The Start of A Long Journey

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, forever. Amen". Eph. 3:20-21

The Alive Campaing crew started their long journey to Alaska today. I so wish I could have been there for the send off to show my support. That is one of the hard things about being away from family. I am so used to being with my loved ones at the hospital, sporting events, awards nights, good times, and bad times. That is just what I know to do. I'm still adjusting to showing support from a distance.

Enough of my pity party. Buddo did call me today before they got really started in the ride. With tears flowing, I expressed how proud I was of him and the others and hugged him as hard as I could through the phone. And Lanissa called and gave me details of the big send off and sent pictures so I could see my little bro in biker shorts. (Not too shabby Buddo.) I am so excited to hear of all the good that is going to come from this journey. I pray they are safe and have the experience of a life time. Please keep them in your prayers as they still need funding and places to stay on their trip.

Thanks for allowing me my brag session. That is the great thing about a blog!!

Name Change

Success!!! The boys are both down for the night. (Thank goodness) I made it through a whole weekend with Garth gone out of town. Cheers all around please. He left last Sunday to attend a course in DC, and will return on Friday. Come on Daddy!!

The weekdays weren't too bad. Jaydon and I stayed busy playing with the neighbors and Dylan went to school. When he got home, we did homework and then he was out to play with friends or we met someone for dinner or we went to gymnastics.

However, Saturday and Sunday were a bit more trying. It doesn't take long to discover that both our boys are high energy and need entertaining. Dylan has to be doing something all the time and preferablly with as many little boys from the street as possible. Jaydon wants to be outside, or if he has to stay indoors he wants to play tractor or train or motorcycle with you. Noises and all. I love my boys so much, and desire to pour into my little God given vessels. However, I am quite done pouring for the day.

Now the reason I labled this post Name Change is because I feel the need to be called Fred or Sue or Bob or Jane, even Lynita. I have heard MOM and MOMMY so many times this weekend that I am done. When Dylan was first talking, I so wanted him to say MA. He had DADA down pat for so long, but just wasn't saying MA. We went to Colorado with my family during this time and my Dad spotted a road called NO NAME LN. That was my road. Then it started and I haven't heard the end of it yet. Then Jaydon started talking and I knew better this time. Be careful what you wish for. But, MA, MOM, and now MOMMY came very quickly. I wasn't the only one who recognized it today. I took the boys to the mall and as I was checking out, the nice gentleman behind the counter said something like, "Don't you wish you could change your name sometimes?" My response, "Yes."

Now, do not read this and for one moment think I do not love my boys or want to be a MOMMY, MOMMY, MOMMY, MOMMY. I most certainly do - everyday for as long as God allows. It is just nice to have a small break every now and again.

So with that said, I, Lynita am going to call it a night and get some rest so I can continue filling the vessels, I affectionately call MY SONS.

Good night!

Two months and counting!!!

The big move is fast approaching. We will have Corpus Christi, TX in our rear view mirror in less than two months. Unfortunately it still hasn't sunk in yet that we will no longer have a TX address. It is so hard to believe that two and one-half years can fly by so fast. We will soon be living in a different state, Garth will have very different duty, Dylan will have a new school and friends. I could go on and on about what will change and how we will have to adjust. However, we will get through it and overcome I am sure. One thing never changes and that is Jesus Christ, so when all else fails grab onto Him.

I recently started a new Bible Study called Stepping Up by Beth Moore. It will take us through the Psalms of Ascent. I knew I wanted to do this bible study before heading out, but when I started studying, I learned that I think God wanted me to do it too. The study dives into Psalms 120-134. These are the psalms the people sang to and from the festivals God called the Jews to observe. (I never knew that till this study.) Well it didn't take me to long to find a psalm to grab ahold of for the journey - Psalms 121.

Psa 121:1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where shall my help come from?
Psa 121:2 My help comes from Jehovah, who made Heaven and earth.
Psa 121:3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Psa 121:4 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Psa 121:5 Jehovah is your keeper; Jehovah is your shade on your right hand.
Psa 121:6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
Psa 121:7 Jehovah shall keep you from all evil; He shall keep your soul.
Psa 121:8 Jehovah shall keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

What could be more fitting for a spiritual journey or a physical journey? So I pray the Lord keeps this Psalms in the forefront of our minds as we may our way up and over the hills to a new land. We will keep you posted on the progress of the journey!!

Confidence

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him." Jeremiah 17:7

On a whim, Dylan raced in his second race yesterday. We had to return some items to the local moto store and a salesman told us about a local race being held. It didn't take Dylan long to let us know he wanted to race, but he was a bit torn about what bike to ride. A couple of weeks ago, we purchased Dylan a race motorcycle. He likes it, but is a bit leery of it because he can't touch his feet on the ground when he is on it. Long story short, Garth made an executive decision to let him ride the new bike.

We got to the track and all checked in for the race. Dylan has only been on this track a couple of times. The track was wet and kind of slick. On Dylan's practice lap, he didn't even make it around once. He kept falling and just not sure of himself at all. (He had just rode the day before and was looking really good on the bike.) He came off the track crying and Garth was frustrated. So, the serious parenting began. We knew he just needed some confidence and he could ride that track. We told him to ride with the confidence he had the day before and he would do great. Garth took him to a little track and let him ride while the other races were going. The confidence was building.

His race time began and believe it or not, he did all three laps without falling. He was a totally different rider. He came in last out of four, but he finished the race. He was so proud of himself. On the second moto, he was in third place up until the very end and a little guy passed him. But once again, all the way around three times without one fall. He came off the track with a big smile and was greeted by a big bear hug from his dad. He just got a participation trophy and was quite disappointed in it. However, the day turned out to be a big confidence booster for Dylan.

Confidence appeared to be the word of the day, and as I was replaying the day in my mind I began to realize that I am not too much unlike Dylan. There are many times that I don't have the confidence to get through some of the things I face. However, as the verse above states, we are to have our confidence in Jesus - that will be enough to get us through. If the waves are crashing in too hard and high or the waters ahead look murky and muddy or the mountain just looks way too treacherous - we are called to trust in Him and find our confidence to come through in Christ.

Be encouraged!!

Many blessings!

First Race

I just wanted to quickly tell you about Dylan's first motocross race. As you know, Dylan has ridden a little dirtbike for about a year. Lately, he has expressed interest in racing, so he rode in his first race yesterday. To make the day more special, my grandparents came down to enjoy the day with us.

We arrived at the track around 9 am and got Dylan checked in for the race. He was ready to ride as soon as we got there. We tried to get him to conserve enery for the race, but he informed us that he was here to ride not rest. Before the races began, a Christian motocycle club held a devotional for anyone who wanted to join, so we did and were greatly blessed. Dylan got a sticker from them and they prayed for him and his bike. (Very neat.) Then the waiting began. They run the little guys last, so he was race number 9. We are still learning about the motocross sport, so here is what we know. There is a class for PeeWee's and a class for race 50's. Dylan is in the PeeWee class because of the bike he rides. There were no other PeeWee's and only 2 race 50's. They ran these boys together and of course, Dylan came in last in both races. However, because he is considered PeeWee, he received the 1st place trophy for the class. Well, he thinks he is big stuff now. He has shown his trophy off and told big tales about the race and this morning he took a picture of the trophy to school. He had a great time and so did we, so I guess there will be more racing in our future and possibly a race bike.

It was a fast weekend, but very special. We are so glad that Mamaw and Papaw were able to jump in their car and come for a quick visit. The boys really enjoyed having them around, and it was good for them to spend some special time with Jaydon. We ended their visit with prayer and off to the big city of Hillsboro they went. I thank them for the Christian legacy they are passing on to their kids, grandkids, and now great-grandkids.










Well, now it is time to get things back in order from the weekend. Gotta go!! Laundry is beckoning.

Many blessings!!

BBBBBBBRRRRRROOOOOOMMMMMMM....

or something like that. (Jaydon's version of anything with a motor). I have had two very nice posts ready to go and my silly computer has eaten both, so this is effort #3. I just wanted to tell you about our great weekend. We were blessed to have a three day weekend, and my parents came down for a visit. The weather wasn't just great on Saturday so we just hung out and enjoyed everyone's company. Mom got some good Grammy time in with the boys. Dad watched the Barrett-Jackson (he can't help it, it is in his genes). He also shared some snacks and played some sort of "pounce the granddad game" with Jaydon. Garth did some maintenance on the motorcyles and I just enjoyed having a few extra hands around the house. Thank you Grammy!!

Sunday we went out with three other families from the base who have dirt bikes and had a great day. Dylan of course had a blast. He loves to ride. Garth gave Jaydon a ride and he loves it too. I think we have another dirt bike rider in the waiting. Dad even got back on one after many years and you could see the pleasure in his face to know he still had it. I got in on the action by riding a friend's 70 and putting around for awhile. Grammy did what she does best - behind the cameras catching all the action. We ended the day with a yummy meal at La Playa.

Monday was time to say Bye. That is never fun, but it allows us to look forward to next time. It is so great to have family visit when they can. It was great having you Mom and Dad. We love you.

This morning we were back to the grind. Dylan off to school and Garth off to work leaving Jaydon and I here to make up for the weekend. Dylan is already looking forward to the next one hoping some motorcycle riding is in the plans.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend too.

Many blessing!!

Happy 2008!!!

We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year. We had a great holiday season. We were able to see my half of the family and visit with some friends. We all managed to stay well until after Christmas. Dylan got a stomach bug and Jaydon is now fighting chest congestion and ear infections. (Hope he doens't have to live on bubble gum medicine like me.)

Anyways now we trying to get things back in order here and focus on the upcoming year. We have some big changes in the year ahead. Dylan started his last half of kinder today. The first half was a blur and I'm sure this half will be no different. He starts gymnastics tonight. That should be fun. He still loves riding his motorcycle and gets better all the time.

Jaydon is growing so fast. He is slimming down a bit (28 1/2 lbs.) but still has those "Lloyd" legs. He likes being with the guys and playing outside and his vocabulary is increasing by the week now. I can't believe '08 will bring me a 7 year old and a 2 year old. It just doesn't seem possible.

Garth is just steadily working. He received his orders and we are headed out to California in June. (He will have more on that later.) So, he is consumed with figuring out housing and the logistics of all that right now. When he is not working he is riding or skateboarding with Dylan or just enjoying time with his family. Not much new with me. I am just enjoying this ride they call LIFE. I just stay busy with the boys, all three. It is a good thing I am a tom-boy at heart. My health appears to be managed pretty well right now.

Well that is a quick look into our lives. We will bring more details about the move as we have them. Please keep us in your prayers as the days roll by, I know we will need them. We know that God has good things for us and we will continue to look to Him to lead and guide us in His ways (whever that may take us). We wish you a very blessed 2008. Please stay in touch.

Many blessings!