The Ones Left behind

Today that happened again for the 2nd time this year and let me tell you it stinks. My best friend B and her family moved back to the states. B was more like a sister and her son and my oldest son were best friends. My heart is broken tonight. I'm praying Chad is able to get online or call, because that would truly help to hear his voice. Pray for my children and me through this. To be completely honest, we're all hurting and thankfully my boys seem to be handling it better than me actually. Maybe it's because I see the bigger picture of how long it may be until I see her again. We will see each other again and I will pull out of this slump, for tonight and maybe a couple more my heart is heavy, it hurts to breath, there's a lump in my throat, and the tears are coming very easily. Bed is calling my name early tonight.

Update

I know it's been a while, a long while. I talked to Chad a couple days ago and he was doing really good! I could literally HEAR the smile in his voice and let me tell you that was so good! He'd been having a rough time of it the last couple of weeks before this.

We're about to hit month 6 here in a few days. In ways it amazes me that we're at month 6, because it feels like he's been gone forever, yet it's starting to go by quicker. I guess because the kids and I have quite a bit going on.

Thank you to each and every one of you who's been praying for Chad and continue to pray for him. It IS appreciated more than you'll ever know! I told him so many were praying for him (the other evening) and he told me that he can honestly FEEL those prayers surrounding him! Isn't God just so good and gracious in allowing him to actually feel your love and concern? Amazing I tell you! :)


God Bless

Halloween Blessings

I know Emma looks miserable and at that point she was! LOL She was tired, hungry, and absolutely did not want to be held. This was taken at the end of our VTC today! I took the kids up to "see" Daddy. Our Battalion was also have a Halloween Costume Contest, of course we needed to be back by 4:00 for the actual contest results, but I was finishing up dinner.We had a great VTC and Chad got to see Emma walk for the first time.

This is as close to spending this day with Chad as we can get. I know the picture is blurry, sorry, I really need a new camera. I've dropped this one so many times so focusing takes time and we seriously did not have it. Our time was pretty well up when it dawned on me I should take a picture! I think the next time we do a VTC I'm going to remember to take a picture at the beginning so I have more time to get a GOOD picture.

God Bless

And We're A Go....

Well here we are, or I should say here I am. Chad's laptop is not working right now, the backlight is out, so hopefully he'll get it up and running again soon and we can chat more and I'll ask him to write something for here, we'll see...don't hold your breath! LOL

We now have 5 months down and are into our 6th month of this 15 month deployment. It's going by quickly for Chad. I've whined, threw pity parties, and ultimately been selfish so far through this deployment, but I'm done with that and although there will be days where I miss him terribly, I'm stressed to the max, etc....I will look at the bright side of things more and focus on that and how God has blessed our family.

For those who are new here let me introduce us. I'm Christy, proud wife of Chad who's in the US Army. We have been blessed with 4 children. Jordyn would be 10 yrs old. She died when she was 2 yrs old from AML leukemia. We miss her terribly, but rejoice that she's with our Lord, Jesus. Next is Jacob, he's 7. Jackson is 5, and Emma is 1 yr old. I'm homeschooling our children, as we have been led by the Lord to take on this incredible task. I'm also obviously a stay at home mom (SAHM). I feel VERY strongly that I'm to be at home raising our children and caring for Chad. We're conservative in our political and religious beliefs. We're bible fearing Christians, who believe the bible as a living and true translation.

This isn't really a political blog, but will say that We Support Senator McCain and I will only speak for myself, but absolutely am TERRIFIED at even the prospect of Obama becoming President. I think he'll destroy our country, will hurt our military and all they have done in the last 5 yrs, and will ultimately destroy life as we as American's know it and NOT in a good way.

With that said, I don't want any pro-Obama comments, they will absolutely NOT be added, as all comments will be monitored. Yes this is a censorship and I am the DICTATOR! LOL I will NOT debate with you. I support my husband and his JOB 100%. I beleive we have a mission to do in Iraq and that we should NOT pull out until it's completed. It does NOT mean that I enjoy my husband being deployed. I hate that he's away from us and would much rather have him home, but I understand why he has to leave and believe in him and our Army and Country.

If you can't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them.

Well there you go! Honesty.

This blog is only kept updated WHEN Chad is deployed, once he's home from this deployment next summer/fall...it will become quiet again. I hope you will comment, leave messages of support to Chad, most of all please pray for Chad's safety and our family is simply not complete when he's not home.

God Bless
Christy

A Nation In Crisis

I know I have not written over here in so long. The kids and I went to the states for 7 weeks starting in late July. I will give an update on Chad in the next couple of days. But from here on, here's why I'm posting here tonight....

 

I got this from my friend Linda blogged about this and well I've been feeling led to pray for our nation and leaders the way it was and thought this was truly just a WONDERFUL idea. I really hope you'll all join me. Below is 100% copy and pasted from Linda's blog, so if it sounds like a "personal" statement...it's Linda's words! So...join us. No matter how you feel about our nations leaders, we are instructed to pray for them. As Christians we can do so much. God knows what our nation needs, but he does want to here from us.

 

 

A Nation in Crisis...

and what we can do about it. It's called Intercessory Prayer.

I've committed, with my church, to "30 Days of Prayer for America". While reading De'Etta's blog Choosing Joy, she talked about how she was feeling led to pray for our country. So I am taking the plunge and sharing 30 Days of Prayer for America" with you. For the next 30 days, we are called to pray for our nation...state by state, leader by leader. Here's what the flier says:

**********************

We're going on an unforgettable journey...

30 Days of Prayer For America

For 30 memorable days, we're going to pray across America. Through the instant access of intercession we will visit every state, every territory, and our nations capital, Washington, DC. Our guide on this unforgettable journey is the Prayer Map of America, a unique resource with an easy-to-follow, day-by-day itinerary.

2008 is a crucial year for America - a year of challenges and, of course, a year of decisions. Of all the things we can do for our country at this historic time, nothing is more important than prayer. If we truly want God to bless America - to stand beside her and guide her - wemust pray.

The strategy is simple: Each day for the specifed 30 Days of Prayer for America we will take just a few minutes to pray for that day's requests. There are only two requests per day, so it won't take much time, but it will make a huge impact. The unified effect of believers praying can awaken our nation, renew our church and spiritually transform our lives. This is going to be a great journey. Don't miss it!

***********************

Now - since there's no way I can truly provide you a copy of the map, I will post each day's request here. If you have a map at home, you can find the states you are praying for, and visually connect with them. But even if you don't have a map handy, you can take a few minutes to pray the requests of each day.

**********************

Whenever you come to a request for a specific state or territory in the daily list, remember these priorities:

• Pray for the leaders of the state, that God's Spirit would guide them to act justly, serve with integrity and uphold high moral standards.
• Pray for the churches of the state, that they would be lighthouses of truth, havens of hope, and centers of love for all people.
• Pray for the Christiansof the state, that they would be faithful witnesses for Christ, humble servants of God, and positive influences on society

Over the course of the 30-day prayer plan, six national-level requests are each repeated 3 times. These address the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of our government. Additionally, there are prayers for our Armed Forces, for America's spiritual renewal, and for candidates for public office. As you remember these requests over the 30 days of prayer, keep in mind the following important details:

Praying for our President and Vice President. They bear responsibilities of enormous importance. Pray that their hearts would be guided by God, that their decisions would be wise, and that their leadership would be principled.

Praying for our Congressional Leaders. The hundreds of men and women who serve in the U.S. Congress - our Representatives and Senators - oversee the nation's legislative business. Pray that they will govern with God-honoring discernment and preserve the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

Praying for our Justice System. Ours is a nation pledged to justice for all; and though our systems has its imperfections, it is markedly better than most of the world. Millions in our society serve as police officers, prosecutors, defenders and judges. And, in the highest roles, nine individuals serve as Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. Pray that all of these public servants will be vigilant, discerning and wise.

Praying for our Armed Forces. We are blessed with liberty because brave members of our Armed Forces have fought to keep us free. Today, a new generation of soldiers, sailors, marines airmen and guardsmen are serving gallantly, and we are the beneficiaries. Pray with appreciation for their service, and ask God to bless them with strength.

Praying for Spiritual Renewal. America has many needs, but none more important than a spiritual awakening and a spiritual renewal. Pray for the Gospel to be communicated across the full spectrum of our society. Pray for biblical principles, long dormant, to bear new fruit. Pray that Americans of all ages, races and backgrounds would be drawn to God and receive His life and salvation.

Praying for Candidates for Public Office. In our system of government, we the people select our leaders. This is a great responsibility and we must exercise it wisely and prayerfully. Pray for the candidates for public office, that they would be moved by God to seek what is honorable, just and moral.

PRAYING FOR THE STATES

Listed on most days of the 30-day prayer plan are the names of specific U.S. states or territories. The goal each day is to pray for the leaders, churches and Christians in those places. Following are some key thoughts to guide your intercession.

Praying for Leaders in the State. The Bible instructs us to make requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for all who are in authority, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). In our world, this means we are to pray for Governors, Lieutenant Governors and other leaders in authority. Specifically, we should pray that they would act justly, that they would serve with integrity, and that they would uphold moral standards.

Praying for Churches in the State. Churches, of course, are not merely buildings; they are living, active bodies of believers. America is blessed with more than 300,000 churches of all denominations and traditions. As you intercede for these churches, both generally and specifically, pray that they would be lighthouses of truth, havens of hope and centers of love.

Praying for Christians in the State. Jesus said that His followers are to be "salt" and "light" within society. Like salt, they should make others thirsty for the Gospel. Like light, they are to illuminate with the brightness of Christ's love. As you intercede for Christians state-by-state, pray that they will be faithful witnesses of the Gospel, humble servants of Christ, and positive influences within their communities.

Does prayer really make a difference? Yes, it makes an extraordinary difference because God in His unlimited compassion responds to prayer offered in His name. As God's children and followers of Jesus Christ, we must urgently, faithfully pray for our nation and its people. Prayer can affect the course of history and shape the destiny of a nation. As you pray day by day following the plan in the Prayer Map of America you can be sure that your intercession can make a transformational difference.

****************************

There's Something About A Homecoming

You know there's just something about a homecoming that makes you just stop, take that deep breath, and oh makes you so grateful that you get the honor and privilege of being an Army wife. This evening a fairly large group of soldiers came home after being deployed for 14 months. They were deployed to Afganistan. Watching the wives and children of those deployed, but now home soldiers sitting oh so unpatiently, giddy with joy knowing that on the other side of that curtain their soldier stood there WAITING for them! It was the briefest homecoming ceremony I've witnessed, but to see those families rush together took my breath away. I didn't cry, which I fully expected to do, but I still had a few flip flops in my stomach. I saw friends reunite with thier husband, I saw Daddy's grab up their babies who were just weeks and months old when they'd last seen them. I also saw single soldiers who had no loved one to greet them and honestly is so beyond heartbreaking for me. They fought in the same war, but have no one to welcome them back so personally and intimately. As we walked away from the gym tonight we said "Welcome Home" to the soldiers as we passed them. We walked up to BK and saw the buses with the single soldiers coming to take them to their barrack's, so we stood there and waved our flags and cheered for them and clapped. They deserve to know they ARE special and they are important. Many were changing out of their ACU's and into civilians and going out, downtown. Pray for them. Pray that they don't make foolish choices. That they don't wake up in the morning regretting what they did tonight. Pray that they get to talk to those who love them and they love and even if only by phone are told how happy they are to be back, safe and sound. The single soldiers were all welcomed back with new sheets, pillows, care baskets that had various items to get them through the first few days if they weren't ready to go to the store.

We still have 13 months before we start preparing our single soldiers rooms, but when I go back to the states I'm going to be buying some sheets. I'm sure I'll send out a "want to help" post so if you or others you know want to help with various items you can. I don't think a lot of people think of what it must be like for the single soldiers returning from deployments, especially when stationed overseas. I've already decided that I'm going to order some welcome home banners for Chad's single soldiers. They're be pretty basic, just a Welcome Home and their name, but I want them to know they are important and special as well.

7 weeks down!

404 days to go!

 

Well we hit the 7 week mark since Chad left. It's went by fairly quickly. He's been able to call us and get online and IM us, normally a couple times a week. He gets online more, because he had internet in his room. He's doing good, hot...HOT. It was 120 today. Can any of us who've never experienced that sort of heat even grasp that? I can't. Today it was in the high 80's and I was whining.

A friend and I are going to the gym 3 days a week now (16 lbs off so far!!! Wahoo) and I don't know if the a/c was on or not, I do know it was hotter IN the gym than it was outside, and that's unusual. But we were both unhappy with how warm it was. We were sweating almost before we got on the eliptical, but while I was doing it I was making myself go harder and I was thinking of Chad, wondering what he was doing at that moment. Wondering how he deals with that heat.

The kids and I are heading back to the states in a little over a week and we'll be there for 6 weeks! We're excited. It's been 3 yrs since we've been there. Our middle son was not even 2 when we moved here and of course our baby girl hasn't been there. Our oldest son has some memories of living in the states, but not a lot. He was only 4 when we moved here, so most of his memories are of here as well. We're all excited though! I am the first to admit I'm so looking forward to Central Air!! LOL The luxuries that the US has that Germany doesn't. (Stores opened past 7 pm for one, must less all the 24 hr places). We'll spend 2 weeks with my parents, then start traveling to see friends and inlaws, we'll spend our final week with my parents/family and then fly back to Germany. If you want/would pray for us that's so appreciated. God has been so good to us to allow this trip to come about and make it so far fairly painless. He's truly given us grace.

Please continue to pray for Chad. He is absolutely at various times being put in harms way. Pray for his comfort,  him being homesick. Pray he's able to attend bible study, that he's being the man God has created him to be, that he's seeking the Lord's will with every movement and decision he makes.

 

God Bless

 

 

News from the left behind crew

We got to "see" Chad! On Saturday we were able to have a VTC (Video Teleconference)! I didn't tell the boys so they were suprised. We have webcams, but they seem to freeze up more often than naught, so it was nice to see him and talk to him.

He's extremely busy, always on the go to this mission or that, so our time is more limted on phone calls and IM's. He does have internet in his room and that's allowed us to be able to chat when he's there.

He's got some great things coming up, but I can't share it here until it's for sure, but it's good! :) To those who have sent Chad care packages, thank you. I don't have a list of names to personally thank and he's not had a chance to thank people himself, so when he does tell me who,  please accept my thanks. Someone sent him a book, so who ever you are....THANK YOU! Can you email me and let me know if you sent him a book. I can't remember the name of it right now (he'd told me, I just forgot and didn't write it down...my fault there).

He's been spending his downtime reading his bible, which brings me so much joy! I know without a doubt his relationship with Christ is getting stronger and stronger. He seems to have a peace about him this deployment and I know without a doubt that, that peace is Our Lord!!! He is awesome and mighty!

Please continue to pray for God to place a hedge of protection around Chad throughout this deployment. That he'll continue to draw closer to him. That he feels and knows the love of his family is always with him.

 

I finally got to chat briefly with Chad, before he dozed off. He's really tired, but staying very busy which is helping the time go by for him. The last we had talked was Father's Day so I was excited when I got home tonight and saw he'd been online. I buzzed him a few times and then jumped into the shower, when I got out he was on/awake. We chatted for a bit and then got off.

He recieved a care package from a Karen M. (not listing last names), I'm just drawing a blank on who this is, so if you're reading this comment or email me! I'm sure I'll feel horrible when it dawns on me who it is, unless it's from a group that gets assigned a soldier and he's this person's soldier! LOL

Right now I'd like to request prayers for my younger son. He's almost 5 and having a VERY hard time with Daddy being gone. He cries at the drop of a hat it feels like, the whining (something I can NOT tolerate even in small doses) has sky rocketed. My friend reassured me that I'm not crazy and that it has gotten worse since Chad left. He's obviously not doing well with Daddy being deployed. Right now I'm praying through what coarse of action I need to take. Please pray for me and for him as well.

Chad is over all doing well, he's hot and tired! LOL Shocking huh, he'd be hot and tired while deployed in Iraq! He did say that any time he goes out on a mission and has down time, he's taking his bible and reading it and has been able to read quite a bit. He made a goal to read from the beginning to the end over this deployment. I'm really thrilled that he's seeking the Lord, emmercing himself in his word. God has great things planned for this husband of mine and it's so wonderful to see them happening!

Well it's late here in Germany and the kids and I will be heading over to "Little Swiss" (an area in Germany, feel free to google it). We'll be going on a hike and them going on a big slide! It sounds like fun and it'll be great excercise! I know the boys will love it! I love being outside and it's an extra day of walking to help me in my goal of losing weight!

God Bless and Keep Praying for a Hedge of Protection to surround Chad!

Welcome home to some brave soldiers

As I tpye this right now, there are soldiers on this post being reunited with their families! After a VERY long deployment they're home! We have a Brigade from our post that's on a 15 month rotation and a small group of them got to come home tonight, their ADVON (advanced party). As far as I know, I don't know any of the soldiers or more so their spouses who are being reunited tonight but it's exciting! My best friend here, her husband is part of this brigade and soon it'll be her being reunited with her husband and her children will once again have their daddy back! Their youngest was only 3 months old when Daddy left and she'll be 18 months old when he returns! How sweet home comings are! So although we've just begun our deployment, for another unit theirs is finally wrapping up and coming to an end and that is a true blessing from our Lord, Jesus.

Please pray for these soldiers who are in the process of wrapping up their deployment, that they will remain focused to finish the task at hand. That they will continue to be aware of the dangers that continue to lurk, that they will have gentle reunions, that spouses will be able to relinquish some of their responsibilities and that the soldiers will gently relieve them (it can be hard for a spouse to let go of the home responsibilities, including children and at times the soldier sometimes wants to just come home and take over or the complete opposite where the spouse wants to give up all control and the soldier wants none). There's often a honeymoon phase and then you start to slip back into your normal routine again, including disagreements, etc.

Pray that the soldiers are aware of any issue's they're having (PTSD) and that if the spouse notices it she'll make sure her soldier gets the help he/she needs.

 

It's a good night here on our little post in Germany!