Good Things

A week ago Saturday I sat on my couch during the not so early morning and marveled that at that very moment I was actually feeling at peace. Perhaps even a bit joyful. And let me give you a bit more perspective. This is August. Momma has had enough of the long, hot summer and all the togetherness long hot summers entail and a fresh new school year with 8AM-3PM freedom is within reach. And one who is sorta naturally on the low end of joy the feeling was very noticeable for me. And thankfully I was aware enough to get it. You may recall our Romans 15:13 verse I've been flinging around asking others to pray for us. And it reads...May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him...Yes, joy and peace, the feeling I was experiencing. So for the past week I've been writing this blog post in my head. My dear soul sister encouraged me to actually do it.

Folks, there are good things that come from hard places. And one who knows it and experiences it you'd think I'd do a little better job accepting deployments but no, last spring was really hard for me. Even though I was fortunate enough to have a "fairy tale" deployment (on my end-not his) our last experience where God held me every single day, I still didn't want to go through a similar experience. But you can't stop these things, so time marches on and now he is there and I am here and guess what-good things are happening. While hubs was still training stateside but not home I mentioned to a few people I just wanted to be on the other side of this year, I wanted to look back and see where God was and what He did, but I didn't want to have to actually go through this year first. Well, lucky for me we are only weeks into things and I've got a pretty good list. So while I'd never ask for deployments, here are some positive things to think about:

 Sleep: Hubs usually gets up way earlier than I'd ever consider on a regular day, much less a summer day, and I can NEVER go back to sleep. And rather than do anything productive I lay in bed not sleeping and spend the rest of the day grouchy, because I need my beauty rest. Well, guess what, he's not here, and I'm sleeping in. Score.
On that note, let's talk about sleep. A sorta regular question I get is if I'm scared at night. Short answer, no, not usually. Long answer, last time he was deployed we lived in a house with a giant back yard that backed up to a intersection across from a not as secure housing situation. I was scared. But I decided I just couldn't be scared and not sleep for the next year so I got my prayer life ramped up. Every single night I pray and imagine a team of angels wielding fire lighting up my yard as bright as the noonday sun, and then I go to sleep. Most of the time all night. Amen.

 Prayer/devotion: Since my kids are uncharacteristically sleeping in, I have time to get up before them (but still late, like 7 or 7:30) and read the Bible and pray. Cause there is much to pray about. Pretty much guarantee that wouldn't happen if the hubs where here. I also drink coffee. It's a good way to start the day, and I wonder how this routine might be affected when school starts. And some specific prayers have already been answered in regard to this deployment (don't worry I have the regular 'ole things that seem like God's got crickets chirping on too, but it's nice to see some answered so obviously).

Quality time: I miss the hubs, the kids miss their daddy. There is a void here that just can't be filled by anyone or anything. But ya know, this summer the kids and I really got to spend some good time together.  I'm actually quite lucky that I get to be the biggest influence in their life.  Looking back, I think we had quite a good summer. We played (a few) games, cooked together, read together, ran errands together, ate together, went to the pool, had some fun activities/outings.  I mean, my tank ran on E some times, but overall, we had some real focused quality time.

Outreach: People are nice.  People who I may/may not even know that well approach me/contact me to check in on me or tell me they are thinking/praying for us.  It's nice to be nice, and I notice it!  It is a humbling place to be.

Relationships: I, as well as others, seem to make bigger efforts at spending time together.  Time is such a commodity at this stage in life, and it is too easy to push off relationships. This deployment has encouraged others to put me on their social calendar, and for me to do likewise.  I'm so enjoying seeing some of my longtime friends more often and getting to know some newer friends better!

I think this list is pretty good.  I know some days are harder than others and we have months left to go, but it's such a mental boost to think about the good. Don't stop praying for us!!

Service and Sacrifice

So I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time on an Army post for a couple of days in July. And I've always (since marrying) had this odd fascination with an Army post. It's its own little city. School, hospital, housing, entertainment, shopping, even a hotel (which is where I stay). I also saw a marquee with youth soccer league sign ups. Regular 'ole stuff. All right there. I'd probably lose my rose colored glasses if I lived on one full time, but the few days I spend on post here and there are fun for me. An alternate reality. Plus it always means I'm with the hubs and I get to shop at AAFES ;) Well during my recent stay I had some time to myself to roam about and decided to take a look at the museum. They had all these old army tanks in front and I had never been up close to one. I'm a horrible photographer (so bad that I don't even try any more) but here are a few pics. These are from WW11 thru OIF.

And it got me thinking. So the tanks (not the missile looking thing) were all used in defense of our nation and freedoms as well as for defense of the weak and oppressed in other nations. It was a heavy moment for me. I even touched one and thought about what the men (because it was all men in combat positions until like now) who used these weapons must have felt like and thought. And I felt some pride too. That the men behind the wheel or weapon may or may not have volunteered but on some level chose to serve his country. Like to death. For people he mostly doesn't know. I think I also like an army post because there is real honor there. Real respect. Real pride. And it doesn't seem contrived to me, I think it's genuine. I've asked hubs a few times why he serves, and it's hard for me to even really know, but often he just shakes his head and says, "Someone's gotta do it." I know he also genuinely feels like it's his duty. I may be biased, but I think the world could use a lot more men like him. I love our country, and I get so sad when I see our freedoms being abused. It may be trite, but freedom isn't free. It just isn't. We only continue to have it because of the men and women who sacrifice and serve. I wish more young people were being counseled for military careers. Sure, it's not for everybody, but for others it's a great fit. I feel like our culture has almost put a stigma against the very organization that has granted our laissez faire frame of mind!! Universities and schools wanting to not allow them to recruit on campus (I think legally military has to be allowed access, but I'm not sure about that), discouraging youth for following that path, mothers everywhere directing sons and daughters anywhere but there. If it weren't for our military might you'd be much more at the mercy of your government! Oh the irony. So, to those who have served and those currently serving...thank you just can't really convey my gratitude. Respect, honor, pride. I salute you all.