Thursday, March 15, 2012

Deployment


He hugs his pregnant wife and kisses her goodbye. 
A man comes up and asks to shake his hand and says, 'Thank you for your service'.
I choke back a sob.  
Be strong Laura..just be strong and don't cry.
He flashes a smile one last time and turns swinging that green sea bag over his shoulder.  
Step after step he moves forward not looking back.

I climb into the car and I start to smile and I pray out loud thanking God for the beautiful day and for my husband.  I ask he'd keep him safe over the months to come and to keep us close.

Oh sweet friend are you walking through this season of deployment? Getting ready for one or are you anxiously awaiting the return of your man? 
It's hard. Don't let anyone fool you otherwise.
There is nothing normal about having your husband gone for 6+ months.

But can I tell you what i've come to learn that i'd hope would encourage you too?
God WILL bless you and redeem that hard time.

The military may direct your families destination but God is in every detail orchestrating the path HE wants your family to be on. Trust Him and go willingly.  There is nothing worse then seeing a military spouse who goes kicking and screaming. I know because i've been there and it's a shame.
You have to make a choice to accept the unfortunate circumstances of your husband's departure and embrace God's plan for your family.

Here are a few things that have helped me:
♦Spend time with God

♦See family 

♦Pray without ceasing.  (For your spouse, family, and for strength.)

♦Get out of the house! (play group, over to a friends house, lunch or coffee dates with a girlfriend)

♦Serve God (I loved helping in the kids club at church).

♦Write letters, email, (and if you miss a call •breathe•or cry if that helps.) :) Don't you hate when that happens!

♦It's okay to cry some days.

♦Have the courage to square those shoulders and do life.

♦Remember the huge sacrifice you are making and see it as a gift to others.  You are in the 1% that serves this country and that's an honor.  Be proud of your man.

♦Remember that God has chosen you for this. He will provide.

♦Don't dwell on 'who has it harder' be thankful that you are able to go to sleep in your own bed, have the comforts of home and are relatively safe.  

♦Choose to love him and work through any differences that arise during the time apart. It's going to happen and miscommunication will occur but remember to seek the Lord always.


God is still writing my story and I have to admit that my stomach still turns into knots when we receive word my husband will be leaving.  There is not much glory in being a military wife but I have seen how God blesses an attitude that embraces and it's incredible! 
Don't walk this road alone and defeated.  There are many other families facing the same thing so dare to get to know another women and reach out to her.  
I have loved how different wives handle deployments differently because it gives me the right encouragement.  There is no one perfect way to handle a deployment.   These are some things that i've picked up from others that i've kept close to my heart because they've worked.

And to close..
Don't ever forget that sweet moment when He walks back into your life with a smile and that embrace...oh that embrace is one you will NEVER forget! 
Treasure that gift dear one.
I am praying for you today and hoping that you are doing well with whatever season you find yourself in today.
~Laura~
Would love to hear your stories on how you handle deployments! 


Tuesday, March 13, 2012


She is blond hair, always a smile, and an eager 'hello Laura!'.
Kellie is God smiling straight at me and blessing my obedience to Him.
I have learned a lot these last few months from her. I have loved my husband in a much better way, kept our house in order through organizing and planning meals, loved my baby boy much better, found a way to stay healthy without obsessing, and am experiencing a deeper relationship with God.
I'm blessed for knowing her and having her bring me straight to Christ time after time.

She kneels on the ground next to the couch and we talk about life, our husbands, this journey as military wives, and how to love on our children in a way that God would have us.  I want to cry as I tell her how grateful I am for knowing her.  She's another example that God has given me on how to live life joyfully and for Him.


For the last few months she has been mentoring me and doing life alongside of me and all I can say is this woman is amazing!
The other night I was getting read for bed and it hit me. 
♦This summer is going to be hard♦
1.Darren will start to go away again
2.Kellie will move away
3.Sweet Julie will be preparing to move away too
4.Isn't that enough??

I started to ask the Lord, 'why do you bring these people only to..'but I stopped immediately and thanked Him and praised him for opening my heart to these new friends and for all of this time with Darren.
He brought a friend into my life that has a strong calling to pour into the lives of others in a beautiful way.  She wants to save me from making some of the mistakes she made many years ago. She is not overbearing at all..just very loving and kind.

So here it is:
Invest in someone!
I'm 23 years old figuring out how to love God, Darren, Garrett, and others.  I'm overwhelmed at times and need guidance. Knowing that there is a friend praying me through and willing to share from their own experience is a huge blessing!
If you're older then take a younger women under your wing, don't harbor all of that wisdom for yourself, I know whoever that young girl is, that she would be grateful to have you spend yourself on her.
We need it ladies.  We need to be reminded we're not alone and there is hope. 
Don't forget God's word

Titus 2:3-5

New International Version (NIV)
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.


Being able to see this verse lived out is incredible.  Make room in your schedule for her, whoever she may be.  She is worth the time you can give to share your story.

I may be younger but it's been amazing to have a small group of girls I meet with Sunday nights through Delight Girls Ministry.  They're sweet and full of life living in one of the most awkward times of their life. (Freshman year!) I love being able to share what God has taught me with them in hopes they'll be encouraged.  It's nice to also just be there for them if they need someone to talk with.
They are worth all the time I can give.

Praying for you today!
~Laura~

Monday, March 12, 2012


People get offended easily these days, or has it always been that way?

I know what I believe and i'm not willing to compromise that.  Unfortunately it gets under people's skin when you don't agree with them.
It's not one group in particular.  It's humanity that throws up words in defense of whatever they've come to believe is 'The Truth'.
And the mass chaos fills our world. The endless conflicts from minor to very major.
I remember fighting with a sibling knowing that I was right on the matter and inside I was heated and angry.  And it grew with me over larger matters now.
Ignorance is a lack of knowledge and a lot of people walk around with beliefs that are rooted with ignorance.
I can't tell you how often people have completely misunderstood Christ. 
...
I have learned to let it go when an atheist has plastered tattoos mocking my Savior.
[I'm not their judge] 
I have learned to let it go when a community spouts off that i'm not tolerant.
[I'm not their judge either]. 
I have learned.
{To love them}

I'm not sure what is worse some days, the News or Facebook?
Both are filled with endless opinions and stories that tell of our worlds status and it leaves a very unpleasant young women in me.
Often i'm furious and I have to walk away to take a breather.
How could so and so be so ignorant?? 


Can we go here today?
Because I can't get around it.  It's there..Evil. No matter how pretty my house is or how much I try to shut out the outside for this small family. Well it's there.
There are wars and conflicts that are growing larger, a young soldier that just shot down families in Afghanistan, an attack on my country that I can't shake (9/11), An ever growing demand for tolerance for everyones personal choices no matter what I believe is right or wrong, an American church that is expected to be perfect but seems to be causing even more turmoil for those looking to find Christ only to discover what they believe are hypocrites, The once Father, Mother, Child dynamic is almost out the door, abortion fight, Gay community fight, Euthanasia fight, Death penalty fight, and God continues to be pushes out...for now.


Ephesians 6:12
New International Version (©1984)
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. 

And here it is. 
His word to me, to comfort and still my ever increasing tense spirit over all of these matters.
Is it better to create safe happy places and forget what's going on out there?
No...that's being ignorant.  and some say that's bliss but that's satan's way of keeping you in the dark I believe.

There's a real battle going on and it's not against any person or group of people.  It's not against flesh and blood! Remember this when you're standing before your spouse in a dispute, or when your child is making your life very difficult, or when a friend has hurt you, or a celebrity spouts off their political opinions :).
It's satan who is behind each unkind word, broken home, war, lie, and sin.
Like he stood next to Eve so long ago, well he hasn't moved his place. Take a glance at the news or browse through facebook and you'll see he's not left his post as the one that rules over earth.

It's hard friends.
It's worth praying and confessing to God our fears...For he is still in charge and has a plan that was already put into place when Jesus came, no even before that when he tells the serpent(satan) of Jesus' coming.
The Devil already knows the end..he has everything to lose so you betcha he's going to work hard during this time he has pull as many away from Christ as He can.

~*~
I reach my hand out and open it..laying it flat against the bed.  It's dark and a lot is on my mind.
I start to cry as I confess that i'm judging again.  I say, 'you are the good judge I don't need to stand as judge for anyone, i'm sorry Lord'.  We start to talk about the current status of our world and then I tell him how badly I can't wait for His return to this broken world.  I lay still and tears soak my pillow.  I ask him to just fill the room with His presence and calm the lingering fears. 
He does.
He comes close again and I close my eyes thanking Him for letting me be His.
It's not about cute blog posts, or the perfect angle on a picture, how flowing my post sounds,
no it's about loving you dear friend.
Wanting you to know the same hope i have in Christ.
I'm not trying to perfect this blog.
I'm trying to become more like Christ daily and I want you to know Him.  Because He wants to invite you to walk with him daily and know him as your personal savior too.
It's a relationship, not a religion.
It's coming to His word and reading it because it's Him speaking through it.

This world is filled with evil of all sorts and pain. You can choose to judge it, ignore it, or give it to God daily.
Will you join me in stepping down from the Judges seat today?
For you see..

Psalm 7:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.


He has us in his grasp, don't ever forget that.  He has a plan to redeem what has been broken.
He loves us very much.


We are walking together and that's why I write, so you remember you're not alone today.  That someone has said a prayer for you and maybe for you to see joy being lived out.
Praying for you dear one!
~*~


A few pictures..

I spent all afternoon catching up on the dishes. I made the mistake of taking a few sick days..bad idea!



I had always wanted a clothes line. There is some strange joy that comes over me everytime I walk outside with a few things to hang. I'm reminded of my mother and grandmother when they would hang clothes up. That fresh smell..oh yes i'm smiling now!

It was so good to visit with you today, until next time!

~Laura