Timing

Anyone who knows me, knows my current situation. Joe is in Ely working and I have been staying with my parents while Zachary finishes school. We are supposed to be joining Joe in Ely sometime in mid to late June.

Last night we got an e-mail from another mine that Joe had applied to a while back, asking him to come for an interview on Monday. This mine is in Kingman, AZ.

There are a few problems with this. First of all, this is Joes first week off in 2 months, and he is supposed to drive home today. Katie especially, but all of us, can not wait another second to see him. We miss him like crazy. The second problem is that with gas prices being what they are, it would cost a fortune to get there and back and again, if you know us at all, we are BROKE!!!!!

The thing is, that I have learned with Joe, that it's always a good idea to take risks. Most of the time for us, when we do, they turn out to be better than what we had before. We are also having such a hard time finding a place to live in Ely, and chances are good that when we get there, we could all end up living in a hotel room together.

When I got this e-mail last night I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. There are so many things that would be better about living in Kingman. It's closer to my family and to major cities. It has ALWAYS been Joes dream to live near the river. And it doesn't snow there. I hate snow. But honestly, we need him to come home now for a visit, not be in Kingman on an interview. And I just don't know how we can pull off the cost to get him there. Sometimes it feels like God is just messing with us! I just told God, if you want Joe to go to this interview, then you have to figure out how to get him there, because I've got nothing! And if He does want Joe to go, then I know He will get him there.

If you are reading this, please PRAY! Thanks.

Joining the cause against drunk driving

Please don't drink and drive.
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=4564276
Click on the link

Random stuff

So I was watching Beauty and the Geek tonight, and one of the girls was talking about her fool proof diet. I loved it! She just simply put her scale in front of her refrigerator and would step on it before opening the door. Her weight would determine what she ate. I have no need for a diet right now, but next time I do, I'm totally doing that!

I went to my sons back to school night last week. Everyone in the class wrote something they thought was special about every classmate. The teacher made a book for each child with every ones thoughts about why that person was special. No joke, about 6 of the girls wrote, Zachary is special because he is handsome. LOL! It was the cutest thing ever!

Katie is so excited about Joe coming home on Friday. She told me that we had to make daddys favorite dinner for him. She said that he would want mashed potatoes, meat and salad.

Joe is in fact coming home on Friday and I can't wait! It has been almost 2 months since his last visit. This last week has been really tough. I just had melt down after melt down and I am so thankful that he will be here to rescue me on Friday and staying 6 whole days. After he leaves, it will only be about 2 more weeks until we finally join him in Ely.

Missing Las Vegas

One of my favorite things about living in Las Vegas were the amazing parks! The kids and I used to go almost everyday and spend 3 or 4 hours. Here are a few of my favorites!

A quick shout out, whoop, whoop!

I just wanted to give a little shout out to the ladies from my small group back in Vegas! I have been gone for nearly 6 months and these ladies continue to care about me and love me. They keep in touch via e-mail, pray for me and my family, send me cards, call me and even sent me the latest study so that I could keep up. These are some of the most wonderful women I know. Thanks Arleen, Vicky Charleen, Dawnna, and yvonne. I love you guys!

An unfortunate veiw

I thought long and hard about weather or not I should write this blog. I want to start off by saying that I am in no way trying to call anybody out, or implying that I know anybodies intentions. I am not putting words into anybodies mouth or trying to say that I know what a particular person meant when they made a certain statement. This blog is simply about understanding where others including my husband are coming from.

I recently read a blog from a friend of mine whom I have great respect for. He is a pastor and has been in ministry a long time. The blog was simply a little blurb about a day in his life where he ran into a bunch of people whom I'm assuming are members of his congregation. At the end of the blog he made a statement that since he had run into these people outside of church, some of his "duties" for the week were taken care of.

Like I said previously, I don't know what exactly he meant, and I am not putting words into his mouth. However, as I was reading it, it dawned on me what my husband Joe has felt and expressed to me many times about people in ministry and Christians in general. Joe has always shied away, not from God, but from religion and always says that he is hard pressed to find people who he feels are genuine, or not fake or people he feels truly care about him. I could hear his voice in my head as I read this statement saying, "see Erin, it's his job to care about people, so he makes the rounds like he's supposed to." I am constantly defending "Christians" and saying that of course there are people who are hypocrites in the church, but not everyone is that way and sometimes you just have to have a little bit of faith in people. I for one have found more Christians than not that have a real love for one another. I think that it is important though that people do not have ministry burnout because that is when it becomes just a job, as opposed to genuine caring and concern for others, their lives, and their emotional needs. It's unfortunate when these burnouts give substance to someone who is already a skeptic. I pray for Joe everyday that he may find whatever it is that he is looking for in Godly people. I do understand why he may feel the way that he feels, and I pray that those who are involved in ministry, including myself would remember why exactly they are doing what they are doing.

Yummy

My dad is making apple pancakes with apple syrup this morning. This was a childhood favorite, and I can't wait to eat them!!! YUM!

Humbled

Today I am thankful that God has told me no. It is such a great reminder that God knows more than me! I am humbled today by Gods hand in every situation in my life and that no matter what I might think the best plans for my life are, how much greater does God know. I want to be like David in 1Chr 17:16-20; 22:7-12. David responded to Gods plans with humility and gave glory to God when things did not turn out the way he thought that they would. I am blessed to have his example to follow. Ps 4:3 reminds me that the Lord will hear when I call him, and PS 10:1 reminds me that even when God seems far away to KEEP PRAYING! I may not get the answer that I want, but God knows what He is doing and it is my job to continue in prayer and seek Gods will and lift up my hands in prayer and praise Him because of His unfailing Love for me.

Birthday Party

Katie had 8 kids at her party. I sent them home on a sugar high after they ate a bunch of candy from the pinata, had a root beer relay, made their own ice cream sundaes, and had cake! I hope the parents don't hate me too much! I think the kids really had a great time though, and the party was a really great success. It was such a fun day. Lesson learned however: 4 litters of root beer is too much for 8 kids in a root beer relay!

Katie

5 years ago today I was holding my beautiful baby girl, Katelyn Kimberly. She was 7 pounds, 9oz and 19 inches long and absolutely gorgeous! Today she is turning 5 and she has grown up to be such a fun, joyful, intelligent big girl! Katies favorite thing to do is crafts and painting. You won't find her playing with dolls, she would rather be outside on her bike. Happy Birthday Katie!!!!!