Sometimes we get caught up in all the drama and actually think our lives are unusually difficult. They’re not. Everyone has stuff they’re dealing with. Pain, confusion, loss. That’s normal. That’s life. Actually compared to the majority of people in this world, we have it pretty easy.

The difference is that people don’t always talk about what’s really going on in their lives. They pretend to be happy, or strong.

I don’t write about all of our junk because I think it’s unusual. I write because it’s normal. Normal people have junk in their lives. And hopefully it’s helpful to know that. Hopefully someone will relate to some of the stuff we’re going through and find hope or comfort.

Friday Joel took Jer out to ride his bike down the sidewalk. Yesterday morning, Sarah and I walked into the house and found Jeremiah and Joel mixing up a batch of waffles. After breakfast they played a rough game of basketball in Jer’s room. Today they played baseball in the backyard. Right now, Jer and Sarah are at a coffee house with Joel while I spend time with a friend.

Joel has been so busy for so long, I don’t know what his normal Daddy routine is when he isn’t working 20 hours a day. Is this it? Or is he packing in every memory making opportunity before heading off to war?

Either way, it’s fun to watch.

When I went to Central Assembly last November I felt I had come home. There were people who I had known for ten years. People who knew me and loved me when I first moved to Springfield. The service was so much more traditional than New Life. It took a little getting used to but it felt good to get back to my roots.

Tonight we went to a “home fellowship gathering.” This would seem the opposite of the 99 year old institution that is Central Assembly. And yet… once again, it felt like a homecoming.

How can this be? How can a small group of people turned off by organized religion give me the same feeling as a large traditional Assemblies of God church?

Because they are all family.

If I attend my sister’s wedding, that is a family celebration. If I share a cup of coffee with my Dad, that is a family celebration.

The church is like that. I don’t care how you dress it up. How fancy, how casual. How organized, how relaxed. It’s just good to be with family.

Amber offered to watch our kids tonight. Do you know how long it has been since we had a babysitter, or a moment to ourselves? Yeh I don’t remember either.

We’re enjoying burritos and free WIFI at Qdoba Mexican Grill. Then we get to see lots of good friends at a small group. They all went to our previous church at one time or another. I’m not sure how they came together and formed this group, but I don’t care it’ll be great to see them again!

I guess this doesn’t really sound like a hot date does it? Maybe I’ll IM that good looking man sitting at my table hiding behind his laptop. [Oh he just asked why I keep looking at him.]

We got an email last night letting us know that Joel is being mobilized. We’re not yet sure where he will be sent. The kids and I will get an apartment in Springfield.

Of course this is both what I dreaded and what I hope for. I get to live in Springfield… but not with my husband. We’ll be OK though. This is what we signed up for. This is who we are now. An Army family.

This makes my first year at the seminary much, much easier. I won’t have to commute six hours one way. It’s also great for Joel’s Army career, he’ll be promoted much more quickly.

So, this is what’s best for us. And like many things that are good for you… well it tastes bad. Eventually if you keep eating your brussel sprouts you begin to acquire a taste for the little green veggies.

Sitting in a parking lot by my husband. Eating french fries and typing away on our laptops. I just put a handful of fries in my mouth and discovered an unfamiliar texture… Ewww. Jeremiah asks, “What is it?” I reply, “I think it was your daddy’s straw wrapper or something.” Joel says, “Yeh it was. I ate it once too…”

Double Ewww.

I threw a ridiculous selfish fit yesterday. A poor-me-I’ve-been-wronged silly tantrum. I called Hillery to rant, whine and complain. I can’t figure out why she hasn’t started screening my calls by now.

When I got off the phone, Sarah asked to watch the Jesus Film. Still steaming about some imagined injustice, I overheard Jesus speaking on the video. His words can be found in Luke 6:27-36.

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you… Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back…”

How could I forget these words? I’ve heard them for 29 years. Why aren’t they a part of my character yet? The words of Jesus are so radical, so foreign, so unlike the teaching of our culture. We’re trained to fight for our rights and demand what is fair.

As I write this, Jeremiah and Sarah run past me yelling and fighting. That’s mine! That’s mine! Jeremiah had taken Sarah’s toy. She demanded it back. Children. They were acting like children. Just like I acted yesterday.