A Springtime Update

So besides preparing for a deployment within the next month and a baby within the next 4 months or so, we have gotten to do a lot of traveling and enjoying our short time together!

In March, we had a great marriage retreat in Keystone, CO with about 50 couples. It was great to see my husband in action and to get to interact with these army couples in such a beautiful setting. Plus, Austin got to ski which he hasn't gotten to do much of since he got his skiing buddy pregnant! After that, I got to travel to Texas for my little sis's bridal shower. It was a quick trip, but I was so grateful to get to be apart of this fun time for her and to see my family. To finish off March, we took a little road trip to the same place we had our honeymoon in Crested Butte, Co. In April, we also were fortunate to travel to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (no we didn't bring back the swine flu) for my sister's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and an amazing vacation. All we did was eat and lay out my the beach and pool. The biggest task of my day was to get up and go save our beach loungers before breakfast!

We eventually had to come back to real life, but did have one surprise waiting for us...to find out whether we were having a boy or a girl. I thought we were having a girl up until the night before when I dreamt we were having a little boy. My dream was correct and in September we welcome a little fella to our family! We are so excited, but have yet to settle on the name! We will keep you posted.

The last couple of weeks have been filled with varied emotions. We are trying to soak up each moment we have left together while trying to get all the preparations for a year apart completed. This leaves us with mixed emotions. We know without a doubt that God has called us to this place and called us to this deployment. That is the only peace I can hold onto...this is God's doing and it is good. That's hard to swallow when my pregnancy hormones swell up and I cannot handle the overwhelming emotions of loneliness and sadness at my husband's absence during this very delicate time. Yet, when I have dried my tears and finished pouring my heart out to God, I hear Him say that He has something very special and amazing planned for this time...something that we couldn't experience otherwise. Ok...I think I'm ready. Everyone says the anticipation is the worst part...and right now I have to agree. Waiting for your husband to leave you for a whole year is not pleasant. Preparing for all the unexpected, not knowing exactly how often or how you will be able to communicate, not knowing if your baby will hold off until Daddy is there to witness it, and not knowing what this war holds...all can leave you in an absolute mess. I am so glad that I have Jesus...because He knows all of that. I can walk through all of that because He already has walked through it for me and will walk with me during it. That is peace.

And we both have an excitement knowing that now our "real" ministry begins. God called us both to this as partners in the Gospel for this group of people. God has already placed in advance the good works He has for us to accomplish. I will be here and hopefully, have an amazing ministry to women as Austin is on the front lines in Afghanistan ministering to the soldiers. This is nothing we have done before and we ask humbly for your prayers...that God would accomplish His will through us and expand His Kingdom among these people, that we would grow in our spiritual walk as we learn to depend on Him in new ways, and that our marriage would not just survive, but flourish amidst this time of separation.

A few pics are included below from the last few months!

Love you all,
Heather

Austin on our vacation in Crested Butte, CO.


Me, Allison, and our Mom at Allison's Bridal Shower.


Austin and I in front of the famous arch in Cabo San Lucas.


Half-way there! Me at about 20 Weeks Pregnant.

Our Little Boy!