My Storm

Yesterday was weird.

The entire day I felt like there was a black cloud following me.

It wasn't hovering over me, but man, did it want to!

After we dropped Gerald off at the airport I went back to my house and slept for a bit. I felt like I could stay under those covers all day.

Partly because I didn't sleep the night before so I was tired, but mostly because my boyfriend was on a plane headed back to a dark place.

Once I did get out of bed I didn't want to talk to anyone. All I wanted to do was curl up, relax, drink a coffee and maybe read.
Preferably in a place like this...

Or this...

So I did.
I was feeling gloomy inside and it didn't help much that I was feeding off of the gloomy weather that was outside as well.

but I can't keep my curtains closed forever...

As pathetic as this may sound, I have been singing the song "Chiquitita" by ABBA as one way to help me keep that dark cloud from coming closer. Here's a snippet of it...
"Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, chiquitita."

I may be feeling like this...

...but the night is always coldest before the dawn...

...and the dawn is always coming.

God has kept G safe for 9 months and I pray He will bring him home in 3 more months, and that brightens my day.


As odd as it sounds I feel like I am now one with the storm of deployment yet still protected from it.

God has helped us to not get swept away by the deployment, but to not be ignorant or disregard it either.
He is our rock and strong tower, and is the only thing not only keeping our heads above water, but our bodies completely out of it.

"O Sovereign LORD, you have only begun to show your greatness and the strength of your hand to me, your servant. Is there any god in heaven or on earth who can perform such great and mighty deeds as you do?" --Deuteronomy 3:24

My Countdown

Today I'll be seeing this man for the first time in 8 months.



230 days have been crossed off my calendar.

Countdown complete.

This is going to be a great day.

My unintentional post about Catalina

Well, it's spring so that means time for a new background! This photo was actually taken by my friend Cody T, so thanks Cody for a great image!


I know I haven't blogged in 2 months and this post isn't going to change that. Most of the time when I want to blog it takes longer than I expect and I have to stop and go back to it later. Currently I have a few unfinished posts that will probably stay unfinished. Sorry folks for the disappointment.

I'm going to say a few things about my trip to Catalina (I guess this is turning into a real post after all).
Catalina was perfect.

I studied the first half of Mark with a group of 12 or so for 8 hours a day. We would have breakfast, have session (that's when we study Mark) for 3 hours, eat lunch, have free time for 3 hours, session again for 2 hours, eat dinner, session for 2-3 hours, go to bed. I learned so much about Jesus and his word that I didn't realize before. I loved every minute of it. and I really love these guys.

Plus, the entire time I was 50 ft away from the ocean. I ate dinner with dolphins jumping in the background, and woke up to hear seals "barking" by the dock. One night I slept on the beach and fell asleep to waves crashing and thousands of stars shining above my head. I felt very small in that moment, but so peaceful and comforted. God is so amazing.

During free time I swam, kayaked, had good conversation,

and played in a beach volleyball tournament where my team won! Take that Chico State! Go Wildcats!

We all look special in this photo but trust me, on the court we were very intimidating.

One day we hiked to the city of Avalon on the other side of the island. The hike was brutal but the view was fantastic once we got to the top, and it was fun to walk around Avalon.

At the top with Allyse and looking down into Avalon.






What else can I say about Catalina...?
I loved it.
I'm going back next spring break.
You should come with me.

Thanks for listening.