Alabaster Ministries 2nd Annual Missions Fundraiser

Wow, what a humbling night! Alabaster Ministries, the women's ministry group I am involved with, held our 2nd Annual Missions Fundraiser last night. You can learn a little more about Alabaster if you go to the site linked above. Make sure to read our MISSION and the ABOUT US tab. Anyway, back to the missions fundraiser. We hosted an event last night to raise money for four local missionary families. We had a catered meal, guest speaker, music, missionary updates and a live auction. It was SO much fun. I'll admit I was dreading it...just a little...because I had to help lead the program, I mean SPEAKING in front of PEOPLE on a STAGE!!! However, Praise the Lord, it went fine. Once it started, I wasn't even really nervous, yay for answered prayer :)

Our numbers (# attended and money raised) are still being totaled, but I think it was a success. For me personally, it was humbling. As I sat in my chair, trying to pay attention to the videos describing what our missionary families are doing, DAILY, for HIS kingdom...and still focusing on the clock, our night's schedule, and what I needed to say next, I was moved by what these families are doing. Imagine, giving up everything you know as "normal" (jobs, homes, family, friends, freedoms, AMERICA) to move to a foreign country not for some fancy job, not because you want to gain another perspective, not for an adventure, but because GOD has called you to do HIS work!?!?!?! Now, don't get me wrong, I believe God has called all believers to do HIS work, maybe not in a foreign country but maybe right in our own family, church, community, school, work place, etc
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
...but the families we focused on last night, left everything that was comfortable to help grow GOD'S KINGDOM!!!! Wow, they took a giant leap of faith to answer God's call for their lives...HOW COOL!

Alabaster support The Coles and Andersons who are both in Germany with Military Youth for Christ. The Steenblocks who left recently for the Arabian Peninsula and are with Arab World Ministries. And The Terhaars, our neighbors, who returned from two years in Paraguay, with Christian Veterinary Mission, in June.
All of the proceeds from our night will be split equally between these four families. It's not too late, if you would like to make a donation, PLEASE let me know SOON!
jessvandewater@gmail.com

I could go on and on...but I'll leave you with this verse:

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written,
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"Romans 10:13-15

If you have questions, I urge you to grab a Bible and turn to the book of Romans and read about how ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23), that God died for US (Romans 5:8) and that if you confess and believe you will be saved (Romans 10:9)!!! Romans 10:13, again says everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved!

THAT is exciting stuff!! Obviously, we've all sinned...but to know, without a doubt, that we can be saved, not by anything we have to do or earn, but by simple, childlike faith in who God is and what he has done for us, we can be assured of ever lasting life!!!!!!!!!! This is truly life or death stuff...where will YOU spend eternity???

One more thing...my sweet Alabaster team surprised me with a thank you to Lee for his service to our country, by putting a family picture up on the screen, talking a bit about his, and our, sacrifice and gave me these gorgeous flowers!!! Yeah, I was a little teary, ON STAGE, but did manage to regain my composure and go on with the program. I love those girls!!!!!!!!

Pictures in the park

I took the kids to the park this evening to take some fall pictures. They cooperated for all of about five minutes. Oh well, we got a couple cute ones :)

Brynna is 18 months (on the 22nd) and Grant is almost 4 1/2 (on the 10th)!

He has arrived

Lee has safely arrived at his destination after NUMEROUS flights and 13 (maybe 14?) time zones.

I also have his new mailing address. Send me a message if you want it.

Praise that he arrived safely...now on to more prayers!

Fun birthday weekend

My second cake...made on SHORT notice, by Tiffany! We had dinner and cake at Matt and Tiff's on Friday night. Wade, Steph, and Whitney were there too.

The kids making my birthday card on Saturday morning :)

My THIRD cake! Made by my friend, Anna...who delivered it to my house, unannounced, from Grimes the day before leaving for MS to see her hubby. LOVE her :)

Anna had her husband, a deploying soldier as well, ask Lee what my favorite flower was. Then she brought them out with the cake!

Out for dinner at the Mexican restaurant in Winterset. I put the kids to bed and then headed into town, pretty late for us old ladies, but it was fun!

So, despite Lee being gone...AND traveling over seas this weekend...it has been a pretty great weekend. I am truly blessed!!!
Thank you to everyone who made it special. I'm feeling a little bit spoiled.

New hair cut and color!?!?!

I spent the day in DSM, by myself!!! A couple hours at the salon and a couple hours at the mall and Target! LOVE that we found a great babysitter in time for the deployment; truly an answered prayer.

THIS is what I did with my hair!?!?!? I'm a still undecided on it. I THINK I like the color...and the cut, just not sure I should have done them at the same time. It seems like a drastic difference, but I was ready for a change.


Before

After

After, with make up on :)

My birthday party in Ames

My MIL and FIL (Brian and Paula) hosted a birthday party for me last night! So, even though I'm turning THIRTY-FOUR, yikes, we had pizza, cake, and presents...what fun!!!

The beautiful cake from the bakery at The Cafe, thanks Jon!

I didn't plan for B and I to wear the same color, but I have noticed it happens often. I guess when I'm in the mood for a certain color that's how it goes! At least I didn't put Grant in pink too :)

Blowing out all 34 candles :)

Whitney and Brynna; SO fun that Wade and Steph are around for things now!!!!

Grant, Abby, Eddie, and Brynna watching a movie :)


There is ONE perk to having your husband deployed...you get spoiled on your birthday :)
Thanks to:
My SIL, Heather, who picked out my gift from Lee - a 3.5 hour spa visit (and free babysitting)!!!
My other SIL, Steph, who ordered me a pair of super cute boots!!!
My MIL for the cute "Army wife" gear ;)
Everyone else for your generous gifts...I'm saving for a new purse :)

Thanks for a great time!!!!

Covered Bridge Festival

My BFF from Alden, Glenda (Klemme) Smith, and her family came for a quick visit last weekend. They drove down on Friday night (from MN) and had to leave Saturday afternoon, but it was SO great to see them!!!!

We went to the Covered Bridge Festival in Winterset.

Owen (5), Brynna (1), Grant (4), and Abby (7) eating breakfast.

Grant, Mommy and Brynna at Roseman Bridge.

Owen, Abby, and Brynna :)
Grant was in the middle row beside me.

Paul, Glenda, Abby and Owen at Roseman Bridge.

Brynna climbing on the courthouse steps.

FYI: Covered Bridge Festival is always the second full weekend in October. This year it was almost 90 degrees...last year there was snow on the ground, NOT KIDDING!
Gotta love Iowa!?!?!

Picture Post

Just a few cute, random pictures that I haven't had a chance to post.

Brynna is starting to WANT to eat with utensils, however, this day she got frustrated and just put the bowl up to her mouth.
I think she's beautiful EVEN with a noodle stuck to her forehead :)

Before church, how cute are they?!

YES, she's using the potty!!!!
We are NO WHERE NEAR potty trained, but she has gone pee and/or poop on the potty at least once a day for 11 days in a row!!!!
I'm sure she'll love that I shared this information with the world, when she's older :)

Riding his bike!

Grant doing "surgery" on Brynna!?!?!
Not sure where this idea came from, but Grant set up the "operating table" and everything.

Missing him!!!!

This might get a little sappy, so don't say I didn't warn you.

I'm really missing my husband today. I don't know if it is the fact that the leaves are turning beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow, the fact that the kids and I went to Larry Joe and Jean's and picked our pumpkins yesterday, the fact that hunting season is underway, or the fact that a friend thanked me for having such a great husband (because of something he did for her husband)...but whatever the reason, I MISS HIM!!!!

Fall is our favorite season, despite the fact that it often finds Lee in a tree stand and me wishing he wasn't there. Right now, I'd give a million dollars to have him in a tree stand instead of packing a ruck sack to go to Afghanistan (someone remind me of this next year, please)!!! We usually decorate the front porch with pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, corn stocks and mums. This year, the pumpkins are there...but nothing else. We usually go for evening drives on gravel roads to look for deer, not exactly my kind of fun right now. We usually have fires in the fire pit on the deck while sharing a bottle of wine...I don't even have the energy to open the bottle let alone start a fire. We usually go out to dinner for my birthday and I tell him not to buy a gift, but secretly hope that he does (and he always does!).

It's crazy how life can be so "normal" yet so radically different at the same time. Fall is here, my birthday is around the corner, the trees are beautiful, the guys are hunting, the kids are playing outside...but it's just not the same! I miss the stability that Lee provides, his motivation for getting things done, his honest and up front assessment of life and events. I miss his help, his leadership, his strength, his presence in our lives...I MISS MY HUSBAND!!! I guess the old saying that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is true!

Please, pray that I will find joy in the changing of seasons and that I will rely on God to fill the void I'm feeling. He is the one who ultimately provides stability, strength, and love...along with so much more.

This is my verse for today:

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

Below are pictures from Larry Joe and Jean Vandewater's house, always a fun time!!!

Finding the perfect pumpkin, with help from her big brother.

Just her size.

Found a keeper!

Sitting in the back of the truck with all the pumpkins.

Mower, wagon, and home made "car" called 'The Thing'!
Never a dull moment with the Vandewater's!

Busy, busy, busy...

I apologize for not updating the blog more frequently. However, finding the time to sit down at the computer and actually put my thoughts together...is becoming quite a challenge!

We are now 1/6th of the way done with this deployment, but PLEASE don't say, "Already, wow that went quick!" I know people mean well, and I know other people's deployments (and pregnancies) always go quickly...but, come on! It hasn't been terrible and we are keeping busy (too busy), but we have a LONG way to go!

Anyway, some quick updates:

1. Brynna's ear tube surgery went flawlessly! Thank you for your prayers. She recovered quickly, with only Tylenol the day of surgery and no problems since. We are having to do ear drops 2x/day, which she HATES!!! I just pray this prevents multiple dr visits and rounds of antibiotics!
A special thanks to Heather V. for sitting with me at the surgery center and bringing a bag of goodies for me and Brynna...SO sweet! Also, thanks to my friend Anna F. for letting us spend the night at her house the night before and for watching Grant while I took Brynna.

2. I have decide to SLOW DOWN! We've been on the go since Lee left...in a way it's good, however my house is suffering and I think the kids are missing their play time.

3. Lee will be "out of the box" on Friday!!! Yay, for "normal" communication again. I didn't realize how important those 5 minute phone calls were. He will also be in Afghanistan within two weeks. This will bring on a whole new set of worries, please pray!

4. I've been attending a marriage and family seminar on Sunday afternoons. Dr. Gary and Barb Rosberg, from America's Family Coaches (they have a national radio show on WHO, and have authored many books...and happen to live in DSM), are hosting this and gearing it toward military families. While it is GREAT to hear Biblical marriage/family advice, get resources, etc...it also puts numerous women (most with deployed husbands) into a room and encourages them to talk. YIKES! I am trying to memorize the following verses because some times I cannot believe what comes out of their mouths! I'm trying to remember to keep mine shut :)

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Ephesians 4:29-31


I'll close with a few pictures from the past couple of weeks. I hope and pray that you are all doing well and loving this fall weather as much as we are!

B in her red boots!
(Great Grandma Audrey brought these awhile back and they finally fit)

Grant was heading over to a bonfire at Sam's!

Cousins!
Brynna, Grant, Owen and Whitney...this was at our a house a couple weekends ago.

Letter shaped bread sticks!

Me and Anna

Army wives get a night out!
We called it our "Yellow Ribbon, Girl's Night Out"
We had a contest to see who could come up with the most creative way to wear a yellow ribbon. I am NOT creative and just tied a yellow ribbon in my hair. The winner had yellow ribbons tied all over on her necklace and earrings. We had our waiter at 'Dos Rios' be the judge. Speaking of 'Dos Rios' they brought out a bunch of desserts for us to share as a thanks for our husbands' service! It was great!
(Thanks to my SIL, Tiffany and Dad for babysitting so I could go out)

15 of us were there (one had already left when we took this picture).