The Story of Us: Part 2

Doc and I decided to attend church that Sunday at the First Church of the Nazarene in Forsyth, Illinois. Doc had been raised Catholic, but was a little confused about what he actually believed. We both had things about the Catholic religion that we didn't truly believe, so we chose to try a different route. God was guiding us to the best decision we've ever made. First Church became our Illinois church home, and though it was just for a few months, it made such a huge impression on us and set the pace for the rest of our spiritual journey.

Doc left for BUD/S in Coronado, CA, and soon after, we found out we were being transferred to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, for Doc to take over his old job as an Infantry Corpsman with a Battalion that was slated for a deployment just 2 months after our arrival. The comfort that God gave to me at that time is truly amazing. I had just moved 7,000 miles away from anything I was familiar with, to an island with a new culture, to a military base where everyone spoke in acronyms and everything seemed SO weird, and I was sending my husband off to war. This was Doc's 3rd deployment, but his 1st Combat Deployment, and anyone who's ever done both knows that there is a HUGE difference between the two. This was my first deployment to go through with him, and though I was devestated to be without him for 7 months, I was not afraid. I know that sounds crazy, and believe me I thought it was too, but I truly had a complete peace in the situation. I knew that we were where God wanted us to be. I knew my husband was following the calling on his life that God had given him. I knew my family and friends thought I was insane for moving here knowing that he was deploying. But as our Pastor just quoted yesterday, "Who cares who frowns, if God is smiling". The peace I felt with the situation was incredible.

My husband returned home from that deployment untouched by the war. Thank you Lord! During our first night together, his sleep schedule was so messed up that we ended up staying up all night talking. He told me about a book that a friend had given him in Iraq called "One God, One Message". He had told me about it before, but he had never had a chance to tell me what a profound effect it had on him. This book had brought him to the moment where he realized what salvation really is. How AMAZING it is, that though we still mess up and fall short daily of what God wants from us, we are still saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no more "not good enough". No more "Keep working at it, you'll get it right eventually". No more!!! We are SAVED!!! Regardless of anything we've done ourselves, and only by the amazing grace of our Lord! I'll never forget the words Doc said to me that night: "Tammy, as a Catholic I was taught that when you get to the Pearly Gates, your good deeds in life just have to outweigh your bad ones, and I've done so much bad stuff......when I read that all I had to do was believe in Jesus in order to go to heaven it was like an elephant was removed from my chest! I felt so relieved!" I cried and cried that night for joy, and praised the Lord for what he was doing in our lives. While Doc had been in Iraq, I had grown alot spiritually as well thanks to our new church in Hawaii: Island Family Christian Church. I had made the decision to be baptized a few months before, and just 3 weeks after he came home he made the same decision. God had used the deployment that neither of us wanted to happen to seperate us and work on our hearts individually so that together we would be ready to serve Him.

We grew so attatched to IFCC, and we still are to this day! Just 2 months after Doc returned from Iraq, he was already in the field training for another deployment. He left for Afghanistan a few months later. We knew going into this deployment that it would be much more difficult. God had a plan in our lives and we were ready to do His will. We both continued to grow closer to the Lord in the midst of our own seperate challenges. My challenges were the domestic type. Pay issues with the Navy, potty-training a 2 year-old, the balancing act of full-time work, volunteer work and child raising, and the stresses and fears of my husband being in a very active combat zone. The Lord taught me during this deployment that taking on everything WILL take a toll on you. He taught me to ask for help, and he taught me what happens when you refuse to do so and try to push through it on your own. He also taught me to say "No" when something comes up that is too much for your plate. Perseverance, patience and honesty to admit when things are more than you can handle on your own were my biggest lessons, though my biggest lesson of all was to rely on God during these times.

My husband had a spiritual journey of his own in Afghanistan, one that is the defining moment of his life thus far. God brought him to the place where he had absolutely nothing else he could rely on but God. He taught him so many lessons there, ones that will last with him the rest of his life. His stories from Afghanistan are incredible, and I could listen to him talk about it all night long.

Our God is an awesome God!! We have been so blessed on this journey together, and though it has been bumpy and full of twists and turns, it has brought us to a place of such sweet understanding of the Lord. I don't think anyone can fully grasp the grace we are shown, and the love that He has for us. It is SO amazing!!! Until we're with Him, we will praise Him and try our best to follow His will for our lives!!
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Thanks for reading about Doc and I's spiritual journey! We are still a work in progress, but looking back on all the things the Lord has done for us is so incredibly special and leads us to a deeper place of understanding. I hope that this encourages any of you who may be on your own journey in life, of any kind. God has a plan for everything, and if you seek to do the things that He has called you to do, He will take care of every single detail. That's a promise! Not that I made, but that He did!

In other news, we celebrated something special this weekend: Doc has officially been sober for 3 years!!! He made the decision to completely abstain from alcohol in July of 2007, and he has not had one drop since. Thank you for everything that you do for this family, Babe. I know this wasn't an easy decision for you to make, and I know that it hasn't always been easy for you to abstain from. You are so strong, and I admire you so much!