Pondering Pain with His Promises

A blog I enjoy asked the question: What is your cup?

My cup? My portion in life, right now? My answer is the confines of military life. Granted, while military life affords lots of perks and benefits and adventures that many civilians will never experience, there is pain with this portion.

You don't really 'belong' anywhere. You find people and places of comfort for a season, but then, its time to relocate. And, this cycle happens over and over...and over. So, you really don't belong with the people and places you left, and you really don't belong to the people and places you are coming to. I am finding that this pain is heightened when you have children... because their people and places of comfort are taken, too, and its hard for them to understand, 'why?'...its hard for me to understand, 'why?'

Your purpose seems obscure. Because your people and places of comfort are always shifting, getting involved in meaningful purposes is challenging.

Your husband is far away. A military husband's schedule is daunting with long hours and time away from family. Even when he is in port, you don't see each other much.

This pain can make you wallow in 'fear and self-pity' OR it will drive you to God and His promises.

'We don't belong' becomes... "whether we live or die, we are the Lord's" (Rom. 14:8).

'My purpose seems obscure' becomes... "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands." (Psalm 138:8).

'My husband is far away' becomes..."For your husband is Your Maker whose name is the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 54:5).

And, I remember His goodness. I was pregnant for the first time and due October 1. My husband was scheduled to leave for just two weeks right before my due date. We were hoping that he could be back in time for our first child's arrival. I dropped him off at his ship the evening he was to leave and drove home, fully pregnant and alone. And, that night, labor pains began. My husband was far. But, the Lord was near. And, He provided three gracious women (not even related to me) to be with me during labor and delivery. Because of His mercy, I watched as the three women marveled as I did not feel many of the hard labor pains in later labor. And, my mom was at my home when I arrived back and she was able to stay with me until my husband arrived home.

In my portion, I know pain, but more importantly, I know my God who is there. His promises are faithful every time.

Help for Each Day

"Jesus is the radical, absolutely complete, living answer to all our if-onlys and if-I-could-justs. His unwavering, unchanging, unconditional love and acceptance of us is what we are really looking for. 'For in Him all the fullness of the Diety dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete' (Col. 2:9-10). When my patience is gone, He offers to be patience for me. When my strength is spent, He becomes strength in me. When my faith is small, He believes on my behalf. Every time." - Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman

My Mothering Friend

My God gives and takes, and sometimes, if it pleases Him, He gives back. And, in EVERYTHING He is in the details. About a year and a half ago, my family and I, in God's providence, moved to a new church. Being new, we were looking at the church's website to find out more about them. Whereupon I "stumbled" onto the blog of the pastor's wife. After looking at her blog one afternoon, I decided then and there that Marian Martin was going to be my friend whether she wanted to be or not. What began shortly after was a very special friendship because Marian is one of those special women who God has used to draw me closer to Himself. A bosom buddy if you will! And, for a year we got together once a week to let our children play together while we were able to have some much needed wife-mama-homemaker-etc talk. And, then, because of a very unforgiving military schedule, my family and I were to leave for Rhode Island for six months then move to a different part of Virginia. Leaving my dear friend pretty much ripped my heart out. And, I wondered if I would ever have another friend like her.

Well, now my family is back in Virginia attending a church, the pastor just so happens to be Marian's brother-in-law. And, due to changes in Marian's family circumstances, they have moved to our area to be a part of the same church ...we live seven minutes from each other! And, just yesterday we were sitting in my home doing laundry together...you know you have a good friend if you can be with each other folding towels and underwear. I am so thankful to be back with my friend and I am looking forward to many days of learning and laughing together.

"Fellowship with God, then, is the source from which fellowship among Christians springs; and fellowship with God is the end to which Christian fellowship is a means." - Jerry Bridges

Valentine's Day Memories for My Little Ones

So Happy!!! Reunited with special friends!!!
Let the fun (and insanity) begin...will the two Mama friends ever get to sit down and talk??...

Love how littles decorate cookies...

My favorite spaghetti face

Enjoying Playdough

And, my favorite two words: "Mommy, Wook"...All tuckered out...

Elizabeth's 5th Birthday!

My little Bissy is 5 years old!!! Can't believe it! She is a beautiful, sweet, helpful, spunky, funny little lady, and we are so thankful for her!

Sweet sisters!

The Murrell Males

Elizabeth enjoys horses...and I made this cake!!!

And, looking back...

4 years old

3 years old...I had just given birth to Caleb a month before...still in survival mode!

2 years old

1 year...I put the icing on her nose...she would not make a mess with her cupcake!

Sweet baby year!

Picture Catch-Up

I badly need to catch up with some recent (or not recent) photos of our family these last two months...Starts from most recent (today, in fact) and ends at Thanksgiving...sorry, Marta!

January 9: Adam checks in aboard USS Kauffman...couldn't get him to smile...

Caleb's Two-Year-Old Birthday Party and the Rowdy Reindeers...we live in a LOUD house!

Reading The Advent Book with Grammie and Pappy during their visit...

New Bathrobes!

Pap-Pap visits and opens gifts with us Christmas Eve...

The chaos of moving and decorating for Christmas all at once!!! Whoo hoo!!!

(It is no one's birthday in this picture....someone found some party hats in one of the boxes.)

Ahh...a little bit of Christmas cheer...and order!

Mimi visits in Rhode Island over Thanksgiving...

Three generations of the Murrells...

Mimi and half of her grandchildren...

Five Things I Will Miss From Rhode Island

Reflections from my Rhode Island Wilderness Adventure....I will miss...

1. Our family-friendly schedule. Unlike what we originially thought, Adam's schedule was very easy. This is Adam's graduation day! Doesn't he look handsome?! Once again, he succeeded with flying colors!!! I was glad that the kids and I could attend his ceremony to honor him and his service for our family and nation.

2. My running buddy. After meeting Abby, I am convinced that everybody needs a good workout buddy. Abby, I have not run since our last run in our dark, windy, 'is-that-a-skunk?' neighborhood. I need a new running buddy...(ahem...you know who you are...)...Abby was also one of my playdate buddies with her two sweet boys. Blessings to you and your family as you make a big transition! (By the way, do you like my shiner??? Luke.)

3. Pastor Barr and Newport Community Church. Pastor Barr's messages were filled with grace and truth, and we were blessed by his faithful ministry. This church is one of the most welcoming, helpful, loving churches we have come across. If you are in the Newport, Rhode Island area...visit this one! I will also miss the Tuesday evening ladies Bible study. The study and the fellowship with those women were wonderful...I forgot to take a picture! sigh.

4. Our little friends and the many playgrounds on our military housing. The kids loved their playground buddies.

5. Call me a dork, but I am going to miss Papa Ginos. Granted, it is not Papa Johns, but it was a happy six month substitute.

I will not miss however, the INSANE COST OF LIVING ... RHODE ISLAND, YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL. Also, I will not miss the fact that I can only choose between Dunkin Donuts and Dunkin Donuts if I want to eat out....(no, that is not a typo).