{update: see below}

The phone rang at 0730 this morning. My heart leapt, I had forgotten today is Saturday. I knew it was Joel, and I jumped to get the phone, selfishly cheering all the way that the kids were still asleep and I’d get to keep him all to myself. I love talking to him. It’s not quite as nice as holding him, but I’ll take what I can get.

This marks a week since my last ‘I miss Joel’ post. Yep, still miss him. The good news is, we’re half way done.
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A few people have asked me what Joel would like to receive in a care package. Well here are a few ideas:

Marshmallow Rice Krispie treats
Twinkies
Pringles in the plastic container (others won’t fair so well)
Other non-chocolate snacks that don’t melt (very important right now until October)
DVDs

I think he really wants the stuff on his Amazon Wish List too.

Email me if you need his address.

I’ve found myself wanting to link to just about every thing a few of my blogging buddies write. As I read certain posts I think, “I would have written that!” So now I don’t have to. No time to write a post for each of these web gems so I’ll bring back the Saturday Stuff Series!

Sara Horn
Web sites:
Faith at the Front - Sara’s Blog
wivesoffaith.org - Military Wives support groups - Looks like this could turn into something very cool. Right now the only chapter is in Nashville… (Nashville? Does Sara live in Nashville? Cause I’m going to be there on Tuesday. Rachel we should talk her into having lunch with us.)

Recent post that totally rocks:
Strength Means Never Giving Up

An interview with Sara:
4 Ways You Can Reach out to Military Wives - She’s so right about being specific.

Chaplain Lisa Northway
Lisa is a mom and an Army chaplain endorsed by the Assemblies of God. While I was contemplating the chaplaincy, we emailed back and forth.

Here’s an article I just found about her:
Operation Scrapbook
Army chaplain Lisa Northway is using scissors, glue, and photos to inspire the troops.

Rachel Harmon
Yes, I talk about her too much. So what. She’s my new super amazing friend who I’m going to visit next week. And she has a great blog. I especially love this post:

It’s All Your Fault!!!
Here’s a hint as to the subject: “Kyra looked at the fish tank, and asked, oh, so innocently, “Why is Nemo upside down?”

Really you should just read everything she has written lately.

That’s right I’m going on another adventure and this one is definitely blogworthy. Yesterday I started wishing I could go to Fort Jackson, SC to see all of my Chaplain Wife blogging buddies on the Fourth of July…

Today I bought the plane ticket. (I had a $300 travel voucher.) I was already planning on meeting my parents in OKC so they could take the kids for a week. Now I’ll be flying from OKC to Nashville. Rachel will pick me up at the airport. The next day we’ll drive from her house to Jackson. Ahh… Home Sweet Home!

I’ll get to see Laura, Heather, Andrea (Ch Ken’s Wife) their husbands and hopefully a few other Chaplain Bloggers at a picnic. Then I get to stay the night with Aimee and her parents. (Aimee is a fellow student at AGTS and her dad is a Chaplain.) The next day we’ll drive back to Rachel’s where I get to hang out for a few days before flying to OKC and then driving to Texas.

OK, how cool is that? {Hint: Very!}

Now I just need to find somewhere to park my car in OKC for a week so I can save a few bucks.

See you at Jackson! If you read this and you or your spouse is at the Chaplain School… please comment.
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P.S. Don’t worry I’ll be doing homework while I’m on my trip… Rachel says I should title it: “The trip in which I traveled to Tennessee to do homework.” Does that make you feel better, Mom?

Check out this post written by Sara Horn:

“A dear friend of mine, a retired military wife, called today and reminded me how important it is that we as a country pray for Victory - not just protection. For Victory - not just an end to the war. I would also add that we need to pray for victory for our families and our marriages.”

Sara’s husband is deployed and she has a son Jeremiah’s age. Somehow my subscription to her blog broke and I haven’t been reading for a few months. It’s great to get back.

My friend Joy recently preached during chapel at AGTS.

Here’s her sermon.

Speaker: Joy Krajicek
Date: April 16, 2007
Title: His Favor is for YOU!
Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3

You can download the audio file here.

Sara mentioned this song in the comments section of a recent post. I hadn’t heard it before. I thought I’d post it here for Joel just in case he hasn’t heard it either.

I’ve been soaking up some free downloads and finding a few songs worth paying for.

I’m loving this one:
Be Still by Story Side B

Here are a few sites where you can download some great music for free.

hearitfirst.com : Sign up for their newsletter for free downloads.
Here’s Hold Me by Nate Huss.

freegotee.com: Mmmm… more free downloads.
{Ayiesha Woods makes me happy…}