Finally together again!

Here's a look at our time together in Texas.

Almost there...!

Last time together as a family.

   The last few weeks have passed quite quickly for me.  I have had days filled with pure joy, and there have been days laced with sadness, frustrations, and loneliness.  In my weak moments, I have wallowed in my sadness, and let the feelings of "poor me" wash over me.  I have not always been a good mom to my kids, and I haven't always been cheerful and optimistic during this season. 

  One thing that I can say for certain, God has always been faithful to us, even when I have not been faithful to Him.  I gained so much comfort from this passage a few nights ago when I was really missing G, and feeling weak.

"My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmaities, 

that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

~II Corinthians 12:9

  In my Bible, the note on this verse says:

"Human weakness provides the ideal opportunity
for the display of Divine Power."

  I love that!  I don't think it could be worded any better.  I have seen firsthand, time and time again, that Christ has given me the strength that I needed to carry on for another day.  He has been blessing me with enough patience to deal with 3 kids for each day, and He has been blessing me with the strength I needed to spend each day as a single parent.  His "grace is sufficient, and His strength has been made perfect through (my) weakness."  I humbly praise the Lord for His faithfulness to us.  I could not have made it through 1 day, except the LORD gave me what I needed.  "His mercies are new every morning.  Great is Thy Faithfulness!"  Slowly, He has been teaching me that I need to continue to rely on Him for everything.  My strength and wisdom is weak and unreliable, but He is my God that "Great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend." (Job 37:5b)  I know He will lead me, and I know that He will continue to give me what I stand in need of to make it through this earthly journey day by day.

  The  kids have been giving me immense happiness, and numerous smiles.  I finally feel like I'm used to being the only parent, and that they are respecting me like I'm the only parent.  I don't get worked up as quickly as I had a few weeks ago.

The kids wearing "dresses."  Check out C and R's matching bumps on there heads...:S

I love...

...watching C's motherly ways when she pushes my hair back from my face (when I'm crying) and says, "Mommy, ok?"

...hearing the girls talk to each other over the baby monitor when they're supposed to be sleeping.

...the excitement on C's face when she was able to talk to G on the phone, and then very excitedly told her bus driver that she, "Talked to Daddy!"

...R asking me every time we're in the van, "Share Mommy's candy, please."  (It's much harder to say no when he is so polite... :S)

...hearing Miss J count the steps as she walks down them "1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10!"

...hearing the kids repeat what G says when they watch the videos he made for them before he left.

...sharing bed time prayer with the kids when they always ask to, "Pray for Daddy!"  So we say, "Dear Lord, Please be with Daddy.  Keep Daddy safe, keep Daddy strong.  Bring Daddy home, when he's all done.  We love you, Daddy! Amen!"

...getting letters from G.

...being able to hear G's voice during our short, but precious phone calls.

...knowing that this is the week that I will be in G's arms again! :)

Kids watching Dad's videos that we made before he left.  They love them, and ask for them several times a day. :)

  Yay!!  I am leaving tomorrow for Texas, and I am beyond excited to see G again!!  It has been a long and lonely 8 weeks, but at least we're almost done with the hardest part of training. 

Our last kiss...8 weeks ago from today. :(