Time Out For Mommy!

Well, this past weekend I gave myself a time out! This time not for being bad :) I had the incredible opportunity to attend a conference for moms called Hearts at Home in Bloomington, IL. A group of us girls went on Friday and Saturday, and just had an absolutely fabulous, fun time getting away and finding rest and refreshment, and inspiration as wives and mothers. The days consisted of a morning main session, then 4 workshops and then an evening session. On Friday morning, the in the very first main session, we had the privilege of hearing Jennifer Rothschild speak. She has an incredible story, going blind at age 15, she was able to grow up, get married and successfully raise 2 boys. (If you'd like to read more of her story, her website is www.jenniferrothschild.com) The 2 main themes in her message were "walking by faith and not by sight" and "even though it is not well with my circumstances, it is well with my soul".

Now, just to back it up a little bit. On Thursday last week right before I left to go my parents house the night before the conference, I got 2 letters from Abel in the mail and as I'm reading them, my heart is just breaking for him, at this point he still hasn't gotten any of my letters yet, he's so frustrated with his platoon because they're all just a bunch of boneheads, making everyone get in trouble all the time, he's even thinking about asking if he can get transferred to another platoon and still hasn't gotten to talk to a Chaplain yet. But in the same token, he is also talking about how he knows that his life's purpose right now is to be exactly where he's at and that God wouldn't have brought him this far to abandon him now. At this point though I start to feel the heaviness he's feeling. So I quickly finish packing my things into the car and start to head south. The whole hour and a half drive I'm just crying and praying for him for God to give him favor and and to reward all his hard work and just asking to give him strength and to protect him. So I arrive at my parents house and I knew the question was coming, "have you heard from Abel?" And I knew once the question came, so would the tears. And they did. Lots of them.

So the next morning, very early in the morning, 6am early :) , we left for the conference and I went with a heavy heart. And then here comes Jennifer Rothschild with her message. Here I am, totally walking by faith right now, not by sight. I am walking in faith that God has got my back during this time that I cannot physically see or talk to my husband at this point in time. And I am walking by faith that God is gonna provide EVERY single need that I have. And He does. Also here I am in the midst of my husband going through all these feelings, and me bearing this burden with him, it is definitely not well with my circumstances, BUT it is well with my soul. I've spoken before about the peace that I have and it is still there, sometimes I just need a reminder (aka a kick in the pants!). SO, here I am sitting there listening to Jennifer, with tears streaming down my face, mascara completely gone, eyes puffy, AND it's only 9:00 in the morning, first session. Boy do I have a long day ahead of me!! Haha :) BUT I know, it is well with my soul.

So, fast forward through the day, all the workshops were so great, and then we had dinner and then did a little shopping in the exhibit hall and all of a sudden I feel my phone in my pocket buzzing (which I have on me 24/7) and it's not stopping, which means there's a phone call coming in. I pull it out and see that 803 area code and KNOW it's Abel. My heart skipped about 5 beats I think as I answer the phone and I don't know how loud I was but I yelled, BABY!!!!!!! All my anxiety melted away just getting to hear his voice (1st time in 2 weeks!) and as we talked he began to tell me how everything was so much better, that their platoon was working together now and it was all becoming so much better. He also had received 5 of my letters and said that it just helped him so much. Also the best news he gave me was that he himself had also been praying for God to give him opportunities and to give him favor and look what happened, he was made Platoon Leader! I don't know what all that means, but I don't care, I just know God is faithful! :) So our conversation lasted all of 8 precious minutes, but it seemed like 28 minutes just getting to hear his voice. I ended that conversation and walked away with such a peace and a calm...mind you I was crying like a baby...again! One woman even walked up to me with such sweetness and said, "are you ok??" I explained and she gave me a warm hug :) But God just reminded me again and again during the weekend how faithful He is if we will just surrender our control to Him and let Him do His work in HIS timing. And allow our souls to find calm and rest in Him even when our circumstances dictate otherwise.

Monday when I returned home I had 2 more letters in the mail waiting for me and they just reiterated how great he is doing now. My heart was happy.

Also this week a short video was posted on FB from his unit and some of the things they have done so far and what do you know, I got to see my man in action! In my previous post I talked about how he did Victory Tower and in the video it shows him repelling down the Tower. You'll see him around the 50 second mark where it's labeled "Victory Tower", he's the first one! You can click here for the video :) http://www.vimeo.com/21030826

Thanks for stopping in again, I wish each of you a great day!