Week 22 of Deployment – Grazing the Fields

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on June 9, 2012
Posted in: Faith, Family and Children, Farming and Gardening, Military Life. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

“My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.  I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.” Proverbs 4:10-11 NLT

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children.  One is roots and the other is wings.  Hodding Carter Jr.

As I look at my once little boy turn into a young man right before my eyes, I get a little “verkclempt”.  He is such a sweet and kind child.  Smart, funny, athletic, inquisitive…..he is everything I ever hoped for in dreaming of having a boy.  And he loves his mama!  That is the best part.

I never thought I’d be the type of parent who would want to home school, especially during the time of deployment.  But we found a great hybrid program so it’s the best of both worlds.  I have to tell you that even though I’m exhausted from being on my own these past months, I treasure the memories I have with my children and hope they will as well when they look back.

So we live in strawberry country and during one of our “home school” days, I had the pleasure of taking my son.  He was amazingly productive.  There were times when he ate the “fruit of his labor”, literally.  But for the most part, he was on a mission.

Ah, the memories!  I’ve taken him strawberry picking ever since he was 18 months old on both sides of the coast in this country.  He has loved every minute of it.  I know one day, the novelty will wear off and that may not be the thing he wants to do.  I am realizing that parenting is all about paying attention.  Every season has a new field to explore and just when I get comfortable, things change.  I just have to enjoy the field I’m in, look for the best of what’s being produced and keep going.

So we are leaving strawberry land, but my son and I agreed that we will just have to find new fields to graze in our new assignment in Hawaii!

“Adventure is out there”….one of my son’s favorite movie quotes from UP.

Week 21 of Deployment – Increase your capacity

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on May 14, 2012
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“Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may  the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”  Ruth 1:16-17 ASB

The book of Ruth is one of my all-time favorites because it is all about a woman’s loyalty, determination and capacity for provision.  I have loved it so much so that inscribed on my husband’s wedding ring is “Where you go, I will go”.  And with almost 5 moves in 9 years, I think I am keeping that promise!

It is a story of Ruth, a widow in a famine land, who receives the goodness and kindness of Boaz, the owner and harvester of a plentiful field.  Rahab is Boaz’ mother and so Ruth becomes part of the genealogy of King David as well as Jesus.  The plot is artfully constructed and exhibits a pronounced belief in the complete, but sometimes hidden provision of God that works in ordinary events.  Brief as this book is and simple as it’s story, it is remarkably rich in its examples of faith, patience, culture & industry of the time, and kindness which is an indication of how God takes care of those who put their trust in Him.

Week 20 of Deployment- Unforced rhythms of grace

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on May 14, 2012
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“Are you tired? Worn out? Burnt out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you will recover your life. I will show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me~watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I wont lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you will learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:28-30 Message Bible

Living freely and lightly…..that’s what I’m longing for in this time of change and busyness.  Fortunately, I have a great husband, family and friends who show me the “unforced rhythms of grace” which is a great skill resulting from knowledge of God’s unconditional love.  I am looking at my children to see how they take the “real rest” and enjoy themselves in every step they take.

Week 19 of Deployment – Rahab, a hero

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on May 14, 2012
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“By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.”  Hebrews 11:31 ASB

I have been reading the book of Joshua in which a woman named Rahab is discussed and is instrumental in saving God’s people by one simple act of hiding two godly men.

She was listed as a “harlot” or prostitute in the Bible.  But she is a true hero to me because of her actions in the face of adversity.  In the New Testament, Rahab is mentioned as a great example of faith and the book of Matthew aligns her lineage to Jesus.  She is an example that God doesn’t just look at what we’ve done in the past (good or bad), but what we are capable of doing in our present & future.  Sometimes, it’s just one small act of openness and strength to go against the culture that changes our future.

Week 18 of Deployment – Desert Rose

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on May 1, 2012
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“My lover is already on his way to his garden, to browse among the flowers, touching the colors and forms. I am my lover’s and my lover is mine. He caresses the sweet-smelling flowers.“  Song of Solomon 6:2-3

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To my wonderful husband who was missing signs of spring!

Week 17 of Deployment – A friend who sticks closer than a brother

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on April 30, 2012
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“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.”  Proverbs 18:24 The Message

As most military families know, friends become extremely vital for survival, happiness and adaptability.  Unlike most situations where one can count on family, friends of choice, circumstance, commonality take that role for us.  And for me, I have begun to see friendship in a completely different way.  Because I know my time is limited in a location, I tend to be a good judge of character and get deeply connected quickly with a few people.  For instance, my one friend who I call “granola” is so interesting to this city girl.  She has chickens in her backyard, buys raw milk from a local pasture, only buys from Farmer’s Markets, consults chiropractic care and has a homeopath!  I love her!  She has been so inspirational to me and I have learned so much from her.  She is also a great mother spiritually and practically so it’s been encouraging for me.  And she led me to a great juicer which has been life changing!

And there is my other good friend who I call the “Wilderness Explorer”.  She received her undergraduate degree in ”Recreation Management with an emphasis in outdoor leadership/outdoor education”.  Wow, I didn’t even know that degree existed.  So basically, if you had to be stranded in the middle of nowhere, you’d want to be with this chic.  She is so kind and funny.  She holds her kids’ birthday parties in the middle of nowhere with tractor rides, tents, fire pits where she makes s’mores and desserts over the fire.  Get this?  Her goody bag was a hobo handkerchief on a stick filled with little first aid kits and personalized tin cups!  Again, AMAZING and I love it!  But more than her practical outdoor skills is her wonderful friendship knowing that I can text her at any time and she is there for me.  She can come over in her pajamas and we watch our favorite TV shows, drink dark hot chocolate with sea salt while husbands are watching kids.  And icing on the cake is that our girls are BFF/Besties.  This photo says it all on one of their recent tractor rides!

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And then there is my “Tiger Mama”, affectionately named after the popular book of late.  Yes, she is Asian, but it’s more because she is strict, makes her kids do additional homework every day and even on vacation.  She is strongly opinionated and not a fan of chit-chat or most things women get themselves worked up over.  She has been a tremendous grounder for me.  She has opened up my literary world with her ecclectic taste in reading and has been a great reminder of when I need to step it up with discipline in raising our next generation.  She makes me laugh, challenges my paradigms and has an open world view.  We are an odd pairing, but what would I do without her.

So I don’t know what our next location holds for us in regard to friends, but I’m already praying for our future relationships!  I seem to always have what I need even if I don’t realize I need it it until a year in.  And I thank God for amazing people who are so different from me.  I treasure them and know I am better for knowing these wonderful ladies!

Week 16 of Deployment – Reaping and Sowing

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on April 17, 2012
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“Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.”  Galations 6: 7-8 MSG

I grew up hearing “What a man sows, that shall he reap.”  And I’ve always see it true in my life and in the life of others.  So we’ve seen the movie, The Lorax (http://www.theloraxmovie.com/index.php) twice so far and it truly gets better every time.  Whether someone receives the message of being an environmentalist, not losing yourself to ego or greed, the ramifications of selfishness, thinking of the future, what you would do for love or even the spiritual principle of saving mankind, no one can deny the effect of sowing and reaping.

My favorite lines from the movie:

“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.”

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better – it’s not.”

“How bad can I be?  I’m just doing what comes naturally.  I’m just following my destiny”.

“Let them grow! Let them grow!”