Rainbows

I'm not a young Army Wife. 

This is not my first, or my second, or my third or my (you get the picture) deployment.  And it doesn't matter.  I miss my soldier as much as the next wife.  My kids miss their Daddy as much as any kids would. Deployments are hard regardless of who you are and what number this one is for you.  

We are nearing the end, and while I would so love to be closer than we are, I can wait.  How? Because you see that image above? It is one of the most perfect reminders I can think of how God's promises are forever and they are changeless.  No matter what is going on in our lives or in the world, God's promises stand.  What a comfort that is!  What peace that brings.  When Richard sent me the above image, I just couldn't stop looking at it.  I was so amazed to see a rainbow in Afghanistan!  I'm not sure why I thought that was some type of great world wonder, but the image is just so powerful to me with the rainbow in the background of a place of combat.  

I have so much to be thankful for in regards to everything that has happened since April of 2011.  But one of the biggest joys I have is that as exhausted as I am at the end of each day, I wake up every morning and push through another day. 

I am thankful, so thankful that we have a Gracious Heavenly Father.  

I am thankful for rainbows and the reminders they are of God's word to us. 

And I am thankful I have a soldier who loves me, but who loves Jesus more.  

We are still in waiting mode for our reunion, but the days are getting much shorter! 

Many of our unit's soldiers have already returned to their families.  Mine will be one of the last, but if I am blessed to have him return, that is all that matters. I can't wait to feel him breathing next to me again.  I have missed his presence in our lives so much.  And I know he's missed ours in his.  How blessed I am to have the life I do.  I pray God will not let me forget the struggles I've faced and the lessons I've learned about my heart and my faith through the last 15 months.  And I pray as I move forward, that I use those lessons to His glory.