my thanks to you for caring enough to check!

This week has been a hodge-podge of multiple meetings and doctors' appointments, and the time I have left goes to Garin or school work. Although last night I gave myself an assignment-free evening, put Garin to bed, popped some popcorn and watched "The Holiday" on pay-per-view. I really needed and enjoyed that! I ADORED the movie, but there is something about a good love story that makes you think about your own. When the movie ended, I just wanted a big hug and kiss from my husband, and I was a little bit sad.

I've turned in three papers so far this week and am feeling good about getting it all done. I'm still terrified of my next Greek test and am praying that my brain will hold all of this information at least long enough for me to finish the semester.

It's been hotter than Hades (okay, a slight exaggeration) here for the last week or so, with temps in the mid to high 90's, and the East Coast humidity is alive and well. I'm so thankful our A/C was fixed last week, but that leads me to this week's mini-crisis: my brand-new dryer isn't working, so I'm trying to get someone to come fix it. It's still under warranty, but the two repair shops that Whirlpool authorizes aren't answering the phone or returning my calls yet. Hopefully I'll hear from them soon, as I really don't have time to sit at the laundromat.

I got some good news/bad news today from housing. I ran into the housing administrator this morning and asked her how things were going. She said that the construction schedule has been pushed back, and she has to send out new letters to everyone with new move dates. On one hand, it's good news for me because I don't have to rush home the day after my class reunion to be here for movers on Monday. It's bad news because it gives me less time to get our new house in order before Karl gets home. I really don't want him to come home to chaos. He deserves a chance to rest and enjoy his family rather than unpacking. Plus, it will rush us to prepare for the home study visits that should happen the following week.

This is where I just give it to God and know He is in control, as there is not a thing I can do about it!

I'll try to better about posting more often, so don't give up on me!

Stress

So here's the rundown on what I'm doing and what's happening:

Deployment
Adoption
3 College Courses
OSC President
Moving again on Sept. 24
Being Mom and Dad
Maintain Household
Various Other Stuff

Now I'm not looking for pity or a pat on the back here, but I wanted to give some indication of the craziness of my life these days. These things are really all great blessings in my life, and I will not complain about a single thing.....okay, so I'm not loving the deployment thing, but this deployment is shorter and easier than most.

I was starting to feel like I might lose my mind earlier in the week, so I made a list of every single thing I could think of that needed to be done (except daily things like meals, laundry and housework) between now and Karl's return. Then I put them in order of importance/chronology and put each one on a specific day in my calendar. Now my days are all full of tasks on the calendar, but it finally feels manageable. I can handle doing 7 things a day and feel like I've accomplished something this way. Before, I was flailing about trying to knock things off a list so long I couldn't process it all and feeling like I was never getting anywhere.

Isn't it funny how perspective can completely change the way you see something? And it can also completely change your attitude toward it. Thank goodness!!!

Matt's doing great. Karl's great, too, except for some homesickness. Garin is picking up new words all the time and is all over the place.

Garin and I went out for a crab dinner tonight at the Officers' Club with my next-door neighbor, Julie, whose husband is also deployed right now, and her daughter Cadence. It was nice to get dressed and go out for dinner!

Saturday will be devoted to homework, laundry and my little boy. Sunday morning is worship, and Julie and Cadence are coming over for supper that night.

I hate to be so short and sweet, but I wanted to update before I fall asleep on the computer. Have a great weekend everyone!

Volleyball Champs

Karl's intramural team won the championship game last night, and he sent me the first picture since he's been there that he is actually in. In the others, he was always behind the camera. It is good to see him! He was also chosen to play on the base team (Good for him!), which means he may do a little traveling in the area (I'm not so happy about that part!) to play other base teams. It is good that he has things to look forward to while he's there though.

Two Handsome Boys at the Shore

We had a great afternoon of sand and surf, and I was there with the two most handsome men on the beach! Garin called out "Bah-buh" (brother) to Matt several times when Matt came back toward us from the water. It was so sweet! Garin had so much sand on him that even after his bath, I'm not sure we got it all, but he had a blast playing in it! Matt spent most of his time riding the waves on his boogie-board while the girls nearby watched closely.

Our New House

We took a walk down to see the house under construction last night. There was no gate, so we were able to actually walk through it and see the layout for ourselves. Our neighbor had told us that it was open. I wish I had taken my camera because tonight they had a gate up. There were a few other people going back last night, so I don't know if they needed to stop it, or if it depends on who closes up for the day. I couldn't believe how much they did today!!!!! Yesterday, there was only framing, no walls or roof, and tonight it looked like the outside walls and roof were almost all covered! Anyway, tonight I took some pics from a distance, so here they are! The first is on zoom, obviously, and the second is from the end of the street. It will dead-end where we were standing. Our house is in the middle (pointed roof) in both pics. We also got notice today that the moving company is sending someone out on Aug. 1 to inventory our stuff, so they know how many boxes, etc., they'll need. This is standard procedure, but it means things are moving along!

Matt's visit with the adoption caseworker went fine. She spent maybe 5 minutes with us and just wanted to make sure he knew what was going on and that he wasn't violently opposed to the idea. I felt rather encouraged after talking with her today. It is starting to seem more real.

Afterward, we went to Rehoboth Beach and got some great clothes for Matt and Garin (oh, and me too!). I've lost 3 more pounds since I got back to Dover (imagine that), and although it's only three pounds, my jeans were already getting saggy. I found a couple of pairs of jeans to get me through the next month or so, and then hopefully they'll be too big too. Yeah, right. A girl can hope!

Reality and Possibilities

Today was busy, busy and quite productive! We got our new house switched to a 4BR, and they gave me new move date of September 24. This should be interesting, since my 20-year high school reunion is the weekend before, but I'll make it work. We also received our criminal background clearance from the State of DE, which we need to complete the home study. I got a bunch of things Karl wanted in his next care package and am now just waiting on back-ordered PT uniform shorts which should be in by Wednesday (we hope) before mailing. We went out to lunch then did some major grocery shopping this afternoon. Tonight has been pretty laid back. I made stuffed peppers for dinner, and Garin played outside awhile. I also stopped by to visit my next-door neighbor, Julie, for a few minutes. Her husband left for his deployment this morning, and I wanted to check on her. She's doing okay - not great, but okay is the best you can hope for sometimes. Last July, her husband was finishing up a 6-month deployment when she was diagnosed with cancer, and he was rushed home. She's a bit uncomfortable with him leaving again. Their daughter is confused about when Daddy is coming home. She thinks he's coming back everytime she sees a jet, and Julie keeps telling her he won't be home until it's cold outside.

We're planning a trip to shop at the Rehoboth Beach outlet malls and then to Cape Henlopen for the sand and surf on Thursday. One day, maybe tomorrow, we are going to look at bedroom furniture for Matt. I won't be buying yet, but I want to know what he's thinking as far as what he likes. If D and K come to us, we'll need two beds in that room, and I want the furniture to match. I think I'll pass Matt's set down to Garin in the new house. It's not fancy, but it's still in good shape and will be good for a mischevious little boy who has not yet learned how to take proper care of his things. When he gets past the magic-marker-on-furniture stage, he can have his own nice bedroom set too. Either that or we'll sell Matt's stuff and buy a new kid-friendly set for Garin....we'll see. The pretty daybed in Garin's room can go in the girly room, which I can't wait to decorate in feminine colors! If something happens, and we don't get the kids, it will be the guest room, and the guest(s) can enjoy something pretty while they're here.

I miss being in Texas, but it's also good to be home.....especially now that there is SO MUCH to do! I was just starting to think I was reaching a plateau....that'll teach me to think! What a wonderful life this is, full of joy and excitement and possibility!!! Blessings to you all...

Random Thoughts from a Tired and Busy Mind

It's been way too long since I posted, and for that I am sorry. I have spent the last six weeks back home, where I have been spoiled and loved, and I didn't feel like taking the time away from family to write down my thoughts. I managed to take four tests in one week, putting me closer to finishing the semester in a somewhat reasonable time frame, and then I just enjoyed the comforts of home. I am always thankful to be there, but this time was particularly special. Perhaps it was because Karl is gone, or maybe it was because we could be there long enough to get past the rush of seeing everyone and getting everything in that we want to do. But no, it was just the joy of family, all together again. I know you will probably all read this, so I'll try not to be too mushy.

My parents still take care of me when I'm with them, and it's so reassuring to know that you're never too old to be babied a bit. It's also nice to share the grown-up things with them and know that they will stand behind me no matter what. My grandparents....I get teary-eyed thinking of them....have always been such a special part of my life. I dearly enjoy sitting in their living room or around the table with them. I love to hear my Memaw pray before a meal. You can feel her heart pouring out before the Lord, and I just wish I had a little tape recorder in my pocket sometimes. There is something so precious about seeing the way Garin loves them and wants them, and how they satisfy him in ways the rest of us don't. And then there is my sister, Marci. Marci is that one person that has always known me inside and out and always will. There is a comfort in that which is hard to explain to anyone who isn't so privileged to have a sister who is also her best friend. I'll leave that there because it is what it is, it is a relationship that is larger than life and cannot be put into words. Sandra, Eli and Emma - my nieces and nephew - each one is very unique and equally easy to love and admire. Two came through adoption, one by birth. It doesn't matter which is which, so I won't tell you. They were all sent to us by God and are amazing, beautiful people. I am so proud of each of them. My cousin, Doug, must also be mentioned. He was my favorite playmate when we were children. He pretends to be tough, but he is as soft as can be on the inside. He has always been there for me and will forever be one of my best friends. He is a deep thinker and understands more than most of us ever will, and he loves just as deeply. But he somehow still manages to be the funniest person I've ever known.

I also had the chance to spend some time with some very special family members who adopted me by marriage. I am so thankful for my mother-in-law, who accepted me and loved me from day one, and who always has a kind word and an understanding heart. My father-in-law and stepmom-in-law were kind enough to make a long trip down to spend a couple of days with us. They have big hearts which they share without reservation, and we had a great time with them. Jill, Trint and Clancy - Karl's sister, husband and son - are some of the coolest people I know. They work hard, love deeply and make life more pleasant for everyone around them. I had more fun with them! And I was so happy to see Karl's sweet Memaw again!

Stomach flu was everywhere while I was down there. Memaw got sick first, followed by Garin and me. Trint, Susan and Jill were next. And just when we thought it was over, Dad and Sandra got sick just a couple of days before we left. Thankfully, no one else caught it, and we made it home without having to deal with illness!

Two more of Mom and Dad's friends were diagnosed with brain cancer: Rudy and Ron. And Jill lost a dear friend, who was wife and mother to four small children, to an aneurysm. It seems to be a terrible trend. Ron seems to be doing well with chemo and radiation. Rudy was rushed into surgery on Thursday because he suddenly became paralyzed from the waist down. They feared another tumor on his spine, but I have not yet heard the results. I do know that God does miracles, so please keep praying!

God worked an amazing miracle in the last few weeks for another friend of my parents. Glen Schmucker is a pastor in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and he is one of those people with an amazing gift for compassion and understanding. I have never actually met him, but I have considered him a friend, or maybe a kindred spirit, for some time. It is odd how someone whose face you've never seen can be so close to your heart. Glen suddenly became ill three or four weeks ago. On July 9, he was so bad that his organs were failing, his blood pressure was dropping and his children were called in to say their goodbyes. But God DOES work miracles, and Glen has gone from unconscious with liver failure, heart problems and more to being taken off the transplant list. His liver function is back to normal, he is off the ventilator, and his body is healing. Why? Because some doctor made a very good educated guess about treatment and gave him an antiviral medication that happened to target the virus he had....all before they even knew he had a virus. It's a God thing!

After a long but blessedly uneventful three-day drive back to Dover, I am exhausted. I have a big list of things to take care of this week. The big thing is that I have come back to the news that our housing is being demolished on October 15th. We have been assigned a 3 bedroom house and are to move on Sept. 27th!!! I had been told in May that we would move in November at the earliest. There are a couple of issues to consider here. One is that we need at LEAST a 4 bedroom if D and K get here before we leave Dover. That should be easily taken care of. I have been told that if I have a letter from the agency stating our intent to adopt, we can get the larger unit. Of course, had I known they were pushing everything up, I could have gotten it to them prior to housing assignments, but I think it should be cleared up easily when I go in and talk to them tomorrow. The other issue, of course, is that this will be the third move in three years that I have done without Karl. He always manages to be gone when we move, but it's not his fault! It will all be worth it, though, because if all goes well, this would allow us to be in the home D and K would come home to prior to the completion of our home study. This means the home study won't have to be updated before the kids can come. Of course, I'm assuming that the kids will be approved for us, and the adoption will go through as we hope. Please remember this in your prayers. God has a plan for us and for these children, and there are so many steps along the way. Please pray that God will open the right doors, close the wrong ones and make His will the reality!

Now it's 10:00, and I need some sleep!!!!!! I'll say good night for now. There are a bunch of great photos to post, but I'll have to wait until tomorrow for that, I'm afraid. Love to you all!

Clancy & Garin

Garin "riding" Spirit (with help from Grandma)

It's been too long......

I find it difficult to make time for writing when there are so many more exciting things to do! Garin and I have really enjoyed our time back home, and Matt flies down to join us tomorrow after spending two exciting weeks on mission trips to Tennessee and Virginia. We are so looking forward to seeing him!!!

We spent last weekend in Idabel, OK, with Karl's mom. We celebrated her birthday and got to spend some really special time with her, her mom, and Karl's sister's family (Jill, Trint & Clancy). Clancy is four months older than Garin, and they had a wonderful time playing together! It makes me wish once again that we lived closer. Clancy is such a doll, and he calls me Aunt 'Ori. There is something so sweet about hearing your name from the mouth of a little one you love!

We have done some good shopping and lots of visiting with family and friends. The weather has been crazy, as in power outages, over 5" of rain in less than 3 hours one night, and heavy rainfall almost daily. After the drought and fires here the last couple of years, there aren't many folks complaining, even as they watch their fields flood and their dams and bridges wash away.

Garin is a full-fledged walker now....FINALLY! Although he's been able to walk for a while, he did it rarely and preferred the speed of crawling. I had begun to believe that he would wait until the peer pressure of preschool forced him to travel upright!

I have spent a good deal of time (but not enough) working on my college coursework. A man from the church I grew up in has agreed to proctor my exams while I'm here, so I'm scheduled for four tests in the next two weeks. I'm a little nervous about cramming them together like this, but now's as good a time as any, since I have built-in babysitters.

I'm looking forward to the Fourth of July! I always enjoy the fireworks shows and patriotism that is lacking so much of the year, but it has special sentimentality this year with Karl overseas. There is a really good show in Gilmer and an awesome one in Longview. The decision as to which we'll attend hasn't been made. The Gilmer one has a nice small-town feel and will be easy to get in and out of. The Longview one will be crowded but a better show. They are charging $100 admission per vehicle at the Longview Fairgrounds, but we could get in free with my military ID. Tough decision!

I'll post a few pics of the last couple of weeks, too!

Far Away Father's Day

Here are a couple of photos from this afternoon. We took several to email to Karl for Father's Day. As you can see, Garin enjoys driving the golf cart with Grandma or Grandpa. His other favorite activities here involve turning fans or lights on and off climbing on everything in sight. He is fortunate to have a couple of very indulgent adults around who have already succeeded in spoiling him absolutely rotten only one week into our six-week visit!

Karl received his Father's Day care package from us much too early, on Monday, but in an impressive show of willpower, he waited until today to open it! It sounds as if he's really enjoying it, and I'm so pleased about that! In an unexpected and happy turn of events, he arrived at work tonight to discover two more packages: one from his mom and one from his squadron at Dover! He was so excited to tell me about them. His commander even sent a handwritten note asking how he was doing and how our trip to Texas was going. That is so far above and beyond the call of duty and is greatly appreciated!

Karl has a bad cold, sore throat and cough. In typical fashion, he has been procrastinating about visiting the doc. When he called today, I told him he needed to go (He sounded awful.), and he said to give it a day or two. I said, "Cough for me." I think he couldn't believe I asked him to do that, and he tried to make a joke of it. He did finally cough and sounded horrible, so I made him promise me that he would go to the doctor as soon as his shift is over in the morning. I know this sounds bossy and nagging, but anyone who knows Karl knows that he will bend over backward to make sure everyone else is okay, but he won't take the same kind of care of himself. Plus, he's very prone to bronchitis. I am hoping that this doctor can help him get better before it comes to that!

Garin and I have been reminded in the last couple of days that we aren't in Delaware anymore, thanks to the mosquitoes that think we make a tasty lunch! I have almost 40 bites after a few minutes outside one evening. Thankfully, Garin only has four - probably because I have only let him outside during the daytime. We're going to have to be very careful and use repellent!

I have had fun this weekend visiting with old friends! A dear high-school friend and her family were in town Saturday and today from the Dallas area, so we spent some time together yesterday afternoon, catching up and making plans to see each other again in July. She and her husband met when I and my then-boyfriend introduced them. Debi and I went to one high school, and my boyfriend, Kevin, went to the rival school with his friend, Peter. Our hope was that they would accompany each other to their respective proms, as both needed a date. Now, twenty years and three beautiful children later, they're living their happily ever after. There are so many neat twists and turns to the story, but I'll spare you the gory details. It is, however, a real privilege to call them friends! I also have gotten a chance to see Kevin a couple of times at church. Although we stopped dating as teenagers, we are lifelong friends, as are/were our parents. Sadly, cancer took his father last July. I really felt for him and his family today as we celebrated Father's Day. Hopefully we'll get a chance to catch up before I head back to Delaware. Another friend, Courtney, whom I've known since the diaper stage, lives here in town. I saw her briefly today, and we plan to get together in the next week or two for lunch to try to cover the events of the last 10 years! I'm thinking she and Kevin would make a cute couple...............hmmmmmmmmmm.............................

Well, I'm doped up on Benadryl, and it's getting late. I think it's time to say goodnight! Everybody sleep tight!

Three Weeks Down....Seventeen to Go

I guess it's about time for an update! I'm starting to hear from disgruntled blog readers who want to know how we're doing. I'm sorry I've been so slow to get around to it, but I've been so busy....or maybe just lazy.

These photos are from Garin's romp in the kiddie pool on Tuesday. He has no fear and had a great time in the water!

Dad flew to Philly on Tuesday, June 5, and Garin and I picked him up. He came to drive back down to Texas with us and help keep me sane. I am so thankful that he did. The trip was long, but Dad and I had a nice time just being together. Garin was good, considering we spent almost three days on the road, and the animals cooperated exceptionally well!

We arrived last Saturday around lunch time and got to visit for a little while with my great-aunt and great-uncle, who had driven in from Georgia earlier in the week to visit my grandparents, before they headed out. Dad and I got on riding mowers that afternoon and mowed my parents' and grandparents' yards. They've had tons of rain here, and the grass is growing like crazy. Sunday, we went to the contemporary service and Bible study class at church and then out for some good Tex-Mex.

This week has been a blur for me. On Monday, Mom drove down to my sister's house to deliver her pets to her. (They had stayed here while her family was on vacation.) My grandmother's Sunday School class had a social at one of her friends' homes, so I drove her there and ran some errands. After I picked her up, we met Dad for lunch at the best place in the world for good, Southern sweet tea. Garin, Dad, Doug (my cousin) and I have all had a cold, but I think we're all on the mend now. Mostly, I've hung around here with the exception of a couple of trips to the store for this or that. We did make one run to Bodacious BBQ, my favorite barbecue place for dinner, on Thursday night in a pouring rain. We got drenched getting in and out, but the food made it all worth it.

Karl has been doing better, I think. He still has his moments of homesickness, but he's had some successes and some fun this week, which seems to have lifted his spirits. He participated in a 4-man volleyball tournament. They did very well, but the tournament was set up in such a way that his team ended up playing seven straight games! By the time they met the last team they played, he said they were just too tired to win, even though they were the stronger team. But he had fun and got some good exercise.

Karl's big news, though, is that the guy who's in charge of the day shift had to attend a meeting Friday, so Karl had to fill in for him for the first four hours of his shift. Karl, therefore, worked from 12am to 12pm that day. He is normally responsible for preparing the briefing for the day-shift guy to present to the general and colonels, but yesterday he had to not only prepare it but also present it. He did a very good job, of course! His boss was very pleased, as were those in attendance. I think it did him a world of good to have that kind of success, as he struggles with self-confidence. He seemed much "brighter" afterward.

We have had several inches of rain since I got here, and four trees uprooted from the soggy soil last night here on my parents' property in the pasture between the house and the road. Of course, it had to land on a fence, which will have to be repaired to keep the horses out of their and my grandparents' yards. It was a very exciting start to the day!

I'll try to be better about updating from here on!

Update

I thought I'd just take a minute to catch you up on our boring lives.

Karl is working hard and staying tired, but he's doing well. He's homesick, though. His first practice with the praise team will be on Wednesday.

Garin is doing great. He started hugging me back this week, and I am soaking it up like a sponge! He laughs a lot and climbs a lot. He gets told no a lot (usually for climbing), gets mad at me and asks for DaDa a lot. He falls a lot, and when he does, he cries a lot. Today when we got to church, he started clapping in the parking lot because he heard the music. He did okay in the nursery, but as soon as I picked him up, he started clapping again and trying to steer me into the worship center, so we stayed for the music part of the next service. He danced and clapped and "sang" loudly, even during the prayer. It warmed my heart, and I know it warmed God's!

I cleaned like crazy yesterday! I rearranged the kitchen counters, vacuumed and mopped all the floors, polished the furniture and cleaned bathrooms. I love coming home from church on Sunday to a clean house, so it motivates me on Saturday afternoon.

It rained all day today. We desperately needed it. It is supposed to continue until noon or so tomorrow. The bad side of that is that it is NASCAR race weekend here in Dover. Traffic starts getting bad on the Monday before the race on Sunday and clears out on Monday after the race...normally. Unfortunately, the rain means the race has been delayed a day. I'm hoping people have somewhere to be tomorrow (work maybe?) and will go home anyway. Otherwise, we're fighting traffic again tomorrow if we want to leave the base.

Life is good! Don't know much else. G'night!

Garin's First Artwork

Garin created his first masterpiece today! Note the artistic creativity of using saliva (bottom right) to punctuate the meaning of the piece. He clearly enjoys stippling, but his favorite part is putting the crayons neatly into the box. I have to say that I am pleased to see his penchant for cleaning up after himself. I have noticed it several times lately and am hoping that it will continue through his teen years and into adulthood! Daddy, your artwork will be on its way to you soon!

Craziness

Memaw went into the hospital today with numbness down one side, in her mouth, and on her scalp and face. The doctor told her it was a stroke, however, he hadn't bothered to look at the CT scan or talk with her regular doctor about her history of neuropathy. She is spending tonight in the hospital, and hopefully we'll know more tomorrow.

Our dear neighbor in Illinois, Rose, became very disoriented and confused Monday and was taken to the hospital, where they found a clot the size of a tennis ball on her brain. She underwent five hours of brain surgery, and we pray that she will pull through without permanently losing her speech and the use of her left side.

Also, two of my parents' friends have been diagnosed with brain cancer in the last week. This after one of their closest friends died of brain cancer last July.

It's disturbing to have so many things like this happening at once, and I just hope things calm down soon.

On a happier note, Annie's feet look great! I'm relieved that I don't have to have her put down right now. Garin has been climbing all over everything and exhausting me, but he has been an absolute joy through it all today. He looks at me so innocently, grins and shakes his head no everytime he gets caught, and it just makes me want to laugh! I must admit I'm stressing out about keeping up with him, juggling all of the house and yard chores, taking care of Annie's feet, getting OSC Board stuff done, finishing school work, getting the adoption paperwork together, taking the online adoption course, reading the required books about adoption, and still finding time to sleep. I keep telling myself that it will all get done eventually, and I just have to do the things that can't wait first, the things that can take as long as they take last, and put the other stuff in order in between. I just feel so much pressure to get it done; whether its coming from myself or others, I'm not sure. It's all temporary, though. We'll make it!

Improvement!

I am posting this photo only because it is the first one of myself that I haven't hated in about two years! Garin and I took it with the self-timer to send to Daddy. Garin loved taking a picture and looking at it, so we took about 10 just because it made him happy. He was so pleasant yesterday! He got into a little trouble, of course, sneaking through the cat door while I was cooking supper and climbing onto the tables in the living room and den, but not too much. I was just glad that he was happy and not crying all the time. He tried to climb into the tv again when Daddy's videotaped bedtime story started. When it was over, he signed "more." Needless to say, I indulged him. It's nice to have Karl's voice around the house, even if it is just recorded. Garin's been sleeping a lot. I'm guessing it's a growth spurt...or just catching up from the last couple of weeks. He is still asleep now and took 3-hour naps the last two afternoons.

Karl sounded much better today too! He sent me a message about 7:30 am to say that he was headed to bed. Work had been a little less hectic, and he had finished a paper for his class and read a chapter from his book after work. He seemed more upbeat. You might pray for him this afternoon. He starts his first night shift by himself. Until now, the guy he's replacing has been with him, helping him learn the job.

We got a bunch of errands done yesterday, and I'm excited about mailing Karl's first care package today! It's fun to imagine him getting it, opening it and enjoying the stuff inside.

Care Packages and New Teeth

Karl had a rough spell last night. Actually it was yesterday afternoon here...I think. It's so confusing because not only are we dealing with a time difference, but he is working nights and sleeping days, and it's hard to keep it all straight. So anyway, he woke up around 9:00 pm his time and realized he'd only been gone five days and started getting really down that he is so homesick already. I really think that he'll feel better once he gets more settled in, meets some friends and starts doing something he enjoys during his off-time. I just hope that happens soon!

I asked him what he would like in a care package, and he said he'd love Twizzlers. He also needs more boxers. Apparently, the laundry service there gets clothes VERY clean, as in they boil them and beat them into submission. He said the ones he took over are already looking like their lives are limited. The problem is that each of his thighs is bigger than my waist, and most boxers don't fit him. I hate buying his boxers, but I guess we'll learn by trial and error! His biggest suggestion, though, was that I send our Oust fans for his room. Apparently, two grown men and their dirty laundry in a 10x10 room with 120-degree weather doesn't make for a pleasant aroma! Go figure! We have plenty of the fans around. I'll buy some refills, and he can get batteries, but for those who have mentioned sending him something, Oust fan refills and Twizzlers would be great. Of course, ANYTHING would be appreciated, and one can only eat so much candy. Although he didn't mention it, I know he would also like to have almonds. Just keep in mind that chips and cookies (and unfortunately Dr. Pepper) don't travel well. When he was there in 2003, he got a package of cookies from home that he enjoyed very much, but they were not cookies anymore; they were powdery crumbs.

Garin and I have lots of errands to run today. Bless his heart, he slept until 9:30 this morning! I was able to get ready, get flowers watered and dead-headed, unload the dishwasher, make his breakfast, give Annie her medicine and sweep the floor before he woke up. We'll head out in a few minutes. By the way, he has two new molars and two more right at the surface!

The latest from Karl

I'll leave out the mushy stuff. ;o)

"I'm discovering that my job here is very busy. I'm the deputy chief for the night shift, which means that I gather data from everyone else, make slides to be briefed by the morning shift folks and try to put out any "fires" that come up during the night. Both of the past two nights have been extremely busy, so I'm guessing that isn't likely to change....ugh, very very ugh. After my shift, I dropped off the laptop to get reworked for the network here, but they said it may take 2-3 weeks to get it back due to the backlog of laptops they got when the new rotation came through! I guess I'll have to stay after work and try to get my schoolwork done. Let's see; then I came back to camp and did a bit of reading, ate tacos for lunch, came back to my room, swapped out my uniform for a clean one, read a little more, and now I'm about to go to bed so I can get up and do it all again tomorrow."

From there it gets sappy.

Any laptop that comes into camp must have everything deleted from the hard drive and have approved software installed by the guys there. Because Karl had stuff he couldn't afford to lose on his personal laptop, he borrowed one from the squadron here to take with him. Once it's done, he can check email and work on his masters classes from his room. He also mentioned last night that it's hot there....not too much of a surprise.

I also got this email from a friend whose best friend is Jared's mom. I am so thankful my husband is not a Marine!

"Hello everyone, Jared has called a couple of times this week. Usually 2 minute calls, they are having some phone problems. They are being especially carefully with information they share now. Their calls are monitored, and some guy was caught giving to much information, not only did he get in trouble, but the all got punished. It is really hot there, 115 to 130, I'm told by him and some of the parents. He had to go to the medic yesterday for IV fluids. He drinks a lot, like they are supposed too, but must have gotten behind. My Mother's day call, which was a nice surprise, was hi mom, Happy Mother's day, I got shot at last night. Bet none of you got such an exciting card. lol. They are all safe, no major injuries in Jared's immediate group, which is a blessing for sure. Stray dogs are a big problem there. They had a little puppy show up with a broken leg. The Sgt said they could keep it for a while. I think it gives them a taste of home. Something normal, among the abnormal. The pup is well fed needless to say. I do know they are a little short staffed, when he called on Thursday he had been up for 32 hours. He had 8 power drinks to stay awake. I told him I was sure his heart appreciated it. He mentioned they had to keep hitting the driver in the back of the head to help him stay awake. Poor guys. They are usually averaging about 4 hours of sleep a night. I won't complain about being tired, or my work conditions for a while. Please continue to pray for Jared and all of our Military, and their families. Pray for Christian friends and support for Jared, Bryant and Craig, especially. Blessings to all of you for a wonder Memorial Day weekend. When Mike and I went to the movie last night, they had a small reminder of what this weekend is for. It is for remembering those who have lost their lives while serving in the Armed Forces for our freedoms. They had a momenet of silence, and played God Bless America. That was pretty awesome. So as we enjoy our weekend, let us stop for a moment and remember the sacrifices and high price paid so we can enjoy our freedom. Freedom isn't free. Blessings to all, and thank you for your prayers and support.Kim"

Annie is taking prednisone like crazy and made a huge puddle in the kitchen last night. I have taken the new kitchen rug up until we lower her dose and given her a beach towel to sleep on. She had an accident on the old rug the last time her prednisone was high, and I ended up having to toss it. No amount of steam cleaning would take the smell out. I am keeping her confined in the kitchen at night, so there are no accidents that can't be cleaned up, but I started the morning with a bucket of bleach water and a mop. We have been fighting terrible infections in both of her back feet for four months. They were much, much better (finally) before our trip back home. The people at the kennel decided to take of her booties, against our instructions, and she licked them until they were bloody and blistered all over. They also went several days without giving her her medicine. By the time we got home, they were swollen huge - to the point that she could have lost her left foot. I still can't believe that they did that...or that they didn't call us or the vet when she got bad. I took her in Saturday morning to put her down. She was getting worse even with her medicine. The doctor asked me to try upping the prednisone for a week and then decide. Thankfully, she is showing improvement already!

Garin slept all night! His temper is in overdrive, but it's hard for adults who can talk and reason to behave well when they are stressed out. I'm sure it's many times harder for a 15-month-old. Growing up is stressful enough without the upheaval of a deployment, so I just keep holding him and kissing him and talking to him. I tell him that Daddy has to be gone because he has a very important job, and he and lots of other mamas and daddies help keep the world safe. I tell him that Daddy is keeping us safe while he's gone and that he doesn't want to be away, but he has to do it. I don't know how much he understands, but he gets a lot more than I realize sometimes, so I'll just keep telling him.

Wiped Out

The Pooh-bear was exhausted after church and fell asleep, as usual, on the way home. I took this picture for his daddy and thought the rest of you might enjoy it as well.

Reasons to Smile!

It has been an inspiring and enjoyable day so far! Garin has been having a hard time with Daddy's absence, and his sleep was very disturbed last night. He was up three times during the night. He hasn't been like that since Karl's last mission. I hope that this will not last too long.

We got up around 7 am and got ready for church. I somehow, miraculously, even had time to water all of the potted plants and straighten up the house before we left for the 9:45 service at church! I was so moved by the number of people who asked how we are doing and how Karl is. A little girl in our church who is normally very shy and whom I barely know just ran up and hugged me when I sat down. Her mother was shocked. She was the only one who could calm Garin in the nursery a few weeks ago, and she mentioned that she knows how hard it can be to have a little one with such separation anxiety. She gave me her phone number and offered to watch Garin if I ever just want to get away. Another young mom with three little ones and one on the way said she'd like to get together, too. I'm so thankful for such kindness. There was a touching Memorial Day video and prayer at the start of the service. I tried so hard not to cry, but it eventually got the better of me. Kari, our pastor, was so thoughtful to sit with me (and cry with me) through it and our musical worship. We had an amazing sermon about Pentecost and the power of the Holy Spirit to move among His people and reach others with the message of hope we have in Christ. I was soaring when I left.

I was telling Kari this morning that my loneliest time is after Garin goes to bed at night, and she said that it could be a great time to spend with the Lord. Now why didn't I think of that?!?! I have been trying to fill the time with busy-ness to keep my mind off of things when I could really take advantage of the quiet to listen to God and worship Him! Why is it that we rush through a morning quiet time the same way we rush through all of the other duties of the day instead of seeing it as a privilege like we do our uninterrupted moments with others we love? I am excited about making evenings about fellowship with my Savior. Thanks, Kari, for stating the obvious to the oblivious!

After church, we ran to the craft store for beading supplies, and I got back to work on my hummingbird feeders when Garin went down for a nap. I've had jars and stoppers sitting around for months waiting to be put together!

Garin should be getting up soon, and we're going to just enjoy a relaxing evening together. I think I'll make Mexican Mess (a fancy term for taco salad for those who aren't familiar with our family's terminology) for supper.

I've been text-messaging with Karl all afternoon. (For anyone who travels internationally, Blackberry's PIN messaging is free except for the monthly cost of a data package.... WAY cheaper than the cost of phone calls....and you can keep up throughout the day, whenever the mood strikes.) Anyway, Karl made it to the contemporary service this morning, and although he says it is definitely not Connection, it was nice for the middle of the desert. He said they have no one on keyboard, so he's going to see how his schedule goes as far as getting out of work on time. If it is consistent, he's going to volunteer to play keyboards for them. What an answer to my prayers that would be! It would be so good for him to have a group of believers to spend time with and to be able to do something he really enjoys! I know it would give him something to look forward to, each practice and worship, and help the time pass more quickly for him.

I have a mailing address for Karl now. I don't want to post it on the internet, but send me an email or comment on this post if you want it, and I'll send it to you via email.

Love to you all and thanks again for your prayers! I miss Karl very much of course, but my biggest prayer requests now would be for Karl to be able to get involved in the chapel or otherwise involved in a group of believers, as God desires, and for Garin to begin to adjust to Daddy's absence.

He's there....

Karl called tonight. He's met the person he's replacing and learned a bit about his job. He also got to see his room - a 10x10 box in a trailer, equipped with bunk beds and cabinets. It's small and sparse, but it's luxurious compared to the 14-man-tent he was in there when the war started. He will be working the night shift, for which he is thankful; he will be out and about when it is coolest (though still hot) and can sleep through the 120-degree afternoons. He is tired and hungry but otherwise fine. He has a friend from Dover who is on the same shift, so he will have someone to eat and work out with. I am praying that there will be a godly man there (perhaps this guy, I don't know him well) with whom he can spend time and share. We're counting down to his return....only 19 more weeks to go.

Home Sweet Home

Here's a lovely shot of the base that is Karl's home-away-from-home for the next few months. Don't you wish you were there? Kind of makes me appreciate having all those weeds to pull out of the flowerbeds!

Fun stuff!

I had a great time golfing this morning! I have a long way to go to be any good, but it is a beautiful morning, and my long drive definitely improved during our lesson!

Kim had my awards from our bowling league's banquet, which I missed in order to have some family time on Karl's last day home. That's right...I said awards! I thought I would win the High Game with Handicap award, which I did, and we go our team placement award, but I also got two others!!! They are Most Improved Average and High Team Game (Scratch). I ended up $81 richer!

Haven't heard from Karl yet. I thought he was going to text me at his first stop, but he must not have been able to. I'll probably hear from him sometime tonight, and I'll let you guys know when I do.

Sad Goodbyes

I took these pictures just before Karl left today. Garin was "helping" Daddy to arrange his pen and pencil in his uniform pockets. We had a hard time saying goodbye, but I think that we did very well under the circumstances. I had a good cry while I fed lunch to Garin, and then we both went to bed for a nap. Garin seems a little out of sorts....you can't convince me the little ones don't know something's up. I am fine except for the headache that always lingers after a good cry. Karl was scanning radio stations right after he left and ran across one that was playing a Green Day song called "Wake Me Up When September's Over." It made him laugh (he returns in early October), and he gave me a call to tell me about it. I am golfing with friends tomorrow morning at the base golf course, so that will be a good chance to have some fun and get back to normal, such as it is.

I have said from the start that I would rather be married to Karl and only see him some of the time than to be married to someone else who is home every night but doesn't love me the way Karl does. It is so true. I am a blessed woman. I am so proud of him.

Well, the deployment is barreling down on us. Time disappears so quickly. We are now counting down hours rather than days. There just aren't enough days left to count. Four and a half months seem short when you look back on them, but I think they will seem longer while we wait for Karl's return. We'll stay busy, and we're thankful that it isn't a longer deployment or a more dangerous assignment, such as the ones the Army and Marines have. Still it doesn't make this easy.

We spent last week back home with family and came back exhausted, but it was so good to see everyone. Now we're doing all the last minute stuff that needs to be taken care of before Karl leaves.

I'll write more once he's gone, I promise. For now, I just don't feel much like blogging. Please keep us (and all of the families going through separation due to deployments) in your prayers.

Progress!

I'm starting to really like Mondays! That seems to be when the breakthroughs happen for us. Today we got word that the "powers that be" in great state of Texas see no problem with granting us a variance. This means that the rule about not adopting from an agency where a relative works will not apply. Because my bro-in-law is not under the Adoption and Maternity Services umbrella at Buckner and especially because our home study is being done by an agency here in Delaware (where we have ZERO relatives), they do not feel there is any conflict of interest. We also were excited to have found a great Christian agency with which to do the home study! The agency we originally thought would be great doesn't seem to have much concern about client support and post-placement services. Because we will need the support of other families who have been and are in the same boat, as well as the advice of professionals, as our adoptive children assimilate to family life, a new culture and a new language, this is a very important part of the big picture. We met today with the social worker who will handle our case and were impressed by her candor and thoroughness. After our meeting with her, we went to the State Police office to apply for our criminal background checks...woohoo!...and do fingerprints. There is so much yet to do and so much still to pray about. Thank you all for lifting us and these children up to the Lord. We can see His hand at work.

In other news, we checked off a few last-minute things from Karl's pre-deployment list this morning. We went to Base Legal to make some minor changes to our wills, which we'll sign and pick up Thursday; then we ran by the Family Support Center, where they gave Karl phone cards to call home. They also signed us up for Hearts Apart, a program where I can call the base at designated times twice a week, and they'll patch me through to Karl for a 15-minute free phone call. Boy it really hit home then. I was given vouchers for a free oil change and free child care from 10-2 on the second Saturday of every month at the Child Development Center. That may come in really handy! Karl has handgun training tomorrow and simulators every evening until we head for TX/OK on Friday. It's hard to believe that this is all really happening. I just don't know how I'm going to drive home after our goodbyes and come home to an empty house. God will give us all the strength we need, but the day will be a testament to the Holy Spirit as Comforter, the One who envelopes us in our sorrow. Someday, we will look back with wonder at how God met our needs in those moments, but it may be hard to appreciate it on that day.

Yesterday at church, they had us come up front, and they laid hands on us and prayed for our whole family, even D and K. It was beautiful and special, and God gave Kari just the right words to pray for what we need. We are so thankful for our church family and their love and support.

Prayer Needs

We are feeling much more positive the last couple of days after talking more with our caseworker. He is obviously a man who cares very much for the children and families he works with, and he is personable and always open to answer questions or hear ideas. Unfortunately, we have hit the first of probably many snags and ask that you all continue to pray with us that God will guide all who are involved, so that the right decisions are made.

The biggest issue at this point is a rule in Texas that says an agency cannot adopt to members of an employee's family. The good news is that because my bro-in-law works in a different part of the state and is not involved in the adoption program, and because the children are special needs and have been waiting for so long, there is a good chance that we can receive a variance. This would basically negate that rule in our adoption. Phil is trying to get that taken care of now, so please pray that those making the decision will place the welfare of D and K above the rules.

Also, Phil is having difficulty getting the information he needs about the home study agency in order for us to proceed, and his attempts to find another agency are not proving fruitful yet. I have passed along information on another one that I know of, so he is going to contact them too.

We know that this is in God's hands. Please pray with us that He will open doors and make a way.

Also, recent x-rays show that Matt's scoliosis is 11.6 degrees and that it is probably the result of a lopsided (my very technical term) pelvis, with the left side being higher than the right. He has been referred to a sports medicine clinic for further examination, but there are no plans for surgery at this point.

Love to you all...

Reality Sets In!

After the crazy highs of yesterday, we now have to get back to the walking in faith part of the adoption process. We received a call this morning from our caseworker, who was very nice, thorough and helpful. He was also very clear that we have a lot left to do and that D and K are still anyone's kids, basically. After the home study, we will be evaluated as to whether we are a suitable match. Then the Russian government has to agree, too.

Of course we already knew all of this, and we have given the process to God, but this is where we put faith into practice. We hung up the phone feeling like the pre-approval means nothing really, and we're starting all over. That's okay....just a reality check.

I had planned to take the application to the home study folks today, but our caseworker wants to talk to them first to determine whether they will be approved to do the home study. He is going to get back to us today or tomorrow, so we'll wait until then to take the application in.

Please keep us all in your prayers.