Prayer...

I'm first going to start out with... I have not received an email or phone call from Jay in the last 48 hours... I am fighting off all those vain imaginations.... GOD HELP ME! cuz I really hate this! It is the worst feeling, and so hard to pray through. This is where I NEED YOU PRAYER WARRIORS to kick it into high gear!

My word for the day...

Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

sand storm = bad communication

Today, we were able to skype. It was frustrating because there was a sand storm and Jay's audio was zero and the video kept freezing up. He could hear and see us just fine. (however very frustrating!) it is the weirdest feeling trying to communicate with someone when you cannot hear them, yet you can see them. It makes my ears hurt just thinking about it. As Jay was trying to figure out the audio, he unplugged the head set and everyone in the computer lab could hear Reign Scream... MY DADDY! oops. Well, at least Jay got a chuckle! :-)

A new saying everyday ~ for you Jay!

Last week we went out to eat at Pizza Ranch. When Reign, was done eating she sat back in her chair and says... "Oh Jesus, My belly hurts" We prayed for her a lot when she broke her arm. When we would ask her who healed her arm she would answer, "Jesus make it better" so now when anything hurts she is sure to tell Jesus. She likes to lay hands on her dolls and pray for them. It is so cute!

The boys taught her all of her colors in TWO DAYS, purple is PURKLE. She is learning how to count. 123456-897.

Today I asked her to put something away for me and she gives me a quick... Sure mommy sure Reign do it!

while strapping her doll in the stroller she talks to it and says "good girl"!

My baby is felling down the steps.

Reign, is getting the concept of big and little. and high and low.

I have the HIPCUPS!

she sits at the table during dinner and sings about daddy in the airplane!

Navy Seals

Jay was invited to join the Navy Seals for a BBQ. He said it was the best steak and potato salad he has had in awhile. I guess there are quite a few of these guys on base and they are doing a great job; keeping my husband and the other soldiers safe. It is their job to go outside the wire and get the bad guys. I ask that you pray for the seals and I trust that God will continue to give these "elite" the insight, wisdom, strength, peace, courage, and the sound mind they need to continue with this mission in Jesus name!

Salsa

For the last 3 weeks the boys and I have been busy canning "SALSA" Jay has received one box, and another one is in the mail. I hope you like the salsa honey!... it wasn't the same without your help this year. I MISS YOU in the kitchen with me.

A family update for Jay...

Andrew with all of his ol' youth group friends at Cory and Tera's wedding!

On Friday Andrew, was in one of his good friend Cory's wedding in Mankato, after that I headed back to Le Center to watch Tyler's football game agains Blooming Prairie, (they lost to a tough game) 26-38. We got home about 11-ish and I could not fall asleep for nothing... I think I finally fell asleep around 3:30am the alarm went off at 6:30 and it was time to pack up and head to the MN Zoo. today was "Military Kids Day" Reign was sooo crabby all day. (and Mom was exhausted) We got home around 5pm and the boys were off to a "lock in" at the church. North Central University will be there doing worship and the preaching, along with all kinds of gladiator games. All the youth have an opportunity to fight a gladiator... named "Andrew Harmon" Lol! Thanks Honey, for the flowers... you made my day! I love them!

Instant message between another army wife

This is my new world, along with so many others that share it! I deleted "her name" for privacy.. I hope maybe a few of you get this...

are you around
?

Nancy Harmon: im here, not for long though.. whats up

what about later this afternoon?
i just need to talk but I'm not really ready right now....

Nancy Harmon: call me, ill talk while I run around here like a chicken with her head cut off if thats ok

I am in no condition to talk. I have to drive up to stupid to IGH.
I was thinking maybe later...

Nancy Harmon: i just need to back away from the computer. ok um well later later? might work

I will text you or something when I get back.

Nancy Harmon: ok

talk to ya soon then. Thanks

Nancy Harmon: :)

nancy....

Nancy Harmon: yeah

please pray for protection over my husbands heart

Nancy Harmon: his heart is covered in the blood and Jesus is massaging it right now to keep it soft towards him....

i have not stopped crying in 3 days

Nancy Harmon: ok, well by the time you stop i will prolly start! we need
each other! that is for sure! maybe I will come to see you later later... i will see how my day/night goes.. I need to get a hair cut and my nails done really really bad!

i slept long enough last night to have one dream
and that was that a car pulled up to my front door. a black car with notification officers in it.

Nancy Harmon: cast down all vain imaginations
Nancy Harmon: that is what his word says
Nancy Harmon: its a lie from the devil
Nancy Harmon: if you buy it he laughs

something wicked has a hold of his heart

Nancy Harmon: he is an idiot

i know

Nancy Harmon: that was the same lie i fell for the week jay called me and HAD TO GO

i called chaplain thompson and read him the email my hubby sent me

Nancy Harmon: the devil is an idiot.. hope you got that

he said he would email lotzer
i did. i know

Nancy Harmon: ok, u need to let go and let God, easier said than done I know.. but you have done your part!

Nancy Harmon: have you called ppl at church to be interceding for him?

yes
i even told the youth to work on it

Nancy Harmon: ok.. it is being done in the supernatural and we will see it in the physical very very soon

he hasnt called or emailed or skyped me in 3 days

Nancy Harmon: it is ok, that is all i can say .. continue to send him emails he will read them

my sister in law is going to email him later too

Nancy Harmon: Believe GOD IS DOING SOMETIHNG positive in his heart these 3 days

i emailed him and told him to look at our son’s senior pics
i know god is.
my knees hurt

Nancy Harmon: he is dependant on you.. maybe GOD is allowing your hubby to depend on him!

in jesus name

Nancy Harmon: whatever WE BELIEVE and ask for in his name it is ours. so we believe

one last thing.....

Nancy Harmon: k

thank you for being my best friend
i could never have made it through this deployment without you

Nancy Harmon: i love you.. just wait, pms is just around the corner and you will be giving me the exact advice lol! :)

YAY!!!
I LOVE your PMS :)

Nancy Harmon: ttyl I will call or you text me later

see... you made me SMILE
thank you

Nancy Harmon: GOD IS GOOD!

Half Way Point Party

Today we got together with some of the Military Families from HSC in IGH. We were celebrating the half way point of the deployment. The kids had a great time playing in the gym and making new friends. We decorated cards to send to the soldiers.

The First Week of School!

Go Tyler... #52!

We had a great first week of school. The boys are each taking two classes at the High School this year. They are both at school for 2 hours each morning. I needed to take a little step back with homeschooling. I think in the end it will benefit all of us. Tyler has had two football games and Caleb has had one. They have won all of the games.

My sister Julie, and sister in law Julie are taking turns with watching Reign so I can get to Tyler's games on Friday nights. I have brought Reign with me to Caleb's games and it is extrememly difficult to say the least.

Speaking of Reign; her arm is healing great. She should get her cast off next week.

Each Friday we meet with the Scott County Home Educators in Prior Lake. The boys had a great time playing Lacrosse and getting to know other Home School Families.

Broken Arm

Wednesday night about 10p.m. Reign had to go poddy and started holding her bottom with one hand and started doing the poddy dance, the next thing I new she had lost her balance and fell; landing on her right arm. I knew something was wrong. She was crying, I was not sure if it was because she fell or because she had to go poddy. She peed in her pants and I put her in the shower quick and noticed that she would not move her arm. She was still upset, but she was also very ~ very tired. When I got her dressed I noticed that she was protecting her arm. I thought maybe she bruised it and we will look at it in the morning. Well, she was up all night off and on kind of moaning and saying owie arm. She snuggled in bed with me for the evening. I debated on taking her in at 2 am and then decided to wait until early morning. 8am we were at the clinic and taking x-rays. YEP, it is fractured! We will see her pediatrician tomorrow for an already scheduled 2 year check-up. Then from there we will go to a specialist. She is doing so good, PRAISE GOD! it is a little tender. I think she feels better with the cast on and having it protected. She has been praying and asking Christ to heal her arm.. it is so precious to see her talk to Jesus! She is my first child to have ever broke a bone... Jay says, "leave it to the girl".

We went to Perkins after the clinic to eat, As we were leaving Perkins I was looking for my keys for the van. Caleb opened the door and we realized that the keys were still in the ignition and the van was still running! (about an hour) We then went to Walmart to get some Tylenol for Reign. I needed to replace a cell phone for Caleb... because just the other day I WASHED his brand new phone. JESUS help all of us! I think I may have too much on my mind.

Everyday I learn to continue to rest in HIM!
He is MY PEACE! :-)

Reign's Birthday ~

September 1st I decided to have a small birthday party for our "lil pumkin pie" Miss. Reign Elizabeth-Grace. Hannah and Sarah came over and joined myself and the boys. I simply did not have the emotional energy to put on anything bigger than that. It was the first time she had ever opened up presents! (that she could remember) She loved her princess dresses, shoes, baby doll, and of course her Elmo balloon and cheesecake! She calls any kind of cake (cheesecake) since daddy has been home. We played all day on September 2nd with all the new toys.

September 2, 2007 ~ YES, 2007

Several years ago, A friend of mine named Donna had a dream. In her dream the Lord, told her that Jay and I were going to have a baby. A few months after the dream she felt lead to share it with us. Of course Jay laughed out loud and said "yeah right!” Jay was 45, and it had been 11 years since the last baby! Do I need to say anymore?

I prayed for about a year for the Lord, to change Jay's heart if it was indeed His will for us to have another child. One year later Jay and I found ourselves praying together for God's will for another baby! :-)
Honestly we kind of forgot about it.

Until: December of 2007 Christmas Vacation!
I woke up in the middle of the night and I saw Jesus standing next to my bedside. He was very gentle and peaceful and he said to me; "I have given you a daughter and you will name her Reign, because I REIGN!" I actually argued with him about the name several times I told him that reign was a dumb name for a girl. He very gently repeated himself 3 times as I argued with him; "You WILL name her Reign, because I REIGN!"
So I finally gave in and as I sat up to ask him about a middle name he was gone!

I seriously thought this was some kind of spiritual dream, NOT PHYSICAL. I really thought the Lord was going to birth something new in my life and perhaps reign as never before. I was leading a woman’s Bible study in my home at the time, and I thought God was going to move in their lives in an amazing way.

I shared this dream with everyone… for those of you that do not know me; this is how God speaks to me. He speaks to me in visions and dreams. I was tossing this vision out to my friends to help me try and understand what it all meant. About six weeks later I decided to take a pregnancy test, for obvious reasons! 

I WAS PREGNANT!

I freaked and started to shake and cry.. telling Jay OMG I really meant Oh MY God!
what if it is a GIRL! What if? What if? I had wanted to have a girl for over 17 years. Did I really see Christ? Did He really speak to me? Am I going CRAZY?

We had THREE ultra sounds that said, GIRL! A huge baby shower (with over 75 gifts!) all PINK! I was very nervous!

During this time God changed my heart… Even though I had desired to have a daughter. My desire changed. My desire now was…

“Lord, I only desire for this baby to be a girl so many people will KNOW that YOU are GOD and the YOU are STILL ALIVE and SPEAK to us TODAY!

When I count back the days from my actual due date; conception took place the last week in December. crazy huh?
Reign was born one month early (in God’s eyes she was born right on time) She was born on Donna’s Birthday September 2, 2007. The Lord Blessed Donna and confirmed to her as well, that she in fact had heard His voice!

Christ is ALIVE! He loves you so very much, and he desires to have a relationship with you!

Blessings
Nancy

Gotta Go!

We were able to talk on the phone for the first time in a week, that is about the average communication lately. The siren goes off, you can hear stuff in the back ground and GOTTA GO!! are the last words that are spoken! Can anyone say NeRvOuS bReAk-DoWn! I absolutley hate when this happens, the GUT WRENCHING pain inside the pit of my stomach, trying not to shake, sob, throw up!

Trusting God, to protect Him, and thoughts of two dressed soldiers coming to my door the next day was the emotional~spiritual battle going on inside of me! Naturally I started to PRAY in the spirit as I text the prayer warriors to start praying. I cranked up the worship music and cried, prayed, worshiped for what seemed like hours.

I get a text from Jay saying he is ok, they are waiting for an all clear, and he is not sure if anyone is wounded or killed. Now I am supposed to go on with my day as normal... WHAT THE HECK IS NORMAL!?

THE LIFE OF AN ARMY SPOUSE... and everyone asks.. HOW ARE YOU DOING!? well, this afternoon NOT SO GOOD!



The picture above is of a "Non-Smoking" Bunker thanks to "SSG Urbacke"

Here is an e-mail I recieved from Jay, the next day. Once the excitement calmed down...

Everything is fine here. I slept really hard last night, with the heat and the extra excitement! They did not hit the base. I am fine, I am glad the Lord, had me go to the bunker I was at, so I could let you know everything was fine!

I hope you can tell I am very proud of you for what you are doing without me to keep our family running smoothly! I could ramble on all day about you and the sacrifices you have also made while I have been gone.

LOVE YOU MORE AND MORE EACH DAY!

THANK YOU JESUS FOR SUCH AN AMAZING WIFE YOU HAVE GIVEN ME! XOXOX!

It all depends on the day....

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.


"This deployment is harder than Jay, and I both thought it would be". Some days are harder than others!

"This deployment is easier than Jay, and I thought it would be". Some days are easier than others!

Depending on the day... I feel both! "ONE DAY AT A TIME"

I know in my heart that this tour is an extended missions trip for both Jay and I. We have had opportunity to minister to other military families as they in return "unknowingly" themselves minister to us. I have a joy in my spirit this morning and excitement for what Jesus is going to be doing in the hearts of the Army Wives he has placed in my life. I have opened my home to several ladies and they are WANTING to be here. One lady said she feels so relaxed when she is here... Praise God for his presence in my home!

Last night I had an opportunity to pray for another Army Wife, she is 24 has two children under the age of 2 and is waiting for tests results of cervical cancer.

Yesterday I shared with an Army Husband that Jay and I are praying for them, as his wife has filed for divorce while she is in Iraq. They have three beautiful girls under the age of 12. He barely held back the tears!

Another husband just went back to Iraq from his leave time... is having trouble with blood in his stool. I'm know it is STRESS related.

Jay and I have our own issues to deal with like everyone else. I could NOT IMAGINE doing this without CHRIST in our lives! Pray for their salvation... God knows their names. My heart aches for these families, yet GOD is in CONTROL! and I expect Him to move in a Mighty Way.

Blessings this Morning!

The PX

Here is a photo of the px (shopping center) The shelves are empty most of the time. There are too many soldiers, to keep the shelves stocked! KEEP WRITING LETTERS AND SEND THOSE CARE PACKAGES! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! if you were in a desert for a year, you would want to stay in touch with family and friends. I CANNOT STRESS IT ENOUGH! send photos of your family, have your kids draw pictures, send a care package, write a letter with some scripture in it to encourage Jay! If you need any ideas I am a phone call ~ e-mail away!

Christian Coffee House

Here is a photo of Holy Joes. This is a Christian coffee tent. It is a tent sprayed with insulation! I thought at first it was the chapel, and then Jay corrected me. (oops)

Not just Hot... HUMID too

In Iraq....This puddle was NOT created by rain. It is from all of the humiditiy in the air YUCK HuH?

Love and Faithfulness

Today is a "NEW DAY" soak in His LOVE and FAITHFULNESS

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful!

I Praise the Lord, for protecting the area that Jay and the other troops are in. He had only four hours of sleep the other night. A little excitement once again!

We made it to the "HALF WAY POINT"

February 12th Jay left for Seattle Washington. August 12th is the half way point, and MY BIRTHDAY! Jay surprised me with FLOWERS! There is nothing better for a woman than when her guy plans ahead! He is scoring very high with his wife! I LOVE YOU JAY, THANK YOU FOR THE FLOWERS!

Send Letters ~ Cards to IRAQ!

Please continue/or start to send Jay letters and cards. It means so much to him to recieve mail. Now that he has been home it is going to be especially difficult to be away. Right now the only thing that he is requesting is calling cards! make sure they are AT&T cards! send pictures of your families and have your children make/color pictures. He really does hang them up in his office. He has a several pictures colored from the little Ling girls and loves it!

Thank you for all of your love and support! This deployment has been harder than we had first expected!