Adventures in the Lord

Hooray! My laptop is fixed! New hard-drive, so I do not have any of my old pictures or anything, but it is nice to start fresh. So, just a quick update - I have unpacked all our boxes. The house is really starting to take shape.  My new friend Aubrie stopped by and said that it feels so cozy and welcoming already! (she does not realized what a compliment that is).  I am now in search of the perfect rug to pull the living room together. Earlier this week was a bit rough emotionally. I got to talk to Nick this past weekend, but found myself very discouraged afterward. Someone's voice has never brought such joy to my heart than to hear his. Discouraged at our situation and just not feeling excited about being separated by 3,000+ miles. Today I had to just remind myself and say it out loud "Lord, I surrender my plans to you. I trust that Your plans are better than mine". Found so much comfort by reading Psalm 23. This Psalm now has so much more meaning to me than it ever did ...

Really miss seeing the faces of those that I love and that know me. Had a busy weekend helping a friend with her two-year old's birthday party :) Have not had much time to process or think or really read, but hope to collect my thoughts and post soon. The other thing - my laptop where I upload all my pictures is a little broken :-/ so I hope to get that fixed soon so I can put up more pictures. ... I really miss my husband.

As I sit here this morning drinking my tea while working from the kitchen table, I just really get excited to make this house our home. For it to be ours , with our creative touch, with what the Lord has given us, for peace to always reign.  It is really neat because Nick and I have been praying that our house with be one filled with peace , a house of prayer , a place where you can escape the worries of the world and just rest . I know that prayer changes things! and that the Lord loves to bless us with peace when we ask Him.   I would love to hear some of the ways that you make your house a home .   Practical ways that you make your space one that is treasured and yearned for ("I can't wait to be home").  Would love to hear your prayers for your "space" and any practical advice. Please comment on this with your thoughts :) Whether a house, an apartment, a room, or a certain nook that you treasure - I would love to hear about it!  I really do treasure all your...

So! This weekend was pretty full with unpacking all our fun things. It is so incredible how loved I have felt the last few days; having a couch to cuddle up on, real plates and real utensils to eat with, candles galore, a kitchen table and chairs!! (not to mention all the appliances that I got and am dying to use!) I just love being home now! Here is me with my new amazing tea pot standing in one of the first open boxes. Here are our cups, plates and mugs sitting on our kitchen table - they are just beautiful! Here was my first dinner on our real plates!   Sunday I went to church and sat by the other two Coastie wives whose husbands are on the Jarvis. I came home and unpacked a few more boxes, then decided to end the afternoon with a run by the beach + jump in the water and layout session :) As the empty boxes get pushed closer to the door, I will take some more shots of the house and how it is coming together!

All of our belongings arrived this morning! We have it all! Big truck, three huge crates and a team of 5 showed up on the doorstep at 8:45 AM this morning. They must have thought I was weird - as each item came through the door I got the hugest smile! Like "oh, there is the table from the Hargroves...and there are the couches...boxes of wedding gifts I have not opened yet!..." you get the idea. Here is our bedroom before... and after! Living room before... And after! Kitchen before... And After!! The movers only took one hour to get it all into the house. The first thing I did when they left? Sat down on the couch in the living room. I just remember sitting on them at the parent-Dellar's house and all the fun times I have had at their house; the BBQs, the prayer nights and Bible studies, cuddling up on them when Nick was gone (in Kona, Cape May, Virginia, Honolulu). And NOW I am sitting on them in our house here! I just couldn't believe it. THEN the thought entered my...

This past weekend was very encouraging.  Saturday I attended a Progressive Dinner planned by the woman at our church One Love.  During a Progressive Dinner, you attend a different house for each part of the meal; appetizers at one house, main course at another, and dessert at another. I would love to plan one at our house! It was a great way to meet woman and hear their stories and where they are in their life. It was encouraging because you hear how these ladies found the Lord, how they started coming to this church and what is going on in their lives.  One woman said she has been clean of smoking for 7 weeks and needs prayer for her husband who does not know Jesus, another has lived here for 6 months as she is house sitting for a friend who is away on deployment, and then another couple who have been called to the church who moved here in May.  Then on Sunday, I had two woman meet me at church, both whose husbands are on the Jarvis as well!  It was really fun having two woman to sit ...

remember when we took this?!? it makes me laugh so hard! we sent it to M to cheer here up that night :) And this one always makes me laugh I LOVE YOU!!

I was driving down our street and noticed this huge navy ship moving by! By the time I parked, grabbed my camera and took the picture, it was long gone, but I wanted to show you anyway. Large ships like this (400+ feet long) come in and out of our little channel quite often. The Navy Magazine is where they keep all the ammunition, so all the boats have to come and fill up.  Just a quick update. I have been so encouraged the last few days - I got to talk to Nick! He called when the boat arrived into their newest port and I have been able to hear his voice. It is so amazing to hear the voice of someone you love so dearly!! The Lord has really been blessing him with cool community, so thank you for praying!! They are going to be traveling again this week, so you can continue to pray for his health (no sea-sickness!) and for more Adventures for him while they travel! (i love you babe!!!)

The Saturday before Nick left, he took me to the garden store to get me a little something. We stopped by there a few days before and I got really excited to start a little herb garden. We thought we would start with mint! It is so fun to have some color in the kitchen! While we were looking around, Nick spotted a Tuberose plant! They are my Favorite and one of Nick's favorite smells, so we had to get one. It will reside in "the office" to bring some color and sweet smells. I got so excited that I have two little guys to water and take care of....I get so excited over the simple things. This last picture is for Dale :) I was sitting at the beach by our house and saw this large , thick piece of wood floating in and out on the waves...I knew I had to take this picture and tell Dale this will be my surf board until Nick's gets here!

Me and my new friend Christine decided to hang out for the fourth. Christine's husband is on the Jarvis too, so we have a lot to talk about with the guys underway.  0900 North Shore - Sunset Beach. Laid out, jumped in the water, and ate some snacks.  1000 - We lay there and start looking around...we realize there are lots of people with their long boards and paddles coming out of the wood work. We did not really know what was going on. 1030 - Found ourself in the middle of the staging area for a paddle board race! With a loud blast of the big blow-horn,  50-100 people headed to the water with their paddles in tow.  It was like an exodus of some kind!  I love this picture...see that little pink chair on front of his board? That is a kid-size lawn chair that is screwed down and a little girl sitting in it, along for the ride! 1230 - Deciding we did not want to burn to a crisp,  we headed back to her house.  1600 - We leave to go to Schofield Army base, where they were having a huge l...

So blessed to have spent time with Meeh last Thursday. The Lord is showing me how Wonderful and Vital fellowship is! I felt so poured into and refueled by the Lord in just sharing and talking and listening to her. We had a really fun day together. Had some breakfast - jumped in the car with bathing suits on and stopped at Coffee Bean for a little cold kick. We then realized we did not bring beach towels and decided to head for the Kmart on our way. We then cruised to Waimea Bay (one of my favorites). After getting  a little sun kissed we headed back to Haleiwa, where we pulled over and got an ice cold coconut and some fresh mango! you know that Nick is my husband...I had a pocket knife in the car ;) Then we cruised around, driving with the beautiful scenery and amazing conversation!  It is such an encouraging feeling when you are united in heart and mind - I feel that way with M. Thank you Lord for the amazing friendship you have given us! and thank you for that wonderful time with You...