I have taken a break of sorts for the last month or so as we have gotten closer to Keith’s deployment. We have been enjoying lots of time together as a family. We were given two weeks of block leave and lots of four-day weekends. I know some of you have been checking in and have wondered about us. Thank you for your thoughts and your prayers. Keith and I both spend lots of time of the computer with our hobbies. We both enjoy reading and writing blogs. But neither of us could bring ourselves to spend our last moments together in front of a computer screen. I think we have used our time wisely.
It wasn’t easy saying goodbye to my husband, my best friend. Nor was it easy to watch him say goodbye to his children.
We have been preparing ourselves for this time for a long time now. We have talked about it and anticipated it for months. We have goals we want to accomplish during this time. We have a plan for just about everything. At least everything that we can think of.
EA and MC know that their Daddy is going on a trip to Iraq to “tell people about Jesus”. I know they cannot possibly comprehend the length of time that their Daddy will be gone…it’s something that not even Mommy and Daddy can comprehend. They know that he will be gone for a long time “like Elmo’s daddy” on the Talk, Listen and Connect DVD they’ve been watching. Elizabeth Anne asked if she could go to Iraq to tell people about Jesus too. We had a talk and she has settled with staying here with Mommy and going to nursery to tell people about Jesus.
We had plans for how we wanted to say our actual goodbye and of course, the Army saying that “no plan survives first contact” rang true as the timing for those plans just wasn’t right. Keith woke the girls and Will up before he left to have some time with them. They were excited to have a brownie and milk and sit in Daddy’s lap in the middle of the night. He gave them a keychain with his picture in it for them to keep. I hung it by their beds. We cried and hugged and kissed and then he had to walk out the door.
Saying goodbye was hard, but I’m sure it was much harder for him. He is leaving behind his life…his wife, two girls and his baby. I cannot imagine.
But we find comfort in knowing that he is doing God’s work. He is following God’s call to minister to soldiers. To provide them with the religious support they are guaranteed. Knowing he is called and his obedience to that call makes this hard time, this sacrifice worth it. Believe me, I couldn’t endure this without a purpose.
This morning I read Jeremiah 15:16
Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.
This is my prayer for the season I am entering now. I pray that in the next fifteen months that it will be God’s word that sustains me–that keeps me going each day. There will be good days and bad. There will be struggles and successes. There will be laughter and tears. There will be loneliness. But I know that if I turn to the Lord–my God, my Savior, my fortress, my Redeemer–His words will sustain me. They will keep me going–they will bring me joy–JOY! For I do bear his name. I am a child of God, the Living King!
We took the girls and Will to lunch at McDonald’s before Keith left. I was able to get these pictures when we came in. It is sad to think that it was probably Keith’s last time holding BOTH girls like that.
Please keep us all in your prayers as we begin this new season of our lives.
Pat says
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I really want all of you to know how much I appreciate the sacrifices all of you are making for our country. If things get rough, please share with us so we can be there for you and offer you some support. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!
Angela says
Ohhh this must be so tough for you. We’ll keep you in prayer.
Naomi says
Lifting you up and prayer as I type, may God comfort and guide you in this time.
Love In Christ
Naomi
Chrisitn says
Oh wow. I pray that God will sustain you in each day. Giving you hope and peace and strength in the Now.
Thank you for sacrificing your husband for our country. You are one of the many unsung heros during this season in our nation’s history.
Rachel Childress says
I cried as I read your beautiful blog. To hear you say such sweet things about my brother, and your love for him and our dear Lord and Savior, is overwhelming. As we get ready to leave Korea for our tour in Germany, it makes me even more anxious to be there to be at least fairly close to support you. Franklin, Caroline and I love you all so much. We will be lifting you up as always in prayer as you adjust to a new “normal” in your lives. We can’t WAIT to see you.
With much love,
Rachel
Sara says
I will be praying for you all… I cannot imagine…
Laura says
Monica,
What a beautiful, heart-wrenching post. You and your family are in my prayers. I’ve got an online prayer group for military families. Feel free to join us if you’d like, or I’ll be happy to add your families name if you would prefer that. Either way, know that you are being lifted up in prayer as you’re on my personal prayer list. Love, Laura
Davene says
I just clicked over to your blog from Christin’s site, and wow, even though I don’t know a thing about you, I felt tears well up in my eyes as I read this. I cannot imagine walking in your shoes during this time. But that verse you shared is powerful, and I know that God can sustain you in ways that we can’t even fathom. I pray that it will be so!
My husband, through his work, has gotten to be good friends with a military chaplain…and we have another friend who is preparing to enter that field as well. What a vital mission field!
Praying for peace and joy and strength to be yours in abundance…
Rachael says
Praying for you and your family as you enter into this challenging season. I pray that many will come to Jesus as a result of the intentionality with which you and your family live your lives for Him.