A Brand New Adventure

In the Spring of 2005 Jeremy and I had the opportunity to return to our hometown of Springfield, MO for Fellowship Week.  Our intent for this week was to catch up with friends and spend time with family.  We had no idea that God was getting ready to take us on a whole new adventure!  During one service that week I was sitting in the back with a friend and our kiddos while Jeremy sat some where near the front with a few of his friends.  The speaker was an United States Army Chaplain.  I could not tell you a word he said nor even the theme of his message, but I did know (even though Jeremy and I had NEVER  talked about it) that God was calling our family to serve along side Jeremy as a Chaplain. It was not until a few months later as we were driving home from a National Guard drill weekend that Jeremy very nervously approached the subject with me.  My response was "I know, God has all ready told me", and that is how our journey into the Chaplaincy began.  It took several years of very hard work for Jeremy to finish the required schooling.  In April of 2009 Jeremy became an active duty Army Chaplain and we made our first Army move to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

Here we are nearly 2.5 years later and on another new adventure.  We are now living 19 hours away from "home" at our 2nd duty station and experiencing our first deployment.  I can honestly say that even though I knew that deployments were part of being an Army Family that I secretly hoped that we might somehow miss that part of the adventure.  Nevertheless, here we are 1/4 of the way through the inevitable.   Philippians 4:6-7 has become my focus.  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer WITH thanksgiving".  I have to admit this is a hard one for me, but the promise God gives in verse 7 is so worth it!  "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  We are absolutely experiencing that peace that passes all understanding!  I'm not saying that this deployment is easy or that I do not miss my husband with every breath I take, but God is providing a peace that makes it possible to not just survive this deployment but to truly thrive.