November 29, 2011

The United States Marine Corps. That is a complete sentence as it stands. I am so very thankful for our military and especially the Marine Corps. This is our home, we belong here. For the past 6 years I've worn a necklace daily that has the core values of the Marines on it... Honor Courage Commitment. Mark and I have tried to pattern our lives after these values. They are not only true to the Corps but to our family life, our faith and each other.

I remember about 12 months ago being asked about my necklace. The woman was shocked and somewhat appalled that I would wear the values of the Corps around my neck when I in fact was not a Marine. She told me I was a wannabe. I didn't reply and almost felt ashamed that I had worn this. Later that day when I was still stewing about this conversation God reminded me that I bring honor to Him, my husband, my family and my Corps by wearing it. It's an outward daily reminder that we are the ambassadors of Christ. That my daily actions of loving my family and putting His will ahead of my own is a quiet witness.

I've worn it every day since. It's battered, old and needs to be retired, but it's part of me. Of who I am, and I'm humbled by wearing it.

Stress Less with Stress Relief!

I've taken nutritional supplements most of my adult life. I've slacked off for the past several years taking them here and there. Today I'm going back on them. This product will save my life, my sanity and the life of my dear sweet family. You've heard me complain for the past 6 months about the joys of surgical menopause. This product right here is seriously like crack cocaine to me. It levels me out, reduces stress and hot flashes. This also helps me sleep at night and above all keeps my family loving me!

Today I'm thankful for StressLess (aka StressRelief)!!

A beautiful man...

Isn't he dreamy? A true thinker, or is it stinker... I'm not sure. But I do know I love him more than I ever dreamed possible. He's more than a best friend could ever be. I praise God daily for this man. Today, as I am every day, but today especially I am thankful for him. Today was a very rough day for me and he was there for me, as he always has been. Today, tomorrow and forever we'll be together! I love you! Thank you for being the man that you are, your incredible, and mine, and I'm so very very thankful.

Thankful for Family Photo Day

Today is day 26 of 30!

Obviously with this photo I am very thankful for digital cameras, and being able to see the photos prior to printing them all. To say the least this photo is not printer worthy. Thankfully, we were blessed to have friends travel with us to take some family photos. We took about 130 photos of them on our camera and they took about 150 of us on our camera. Plus they had their camera, and who knows how many they took. Let's pray that at least 5 of the 200+ photos taken today of our family are worthy of actually seeing a printer! And possibly a Christmas Card or two!

I guess I should have also paid attention to see that Caleb wore black socks like Seth. Apparently I am not as observant as I used to be, and I'm much more chillaxed. In the past this would have sent me over the edge. Maybe just maybe menopause isn't gonna kill me, the kids or poor Mark! And don't even get me started on the eyes that Caleb is sharing with everyone!

All my Christmas shopping is done for the family stateside. I've gotten all the packages wrapped up and ready to ship home. So today I'm thankful for mission accomplishment, and now I can sit back and relax! I've gotten some really neat gifts in all our adventures from Alaska to Hawaii to the crevasses of Okinawa. So family stateside... be on the lookout for Santa's sleigh!

If only we had free shipping!?!

The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Extravaganza Francis Style

What a GREAT looking group of people... our family here in Okinawa. Believe it or not 7 people aren't pictured here in the photo that joined us. We had 39 amazing people share their Thanksgiving Day with us. We truly feel blessed!
Here's the spread of the delicious food. Sorry I didn't take any of the desert table. There were so many desert, and lemme tell ya they were superb! Hannah made my favorite pie... Pecan! I'm gonna beg her for another one for Christmas.

We played a little football. If you see there was 3 against 1. The reason... good odds huh!

We had lots of little peeps, like this one, my Sebastian. He's mine b/c he tells me no all the time. Just like my 3 and he's blond and fits right in with my crew!

Here's Mr. B, my other sweet little man. He's all smiles all the time, at least until I made him cry later that night. I'm such a mean Auntie! He loves me because I wear a necklace and he likes to chew on it. He loves me that's all the matters right!

Look at that little man sittin' on the table with is mama, Becca. She's a fantastic new mom and lil' Gabriel just loves to giggle. He's a whopping 11 weeks old. What a sweet potato pie he is! I could just eat him up!

A little chow time going on, the kids ate and ate and ate all day long. Come to think of it so did the adults. That's what Thanksgiving is all about right?

My sweet K80 havin' some ham, turkey, green bean casserole and of course her favorite STUFFING! (this is not a paid advertisement for Coca Cola, unless they want to send me money cuz I'll take it!)

We had a fantastic day. I really cannot describe how blessed we were with the company, the food and the wonderful fellowship. These peeps carried us through a really rough year, they stood in the gap for us, prayed for us, loved on us, watched our kids, took us to and fro the airports, cooked many meals for us and just loved us. I'm forever thankful for each of you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 1992

A week (or so) after Thanksgiving 1992 I was driving back home from college for a "Celebration of Life" party. My friend, Jason Sprague, pictured above with me in '88, had just passed away from a severe asthma attack. I am blessed to say he was (is) one of my best friends and brother in Christ. I was truly in shock for weeks over the events that had taken place. I couldn't believe he was gone, I needed another conversation, another bear hug, just one more moment with him. I needed advise about Mark. I was falling head over heals in love and it scared me. Seriously scared.

It was over a month later that I heard one of the songs that was playing at his 'party'. It was as if he was sending me a message, having another conversation with me. The song "Go West Young Man" by Michael W. Smith was playing across the hall. I knew that night that the direction I thought my life would take was going to change to a completely unexpected road with a beautiful view. A life with Mark. I was very thankful that night, talking to God, hearing His voice, hearing Jason's voice talking to me telling me it's okay to take a new direction. It was His direction, His will for my life. I'm so very happy I took this road. Thank you Jason for one last conversation.


Today I'm thankful for following the will of God, even when society said it wasn't the most sensible thing to do, I did it anyways. Go West Young Man!