Following Christ and Listening to the Call

Today, both the Sunday school and the pastor's sermon had something to do with following the call as you listen to Christ. It got me really thinking about what could be my call. I specifically recall a conversation I had with my father at a restaurant before I began dating J. We had discussed how that I felt a certain calling in my life to the military. My dad recommended for me to get into the Peace Corps, since of course he wanted his baby girl to be safe and use her education. Soon after, J and I started dating and I had an AHA moment. It made sense that by being J's wife, I could also be serving my country. There was another side that I had forgotten about till today. How do I serve God with this also? I had mentioned to J awhile ago about a type of ministry that I don't see much of but it could definitely be used. J had told me about how hard his early days of military were, with not having a place to go and working through so much. Many military men join the military to run away from bad circumstances or no circumstances. I told J that I would love to make our house a place where they felt comfortable and could learn about Christ. More than this, I would love to have a mission to the wives. I would love to have a mission also with the wives.

I would love to hear y'alls opinion on what you think could be the best way to do this, what is most needed and what you needed at some point of your life....

Also, what is God calling YOU to do?

True Story Tuesday

I had gotten this idea from a blog I follow... If you want a good laugh then please go read hers... too funny! I'm going to try to do it every week in an attempt to actually be better as a blogger! Thanks for being patient with me y'all...

When I was a sophomore in high school, my parents hosted "Final Friday Parties". On the last Friday of each month we had friends over and would do all sorts of crazy funny activities. My parent's wanted us to have a drug and alcohol free location where we could be ourselves and feel comfortable to invite friends. Somehow my brother and I came up with this interesting game with Saran wrap. We hunted down a costco size roll and at the next party put it to use. We wrapped eachother up from shoulder to mid calf and would have wars.

(This is actually me, in my saran wrapped glory)

The purpose was to knock each other over but you had to make sure to have at least two unwrapped people to each wrapped since you would have no center of balance and flop over and can't get back up! So after several matches we decide to walk down the road just for kicks. As we walk down a soccer mom stops and asks if we need help. She thought we were intoxicated. Soon after that, one of my friends fell over but because of her large bust her nose didn't even touch the asphalt. This was just one of my many hilarious and fun experiences with Final Fridays!

Husband is Deployed Awareness Day

hello, my husband is deployed awareness day. I royally hate you. Next year, I'll love you but this year... Can you please go away with all your pink and red and lovey dovey goodness? With all your radio station "I hope you dance" type songs and all the cute couples getting dressed up for dinner... Just go away day.

The toughest job

Being a navy wife.. It's the toughest job in the navy.... We have to be strong for them. I started watching army wives and they said something that really hit me. We have to be strong for them because if get shaken and if they can't perform their job because they're worried for us then not only is their life at stake but so also is our country. This is why it is so tough we must hurt but be strong. Love but let go. Get but give big.

In the meantime...

While the man is gone, I've realized that this is the last time in my life that I will be alone for this amount of time. Next deployment we will have a family most likely and then we'll have retirement so I'll never have this much time again. So I figured I should take advantage of this time! Do what I need to do! One thing is losing THE weight. I lost 30 pounds in highschool (see picture- THOSE are my skinny days! ;)

(My brother and I, Austin Texas in 2004)
Then I got to college and believe me you, the freshman 15 are not a lie! Second semester freshman year I got mono and had to deal with the weight gain that it caused. I was able to manage it for awhile but because of all that I managed during my last two years of college my body was inhibiting weight loss. After getting married, the adjustment took me for a little loop and I had to finally put the foot down on the desire to give Joe whatever type of food he wanted! So with all this being said... It is time!

So what workout and weight loss tips do y'all have?

Lonely

The past week has flown in some ways but I feel like its been so long since I heard the key turn in the door and "Honey?" I miss my other half so much. I feel the most lonely at nights and on the weekends and since its both the night and weekend, its the worst. I don't know how to explain the feeling... like there's a hole in my heart... J has also been super busy so the emails aren't quite as long as I'd like but then again they will never be long enough?
I haven't lost it and just cried since last Thursday when he left, but I just did... I miss my other half.

I miss his presence. I miss his smile. I miss his voice. I miss his laugh. I miss his touch. I miss him.

Getting back on the horse, so to speak...

I have a confession. I'm a follower of Christ but I haven't been following as much as I would like... I've failed at keeping that relationship with Christ going! Now, I'm ready to go for it! I'm so passionate for God and I can't wait to keep going in my walk with Him.

Church was awesome today! I learned so much in both church and sunday school... One thing that hit me in church was a huge conviction on how my heart isn't passionate enough for God. I remember how I once heard that God wants a hot or cold heart not a warm one... Recently, I would classify mine as warm but I have so much passion for learning and growing that its getting hot and I couldn't be more excited about it! Pastor Eric said some great things... One was that just showing up at church and going through the emotions aren't enough for God, our heart is the most important thing! I have always known this, but today it hit me.... Does my heart beat for the pleasure of God? This was all stationed around the passage of Genesis 4 with the story of Cain and Abel... They both had very good offerings to God. Both the fruits of the soil and the fat of the firstborn (Gen 4:3-4) were even in the mind of the Lord. So why was Cain's not good enough? Because of his attitude! The Bible says that God looked at them and THEN their offering... Cain's heart wasn't in the right place. I am so often guilty of that.


Pastor Eric then went on to talk about sin. I know I sin, I know I'm wrong often and I think many know that as well... We're not perfect, we all fail. How often do we think about our response to it? Not only do we need to have a passionate heart for God but at the same time we need to rid ourselves of the sin in our life. We need to adjust to Gods word, and rule over that sin! Sin sits at our door, feeds on our selfish desire, leads us to hide and deny it and act like its not there and it results in death! (James 3:14-15 and James 1: 14-15)... "Pride is self-seeking on steroids" (Pastor Eric). Who wants that? Definitely not me!

In Sunday school we talked about something that may be true in the not so distant future... Being good Christian parents. That we need to set an example for our children and not just tell them but SHOW them... Its walking the talk! With everything else that had hit me in church, this also hit me in that who do I want to be for my kids? I want to be passionate and understanding, loving and respectful, I want to be recognizing my own faults and dealing with them.

What a growing day!