Aloha!!

Jim's orders finally came yesterday.  We we're told "unofficially" on Monday that our first duty station would be Hawaii!!  The week seemed to just drag by since Chaplain Meeker told Jim the news while we waited for the "official word".   She told Jim that she was just waiting for his scroll from the Secretary of Defense to issue his official orders.  They came yesterday afternoon via email!!! And, it was Cody's (our son) 13th Birthday...he was jumping all around the house when Jim called to tell us.  He is (we are) to report on 26 April 2010,  25th Infantry Division, 2nd Striker Brigade Combat Team. This will of course be after Chaplain School is finished.

Our journey to this point in our lives has been long with many bumps in the road.  While we are very excited about this new chapter we are also humbled that God has called us to this ministry.  Hawaii, as most of you know was our first choice but we never thought we would get to go.  When Jim spoke to Chaplain Meeker a month or so ago she asked him what he thought about Ft Hood or Rucker.  Jim's response was that it really didn't matter to him and that he was just happy to be going back into the Army.  He did say that the warm climate of both places would be a plus for us since we've lived in the South for so long :)  He also told her that he was excited to serve wherever God wanted him. 

Yesterday morning I also received an email from our pastor regarding an ordination ceremony for Jim.  I had asked him last month if this would be possible since Jim was not ordained or endorsed by our church.  Pastor Steve told me then that he would like nothing better than to give Jim a proper send off. This is such an honor for our family.  This is where our journey began and Pastor Steve was a huge help to Jim when he began the process of gaining his degrees.  Pastor was his mentor for the first year of school.  His selflessness was very much appreciated by Jim.  Our pastor is a wonderful teacher and we will miss him and his family when we leave.

Pastor Steve suggested 2 dates that would work for the church and it was decided that the ceremony will be on January 2nd.  We are also going to try to plan a reception in the fellowship hall after the service.  We were doubly blessed yesterday.

So now the next step is to go have Jim take his oath of office.  Our plan was to visit our friends up at Ft Mead and do it there with them present.  Several of their kids have been very sick with what they think is the H1N1 flu. :(  We don't want to add any stress on them so our back up plan is to travel down to Ft Jackson to have it done.

Jim will leave on January 10th to report to Ft Jackson for CH-BOLC (Chaplain School).  In some ways it seems like it's really far away but I know it's going to come quickly.  From what we have been told the first 4 weeks of training are going to keep him pretty busy and we will not see him.  We are fortunate that we are only a short distance for Ft Jackson.  Some of the people that will be in school with Jim are coming from great distances so their families will not be close by. 

I have met one really great new friend in this process.  I actually found her through her blog website that I found on the US Army Chaplain website.  In her blog she had posted that her husband was going CH-BOLC in January and was hoping to get in touch with others going as well.  So, I emailed her and we have been chatting ever since.  (Hi Kari :) )......It is amazing how much we have in common!!  They will be stationed at Ft Hood in April.  It's probably a good thing we won't be together....this would be trouble!!  hahaha  Actually we were a little disapointed that we wouldn't be at the same place but as I told her, if I couldn't be at Ft Hood with her then Hawaii is the one place that I was ok with!!  LOL  I have always wanted to go there and have never had the opportunity so needless to say I'm ecstatic about it!!

We've been through so much these past 5 years and it hasn't always been easy.  God has always been there to pick us up, brush and off and push us forward.  I'm so grateful for this.  Our God is an AMAZING GOD!!  As we look back at these years we realize that it was all God's plan for us anyway.  I don't believe we would be where we are today had we not been made to endure these trials.

We pray that God will continue to mold us and refine us into what He wants us to be for His Glory!!

Anxiety

 I was hoping by now to be able to write about where we're going to be stationed in April when Jim finishes with CH-BOLC but that's not the case.

We are still waiting...again!  I'm not quite sure why I'm so anxious lately.  I suppose it's because of the unknown.  We have been told that the papers for Jim's oath may not even come until right before he goes to school which would mean he will swear in when he gets there.  I'm really hoping it doesn't happen that way.  We would like to go have this done with our friends Michele and Dave in MD.
I know; It's God's timing and not mine.

Jim got an email last week that listed the email addresses of all the people that will be attending school with him.  This is a great thing.  It was sent out because of suggestions that Chaplains from some of the last classes had regarding making the journey to school and the Army easier.  Jim started a facebook group for the class and then emailed everyone on the list inviting them to join.  The group grew quickly in just one day but it's still only about half the class.  We've now been able to be in touch with several of Jim's future classmates and their spouses. 

Several of the Chaplains already have their orders and know where they'll be stationed in April.  It seems that they were boarded in August or prior to August.  Jim was boarded in September along with several other Chaplains that will be attending.  They don't have their orders either so I suppose this is how it all goes.  Chaplain Meeker told Jim last week that he "should" have orders within the next two weeks.  HAHA...I think "2" is the magic number these days.  We've been hearing that number quite often lately. 
When I was working my paramedic job the magic number was also 2. Anytime we asked an intoxicated person how much they had to drink they would ALWAYS say "2 beers".  At times I wanted to ask how big the bottom of the glass was or how many ounces were in the bottle!!

We have been trying to get things organized in the house.  We don't want to wait until the last minute to get rid of the things we don't need.  We have heard stories that some of the Chaplains have had to move within a day of finishing school.  I sure hope that's not how it will go since that will leave me to do all the preparations alone.  YIKES...that would be a nightmare. 
We had a yard sale on Saturday...fun, fun, fun.  I don't like doing those at all.  I think we may have to do one more before we go though. 

So our long and winding road continues.  I pray that we will find out soon so I will feel a bit more at ease about moving.  

Still Waiting

Jim is still waiting for the paperwork so we can go to have him sworn in.  Chaplain Meeker confirmed that they are beginning to see  orders coming through since the HRC move.  We're hoping that the time frame won't end up around Thanksgiving.  Our friends at Ft Mead will be gone to visit family at that time so it may not work out to go up there.  You all already know that waiting is not my strongest asset :)  We know for sure Jim is going in January but we'd just like to have the process complete. 

I heard back from our pastor via email.  He said that he would like to have a "send off" for Jim but he will have to talk to the Elder's of our church first.  His sermon yesterday was amazing to say the least.  He has an incredible God given gift to share His word.  It was like being back 5 years ago when Jim first has his calling to Chaplaincy.  Pastor Steve spoke about listening to God and pretty much the same things he talked about back then. There are many others in our church who have had their own calling and have listened to what God has to say. 

I've "met" a couple of other Chaplain's wives through blogs.  One of these blogger's husband is going to be in school with Jim!!  We were really excited to be in touch with them.  Their process to the Chaplaincy has been exactly like ours. They are going to be stationed at Ft Hood for their first duty station which is where we "think" we will be going so this will be very cool!  At least I'll know someone there even if it's only via blogging and email. :)  It's amazing how many of the current Chaplains went through the same things that we all are now. 

Another Chaplain and his wife live in Alaska right now but are getting ready to move to Ft Jackson!!  Hmmmm...very small world!  They have been in Alaska for 6 1/2 years!!  I'm not sure how anyone can live there for so long.  I think I would go out of my mind.  The current temperature is -13 in Fairbanks right now. YUK.  The thought of Alaska causes me a bit of panic to tell you the truth.  I grew up in New England and loved the winter when I was a kid.  As I got older though the appeal of all that snow, slush, ice and mud lost it's flavor. 

Our long and winding road continues.  This is the adventure of a lifetime and we're excited to be on it!  I'll blog again when we hear something new if not sooner.