15 years ago August 27, 1994

Thursday we celebrated our 15 year Anniversary. We had a wonderful dinner at a Sea food restaurant and then took a romantic horse and carriage ride through the city of Vienna.

As you all know Charles had planned this huge surprise get away to Greece, for 3 nights and 4 days. He had been planning it for months. With everything in order, every "t" crossed and ever "i" dotted, we were to leave on the 25th of August for our blissful weekend. To my dismay I became utterly emotional and irrational, could not come to grips with leaving the baby. Still nursing, yet thinking that I would just stop cold turkey was not an option when it came to the night before leaving. I had the girls ready for Heather, all their clothes prepared, food ready and all the documents needed for her to watch them.

As I was getting our suit case ready, I could not stop crying, thinking to myself, what in the world Stacey, your husband has gone to such measures to be sure that you have a spended romantic anniversary and now your gonna blow it. Thoughts like: will he ever forgive me if I tell him I just can't go, will I regret not going to Greece with my husband, will I regret going cold turkey and leaving Brie when I wasn't ready, will Heather think I waisted her time, everyone put so much into my weekend being perfect and now I'm ruining it, ( were all in my mind)! Not being able to think rationally I sat down and talked to Charles privately and then talk to Heather privately, they both said I had to make the decision that I needed to go with what my heart was telling me....ugh!!!!! My heart, my mind, oh my I couldn't tell what was true or not, I was certainly experiencing something I never thought was real.......baby separation anxiety...WHAT ME!!!! No way! I can't believe this, come on Stacey just snap out of it. Well the morning came, I had not slept a bit, cried all night and finally decided not to go to Greece. I know I'll be apologizing to my husband for years to come for disappointing him so terribly by not being able to be strong enough to leave Brie-Brie. I'll never understand fully of what was going on in my head, emotions and heart (hormones) but I'm better now and after all, we did have a wonderful anniversary just being with one another. It is not the destination that makes love last another year but it is the consistent love, faithfulness and passion we have for one another that makes our relationship strong.....I look forward to many anniversary's to come and know that just because we didn't make it to Greece this year doesn't mean we won't get our chance another time.

Charles was so sweet to me, he said it is just the stage of life we are in right now. I'm so thankful to have spent this many years with my best friend.....My husband!

Heather's arrival

Last time we were able to see Heather was November 2008 while we were in Wisconsin! So excited that she is coming to Vienna to visit, never thought she'd make it our way...how exciting.



So excited about Heather's arrival, the girls and I are getting ready for her to fly in tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. We've got a full itinerary planned the minute she steps foot on Vienna soil. See she likes a schedule, a eating plan, and just the times when we will be sleeping, touring and going to church. So I prepared the whole outline for her. Most of you might be saying well that sounds more like you, but really I'm very spontaneous and don't tend to plan all those details when traveling, that is Charles job.

I always wondered why my Sister and other Mothers would not tell their children that someone was coming or tell them of an exciting event coming up prior to it's arrival time. I now have learned the hard way. I thought I would just prepare Aleia and tell her that "Auntie Der" was coming to watch her and baby while Mommy and Daddy went on a 4 day date to Greece. I believe I told her on my Birthday which was August 2nd, so all of you Mothers can relate what a nightmare it has been every night before putting Allie to bed when Auntie Der has not arrived yet.

Her arrival time is finally here.....and Aleia keeps running around the house saying "this is the best day of my life" hahaha! In all the 4 years of her life today is the best, how sweet. I don't think she understands she still has to wait one more night, but we'll do the whole routine again tonight.

I had to discipline Aleia last night and I asked her why she was acting with such unexplained behavior and she said "Cause I'm "A sited" in other words she is "excited" that Auntie Der is on her way and so are we.

Africa-Crusade

Charles was suppose to leave this afternoon for his 3rd annual trip to Malawi, Africa. He is apart of what they call the "A" team. A group of men who go to this particular village and minister for 9 days. Many months of prep time goes into getting such an event organized.

Much Prayer, Fasting and Finances go into such an event to be effective.

Tragically we received a call yesterday afternoon saying that the Assistant leader of the crusade had passed away with a sudden heart attack and that the Head leader had just suffered from a stroke the night before. Such attacks!

Sad to say the crusade has been canceled and Charles will not be leaving today to be apart of an event he prepares and looks forward to every year. He is most happy when he is able to be apart of a life being changed forever.

As Charles was preaching yesterday, it was the best I believe I've ever heard him preach, he was ministering to the whole body on " A season of sacrifice". As he was preaching I had this overwhelming urge to pray for him, I felt that it would be the last time I would see him. Would this be my season of sacrifice, as tears of the unknowing begin to swell in my eyes, not wanting to give my husband up yet, but willing if that is what the Lord wanted, I began to pray and ask God what ever was done that he keep His protecting hand upon my husband in everything he did in Malawi and bring him home safely.

After service we got the call the crusade was canceled, I told my husband what I felt in service and he said he felt that it would be the last time he'd preach in the pulpit also.

I do know that all things are in the Lords control, I thank Him for His loving hand of protection and keeping our men and team safe from harm.

Please remember Malawi, the village of people who this has affected and the men on the "A" team. Let this not be a set back for the word and truth to be spread into this village of desperate people.

MHR's Friday

Last Sunday marked a very special day for me, I turned 33. I told myself like I do every year, it's just another day, don't get all crazy emotional, homesick and sentimental. That mind set has been working for me for the last few years.

My Mom would make such a big deal out of every special day, we would come home on St. Patrick's day and have a basket full of goodies, Valentines Day, Easter, Christmas and of course our Birthdays. She continued to feel that she had to over do the giving for the lack of us having a Father in the home. She raised my sister and I the best she knew how and in doing so she made us feel so special on each Holiday which causes our expectations to be pretty high:-) I always tell Charles "it's my Mothers fault" but really I wouldn't trade the memories for the world and I plan to do the same for our girls (lol)

This particular Birthday Charles was in America for a dear friend and mentors funeral. My immidiate family are facing a lot of obstacles and are all scattered in different states. I knew I wouldn't see Charles, I wouldn't hear from my Mom, most likely my Dad would call while I was in church because of the time change, and Brandy my sister doesn't have a means of calling me. I woke up and prayed that God would not let me be petty, that I would be content in what I had and consider it a wonderful day because I had breath in my lungs, food on my table, a beautiful home to live in, a loving husband, healthy beautiful girls, and a loving church family, I'd say that should be enough:-)

That is just what I did and the day was going so great. As church begin that morning, there was nothing out of the ordinary which I was thankful for. The worship service was over and Sis. Suppan our Assistant Pastors wife got up and called me to the front, she said a few nice things and then presented me with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and a nice card with a gift certificate in it to a very nice store here in Vienna called Mango. I was so thankful for the nice presentation.....but she said there was more after church. At that time my mind began to run crazy, was Charles here to surprise me, were we going to do a conference call with him, was Heather coming here, after church were they taking me to the airport to fly to an unknown island full of fresh fruit and exotic flowers.....what was it, what could be more, what did they plan? My stomach was in knots and my mind was in full expectation of what lie ahead.

After service I entered into the Board room to find an elegant display of cakes, coffee, tea and red rosses everywhere, it smelled like a botanical garden when I entered. I was overwhelmed with joy and my heart was full of appreciation to everyone for making this day such a special day for me.

They had a slide presentation of different things I had been involved in this last year along with a few gifts for me to open. As I began to open Charles gift everyone was so excited. It was a photo album with a typed letter in it from him......I will post it in my next MHR's Post. At the end he said I hope this day meets up to all your expectations....and I said well I really thought Heather was going to jump out of a closet or a cake. At the moment I opened the photo album and there was a picture of Heather by a airplane and it said at 8 p.m she will arrive. (WHEN) today? Tomorrow? next week? Charles had this album made, it told the story leading up to the day of our Anniversary surprise...... Charles leaves on August 17th for Africa, Heather arrives on the 21st, to spend a few days with us, the 22nd we go to the orchestra, August 25th I meet Charles at the airport for our 15 year anniversary get away to Greece while Heather watches our girls.

Did it meet up to the best Birthday ever.......EVEN BETTER! My husband rocks, he always makes up for the difference, he might have to be gone a lot, travel here and there but he always makes it up, he is so thoughtful and romantic and really does care about the small things that please me and make me happy. I will cherish the story book he had made, it was a very special Birthday. Honey you rock!

Wordless Wednesday

Bedtime Rhymes

Since Charles has been gone I've been working with Aleia on memorizing her first bedtime rhyme, well she knows Twinkle Twinkle little star and Rock-a-bye,baby.

We are learning Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

She almost has it totally memorized and I'm so impressed, she can't wait until her daddy is home so she can say it with no help.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Bless the bed that I lie on.
Four corners to my bed.
Four angels round my head.
One to watch and one to pray.
And two to guide me through the day.