one week down...

eight more to go! oh how depressing. haha.

but on a brighter note, this first week was definitely better than the last first week that he was away (back in may). i was telling ben before he left that last time i was just AFRAID. i wasnt sure i was going to be able to do it! but at least this time, the fear is gone because i know we can do it. it sucks, and we hate it, but at least i know we CAN make it... and thats because the Lord gives us strength each day to get through.

part of the reason this week was a bit better too, is that i made a new friend here! her name is jen, and she is a sister in Christ and has been a big blessing already. she and her husband sam live here, about 5 minutes from our apartment, and have a precious little 10 month old named lola. =) jen took me up to this great lookout where we could see ben's ship in the water as they were leaving... so here are a few pictures:

this is me: (ben's ship is behind my head!)


and this is jen:


also, i just keep busy trying to get this big christmas card order finished, and i called the school a few days ago and finally got a few days to sub at the end of this month and during next month! so that is a big blessing. =)
here is my favorite christmas card that i have made so far:


as for ben... he is doing alright... staying super busy with school and work and sleep. thats pretty much all he has time for. (and eating!) let me know if you want the ship's address so you can write him, because i know that mail really brightens his day! and we definitely still covet your prayers as these times are always challenging. here we are right before he left... on a "date night" =)


lately i have gotten into reading a passage first in nasb, and then in "the message". sometimes i think it really gives a neat perspective to a sometimes familiar verse. well i read psalm 27 in the message, and here is verses 13-14:
"I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don't quit. I'll say it again: Stay with God." =) hope you all are seeing God's goodness and staying with Him. have a good weekend!