Update...

First and foremost, Skye has a job interview with L3 Communications in Salt Lake City, UT on January 6th. They are paying for his flight, rental car, hotel, etc. We are very excited about this possible job especially because it came out of nowhere. Back in September I had written on my Facebook page how I wished Skye could get a job because he was so down in the dumps. A friend of mine from the AF whose husband got out a few months before Skye emailed me and asked why Skye hadn't received a job yet. I told her that her guess was as good as mine, and she told her husband who then said that his company was hiring and he would love to recommend Skye considering they worked together and he knows Skye's work ethic and value. Long story short, we got a call a little over a week ago saying the wanted him to come for an interview, all expenses paid. He flies out of Columbus on the 6th of Jan and comes home the next day. More to come on this.
Secondly, we had a real cold spell. I thought I was back in North Dakota. The temperature was in the single digits with strong winds making the windchill in the negatives. We had frost on our wall...on the inside. Strange, I thought, and Skye said the the insulation much be messed up. Three days later... MOLD!!! About two feet up the wall, ALL OVER. I calmly walked to Skye, told him to be calm, and what happened. He was calm, but NOT happy! I can understand. Now yet another project. We'll chalk that up to hopefully the last of a very long list of "situations" we've had to "deal" with.
Black water
Rusty water (I could literally wipe the rust off me)
Speeding ticket (not me!)
Flooding (fear of mold)
Popped tire
Leaking ceiling
Mice
Frozen pipes
Frozen Gas line (no heat)
NO washer or dryer for the last 9 months!
Finally, MOLD!! (actual)
I'm sure there is more, but I just can't think of them all right now! We've been attacked, but have remained Strong! Thanks to God!
Third... I got an email a while back about a talking, cooing doll that says: "Isalm is the Light". Usually I disgard these messages, but coming from the source, I googled it to see what it says. Everyone said it MIGHT say it, or it's CLOSE, but not acutally. Snopes said FALSE. Today we had Christmas with Skye's dad and Allie got this doll which arms moved and it coos and says Mama. It came with batteries, and Allie was playing with it, I didn't think a thing of it. Later Skye called me into the kitchen and said: "This is that Doll!" We were listening to it and YES, PLAIN AS DAY, it says: "Islam is the Light!" It's in a completely different voice than the cooing and babbling. It was errie! Skye said we're taking it back to Meijer where it was purchased from. In the email it said that: "We will not let the devil grab ahold of our childrens minds". What a sibiminal message that was! WOW! Now, I am in agreement that True Islam is a peaceful religion, and that the extremeist are what gives it a bad name, just like in Catholics and Christians. But... this is going too far. It gives me the chills!

Just another friendly reminder....

that everyday Satan is getting under my skin!!!! Gosh, it seems like we don't get a break. Blessing are still flowing, but Satan sure does like to get us. It all started Saturday, when we went to the Zoo. It was supposed to be a super fun night, which is was. That is, until the ride home. The 1 hour trip turned in to much longer because the roads were icy. At one point we had someone in the lane next to us spin the car and was heading right AT us. But by the grace of God we were not in any trouble, he somehow gained control and steered away. The wind has kicked up and I feel like we're living in ND again. The actual temperature is in the single digits with negative double digits. BRRRRRRR.... I bought Zoey a new Snow suit for Christmas, and was trying to hold it until then, but had to break down and give her a much warmer coat. She was liking the idea of getting a present EARLY! Silly girl. I've to keep her warm.
Last night, after emboridering for over 2 hours and wrapping presents along side of that, I decided to take a HOT shower and hit the sack. WELL... that didn't happen, actually nothing happened. I turned on the water and nothing... not even a spit of water. FROZEN! The water in the bathroom sink worked, even the HOT water worked, but I don't fit in a sink, so that wasn't going to happen. THEN, there was FROST on my wall by my side of the bed. White, frozen, frost!! Brrr.... This is crazy stuff!
Thank the Lord we have people who will share their showers with us, so we just packed up this morning and came in to Grandpa's to take showers, do some laundry, and hang out!!

Music

Everyone finds God in a different way. My way, is though music. I was reading another blog about a friend whose 3 year old daughter has cancer, and I was thinking... Man, I have NOTHING to complain about. Gosh, how selfish can I be??

All in all, this song seems to pop in my head when times are tough!! Selah, THROUGH IT ALL!

I've had many tears and sorrows
I've had questions for tomorrow
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong
But in every situation
God gave blessed consolation
That my trials only come to make me strong

I've been a lot of places
And I've seen so many faces
But there've been times I've felt so all alone
But in that lonely hour
In that precious, lonely hour
Jesus let me know I was His own

Through it all
Through it all
I've learned to trust in Jesus
I've learned to trust in God
Through it all
Through it all
I've learned to depend upon His Word

So I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for the storms He's brought me through
Cause if I never had a problem
I wouldn't know that He could solve them
I wouldn't know what faith in His Word could do

Through it all
Through it all
I've learned to trust in Jesus
I've learned to trust in God
Through it all
Through it all
I've learned to depend upon His Word
Yes, I've learned to depend upon His Word
I've learned to depend upon His Word

New Job!!

If any of you wonder if Skye has a new job yet I'm here to tell you NO! Nope, nothing, nada, zilch, zero! Nothing... but God is faithful and by some loving family and friend we were provided with a wonderful Christmas, and we can't wait until we get to have Christmas morning!!! Last night the girls got to meet Santa. My parents had a guy who plays Santa drop by the house "Unexpected" to meet the kiddos. (Although we were all there and I had to tackle Wyatt from seeing because I got so excited he wondered why I was acting so crazy. I know, Kid at heart!) Allie and Walker wanted NOTHING to do with the jolly man, but Zoey and Wyatt had NO problem telling him what they wanted and hugged him and all. Santa did bring them a coloring book, which Zoey has kept in the gift bag it came in and had toted it around since the grand introduction.
Our house is decorated with Jesus Cheer, and the manger scene is right next to the Christmas tree. I made a wreath from the branches off my dad's tree, but Zeke keeps knocking if off the door when he impatiently scratches like we wouldn't let him in, give us a second to get to the door dear doggie!
Unlike Thanksgiving where it lastest for days, Christmas is one day, and we get the early morning to ourselves to keep up our "FAMILY" traditon. The girls will open their gifts at OUR apartment and then Linda, Skye's mom, and I will make brunch for the family. My parents are coming to visit on their way back from Wyatt and Walker's, and then we have the Big Farm Family Christmas. Should be adventurous. I pray the girls are so filled with glee that we don't have any nervous breakdowns from sleep depravity!
On good days, I will say God's blessing be on all as they have been on us, on bad days I'll day See ya later.... I am a perfect example of what "Coping and attitude" is all about. But... in my heart of hearts, I know that God is soverign, he's real, and he's only priming us for our future. May he always see us as a useable tool for his Greater Good, and may I always be willing to have Him prime me! I am in awe of His greatness, and His great ability to teach me patience!! I guess this is the learned lesson from repeatedly asking "God give me patience" when in times I've wanted to scream!
This Christmas season I have learned many things, a few being the most important.
#1, you can't expect people to do as you do.
#2, it's God's money, spend it how HE would want you to
#3, there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you, count your blessings.
#4, No matter what, no matter where, NO matter HOW... I am BLESSED!