Today marks the halfway point of this deployment, which is both exciting and a little daunting. On one hand we get to say "WOOHOO, we're half way there!", but on the other, it means that we still have a while to go. It is a great time to reflect on God' faithfulness, in general, and thus far this deployment. It has been a long couple of months and the next couple will likely seem longer because we will have less communication and the newness of San Diego is beginning to wear off. Still we are trusting that the same hand that has carried us through everything we've come up against, will continue to do so. He has brought us some great new friends, and allowed us to stay in contact with old ones. He has provided a new circle of very supportive ladies for me, and lots of children for Zach and Kylie to play with. He has allowed us almost constant communication with each other, which has made the transition so much easier. Most importantly, He has brought us to a place where we are forced to rely on His strength. Neither of us could make it through this on our own. It has become very apparent to us why there are so many broken families in the military. The family was not designed to function with members thousands of miles apart; it is hard! The only thing that can keep a husband and wife as one, and allow children to continue to feel their fathers love from so far away is God. He is showing us that there is nothing that is too hard for Him, and that is such a comforting reality.
Some of our best memories in Auburn revolved around college football, so of course the phrase, "half way there", brings back special memories in that context as well. It makes me a little sad that as football season approaches we aren't preparing to have a living room full of our closest friends, all wearing orange and blue, cheering on our beloved tigers. Thank you to everyone who stayed up late with us, ate too much junk food with us, and got too worked up over a game with us:). We will be with you in spirit! War Eagle!
Please continue to pray that God would watch over us and keep us while we are apart and that Nathan's sail home, and all the stops along the way, would go smoothly. Also, we are earnestly praying that Baby Lydia would arrive in God's perfect timing, and praying that it would include Nathan being here for her arrival. Thank you for your prayers!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Babymoon #3 - Bath, ME
babymoon - trendy term for some sort of getaway that expecting parents go on some time during the pregnancy to take advantage of their soon-to-be-gone freedom.
We have never officially gone on a trip for the purpose of having a "babymoon", but it has worked out each time that we get to have a special vacation together before said baby arrives. This time I was able to fly to Bath, Maine to visit Nathan for a weekend, and it was wonderful! We stayed at an awesome bed and breakfast, ate lots of lobster, toured a lighthouse, and took approximately a gazillion pictures of the breathtaking scenery. The goal was just to spend time enjoying each other, and we were able to do just that.
Nathan gave me the grand tour of his ship, USS Spruance. I feel so privileged to have been able to see her before she commissions into the US Navy.... and to have had such a handsome naval officer showing me around;). There are no cameras allowed in the shipyard where she is currently located, but here is a link if you want to see what she looks like <http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg111/Photo/Super_Trials_DDG111.jpg.
This was the first time Nathan and I had ever stayed at a bed and breakfast, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was quiet, family-owned, and the breakfasts were creative and delicious. It was nice to have a house to relax in together, even if it wasn't our own.
The beach we went to was so beautiful! There were so many interesting rock formations, a whole other part of God's magnificent creation that we had never experienced before. And because of all the rocks... no sand!!! In case you didn't know this already, neither of us like sand one bit, so this was the perfect beach for us.
The original reason for coming to the beach was to see this lighthouse. Neither of us had ever been in one before, and since there are so many in Maine, we felt like it was a necessary part of our trip.
Top left: the lighthouse from the beach, top right: the staircase leading up into the lighthouse, bottom left: a cool looking antique compass that was in the lighthouse museum, bottom right: a view of the beach from the lighthouse.
Tiana filling out the guest book just before checking out of the bed and breakfast.
We are so thankful to the Lord for this special time that we had together. We made a lot of great memories and know that this short time together will help us make it through the next couple of months apart.
To my parents, thank you so much for watching the kids for us so that we could see each other for possibly the last time before our new baby arrives. Also, thank you for painting the house for me while I was gone!:).
We have never officially gone on a trip for the purpose of having a "babymoon", but it has worked out each time that we get to have a special vacation together before said baby arrives. This time I was able to fly to Bath, Maine to visit Nathan for a weekend, and it was wonderful! We stayed at an awesome bed and breakfast, ate lots of lobster, toured a lighthouse, and took approximately a gazillion pictures of the breathtaking scenery. The goal was just to spend time enjoying each other, and we were able to do just that.
Nathan gave me the grand tour of his ship, USS Spruance. I feel so privileged to have been able to see her before she commissions into the US Navy.... and to have had such a handsome naval officer showing me around;). There are no cameras allowed in the shipyard where she is currently located, but here is a link if you want to see what she looks like <http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg111/Photo/Super_Trials_DDG111.jpg.
This was the first time Nathan and I had ever stayed at a bed and breakfast, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was quiet, family-owned, and the breakfasts were creative and delicious. It was nice to have a house to relax in together, even if it wasn't our own.
The beach we went to was so beautiful! There were so many interesting rock formations, a whole other part of God's magnificent creation that we had never experienced before. And because of all the rocks... no sand!!! In case you didn't know this already, neither of us like sand one bit, so this was the perfect beach for us.
The original reason for coming to the beach was to see this lighthouse. Neither of us had ever been in one before, and since there are so many in Maine, we felt like it was a necessary part of our trip.
Top left: the lighthouse from the beach, top right: the staircase leading up into the lighthouse, bottom left: a cool looking antique compass that was in the lighthouse museum, bottom right: a view of the beach from the lighthouse.
Tiana filling out the guest book just before checking out of the bed and breakfast.
We are so thankful to the Lord for this special time that we had together. We made a lot of great memories and know that this short time together will help us make it through the next couple of months apart.
To my parents, thank you so much for watching the kids for us so that we could see each other for possibly the last time before our new baby arrives. Also, thank you for painting the house for me while I was gone!:).
Friday, August 12, 2011
Zach's 4th Birthday!
Okay, first of all, I just need to say that I cannot believe that Zach is already four! When you start having babies everyone tells you that they grow up so fast....they're serious, it's not just one of those things that people say. It has been amazing to watch Zach transition from a baby into our little man. With Nathan gone he has definitely stepped up to his role of "man of the house", and does his best to take care of Kylie and I... it's so sweet. This summer we have watched the Lord begin to soften his heart and give him an amazing appetite for learning the things of God. I pray that this pattern will continue not only in his life, but in the lives of our other children as well.
Alright, before I drench my laptop in tears, let's get to the party!!! We did a Cars theme this year, our first actual theme ever, and I think it went well. Zach loved his cake, had a blast playing with his friends, and is still talking about the fact that I remembered to buy birthday hats (it's the little things:)). Here are a few pictures!
Mr. Lightning McQueen...or at least my version of him...he didn't turn out quite like I had envisioned, but all of the kids (especially mine) thought he was awesome, and that's all that matters!
Kylie was NOT as fan of the birthday hats, and as much as I tried to get her to smile for a picture in one, she refused... Zach, on the other hand, thought they were awesome.
We were at a huge park, and where were they playing? Behind the dumpster:).
Cake time! He is definitely pretending to blow the candles out just so I could get a picture. Thanks to our ever present coastal breeze, I could not get the candles to stay lit for more than a second (if that).
Kylie (a.k.a the easiest baby to entertain ever).
I also tried to take some pictures of the gift opening process, but being that this was the first kid party (party to which we invited other children) I had ever done, I was completely unaware of just how close to the present being opened EVERY child at the party feels they need to be. He loved all of his gifts!
Thank you to everyone who came and helped to make his first birthday without his daddy extra special, and to everyone who has helped to shape him into the amazing little boy that he is. Thank you, Lord, for giving us our sweet boy and for giving us strength and grace as we raise him into the man You would have him be.
Alright, before I drench my laptop in tears, let's get to the party!!! We did a Cars theme this year, our first actual theme ever, and I think it went well. Zach loved his cake, had a blast playing with his friends, and is still talking about the fact that I remembered to buy birthday hats (it's the little things:)). Here are a few pictures!
Mr. Lightning McQueen...or at least my version of him...he didn't turn out quite like I had envisioned, but all of the kids (especially mine) thought he was awesome, and that's all that matters!
Kylie was NOT as fan of the birthday hats, and as much as I tried to get her to smile for a picture in one, she refused... Zach, on the other hand, thought they were awesome.
We were at a huge park, and where were they playing? Behind the dumpster:).
Cake time! He is definitely pretending to blow the candles out just so I could get a picture. Thanks to our ever present coastal breeze, I could not get the candles to stay lit for more than a second (if that).
Kylie (a.k.a the easiest baby to entertain ever).
I also tried to take some pictures of the gift opening process, but being that this was the first kid party (party to which we invited other children) I had ever done, I was completely unaware of just how close to the present being opened EVERY child at the party feels they need to be. He loved all of his gifts!
Thank you to everyone who came and helped to make his first birthday without his daddy extra special, and to everyone who has helped to shape him into the amazing little boy that he is. Thank you, Lord, for giving us our sweet boy and for giving us strength and grace as we raise him into the man You would have him be.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)