Returning?

Could the "owner" of this site really be returning after an almost 14-month absence? Possibly.

I have decided to give up facebook (fb) for Lent, and tonight I remembered that I had a blog. HA! The computer has actually gotten boring for me, as in checking my email, I realized that everyone must now communicate on fb. I am feeling really out of touch, but a covenant made is a covenant made. It's actually been easy, however boring. I do miss knowing what's going on, too. There is a tremendous disconnected feeling, but I am sure it will be long forgotten once I get reconnected.

The goal in giving up fb is just to make the commitment to refocus my time. I am quite sure I have wasted so much time, time that should have been spent doing other things. Like scrapbooking. Maybe it's time to get back into that scrapbook room and do something productive. Ahhh.... could I invent a fb program that automatically went through my newsfeed and read it out loud to me? In this manner, I could accomplish two things at once! Will someone please get on that?!

At the end of this "assignment" I hope to have reestablished a daily schedule that includes a commitment to my daily quiet time, a brief checking of email/fb, and then accomplishing daily tasks as needed. In fact, now that I am back to blogging and reading other blogs, I have been re- inspired to look into repurposing items... i.e. THRIFTING! My oh, my! There are so many things to do and so little time to do them.

Then again, maybe I'll just stick to blogging OR fb! Time will tell.

Hello again, dear family and friends. Maybe you'll be hearing from me more often in this manner. Love to all!

The last 7 days...

We've been busy at the Jenkins' household. Last weekend, Reid was in his school play, "Little Shop of Horrors". Elizabeth went to Decatur for 3 days last week to tend to marina business, then returned to leave town again for a women's retreat. And today, Sunday, Caroline was in a fashion show for a school chorus fundraiser. Mimi was so gracious to come to town for the entertainment and caregiving purposes. Now I am thankful to say that tomorrow is a new week, and there is only the "normal" routine of practices and lessons on tap for the week. But then, it's off to Gatlinburg to enjoy a long weekend with Papaw and Cissy.

Joel continues a normal routine of 3-a-day workouts and routine flying missions in Iraq. He's holding up well considering the circumstances, but we miss him terribly and long for a 2-week vacation in Europe with him this summer.

Here a some photos of the activities of this past week. Nevermind... stay tuned. It appears I've "exceeded my photo upload quota". Guess I'll need to research this and get back to posting photos later. Sorry.

Hitting Lesson

In an effort to assist Joel with viewing these videos, I am posting some here. This one is a snippet of Caroline at her indoor hitting lesson.

Snowflakes

Did you know that snowflakes actually look like this?!

While sitting in the snow taking a break from sledding I started looking at the snowflakes. It is amazing that you can see this with the naked eye. They are beautiful, and I just wanted to share them with you.

Annabelle and Jay

I've been asked to post some updated photos of Miss Annabelle. She is adorable, and I was told today that she has started "talking" and smiling. Guess that just means that I'll have to get a dose of that soon. Actually, I will tonight at our weekly dinner with this family. :-)

On the other hand, Jay is always quick to offer up some "Hi's". (I know there isn't supposed to be an apostrophe there, but it looks like "his" if not, and I don't want you to read it incorrectly.) And when the camera is presented at him, the "Cheese" starts up. At other times, you have to run around the house to keep up with him.

What joy these two offer to us Jenkinses, and we are so very thankful that they are right around the corner for our enjoyment! Now we have to talk the other third of the family to move into our area.

The scene

Reid just HAD to jump in this picture with them!

It's Official!

It is really official. As I type this, Joel is sitting against the window of a DC-10 heading overseas.

Tonight was our 3rd goodbye. It is often said that "3 Times is a Charm", however I would have to disagree on this one. The 2nd one was the most difficult (after Thanksgiving), but this one was real.

We were sitting at the gate area with a minimum of 200 dressed-out soldiers heading back to war. This scene really "hit home". This isn't an imagined war; this was war in action, and we were witnessing strong, fit men and women who were "out there" fighting for us all.

I recently had a conversation about this war over the phone with someone that I didn't know. (He had called to solicit money.) He was an ex-Navy guy who shared something with me that "turned on my lightbulb". Having these guys fighting in someone else's yard was protecting us. Our citizens were not in danger, nor were they innocent, by-standing victims. This gentleman was right, and I for whatever reason, finally acknowledged that my husband was going to be a part of a magnificent effort to protect our borders. Previously I was harboring some bad emotions as to why my husband and so many others were actually fighting for my freedom when they were protecting others in a foreign land. Guess I needed to be straightened out on that one. In other words, yes, these soldiers that I laid my eyes upon this evening were every day heroes.

I digressed.

So, Joel is being carried to a far away, foreign, unsafe land, and upon walking into our home, I was all alone, or so it felt. There wouldn't be his physical presence for over a year. However, the good news is that I, nor my children, are alone. God is with us, and He will not forsake or leave us. Whatever His plans for this journey, I will praise Him for His involvement in our lives. We are blessed. We have employment and benefits, and we have our health. I thank God for all of that and for all that He will do for us in this next year.

And if you don't know the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) through God, His Son and the Holy Spirit, then you are missing out. He is our Comforter, and He will be our Strength while Joel is physically away from us. Who could be in better hands? I've decided to let go and let God! He can do a better job than I could ever imagine! And He will comfort my hurt.