Confessions of a Chaplain's Wife

Confession time.

I am a Chaplain's wife and I am so imperfect, there I said it:)

Every once in a while I get caught up in life...caught up in myself.  I forget that ultimate happiness on this earth is found in Christ alone.  Instead, I seek out joy through the things of the world.  If I buy this, or hang out here, or look this way, or.....the list goes on and on... it wears me out!  I push God out because he doesn't fit into my schedule, then I wonder where He was when I inevitably begin to spiral out of control in desperate need for his presence.  Why are we so inconsistent in our love and devotion to our Creator?  It is frustrating.  The one "Being" that cares the most about our lives, who is so invested in the little things... is the one we walk away from time and time again?   

How can I be a good wife, friend, mother, sibling... if I have no solid ground to stand on?  If the waves of life toss me about, there must be dry land to cling to!  When we push God away, we will push everyone dear to us away ultimately.  I cannot love others purely if I do not love God first, it's a fact. 

The truth is, God holds all things together with his mighty hands, and when He steps away and allows us to "do our own thing" He must shake His head wishing there was another way... wishing that we would just let go of the chains this world has on us.  The moral to my story is always found in Christ's mercy.  The fact that He never lets go... never gives up... never tires of my stubbornness....fills me with hope.  He loves me more than I could ever love Him.  When I reach out, he always grabs hold...no matter how far the reach may be.

I was reading an excerpt from a work of Jonathan Edwards that I wanted to share.  It reminds me that this life is fleeting.  That our focus must be properly placed onto eternity.

"God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. — To go to heaven fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows. But the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean. — Therefore it becomes us to spend this life only as a journey towards heaven, as it becomes us to make the seeking of our highest end and proper good, the whole work of our lives, to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for, or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end, and true happiness?" (Edwards, "Christian Pilgrim," in The works of Jonathan Edwards)

Yours truly,

Chaps Wife

The Koolest family ever...

Well folks, it's official, the Koole's finally got a family photo. As I recall, the last time this happened was about 10 years ago, crazy right!  The fabulous Michelle Blair took the photo.  She is not only an amazing photographer, but she's also my favorite neighbor who I spy on as often as poosible! (www.michelleblair.net)

This is Bella with Uncle John having a grand ole time.  Yes, she's topless but hey, anything goes at Disney;)

My brother-in-law Andy and Josh... Andy was trying out Josh's gear... Josh was, in his PJ's?

Bella and her beautiful aunt Candace!

Getting some love from my nephew Jonny-boy! Those are some kissable lips!

Kiki and Ricki! Love this picture of them... 

Kiki and miss Hannah and Emma in line at Disney:)

Katie, Andy and Jonny-boy... it was Andy and Jonny's first Disney trip!

"Sisters, sisters... there where not two such devoted sisters" (yes, we actually sing this movie tune to each other often)

I love this girl! Candace all grown up:)

San Diego trip with the family was so gorgeous!

The "Koole" boys.... ok maybe "cool"

Jonny's first trip to the pacific ocean... with his mommy here....

It was Andy's first trip too:) 

Niece and Nephew... cutest beach bums I've seen....

My sister Katie...love this girl!

Love my Kiki-kins.

There's no place like home or the Price is Right?

We are a family again!! Josh has been home for a couple weeks and Bella and I couldn't be happier.  Oh and we still have our favorite roomie and old college buddy Kori living with us as well. Josh is settling in nicely as the "man of the house".  Now that he's home... I don't have to pick up dead animals, take out the trash, or worry about bills.  Yes, last month there was a dead rat in our yard and I spent 10 minutes dry heaving trying and failing to get it to trash can (I gave up and found a man to pick it up... I know, fail for the female race).  I've never claimed to be a she-woman.  One of my favorite things about Josh being home is how much Bella loves to be around him.  When he gets home from work, she runs full speed to find him and ask him to spin her! "I want spin" (she is now saying three words at a time... amazing, I know). I LOVE IT.  Oh and my poor husband, I follow him around trying to snuggle 24/7... What can I say, I'm a lover :)

Happy 9 Year Anniversary us!

In other news, Kori and I were on the Price is Right! Wow, what a fun experience! Seven hours of waiting in lines and an interview with the producer was worth every second.  Since I've vowed to keep the shenanigans of our experience a secret (until Nov 7 when it airs), YOU MUST watch it friends!  Did we get on the show?  Did we run down the isle like crazy people? Did we say anything inappropriate on the air? Did we do the robot dance?  What do you think?  Let me just say I'm frightened to see what I look like on television, I'm sitting in the second row, front and center... oh, don't worry.. you will see me............ More on that when it airs in November.  I've never bounced, hugged, or high five'd more in my life.

Ok, we need to take a moment and try to figure out what is happening in this picture?  Kori looks really excited with her Price is Right name tag, and "Hugs & High-Fives" t-shirt.  Me, well... I am super intense, either playing air guitar, doing a weird fist pump, or constipated.... it's just an unfortunate picture of me that's all.... Kori, I love this picture of you.

The new house is coming together nicely.  It really feels like home now that I have a hot chaplain in the house.  Here are a few pictures of the downstairs (upstairs pics to come).  I've got tons of painting, wall hanging, curtain and furniture purchasing to do in the future... but for now, I'm loving our place.

Painted this wall gray (from a neutral creme that is present throughout the house).  Primed the brick from a weird creme to white, still deciding what to do with the brick:)

Purchased some fun pillows.  Josh jokes that we have way too many pillows in this house.  Hey, if the world was ending and pillows were a hot commodity, remember me... I'll be dealing pillows like drugs.

Found this light fixture at World Market and fell in love.  I love shells and circles so this light and I needed a moment alone:)

Here's the light fixture hanging in the living room, bad picture I know...but you get the idea.  P.S. I need some curtains, clearly. Oh and if you look closely... the right wall is gray and the left is blue.  Some of the painting that took place during deployment.

Dear pillow:  I love you so much.  

Sunburst, I love you too... Got this at Home Depot for 30 something bucks!  All of the vases/candle holders are from consignment shops.

My peeps.  My owl.  My DIY letter.  

MY KITCHEN IS DONE!  Ok, I was going for the "mismatched cabinet" look and I love how it turned out.  Gray on bottom (compliments other wall in the house) and cream/white on top with cream/white counter tops!

Here's the before picture, hard to see but it was navy blue counter tops and all of the bottom drawers were rusted out. 

Here is a look at how the back splash ties it all together:) 

...an even closer look at the back splash... yummy... don't you just want to lick it?  I do? That was a weird thing to say...  

Here's our entry way.  I need curtains and new wall decor but I love how the gray and cream walls go together:)  I also love the craigslist wicker chairs I bought/spray painted to fill the space in the mean time.  Money doesn't grow on trees like I had previously thought when beginning the decorating process.... Oh, the center table is an antique tray set (both trays come off...found at a local thrift store.

Downstairs bathroom before... ewe.

Downstairs bathroom (done by my amazing husband Josh)!