The sweet sound of silence

So I started a blog the other day and by the third sentence I sounded pretty whacked out. So instead of scarring all of you (not that there is anyone to scare around here anymore) I thought I’d re-do and fit into the mold of Kami once again. So here goes ………………... ………………………………………………………………………….

(after hours of sitting with my fingers on the keyboard, birds chirping outside the window, and the low hum of the dryer, I came up with nothing.!)

Singing with my husband.

As a kid I always dreamed of singing with my husband. There was never any doubt that I would, and the thought of it NOT happening never even enter my mind. I love music, I love to sing and so would my husband! That’s just the way it would be.

Now if you knew Jack when I first met him you may understand why I thought when I married him that it was just a dream, it would never happen and it was time to grow up.
Years later I’m not sure you could understand the pride and excitement I have when I see Jack leading worship, or singing a special in church. (for all you who knew Jack before I did, this really happens!) An even greater excitement comes when I get to be a part, singing with him! We have had the opportunity to sing together several times now and It has been awesome! I look forward to every chance I get.

A day with Victoria

Wow! What a day to spend with my daughter Victoria. We laid around all day, ate when we felt like it, watched a movie played monopoly, and wore our sweat pants! (That alone makes for a good day.) It was just the two of us. However, this day began in the wee hours of the morning, when Victoria decided to have throw-up issues. Jack, like usual, did a great job with the sick kid. But when you have one in bed with you your own sleep seems to escape you. After a few rounds of her calling for mommy, going and checking to see if she made it and then climbing back into bed, Paige yells out that Jamin threw up on his bed. I go to check and sure enough, it's everywhere. He however was laying peacefully next to it completely unconcerned. I asked him why he didn't call me and he said "OH I thought you were asleep." The next morning he told Jack "I puked and then I felt better so I went to sleep." Jamin, you got to love him.

The butterscotch man

Hey, do you guys remember Willie Spencer, or better known as the butterscotch man? I am always excited to capture a glimpse of my childhood (simply because I can’t remember much) and thoughts of Willie have recently brought a smile. He was an old wrinkly man with grubby fingernails and prickles all over his face. Everybody loved him. He always wore a trench coat with his hands folded behind his back as he walked and he never said a word. He was full of tricks and smiles. We didn’t know whether to be afraid and run or freeze and let him do what he did best. I’m not sure if we liked him because of the butter scotches he always put on our heads or the fact that he snuck up on us and did the old fashion tap you on the shoulder and go to the other side. The smile he had when he got you was unforgettable. Aah Willie. One couldn’t help but love him.

Home from Honduras and loving it.

The trip to Honduras was wonderful. Outside of the jelly fish, attacking parrot, fire ants, malaria carrying mosquitoes, sand fleas and tarantulas there was nothing to fear. The Honduran kids were great (even the tough ones), the ocean was beautiful, the breeze was sent from heaven, the lodging couldn’t have been nicer, the showers were often over used (when they weren’t broken), the sunsets were awe inspiring, and the food was tasty, but what got me the most was our own teens! The way they desired to serve and get involved, the way they chose to share the gospel over cooling off with ice cream, the way they hugged and loved on those kids. The way they hated to leave. There is nothing better than seeing Christ in someone’s life and He was often seen during our week in Honduras

me a missionary????

well, I'm missing my man immensely, but God has given me great times with the kids. They have been in the pool everyday since he left. we cannot wait until school is over. I also had the opportunity to talk with our neighbor about eternity the other day. we have been praying for an opportunity and I actually took advantage of the one God gave!! I have often prayed in the past for such opportunities only later to realize they've gone right by without me doing a thing. if you would pray along with me for our neighbors across the street, Emerson and Mary. He is in the hospital and Mary is not expecting him home. Shame on me for waiting so long!! They are in their mid 90's and her kids are now cleaning out the house that he was born in. I have offered to take her to visit her husband in the hospital, pray that I can and that I will have boldness in sharing Christ with both of them. With all of our neighbors actually, we are surrounded by unbelievers literally, pray that we would be a light to all of them.

caught staring

So I’ve been thinking quite a lot about my hunk of studliness and am so amazed. I caught myself the other day just staring at him and smiling. When he caught me looking I must admit I felt a little childish and a little like those couples we used to make fun of at WOL. You know, the ones who would just sit and stare at the “other” with their dreamy eyes.
The love I felt for him at that moment was so immense, the thoughts and feelings I had were so strong and so many. Not that I don’t love him every minute of every day, but in that passing minute I got a glimpse of Jack. All the reasons I fell in love with him and all the reasons why I still love him. His dedication to his family, his enthusiasm in ministry, his one good joke, his “growing up” stories that I know by heart, the fact that he never tires of pointing out his old houses, the pink elephants he brings in the house, the way he can get the kids to laugh, his new found love of the outdoors, his loyalties that run so deep, his “nothing half-way” attitude, the fact that he is….. what did we call it Jon…. Oh yeah, “New Jersey”, his love of music and his willingness to learn it, that he still lets me beat him in tennis, he lets me be the “fun one” sometimes, and he lets me cry and laugh in the same minute and all he has to do is hug me, the way he talks me up so much to others and wont let anyone talk poorly of me (except for maybe my sisters).
There’s so much wrapped up in Jack and yet I quickly get distracted by the hustle of life and take for granted that which I treasure most here on earth. Life at times seems to blind me of who matters most to me, when what I really want to do is sit and stare.

I woke up to a sad realization this morning. my close friend will not be returning for quite some time. I may not see her for another four years and communication between the two of us may be difficult for the duration. over the last year I have seen a lot of her and grown to love and appreciate her (and her family) more and more. she has been someone whom I can call at anytime and share my heart without feeling judged, condemned or simply misunderstood. we have shared so many laughs and tears with each other and through each struggle I know she's praying with and for me. she has come to visit often and I have loved every minute of it. I have watched her mother her child and have had the privilege of seeing her child grow and mature. she has encouraged me in many ways and inspired me often without words. there have been times when in my sinfulness I think I am the only one going through "struggles" and feel so very lonely but God always seems to remind me of His goodness to me. I not only have one dear sister and friend, God has graciously given me FOUR!!

summer's comin'

I was eating an ice cream cone recently and contemplating the differences between sugar cones and regular cones. I am definitely for regular. Where Sugar cones tend to crumble and crack, never have a straight edge and often leak out the bottom leaving you messy and sticky, regular cones are perfectly suited for consumption. First you start by Eating the very tiny edge wetting your appetite for the remainder, this is followed by biting the large protruding portion of the cone which gives your taste buds enough to want to devour the rest in one huge bite- (but you fight the urge knowing that soon all will be as it should and you can lay back in the hammock to soak up the sun.) once again come the little nibbles to straighten all edges. this is a very critical step and must be done very carefully while pushing the ice cream into the furthest crevasses so every bite is filled with the creaming cool goodness. By this time the cone is the perfect size for going into the mouth to be bitten just above the squares at the bottom. Once again you go back to nibbling to smooth the edges before the last bite of all. Ahh! The perfect size so as to cover the inside of you mouth without being too big to be uncomfortable. You smash it with your tongue against the roof of your mouth to release the remainder of that refreshing flavor to every surface inch of your mouth. Total enjoyment! Totally un-messy, and totally worth every minute! Oh how I long for my hammock!

a dirty heart

The heart is more desperately sick than all else, who can know it? I am thankful that the lord is so gracious in only revealing a small amount of my heart at a time, lest I be overwhelmed by the blackness of it. To realize that I don’t even know my own heart is a bit scary (especially when he shows me just a little.) And yet His patience as he reveals areas of weakness and sin while supplying the necessary items for change never cease to amaze me. On top of which he is always waiting and willing to help me all over again when I fall. I am so thankful to my lord for his patience, his never ending love, and his constant care for me and my dirty heart.

Experience Jersey

Just wanted to let everyone know we’ll be adding a deck to our pool this summer and it’s going to be great! So I officially invite all of you to come visit sometime during the summer to try out the new deck( It’s hard to make changes on something so big in size, but nothing is impossible.) And for all of you “used to be Michiganders” I think it’s time you came to visit! Then you would all be able to share in the joy of Jersey.

true friends

So I've been thinking about friends lately and what makes a good one. I came to the conclusion that a friend is someone that would never post anything (i.e. a picture of long ago) that might be embarrassing to one individual. I also thought that a true friend would never call another names such as "slacker", or "lazy" or imply she's been that way her whole life. A true friend would be willing to go the extra mile and post regardless of the business of life that has her so wrapped up she doesn't have a moment to type. A good friend would never compare her to a less fortunate individual (regardless of family relations). A true friend would give her the benefit of the doubt and let her have her mid-life crisis in peace without all the heckling...........do I have any true friends????

So as not to disappoint big t, I will post.

It finally happened. I gave in, I just couldn't say no any longer. The pressure has been so great over the last four or five years and I have been weakening. I thought I was stronger than that. The will power was simply not enough. My determination to fight the good fight and not give in was powerless. I failed. miserable disappointment. my hair is gone.