The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

Monday, December 5, 2011

With in the week...


Last week a home in our neighborhood burned to the ground. The family of 9 were all safe thankfully, though they lost everything including their family dog. The community has really rallied around them. It is very sad, though we are thankful that no one was hurt! Keeping this family and the many others who have had tragic losses already this month in our prayers. It was interesting, the day this fire happened I had a moment in my own home. I was cleaning the kitchen when I briefly stopped to look around our home. I wondered, what would we do if a fire came and we lost everything? I looked around our nice cozy home and thanked God for the many blessings. Then prayed for the strength and mind set to hold loosely to stuff and to be good steward of our resources.

On a much lighter note, we are excited and hope David Isaac gets his cast off tomorrow. Though having a broken arm has been frustrating for him at times, he has been amazing rarely complaining. There has been some good learning factors as well. He has had to slow down a bit and notices others easier who have similar pains. Though I don't know how many times David and I have told him, "Stop Isaac! Slow down! Do you want to break your other arm?!" We also have to watch him like a hawk b/c he still tries to swing and climb with the broken arm! BOYS i tell you! This is the latest cast, hopefully to be removed tomorrow! At a park in Savannah this week waiting to pick up Isaac from school. We will miss the beautiful Spanish Moss trees when we move.




We are enjoying the season! Each day the kids wake up excited for their chocolate calendars that Grandmama got them for an early Christmas gift. They are counting down the days to the grand celebration of the greatest gift in human history...the birth of our Savior.


John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not die but have eternal life.







Monday, November 28, 2011

THANKFUL for...

Thankful for our Marriage/Family Retreat weekend at Hilton Head last month. Good and challenging times. Thanks to the great child-care workers and for a room full of vibrant children!

I love this family!
thankful for them...

David teaching at the marriage retreat. Thank you to 1687 Foundation, an organization that provides FREE books to military families.

THE IRON VIPER! An Army tradition athletic competition for the Viper unit. It consists of sit ups, push ups, ruck-march, and run. Thankful for health and ability for all of us to finish this event!

Our awesome family side-kick Shelby. She joined us on the run and ruck-march and made it extra fun! Thank you Shelby and Melisa:)


The kids loved the display of guns...

The Col. and Sgt Mgr presenting our family with certificates of completion. Woo hoo!

Thankful for this beautiful wedding and family celebration time in Florida. Ann and Brian, we love you! (I hope to do a whole blog on the wedding, I have so many great pictures! Thank you both and to your families for planning such a lovely wedding weekend)

Thankful for sisters and for laughter.

Thankful for cousins and for family

Thankful for husbands who took care of kids so that we could get away for special sister/family time. SO very thankful for Jessica's and Rick's safe return from Afghanistan last month.
5K family TURKEY TROT: Go Isaac!


For dads who spend time with thier kids and enjoy it
Thankful for the organizations that work hard to promote military family togetherness and provide free family fun. Isabella and Solomon ran/walked in shifts.

THANKSGIVING 2011 at the Military Cafeteria. We were served a delicious thanksgiving meal in the company of some pretty amazing people/families. Thanks to all those who were a part of this and huge thank you to those serving in harms way today so we can enjoy daily freedoms.



for her smile :)for fun times with friends

for thier integrity, leadership, and service

thankful for this family and for all thier service and for this one


Thankful for Isaac's awesome facial expressions:)

Thanksgiving day! Thanks to David's CH asst, she was my fabulous side-kick in the kitchen. She also made a tasty Puertican style dish. Yum! Thanks to Grandma, Mom, Ms. Vick, Amanda, and Leigh Ann for all the family recipes! You were around the table in spirit. And thanks Terry for going to Walmart with me late night and for keeping me focused to get last minute supplies.

The kids table (oh, i remember those days at the kid table) Thankful for each occupied chair!



For the Rumshik family and for their babies first Thanksgiving:)

Thankful for child-like faith. Before we prayed to eat, David Isaac read Psalm 136 and then Isaac, the Rumshik's 4 year old, spontaneously busted out with the song "How great is our God". It was awesome!


Decorating the Christmas tree! The earliest I think we've decorated for Christmas!
Thank you GOD for the joy and laughter these little ones bring into our lives!



THANK YOU GOD for HOPE. At church yesterday we began to celebrate the season of advent and reflected on the HOPE we have as Christians.

*HOPE- God's Word is true

*HOPE- God is Sovereign-over human history, over the wicked, and when you cannot see

*HOPE- God's GRACE is truly amazing


We sang these lyrics, "My hope is in You, Lord All the day long, I won't be shaken by drought or storm, A peace that passes understanding is my song, And I sing My hope is in You Lord" (Aaron Shust - My Hope Is In You Lord) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kftUFUccg-A&noredirect=1


Lastly, remembering and lifting up those who are suffering today. To the many who have empty seats around the table and empty places in their hearts from the loss of loved ones. May God's hope and peace comfort you. Remebering those around the world who are suffering and in prison for the name of Christ. May His strength, grace, and very presence uphold you and your great cause. Thankful that this world is not all that there is. "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for a city that is to come." Hebrews 13:14

Monday, October 24, 2011

Hilton Head Beach

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57:7-11


Kids enjoying the cool crisp day at the beach
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Cor. 13 4-8


May God arise, may his enemies be scattered...Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds, his name is the Lord and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling...Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our slavation. Selah... Psalm 68


...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the SWORD of the Spirit which is the WORD of GOD... Ephesians 6:16-17

I will make you fishers of men... -Jesus



Everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD will be saved. Romans 10:13

Look to the cross of Christ.


We had Military Marriage Retreat this past weekend at Hilton Head. It was great to get away with the family and to get to know and encourage other military families. David did a great job teaching through the 5 Love Languages among other materials. Thanks to all of those who kept the weekend and families in your prayers. We continue to pray for these families, that God's love, truth, peace, joy, hope, power and very presence would permeate our homes.




Isaiah 61:1-2 "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to teh poor, He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor..."




This is JESUS and His Spirit working in and through His faithful ones. May we all be found faithful.



By His Grace alone,

The Arthurs <><




*on a side note, if anyone knows how to make phone pictures bigger on blogs:) let me know!! or to center the top blog picture. haha not the most computer/technologically savy one.


Monday, October 17, 2011

Happy Birthday Isabella Grace!

Isabella turned 4 years old on Sunday!


wishing for a "real puppy dog"....
The Prince and I


The Lighting of the candles...

Serving the lovely Princess Myra

Reading "A Princess with a Purpose" a Princess Story book about the KING of KINGS and what a real Princess is made of...

Princess Stephanie, Princess Isabella, and Prince Isaac

Tracing our princess hands...learning "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" by GOD in my mommy's belly. Psalm 139 God has a purpose for my hands. I am made to Know, worship, and praise Him. To bring HIM glory. Matt. 5:16 These princess are very wise!

Beautiful Princess Myra enjoying her treats...

A Princess Tea Party for the girls and a class on being a gentlemen for the little guys.




Thanks to all that came out and sent happy bday wishes! She had a blast!


Solomon slept through some of the tea party, but woke up ready to
party with the best of them...even if that meant wearing a princess crown... Iz likes opening cards!
And ofcourse she was ALL about the presents!

Princess Emily The Gentlemen serving Princess Stephanie. Isabella set the menu. She wanted *cup cakes *cake * donuts and *goldfish with the tea



Princess Ashley and Princess Myra arrived

Princess Ava being escorted in...

Let the celebration begin! Princess Isabella escorted by Mighty Warrior David Isaac



The Gentlemen and
The Ladies


Princesses with a Purpose



Isabella coming down the stairs when she woke up Sunday morning!!

Saturday at the Farm - Happy Fall Harvest


Corn Maze - Family Fun

Isaac working on the map, getting guidance from daddy

On the tractor ride with friends - Ms. Jessica, Ava, and Olivia

Jumpy - a kids favorite (this farm is prepared!) Corn Cannon!


WHOA!!! WOW!!!!


Corn Pit - we are still finding corn kernels in our car!

Cow Train
Chillin in the back yard
Happy Saturday morning play time!

We had a busy and fun filled weekend. Isabella Grace had a good birthday and we enjoyed celebrating her 4 years of life! As always, thanking God for the many rich blessings.






By His Grace,

The Arthurs <><