Well, finally settled in my new location.  The weather prediction: hot and sunny with a strong chance of sand!

Through all these years of being in the Navy, I couldn't think of anyone the Lord could have blessed me with to get me through the times of separation than my wife.  Although she's a veteran at enduring 6+ month deployments, she could use your prayers as we prepare for me to embark on another deployment.

In Psalm 18, verse 2 the Bible records these words: "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."  These words only begin to scratch the surface regarding the description of what the Lord does for each of us every day.  I know that Tess and the kids will be in the Lord's hands (as will I).  I count it an honor to serve this great nation in which I live.  I praise the Lord for the church family Tess has to help her during the upcoming time of separation.  I want to thank the Lord ahead of time for the encouragement, strength, and protection He'll provide her while I'm away.



The countdown has begun!

 The countdown to the next deployment starting has officially begun.  I've had some great days building memories as well as getting things done on the "honey-do" list while on pre-deployment leave.  The current date of departure is only tentatively scheduled, as I wouldn't want to specify the exact date due to operational security reasons.  Once I'm in place on deployment, I'll reset the countdown for the end of deployment.  Where am I going on deployment you may ask; well I'll tell you one thing, it'll be hot and sandy where I'm going!

Keep Tess and the kids in your prayers as we prepare for another long time split up as a family.  I know the Lord will take care of each of us!

Seattle Dayz

Had a great day yesterday with Tess, Christopher, and Rebecca down in Seattle.  Did lots of walking around the Pacific Science Center as well as Pikes Place Market.  Found a shop that sold shawarma's but just didn't seem the same as the Middle East.  We settled for Pikes Place Chowder instead. . . yum yum, the salmon and clam chowders were great!

As I'm getting ready for deployment, the time on vacation has been filled with wonderful memories.  I'm definately NOT looking forward to leaving next month.  Pray that the Lord will bless our times together as we prepare for another extended time apart.

Shawarma = yum yum!

Shawarma is a popular non vegetarian side dish in the Middle East, which is fast catching up in the rest of the world. Shawarma normally is a juicy sandwich-like wrap made of grilled lamb, chicken, beef, turkey and other meat varieties. It is a fast food usually eaten with pickled vegetables.Shawarma is an Arabic dish, most precisely a bread wrap resembling a sandwich with a filling of meat like turkey, chicken, goat, beef or lamb or a mixture of meat and vegetables. There are several variations of Shawarma recipes that have become popular all over the world, especially all over Arab, the Caucasus and Europe.
You can't visit a place like Bahrain without tasting such yummy treats such as a shawarma.  Yum Yum!

When it rains. . . it pours!

Every heard the expression: "When it rains, it pours?"  Life gets really busy at times with balancing work, home-life, and church-life.  I am thankful that the Lord is with me during the good days AND the bad.  Work has been extremely busy lately, which has spilled over into the other most important areas of my life. In several verses in the Book of Psalm the Psalmist proclaims to "Give thanks unto the Lord."  I am so thankful that in whatever situation I find myself, I am comforted to know that the Lord is in control.  Though trials may come, though stresses may seem to present themselves, the Lord is sufficient to get me through. 

Starting soon!

Soon I'll be heading off to a wonderful place filled with lots of sand and extremely warm weather.  This blog will serve as a posting site for me to share thoughts, ideas, devotions, stories, etc. in hopes that through this deployment I can be a source of encouragement to others.  In return, I'm planning on encouragement coming from many of you as well.  I've been through 10 deployments in my time in the military and find they do not get any easier each time.  It's hard leaving my family and church family for so long a period of time.  I know that with God's help I'll make through the good days and the bad.