Looking ahead to 2010

It is sage advice to live in the present. However, I find myself often thinking ahead to 2010. 2010 is going to be a big year for me and Matt.

Firstly, to back-track to a previous blog I had written asking for your prayers regarding Matt applying for a job within the Air Force National Guard...he did not get the position. We both feel okay about it, trusting that God's hand is in it. Currently, Matt's unit in the Army National Guard is set to deploy to Afghanistan next May. For a whole year. Or fourteen months, to be more exact, including the two months of training Matt will do in the US prior to deploying.

Now, it is not absolutely certain that this will happen. Unfortunately, the Army's strange communication and planning system may prevent us from knowing 100% for certain whether his unit will go or not, up until it actually happens.

So...how do I feel about it? Well, I am trying to prepare myself for the real possibility of it happening. At the same time, I am making myself not dwell on it, because there is no use being upset about it now if it doesn't end up happenning. It is something, though, that I have always had at the back of my mind since Matt and I first got together. It is something we discussed with our pre-marital counselor. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it will be, but I know I'll get through it. (If Matt goes, he'll have a 2-week leave about half way through his deployment where we'll be together).

Secondly, 2010 will be a big year for me. I will begin my MA with Wheaton College in June and I cannot wait to begin! The real blessing about Matt's deployment, if he does indeed deploy, is the timing. You see, my MA at Wheaton begins in June with a six-week archaeological dig in Israel. Then I'll have about five weeks off, and then I'll study from late August until mid December at the Jerusalem University College. I am thrilled about this--I'll be taken all over the Holy Lands by scholars, and even to Egypt!

When I got accepted to Wheaton, I was really worried about this part of my master's taking me away from Matt. But it now looks as if my time in Israel will coincide exactly with the first half of Matt's deployment. The blessing is two-fold: 1. It allows that Matt and I would not have to spend any more time away from one another than necessary 2. It will really help me a lot to have something like this to focus on while Matt is away.

So in a way, I cannot wait for 2010, yet I dread it as well. As ever, Matt and I are trusting God in His ultimate plan and timing for our lives. And since God has always been there and provided for us in such enormous ways, I have peace--a peace that could only come from the love of our Father.