A Man With Lofty Goals

Found inside my library book, Predictably Irrational:

So, its been a while.

Greetings from Oklahoma, on the border of Texas! Just in case you were wondering, yes, it is as hot as it sounds. It was 111 for 8 straight days when we got here, and I just wanted to puke.

I've been meaning to write for a while now, but generally have been swept up in the poignant words of my friends' blogs when I get on here! Its fun seeing where everyone is at right now- there have been a lot of transitions in a lot of my friends' lives lately, and it is so evident that God is good and my friends are some really awesome people!

Anyways, back to life here. I have been making the 6 hour trek between our "two homes" every two weeks, going back to tend to my flower children (especially my roses) and the lawn, and taking care of fun things like license renewal and scholarship stuff at KSU. I have decided that I truly value my solo drives- it gives me time to think, renew my vision, plot out papers and ideas, and catch up on some tunes. 

I've been pretty active in the ACS (Army Community Service) office here at Sill, volunteering a few mornings a week to get the AFAP (Army Family Action Plan) conference off the ground in September . AFAP is the part of the Army that addresses problems within the Army community, especially for the families affected by all of Army life's issues. They've effected legislative change on a number of issues. I won't actually be here when the conference is in session, but its been great to spend some time with some awesome, dedicated people who really try and make the Army community the best it can be for the families involved. Its really rewarding to see all of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes with these wicked smart, sweet people. And, its nice to just get out of the house!!!!!!!! (And, use someone else's air conditioning :))

There are also a number of awesome, dedicated ladies who have really changed the Career Course experience for wives here (that's what we are here in Oklahoma for, by the way). The Captain's Career Course is 6 months long, which means that the guys are in class for 9 hours a day and/or in the field. What this means for wives is that a) you are in the back roads of Oklahoma with nothing to do, b) no one in their right mind will hire you because they KNOW you are only here for 6 months, c) you don't even know where you are moving when this field trip is over (though we are praying with all we've got to return back to Riley!), and d) while some people easily make friends, it generally takes a lot of personal initiative. So some Majors' wives (the Majors are instructors who are here for 3-5 years) decided that they are going to organize community and opportunities to get all of these wives (i.e. people like me) together, and ease the process of life in transition. It has been really great, and I've connected with a lot of other awesome ladies (p.s.-yes, I keep saying "Wives" and "ladies" instead of spouses, because Field Artillery is still a male-only branch in the Army). They've also orchestrated some great sessions on the experience of being a Commander's wife and the ways of handling that life and put it together in a fun format. 

Even with all of that, I am so looking forward to the fall, when I will be back home and in classes. I am beyond pumped for school to start again. In the meantime, I have been making full use of the library here! I've finished two of the three books by Malcolm Gladwell, Blink and Tipping Point; Freakonomics; and some old classics that I keep finding references for in a number of the books I use in my research (The Communist Manifesto, Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger, The Wealth of Nations, and a book on Afghanistan to name a few). Hopefully, I don't show up on some PATRIOT Act hitlist with my Marxist titles :)

Anyways, that's all for now!

Maggie is home.

Stolen from Jordan's blog:

"Through death often comes life...Jesus said unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground...I would never have wished this on my wife.  As a matter of fact, I would not wish it on my worst enemy.  Cancer sucks...but Jesus can redeem it...He can use it to bring glory to His Father.  It has been amazing to see Him do this time and time again through Maggie’s life and, even now, in her death."

Jordan, Sophie, Jack, Jonas, and Owen: praying for you.

I still love this lady.

Four years ago today...

This happened...

And I can't help but think, I love him more today than I ever knew I could on that day.

There was a group vow-renewal ceremony at church this past weekend, and Joe and I participated. I couldn't help but think that every word of those vows is so much richer and full of meaning after four years...I can only imagine what it will be like 50 years from now.

Praying for Maggie.

Earnestly seeking sweet rest for Maggie and the fam today. I know that these days have been hard.

My dear friend Laura hit it on the head yesterday, when she said "but there is just no one like her". I don't think I'll ever forget Laura's voice as she uttered those words...and on a computer screen, I don't know that the statement sounds strong enough. But there is just no one like Maggie.

Like the time she passionately shared with me her love of Jane Eyre and other Bronte-type novels. 

Or the time we chuckled together over the fact that her kids were shredding a copy of "How to Make Children Mind...Without Losing Yours".

Or the times she shared with me what it was like experiencing the military life, having a military dad, before Joe and I got married.

Or when she shared about her faith in God and her love for her husband as they packed up their car and drove from SW Florida to Bellingham, Washington to start a church plant. Sweet words imparted to me as I embarked a similar journey of faith following my husband to Kansas (at the time thinking, "There is going to be positively nothing for me in Kansas!).

Or all of the Sundays she embraced our church family, new and old, making space for them to encounter God.

Or how she was always the cutest pregnant woman, ever.

Or how she manages to keep up with her kids, and at the same time have the cutest hair and glowing skin.

Or when she came to quite possibly the world's worst bridal shower ever (mine), in which we watched in shock as the person throwing the shower was taken off in handcuffs (apparently, the police had been looking for her for a little bit of time...I SWEAR, I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!), and Maggie gently united the awkward assembly of attenders, creating peace in one of the most surreal moments of my life.

Or all of the times spent at their home(s), where she personified presence, peace, and comfort to all around her, and made her environment reflect the presence of God.

Or watching her and Jordan step out in faith, leaving behind lucrative opportunities and exchanging them for church services held in clubhouses, college auditoriums or any other available space, all with the prospect of no health insurance while pregnant with Jonas, believing that God was able to provide and work a mighty work through them. And He has.

And watching them do it again, as they returned to Syracuse to plant another church, when her treatment began almost three years ago.

And now. Suffering unimaginable pain, but staring death in the face with a passion for her Lord, her husband, and her kids. Listening to Psalms playing from Jordan's iPod and resting in the love of her family.

And through it all, she and Jordan remain...grateful. Stolen from his blog, he writes:

"We have much to be grateful for:

1. • We have been ransomed, redeemed and reconciled to God through Christ
   

2. • We have had fifteen great years (14 married years) together...what a blessing!
   

3. • We have four great kids who love us and love each other.  Four kids who are learning in  
   

   this moment what it means to ruthlessly trust in Jesus.

1. • We have been loved by many family members and friends...thank you all!
   

2. • We have been blessed by the thousands of people around the world who have lovingly 
   

   prayed for us and for our family

1. • We have the joy of knowing that this life...this earth...is just a foretaste of the the life that 
   

   is to come.  A life with Jesus.  A life without sin, or the effects of sin.  A life without  

   cancer...without disease

Before I left Florida 4 years ago, I collected a handful of cd sermons from my Summit fam so I could listen to them when I got homesick. Jordan did a series called The Revolution: Faith, Hope, and Love. I'm not sure if it was in the "Faith" or the "Hope" cd, but he captured the essence of Psalm 84. He highlighted the importance of recognizing that when our strength is in the Lord, the fact that we are mere pilgrims is a lot easier to live out as we press on towards Zion. He reiterates that we continue to move "from positions of strength to positions of strength". I'm still not sure I'm okay with being on a pilgrimage. I like to know where I'm going. I tend to want to settle down. I prefer Op Orders and declarative sentences.

Jordan and Maggie have lived the life of pilgrimmage well. They always move from positions of strength to positions of strength, even now. Even when most others would not (I include myself here). 

Praying sweet comfort.

Maggie.

Praying for my tender friend Maggie tonight, as she is close to seeing Jesus face to face.

Beautiful heart. Lovely wife. Sweet mom. Literary soul.

Trusting. Good. True. Patient. Kind. Genuine. Honest. Comforting.

A wellspring of faith. 

Jordan. Sophie. Jack. Jonas. Owen.