"The just walk in integrity; happy are their children after them!" - Proverbs 20:7
For the first time since he became a father, Joey actually was home on Father's Day. If I was a better wife, I would have planned ahead for some gift or cards, but in the craziness of the last few weeks it didn't happen. Instead, we got to enjoy just being together and exploring our new region - and I think that was OK with him, especially since it involved amazing waffles.
At the same time, this move clearly demonstrated the amazing man and father he is. From the beginning, his concern was for our family and how we would all adjust. He took the lead on all the plans and coordination and getting the house ready. When it came time to execute, he made it easy for the rest of us to follow the plan.
When our plans took a turn in Chicago, forcing us to travel separately to Germany, he made sure I knew he believed in me and everything would be fine.
That's what the head of a household looks like. He takes on the tough jobs and empowers his wife to take on the rest. He doesn't make unilateral decisions, but takes the lead on walking our family through them. He accepts input and admits when he needs help. As an independent woman, it can be hard to step back, but then I have to remember all he does is for the rest of us.
I hope our daughter finds someone just like him.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Saturday, June 20, 2015
All we have is faith
Note: I wrote this on the plane yesterday and I'll just leave it as is. When I'm a little more recovered form jet lag I'll write about the first couple days.
"We walk by faith and not by sight." 2 Cor. 5:7
As we boarded the plane today, the words from Sunday's second reading rang particularly true. We don't really know anyone in the town we will be staying in Germany. We don't speak any German. We don't have a place to live. All of our worldly belongings - the things that make a place feel like home - and even the practical things like pots and pans are on a ship for the next 8 weeks or so.
All we can do is trust in God - that he has a reason for this move. We trust that he will send us people to help - and he already has.
Doing that as our plans take a turn is harder than it sounds. This move has made me realize the importance of my daily prayer life, which has largely been lacking, unless you count those said with our 3 year old at night.
Maintaining faith when your world turns upside down is no doubt easier if I practiced that daily prayer and commitment to Gods will. So I plan to start here on the plane. I ask St. Christopher to pray for us we travel and I ask God to help me use this journey as a way to get closer to him.
"We walk by faith and not by sight." 2 Cor. 5:7
As we boarded the plane today, the words from Sunday's second reading rang particularly true. We don't really know anyone in the town we will be staying in Germany. We don't speak any German. We don't have a place to live. All of our worldly belongings - the things that make a place feel like home - and even the practical things like pots and pans are on a ship for the next 8 weeks or so.
All we can do is trust in God - that he has a reason for this move. We trust that he will send us people to help - and he already has.
Doing that as our plans take a turn is harder than it sounds. This move has made me realize the importance of my daily prayer life, which has largely been lacking, unless you count those said with our 3 year old at night.
Maintaining faith when your world turns upside down is no doubt easier if I practiced that daily prayer and commitment to Gods will. So I plan to start here on the plane. I ask St. Christopher to pray for us we travel and I ask God to help me use this journey as a way to get closer to him.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Go Forth
The whole of Western Civilization begins with this order dropped on Abram from God without warning or invitation as far as we know.
You have to wonder what was Abram thinking? He was apparently a man of some success and means, with a wife and livestock and servants. You can't just up and move all that to an unknown location, right? The Bible doesn't tell us that. It just says he went.
Because when God -- or in my case the Air Force -- says go, you do.
While I certainly don't claim to be the start of a new chapter of civilization, I have felt a new kinship with Abram in the months since my husband's new assignment dropped.
Like Abram, we had little warning. The email showed up and in its government style, said without fanfare: You will go to Germany and be here by this date. Make it happen.
It didn't matter that we spent 13 years in one place, or that I had a career or that we had just remodeled our kitchen. All we knew was the Air Force decided they need Joey in Germany.
At least Abram received some promises from God: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you." (Gen. 12:2) The Air Force only promises to keep paying us - which I'll take. It is our challenge to trust that God has great plans for us to serve, to grow, and to carry his mission forward to the people and places we'll go.
In this space, I hope to chronicle this new adventure. It will be a little bit travel, a little expat, a little MilSpouse and a little mom blog - all through the lens of faith.
I sit in a hotel room tonight, with my belongings packed, thanking God for this challenge, and praying we can fulfill our part of his plan. Thank you for being part of it.
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