Christmas Eve in Washington

The National Christmas Tree

December 23, 2008

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

AT & LT

Thankful thoughts...

We are thankful for friends.

We are thankful for happy girls!

We are thankful for our home!

Andy was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his service in Iraq.

We are SO thankful that he is home!

We are so thankful for our family and yours!

Thanksgiving blessings,

LT

"W"

We were thrilled to get to see President Bush yesterday. He was returning to Andrews, so we headed to the terminal to stand by and wave. He stepped off the plane, waved at us and walked to Marine 1. I know he waved at us because we were the ONLY ones standing there! Ha!

We were hoping he'd walk over and say hello, but he didn't. It was still a thrill. Thought I'd share some pictures.

Blessings from The President's Airport,

LT

Here and There...

Historic Jamestown, Master John Rolfe explained life in the 1600's.

Girls at Madame Tussaud's Museum in DC (at the Jonas' brothers display.)

Andy in front of the Eisenhower's Farm Home in Gettysburg, PA

Bird-in-Hand, PA, The Teddy Bear Shop

We've enjoyed some traveling since Andy's homecoming. We took the girls to Williamsburg, Jamestown, Busch Gardens and Yorktown, VA. We had a wonderful time.

Then we headed to Gettysburg and Amish Country for a few days without the children. We had a restful, wonderful trip.

Blessings,

LT

Look Who's Home!

We are overjoyed to announce...

Daddy's home!

The Lord has been so good to our family and has brought us together again.

To God be the glory!

LT

The Chapel Team

The Chapel Team...Andy is the 3rd guy from the left. This is their serious side. It's hot, dusty and they have been there over 110 days!






...and here is their silly side. You have to do some funny things to help the time go by. Andy said this will be on their album cover. I think they are striking a pose to celebrate they are down to their last 15 days!







I've learned so many lessons during the past 4 months. I hope to share some of our thoughts with you soon. Thanks for your many prayers, calls, cards and care packages.
God is answering your prayers. We're down to 3 weeks, give or take a few days!

Blessings,
LT

Vacation Bible School!

Vacation Bible School was a hit last week on base! We had record numbers. The best part...children heard the gospel and families know the chapel cares about them.

Beach Party...surfin' the Word of God!

We are down to 4 Mondays!! Thanks be the God. We appreciate your many prayers! Ministry has been rich over there (and at home.) The Lord seems to use us when we are completely relying on His grace. "When we are weak, He is strong..."

Blessings,

LT

Abby has a brand new smile...

Thought you might like to see our adventures with Abigail this week at the orthodontist.

Before

I told you we're doing a lot of smiling. So hers is especially bright now.

Blessings,

LT

After

Why are we smiling?

We are only 6 Mondays away from Daddy's return. We are beginning to count the days. We think Daddy is counting the days and hours!

The girls are growing up right before my eyes. We have made many new friends on base. Sarah is holding one of them. We appreciate your prayers, calls and cards more than you know!!

Andy is doing well. The ministry is keeping him working 16-18 hour days, so he is exhausted. And we know that what he does is not only "hard" work, but "heart" work as well. Folks are coming to worship and bible studies! Several want him to baptize them. What a wonderful place to follow Christ in baptism. He is looking for a place to have it. It will be memorable for those new Christians. Please continue to pray for his protection, his ministries and his safe travel HOME! You think we're smiling now...I can't imagine the joy in 6 weeks! That squeal you hear from DC will be 4 happy ladies welcoming their Daddy home!

Blessings,

LT

Sweet 13...

Today, sweet Sarah turns sweet 13! Where have all the years gone? When folks say, "Enjoy these years. They grow up so fast." They are speaking the truth! She has grown up so fast. She has brought so much love, joy and laughter into our lives. She radiates from the inside out. We know she is a gift from the Lord. Pray for her as she embarks on her teenage years. Pray that she seeks to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever." We are so thankful for her life!

Half-way Home...

That's right, folks! We are on the down-hill slide of this deployment. Your prayers and support have been incredible. We sense them and KNOW God has heard the prayers of saints of our behalf.
Ministry is going well over there. He's preaching three times each Sunday. He's beginning his series on Jonah. Pretty neat, considering he's pretty much sitting where Nineveh once stood.
Operation Popsicle continues to be a hit. He tells me, "Ironically, the ice pops break the ice." Something so small means so much! It has opened many doors. These folks are coming to services, attending Bible studies and seeking godly counsel. Praise the Lord, the whole earth is full of His glory!
Keep praying...56 days and counting!
Blessings,
LT

A Tale of Two Birds...

Sarah and her friends had been watching a robin's nest this week. They were thrilled to watch the hatchlings be born. They couldn't wait everyday to go see the baby birds and watch their Mom care for them. Sadly, what they found on Friday sent them into action. They walk up to find the Mom Robin drowned and the nest broken in half floating in the creek. There are two babies hanging onto that half nest literally, for dear life. Sarah, without even blinking scooped them up and raced home with them. She built them a nest and began to feed them water with a dropper. She kept them safe and warm. Then she decided to tell me we had guests in the house. She wrote me this precious letter telling me what had happened and how she couldn't just stand there and watch those baby birds drown. She knew we couldn't keep them but we had to keep them alive until we found a home for them. Of course by now, Dr. Rachel is now involved in the feeding and constant "bird watching." I tell you, those two love God's creatures.
Anyway, our internet search began trying to find information about caring for them and where we could take them on Monday morning. And we began praying for these baby birds.
By Sunday afternoon, Sarah had been feeding them every hour (Pedialyte in a dropper). She was quite sleepy but she happened to look out of her bedroom window and saw a robin's nest with a Mom & Dad robin taking care of two baby birds. She is ecstatic! We think God has prepared a home for them. We get out Daddy's big ladder and Sarah takes a peek inside the nest. She knows this is the place for them. So she gets the hatchlings and gently places them inside the nest and we pray. We pray that the Mom & Dad robin will take care of them. And guess what? They are. They are feeding them, keeping them warm, protecting them. They are loving them like their own.

My neighbor saw us outside and knew all about the baby birds and said, "This is just like your family..." We both wiped a tear.
Look at what God has done. I told Sarah how proud I was of her and all her efforts to save these baby birds. She was relieved that they had been adopted. God had provided even for the smallest of His creatures. What a story! The teachable moments from the weekend are endless...
* loving someone enough to die for them to save them
* loving God's creatures
* how much we need our family
* how God created us to take care of our babies
* how that tiny, little hatching is a LIFE
* how God chooses our families
* how God takes the hard things and brings about good
* how adoption is so beautiful, even with baby birds
* how God cares for the birds of the field, how much more does He care for us?

I could go on and on, but I wanted to share this incredible story.

Blessings for our little nest to yours,
LT

God Bless America!

Happy Independence Day! We are thankful for this great country and the patriots who keep us free. God has surely shed His grace on us.

God Bless America,
Our home, sweet home!

Blessings from DC,
LT (for all of us)

A Pool "Ministry"...

Is there such a thing? Andy is teasing me that I have a "pool ministry" going on since we hang out at the base pool almost every day. Well, I laugh, but maybe I do. I'm finding it's a wonderful way to recruit Vacation Bible School volunteers, grow ladies' Bible studies and fill the pews at the chapel. So, yes, I think it is possible to have a "pool ministry." He-he...
See, I have three mermaid helpers with me...




We've also done what every family with a loved one serving in the war does...we've put a yellow ribbon round the old, oak tree in our front yard. Thought you might like to see our base house.


















I also want to thank you for your continued prayers and support for Andy (and us). We sense your prayers and your acts of kindness have served to encourage a chaplain on a dangerous mission field. The cards, the boxes, the phone cards for troops, the popsicles, the candy... all these tangible things show your love for Christ and us. THANK you from the bottom of our hearts. We are down to 10 Mondays! The halfway mark is next week! Yipee!! He received a medal from his commander last week for his service there. Here they are together.
soli Deo gloria,
LT

Only in the South...

We've had a wonderful time visiting family and friends. We really enjoyed our time at the beach. Our girls love the water. They love it too much and ended up with ear infections. We went through all the hoops to find an Urgent Care who accepts Tricare. We get directions and head to Calabash, NC. As we're driving up the coast on Hwy 17, I'm starting to wonder where we're headed. We follow the directions from the nurse and end up in the driveway of an old house turned doctor's office. We go in and I just had to chuckle...

You know you're in the south when you walk in an old house turned doctor's office and the waiting room is filled with lawn furniture. That's right, folding chairs in the waiting area. The girls looked at me and I said, "Go ahead on in." The staff was extremely kind and helpful and we were seen right away. The doctor was wonderful with the girls and gave us all the medication we needed. We were on our way. We were thankful for the care we received and all I could think of is "only in the south, only in the south."

The girls are feeling better and we are looking forward to getting back home. Thanks for your prayers. We can ALL feel them.

Blessings,

LT

Operation Popsicle...

It's wonderful when you "get" to do something you love. When you have a passion for your job, it shows . That's exactly what Andy has. His passion for his job is fueled by his passion for his Christ. Even though circumstances are hard, he finds great joy and fulfillment in doing what God's called him to do.

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. Brothers, pray for us also..." I Thes. 5:24

Andy has been able to DO all kinds of ministry in the last month. He's doing a Bible Study with 30+ in attendance. He's preaching in two Sunday services. The morning service is growing each week. He takes communion to the troops who can't come to the "chapel". He does lots of visitation around the base. One thing the girls think is neat is called "Operation Popsicle". He (and his compadres) take cool treats to those who are baking in the heat and dust. They carry a cooler filled with freeze pops as a small way to lift their spirits and say thank you.

Thanks for your many prayers. They are making a difference.

Blessings,

LT

Santa in Overalls...

I had an interesting day...interesting, but good. Let me tell you what the Lord did. I decided to go to Wades and get something yummy. I stood in the express lane, thinking I was getting it to go. Turns out, I was in the wrong line. I was actually in line with Santa in overalls. This dear, old strawberry farmer was in front of me in line and we struck up a conversation. He liked the t-shirt I was wearing that reads "My husband rocks". I told him about Andy and what he is doing. He said, "God bless you ma'am and God bless your husband." We continued talking. It was a VERY long line. Turns out I was in the line to dine in. So I went down the line and choose some AWESOME turkey and dressing and green beans. He was in line to pay in front of me and he said, "I'm buying her lunch today too." I kept saying, "Thank you, sir, but you don't have to do that." He said, "I know, but I want to." Well, we get into the dining room and there is literally ONE table for two in the whole place. I sit down and he stands there. I say "Please, sir, join me for lunch." He sat down and I asked him if I could pray for lunch and big tears welled up in his eyes. He took off his old farmer's hat and bowed his head. I prayed for Andy and this farmer's ailing wife. We just sat and talked at lunch about what Andy is doing and the strawberry business. He had a truck filled with baskets...enough for 1000's of my famous strawberry shakes. :)

This is what struck me...God sent this old fella to minister to me...why me? God's grace is so sweet, just like strawberries. The Lord knew (and was the only One who knew) that I needed a lift today. But, in some way, I pray I ministered to him by just listening and praying and smiling across the table. When I left he said again that he would pray for Andy and me and the girls. He offered me some strawberries, but I was already so humbled by his kindness, that I declined. So "Big O", the strawberry farmer sends his regards to a certain chaplain and was delighted to treat me to lunch today. Doesn't this always happen? God sends unexpected people into my life to encourage me? Sometimes the most unlikely people...in the most unlikely of places. And now, Santa in overalls...the strawberry farmer from Chesney who thinks what we're doing is important. He found a kind way to say, "Thank you." I won't ever forget this day...Thank you, Lord.

LT

Carolina Girls...

Thank you for your prayers in the past few weeks. We are grateful for you remembering our family. We headed to SC for a few weeks of R & R with grandparents. (Really, that's code language, for getting spoiled). We are looking forward to seeing everyone. It's a wonderful distraction for us.

Andy is adjusting to his new "home" away from home. Ministry is demanding, but rewarding. He is preaching 3 times a week and you know he'd rather preach than eat. Speaking of eating, the dining facility is by far, the nicest building on base. He's enjoying that, too. He's also meeting new brothers & sisters in arms. He's encouraged to see the leadership in the worship services. Please continue to pray for his safety and that Christ would be lifted high in his ministry there.


We're almost down to 15 Mondays...but who's counting, right?

Blessings,
LT

18 Mondays...

This has probably been the toughest week of my 39 years. We have had emotions we didn't even know we had. We have felt God's presence. We experienced a strength that was not our own. We have peace that only comes from the Prince of Peace. It is true what the psalmist said, "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning." With each new day, more smiles emerge and the time has begun to tick away. In an effort to explain how long a deployment is, we determined that "18 Mondays" didn't sound as long to us. And the good news is, it's almost down to 17 Mondays. We have felt the prayers of many saints on our behalf and I know you'll keep ringing the bells of heaven for our family. Thank you for remembering us. God is answering your prayers. I will try to let you know how his ministry is going and give you specifics to praise and pray for in the coming weeks.

Since we moved on base four days before he left, we are slowly unpacking, hanging curtains, placing pictures on the wall and setting up house. At last count, this is our 7th house in 7 years. I ought to be great at it by now. We love being on base and the girls are over the moon to be near so many friends. We are so thankful for all the Lord has done for our family.

I'm also thankful that God choose me to be the mother of our three girls. They are gifts from His hands. They bring so much joy, so much fulfillment and so much dirty laundry to my life. Just kidding... But I'm very thankful to have a Mom, Mom-in-Law and a Grandmom who all love Jesus. What a legacy they have given to me and our girls.

soli Deo gloria!
LT

Daddy & Daughters

The girls are savoring every second with their Daddy. And I know a Daddy enjoying every minute with his girls.





















We appreciate your prayers in the coming week.
LT