Entering into USAF Family

Whew, what an experience it has been the last 8 1/2 weeks.. Ryan left us on August 8th 2011 to enter into the USAF BMT in San Antonio TX. Alot of prayers were made during this time and God truly show me what it means to trust, have faith and answer prayers during this time not only was Ryan going through AF training more God was showing Himself more to me during this time and I think Ryan too. One of the happiest things for me is that he did share his faith with a wingbrother, he did stayed in chapel just pray he will continue this..... The 1st call we got from him we both broke down and the next was so much uplifting, then from there the moods were either happy, stress whatever it was I could start to see a change in his voice. I have never been a fan of snail mail I will buy cards and never send them but during this time I try my best to send him a letter a day and thankful that I did. We had some wonderful prayer partners, he got letters on a regular base from a sweet wonderful couple, a girl that I know my son thinks the world of and 2 of the greatest sisters.. He got letters from others too and he was thankful for each and every one.. We also have a wonderful group of friends that took some stress off of the total cost of trip between what we had saved up and what they all donated too was enough for our airfare, hotel, and rental car. I dont think they will ever know what that meant to my family and I and those that know me know I am not a receiver of gifts so I have to say it truly humble me and made me see more of what giving is. So, you see God was every so faithful in this process.. Our trip started out going to Atlanta to take a straight flight to San Antonio on Wednesday night it was Tyler 1st flight and he was a champ and mine since I was 16 everything was smooth getting there well except our one wrong turn to the park and ride parking lot it was the 1st of many.. We got to ride through the base on Wed night cause we had to get to one gate to the other to fix Stephen pass it was quite and peaceful and I was holding in the tears knowing Ryan was near.. We stayed at Hamptonn Inn downtown/Riverwalk it was close to the highway and downtown and riverwalk just wish I could have gotten one on the Riverwalk..lol... Thursday we had to be at the base by 7am for the briefing and then the Airman run by 8... We made it there by 6:30 we listen to the rules of the weekend and the schedule and then we made our way out to street to fine a spot to wait for Ryan to run by with his flight..He spotted us on his way back and we got a smile, then we went to the Coin Ceremony where he would be receiving his first coin from his TI this was a 2 hr wait and Stephen decided to stand up and was so glad he did he was the one to tap Ryan out and that hug was the sweetest hug I ever saw them do it warm my heart and show me the love between them, then Tyler jump in and got his, then my turn and we both crying but it was tears of happiness's and proudness.. After this we went to lunch on base with his friend Maynor and his family from down near the beach and listen to stories from their time, from there since we could just stay on base this day we went shopping at the BX got him a new garment bag and new backpack for his carry on, tour the model planes where he told us all about them (he was a walking book of knowledge), he taught Stephen & Tyler how to march and Tyler is still marching he says he is going into the AF too, we also chill out at the community center and the brothers played each other in Madden then we went to have dinner at Burger King near his dorm met a couple of other of his wingbrothers during the day.. Friday was the graduation parade that started at 9 and we got there at 7:30 and got GREAT seats we were the first of 20 there.. lol.The graduation in itself was surreal no words for it.. there was about 700 graduating getting there ribbons and stripes and to hear them take the creed, be sworn in, there marching in their blues the flags, the planes in the background it was all so real I am now a mom of Airman, I always protected him and now him and his wingbrothers will be protecting us.I realize then he is not my baby boy anymore he is a man and I am proud of the way he is starting his life as one.. After the picture taking we walk back to his dorm to see his stuff and where he had been living for the last 8 1/2 weeks and meet his TI, heard a couple of stories, even his TI didnt think he would make it and he told him he was proud of him.. But we know Ryan can have Shelton moments, well lets just say if you are ever hear make sure he goes back from final inspection before town pass.. He didnt, and supposedly the guys had to wait for 10 to 15 mins before they could leave some of the guys took it out on him by flipping his bed, stealing his flashlight, making him do EC duty double or even try triple shift for the 2nd night but his other wingbrothers came in took that 2nd night shift for him cause like they said yeah man you missed up, you took your yelling, paid your dues no need to take it out again another night.. You know the boy can have his moments but I am so proud how he handles himself in those moments esp when others are giving him a hard time.. Anyway, on Friday he went to spend the day with his dad chillin at the hotel after having all you can eat Chinese buffet..While he was there we walked downtown, riverwalk, went and meet Kim & Jacob Weunschel and their kids, it was great catching up with them and seeing the kids.. I do have to say I did cry alot this day, moody, didnt sleep and I prayed alot too cause I had no clue what Ryan TI was going to do about him coming to inspection so didn't know if we were going to get to see him or not the rest of the weekend but again God answer prayers he just got yelled at and we got to spend Saturday with him we took the Alamo Trolley tour we enjoyed it somewhat cause we got to go and see 2 of the missions out of downtown but we were rush it was not a trolley tour like we have done in Savannah or St Augustine I wouldn't do it again.. We walked through the Alamo, did the riverboat tour after this he was ready to go back and chill at the hotel which was fine w/ me since i had not slept I could nap too..lol.. It took him 45 mins to get back on base on Fri so we decided to leave by 5:30 and go on back base and eat at Godfather pizza then we went back to the BX to look for him some earbuds and laptop sleeve and he made it back without being rush.. Once we drop him off we just went and walked the riverwalk again and saw all the Saturday night crowd.. Sunday since Ryan flight won Warrior flight they had town pass from 9-6 but his chapel service was at 11 so we went and got him at 9 went to another BX that had a bigger food court in it for us to chill, the boys to play games got Ryan 2 1/2 gallon zip lock bags (they roll their clothes and put in these bags and take the air out that is how they pack) it was pouring rain (thankful they got some, ALOT of rain even heard a tornado hit close to the base early that morning) so we had to stay inside and drive around, then we went to his chapel service at 1100 it was something else to see the music before hand they are playing is very uplifting, the AB cant sit down until told us, the graduates and family fill in the back rows.. DJ should see this service all durning the service some of the guys in tech school security force they walk up and down the aisle making sure nobody is asleep and poking them if they are, there are sf at the doors too you have to let know why you are leaving and it was not the freedom you would think of.. Then after chapel Ryan went to eat with his dad and then we went by and got him and went to hang out at the hotel he taught me how to roll socks to show a butt and a smile and to roll shirts lets just say my sock is better than my shirt..lol... We packed him up with his new bags and took him back to base and watch him eat supper before saying our good-byes until Christmas or Feb..It was hard but knowing we can talk, text, FB him now it made it a little easier.. We went to Tower of America after we drop him off we saw the sunset and it was BEAUTIFUL seeing SA like that.. Afterwards if you look at the brochures or web site for SA and you see the restaurant on the riverwalk w/ all the different color umbrellas it is call Casa Rio (I think that is the name) but we ate their that night and then headed back to the room to pack up for our flight home... We had a WONDERFUL time watching my boys all of them including Eric laugh with each other, talk, just being around each other, we have not had a trip where the 5 of us have all gone in a long time and this one I just sat back and watch my guys enjoy each other and my heart was full.. Seem like everywhere we went people would say congratulation and thank you to him my heart would just be smiling and looking up to him in awe, the way he carried himself, the way he spoke to people I could not be more proud of him, watching him being a big brother to his younger brothers was something else too, I do have to say TYler is 1 lucky boy w/ 2 older brothers that are so good to him, he looks up to both of them so much. Still getting use to the fact he is not going to be walking through the door tonight.. He is off to NAS Pensacola FL with 9 other wingbrothers (this is a Navy base) to learn Aircraft Structural Maintenance hopefully in 2 wks we will hear his first base assignment he thinks it will be between Virgina Beach, Missouri, New Mexico or Alaska.. mom is hoping Virgina Beach.. Standing proud for our USAF Family.. Airman Ryan Shelton we love you..

Hold Fast

This past weekend I went to Charlotte to see Beth Moore and wow what experience it was and I wanted to share...First off there were 9400 ladies there and being an arena with those women and hearing Beth speak the word of God, singing praise music with Travis it is something unreal esp when the band and singers stop and it is just women sing I have to admit I had a time singing cause of the tears it was the sweetest most blessing thing to hear. She told us that she prays for each event for a word from God to be given to her and ours was Hold Fast and that instead of points to be given to us by 1,2,3,etc we were going to by HOLDFAST instead so here is what she taught us. Our main focus was in Deut 10:11-21 but you know Beth she likes to move around..

V 20- Hold fast to Him- cling to Him, hold onto, glue to be stuck together.. This is how we should hold onto our faith with God.

H- His affection is set upon me
O- Only He is your praise
L- Loving Him awaken your true heart
D- Doing His will does us good
F- Fleeing to him means fleeing with Him
A- An tighten embrace will also replace
S- Satan wants our faith
T- The Lord is your life

God chose me, He keeps His promise oath and brought me out, I am a treasure possession, I am loved with a faithful love, joy love, enduring love. God will never betray you but He will heal you...
Deut 7:6-10,1 Peter 2:9-10,Esp 1:37, Is 38:17,Deut 7:7. Is 53

Live as dearly loved children, loved by God of universal, He is your praise

He has set His love upon us, we are to love our Lord your God, He will bring everything and we should too. Life works when we show Him the same affection as He does us. You know don't know your heart until you truly love God.
Psalm 119:25, 2 Tim, Acts 20

Walk in obedience, He will lead us the right way. He has no darkness in Him, He doesn't lie. Everything we good through is what God is doing in us, he uses us to impact our community.
Deut 10:13, Romans 8:8,Ex 29

As a mother we are looking at our kids and asking "why do you do the things you do" God is like that with us too. The promise & the oath are 2 things that are unchangeable with God.Live as we are loved and forgiven, Flee that refuge onto the cross. Jesus is with you always.
1 King 1:5-6, 1 Kings 1:48-51, 1 King 2:28, Heb 6:18, Heb 13:20, Matt 28:20

What and who am I holding unto the tightest, you have to hold fast with both hands. Get in healthily relationship, we can't fight the battles only He can. There is only 1 God and we ain't it and neither is anybody else. Most people don't want you to be clingy to them but God does. Death to self, life to God. Stronghold is when we let go of God and hold onto something else beside God. We need Jesus.
2 Tim 3, Mark 7:8, 2 Tim, 1 Kings 11:12, Rev 3:11

Satan wants our FAITH more than he wants our marriage, our children , our health, he wants our faith... Now this is the one that really got me cause never thought about it that way. We have to hold onto God commandments so we may by strong enough to enter the promise land. We have to hold on tight to get in and hold on tight once we get in cause Satan will come at you when you are not holding on tight. Josh 23:6-8 Be very strong, hold fast to God.. Satan goes through our trash he uses it to take our treasures. In the cloudy mess when we are not holding onto we will not see God promise. Holy passion does not destroy only lust and pride does, protect our minds, hearts, be cleanse with the Holy Spirit, repent from what is keeping you from holding fast. Get rid of toxic relationships. If God is speaking to you obey do not let the dust settle.
Deut 11:8,Josh 22:5, Josh 23:6-8, 2 Sam 23:8, Esp 4, Deut 3:8, Jerm 29:11, Deut 30:19-20

Seek things above, Chris is my life, If you don't let God in your marriage, your parenting, your life He can't do His will, He lives where we allow Him to. Whatever hinders us from living a life with Christ we need to put aside. Love the Lord your God, obey Him, loyal to Him for He gives you life and enables you to live. Hold fast to God...
Col 3:1-4

Notice the bookends- His affection is set upon me-The Lord is your life...

draw a heart in the middle right Love the Lord your God and then on the outside of it around it write.. .walk his way, fear the Lord, Serve the Lord, be obedient

Say this chant over and over until you believe it...
H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me,H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me, H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me , H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me...






The sweet ladies I got to share it with.. Melissa Woo, Tanya Stewart, Susan Pruitt & Maya she is from China and this was her 1st time in US she had only been her for 5 days. I believe that God spoke to each of us this weekend..

Resume

I have been thinking about it for awhile (well since we got our computer back up and running) that I wanted to start blogging again but just have not yet. Alot has change since my last post a 1 1/2 ago from vacation esp the big one of the cruise (one day I need to add this to the blog), to having 1 child graduate, basketball & baseball with the kids to what God has been doing in my life. So as of today I am going to resume, start back up and start sharing. Maybe just for me to look back on or for you to come and glimpse into my life..

Happy 40th Eric

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUBBY!!!!!!!!!!

On Wednesday Jan 6th my hubby finally caught up in the same age bracket as me.. He turn the BIG 40. Even though I am still 2 yrs older than him I feel like he can't call me old anymore cause he is not in the 30's and me in the 40's at least now we are both in the 40's.. His mom put his picture in the paper from 4 yr old and then one we have done several years ago it was sweet and glad people told me about it cause we would have never known.. He thinks it is just another day so he didn't want to make a big deal out of it. So we skip church and ran a couple of errands and then went to Bojangles with Kim & Scott Hewitt. We were going to do the cake there but Stephen didn't come, you couldn't light the candle so we left and went back to the house but not until the cashier came out there and look at his cake and them looked at him and said "Oh you forty" the way she said it was funny but she need turn around and said he looked good for 40 which I could have told ya that..lol... We went back to the house sang happy birthday, had Kim's cake she made and then I gave him his gift of a ticket to go go to Sprint All Star race in May and a hotel room to stay the night.. Kim got Scott his ticket for Christmas so we are sending them down there...Now all this was the day of....






Fast Foward to January 16th I wanted to make his 40th a good one so and make it a surprise I had plan a big surprise party but when we decided to go on the cruise and use extra money this year to pay for it and Stephen trip I knew that was out of the question so my plan was to go to Wild Wings his favorite resturant and invite all his friends and celebrate his big day and I was hoping that a band we like BlindVision would be out there. Well all of that fell through, Wild Wings didn't want to work with on a table and BlindVision was not playing there some other band was that I never heard of the groups they sounded like. So, after much talking about with others and getting advice I called Chief's and they were all but happy to help us make it a special day for him.. I invited all his friends, got decoratoin, Kim made him a "Life Begins AT 40" cake and with some help from Denise and Kim got things set up and had everybody there by 6 so we could come in and they would all be there. Afterwards a friend of ours is a DJ at the bowling alley so he had a table set up for us out there and we went out there and dance and listen to karokee. We had a great time and I hope now that he gets your 40th bday is not just another day. Thanks to all the people that came and celebrated his bday and help him bring in a new decade...

SURPRISE


All the Old Fart's Friends








Kim husband Scott was there too but I totally forgot to take a picture of them together after he got there.

The Old Fart


Some Birthday fun
His cake was made by Kim will all the things that are as yet to come





I had some more but I can't figure out how to turn the picture around before posting...but they are all on my Facebook.

Can't wait to celebrate his 50th!!!!!!

New Years Eve

This year for News Years we went to Shannan and John house to celebrate the coming on 2010 together. I had all my besties there w/ their families except for Denise.. We all brought appetizers and Ree & Ginger brought sandwich trays. We ate, socialize and then played games of Catch Phrase and Apples to Apples. All the kids hung out in the bonus room watching tv, playing and listening to music. We watch the ball drop and wish each other Happy New Year. I could not ask to bring in the year with anybody but my family and my besties.. Great memories of 2009 were made and looking forward to more to be built in 2010.


Our Host Couple John & Shannan Manley
They were sweet to have all of crazy nuts over w/ our kids...


Tim & Ginger Darwin- wonder if they ever found the pickle?


Keith & Karen Bishop- aren't they sweet looking


Scott & Kim Hewitt- we missed bringing in the year w/ them.. they were the popular ones and had another party to go to...


The Davis- For Christmas next year I am getting them Catch Phrase


Me and my goofball hubby. We have had our ups and down but I think 2009 really put what is the important in our life and brought back that spark w/ us... love ya baby


Some of the best friends a girl could have... Thank you all for great memories of 2009 Can't wait to see what 2010 is going to be!!!


We had kids from 7 to 17 boys and girls but for the most part I think they all got alone and had fun.. Most have we heard a lot of playing around and screaming.. Not sure if that was good or not...






We also had a friendly game of Catch Phrase w/ the ladies vs men plus Kim since our hubbies didn't want to play. The men and Kim won I think John and Keith have played a time or 2 together cause they had there own codes it seem like...







HAPPY 2010 EVERYONE!!!!!!!

Reflection of 2009 & Hopes for 2010

This is one thing I like about blogging I can go back and look and see what my resolutions for 2009 and reflect on those. Here is post from last year. Now did I achieve them well half and half...

1. I am still working on the weight lost but I didn't gain this year. I did lose and gain as of today I am the same or little under than what I weigh last year at this time.

2. This year I am more ready to move to Goucher than I was last year it could be cause of it might be a half to situation but I am prepare mentally for it. We did get Tyler room paint and somewhat of a room now. He has Eric's old bedroom set in his room now and our old entertainment center we still have a few things to do in it and I have my paint picked out for my living room. Still not organize.

3. I did send out few cards not birthday but just thinking of you cards. Maybe this year I will do more.

4. Being compassion and having a heart, I think I am doing it. I have it but acting on it pushes me out of my comfort zone alot of times. This year I will pray for this one.

5. All 5 of us did go camping with the Hewitt's so we did have a family vacation. Stephen, Tyler went with us on the mission trip to West Virginia and we went to the beach. Ryan is 17 and we are totally uncool people to him.. Eric and I did reconnect more this year than in years pass we finally went away over night first in February to Gatlinburg and then in July for our anniversary to Savannah and we had many date nights. We still do date nights maybe not every Friday night like we were doing but we do when we can and we are going to Savannah again in February and on our a cruise in September..

6. Didn't learn a new thing at all this year.

7. I think I have done this one pretty much. I try and see the silver lining in everything and I have learn when you do that you have more of a positive outlook on things.

8. I have had a blast to reconnecting with old friends and family. I get to keep up with nieces, 2nd cousins through Facebook, I have been blessed to have a second chance spending time with myside of family and thank God for it. I got to spend my aunts 80th bday with her, Christmas w/ my family, visiting with family memembers and getting to know them now. I went this summer to meet up with my best friends from middle school Cindy, Amy & Jamie and had lunch. I still have lunch with Jamie at least once a month if not more since we work down from each other. I also reconnected with my childhood best friend Robbie and to this day we are in contact we text, fb message each other at least once a week and meet up once a month, matter of fact I am having breakfast with her tomorrow. I love being on Facebook and keeping up with old friends.

9. This one I think I will be working on forever which is a good thing. I haven't done the devotions, the daily quite time, memorize scriptures but I am learning more and I have faith and trust in God and I know it is not about my timing but His.

So what is new for 2010?? Well I do want to get my house in shape and painted, I want to send more cards out and give more gifts, I am praying for the compassionate hearth, I want to spend more time doing family things and couple things with Eric, I pray for many more family get together with myside and memomries to be made and realtionships to be restore, I do want to learn to concrete I didn't have a clue last year what I wanted to learn but this year I do know what I want to learn and I want to continue to look at the positive side of everything. But this year I have 2 main goals...

1. I want to loose at least 60lbs by September for our cruise. You know it is like if you are sitting in church and you hear a good sermon and doing the invitation you are crying it is called conviction. I have felt it and I have finally responded to it. Well, now I sit watching (listening at work) to the Biggest Loser and hear these people reason to loose weight and I am in tears listening to them. Liz from this past year said so many things during on her interviews that got to me. I am coming to figure out why I am like I am I figuring out the emotinonal part and I am praying about them and dealing with them so this year I pray that with God's help I will achieve my goal. I can't do it alone and I pray for the support system to come and for God's help.

2. I pray this year to have a true relationship with Jesus to know him more and more, to honestly have that quite time and to memorize scripture and most important go to him every morning before I get out of bed pray for wisdom for that day and dress in His armour each day. I am going on Tuesday night to Southern Sisters Sweet and Coffee Shop from 7-8 to hear a praying, Godly lady Cheryl Cannon teach me what the bible says. She is down to earth and the way she teaches it I get it and I am learning so much out of Esp. I am on the Women2Women leadership board and I have many ladies on there that encourage me and are such wonderful mentor. SO this year I pray for that relationship to develop between me and God and for myself to KNOW his word and not just know it but speak it and live it.

I pray for a happy, healthy, many blessings, full of love, happiness, patience, family and friends memories for 2010.

Year of 2009 picture review from facebook

Christmas 2009

Do you say every year you are going to be done with Christmas before December? Well, I do and I am out until the stores are closed on Christmas Eve and back at Walgreens with everybody else at 10-11pm.. This year I can say by Christmas Eve lunch I was DONE with everything but the stocking stuffers and they were done by 5:15. That is a record for me... The older boys only wanted an IPOD Touch so they got it along with some clothes and Tyler wanted DSI so he got that w/ 3 games a case, some movies and games. The boy has more toys than he knows what to do with and doesn't touch half of them so this year not only with the Eric work slack but also I didn't want to focus on all the presents we got them the big thing they wanted and a few other things. We didn't put one present under the tree until Christmas Eve night and Santa came and wrap all the gifts put them under the tree and place there stocking in front of there piles, ate his cookies and drank the milk and he left. The only disappointment we got was Tyler wanted My Sims Agent for the Wii not the DSI I thought they were the same game but he got over it as quick as he got on it..lol

I get up on Christmas take pictures of the boys opening gifts as Eric video tapes and then after all is open and they are off playing later on I cook french toast, bacon, grits and eggs for our breakfast it is one meal we all sit at the table w/the TV off and are like a real family..lol.. Well this year we didn't eat until 12:30 cause I went back to bed until 10 got up and started cooking, got the french toast, the bacon all done and started the eggs and the breaker for our stove blew it so we had to cook eggs on the indoor grill and it took a lot longer than we wanted it to. We still enjoy our meal just a little later and a little cold. Also, while all of this was going on the picture tube in the TV went out. Which has been kinda good as of today we still don't have fix but I have gone to bed w/ Eric everynight and I think he likes that so I am not sure if it will get fix..lol.. I can't get down about any of this cause I text my high school best friend Lorraine to wish her Merry Christmas and she called me right back to let me know she needed prayers. Her son Devin that 3 days younger than Stephen was buring trash for them and he had put an aersol can in the trash a couple of days before and forgot about it as he was poking at the fire it exploeded and caught his face, arms and hands on fire and they took him to the hospital which transfer him Augusta Burn Center. He has 3rd degree burns they let him come home for Christmas but he is back there now as of today and don't know if they get to come back tonight or have to wait a couple of weeks. He can't lay down so he has to sleepin the recliner, he can't get them wet or go out cause of the wounds. He was conditioning for baseball and don't know where he stands with that or school. Then to top it all off the day before it all happen she found our her niece that is husband sister daughter that is in her 30's with a child 7 and I think 5 is dying of ovarian cancer and only has 9 months to a year to live... So, after talking to her and then praying for her and her family I had to look around and my Christmas became my Thanksgiving and I am thankful that I have a healthly family and I focus on what Christmas was about, about Jesus being born and who He is to me.. I know that Lorraine is getting along cause she has Jesus walking beside her comforting her, giving her strength and He will be the healer for Devin and Crystal. He will be there to give her peace with whatever He plans become. So me being w/ out a TV or a stove my kids not having a living room full of Christmas gifts they won't touch after of them well it all didn't matter. God has blessed us with so many things and Him being born was the greatest gift of all...






By the way, I do plan to start my shopping even stocking stuffer early for 2010 maybe this year will be my year to have it all done by December 1st... and I plan to do better with pictures next year too... Hope you all had a Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!!!