Ladies' Advance

Well, I survived the ladies’ retreat. Or as Mrs. Appleby told us, ladies’ advance. It was a lot of fun, but also very tiring. I probably got about 3 hours sleep Friday night.

Mrs. Patti Appleby from FL and Mrs. Judy Andrews from MD were our speakers. They did a great job talking about the amazing race that we are in as Christians. They talked about amazing faith, amazing forgiveness, amazing freedom, amazing focus, and amazing finish. The lessons were based on Hebrews 12:1-4.

Amazing faith is needed because it took amazing faith for us to enter the race. We had to have faith in Jesus Christ and faith to believe that he died on the cross for our sins, was buried and rose again. Faith that his word is true and faith to take the step to ask Him to forgive us for sins and to come into our hearts. There have been and there will be hurdles (events), hindrances (people), and hurts (life) that will interfere with our race.

Amazing forgiveness is needed because Jesus first forgave us for our sins and second because we need to forgive other people for the problems and hurts that come into our lives. Forgiveness can be very difficult because we are human and it takes us awhile to get to that point especially when people have hurt us badly. We may never forget which is good because we may be able to use that time in our lives to help someone else in the future. But we need to forgive.

Amazing freedom is needed because when we are weighted down by burdens and sin, we can go to Jesus and He can take those burdens and sins and free us up from the weights that keep us from running more freely. Sometimes God calls upon us to get rid of things that may not be sin but cause us to stumble such as TV, shopping, reading material, computers or friends. These may take up too much time and energy that we need to run the race well.

Amazing focus is needed because we need to keep our eyes on Him. Looking back, down, left, or right can distract us and we may stumble. We need to always be looking forward and upward toward Him.

Amazing finish is needed because we need to finish well. We need to become like servants and serve those around us. Not for our own glory but for His. To do those jobs nobody ever sees and do them well.

Each area was important for us as Christian women to understand. The most important thing is to keep running the race and don’t stop. We have had veteran runners before us and we need to learn from them and then pass this information down to the younger women to encourage them and keep them in the race.

The workshop I did on marriage went pretty well. I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be. There were about 20 women at the workshop. I think that was a good number and not overwhelming. Mrs. Appleby and Mrs. Andrews were not too far away and they heard some of what I said and they were encouraging when we talked later on. I told them that they were the “A” speakers and I felt like a “B” speaker. I tried to watch them and learn as much as I could from them as they spoke. Overall, it was a very good weekend.

Workshop Ramblings

I have been working on a workshop I am going to do on marriage next weekend at a Ladies Retreat. I am calling the workshop Marriage: Staying on Course. The theme of the Ladies Retreat is Amazing Race and I thought the title of my workshop should be along that same line.

It isn’t like I don’t have nearly thirty years of marriage experience to work with, but when you stop and think about it, it is quite overwhelming to think about standing in front of a bunch of women and telling them how to stay on course when you know your marriage isn’t perfect. Not that anyone’s is.

I have been working on this for sometime and have several pages of notes. I have been reading articles online, going through the Bible and skimming marriage books. I have several ideas about the way in which I would like to go, but have yet to settle on a definite direction.

I am praying that whichever direction I choose, that there is someone there who needs to hear what I have to say. That is what is important and that is why I want to do a good job. That thought keeps me motivated to keep at it and not to be weary when it starts to feel like a daunting task.

I think back over the past thirty years and there are so many memories of fun times together with Keith and the kids, the highs and lows of traveling and moving with the Air Force, all of the people we have met that have touched our lives (hopefully we have touched them as well), and just the day to day aspects of married life and I realize I should be able to talk for days let alone a 45 minute workshop.

In other news....

Bek, Han and I all went to see baby Matthew on Tuesday. We have to have time for that you know. He is changing so much already. He seems longer too. I am not there all the time, but he seems to be a really content baby.

Anyway, I just wanted you all to know that I was busy and gearing up for next weekend and that is why I haven’t written for awhile.

Fifteen Years Ago and Today

No April Fools

Fifteen years ago today in Albuquerque, NM at 3:54 pm MST Hannah Joy was born. Keith & I always tried to play at least one joke on each other all the years before this. We were so busy that day that we didn’t even realize until the next day that we hadn’t played a joke on each other. I guess having a baby on April Fools Day was enough fun for one day.

People say that having a birthday on April Fools Day must be tough, but no one ever really made fun of Hannah over it. One woman we know that was born on April Fools Day had it rough growing up especially from her cousins who would give her things like a phone book for a gift. Relatives of one guy we know who was born on that day after several sisters thought his Mom & Dad were playing a joke on them when they told them that they had a boy.

Anyway, I can’t believe that my baby is fifteen years old already. She is already talking about getting her permit which you can’t do until 15 ½ in Ohio. She takes after her Mom in height, so I told her she had to get taller before she can drive. Do you think that will work?

Speaking of babies, while we are still basking in the glow of our new little grandson, we found out yesterday that our oldest daughter, Sarah and her husband are having our first granddaughter. We get one of each our first year in the grandparent business. Pretty good, huh? It was the day before April Fools and I asked her if it was a joke and she said no, of course. She was thrilled to find out that everything looked good and the baby appears to be healthy. Only 20 weeks to go!

Congratulations Donald & Sarah!

Happy 15th Birthday, Hannah!

We love you! Contrary to what you think, even though we have grandbabies, you will always be our baby.

L Is For The Way You Look At Me

MATTHEW

M is for Mommy who did an awesome job delivering you. (Daddy's awesome too.)
A is for how Adorable you are.
T is for all the Things that you will grow up to do.
T is for the Time we are looking forward to spending with you.
H is for He who created you and gave you to us as His gift.
E is for Everybody that loves you already.

W is for how Wonderful our life will be with you in it.

Matthew with Mommy & Daddy

Aunt Hannah, Grammy, Grampy, Aunt Beka & Matthew

Here I Am Mom & Dad

Waiting...

He Is Here!

Our 1 st grandbaby has arrived!

Matthew Keith

March 27, 2008

9 lbs. 5 oz.

22 "

12:57 p.m.

Proud Parents: Josh & Mary

Prouder Grandparents: Keith & Vicki

Moz & Pam

Matthew was born on his Great Grandma Trew's (my mom) birthday. Pictures coming soon.

He Is Risen

He is risen, indeed!

Today we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. As most of you know Jesus rose from the grave on the third day. Our pastor did a sermon on the third day today. Did you know that there are over 50 references in the Bible concerning the third day beginning in Genesis? Some interesting facts: The trees were made on the third day and Jesus hung on a tree. The thorn bushes were made on the third day and Jesus’ crown was made of thorns. Interesting, huh?

It was just Keith, Bek, Han and I for Easter dinner today. Sarah & Donald and Laura are out of state and Josh & Mary didn’t even come to church today because Mary was very sick yesterday.

Josh took Mary to the hospital yesterday because she kept getting sick. They kept her for a little while and gave her an IV and put a monitor on her to check for contractions, but she was not having any contractions. They went home after that and this morning she was feeling better. She only has 10 days to go until her due date. Pray that everything will go well.

Happy Easter!

14 Days To Go

We only have about 14 days until the baby should be here. Mary’s baby shower was last Saturday which also happened to be her 25th birthday. Happy Birthday, Mary! We had a good time at the shower and she received lots of goodies for the baby. If you want to see more about the shower and pictures you can go to her blog Buckeye Baby.

Sarah had her check up on Tuesday and was thrilled to find out that she didn’t gain much weight. Everything is going well and she will have an ultrasound on the 31st. They are hoping that the baby cooperates and that they will know what they are having that day. It will be exciting to find out what the next grandbaby is going to be. Today is also Sarah’s 24th birthday. Happy Birthday, Sarah!

The countdown continues...

Nationals

Laura’s basketball team took third place at Nationals. They had a good time and the weather was really nice too. Now she is back at school gearing up for softball season. That girl just never stops. She’s like the energizer bunny.

Here are a few pictures of one game and a video announcing the team. Laura is # 12 and the picture of the scoreboard shows Maranatha's team (Laura's team) on the left and the opposing team on the right. As you can see Laura had 9 points in that game. She had 11 in the first game.

Preggo Times Two

Here is a picture of the two preggo sisters-in-law. This picture was taken last weekend. Mary was almost 37 weeks and Sarah was almost 17 weeks.

Less Than 3 Weeks To Go!

I am a little late this week in updating. We are still counting down to the birth of our little grandson. We are less than 3 weeks away now. Even the girls are becoming anxious for the baby to be born.

Bek was sad over losing her tournament this weekend and she was talking to Grandma Carter on the phone and Grandma reminded her that the baby was going to be here soon and she said that cheered her up. Isn’t it funny what babies can do to one’s disposition and this one isn’t even here yet?

Keith, Bek, Han, Donald, Sarah and I all traveled to Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, KY to see Laura play in the National NCCAA II tournament yesterday. Her team won their first game. Donald and Sarah drove home after the game and the girls and I drove home today for Mary’s baby shower tomorrow. Keith stayed down there to watch today’s game at 8 pm against the number one seed and then they will have one more game tomorrow. He will bring Laura and her friend Natalie home tomorrow and then Laura and Natalie will head back to college on Sunday.


Lord willing, we will have Mary’s shower that was postponed after last week’s snow storm. It should be a fun time. Laura and Sarah were going to go last week and Bek and Hannah were not going. This week Bek and Han will go to the shower and Laura and Sarah won’t be able to come.

We are still counting down...

DID'S AND DIDN'TS

Donald and Sarah’s car broke down at 1 AM Thursday morning, so we DID drive 3 hours round trip to get them before the storm came. However, we DID get home before sunrise. :)

Bek and Han DIDN’T win their tournament. They lost 40-41 in OT. Total bummer. They came in second place.

We DID have a blizzard with about a foot of snow. Second most snow in this area since keeping records.

We DIDN’T have Mary’s baby shower because of the storm.
:(

Laura DID make it home safely from college the night of the blizzard or should I say morning as she didn’t arrive home until 3:30 AM Saturday morning. We waited up until about 2:00 AM.

Josh, Mary and friend Erica DID stay here instead of driving home the night of the blizzard.

Laura’s college basketball team DID spend Monday night. Twenty people sleeping in one house! Lots of chicken, macaroni & cheese, potatoes, corn, green beans, rolls, cake, pancakes, sausage, water, juice and milk and lost sleep later they left for Kentucky.

We DID lose way more than ONE hour of sleep this weekend.

Keith and the girls DID arrive safely home late Sunday afternoon after surviving 2 feet of snow in Erie, PA.

We DIDN’T have heart attacks when we saw the price of gas was $3.45 a gallon!

Four Weeks To Go

Well, we are getting closer to the arrival of our little grandson. I was talking to the girls about it today. We were trying to guess when this little fella will get here. I thought it would be neat for him to be born on April 1 even if it is Hannah's birthday. The reason I thought that would be neat is because Great Grandpa was born on the 31st of the month and then Grandpa to be was born on the 1st of the month and then Dad to be was born on the 31st of the month so it would be cool for the baby to be born on the 1st to keep the pattern going. I also thought the 31st would be neat because Dad and baby would be born on the same day of the month. Easter Sunday would be neat too because two sets of great grandparents were married on Easter Sunday.

Mary is having a baby shower at our church on Saturday. The girls and I were looking over the gifts that all of us are going to be giving to Mary, Josh and the baby. The girls will be in PA so they won't be able to come. There may be a surprise or two! No, Mary, no hints!:)


We are trying to get the house ready as Laura's college basketball team is planning on stopping here on their way to the NCCAA II National women's basketball tournament on Monday night. They took first place in the regionals. Way to go Crusaders! They will split between our house and another girl's house who just happens to live up the street. It should be fun.


Beka and Hannah are going to a tournament in Erie, PA. They are ranked #4 in the nation for their division. They only have to win 3 games to be champions. They have taken 1st place at three other basketball tournaments this season. Go Sabers!

The baby countdown continues....

No Regrets

We had a speaker by the name of Patti Appleby speak to us in Sunday school class this past Sunday. She asked if we had any regrets. I am sure we could all think of something that we could have done better. As she was speaking, I was thinking about how God is in control of everything and even though we may have not handled everything in our life perfectly, it is those times that we grow and hopefully become more like Him.

She told us that there are six things that we should do so that we would have no regrets.

Stay in the Word of God
Figure out what is at the root of your regret
Find Forgiveness
Offer Forgiveness
Praise the Lord
Reaffirm that God has a plan for your life

I believe that if you do the above six things, you will have no regrets or at least be able to see what good has come of the things that you consider regretful.

Some of you may say that you have a ton of regrets. You need to think through each of those instances and see what you have learned through them.

There are women who have been divorced and would say that I regret marrying that man. Did you have children with him? Are they not a blessing to you?

There are women who might say that their home life was not good. Did you learn how you wanted to be treated? Do you treat others that way now?

I could go on and on, but hopefully you understand where I am going with all of this. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves that we can’t see the good things. I hope that this will encourage you all to be able to say that you have no regrets.

Five Weeks and Counting

Well, we are down to about 5 weeks until our little grandson will be here. We are getting excited and can't wait to see what he looks like. I try to imagine what it will be like to see him and what it will be like to be a grandma. I think that it will be a new emotion unlike any other we have ever experienced.


My daughter in law Mary is looking great for 35 weeks. I don't think that I ever looked that good when I was that far along. I think that she and Josh will be really good parents. As good as us? Maybe. :)

I talked to my daughter Sarah who is due with our second grandbaby in August and she and her husband (Donald) got to hear the heartbeat last week. The dr. said that it was perfect. Of course, just like Grammy! :)

It seems like everyone and their sister is pregnant. Everyone seems to know someone who knows someone else that is pregnant. I guess the Lord is building his army. Won't it be interesting to see what all of these little ones will do in 20 years or so? It's hard to believe that my little ones are big ones. The years just seem to move swiftly by.

The countdown continues.

Love Story Link

If you all would like to add your love story to the website, here is the the link. She is giving a prize for the best story.

http://sgtandmrshub.blogspot.com/2008/02/valentines-day-blogfest.html