Yesterday was church day. There was no children's church, so both of the Graham kids sat the whole way through big church. They were so well-behaved. At lunch, we had our regular round robin question and answer session. Every person gets a turn (or two) to ask a question of the rest of us. Because we had just finished up at church, we had a Bible/church themed set of questions. We discussed favorite Bible stories, favorite Bible characters and the like. Davis asked his usual question, though: what's your favorite color?
Although Jasen and I were both raised in the same denomination and thought we would continue in that denomination, our military life made that hard. In our 12+ year marriage, we have been church of Christ, military chapel attendees, Church of the Nazarene members, and non-denominational.
Our final question at lunch yesterday was what is your favorite church of the ones we have attended. I loved hearing everyone's answers and thoughts behind them.
Grace had trouble deciding between two: our churches in Junction City, KS, and our church in Charleston, SC. She loved the church in S.C. because they had a lot o fun but also learned a lot. She loved our church in J.C. because she learned a lot and had good friends there.
I was torn...because I have loved and disliked all of our churches. Our church in OK provided critical support and friendships during a horrible time in our marriage. In Germany, I learned so much about God and what a true church family does for each other. I could go on and on about how I grew to know Christ as my Savior there. In J.C. I saw what a real church family LOOKS like: people of all different races, socio-economic backgrounds, you name it. The leadership there was a TEAM, too, with no part bigger than the other. Our church in Charleston was lively and energetic. And our current chapel is so rich with knowledge from retirees and permanent party Army people. People who are so wise, I just want to sit with them. So no way for me to choose!
Jasen decided his favorite was our church in J.C. He mentioned how that church worked together, was a real team, had a missional mindset (both around the world and in J.C.), and created in Jasen a spark that started a new desire to learn.
Davis doesn't remember most of the churches we have attended. I thought I'd asked an unfair question for him. However, his answer was the best.
Davis' favorite church is the church he attends every week with his Catholic preschool. Jasen and I looked at each other, not knowing what to think. When we asked Davis why, he said that the chapel has statues of people from the Bible and he likes to look at them, so he can see what people from the Bible looked like.
Is there a sweeter reason? I mean, Davis and Grace have grown up hearing Bible stories over and over. They have seen two illustrated children's Bibles since they were babies, with the stories being told over and over to them. I can imagine Davis enjoys seeing the statues and seeing that the people of the Bible were real, not some animated version. He doesn't care about worshiping them; he just wants to see that they are like him.
I am so thankful that my kids are learning how different churches work and the benefits of all. Very, very special....
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Alo-ha-ha
Two weeks ago tomorrow, we found out where the Graham family is going next: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Now, let me fill you in on some cool things about that: Hawaii was #1 on our list. Jasen wanted to put it there and, although I would have preferred Ft Lewis, outside of Seattle, WA, I said go for it. Because every army wife knows no one gets their first choice.
Well, the joke was on me! I don't know why, but the day I knew we were going to find out was pure torture for me. Thankfully, I had PWOC that morning and I am currently leading a study, so I knew I would be distracted for at least two hours! Jasen's appointment with the field artillery assignments officer, wasn't until 1:15, so after PWOC, I was like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Once again, God provided a way for the tension to be bearable. I came home after PWOC, really on the edge, and asked God to show me how to deal with my anxiety. I had a Kari Jobe CD my friend Jen gave me. I turned that baby on (and up!) and just bowed down in my living room floor, full of worship. I reflected back on how God has provided, blessed, and amazed us with every other assignment He has given us through the Army. That hour or so was so precious to me. I hope I'll remember how good that felt next time I am being taken away by nervousness.
Jasen had told me he would text me when he knew what we were getting. Imagine my shock when he texted me that we were going to Schofield and he had to be there by JUL 15. Shock. Truly, I am not sure I am over the shock yet. After his meeting, Jasen went back to school, but ducked out early so we could talk. When he got home, I hugged him with all of my might and then collapsed in giggles and crying. I mean, NO ONE gets their #1. It's still shocking.
At that point, Jasen told me the best news in the whole deal: the unit he was assigned to was currently deployed, but would be back in August, which meant he wouldn't have to join them downrange. Typing that, it sounds wrong. But I think most of you out there know that if Jasen needed to deploy, he'd go and we'd deal with it. But at that time, I was elated to know he wouldn't be deploying right away.
Those great feelings were dashed just a few days later, on Sunday, when Jasen got an email from his sponsor in the unit he is going to. We were still going to Hawaii, but Jasen was now going to a different unit who just deployed in December. That meant that Jasen was expected in Hawaii no later than JUL 15, and in Iraq, no later than 1AUG.
Well, didn't that just send me for a loop. And Jasen, too. I can't tell you what it's like to think you know what the plan is, then find out that the cards have been knocked out of your hands, scattered all over the ground for you to look at and wonder what in the world just happened.
One thing that happened is our plans completely changed. Now, instead of us going as a family to Hawaii in July, Jasen will go without us. Since he was going to deploy only two weeks after we arrived, that didn't give us anytime to get our house, our stuff, our car, etc. I didn't want to start out our time in such a new and different place without Jasen Honestly, after the last few years, I have realized that, although I am a decent military wife, the moving isn't in my nature. And I wouldn't be moving to Hawaii if not for Jasen and I don't want to be there without him.
Grace and Davis have taken the news of Hawaii really well. Both seem to be really excited. We haven't told Davis about the change of plans. It's too early and would only give him a lot of time to think about things that would probably make him anxious. Grace is handling the news of Jasen's deployment well. We are all buoyed by the fact that Jasen will only be deployed for about six months.
The kids and I will stay here at Ft. Leavenworth, where we know the schools, have a great church, and a really good support system of a little bit of family, friends, and some retirees. It won't be easy, but I think we'll do better here than in Hawaii without Jasen.
So, for now, our Hawaii assignment is on hold. And I prefer to say "Alo-ha-ha!"
Well, the joke was on me! I don't know why, but the day I knew we were going to find out was pure torture for me. Thankfully, I had PWOC that morning and I am currently leading a study, so I knew I would be distracted for at least two hours! Jasen's appointment with the field artillery assignments officer, wasn't until 1:15, so after PWOC, I was like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Once again, God provided a way for the tension to be bearable. I came home after PWOC, really on the edge, and asked God to show me how to deal with my anxiety. I had a Kari Jobe CD my friend Jen gave me. I turned that baby on (and up!) and just bowed down in my living room floor, full of worship. I reflected back on how God has provided, blessed, and amazed us with every other assignment He has given us through the Army. That hour or so was so precious to me. I hope I'll remember how good that felt next time I am being taken away by nervousness.
Jasen had told me he would text me when he knew what we were getting. Imagine my shock when he texted me that we were going to Schofield and he had to be there by JUL 15. Shock. Truly, I am not sure I am over the shock yet. After his meeting, Jasen went back to school, but ducked out early so we could talk. When he got home, I hugged him with all of my might and then collapsed in giggles and crying. I mean, NO ONE gets their #1. It's still shocking.
At that point, Jasen told me the best news in the whole deal: the unit he was assigned to was currently deployed, but would be back in August, which meant he wouldn't have to join them downrange. Typing that, it sounds wrong. But I think most of you out there know that if Jasen needed to deploy, he'd go and we'd deal with it. But at that time, I was elated to know he wouldn't be deploying right away.
Those great feelings were dashed just a few days later, on Sunday, when Jasen got an email from his sponsor in the unit he is going to. We were still going to Hawaii, but Jasen was now going to a different unit who just deployed in December. That meant that Jasen was expected in Hawaii no later than JUL 15, and in Iraq, no later than 1AUG.
Well, didn't that just send me for a loop. And Jasen, too. I can't tell you what it's like to think you know what the plan is, then find out that the cards have been knocked out of your hands, scattered all over the ground for you to look at and wonder what in the world just happened.
One thing that happened is our plans completely changed. Now, instead of us going as a family to Hawaii in July, Jasen will go without us. Since he was going to deploy only two weeks after we arrived, that didn't give us anytime to get our house, our stuff, our car, etc. I didn't want to start out our time in such a new and different place without Jasen Honestly, after the last few years, I have realized that, although I am a decent military wife, the moving isn't in my nature. And I wouldn't be moving to Hawaii if not for Jasen and I don't want to be there without him.
Grace and Davis have taken the news of Hawaii really well. Both seem to be really excited. We haven't told Davis about the change of plans. It's too early and would only give him a lot of time to think about things that would probably make him anxious. Grace is handling the news of Jasen's deployment well. We are all buoyed by the fact that Jasen will only be deployed for about six months.
The kids and I will stay here at Ft. Leavenworth, where we know the schools, have a great church, and a really good support system of a little bit of family, friends, and some retirees. It won't be easy, but I think we'll do better here than in Hawaii without Jasen.
So, for now, our Hawaii assignment is on hold. And I prefer to say "Alo-ha-ha!"
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Team Graham Basketball
Well, basketball season has begun! Davis is enrolled in something they do here called Start Smart. The kids learn the basics of a sport, with his or her parent acting as their coach. Jasen did the majority of football with Davis, except for one hilarious time around with me when I managed to fall and roll over backwards to catch a pass. At least I caught it!
Anyway, since I was the basketball player, I was chosen to help Davis with his skills. It's been challenging for me. Davis really excels in some areas, including passing, catching, shooting, and yes, even running. Sadly, he can't dribble to save his life. Oh, it's so frustrating to me! I don't know how to help him. The youth sports facilitator has tried, too, but with little progress. I am hoping for some great strides in dribbling, now that he can do everything else.
Grace's season has started, too. I offered to help with her practices and that morphed into me sitting on the bench during games, wearing a coach's shirt, and being called Coach Sara. Can you imagine? Believe me, I can't. I am doing okay with it. I know that sounds silly, but you have to understand: since I quit playing round ball, anytime I step in a gym, my face gets red, my heart races, and I want to scream when someone does something wrong. Oh, wait, I had that even when I was playing....
Anyway, I am doing well being a coach. I love seeing the kids, Grace included, master something they hadn't been able to do before, be it scoring a goal or stealing the ball from the other team. The smiles are their faces are priceless. There is only one tiny issue: we have one extremely mouthy kid who complains if he is taken out of a game or practice. The really bad part? His dad is the other assistant coach and he does very little to stop his son. Last Saturday at the game, this little brat yelled at another kid after an airball "Why did you take that shot? It was stupid." Finally, our head coach said something in the huddle and spoke to the kid's father after the game.
Back to Grace, she is the tallest and most experienced player we have. The first game, she was in a shooting slump. Grace is naturally left-handed, but she's always felt more comfortable using her right to do most sports things. However, she was having such a hard time with her right, I suggested trying her left. Bad idea. Then her shot got even worse, possibly because she was using both hands at that point. She's gone back to her right.
It appeared to work in the second game. Beforehand, I told Grace that I would give her a quarter for every shot she made and rebound she got. Well, guess what? The little girl came alive! She had three baskets and got five rebounds. I was so excited! She's also started listening to her mom about some things. I don't know why, but she's decided the round, old woman has some knowledge of the game!
It's so fun to see my kids (and other little kids) enjoying a game that I loved so much growing up. Honestly, I still love it. I am not sure I am much of a teacher of the game, but I love to encourage them. Such fun! I'll post pictures soon.
**I tried to become a registered marrow donor, but sadly, because I am on a prescription strength NSAID (Ibuprofen on steroids) for hip bursitis, which is very painful. I cannot even register being on that medicine, which is not having much of an effect on the pain. I am going to stay the course with the medicine, but once that's over, I am registering!!!
Anyway, since I was the basketball player, I was chosen to help Davis with his skills. It's been challenging for me. Davis really excels in some areas, including passing, catching, shooting, and yes, even running. Sadly, he can't dribble to save his life. Oh, it's so frustrating to me! I don't know how to help him. The youth sports facilitator has tried, too, but with little progress. I am hoping for some great strides in dribbling, now that he can do everything else.
Grace's season has started, too. I offered to help with her practices and that morphed into me sitting on the bench during games, wearing a coach's shirt, and being called Coach Sara. Can you imagine? Believe me, I can't. I am doing okay with it. I know that sounds silly, but you have to understand: since I quit playing round ball, anytime I step in a gym, my face gets red, my heart races, and I want to scream when someone does something wrong. Oh, wait, I had that even when I was playing....
Anyway, I am doing well being a coach. I love seeing the kids, Grace included, master something they hadn't been able to do before, be it scoring a goal or stealing the ball from the other team. The smiles are their faces are priceless. There is only one tiny issue: we have one extremely mouthy kid who complains if he is taken out of a game or practice. The really bad part? His dad is the other assistant coach and he does very little to stop his son. Last Saturday at the game, this little brat yelled at another kid after an airball "Why did you take that shot? It was stupid." Finally, our head coach said something in the huddle and spoke to the kid's father after the game.
Back to Grace, she is the tallest and most experienced player we have. The first game, she was in a shooting slump. Grace is naturally left-handed, but she's always felt more comfortable using her right to do most sports things. However, she was having such a hard time with her right, I suggested trying her left. Bad idea. Then her shot got even worse, possibly because she was using both hands at that point. She's gone back to her right.
It appeared to work in the second game. Beforehand, I told Grace that I would give her a quarter for every shot she made and rebound she got. Well, guess what? The little girl came alive! She had three baskets and got five rebounds. I was so excited! She's also started listening to her mom about some things. I don't know why, but she's decided the round, old woman has some knowledge of the game!
It's so fun to see my kids (and other little kids) enjoying a game that I loved so much growing up. Honestly, I still love it. I am not sure I am much of a teacher of the game, but I love to encourage them. Such fun! I'll post pictures soon.
**I tried to become a registered marrow donor, but sadly, because I am on a prescription strength NSAID (Ibuprofen on steroids) for hip bursitis, which is very painful. I cannot even register being on that medicine, which is not having much of an effect on the pain. I am going to stay the course with the medicine, but once that's over, I am registering!!!
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