Recently, I've been full of hope. This hope, I can only suppose is God-Given because my tour here has not always been one that I could call "hopeful." There have been many days I've walked around in something of a haze. My section has become depleted in its numbers and sometimes months seem like years and it's all I feel I can do to keep from going under. However, I've remained steadfast in my faith and I've worked hard on bringing everything to God. At night, when I'm lying in bed, ready for the sweet reverie of sleep, I make sure the first thing I say to God is thank you. Not just thanks for the friends and family I have back home. Not just thanks for the beautiful life I have waiting for me when I return. I tell him thank you for the gifts I have right here in Iraq--
I'm continually fed. I have a ton of food at my disposal from the DFAC and from care packages I've received from loved ones. I'm warm and dry at night with the ability to control the temperature of my room. I sleep comfortably in my jersey sheets and comforter, with my fan and my air conditioner blowing.
I have clothes on my back. The army has prepared me for the second ice age and for global warming all with the same clothing issue.
Despite the distance, Matt and I are flourishing in our relationship. If it's possible, I'm more in love with him now than I was the last time we said goodbye. And so, I'm thankful for the distance. It's funny how two people can be so far apart and yet continue to grow so close together. I know it is Gods doing. Refiners Fire. The Potters Wheel. And all the other biblical terms explaining the experiences we go through are part of a plan to make us into Gods best version of ourselves. And that is this time we have apart.
And so, I've been filled with hope. I can't focus on the things I don't have, I can only focus and be thankful for the things I DO have. That doesn't stop me from thinking about the people back home. It doesn't mean I don't talk about what it will be like to go home. But now, I talk about it with an air of hope instead of an air of longing. It makes a big difference. As of right now, I'm thankful for Gods insight in me, and I'm thankful for a mind at peace.
I'm continually fed. I have a ton of food at my disposal from the DFAC and from care packages I've received from loved ones. I'm warm and dry at night with the ability to control the temperature of my room. I sleep comfortably in my jersey sheets and comforter, with my fan and my air conditioner blowing.
I have clothes on my back. The army has prepared me for the second ice age and for global warming all with the same clothing issue.
Despite the distance, Matt and I are flourishing in our relationship. If it's possible, I'm more in love with him now than I was the last time we said goodbye. And so, I'm thankful for the distance. It's funny how two people can be so far apart and yet continue to grow so close together. I know it is Gods doing. Refiners Fire. The Potters Wheel. And all the other biblical terms explaining the experiences we go through are part of a plan to make us into Gods best version of ourselves. And that is this time we have apart.
And so, I've been filled with hope. I can't focus on the things I don't have, I can only focus and be thankful for the things I DO have. That doesn't stop me from thinking about the people back home. It doesn't mean I don't talk about what it will be like to go home. But now, I talk about it with an air of hope instead of an air of longing. It makes a big difference. As of right now, I'm thankful for Gods insight in me, and I'm thankful for a mind at peace.
It's been almost four months since we said goodbye.
HALLELUJER!(See Tyler Perry's "Madea's Big Happy Family" for reference)
ReplyDeleteGod is GREAT and is blessing us in SO many ways now that we're apart. I love YOU more than when we said goodbye. I am so thankful to have such a strong, faithful woman to spend the rest of my life with. I'm also so thankful that despite being away from friends and family, and being in the middle of the desert, you are able to see all of the blessings He is providing you day in and day out.
Thank God for everything He is doing individually in us so that we may be stronger and more faithful when we are finally together.
This is good!
We're all so proud of you, Catie, and now it's my turn to tell you one of my blessings...YOU! We are so thankful that God has blessed us with you and that you are part of our lives. I thank God each and everyday for bringing you and Matt together. You and Matt are only a short time away from a beautiful lifetime together.
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration to each and every one of us and we love you so very much! (ps...your blogs continue to get more and more beautiful, if that's even possible!)