2012 May

On This Memorial Day :: at (in)courage

My husband’s best friend retired from the Air Force a few days ago, and I cried my eyes out during the ceremony.

I can’t even explain why I cried, exactly. Partly because his words to his family were so warm and appreciative. But even more than that, I couldn’t help but sense the winds of change in the air. Change has not typically been my best friend, which is one reason God arranged for me to fall in love with and marry an Air Force man. Seventeen years into this military lifestyle, change still may not be my best friend, but we do accept one another and have learned to play nice.

Your Weekend to Celebrate

By Kristen

**Giveaway now closed.**

School is over and out, y’all! Let the schedule abandonin’, alarm clock throwin’, summertime livin’ begin!

We Strongs aren’t too shy about our love for summer. The moment we see her approach from the distance, we throw open our windows, wave her in, and embrace her bear hug style. We invite her to stay as long as possible, soaking up quality time in the form of swimming, hiking, and late evening playing. And while she’s hanging out, we Strongs eat lots of ice cream and popsicles. Our family enjoys extra time together, at least until we start to get on each other’s nerves. But even if we do get on each other’s nerves, we’ll just use it as an excuse to buy more ice cream. Because ice cream fixes just about anything.

This Sunday is also my birthday. And because y’all are such a gift to me, I feel like celebrating early. In honor of turning 38, I’m giving one reader $38 to spend on whatever she wants from DaySpring. {My current favorites are from their Redeemed Outdoor Decor collection. Super cute stuff!} To enter, just leave a comment below. For an additional entry {or two}, feel free to like my facebook page and/or subscribe here {it’s free}. Then, just leave a comment telling me you did so. The giveaway will be open until Sunday, June 3rd.

For the majority of this next week, I’ll be a little quieter here as the fam and I enjoy this first week of summer. And whether or not your kids are out of school or you are off from work, I pray your weekend brings you warm breezes, blue skies, and ice cream. And fewer dates with your alarm clock.

I love you, darlings.

May 25, 2012 41 Comments Filed Under: Fun Stuff, Your Weekend

When Things Shake, Rattle, and Roll

By Kristen

This nest clings to the pine tree just beyond our fence, and I see a quintessential picture of spring. I snap a few pictures and enjoy watching them in their cozy house. But later that night, the fierce Colorado winds pick up, and I know that pine and the house in it are getting whipped around somethin’ fierce. The next morning, I go outside and see the nest rests in the same spot, birds snoozing in peace.

Sometimes my own day starts out breathing peace, and I imagine people looking in our window find a Normal Rockwell like image. But then someone grabs the house and shakes it like a snow globe. On a dime, everything turns upside down. Those days don’t feel safe at all, and what makes us feel unsafe looks different from person to person.

Your kids have played so nicely and then suddenly they can’t get along to save their lives.

Your loved one throws a curve ball and your trust shatters.

Your friend drops you like a hot potato.

The job you’ve done for twenty plus years ends.

Your plans are ripped into a thousand little pieces.

When you throw your hands up in frustration, let those palms turn up and open towards the One who holds you in His. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ, so we can rest assured He will one day reveal the purposes hidden in our ordeals. And in remembering this, I find safety. One day, all will be right side up again.

“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

May 24, 2012 4 Comments Filed Under: Faith in Action

The Unlikely Place You’ll Find Paradise Today

By Kristen

“My friends on the mainland think just because I live in Hawaii I live in paradise. Like a permanent vacation. We’re all just out here sipping Mai Tai’s shaking our hips, catching waves. Are they insane? Do they think we’re immune to life? How can they think our families are less screwed up? Our cancer less fatal? Our heartache less painful?” George Clooney as Matt King in The Descendants

David and I laughed out loud when we heard these lines in the movie. Because it’s da truth, people. We were stationed on Maui for three years, and I know some people think we lived at the Hilton, dined exclusively at awesome restaurants, and frolicked in the sand and surf dawn ’til dusk. Because that’s what most people who vacation in Hawaii do. They leave real life at home. But when you live in Hawaii, real life shows up as a spoilsport to the party just the same as anywhere else. You can’t escape real life. You also can’t escape undesirable islandy facts like the smell of sugar cane burning {major blechy} or catching pneumonia from vog {mine lasted three months, thankyouverymuch}. I’m not complaining. Really. Ask any one of my family or friends: I loved Hawaii, and I would visit again faster than you can say Maui no ka oi. I’m a warm weather lover, and Hawaii handed me that in a mighty picturesque package.

But Albuquerque, New Mexico also handed me warm weather, although not many would call it paradise. Sure, it has dramatic sunsets over the desert and lots of good playing outside days. But as far as landscape goes, Albuquerque trades green for brown. Not so picturesque, but no less the potential for paradise.

I knew miserable people in Hawaii just as I did in Albuquerque. What makes a place paradise is not what’s present outside, but Who is present inside. No matter where you call home, messy life knocks on your door sooner or later. Some of our hardest times found us in Hawaii, and it took a heck of a lot more than positive thinking or a happy walk on the beach to move past them. It took clinging to Jesus and walking imperfectly by faith with the One who offers longlasting, genuine rest. That relationship along with others built on Christ will be the only thing that flies with us to the real Paradise. In the meantime, we have His promise to meet us here right where we are, wherever we are.