The mad dash to my graduated.

I have been really busy with school the last few months. I just finished business Law (which I made my first "B" in) and now I am working on business Statistics. I have also signed up for a mission trip to AZ in November in which I have to go to meetings about that. I started another class in Murray called "Shaping the fine arts".

I have an English class coming up in Dec that I have to get out of the way. I couldn't seem to CLEP out of that one. So that is another one out there to take.

Our family is doing fine. Micah and Abbi are doing well in school. Hannah is excelling in "Daddy and Mommy School". That is where we usually print some stuff off for her to learn about. She likes it and it makes her feel like she is doing something in school and she is actually learning. Chloe is growing like a weed and really beginning to play and laugh a lot.

Buffy and I are doing couples devotion and the Lord is growing us closer together. That is something that I didn't think would ever happen. We are close already and to be closer seemed impossible. I have to admit the last few nights we have been off. I have been sick and Chloe kind of dictates what we can do when she gets really tired at night. Even so we are loving it!

I will try to type more on my blog in the next few weeks. So keep checking here ...

It seems Sozo was MIA.

Last week was quite eventfully for me. The greatest thing was that Wed morning demons invaded my body. I must have caught the stomach bug and it took a few days to recoup. Then the great flood of 06 hit our region so I couldn't use the PC one day.

I have a busy week ahead of me with work, classes on Tues and Thursday with a mission meeting at Mid Continent on Thursday. I have to juggle that all in some how. I will all work out though.

I quote my mother about the storm the other night "I wanted to come over there and slap you!!!". She wanted us to come over and stay the night since storms entered Calloway County. There were numerous tornado warnings. I was carefully listening to the weather all night and watching the radars. At one time there was a tornado warning for our area. I remember worrying so much that all I could do was pray. I lifted up my hands in prayer to God and claimed His protection for my family. I trust in him and knew all would be ok.

Finally I haven't mentioned Coffee since March and that was really a quick word or two. There is a new shop that has opened in Murray. It is the first of it's kind and it is GREAT! The name is Fidalgo Bay .

The name was taken from a coffee producer and so far everything in there is awesome. Me and my brother John meet there every Friday for coffee and chattin'. I think others are catching on to the shop very well last Friday it was busy. I am worried that we might have to battle for our two sofa chairs eventually. I need to take pictures of this place to let you see it. The only think negative I can say about it is that it is a little small. Come and join us on Friday mornings from 8:00AM-9:00AM.

It appears that WWIII has begun in our lots.

Yesterday we headed to church for Wednesday night services. Once we came into the parking lot I noticed smoke and trees knocked over. Then it struck me "the building of our new facilities has begun." We are undergoing a HUGE project at the church to increase our Educational space and make the building handicap accessable (2 floors). This will take about 2 years probably to complete. Right now we are preparing the ground for building and more parking space. I will try to keep you updated on the progress every so often.

Here are some pictures. One of them is dark but you can notice the trees laying everywhere.

Tuesday's post

I didn't really know what to title this blog since it is full of different things. So it is just labeled Tuesday's post.

Well the van is totaled the insurance company says. So that means we have to look for another one which we hate doing. The first reason is that we loved our van. The second is that we had it over halfway paid off. The final is that we will probably have to make a larger monthly payment. So this wreck is going to cost us even though it wasn't our fault. That is life in the Hughes house.

The car's fan for A/C and heat decided to quit working yesterday. So there is another great thing for us all to figure out. You know when rains it pours some would say. I decided last night that there seems to be a battle going on right now. A passage in Job came to mind:

Job 1:9-12
9 Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! 10 You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!"
12 "All right, you may test him," the LORD said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

Now in NO WAY am I comparing what Job went through to my life. Job lost everything but his own life. I can though take insight from this. Those who follow the Lord and prosper spiritually will be tested. Satan wants to attack God's servants. In the end though just as Job we will be blessed. We have to hold tight to Christ. He will plow through these storms.

I will praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am
Every tear I cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm
-Casting Crowns "Praise you in this storm"

On a lighter note:

We had a fun night Friday with some youth. We grilled out played some ping-pong, hung around mostly. It was a good and relaxing night.

Thank you Lord.

Yesterday afternoon Buffy and the kids were in a car wreck. Buffy called me at work and explained the situation to me. She assured me that everyone was ok but she needed someone to come get the kids. I was 30mins from her and headed that way. I have to admit thoughts still ran through my about Buffy or the kids being hurt and I drove faster. I tried calling my Dad but he was not near his phone so I could just she my wife and kids on the side of the road alone and scared and I drove faster. Finally I remembered that my Aunt Debbie (Favorite aunt on Mom's side) was only 2 mins away. I called her and she headed that way to get the kids and I slowed down a little knowing that someone was on the way. Then it seemed that traffic couldn't get any slower I just kept thinking get to them Jamie NOW! God reassured me with a phone call from a loved church member. Karen explained that she was there and that she would stay until I got there. She told me to not get hurt trying to get there. I was happy to hear that everything was getting better. Finally after what seemed like hours I got to the accident. I noticed tow trucks and a police car. It began to scan the crowd of people and I saw Buffy. She seemed ok but I jumped out of the car and when over to her. I won't bore you with all of the details of the wreck.

What I really wanted to say is that all of a sudden material things didn't matter. I didn't care about our van or things in it. All that was on my mind was Buffy and the kids. We are always together and I just wanted to be there holding them. I didn't even once thing "Oh no my car". My family is my life here on earth and I can't breathe thinking that one of them wouldn't be here tomorrow.

Last night I couldn't sleep. I kept checking the girls (Abbi and Hannah) room and Micah then I would carefully listen to see if I could hear Buffy and Chloe. They are all ok and I am too knowing that my family is safe at home.

I would like to thank everyone that helped us:

Aunt Debbie and Uncle Roger (kept the kids)
Karen Hardison (Church member that stayed all the way until the end)
Police officer (that was so great to inform us of what needed to be done)
My cousin Herbie (He worked the accident with towing but also helped us out so much more)
The unknown lady (helped Buffy contact me with her cell phone)
Mom and Dad (kept my kids while I had Buffy and Micah checked out at the ER)
Dr's, Nurses and Xray at ER (they were so great with Buffy and Micah)

Most of all I want to thank the Lord. He was there in time of need. I love you Lord...and I lift my voice...to worship you...oh my soul...rejoice. Take joy my king...in what you hear....may it be a sweet ....sweet sound...in your ear!