This is so weird . . .

Its 8 am, and I am not standing in my closet, wondering what in the world I am going to wear to work today. I am not trying to flurry through this post so that I can get out the door.

I am sitting here, breathing and relaxing - I don't have to go into work until noon.

I am feeling comforted and blessed in the provisions that God has made for us. Two great big prayers have been answered and I can't stop thanking Him. . .

#1 - my husband is home - he has been home for the past 3 weeks. No, he didn't lose his job ;)
He is still a project manager, but he is sort of 'in-between' projects right now, so he is working out of the main office, 25 minutes away. So, if you see a handsome 6 ft blond-haired guy hanging around, don't worry, that's my husband ;)

And #2 actually came to fruition this past week. Over a year ago this week, I began working more like 'full time' hours at my job. This was not really something I wanted to do, but it was something that I was called to do, and the Lord never asks too much of us. I admit that its been a challenging year, juggling work, BSF, trips back and forth, etc. - and I have had my share of complaining, fists up to God and all. But God has really blessed this path with His faithfulness. Sometimes, you just have to wait on Him. We were able to hire another administrative & marketing person who is able to fill in for me on this new part-time 1/2 day schedule my boss has given me. The timing is so perfect - I so appreciate having mornings at home to get the day going, and the company also is trying to make some cut-backs, so it feels good to be a part of those efforts.

So, here I am - and its so good to be here.

Braggy ;)

Naturally, I am proud to my tippiest tip-toes of my hubby. Not only is he extremely goodlooking, God-fearing, and hardworking, but he's also incredibly intelligent.

We saw 10,000 BC the other night, a very captivating and interesting film. With a movie as creative as this one was, usually it takes me a good day or two to process. I wonder internally about things, but then I have to muse on them for a while before I spit them out.
But then there's my hubby. He has good brains, working overtime before, during and after a movie, a book, an article, a conversation, whatever it may be. . . He is able to articulate and bring to light things I never would get close to finding - you know, like a new set of eyes that finds all the missing items that you are looking for, except, in this case, you didn't even know that you were missing them) Well anyway, this movie was no exception.

I love how he thinks.

Here's his review:
http://www.thewaterspout.com/blog/?p=486

And Honey, do you know how much I love you? Well, now everybody knows ;)

Rock Water

As I was perusing some liturgy readings this morning, one struck me as so appropriately perfect for my struggling attitude toward life right now. Exodus 17:1-7 - I am one to often compare myself to a rebellious Israelite, not compliant and willing to follow the leader who was chosen by God to guide them out of wilderness and into the Promiseland.
What a daunting task, to lead a grumbling nation who doubted you . . . Moses was doing what God had called him to do. He had no special wisdom, no super power in and of himself to even know where the next step would take them.

He didn't feel equipped to do it, but God was equipping him as he went. The people cursed him and balked his leadership. And yet, he trusted. He trusted the God of his fathers, and he believed that God would get them there.

I may not be a grumbling nation, but I can be a grumbling wife to my own Moses. When I complain and test my husband, I make his road harder. His is a road full of great responsibility and roadblocks that he has to overcome, and the desire of my life is to encourage him and strengthen him through this journey by serving him. But I am a poor example of this. I only fall on my knees once again and ask for his forgiveness and God's forgiveness.

And then I remember how faithful God is, to a grumbling nation -

All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin
by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but
there was no water for the people to drink. 2Therefore the people quarreled with
Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you
quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" 3But the people thirsted there for
water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us up
out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" 4So
Moses cried to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost
ready to stone me."

5And the LORD said to Moses, "Pass on before the people,
taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff
with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there
on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of
it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of
Israel. 7And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the
quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying,
"Is the LORD among us or not?"

**He, the faithful God who gave the Israelites water from the rock, is our Rock who sent his Son to be struck so that His saving blood would flow over us, cleansing and purifying our sinfulness and lack of faith.**

My Valentino

On Love Day, I received a lovely surprise at work. . . a special delivery from Pro Flowers - from my very sweet Valentine ;) Though we were apart that day, he made me beam from ear to ear.

They were lovely - thank you Lovey :)

And this is my beloved

Words cannot express how much I love you Haven. You are my warrior and my hero.

Rest well - I really miss you

Crybaby

There have been many tears this past weekend.

The loss of a sweet loved one (my stepfather's mother& my adopted Grandmother) has been the biggest grief-giver. And yet, we are grateful to know that she lives eternally with our Saviour. I am so thankful that God provided a flight right away for my parents to be there before her passing.
Haven and I took their two little boston terriers for a while, and while they were here, there was much romping around with our Hector.

We had a quiet weekend, well, minus our night at the Alamodome for Monster Jam ;)

(Yes, we like Monster Truck rallies - they're a blast ;)

We rented another set of 24 (we are working our way through season six.

We had snacky dinners, happy puppies and lots of vegging out.

We just needed it.

Haven dropped by my work tonight, at the end of the day to say goodbye for the week.
I can't remember the last time I cried so much. I contained it until after I left work, and like a ticking time bomb, I sort of exploded in the car driving home. Its not like he's going away for a month - he'll be back on Friday. Its not like we haven't spent any time together at all this past month either.

Its just that I love him.

The God who is Love gives us love that gets richer, deeper, better, and sweeter with time. The hard things we've gone through with this crazy job of his has made the reward of being together all the greater. I am just one big ball of drippy black mascara and snot and streaky tears.

One big happy crybaby.

Zapata Dip Dapata

I am unbelievably happy.

Why?

Haven got the job in Zapata, which is pretty much 2 hours away!

Do you know what this means???

He is supervising this project, HIS OWN!

He gets HIS OWN crew!

He has a pretty manly truck!

He will be able to be home on the weekends!

He will be able to go to church again!

I am on schedule to cook again for awhile!

He can take car of these 'honey do's'!

WOHOO!!! Thank you Lord!!!

My Love

Oh . . . Did I fail to mention that my beloved is finally home?

He surely is!!! :)

We had a sweet reunion on Saturday, early afternoon. His plane rolled in right on time. I tell you, welcome home kisses are the best :)

After he was fed and showered, we went to check out the new Costco that opened in OUR neck of the woods. Can you imagine how happy I was to have HIM pick up that big ol' 65-lb bag of dog chow!? !

I made dinner for the first time in months. . . just getting out my pots and pans made me giddy. And, I have never been so happy to see so many dishes flood my sink! ;)

I made some delicious waffles from a Hot Providence cookbook recipe, and we savored each bite with coffee and the newspaper. (I'll post the recipe in a while).

After a wonderful church service and a bit of fellowshipping, we headed home. I packed us a little lunch and we went to a quiet spot by the Guadalupe river in New Braunfels and enjoyed the sunny fall day. It was so nice to celebrate the sabbath with my man! We decided to go see that movie 'Dan in Real Life' with Steve Carell (aka Mr. Michael from 'The Office"). It was actually pretty good :)

So okay, maybe it sound like we are newlyweds or something, but its really been too long since we lived in the same house TOGETHER :)

I am really thankful right now - he has the possibility of getting a project that is only 2 hrs away and so he'd be home on the weekends, for sure. We are both hoping for that, but we are praying to be at peace with wherever God wants him.

God is so good!

Man Return

My man is coming home next Saturday


WOOO HOOO!!!!

A little Night Music

Screechy cicadas and throaty frogs, swooping owl wings, and my dog's heavy, excited breathing.

Nothing like an evening walk on a hot indian summer night.

With a pearl white moon illumating the way, I prod a 'gotta-take-a-pit-stop-every-ten-steps' pup along a broken weedy sidewalk. I try to help him ignore the scuffle of dogs behind backyard fences and the blindingly bright headlights of cars passing by. Kinda to no avail - I guess its kind of exciting being a dog in this neighborhood.

As we were walking, I was trying to work through a period of silence, kind of similar to a hard swallow. . . trying to think of ways to be a more encouraging wife, trying to overcome over 1,000 miles of distance.

I wish that I could get to my husband like I can get across 15 blocks south and 2 blocks east 30 minutes later. I wish I had a way to forward time like I can skip commercials with DVR. I wish I had a more patient spirit that would even pour out onto my hurried dog-walking.

Even my little dog is teaching me a lesson. The art of slowing down and actually enjoying the moment. In his case, that means never losing wonder in chasing hopping frogs. . .

Maybe I am not connecting the dots when it comes to getting to my husband. But it does come back to being patient, for that is surely required these days.

God is ever benevolent in making the days go by faster, all that He is requiring is to face each with hope and joy. There are only 24 hours each day, and only 7 days in each week. A week more will bring us to 3 more days and then a three or four hour plane trip to visit him. Oh yeah, and a heck of a celebration of 2 years of marriage.

But as for tonight, I am going to enjoy every hour of this 6 hour rest.

Goodnight.

I've got roses on my table

There's a heavy haze settled over the city - with the sun sitting on top of it, its a warm and rosy glow. I am sipping coffee and appreciating the healthy hum of my computer, working obediently with the internet, to make this blogging experience possible.

Actually, I'll let the credit go to my repair man.

Yes, the man is home. Stronger, tanner, and more addicting than ever. I don't think I am going to let him leave again tomorrow.

Yes I am selfish.

To anyone who has ever said that marriage just gets better over time - I am beginning to realize this more and more. Through the hard times that we have faced, God has grown us closer together. I can't wait to go through more, with the hope and prayer that we'll be more in love than we are today because of where He has brought us.

I'm glad I took the day off. Today is my holiday.

Today is my 'husband appreciation day'.