Deployment Day 313: Our Valentine

We Love You so much, Michael Kay! Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Deployment Day 305: Changes

 While the kids have been growing up I have been working on getting smaller. It feels great to be 12 lbs from my goal. It has not been easy but I feel great. When I reach my goal weight I will be at a weight that I have not seen since High school. I honestly thought I would never reach my goal weight. Now that I am so close, I am determined! Below is a before and after picture. I can't wait to post a picture when I meet my goal.

~ Angela

Before: April 2012

After: February 2013

Deployment Day 302: 63 days left

Today I spent most of the afternoon with a family that God has blessed me with during this deployment. Today I had the chance to fire some weapons! Hooah! Alexis was gone with the youth group, Nathan was at Awana Bible Quizzing most of the day, and Aidan and Noelle were at my friends house. It was so nice to have some me time with friends. I had so much fun and I learned a lot. I am very thankful for the people that God has placed in my life. I have family all over the world thanks to our time in the military. It has been comforting to know that I have precious friends who are here for me while Michael is gone. I am so thankful for the relationships I have here at Fort Leavenworth.

~ Angela 

Deployment Day 301: 64 days left

This year long deployment is drawing to an end. Our paper chain no longer fills our dining room. If we think of the time we have left in weeks it seems so close...only 9 weeks left. Even though it is so close it does not seem to get easier. We are continuing to persevere. We are continuing to look for the things God wants to teach us. I am convinced that every day God has something to teach us, to show us, and to give us. I want to be open to learning. I want to have my eyes open to see what He wants to show me and I want to be ready to receive what He has for me. I started this blog so I could declare His mighty acts! It is my desire that as I praise God you will join me in praise.

These final days of the deployment are going to be focused on praise. I could not have made it this far without His presence in my life. He has been with me every second of the day. This deployment has made me very aware of how real His presence is. God is my refuge and strength!

Psalm 46

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
² So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
³ Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

⁴ A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
⁵ God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.
⁶ The nations are in chaos,
    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!
⁷ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel^[b] is our fortress. Interlude

⁸ Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
    See how he brings destruction upon the world.
⁹ He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

¹¹ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress.

~ Angela

Deployment Day 298: Nathan's 10th Birthday!

It is hard to believe that 10 years ago today Nathan entered in our lives. What a precious gift our little man is to us each day. It was a blessing to focus the day around him and spend time with such a precious young man. He is talented, intelligent, fun, loving, creative, kind, and so much more. I pray often for the plans God has for my children. I know He has plans for my little man and I am exited to see him grow up and become the man God has created him to be. I pray he continues to seek Him first.  Below are some pictures from the highlights of the day :)

~ Angela

Deployment Day 293: When I am Weak I am Strong

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There have been many times I have seen my weaknesses turned to strength. Deployment is one of those times when I don't have all the comfortable things I come to depend on. Deployment takes away my sleeping partner, my live in babysitter, my small, medium, and large project manager, my garbage assistant, (the garbage assistant is especially nice in the winter when it is too cold to haul the trash cans to the curb), my part-time chef,  and my security system. These are just a few things that Michael is actively involved in when he is here that makes my life comfortable or a little easier to achieve the day to day tasks. He is such an active father with the education of our children and so much more. I could go on and on about his involvement when he is here but that is not point that I am trying to get across right now. The point is that when I don't have Michael here my dependence shifts from relying on Michael to relying more on God. I can share examples about how each of the things mentioned above have been provided for in my life through God's goodness. He has rocked me to sleep many nights with the truth in His word. He has provided willing hearts to care for my children. He has provided me with painters, builders, and creative problem solvers. He has raised up new garbage assistants and chefs, and He is my ultimate security system. I do not fear for I know my God is with me always. He will protect me and my family! I realize these things may not sound like weaknesses and more like missing pieces. Well, it is those missing pieces that lead me to the lie that I am all alone and I can't do these things alone. I find myself defeated, frustrated, and sad. It is when I feel defeated that God lifts me up and leads me to victory. It is when I am frustrated that He gives me joy in affliction. It is when I am sad that he wipes away my tears with His love. 

James 4:10 says, Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. I realize I can do nothing without Him. I realize that I am dependent upon His grace. I want to give all I have and all I am to Him because I know that He can take my offering and do more than I could ever do with it. When I am weak I am strong because God is made manifest in my life. 

He is not done with me yet! 

~ Angela 

Deployment Day 292: There's somethin' about a truck

I took a drive in Michael's truck today. Just me and the truck. There's just something about that truck. I feel close to Michael and I sense his presence when I am driving in his truck. I needed to feel close to him today. It is amazing to me how the smell of his truck, the country music on the radio, and wide open spaces made me feel close to my best friend. We have shared many great adventures in that truck. As I drove down the road it was like a flood of memories came over me.  There's somethin' about a truck!