Blessings Re-Thought

God has really used 2011 to change my perspective on the trials we experience throughout life. Earlier this year, a friend and fellow Air Force pilot went to be with Jesus leaving a wife of only 3 years and a 3 month old baby boy without a husband and Daddy. That loss was painful and it still hurts to think about our friends experiencing such loss. Shortly thereafter, I heard this song and it really got me to thinking about the pain we experience in this life. Isn't all of life to draw us closer to our Lord and Savior, to bring our Jesus glory and what if He does sometimes allow pain in our life to accomplish that goal?

I've thought of this often throughout the last several months, but it has once again become a preoccupying thought. We've known of a couple of other families experiencing such hardships, but a family from our last assignment has really touched my heart. Just a little over two weeks ago, they welcomed a beautiful baby girl into their family thinking she was perfectly healthy. Just 5 days later, she was put in NICU and medi-vaced to an out-of-state hospital to have the first of three open heart surgeries.

It's hard for me to even begin to imagine the pain these families have experienced. In some ways, it's a bit difficult to wrap my mind around the thought that Jesus allows pain to draw us into a closer relationship with Him. However, I trust that His way is the best and truly the best way not just for us, but for those whose life is touched by our own.

Blessings
Laura Story

We pray for blessing
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Life As A Military Wife

I recently read this on Facebook. I thought I'd share it with you since so very much of it is true for me. Enjoy!

Lots of moving...
Moving...
Moving...
... ... Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house; Moving curtains that won't fit; Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends;
Moving toward new friends;
Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting for housing.
Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments.
Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions.
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home,
For dinner...AGAIN!

They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.

She can balance a check book;
Handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet;
Bury the family pet...

She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes;
Sell a house;
Buy a car;
Or set up a move...
.....all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS; Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...
They leap into:
Decorating,
Leadership,
Volunteering,
Career alternatives,
Churches,
And friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:
They connect over coffee,
Rely on the spouse network,
Accept offers of friendship and favors.
Record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond:
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique.
He doesn't have a 'JOB'
He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7.
But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign
TDY
PCS
OPR
SOS
ACC
BDU
ACU
BAR
CIB
TAD
EPR
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments:
She wants to wring his neck;
Dye his uniform pink;
Refuse to move to Siberia;
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,
A travel brochure,
A long hot bath,
A pledge to the flag,
A wedding picture,
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by a man,
Who puts duty first,
Who longs to deploy,
Who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband, She will remain his military wife.
And would have it no other way.

--Author Unknown

Religion vs Relationshp

So, we've now been in our new home almost exactly four months. It has been truly enjoyable to be here. There is much to be thankful for. The number one reason has been just having Chris home and being together as a family. We're also thoroughly enjoying the community we are getting to experience here. We see so many of the same people at church, at the squadron and at extra curricular activities. It truly is a different experience than any we've had at any other assignment.

There are many blessings and much to be thankful for here. However, there is one aspect that has been truly difficult for me to deal with and that is finding a true church home. Honestly, we don't have many options, but we are trying to make the most of our experience. I've had a somewhat difficult time with trying to determine what it is that's hard for me. There are little things that truly aren't wrong - they're just personal preference and not necessarily the way I would do things. I just need to deal with that and get over it! However, there is something else that's been hard and I couldn't quite explain it. A friend here said it well, she called it a difference in a church pursuing religion over relationship. I do feel like this church wants people to know Jesus as their Savior. However, it's really hard for me to see them pursuing growth after that commitment has been made, accountability and guidance through this life. I guess this is an extreme to me since we came from a church that did this in a very passionate way for their people and the people in the community that didn't know Jesus. I don't want to just go through the motions on Sunday and throughout my week. I want to have a very real relationship with my Jesus and those around me.

I say all of that because God has something for me to learn through this. I'm thankful that we can go to a church freely. I'm thankful for some of the people we've been blessed to know. I'm blessed for the wonderful Christian community within the squadron. It's my prayer that I watch my attitude and I need to pray more for our church leaders and the people of our community.