Little Brown Children

This was not the time for my camera's SD card to get permanently stuck in the "lock" position. When I was lifeguarding, my goal each summer was to go from "ghostly white" to "pale". Apparently, my daughters have inherited my desire for a tan. Whitley and Anna came down the hall this evening covered in chocolate ice cream! Whitley had her emptied bowl of ice cream in the back den. (I had taken Anna's bowl to the kitchen and assumed that when Whitley followed, she had brought her bowl too.) They had used the melted ice cream to "paint" themselves. After I calmed down to see the humor in the situation (Mama and Daddy thought it was hilarious), I asked Whitley "what were you thinking?" Her answer, "I wanted to be brown." It was that simple. What was the big deal? She wanted to have brown skin, the ice cream was handy and the right color, and it would wash off. A picture is worth 1000 words. I wish I had a picture because I don't have 1000 words to adequately describe the scene. We've got to get another SD card!

Man + Uniform = Mmmmmm

You remember the old adage, "There's just something about a man in uniform"? Well, I happen to agree...to a point. There's just something about a man in a military/fire/police uniform when he is in shape enough to wear it well. You know, the hero type. When Doyl and I married, I knew I'd married my hero. No, he didn't come with shoulder boards or military cover. He came with a Bible, faith, love for God and his fellow man. He still has those things. He is passionate about living out his faith before a world that so desperately needs Jesus. He strives to be obedient to his Lord and honor Him in both the little things and the big things. His walk with Christ challenges me daily. Regardless of what he is wearing, Doyl is my hero. HOWEVER, him getting to wear a uniform wouldn't be so bad either...

Over the last 6 years, to a very slight degree, Doyl and I have discussed what it would be like to be a military chaplain. The wonderings were hypothetical. Originally, we didn't really consider it because he had been told as a child he had scoliosis and that it was a disqualifier for military service. When we found out that he does not have scoliosis (actually his back is in better shape than it is suppose to be), we were on staff at a church. Doyl was the only staff member. Since we had only ever considered Reserves, chaplaincy was not an option. Then we moved to South Carolina. The timing was still not right. Well, now we are at a place where we can consider the possibility more seriously.

When we first began to talk about this possibility, we were still just thinking Reserves. However, the more praying, research, and talking we have done, the more we believe Active military is the path we need to consider. We've looked into each branch of service and, for one reason or another, we have decided to pursue the Navy. We have been in touch with Navy recruiters (general officer and chaplain). Doyl has spoken with a gentleman at NAMB to start the process for obtaining ecclesiastical endorsement. We've gotten a checklist of everything he must do to apply to become a Navy chaplain.

Now, don't start singing "Anchors Aweigh" just yet. This is a long and tedious process. There is a lot of paperwork to be done. There are interviews. There are committees. Like every job interview, just being qualified on paper and applying doesn't not mean you get the job. All of this is not to say, "This is God's will" or "We're not looking elsewhere". God is still welcome to do whatever He wants with us. We are willing to do whatever and go anywhere. However, we do have a peace about pursuing this. The type of ministry Doyl would get to do is so very much in line with his giftings and his passion. I mean, here is a man who CANNOT pass a serviceman or woman and not say "thank you" for their sacrifices. As a couple, we pray for our military and throw our support behind them. We just seem to be drawn to military families and their unique challenges.

Please pray. We truly want to hear God's heart. This is in reality an unexpected pursuit for us though the IDEA of it has come up several times. We don't want to sign our family's lives over to the Navy out of impatience. We have a peace like none we've had with any other position we've ever sought as a couple, but we don't want to rush it. Pray, too, for our families. They did NOT see this coming and have mixed feelings about it. I think our parents' biggest concern is that we will be stationed overseas and they will go a year or more without seeing their grandchildren.

I'll post updates on Facebook and here as we go along this path. Until then...