Lately I've been reflecting on what's gone on in my life for the past year. Boy, has a lot happened! Last November 4th my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child. Then, almost a year ago today (November 20) Alex and I left on our cross country move to Virginia. We had to pick up and leave our friends and family behind, knowing that we had no idea if or when we'd be back in California while Alex served in the Marine Corps. Then we left on June 1st to move (again) to Rhode Island where Alex had one more school for the Marine Corps. While in Rhode Island we had our daughter on June 28th. Then on August 11th, we moved again. This time back to California. Praise the Lord!!!! Now I'm sitting here, having been back now for a little over three months, just thinking about the journey God took us on, but me in particular.
Moving away from friends and family was one of the hardest things I ever have done in my life, but in fairness, knew that I would have to do when marrying the love of my life, who also happened to be a Marine. But looking back on it, I would not change one second of the past year. You see, while in Virginia so many things happened...but two HUGE things stick out in my mind the most. First, Alex and I grew in ways I didn't know possible as a married couple. We had very little time to spend with each other, so when he was around and not out in the field or busy with his hours of endless homework, we made the most of our time. We spent many hours in prayer, reading through a couples devotional, traveling with friends, watching movies and just hanging out. We learned the value of quality time, as well as the pettiness of arguing over silly things. Our communication grew in a very postive way while we were away. Our time in Virginia was our last time as just a married couple and not a mom and dad, so it was a very sweet time in our marriage and a time that I will never forget. The second HUGE thing that sticks out in my mind is just how Good God Is!!!! Let me explain...as I mentioned earlier, leaving my friends and family was literally one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but no less than two weeks getting to Virginia I saw God's hand actively at work in my life. You see, one day I was taking box after box after box (from all of the unpacking) down to the trash compactor and little did I know that I was about to meet my sister (not literally, but I'll explain)! There was another girl who happened to also be at the trash compactor, doing the same thing I was doing, trying to break down boxes so as not to jam the trash compactor. We both saw that we had the boxes the military uses to move you and so we began talking and realized that our husbands were both in the same company at The Basic School (TBS). So, we exchanged phone numbers. I wasn't really thinking anything of it, but it was nice to have so quickly met someone that was going through what I was. Then the next day, she called me and we ran a few errands. In the course of running our errands we discovered that we were both Christian. Then we started talking about church and where we were each going to try. We planned on going to church together that Sunday and introducing our husbands. Boy, was God's hand at work there...that Sunday when we went to church was the start of an amazing relationship between the four of us. A relationship that will only grow stronger as we all have the Lord binding us together. Over the course of the seven months in Virginia, my friend and I did pretty much everything together. One thing we did that stands out so much in my mind is that we kept each other accountable for being not only Godly wives, but Godly Marine Corps Wives. For those of you who have never had to deal with the military in a personal way, that last statement probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense to you, but it meant the world to me. She is someone whom I can confide in and I know she'll understand what I'm going through and she can give me perspective that is both Godly and understanding of whatever the situation might be. I also knew that she was praying for me. She became both my best friend and my family while in Virginia, thus the reason I said I met my sister at the trash compactor.
Well our seven months came and went and we had to say our good-byes, but as I said before God is Good!!!! Our friends found out the same day we did that they were also going to be stationed in Southern California. Now, we're at different bases, but seriously, what is a two hour drive to see family? Anyway, our friends just arrived in California today!!!! My heart is overjoyed. I knew that I missed them, but I had no idea how much until I felt my heart smile when I received the call letting me know they were here safely. They are working out their living situation right now, but will be coming to stay with us this weekend through Thanksgiving and I am just beside myself with excitement. God is Good!
While we were in Rhode Island, my water broke two weeks, to the day, early. So, we got ready and went to the hospital where I was in labor for 21 hours, 2.5 of it pushing (just as my epidural wore off), all for it to end exactly as I had feared, having to have a c-section. Oh how I cried when I found out that they were going to have to do a c-section, but I knew I had to pull it together because it was going to happen whether I liked it or not. Alex was on the phone like a mad man starting a prayer chain with our friends and family. All I can say is that prayer is truly powerful! God is Good!!! Once they prepped me for surgery it was only minutes until we got to meet Madison, my dream come true. That c-section ended up being a Godsend. All of my nerves were proved wrong. My doctor drove back to the hospital to perform the surgery herself. She was amazing, my nurse was better than anything I could have even hoped for, and the team of doctors and nurses that work on me and Madison after she was born were great. God is Good!!!! The thing I feared the most, the c-section, ended up being an amazing experience and the best part of the whole day. I know that was a result of all of the prayers being said. God is Good!!!
Our friends that we made in Virginia were the only friends that we went through my entire pregnancy with, but we were sent in different directions for the boys' specialty school just before I gave birth to Madison, so the fact that I get to introduce them to her this weekend is exciting and has been a long time coming. I can't wait for them to meet the little girl that grew inside of me as we traveled all over Virginia and D.C. together.
This year for Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for! It will be my daughter's first Thanksgiving, our friends will be with us, and I will have my amazing husband by my side. Along with our best friends from Virginia, we made some other very amazing friends, but just closer to the end of our time out there, so we didn't get the chance to develop the same kind of bond, but there are two other couples that are now out here with us whom I love and adore. They, too, will be spending Thanksgiving with us. I am very much looking forward to growing in my relationship with them and seeing what the Lord is going to do through these friendships. God is Good! Those are just the things that on Thanksgiving Day will be in front of me reminding me of how Good God Is. In addition to all of those things, Alex and I, since we've moved back, have been able to see our families fairly regularly, as well as hop right back into our Community Group that is comprised of our best friends. God kept those relationships close even though we were miles apart. God is Good!!!
There are so many more things that I am thankful for, but my main reason in posting this is because I just wanted to share a little bit about this past year and how I've decided it was themed with how Good our God is!!!!!!
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