For those of you keeping up with this blog who are not on facebook, it has been a crazy month of MANY changes for us. To make a long story (and an even LONGER process) short, Chris was offered a full-time position with the Army in Aurora, CO and has been released from Afghanistan early to take that position. HE’S COMING HOME!!!!
It has been a long and often frustrating process waiting for paperwork, processes and approvals, but we are almost at our homecoming and it will be 4 months earlier than we had anticipated! Chris arrived in the U.S. a few days ago and is working his way through his post-deployment processes. We expect him to be home to us within a week and are filled to the brim with anticipation!
So, all at once, we are preparing for our reunion, readjustment, move to a new state, wrapping up my employment and Chris starting new employment in Colorado. We are looking forward to this new season for our family; I will be able to stay home with the boys, we will have more sunshine and snow (this is Brody’s favorite part!), we can move forward with our desire for adoption and connecting with friends in that area.
To say that we have felt every emotion on the spectrum in the past month or so would be an understatement. There is relief, joy, stress, anticipation, disappointment (mainly when the process took longer and we didn’t have answers), nervousness, excitement and so many more. The boys and I are preparing for our Homecoming moment when we finally get to see Chris after saying good-bye to him seven months ago. I am also acutely aware of the reality that Chris has been living in for these past months (and yet I have no idea all that he has witnessed and experienced) and the adjustments that the boys and I have had to make in his absence. I realize that reintegrating will be a process, not a moment. It will require patience, trust, flexibility, humility and selflessness.
It takes active engagement not to let Satan have a foothold in these days awaiting reunion. Worry seems to be his tool of choice; I can worry about the state of the house, the yard, the boys, how I look and all the change. It is a battle for peace, strength, confidence and full joy. I am determined to have those things because the Lord is our Strongtower and holds each of those attributes out for me willingly as I lean into Him. I anticipate us all “crashing” a bit once Chris is home as our emotions catch up with our circumstances and as the expectancy turns into reality.
PRAISE THE LORD, CHRIS IS HOME SAFE, SOUND AND EARLY!! Thank you for your prayer support during this time; it has been an amazing support to us. Join us in rejoicing and praising God for this turn of events! Continue praying for our re-integration and for all the men and women still fighting for you and me over there. Consider sending care packages that you might have sent Chris’ way to his unit or others still serving in Afghanistan.
It is the end of one Goble Adventure and the start of a new one. Praise the Lord, oh my soul…and may all that is within me bless His Holy Name!
