Still no news from the Navy... until God slams that door shut with an official and resounding "NO" it is still an option, but as the door slowly creaks shut we've also begun to examine other options. We are open to wherever God leads us - any suggestions?


Photo Courtesy of me :) Taken in Hermann, MO - one of the cities we're considering.

So far we've investigated: Colorado, Oregon/Washington, Texas, New Jersey, Canada, Australia/New Zealand/Tasmania, the Netherlands, Ireland, Southern Missouri, and more. Like I said - we are open to anywhere! Wherever God sends us, we will go.

Where have YOU lived that you loved (or where have you lived that you hated)? What are the pro's and con's of your state/city/country/region?


Photo Courtesy of traveling.lunas, taken in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado

We are leaning heavily toward Colorado right now, but who knows where God will lead us, or whether where we decide to go will even matter (if He sneaks us into the Navy through the back door, LOL!). I look forward to your suggestions!!!

I wasn't quite sure what to call this post. I started it with "Bad News", but honestly I don't look at it that way.

As I've said before, my dear hubby is trying to join the Navy. I haven't had much time to expound on our story, but to keep it short - he entered the Army at 17 but was sent home just shy of graduating boot camp on a medical RE3 discharge.

Fast forward a decade and a half to today, where we both feel that God brought the Navy into our hearts as an earnest desire for our family to move. We know that the RE3 will make the task of re-enlisting an arduous one, but we also believe whole-heartedly that God is working in this process. We've asked him to open the doors that he wants us to travel through and slam shut those that would lead us astray. If the Navy doesn't work out, we feel that God brought it about to teach us something and (as far as we can tell right now) to urge us to move away somewhere else.

Which leads me to our "negative" news. We've known since the beginning that the Navy is overcrowded these days due to the economy (everyone wants to join and nobody wants to leave). We got the call this week that they've put a stop to all RE3 waivers (which is what we are in the process of doing). Our only hope for entry at this point is if they can squeeze us through because we were in the process before the hold came about.

I know that it has The Deputy a bit down, but I also know that he has the same faith I do. God is working in and through this entire process. We've literally asked him (over and over again) to slam shut the doors to any path He doesn't have in mind for us. If the recruiters confirm that we're out of the running, I have full faith that it's God's doing - and it will launch us on the new adventure of figuring out where He DOES want us to go!

Whew! That was a lot of typing, and there is still so much more to tell LOL! I'll keep you posted as we get more Navy News. In the meantime, as a reward for reading through ALL THAT - here's a nifty little freebie! Click the image or the text link below it to download.



DOWNLOAD THIS FREEBIE

It's a little set of 2 papers - one tan textured cardstock and one really nifty plaid with a distressed, scratched edge. I really like this one :) I thought of holding onto it and designing a full-blown kit around it for the store, but I couldn't keep it under wraps... it hopped its way onto the layout here, and I just had to share! :) Enjoy!!!

Talk about walking by faith!

God has moved mountains in our lives and turned our world upside down (in a good way!) over the last 6 months or so. For the first time, my husband and I are committed to living for Christ and growing our family closer together and closer to Him. Though we still have a LOT of growth to go, He continues to chip away, moulding us into the people He designed us to be.

In July we will celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary (and 9th year as a couple). In the almost-decade we've been together, I've adamantly declared that I will not leave Kansas City. No way, no how. Over the years The Deputy (aka my beloved husband) has investigated job opportunities with the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, and various other employers with offices across the country. And I have successfully thwarted each and every attempt to rip up my hometown roots.

Until now. Until God stepped in and changed my heart!

We've tried our best to listen to God's direction for our lives, and so far He has yet to steer us wrong. Every decision that we've prayed on and sought wise counsel for, we've felt like we made with His help and blessing. As you follow me on this journey I'm sure I'll get into even more details, but suffice it to say, each decision (even many made prior to our recommitment to our faith) has led us to the point we are at today!

To make a long story short (oops, too late!), the Deputy tentatively (knowing my past history for emphatically vetoing all such suggestions) mentioned that he'd been considering the Reserves. He explained that the signing bonuses and pay would help pay off our debt, and ran through the list of other pro's and con's that he'd been considering.

I don't know who was more shocked when the next sentence came out of my mouth: "Why would you do the reserves when you could just go in full time?"

WHAT!?!

That's right... I suggested that we leave our hometown, our friends and family, our church home and wonderful Community Group. Or, as I firmly believe, God suggested it through me. That is my only explanation for my response, as it was completely out of character for me.

That was a month or two ago, and I am 100% committed to it to this day. We both believe that this decision is God-directed, and we are walking by faith through the process. Whether or not he makes it into the Navy, we feel like we are being called to move away and move on.

I'll keep you posted as we get news on the process of enlisting in the Navy (and fill you in on where we've gone with it so far). I hope you will enjoy following our little family on this exciting new roller coaster ride called life!