Well we have definitely settled in here at Ft. Jackson, and now we're starting to look ahead to the next unknown. It's funny though, even in the short time we've spent here God has really allowed us to settle in. I've been struggling to remind myself that God has always been faithful in that regard as we start planning months of more unknown and unsettled.
The next step for us comes April 2nd when we have to send our car off to Italy. Unfortunately we really need a car for the rest of our time here, but God has provided some unexpected money so that we can rent a car until we leave South Carolina. It took a couple days of me wondering and worrying before I just started praying hard and muttering bible verses to myself about faith. The day after I forced my perspective to be lined up with trusting, I was able to make the reservation for the car. You think I would learn!
The second big step comes May 2nd when Micah graduates from AG BOLC. There's some days in between that day, when we get kicked out of post housing, and when he reports in Georgia for airborne training. It seems that nobody can tell us how that's going to work. The army will pay to get him down to Georgia of course, but we're not sure how to get a flight arranged. From what we've heard, we have to cover whatever other costs come up in that transition time. I know that God will yet again provide, but as always it's difficult to live that perspective out in the 24 hours that I have in the day. The good news is that I get to stay with Micah when he's at airborne training!!! We had heard from most people that I wouldn't be able to come. Originally we were thinking that I could stay with friends in Charleston, but they have twin boys coming, so we weren't sure that was going to work out. So that was a relief! Then my parents offered to help with plane tickets so that I can stay with them for awhile before I meet Micah in Georgia.
It's absolutely crazy the things that God has truly sorted out for us since we came out here. It's really just another reminder to keep a watch on my emotions and my perspective as we face more unknowns.
The biggest unknown on our plate right now is what happens after Micah finishes his airborne training. Our first instinct was to go ahead and fly out to Europe, and take some of Micah's moving leave time to visit with Micah's sister in Germany. Unfortunately we're not sure if that's possible because we have no way of knowing when my visa is going to come into Fort Jackson. Ideally I could sign for it before we go to Georgia, but since my passport still isn't in I haven't been able to even start the visa process yet. So we aren't sure if we have to find a way to get back to Ft Jackson (on our own dime) after airborne to get my visa. There's definitely a possibility that my visa won't be ready even then in which case we have to float around Ft. Jackson (on our own dime) and hope that I'm able to get it in time for us to make Micah's report date, otherwise he may have to fly there first and have me meet him.
As we face this new and fast approaching unknown, James 1:2-4 popped up in my quiet time: "Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything". Firstly, whenever I read about the lives of the disciples I can't help but think how trivial my "trials" are and am forced to again reflect on how blessed I am. Secondly, I am forced to recognize how small my faith is at times. In the past year there has been well over 50 times in which God has not only taken care of Micah and I in the midst of huge unknowns, but blessed our socks off. And yet, I continue to struggle to keep the perspective of trusting the God of the universe as I try to figure out the days ahead. Clearly, I have not reached mature and complete in this area, and need to be thankful for the opportunity to understand another piece of my heart that God is molding.
So okay God, I accept that I have to persevere in life, and therefore won't at any point in time have life worked out. Please help me to simply keep putting one foot in front of the other and praising you for who you are and what you are doing in spite of me.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Reminders
It is ridiculous how silly military uniforms look. Micah had his first real dining in with his training unit last night and had to wear his ASU's, which are the dressy blue ones. On the hanger this uniform just looks weird. The pants are royal blue with this yellow stripe down the side, the jacket is a really dark navy blue, and they complete it with a white shirt, a black bow tie, and the floppy black beret. Yet somehow when he puts this uniform on he is this handsome soldier that commands my attention and affection.
It is also pretty amusing to see these put together spiffed up soldiers hanging out together after hours. They go from brave defenders of our country to ten year old boys laughing so hard that they cry. After Micah's event ended, a whole bunch of them (and me) went to hang out in one of their rooms. It's really interesting to watch them interact and also really interesting to see the different kinds of people that end up together. Some were the successful kids in school, some were the trouble makers, some were just average. Most are single and out to have a wild time, some are in a relationship but still like to have a wild time, some are married but for all intensive purposes are single, and some are married and missing their significant other.
When we finally got to bed last night I was just really thankful. As much as the military can separate me from my husband, at this point I am blessed to be able to be involved in his work world. Sometimes that means something as simple as meeting the people he's referring to in his stories. Sometimes that means being able to see who he is to them.
I can't put into words how thankful I am to know that the man I see at home is the same man that they see. He is respectable and respected in both realms. Besides recognizing that he is good at what he does, it is obvious that they all respect who he is.
One of the things I love about Micah is how easy he is to talk to. He really cares about people, and that is really apparent. Alot of the guys open up to him, but one of the guys in particular talked to Micah about his marriage. It's such a sad situation but reminded me how lucky I am. This guy has been married for years, has a three year old daughter, and his wife has decided that she doesn't want to go through the military thing. Now I understand on some level how she could feel this way, although I can't imagine telling my daughter that her dad isn't around because I didn't want to try. The military has a way of making you have to function sometimes as a married person and sometimes as a single person. It's tough to navigate, and I can imagine it would be tons more difficult as a mom. Hearing about the situation reminded me that Micah is not ultimately the one I trust, and not ultimately the one I look to for joy and fulfillment. It is a daily challenge to remind myself of this truth, but I know it is a truth that I can trust to guide my life. I can devote myself fully to being one with Micah but know that either in a tempoary or permanent time apart I can trust that my God has a plan for me and will be my joy and fulfillment. These spouses that don't have the promise of Christ feel like they must live separately, and yet also be one with someone else.
Sometimes God reminds me of the alternative to a relationship with him, and I was so thankful for the reminder. I just hope that as we go forward Micah and I can be an example of the joy and fulfillment Christ brings, especially through our marriage.
It is also pretty amusing to see these put together spiffed up soldiers hanging out together after hours. They go from brave defenders of our country to ten year old boys laughing so hard that they cry. After Micah's event ended, a whole bunch of them (and me) went to hang out in one of their rooms. It's really interesting to watch them interact and also really interesting to see the different kinds of people that end up together. Some were the successful kids in school, some were the trouble makers, some were just average. Most are single and out to have a wild time, some are in a relationship but still like to have a wild time, some are married but for all intensive purposes are single, and some are married and missing their significant other.
When we finally got to bed last night I was just really thankful. As much as the military can separate me from my husband, at this point I am blessed to be able to be involved in his work world. Sometimes that means something as simple as meeting the people he's referring to in his stories. Sometimes that means being able to see who he is to them.
I can't put into words how thankful I am to know that the man I see at home is the same man that they see. He is respectable and respected in both realms. Besides recognizing that he is good at what he does, it is obvious that they all respect who he is.
One of the things I love about Micah is how easy he is to talk to. He really cares about people, and that is really apparent. Alot of the guys open up to him, but one of the guys in particular talked to Micah about his marriage. It's such a sad situation but reminded me how lucky I am. This guy has been married for years, has a three year old daughter, and his wife has decided that she doesn't want to go through the military thing. Now I understand on some level how she could feel this way, although I can't imagine telling my daughter that her dad isn't around because I didn't want to try. The military has a way of making you have to function sometimes as a married person and sometimes as a single person. It's tough to navigate, and I can imagine it would be tons more difficult as a mom. Hearing about the situation reminded me that Micah is not ultimately the one I trust, and not ultimately the one I look to for joy and fulfillment. It is a daily challenge to remind myself of this truth, but I know it is a truth that I can trust to guide my life. I can devote myself fully to being one with Micah but know that either in a tempoary or permanent time apart I can trust that my God has a plan for me and will be my joy and fulfillment. These spouses that don't have the promise of Christ feel like they must live separately, and yet also be one with someone else.
Sometimes God reminds me of the alternative to a relationship with him, and I was so thankful for the reminder. I just hope that as we go forward Micah and I can be an example of the joy and fulfillment Christ brings, especially through our marriage.
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