Wife to Wife Wednesday (on Friday)

This week, Wives of Faith wants to know

What made you fall in love with your husband?

I can't say there is one thing that I can pick out, so I'd like to share our love story.

Jeff and I met as teenagers.  We flirted. We called each other. We shared our first kiss. I was 13 and he was 15.

As our relationship grew and we experienced the teenage pains of young love, we always had a connection. If we broke up, we were quickly back together.  We went to four proms together. We saw the other get a driver's license (he taught me to drive), supported each other through graduation and college, and finally wed after being together for 8 years.

During our dating, we had struggles. What teenage couple doesn't? We were always able to "fix" whatever was broken.  We grew and matured together. We supported, loved, and encouraged each other. We had each other when we felt like we had nothing else.  When family told us we wouldn't last, we knew we would prove them wrong.  Looking back, we see where our lives could have gone if we hadn't had each other.

Our journey through life has definitely been that.....a journey. We are nowhere we thought we would be. We turned our lives over to Jesus early in our marriage and have been blessed beyond measure since then.

Our lives definitely are proof of the power of God, and how He takes the lowly and weak and does a wonderful work in them. Sparing you the details (and embarrassment on our part), we were no angels. You could have considered us as being a little wild.  He has turned us into a military family, a family who serves Christ and others.

Jeff and I are not perfect. We don't have a perfect relationship, but we do have God in our relationship.

We laugh as a family.
We cry as a family.
We worship as a family.
We pray as a family.

We are a family.

I love watching Jeff with the boys.  He loves his children so much. He wants them to be strong Christian men.  He spends time with them. He encourages them. 

I am blessed to be married to this man. He isn't afraid of a little hard work. He works his civilian job to provide for our family. He is unpaid as our church's associate pastor, and he serves God and country as a Chaplain in the Army Reserves.  He sacrifices to make this world, our home a better place.  Jeff knows how a simple touch, a soft kiss, the right words can lift me up.  He can surprise me on a daily basis or with a treat from across the globe.  We enjoy the simple things in life together: a trip to Sonic just to get out of the house, ice cream and the park, playing in the yard, or cuddling and watching our favorite shows.  The man is full of love. I thank God every day for him.

What about you? Is there something that made you fall in love with your husband? Do you have special love story you would like to share?  All though it is Friday, you can still join in Wife to Wife Wednesdays at Wives of Faith.  We would love to have you.  You can also leave a comment here.

Another Step Forward

As we are on the hurry up and wait journey into the chaplaincy, we have reached another step.  Last night, Jeff was voted in as our church's Associate Pastor.  What a proud moment for our family!  Many of his duties for this position are duties Jeff already does. However, he must have 2 years of pastor experience. We will both use this time to minister to others in our church and community, to grow in the Lord becoming what He has intended for us.

This day, I marry my best friend

Twelve years ago today, I married my best friend.

 We stood before our family and friends, his best guys and my best girls.  We stood before God, and we made a committment....

For better or for worse.

For richer or for poorer.

In sickness and in health.

Til death do us part.

 We've been there.

We've done that.

We've dealt with possible heart issues.

We've dealt with an unplanned mammogram.

We've dealt with a child in NICU.

We deal with financial strains.

We deal with daily life strains.

We deal with whatever uncertainty the Army brings.

Our promise to each other didn't end at the alter.

It didn't end when we cut the cake.

It didn't end leaving the church in the honeymoon getaway car.



Our promise is built on the Word of God.  With whatever life brings, we will depend on our Father to see us through. The good times and the bad. As long as we both shall live. Amen.

May our marriage bring glory to our Heavenly Father.

Happy Anniversary, Jeffrey. I love always and forever and ever. Amen.

I am looking forward to many more wonderful years of marriage! Can't wait to see what they will bring!

Happy Birthday!

We were so thankful that Jeffrey was home for his 36th birthday this year! We enjoyed lunch, Colin's last baseball game, dinner, and a delicious Gigi's Cupcake.

The Graduate

Jeffrey graduated from seminary last Saturday.   He was also promoted to 1 Lieutenant last week.

I am so proud of all he has accomplished and can't wait to see what God has planned for him.

The Post You've Been Asking For

Jeffrey is home!!!!

We left last Tuesday night and got back late Sunday night. Since then it has been busy as usual. Here are some pictures from our trip.

The banquet was fabulous. I felt honored to be a part of it. The food and company were outstanding. The room was a bit warm. I became dizzy when the speaker was talking and had to go to the lobby area. I was embarrassed to get up, but it would have been more embarrassing if I'd have passed out.

This is Chaplain Candidate Crubaugh. He was such a blessing to Jeffrey. I hope that they will stay close.

Carson, Colin, and Ryan waiting for graduation to start.

The excitement was a bit too much for Carson.

The Graduate shaking hands with the Commandant.

The EdVenture Children's Museum

The USS Yorktown in Charleston

The Angel Oak Tree on John's Island, SC

The Magnolia Plantation in Charleston

We payed good money to walk around and get eat up by mosquitoes!

The owner of the plantation was a preacher. He sat on the bench where Jeffrey is sitting to write his sermons during the Civil War era.

Currahee Mountain

Toccoa, GA

Home of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment

(the original Band of Brothers)

Toccoa Falls

Counting Down

If our plans had gone accordingly, we would be spending the weekend with Jeffrey home until next year, but God had plans of his own. So, now we countdown until September 1.

Remember my obession with finding a dress for the CHBOLC Graduation Banquet? Well, I found one. Its ordered and on its way. I am praying for it to fit perfectly. Here is a sneak peek:

We are blessed in that we get to talk to Jeffrey daily. We are blessed that he is not in harm's way. We are blessed that he was given the opportunity to go ahead and finish CHBOLC. So until we see him again in 7 weeks, we will remember our wonderful trip to South Carolina for the 4th of July.

We will anticipate reuniting with him as well.

And this next week.....

Guess who will be celebrating his 8th birthday.........

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

A couple of years ago, Jeffrey and I began a journey. He surrendered his life to the ministry and was led to join the US Army Reserves to serve God and Country as an Army Chaplain.


Back in November when he took his oath of office, it became all the more real. We waited and waited and are still waiting for him to be placed with a local unit to serve with. From my understanding, this is quite unusual. Another Army wife I've met said her husband was placed very quickly and she was shocked that Jeffrey had not. So, we still wait for that.


In the mean time, Jeffrey has been working toward his Master's through Liberty University (his seminary work). He has worked very hard for the last couple of years on this and is close to being done. If he had chosen a different major, he would have already graduated, but he chose one that was a bit more in depth, one that he could use in more areas.

In April, Jeffrey went for his first annual training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. He is currently there finishing up the first part of his chaplain training as part of CH-BOLC 10-002. Tomorrow will be the beret ceremony (did you know they had to be shaved and inspected beforehand?)


We were expecting Jeffrey to be home after his last day on July 16.


BUT


God had a plan we didn't know about.


It seems instead of finishing phase one and coming home this month, Jeffrey will be staying the course.....literally. He will stay and finish his training and graduate in September.


It was a shock to say the least, we decided to pray about the decision, to stay or not, and look for God for the answer. Needless to say, the decision was sort of made for us. It was highly requested that Jeffrey stay and finish up due to his status with other requirements. Guess that is what you get for being on top of things!


Although it is not the decision we would have made on our own, I feel like we gave up our right to do what we want a long time ago.


You see, we live for something bigger than ourselves. We live for our God. When He tells you to do something, you don't gripe and complain and try to find a way out. You do it. He would not have put us in this situation if it wasn't right.


Yes, it will be hard. Colin's birthday is at the end of the month. Soccer begins soon for both the big boys. School starts in August. I'll have to get my 3 boys to 3 different places each morning: Nanny Carol's, Happyland, and SES. We will have to get in a routine (which we are so not good at) and make it work.

I am an optismistic person. Yes, I know we will miss Jeffrey and he will miss us, especially his growing baby. However, we both have to depend on our support systems and each other. I have our family and our church family. He has his Army friends who are in the same situation. We have each other. We have God.

God got us through these first 3 weeks. He got me through the week my grandmother passed away. He will get us through the next 9 weeks as well.

So in the meantime, I will continue to pray for me and the boys, for my soldier, and what God has in store for us.

In the meantime, I will get our bags packed and van loaded up so we can spend a wonderful LONG weekend in South Carolina with our soldier, celebrating Independence Day.

In the meantime, I will lean on My Father in Heaven for the strength needed to get through these next 9 weeks.

In the meantime, I support my soldier and welcome him home with open arms very soon.

Have you praised Him lately?

Today, I am praising my Heavenly Father.

I am so very thankful that Carter's two week appointment went well. Apparently, there are no longer any signs of jaundice. When he was retested at 4 days old, his bilirubin levels were a bit more elevated than the initial test in the hospital. Today, he shows no signsof jaundice. Thank you, Lord! Carter is growing quite well. He weighed 8lbs 13 oz (1 pound and 1 ounce more than his birth weight). What a blessing it is to know that he is healthy and strong!

I am so very thankful for the love Colin and Carson have for their baby brother. Already, they are inseparable. When its time for school, bed, or whatever, they do not want to leave Carter's side. Carson has not slept in his own bed but once or twice since Carter has been home. This morning, both big brothers were on the couch with me and Carter. They are all about their little brother. I pray that their devotion to one another continues, that no matter how old they get and what troubles they encounter, that these boys remember they are family and that is what is important.

I am so very thankful for the wonderful man I am married to. He takes such good care of me and our boys. I am amazed at how God has worked in his life since surrendering his life to Jesus 6 years ago. Yesterday at church, he talked to the congregation about prayer. You see, when Carson was born four years ago, we saw him for only a short moment due to his lungs. He was quickly taken to NICU. Jeffrey made his way to the chapel at the Medical Center and prayed for his newborn son. His (our) prayers were answered. Carson was healed. We have learned that he remains delicate in times of illness. With a snotty nose or first sign of cough or cold, we have to take precautions to keep him in good health whether it is keeping him in from the weather or out of smokey environments. He can't tolerate allergens and illness like many kids. When Carter was born two weeks ago, Jeffrey made his way to the chapel at the hospital once again. This time, it was to give thanks and praise for a healthy newborn son. Isn't that the only proper thing to do (which was precisely his point to the church)? We are quick to pray in times of want, whether through the death of a loved one, illness, job loss, marital stress, parenting issues, or financial trouble. We should also be quick to pray in times of plenty, whether it is a job promotion, good health, or anything worth celebrating. God is with us in those times, just like he is with us in times of want. Some people only call out to our Lord when they are hurting. Sure He wants us to do that, but our Father also wants us to call out to Him in times of celebration, to give Him praise for what He has done.

Have you praised Him lately? If not, why not start now? Why not leave a comment here to let us know what God has blessed you with?

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thesselonians 5:16-18

Lately

Lately.....
I am enjoying my time home with my precious Carter. It seems like only yesterday Colin was a newborn. I can't believe he will be 8 years old this summer and Carson will be 4 in a matter of weeks. I got tickled at the bank yesterday. One of the workers, who also lives behind us, asked when the baby was coming. I said, "He came on the 12th!" I still can't believe he is here and he's ours. What a blessing! I am thankful everyday that God has chosen me to be the mom of these wonderful children. Carson has stayed home with me for a few days. We've tried to get him back into the swing of things, but his stomach has been yucky. I'm missing Colin while he is at school. I do like being able to pick him up after school now.



Lately....
I am feeling well. Carter is sleeping pretty good at night. He is eating every 3 - 4 hours. So the rest is good! I am not a night person. I like to be in bed around nine and sleep until morning. I am so grateful that Carter is not up all hours of the night. I did NOT have a C-section. Not sure where that started, but we are doing great!



Lately....
The boys have started baseball. Colin is being coached by "Coach Jeff" again this year. It will be his second year of Pee Wee and from what Coach Jeff says, Colin is doing quite well. Carson has "started" T-ball. Started is in quotes because the first practice was last week. However, Carson didn't make it. We thought he broke his little toe. OUCH! He was playing at the kitchen table and when he got out of the chair, it fell on his foot. Totally scared us. Jeffrey took him to see Dr. Chris Friday, who then sent him for x-rays. Toe is fine, just bruised. Hopefully, he will be able to go to practice this week. I am getting excited about seeing them play soon.



Lately,
I have been fed well by some Christian women. After coming home from the hospital, Jeffrey's mom had us a pot of potato soup and his aunt Mary had us some of her famous ham and cheese sandwhiches. We worked on those a few days. Then Millie from church brought us some KFC- YUMMY - and a cake she had made. Tonight, I had a visit from Mrs. June from church. She brought some ham, green beans, slaw, and mashed potatoes, and brownies. We are so appreciative of the food. It has made my life so much easier!


Lately,
I am saddened by some news. Our church lost a dear friend this morning. Joe Smith passed away after battling cancer. He and his wife Jackie have been so good to us. Since the first day we attended Calvary, they have shown us nothing but love. Joe and Jackie both loved us and our children. When the traveling Wall came to Franklin a few years ago, I was blessed to have Joe and some other veterans visit my class. The last time I saw Joe, probably two months ago, he hugged me and thanked me for that day. We love Joe and will miss him very much. He has been such a blessing to our family and church.



Lately,
I have watched a couple of good movies. There are certain parts of those movies that have stuck out to me. There is a movie called Taking Chance (if you haven't watched it, do!) It is a true story of a marine (played by Kevin Bacon) who escorts fallen soldier Chance Phelps home. During the movie, a veteran told Kevin Bacon's character that he was Chance's witness. He should share his story. It got me to thinking about our witness to Jesus. In the movie, as he looked back on this journey, Kevin Bacon's character said that he felt like as long as the body was moving, that Chance was still alive. You know, we are what reminds everyone that Jesus is still alive. We are to be His witness each day by telling others about Him and allowing them to see Him in us. Unfortunately, many of us don't do all we can do to be a witness to Jesus Christ. Personally, I know that I can do more and that is something I strive to do. There is another movie that I watched the other night. It was called Henry Poole is Here. Luke Wilson's character has found out that he is dying and nothing can be done. He has lost faith and moved into a house to die alone. His neighbor discovers a miracle and it draws him closer to others and to finding his faith once again. One of the lines that really struck me was said by Patience, the cashier at the grocery store. She told him that she "chose to believe" and that's the miracle. When we are at the crossroads of becoming Christians, we make a choice. Do we choose to believe or not? When we choose to believe in the miracle of Jesus, our lives are forever changed. Like Patience, I can proudly say that, "I have chosen to believe." Six years ago, God touched my heart. He showed me His love and I chose to believe in what His son, Jesus Christ did for me. Have you chosen to believe?

Lately,
We are waiting to find out where Jeffrey will be doing his monthly drills. He received a message last Wednesday that he was supposed to be in South Carolina last weekend for drill. However, since it was so far for him and such late notice, he was dismissed from drill for March. He was told that they would try to find somewhere closer to home for the next drill. I am thankful that he does not have to go the first week of April like we thought. Now, Jeffrey can be home for Carson's 4th birthday.

Lately,
I am trying to find a Super Mario Bros. cake pan for Carson's birthday. He is wanting a Mario party, so I am working on it.

So, for now, I will continue to enjoy my time at home with my family, being a stay at home mom for now.