Pattie the Chaplain's Wife

Listen

2011-12-30T16:54:00.002-06:00

I blogged about my new 2012 theme on Wives of Faith this morning (a post that took me awhile to write, because I'm not home and I'm still on my operation vacation).

My theme for 2012 is Listen.

Now, I have not gone into detail much online, other than a whittled-down list of folks on my Facebook page who are my prayer warriors, close friends and family members. But I had major ear surgery last week at Fort Lewis, Washington. I had a growth that distorted my eardrum, destroyed much of my temporal bone all the way up to my brain, began to expose my facial nerve, damaged a taste nerve, and destroyed two of the three bones needed for hearing. I now have a new reconstructed eardrum, no disease, and my facial nerve, perilously close to being exposed and damaged, is getting some steroids for strength and protection. I still have hearing in my ear--it's all sensorineural, as those parts are still in working order. My hearing loss will be able to be fixed next year (should the disease not return) with the insertion of a titanium implant replacing the two destroyed hearing bones, connecting my new eardrum to the stapes bone.

I am alive, I have no facial nerve damage (seems I'm past the window of danger for that as well, although the steroid med course continues for another week), I have no brain damage, and no terrible side effects from the medications or the procedure.

God is so good.

On Christmas Sunday, four days after my surgery, we sat in the lovely sanctuary of Chapel One at McChord Field, listening and enjoying the worship service. My heart was full. I was not seeking my theme, I was just trying to enjoy the fact that I could hear the music and the Scripture being read (the same passage which, incidentally, I had posted to my Facebook status not an hour before).

And I heard that familiar, comforting, Still Small Voice say, "Listen. Be still and know that I am God."

"Lord. Really?"

"Yes. Listen."

I had to laugh a little inside. Really? Listen. With what I thought at the time was half my hearing, He wants me to listen? It's going to be HARD. I've been a very healthy girl most of my life. Sure, ear trouble as a kid, and intermittent hearing issues the past year, but not a full-fledged disability. A handicap, really. A medical condition requiring monitoring and being careful.

This year, listening will have to be a conscious effort. It will be work. It is going to make home life harder and work life a lot harder (how in the world am I going to do a VTC class starting in Feb. if I can't hear that well?).

But I'm here. I'm alive. I'm 9 days out from surgery and managing my pain and discomfort pretty well. It will only get better from here.

Past Themes: Brave, 2009
Focus, 2010
Grace, 2011

2011-12-04T16:39:00.001-06:00

Graphic Design by Becky Perry (www.beckyperry.us)

Christmas Blog Carnival 2011

2011-12-02T14:57:00.003-06:00

Graphic Design by Becky Perry (www.beckyperry.us)

Guest Post at Kathi Lipp's Book Club

2011-10-17T09:33:00.003-05:00

The other day, speaker and author Kathi Lipp graciously asked me to contribute to the countdown to her military book club for the Husband Project on her blog...here is that post.

I have to tell you, God gave me that acronym and I'm so grateful He did! I pray it helps many women to pray for their military husbands, on the homefront or on the front lines.

Happy Friday!

2011-09-30T13:15:00.002-05:00

I'm doing a 31-day challenge to write something every day during the month of October, over at my other blog.

There was snow on the mountain this morning across from our house, that's been mostly green and gold for the past 3 weeks. So winter, she is nigh...

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Review

2011-09-22T16:51:00.003-05:00

http://www.wivesoffaith.org/inspiring-extreme-home-makeover

I was given the opportunity to review the season premiere of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Here is the link to my review at Wives of Faith.

Military Life

2011-09-19T10:41:00.003-05:00

Good morning! Welcome to my moderately-active blog about being a chaplain's wife!

My name is Pattie and I'm a military chaplain's wife, a mom of two girls (a teen and a tween), a teacher, a writer, a volunteer...so many hats, and only one head on which to perch them!

We recently relocated to Alaska (the Last Frontier) courtesy of the US Air Force. So lately it's been about settling in, and learning the area, and figuring out the schedule of chapel activities, dance taxi, work, etc.

I am back in the classroom this fall after 5 years outside the classroom. I love teaching again. Such a gift!

So as I stick my big toe into the blog waters again, put your link in the comments and I'll stop by when I'm not driving to the dance studio or grading essays :)

Alaska

2011-09-16T20:01:00.003-05:00

Life in Alaska is not that much different than life anywhere. We still go to work, take the kids to school and dance, drive to chapel, all the things of 21st century life.

But there are several key differences.

First of all, not everything is priced the way we're used to in the Midwestern US. This means we occasionally suffer some "sticker shock."

Second, I can't just hop in my car and drive 6 hours to visit my mom and sister. Or hop a train and 12 hours later hop off and visit my dad.

Third, our cell phones just don't work as well up here as they did before (We have Verizon, and well, Verizon isn't here).

And finally, the scenery is VERY very cool. Mountains and trees changing their leaves to fall colors, streams and rivers, and beauty all around me.

But otherwise, I am juggling the same things I did before: wife-ing, mom-ing, driving the mom taxi, PWOC, chapel, and part-time employment.

anticipation

2011-06-17T10:32:00.001-05:00

This blog gives me so much anticipation it's hard for me to stand it! I'm sad I won't get to meet this precious military wife, as she's headed to Oklahoma right now and we're in standby mode a few weeks more until we get to Alaska. But this, this makes me yearn for our new home.

http://emily-roe.blogspot.com/2011/06/farewell-to-alaska.html

How much more, then, do we who know Christ yearn for heaven...

Onward to the Final Frontier

2011-06-04T19:59:00.002-05:00

...and no, I'm not speaking of Star Trek ;)

Chaplain Hubby got orders to Alaska, so off to Elmendorf AFB we go! I won't get there till the end of July, almost a month after the Chaplain, because of some planned summer activities in the "lower 48."

I will have occasional internet access for email, but to be honest, I'm going to be trying not to be online as much. I think it will help break my Facebook addiction, for sure :)

So I will check in on the other side of summer, from a new location.

Yes, I skipped it

2011-05-10T18:07:00.003-05:00

I don't know how many people noticed that I skipped the third day of the blog tour for Wives of Faith. Why?

It's hard to think of 11 things that are amazing about myself.

I was raised not to brag, or call attention to myself by my clothing or makeup or hair. I guess that tendency to try and fade into the background, at the same time wanting to make a difference in this world, has led to me quietly doing my work without much fanfare. And when someone wants to give me a little fanfare, I brush it away like unwanted eraser dust.

Sad.

But I can brag on my husband and girls all the livelong day. :)

11 Things To Do in Alaska

2011-05-07T07:01:00.002-05:00

List 11 fun things to see or do in your current or upcoming duty station.

I have found that this is something common with military families--making a list of things to do while you're living where you are. One of the first good pieces of advice I was given when my husband went active duty, is to be a tourist where you are: visit the historical sites and learn as much as you can while you're there.

So, we made a list for North Dakota when we moved there...and two things I didn't get to see were the Northern Lights and moose. But we saw the western North Dakota Badlands of Teddy Roosevelt fame; the Medora Musical; Grand Forks and Fargo; Winnipeg, Manitoba--including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet; the Red River of the North that flows north (yeah, it's weird to stand next to a body of water flowing the wrong direction!). You get the idea.

We made a list for San Antonio as well: The Alamo (and yes, we remember it); the Riverwalk; art museums (the girls & I have visited all of them); my friend Teri and her family. That was pretty much it, I guess. We've enjoyed our time here but are ready to go to less crowded, cooler climates.

That brings me to our upcoming duty station, and my personal list of 11 things for ALASKA!

Here they are, in no particular order...

I really, really want to see the Northern Lights. I wanted to in ND, but the few days a year they were visible from that location, it was either storming, or cloudy.
See moose. I've read there are over 1000 resident moose in Anchorage, so I'm sure I'll see them around.
See bears. Yes, I know they are dangerous and you should not leave trash out because they'll dig in it, and that they are scary, but I do want to see them.
I would love to take a whale-watching trip to see the beluga whales in the wild.
Mountains. Seeing real mountains with snowcaps. I've been a Midwest girl since 1979 when we moved away from California. I've lived in Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and North Dakota. Hills, yes. Prairie, definitely. But no mountains!
Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center and learn about Alaskan culture. It will be fascinating. For that matter, any museums of any kind while we're there. The geek in me loves this stuff.
See part of the Iditarod next year, if we can. AWESOMENESS.
We won't be up there for the summer solstice this year, but I want to stay up and see the longest day of the year next summer, so far north that the sun will barely set before it rises again. Ditto the winter solstice, where the day is very, very short. I'm sure I won't miss that one...
See a glacier.
Pan for gold.
See the salmon swim.

Of course, we'll have our normal busy lives--school, work, chapel, ministry. But if we can do these things while we're there, it will be fun.

11 Things I Love About Being an AF Chaplain's Wife

2011-05-05T20:58:00.004-05:00

List 11 things in 2011 that you love about being the wife of a soldier/sailor/airman/marine/coast guardsman/national guardsman/reservist!

My husband's home more often as a chaplain than he was as a pastor (deployment is different, but TDYs are about the same for him as when he went to conferences or conventions.). It's awesome.
He gets to rotate his on-call times with his coworkers. When he was a pastor, it was just him, 24/7, year in and year out.
Having professional movers pack us up and move us out! It's just one less thing to deal with when moving.
My husband looks REALLY good in his dress uniforms. Mmmmmm!
I can choose my level of involvement in the chapel. I don't know if it's just my experiences or that I've matured into myself more now, but if I don't want to be involved, I just say no. I don't feel nearly the level of obligation that I did when my husband was single-staff pastor of a small rural church. Of course I support my husband's chapel ministry, but *I* choose what I want to do and feel gifted in. That freedom is precious to me.
We are financially a whole lot better off now than when we were in church ministry.
PWOC. I could not be a part of Protestant Women of the Chapel if he wasn't in the military. I love this organization!
New friends, old friends, ALL friends. I treasure each friend I make in my heart. Good thing God made my heart flexible enough to stretch to include each one, and they span the globe now.
Being a military wife has opened up a whole new culture for me--and new writing opportunities are opening up for me as well.
I'll just go ahead and say it: moving so often helps me purge. Packrat me is sometimes sad, but minimalist husband is glad. And in the end, I'm glad too.
My girls are having so many more opportunities for activities, for learning, for service, for travel, and to grow as young ladies, than they ever would have if we'd stayed put at home.

blog carnival!

2011-05-05T13:37:00.007-05:00

Visit www.wivesoffaith.org each day over the weekend for our Top 11 lists!

Gifts 11

2011-04-18T08:45:00.001-05:00

55. Rosebushes in bloom

56. Fans that circulate the air

57. Free lotion from Bath & Body Works

58. A crazy brain that works in circuits I can't understand

59. Creativity

60. Meaningful work

61. Coca-Cola on a warm day

62. My Flip video camera

Gifts 10

2011-03-14T18:22:00.003-05:00

45. A plethora, a true abundance, of books.

46. My husband's new assignment--for now, a job and a new adventure.

47. My older, overheating laptop.

48. Teaching materials from my previous life, that will become part of my new life.

49. My old black Tumi leather wallet that is still going strong after about 15 years.

50. The problem of financial paperwork.

51. Living in a world that doesn't shake.

52. The power of prayer for those whose world has shaken literally off its axis.

Out of order:

(53. The unconditional love of a dog)

(54. A fresh DIY manicure--short nails, clear polish)

Moving is Hard

2011-03-01T11:52:00.002-06:00

I read all the time about military wives who love moving, who love downsizing their belongings and decorating new places, exploring and shopping and all those grown-up sorts of things.

I am not one of those women. I have a difficult time downsizing my stuff. I love my books. I adore having five bookshelves full; to me it's better than any other wall covering or hanging.

And yet...Chaplain Hubby wants our household goods' weight to go down instead of up. Thankfully I'm able to claim a sizeable portion of books as my own spouse "pro gear" for teaching, for which I'm grateful.

I still find the entire process emotionally draining and difficult.

The Me Project Blog Tour

2011-02-22T06:45:00.001-06:00

Welcome to a blog tour stop for Kathi Lipp's newest book, The Me Project!

About the Book:

Has that rush to make (and break) New Year’s resolutions already waned? According to Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, taking small steps every day will not only help you stay committed to your goal, but will also help you ultimately achieve that goal when obstacles come up. Author Kathi Lipp wants you and your friends to live out those dreams—and have some fun along the way.

As women, we forget the goals and dreams of our younger years. The busyness of everyday life gets in the way. To-do lists replace goals. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in our hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor motivates women to take daily steps toward intentional goals. The end result? We get back our lives and enjoy living in the confidence of a purposeful life in spite of our chaotic schedules.

This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving our goals each day for three weeks. A woman experiencing the exhilaration of a rediscovered life offers more as a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, career woman.

Finding the balance between living day-to-day with purpose while pursuing the passions God has placed in our hearts is a delicate pursuit. In this refreshing, insightful book, Kathi lays out a doable plan that makes sense and helps make our God-given dreams a reality. Never stop dreaming, because women who dare to dream do make the world a better place.
—Jean Blackmer
author of MomSense: A Common Sense Guide to Confident Mothering
Publishing Manager, MOPS International www.MOPS.org

About the Author:

Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, serves as food writer for Nickelodeon, and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults. For more information visit her website: www.kathilipp.com

A Word From the Author, Kathi Lipp:
Kick Start Living Your Dream -

Pattie's Review:

Right in the beginning, Kathi Lipp lets me know this book is different from all the other Christian self-help-style books I've read. On page 18 she writes, "We never have one role in life" (can I get a "hallelujah"?). "There are the dozens (if not hundreds) of other things we do that make up who we are. Each of those little roles, if part of God's plan, is valuable and important, deserving of time and energy and attention. The mosaic of roles makes us who we were created to be."

FINALLY a book that I can absolutely relate to! So many books of this genre in the Christian market instruct and exhort us to find our "one thing" or our "purpose" in the Kingdom of God, usually one thing that God would have us to do that is in His will. Guess what? It's hard to find that one thing, when you have so many roles and experiences in life. I immediately felt like Kathi Lipp GOT ME.

I have to say, I did not expect to connect with this book as deeply as I did. I joke about wondering what I want to be when I grow up (since I've already done the teaching thing I worked so hard toward in high school and college), and I have wondered the past five years of my husband's active duty military career what that would look like.

The book offers a solid 21 short but packed chapters on how to achieve your goals--both for those of us who are still figuring out what we want to be when we grow up, and for those who are well into the process and might just need a little nudge.

The author is honest about her personal shortcomings, with humor and just the lightest tough of self-deprecation, she lets us know she's on this journey too. She includes space in each chapter for writing goals and their results.

Another point that I loved (and there were too many to list here), on page 183 she writes, "For most of us, it's easy to see how much further we have to go to reach our goal, but hard to remember how far God has already brought us." I really loved that! She also reminds us that we are never alone--God is always there.

This book is a keeper, for sure.

Author Site

Leader Resources

Thank you to Kathy Carlton Willis Communications for a review copy of this book.

One note to the author, should she stop by: on page 130 you say that you can't imagine someone saying "I don't know where to find a class." You live in California, Land of Everything. Having recently lived in a large metro area for the past few months, I can see why you can't imagine not finding some sort of class or learning situation nearby. However, my husband and I spent many years in small rural-church ministry, in towns under 1500 people. There were not classes, colleges, or chambers of commerce. So if you revise this for a future printing, you might let some of our sisters in rural areas know that they may have to drive for training opportunities. Or look online more. Or something. But there truly are areas in this country where there are not classes.

Slow Motion

2011-02-19T07:32:00.001-06:00

Ann Marie at Household 6 Diva captures the feeling perfectly, of those days before deployment.

Life in Slow Motion

Gifts 9

2011-02-14T10:40:00.008-06:00

(this is my gratitude journal--a sketchbook reborn, its generic cover renewed with sunflower contact paper)

36. The song "Blessed Be the Name" by Matt Redman.

37. Sunny mornings.

38. Sunny afternoons.

39. Books in all their glory.

40. Free books!

41. Giving good books as gifts.

42. Fresh flowers in a vase.

43. Sunlight streaming through a break in the clouds.

44. Hugs.

Gifts 8

2011-02-07T09:10:00.002-06:00

29. the privilege of prayer

30. the book One Thousand Gifts

31. Bible study books that are relevant

32. new ringtones

33. sugar

34. my shredder

35. cerulean blue skies

Can We Talk?

2011-02-07T08:50:00.002-06:00

No I am not channeling Joan Rivers! I'd like to invite you to visit the Lifeway Women blog for a giveaway of Priscilla Shirer's Bible study, "Can We Talk?"

I had the privilege of seeing Priscilla at the PWOC International conference in November, and am thrilled to see her again at one of her events coming up soon. She has such charisma and really focuses on God's word as it pertains to women.

Here's hoping I win the giveaway! :)

Milspouse Friday Fill-In

2011-02-04T09:27:00.002-06:00

One kind word can warm three winter months.
~Japanese Proverb

at Wife of a Sailor

This week’s questions are:

1. Since most of the country has had nasty weather, what has your weather been like this week?
Tricky. This is our first Texas winter. To us, it seems chilly but not cold.

2. What is/are your best money saving tip(s)?
Don't eat out often. Cook at home. Shop the Commissary and use coupons.

3. What was your favorite vehicle you’ve ever owned??
In the past: our 1996 Jeep Cherokee. In the present: my 2003 Toyota RAV-4.

4. What is a question you’d like to see asked in a future fill-in? (Your question & blog just may appear one week!)
I haven't participated enough to know what's been asked already!

5. Fill in the blank: You might be a MilSpouse if….

You might be a MilSpouse if… you never know where you'll be next year.

Gifts 7

2011-01-31T10:01:00.002-06:00

19. Reading.

20. Good gel pens.

21. Comp books, with cute covers, on sale.

22. Bookshelves.

23. Mercies new every morning.

24. Grace, "like rain, falling down on me..."

25. Sending fun mail to my friends.

26. My dark green Toyota RAV-4.

27. Washer and dryer. Fresh laundry as often as I need it.

28. Moleskine Peanuts 60th anniversary journal that I won from Moleskine in Italy.

Blizzard Blog Hop

2011-01-27T10:30:00.004-06:00

I may live in Texas with no snow, but I'm happy to play along on the "Blizzard Blog Hop" with Ann Marie, the Household 6 Diva!

I'm Pattie, the proud wife (of almost 20 years!) of an Air Force chaplain, and proud mom of two dancing, artistic daughters, a teen and a tween. We currently live in Texas after a four-year stint in North Dakota, which followed my husband's reservist years in our home state of Missouri. I'm in the over-40 bracket on survey sheets, and I still wonder what I am going to be when I grow up.

I don't blog here as often as I do at Wives of Faith, but I do occasionally pop in. I also write book reviews on my other blog.

I try to live a life of faith, of gratitude, and of caring for others. I can only pray I have succeeded.

Thanks for stopping by! The movie's over...go on to the next blog on the list ;)

I'm always happy to meet other military wives!

Gifts 6

2011-01-24T18:00:00.001-06:00

14. My overall good health.

15. The good health of my children. Truly I do not take this for granted. I have many friends with sick children, and I am phenomenally blessed.

16. Clothing--I might not be the most stylish, and I'll never be considered well-dressed. But I have adequate clothing for most places and occasions to which I'm invited.

17. The book Fresh Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson. If ever a book (besides the Bible) ever changed me, this is it. Choosing to live a roasted, ground, fresh-brewed life has brought me more pain that I'd ever have imagined, but also so many more blessings than I ever thought possible. I've grown in the past 11 years since I read the book.

18. Driving in January in Texas, window rolled down, sun pouring in the window, blasting Josh Groban on the stereo.

Gifts 5

2011-01-17T11:34:00.004-06:00

8. an old-but-still-works DVD player
9. a working barbeque
10. a husband to run said working barbeque
11. my Holy Bible, New Living Translation, with commentary by Jill Briscoe. I am enjoying the fresh wording of the Word as I read the Bible through.
12. good eyesight. Truly cannot imagine not being able to see to read or write.
13. my little devotionals were accepted for inclusion into a new book! I will be published in Faith Deployed . . . Again by Jocelyn Green this summer.

Gifts 4

2011-01-10T09:40:00.003-06:00

5. Writing - it is a gift, truly. I gave my writing back to God and am working hard not to stress out about it. I am proud to be writing for Him.

6. Coffee. Brewed thick and dark, with a touch of flavored creamer. Or espresso shots pulled by a large steaming machine, blended with flavors and steamed milk, frothy and warm and inviting.

7. The Internet, without which, I feel we as Christian women (particularly military wives, but that's my focus right now) would be so much more disconnected.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T14:10:00.001-06:00

May God be with you, military wife, wherever you are, whatever your struggles. He loves you. Oh, how He loves you.

Christmas Blog Day 7

2010-12-12T05:00:00.001-06:00

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog.

Today's topic: How does your faith refresh at Christmastime?

I've always felt like my faith gets a huge boost at Christmas. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday season, and I think that it brings a fresh awareness of Christ's presence during this holy time. It's like an energy shot for my spirit.

To help refresh your faith, click here to go to today's WOF prompt post and read what others have written.

I hope you've all had fun with the prompts for the blog carnival this year. I was pretty much the one "in charge" and while of course these prompts were approved by the president, I hope that they've been meaningful for you as they have been for me, both in the writing of the prompt and the reading of the responses.

Christmas Blog Day 6

2010-12-11T16:00:00.001-06:00

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog.

Today's topic: You might be a military spouse at Christmas if . . .

*you rejoice in the size of a TLF when on a mini-trip. (Seriously---our TLF at Laughlin is a duplex and bigger than our duplex at the seminary when we first got married.)

*you rejoice in being with your family and they are traveling to YOU instead of the other way around.

*you stress about wearing the same holiday clothing to multiple parties (this was me the past couple of years, because my chaplain husband was well loved and well known and gives a darn good invocation and leaves when the drinking gets going! ha!). This is not my problem this year, however. His group has one party, and I can't go.

*you get excited about military discounts (well, that's pretty much all the time, but with gift giving it's especially good this time of year).

*you feel guilty, just a little, because your husband is home and so many husbands and wives are not.

To read what the other ladies said, click here to go to today's WOF prompt post. And for fun, this is what I wrote last year on this same topic.

Christmas Blog Day 4

2010-12-09T09:00:00.002-06:00

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog. In the interest of full disclosure, I am not in the running for any prizes, since I'm helping run this blog carnival--but I wanted to participate with my own entries too.

Today's topic is for each participant to write her own Grown-Up Christmas List, based in part on the Amy Grant song of that name.

My list:

For all to know the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
For my husband to be able to have a full Air Force career.
To see my children and grandchildren grown, healthy, happy, and safe.
For world peace--no wars, no rumors of wars. I know it's an impossibility, but it's my heart's desire.

Here's the Amy Grant video:

To read everyone else's lists, visit the comments here.

Christmas Blog Day 3

2010-12-08T05:00:00.001-06:00

Today's topic: The Worst Christmas Song Ever (but you must mention one redeeming quality of the song, too!)

For decades I could not stand "The Little Drummer Boy." Really, some kid banging a drum near a baby's head? Even if the baby is Jesus, we know that Jesus was God made flesh. The part of Him that was fully human was an infant. Most babies cry when a drum is rat-a-tat-tatted near their little heads. Can't you hear Mary sigh, and see Joseph shake his head as he escorts the little drummer boy out of the stable? Me too.

However, in recent years I've come to terms with this song. And now I'll give you the redeeming qualities, which are twofold:

1. The boy went to see the Newborn King right away, in the first verse. No waiting around for the Heavenly Host to startle him into going; no sir, he went straightaway.

2. He gave the gift he had: he played his best for the baby Jesus, the Newborn King (who then smiled, if we willfully suspend our disbelief).

The moral of the story: Obey right away the call to go to Jesus, and offer all your best gifts to Him.

To read about the other songs people can't stand, click here to go to today's WOF prompt post.

Christmas Blog Day 2

2010-12-07T03:00:00.000-06:00

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.

(Best opening line ever!)

Seriously, though: What's the one thing that makes Christmas for me?

It's tough nailing down that "one thing." I love Christmas music. I love spending time with my family. I enjoy Christmas programs, Christmas parties, and Advent. Christmas eve services. Singing special music with my friends.

But honestly? The "one thing" is Jesus Christ being our Emmanuel--our God with Us. Our Infant Savior. Just realizing the magnitude of God becoming man, celebrating that during Christmas, is what it's all about for me.

And just for fun, the One Thing clip (warning: a profanity):

To read everyone else's "one thing" posts, click here and read the comments!

Gifts 3

2010-12-06T22:05:00.002-06:00

Today I continue my list.

3. My gorgeous, sweet, talented, wonderful daughters, M1 and M2. I love them with so much of my heart that it's unfathomable to me that I have heart enough left for everyone else.

4. Grateful for Wives of Faith, a ministry to military wives. I'm so glad to be a small part of it.

Christmas Blog Day 1

2010-12-06T11:36:00.003-06:00

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog. In the interest of full disclosure, I am not in the running for any prizes, since I'm helping run this puppy--but I wanted to participate with my own entries too.

I wanted to share about my ornament. It's a plastic dove that has sparkles that are mostly worn off now, but it's MY ORNAMENT. The one I HAD to put on the tree when I was little, the one that if it's not on my tree now (and believe me when I tell you my entire family thinks it's ugly with a capital U), it's not Christmas yet. I think I got it when I was about 7 years old.

Here's a picture:

To read everyone else's decorative posts, click here and read the comments!

Gifts 2

2010-11-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

Today I continue my list.

2. I am grateful for my husband. He knows me, he loves me, he sticks beside me, he provides for our family, and I can NOT imagine my life without him.

Coming soon!

2010-11-26T05:00:00.002-06:00

Gifts

2010-11-22T05:00:00.001-06:00

Today I begin my list.

1. So very grateful to God for the moment when I was just turned 15, when I made sure I belonged to Him.

PWOCI

2010-11-10T22:01:00.000-06:00

I will be attending the Protestant Women of the Chapel International Conference this weekend. Hope to see you there!

So I've been scarce

2010-10-31T14:45:00.001-05:00

I've been pretty scarce. Seems like I just don't have much to say on this blog lately. It's been interesting, this sitting out from serving year. I've been serving with Wives of Faith, an online support group, and I've been sorting and clearing paperwork at home, and I've been driving a lot more than I used to. I'm not singing on the praise team, or playing the piano, or doing all the things I used to do when my husband was a chaplain serving in a chapel.

Yep. It's been interesting.

I have also been trying to work on my freelance writing career, which has not gone as well as I had hoped, but I'm not giving up...yet.

In the meantime, I'm still here. You can just find me here instead.

Devotionals for Wives of Faith

2010-09-20T12:50:00.003-05:00

If you're interested in writing devotionals
for Wives of Faith's new blog feature:

We are looking for a 200-400-word devotional thought: a main Scripture verse, a paragraph or two, and a 2-3 line prayer. While the sample below is a generic one, we'd love for your devotional to be relevant in some way to the military wife life: something that God has shown you in your Bible reading, or a lesson you have learned that you'd love to share.

Email completed devotions to pattie@wivesoffaith.org and we’ll give you a byline. We ask that you follow our writing guidelines (except of course for the word length) as outlined on our site (http://www.wivesoffaith.org/next-steps/write-for-wives-of-faith/writing-guidelines).

Devotionals will be featured on the “In Focus” window on the front page of www.wivesoffaith.org

Thanks for your writing and your willingness to serve!

Generic Sample, 165 words; written by my husband and published in Open Windows:

Listen . . . and Build Trust

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. Proverbs 22:17

People often say, “I wish I knew what God wants me to do.” If you have heard or thought those words, you aren’t alone. Sometimes I’ve longed to know which direction to go next. However, I’ve never audibly heard God speak, or tell me exactly the next step to take. Instead, discerning the path God has set requires an ongoing process to clarify God’s leading.

Solomon tells how to discern what God wants: pay attention, listen, and apply wise teachings. We are actively listening for what God has to say. We listen for God’s direction by reading Scripture, praying, attending worship, participating in Bible studies, and engaging in conversation with other believers.

As we listen for God to speak to us through our daily spiritual disciplines, we begin to build confidence and trust in God and value godly counsel.

Father, speak to us so we may be sure to follow Your will for us.

Help us to listen so we learn to confidently trust You.

Nine-Eleven

2010-09-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

We will never forget.

I blogged about 9-11-01 today over at Wives of Faith.

Obedience

2010-09-02T11:42:00.002-05:00

Today I blogged about obedience, Naaman, and schadenfreude over at Wives of Faith. :)

God Sized Dream

2010-08-31T12:30:00.001-05:00

I attended a "Transitions of the Heart" webinar given today, and the speaker was author and blogger Holley Gerth, cofounder of the (in)Courage blog. What an encouraging time for me to listen to her answer questions about how to find our God-sized dreams, how to confirm them, how God affirms them.

It was, in its own way, an affirmation for ME. Because people who know me in real life as well as in my cyber-life know that I love writing, and that my big huge dream is to have a book published.

I'm not naive. I know this is a nearly impossible task. I read author blogs, and I keep up with publishing news. I know how very difficult, long, and hard the road to publication is. How fraught with conflict, littered with discarded pages and flash drives, marked by rejection.

I know. But God will not let me let go of this dream. This is why I believe it's from Him.

A very long time ago, I wrote a note to author Robin Jones Gunn, telling her I loved her books (it was when the Glenbrooke series was first beginning). She told me that I should pursue my dream of writing, and to get Sally Stuart's market guide and start writing.

Well, Robin, if you ever read this, I'm finally taking you up on that. (What can I say, I'm slow. Plus I had a full teaching career and two babies and several churches and hubby's job transitions all in there too.)

My goal is to get 10 articles out there, submitted to the world of publishing, by the end of the year.

Will God hone and refine my dream? Perhaps. Is it from Him? Well, I have to believe it is. It's been independently confirmed for me by many people, and not just my best friends and family--others who know me primarily by my work, not by my person.

Only time will tell, however, if it will ever come to fruition.

absence

2010-08-27T13:04:00.006-05:00

I've been absent from this blog for a bit, and I could claim busyness, but it's been more than that.

I've been adjusting.

It's not easy, adjusting. Being the new girl everywhere I go. Not knowing where to find certain things, or getting lost, or knowing what to do or where to go when your molar crown breaks.

Those of my readers who are military wives, or wives of men who have transitory careers, may understand more than those who are not. When our husbands report for duty, they have a built-in network of people in their new coworkers. Especially in a one-year program like my husband's, team-building is a necessary part of the training, but it also affords him instant friends.

Not so for me, especially since we live off base. It takes a whole lot more work and a whole lot more bravery than I feel most of the time, to make new friends.

I have plenty of friends. Shoot, I have hundreds if my Facebook profile is to be believed. I even have a few friends in this area. I have also met several nice and friendly women since we moved here.

But it's still hard, sometimes, feeling out of sorts, unadjusted, like the new girl whose hair and clothes are out of place in a new school.

===================

What I've been doing is some writing and some exploring of options towards publication. I've also continued working with Wives of Faith. So I'm far from bored.

I'm just adjusting.

Calling all Chaplain's Wives

2010-08-10T10:39:00.002-05:00

I've wanted to do something like a chaplain's wife network, but I don't know where to begin. Or if there's something else out there already.

If you're a chaplain's wife and know of one, please let me know! Or if you're interested and don't know of one, also please let me know.

And if you're a chaplain's wife blogger, I'd really love to know. This is only hubby's second assignment and we're not "attached" to a chapel this year. So I feel a bit at loose ends.

Moving Post

2010-08-02T07:13:00.001-05:00

I came across this today and thought I'd share. It's another military wife's musing on moving, but it captures my heart also.

Moving.

Friday Fill-In

2010-07-30T15:06:00.004-05:00

I just found this prompt in the blogosphere by clicking around, so here I go with my first Friday Fill-In for military spouses!

What is your spouse’s best feature?

his lovely blue eyes, of course :)
Mild, Medium or Hot sauce?

Extra mild, please.
What is the worst uniform you had to wear for a job?

Bob Evans. I was a hostess. High neck long sleeved blouse with a long double-knit polyester skirt. OY.
You have invisible powers… where is the first place you would go?

England!
What’s left on your “to do” list for this summer?

Register my middle schooler (Tuesday), then a train trip to visit my dad and his wife in New Mexico. Everything else is for the kids, all for the kids!

OPSEC

2010-07-27T08:53:00.001-05:00

I am becoming quite passionate about OPSEC. I see women violating this ALL. THE. TIME.

Ann Marie of Household 6 Diva wrote about it much better than I ever could, so I invite you to visit her post:

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Sometimes life is hard

2010-07-23T13:40:00.001-05:00

When life gets hard, what do you do? Where do you turn? I wrote about this today at Wives of Faith.

Faith Friday 20 Things

2010-07-16T13:31:00.003-05:00

This week's Faith Friday is about me. Or you. But you can write about you on your blog; this one's mine! ;)

My real name is Pattie, not Patricia. My dad named me and made the spellings of both my first and middle names different from the norm.
My husband started out as an Air Force Reserve chaplain, and because it was soooo part-time I didn't really bother learning about military stuff. In retrospect, this seems sort of dumb. So I have only been paying attention to the military for a little over four years now.
I may occasionally gripe about being short, but I like my height. I'm 5'3"
I adore Facebook. It's fun and a great way to stay connected to people.
I love the theatre. I'd love to be involved in community theatre on a large scale someday.
I love reading. It's my favorite fun activity.
I do not enjoy exercise. However, I'm hoping to get into some classes at the gym on base once I get settled in Texas.
I need external motivation to accomplish goals. I keep giving myself deadlines, and then extending them for myself!
My daughters have great rhythm and grace and dance beautifully. I can't dance.
I enjoy blogging. I think it's the feedback aspect of this very public style of writing that appeals to me. However, I've never had a large readership. I keep referring people on to my friends! (and for those friends who read this: you're welcome.)
I'm a nice person. I can be snarkastic (snarky + sarcastic, thanks Lorelai Gilmore!) with the best of them, but generally I am a very nice, helpful person.
I'm a weird mix of introvert and extrovert. I love people and being with friends, but I crave alone time and if I don't get it, I'm crabby.
If I don't eat regularly, I get very, very crabby.
I like tote bags and have way too many.
My favorite t-shirt right now is the one that says "Ma" on the front, and "Little House on the Prairie: the Musical" on the back. It's a very pretty shade of green.
When I was in college all I wanted to do was teach. Then I taught for almost 11 years. After a four-year break, I'm only just now starting to wish I could teach again. That's how burned out I was.
I am passionate about Wives of Faith. It's a wonderful ministry to be involved with. I hope to always support and encourage other military wives for as long as the Lord allows my husband to serve. Come over and visit :)
I was so nervous when Emily at Focus on the Family interviewed me on the phone for the radio show featuring Sara Horn. I was shaking in my chair!
I love dogs. It's a rare dog that doesn't love me back.
I've decided if I were to go back to school for another degree, it'd be a Masters of Library Science, so I could be a librarian!

Come over to Wives of Faith and see what others are saying!

Faith Friday July 9

2010-07-09T09:49:00.002-05:00

Faith Friday! Head to Wives of Faith to see other entries.

Today's topic: Favorite Summer Treat

Ice Cream

After living in North Dakota for four years, I got to where I was only comfortable eating ice cream in the summertime. Why freeze your body on the inside when it's already frozen on the outside? ;)

The other night, my sister-in-law and I went out to Cold Stone Creamery. YUM. I had a "Germanchokolatkake" (I think that's how you spell it), chocolate ice cream with walnuts, a brownie, and coconut all mixed in. It was delectable!

random

2010-07-08T19:30:00.003-05:00

Just some random thoughts.

I have been TDY the past four weeks. It stinks. I do not like being away from my handsome Chaplain Hubby!
I have been busy working on some projects for Wives of Faith. I'm so the Jane of all Trades and Mistress of None! I can't seem to focus long enough to finish any one thing. But I continue to plug along and write when inspiration strikes.
I've been reading a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. It's interesting so far, very good and very thought-provoking.
I have decided I adore stories of women making changes in their lives.
I need a major attitude adjustment. Thankfully, in less than two weeks I'll be "home."
I say "home" in quotes, and picture me using those finger air quotes while I say it. Because we moved and less than one week later, we were back on the road to the inlaws' house so my oldest could take ballet classes. While I'm so glad she had this opportunity, it means we're feeling quite displaced and at odds with ourselves. I am looking forward to getting to the rental house and making it feel like home. Plus, when we're all four together, we ARE home. No matter the address.

So that's what's in my head and heart lately.

It's here!

2010-07-06T06:30:00.001-05:00

Today's episode of Focus on the Family will be online for about 30 days or so. You can click on this link, then click on the title of the broadcast to listen online.

My voice is at the beginning. It's a little odd to hear myself talking outside my head...

May God be glorified and His people encouraged through our words today.

Thanks to Sara for the opportunity to help over at Wives of Faith, and also thanks to Emily from Focus on the Family for finding this blog and interviewing me on the phone.

Focus on the Family

2010-07-04T14:36:00.001-05:00

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY HONORS OUR TROOPS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

BY SERVING THEIR FAMILIES

Colorado Springs, CO -- The military and political impact of our troops gets media coverage everyday, but what about its effect on the lives of the military wives and children? Focus on the Family's newest interactive webcast, YOUR FAMILY LIVE! is inviting all active duty, reserve and retired military families to view and take part in a very special webcast honoring military families on Wednesday, July 7th at 2PM ET.

Viewers can log on to www.YourFamilyLive.com to watch the webcast live, actively participate by calling 1-888-465-6595 with question pertaining to military family life, or post a question to a live, online forum at www.focusonlinecommunities.com. The program is also archived for later viewing on the site.

The panel will include: Yvette Maher, Host & Sr. Vice President of Family Ministry; Dr. Juli Slattery, Family Psychologist at Focus on the Family; Mrs. Sara Horn, Founder and President of Wives of Faith, a national support organization for military wives; with Cindy Wynn of Club Beyond/Military Community Youth Ministries; and Les Knotts, Lt. Colonel US Army (Retired) and U.S. West Field Director of Club Beyond/Military Community Youth Ministries, helping teens on U.S. military installations around the world.

Focus on the Family

2010-07-02T15:10:00.001-05:00

So remember when I was all squealy about being on Focus on the Family?

I got an email today from the producer, and my remarks were chosen to lead into the show.

You can find out more about the broadcast here: it's on Tuesday July 6th.

Faith Friday

2010-07-02T09:56:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the blog carnival for Wives of Faith--Faith Friday! To learn more, please visit the site here.

What does FREEDOM mean to me?

I can be myself
I can worship God freely
I can vote and make my voice heard
I can choose to raise my children in a Godly home

Those are just a few of the many freedoms I take for granted.

Obviously with my husband in the ministry, I am sensitive to the fact that we are all able to worship as we choose. Not everyone chooses to worship the God I love, and that's ok. God allows us free will, and for that I'm also grateful (and often frustrated, but that's another story!).

I am proud of my husband's ministry, his service, and his work. Not all evangelical Christians support his mission, I have found. However, the mission of upholding the Constitutional right to free exercise of religion is very important.

Have a wonderful Independence Day weekend!

God bless America.

Sticking my toe in...

2010-06-17T14:40:00.001-05:00

...and the water seems to be pretty warm!

I wrote this afternoon over at Wives of Faith about a spiritual lesson from the original Karate Kid movie. Come check it out!

Chalk this one up to a new experience

2010-05-20T18:35:00.003-05:00

If you follow Wives of Faith, you'll know that our founder and Queen--er, President--Sara Horn was interviewed this past week at the Focus on the Family campus about her book GOD Strong.

True confession: We've been squealing like little girls on the phone with each other about it since she got the news! Yeah, I know, we're grown-ups, but sometimes a girl's gotta squeal with a girlfriend!

Well. Today I was checking email around lunchtime and got a shock. This blog entry caught the eye of a producer from Focus on the Family, who emailed me asking if she could interview me on the phone for the radio show featuring Sara.

More squealing ensued on the phone, I must admit!

So I talked with the gal, who was very nice, for about 15 minutes or so. I was very, very nervous, and I tend to babble when I get nervous; but like one of my other friends pointed out, she's in radio---she can edit.

I don't know yet if they'll use what I had to say, but all I can say is May God be glorified in it all, and help someone who needs encouragement in this crazy military spouse life.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Down to the Wire

2010-05-18T05:30:00.002-05:00

Well, it's down to the wire. Crunch time. Only a few days left of having regular internet access at home. Of living half-in and half-out of boxes and suitcases. It's the week of finishing all those tasks I didn't find time to do earlier. Of lasts. Of goodbyes. Of farewells.

I feel badly that I began this blog, accumulated a baker's dozen followers, and now I have to go! I am not closing this blog, however. I'm not sure what God has in mind for me as a writer, yet I'm fairly certain it will have much to do with supporting military and civilian ministry wives.

So for now, I'll say, "See you later," and next time I post I'll be further south!

PS: The party I mentioned last week? It was really good.

2010-05-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

Just because I'm me

2010-05-11T07:30:00.001-05:00

I'm weird.

I crave words of affirmation, but I'm embarrassed to listen to compliments. I think that makes me weird. Don't you?

Since we're moving in a few short weeks, my husband and I had planned to let our girls throw a goodbye party for their friends, and we chose Sunday the 16th as the best date in our crazy schedule. Then, I talked to one of my friends at chapel, a commander's wife, who said that was the same date she'd chosen for a goodbye social for two ladies leaving: the outgoing deputy commander's wife, and me. I told her she didn't have to do that for me, etc. You know the drill. But she was obviously upset about it, even though her words said, "It's ok."

So I figured it this way: My husband isn't even that unit's chaplain anymore, and this other gal who's also leaving had done a lot for the group! I mean a LOT. She is at every event, always in the kitchen, taking care of details, organizing--whereas at those events, I try to help but get chased out of the kitchen. So it wouldn't matter much if I wasn't there. I didn't deserve it anyway.

On Sunday, I was talking to the group commander (whose wife is the one throwing the party, but I sing with him on the praise team), and he said, "You know, my wife is really disappointed you won't be able to come next week. Is there any way you could come for even part of it?" I expressed to him what I just described in the preceding paragraph. He looked at me straight in the eye and said, "But that doesn't matter. You don't have to do anything. You are Pattie. She wants to have you there because of who you are. Not what you do."

Whoa.

In spite of myself, I began to tear up a little, said thank you, and changed the subject. I grabbed my husband a few minutes later and asked him if he minded if I split my time, by attending part of the party at her house, and then arriving a bit late at the pizza place for the girls' party. He said that was fine with him, no problem, and I should go.

When I saw my friend and told her I could come for the first hour, she was absolutely ecstatic. She was practically bouncing in glee! I was happy to have made her happy, and floored once again that she really wanted to do this for me.

I say this not to brag on myself--far from it. I tell this story because it's a good illustration of grace. Something given to me I absolutely don't deserve, something I did not earn, something I'm humbled to receive, and something given just because I'm me.

That's grace.

Where My Strength Comes From

2010-05-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

Strength

My strength comes from God first, and from my husband next.

That's pretty much it.

To read what others wrote today, click here.

Why MilSpouses ROCK

2010-05-07T06:00:00.003-05:00

Why MilSpouses ROCK

We are strong women. Not in our own strength, but in God's.
We support each other with word, with deed, with food, with prayer, with laughter.
We're married to strong men. Strong of body, of mind, of character, of heart.
We do all the normal wife and mom things, but with panache :)
We are beautiful!
We do it all because we have to keep things going on the homefront, and we do it whether or not there is appreciation.
And just a word about my own husband:
My husband may not carry a gun, but he defends your husband's--and your--right to a free exercise of religion, and he does it by carrying the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

HAPPY MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY!

I APPRECIATE EACH ONE OF YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!

To read the other responses on this blog tour, click here!

What's Cookin?

2010-05-06T06:00:00.003-05:00

What's Cookin'?

I'm not much of a cook, and I don't enjoy being in the kitchen all day long. This recipe is pretty much foolproof.....enjoy!

Crock Pot Chicken

1 package of 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, frozen is fine

2 cans cream of something soup

possible combinations: 1 cheddar cheese + 1 cream of chicken
1 cream of chicken + 1 cream of mushroom

1 cream of chicken + 1 cream of mushroom with roasted garlic

1 cream of mushroom with roasted garlic + 1 cheddar cheese

(you get the idea)

Put chicken and soup in crock pot and cook all day. (I have a temperature gauge on my crock pot so I put it at around 325*. If you have high/low, use low for about 8-10 hrs. If you have less time, use high for 4 hrs. but check to make sure it doesn't get burned)

When it's finished, you can shred the chicken, or not. Up to you. Serve over noodles or rice. Kids love it. Adults love it.

Thanks to my friend Stephanie for the original recipe; modifications and errors are my own.

To read what the other gals wrote today, click here!

10 Tough Things

2010-05-04T06:00:00.013-05:00

This was a much harder list. I tend to be an optimist and focus on the positive most of the time, or at least TRY to. Coming up with a list of ten tough things was hard. Here it is anyway. I hope if you're a civilian you read this and realize that what not to say or do! :)

10 Tough Things About Being a Military Wife:

TDY=Temporary DutY=time away from us. The week-long TDY's are not any big deal anymore (which is ok for us, but now I have zero sympathy for my friends who have the same thing in the civilian world, and having zero sympathy isn't good--sorry friends, it's true! I've toughened up). The month-long TDYs are harder, but after the second thing on my list, they're still quite do-able.
Deployments=when he's called to long, extended months away from us, in a foreign and dangerous land. I know I'm so blessed that we've only had one, and the next one is not slated until probably the end of 2011/first of 2012 (that's what happens when your military husband has a school assignment). The first one in 2007 was very difficult, but we made it. I know I can do it again.
Weird remarks from people. You know the ones, where people in town call people from the base "basers" and it's not a compliment. Catty comments from some women about how tough it must be and how they don't know how you do it. People who don't want to get to know you because they think you're leaving soon (even if you're not).
OPSEC. Not that I mind keeping things private, or to myself. I don't mind at all. But it irritates the crud out of me to see carelessness on Facebook, on blogs, and on Twitter. C'mon, folks, we're in a war, and it's not a friendly one. See #5.
War. Yes, we're in a war. In a war, there's an enemy. Our enemy wishes harm on us. They use our own words and actions against us to try to win. It is not friendly, nor fair, nor right. But it's reality. Be careful. The figurative walls have ears, and loose lips sink ships. Still true.
The occasional sense of isolation. I know yesterday I praised the military spouse community, and I'm glad to have it now. But back when my husband joined the USAF active duty, it wasn't nearly as prevalent. There were a few posts at AF Crossroads, and SpouseBuzz was there but fairly new. But nothing for Christian military wives to support each other. Wives of Faith came my way in 2008 (or thereabouts; Sara and I connected in 2007). So there are times I have felt isolated, and I hope never to be there again.
Moving. Yes, it's a fabulous opportunity to go to new places, as I mentioned yesterday. But moving over and over again? It gets harder each time I stretch roots into the ground. And no one can ever put our address in their book in anything other than pencil. And we have to find new dentists, and orthodontists, and schools, and stores, and dance studios, and friends . . .
Friends moving away. In the past two years I've "lost" friends to PCS moves all around the globe. Feels like I'm always saying goodbye. Sometimes it's manageable, but when you're at a base that's BRAC-ing, I'm sure it is more frequent than the norm.
Learning a whole new language. It's getting easier, but just as soon as I learn a set of acronyms, the Air Force changes them around! It's hard to learn military-wife-ese, speak it fluently, and have a decent understanding. Fortunately for me, I have had many friendly and open women in my life to explain things to me (because the women my age have been doing this ten years or more longer--ah, the joys of being a chaplain's wife! If you don't already know, chaplains are older than their fellow officer/rank counterparts for several reasons, the first of which is they have to have their master's degree before they even commission, and the second of which is that they remain Captains for years longer than other job areas).
To round out my list, one of the hardest things I had to come to terms with was accepting that our family's mission would change from the church to the military. As I described the other day, I had quite a struggle over this. It might not have been my dream for my family, but it is God's plan for us. And in that I take comfort.

Head on over here to read what all the other military ladies are saying.

10 Great Things

2010-05-03T06:00:00.003-05:00

Pattie's 10 Great Things about being a Military Wife:

Community. Even though I don't live on the base, I am a part of the military community here. I have also found wonderful community with other military wives online. It's been great!
Ministry. I am learning and finding my ministry niche, and it is in music in the chapel. It is in writing about my experiences. It is working with Sara and Wives of Faith. It is in encouraging people, even when it's not easy.
Joy. I feel joy in knowing my husband loves his job. He works hard and is appreciated for it. I hear all the time how much people appreciate him, and that means so much to me.
Peace. Again, peace in knowing my husband is serving where God has called him, and peace in knowing I might not know the future, but I know Who is in charge of it!
People. I have met so many wonderful people and have made friends upon friends. I'm blessed!
Places. OK, so maybe North Dakota holds first place on only a few people's dream sheets. But it's been a great assignment for our family. Since we moved here, we have been to the Badlands of North Dakota; Winnipeg, Manitoba in CANADA!; De Smet, South Dakota; of course the Twin Cities in Minnesota; and my husband has also been to the Minnesota Boundary Waters and Iraq.
Endurance. Hey, who else can say they've endured both 100* and -38* in the same place?!?! It also takes a whole lot of endurance--and a great Lands' End down coat--to survive these long, cold winters here. But the summers are awesome. I'll miss the really long summer days.
The movers. Hey, after having to move ourselves every time we changed jobs before, it has been nice to have professionals do it for us. I guess for those seasoned PCS-ers, I don't have any horror stories. Yet. Hopefully never!
Discounts. I am not going to lie. Yes, it's been nice to have a few military discounts here and there.
My book club. I never had one before, and I joined the GFOSC (specifically for the book club) in 2007. I met fellow bibliophiles, women from many walks of life, all with the common love of the printed word. We don't always agree on our opinions about the books we read, but that's ok. It's why we hash it out every month. I have loved it and I will miss it so much after our last meeting next week.

Head on over here to read what everyone else is writing!

My MilSpouse Bible Verse

2010-05-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

My MilSpouse Bible Verse

I claimed this verse before we moved from Missouri to North Dakota in 2006. It was a tough move. We were leaving my husband's family, many very good friends, I was leaving a good job I enjoyed, and the girls were leaving their many friends. I also had a good friend who was not supportive of my husband's decision to go active duty and her lack of support for us made life very difficult and painful for me at the time (she is now very supportive of us and is much more optimistic than she used to be, but at the time it was not good).

So my verse comes from a wonderful chapter, Joshua 1. Moses died, leaving leadership of the nation of Israel in the capable hands of Joshua, his chosen successor. Verse 9 is a great summary of his message in the chapter. It reads:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go

God has truly been with me on this journey wherever we've gone, and I know He has gone before us in this move to make things much smoother than they have been in the past . . . and I'm so grateful for His provision!

To read the other responses for today, visit Wives of Faith here!

My MilSpouse Story

2010-05-01T06:00:00.006-05:00

My MilSpouse Story

Unlike many military wives, I didn't marry an airman. I married a preacher.

I began my post-college life as a seminarian's wife; then as he went on to pastor small churches in rural areas, I learned who I was in the context of ministry. I was the pastor's wife. I played the piano sometimes, I sang in the choir, I taught Sunday school when a teacher was needed, I taught Vacation Bible School every summer, and I tried to cook for potlucks.

It wasn't until after my husband graduated with his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2001 that he seriously considered the military. Even then, he had his eye on the Air Force Reserves. He had a pastor friend in our association who was a reserve chaplain, and he recruited my husband for the same job.

Then September 11, 2001 happened.

His initial application was frozen for awhile, then became delayed because of me (I was born overseas, and they were looking for my green card; I didn't have one as I was born on a US Naval Base!). Finally, on Valentine's Day 2002, my husband took his oath and joined the Air Force Reserves, attending COT that summer and BCC the next spring.

Even then, his military service didn't do much more than add some camouflage to our closet and take him "away" twelve miles to the nearby base one weekend a month.

In the summer of 2003, however, things changed again. He was activated reserve, which meant the Air Force became his full-time job for the next nine months. Thankfully my friend stepped in to be a nanny for our girls, as I was still teaching full-time in a town 30 miles away, and he was on-call often for the men and women and families of the 442nd Fighter Wing reserve unit.

He went back to reserve status in 2004, and life went back to its normal level of busy. Until the end of 2005, when he resigned the pastorate and applied for active duty status.

I was in complete and utter denial until spring 2006, when I finally had it out with him and with God. And I realized that the world of ministry had cracked wide open for my husband. No longer was his heart in the rural church alone. Now he was open to ministering to the men and women of the Air Force, and their families, in this time of war. I finally realized that living in the same house for the next twelve years was not God's plan for our family. He was calling all of us to a life of service to those who protect and serve our country.

So we went to the location where God called us: Grand Forks, North Dakota. We've had a great four-year run here, and it's been lovely (albeit cold). Now as we prepare to move south to the next great adventure, I'm so grateful I didn't listen to my selfish heart.

Here are the other gals' stories!

Easier than being a pastor's wife

2010-04-23T08:21:00.005-05:00

I have often surprised people with my statement that being a military chaplain's wife is easier than being a pastor's wife.

By far.

I should probably include the detail "small church single-staff pastor's wife" since my husband always felt called to small rural or small-town churches, with active attendance between 50-110 members.

There are expectations placed upon the pastor's wife of such a church. Mainly, she is expected to pitch in when necessary, as are other members. In small churches, that's how it's done, in theory. In practice, as in all organizations, the 20-80 rule is in full force: 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work.

I played piano, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, taught VBS, led VBS music, etc.

In the military chapel, there was no such expectation. In fact, in the past, this particular chapel had seen a chaplain's wife who worshipped at their own denomination's local congregation and not in the chapel with her husband! (I have a big problem with that personally, but that's not something I wish to argue today.)

The other advantage I have had here in the military chapel is that we live in town, not on base. This is a far different experience than living in the parsonage (a.k.a. the fishbowl), where everything is visible and known.

In a single-staff church, guess who's on call 24-7? My husband. In the military, he gets to rotate on-call time with two or three others. Nice!

So yes, even including the whole TDY and deployment experience, it is far easier to be a military chaplain's wife.

PS: Thank your pastor's wife for her service next time you see her. She will probably be shocked, but she'll be grateful.

____

Disclaimer: this is based on my own experience. I can't speak for the hundreds of other military chaplain's wives.

GOD Strong

2010-03-25T08:43:00.004-05:00

I am so happy for my friend Sara Horn! She is the proud wife of a Navy reservist, and the proud mother of her son. She recently published GOD Strong, a Military Wife's Spiritual Survival Guide, published by Zondervan.

Sara is also the founder and president of Wives of Faith, a ministry of encouragement to Christian military wives. I'm pleased to be affiliated with this ministry.

You can have the opportunity of studying the book with a group online! Just go here and join in. No pressure, no deadlines, no worries. Just fellowship and fun--and learning how to be GOD Strong.

PCS=stress!

2010-02-28T18:50:00.001-06:00

PCS, for my civilian readers, means Permanent Change of Station. In other words, moving. We are moving about 1,500 miles away from where we are now.

That's a long way.

I never intended to accumulate, but I am afraid I did accumulate books while we have been here. Occupational hazard, I guess (that occupation being voracious reader and book reviewer!).

The girls (ages 13 and 10) have done a great job of downsizing their toys and belongings, I think. We've outgrown a lot of their books and games since we've been here. Last summer we had a huge sale; this year, I'm planning another.

I am stressed out, mainly because we are going to be listing our house for sale in the next week or so. That means, nice neat house. I joke my house is decorated in 21st century clutter. That's not conducive to showcasing a house :)

So, that's what's going on here at the chaplain's house. I hope to write more in the future about how we got here, and how God has worked in my life.

For now, though, I'm going back to cleaning the house.

Testing the waters

2010-02-19T06:40:00.001-06:00

As you can see by the title, I'm Pattie and my husband is an Air Force chaplain.

I've been reading a lot of mil-wife blogs over the past few months, and while I already blog elsewhere, I thought I might try a new blog here specifically for the military part of my life.

Sometimes it feels like translating another language when I'm talking military life. Other times I learn so much from others who have walked the path ahead of me.

Come alongside this journey with me! It's only been eight years total, and not quite four on the active duty side.

Welcome!

2010-02-16T17:03:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my blog!