Wow. In some ways, I don’t even know where to start. So much has happened this past year. We’ve moved (twice), we’ve transitioned with new schools, new homes, new adjustments and new blessings. And our physical surroundings aren’t the only thing that’s changed. I’ve changed. A lot. For the better I hope.
God has taught me a LOT about relationship this past year. With Him. With my husband. With my son. With my family, and friends and precious women I serve with in ministry. I’m still learning, of course, but when I look back even 2 years ago, I feel very different today. I feel a sense of growth. That I’ve learned some things God wanted to teach me. And I’m excited about the future.
My husband Cliff will be home in just a short six weeks after being away for almost ten months. While I’m grateful he was not in a combat zone this time, one worry we didn’t have to think about, the time apart and the challenges we’ve had with access to communication (uncooperative internet), has still made this season long and we are all ready to see it end.
I made some very specific decisions and choices before he left, that I would say no to most speaking opportunities, say no to new book opportunities (even the ideas floating in my own head), and I would focus on taking care of our son and preparing for our future after Cliff gets home. (That means saving, saving, saving for all you fellow Dave Ramsey fanatics! Ha ha!) For we are about to enter another season of job searching, and if you’ve been with me the last few years, you know that steady employment has been one of our main challenges as a family. But if I think about it, I think so have I.
You’ll read more about this in my new book coming out this September, My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife, but God took me on a journey the last year or so and really opened my eyes to some things I was doing, and wasn’t doing, as a wife and mom. Through that experience, I’ve realized that as the wife, as the mom, I’m the thermostat of our home. Of our family. I set the temperature. And while I would love for us to be a pleasant 72 degrees at all times, I realize that I often bring the heat or give the cold.
My biggest struggle has always been the definition of accomplishment. For a long time, I’ve only seen accomplishment through the eyes of a career. But God has been showing me something different. A lot of it has involved being quiet. Being still (ok, my definition of being still. Someone told me recently I looked like I was busy as ever, and truthfully, I’m really not NEARLY as busy as I used to be.) It’s definitely a process, but I’m excited about what I’m learning.
This doesn’t mean I’m turning in my laptop for my apron. In fact, with Cliff’s blessing, I’ll be getting back to speaking as soon as September, thanks to invitations from women’s groups already coming in. And I hope to start looking at what God’s laying on my heart to write beginning early next year.
I hope you’ll take a look around while you’re here and let me know what you think – I’ve completely revamped this website in order to be more user-friendly and help you find the resources you need as you read GOD Strong, or Tour of Duty, or the new one this fall. My updates here will be more just that – news and updates. My “deeper” thoughts you will probably find at Wives of Faith for military wives or MyProverbs31Life (which is currently a work in progress and will probably include a lot of my mistakes!) for everyone.
I’m not completely happy with my header – I know just enough of PhotoShop to be dangerous but my degree was in music and not graphic design. I’m hoping my creative husband will be able to take a stab at it after he gets home, which we are excitedly counting down for his return. (6 weeks and counting!)
So as we prepare for this new season, with deployment ending, and the “new normal” beginning once again, I’d love to hear what your new season looks like. What’s God been teaching you? What’s He leading you to do? Or not do? For saying no is sometimes much harder than saying yes. But we learn through both.
Until next time….
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