Final Days

I have exciting news to report. My best friend Connie is flying into Dallas on Saturday. We are so grateful for Connie's willingness to pick up and fly to Texas with four days notice. We will be leaving Sunday morning to head back to Tennessee. I am not excited about driving that far with Emily, but I am much more optimistic knowing that i'll have the help of CoCo--as she is affectionately called by children under the age of 5. We are very excited to come home so soon, but of course we will miss Jonathan immensely. We are already looking forward to the day when J pulls into the driveway and stays in Tennessee with us for good. After a year deployment, two weeks of separation doesn't seem so bad.

The Army continues to be frustrating and continues to make departing from it harder than ever. Per the Army's rule, J is supposed to have fourteen days to clear. He is supposed to have fourteen days to go to individual buildings on post and get everything squared away for his honorable separation. However, he seems to be having a hard time getting the time to which he is entitled. He was informed a few days ago that he would be doing an all week range. He would be gone from Tuesday -Friday with one break on Thursday where he could come home. He would be sleeping out in a shack and obviously not being able to clear. What is even more, the guys he works with found it funny that he would have to do this. They displayed actual glee that Jonathan would be forced to do this. They know how miserable he is. They know how much he hates the Army. What disrespect. What immaturity. What selfishness. It only adds to his desire and drive to get out of this place as soon as possible. We often dream of what it must be like to work with people who care about you, who you can actually communicate with, and people who want the best for you and want to see you happy. Wow. That's almost unimaginable. Not to say that every single person he works with is like this, because there are a few gracious exceptions. And, truthfully, I could never know exactly the situation because I don't go to work with him. All I see is his dejected, put-off, discouraged attitude when he gets home from work. But, I'll have you know, we are not defeated. We are the winners no matter how we are treated. That may sound similar to something your mother told you in fifth grade when the class bully was picking on you. If it does, then your mother imparted wisdom to you. It's true--we win. And this is why:

"I continually call you to closeness with Me. I know the depth and breadth of your need for Me. I can read the emptiness of your thoughts when they wander away from Me. I offer rest for your soul, as well as refreshment for your mind and body. As you increasingly find fulfillment in Me, other pleasures become less important. Knowing Me intimately is like having a private wellspring of joy within you. This spring flows freely from My throne of grace, so your Joy is independent of circumstances."

-Our morning devotion today--"Jesus Calling"

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes."

Psalm 37:7

I could type the entire chapter of Psalm 37, but i'll let you read it on your own if you wish.

This is what we put our trust in. The Lord will reward the righteous. That is what J is striving to be. Might I just use this opportunity to express my gratitude for a husband who is Godly, mature, wise, and so loving--even when I (and other people) don't deserve it. I am so grateful that we are paired together. That we are married to each other who have the same worldviews, values, and beliefs. We are equally yoked. To God be the glory, great things He hath done.

We are praying for patience and contentment. That's easy for me to say because I'm going home in three days.

I must get back to diligently watching for the UPS truck to deliver my guitar. Today is the day.

I'll leave you with another verse we read from "The Love Dare":

"We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also."

1 John 4:19-21

I personally would be interested to see the original text for these verses, but that is just my analytical and curious personality coming out. I think this verse sums up how we should act in situations like ours. Seems pretty clear.