The Big News

About two weeks ago, I had one of those breakdown moments that military wives who are preparing for their husband to deploy often experience. We were laying in bed about to fall asleep and out of nowhere I started sobbing uncontrolably. I waited for it to freak Aaron out, but he just held me as I explained to him that I couldn't deal with him leaving. I told him that I just felt so much pressure and that I didn't want to be without him for so long. Little did I know that something else, something more uncertain was crowding his mind as he consoled me.

For those of you who don't already know, Aaron and I found out a week from this past Friday that he is no longer deploying. We are calling it a miracle, some military officals are calling it a flaw in the computer system. When the Readiness Squadron (the people who help you prepare for deployments) went to follow up on his CST (combat survivial training) in September, just prior to his deployment, they were shocked and confused when another LT was listed in Aaron's place. They made a phone call to Texas and confirmed this finding. So, at the time I was losing control of my emotions, Aaron knew that he may not deploy. But, being the smart man that he is, he didn't tell me until the next day when it was confirmed. This is a HUGE answer to prayer. I have asked God the seemingly impossible : "Please, Lord. Please keep my husband home with me somehow." So, me of little faith, God is continuing to show me how big He is and that his plan rules out over any circumstance. Praise be to God alone. But of course, this isn't the end of the story. As the first lesson was to learn to pray EXPECTANTLY WITHOUT CEASING, the next lesson is to learn to walk by faith and not by sight. Aaron is still deployable until the end of November. This means that if a tasking comes down, he will be required to accept. Most likely, it will happen if someone overseas is injured or has a medical or family emergency and can't finish out their deployement - Aaron will take their place for the remainder. It is also possible that the Army could request him...but this situation is less likely.

Nonetheless, we are rejoicing that God is faithful and that he takes the time to answer our prayers. We are also hopeful that God will carry this plan to completion - Whatever his will may be. And we pray that Aaron will miraculously be home to spend our first Thanksgiving (as a married couple) and our very first Christmas together!

Please be in prayer for us. Please specifically pray for these things:
1. Pray for our troops - For safety and for their mental, emotional, physical and spritual well-being.
2. Pray for their families holding down the fort at home. It is the hardest job EVER!
3. Pray for Aaron's deployment situation and specifically that he will NOT be tasked!
4. Pray for our marriage that these confusing times and the stress that it brings will be held at bay from our relationship. Stress easily causes stupid arguments. We are working hard to avoid this!

Thanks for taking the time to share in our experiences. It means more than we could ever express.