Wordless Wednesday ~ Elli's Silly Face

SLI ~ Week 5 (Chapters 9-10)

This week's chapters in "So Long Insecurity", were a little bit different. The first one, chapter 9, finally dealt with healing. The prayer that Beth wrote out was brilliant, though I didn't pray that exact one out loud. I read through it, and then prayed my own prayer...one that honestly started to heal my heart just like she said it would. This week's questions are a little different as well.

Here they are:

1. DO (don't just read, but actually DO) chapter 9. Reflect back on this time with God, and share anything specific that you received from it.

2. Go to this link and look at all the verses in the comment section. Pick five Scriptures that speak most powerfully to you right now - five that you feel like you need the most - and write them on the inside cover of your book.

I hope that this weeks reading was well received in your hearts. Can't wait to see the comments!

Track Select

We've been waiting for this weekend for a LONG time!! It was Track Select weekend, or more simply, the weekend where we would learn which "track" Chris will be going to for the next phase of pilot training. There are 4 possible "tracks": T-44's (which go on to fly C-130's), Helicopter's, T-1's (which go on to fly cargo planes & refuelers), and T-38's (which typically go on to fly fighters). Chris, of course, wanted T-38's...but it's easier said than done. There were only 6 T-38 slots for his class (of 30), so he had to work extremely hard to get one of them. In the end, his dedication and drive paid off! Though the announcer's teased that he had received a UAV slot, the slide quickly changed to a pic of the 38 and a big "Just Kidding" sign above it. It was pretty funny!

The slide show is pretty much a big roasting, and I'm telling you...I couldn't have taken it!! I'm too sensitive to stand up in front of hundreds of people who are laughing at me! I gotta admit, his slide was hilarious though :)

It read:

Born in: 1920's

Most likely to say: "I will destroy you!"

**Yes, apparently he actually said that during class one day!**

Most likely to fail the PFT due to crippling arthritis.

**Obviously, he's old! (For the class, at least!)**

I love his face in this one!!

Can I just brag on my husband for a minute here? I'm sure you won't mind, right? Ha! Well...my hardworking guy won 3 awards that night! He won the "Top Gun" award in Contact, the "Top Gun" award in Formation, and the "Dubisher Award" which is awarded to the top student of the class. He was shocked and excited, and I just about jumped out of my seat when they called his name for the last one! I am so unbelievably proud of him!
His mom and Mike came out to see Track Select, and we had a great time on Friday just looking at all the planes and learning about a typical day for a student pilot. Above is a pic of them w/ the T-6
A family shot of us w/ the T-6

I love this one!! Elli the pilot :)

Chris in the T-38!

Daddy & Elli in the T-38

So today is the beginning of the next phase of pilot training. For the next 6 months, Chris, along with 5 other guys, will learn how to fly the T-38, and will compete for their final assignments. It's like starting over, the slate is wiped clean. We're hoping for a Fighter, but we know that it will take a lot of hard work, tons of dedication, and rain-checks on date night for the next 6 months! Ha! I'm sure it will be yet another adventure :)

Sneak Peek...

Some of you may have noticed that I've been alluding to a project that I've been working on...the one that is supposed to make it's debut in early May!! Well, if you know me at all, you know I'm terrible with secrets, so I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at what's up :) Pretty soon you'll be able to see some more of my work on a website that rhymes w/ Betsy! Tee Hee!!!

I LOVE Springtime!

The weather in Mississippi has been incredible lately! I even broke out my "summer clothes" a few weeks ago! Don't you just love the feeling of tearing into your boxed up seasonal clothes and discovering all of the things that you forgot you had?! I just delight in it!

We took Elli "swimming" for the first time today...what a trip! I definitely think that we were more excited about it than she was. Try to picture Chris and I loaded down w/ 2 cameras (yes 2!), 2 towels (one for sitting on, one for drying Elli off with), our Flip recorder, Elli's hat, some bath toys, & our child (you can't forget her!). It was a sight, I'm sure. We got all situated, turned on the video camera, put her in the water, and....nothing. I'm not sure what we expected, but she was neither excited nor upset with the who experience. Actually, she seemed quite bored with the whole thing! But we splashed around a little bit, took plenty of pictures, and ended up having a a great time laughing about her first pool exposure. I see a lot more of that in our future, especially when it gets super hot this summer!!

Here are our 2 pools!! Ha!

Elli the Swimmer!

I LOVE her new bathing suit...I want one just like it :)

And some pics of our newly renovated garden :) We planted some zinnia's, an azalea bush, and lots of marigolds. We'll see if they survive...my track record isn't so hot!
Our house & pretty new garden!

Happy Monday!

Hey friends! I hope you all had a great weekend, and that you don't have a "case of the Monday's" today! (I LOVE that movie!) Grandma Donna came out to visit us this weekend, and we had fun cruisin' around getting things ready for summer! Grandma D bought Elli a sweet little swing to put in the backyard, and we found a baby pool that we're going to set up this afternoon as well. Of course, when we started looking at pools, Chris decided that he & I might need one too...and so, we now have a "parent's pool" that will be set up next to the baby one :) We also did a major overhaul of our front flower beds. Whew! After multiple trips to Lowe's, at least 5 hours in the hot Mississippi sun, and a few run-in's with some furry hole-digging creatures, I've decided that I'm not a big fan of gardening. But alas, I'm so happy with the end result that I just might have to try to keep it up :)

Possibly my favorite thing about this weekend was our visit to a new church on Sunday. Though we were relatively happy with our old church, we just felt that it didn't quite "fit" us the way we longed for it to. We loved the nursery, and were happy with the pastor; however, the music was a bone of contention each and every Sunday. And when, on Easter, the band opened with a U2 song...well, we just felt that we needed to find another church home. So, we opted for the First United Methodist Church downtown. We chose to visit because in my search of Bible Study materials for our upcoming women's study, I called FUMC hoping that they might have a Beth Moore study on hand that we could rent. An associate pastor called me back, and without even asking where (or if) I went to church, not only gave me an inventory of the available studies, but also agreed to box up the one that I chose! In the box was 6 DVD's, the leader kit, and enough workbooks for all of the women who will be attending our study...they won't have to buy a single thing! What a blessing! Anyway, we were very impressed with the Sunday service, really liked the nursery, and felt extremely comfortable in the church. If you'd like to pray for us this week as we make our decision about whether or not to make it our church home, we'd definitely appreciate it!

I do have a parenting question for all you mommies out there!! When did you cut out your babies first nap? I'm thinking it's about time to go to 2 naps a day instead of 3, but I'm not quite sure. Elli, like I've said before, REALLY likes her sleep...but 3 really long naps a day seems excessive for 7 months old. I'd love to hear your feedback, and always welcome any tips you might have that could make the transition a little bit easier.

Happy Monday!!

SLI ~ Week 4 (Chapter 7-8)

It's Monday again, and you know what that means!! Here are Beth's questions for this weeks chapters:

1. What part of Chapter 7 hit home with you most, and why?

2. Based on your journey so far in chapters 1-8, list your own personal top three reasons why it's time to deal with your insecurity.

3. Based on Chapter 8, briefly describe a recent trigger of insecurity and whether or not it got a rise out of you.

4. Also based on Chapter 8, what does dignity mean to you?

My answers will be in the comments section, if you're lookin' :)