Holding On

Every time there is news of soldiers being killed over seas it is a scary thing for a loved one on the home front. Especially if it is the same branch of the military. AND the same MOS. AND the news has annouced that it is one team away from your soldier's.

31 soldiers killed in Afghanistan. 160th, which is from Fort Campbell where I am at. I know women who have husbands in that unit. Navy Seals- Special Ops... Our friend is over there. He is 7th team and the reports are for 6th. Please every one take a moment to say a prayer for our troops. We still haven't heard from him and are eagerly awaiting any sign that he is ok.

Not knowing is the worst feeling ever! I can't even imagine how his mom is feeling right now. The power of prayer is an amazing thing. God knows, and he has a plan!

Follow Me!

I now have a TWITTER and an ETSY check out my sites!!!

I've been very busy making things to sell. Check out the Army and Marines pillows :)

Have a great day, see you soon!

Photography

I have been playing with my new camera and took these pictures at Ft. Benning, GA. Hope you enjoy! 

Dang bugs!

Our buddy, PFC Gard graduated from Basic Training.

Better or Worse

"Commitment is just that: commitment; for better or for worse."

I borrowed this post from The Healthy Marriage's Blog. Thought it was a great one. 

Our commitment level in many arenas is being tested - none more so than in our military marriages. While the Army can proudly claim that they have fewer divorces than their counterparts in the civilian world, this claim is quickly being challenged by the record number of married warriors returning with injuries. Many of the injuries, outside of TBI and PTSD, have resulted in disfigurement, loss of limbs and a weak emotional state that often lead to strained and dissolved marriages. Many military marriages aren't prepared - and didn't prepare on the front end - to deal with this change in their marriage dynamic. The sad fact is that when you walk the halls of the recovery hospitals it isn't too uncommon to hear stories of recovering service members being faced with his/her spouse leaving the marriage.
So how does one plan for the unthinkable? How are couples expected to keep that commitment even through the "for worse" times when the level of support, especially for Reserve and Guard families seems to be non-existent?

I presented Brian and Jody, who experienced many challenges throughout Brian's deployment to Afghanistan, this very question and their answer boiled down into what seemed a Polly-Anna pep answer, "You hold on to the vision - that perfect, romantic marriage picture in your head that first brought you together - and you focus on that." Say what you will, but there is tremendous power in going back to the core or root of why you got married in the first place.
It is absolutely no secret that marriage is tough. As Army Chaplain Ken Alford shared, "marriages face challenges that have nothing to do with deployment." We all experience the days when we think the "grass is greener" and that to re-experience the "young and single, love to mingle" stage of our life would be awesome. This might seem even more tempting when our spouse has faced a life changing injury or some form of depression. The truth is that every study known to man on happiness just doesn't support this train of thought.

Despite long deployments or injuries, there are several steps you can implement that will aid you in your journey to keeping your marriage strong:
1. Find a couple whom you and your spouse respect and find out what they do to have the relationship they have.
2. Identify common goals you want to achieve as a couple. If you or your spouse is injured, discuss how your injury will affect achieving this goal and then determine how you can support each other in attaining the goal.
3. Consider reading Dr. Bridgett Cantrell's book "Down Range: To Iraq and Back" or visit her website: www.heartstowardhome.com

Bottom line? Fight to make the marriage work. Seek out a marriage coach if needed and just know that many couples, despite injury and months of separation have successfully found ways to readjust and reunite their love.To learn more: visit: www.operationmilitaryfamily.org

Welcome HOME!

The soldiers of the 101st ABN Div from the 2bct returned home yesterday just in time for Memorial Day. Among the soldiers was my cousin, Tom Keddel. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all of our soldiers who are fighting for our country. For those who did not make it home, you will always be remembered as an American Hero. To those who returned yesterday, thank the Lord for their safe return. You are all heroes in my eyes and the eyes of many. One more Dreadful Deployment in the books. I am so excited for our Welcome Home BBQ at our house tonight to celebrate the blessings that the Lord has given us. I am so thankful that Tom made it home safe, the Lord is good!

Happy Memorial Day to all of the soldiers, veterans, and the military families. Thank you for your service!

Biblical Times-- Government

I know it has been a while since I posted! I'm very sorry. We finally got to our new station post and have moved into our adorable 3 bed/2 bath home. It is so nice to have my soldier back home again. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who are still deployed.

As I looked over today's Daily Bible Verse, I can see it's connection with what is going on with our government. There is threat of shutdown one day, then a temporary fix. But still the military received their paychecks in two parts. I pray that they will get it together and take care of our military and their families. In all, however, God has a plan. It is all in the good book.


Psalm 103:6 says, "The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed"

 There are times in our world history when this promise of God seems like a mirage in the face of brutal governments, racial hatred, and human injustice. But over time, brutal governments are smashed. Despots go to their graves. Moral indignation replaces complacency. As Kingdom people, don't you think we are called to model the ethics and values of God's will? So let's renew the prayer Jesus taught us: "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!" And let's also demonstrate God's will in our families, friendships, and churches!

Do it Military Style

I found a blog titled The Adventures and Misadventures of Our Lives and she had come across a new 30 Day Challenge: Military Style. It seems like a great way to keep motivated blogging. If you have a military spouse, feel free to link up and join! I am going to do this on my personal blog, but just wanted to share the idea with you all as well!

Here is the list:

Day 1 - Post a photo of your military spouse and list 10 facts about him

Day 2 - Post a picture of you and you military spouse being silly

Day 3 - Post a a random photo of how you and your spouse met. Did you know then that you’d be where you are with him today?
Day 4 - Post a picture of the family he had to leave behind to protect his country
Day 5 - Post a pic of the branch he is in and list your favorite "stay strong" quote.
Day 6 - Post a picture of the base your spouse is stationed at and tell 5 cool things about that base
Day 7 - Post a picture of a wonderful friend that you’ve made because of your spouse being in the military
Day 8 - Post your favorite deployment photo (a photo of "see you laters", him coming home, or him deployed) and tell why it is your favorite
Day 9 – Post a picture of your favorite thing that you or your spouse has made and tell what it is.
Day 10 - Post a photo that you or your spouse took on webcam or cell phone
Day 11 - Post a picture of the stationary you pour your heart out onto in letters to your spouse
Day 12 – Post a picture of a book you are reading/have read because of your spouse being in the military and tell how it has helped you.
Day 13 – Post a picture of your favorite military support accessory and tell where you got it from.
Day 14 – Post a picture of what consumes most of your time when your spouse is away
Day 15 - Post a picture of your spouse during your proudest moment of him
Day 16 - Post a picture of your favorite piece of jewelry that your spouse has gotten you and why it is your favorite!
Day 17 - Post a picture of something your spouse left you while he was away and how that helped you… did/do you carry it with you or sleep with it?
Day 18 – Post a picture/video and the lyrics of your and your spouse’s song and tell how/why it became y’alls song
Day 19 - Post a picture of his favorite show and tell of one episode you watched with him
Day 20 - Post a pic of you in something military (shirt, camo, etc.)
Day 21 - Post a picture of a movie or show you watch when your spouse is away that you usually don’t watch when he is home and tell why you don’t watch it when he is home.
Day 22 – Post a picture of what keeps you strong when your military spouse is away
Day 23 - Post a picture and tell what your life would be like without your spouse
Day 24 – Post a picture of your spouse's favorite sports team
 Day 25- Favorite moment or experience you have had with the military
Day 26 - Post a homecoming picture and tell how you felt that day
 Day 27 - Post a picture of something that reminds you of your spouse and tell why it does.
 Day 28 – Post a picture of the band that sings the song of your significant others' ring tone while they are away.
 Day 29 – Post a picture of the coolest place you ever got to go to because of your spouse being in the military
Day 30 - Post a picture of your favorite military spouse support group and tell how it has helped you

Truth Hurts

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Isaiah 51:6

I don't know about you, but it seems to me that sometimes the Bible is so brutally honest it hurts! We consider our world, our earth, to have been here a long time and assume it will be here a long time more. But God reminds us that it is temporary! We are even more temporary: just like flies, we're here for a short while, and then we're gone. But not gone, gone! Christians are just gone from the temporary existence of earth because our lives are caught up with Christ in God's salvation which lasts forever and God's righteousness that will never end or fail. 

-- Credit for this comes from Daily Verse by Phil Ware  

Understanding

It doesn't matter whether you are having the best day or the worst day, there is always someone you should turn to and thank. In every situation there is an up and a down, but we must focus on the good things in life. The Lord gives us trials and tribulations for a reason. Each one comes with a lesson to be learned. Sometimes we do not see the lesson right away, but trust me, in His time, the Lord will reveal it. The Bible tells us not to worry. Did you know that about 95% of the things that we worry about on a daily basis don't ever happen. There is no need to cause yourself extra stress. 

I know that this is easier said than done. I, too, have to live by my own words. Right now my husband is stuck in South Korea without orders. He was set to come home on March 1st, but God had other plans for him. I am having a hard time being patient. Sometimes I get angry with the Army, and angry with the situation, but I know that He must have a better plan for us. So, here I sit, thinking about what Bible verse I want to focus on tonight. This one comes to mind...

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

1 John 5:20

God wants us to have faith in Him. He died on the cross for us, and for that, we owe Him our lives, we owe Him everything. I have been selfish when I get mad about Weston being stuck in Korea. Instead I should be grateful that he is not stuck else where. I should be glad that he knows the Lord, and grateful for the fact that our marriage is based around God. Take some time to thank the Lord for being merciful to us. If it wasn't for His grace and mercy, we would all be going to hell. 

If the Lord was to come back right now, do you know where you are going? I am going to heaven, because I have accepted the gift of the Lord's salvation. If you haven't done so, then take a look at my previous post, Romans Road. Let me know if you have any questions. 

God Bless!

Thought of the Day

When things are tough, remember:

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." John 1:7

As we draw near to the Lord and live for him, two amazing blessings come our way. First, we find that our sins are forgiven and we're cleansed of those sins thanks to the loving sacrifice of Jesus. Second, we find that we are not alone in this wonderful cleansing. True fellowship among believers is built when folks seeking the Lord find each other in his presence. This fellowship isn't forced or contrived, just heavenly. 

Are We There Yet?

I have been very optimistic and now, in the last days of this deployment is when I really have to pull myself together and say, "Hey, it is almost over. Even if he was supposed to be home in 5 days, but has no orders, and had to cancel his plane ticket home.... It will be ok. Right?" As I try to reassure myself of these things, I don't 100% feel better about it. When things are hard, what do I tell every one else to do-- to turn to God. It is time for me to take my own advice.

So now, I open my Bible to Romans Chapter 5. 

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

First, I would like to turn my attention to verses 3-5. "Tribulations worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed..." I know this, of course, when you pray to God to give you patience, in return, He gives you something to be patient about. That trial, that tribulation will make you stronger. When a person is stronger, they are hopeful, they know that they can accomplish all things through Christ.

As it says in Philippians Chapter 4:
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.  5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is ] at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing' but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, bretheren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned , and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

We must know that God is in control, and all good things are in Christ the Lord.
And we can. So now, I am putting a smile back on my face, because I know that the Lord is in control.
Philippians 4 continues in verse 13 to say, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 
There is a lesson to be learned in this tribulation, and out of it will come experience and hope; and yes, of course, patience too. Make it your goal today to smile, even if something is going wrong, or the fact that your soldier is away from you- God is in control!

Custom Blankets

I am now making blankets. You can custom order 

them to fit you and with your favorite design*

 

This is the first blanket that I made. The fabric is fleece, and the 

same design is on both sides. I cut and tied all four edges.**

 

This is the second blanket that I made, for Brenda Keddell. 

It is also made of fleece with a plain tan fleece on the back. 

I also cut and tied all four sides.** I have one more

of this blanket that is currently for sale. 

Contact me on here, or by email rutter_melissa@yahoo.com.

*As long as I can find the fabric. 

**Color in the photo may vary to that of the actual blanket.

Better Half

  

It is currently Valentines Day in Korea. Today is a day to remember why are here. The Lord has given me my life. He has my story written in His book from the beginning to the end. If it wasn't for Him and the life that He has given me, I would have never met my husband. Thank you Lord for the things and people you have carefully placed into my life, I love you soldier!

Deployed Valentines

Valentine's Day is coming up-- Our first married Valentine's Day. Like every other holiday so far, we will spending it miles apart. Yet, I will not let that bother me. Valentine's Day is just a Hallmark Holiday to me. It is just another day closer to my soldier being home. I love him so very much, but I will treat it just like any other day and put another "X" on the calendar.

You should show your partner that you love them every day; there is absolutely nothing special about February 14th! The Lord, our God loves us unconditionally each and every day, whether we deserve it or not. Do yourself a favor and make it a priority to do something special for the one you love more than just on holidays. You will have a better relationship for it. Then do yourself another favor and thank the Lord. Not only for His unconditional love, but also for the blessings He has provided to you.

This year I sent my cousin in Afghanistan a bunch of homemade Valentines to pass around the soldiers over there. Hopefully they will receive the package in time. Thank you to all the soldiers serving every where-- I hope that you know you are loved and appreciated whether it is Valentine's Day or not!

 Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

Thank God for our Troops
We APPRECIATE YOU!

Tender Love

My soldier is on the other side of the country, and it is the little things that I miss the most. I miss my husband being by my side, holding my hand, and the comfort that his presence brings. I miss the kisses on my forehead, the late night walks, and early morning talks. But soon, that deployment will be over. Less than a month now.

Baby, You Are...

by David L. Weatherford 

my sunny sky, 

my favorite high, 

my bed so warm, 

my port in a storm, 

my sweetest gift, 

my emotional lift, 

my best friend, 

until the end,

my inspiration,

my destination,

my shining light, 

my day and night,

my heart healer,

my anger chiller,

my pain reliever, 

my spring fever,

my gem so rare, 

my answered prayer,

my heart and soul,

my life made whole,

my merry-go-'round,

my "up" when I'm down,

my best chance, 

my last dance,

my best shot,

my sweet kumquat,

my energizer,

my appetizer,

my morning sun,

my evening fun,

my dancing partner,

my heart's gardener,

my source of laughter,

my everafter,

my heaven sent,

for who I'm meant,

my burning fire,

my greatest desire,

my soul mate,

my sweet fate,

my dream lover,

my "before all others,"

my confidence,

my common sense,

my reason why

until I die.

Just in case you didn't know.

In the hardest times during the deployment: I've turned to my Bible. I've turned to God. I've turned to my soldier for comfort. But I have also learned something very important- I am his motivation. I have to be strong. The soldier is only as strong as the home front.

Dear Deployment,

We've almost beat you!

Love Always,

Melissa :)

Care Packages 101

Have you ever wanted to send your soldier a care package but don't have the time to put one together?
There are many places that will pack and ship packages for him or her for a decent price. Here are some of those websites:
TroopsCarePack.com
MilitaryCarePackages.net

Many people ask what type of things to put in care packages. Well, it depends on what each individual soldier likes, but here are some suggestions that I found:

Baby Wipes- packets are better than tubs.
Beef Jerky/Slim Jims
Energy Bars
Hot Sauce (Tabasco, Red Devil, ect.)- wrap glass bottle in duct tape and place in doubled zip lock bags.
Sunflower seeds
Peanuts
Seasoning salt (Lawry's, ect.)
Atomic Fireballs/Jolly Rancher hard candy (for service member use)
Smarties or SweetTart candies (for local children who prefer sour style candy to build relationships with  community)
Powdered Energy/Electrolyte Replacement Drink Mix (Gatorade, ect.)
Chewing gum
Avon Skin So Soft- great for removing face paint and also reputed to be an effective bug repellent (the latter seems variable based on personal experience and reports)
AA-cell Alkaline Batteries
Personal Hygiene gear: disposable razors, toothbrush, toothpaste
eye wash/drops (visine, ect.) for flushing dust and sand out of eyes)
Zip-lock style plastic storage bags- assorted sizes, heavier freezer style bags are better
Prepaid phone cards so service member can call home

There is also a list of Equipment Suggestions and What Not to Send in a Care Package HERE.

I would also suggest that you use the flat rate military boxes that are free from the post office. They get to the troops MUCH faster when shipped overseas.

I hope this helps you! If you have any suggestions let me know. Thank you.

Blessing Jar

This morning, I am reading my new book that came in the mail yesterday. Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman's Soul. This story really spoke to my heart and I would like to share it with you.
Psalms 50:14-15 reads, "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

Life hadn't been so easy. In fact, the list of tragic events and difficulties ran longer than my grocery list. I felt exhausted. Yet my strength was needed to hold together the pieces of the stress-free life my family once knew.

   "Why do I have to take four shots a day?" Jenna Marie, my kindergartner, asked repeatedly. The explanation of being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes didn't seem to justify her.

   "Just how big is the tank that Uncle Rusty is driving? How far away is the Gulf War? Who is that guy Saddam anyway?" my four-year-old son questioned.

   Beep, beep, beep-- the steady rhythm of my premature baby's heart monitor echoed in the background. This was our moment by moment reminder of how fragile life really is. 

   Marty, my husband, and I had learned to expect the unexpected. It seemed we had anticipated the bad, and braced ourselves for it. We had lost our focus. The challenges of life so overwhelmed us that we weren't seeing the blessings God provided us daily. 

   As a family, we were reading of God's faithfulness to David, Joseph, and Moses. 

   "Why can't we read about God's faithfulness to us, the Mitchells?" our children asked. At a loss for words, I looked to my husband. 

   After a long moment of silence he said, "We can and we will. Jenna, you go get the special note card out of Daddy's drawer in the study. Jason, you go get the box of crayons and markers."

   The children hurried off, full of excitement. Daddy had an idea, and they couldn't wait to hear it. I sat pondering, wondering what my "non-seminarian" husband might be thinking.

    When my children returned we all sat Indian-style on the family room floor. Everyone sat quietly, all eyes on Daddy as he began to speak:

   "There are times in our lives that we don't always see God's blessings right away. Sometimes they are disguised, and the things we once thought of as bad, or scary, turn into a wonderful blessing. Think of the caterpillar. He isn't very pretty. And I wonder if Mr. Caterpillar screams, 'Let me out of here! I  can't breathe!' But then one day, just at the right time, we see something happening. We see God's plan, the miracle of a beautiful butterfly."

   Reaching for the note cars that Jenna clutched tightly in her hands, Marty continued. "Tonight, we're going to think back and remember how God has taken care of us and blessed our family over the past few years. Then we are going to write these blessings on my special note cards." 

   "But Daddy, we can't write words," Jason said.

   "We couldn't read them even if we wrote them!" Jenna chimed in.

   "You're right," Daddy replied. "But you can draw." 

   For the next half-hour our family remembered, drew, laughed, and even shed a few tears as we recorded God's faithfulness to the Mitchells. After tucking the children into bed and saying goodnight to Marty, I went out to the garage, dug around a cluttered shelf and found an old dusty pickle jar. I found an old set of puffy-paint I'd purchased months ago when the children painted t-shirts. On the side of the old jar, I painted, "Our Blessing Jar." I gathered the note cards, folded them in half, and dropped each one into the jar. Finding a colorful ribbon, I tied it into a bow around the lid as if it were a present, leaving it as the centerpiece on the kitchen table. Before I finally went to bed, I placed another stack of Daddy's special note cards alongside the jar.

   The next morning the children found their way to the breakfast table. "What's this?" they said while opening the lid.

   "Its our blessings. We have a Blessing Jar."

   "Let's see how many blessings we can think of today!"

Jenna shouted with excitement.

   "You know, Daddy says that God is the one who gives the blessing. We just need to keep track of them," Jason reported.

   And for the past ten years we have. Our children now read for themselves their stories of God's faithfulness to David, Joseph and Moses. They have learned to trust when they can't see past their cocoons. Tonight I added another blessing to the Mitchell family's Blessing Jar. 

   "Lord," I wrote." Thanks for the nights when all seemed dark, when challenges knocked on our door like a regular visitor. Thanks for the special note cards and crayons. And thanks for giving us a way to read about Your faithfulness to the Mitchells!"

This really made me think about the blessings in my life. It is true, through every hard time, every rough day, ever challenge that the Lord gives us, there is a blessing!

Uniformed Angels

The Prayer of A Soldier

Lord, I ask for courage.
Courage to face and
Conquer my own fears...
Courage to take me where
Others will not go.

I ask for strength...
Strength of body to protect others...
I ask for dedication...
Dedication to my job, to do it well...
Dedication to my country,
To keep it safe.

Give me, Lord, concern...
For those who trust me
And compassion for those
Who need me, and Please Lord...
Through it all be at my side.

My Love

Because we love them, we do all that we can to make their lives better. Our soldiers mean the world to us. I know that I will do anything in my power to make this deployment just a little bit better for my husband.  I would hope that the families and friends of all the soldiers take care of them while they are deployed with letters and packages, phone calls and Skype conversations. It brings tears to my eyes to know that this isn't the situation though. There are some soldiers over seas who have never received a letter. That is about to change! 

 

The Silent Ranks
By This Website

I wear no uniforms, no blues or whites,
But I am in the Army cause I am his wife.
I'm in the ranks that are rarely seen,
I have no rank upon my shoulders.
Salutes I do not give.
But the military world is the place where I live.
I'm not in the chain of command, Orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget.
I'm not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough. I'm the one who's left behind.
My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man.
And the call to serve his country not all can understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do our kids and me.
I love the man I married. Soldiering is his life.
But I stand among the silent ranks known as the Army Wife.

This is for all of the spouses out there of someone in the military. Military husbands are hardly ever mentioned or given credit. But they are out there, and they endure the same thing that military wives do! Thank you all for supporting the troops!!! 

A Soldier

There is discipline in A Soldier

you can see it when he walks,

There is honor in A Soldier

you hear it when he talks.

There is courage in A Soldier

you can see it in his eyes,

There is loyalty in A Soldier,

that he will not compromise.

There is something in A Soldier,

that makes him stand apart,

There is strength in A Soldier

that beats from his heart.

A Soldier isn't a title any man 

can be hired to do.

A Soldier is the soul of that man

buried deep inside of you.

A Soldier's job isn't finished after 

an 8 hour day or a 40 hour week,

A Soldier is always A Soldier 

even when he sleeps.

A Soldier serves his country first

and his life is left behind,

A Soldier has to sacrifice what

comes first in a civilian's mind.

If you are a civilian- 

I am saying this to you....

next time you see A Soldier

remember what they do/.

A Soldier is the reason our land

is "Home of the free", 

A Soldier is the one that is brave

protecting you and me.

If you are A Soldier-

I am saying this to you....

Thank God for EVERY SOLDIER

Thank God for what YOU do!

-Angela Goodwin

Alpha and Omega

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" Revelations 1:8

This book of the Bible is the Revelations of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his servant, John. The book is the unveiling of the coming of Jesus Christ, and the unveiling of the plan of God for the world and especially the servants, the Church. The book describes what goes on "behind the scenes", in heaven. This book reveals that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, which means the beginning and the ending. He created the world and everything in it, and he will be the one who takes that away, who brings the end.

As you read the first Chapter of Revelations, you will begin to see what the Lord has planned. In Revelations 1:19, it reads, "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;" The judgement day is coming. Are you forgiven? The Lord died on the cross for my sins and yours. If you don't know the answer to this question, see my post called Romans Road. God Bless.

Grace

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. - Ephesians 6:24

  What do you have that lasts forever? Not much unless it is connected to the Lord Jesus Christ. So many things we love and pursue are hollow, fleeting, shallow, and vain. But grace comes, grace stays, and grace lives with those whose love is the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither time nor the grave can strip away our grace in him when he is our Lord and he is our love. 

"God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that can be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other."  

From the Whale's Belly

When you are down with no place to go, 

Look to the Lord,

He will direct you where to go. 

When your path is split,

and there is a fork in the road,

Look to the Lord, 

He will direct you where to go.

In the good times,

and in the bad,

The Lord is waiting for you,

Call out his name. 

Pray for forgiveness. 

Pray for salvation. 

The Lord is listening,

He will direct you where to go.

The whole theme of the book of Jonah is salvation. In Jonah 2:9, it says "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay [that] that I have vowed. Salvation [is] of the LORD." In Jonah's hardest, trying times, He calls for the Lord. This is a great example of what we should do in our every day life. We should fear the Lord more than we fear the sea. That is what the sailors are taught to do in this book of the Bible. The sea represents sin and earthly things. The sailors prayer in 1:14 and their sacrifices in 1:16 show a changed heart. Not only this, but they were also physically saved from the sea in 1:15. 

If you have some free time, read through the book of Jonah. It is commonly called the "Book of God." It has several great life lessons. Just remember, in the hard times of life, God has a plan for each and every one of us. There is a lesson to be learned, and no matter what, the Lord will never leave you or forsake you. He has promised us that in saying, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." -Hebrews 13:5

Patience a Virtue?

Have you ever prayed for God to give you patience about a certain situation? I have always said, "I quit praying for the Lord to teach me how to be patient because He just keeps giving me situations to be patient about." But, isn't that what life is all about. We should pray for the Lord to make us and mold us into the person that we ought to be. When I am lacking in patience, I should confine in the Lord.

The Army, or military in general definitely requires some patience. Not only from the soldiers, but from their families as well. There are going to be times when you have no idea what is going on. Times when you haven't heard from your soldier because he is out in the field. OR just the opposite, you, the soldier hasn't been able to call home because you are in the field, or on a mission, or just busy with work. Times when you are waiting for your orders and it seems like the military are dragging their feet! Times when you are waiting for a letter, email, or phone call. As a matter of fact, I've learned that it is that way with just about any thing that has to do with the military.

The Lord gives us tasks to keep us busy while we are waiting on those simple things. We can get impatient about it, or we can learn to see the blessings in those tasks. For me personally, it is school that keeps me busy. School, friends, and family. Slowly I am developing those patience skills, and I thank the Lord for giving me tasks to be patient about!

Never Give Up

As I was deciding what to write about tonight, I came across this website and I fell in love with a new music group. The 4 were all previously in the military and have found it in their hearts to entertain the troops and their families. Check them out!

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low, and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but do not quit.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.

Remember to keep your head up when things go wrong. The Lord has promised that He will be there for you in good times and bad: ^"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10. Don't forget to turn to the ones you love when times are rough. Your friends and family are there for you no matter what. They love you and are proud of you and the commitments that you have made. No one says that this journey is going to be easy. However, if we stick together in the hard times, then the easy ones will be that much better!

Romans Road

My husband and I decided that tonight I would write about the Romans Road to Salvation. He used to have it in his Bible, but over the course of the deployment it worked its way to an unknown place.

First, you have to realize that God loves you.
        John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
The Lord loves each and every one of us so much, that He died in our place.

Second, you must realize that every one is a sinner. Beginning in the Garden of Eden, when that bite of apple was taken and Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord, we are sinners. It is human nature, no one can escape sin.
       In Romans 3:23, the Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
 Third, you must realize that there is a price to be paid. The Lord told Adam and Eve that because she took a bite from the forbidden fruit, that the wages of sin are death. It is evident that each of us will die, no one lives on forever. We will die a human death because we are sinners.
      Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Next, you must realize that Jesus Christ died to pay the price for your sin. It is because He loves us, that he died for our sins.
       The Bible tells us in Romans 5:8 that, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

God gave His only begotten son so that I could have the gift of eternal life, and so that you can too. I just can't even imagine. We have so much to be thankful for!

Now that you know that the Lord loves you even though you are a sinner, and He died in your place (and mine) so that we can go to heaven and have an eternal life, you must ask the Lord, Jesus Christ, to be your savior. You must claim His promise of eternal life.
         In Romans 10:13, the Bible reads, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." 
This is an open ended gift. Any one can call upon the Lord, even if you've made mistakes in the past. God is a forgiving God.

I pray that this will touch the lives of many people and that all glory and honor will go to the Lord. If you were to die today, right now, do you know where you are going? Praise the Lord, I know that I am going to heaven. But if this is not the case for you, then I pray that you will take the time to ask the Lord into your life. Repent from your sins. Don't wait another minute, tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
   

Happiness is...

 "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him."

Ecclesiastes 7:14

Happiness is.... As I searched for a definition of happiness, I decided that there is no one answer to that question. As my husband told me, happiness is different for each individual. You have to find what makes you happy, then pursue that dream or goal. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 7:14 that when times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. We can search, all of our lives, to find happiness, but I believe that once you put your faith and trust in the Lord, He will give you happiness. But in fact, it is true, just because you have a faith in God, things are not always going to be easy. I am not going to sit here and lie to you and tell you that my life is 100% perfect since I accepted the Lord as my Savior. God gives us trials in life, it is up to you how you over come each of those situations. 

You basically have two options. You can sit there and question the Lord and ask Him why? Or you can look for the good in each situation. It is important to remember that the Lord has a lesson for us in every trial. It is an experience that you can learn from. 

There are 5 simple rules to being Happy:

1) Free your heart from hated, you must FORGIVE. 

             “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) The Lord has forgiven you, therefore you have absolutely no right not to forgive others. Believe me, I know that this is easier said than done. I have been known to hold a grudge or two, but I have to remember to give all my worries, angers, and fears to the Lord.

2) Free your mind from worries, most never happen. 

            They say that about 95% of the things that a person worries about never happens. So why is it that we stress over the simplest/dumbest things in life? Once we learn to give our worries and fears over to the Lord and pray about those things, He will take care of them. Just be ready for the answers that He gives you. Sometimes the situation doesn't turn out to be easy, sometimes there is pain- but remember to look for the lesson that God has for you. 

3) Live simply and appreciate what you have. 

           Money is one of the things that most people fight about in a relationship. But why is that? Money doesn't guarantee happiness. Money doesn't buy love. Money doesn't really solve all too many problems. Look at the celebrities and all of the drama that they go through. They get paid a ton of money, but that doesn't guarantee that they are "happy." People must learn to appreciate what the Lord has blessed them with. My husband and I have made it one of our goals to never fight over money. There is no point in worrying about something so small. The Lord has given us so much, and we are thankful for what we have. 

4) Give More. 

        Be optimistic, help others, treat others the way you would like to be treated. You don't have to physically give something to another person, but be there for someone. Do a good deed. Give yourself to the Lord. Maybe there is a friend that just needs someone to talk to, who needs a shoulder to lean on, or someone to comfort them. Being optimistic can be one of the harder things in life, but believe me, it pays off. I thank the Lord that I have the ability to be an optimistic person. It is gratifying to know that I have been given the opportunity to help others in a time of need. 

5) Expect Less. 

        You should be willing to give of yourself and expect nothing in return. We deserve absolutely nothing in this life. The Lord has paid the ultimate price for our sins. We are sinners, each and every one of us, and He died in our place. We deserve to burn in hell. But if we accept Jesus' gift of salvation, then we have been promised eternal life in heaven with our Lord and Savior. I am blessed for the many things that God has given me in this life. 

I find that happiness in life is the little things. For example, opening the mailbox to see that there is a letter in there from my husband. Hearing his voice. Logging onto the computer and seeing that he is online. Happiness is waking up to a text message from Facebook saying that my cousin is alive and okay in Afghanistan after 10 days in the field. A phone call on Skype from one of those soldiers. Maybe happiness is seeing your kids after a year long deployment. All in all, happiness starts with the Lord, He has blessed us all with so many things. Rejoice for the things He has given you in life.