Shocked!

I am absolutely shocked by the way people are treating Joel Northrup. In case you haven't been near a TV, a radio, or on the internet today. He is the sophomore from Lin-Mar who opted to default his first-round match rather than wrestle a girl in the Iowa State High School Wrestling Tournament.

I applaud him for taking a stand, standing firm in his faith, and making this decision even though he may have given up a state wrestling title because of it...and is now facing national media attention.

Just from my limited exposure on Face Book, I think I'm in the MINORITY when I say I am impressed by what he did!??!?! Really????

I don't have time to list my reasons why I believe he made the correct choice, but read this blog post.

Here is the statement the young man released to the press:
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for [Cassy] and [Ottumwa's Megan Black, the other state qualifier] and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times. As a matter of conscience and my faith, I do not believe that is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other High School sports in Iowa.”

I doubt many young people today even have convictions, let alone be willing to defend them in such a public arena.

Here is another good story.


****I just found THIS!!! Reassuring to know that I'm in good company with my opinion!****

In my opinion, he is a shining star in a crooked and depraved generation.

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe”
Philippians 2: 14-15

January - Part 2

I just realized that part 1 and part 2, do not mean first 1/2 of month and second 1/2 of month, even though that is what I intended.
Some of these are out of order, but hey I have the month documented at least!



Grant got to go to Monster Jam for the second year in a row!
Kevin bravely took both Sam and Grant.

They got "pit passes" and were able to get up close to the trucks before the show!!!

The favorite, "Grave Digger."

I think he had fun :)

We braided Brynna's hair.

We put up the tent in the living room.

We did pig tails with ISU ribbons.

We painted...

...and then ended up in the tub.

(notice the paint hand prints on the side)

And she wore a fur coat to the doctor :)

I'm getting close to caught up!!!!!!!

What a Military Spouse Knows

I have been struggling with some things lately. I've been finding myself getting angry, well maybe not angry but certainly annoyed, that people "just don't get it!" Meaning, the general public (and some closer to me) just don't seem to understand the thoughts/emotions/feelings/struggles that I deal with on a daily (or hourly) basis.

The "holding down the fort" is NOT an easy job. Being both mom and dad, is tiring. Add to that keeping up with a house (with children in it), 5+ acres, 2 vehicles, and a dog...exhausting. I'm not complaining, really. I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me, in fact THAT is annoying too. I just want people to step outside of their comfortable little world and try to wrap their brains around what it is I'm (and about 3000 other Iowa families) dealing with.

There is no rest, there is no "down time"...I'm always "on". I have to be, for the children, for my husband, and for this country. A military spouse can't complain about the war, that would be unpatriotic...and would just fuel the fire for those anti-war crazies who REALLY don't get it.

All of that being said, I'm reminded that this war and this deployment are bigger than me and the heartache it causes. My husband is GONE from our family because of a greater cause. Not just helping to bring peace to a nation that hasn't known it for years, not just trying to spread democracy, freedom and decency to countries (families and children) across the globe but because it's GOD'S plan. I don't know all the reasons God wants us apart right now, but I can tell you He is certainly at work. I'm learning new things and growing in Christ, Lee is looking at life differently, the kids are learning that sacrifice and suffering are part of life on this Earth...and I hope this lesson will keep them (and me) striving for eternity...where FINALLY there will be no more heartache or suffering or war. We will be with God for eternity!!!! So, while most people strive to reach "comfortable" here on Earth, my prayer of late, is to strive to endure the hardships with grace and love (yes, keep praying...this is HARD) and keep my heart on things eternal. AND to rely on God's grace, not my own strength, to maintain "normal" in our home.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
Romans 8:18

^"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:37-39

^"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Please read the below blog post when you get a chance, it helps to explain the things a military spouse deals with. http://herwarhervoice.com/blog/?p=1313

***Disclaimer, I have not read the above linked blog, other than this one post...so don't hold me accountable for the content***

January - Part 1

I'm going to try to get caught up in two big posts!!!

January was R.O.U.G.H. The kids were sick, a lot. It was cold. It was LONG, I'm talking the longest month in the history of the world!!!! Well, okay in reality it only lasted for 31 days, but those were the longest days ever. I wasn't sure that we were going to survive...but, Praise be to God, it ended!!!! And we're still here!!! And (knock on wood) no one is sick!!!!

Here are a few pictures of what we did, in between being sick.

We cuddled.

And cuddled some more.
(notice the cords to the nebulizer...G did lots of breathing treatments)

We visited our friends in Grimes.
My friend, Anna, and I were taking turns running errands/watching kids. It worked out SO well, the kids played and the moms got to go to Target (or wherever) ALONE!!!!!!!!!!
(her hubby is deployed too)
BUT, then everyone got sick, so we only got to do it a couple times...it WILL happen again.

We played dress up.

We went sledding at our house. G loves it, B not so much.

We played with snow IN the house...with cousin Owen.

We had friends over and made a snow man.
My friend, Anna, went to CO and her girls stayed with us for the weekend.
It was fun, but I'm glad I don't have two 4 yr olds and two 2/almost 2 year olds EVERY day :)

We went to military night at the Y.
Free pizza and fun bouncy stuff to play in/on.
(Grant is in the gray shirt, climbing UP the slide)

Brynna's eye got swollen from a sinus infection.
We eventually had to do eye drops because they got all crusty. Poor baby...the drops and cleaning her eye lashes bothered her more than the crusty/matted eyes.

We wore cute dresses to church.
We are now avoiding the nursery...trying to stay healthy!


And we got all tired out.
Doesn't he look huge!?!?!

Okay, that's all for tonight. Part 2 coming, hopefully sooner rather than later.


Happy Valentine's Day to all of you, especially to my dear husband, Lee. Thank you for all you do for our family and our country. I am blessed beyond words to have a man who will bravely stand up for what is right when so many sit quietly. Lovingly holding down the fort while you are serving our great nation, Your devoted wife, J.

Super Bowl

We had a Super Bowl party last night!!!

Papa, Unlce Matt, Aunt T, and Owen came over to watch the game, commercials and eat junk food!!! For some reason the kids decided it was a great time to wear costumes :)
Here are a few pictures.

Also, a BIG thank you to Tiffany for helping me (ok, doing it all herself) take the wall paper down from our bedroom. I'm redoing our bedroom and was frustrated with the wall paper...
Tiff says she ENJOYS doing projects like this!?!?!? All the bedroom furniture is moved to the center of the room, now I need to get motivated to paint!!!!!!!!!!!

Army Wives night out

I know, I am not yet caught up with January...however I'm going to post this anyway.

A group of Army wives went out to dinner on Saturday night. We at at Gino's West Glen and then ended up across the street at Blue Moon Piano Bar. We were treated well at both places, a free round of drinks at Gino's and free cover at Blue Moon.

While at Blue Moon, we saw Ed Wilson the WHO TV weather guy. I walked up and asked if he would take a picture with a group of Army wives.
So, his wife took the picture for us...and we ended up on his blog!!!

He was very nice and seemed genuine that night and his blog post brought tears to my eyes.
I think I'll make sure to watch Channel 13 from now on.

***Update, he also showed this picture on the news***

Grant's ATV!!!

I can't believe I haven't posted this yet!!!

Most of you probably know that Lee's hunting buddies from "Drop Tine Lodge" went together and bought Grant a 4-wheeler for Christmas!!!! Ryan Rasmussen is an old college roommate of Lee's, who also happens to have a farm (aka Drop Tine Lodge) about 10 minutes from our house. This was above and beyond what we ever expected...although, I can't help but wonder if this is some sort of "insurance policy" to make sure Lee gets in LOTS of hunting time next year????

Rass (aka Ryan) came over with the ATV while the kids were napping. He unloaded it, parked it in the garage, "decorated" it, made sure it started...then we set up the video camera and planned exactly how we'd surprise Grant. We waited and waited for Grant to wake up (they always sleep FOREVER when you DON'T want them to)...I finally had to wake him up. He was a little groggy and grumpy and said, I'm going to sleep more...WHAT!?!?! He NEVER says that. I finally got him upstairs and then outside. His reaction was not at all what I expected...he was a little shy b/c he hadn't seen Rass for awhile and I had a camera in his face, and he didn't quite know what to think! He warmed up, a little, listened as Ryan explained everything to him and then they rode it for awhile. There was no crazy excitement, but I think it took awhile to sink in.

He asks almost every day if he can ride it, but is pretty good about accepting the fact that it just can't happen much right now between the snow and ONE parent home.

I'm a little worried about it, but he loves it and seems to be learning how to ride it.
It will be nice when Lee is home and can spend more time teaching him.

Tricks!?!?!?

Watching Grant ride.
(Now she wants to ride every time he does...YES, we've all THREE been on it)


***Ryan brought the ATV out a couple days before Christmas, so this post is out of order***