One of my keys to surviving this deployment is to plan special projects or activities that I normally wouldn't do while Jeremy was home. It takes the focus off of all the things I'm missing, and turns it around to see each day we're apart in a more posative light. For me that list of special projects and activities has involved reorganizing our house several times over, lots of quilting, some digital scrapbooking, spending time with my family in Texas, and visiting friends.
In the spirit of this survival key, Rebekah, Reuben, Anna, and I all set out on a road trip last Monday morning. Our first stop was at Bryan & Leah Hovey's home in Hilltop, TX. We arrived in time for a late lunch, and enjoyed the first good chat since Leah and I were at IPS together, back before either of us were married.
We took off from there for the International ALERT Academy in Big Sandy, TX to stay with Corrie & Keon Pendergast overnight. The last time I really got to stop and visit with Corrie, her oldester daughter Katie was not quite walking. Katie is almost four and a half now, and has two younger brothers: Connor (3?) and Clayton (1?). We had a fun time catching up and playing, and Stacey and Hannah Smith even came over for lunch so we could see them as well. (Hannah and Stacey took over the office I used to work in at ALERT)
In the spirit of this survival key, Rebekah, Reuben, Anna, and I all set out on a road trip last Monday morning. Our first stop was at Bryan & Leah Hovey's home in Hilltop, TX. We arrived in time for a late lunch, and enjoyed the first good chat since Leah and I were at IPS together, back before either of us were married.
We took off from there for the International ALERT Academy in Big Sandy, TX to stay with Corrie & Keon Pendergast overnight. The last time I really got to stop and visit with Corrie, her oldester daughter Katie was not quite walking. Katie is almost four and a half now, and has two younger brothers: Connor (3?) and Clayton (1?). We had a fun time catching up and playing, and Stacey and Hannah Smith even came over for lunch so we could see them as well. (Hannah and Stacey took over the office I used to work in at ALERT)
Playing in Katie's room
Connor and Anna
Anna, me, Corrie, and Clayton
As naptime came around we loaded up again and headed for Brian & Amy Cahill's in Irving, TX. We got there in time for dinner and had a really fun visit with Brian, Amy, and 9 month old Lance. The next day we packed a picnic lunch and walked over to the park a 1/4 miles away and enjoyed the outdoors for several hours before packing up for our next stop. But on this little family, I'd like to pause to share some history...
There were only two reason that I survived the 14 months I worked in the main office at ALERT: the grace of God and Brian Cahill. In my half day job training my most helpful bit of instruction was "If you need any help just ask Brian, he's right around the corner in the Smaj. office." And ask Brian I did, more times than I could count, and he always managed to save the day. He's one of the most hardworking and patient people I know.
The first year Rebekah and I taught the canoe course at STEP together, we were roomates with Amy Jones, and over the course of that month we became fast friends. Bekah and I are agreed that Amy is pretty much the coolest, most amazing girl we know. She's always such an encouragement and inspiration...just thinking about her makes me want to be a better person.
I have a running mental list of both guys and girls that I would be very angry with if they married some looser I didn't like. Brian and Amy were both near the top of that mental list, so I was very happy when God brought them together...but had never seen them interact as a couple until last week. God did a really good job.
There were only two reason that I survived the 14 months I worked in the main office at ALERT: the grace of God and Brian Cahill. In my half day job training my most helpful bit of instruction was "If you need any help just ask Brian, he's right around the corner in the Smaj. office." And ask Brian I did, more times than I could count, and he always managed to save the day. He's one of the most hardworking and patient people I know.
The first year Rebekah and I taught the canoe course at STEP together, we were roomates with Amy Jones, and over the course of that month we became fast friends. Bekah and I are agreed that Amy is pretty much the coolest, most amazing girl we know. She's always such an encouragement and inspiration...just thinking about her makes me want to be a better person.
I have a running mental list of both guys and girls that I would be very angry with if they married some looser I didn't like. Brian and Amy were both near the top of that mental list, so I was very happy when God brought them together...but had never seen them interact as a couple until last week. God did a really good job.
Reuben on the playground
Anna, me, Amy, and Lance
Again we took off right at nap time so Reuben could sleep in the car for the four hour drive from Irving to Bill & Holly Orr's place in San Marcos, TX. Holly kept dinner waiting for us, and even had a birthday cake waiting for me when we arrived. We tried not to choke on our food laughing while Bill told his paramedic stories, and then watched part of a comedian routine they'd been telling us about before we turned in for the night.
William Orr Jr. and Anna Beth
The next day Kerrie Lynn (Giese) Ryan drove down from Killeen, TX to visit with us for a few hours. The three of us had gone to church together for years, went on a mission trip together, and had always been "kindred spirits" though never exceptionally close. It had been over two years since we'd seen Kerrie Lynn, so we had a lot of catching up to do. She brought pictures from her wedding, and I brought some pictures of me and Jeremy. We had to leave in a rush to get back to Houston in time for Rebekah to teach a piano lesson, but it was a good visit while it lasted.
Holly, Kerrie Lynn, and meThe whole trip was really, really fun. It was overwhelming to be reminded just how many incredible friends I have, all over the country. The kids were troopers, and Rebekah was wonderfully helpful and very nice to have along.
Traveling Buddy Anna
Traveling Buddy Reuben
Our faithful driver Rebekah
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;" Phillipians 1:3-5
No comments:
Post a Comment