Even though I've been waiting expectantly for this time of departure from Ft. Jackson to come (especially in the last 6 weeks), now that it's almost here it all seems to have gone by in a blink! We're busy preparing for our move into our new home and community... setting up utilities, researching new doctors and, of course, the fun stuff like some home decor purchases!
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| That's the last farmer's tan she'll have for awhile! |
Daniella's been busy, too... growing up! From being the baby who hated when I combed her hair every night to now the girl who loves wearing ponytails, going to the 'stores' with mom, trying on shoes, singing songs and helping put away groceries... wow! Every new mom ALWAYS hears from veteran mom-friends how fast it all goes, but I could not grasp that until I now start to experience it myself. I'm excited to see Daniella in her new role as big sister and have a feeling she'll love it. Always thinking of her little sister, she is sure to include 'Baby' whenever we talk about going anywhere as a family... sometimes I think she's thinking of her more than I am! The other night Daniella had a hard time listening to one of us and while explaining to Daniella that she needed to stop crying for a moment and try to listen so I could explain what she needed to work on, she says through her tears "I'm a big sister"... her way of trying to tell herself to buck up and hold it together, hahaha.Next week will be super busy as we prepare for our road trip north and I attend parts of the Spouse Seminar for the spouses of CH-BOLC students... a helpful opportunity to get information from veteran chaplain wives about their experiences, roles, army family life, deployments, etc. I'm really looking forward to gleaning as much wisdom and insight as I can from that. In talking with another Chaplain's wife this weekend, I reflected on how much God has done in our lives just in the last 4 and a half months! We were civilians serving at a church living an hour from our families ready to expand our own family of 3 thinking we'd be where we were for at least another year or two. One might think we were crazy to leave that situation to move to hot South Carolina to live in a hotel for 3 months and then move to SNOW country for the next 3 years with the understanding that army life almost always means deployment... hahaha! Yes, we're crazy. I guess when God answers prayer for direction and open doors, sometimes He does so gradually but other times He swings those doors wide open, straps a motor to your back and you just have to fly through. He's provided for every single one of our needs... medical care for our family, friendship for Daniella and me while we try to make a normal life here temporarily, encouragement for both Dan and me through folks we've met along the way and through God's Word. So as I anticipate asking God similar questions of what things will look like up north for our family, I have to remind myself of His faithfulness -- not just to us but throughout all of history to His children. What a loving Heavenly Father we have!
I know there are many of our family and friends checking in on this blog to see how we're doing - thank you for reading and caring! Many of you have also told us that you are praying for us - THANK YOU!! I can't tell you how much we appreciate that kind of support. God is truly answering your prayers; we are so encouraged by Him as we are on this adventure!
Thought you all might enjoy this video below from Daniella's birthday adventure to the zoo with our good friends here on post. You might pick up some sweet dance moves as you watch, hehe.
