Happy Birthday son!!!

Our firstborn turned 21 today. I can not believe it!!!

While we hate that we can't be with you today, we're so very proud that you are serving our country. This picture speaks of so much of who you are. You are strong, able to face challenges of life, willing to give of yourself for the better of others, willing to sacrifice for the freedom of those you know and love and those you don't even know. You put others before yourself every day as you live this life as an Airman. You're courageous. As I look at the face in this picture, I see the heart of a good, godly man. Your dad and I love you, miss you, and pray for you daily. We anxiously await the time we get to be with you again. Keep up the good work and may God bless you as you live out the life He wills for you. We're here for you every step of the way. May God bless you in a very special way on your 21st birthday as you're far from family and friends. We all wish we could be there with you!! We love you...

A Strange Scenario

It's 9:00 p.m. for me and midnight for my oldest son so he calls and says, "You're not even going to wish me a Happy Birthday?!" ...I didn't even think about it being Sept. 28 there and Sept. 27 here. I told him he wasn't 21 yet since he was born in Texas and still has an hour to go...plus the fact that I'm not ready for him to be 21 yet!!!

Wow! Where do the years go??? My birthday post will come tomorrow...for right now I'm just going to enjoy my son being a little bit younger. haha...

I'm excited to say...

I got a job! Probably about a month ago my husband and I started praying about whether or not I should work outside the home. I had brought it up to my husband after I had been praying about it a while and the night I talked to him about it, as we were praying together, he vocalized his prayer asking the Lord to show us His will.

All I've been asking all along is, "Lord, would you have me work outside the home? Is it your desire for me to be a stay-at-home mom still, or should I consider working again since our kids are so much older?" I can't really explain it...it's just a feeling I had that I needed to be seeking His will about this.

On Thursday of last week I got an email which had a few jobs openings. I decided to open it and it wasn't the ones listed on the attachment that came with it that caught my eye, it was a little note I noticed on the very bottom of the email (a forward) that caught my attention. So, I prayed about it and decided to call. On Tuesday I went in for an interview, and on Thursday they called to ask if I was still interested.

I am not kidding when I say I had just prayed that if it was the Lord's will that I have this job that I would hear something that day. I had already told myself I would get the job if God wanted me to, and would not if He didn't. On that particular day though I had stopped to pray because I didn't want to be disappointed if I didn't get it. I knew it was a good opportunity for me, I knew it would be good for us with the wedding coming soon, and I knew that if I wasn't careful I would decide what was best for me and not be happy with God's answer if it was no.

The blessing of knowing what it is God desires for your life is amazing. Whether it be something I want or not, knowing and trusting His will for my life is important to me. It's in the knowing that makes things bearable when it's tough. I'm sure there will be tough days ahead. I'm losing a little of my daily "freedoms" that I enjoy. But, I also know there are blessings to be had with having this job and a reason God would have me work there.

The job is on post - three or four blocks from my house and just down the road from my husband's battalion. I'll be home before the twins get home from school. I don't work weekends, and we have all the federal holidays off as well as vacation time (and I can still get time off when my husband's off). Not to mention I'll be doing what I love to do - administrative work. I am so excited!! ...The family is excited!! Thank you, Lord!

Time in the Field

Birthday cake in the field (it's a cookie, jelly and a lit match)

He's just a little dirty! :)

This is what I love about the field...

He was sick the entire time he was there due to allergies, but there was still a smile on his face.

Soon!

My husband has been in the field since last Monday and sometime today he'll walk through the door! I'm so excited. It hasn't been an easy time in the field as he's been sick the whole time. His allergies started acting up day one and he's still not well. I'm hoping he gets a little time off to recover and be pampered.

This time while he was away I spent time organizing the entire house...including the garage! Since our move into this house in June, it's been so busy that I didn't really have the time to organize like I wanted to...but today it feels great to finally have it all done!

All I have to do today is wait on my husband to arrive and then give him lots of TLC. Hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later. I miss that man!

Oh, speaking of houses...I was at a friend's house yesterday and noticed this on her wall and it made me smile:

OUR HOME IS WHERE GOD SENDS US.

I love that!!!

Requests accepted

Several of my faithful readers have asked for a way to subscribe to my blog so that when I post something new, they hear about it. So...here ya go...go to my sidebar and subscribe! Let me know if this works for you. I may need to do something different.

Thanks for stopping by and joining me on this journey of life as a military wife! I appreciate you all.

Such a blessing!

Our son made it safely to his first base today!! Praise the Lord! It was so wonderful to hear his voice AND see his face. He called me on Skype to show me his room and then we talked for a long time...that's always a blessing! I always get off calls like that and miss him even more though.

God's timing is perfect yet again. I found out today that his unit is actually deployed at this time. They should return in a few weeks, so knowing that he was kept from deploying makes me extremely happy! Thank you, Lord! ...I'm not ready for that yet!!!!

Update on our Airman

Our son is currently making his way to his first duty station. He has officially finished his training and is on his way to South Carolina as I type. I wish we were with him to make this transition, as I'm sure his girlfriend does, too, but it's all in the Lord's plan and he's in His hands so we're just praying for him to make it there safely and with joy for whatever the future holds.

It's weird for me as his mom to think about him finally being completely out on his own and starting his career. I didn't really think about it until I got off the phone with him just a little while ago. I write this trying to fight back the tears as I think of the wonderful man he has become; and I thank God for blessing us with such a fine son. We wish him the best at his new base and know the Lord has great things in store for him.

Please keep him in your prayers as he travels for the next few days and then does his in-processing (which is never fun for anyone!).

Happy Birthday, Chaplain!

He was out the door at 5:00 a.m., and will be celebrating his 40th birthday in the field with his soldiers for two weeks.

Babe, I'm so very, very proud of you and the wonderful man that you are. I pray God will bless you in a very special way on your birthday, as you spend it ministering to your soldiers. You are a blessing to many, especially to me! I love you more with each passing year and am so grateful that the Lord blessed me with such a wonderful, godly husband. Your life reflects the love of Jesus, and I'm so very, very honored to be your wife. Thank you for all you do for me and our children, and the many ways you sacrifice for our country and give to the soldier in your unit. I love you! Happy Birthday!!!

A Year Ago Today

It was one year ago today when we arrived at our first Army Post. It's been good!!! I'd love to write more, but we've got to get ready for a Hail and Farewell. I took a little walk down memory lane (skimming back through my blog) and can see the goodness of the Lord in it all and look forward to the year ahead!

Thankful Thursday - God's Provision

...And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh. (The Lord will provide.)

Genesis 22:14 (KJV)

I've probably read this story over a hundred times in my life, yet I'm still struck by Abraham's obedience. But today I'd like to focus on Jehovahjireh - our Provider! In a world filled with so many ways to provide for ourselves, it's so easy to forget that we need to rely on God. If we're not careful, the ways in which we provide for ourselves can become the very thing that causes us to stray from our true Provider. We can easily become distracted and prideful in thinking we can provide for ourselves and don't need God.

Today as I read this, I thought about Abraham's faith in God. He knew God well enough to know that God was going to provide for him no matter the outcome...whether that meant comfort for the death of his son Isaac, or an offering to take his son's place. Either way, we see no resistance on Abraham's part to trust in God.

God provided in a mighty way for Abraham (and his son) that day. He still does today. We're not sacrificing burnt offerings anymore, but is there something you need to lay on the alter and trust God with today? Maybe it's an issue over your finances. Maybe it's an issue over your children. It could be a number of things. Whatever it is that you need to lay before God, take the time to lay it on the alter and give it to Him. He will provide. It may not make sense right now, just as it didn't for Abraham I'm sure, but give it to God and ask him to provide whatever it is that you need for today.

Genesis 22:1-14

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Lord, thank you for being our Provider, Jehovahjireh! I am so grateful that you love us enough to provide for our needs, whatever they may be. Help us to trust in You in all things. In Jesus name, Amen!

9/11 - Never Forget!

It's been seven years... My mind still goes back to that day when a close friend of mine called and we actually watched on T.V. as the towers began to crumble. We could hardly believe our eyes! I can only imagine what it was like for those who had family or friends there at that time. Today, seven years later, I'm still shocked that terrorist were able to do this on American soil. When people talk about whether we did the right thing or not by going to war, I always tell them we better be glad we're fighting over there and not here. When I think about other people, whether American or not, being terrorized by someone, I know we are doing what's right. Yes! I hate that American lives are being sacrificed. It kills me to know we have thousands of our soldiers in harm's way. But, we can never forget what took place on our soil. We MUST be willing to fight for what is right...no matter the cost! We must never forget...and we must never back down from upholding peace and justice for ALL.

Lord, be with the many families and friends of those who lost their lives due to terrorist attacks on our soil. Bring comfort as they still mourn the loss of their loved ones. Keep our country safe from other attacks, and help us to never forget: those who died during the attacks, those who willingly gave their own life to help those in need, those who fought in the war and died and those who returned home but will forever remember what they experienced there, and those who continue to sacrifice for our freedom. Bless them, keep them safe, and bring them home soon. Be with the many who are preparing to go and take someone's place in the war; be with the families left behind. In Jesus name, Amen.

Deployment

My twins have two boys they hang out with all the time and about two minutes ago one of their dads left for deployment. As I watched my twins stand there with their friend, waiting for him to leave to take his dad to the airport, I found myself wondering what my boys were thinking. It's been the topic of discussion several times here as his departure drew near and the dates in which he was supposed to leave changed a few times, but they never really say how they feel, or what crosses their mind about their dad possibly deploying.

I know as their friend's dad leaves it has to hit home a little more for them. I know that they are sensitive to how their friend might be feeling right now. In fact, Dillon said to Darby, "Don't go over to C's house right now because they are probably spending time together before his dad leaves." I know they are good friends for each other and will help each other through this...what a blessing to have friends like that!

I'm not thankful someone's (anyone's) dad has to deploy, but what I am thankful for is the opportunity to witness friendship in my children's lives, and the lives of other children around me.

God bless our Soldiers and their families as they are apart.

Good-bye Summer

...and I'm not talking about the season. I pray that stays a little longer...or a lot longer. I'm not quite ready for fall.

Today is the beginning of week two of school for the kids, and my husband went back to work after two weeks of leave. I knew it would feel this way... just a bit strange. It's extremely quiet around here! I've been struggling a lot with the words "routine" and "normal" the last few days. Every time I would use those words I found myself not really liking them too much. I like what they imply - everyone is back in their day-to-day routine of school or work, but, for me, those words just don't seem to resonate with me. I don't want normal...I desire something different!

This summer was a little different for me. Normally when the routine breaks for the rest of the family, it does for me as well and the things that I felt important sort of don't seem as important anymore. I tend to slack off and by the time summer is over I feel all out of whack. This summer, though, I've done a lot of reflecting, I've read more books in one summer than I typically would in a whole year, and I've spent a lot of time drawing closer to the Lord. I guess it's been the books for the most part that have caused me to do a lot of looking inward - to see what's in my heart - but I also know that it's not really the books, but God who has been stirring my heart.

One of the most recent books was one my husband and I actually listened to as we were traveling this past week. Our trip took us about two and a half hours from home, and, since my husband loves to listen to audio books on long trips, he had a new one for us to listen to. Typically he would have a western playing, but this time I had asked him to pick something a little different since I don't care too much for the westerns. The way it read (or spoke, in this instance) caused me to really...really...really think.

The title - Lord Foulgrin's Letters. (I highly recommend everyone get the audio book and listen.) I'm not sure who wrote it, but it really got me thinking about the ability that Satan has to get us off track and how we need to stand guard. I was overwhelmed a few times thinking about -- what we don't guard against can easily entangle us.

When I returned home Thursday night, I looked up Ephesians 6 and printed it out to place around the house as a reminder to put on the full armor of God, daily! God's Word tells us in Ephesians 6:10-18: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, 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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

That book reminded me that to not pray and seek the Lord, to not read my bible and grow in my knowledge of the Truth, to not spend time on my knees asking the Lord to search me and know my heart and ask forgiveness when I sin against Him, is to give Satan room to work. It's so easy to get caught up in our day-to-day routine and totally miss out on the relationship that should be most important to us - our relationship with Christ. Nothing on earth compares, yet, if I'm honest, sometimes I don't treat that relationship as I should and I allow life (routine) to creep in and take over. Then, when I'm feeling worn down by this world I wonder why?!

Listening to that book caused me to really take note and desire to make the things of God a priority in my life. My relationship with the Lord has been strengthened by each book I've read this summer. Each one has been a reminder to me to place Him first in my life and to take seriously the scriptures that tell us that the devil has an agenda to destroy us. He wants nothing more than to distract us with our everyday lives and keep us busy doing everything BUT spending time with the Lord and growing in our faith.

As I say good-bye to summer, and try not to let the fall months bring with them a routine that is stagnant, I pray God will fill me and use me to bring glory to His name; that He will continue to pull at my heart when I allow other things to creep in and allow less room for Him, and that all I've learned in this summer will continue to build as I grow in my love relationship with Jesus. I don't want "normal" or "routine" creeping in!

The Rollercoaster Life of a Military Wife

Sara, over at Faith at the Front, is hosting a Blog Carnival. The theme for September - The Rollercoaster Life of a Military Wife. When I first heard of it, I jumped right on it not realizing I would be out of town so much and not really writing like I typically do.

Anyways...I still wanted to take just a few minutes to thank Sara for all she does to try to connect other military wives, and for hosting the Blog Carnival, and write for just a few minutes.

I'm thinking back to last summer and how often the twins and I went to Six Flags since we had season passes and it was easy to take the boys there for fun while their dad was away at chaplain training for three months. I didn't want to ride the rollercoasters and end up sick, but I knew it would mean more to the boys if I got on the ride with them rather than wait for them at the end so...I did it. I got on. I rode those crazy rollercoasters until I was green. One particular time we rode the Titan over and over again because there was no one in line. I think I finally cried mercy about round four.

I think the same holds true for us as military wives. We can either tell them we'll meet them at the end of their ride so to speak, or we can jump on the rollercoaster with our spouse. We can fear the unknown so much that we never take the chance to find out it might actually be fun. Choosing to join them on the ride, and looking to make the best of it, can make all the difference in the world. There's no doubt about it - it's going to be a rollercoaster ride. We can look at this ride one of two ways though - this is going to be horrible, OR I know if I go on this with them it's going to be a lot more fun together (...and, sure, I might get a little sick and tired of it every now and then but that smile on their face because I joined them is so worth it!)

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you already know my life as a military wife is a rollercoaster ride. Some days are great, some days aren't so great. I'm pretty sure that's true for all people, in all walks of life though...we just happen to have more potential for a giant change to happen very quickly (like being on the biggest, wildest rollercoaster ever!). It's funny though - as I think about this life, and how different it is from our life just a little over a year ago, I know it is grounded in Jesus Christ, just as it was then, and that there's no place I'd rather be than on this rollercoaster with Him. Only He has the power to keep me seated, or not screaming to get off, when I'm frightened about what's around the corner or on the other side of that great big hill that I can't see.