Quiet Moments

If anyone knows anything about me, they would know that I love the ocean. I love it so much that I joke with my husband that with all of the blues in our home that surely the ocean will eventually come to us. I love everything about it. I love the smell of it, the sand beneath my toes, the animals that are in it and the feeling of calmness I get the moment that I am in the presence of it. It is not until I sit perfectly still that I notice the wind blowing on my face, how the crashing waves cause my body to be moved, and the birds cawing above me. It is during these quiet moments that I am able to reflect on things that have been on my mind. It is a time for me to pray and let my guard down. Although lately I have not been able to get to the beach as much as I did when we lived back east (pacific water is very cold), I have noticed there are new quiet times that I am appreciating. I love how my children will sit with me in the morning and talk about their dreams. I love how they relish in the bible reading I just did and want to know what I learned. I love how my oldest will still gently reach for my hand as we walk down the street together. I love seeing them say their bed time prayers, sing songs of praise before going to sleep and the soft snuggle I get before they do sleep. Hearing my youngest child read a book for the first time, while I am the spectator. When my husband gives me that reassurring smile, squeeze of the hand to say he loves me or the wink he gives me across the room to still let me know I am his girl are priceless moments to me. These quiet moments, although sometimes not silent, are more powerful to me than any ocean wave. It always amazes me how God teaches us. He has provided us with such an amazing example of his presence. Whether it is while I am at the ocean soaking it all in or hearing my little girl say all of the new testament books of the bible for the first time. It is in these moments that I remember why he reminds us in Psalms 46:10 "to be still and know I am God". The same God that controls a mighty ocean also has power over myself and family. It is through these things that I can feel his presence.

So for this weekend and the following week, I am going to remind myself more of this scripture, and take more notice to what I should be hearing in the quiet moments around me. Hold my tongue when things do not go as I planned or when I think I should speak. I will remember he is in control and allow him to lead me and feel him in my presence.

For the quiet moments is when I find my heart is seeking most.

Psalms 23: 1-3

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."

When A Southern Woman Gets Mad!

When a southern woman gets mad the following happens:

She calls mama
calls a friend
whips out a wooden spoon
yells
eats comfort food
cleans a house until spotless
drinks sweet tea
takes a run
has retail therapy
Sings songs as loud as possible
drives a car like a nascar driver
cries

and when all of the above doesn't calm her down, you can always find a southern woman on her knees praying!

American Honey!

So I heard this

song today "American Honey" by Lady Antebellum. I could not help but to think about my sweet girls and their friends while listening. Today was the father daughter dance at the girls school and with their daddy gone on a short deployment and our friends daddy just leaving on his 7 month deployment we as mama's decided we would try to make the best out of a bad situation. So instead of feeling sorry for our girls, which we did, we decided we would make lemonade with the lemons we were dealt and we throw our own party! Fondue was the theme for the night and the kids dressed up and had a great time, of course my favorite was the dessert fondue with chocolate and the girls agreed too. As we sat at the table as a group of friends I could not help, but to think that these sweet girls are truly the American Honey. They are what holds us mama's together when we feel like getting mad at the world for doing something that my babies could not participate in. Instead, they put on their happy faces as they do so many other times and faced their peers. They braved the questions of "why can't you come to the dance?" with answers like " my daddy still serves our country, even while our school decides to have a dance." Not being angry about the situation they just simply accepted it, disappointed yes, but always understanding and forgiving. Their love and patriotism is heroic all on it's own. So tonight we celebrated being a family of friends and the common bonds we share and as you can tell from the pictures these sweet girls are sweeter than any honey I have ever tasted and I bet their daddies would agree. As I tucked them to bed tonight, I reminded them how much we love them and we appreciate the sacrifices they make for our country too and the all around reply was " well I like dancing with daddy better in the kitchen anyway." Leaving speechless, the last thought that crossed my mind was I love me some "American Honey"!

Getting Out of The Boat!

So if you know me and follow me in any of my bible study adventures, you would know that one of my favorite stories in the bible is when Peter walked on water. I have read it a thousand times and never once did it come to life for me until I heard it preached on one Sunday morning by a missionary named Zane Perkins. His passion for the story and being able to apply it to my daily life moved me in a new spiritual direction that I had never taken and it left me saying to myself all week " just get out of the boat.". I am sure that people around me thought I was crazy for hearing me say it to myself and often times out loud. But for me it was a reminder of what powerful things my God is and will do in my life. In case you are not familiar with the story I will give a little synopsis of it. Jesus came to Peter and some men in a boat and called Peter to get out of the boat and follow him. So naturally he did, but as he walked on water he became distracted by the things around him and began to sink. He immediately cried out to the Lord to save him and the Lord reached down and grabbed him and returned him to the boat safe from any harm. Sounds simple right, but I think of the amazing amount of faith that Peter had to have to even step foot out of that boat in the first place and when he began to fall his faith saved him again as he called upon the Lord. For he knew that the Lord would indeed come rescue him. WOW! What an example. Some situations this past week had me reflecting on this story and some of the applications it has in our life. How many times have we prayed to the Lord save me, but we do not receive the answers he has given to us? Why can't we get out of the boat and try new things and have full trust in what the Lord is telling us? Why do we let the little things or even the big things distract us so much that we lose our focus? All of these questions I often ponder and have to answer for myself.

So for me when my boat is full, I am going to get out, and follow him. I am going to look for the lifelines and answers he provides for me. I will pray to him and be more like Peter for I trust that even as I am sinking, all I need to do is call upon the Lord and he will immediately pull me back up and put me back on solid ground! Will you get out of the boat?

Patches and Pockets

My Marine has several different uniforms and all for different occasions or duty assignments. Right now the uniform worn is a flight suit because he is currently on flying orders here at Miramar, California. For anyone that has ever had to wash one of these uniforms knows that it holds a million patches and it has lots of velcro/zippered pockets. Any one that knows my man would know that each one of these pockets is filled with special medallion coins, school supplies such as pens and highlighters, money, i.d.'s. You name it and it is probably in one of those little pockets. So cleaning it out before washing it can be quite a job.

Most of the time I complain about having to empty those pockets, but recently took a moment to really examine it. While giving it a full look over, I realized that this uniform symbolizes a time line in my husband's career. It is very distinct, only his, and although his colleagues sport one just the same, it is still unique just to him. For each one of his patches describes my man, where he has been, what group he is attached to, his rank, schools he has attended, abilities, and some of his personal flying accomplishments. As I began to take each one off, I pulled less rigidly as I had before. I handled them with great care and took a moment to really look at each one closely before laying them on top of the washer. Instead of now thinking this is a chore to be doing, I began to feel privileged to be trusted with such a precious piece of my husband. With each patch pulled off and each pocket emptied I could hear his comments from the past " You know I won't fly forever and I will one day have to decide what I want to be when I grow up." " Got another boyscout patch today." After reflecting on his comments. My heart sank for him. For the first time, I realized he is right. Our time is passing and with each new patch and accomplishment he wears is really a reflection of his years and time spent in the Marine Corps. With each victory has come a new time and I am so thankful I have been here to see him grow from the time he was winged to now. I could not be any prouder. So as I put his old suit in and turned on the washer, I decided I would treasure this sweet moment. Because it really is just a short time in our life. For with this uniform there is a left over jet fuel smell that only an aviators wife can love and a Marine that loves to fly and be covered in it.

Can You Guess What I Am Describing?

Youthful

Energetic

Curious

Tender hearted

Forgiving

Loving

Giving

Grateful

Compassionate

Impressionable

A Smile that lights a room

Belly Laughter

Toothless wonder

Dreamer

Imaginative

Faithful

Pleaser

Obedient

In case you couldn't guess, I am describing a child. It is no wonder that the bible speaks so firmly about children and how we should be more like them.

Matthew 18:2

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said : " I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Take a moment and enjoy your children today. Let them lead you for a change and follow their example. For if we are more like them, we will find ourselves in the presence of the Lord. And in my opinion, it cannot get any better than that!

Is The Grass Really Greener On The Other Side?

Have you ever caught yourself thinking is the grass really greener on the other side? Today as I went on my run, I could not help but to reflect on all of the beautiful places God has so richly blessed us to live. Being married to a Marine, there have been many places we were told to go to that was not always our first choice, but would find ourselves moving there because we had written orders to be there. With every new place we'd go through the same motions. Finding new housing, looking up schools for our children, and learning to make new friends while trying not to forget about our old ones. All along encouraging one another that the sacrifices that we make as a family for our country are worth it and reminding our children and myself that my husband their daddy is a one of a kind Marine that we love and support through the good times and the bad times. Although some our stations were not our first pick, we have yet to be put somewhere that we just do not like. In fact, we fall in love all over again. Making moving to the next place so much more difficult. The day has finally come that our oldest child will now ask "why do we have to move, why can't daddy serve and then come back to us at this home?". " Why don't my friends have to move and their daddy leave for a long time?". " My life would be better if we were like some of my friends." We knew this day would come and I just gently remind her that the grass is not always greener on the side. Every family has there own struggles and joy and we have our own too. This is the place God has intended for us to be and because we serve him first, we follow where he leads our life. For us that means being a military family that has to move and be flexible.

Sounds good, right? Except at times I find myself questioning our place and having similar feelings. It gets old trying to make every new house a home, not knowing where we are going to retire, making new friends, will my girls get to graduate from the high school they start. Will my husband come home safely from each deployment. The list of questions could go and on, but then I stop and look around like this morning and I appreciate all of the things my God HAS provided me to see and do. The countless friends and memories we have from all over and the endless love that my man has for this great country. Then there is peace.

Some days I sit and dream about the other side of the grass and how it might be greener. We will have our retirement and benefits, our children will be grown, I will have the house that I have dreamed of from southern living, and the permancy of knowing this will be my last earthly resting place. However, in my heart, I know I will long for those days of being busy with my children, watching my husband fly home in an F/A-18, Having sleepovers with best girlfriends and their kids while our husbands were deployed, being able to go to any new base and immediately have a friend from the past, hearing my children's heart felt prayers for God to bring daddy home safely, the dog barking, bike bells ringing, children playing in the street and seeing God's beautiful creation from ocean to ocean, mountain to mountain.

So I ask again, when is the grass greener on the other side? My answer is, the grass is greener in the pastures in which you are living!