A house, a house!

I know, I know this is the second post in the last 24 hours, but sometimes information comes rapidly with the Army and other times are quite dead. Tyler and I found out today that we have been given a house on post at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. All we know is that it is fairly old, has three bedrooms, and is not carpeted. We are thrilled to have a house on post to transition into Army family life a little more smoothly and to be in a house, not an apartment ... YAY for no stairs on move-in day! 

God has been so good during these last six weeks and especially in giving us a house. Below you will find one of our favorite scriptures. I was instantly reminded of this scripture today when we got the news of a house! 

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about your clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. they do not labor or spin. yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry,  saying, 'What shall we eat?' or ''What shall we drink?' or What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  

 -- Matthew 6:25-34

Half full or half empty?!

Recently I have reflected on the concept of perspective. I have realized that we have the opportunity to take each situation given to us and make the best or worst of it. Regardless, life will move on, but the choice is ours whether to make the best of life's ups and downs presented to us. That said, I have not looked at the cup as "half full" every second of every day of the last six weeks, but I have tried and looking back Tyler and I were extremely blessed with this time apart. I would never wish time apart on any married couple, but I think we have made the best of our time apart. 

In the last six weeks we have visited three cities, met new people, learned to communicate even better, grown in Christ through an intentional Bible study, learned to communicate even better, nourished relationships with girl (for Ginna) and boy (for Tyler) friends, learned to communicatate even better, and hung out with old and new friends just to name a few of our blessings. 

Below you will find pictures of our last two weekends. The first pictures are from our Wake Forest homecoming -- YAY for reunions! The last picture is from our most recent trip to Auburn, Alabama for the Auburn/Georgia game. Tyler and I are so fortunate to have friends from all parts of our life and we pray that we will continue to foster these relationships for years to come! Philippians 1:3

(Pictures coming soon ... I cannot get them to look neat and go where I want them to, so they will be posted soon!)

 

Army Training SIIIRRRR

I love Ginna's Blog, but I decided I needed to post something...so here is my first post. Currently I am starting week 6 of my 7 week stint down at Benning. I've done some fun stuff down there, but for the most part everybody involved with BOLC II (basic officer leadership training II) is ready to go to their branch training/get to their unit. The plus side is that we have played with a lot of weapons while we've been here. 

Here I am in what is typically referred to as full Battle Rattle: ACH Helmet, IBA Body protection, MOLLE web gear, M-4 Rifle

Firing the MK-19 40mm Grenade Launcher
Firing the M-2 .50 Cal Machine Gun

This next week we will be in the field, but that just means that I'll soon be done with Benning and closer to moving to Leonard Wood in Missouri with Ginna. Missouri will be tons of fun, and very different. Pray for us in getting ready to move, and travelling across the country to our eventual destination....

Time

Time is so odd to me. Since deciding to move to Missouri, I have realized how precious my time in North Carolina with family and friends is. I have tried to take advantage of every face-to-face opportunity with friends and family. I try to seek them, search them, and love them, most especially when I get the opportunity to have face time with them. Although I have enjoyed realizing the power of a minute or two, a simple hug, or a shared meal I have begun to feel as though time is moving faster than ever. As of today, I have been out of college for six months, married for five, and living alone for one. Each transition has taught me something about the gift of time.

Many of our friends are returning to Winston this weekend and I pray that we will value the time with each other because this may be it for a while. Knowing that Tyler and I will soon be many hours from most everyone we know and love is a bit overwhelming sometimes, but extremely humbling when we get to spend time with loved ones. I encourage you all to take advantage of today and to treasure the precious present.