The older one and her hubby are headed west. God's speed and don't forget to check in from time to time.

We extended our stay in San Antonio so we could see Joe before they left. He had quite a day. It ended up with us sharing Freebirds under a gazebo while the rain came do around us. We had only minutes before he had to be back in the barracks. It was rushed, but it was worth all the waiting and then rushing. I'm going to miss them both.

Monday the girls and I spent the day in SA touring old homes and shopping. The rain held off and we had a delightful day. The rain came later in the evening as we attempted to get everyone in the same place at the same time.

Tuesday we left SA at 0500 and headed north. We arrived safely at around 1000. We are thankful for safe passage.

(by the way, apparently rush hour in Austin runs 24/7, what a mess)

I've been helping the big girl pack her car today. Off for more adventure. My eyes are misty, but I am happy for her and Joe. More when I know more.

I received an email from brother Venegas stating that the Christians in Talca are safe and that most did not suffer damage to their houses. Many were able to gather for services on Sunday, the day after the earthquake. These brothers and sisters will need our prayers as there is going to be a good deal of disruption in their lives while this situation unfolds. Please pray for these people.

Life is fragile, more so than we usually acknowledge. One of AJ's co-workers passed away yesterday. He had been fine and then he apparently had a massive heart attack, passed out and had an automobile accadent. He never regained consciousness. He leaves behind a wife and children. Very sad. He was a friend of AJs so she is sad as well. My prayers go out to the family.

James 4:14: Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

It's sobering to realize that one heartbeat away from passing from this world to the next. There are all kinds of implications in that, judgment, salvation, condemnation and eternity. How will it be for me, or for you? Holiness is not something that we dare put off for another day. "Live each day as if it were your last", its cliche, but its true. The sixth chapter of Mathew tells us:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Great time in San Antonio, BMT graduation, Coin Ceremony and Retreat. Seeing Joe, seeing Susan see Joe (smiles again at last) and spending time with the Mitchells. More fun in downtown SA on the river walk and in the mall once Joe could go off base. The Alamo still makes me nostalgic.

Yea for our honor graduate.

God bless the men and women (and their families) that pledge their lives to keep our nation free!


07-FEB-2010

We are waiting at a Starbucks while Susan takes Joe back to base. We've had a good long weekend and I for one am about worn out. Worship services this morning were at 0730 or 7:30 AM. It was very touching to listen to the trainees make their prayer requests and speak about the stress and strain of BMT (Basic Millatary Training). The bible class was on "Repentance" and the the sermon was on "Faith". Both were geared toward helping the trainees relate these ideas to their current circumstances. There were between 30 and 40 recruits there and between 15 and 25 visitors.

It's hard to watch my stoic Susan begin to be sad as the time to leave approaches. I guess she will get used to the drill as time goes by, but I don't know if I will. AJ and I were talking about the worship service afterwords and we both felt that we would like to have reached out to each and every one of the trainees and given them encouragement. These are very young and have a lot on their plates, If you have a chance, please pray for these young trainees and all out military.