cup of joanna

Temporary Home…

May 24th, 2023

I just finished packing up my car from temporarily living with one of my best friends the last 5 months while we finished the school year. We will finally get to be under one roof again after a few months of being apart. Praise the Lord!

However, like every season this one is no different from see you later any other time. We are leaving the place my kids have probably felt the most at home. This is where they were before we left to move overseas and this is where they returned.

This place is where my oldest started middle school and my youngest started kindergarten. This is where they hugged their daddy’s neck as he left three times for a far away land. This is where they found out they were going to live overseas.

Temporary is messy, hard, yet the most beautiful thing many of us can walk through. Temporary is just that temporary. It means anything we are walking through can seem like forever but it is momentary especially if you know Jesus.

Jesus walked this life for a short time (temporary) and think about the impact he had. We still see His ripple. Temporary does not give us an excuse to sit out. It gives us even more reason to live life fully, to love people without worrying about how long we have with them, and to just live in this moment knowing God knows the plans.

As a Bible believing Christian I know everything on this side of heaven is temporary. Our hearts long for a home we have never been to yet… So keep your eyes fixed on the future hope to come. In whatever temporary you are in God will meet you. He loves you. He sees you. Cheering you on friends!
But God…

May 17th, 2023

Those are words tattooed on my right bicep. When I got those words tattooed on me I was using it as a statement. Like but look what God can do. Then six months later those words were becoming a question (a whining one at that) instead of the statement I first got tattooed.

But God.. I don’t want to move… But God… This is hard… But God.. You said…

But God was no longer a testimony but a whoa is me. I did not really see how much destruction my attitude was having on my family, my life, and my self talk. I was no longer finding the joy of the Lord. I did not even realize I no longer had the joy the Lord gives. My eyes are tearing up as I reflect on those last few sentences.

Throughout Scripture we see God come through in ways that seem like there is no hope and boom but God… made a way when there was no way. But God… breathed dry bones back to life.

I would love to say that it was a short season, it was a long season. I am just now truly getting out of that season. Are you in the questioning season right now? But God… why? Can I encourage you that if you lay it all down before the Lord (yes I mean all of it. I love control so this is tough for me too). You have the statement again, it looked like there would never be life again in (insert hard) but God never left me.

He was right there. He led me through the dry land, I just had to take a lot longer because I was busy talking instead of listening. James 1: 19-20 encourages us to be slow to speak… quick to listen. I challenge you to pour out your heart to God with ALL of your doubts (snot and tears may have been present when I have been doing this) he will meet you. For me healing began with confession to those I hurt through the valley. Also explaining to the Lord I will not understand a lot but I know I can trust you. But God….
I don’t want to….

May 8th, 2023

“I don’t want to move… That means I have to make new friends again… I am tired of having to make new friends…” I sobbed to my husband as we got ready to leave another duty station. Some people who know me may find this surprising. Those who are close to me know this one thing… I HATE change. I LOVE routine. I am one of the most shy extroverts you will ever meet.

Can anyone else relate? Setting up a new home, learning a new town, making new friends, finding a new church home all while trying to make sure your family is adjusting can be hard. It is not impossible though. With God all things are possible… but sometimes it can all seem like too much.

It can feel lonely too. As believers we are told throughout Scripture we are never alone but sometimes in the middle of a move it can feel like you are. I remember sitting one morning just crying because I was lonely in this new place. It usually takes me six months to even remotely meet people because I lie to myself almost every move saying I do not need friends. Friends, God designed us for community.

The difference I have found between civilian life and military life is that civilians can take years to build deep relationships. Military families try to build them in weeks because we have to get roots quickly in order to survive this life. The military member jumps right in as we navigate this new season.

Community is something we all need in this life. I see the Father of Lies telling us more now than ever that we are good by ourselves. Where is this in Scripture? Jesus did life with people. He loved people. He showed up for people.

If you are in the middle of a move and you are believing the lies that you do not need community when you get where you are going may I challenge you? Go outside and meet your neighbors. Bring the cookies to the neighbors that move in a week after you. It does not matter if you are new. Yes that means letting people in to your mess. We all have messes. Like I tell my girls you only need one friend. God will always send you one.

Are you willing to put yourself out there to meet that one? My husband reminded me after I got done saying I don’t need friends, “you need a friend, you do not do well without community” Community and friendship is God’s design for us.

I came home a few weeks ago to my new home and my husband surprised me with my “friendship” wall to remind me God will always meet me where we move… If you are thinking God won’t send a friend, I ask you to rebuke the Father of Lies and put yourself out there like Jesus did meeting people knowing he would be hurt by those close to him but also be loved by many as well. He will meet you and strengthen you.
Where You Go I’ll Go…..

May 4th, 2023
I believe many military spouses quote this verse in the book of Ruth. Though Ruth was speaking to her mother-in-law, it seems to go right along with this military life.

“We are going to Bangladesh”. Wait, what? I mean the Lord had shown me this a few days before, however, I thought I heard Him wrong. I remember walking out to the garage one Sunday afternoon where my husband was and telling him matter of factly “you’re going to Bangladesh”. And here I was in the middle of an Aldi aisle on the following Tuesday hearing the words through the phone.

As a military spouse of over 12 years at the time, I would have told you to bring any move on and I can do it. However, overseas there was one PCS (permanent change of station) I never really wanted to hear. It would be a lie if I did not say full on panic started to surround me. This is not a developed country. I have never had to think about what I could live without for a year. Every PCS comes with its own struggles. If you are in that struggle right now, I promise friend God meets you in every place. Even in the places like Bangladesh. More on that later….

This post is for those who are getting the news of a PCS overseas or just a PCS in general. I have made list to help you and your family thrive when the house is empty and you wish you would just had a pizza cutter. Weather you are stateside or overseas, there are many things you need to worry about but buying towels should not be one of them.
- Towels
- Wine Bottle Opener
- Can Opener
- Pan
- Pot With Lid
- Sheets
- Pizza Cutter (Believe me we have 4 now)
- Plastic Plates
- Spatula
- Sponge
- Dish towel
- Wipes
- Extra chargers
- Medicine (Especially if you go overseas)
- Laundry detergent (Especially if you go overseas)
- Coffee maker (or french press)
- Bag of Coffee
- A Few Favorite Toys
Hello World!

March 27th, 2023

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Temporary Home…

But God…

I don’t want to….

Where You Go I’ll Go…..

Hello World!