Shining shoes and boots, ironing and marching are now routine. Hearing the national anthem each morning is the norm and having my brain filled with information is a daily occurrence. My day can start between 0630 and 0830, studying then lunch break and school from 1230 to 1830 (6:30pm for you non military people) then physical training or hanging out with friends, doing laundry, etc.
As routine as my life has been the last seven months since joining the Navy, in the last month and a half I have been part of a wild ride. In November, I met the man who will become my husband April 16, 2010. I am proud to introduce to you Lucas Roberts. He is 22, the same age as me, from Kentucky, a Christian man who may one day become a pastor. He is also in the Navy and will be stationed at Ft. Meade, Maryland come April 5, 2010. We were introduced by my old roommate at the bar down the road from Corry Station and continued to run into each other until we finally started hanging out on a weekend in early February. We started dating February 10. The next few days were consumed with a three day fight in which we learned a lot and it was during that fight I realized I never wanted to let go of this man.
Lucas proposed March 7 at our favourite place to drive, overlooking Pensacola and the Gulf of Mexico. I immediately said yes and we made the calls to our families.
I will be here in Pensacola until the middle of May or beginning of June finishing my “A” school for my job then we are praying I will join him in Maryland. I cannot wait to be Lucas’ wife and discover new ways to love and be loved but also learn how Christ’s love is demonstrated to us through marriage. It will be a crazy adventure that I am so ready to start.
02 April 2010
14 January 2010
Pensacola
Life continues in Pensacola as we are breaking out of the cold spell that captured the whole of the United States. I am still working in holding and its great. I love the people that I'm working with which is a very good thing. I will probably be classing up in the next few weeks and I'm excited to finally begin learning what I am going to be doing for work but I'll be sad to leave my friends in holding.
Please pray that I would continue to walk daily with Jesus as I struggle through my time here. I am having a hard time staying true to what I believe and walking it out daily. Thank you!
Please pray that I would continue to walk daily with Jesus as I struggle through my time here. I am having a hard time staying true to what I believe and walking it out daily. Thank you!
02 December 2009
I'm a Sailor!
It's official! I'm a United States Sailor. I graduated from Navy boot camp on October 30. Boot camp was a very exciting time and a great experience. I honestly loved it and didn't think that it was very hard. On tv and in movies boot camp is portrayed as nothing but exercise and people yelling at you (which there is quite a bit of) but in reality it is so much more, at least in the Navy. My favourite part is how I was challenged to do better in everything, to do my best or better than my best in running, tests and in personal standards. I was challenged in all aspects of life.
November 1 I turned 22. I am having a hard time believing that I am 22. My family, grandparents and my friend Matt came down for graduation and I was so blessed to share my birthday with them! I was really sick at the time so it was not a whole lot of fun but them just being there was great. We went to the Jelly Belly factory, my dad's old friends house and I even found a Dunn Brothers Coffee (the coffee shop I worked at for a year) and fully enjoyed that. My brother, sister and I swam at the hotel - she's still talking about it. Family is such a blessing. They make my world what it is and knowing that they are there no matter what and fully supporting me means more than anything I could possibly ask for!
As of now I am in Pensacola, Florida waiting to start my school where I learn my job. I have been here since November 4. Florida is great. I love the warmth and do not miss the snow that would be going on right now if I were still in Wisconsin. I am working with a great group of people. We actually are like a disfunctional family with the way we screw around, make fun of each other and look out for one another. I guess you could throw a little love in there as well.
That is an update on the Navy. I am excited to keep you all abreast of what comes next!
P.S. Thank you so much for all your letters during boot camp!
November 1 I turned 22. I am having a hard time believing that I am 22. My family, grandparents and my friend Matt came down for graduation and I was so blessed to share my birthday with them! I was really sick at the time so it was not a whole lot of fun but them just being there was great. We went to the Jelly Belly factory, my dad's old friends house and I even found a Dunn Brothers Coffee (the coffee shop I worked at for a year) and fully enjoyed that. My brother, sister and I swam at the hotel - she's still talking about it. Family is such a blessing. They make my world what it is and knowing that they are there no matter what and fully supporting me means more than anything I could possibly ask for!
As of now I am in Pensacola, Florida waiting to start my school where I learn my job. I have been here since November 4. Florida is great. I love the warmth and do not miss the snow that would be going on right now if I were still in Wisconsin. I am working with a great group of people. We actually are like a disfunctional family with the way we screw around, make fun of each other and look out for one another. I guess you could throw a little love in there as well.
That is an update on the Navy. I am excited to keep you all abreast of what comes next!
P.S. Thank you so much for all your letters during boot camp!
19 August 2009
Leaving Soon
This is at my swearing in for the Navy. I leave for Navy boot camp in two weeks. It’s crazy that the time is sneaking up so fast. With that comes a lot of different emotions that I have been feeling. Excitement is probably top and the grief over the changes that are taking place. My friend Leslie is moving to England for a year for school so we are both going through the same emotions which helps a great deal. She understands it.
Since last writing at the end of July I have run two more races. One was the Gopher to Badger Half Marathon which I finished in 2:45 and a 5K for Pepperfest that I didn’t do well on (38:00). Running has been good. It has given me time to pray and LISTEN to God. Listening has always been the hard part for me so when I run I have time to actually listen to my Father.
Since I’m leaving for boot camp soon I probably wont be able to update this for a really long time. Basically I head to Great Lakes, IL and then Pensacola, Fl for A school (training school) and after that I have no idea where I’ll be living. Please keep me in your prayers as I enter this new phase of my life. Thank you so much! Be blessed.
Since last writing at the end of July I have run two more races. One was the Gopher to Badger Half Marathon which I finished in 2:45 and a 5K for Pepperfest that I didn’t do well on (38:00). Running has been good. It has given me time to pray and LISTEN to God. Listening has always been the hard part for me so when I run I have time to actually listen to my Father.
Since I’m leaving for boot camp soon I probably wont be able to update this for a really long time. Basically I head to Great Lakes, IL and then Pensacola, Fl for A school (training school) and after that I have no idea where I’ll be living. Please keep me in your prayers as I enter this new phase of my life. Thank you so much! Be blessed.
27 July 2009
Montana
I got back on Sunday morning from Montana. It was a lovely time! I went on a mission trip as a leader. Having been on the trip four other times as a student in high school, I enjoyed going back as a leader. We worked on a house building walls and doing some other little odd jobs as well as doing mudding and tapping on a garage then priming and painting it. The students did amazing work. I am proud of how they worked through the heat of a 100* day and then the thunderstorm another day. The students are into their second week of the trip and this time backpacking in Montana. I miss being with them, hearing about their stories as well as sharing a few of my own. The reason I came back was to continue preparing for the Navy and for boot camp. Today I took another step in fulfilling my desire to join the Navy. Myself and my friend Darian, who is also joining the Navy, knocked our physical fitness test out of the way. Push ups, sit ups and a mile and a half run. Needless to say, I was tired when we finished. The whole process has been interesting to see how things work. Please continue to pray for me as I set out to start boot camp at some point soon (hopefully).
05 June 2009
Running in Place
On May 30 I ran a 5K (3.1 miles). It was my first race since long ago at Camp Forest Springs about 9 or 10 years ago. I ended up getting done in 33:40 minutes. Not too bad considering I haven't been running for very long.
My next running venture is to run a half - marathon on August 8. I'm running with an amazing group of girls. We gather to pray first and then we run. Tomorrow is four miles. It's going to be a long run.
The thing is... as I'm running and dealing with the after affects of running I am learning a lot about endurance and perseverance. Also, I'm learning about myself and God and our relationship as well as learning about the world through a running viewpoint. It's something I'll have to go into more detail about but I am seeing things through a different perspective these days.
The other thing is the military. Yes, the military! It teaches you to value life and to value relationships and moments. There are songs and poems and sayings about valuing the tiny moments in life but do we ever take the time? I have set this summer apart to value it. Value my relationships and the small quiet moments in life.
More to come on these topics but I need to do some homework - summer Personality class.
My next running venture is to run a half - marathon on August 8. I'm running with an amazing group of girls. We gather to pray first and then we run. Tomorrow is four miles. It's going to be a long run.
The thing is... as I'm running and dealing with the after affects of running I am learning a lot about endurance and perseverance. Also, I'm learning about myself and God and our relationship as well as learning about the world through a running viewpoint. It's something I'll have to go into more detail about but I am seeing things through a different perspective these days.
The other thing is the military. Yes, the military! It teaches you to value life and to value relationships and moments. There are songs and poems and sayings about valuing the tiny moments in life but do we ever take the time? I have set this summer apart to value it. Value my relationships and the small quiet moments in life.
More to come on these topics but I need to do some homework - summer Personality class.
20 May 2009
Reflections on Mexico (When I Fell In Love)
On my journal cover I made there is a sentence that says "When I Fell In Love". Each journal that I have I feel there is a word or sentence that defines the experiences written about in the journal. This sentence, for this time is "When I Fell In Love".
In going to Mexico in March I told God that I wanted to get back on track and grow stronger in my relationship with Him. The last two weeks I was in Mexico were challenging. I got a great group to work with the third week. They were from Canada, so much fun to be with, amazingly musical and ready for just about anything. (Even learning a skit and then performing it for the kids. They didn't speak Spanish and that was what language the skit was in. They did a great job.) I was again the translator for this team. I was tested greatly in translating during my time in Mexico this year and I hope I learned from the experience. With this team I was able to experience a small soup kitchen run by a woman who has a very big heart. The woman runs the kitchen with her own money as well as donations from the local government when the government gets around to giving out food. A frustrating part of Mexican government sometimes. Her family does not have much but God has provided greatly. I was so touched by her heart for the 25 children she feeds daily. She has the heart of God for the poor!
One of my favourite YWAM speakers, Phil Cunningham, spoke week three. He spoke on passion and purpose. The part that grabbed my attention was when Phil said "if you are passionate about Jesus, you need to be reading your Bible and talking to Jesus. It's not enough for you to be around passionate people but you have to act it out as well." I realized I haven't been living out my love/passion for Jesus, the person who I have given my heart to. My marriage to Jesus has been dead and I killed it. Thankfully Jesus is loving and ever willing to give me second chances. I need that! I am falling back in love with Jesus and it is a wonderful feeling.
The fourth week I was not with a team. I spent a lot of time being sick with food poisoning. The week I spent sick was a very hard week. The majority of our staff was sick. I learned the joy and peace of God during that week as I struggled through being sick as well as speaking Spanish and translating in sessions for our Mexican students. God talked to me in the time I was quiet and laying sick in my bed. He told me that I was not the person I was last year at this time. I also learned that I am in Wisconsin for this time and for a purpose.
Coming home mid-April, I felt a strong need to continue to rebuild my relationship with Jesus. I need a stronger, firm foundation for the next step in life. Our theme for this year was RE:ACT. The question posed by our speakers for the students was "how are you going to RE:ACT to what Jesus has done?" This question I posed to myself. There is a call on my life and on yours. One to do ministry (love others) wherever you are at. To love someone and share that love with them. Give them dignity and let them know they are loved. That is the challenge to RE:ACT.
In going to Mexico in March I told God that I wanted to get back on track and grow stronger in my relationship with Him. The last two weeks I was in Mexico were challenging. I got a great group to work with the third week. They were from Canada, so much fun to be with, amazingly musical and ready for just about anything. (Even learning a skit and then performing it for the kids. They didn't speak Spanish and that was what language the skit was in. They did a great job.) I was again the translator for this team. I was tested greatly in translating during my time in Mexico this year and I hope I learned from the experience. With this team I was able to experience a small soup kitchen run by a woman who has a very big heart. The woman runs the kitchen with her own money as well as donations from the local government when the government gets around to giving out food. A frustrating part of Mexican government sometimes. Her family does not have much but God has provided greatly. I was so touched by her heart for the 25 children she feeds daily. She has the heart of God for the poor!
One of my favourite YWAM speakers, Phil Cunningham, spoke week three. He spoke on passion and purpose. The part that grabbed my attention was when Phil said "if you are passionate about Jesus, you need to be reading your Bible and talking to Jesus. It's not enough for you to be around passionate people but you have to act it out as well." I realized I haven't been living out my love/passion for Jesus, the person who I have given my heart to. My marriage to Jesus has been dead and I killed it. Thankfully Jesus is loving and ever willing to give me second chances. I need that! I am falling back in love with Jesus and it is a wonderful feeling.
The fourth week I was not with a team. I spent a lot of time being sick with food poisoning. The week I spent sick was a very hard week. The majority of our staff was sick. I learned the joy and peace of God during that week as I struggled through being sick as well as speaking Spanish and translating in sessions for our Mexican students. God talked to me in the time I was quiet and laying sick in my bed. He told me that I was not the person I was last year at this time. I also learned that I am in Wisconsin for this time and for a purpose.
Coming home mid-April, I felt a strong need to continue to rebuild my relationship with Jesus. I need a stronger, firm foundation for the next step in life. Our theme for this year was RE:ACT. The question posed by our speakers for the students was "how are you going to RE:ACT to what Jesus has done?" This question I posed to myself. There is a call on my life and on yours. One to do ministry (love others) wherever you are at. To love someone and share that love with them. Give them dignity and let them know they are loved. That is the challenge to RE:ACT.
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