The Waiting Game

“A waiting person is a patient person.

The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are

and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwn

This season of my life I would like to refer to as "The Waiting Game."

First off, I am a very impatient individual.  For those of you who know me quite well, waiting is not something I excel in; in fact, patience is a weakness of mine. 

With saying all of that, you can imagine waiting 32 more days to move to Alaska and be with my husband is a very large struggle.

God has been showing me some pretty valuable principles during this time.

It's not about the long, horrible, drawn out 32 days I have to countdown.  It's all about the precious, priceless moments and memories that can happen in these short 32 days left with my family and friends.  It's crazy how in today's society that we get all wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, that when we lay down at night, it all seems like a blur.  I don't want these last 32 days to go by like a "blur!"  It's time to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the time we have, with who we are around, in that moment!

Now yes, I am extremely looking forward to moving into our new house, and going grocery shopping, and exploring the base, and the seemingly foreign land up there!  Recently, Nick got to go with a group of people hiking on a mountain!  I tried to hold in my little bit of jealousy.  He kept mentioning how beautiful and crisp and clear the air felt, and how there was a foot of snow, yet swatting away mosquitoes.  I could only imagine!  I thought I would share a few pictures of his adventure!

AMAZING, right???

Well, while he enjoys his adventures up there, I will do the same here.

Instead of dreading the wait, it's time to slow down and focus on the time I have left here!  Because, once the wait is over, I can't get that time back.

So when God has you wait, and be patient for a while, don't see it with a negative outlook, thank Him for allowing you that little bit extra time with other special people, and those precious moments and encounters.

And the wait just might be a blessing in disguise! 

 

It's not goodbye, just see you soon!

Isaiah 41:10

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."





OUR WEEKEND:  A bit stressful, but good!  Friday morning around 9 am, the moving company came to the house to pick up all of our furniture and boxes and everything else we had.  They will ship it and store it until we have the house in Alaska ready for us!  We pretty much have our house set with the furniture, thanks to both of our parents giving us couches and love seats and foot stool!  Due to the cost of shipping our things on our own, I ended up boxing all of my clothes that I will not be wearing until I get there.  So I am down to sleeping on a blow up bed, living out of 2 suitcases, and about 20 outfits until I move! 

It's an adventure that's for sure! 

    



After the movers left, Nick and I headed out to Dallas, TX where his plane left on Saturday for Anchorage, AK!  It was such great quality time for the two of us to just relax and have some good needed conversations.  We got to the hotel later that night, and got him all packed up to leave the next day!  Saturday - my sweet husband took me to get some Starbucks in the morning while we killed time until his 2pm flight!  As the time got closer, reality kept hitting harder.  

This is how my thought process went:  

"I am about to drop the love of my life off at this airport where he will be flying to Alaska tonight. 

I will drive back home to Arkansas for the next 8 weeks until I fly up there with him. 

Lord, I am going to need Your help to make it through these next couple weeks. 

I've been spoiled to have him home for 2 weeks, and now he is leaving again." 

I always get this feeling, and if you have ever sent someone you love away for a while, you know this feeling I am referring to.  It's a combination of happy, anxious, sad, worried, and excited all in one!  The one thing, and the most important thing, that Nick told me as he left was this - "It's 8 weeks Allie, that's like Basic Training, for you!  I believe in you. You can do it!"  That is when I was at ease.  It's so true! 8 Weeks.  That's it!  As I drove off after our "goodbye hug and kiss," I felt God's hands wrap around this frantic, emotional woman driving in Dallas traffic, and He kept reminding me - it's not goodbye, it's see you soon! 

So here it is. 

The start of MY basic training! 

The verse at the top is one that I have found peace and comfort in. 

The Lord WILL strengthen not only me, but Nick too! 

The Lord WILL help us get through this!

Now let the countdown begin!