Refined

With the Mr's latest news I have been thinking a lot about these trials we've gone through in the last year.

December 2011 we received orders to Okinawa. It wasn't until April that we had final word about if we were going as a family or not. Stressed. Me. Out.

End of May/ early June we moved and it was challenging but, honestly, it was mostly fun.

September the Mr. was offered the team leader position for SES, which he accepted. I was in AZ, but we talked it over and thought it would be a good opportunity (hah!). This would later mean he would work 6 weeks straight and often 10-12 hour days.

November the Mr's father died.

December the Mr was recommended for warrant officer. He declined. We also were fairly sick for a couple weeks.

Jan/Feb Mr put in for NCIS polygraph. We waited. They chose his coworker because his coworker had been on island longer and 'would be easier to justify pcs'ing early' as opposed to us who would have only been here a year.

March. We lost our pregnancy.

Also March. Mr has orders for recruiting duty. Orders for 12-14 hour days 6 days a week. *sigh*

Maybe I'm oblivious to my friend's lives but I think we've had a fair amount of trials this year. It makes me think God is refining us as we go through these trials. Giving us opportunities to give things to Him and to rely on Him.

So I look to psalm 66 and hope it is true of our lives:

For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance. I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows, Which my lips uttered And my mouth spoke when I was in distress. I shall offer to You burnt offerings of fat beasts, With the smoke of rams; I shall make an offering of bulls with male goats. Selah. Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me. (Psalms 66:10-20 NASB)