Lessons I have learned from my son the future Marine

Dustin has taught me so many things since he announced he wanted to join the marines. I remember the day he told me my heart sank. He said "mom, I am going to join all I want is your blessings." I couldn't give him the one thing he was asking for. One day on the way to work I was praying and asking for peace and wisdom concerning Dustin's decision. A few minutes later I heard God speak to my heart and say "Elaine I will take care of him." This peace came over me and I knew Dustin would be OK. When I gave him my blessings he was so happy and said "mom that is all I want."
Dustin had some medical issues growing up. Ulcer at 10, tourettes, weight gain (started when the put him on meds for his tourettes.) He would hold in his twitches(tourettes) until he got home and would be so miserable. It was awful. But all along he knew one day he wanted to be a Marine.
He has lost weight, his tourettes is under control. his ulcer is better. Today he wrote this in a letter. He goes to church every Sunday, he really enjoys it and it makes him homesick. When he thinks he can't do something he ask God to get him through it. He said he feels God has His hands on him through all of this. He works out at night on his own to try and improve himself
He believes he was born to do this. I believe him.
I had met a woman whose son had served in the Marine Corp and then signed up again after 9/11. She told me Marines are born. I believe this is Gods plan for Dustin. He knew it, did what it took to make it and in six weeks I will go watch my son as his dream comes true. He will be a Marine.
So what have I learned? That if you want it bad enough you can achieve it despite some obstacles that may be in the way. When God has a plan for your life He will get you there as long as you let Him help you. That a mother can let go and watch her baby boy grow up and do exactly what God has called Him to do. After all he belongs to God.
SEMPER FI

The truth is...

For a long time, longer than I can remember I have sometimes wished I had a different personality. You know...quiet, behind the scenes, not quite as talkative, serving God without anyone noticing. You know who I am talking about. I so admire women like this. I wish I could be more like them, until...
This morning I woke up early.The house was quiet and I sat down and had a visit with my Father in heaven. We went through a lot of stuff. The most important word He gave me was that my personality was fine, I need it to do what He lays on my heart but what I need to change is my attitude. What? That was not what I was expecting to hear.
He revealed to me that He made my personality the way it was so I could survive growing up. It was the tool He gave me to make it. Now someone may read this and think "Hey I had a bad childhood or my life stinks, why didn't He give me a personality to survive?" He did. He also gave us a free will. We could let the circumstances rule us or dig deep into our spirit and pull out the gifts He gave us. We make choices.
I felt defeated many times but I would always let my personality take charge and for that I am very grateful. I did not become a Christian until I was 37 years old but I always felt there was something or someone bigger than this life watching over me and whatever or whoever this something was, it was greater and more powerful than I would ever imagine. At the age of 37 I realized it was Jesus Christ. He was always with me, walking beside me, knowing someday I would desire to know Him and have a personal and intimate relationship with Him.
I know someone is also thinking "easy for you!" No it wasn't, not at all. I made a choice to not let the circumstances get the best of me and knew deep in my soul that life COULD be better than this. My life is better, much better and blessed than I could have ever imagined. Now I thank God for the personality He gave me. The attitude needs a little bit of work.
I need to own up. Any problems I have at this time in my life I created. No one else, just me. Gods promise to me is this, if I trust in Him and believe in Him, depend on Him, all my needs, not my wants, my needs will be met.
Sounds good to me, very good.

Hang in there

Commit to the Lord in whatever you do and you will succeed. Proverbs 16:3. I know this is true.
I have to remember that God put this dream of HUG AWAY in my heart and as long as I do this in His name it will succeed. It has not been easy but I know it will happen.
A friend gave Dustin a beautiful stand that says Be strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10 The day he left I came home and saw it sitting on our tv. He had placed it there before he left so I would see it when I came home. It was his way of saying to his mom "hang in there" and that is what I feel God is saying to me. So for God, Dustin and Hug Away I will hang in there.

WOW!

WOW,WOW,WOW! In the past 10 days I have seen God work in my life and answer prayer in ways I never would have imagined.
When I left Dillon Int. to begin this ministry I believed God would take care of me. I needed a part time job and hoped to find one as flexible as my job at Dillon had been. I worked at home most of the time and usually only 25 hours a week. I kept putting off job hunting because I just knew God had the perfect job for me.
Last Tuesday there was a job fair and I went to it. There were lots of great companies, but I felt like my job wasn't here. I remembered there had been an ad in the paper for an account manager, part time, flexible. I thought why not. I went into the office and met this cowboy. He was a really nice guy. We hit it off and next thing I know I have a job! 10-15 hours a week making $100 less than I was making. He owns a large janitorial service and I am the account manager. MY job is to make sure the clients are happy. I can work one whole day or a couple hours a day as long as I make contact! A perfect job! He said come to work Monday and we will go meet clients. I was so excited. Saturday I ended up in an ambulance thinking I suffered a heart attack. I was not going to make it to work Monday. I called the gentleman and he asked if I was ok and said whenever your ready to start let me know. Ends up I was in the hospital until Monday night, by the way thank you God it wasn't a heart attack but a spasmatic esophagus.
So I started my job today and it is going to be so awesome. God is good.

The Fair

My,my,my,my,my.....The state fair is an enigma. And that is a nice word for it. Strange people, to expensive, to loud, SCARY! But great food! We love the food. Seriously. We don't rides rides so we eat and look at all the interesting people and see friends we have not seen in a while. We walk around and look at the hot tubs, RVs ,back yard makeovers talk about "if" we had this or that and gripe about how expensive everything is.
Of course this was Kennedy's first Fair and we thought for sure she would freak out. NOT. She cried when we left but not while we were there. She rode the kiddy rides and loved it.
Saw an older man who asked if "those were my oriental girls" sigh. Yes they are my oriental girls. Sorry we had already been at the fair 5 hours, ate a huge corn dog, a polish sausage and a funnel cake, I just didn't have it in me to explain, correct or even give a dirty look. I just looked at my husband and said "come on babe, time to go home."

Thoughts

"I know that because GOD LOVES ME, I can do wonderful things. I can try GREAT THINGS, learn anything, ACHIEVE anything. Maya Angelou.

I love this saying. It says it all. God loves me. Good, bad, happy or sad, He always loves me. Embrace that thought if you will. Isn't that amazing? Doesn't it give you goosebumps?
No I have not found a job and I have no clue what is going to happen tomorrow, the only thing I am sure of is yesterday, today and forever God loves me. What else do I need?
Let me tell you something. When you have done what you believe God has called you to do, you are stepping into the unknown, the only known is Gods love.

"Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
That is my hearts desire. It should be every person on earths desire. Imagine this world If that was every ones desire.

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him. Exodus 15:2
God has called me to do something for Him. He will give me strength and love me.

Everyday, it doesn't matter if it is from reading my bible or a devotional or a conversation or prayer. Every single day I have to make time to remember God. This reminds me He is in control, not me. He will meet my needs and He has a plan for me. I will know that plan ONLY if I am quiet and listen.
I am so not perfect, I mess up on a daily basis but it is that conscious effort of keeping His word in my heart that reminds me I am forgiven, I am loved and He has big plans for my life.

Ok!

I am officially unemployed. Now what? Need to find a good part time job. Need to get the foundation off the ground. Need to let God stay in control.

So on to other things. I have to share the cutest picture of Kennedy and her 2 boyfriends. They were counselors at Korea Camp and it was love at first sight for all of them. We saw them the other day and they were all so excited to see each other. They are so cute!