Hi Everyone! I hope you're having a GREAT day! It's a beautiful spring day in Maryland. I happen to love this weekend mostly because everyone is stirring up conversations about Our Risen Lord.
I don't have a lot of time because my mother in law is in town and we're heading out soon but i wanted to let you all know what's been happening.

I've been cracking myself up over a tree. In our front yard we have this tree that may be a cherry blossom kind of tree. Anyways it's beautiful and i feel so blessed to be able to look out my kitchen window and behold it's beauty. Things like this make me happy, because I think God had something to do with it. All along the town homes here no one else has a tree like this, BUT we do and i can't stop smiling and thanking God for it. It's something extremely simple to some, but to me it's a gift. It was just a dead looking tree all winter buried in snow, i hardly noticed it, but now it is adorable!
I am so excited about God, last night i was trying to tell Darren about what He is teaching me in the Bible and about the message i listened to by Chuck swindol. OH BOY do i love my man, he sat and listened (smiling and probably laughing inside) as i practically bounced around. I ended with, 'I just love Jesus so much!'. He is a gift because he challenges me to grow. I was praying last night and finally came to the conclusion that I'm speechless so i soaked up God's presence. Ever have that happen? I have to believe God was laughing at me last night. This excitement is a result of Obedience to Him. The more i study His word, i mean really get to know the books of the Bible (and it's history) i learn more about Him. This God of the Universe restored me and simply amazes me. There is a lot of things I'm being introduced to about His character and love that leaves me speechless. That's a perfect place to be in. As i prayed last night just thought that i could come into the very presence of Him made me realize how incredible this God is...that HE would want to hear from me and have me serve Him. I am not good, but because of Jesus I'm made new and can stand boldly as a new creature, born again. I LOVE it. It's awesome that no matter who you are, what you've done, that the He calls you to Himself.

My mother in law came in yesterday and we have already had such a great time together. We've solved all the worlds problems and shared in deep conversation about God. What a blessing to know when i have children they will have two grandma's that love God and have servant's hearts. I prayed for my children would have what i did growing up, and God answered that prayer. My grandmas are amazing woman, i am blessed with them. I have been writing letters back and forth with my one grandma while the other one we keep up on facebook! How funny is that.
Okay I'm losing focus :) i wanted to say we are going to Baltimore today to show Sharon around. We meant to leave earlier but my husband slept in after a long week, and her and i got to talking. We woman sure do know how to talk, and time flies when it's meaningful.
Tomorrow we're going to have Easter dinner at our home and have a small Easter egg hunt for my two nieces. I almost gave away that there is no Easter bunny when i told Rory i was going to hide the eggs in really hard places! ooppps! I forgot about the Easter bunny haha. We made a smooth recovery however. (phew) We are going to church tomorrow on base, we have no clue what to expect but we're excited to go.

Well i have to get going, but have a wonderful Easter!
-Laura

Hello friends!

I hope you had a great day! What have you been doing for fun lately? Are you excited for spring this year? Personally, i love the beauty of new life.

Spring is a reflection of my life right now as God tends to my heart planting seeds that will grow beautifully for Him one day. As He shines His light into the darkest places in my heart i am struggling and feeling the pain but am thankful! Going through a healing process is a lot like spring. It starts out ugly and dead, then rain comes and it feels very dreary all the time, but life starts to show on the trees and the plants. Sometimes more rain is nesscesary but thankfully there is also times of abundant sunshine! At the end of spring we are all blessed with gorgeous scenery everywhere.
I am truely humbled by the love God has for us, and can't help but get really excited about Him! Today I finished studying the book of Hosea. I loved and hated this book because it taught me truth and sometimes hearing the truth makes you uncomfortable! I'm going to share my favorite verse of this book...happened to be the last one :) Hosea 14:9 "...The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." I LOVED ending this study with that verse! Often we want to fit God into part of our lives only when it's conveinent for us, and we only want the sweet side of God. The more i study the Bible the more i learn of His character. He may be loving, but He is very just and as i saw the punishment given to Isreal for not repenting and coming back to God after worshipping other idols...well he allowed Assyria to take them back into slavery. He did end up restoring Israel but it was after great loss. I am unfaithful and sin as well, there are serious consequences but God does restore...it's a painful ordeal when we sin against God and others. I'm really learned the importance of Obedience to God, and honestly i WANT to more and more as i discover truth about God. I'd encourage you to dig into this book of the Bible too.

Today i had coffee with my friend and we had a great time catching up before our english class. I went to class then went home and cleaned the kitchen. As i sang my heart out to God i scrubbed the stovetop. I cherish those tender moments between God and I like that. I love that no matter where i'm at we can be together, i look forward to the day when we are face to face...i can't even explain the emotion that goes with saying that. It was a great day and i even finished writing my paper for class.
Now i'm ending the day with American Idol, this is the second season we've watched and i really enjoy listening to the music! People are so talented and i love being able to be a part of hearing them share their gifts. My mother in law comes this friday and we're all very excited to see her! It will be wonderful having time with her. Alright! I better get going, i could keep writing forever but it's time to wrap things up. Have a great day tomorrow!!
-laura

knowing you Jesus..Knowing you...

I love that picture taken in Annapolis. We had a great time together the other weekend when we went down there. I'm a homebody and find it a blessing that my husband is ready to get me out to, 'see the world'. It's great how where one leaves off the other one picks up. If it's alright i'm going to share a little about Serving God and what He means to me.

Christ is the absolute best thing to ever happen to me. I say that with tears in my eyes and a huge smile. Recently the greatest thing happened. To put it simply the reason of Christ's death became very near and dear to me. My eyes were opened to sin in my life that caused me to realize i'm just not good. All my efforts to be 'a good person' to be acceptable before God are foolish thinking! There is nothing i can do to be clean before God. All that i had been taught my whole life about God's love and reason for sending Jesus to be a sacrafice made sense. It rooted in my heart finally after years and years. Isn't that amazing? How patient God is with me is incredible. I cried and cried when i realized Christ took my place, that He loves me so dearly, and stands by my side proclaiming to God, 'This is laura! She is clean now!' His death made me white as snow, if that is not something to be joyful about then i'm not sure what is. I have trusted in God since a young age and walked with Him longing to know more always. It has been absolutely the greatest experience to see truth of God come together in my life. To have a life that shows the fingerprints of God all over it.
Where do you go from there? Well every single day is a new oppertunity to serve God. It's a choice to be obedient to Him though. I find it helpful to remind myself this isn't about me and it never has been. There have been over a billion people that walked this earth and i like them wont be remembered when my quick life ends. I want God to be able to shine His light through me each day i'm given. I'm excited about God, and my ears have always perked up at the name of Jesus because I love Him and want to know more. I have the greatest relationship offered to me and i'd be a fool to pass on that.
Trusting in God means getting over yourself, and i don't believe people are always ready to do that. I listened to a fenomanal sermon tonight by the pastor of my old church. He was talking about a fog being over this world and gave reference to a passage in 2 corinthians 4:4 "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God". (Paul is writing to a church here refering to satan putting a layer of fog in people's minds) I believe with every inch of my being that God is real and the Bible is His word, that He sent Christ to be the sacrafice for all of us so that we could spend eternity with Him. It's NOT easy following Christ in a world that is blinded to the one true God. But my eyes are fixed on Jesus, because i know it's Heaven that i'm called to.

Thank you for letting my share! It's great to share how Great my God is. I should probably get going but are we ready for another week!? I hope it's a good one for you :)
-laura

Am i really here?

Hi!

Okay all day I've been asking myself, 'am i really here'? My sister in law and her husband, two girls, and I spent the day in D.C. We've made multiple trips down but each time we find ourselves feeling like the whole experience is surreal. You know what i mean? Being in the nations capital flying kites as if it's in your own backyard. How strange is that?
Aside from those thoughts, i was filled with smiles being out with family today! We walked around by the cherry blossom trees (a gift from japan i learned!) and enjoyed some good conversation. It's always great to spend a day laughing! I owe all thanks to a two and four year old. They are wonderful and full of goofy sayings and funny 'matter of fact' phrases. But my favorite thing today was when i was told i would be missed tomorrow! :)
I am perfectly content with just my husband and I but a part of me looks forward to children someday. It will be quite an adventure! I watch parents all the time to try to pick up on the good and bad, don't we all? A parent has such a tough job and i have the utmost respect for all those mommies out there who have little hands pulling on them, begging for their attention all day. Who says that's not a job!! It's the most important one in my opinion.
Sometimes there are days I'm tired of being brave and pretending it's okay. In regards to my husband being in the navy. I try not to pity myself too much and really have been all excitement, but oh boy this week that was not the case. I'm a little ashamed to admit i had a HUGE 'poor Laura' pity party! I am over it now BUT let me tell you it happened. I cried and thought why? I'm suppose to be married to a man that works 9-5, we live in the country, with a few children, i am organized, we sit down every night to a yummy home cooked meal, the sun sets as i read a book and he reads the newspaper, and i fall asleep in his arms and it's P E R F E C T. Oh common i know some of you are laughing...! even i am a little. My life is certainly not like this. I wake up early in the morning to drive my husband to work then i come home and try to fall back asleep but end up laying there thinking of all i need to get done. I am hardly organized! Home cooked meals are difficult when my man is not home a lot, and there is NO country living. My man does not read, but i try to read here and there. He is not his own, there's a big guy that tells him where he's going to go and when. (okay maybe he's not big, but whoever 'he' is I'm not sure if i like him) When we go to bed my husband sprawls out and leaves me a tiny space to sleep like a stick. What happened to my romantic dream! ;)
Okay Okay, it's not my perfect world, but I'm thinking the life i have is more realistic and better. My husband loves me and has decided to serve His country. (that's honorable and brave!) He does hold me and thank me for yummy meals and desserts! We laugh with each other and enjoy going through life together. When he is gone I GET THE WHOLE BED to myself :) (you'd think i sprawl out but no...i line the pillows alongside of me) He's my perfect fit but we're still learning how we fit together.
It's not all smiles for me when i consider the downsides of the Navy. BUT I'm being reminded to keep my eyes on Christ because he's going to take me through each hard moment as well as the great ones. I felt sorry for myself because I don't always get first place, and have to be a really good follower. Lets face it, sometimes we stop and sit down and feel bad for ourselves but that's when we take our eyes off Christ. Is it really so bad? There are amazing blessings in my life, and i should be thankful for each moment with my husband! I should be proud of the man he is for serving his country and taking care of me. Well i think you get the point :)
It's not always going to be easy but there are always 10 blessings i can remember for the next time i want to feel sorry for myself.

I hope you had a great weekend!

A New Chapter

Hello Friends!

Navy Navy Navy. :) For 6 months my husband and I have been learning to adapt into the military lifestyle. What a crazy blessing in disguise! He is currently attending, 'A-school' and we'll be moving in middle of June this year. With one move down I'm preparing for round two. I love where we're at right now in Maryland and it will be sad to leave. As we inch closer to when he goes into the fleet i feel my heels digging in with the reality of separation coming again. I love that man and am dreading deployments.
We don't spend a lot of time together right now but it's a good balance. We're growing closer through all of this. This lifestyle isn't simple but i can stand up and shout Thank you to our God! (Who has been the one keeping us glued together)

I'm most eager to meet Navy wives! It's always nice to know, I'm not alone. I hope God will bring lasting friendships with woman who love Him with all their heart.

This past month I've been studying the book of Hosea and digging it apart. There are moments I've had to set my bible down and sit still soaking it all in. I won't go into everything because it's already pretty late, but what a great God He is. I am unfaithful like Gomer, and Israel but like them, He loves me. That book opened my heart to get to know God a little more. It isn't easy to come everyday before God, laying everything before Him. I hate that I'm not good, and nothing i do will ever make me look better before God. It's His Grace, because of Christ's love for us that lets me stand before God as though i never sinned. This past month has been challenging and yet amazing. You know how sometimes you just go through some crummy stuff to get to a beautiful place? During all of the hard stuff you cried and fought but in the end you learned and grew? I feel like that's been going on in my heart all month.

Well on a much lighter note i had spring break this past week and had a great time! I cleaned the house, made some yummy meals, and relaxed. This weekend I'm spending with family and enjoying every minute of it! I should get to bed, i have a little niece that plans to wake me up at 8:00 tomorrow! yikes 8)
P.S. I'm looking forward to sharing more and i'll post pictures to share a little peak into our life!! Thanks to anyone who reads this. Sorry if it was hard to read! Goodnight!
-laura

Hi! I hope you had a wonderful week :)

Well i'm just going to jump in and start writing...

In John 14:23-26 Jesus says to his disciples, '..If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. he who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the father who sent me. all this i have spoken while still with you. but the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything i have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace i give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I love this scripture, because it holds such deep truth and comfort for believers. We can rest assured knowing God has given us His spirit. Now just stop and think about this for a minute with me. Each of us has a spirit, the part where our inner most thoughts are. I like to think of it as the secret part of us.

God has given us HIS SPIRIT, the secret part of Him! How great a gift...

God didn't only give us the ultimate gift, (Jesus' death on the Cross) He also blessed our hearts with Himself. What does his spirit even do? According to John 14:15 the Holy Spirit-God's spirit is The Counselor and the spirit of truth. His spirit is given to those who accept Him, and from that point on He is transforming that believer to be like Him.

As i study the Bible i am being transformed with new ideas and challenges. I am so imperfect and desperate for a Savior!

I just started my first in depth Bible study in the book of Esther. I have never picked apart a book of the Bible this way before. This week i was absorbed in the teachings of this book. God is NEVER mentioned in the entire book, but His hand in the story is so evident. What a thought...in our lives God plays the main role and sometimes we don't even realize.

My next thought is this; So much of my life i spent as a christian because of what God did. I went to church, stayed happy, read my bible on occasion, prayed here and there, i knew people looked up to me and i felt pretty good about myself. Something was missing though, there was this huge ache and longing for something more, and this bothered me beyond belief!

Soon i began to kind of sit comfortably where i was, the confusion was too much to deal with so i let my heart go. Please don't give in ever dear friend! The pain after sin is so much greater then the pain of a confused heart! Marriage didn't satisfy the void i felt and i began to pity myself in the pit i slipped into. It was in a grocery store cafe when i realized my life was pitiful and depressing. I was so ruined and lost. I knew that no one would ever look at me the way i was as something wonderful. I could have cried my eyes out right there!

A few events occured that encouraged me to get out of my pit, and fast! I started hearing God's voice loud and clear and i was stunned. He started revealing Himself in ways only a humbled person would hear. I got down on my knees and let Him speak truth into my broken heart.

I found this new truth, My faith was based on what God did, but it needed to be on Who He Was! I jumped into the Bible and began studying who He was, i began praying to Him. My thoughts were consumed with thoughts of Jesus. His death on the cross became more real to me. I cried out to him from the deepest part of my heart repenting. I had wronged Him in more ways then i'd like to admit.

I was never able to love well because i didn't know what love was. Oh beloved friend! His love is unconditional. I failed Him horribly and he should have cast me away, but He didn't, He pulled me out of my pit and showed me love. The Bible is filled with stories where someone deserved the worst, but God kept loving.

"I'm waiting, waiting on you lord, and i am hopeful, i'm waiting on you lord though it is painful, but patiently i will wait. and i will move ahead bold and confident taking every step in obedience...while i'm waiting" This song by john waller paints the picture where i believe many of us need to be.

It is a true test of our faithfulness to God when satan takes a blow to our knees. I'd say i've had my fair share of those! We have to be willing to look to God's face still. We live in an evil world but having a hope in Christ makes a huge difference. This love for God is incredible but it's not enough for me, i need others to know what God is offering them. I need you to realize this God isn't for neat perfect people, he is for messy people like me.

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Thank you for letting me share with you! I know that was a little crazy and random but i hope it made some sense! have a great saturday :)

<3laura

<3

Hello friends!

What a great weekend! Darren and I had a wonderful time friday night with our friends eating chinese and then some coldstone! Isn't it great to be able to have friendships? We really do need people along this journey.

Saturday my sweet husband hid a special gift in the cooler in the closet. I had to climb the step ladder to reach it but the treasure was perfect! It was a beautiful necalace, he said 'laura this isn't some cheep jewelry from Jc penney, it's from the same place i bought your ring.' I love my man!

I was able to do a little shopping saturday at kohls, it's truely a dangerous zone for myself because i'm capable of racking up a big spending bill. I think i did farely well and came away with some great purchases. Looking forward to going back again, hopefully soon! That night Darren and I went to dinner and then rented a couple movies, one being nights in rodanthe, i love that movie :)

Sunday I woke up and went to church, it was an amazing time of worship, and teaching from the Bible. I'm so looking forward to this friday night for their fireproof movie night!

Today the bank was closed for president's day, so i was able to relax and hang out all day. I went to our women's bible study, it was an incredible teaching, about the book of esther. It was a great night and i'm glad i was able to jump in and talk with a few sweet ladies there. I'm looking forward to next week!

Have a good day tomorrow :)

~Laura Moore