Happy December!

December is here! Isn't that amazing!? I cannot believe how fast time is flying by; and for the first time in my life, I am actually grateful for that. I am ready for Drew to come home.



Thanksgiving came and went so fast. I spent my Thanksgiving holiday with some family in Ft. Myers. We live in the same state, and it was still an 8 hour drive to get there! It was well worth it, though. I had so much fun with Aunt Debra, the kids, and other relatives - eating food, having bonfires, playing games, watching football. Debra and I even stayed up until 3 o'clock one morning doing an insanely difficult puzzle. Both of us are extremely anal and stubborn, so we refused to go to bed before it was finished. We succeeded, but definitely realized we are both ridiculous. :) It was an awesome trip, and I can't wait for the next opportunity to go back down there.


And now, it's on to Christmas... I have had my Christmas decorations up for a few weeks now (my computer won't let me upload my pictures, so hopefully I can post some later). Knowing I will be in New York for Christmas and New Year's, I wanted to be able to enjoy my decorations for as long as possible. I am obsessed with Christmas and all that it entails - the birth of Jesus being the most important of course :), but also the lights, the songs, the trees, and the food! Plus, I get to see my family - three weeks from tomorrow! And for the first time in over a year and a half, we will all be together (the parents, all 4 siblings, the brother-in-law, the sister-in-law, and the 2 nephews). The last time we were all at the same place at the same time was Dad's inauguration in April of 2007 (the picture on the right is of the siblings at the inauguration), and Beau was 4 months away from being born. So I am so excited, but I also wish Drew could be there.


I've been getting to talk to Drew quite a bit lately (including today). Receiving phone calls from him is a huge highlight of my day, and I am so thankful for them. In a recent letter, Drew told me about some unfortunate events that took place a few weeks ago, but everything (in that regard) has been taken care of for the most part. Drew did receive his promotion last week. He is now a first lieutenant and is pretty excited about it.

I am so in awe of his consistant positive attitude. Sure, there are things that take place that might frustrate him a little bit every now and then, especially some of those events that occurred over the past few weeks; but when I put myself in his shoes, I know I would not be able to handle things as well as he does.

It reminds me of a verse in Isaiah that says, "You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (Is. 26:3). Drew is trusting God in every little circumstance and in the situation as a whole, and God is blessing his mind and heart with a peace that couldn't come from anywhere but Him. What an amazing example that sets for me (the worrier)!

What is my mind stayed on? Honestly, sometimes it's other things besides the Lord - whether it be how much I want Drew here right now, or worrying about where he is and how safe he is, or a bunch of other things. It doesn't take long for God to snap me out of my "zone" each time I enter it; and remind me that He has a perfect will (which consists of perfect timing). If I focus on that, I will receive His peace.