Impossibly Possible

August 8, 2018 by

I don’t like to “fail.” But really, who does? And after 3+ years of trying, yesterday I FINALLY accomplished something I envisioned as impossible.

I confess I lived a good chunk of my life trying to play it safe. If I couldn’t do something perfectly, I would find a way to skip it all together and seek to excel in an area where I knew I could achieve near perfection (in my own strength.)

It was an EXHAUSTING way to live! I felt like something was missing, but I was scared to go to church. What if the Pastor said “Turn to Galatians” but the people around me saw that I didn’t know where that was?!?

I believed that lie of needing to be perfect for waaaayyy too long.

So I decided to follow Jesus, stumbling in the right (ish-most-of-the-time) direction.

The physical health aspect of my life was similar. I ate as a form of control and semi-rebellion growing up. I was very overweight but getting healthy seemed way beyond me, so I always said, “Maybe later.” It seemed impossible so why even try?

Until 11 years ago. About the same time I started actively seeking Jesus, something shifted in my heart. I started to make some different choices in an effort to take care of my body.

I had to keep me eyes focused on what God was doing in me. Not how fit my best friend was or how easily someone else lost weight. Not how fast my now-husband runs or how much someone on Facebook can deadlift.

It was about my journey. Seeking to let God accomplish what I envisioned as completely impossible in my life.

I was still afraid of failing. I used the word “IF” as my perfection caveat. Now, I seek to find the balance of grace and obedience, because IF is no way to live. “If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”” (Mark‬ ‭9:23‬)

So yes. After more than 3 years of trying, falling short, then pushing it to the back burner of my Fitness Bucket List, I was able to pass the Army PT test! (No, I’m not joining the army…)

The 2-mile run, from a girl who just a few short years ago couldn’t/wouldn’t run more than a quarter mile without wheezing or wanting to cry. The push-ups, which just a few months ago I couldn’t do a single one on my toes with proper form. Th sit-ups, when beforehand it made my entire body tired just trying.

God has and continues to accomplish the impossible in my life. I give Him all the glory and celebrate the daily victories, no matter how great or small. I invite you to do the same.

It’s not about perfection, my friends. It’s about progress. Here’s to living in the light of His grace and inviting Him to do “impossible” things in our everyday.

In Him we can,

 

 

“Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”” ~Luke 18:27

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Army Wife Network: Six Quick Tips to Fire Up Your FRG

August 6, 2018 by

Family Readiness Groups can be such a wonderful asset to the military spouse life. It can be a great place to connect, meet people, and receive important information about all things mission-based.

Unfortunately, all it takes is one rough FRG experience to make military spouses a bit hesitant or skeptical to participate. (It certainly follows the concept of “One bad apple ruins the whole bunch.”)

If you find yourself in this position, faced with leading or participating in an FRG that currently has the enthusiasm of a jalepeno pepper plant that has been left in the El Paso sun without water (i.e., wilted and tired—ask me how I know about this analogy), here are six quick tips to fire up your FRG.

1. Be authentic. One of the biggest turn offs is an FRG leader who is insincere or just going through the motions. Yes, there’s a time and place for false motivation, (because in tough seasons, false motivation is better than NO motivation) but bottom line, we must make an effort to keep it real.

The heart of the FRG is supporting the families and supplying pertinent information, all while keeping the drama in check. Being our authentic selves might look like saying, “Yes this deployment/TDY/etc., is hard right now… But we can do it!” (If necessary, I like to use “America!” as a verb. It makes things a little easier to handle.)

Want to read the other 5 tips? Go ahead and hop on over to AWN to read the full post there. 

Oh, and if you aren’t military, that’s ok. I think these tips are easily adaptable for ANY leadership position. If you ARE military but aren’t necessarily the FRG leader, feel free to share the original post from AWN on your social media accounts. After all, knowledge is power, and power equals victory.

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A Special Thank You & A Veteran’s Funeral (Army Wife Network)

May 1, 2017 by

I’ve been blogging for Army Wife Network for over three years now. And if you have been around these parts for any length of time, you have likely heard about my theory as a military spouse to live out the “No-Plan-Plan.”

For the most part, the No-Plan-Plan pertains to the everyday milspouse stuff– the PCSs, TDYs, deployments, when hubby is coming home (ish,) what day he has off (ish), where/when we will be going next (ish)… Well, you get the point.

But sometimes, the No-Plan-Plan happens in big ways when we least expect it. As normal people. (My husband calls that “life.”) [Read more…]

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Travel Log: #WeBeRoadTripping Part 2

October 20, 2016 by

The recap of our journey across the USA continues today… to get caught up, be sure to check out Part 1 of this series. Thanks for tuning in! ~SGK

***

Surefire indication #2 you are in the middle of a very long road trip:

Husband get out of shower and you catch him doing the “smell test” on his very limited number of T-shirts he brought. ?#ThatsWhenFebreezeBecomesDeodorant 

***

“But seriously, Mama… What time zone are we in??” -Lightest Sleeping Child On the Planet Except When We Need To Hit The Road

[Read more…]

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Travel Log: #WeBeRoadTripping Part 1

October 17, 2016 by

So, if you’ve been kinda-sorta keeping up with #AllTheThings with our life transitions, you would know that we recently moved across the country (again) per military orders. I documented our adventures on Facebook, BUT as I reflect, those memories are too precious to just let them get sucked into the abyss of Facebook craziness. I want to cement them here– if not for your entertainment, for my joy/reflection later down the line. So for the next few blog posts, we will recap the adventure of #WeBeRoadTripping from Fort Lewis, Washington to Dahlonega, Georgia. Enjoy! ~SGK 

***

I think I read in a Milspouse etiquette handbook once that milspouses are permitted one melodramatic post per PCS.

And I am cashing mine in right now.

We are in our final moments here in Fort Lewis, WA. This place is an easy winner for the best duty station in our career so far.

We will miss everything about it (except I-5.) The people, culture, food, weather, stuff to do, you name it.

And as our personal belongings are all packed in boxes on a truck somewhere halfway across the USA, there’s one thing we can’t take with us… The pieces of our heart that will always be in this state, in this season, with our people. (That was the melodramatic climax, just FYI.)

So now, we say farewell to a place we’ve called home with the promise from 1 Thessalonians 5:24… “The one who called you is faithful and He will do it.”

Related note: Very grateful I super glued my sunglasses back together because it’s getting old explaining to Charis why Mama is all teary eyed.

*** [Read more…]

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A Little Pep talk… (Army Wife Network)

September 21, 2015 by

A few anniversaries ago, my husband surprised me with a small gift…

It was one of those army-wife stickers. But not just any sticker– one that said “Army Wife: Toughest Job in the Army.”

I was touched at the gesture, said a polite “Thank you?” (yes, with a question mark at the end) and put it on my car.

In my heart of hearts, I didn’t know how to react to the gift. I mean, yeah, sure, being an army wife IS a tough job about 98% of the time, but it’s not like I am getting deployed for a year at a time and carrying a ruck sack on my back on a regular basis. [Read more…]

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6 (Humorous) Signs that Homecoming is Coming (Army Wife Network)

August 24, 2015 by

As army wives, I would say we have two distinct moments of our army wife experience… One we loathe and one we anticipate.

The one of we dread is obviously the numerous “See-ya-later” moments with our Beloved Soldiers. Some days, as I kiss him and he walks to the door/bus/plane, I really feel like we just did this same routine like 20 minutes ago. Gross.

BUT… with the see-ya-later moments comes homecoming anticipation. And really, it doesn’t matter if he is gone for a week to the field, a month to training or a year to a desert somewhere, homecomings are always one of the “marked” army wife adventures. [Read more…]

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Do We Really? (Wives of Faith)

August 10, 2015 by

In all of my years of growing up and all things leadership-like, I have experienced the gamut of team-building activities.

From indoor obstacle courses made out of office equipment, to building the “world’s tallest tower” from random craft supplies within a give time frame, to creating commercial jingles, I have learned and enjoyed most.

Key word: Most.

I have never been a huge fan of the outdoor challenge courses, especially in my younger years. I was clumsy (still am) and heights are not my favorite. Fortunately, my optimistic, go-get-em attitude would pull me through each experience.

Except for the trust fall. I. Despised. The. Trust. Fall.  [Read more…]

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The Backwards PCS (Part 2) Army Wife Network

July 27, 2015 by

Last month, I shared the first half of what I deem as a rather epic list of “backwards” PCSing tips. (And yes, I am biased.) My Facebook friends contributed to the humorous list, and now I would like to share the second portion of the how-not-to-PCS strategies. (To get caught up and read the first post in this series, click here.)

Got your chocolate in hand and ready to laugh? Let’s dive into to the rest of our Backwards PCS adventures. [Read more…]

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The Backwards PCS (Part 1) Army Wife Network

June 29, 2015 by

We all know that rocking this army wife life is rewarding. It is an adventure.

But you know what? Sometimes that adventure can daggum stress us out.

I personally believe that PCSing can be one of the most stressful events of our army lives.

Backwards PCSSo much coordination, so few answers. When are we leaving? When will the packers arrive? Can we drive both vehicles? How much is in savings? When do we report? When do the kids get out of school? When does school start? What is our weight limit again? Do we really like or furniture or can we just ditch it and start over? Where is the nearest chocolate stash? [Read more…]

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