Today was a beautiful, cold day. The weekend flew by so fast! Friday I took some of my comp time and left work early. Saturday was a workday at church, so I spent some time there and then I went to a funeral with my friend Dawn. After that, we went to Sheridan and Trish's to grill burgers and catch up with friends. We ate, visited, and then played mafia. If you've never played mafia, then you're missing out...It's alot of fun! We had a great time, but exhausting after it was all said and done. Then to top it off, I had my nieces over to stay the night. It always makes my heart smile when the girls beg their parents "Can we please stay the night with Katie Jo & Jon Jon, PLEASE??" I'm glad that they like coming over to our house and spending time with us. It's nice knowing that they feel comfortable enough at my house that they know that they always have another "safe" place to come and have fun. I had to immediately put Hannah in the tub. She was covered in dirt from playing with her little "boy" friends...They played in the dirt all day yesterday.

Faye has been cooking breakfast for everyone on Sunday mornings. It's really awesome of her to do that for her family, and we all receive a blessing from it. On the way home from breakfast, I was overwhelmed with the fact that Jonathan will probably be leaving for who knows where in a matter of days. I know with all my heart that the Lord will keep him safe in his travels, because I have asked Him to..and so its done. But it seemed like this morning, the more I thought of Jon being away from me again made me sad. I am overwhelmed with all the things we need to do before he leaves. Time we need to spend together, the honey-do's that need to be done before he leaves (stuff that i'm pretty sure I can't do on my own), things we need to buy for his trip, etc. And we have about a week to get this done. (We think) Jon's brother George sent him an email, and he told Jon that he should be in Morocco on April 9th. So we're expecting an itinerary this week.

Even though the idea of my husband being all the way around the world from me is very hard to obsorb, I am thankful that the Lord's will is being done in our lives. Everyday I am being shown different ways He is using Jon and I. This week, the Lord has give me several scriptures. The first one is 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all of your cares and worries upon the Lord, for he cares for you". Casting your cares and worries to the Lord can be a very humbling experience. It's been a challenge for me to throw up my hands and say, "Lord, I can't do this by myself, you're gonna have to do it for me." Once you do that, I'm here to tell you, He does take care of it! Another scripture he gave me is found in Romans: I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. Romans 8:38 I am standing on God's promises! Isn't it awesome how God's got our back?

Please continue to remember us in your prayers.