Military Life Wins Again

I can't believe where the time goes when I'm tied up running our household. I am not complaining. I just have been inundated with one thing after another and that often means my writing gets pushed off to the side.

I am in my third week of a new Bible study with a friend of mine by Beth Moore. I am loving it. It is challenging my thinking and my belief in a whole new way.

My friend has a minimum of eight weeks left in her pregnancy. It is a high-risk pregnancy that is going very well. I believe that God is working through her and I have seen her faith grow over the years and  especially throughout this pregnancy. I'm glad we selected this study to do during this time!

Beth Moore describes "Believing God" as a present-active-participle. As a communication junkie, I love that terminology. It reminds me that my faith needs to be active every day. It's not always easy to believe God, but this study is showing me Biblical truths to affirm that:
1. God is who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God's word is alive and active in me.

I didn't come up with that handy-dandy list. Beth Moore did, but it really helps me wrap my mind around the concept of believing God.

The Man has been on field exercises lately so we haven't talked much. In fact, I have lost track of time because we've been so busy with his job. I realize that I'm not going to work for him every day, but his job has a profound effect on my day-to-day life. Some people might be offended by that, but any military member who can't acknowledge that the spouses and families are impacted by their job may need a reality check.

Today, I had a little revelation during my quiet time today. Often, the time that we spend apart from each other is often when I do my most growing in my faith. The human part of me is not exactly excited in that fact, but love that I can find joy in our time apart. If it causes me to depend more on God and less on The Man and the world, then it's a sacrifice worth making.

I have also found that I eat fewer calories when he's not around.

It's a good thing I really love my husband or he might have something to worry about!

Face Your Fears

Even a baby bunny can be scary.

I just read this post at SpouseBuzz.com, a military spouse website regarding facing your fears.

The post made me laugh, but also made me so grateful for the other military spouses who take on military life with a sense of humor.

I often feel instantly connected with other military spouses I meet. In this instance, I realize that many of the same "fears" we face like palmetto bugs, spiders or bunnies with fleas, other civilian wives face too.

What makes a military wife different is that we know that at some point in time, usually sooner than later, we are going to have to face that fear head on, and it's always going to be when your husband is gone!

We can laugh about insignificant fears together because we understand that there are more serious fears to face. It's the deeper level of life that we live allows me to draw nearer to a military spouse.

Rather than shy away from those fears, I'm grateful for them because they allow me to live a fuller, more purposeful life. The fears also cause me to draw nearer to God.

2 Timothy 1:7 it says "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Military life gives me the opportunity to push away the timidity that easily controls me and gives me a spirit of power. It's not power from my abilities, but God's. He gives me the strength to face my fears no matter how big or small.

When Pinterest Goes Too Far.

I love Pinterest.

The Man would consider me an addict.

I am not an addict. I swear I could stop using it anytime. But why should I?

THIS is why:

I clicked through because I thought there was some mistake.

Sure enough, it is a mesh bag to wear over your face to protect your makeup.

I thought bags were for covering your face when you weren't wearing makeup. I'd like to know how many of these sell.

Then I thought about a demo video so over to YouTube I went. Sure enough! I found two! The first was demonstrated with great commentary. Here's a much shorter video of another similar product.

I also checked the date, thinking that maybe I got an old pin from April Fool's Day. Nope, 7/6. Three days ago.

I am starting to keep a board just for some of the unique items I stumble upon through Pinterest feel free to follow along! It keeps me grounded when my addiction starts to get out of hand. And also provides a good laugh!

Gone Fishing.

Let me tell you about The Man. He's and outdoors man. He likes nice, fluffy things, but at the end of the day he'd rather be outside chasing some animal and cooking it over a fire. Since we started our dating and eventual married life together, I've know he likes to hunt. He's hunted antelope, elk, deer, and even tried moose hunting last fall without luck. I've learned how to cook wild food (sometimes over a fire) getting the "wild" flavor at least mellowed. I've come to terms with knowing he'll be gone for a week or two each year tromping around with a gun looking for animals and probably not showering. It's cool.

I'd never thought about him fishing, though. He had some fishing poles and a tackle box and once or twice a year he'd go out with his uncle or on a big fishing trip with the guys. Honestly, fishing was not on my radar. And I should have seen it coming.

This year he is obsessed with fishing. I don't know how, or when, or why it happened, but it did. And I can't get him away from the water.

So, a few weeks ago, The Man suggested I go fishing with him on "Give Fishing a Try Day" aka no fishing license needed day. I thought to myself, "I'm dying to get out of the house and get some fresh air, fishing can't be that bad." So I told him, "Sure!" and I brought a book along for good measure.

I caught a fish or two, but I was so frustrated with fishing that I gave up and read my book. I decided that going fishing was my thing, as long as I don't have to fish.

Fast forward a week or so, we're on vacation and we're tagging along fishing. I didn't have the desire to do a thing but read my book or throw some stones in the water with The Boy. Ehh. Fishing.

Rainbow Trout from the Flaming Gorge.

And then BAM. I decided to get a fishing license and try it again this week. We went out last night and I only caught three little fish, but I can't think of anything I'd rather do this week than get back out on the boat and try to catch some more. I think it's because it's like a mini vacation. When you're out there, you can't do anything but toss out a line (or read a book, I still plan to bring a book along!). We went near sunset and it was so peaceful and relaxing and I can't wait to do it again.

Plus it affords some much needed quality time with The Man. Our crazy mixed up military life schedule doesn't allow us normal days, or normal weeks. So if it means we spend time fishing, then I'm taking advantage of it. Who knows what you might catch!

Western Frontier: Part 3

Last photos, I swear!

These are all Utah photos. I can't believe everything we saw in those last two days! I can't wait to go back!



Driving through a mountain pass, we spotted this little moose eating some lunch from a pond on the side of the road!

Bridal Veil Falls

We climbed up a pretty steep little trail. It was worth my freaking out over it, because the view was beautiful and the cool mist from the icy falls felt great on the hot day.

Saw this in the parking lot on our way back from seeing the waterfall. I love it. And now I want one!

More fishing! The Man with a kokanee salmon in Strawberry Resevoir.

Western Frontier: Part 2

After we landed in Salt Lake City, we drove to Wyoming to meet up with the family. We headed north to a little tiny town called Pinedale. It was quaint. The ice cream stand was very popular. Then we took a drive so the guys could fish. The Boy and I caught some stunning views on a trail we took up a little mountain!

Wow!

Freezing. Cold.

 Next stop, Flaming Gorge which crosses the Utah and Wyoming borders. It's a huge recreation location in the middle of pretty much nowhere. The geology is incredible. As you drive, the rock types change drastically because of the way the land was moved, so it's as if you are driving into the earth. Click here to learn more - I'm not describing it well, and honestly, it doesn't look like this describes it perfectly either, but it's cool. Really cool.

The Boy and The Man catching trout in the Flaming Gorge.
Oh, yeah, The Boy and I are recent fishing converts. That's for another post.

Flaming Gorge from above.

Western Frontier

We got back from vacation to the Western Frontier and now I want to go back!

We landed in Salt Lake City and then headed to Wyoming for a family function for a few days. On our way home, we spent the last two days in Utah and I couldn't get enough. The views were spectacular. The weather incredible (if you like it hot!). We didn't even have time to visit the National Parks I had hoped to get to, but after this short stint, I'm ready to go back. Utah seems to be this incredibly kept secret. I don't know anyone, at least off the top of my mind, that I know who has vacationed there. I could probably post about a million photos, but I'll keep my next few posts to just a few of my favorites!

We picked up a mini hitch hiker right when we got to Salt Lake City. He was easy to tote!

Taking a walk in the Great Salt Lake. Water was warm and beautiful!

A view of the Lake from Antelope Island. For awhile, I thought I might have been in Hawaii again!

One of the bison from the herd that lives on Antelope Island. We didn't see any antelope, though...