“Wanna throw a Frisbee?” “Can I use an umbrella?” Barrett gave me a comical look but shrugged his shoulders sure. We had just gotten back from having lunch with friends after church overlooking the runway of the air force base and now we walked in the blazing sun toward the beach nearby our apartment. The scene must have been hysterical for those that saw us. One with his shirt off to get rid of the pasty skin from a life on a ship circling off the shores of a snowy Japan, the other 38 weeks pregnant carrying an umbrella to refute the same sun gaze and trying to bend down to finger retrieve the Frisbee she dropped again! It didn’t matter, Barrett was home!
The homecoming was complete opposite of the departure. The sun was out, the bags were dry and so were the eyes, and I didn’t have to walk through the maze of steel hallways and stairs with my belly bouncing leading the way. I got to see most of his dear marines and hear the stories of “Chaps” and what he meant to them and what they meant to him. What a joy and privilege! After my quick introduction to the faces behind the stories, we headed home…with a beloved stop at Taco Bell for good measure…and maybe for my low blood sugar. We took too much pleasure of every gooey bean filled delightful bite.
Back at the apartment I got to show/remind him of where we live! Funny that he has been away from Okinawa longer than he has been here. He got to sleep for the first time without feeling the vengeful waves of the China Sea or of nausea. And our frowns of sorrow were now smiles of bliss.
We are now slowly figuring out our new lives and schedule as we watch the addition of my belly do her own waves of motions. Im so thankful that Barrett is able to see some of the dance moves of our faceless Annabelle before she reveals them all. The Lord has been kind to the both of us during our separation and to bring Barrett home before the homecoming of Annabelle. Thank you for all of your prayers and support during this time as we were once again made to face where we truly place our contentment and joy in life…in man or the Lord? In our circumstances or our Savior? We failed at times, but our sanctification was consistent. If you think of us, please pray for our new adjustment of family life and of a chaplain on land verses sea. Pray that the convictions and decisions made on ship are still the convictions and decisions on land for these marines. May we all see the goodness of the Lord in all of our circumstances whether they meet our expectations or not.
OK, off to take a nap before Barrett comes HOME for dinner! What a joy!