Austin Kate's Prayer

When Austin Kate prays, she always says,

"Dear God, please take care of my Uncle Judi when he goes on his big trip to fight the bad guys."

That simple prayer pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?

-posted by Jaime (AK's Mommy)

From A Mother's Heart

We want this site to be a group effort to encourage Jordan, to let him know how proud we are of him, and to let him know how much we love him. We want to let the world know to PRAY for Jordan everyday. We want everyone to have a place to come together to be updated on what is going on in the situation. But I am the Mama (or Ma as Jordan calls me) of this wonderful young man. He is in on my mind every second I am awake. He has been, as have all his brothers and sisters from the second they were conceived. Seldom is there a night that goes by that I don’t dream of one or more of them. But I am not telling any mother anything she does not already know and do. The Lord has given me the wonderful privilege of being Jordan's mother. I gave him back to the Lord many years ago, and have done it again many times over and over again.

Sunday afternoon June 3, 2007 for a moment I felt my world crash down. Jordan was going to Iraq. I never thought it would really happen. I really want to focus on “for a moment”. That moment was the devil! As I did many years ago, that night under the stars I again I gave this situation, and Jordan to the Lord. This is one I can not fix or stop. But I can lift Jordan and the many others in his situation up to our Lord and pray for their safety. This is what we are also asking you, our friends and family, to do for these brave men and women.

Jaime has been the wonderful big sister in this situation. She has worked hard on this site for Jordan, our family and Lindsay. I thank her from the bottom of my heart for this. I feel like I am repeating some of what she has already said, but this time is from a mama’s heart…. Jordan we are so proud of you, we love you so much and the Lord will hear from me daily on your behalf…Love Ma

-posted by Kathy

Worry

God has chosen our family to go through this. Please pray that we will be able to set a Christian example and not let sinful worry rule our lives. The Lord graciously directed me this morning during my quite time to some sermon notes I took last year about worry.

-Worry reveals our unbelief in God’s faithfulness for tomorrow.

-Worry reveals our futile attempt to be sovereign.

-Worry reveals our lack of spiritual maturity.

-Worry is a serious sin.

-In order to combat worry, fix your eyes on God and His promises.

-Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

-John 14:1, 27 …the peace I give is not like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

-Psalm 33:21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name.

-1 Peter 1:8 Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy…

-Psalm 138:8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life…

-Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

It is absurd for us to think that we can accomplish anything with worry regarding this or any situation. The only way to handle it is with prayer and trust in God.

-posted by Jaime

I Said I Thought It Was a Good Idea

I remember vividly the day Jordan told me he was enlisting. I was in my driveway spraying ant killer on the vast kingdom of fire ants that invaded and plagued my otherwise picturesque residence. My girls were at the far end of the yard playing on their swing set, the only spot on our property safe from the little red terrors. Jordan pulled into my driveway driving way too fast and with his music way too loud. I smiled a waved, always thrilled that my little brother chose to hang out at my house. We sat under the carport so we could be in the shade and still see the girls. We talked for awhile with the ease of friendship, an outsider would never gather from our relationship that we once were children that had to be separated for fighting.

Then Jordan got that look in his eye that he gets when I am supposed to go from friend mode into big sister/second mother mode because he is about to ask me for advice. It still amazes me that my younger siblings look up to me after all the brutal beating I gave them and all of the allowance money I conned from them. But they do - all of them, but none more than Jordan. I have the advantage of easily remembering what it is like to be a child striving for membership into the adult realm, and the knowledge, even if it is novice, of how this adult world works. I can give them both sides, and have often been called in to referee between them and our parents because I can give an un-bias opinion on each side. I’d seen this look in Jordan’s eyes before. Usually it was about a girl, or a bad grade, an argument with Moma, or a sticky situation he needed help with. The look in his eyes on that humid day was very similar to the look I was accustomed to seeing, but there was something slightly different. If I looked deep enough, I could see that he wasn’t about to ask me something so much as he was about to tell me something. There was a confidence, an unfamiliar maturity in his look.

“I think I’m gonna enlist, Sis,” he calmly stated. Jordan has one attitude about life – laid back.

“Enlist in what?” What was he talking about? We told each other everything, and I hadn’t heard anything about this yet!

“In the Air Force. I’m headed over to the office now, but I wanted to talk to you first.”

I didn’t know what to say. I always know what to say. I thought for a few moments. Jordan is a smart, kind, fun loving guy. He had tried several life plans, but the end goal, up until that point seemed to be to be young and have fun. He needed direction and a purpose. He needed to grow up and become a respectable adult and channel his energy and unique intelligence into something positive.

“I think that would be a good idea.” I finally said.

I rationalized that the war was surely about over, and that he would have years of training before they could send him anywhere. By the time he was ready for deployment, he would probably be sent to Hawaii to guard the military's kegs of beer and patrol bikini clad beaches. He would get a good education, get to see the world, and finally earn the respect he deserved.

I thought it was a good idea.

I don’t know if he would have left my house and went to the office and enlisted if I had said that I thought it was a bad idea. I will always wonder. I like to think that he would. I would like to think that he had already made up his mind and just came to me for that last bit of encouragement. I hope that the assurance and determination that I saw in his eyes was valid and not something I made up afterwards to make myself feel better.

I said I thought it was a good idea.

At the time it was, I guess. Maybe it still is. He has gotten and is getting a wonderful education, and he is getting to see the world. It’s just not the part of the world I want him to see. He has the respect he deserves, but a large part of me wishes he was still that carefree kid that would pull into my driveway driving way too fast and with his music up way too loud.

I said I thought it was a good idea, and because I said that, I feel like I owe an apology to our parents and grandparents and to Lindsay and to everyone else that loves this sweet young man so much.

I’m the oldest of six and therefore have an unusually overbearing personality. I am bossy. I am a planner. I am a fixer. I fix things in this family when they are messed up. This is messed up and I can’t fix it and I am sorry. I am sorry because I told him that I thought it was a good idea and now I can’t sleep at night wondering what would have happened if I hadn’t said,

I thought I was a good idea.

-posted by Jaime

This is Really Happening...

This weekend Jordan came home to Duncan to tell his family what we all have feared for months. He is being deployed to Iraq in just a few weeks. We knew this was possible, but we prayed that it wouldn't become a reality. The sweet young man that we love with our whole hearts is being sent to war. War. He is ready to go, because it is his job.

No one considers war pleasant, but when it is your own flesh and blood that is laying his life on the line, it hits home, hard, and you understand that this is real and it happens to real people. I can't imagine how anyone can get through this without the comforting arms of the Lord carrying them. We are scared and maybe even mad that this is happening to our family, but we know that we have a Savior who has a plan. Please pray for Jordan's safety and strength. Pray for the people he will encounter, the government and military officials making decisions about the war, and for a quick resolve to these conflicts. Please also pray for our family and for Lindsay.

See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)

-posted by Jaime

Quotes and Bible Verses to Claim

Today's Trial is Tomorrow's Testimony. -unknown

Instead of telling God how big your storms are, try telling your storms how big your God is. - unknown

I know God won't give me anything I can't handle; I just wish He didn't trust me so much. -Mother Theresa

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7-8)

"If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it." -unknown

-posted by Jaime

Men Like Him

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You don't feel like working today, so you don't.
He does what he is told.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He does not get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.


You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your loved ones, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.
He hears the gun fire and bombs.

You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the bodies lying around him.

You stay at home and watch tv.
He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gun fire.

If only there were more men like him.