Not the Dopplebocks!

Be of sober mind. Those are the words that keep running through my head.

Now I love a good glass of sweet wine or a cold German beer and I don't believe that there is anything morally wrong with that. I enjoy my treat responsibly and never in excess. So I was a little taken by those repeating words. I mulled them over in my mind a few times, then decided that they could not mean, Don't drink during this deployment. After-all my love just splurged on four german dopplebocks for me. It would be a shame to let them go to waste, right!?

So after a long emotional day yesterday, I showered, put on some comfort clothes, and then went to the kitchen to slowly pour my dopplebock into a perfectly shaped stein. Mmm it was good, for a moment. Then my emotions intensified and I felt guilt in my heart.

After a long cry and and a few minutes in the Word of God, I decided to lay down my liquid treats for the remainder of this deployment. Since my surgery in 2007 even a sip of wine or beer can make my emotions race, and now more than ever I must be of sober mind. My love and my Jesus have my heart; it is my mind that must be guarded with hawk eyes for the next 365+ days.

Oh.. so what to do with my dopplebocks? I suppose that I will pass them along. Any takers?

GAP

In looking at my blog, I realized how big of a gap I have left between Germany, Colorado, and D1. I have not been very good at blogging. I'll try to do better. So if you are wondering where this deployment has come from, this should bring you up to speed. Thanks for walking with me.

Here is the update:


Wes got a great job offer as a military contractor doing what he did in the army. He will have to deploy, but he will be around soldiers and that is where his heart for ministry is. His home office is in the south. With that detail in addition to the health of several family members, we decided to move to Alabama. Everything fell into place at light speed and 10 days after our decision, we began to settle into our new little country home.

Hope that helps fill in the gap.

D1

Today is D day. That's right... deployment day; day one. In the two minutes before leaving my love to board a plane that will carry him more miles and for more days than I can fathom at this point, I embraced him with every fiber of my being. I tried to bank his every scent, texture, and detail that makes him uniquely him.

Driving away with his face in the rear-view was the hardest thing to date that I have ever done.

My heart is heavy today, and the tears mixed with peace are coming out in waves.

I have nothing profound or witty to say. I just wanted to begin this daily chronicle of the year that will radically change our lives.

That's it.