HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Happy Birthday Jonathan..... I hope you have had a great day even though it is in Iraq! I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments and I can not wait for you to get home so we can celebrate Christmas and your birthday..... boy are you going to be spoiled when you get home! But it will all be well deserved....we just wanted to tell you that we love you and are praying for you and thinking of you!!!! COME HOME SOON Big bro.!

Love ya,

Andy, Jen, Aubrey

Sometimes He calms the storm....

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered, “Peace, be still…”
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times
He calms His child

He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we're shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain
beats down On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place

Singing

So on a lighter note..... Aubrey has recently started singing and for alittle while I just thought she was humming and jabbering I couldnt really make out the words well the other day she was in her bedroom and I went in there and this is what I heard.....
Je-huh Je-huh jabber jabber (real high voice) ME!
Dis I (real high voice) KNOW

It was the cutest thing ever...... if you cant guess what it is, she is singing Jesus loves me....
I hope everyone has a good weekend!
Jen

Memories...

Today I have thought about Jason all day! Memories that we shared the laughs and the cries. It seems like just yesterday we were canoeing down some little river and Jason was freaking out because he was afraid of otters..... so of course me being the good friend I am I pushed him right on into the water :) he was not to happy with me but like always he got over it! Jason had weird fears and at the same time was fearless. He was also afraid of " little people".... he eventually grew out of this one but the otters.... he was always terrified! Jason knew how to make people laugh, that is why I loved him so much....he had such a joy for life, he was a friend to everyone Jason didnt meet anyone that wasn't a friend! When Jason was in the room you just wanted to be around him you wanted to know what everyone was laughing at and who they were laughing with!

I remember when he was in the car accident with him mom, I remember dad telling me and I immediatly wanted to go see him it scared me to see how bad of shape he was in. I remember him calling me and telling me they were letting him go home from the hospital it seemed like he was healed in no time! He was ready to take on the world.... he realized he had a purpose..... we all know jason had his struggles but who hasn't? I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is with his brother now waiting on the rest of us to come home to be with him!

I remember seeing how broken he was at his brother scott's viewing, and of course in Jason style he had his wisdom teeth out that same morning..... he picked the weirdest times for things but he was in so much pain physically.... and so broken hearted but he was strong. I wanted to make everything better.... I wanted all of his pain to go away I knew in God's timing He could heal all wounds!

Now I am left sitting here at my computer thinking of all the things I wish I would have said... I should have stayed in touch..... I should have encouraged him more and been there for him more! I should have been a better friend over the last couple of years I shouldn't have let there become so much distance...... I truly believe that God is never late and God is never early, He is always right on time and for some reason this was the time that God chose for Jason no matter what any of us could have or would have done different this was Jason's time.... I do not know the reason now I may never know that reason but I am choosing to believe and I am standing on the fact that God will make good of this.... God will make His face known..... God will get all of the glory!

Jason and I never dated we never had that kindof relationship.... we never wanted that relationship God put us together in our teenage years for one reason I believe and that was purely for joy.... we went through some hard times together and we went through some of the happiest times of our lives together! We grew together we helped each other grow up but at the same time to keep a child like spirit. Whenever I think of Jason Hall I think of happiness, smiles, jokes, CRAZINESS, joy, and of course I will always think of otters :)

Jason today, I celebrate you! I celebrate your life, I celebrate your friendship, I celebrate because I know that one sweet day back in our teenage years you asked Jesus into your heart, I celebrate because I know we will see each other again one day. Today I celebrate Jason Hall!

“I thank my God every time I think of you. (Philippians 1:3)”

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength,
But sometimes I wonder
what He can do through me;
No great success to show,
No glory on my own,
Yet in my weakness
He is there to let me know

His strength is perfect
when our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power,
the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect,
His strength is perfect.

We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes;
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end.
He hears our humble cry and proves again

His strength is perfect
when our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power,
the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect,
His strength is perfect.

I will praise You through the storm....

Scroll down and you will see three videos of Rick Burgess.... if you have not heard him speak at his sons "Celebration Memorial Service" then please take the time to listen to it.... yes it is long but it is WELL worth it! I have a whole new respect for this man and for the whole family.

I am alittle numb right now knowing that today my good friend, I guess I could say he is like my brother.... passed away today. Jason Hall.... we had some good times! We had some bad times! I loved him with all my heart..... I would see him at walmart or every once in awhile on the back pew at the church and I just wanted to run to him and hug him everytime! We grew apart after high school I went my way he went his but our memories our good times.... nothing can take those away from me! I remember walking down the aisle to marry andy, and seeing Jason standing there.... he had told me he wasnt coming that he was going to the auburn game I acted like I didnt care but I honestly felt like a part of my family was going to miss my wedding! And there he stood the biggest smile ever watching me walk down the aisle with my daddy! There are so many times I can write about but my teary eyes will not allow it right now. I will really miss him.... this is my first close friend to pass away, it is not supposed to happen like this, I am supposed to see him get married and have kids! I am supposed to run into him in town and get my good Jason hug! I am supposed to see him succeed in life.... far past what he has already succeeded! I watched him be so strong with his brother terry when scott there other brother passed away last may. My heart was so broken then and now I can not even put into words how broken I am. Jason.... I love you, I will miss you!
Terry, you know how much I love you, you are my brother, you were in our wedding.... you have been with me through alot and I will be with you through this! I want to call you but I am afraid I will fall apart and not be the strength you need, so right now, tonight I will pray for you, your sweet little sister and your parents who I know are dieing inside! My pain does not compare to yours I know but please know.... I love you sooo much andy loves you soo much aubrey loves you sooo much! Please let me know what you need when you need it! We are here 24 hours a day and you know it! If you have not watched the Rick Burgess video, watch it! I have been glued to my radio all day listening and I have been so broken about my own personal life.... and my walk.... and then I get home and dad calls and tells me the news, I can not even explain what I am feeling.... but I am going to fight the fight.... keep the faith and just like Rick said.... I am not going to let satan get a foot hold on my life!
I feel like I am just rambling but I have so many thoughts going through my head.... it is just all getting jumbled up maybe I will be clearer later but for now I will leave with this....
"Praise You In This Storm"
I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes awayAnd I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember whenI stumbled in the wind
You heard my cryYou raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find YouAs the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes awayI lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Rick Burgess - A Father's Heart part 1

Rick Burgess - A Father's Heart part 2

Rick Burgess - A Father's Heart part 3

Be still

I have been told I need to blog more.... to be honest I will try to write tonight but for right now I just feel like being silent and listening....
" Be still and know that I am God" so that is what I am doing right now.... just being still.

Happy New Year!!!!

So the time has come for resolutions..... :) I am NEVER successful with them at all, as a matter a fact I told andy three days ago that starting January 1st we were going on a diet together :) Well lets review my eating today :) Potato Chips for breakfast with a coke..... Bacon Cheese Burger with coke for lunch from Buffalo's..... double delicious halloween bars for "snack" with a coke.... and Pizza sticks for supper with hawiian punch.... and I wonder why I am beginning to not fit into my blue jeans :) I have to admit when I type that out for everyone to read it is pretty embarrasing!!!! Ok so maybe starting January 2nd I will go on a diet? We will see!!!!

For real though this year.... my resolution is to be a mom.... I want to be a FULL TIME mom! Dont get me wrong I LOVE my job I love the girls I work with.... I am happy and thankful that God has placed me right where I am. I have learned so much from them and I hope that they have learned from me, but I was put on the earth to be a mom. Ask any of my family... my whole life I have said my lifes ambition is to be a wife and a mother.... to some that is not very much....to me that is EVERYTHING! So I am working and finding a way home, Andy currently works from home on a commission based salary.... so pretty much when it is good it is great and when it is bad it is awful.... he keeps telling me the day will come when things level out and I trust him but the day is not coming soon enough in my book! So instead of pressuring him all of 2008 to make more money I thought maybe I could take some of the pressure off and make some money on the side. I have mentioned on here before that I have bought a camera and I would love to start making some money on the side taking pictures for people. I really would love to be a photographer. I am going to take an editing class in a couple of weeks and then I think I will be ready to start TRYING.... to make some extra income. I have also decided just today actually that mom and I are going to start making hairbows and selling them. If you havent noticed I always rope my mom into helping me! I have bought the clips they should come in the mail soon and we will be off. We are going to start off with 100 bows! I will keep you updated on how fast we can get those off the shelf!! All andy said is does this mean aubrey is about to have 100 bows! Well I sure hope not!! One way or another I will come home one day... will it be 2008....only God knows but I am sure going to try!
Jen