Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. I'm in Minnesota with our two young boys, and Justin is in South Carolina working away, waiting for our return. Even though we're apart, we can still celebrate what God has done between us. Let me just say that I am so pleased with the man God has chosen for me. I couldn't ask for a better husband and father...he's not perfect, but he seeks God's direction and guidance in life, and I couldn't ask for more. We fit like puzzle pieces and make up for each other's weaknesses. I love him. That's the bottom line. I'll be honest, we've been through some challenges and some low points, but God has completely blessed our continued dedication to our relationship, and I can honestly say that Justin is my very best friend in the whole wide world...apart from God, of course :). I have chosen the Blog as the place to say this because I would tell the world if I could! I LOVE JUSTIN BRICKEY!!! And, just as the rings on our fingers represent, "with these hands, I give you my heart, and I crown it with my love."
Love in <><,
Miss Monson
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Sunday, June 26, 2005
The Bachelor
Three weeks alone. Scary. Not really scary, just lonely. It is hard to go home from work to a house that is absolutely devoid of life. Normally, the moment I step through the door I hear, "Daddy's Home!!" and "Da-Dee!" and am greeted with hugs and kisses. For these three weeks it will be nothing but silence upon arrival. It is only for a little while. I will go get the fam in MN on July 8. What a glorious reunion that will be!
In the meantime I have a slew of house projects to do. Due to the madness which was last week nothing got done (I only had one full night at home after the MN whirlwind trip). Tuesday, we found out that my Aunt Mary needed double-bypass open heart surgery so I picked my sister, Jennifer, up after work and we hit the road for WV. We got there around midnight and had to get up at 3 to drive the hour to Charleston, WV where the surgery would be performed. the surgery went well, and as of Sunday she is out of the ICU, in her own room, talking and walking a little. We came back to SC on Wednesday afternoon. My dad, sister and I all had a great time riding back in the car together. It isn't very often that we get to be together without the interruptions of children. After that little trip the rest of the week seemed to disappear. Friday, I went to dinner with Dad and first thing Saturday I was able to do one of the worst things of all... buy new tires. Not only is it expensive, but Sears took FOREVER to put them on.
With the last week behind me I have this week to clean carpets, paint walls, and possibly replace the linoleum in a bathroom. On top of that I have to finish my Food for the Hungry homework that has to be done by Friday in order for us to be able to go to Thailand. The homework is the first priority. The house will get done.
Justin
In the meantime I have a slew of house projects to do. Due to the madness which was last week nothing got done (I only had one full night at home after the MN whirlwind trip). Tuesday, we found out that my Aunt Mary needed double-bypass open heart surgery so I picked my sister, Jennifer, up after work and we hit the road for WV. We got there around midnight and had to get up at 3 to drive the hour to Charleston, WV where the surgery would be performed. the surgery went well, and as of Sunday she is out of the ICU, in her own room, talking and walking a little. We came back to SC on Wednesday afternoon. My dad, sister and I all had a great time riding back in the car together. It isn't very often that we get to be together without the interruptions of children. After that little trip the rest of the week seemed to disappear. Friday, I went to dinner with Dad and first thing Saturday I was able to do one of the worst things of all... buy new tires. Not only is it expensive, but Sears took FOREVER to put them on.
With the last week behind me I have this week to clean carpets, paint walls, and possibly replace the linoleum in a bathroom. On top of that I have to finish my Food for the Hungry homework that has to be done by Friday in order for us to be able to go to Thailand. The homework is the first priority. The house will get done.
Justin
Thursday, June 23, 2005
On the Road - A LOT
Part of the reason why the June newsletter didn't make the stands was because we're in a major season of limbo and activity, and we're learning how to balance that. Consider it a lesson learned, and we won't leave you hanging again. Expect the June/July newsletter the first week in July. The month of May and first half of June were filled with house projects and planning for this summer away from home as well as preparations for Kids Kamp at our church. We had our newsletter just about ready on June 10 and were waiting on some approvals when the bottom dropped out in an already busy household. It had all started on Saturday, June 4 when Alex was wrestling with his cousin and hurt is ankle. The doc said if he was still limping in a couple of days we'd get some x-rays. Well, the limping stopped, came back for a day, then went away again. We thought he was fine...more on that later. In the mean time, Thursday, June 9 we brought our minivan in to have the transmission flushed and the thing fell apart in the guy's hands. PRAISE GOD it was covered with a small deductible, but things just kept coming. Tuesday of that week (Kids Kamp in full swing and still no van), Alex gets stepped on at Kids Kamp and reinjures his foot. His ankle's broken, but he only needs a splint when it bothers him (PRAISE GOD!), then we still don't have a minivan. Thursday of that week Justin's aunt Mary in West Virginia went into the hospital with heart trouble, so we were still going ahead with our trip to MN, but we knew our plans could change depending on her health. So Friday the transmission shop called, having had our van for 8 days, and it was the day before our 4am-1200 miles-in-one-day road trip, and they said it was not done yet. Justin showed up at their shop, and it was done in 45 minutes. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Anyway, God gave us so much peace in the midst of chaos, and we held it together until that last day when we needed our van, and we'd had enough. So that last day before the trip was a flurry of stress and prayer for peace. We went ahead with our trip, and God blessed our perseverence with great travel, and we made it all the way to Minnesota by 12:30am. Justin then flew back to SC as planned, and went up to West Virginia after he got word that Mary was having open-heart surgery. She's recovering well now. Thank God, truly.
Staying in Minnesota for three weeks without Justin is a bummer, but we're having a great time, and we talk with him daily. I'm constantly doing fun things with the boys and thinking, "I wish Justin could be here!" My family has been sufficiently spoiling my kids with Mickey Mouse pancakes, McDonald's, and constant activity, so they should have some great memories captured on film before the end of the trip. These are the things that will be hard to leave when we go on missions, but how much more special our trips home will be as a result.
So it was a crazy first half of June, and now we're into our travel season with a bang. We have a car wash/yard sale planned for July - check the June/July newsletter in a week for details. It should be a BIG event, so we hope to see everyone there! This time in MN is great b/c I have no other obligations than just hanging out with my boys and family and working on missions stuff. So send me some emails to say hello :). This missions thing is moving forward so fast. November is our next milestone (100% of monthly support raised to go to the field in January!), and God has been so faithful thus far, we have no reason to doubt Him on this one either. Just like the Minivan...God always delivers at His perfect time. For those in SC, I miss you!!!! To my stay at home mom friends, I'm checking the movie schedules for another outing at movie camp!! To my MN friends and family, let's make the most of this trip cuz I don't know when I'm comin' back! :). Thanks for reading all of this and praying for God's guidance in this rich time of our lives. Email us with ways to pray for your life as well.
Next trip: Thailand, August 9-September 2.
Love,
Gillian
Staying in Minnesota for three weeks without Justin is a bummer, but we're having a great time, and we talk with him daily. I'm constantly doing fun things with the boys and thinking, "I wish Justin could be here!" My family has been sufficiently spoiling my kids with Mickey Mouse pancakes, McDonald's, and constant activity, so they should have some great memories captured on film before the end of the trip. These are the things that will be hard to leave when we go on missions, but how much more special our trips home will be as a result.
So it was a crazy first half of June, and now we're into our travel season with a bang. We have a car wash/yard sale planned for July - check the June/July newsletter in a week for details. It should be a BIG event, so we hope to see everyone there! This time in MN is great b/c I have no other obligations than just hanging out with my boys and family and working on missions stuff. So send me some emails to say hello :). This missions thing is moving forward so fast. November is our next milestone (100% of monthly support raised to go to the field in January!), and God has been so faithful thus far, we have no reason to doubt Him on this one either. Just like the Minivan...God always delivers at His perfect time. For those in SC, I miss you!!!! To my stay at home mom friends, I'm checking the movie schedules for another outing at movie camp!! To my MN friends and family, let's make the most of this trip cuz I don't know when I'm comin' back! :). Thanks for reading all of this and praying for God's guidance in this rich time of our lives. Email us with ways to pray for your life as well.
Next trip: Thailand, August 9-September 2.
Love,
Gillian
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