Very soon my husband and I will be parting ways. No we aren't getting a divorce. He is going to VA Beach to get some training. I'm off to Mexico to do something I do well, build houses and support Amor through their spring season. Because my husband loves me, he asked for a pass this weekend. We wanted to take me to the aquarium in Atlanta. Now Chief, as his called by the band folks ( I can him Jesse), calls my husband into his office to get some details before he approves it. James reminds him that we'll be apart for little over 2 months and he would like to take me to the aquarium. Chief gives James the aren't you to old to be going to places like that without children.
If it were up to me to respond this is what I would say to him. No, we aren't. See, we have this great and amazing God. For some reason beyond my ability to understand cares for us. God took his time at making all these amazing things. I find the things under the water to be extra neat. I'm just think it's so fascinating to see these creatures that God took the time to make. That's why I like the aquarium so much it gives the ability to see these creatures. I want to stand in awe at things God made. I want to stare into water and see animals and think of how great my God is. Then I'm going to smile a big smile. See, another thing about this amazing God is that He has a hobby. He's busy running the world, take care of this and that and watching over us, but He has a hobby. His hobby is making us, those that love Him back, smile. God likes to see us smile. It warms His heart. It probably makes His day when we smile because of works He did. So, Chief, I want to spend time with husband admiring the things God made. I want to stand there and think how awesome is that God created something just to make me happy.
Yes, I firmly believe that the only reason there are aquariums to make me smile. I have no doubt that when we get to heaven if you ask God what was the purpose of aquariums, he'll respond, "To make Michelle smile."
There's something out there that makes you smile. It's for you. God made it just for you. Go and enjoyed and don't forget to smile.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
The failure that I am
Disclaimer: If you have me on a pedestal of being this great and wonderful Christian, I think that maybe you should remove from it before reading this. If you have me on a pedestal what you read here will probably cause me to fall off of it, I have a feeling that if I fall it might hurt you more than me. I just want to lie my heart out there and be honest with you. I warn you may not like what you read. If you start reading this you should read it to the end.
I'm a failure there is no way around. I have failed at many things. I have a long list of things I could have done better. I've failed as a daughter. My parents would never admit but I know that I have let them down, I have disappointed them. I've failed as sister. The relationship between my sister and I is such a mess there is no to see that it will ever be good. It was a mudslide that just started sliding and not the destruct is so awful, it's impossible to see anything good. I've failed as a teacher. My first two years of teaching were just so awful that fail is the only word I think to put to it. I've failed as Christian. I spent 3 years in a relationship with man, I shouldn't have even go on a date with. Because of that relationship I had an abortation. I got so discourage that I ran away from God.
I am a failure in the eyes of the world. I've made a huge mess with life. So I have a choice. I can be a failure. I can embrace and live that awful life that all failures live. Or I can embrace Jesus. I can accept the grace and mercy that God wants to pour out on me.
I have plans of cling to my new life verse. I found Philippians 3:14 a couple of weeks ago. I was doing a bible study for Thursday night Navigators that James and I go to. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. It's time for me to stop resting on verse that has God being the active one. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. See before God was the one doing all the work. That's fine when you are young Christian, but now that I'm an adult, now that I've grown in the Lord. It's time I start doing things. It's doesn't change that God is charge, but before I expected God to do all the work. I expected God to take care of everything. Now I need to faith that God will take care of me. I need to do things that show I'm thankful for what He has done.
So the failure that I am, is going to press on toward the goal God has called me to. I'm leaving the failures and focusing on my prize.
I'm a failure there is no way around. I have failed at many things. I have a long list of things I could have done better. I've failed as a daughter. My parents would never admit but I know that I have let them down, I have disappointed them. I've failed as sister. The relationship between my sister and I is such a mess there is no to see that it will ever be good. It was a mudslide that just started sliding and not the destruct is so awful, it's impossible to see anything good. I've failed as a teacher. My first two years of teaching were just so awful that fail is the only word I think to put to it. I've failed as Christian. I spent 3 years in a relationship with man, I shouldn't have even go on a date with. Because of that relationship I had an abortation. I got so discourage that I ran away from God.
I am a failure in the eyes of the world. I've made a huge mess with life. So I have a choice. I can be a failure. I can embrace and live that awful life that all failures live. Or I can embrace Jesus. I can accept the grace and mercy that God wants to pour out on me.
I have plans of cling to my new life verse. I found Philippians 3:14 a couple of weeks ago. I was doing a bible study for Thursday night Navigators that James and I go to. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. It's time for me to stop resting on verse that has God being the active one. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. See before God was the one doing all the work. That's fine when you are young Christian, but now that I'm an adult, now that I've grown in the Lord. It's time I start doing things. It's doesn't change that God is charge, but before I expected God to do all the work. I expected God to take care of everything. Now I need to faith that God will take care of me. I need to do things that show I'm thankful for what He has done.
So the failure that I am, is going to press on toward the goal God has called me to. I'm leaving the failures and focusing on my prize.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Uncommon packages or His plans are better.
As many of you know we are getting ready to go to Alaska. We decided that need a car with 4 wheel drive. So we made plans to sell our mazda 3. In fact, we were going to sell it to another couple in the band. But that's not what happened.
James had gotten a pass so we could be spend new years down in Tampa seeing my friend Jason. Along the way about 30 miles from our exit. I lost control of the mazda. I over corrected and it sent us spinning. We hit the guard rail in the middle. After all things were said and done. We didn't hit anyone else. We were out a car, set of jumper cables and apples to apples. We gather everything we can find and decided that is important to find in the car. They take it way. Jason comes to get us and we head to his cousin's house. James and I had gotten a hotel, but they insisted we stay there with them so we did. That weekend was a great way to start the new year. It has been a long time since I felt and overflow of blessings. Jason has the sweetest family I have ever meet. We ended up needing to stay an extra day and that wasn't a problem.
Before leaving on trip, James had sat down to change the coverage on the car. It being paid off we no longer needed full coverage on it. James got to the website and decided this was too much trouble and could wait until we got back from seeing Jason.
So the insurance company has to pay us almost full value of the car. We ended up with almost $12,000 which is more than we would sell it for it. We went car shopping and found a car we wanted. We talked them down to $22,00o for the car and put a $12,000 down payment on the car, so it's more than half paid off right now.
So blessing come in uncommon packages. I'm sure that even if we hadn't off been in an accident on the way there, Jason's family would have still been wonderful, but they were felt twice of wonderful because of the accident. So blessing don't come in pretty packages, sometimes they come in car accidents. I also feel like God said, "You have good plans, I'm glad you plan and think, but mine are better.
James had gotten a pass so we could be spend new years down in Tampa seeing my friend Jason. Along the way about 30 miles from our exit. I lost control of the mazda. I over corrected and it sent us spinning. We hit the guard rail in the middle. After all things were said and done. We didn't hit anyone else. We were out a car, set of jumper cables and apples to apples. We gather everything we can find and decided that is important to find in the car. They take it way. Jason comes to get us and we head to his cousin's house. James and I had gotten a hotel, but they insisted we stay there with them so we did. That weekend was a great way to start the new year. It has been a long time since I felt and overflow of blessings. Jason has the sweetest family I have ever meet. We ended up needing to stay an extra day and that wasn't a problem.
Before leaving on trip, James had sat down to change the coverage on the car. It being paid off we no longer needed full coverage on it. James got to the website and decided this was too much trouble and could wait until we got back from seeing Jason.
So the insurance company has to pay us almost full value of the car. We ended up with almost $12,000 which is more than we would sell it for it. We went car shopping and found a car we wanted. We talked them down to $22,00o for the car and put a $12,000 down payment on the car, so it's more than half paid off right now.
So blessing come in uncommon packages. I'm sure that even if we hadn't off been in an accident on the way there, Jason's family would have still been wonderful, but they were felt twice of wonderful because of the accident. So blessing don't come in pretty packages, sometimes they come in car accidents. I also feel like God said, "You have good plans, I'm glad you plan and think, but mine are better.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
It's all in the plans
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Psalm 147:4 (ESV)
God spent time creating everything. I'm pretty sure, He had it all planned out before hand. He took the time to count the stars. God knows how many stars are in the sky. Stop and think about that for a second. God can tell you how many stars probably just as quickly as a teacher can tell you how many students are in her class. This is a huge number and God knows it, most likely off the top of his head too. Now look at the rest of that verse: he gives to all of them their names. As He put them in their place he gave them a name. Other version says he calls them by name. Not only did He name, He remembers them and uses them. Just like a teacher who can tell you them name of all her students with very little thought, God can point to star and tell you its name. He took time to name the stars, this is something that seems unimportant. I can't think of a reason why the stars would even name the stars, but it was important to Him and He did it. What else has taken the time to invest in? What else was so important to Him that spent that much time on it? Try you and your life. God cares about the details.
You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle--are they not in Your book? Psalm 56:8 (AMP)
He is the details. He even took the time to write them down. What you are doing and where you are going is so important that He took the time to write them down. Just like the stars, He took the time to count and record the events in your life. Nothing that you do is meaningless. People don't write down things that don't have purpose. You are so important to God that He took the time to count and record your events. It's funny, we don't even take the time to record our wanderings, yet God already has. It's in His book, I would even guess that He reads this book. You are so important to Him that he collects your tears and then writes about them. His tears matter to you. People only take the time to collect things that they think has value. Your tears have value to Him. I'm not sure what that value is, but I can tell you they matter to Him enough that He bottles them. Tears come in all kinds of setting people cry when they are sad, mad and even happy. It doesn't matter what kind they are He has them in bottle. He writes about them too.
The next time you begin to worry about something, remember He already has it written down. He knows what is going to happen. If you start cry remember, He's got bottle and for some reason He is saving those tears, He's adding them to His collection. They are important to Him.
God spent time creating everything. I'm pretty sure, He had it all planned out before hand. He took the time to count the stars. God knows how many stars are in the sky. Stop and think about that for a second. God can tell you how many stars probably just as quickly as a teacher can tell you how many students are in her class. This is a huge number and God knows it, most likely off the top of his head too. Now look at the rest of that verse: he gives to all of them their names. As He put them in their place he gave them a name. Other version says he calls them by name. Not only did He name, He remembers them and uses them. Just like a teacher who can tell you them name of all her students with very little thought, God can point to star and tell you its name. He took time to name the stars, this is something that seems unimportant. I can't think of a reason why the stars would even name the stars, but it was important to Him and He did it. What else has taken the time to invest in? What else was so important to Him that spent that much time on it? Try you and your life. God cares about the details.
You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle--are they not in Your book? Psalm 56:8 (AMP)
He is the details. He even took the time to write them down. What you are doing and where you are going is so important that He took the time to write them down. Just like the stars, He took the time to count and record the events in your life. Nothing that you do is meaningless. People don't write down things that don't have purpose. You are so important to God that He took the time to count and record your events. It's funny, we don't even take the time to record our wanderings, yet God already has. It's in His book, I would even guess that He reads this book. You are so important to Him that he collects your tears and then writes about them. His tears matter to you. People only take the time to collect things that they think has value. Your tears have value to Him. I'm not sure what that value is, but I can tell you they matter to Him enough that He bottles them. Tears come in all kinds of setting people cry when they are sad, mad and even happy. It doesn't matter what kind they are He has them in bottle. He writes about them too.
The next time you begin to worry about something, remember He already has it written down. He knows what is going to happen. If you start cry remember, He's got bottle and for some reason He is saving those tears, He's adding them to His collection. They are important to Him.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
There's a reason why it hurts
I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit He cuts away; and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you. Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. John 15:1-4 (AMP)
It seems that most often when this passages is brought up, they talk about the bearing fruit. There's another aspect in these verses. It's pruning. God prunes us sometimes. But what is pruning? Pruning is something that is done to help make plants healthier, produce fruit and helps that plant grow in a controlled form. When a gardener prunes a plant he doesn't do it all they time. In the very beginning, there is no pruning done, to help the plant grow strong roots. It's done during seasons. Normally in a season when the plant isn't growing. In the beginning the pruning is done to help the plant grow fruit. If a vine has several branches it will have trouble producing good fruit, so it is trimmed down to only a few branches. After that it is pruned to maintain the good fruit.
God does the same thing to us. In the beginning He doesn't do any pruning, so that we can grow strong in His word. He wants you to have our roots firmly planted in Him. As we grow, that's when the pruning starts. First God starts pruning us so that we can be healthier in Him. We start to understand the need for changes in our life. We try and reflect God's character more and more. He then starts to produce so that we can bear fruit. We need to bear the fruit of the spirit. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) After we start to bear these fruits God will prunes to keep our growth and fruit produce under control.
Pruning looks like different things. God will send us through trails and hard times to help us. God will allow the devil to tempt you in order to prune you. Pruning doesn't have a standard way of being done. Each person is different and God prunes according to how He wants to use you. Sometimes it hurts. Pruning can be very painful. One thing to bear in mind is that happen in seasons. You may feel awesome and like there is much growth going on. Your walk with God maybe amazing and you may be doing a lot. Then it changes. Life may get hard. Just remember maybe God is pruning for great and bigger things.
Some pruning is cutting things. There maybe habits that are unhealthy or produce bad fruit. In time, God will prune these away. You may have a person in your life that needs to be pruned. People that have negative effects in life need to be pruned away. I'm not saying avoid people. Sometimes spending time with Negative Nancy begins to rub off on you. Maybe spending time with these people one on one isn't a good idea. Sometimes even responsibilities need to be pruned. It's ok to say no. If you are doing something and it's taking away time from that something that is good in your life, like God, or your family. Do you really need to be doing it? Everybody has some kind of fluff that could be pruned away too.
Don't be scared of getting pruned. If you feel like God is pruning, think about what is being cut away and what fruit it might help you produce. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, they all help you reflect God, they all help you be more Christ like. Reflect on what's happening and try to gain some understanding of what God is doing. You don't enjoy fruit that is bad, bitter, and sour. Do you want to produce rotten, ugly, sour fruit or would you like to produce good, beautiful, sweet fruit? After God puts down the shears, He takes care of the plant giving it all the things a plant needs to grow.
Sure, it hurts, it's painful, but when something is being cut away doesn't it hurt? But in the end you'll be better.
It seems that most often when this passages is brought up, they talk about the bearing fruit. There's another aspect in these verses. It's pruning. God prunes us sometimes. But what is pruning? Pruning is something that is done to help make plants healthier, produce fruit and helps that plant grow in a controlled form. When a gardener prunes a plant he doesn't do it all they time. In the very beginning, there is no pruning done, to help the plant grow strong roots. It's done during seasons. Normally in a season when the plant isn't growing. In the beginning the pruning is done to help the plant grow fruit. If a vine has several branches it will have trouble producing good fruit, so it is trimmed down to only a few branches. After that it is pruned to maintain the good fruit.
God does the same thing to us. In the beginning He doesn't do any pruning, so that we can grow strong in His word. He wants you to have our roots firmly planted in Him. As we grow, that's when the pruning starts. First God starts pruning us so that we can be healthier in Him. We start to understand the need for changes in our life. We try and reflect God's character more and more. He then starts to produce so that we can bear fruit. We need to bear the fruit of the spirit. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) After we start to bear these fruits God will prunes to keep our growth and fruit produce under control.
Pruning looks like different things. God will send us through trails and hard times to help us. God will allow the devil to tempt you in order to prune you. Pruning doesn't have a standard way of being done. Each person is different and God prunes according to how He wants to use you. Sometimes it hurts. Pruning can be very painful. One thing to bear in mind is that happen in seasons. You may feel awesome and like there is much growth going on. Your walk with God maybe amazing and you may be doing a lot. Then it changes. Life may get hard. Just remember maybe God is pruning for great and bigger things.
Some pruning is cutting things. There maybe habits that are unhealthy or produce bad fruit. In time, God will prune these away. You may have a person in your life that needs to be pruned. People that have negative effects in life need to be pruned away. I'm not saying avoid people. Sometimes spending time with Negative Nancy begins to rub off on you. Maybe spending time with these people one on one isn't a good idea. Sometimes even responsibilities need to be pruned. It's ok to say no. If you are doing something and it's taking away time from that something that is good in your life, like God, or your family. Do you really need to be doing it? Everybody has some kind of fluff that could be pruned away too.
Don't be scared of getting pruned. If you feel like God is pruning, think about what is being cut away and what fruit it might help you produce. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, they all help you reflect God, they all help you be more Christ like. Reflect on what's happening and try to gain some understanding of what God is doing. You don't enjoy fruit that is bad, bitter, and sour. Do you want to produce rotten, ugly, sour fruit or would you like to produce good, beautiful, sweet fruit? After God puts down the shears, He takes care of the plant giving it all the things a plant needs to grow.
Sure, it hurts, it's painful, but when something is being cut away doesn't it hurt? But in the end you'll be better.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Something that is impossible
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)
Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? Psalm 139:7 (MSG)
It just isn't possible to run away from God. There are times in your life that you may want to run away from Him, but you can't. He'll follow you and guide you and help you. He delights in watching over you.
Life may get hard. You get upset or disappointed, or even frustrated with life and God. You can't run from Him. Jonah ran from God. The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV) Jonah didn't like what God told him to do, so Jonah ran away from the Lord. It did him no good. God sent a storm. Jonah was thrown over board, eaten by fish. Only to end up on where God had told him to go.
It's doesn't matter what is going on in your life you can't run from God. I've tried it. I was frustrated with God, nothing seemed to be working out to me. I was very mad at God. So I packed my bags, I got on a plane and flew to Korea. Thinking the whole time I was running away from. I ran away from God so hard and so fast, that I ended up in His arm. Even though I thought I was running away, God was really guiding back to Him. In that time of running, I grew as a person, and in my relationship God by leaps and bounds. It's so amazing that even though I was trying to get away, God wouldn't let me.
That's the great thing about God. Once you have asked Him into life, He doesn't walk away. He doesn't leave you. He will guide you and be with until the end. If you have ran away and it feels like you are lost and He isn't there. It's ok. Start looking for Him, call out to Him. Jonah cried out God and God had the fish vomit. God will take you back. You mean the world to Him. He gave up his place in heaven so that you could have spot. He never took away even when you started. Just remember He'll guide you. He's already forgiven you for running away, just run back.
Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? Psalm 139:7 (MSG)
It just isn't possible to run away from God. There are times in your life that you may want to run away from Him, but you can't. He'll follow you and guide you and help you. He delights in watching over you.
Life may get hard. You get upset or disappointed, or even frustrated with life and God. You can't run from Him. Jonah ran from God. The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV) Jonah didn't like what God told him to do, so Jonah ran away from the Lord. It did him no good. God sent a storm. Jonah was thrown over board, eaten by fish. Only to end up on where God had told him to go.
It's doesn't matter what is going on in your life you can't run from God. I've tried it. I was frustrated with God, nothing seemed to be working out to me. I was very mad at God. So I packed my bags, I got on a plane and flew to Korea. Thinking the whole time I was running away from. I ran away from God so hard and so fast, that I ended up in His arm. Even though I thought I was running away, God was really guiding back to Him. In that time of running, I grew as a person, and in my relationship God by leaps and bounds. It's so amazing that even though I was trying to get away, God wouldn't let me.
That's the great thing about God. Once you have asked Him into life, He doesn't walk away. He doesn't leave you. He will guide you and be with until the end. If you have ran away and it feels like you are lost and He isn't there. It's ok. Start looking for Him, call out to Him. Jonah cried out God and God had the fish vomit. God will take you back. You mean the world to Him. He gave up his place in heaven so that you could have spot. He never took away even when you started. Just remember He'll guide you. He's already forgiven you for running away, just run back.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
2010 done and over with.
For those of you who didn't get our Christmas letter here it is.
In January, James got to visit Michelle. While on that visit James and Michelle introduced each other to their families. James also proposed to Michelle on beach in California. Shortly after that James returned to Fort Rucker. Michelle stayed in Phoenix.
In February, James got promoted to the rank of Sergeant and because of this promotion was required to go to Warrior Leader Course or WLC at Fort Stewart, GA. He also reenlisted for six more years pushing his Estimated Time of Separation or ETS out to 2016. Michelle went on the Tapestry retreat to Prescott, AZ. Jill Rhodes was the speaker and Michelle was blessed by Jill speaking about God being our refuge.
In March, the lovely Mary Beth had her wedding to Ben. Michelle flew out to Fort Rucker just before the wedding. James and Michelle then drove up to Fort Belvoir, VA to attend it. James played for the entrance of the bride and the recessional. After returning from that, Michelle then made her way out to San Diego, CA and spent two weeks working Project Barnabas for Amor Ministries. One of the groups Michelle worked with was Yuba City which was the group James went with during high school.
In April and May, nothing exciting happened.
In June, Michelle flew out to Fort Rucker to visit James for his birthday and James got to show off his new Eclipse trumpet that he bought with part of his reenlistment bonus.
In July, Michelle, Kate, Kari, and Angela drove up to Marysville, while James flew into San Francisco. James and Michelle went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Michelle got swim with dolphins and James wished he had swum with the dolphins. James and Michelle had their wedding. Then James, Michelle, Kate, Kari, and Angela returned to Phoenix where they had a reception at Royal Palms Baptist Church for Michelle’s friends and family who couldn’t make it to the wedding. Michelle and James then drove to Fort Rucker across the south…..in the summer……without air conditioning.
In August, Michelle’s things from Phoenix arrived and she spent several days unpacking and wondering where a box was when all the stuff was here already. James and Michelle found a church home at a small church in Daleville, Daleville Baptist Church.
In September, Michelle needed a minor outpatient surgery, and everything went well. One of the other band wives started to teach a fitness class at church in Enterprise and needed someone to do childcare. She asked Michelle and that started a job for Michelle. It has grown into a three day week for a couple of hours, and every now again it adds another day.
In October, James got word of getting orders for Alaska. Michelle looked into becoming certified in AK. She signed up to take the Praxis I all three reading, writing and math. However, she only passed the math. James and Michelle helped out at 5th quarter, which is a ministry of DBC. It gives the students of Daleville grades 7 thru 12 somewhere to go after the football games. This opened the door to them helping out with the youth group. So now Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings are spent in the Basement with the youth.
In November, Michelle tried the Praxis I reading again and was successful. Michelle also decided it time to do something about the pain in her hip and started physical therapy for it again. This time around seems to be a little more successful. James and Michelle spent Thanksgiving with 98th army band. Also we received orders for Alaska, however, still needed to receive the amendments to the orders because James got accepted into Advanced Leaders Course or ALC. We no longer share ownership of the Mazda with the bank.
The first two weeks of December were a very busy time of the year for James. Many concerts and parades were scheduled for the band. One concert in Ozark, one concert on post and one concert in Panama City, FL. The second half of December looks to be very relaxing with much time spent with each other. As the year winds down we both realize how blessed we both have been and sincerely hope that 2011 is half as wonderful as 2010 has been.
Just so you have an idea what next year has in store for us. James will spend a little less than 2 months in Virginia Beach at the US Army School of Music for ALC. Michelle will look for a job as teacher in Alaska for the 2011-2012 school year. We are hoping it is a rural school because the Alaskan government will then supply a house at no cost. We will be moving to Alaska in summer.
In January, James got to visit Michelle. While on that visit James and Michelle introduced each other to their families. James also proposed to Michelle on beach in California. Shortly after that James returned to Fort Rucker. Michelle stayed in Phoenix.
In February, James got promoted to the rank of Sergeant and because of this promotion was required to go to Warrior Leader Course or WLC at Fort Stewart, GA. He also reenlisted for six more years pushing his Estimated Time of Separation or ETS out to 2016. Michelle went on the Tapestry retreat to Prescott, AZ. Jill Rhodes was the speaker and Michelle was blessed by Jill speaking about God being our refuge.
In March, the lovely Mary Beth had her wedding to Ben. Michelle flew out to Fort Rucker just before the wedding. James and Michelle then drove up to Fort Belvoir, VA to attend it. James played for the entrance of the bride and the recessional. After returning from that, Michelle then made her way out to San Diego, CA and spent two weeks working Project Barnabas for Amor Ministries. One of the groups Michelle worked with was Yuba City which was the group James went with during high school.
In April and May, nothing exciting happened.
In June, Michelle flew out to Fort Rucker to visit James for his birthday and James got to show off his new Eclipse trumpet that he bought with part of his reenlistment bonus.
In July, Michelle, Kate, Kari, and Angela drove up to Marysville, while James flew into San Francisco. James and Michelle went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Michelle got swim with dolphins and James wished he had swum with the dolphins. James and Michelle had their wedding. Then James, Michelle, Kate, Kari, and Angela returned to Phoenix where they had a reception at Royal Palms Baptist Church for Michelle’s friends and family who couldn’t make it to the wedding. Michelle and James then drove to Fort Rucker across the south…..in the summer……without air conditioning.
In August, Michelle’s things from Phoenix arrived and she spent several days unpacking and wondering where a box was when all the stuff was here already. James and Michelle found a church home at a small church in Daleville, Daleville Baptist Church.
In September, Michelle needed a minor outpatient surgery, and everything went well. One of the other band wives started to teach a fitness class at church in Enterprise and needed someone to do childcare. She asked Michelle and that started a job for Michelle. It has grown into a three day week for a couple of hours, and every now again it adds another day.
In October, James got word of getting orders for Alaska. Michelle looked into becoming certified in AK. She signed up to take the Praxis I all three reading, writing and math. However, she only passed the math. James and Michelle helped out at 5th quarter, which is a ministry of DBC. It gives the students of Daleville grades 7 thru 12 somewhere to go after the football games. This opened the door to them helping out with the youth group. So now Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings are spent in the Basement with the youth.
In November, Michelle tried the Praxis I reading again and was successful. Michelle also decided it time to do something about the pain in her hip and started physical therapy for it again. This time around seems to be a little more successful. James and Michelle spent Thanksgiving with 98th army band. Also we received orders for Alaska, however, still needed to receive the amendments to the orders because James got accepted into Advanced Leaders Course or ALC. We no longer share ownership of the Mazda with the bank.
The first two weeks of December were a very busy time of the year for James. Many concerts and parades were scheduled for the band. One concert in Ozark, one concert on post and one concert in Panama City, FL. The second half of December looks to be very relaxing with much time spent with each other. As the year winds down we both realize how blessed we both have been and sincerely hope that 2011 is half as wonderful as 2010 has been.
Just so you have an idea what next year has in store for us. James will spend a little less than 2 months in Virginia Beach at the US Army School of Music for ALC. Michelle will look for a job as teacher in Alaska for the 2011-2012 school year. We are hoping it is a rural school because the Alaskan government will then supply a house at no cost. We will be moving to Alaska in summer.
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