God's Creation (Yellowstone)

The last three days have been filled with wonder and awe of what God has done. Creation cries out his name and we have seen His glory! I have a lot to write about, but for today I just want to give God all honor due Him for what we've seen and experienced on this journey. Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.

He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
they flowed over the mountains,they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.
He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works—
He who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

(Scripture above taken from Psalm 104)

Beautiful Countryside

From Colorado to Wyoming...

The pictures really don't do this land justice. It was so beautiful and so peaceful. There were times we would be heading down a hill and the view at the bottom was breathtaking -- tall mountains, trees and beautiful, blue lakes around every corner it seemed; antelope and deer everywhere...If you know my husband, you know he thought he was in heaven!!

Today we are headed to Yellowstone and will spend a few days there. ALL the boys are totally pumped about that!! I am too. There's not any Internet access, but I'll continue to journal and post when we get back to the modern world. :)

Moving along...

On Wednesday we drove from Texas to Colorado. It's the strangest feeling when you realize you began your morning in one state and ended it in another. The temperature dropped about 30 degrees and we went from flat land to mountains everywhere. Today we will start our day in Colorado and probably end it in Wyoming!
Yesterday we spent the early morning traveling through the mountains of Colorado (where the temperature dropped to 49 degrees!) and then spent the afternoon fishing. We never caught a thing...bummer! The boys tried to say we weren't leaving until we caught something, but I think the cool air finally got to them. I fished, but I really just went along to be with them. I love the excitement when they catch something, so that was missing yesterday, but even more so I just love watching them interact with their dad and seeing how he takes care of them. He barely gets to fish from having to change out lures or untangle their lines or whatever else happens along the way, but he still loves it!
There was one point where I went to the truck, grabbed my ipod, looked out across the lake at the beautiful mountains surrounding us and just stood there and worshipped God. I noticed the trees, and the rocks, and the clouds, and the sun hitting different mountains. I found myself lost in the glory of God's beautiful creation. Our God truly is an awesome God!

The toughest day of our lives...

Last night we said good-bye to our daughter and this morning we said good-bye to our oldest son. Both my husband and I would say it is the toughest thing we've ever done. In fact, for a little while there we weren't sure we could even drive away. We were both wide awake at 4:30 this morning and when 7:50 rolled around and our son had to go to work I thought my heart was going to completely break in two.

It took some time to compose ourselves before we could even drive away from our house. If ever there was a moment that we questioned God in all this it was in that moment. How could we leave our son and daughter behind? It didn't seem right to either one of us, but we knew it was another step in faith and obedience.

I thought I was doing better by the time we reached Colorado tonight, but as soon as my husband prayed over our dinner and asked the Lord to watch over them I lost it again. I know it will just take some time. I tried to stop crying and just pray several hours into the drive, but even listening to praise music and praying didn't make the tears cease. I finally asked the Lord to give me something in His word to help me and 2 Timothy 1:9 came to mind. I pulled out my bible and this is what it said, "...who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began..."

I know God has a purpose for all our lives and I know His grace will be sufficient for all that we will have to endure to follow Him. I'm holding fast to that and know my God is faithful.

This picture of them makes me smile...

We love you and already miss you so much!!!

There's a lot going on in my mind as I sit here this morning. We had a wonderful time yesterday with both sides of the family with us at the lake. We played in the water, laughed, cried, looked at pictures, took pictures, said our good-byes and, most precious to me, prayed together for quite some time.

I repacked all our stuff, making it easier to find what we need on the trip, and this morning we will leave my parents and my brother and sister-in-law, who watched our twins most of the summer, and head back to our house one last time. It's going to be a tough good-bye for all of us!

Our daughter stayed with us last night and I was so happy about that. I'll take every moment I can get!!! Our son had to head back for work, but we'll have the evening to spend with him.

My youngest brother is in Honduras, where he lives about half the year, and a category 4 or 5 Hurricane is headed right for them. I pray they are safe. We are watching it very closely, but all we can do is pray. They've evacuated over 1,000 Americans, but that wouldn't include my brother and his family. I can tell my mom is worried about them. We got to talk to them for a long time on Skpye last night and could see each other through webcam. Hopefully we will hear from them today. For anyone reading - please pray for them!

Graduation Day!!!

This afternoon my husband will graduate from the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course! I couldn't be more proud of him. What you see him wearing is a part of his chaplain kit. It can be worn while preaching. There's also a camouflage one for wearing while preaching in the field. Way to go, Chaplain!!!

Chaplain Spouse Training - Day 3

Yesterday's seminar was as some would say "a roller coaster ride" as we discussed everything from children in the military to deployments. We had more time to ask questions and you could tell from the questions we all wanted to know more about personal experiences. We had Q&A time with four chaplain assistants, Q&A time with four chaplain wives and then one chaplain wife talked to us about her experience with four different deployments (over a 25 year span with two kids in all different stages of life). It was very interesting and she was hilarious! I loved her positive attitude and creativity, and she gave us some great ideas. The Red Cross also came and spoke. I found that to be very helpful and it gave me a sense of security knowing how they will work for us should we ever need them.

Our husbands/soldiers joined us for lunch again yesterday and that was wonderful. We had a great time getting to know other chaplains and wives during that time. I was also thrilled just to sit there beside my husband and really soak in what was taking place.

There were several times yesterday that I found myself still thinking, "I can't believe we are really doing this" (with great excitement). I'm so proud of my husband and the hard work he's done to get to this day of graduation. I know he will be an awesome chaplain and I can't wait to see him in action. The next few days are going to be very emotional for both of us as we move forward - saying good-bye to good friends here and then at home, saying good-bye to our family, and then finally getting on the road to a totally new place - somewhere we've never even visited. We are excited about this new adventure, but saying good-bye will be very tough. I know the Lord will be with us and bring comfort and strength to all and I praise Him for that.

Without Jesus in our lives this wouldn't even be possible so we give Him all glory, honor and praise! This journey truly began many years ago when we surrendered our lives to Him and we're forever grateful for His love and forgiveness that brought us to this place.

CH-BOLC Graduation Banquet

Some of Kevin's closest friends. I know he is really going to miss them.

These are the other new chaplains going to the same post as us. The boys had a really good time, but I think the one thing they liked most was being with their dad. They were all smiles and we loved having them there with us!
It was a great night and I'm still amazed at all God has done. We're so honored to be serving Him and the men and women of the Army.

Chaplain Spouse Seminar - Day 2

I noticed today that I forgot to mention anything about the relationship aspect of the seminar. I've met some really neat women and it's been very encouraging to get to know them and also to learn about all the many ways to meet other chaplain wives once we arrive on our new post. I'm very excited about the PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel). Not only because of what they said, but because I observed the women who came to bring us lunch and how they interacted with each other. The saying is true - actions speak louder than words!

Today we learned a lot about moving and all the many things you need to know about moving as a spouse - like packing, housing, helpful organizations to contact once you arrive at your new post, searching for a job when you arrive, etc...

The best part about today, and the one thing I wish we would have had more time with, was when they had Q&A with other chaplain wives who've been there and done that so to speak. Not only was there great questions and helpful answers, but, again, watching how they interacted with each other was meaningful to me. I'm excited about what's just right around the corner now!

We also had a chaplain and spouses' luncheon today at the Officer's Club and now the spouses have the rest of the afternoon off to prepare for this evening. The luncheon was really nice. The best thing about it...sitting next to my husband! I'm loving every moment we get to spend together and, after talking to wives whose husbands deploy just weeks after they arrive at their new post, I'm going to cherish every moment! Love on them while you can, right?!

Tonight we have a chaplain banquet and we'll get all decked out again. This time we're taking the twins with us. They are so excited, and I'm excited about taking them. I know it might get a little boring for them, but I also know how much it will mean to them to be there with us. We won't always take them, but as their dad ends his time here in training, and they begin their new life as Army kids (notice I didn't say brats!...they tell me they aren't brats, and I agree...) we feel it is important to include them.

Chaplain Spouse Seminar - Day 1

We started out the morning in chapel with over a hundred chaplains (camouflage everywhere!). It's only a 20 minute service so it's quick and to the point. I kept wishing it was my husband preaching because it's been months now since I've been able to hear him preach. The twins went with us and then I took them to the youth building to spend the day with other chaplain kids.

They both said the best part about their day was leaving. Well, one said, "when we left" and the other said, "walking out the door"...with a little humor and smiles on their faces. They didn't like the carrots and spinach on their lunch plate too much...but all is well now as we are hanging out waiting patiently for their dad to get to the apartment.

I, on the other hand, had a really good day. It was very informative. We listened to a lot of different people speak about a lot of different things, but it was well worth the time it took.

I enjoyed learning about how the chaplaincy came about and where it stands today in the military. I also loved what the commandant said about chaplains - "They are called by God and enlisted by our nation." He also said, "They march with permission into the most intimate places of people's lives." He challenged us to decide to be a part. It was a challenge because as military spouses we don't have to do anything; it's not required of us, but we should want to join in. He said, "Do it together. It's a mission for God!" I'm so excited about what God has in store for us. I know we are in this together and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The commandant's wife lead the seminar and she's such a neat example for us. She's extremely sweet (hugging everyone, including her husband after he spoke) and humble and you see the great love she has for her husband and God. It was a blessing to hear her speak and observe how she interacted with others. I loved hearing all the ways God has worked in their lives. I thought what she said about the military community was really neat as well. She said, "It's a friendly world; where you move and your neighbors bring you cookies, introduce their kids and give you their number should you need anything." She also gave us a lot of great advice like, "Put it in His (God's) hands and go where He sends you. The Army thinks they are deciding where you'll go, but God's the one really deciding that." She talked about their very first assignment and how she felt the first day he left for "work" and it was beautiful. She assured us "if you allow God to use you and do what He has for you, you will NOT be disappointed."

I could go on and on, telling of all the things we learned and how God spoke to my heart through each part of the seminar, but that would take forever. Each part was very helpful and I've got LOTS of notes! I can't remember who said it, but I loved what they said. "Be yourself. Be who God created you to be, and love those God gives you to minister to." I know each of us were touched by what we heard today and will be better chaplain spouses because of the things we learned and experienced.

The one thing that struck a cord with me was when one of them spoke about leaving his son in Texas to move and the grieving process that took place. I fought back the tears the whole time. Afterwards, I talked with him for about 20 minutes. I never know when the tears are going to come these days, but they flooded as I spoke with him. I know I am feeling many things, but the one thing I often find myself wondering is - how will my husband feel as we are driving away from our son and daughter. I know it is a great sacrifice for him to leave them and I know that day will be very hard for him, too. It brought some sense of comfort to hear him speak of his tears and thoughts. I guess sometimes we just need to hear stories that are similar to ours and know what they went through, not necessarily advice.

I look forward to sharing all this with my husband when he gets back to the apartment, and sharing more with friends and family when I return home!