I moved.

it's now starsforherown.   Join me there. please?

I love my brother Josh and his wife Michelle.  I love them to BITS!

They live in San Diego and recently had their first baby, a handsome boy they named Cole.  Josh left for the Navy when he was 18/19 and that means I was about 5 or 6.  He's been in the Navy ever since.   The only real memories I have of him when I was little was when I was smaller he milked cows at our neighbors farm in the morning and he smelled like poo-poo when he got home.   I remember he had dark hair and a mustache.  I only saw him now and again when he could come home to visit us.

I remember he only ever talked to mom much because mom was the only one in the family good at writing letters and keeping in touch.   My other older brothers were in college and persuing their lifes beyond living at home.

I remember when we moved to Idaho when I was 9.  He moved with us.  He was always fun and took me to Mc Donalds.   He always made me feel like I was smart.  He had a choice between a few colleges to attend to finish his studies.  He decided to move to Moscow Idaho to go to University of Idaho.  It was still a few hours away.  But we got to see him sometimes.   He had a cool church he found in Pullman washington.  I got to visit it once.  But everyone was so full of the spirit of God.  They had such intense discipleship.  They had strong family relationships.  They had incredable programs for people in all age groups.    I think that the time there is very much why Josh is so different from the rest of my brothers.

God told him to wait on finding a wife... Michelle was in Russia for 5 years working in the missions field. He was actually interested in one of her sisters.
everyone thought they'd be perfect for eachother - Josh and Michelle I mean.  But they had never met.   she came home and they met, basicly they were set up.   they hit it off perfectly.   after several months, Michelle felt God telling her to break it off... she didnt know why but she did. 

Six months later they got married.  God took them apart for a time, and brought them back together in such a perfect time.   they got married a few years ago and in May had their first baby.

Josh and Michelle are the only siblings of mine who have given money to every missions trip of mine.  They have been the only ones to write back to my support letters and thank you follow up letters. 

They make me feel so welcomed.  I just got an email from Michelle, I told her and Josh thank you for the way they have always cared about me.  So much of my family doesn't understand me, or think much of my calling.  They assume i am taking the easy road, and that chris lies about being called to missions because he wants to be with me.  Stuff that they couldn't know for themselves, because it's between us and God.    But Michelle's dad thought she was stupid when she went to Russia.  Since then he had a change of heart and they talked it all out and it's good now.   But, I am glad that she not only supports me, but that she understands what it's like to have a family member be against your dreams and the passion and call God has placed within you.

She wrote me and said she was excited to be able to be close enough for me to stay there when i visit chris.   she understands, she and Josh spent alot of their relationship apart, even on into their engagement.  they got married one weekend when he was on leave.  So, they understand distance.   I am glad they think highly of chris.   Michelle continually tell me "if you and chris wanna hang out here that's cool.  He's always welcomed!  with or without you even!"

Michelle just signed an email "May God bless you as you count down the days til you see chris!"

I am thankful for my Mom, My sister and Josh and Michelle.  I am thankful for the rest of my family as well.  But while they're beating me down, I am blessed to have more family who is lifting me up.

Last night i was headed to bed, when Mom and Lily talked me into getting in the hot tub for a bit.  so, I did... at one point I was squated in the bottom, It was too deep to sit all the way down, But my face was the only thing above the water... then lily grabbed my arms and pulled me, all this water went up my nose and in my mouth... then about 15 minutes later Mom and Lil were sitting on the edges, because they were too hot and the breaze felt good..so I was floating with my ears in it cause it sounded like I was in the belly of a ship and I could see the stars and the sky was so pretty... then lily decided to jump on me. for some reason she thought pushing my legs down would make my head go up?  well, she pushed me down and I hit my head on the seat. 

It scared me.  I hate water in my face, water makes me nervous anyway. I started crying. I was scared. But i got back in and then we came inside soon after.

But, I just sat out there after they went in and talked to God for a bit.  I really miss looking up at the sky and having quiet times outside.  It's harder because I like to talk at a few notches below normal level when I pray.  But we have four neighbours who's yards are right up to ours, and thye are outside sometimes.  But it was lovely.

Oh and I finally replaced my make up brushes.  I had a powder brush and a blush brush. I lost the powder one on a missions trip and my sister took my blush brush.  so, I have been making do with nothing.  But i got this set with a powder brush, blush brush, lip brush, eye shadow brush (angled), and the eye brow/lash comb/brush.    Oh man, make up is so much more fun to apply with the right tools.   It's like eating.. you can eat with your hands, but sometimes, it just works better and is less of a less if you use a fork.

anddd, i bought some face cleanser, and it came with this free sample of that clean n clear "morning burst".  wow, that stuff is nice.  there's a big difference in my face before I wash it to after, I mean just in my skin.