Fall in Full Glory

We got back home Friday about 1:00 am. For some reason the drive home seemed to take a lot longer than the drive there. We were truly glad to seem our apartment. It felt so good to be home.
Vince was supposed to start flying Monday but the guy he was flying with called in sick so Vince got two more days off. That's nice because it will give him more time to just relax a bit before he gets back in to it.
It has been rather chilly and rainy today. I think this is the first day that has really felt like fall to me. It's bringing to mind thoughts of hot apple cider, evenings curled up in blankets, and walks in the crisp evening air. It's also making Vince speak of pumpkin pie and carmel apples.
I think baking a pie will be in my near future.
The trees are so pretty here. The colors are much more vivid than they were in Memphis. It's like the area has been transformed and is now almost picture perfect in some places. Fall has always been one of my favorite times of the year but Michigan may make me like it more than ever. It's like an intensified version of Kansas. How can anyone look at nature and not see the handiwork of a wonderful creator?

Getting His Stripes

Vince had his big test today. As you might have guessed from the picture, he passed and is now offically Capt. Inzerillo. He got the forth stripe on his uniform and I've never been more proud of a gold strip of material in my life. :) Yippie!
Thank you all for your prayers and support. We depended on them.
Tonight we went out to eat with Erin, Chris, Tim, Ashley and Abby. We ate at "On The Border". We had a nice night but we are both worn out and are ready to call it a day. I know Vince feels like he can relax for awhile now and that has to feel so good.
We are just so blessed. God has been with us every step of the way and done so much for us. He gets all the glory for this. His hand has been upon us in every way and we have felt His hand upon us so many times. We give Him all the praise for this moment and just stand in awe of who He is and the amazing way He cares for His own.

Memo from Memphis

Vince was off today so we got to spend some time together. He is pretty stressed out but handling the pressure far better than I would. Tomorrow is his big test. We have been reminding ourselves just where our help and confidence comes from and we are leaning hard on God. We have had to remind ourselves to do that a little more than usual the last few days but I am so glad to know that He is truly Lord of all and the confidence we have is well placed when it is placed in Him and not our own resources.
A neat little thing happened this afternoon and we got to see it from our hotel window.
George Bush was in Memphis today and as he was going back to the airport, the motorcade went right by our hotel. I had been wondering what was going on because the cops were everywhere and had traffic stopped from every direction. I was glad to find out it was good news, not bad.
Also, from our vantage point in the hotel we get a great shot of the airport. So, we got to see Air Force Once taxi out as the President was leaving and then we watched it take off. To top it off, when they took off, they flew right past our window! We got a really great view of the plane as it was flying away into the wild blue yonder. We did have to stand on the desk in the room and a very wobbly chair to witness it all but it was worth it. I thought it was a very cool thing to be able to see.
It is so neat when little unexpected things like that happen. It's those simple, snapshot moments that seem small but help bring a little more excitement and fun into our everyday existance.

Playinig Catch Up

Ok, I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything. My excuse? I really don't have one.
I was in Kansas/Oklahoma for a week. I came back to Memphis Wednesday morning and was able to spend the rest of the day with Vince. He had the day off. :)
I had such a nice time with everyone back there. I got to spend lots of time with family and saw some friends that reminded me what a crazy bunch of people I hang out with. I thank God for every one of those crazy nuts!
So a little outline of the trip goes as follows-
On the plane ride there I had the joy of sitting beside a baptist missionary. We had a wonderful talk about God's love, spreading the gospel and the work he and his team are doing in building homes and sharing the plan of salvation with rural areas in the country. Needless to say, that plane ride went very quickly but I got off the plane with an uplifted heart that God's word is still marching on.
I spent the week driving back and forth to Bartlesville a lot. I spent as much time with my grandparents and dad as I could. It was such a special time that did my heart lots of good.
I was also able to go to King's Coffee Shop which was a staple of my life when I lived there. Most weekends and some weekdays when an escape from an extra stressful day was needed you could find Angie and I there. Of course Angie couldn't be with us but I took my mom and Angie's mom. It was nice just to relax, enjoy a cup of coffee and good conversation.
I went out to eat more times in that week than I have in the past month with one friend after another. One thing I noticed, that area just doesn't have a lot to offer in the way of good food. :)
I also enjoyed the time with mom and John. It's always nice to go home and get a little spoiled. I honestly didn't spend as much time with them because they were working but I enjoyed the time we had.
So that was pretty much my week. I completely enjoyed myself although it was nice to come back to Vince.
I think the foremost thought of the whole week was that I have been wonderfully blessed with lots of friends and a family who loves and cares about me. The older I get I am more aware of what a blessing that is. God has surrounded me with His love and the love of lots of people and there's not much more a person could ask for. That has got to be one of the greatest gifts. To love and be loved.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

I am leaving for Kansas today. I'm excited about seeing my family and goofy friends because it has been way too long. The plan is to stay until Saturday and then return to Memphis to make sure Vince survived without me. I know it will be hard on him. :)
I have plans to spend as much time with as many people as I can while I'm in the midwest region. I've missed them so much! I'll try to download pics if I can get my camera to work.

Give Him A Hand

Vincent had his oral exam today. He just called me and told me he passed. I'm just so proud of him! He has a few more hurdles to jump but I am confident in the facts that I have a very smart husband and that we have a great big God who is helping him.
Vince is actually taking the rest of the day off so we are going to get to spend some real time together. I think BBQ may be in our very near future. :)
He hasn't had any time to just relax since we've been here so that will be first priority, but BBQ is right up there. It's a Memphis thing.

Sunday in the South

We got to go to our old church, Emmanual Baptist, today. It was so very good to see everyone again and to be a part of a service there. The smiling faces and hugs were nice too. :)
After church we went to Chris and Erin's for lunch. Bless Erin's heart, she fed us real food! We hadn't had a real meal in over a week. But even if there hadn't been "real food" it was fun just being with them again.
Vince is, you guessed it, studying. He probably won't be home until late. I hardly see him but I'll say this for him, he's very dedicated. He's working hard and I know it will all pay off. Just remember to keep him in your prayers.

Memphis and other news

We are in Memphis now. It was a very pleasant drive but we were both glad to see the end of our journey. I am already learning that living out of a hotel is an experience. We have a microwave and small refrigerator but that's it.
The weather here is totally different. There are no shivers and shakes here. I told Vince this was what September should feel like. He didn't agree.
I was told that I forgot to post the results of the MRI on my neck so the good news is that everything is fine. There is no nerve damage, no suspicious spots and everything is in the place its supposed to be.
Yesterday I made my first venture into my old haunts. It was fun but honestly, it made me a little homesick. There are so many things I missed. It felt in some ways like coming home. Again, Vince didn't agree. He likes Michigan so much better. I guess with me it's just about being around the familiar. It felt good.
But home is ultimately wherever Vince is and we are both happy. Also, I am learning that it is all very tempory anyway and we aren't in our real home anywhere on earth. We are seeking a place to come, a place far surpassing any earthly location and that is where our home is.

Shivers and Shakes

It was 45 degrees this morning when we got up. In September. While Vince was ecstatic about the first real morning chill, it brought for me a slight sense of foreboding. This is a small glimps into what is to come.
I don't think it should be 45 in September. That doesn't feel right to me. I looked at the temperatures from Kansas and almost cried.
Most of you know I don't do cold. Yeah, I know, 45 to you toughies ain't bad, but to me, it's screaming, "You just wait, I'm gonna be packin' a pretty nasty punch soon, and I wanted to give you a taste of it."
So here I sit, bundled up from head to toe, praying for the "warm" front that is supposed to be coming.
The news people are all smiles, saying what a gorgeous day it is out there. It's 61. Did I mention that it's September!?
Winter here will be a whole new experience for me. I am looking on the bright side however and have decided to accentuate the positive. I know the snow will be very pretty and I have a really good shot at a white Christmas, which I'm not sure I've ever had. So I will enjoy this new adventure, probably looking out my window while I'm curled up on the couch with a hot beverage.
Donations for blankets, heaters, parkas and nose warmers, now being accepted.

Prayer

In memory of Sept. 11, I wanted to share with you a prayer that Max Lucado published in response to the attacks. It is a reminder of that day and the days following. It is a prayer we could and should still pray today, six years later.

God Bless America.

http://maxlucado.com/pdf/lucado.prayer.pdf

I also want to include a song by the Booth Brothers titled "Under God".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSMxk4K16vc

Just to let you know

I have added another section to the right side of the screen. It has links to the two other blogs I am working on.
One is a blog with quotes, songs, scripture and articles on love, primarily dedicated to Vince, and the other is the same type of thing, only the posts here are centered around my walk with God. It is an online journal of sorts with things that have helped me as I strive to "Follow After".

God Is With Us Even In The Tight Spots

I had an MRI done on my neck today. I was expecting the same horrible experince that it was last time but something was different this time. I took God with me. I was relaxed and the time went by really quickly. I can only give God the glory for this because those things are NOT fun.
I did a lot of just talking to God and lots of singing. I sang songs like, "I Shall Not Be Moved" and "Be Still My Soul" (to remind myself not to move) and "Everywhere I Go" (to remind me He is always with me, even in tiny tunnels that make lots of noise). When I was being moved out of the tunnel after it was done, I think I even sang a little of "Hallelujah, 'Tis done!".
At one point I was actually fighting laughter during the test because I was trying to find hymns and songs that would fit the situation. How many people can say they were so relaxed during an MRI they had to fight laughing? See what the peace and comfort of the presence of God can do?
Anyway, now it's all about awaiting the results, but I'm just resting in His care, trusting and singing "Have Thine Own Way, LORD".