Jesus Calling

Talk about a good wake up call/slap in the face?! I was reading through scripture this morning and had several toes stepped on. Then I started reading today's entry in "Jesus Calling" which said:

"Thank Me for the very things that are troubling you. You are on the brink of rebellion, precariously close to shaking your fist in My Face. You are tempted to indulge in just a little complaining about My treatment of you. But once you step over that line, torrents of rage and self-pity can sweep you away. The best protection against this indulgence is thanksgiving. It is impossible to thank Me and curse Me at the same time.

Thanking Me for trials will feel awkward and contrived at first. But if you persist, your thankful words, prayed in faith, will eventually make a difference in your heart. Thankfulness awakens you to My Presence, which overshadows all your problems."
-Psalm 116:17 and Philippians 4:4-6

The last two days I have been having the best little pity party EVER! Yesterday I was having an "ugly day". It didn't matter how many times Dave told me I was beautiful, I would laugh at him and cry at my reflection in the mirror at the same time. I think I even asked him to stop lying to me at one point. Add on top of that, my bulging belly is growing so quickly I cannot wear any of my pants/shorts or skirts. A wonderfully talented/artistic friend offered to take pictures of Dave and me before he deploys and yesterday was our date. I rummaged through my closet thinking there had to be something I could wear. Much to my dismay, I could not wear one skirt or pair of shorts. How do you take pictures on the beach without a pretty skirt?!

So, let's review: Dave is about to deploy (2nd underlying cause of all emotions right now), hormones are raging out of control from baby Tyson growing (main cause of all emotions), we have an awesome opportunity to have pictures made by a fabulous photographer (for free!!!), I'm having an ugly day, I'm gaining weight, none of my clothes fit, not one pair of my skirts or shorts will button or zip , my eyes are puffy and swollen from crying, and I have one hour left before we are to meet said friend. Dave is trying his best to encourage me and comfort me, gently reminding me of how the weight gain is a blessing for which we are EXTREMELY thankful...but you couldn't tell me that at the time.

I finally throw on a dress/swimsuit cover up and make sure no part of me is falling or spilling out before we run out the door. We had a fabulous time and really enjoyed our afternoon with Jeff and Jenn. I'll post pictures later.

Then this morning I am awakened to a phone call from back home updating me on a friend's medical status: the cancer is back and is extremely aggressive. David Nelson's doctors are saying there is nothing more they can do but make him comfortable. He has two beautiful boys and a loving wife. My heart started breaking for them. Dave and I immediately started praying for them, asking the Father to heal David and if not, then to grant peace, comfort and His joy. So, after yesterday and with the upcoming deployment, coupled with today, I realize a few things:
1) I am extremely selfish
2) I am extremely blessed and fortunate...I have NO problems.
3) What I think is ugly and fat is beautiful baby weight I've gained from our blessing from the Lord, and is necessary for the baby's health and growth.
4) God is in control. He has our best interest in mind and is working out ALL THINGS for our good.
5) I need to spend more time thanking Him and praising Him, then I would not have enough time for pity parties.

I'm so glad the Lord is still working on me and refuses to leave me where I am and as I am. He is so merciful and graceful while I am so unworthy and in desperate need of His saving grace, loving-kindness of which He freely gives.
Please join me on our knees before our Father's Throne in prayer over the Nelson and Earley Families.
I also ask you pray for our soldiers as they leave their families to continue protecting our freedoms so selflessly.

Picture updates:

Baby Tyson

The Na Pali Coast in Kauai: Pope Family Vacation

The Pope Family in Princeville, Kauai

No excuses!

I am a slacker! I know it and I apologize. We have had so much going on. I will do my best to give you a synopsis of this past year. Needless to say, the Lord has been faithful, He has provided for all our needs, and has made our cup to overflow with His abundant blessings. Hawaii is truly paradise. We love it and never want to leave, except you are not here. We do miss our family and close friends. Thankfully a lot of you have visited. Your visits have kept me from getting homesick, THANK YOU!!!!

-Dave was promoted to 1St Lieutenant
-He has completed several classes and the Lord has allowed him to graduate in the top of all his classes, sometimes with honors. I know Dave would never tell you that, so I will brag on what the Lord has and is doing through him.
-He swam with sharks while spear fishing along the reefs near Ko'Olina Lagoons and Resorts.
- He has taken up spear fishing and has become quite the little fisherman bringing me barracuda and trigger fish....yummy!
- He is currently in the desserts of California training for his upcoming deployment this summer.
- He will deploy for a year.

I got my state of Hawaii Department of Education Substitute Teaching Certification (much like a regular teaching certificate on the mainland) and have taught at Mililani High School. I'm really enjoying it, but will soon be looking for full time work (deployment).
- I've also been volunteering with the Army in different capacities and really enjoying it.
- I'm loving paddle boarding, snorkeling, surfing (although I need lots of practice), hiking through the rain forest, geocaching with Jen, discovering new waterfalls and trails I've yet to see, as well as whale watching and powered hang gliding. I am spoiled rotten out here!!!
- Today I finished a 5 mile obstacle course in Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Annual Swamp Romp through miles of mud 3-4 feet deep. It was a blast!!!
-Oh, and Dave pushed me off a 50 foot cliff into a pool below a waterfall. Ok, well he didn't push me, but he did bribe me. I don't think he thought I would follow through. I just needed incentive. :)

-We have enjoyed visits from our beloved family: both sets of parents on my side, Casey and Stephanie Allums, our friends Terri and Mychal Smith, and Jeff Matthews.
-Thanks to Jono, we were able to go to Minnesota to be with the entire Tyson family for Christmas and for Alex and Jess's wedding! It's the first time since the brothers were all in Basic and OCS they have been in one place at one time, not to mention Krissy and Shane and the kids. It was a wonderful trip and much needed time together.

-Ruth and Boaz (ruth-a-nator and bobo beggins) are doing wonderfully well. They are quite the companions and thanks to Bapa Joe Joe, quite the beggars. Bo has morphed into a cheese log, even his ankles have fat rolls. Ruth has won the favor of every kid within a 2 mile radius. They are currently lying on either side of me having a snoring competition. The Lord provides so much companionship through them.

I know there is so much more, but I'm starting to see double and think it's time to go to sleep. I will try to do more later.
Alooooooooo-ha! from Hawaii! God bless you!

Mom and Mike Visiting

Below are a few pictures from my cell phone from the past week. I promise to post more later...I still need to post pix from Dad and Cindy's visit...I'm a slacker. Things are going well. Dave is on the Big Island doing PTA with work until Nov.18. This will be his third year in a row to skip out on my birthday and keeps using the Army as his lame excuse. :) j/k

Past week: trip to the ER for Mike's neck/disc problems, car broke down on top of a mountain...the first picture is the view from where we were stranded for 3 hours...not a bad place to break down if I do say so myself, phone was dropped in water, and the main part needed for the vehicle has to be specially ordered off island (mail is SLOW here). All in all it has been a fabulous week. Today we watched a surfing competition live at Sunset Beach on the North Shore...it was AWESOME!!! The waves were about 20 feet high! Amazing. God is so good and faithful to provide.

Hope you enjoy these pictures.Location of the car breaking down: Pu'u Ulaka'a State Park over looking Diamond Head, Waikiki, Honolulu, and Hickam AFB.
Manoa Falls...beautiful hike through the Garden of Eden ends here at these falls. :)

Sunset...

I was just running through my neighborhood when I noticed the sky looked like it was on fire. Thought you might enjoy this beautiful glimpse of God's glory. This is looking from my house towards the one of the smaller mountains near Schofield Barracks, HI.

Way Over Due...Sorry

What have we been up to? Great question. I will do my best to get to it all:

Ruth has taken to the Hawaiian culture and has a new hobby called sun bathing. I don't think she realizes she is a cool weather dog. Either that or she's trying to act like Nina and Poppy (Mike and Kathy Pope).

Here is Bo acting like a duck with his arms tucked underneath him. One of the last days with the carpet downstairs. White carpet and red mud do not mix well with two dogs. Why would anyone in their right mind put white carpet in Hawaii?! Red mud is EVERYWHERE!!!

Our dear friend/brother Jeff Matthews came to visit for a few weeks. We cruised all over the island in search of LOST filming sights and just good ole adventures. That included:

Surfing - what a great work out. These are pics from the first lesson. This is Jeff and me paddling out to the waves. Catching them was easy, paddling back out was tough.

Snorkeling

Spear Fishing

Dave was promoted
Dave is far left, next is Lt. Colonel Brown, followed by Captain DeFiori. I would have taken more pictures, but I was the only civilian there and Lt. Colonel asked me to pin Dave. Sorry. I will make

D&C Haynes Visited - below are pictures from our powered hang gliding thanks to Paradise Air. If you visit us, save up for them...it was amazing!!!

This is Dad/Doug looking at a full circle rainbow. Who knew rainbows formed a full circle?This is Cmonster/Cindy flying over Waimea Bay on North Shore.Another one of Cindy on North Shore. This is towards the LOST crash site near Camp Erdman, which is also where "The Others" live...the Darma Initiative. My wonderful friend Jenn works here. Pics of our adventures later.
This one is of me, Carrie, flying near Kaena Point between North Shore and Waianae.

A view of Kaena Point. Right side is Waianae - beautiful beaches and snorkeling, and thousands of homeless people living in tent city. Left side is North Shore, Waialua side.

Update on the brothers:
Zac deployed
Charlie deployed
Jon is still deployed

Bo and Ruth went with us to see Zac off. This is a shot of Zac's company MP 558 and Bo is looking at me wondering why I wont let him off his leash to see Uncle Zac. Bo LOVES his Uncle Zac...birds of a feather... :) Love you buddy.Zac's wife, Sissy, turned 21...young buck.

Carrie took a teaching certificate class and will be substitute teaching for Hawaii DOE

We put in hardwood floors downstairs, about 1,000 sq ft.

Before we moved in.

Living room during demo time.
Living Room after. This is the view from upstairs looking down.

Guest Bedroom before.

Guest bedroom after.

Kitchen is finished.The office/3rd bedroom is finished. Sissy helped a ton with this project...THANK YOU!!
Dining Room is almost finished.

We have been able to hang out with old friends...here are pics of Julie Stanberry Phillips and her beautiful girls Audrey and Arabelle. These were taken while their husband/father was deployed. Julie and I went to junior high and high school together. It's great to have someone you know living so close when you are so far from home.

Another day we took the girls to Ko'Olina and put the hammock up. We all went to the Aquarium and then to Teddy's Burgers in Waikiki across from the Zoo.

Dave turned 30!!!

Dave and I went on a Marriage Retreat sponsored by the Army. Here are some pictures of the scavenger hunt we went on in Waikiki.

D is posing with a lifeguard

We had to sit in the chairs at Cheeseburger in Paradise.


This is the oldest hotel in Waikiki...I think. Moana Surf Rider

Dave in front of a Lamborghini?

need i say more?

And after the marriage retreat I'm kicking Zac's booty at a local arcade. Sorry lil bro...had to tell the truth.

In case this wasn't enough for you....I'll put more pictures up in a bit. I have to go get my external hard drive for the rest of my pictures. =)