We're back!

We are finally here in Dunedin, FL which means we have purchased a new computer and are connected to the internet. I can blog again! Devin's new job is working at Airstation Clearwater on C-130's. He hasn't gone back to work yet, so hopefully he loves it. We picked to rent a house site-unseen which was a scary thing. We were relieved when we got here to find we had picked the perfect little house for us. We live steps from the community center which has a nice gym for Devin and yoga classes for myself at a fraction of what we would pay elsewhere. Our neighbors have all been so welcoming and kind to us. Zombie and Roxi are in love with their first ever, fenced-in backyard. All-in-all, life on the Gulf has been good to us so far.
I have a lot to blog about, so I will break it up over a few posts. For starters, enjoy a few shots from Devin's A-school graduation.

I just think this accidental shot is funny.

love,

chianne.

R.I.P. Laptop...

Well, I had every intention of posting about day to day life here at Sam Allen. However, one day, several weeks ago, the laptop would not turn on. We knew this day was coming but did not expect it so soon. As we live in a furnished house, there is a computer here to use, but it is unbelievably slow, so we don't use it too often. Also, I don't have a way to upload the photos I take, unless I showed you my iPhone photos, but then why would I have Instagram? The photos will just have to wait for a future time when we buy a new computer, which will be probably after we move to our new station.
Speaking of which, Devin put in his "dream sheet" last Monday. You put your top 3 places you'd like to go. When the list of available places comes out, you're only allowed to pick one of your top 3. If none of your top 3 are available, then you can pick anything from the list. They also pick in order of their class rank. It's a complicated process and quite frankly, makes me feel like the stars will have to align and hell will have to freeze over for us to go anywhere we want to go. Devin really wants to work on the Dolphin 65 helicopters.

 I did not take this photo, just found it on Google. If he were to get stationed on this particular type of helo, it gives him a lot of options of places to be stationed in the future. We will find out where we are going sometime this next week. We are both so anxious to know. I just want to be able to start planning and get all our ducks in a row. It's hard work moving with only 6 weeks notice! That's all for now. Next time I write will probably be to inform the masses where we will be moving at the end of June. Until then -
love,
chianne

Sam Allen and Aurora

Playing fetch while I relaxed in the sun!

We are all settled in at the waterfront cottage the owners have named "Sam Allen". It's so peaceful and even though it's furnished with the owner's things, we have felt so at home here. We have been able to go canoeing, and Devin is making use of the kayak and fishing equipment. The dogs LOVE it here. They love sitting in the sun room and watching the water and the birds. All the dogs roam free around here, so we regularly have several dogs in the yard playing. Roxi will even run off and visit her friends (her favorites being a little white dog named Jack, and a golden retriever who also is named Roxi), and then return home later. We even took them out in the canoe one day! Roxi thought it was amazing. Zombie was a little more nervous but got used to it. I fell in the water by accident, and to my surprise it wasn't very cold considering it was only 70 degrees out. Roxi has gone for a swim a few times after watching the lab next door jump off the dock and chase down toys in the water. Zombie is not so interested in swimming, but I think that will change when the heat of summer comes. We have to drive a little further to get to town and work, but we have no regrets.

Spectacular sunsets from the back deck - every night.

Devin's doing well in school. He currently has a 95% in class. They take several tests a week, and he is constantly studying or doing homework. In 3 months (to the day!) Devin will be graduating, and we will be moving to wherever the Coast Guard decides to send us next. We won't know until May where that might be. The suspense is killing me! I'm not even going to tell you where we want to go, because we literally change our minds every day based on which aircraft Devin likes most each day. Not every aircraft is at every air station, so whichever one he picks will narrow down the places we are able to go. There are just so many factors to consider!

Aunt Chynee and baby Aurora!

Last week, I was able to take the week off work and visit my sister, brother-in-law, and their new baby, Aurora. It seriously blows my mind that my sister grew that little girl in her belly for 9 months! I haven't been able to spend that much time around that young of a baby before, so it was a learning experience on many levels. It was such a nice trip.

The only downside is that those harborers of all things germy, AKA airplanes, seem to have infected me with a mean cold now. I'm already on my second box of tissues. Ah, well! It seems my obsession with hand sanitizer did not spare me this time...

I think that's all for now!

love,
chianne.

a glass of wine with a side of passion.

Photo by Abigail Rivas

Devin is home, and that is delightful.
Abby came to visit for Thanksgiving, and that was delightful as well.

Astoria Column by Abigail Rivas

2010 is almost over. I can't even believe it. So much of this year I counted for nothing, and now it is almost over. It's so strange to me. I was counting today and I realized I have lived in Oregon for 8 months, Devin's been in the military for 10 months, and he's been gone to training or deployed for almost 9 months of this year.
Numbers are so weird to me lately. I don't have really any concept of time anymore. I measure my life in moments now. I have not decided if that is good or bad.

I long for beautiful music and even more beautiful poetry. I miss writing. I want everything to change, but I want bits to stay the same.

I want to go back in time....just to tell myself to savor the moment. I spent too much time not realizing majesty was all around me and that I just needed to open my eyes. This is the same message I need to give myself today. If only it were that easy.
I only feel alive on Saturday nights. And by alive I mean more surreal than any other time. With a glass of pinot noir and nameless strangers that are better friends than anyone I've ever known. The air is too warm, but that's okay because it just sets the mood even more. People so still just hanging on every single word. I've never been in a room so full that is so utterly quiet at the same time. But you feel the passion. You feel the thickness of emotions. It's such a treasure to me.

I just want to be surprised. I just want to not want. ha.



love,
chianne

autumn.

My birthday came and went and I am now the ripe old age of 22. Devin says we will have a celebration when he comes home. I can't wait!
A friend of mine from Utah, Heather, popped into town for a surprise visit. She was vacationing in Seattle and decided to jump on a bus down to here to hang out for a weekend. It was so nice to have some company and break up the silence of my home!
The other night I got to watch Devin on CGC Steadfast transit through the Panama Canal! I learned a lot in the process and it was actually really cool! I learned a lot! It's was nice to feel less disconnected even if it was through a camera that only updates every 20 seconds!
love,
chianne

Here's a few photos!

Heather at Haystack Rock. It was so cold and rainy!

Zombie likes to eat leaves?

Sweeping the leaves off the walkway to my house!

CGC Steadfast in the Miraflores Lock

the time spent together.

Collin boosting Devin up.

Devin got back about a week and a half after his original date to be home....which left him with just a few days over a month to settle into Oregon before departing to be united with his original station, CGC Steadfast.
We celebrated our second anniversary August 2nd. I got Devin a netbook so he would have a simpler time communicating with the real world while traveling around on boats, and he got me a nook since I read pretty much constantly. We also both made tattoo appointments as part of our festivities, and there was fun all around.
In the middle of August we were visited by the Trerise family as well as Daniel. It was nice to have a little bit of Utah in Oregon as Oregon still does not feel like "home". We went to the beach, bought fish and chips from a boat (it was delicious!), went to the column, and enjoyed a meals together. It was very refreshing. While Daniel was still here, we checked out another church. I had been struggling to find one while Devin was gone, and I had been going to one more than others, but we still didn't feel God leading us that way. Because of Devin's work schedule while he was home, we only were able to go to it twice as a couple, so that was sad. Devin really feels this is where we are led. I just miss house churches a lot. We quickly discovered that churches out here don't really break down and meet in smaller groups, so no one really ever has a chance to get to know anyone else.

Obviously Devin and Daniel in their natural states.

Devin had to spend a lot of time home working as they prepared to go meet their boat on the East Coast. He built softball fields and painted a middle school. Then the time came for him to leave again. It was disappointing to say the least. Devin really does not enjoy boat life, so it was really hard. I think it's an obvious fact that I don't like the time away either. We're both counting down the days to A-school and praying hard that it comes sooner than expected. Once Devin gets through A-school, we won't ever have to have long periods apart. Well, that's all for now.
love, chianne

always overdue...

I'm very sorry for the lack of updates. I was struggling with making the layout of the blog what I wanted it to be and then I just downright got angry and decided I was going to abandon it. Then I decided that's not what I wanted to do at all...so here goes. I revamped the layout and I feel a lot better now, so maybe I'll stick with this for once. That's something I don't like about myself - I have a lot of projects going at once but I never ever really stick to one and finish it. hmm...
Anyways, now that Devin has finished his TAD with CGC Alert, I can tell you more about where he went and what he saw. (Though I can't post pictures since Devin accidentally deleted them as soon as he tried to upload them to the computer...sigh.)
Devin spent from the beginning of May to the end of July sailing the Pacific Ocean. He got to go to B.C., Canada for the first time, as well as countless ports in Alaska. He got to cross over the International Date Line which has earned him the title of "Golden Dragon". He saw Russia from afar as well as Russian boats. He [willingly] jumped into the Bering Sea (28 degrees) and swam to a nearby boat which earned him a "Polar Bear Plunge" certificate. He got his qualifications completed so he doesn't have to stand as many watches.
This was all great, until he found that because of error in communication, he actually wasn't supposed to go underway with that boat at all. Yep...needless to say we were both very discouraged when we heard that. Devin had spent only a few days here...we had not found a church by the time he had left (and I was struggling to find one alone). To have that much more time together and settling in would have been such a blessings and would have made so many things easier that ended up being a lot harder. I'll never understand why God allowed the miscommunication to happen that led to more time apart. I think I've typed enough for now...I'll get to stories about Devin being home in the next post.
love,
chianne

Graduation! and more.

Sorry this is a month overdue! I'm sure you can understand how fast everything happened with coming home and immediately packing up and moving and then getting here and settling in.
Graduation was amazing. It was in Cape May, NJ. This was Dillon's first plane ride, first beach visit, first for a lot of things. Dillon successfully surprised Devin, and Lee and Cindy have the big cow tear pictures to prove it. We enjoyed delicious food, each other's company, and best of all Devin! Devin graduated as a Fireman. We returned home the day after graduation to immediately start the packing and moving process. This was very stressful. The movers came, packed all of our stuff and we were going to depart the day after the following day...so 2 nights without a bed or anything really. Well the next day we got a call saying they didn't want us to come till the following Monday...almost a week later!! Luckily, the Evensons generously housed us for the next few days, and we left one week exactly from the day Devin graduated. We made it to our new hometown in 2 days' drive to stay in motels for the first 4 nights. Devin started working immediately. We moved into our house, and two days later we got a call informing us Devin was getting assigned TAD (temporary additional duty) on another cutter in the area. Better news yet, it was leaving just a few days later!! AH! We panicked a little and through tears bid each other good bye after seeing each other for only a little over 2 weeks. This cutter will be gone for quite a while longer than the norm, though I can't post specifics. Once it returns, Devin will only have a few weeks before returning to sea life again on the boat he was originally assigned to. (They are currently doing repairs and upgrades on that boat, and we're earnestly praying it gets delayed, so he can get a little more time at home and actually learn the area of the place he lives!)
Of course, I'm stressed. I don't like this at all. Devin is discouraged. We knew what we were getting into. It's tough being in a new place, with a new life, with everything new, new NEW. It's nice to remember that God is still the SAME yesterday, today, and forever, despite all the new. I'm holding onto that.
Being next to an air station, we've had the pleasure of watching the helicopters run drills. It's next door to Starbucks and I sit outside on my breaks, stare at the bay and watch the helicopters take off and skim over the water, and circle around and do it all over again. They look like giant birds gracefully flitting around in the air, excited to feel the wind rush around them. Devin, too, has become entranced with these steel wonders, and with that comes his new career choice. (about 99% positive this time...I know, I know, he was changing his mind daily before, but this one he has held onto for quite awhile, and spoke with many that have done it.) The career I speak of is, Avionics Electrical Technician or AET. I will let this video do the talking:




more posts to come.
love, chianne

Week 7 - The Final Countdown

Woo!!! Check out that studly man!!! (I'm referring to the second one in line aka my husband!) A mother of a recruit that graduated the Friday before last snapped this and uploaded it to the coast guard group on Facebook, and lucky for me, Devin was in the shot!
Last Saturday, Devin got his on-base liberty. He got to talk to me for a total of 2 hours. It was great!
Today, Devin had his off-base liberty. He got to go into town with his shipmates and do whatever they want (within military standards, of course). They were in uniforms ("Trops" today. The uniform featured above are his "ODUs") so they had to maintain military bearing. Devin said it wasn't very hard as that's what they are used to anyways. He got a prepaid phone so he could call me all day! He even got to talk to several other people though I was pretty selfish and had a hard time sharing. Every time I made a request (i.e.: "Call me back in 5 minutes.") he would respond, "Aye-aye!" It was so cute!! He told me more funny stories about everything that's gone on. He really has enjoyed his time there and can't stop saying how much he loves being in the Coast Guard. At the end of the day, he was able to send me a picture of himself standing in front of the Atlantic Ocean in his "trops". I asked him if I could post it, but since that is one of the nicer uniforms, he wanted to unveil that for himself with the pictures we will take at graduation. He let me share it with family, but the rest will have to wait! He looks SO good. :) I can't wait to see him on Friday morning!! I cannot believe their is only 5 days until I see my love again!

MOVING! and week 6

 Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

I received my first call from Devin last Saturday. This was the first time he was permitted to use a phone in 5 weeks. He got 10 minutes to talk to me and let me know where we are moving....which is Astoria, Oregon! We are both so excited and cannot wait to go! Devin was really encouraged on the phone, and said he was really glad he joined the Coast Guard. We're both just counting down the days until we see each other again. Less than 2 weeks! Ah! This is his 6th week in New Jersey. I can't believe how fast it's gone already, and I'm thankful for that. Devin's letter this week was really cheerful. Boot camp is winding down and as he nears graduation, they get more privileges. For example, tomorrow he gets on-base liberty. He can call me, watch movies, eat junk food, and just hang out. Until this time, he really hasn't had any free time at all. I can't wait for his call! This one won't have the 10 minute time limit either. :) He asked me to tell everyone, "Hello!" and "Keep praying!"

My best friend, Erin, has been visiting this week, and that is a blessing! She resides in San Diego, so I don't get to see her very often. We've been staying up late and having fun. It's refreshing.

Wednesday is my last day at the ol' Starbucks. (I'm trying to transfer to the one in Astoria.) After that I'll be a clean-aholic until I go to New Jersey. I just can't wait for all that's happening in the next couple weeks!

Love,
Chianne

Week 5 - Deathstar

Sorry, I skipped week 4. Devin's letter that week was short. I was informed he was selected for the rifle drill team and became the watch coordinator for his company, which means he schedules when everyone does their watch. (I was told this means people are going to suck up to him, so that he doesn't give them bad watch shifts. I bet Devin is loving that....haha)

Today, I received this lovely self portrait from Devin, on what he's looking like nowadays. Apparently, he's bald, has crazy arm muscles, and a six pack. He also seems to have a pretty intense, "I mean business," facial expression...I'm glad he shared this picture with me.

His letters today (he sent 2) informed me that he passed all aspects of his physical test on the first try, passed his midterm exam with a 90%, and qualified for marksman (which is some sort of gun-firing qualification). I am so proud of him!! He said, "I do pretty well for myself," and I would definitely have to agree! He seems to be in good spirits, and is really anxious to find out where we will live. (Although by now, he DOES know, and he will get to let me know sometime this weekend.) He shared a story about how his sexuality is being questioned by one of his company commanders, BM1 Kruger, because of how Devin said, "Good night, Petty Officer Kruger." I don't know if they aren't supposed to say "good night", or if Devin said it in a manner that could be questionable. From Devin's hurried story, it seems as if he may have said "good night" that way on purpose. Knowing Devin's sense of humor and uncanny ability to make other men feel awkward, I bet he did do it on purpose. Haha. He mentioned that since then his new nickname has been "Deathstar" because his shipmates felt "the crap [he pulls] is gonna be the death of starboard [his breakdown group]." Devin has always been the class clown, so I expected once he knew his limits, he'd be sure to have a little fun. Thank you for all your support and prayers. Devin seems to be really encouraged.

They have started the fifth weeks calls for his company this evening, which is when they get to inform family where they will be stationed at. I can get the call anytime between now and Sunday. I'm really anxious to know! I will post once I know more.
Love,
Chianne

Week 3

This is Devin's company, Alfa 183!


Photos Courtesy of www.uscgbootcamp.com.

Well, as of today Devin's over 30% done with boot camp. That is great! 5 weeks from tomorrow, he graduates. One week from tomorrow, an he will be HALFWAY! Everyone told me these weeks would fly, and I'm thankful for that.
Today, I received a second letter from Devin. I was really excited because it was two whole pages. He sound so much more encouraged than last week. He said it's getting easier this week. He said he has barely any time to write because all his free time is spent ironing his uniforms or shining his boots. I've decided to include an excerpt in his own words of something I found quite funny:
"I can't wait for you to hear the stories I have. There's so many! Like, two days ago we were headed to chow (meal time), and when we stopped this big ol' southern boy raised his hand and BM1 Kruger was like 'What Owens?' and so Owens says, 'I'm supposed to inform you that I like to watch the birds fly by. Bravo's CC told me to tell you that.' So we were just laughing and now every time there's birds, BMC Hampton (our lead CC) says, 'Look Owens! Your friends!' It seriously is so hard not to laugh. The CCs are the funniest people alive."
Devin told me the only part that completely sucks at this point is missing people at home, which is to be expected.
I'm really excited because Dillon (Devin's brother) is going to go with me to graduation and surprise Devin (so don't spill the beans in your letters!). He's really excited to fly on a plane and see the ocean. I didn't know he had been saving up, and then he told me and he's already saved over half of the amount needed to go (all expenses included). This will be such a great surprise for Devin because he thinks I'm the only one coming.
Today is a beautiful day. I feel encouraged.
Thank you for everyone who has mailed a kind letter to Devin and for all of you lifting him up in prayer.
Love,
Chianne

week 2

Devin has been gone for ten days now. The days seem endless but I'm glad it's already March. Devin graduates 6 weeks from tomorrow. :D
On Tuesday, I received a package. It included a letter from the commanding officer at Cape May and a book called "Sea Legs: A Coast Guard Spouse Survival Guide". The book is interesting and is teaching me how moving, pay, benefits, and everything works.
Today, I received my first real letter from Devin. I was really encouraged because I was told Devin wouldn't get time to write the first weekend and not to expect a letter till the third week. It was a very pleasant surprise!
Devin said he hates it and is homesick. I guess this is typical for most of the recruits the first couple weeks. They say once they complete the second week, the pressure is eased off of them a little bit, and they don't feel so stressed. Devin said they got assigned the toughest Company Commander (CC) that works there, but that deep down he's really cool. He begged for LOTS of letters, so I've been a little write-aholic.
I actually purchased some adorable personalized stationary from Sweet Life Paper. I was really impressed with how quickly I received it - especially with it being personalized. So I've been using that to write Devin.
I'll keep you posted on Devin's progress. :) Thank you for your prayers.
Love,
Chianne

the final countdown

I'm at a coffee shop in Salt Lake...just waiting for 8 am to come so I can go watch Devin swear into Active Duty. It's finally here, and he flies out to New Jersey tomorrow morning. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of support and love we've been receiving...even my mom and brother drove out to see Devin one last time before training. This meant so so so much to him! We've had dinner somewhere almost every night and a sweet family from church even gave us a night up at the Homestead Resort about an hour from our home. It has been so great. I couldn't be prouder of the man Devin's becoming. The challenges he's come out of are more than most people endure in a lifetime, but he's so encouraged to make a better life for himself and me and to press on. Thank you to everyone who has more than blessed us with your prayers, kind words, and support.
Love,
Chianne

Happy 21st Birthday to Devin!

I would like to say Happy Birthday to my wonderful hubby, Devin! I am so glad you were born, and I love you very much!

So we are only 25 DAYS AWAY from Devin leaving for boot camp!! We actually made a paper chain to help the days pass. (I'm a visual person, so to have something visually symbolic of the days helps me not to feel like it'll never be the day. There is just something satisfying about ripping a loop off every day). I know we are like little kids with our paper chain, but that's okay. :) I will make another one to count down Devin's time spent in boot camp until the day he graduates.

So I was doing really well decluttering...we threw out so much and also donated so much to the D.I. I was feeling really accomplished until I was staring into our room and thinking, "Did we really get rid of anything??" I got overwhelmed in that moment of realization. We really should get rid of more and possibly hold a yard sale for our furniture. I'm starting to panic as once Devin leaves in 25 days, it will just be me tackling my biggest enemy - my own disorganization. (dun dun DUH!!) Really, this is quite terrifying to me.
My question for you: What is the best method you've found for simplifying the clutter? Do you have any self-made rules you follow? (for example: "If I haven't used it in six months-it's gone." or "If I wore it when I was still in high school-it's gone.") I honestly want to know your methods. I am not good at organizing and busting the clutter AT ALL, and I NEED HELP!

Love,
Chianne

Off the record (no pun intended)

Hey this is Devin,
Not very often I come and write a blog, but I just wanted everyone to have an update of where we are in life. One month from today, I leave for basic training for the Coast Guard. And getting our affairs in order is tough. We're trying to get all ends to meet, and I had a personal goal I feel really good I accomplished this week. After the desire to do it for the last four years I got up the gumption and wrote my letter of resignation to the LDS church. It was crazy all the things I had to include and the fact that I had to send out 3 different copies. I had to say I didn't want any contact from them trying to get me to come back and that I would not go to any church court. The strange thing is that when we mailed it out , two of our letters came back. The mailman opted to take them to the bishop himself though. I don't think he had any idea, but I feel that God was watching out for my best interest.

I just want to clarify really quick that I didn't resign to spite or to be a jerk, I just felt that I needed to do it. I had no prompting from the church I attend nor anyone but myself. I just want to show the world that I love Jesus Christ and there is not one thing I could do to work my way into his love. Ephesians 2:8&9 say this, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Well, still gotta tie up those loose ends so I can be Semper Paratus. BYE NOW!

So this is the new year...

It is amazing what a difference a day makes.
Yesterday, saying Devin was going to boot camp next year or in a couple months still made it feel like forever. Now today, it is seeming ever so close because he is going this year. To make it feel even brighter on the horizon is to say he is going NEXT MONTH! That is crazy and exciting. We are constantly praying for a sooner date. Knowing my personality, I would handle better if he suddenly had to leave within a day or two (or even a week) and not had to dwell on him leaving as it built up weeks before. That's how I like to do things [aka flying by the seat of my pants]. It reminds me of when I first moved to Utah. I only decided to move about a month before I actually moved. This enabled me to get my crap together and go. If I had sat and thought about it for months, I would have never actually done it, and I would have missed out on a lot of things God had in store for me here.
On another note, Devin heard from a recent graduate of boot camp and was able to find out more regarding church at Cape May. He discovered there is a church choir he can join to sing in the services on Sundays. Though he was told it is not the "typical" choir but more just group of recruits praising the Lord whether they can sing well or not (Though I'm sure it is a joyful noise!). This is making Devin really excited and is stoked to know he'll have more ways to break of the constant physical and emotional stress by going to choir practice, praising the Lord with other recruits, and then singing in the chapel on Sundays. He was even informed there are instruments available to play with the choir, and guitars were listed. ;)
We are still super excited to get this chapter of our lives started!
Happy New Year! (Geeze, I remember when the year 2000 happened..how quickly a decade passes!)
Love,
Chianne

To the future...

Devin leaves for boot camp on February 23. This means his [tentative] graduation date is April 16th. We are both so excited and can't wait for this part of our lives to begin. Devin swore in already, which means they are already counting the time towards his 6 total years of service. It was a short ceremony and they will do another one on February 23 right before he leaves. (The first time you swear in they consider you part of the reserves. When you swear in on the day you leave, you are swearing into Active Duty). Devin's already been studying so much to learn both the lingo and the alphabet. I've been learning with him so now we play fun games like "Say the license plate in the military alphabet" and "call the rooms of the house by what the Coast Guard calls them." It's definitely entertaining and confusing. (Did you know they call water fountains the "scuttlebutt"?) Devin stays in contact with the recruiter in case he gets the opportunity to ship out earlier.
What's been a great blessing is his job at Wal-Mart. We weren't so positive about it at first (the pay is crap), but unlike Buy Low, they fully support his decision to join the military. They understand his desire to leave early and will keep him in their system for ALL 6 YEARS in case when he's out he wants to go into management there (HAHA its the thought that counts?). They also are very sensitive to give him a day off when he has needed to go up to MEPS to swear in and such.
Devin led worship at church this past Sunday...he does this ever now and then if he has one off or something. I was scheduled to work, but luckily enough, we were slow so I got off in time to surprise him at church to see him play! It is so encouraging to hear my husband lead a body of believers in worshiping God. Which leads me to another topic - Devin was concerned about church life around boot camp. Well he did a little research and they ask two people of each group to be "Religious Petty Officers". They get to lead prayers in the morning and at night and lead the prayer at their graduation ceremony. They also get to help out at the chapel. Devin is so excited for this. They have several different church services at the chapel on Sundays and the recruits are encouraged to attend one of their choice. If they don't have one that fits their beliefs they will bus them off base to one. Its good to know Devin's beliefs will be encouraged while he's away.
That's about all for now. It's December and that's CRAZY. haha.
Love, chianne

pending Coast Guard date

So I know that I said we would know when Devin would be going the next day, but as it happens we didn't find out. That's why we never posted anything...we were hoping we would know something soon, but then nothing ever happened. Apparently, Devin's recruiter took a two week vacation, so he wasn't there to reveal the date. Bummer. Luckily, according to the other recruiter, he should [hopefully] be back in the office tomorrow. We're praying he'll have a date for Devin at this time. We are definitely eager to know when he will go so we can let both of our employers know and so we can plan where I will be living while he's gone as I cannot join him for 8 weeks. Yes, I will be moving. We don't know where yet. There's a couple options. I just know I cannot continue living where I am now
I cannot wait to begin this journey and I know Devin is even more excited than I.
Pray that we will know more soon! Thank you.
-Chianne

starting fresh.

I haven't written on here in a very long time. Quite frankly, it's because I felt like everything I wanted to write about was a complaint such as the last couple posts. I didn't want this blog to be where I complained about the crap going on in my life. No, I wanted it to be about the adventure of life Devin and I are on and a way to keep family and friends updated that I otherwise would not be able to talk to regularly.
So here I am starting fresh.
We've had a few ups and downs with work (or a lack thereof), and getting through that season. I finally had to come to a place where I gave it all up to God and reminded Him that He fed the sparrows and could He make sure we were fed, too? Of course He did. :) God has been so good to us and though we've had times I've been pretty sure we cannot pay all of our bills, suddenly everything works out. God is great.
Devin is trying to join the Coast Guard. I am so proud of him. He wants to be able to go to school and learn and this seemed the most logical route (especially since we're still paying off my school loans). His desire to provide for me and make me a stay at home wife is immense. He inspires me. We've been going through the enlistment process for about a month now. It has been a much more intense and thorough process than I ever thought. He has gotten approved in all areas so far, and the only one we're pending results on is his background check. This is only a reference and character check as his criminal and credit checks have already been conducted. It would only make sense that this should be the easiest hurdle, but definitely the longest to get results from. The results have finally come in, but his recruiter has been out of town for training and will deliver the results TOMORROW! Holy cow! I can't wait. I really want this to happen (I would love to travel!), but I know that God has something better if it doesn't.
Looking forward to tomorrow,
Chianne