Dear Friends,
I would love to tell you about my family. Wes and I married in December of 2000. He was the son of missionaries over in Papua New Guinea and I the daughter of a chemical engineer and mom who stayed home. I was in college going through the Nursing program at Boise State and he was attending Treasure Valley Baptist Institute. I liked him! I remember seeing him give his mom a hug in public and I told myself that I wanted to marry someone like him who treated his mom so nice...God answered my prayer! Wes started calling me and we immediately became really good friends! We did the "friend" thing for a couple of months and then without me knowing he asked my dad if he could marry me! To keep it a secret (because I USED to like surprises) he asked me if we could start dating officially. I was thrilled like any girl would be. I know I was on cloud nine! I was thinking we would probably date for over a year...one month later he asked to marry me (I had no clue it was coming) at the Boise River Fireworks in front of both our families and friends underneath the fireworks! It was so romantic to have the heart shapes firing in the sky! I said yes! Six months later we were married!
Wes and I are both Christians. We love the Lord with all our hearts. The day we married we vowed to stick together through the good and bad. I know the Lord brought me someone very special. He was just what I needed. He calms my fears, loves me for me, leads, puts things in the right perspective, never yells, etc. He truly is my best friend! Looking back on the past 11 years of marriage we have experienced many tough times. But, what couple has not experienced troubles and hardships? I'm thankful that God gives us one hard step at a time. It just refines us and makes us stronger for whatever else comes along. You can build on past experiences and say,"I made it through the last hardship, I can make it through the next with God's help". I'm glad I could not see the future as a young (still immature in her thinking) bride preparing for her "I Do's". I sometimes wonder if I knew what lay ahead if I would have really married him. Some may be shocked that I would say such a thing. But, don't all girls want a Fairy Tale marriage (I had the fairy tale wedding)? There was a stressful sickness (with me), miscarriages, job changes, moves, and then the economy thing.
The biggest maturing for me as an adult happened when the economy problem came calling in 2006 in our home. Wes lost his job down in Arizona as an instructor pilot. But, no big deal...Wes got another job within three days working out of state. I had just given birth to our 2nd son. I was not thrilled that he was working so far away, but it was going to pay the bills. Two weeks later he returned and his parents also came down to see the new baby. Two weeks later they all left and I was sitting in the house all alone again feeling sorry for myself that I had to do all this parenting stuff by myself. I had an attitude! Instead of asking God to help my heavy heart I decided to throw a mini temper tantrum and I yelled at the Lord. I told Him I was angry at Him for taking my husband away and making me have to do ALL the work! I demanded that he allow Wes to come back home or I was never going to be happy. I went to bed with red, swollen eyes. I was awakened by an early morning phone call and it was Wes on the other end. He asked if I would come get him at the airport. After he said the word airport my mind was whirling trying to understand. I remember hearing words like, "let go", "decided they didn't want me", "don't worry". I felt nauseous, dizzy, and had a hard time breathing. I couldn't help but recall my attitude with the Lord. I had the biggest guilt burden ever to bear!
It took almost four months of looking for work. He would spend 8 hours a day looking at all kinds of helicopter companies. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. But, despite my bitterness, God still took care of us. We turned off all the electricity in the house (it got up to 104* almost every day), we were using one diaper a day for Gabe (then letting him be naked since it was so hot), and eating rice and potatoes to save money. We pulled out all of our life savings (which was not much), pulled out our 401K, we spent every dime we had to pay our mortgage and bills. Then we were out of money and totally relying on the Lords provisions. But, just when we thought our noses were going under water we would get an unexpected check in the mail (a refund, a friend helping, a concerned family member...), diapers would appear in my diaper bag at church, gift cards would be under our windshield. It was tough, but amazing to look back and see how well we were taken care of! During all of this Wes was very calm and would always proclaim that God was going to do something spectacular in our lives. He was such an optimist (I was a pessimist). I begged him with many tears to let me go get a nursing job at the local hospital (my baby was only weeks old at the time). He told me he wanted me home with the kids and that God was going to answer. I will admit that we started to get closer as a husband and wife. We started praying every morning and night together.
I didn't want Wes to find another job that would take him away again from the family. But, I finally realized I was still telling God how to call the shots. I was praying that things would go my way! So, one night while Wes slept peacefully (like he always does) and I was still wringing the covers, I cried out to the Lord. I asked him to forgive me for my bitterness, for being angry at Wes for not having a job, being selfish, etc. I told God that he could have Wes back, that I didn't need Wes, I just needed my Lord, and that where ever He wanted him I would be happy, even if it meant he would have to work out of state. I told the Lord that I never wanted to be angry again at whatever situation he has for us. I told God that I wanted to depend more on Him than my husband. That night I feel asleep with a peaceful heart.
Believe it or not the next day Wes got a phone call from someone looking for a pilot down in Louisiana...of course out of state, but I was excited! I was thinking, "Why in the world did I wait this long to let God do His thing"! He went down there for an interview and was there for three weeks. This man that Wes was interviewing with realized that Wes would be better suited at a company called PHI. Wes told him he had been trying to get in with them for months to no avail. This guy said, "yeah?, well the guy that does the hiring is my really good friend...and I set up an interview with you tomorrow"! PHI had been the company Wes had wanted to work for since graduating from flight school! Wes interviewed with them and was hired!
I wanted to tell you all these things because God has a plan for our lives! I believe that this whole situation happened to show me what an amazing God we have and to get Wes to the right company. We really don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I know from experience that if we let go of the reigns and let Him lead we will be more happy! Wes has had the desire to fly in Papua New Guinea since he was a teenager. He did not know when or how that could be accomplished, but he always believed that if God wanted him there He would answer his prayer. I mentioned the above story to say that the company in PNG hired Wes for one of many reasons, but the biggest one being was that he was working for PHI, one of the worlds largest helicopter companies. I have had many people declare us to be crazy for moving all the way around the world and leave such a great company such as PHI. I see it as another step in God's direction and leading...after all its the Lord who brought both of these jobs to him.
I have learned many great life lessons in the past 5 years of saying good-bye every month and only seeing Wes for 1-2 weeks out of the month. I have also learned to trust my God more. God has shown me how many things I really can do my myself with His help. I feel as though I have become stronger in my faith as well as not being a wimpy woman. I am also no longer scared of him dying in a helicopter accident and being left alone. I know I will be ok. I have learned to fix leaky toilets, broken faucets, do some minor electrical work, fix some things on a vehicle, and take care of children. But, I am thrilled to finally see an end of the commute! My heart has yearned for this time for a very long time.
We are very excited to go and be ministry helpers to Brad and Deborah Wells. I am excited to see what God has in store for us for the future. Do I want to know how its all going to play out? NO WAY!! One day at a time is good for me! One of the questions I keep getting asked is, "How do you move a family and belongings across the world?" My answer, "I don't really know! I just take it one day at a time".
