Beginning in the Middle

I began the journey to Israel and Palestine on April 29th, returning home on May 9th. Two weeks later I’m on a flight back from Germany, returning from a week of Squadron Commander training with Ken. We’ve been preparing for a new role - new responsibilities - a new family called the 86th Munitions Squadron. I told Ken last night after an intense week of information overload, that I am so glad I’ve arrived at this point in my life with the question resolved, “Who do I want to be when I grow up?” Funny question to even contemplate at my age, but until recently every new opportunity presented an examination of my role. Should I finally finish school and what should I major in? Psychology? Sociology? Whatever gets the job done first so I can go to seminary ... then what? Masters of Divinity? Pastoral Counseling? Double major? I’ve attempted to go back to school in the past, taking a few full semesters every year. It’s never been a good time for my family. My heart’s greatest desire since I was a little girl has been fulfilled over and over as I celebrate this marriage with Ken and the blessings of Em, Thomas, Ben and Sam. I’m thankful that God has used each desire, every opportunity for leadership, fellowship and teaching to speak His truth to me. Soren Kierkegaard once said, “I’m not a Christian, I’m becoming a Christian.” God has prepared me for this next adventure and I trust He will use it to His glory. So, I’ve arrived at the beginning of a season of intense responsibility, support, and encouragement eyes wide-open to the fact that who I want to be when I grow up is simply - a Christian. Arriving at the beginning, right in the middle of my life. I’m very excited to have the opportunity to care for my husband and children. And to care for the families of the men and women who serve freedom. These are just a few things I am looking forward to doing in the next few years:

*writing birthday cards to the members of our squadron
*sending Christmas cards to those who are deployed
*creating opportunities for our families and servicemen and women to celebrate life, each other, and the hard work the mission requires
*volunteering with the Wounded Warriors - either through the Chaplaincy or the USO, where I can listen to their stories while they recover enough to fly home or back to the field

God has grown me to a place where I am finally content with whatever task He has placed before me in the moment. Someday He may choose to send me to seminary. Someday He may choose to send me to an orphanage as a house mom. Someday He may ask me to adopt children and fling open the doors of our home. There are so many Somedays, but Today I am content to simply be a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a mentor, a servant, a teacher - someone on the road to becoming a Christian. And Today will always be enough for me.

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jer. 17:7