The Needle in a Haystack

Blue Star MOM

I am a Blue Star Mother
I am the mother of a soldier in the
United States Army.
He gave me my title.
I will give him a heart full of wonder at his accomplishments
and a voice that praises his desire to serve.
I will place my faith in his military training
and in God's protection.
I will give him the prayers that will follow him where I cannot.
I will be strong when I want to cry
and brave when I want to cower.
He will know I am behind him
every step of the way
because I bear the title
Mother of a United States Soldier.

March 31st

Last night the Peeps and I went to a Casting Crowns  concert at the RBC center.  I was a bit skeptical about the whole thing since I am not a great fan of a lot of Christian contemporary stuff, call me an old fuddy duddy but I'd appreciate a good old gospel sing any day!  The upside to Casting Crowns though was the fact that while I was waiting for the many tests and biopsies to come back over the last couple of months I would go back in to the woods and sing I'll  Praise You In This Storm at the top of my lungs... not that God had to be reminded, but I did!  So it was good hearing the song live.The concert was nice, they have a couple of great projects  with wells in India that Chris and I are praying about. Our thing is that while we have compassion for the folks in India, we ask God to give us a heart for the folks in Oxford, you know, single moms living off of next to nothing and Christian brothers falling off roofs & a retired sickly couples not old enough for medicare but  not  able to work... not to mention my own dear nephew who could use a ton of prayers right now...sort of makes India on the secondary list. Its not always very glamorous to take your B1G1F stuff from the grocery to the neighbors who might not be eating well that week but its where God planted you... not India you know.  I think some folks pick India because they don't know anyone here in the US that might be sruggling like that.  I mean if you live in a neighborhood where the houses are all hovering inthe 400,000 range and you go to church with like minded socio-economic folks and your kids attend  the private schools .. where would you come in contact with the common joe trying to live off the national average income and raise a family?
.. Gosh, I just went off on a tangent there... long and short.. the concert was pretty good...

... I heard from Josh briefly, they are still stuck at Sadr City with travel being unsafe right now..( under statement)... 3 more guys from his FOB gave their lives ( you know, that is a false statement, I don't think any of them "gave " their lives... it was taken from them by evil)... Josh claims he hears the "incoming" warning system in his head even when there is no incoming  because the attacks have been so great. Son, you do not know how hard your Dad and I tag team heaven with prayers. There are times when both of us are awake in the middle of the night and we know the other is praying for your safety..and the safety of all soldiers. 
   War just plain stinks... I remember my tears of joy as a teen when we pulled out of Nam... I see the same here... it will have to be a pull out of Iraq there is no winning...and I fear that we won't pull out as our goal will be to take over Iraq to better  fight Iran.. 
.. Oh to see the white horse appear in the clouds.....

... Our buddy Mike ( actually more of a friend of Chris's then mine), totally flubbed the weather for the weekend.  Very slight chance of rain. HA!  It's STILL raining and has been since Friday night! We need it though.  Jeremy had loaded up Heather and the camping gear for her first camping experience at the Martinsville Va NASCAR race.  He will be hard pressed to get her back in a tent after the cold, dreary weekend she spent.  Kudos to you dear Heather for sticking it out..marriage is sometimes more give then take~smile~

...Having the rain patter down all weekend it wa sall about the books and comfort food... I read through a couple of books from the anabaptist bookstore .that I had ordered sometime back I LOVE the books from there... very God centered..  I crocheted up a couple of squares for charity using the Flower Burst  pattern ( which turned out great BTW).. and made large batches of comfort food... eggs,ham, potatoes, onions all mixed together.... macaroni and cheese...big bowls of popcorn... many many cups of hot tea.   It was a good weekend..

.. Time to kick the new week up a notch and continue the spring cleaning project. I'll have Christopher pull out the kitchen appliances today and give them a good scrubb.. I might do a store run as Chris said he was in the mood for something and sauerkraut....gosh you can tell that man has Germany heritage!!!!  That gene was not passed down from father to son as Christopher calls it sauerkrap... nice ..

continue to pray for the troops... and have a fine day... all day long!!

Psalm 34:7

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him ande delivereth them..

...Prayers  for Sadr City.. how sad for my son to see the very police he has been training the last 8 months turn against them, with the weapons our government has provided...
...asking God to send angels as a hedge of protection around you my son....

Just a bit of comfort...

  Gracious Hospitality  is hosting a Tea Blog a thon. This weeks topic is tea from literature..a verse or quote..that might bring comfort to someone...

...When my oldest son Jamie was a preschooler, he loved to have me read to him. One of his very favorite books as a 2 1/2 year old was The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.  Some days he would announce he was Peter, or the Farmer he had so much fun with the story and it was always a delight to watch him pretend! 
  One day when he was sick and had a fever, I made him a cup of chamomile tea and some toast and announced he was just like Peter Rabbit.  This helped the little fellow get some fluids in him along with relaxing and possibly cheering him up.  He was so excited about drinking chamomile tea " just like Peter" that the next time he became tired he climbed in my lap and announced... " I need cammy-meal tea"...

He will be 27 years old on his birthday this June ( he and I are getting to be the same age~smile~).. when he is sick he will jokingly say.." I guess I need cammy meal tea Mom"...

...That's my boy!!! 
..I too when I am stressed by the day or not feeling well will fix a nice cup of my favorite chamomile -lemon tea. I can remember my child when he was young... and smile at the wonderful man he has become!

Continued prayers for Sadr City ...and other stuff

..the fighting is still heavy in Sadr City . Our family prays constantly through out the day for Josh's protection and those in his unit.  They are under black out again because of another death and wounded but there was a small withdrawal on his  bank account to the PX.. if there isn't a lag in the post date then I know he is OK... its the little things you know... small blessings from the Lord as a cherry on top to the big blessings.

...After talking with the doctor yesterday , we decided to not move ahead with the surgery on April 10th but to wait until late summer.  This was a multifactorial  decision . Some with deductibles, some with my current health ( which appears great by-the-way) and Josh's situation.  We all feel good with the choice.  Gee... a hysterectomy... something to look forward too( not)

...Yesterday Christopher begged for homemade pizza for supper.  I think my family could eat pizza 24/7 .  I use Laine's  crust and sauce recipe.  I can buy the cans of regular tomato sauce very inexpensively  and after adding the spices it taste every bit as good as a more expensive sauce. I like a veggie pizza and was thrilled to find a precut package of different peppers and onions with an expiration sell going on.  Just enough for our pizzas . and it cost all of .50 for the container.  Even with the pepperoni ( which we have alot left of) I probably didn't spend more then  6.00 for 3 pizzas....I have alot left of mine in the fridge for lunch today...unless some one makes a breakfast out of it. 
..The left over pepperoni will go into pepperoni rolls to go along with  the grilled chicken salad for dinner.
..If  after my hair appt. today I am still in the mood to keep busy I might bake a batch of oatmeal cookies for the weekend.  Not that we need them exactly... and Chris and I try to convince ourselves that the oatmeal is very heart healthy ( possibly just balancing out the 2 sticks of butter in those little gems), but.. they make our mouth happy... If I do make them I'll post the recipe  this evening.
.. I'm continuing work on a couple of crochet squares...I had to frog this Mandala Square 4 times but I think I have it right this time. I am determined to work on using up yarn I don't need and is just taking up space squares for charity seem a great way to do it..

.. Yesterday I didn't get anything done from my to-do list except pick the daffodils. Christopher and I did clean off the top of the fridge  but today I really need to tackle the inside and do the microwave also.

...Its 3:48 in Baghdad .... do you know where your children are?

Pray for the troops... and have a fine day... all day long!

Cheesy Bread, Crochet & Ticks & Snakes

... I sort of talked to Josh last night and we decided to just get on with things... his faith is strong . so let me catch up.
... i made spaghetti a couple of nights ago and decided to try Tammy's Italian Cheese Bread ..this stuff is so very good... easy..and well worth giving it a try. 

.. Getting home after a week in Lynchburg we didn't have any fresh groceries to speak of in the fridge.. for lunch on Monday I opened a can of chunked chicken ( Food Lion had Tyson on sale for 2.99 a can a couple of weeks ago) ..I softened an onion and then piled the onion , chicken & some shredded cheese on a tortilla and stuck another on top.  I placed them in the cast iron pan ( our griddle is broke) that had heated up and make a wonderful quesadilla.. as a side I served  saffron rice..

..I promised 2 -8 inch squares for a comfortghan over at The Ville . It was so good to try  something new  the first square  was Another Granny in the Middle very quick .  The next was  Circle of Friends Square  I am in love with this square. I see more of them in my future . Very fun to make.
..For a list of free patterns I use Free Pattern Central  Anything you could want to crochet is there.

...Yesterday afternoon the day was so beautiful I went out to the old homesite here on the property to pick some daffodils for the table ( the daffodils grow in  abundance around the old out house).. it was so moving looking at spring bursting forth I just had to sit on a big rock back there and thank God for the beauty ..along with a full conversation on Josh and Sadr City...when I got back to the house and sat for a spell... I felt it.... a pinch... then like something was crawling.. another pinch... a TICK... ~sigh~
it got squashed..smashed & then flushed...
...and if that wasn't enough... Chris came home and wahed the cars and  invited me out to talk to him while supper was cooking... right there on the bottom step...possibly dead.was a s-n-a-k-e... I really really hate snakes... I know they are beneficial on so many levels...but not to my heart... My knight in shining armor came and wrestled with it ( OK.. he just picked it up) and flung it far out into the yard...I am sure one of the cats brought it as a present...I'm going to be paranoid coming down the steps now...

.. Yesterday I did a deep clean in the laundry room... I store most of our rarely  (if ever) used appliances there... hmm.. when was the last time I used that hand cranked pasta machine... let me see... OH! that would be NEVER in the last 12 years I have owned it... I'll pass it on to Jmaie so it can sit on his shelf for another 10 years... and in our family it will probably turn up as a white elephant at Christmas!
.. Todays big project is the fridge and microwave.. I also have an embroidery project I want to do.. I'll also finish up  "Bleeding Hearts" by Susan Wittig Albert since hte next bbok "Nightshade " will be shipped to me  on April 1st...( I preordered on Amazon).. AND  Alicia's  AND Amanda ..am I forgetting any one???  Makes me wonder when my book will come out... I do have a couple of ideas...I could go either way... any thoughts... 1. a book of daily unit studies for PreK/K   OR  Letters to and from my soldier...
..I'm just feeling the need to join the book writing band wagon...

.. I cahnged the look of my side bar recently... I think I transfered all of my links over... but if you were there before or if you link to me and I missed you, will you let me know?  I didn't delete anyone on purpose ...
..Off to take on the day...
..Pray for the troops  ....and have a fine day... all day long!

Pray for Sadr City

BAGHDAD - Twelve people have been killed and 77 wounded in clashes between Iraqi security forces and the Mehdi Army in Baghdad's Sadr City district since Tuesday, said Ali Bustan, general director of the health office for eastern Baghdad.

... It really doesn't seem right to post a recipe or even lightly comment about last nights batch of spaghetti when today my son is prayerfully on his way back to the FOB from Sadr City.  It is a work day for him... his work stinks.... lose friends, get shot at risk getting your humvee blown up....but as much as I crab about this... I want you to know though that Josh chose to serve.  He loves this country...his heart has always been with the underdog...to protect... to help...he's not scared... he's angry....

..I'd say pray for peace... but  it won't come.  " There will always be wars and rumors of wars".. if not there.. then somewhere else.

.. We can hold faith that good always overcomes evil... and it will... but for now.. the truth is sometimes  evil wins...but just for now....

... We military moms tend to stay glued to icasualties ..it gives minute by minute updates... I'm off to try and do normal stuff today.  Lunch with MIL, a little grocery shopping...cleaning the pantry..praying... lots of praying...

Prayers for the 1132nd MP unit

Now that DOD has released the names I can post asking prayers for the 1132nd MP National Guard Unit out of Rocky Mount NC.  This is Joshua's unit..Three of their own were killed Sat. when their vehicle hit an IED.
Sgt  Thomas C Ray  of Weaverville, NC
Sgt David Stelmat of Littleton NH
Sgt. David Williams of Tarboro, NC

DoD Identifies Army Casualties             The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died March 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1132nd Military Police Company, North Carolina Army National Guard, Rocky Mount, N.C.               Killed were:               Sgt. Thomas C. Ray, II, 40, of Weaverville, N.C.               Spc. David S. Stelmat, 27, of Littleton, N.H.               Sgt. David B. Williams, 26, of Tarboro, N.C.               For more information media may contact the North Carolina National Guard public affairs office at (919) 664-6242.

..Pray for their families and the ones left in the unit in Iraq who grieve...

...Pray the enemy will lay down their arms before these soldiers...and all of our soldiers will come home safely

... Tomorrow will be a day of blog silence in their memory

HSPN East Coast Basketball Tournament

..our room at 11:30 at night...( notice the big kid and Guitar Hero3)
...drying a uniform after washing it in the sink!
getting ready for the "pool" games at the LaHaye Center at Liberty U
Dad keeping score for the JV finals game
...It was the Hawks vs Storm for the championship JV game again this year...Last year the Hawks won....who won this year????
~sigh~ that's a second place trophy you see in their hands...very disappointing..but the Storm has a set of twins that shot 7 out of 8 3pt shots int he first half... what can you do????
Christopher plays both JV and plays up on Varsity. Because of some injuries he was actually a starting 5 player for the Varsity...Here he is at the Vine Center warming up for the championship game.
..the tip off!! Jump Nick you can do it!!!!  Our Hawks vs Central Va. Homeschool Athletic Association (Richmond area)
..this back court defense was unstoppable... Nick played a n awesome game.. probably the best defesive game I have ever seen him play.. Christopher was right behind him planting himself and rebounding... Good job guys!!!
..End of the quarter... setting the plan
..the score at the end of the 4th quarter... clock was reset for over time play
..the score with 9.7 seconds in overtime...and who won???
.. Yep, that says 5A Champions!!!!  GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
.. Christopher was awarded most improved Varsity player for 2007-2008 .. he is having his picture taken with Manny and Gabe, the MVP's for the 2007-2008 year.

...8 weeks of relaxation before preseason training begins....whatever will we do with our time???????

More Blessings

..... Friday when we finally got home from East Coast Championships I walked in and found a box addressed to me from WI.  I knew I hadn't ordered anything  so imagine my surprise when I opened the box and found  this beautiful afgan  created with love and prayers by my  crochet peeps over at  Crochetville  . The whole thing was assembled by my friend Danielle and many of the squares were created by cancer survivors. The colors are representative of gynecological cancers.( notice the ribbon in the top square)... this is yet another encouraging act of kindness and love ..
..thank you all from the bottom of my heart!!
.. and I pray everyone has a fine day...all day long!