10...9...8...7...

Well, the end is near. Officially 7 more days and then DADDY COMES HOME! I can't begin to say how excited I am. Unfortunately, my words will be short as our computer is on the fritz and I'm typing this remotely.

Thank you everyone who has held us in your prayers over the last six months. It is only by God's grace that we've come through it all with joy in our hearts and a fondness for the amazing grace and mercy of our Lord. You all rock!

Daddy, we love you. We can't wait to see your face again...and hear your voice...and hold you tight...and wrestle you to the ground..and make pizza together...

Come home soon. We'll be waiting for you.

Furniture, Herpes?!, and God...Oh My!!

So this last week was a whirlwind of activity, not all of it favorable...

I found this amazing deal on some furniture that we really didn't 'need', but I surely wanted. The only problem, was that we already had furniture in these particular parts of the house, and we would either have to sell what we had or store one of the sets. With also needing a U-Haul to pick it up and a babysitter to stay with the children so I could go alone, the whole thing turned into a bigger deal than anticipated. God had it in His hands the whole time...

Mid-week Sarah started complaining of pain using the potty. It didn't stop and by Friday afternoon we were in the pediatric clinic only to find out that they thought it was Herpes. What???!! And how in the world?? (We could not even begin to imagine) Since we had to race to see a pediatric specialist Saturday morning, the whole furniture deal was canceled. Again, God in control...

To say the least, Friday night was a bit stressful. I couldn't even begin to imagine the horrible possibilities of why Sarah may have contracted Herpes. And I couldn't even talk to Jeff about it. But my heart was kept in not-quite-perfect peace as we awaited Saturday's appointment. The concern of friends near and far cried out, "I love you, Tracey!" And I couldn't help but recall the many times in my Bible studies this week that God was reminding me of the very same thing. Really, Lord? A canceled furniture outing, a bout of possible Herpes, and all of this to say, "I love you"? You sure go out of your way to make a point.

I don't know about you, but it is so much easier for me to believe that God can love everyone, no make that ANYone else other than me. This is my struggle (along with so many other ones). Does God really know what He's getting when He chooses to love me? And How long will I continue to doubt His love for me? It is at these times that all I can do is cling to what I know is true:

"I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving-kindness." - Jer 31:3

And God, being the gracious, merciful, and patient One woke me up with this song:

A deep deep flood, and Ocean flows from You
Of deep deep love, yeah it's filling up the room
Your innocent blood has washed my guilty life
In Your presence God I'm completely satified

- Divine Romance by Phil Wickham, from the Album: Phil Wickham

So here's the call. It's painfully obvious by now that I love music. So in an effort to remind myself daily of the love my Lord has for me, I've started to compile a list of songs that sing boldly of the love of Christ. I would LOVE to hear from you! If you have a favorite song that really sings of the love that God has for his children, please send it on to me! I'll compile the list and be sure to pass it along in a future post. And NO, Sarah does NOT have Herpes. It's just a strange dermatitis. Praise God!

Until then, here's the beginning of my list:

David Crowder Band - Everything Glorious
From the album Remedy

Third Day - Love Song
From the album Offerings

Tenth Avenue North - By Your Side
From the album Over And Underneath

Phil Wickham - Divine Romance
From the album Phil Wickham

Third Day - Your Love Oh Lord
From the album Offerings

Chris Tomlin - How Can I Keep From Singing
From the album See the Morning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

God is so good.
God is so good.
God is so good.
He's so good to me!

This is the little child's song I was humming, NO, make that singing out loud(!) on my way to the commissary (grocery store for all of you non-military types) today. When ever I have a doubt that my God, "loves me with an everlasting love; and has drawn me with loving-kindness" (Jer 31:3), then all I have to do is remember today!

My car didn't start. It happened yesterday too, but we thought we got it fixed. This morning, all four children piled into the car to go to Bible Study, and....nothing. It was dead...again. Then God's love came pouring forth. Not only did a VERY KIND Mr. Cressman come to jump our car again, he followed me to the chapel, attempted to charge the battery while we were inside, failed, bought us a new battery, installed it, and parked our vehicle back exactly where it was in the parking lot when I left him to charge the battery. And, of course (!), he won't let me pay him a lick for it!

And that's not all!! Today's shower of blessings continue. Let me count the ways...

• My good friend, Brooke was at my house to meet me and take care of my children while I ran (in my working car) to the commissary, sans children!
• I met and hired a house cleaner today for $15/hour! Mui Bueno!
• A contact at the Foundation for American Christian Education (the org. who supplies most of our homeschooling material) offered, today, to come out to Hawaii to run a personal training seminar!!
• Did I mention my car was running?

God is so good.