Bio Part III November 16, 2008

Decided I would continue the saga of my life. Once we were at Castle AFB, we lived in Merced, CA for a short time then moved to Atwater which was much closer to the base. We were married by the justice of the peace on the 16th of December. This is the funny part of our marriage. Oh and yes, I wanted a full blown wedding, but it was not possible, as I was nine months pregnant, and my family was all back in Minnesota and couldn’t afford to do anything.

Anyway, back to the marriage. For one, I was nine months pregnant and had a belly that looked like someone had shoved a basketball in me. I wasn’t heavy then either. Second, there was a couple married before us. The woman was sitting in there when her husband to be was brought in; they were married; kissed, and he went back to jail. We looked at each other and said, “We’re doomed.” Well, we did have our struggles, but have been married 27 years!!!!!

Our son was born December 24th! He was a blessing to us. I thought how special. I always believed and still do that God had given us this child to carry out a special task. Some day he will discover what it is that the Lord has planned for him and will carry it out. I’ll tell you, have a child for Christmas is a wonderful experience. Our nurse wasn’t happy though. The midwife delivering him was wonderful! Jas was a very easy birth as far as everything happening fast. This is a story in itself. A moment I’ll never forget.

We had gone to the hospital the 23rd. I thought sure I was in labor. I was only a centimeter dilated and they sent me home. The next day, hubby calls to see how I’m doing (he worked 24 on 24 off shifts in the Fire Department). As we were talking my water broke, and I mean broke. I was sitting in a pool of water and was like, “Oh my gosh, I think my water just broke!” Hubby asks if I’m sure. I’m like, “Yes, I’m soaked, it’s time!”

I’m sitting on the toilet when he gets home in record time I might add and he says lets go. Well dear hubby, I have no pants on. So he goes into the bedroom, comes back and says he can’t find any pants for me. HUH? He says, “Let’s go.” I started laughing and said, “Dear, I can’t go out like this, you have to calm down and find me some pants–labor pains hadn’t gotten too bad yet, so he did. He was so cute, bless his heart. I don’t know how, but I managed to stay calm.

Then the labor pains hit! Oh my gosh, did they hit. Hubby became even more excited. Tee hee. We managed to get to the car; he’s almost hyperventilating–the man who always stays in control–(have to tease him about this one)–and takes off. I’m on him to take it easy on the bumps, as the labor was coming fast and hard. We make it to the hospital and I’m already 4 centimeters. They get me all hooked up and realize my labor is off the charts. Duh! You don’t have to tell me that. Poor hubby is lucky to have a hand left. We went to La Maze classes, but guess what, that pretty much went out the door. I tried hard to breath, which I did for the most part, but at the peak of each contraction had a hard time. It got to the point where hubby would not give me his hand. Hmmm, can’t imagine why.

Anyway; my water broke at one; by 4:24 pm our son was born. Talk about going fast. Wow! A couple of pushes and there he was. Birth is hard. Ha! I thought wow, this is great! Yeah the labor was rough, but it didn’t last all that long and there he was, our beautiful bouncing baby boy! Thank you Lord for our beautiful gift!

Oh, I left out a step. With being pregnant, hubby and I weren’t allowed to be on the same shift, or one of us work 8 hours, so we decided it was time for me to get out of the service. Women were still allowed to do that at that time. We figured it wasn’t worth my staying in when we would only see one another 2 days every two weeks. This certainly was no way to raise a family. I knew I was going to miss it, but on the same token would enjoy just being a mommy. Dec. 1st I left the A.F. This gave me time to prepare for our bundle of joy too.

May of 1982 we left for Grand Forks AFB, N.D. Woo hoo, what an assignment that was. We had a wonderful F.D. family. The housing was great. There was a nice yard and neighborhood for the kids. Oops, did I say kids? Yup. I got pregnant again while on the way to our next station. Our daughter AJ (nickname) was born March 24th, 1983. So she became a Nodakian; another blessing in our lives. I’ll tell you, as a parent, I was one of the few lucky moms with great children that very seldom fussed and smiled a lot. They were such joys in our lives.

Our winters there, wow! One year we had to dig our way out the back door, literally. We lived in a 2 story with a basement. The drift was up to the second level. Our garages were drifted in as well. So we had this tunnel that we walked through to get to the garage. We had talked my middle sister into moving out there at that time too, and she had a hatchback car. Hee hee, poor girl, apparently the hatch hadn’t gotten closed all the way and was blown open. Her car was packed with snow. The little ones made out though. We bought a sled and they loved sliding down the big hill. Well, mound. I put in an ice-skating rink in the back yard at one point too. Oops, don’t try this at home, it kills the grass off. We had fun though!

We spent 6 years in Grand Forks. We never expected to leave there. It was nice as I was only 3 hours away from home. So we were able to make many trips to see my family. But then the orders came in. I wasn’t none to happy. Going to a foreign country. But then again, some of my ancestors were full blooded German, and dad was in the army over there and loved it there, so off we go. We went to see family first and took the kids to Disneyland and Sea World. We had a blast. Rick went alone to get us set up. I was left to clean the house and pack up and make the move alone with two litte ones!!!! Auuugggghhhh. All was going well until…AJ fell, bumped into someone and put a whole in her bottom lip. Not a litttle one mind you. She had to have 6 stiches. She was a little trooper. Then to top it off, the poor baby ended up with the flu. Thankfully our best friends let us stay with them until it was time to leave. I ended up hiring someone to finish the cleaning of the place. Talk about stressed out! I wasn’t sure what to pack. And of course, I’ve never been a light packer. Needless to say, we had a butt load of luggage to carry. Hubby had bought us new vehicle before leaving so the kids and I would have something dependable to drive out to Philadelphia.

The time comes, teary good byes, we head to my parents, spend a couple of days there, then to my mom’s parents and see my favorite Aunt who was in a nursing home. Took pictures of everyone. Then hubby’s oldest brother who had his family living in VA at the time flew out to help us drive out there and ship our car off. It was a beautiful drive, and the kids were amazing! We stayed in VA for a few days, then drove to DE to visit his sister and brother-in-law. Stayed there a couple of days, then we flew out of Philly to Germany. It was a 9 hour flight! Uggghhhh.

Okay, end it here. I’ll do more later. There will be two, possibly three more segments to bring us to current times.

 

Christmas Lights a New Perspective November 16, 2008

Just thought I’d share a thought about Christmas lights. This thought came to me last year as we were driving around looking at the various houses all lit up. I love listening to the squeals of the little ones. Omah! Look over there; oh wow that is neat; and on it goes. Yes, I admit, I love all the lights. But last year I looked at them in a different way. Here’s what I see now and it warms my heart and makes me thankful and excited for the holidays more than ever. When you see the lights aglow, they are lights celebrating Christ! Yes, this is what I see. It’s a way to Glorify the Lord for all the good He does. It’s a celebration of Jesus. It’s a way of saying Happy Birthday Jesus! We Love You and Thank You for all that You have done. I have been teaching the girls that now. Of course they don’t see it that way just yet, but I’m believing they will. And yes, we still do the, “look over there, oh look at those, wow, ew, ah…;)

So the next time you are out and about and see the beautiful display of lights, perhaps you too will have a different perspective on what they signify. I will admit; I used to think good grief, all those lights, must be ringing up their electric bill. (I know shame on me, but that was before coming back to the Lord). But now, I say, you go people! Shine those lights. Let Him see how much He means to us!

Great Message November 16, 2008

Tonight Pastor Ken’s son, Pastor Krist gave a great sermon. He talked about the book of Acts. The whole message made perfect sense. It is a lesson we can all learn from. I highly suggest listening to his message. You can go here to listen to or listen and watch. I will warn you, he has an extensive vocabulary. He is a very smart young man.

 

Pastor’s Ken and Connie and their family are great builders of the church. When they speak, you know the Lord is speaking through them. It’s a wonderful place to be. I love how we are a mission’s church, which is what Pastor Krist talked about needing to be. The lessons learnt have been wonderful. Learning how to come closer to God; who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are and how each has a purpose in our lives is amazing. I love being able to go home and put to use in our daily lives the tools we have been instructed to use properly.

 

All too often, we think that just going to church once a week is all that we need to do. I’ve received comments on how I spend too much time being involved. I just shake my head, and say no way! I know the Lord has placed it in my heart to be hospitable, a healer, and a giver. I mean what right do we have to complain when God gave his only begotten Son to die on the cross to save us from our sins? When Jesus endured so much pain and agony for us?  We should be a thankful people. We should be a grateful people. We should be a willing people. We should be a loving people.

 

When we leave that building, we should be carrying our anointing with us everywhere we go; pray daily, speak with a kind tongue, live by the Word. I try hard to live by this. I slip often. But you know, the best way I had it put to me about learning and trying is:

 

Learning the Lords way does not happen over night. Be patient. (I have to say, that had been my down fall for quite some time. I thought there was something wrong with me. I knew it was in His time, but thought that everything happened fast, that I wasn’t doing something right). Anyway; learning is like growing. We start out a baby learning to roll, then crawl, then walk; falling down often, and even as we become adults we still stumble. It’s the same with learning the way of the Lord. We need to take baby steps. It will come.

 

So if any of you are discourage, don’t be. Never give up on the Lord. Remember; He’s never given up on us. When God feels we are ready, He will give us what we need as we need it; nothing more, nothing less.

 

May God Bless you this weekend and carry you through the week.

One last thought; let’s be praying for the lost sheep, the prodigals; let’s be good servants of our Heavenly Father. Amen