The American Dream

After our real estate agent (whom we adored) had to leave the business, I’m not going to lie- I was pretty stressed out about our house situation. This isn’t the ideal time to be selling a house you just purchased a few months ago (is there ever an ideal time to do that?). But last week, I had this amazing peace that it was time to enjoy my house, and God was reminding me that He was in control of this (I mean, He’s done bigger things).

So I came home and cleaned the house and started thinking of new ways to decorate and enjoy it. And in the midst of this cleaning frenzy, I get a phone call.

The woman on the phone had randomly driven by our neighborhood and randomly driven by "our house, and after checking out the pictures of our home online, she “fell in love” (the paint colors did it, she said- whew, that made that hard work so worth it!). Long story short, she wanted the house. And she wanted it by the end of the week.

So, praise Jesus for reminding me that He is in way more control than we are, and that He is the best real estate agent out there (and He charges way less).

Let’s also discuss how humbling it is to speed-pack your three-bedroom house… for a one-bedroom apartment in California (with a pit-stop in your parents’ basement for 6-9 months). You really start thinking about what’s important when you downsize like that. The Kitchenaid Mixer we had to have is just going to have to patiently wait on us in storage while I enjoy Mom’s cooking and free rent (can we praise Jesus for that too while we’re at it?)

So, we’re saying goodbye to the American Dream we got to live for a few short months. And while I loved my house and will miss it dearly, the chorus of Switchfoot’s “American Dream” reminds me that sometimes you’ve got to sacrifice for the real rewards:

"This ain't my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I'm tired of fighting for just me
This ain't my American dream"

The house and the jobs and the dog have been amazing, don’t get me wrong, but we’re ready for the adventure…

Coming Home

So we were driving home from my parents' house on Saturday and somehow made a wrong turn (we've driven this drive hundreds of times... how we made a "wrong turn" is obviously an act of God...) We ended up taking 124 into Snellville, and as we're driving, we notice that the streets are lined with families, most holding American flags. Now it's mid-July, a full year away from the 4th or Memorial Day... we were so confused. Until we saw a sign: "Welcome Home Cpl. Ayers" So as we near Ronald Reagan, we see a police car, sitting with his light on, and some big commotion up ahead. We naturally decide to pull over and get out, to see what's going on, and a few other people do the same and join us. We're expecting that someone is returning from Iraq, and we're proud to watch this celebration, anxious to see him and his family. As the procession nears though, I notice what's leading it- a hearse.

The hearse is followed by at least 100 men and women on Harley's, some with army flags flying, all with American flags at the rear of their bikes. One rider looks at us and gives the side wave, mouthing "thank you" as we stand on the street. He didn't know what was ahead- people waiting in red and blue, holding American flags and a "welcome home" sign. These were the people to thank- those who knew the story and were here in support.

I returned to the car completely changed. I think David was scared out of his mind watching me stand there crying for a man I had never met. But it wasn't that I was sad or scared- I was proud. This man, Corporal Ayers, did something with his life, and at his death, people lined the street celebrating his service and sacrifice. And what does it say about a man to have hundreds follow behind his hearse in love and support? I knew that this was a family I wanted to be a part of- a family we are proud and excited to join.

I expected Cpl. Ayers to be older, maybe even retired army, as the bikers all seemed to be in their 50s at least. But when we researched him when we got home, we found a different story entirely. Army Cpl. Jonathan Ayers was David's age, and he graduated from Shiloh- the high school that I graduated from. He was killed in Afghanistan on Friday July 18 with eight other men in one of the deadliest attacks on US troops since the 2001 invasion.

Learning about Cpl. Ayers' death reminds me that we are given one life, and we're given that life for a purpose. It's not about survival, but living. Cpl. Ayers lived only 24 years- David's age- a time where we feel like we're just getting started. But he did big things with his time. He worked to change an entire country, to protect HIS country back home. I know that not everyone has to serve in the military to find purpose- for my friend Callie, she changes the world through nursing. For our friend Tyler, I think he'll find purpose in music. For me, I believe it's photography. But for David, I believe this is where he's finding his purpose. I have already seen a change in him- a desire to be there, to get started. I'm not scared for him (I'm sure at some point I will be!), but I am proud and excited. And so ready.

So to Cpl. Ayers, thank you for your service and sacrifice. And thank you for reminding me what it looks like to do something with the time you are given. I pray that the "Welcome Home" sign reads true- that you're home with your real Dad, experiencing what freedom really is.

"Each of these heroes stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase in its blessings."
-Franklin Delano Roosevelt

For Sale!

Open House tomorrow- we've got to sell our beautiful new home by October- know anyone who might want it?! :)

Here are some pictures:

www.2450arnoldmillroad.blogspot.com

The Other Man in My Life

So the Murray family has grown, thanks to the addition of a redbone hound named Samson. We had been wanting a dog to keep me company while David was away, and Samson just fell into our lives thanks to a sweet family from North Georgia who found him, brought him back to health, and put him on craigslist. We then met him in a Chick-fil-a parking lot, where he just handed me the dog, and that was it.
Samson has been the perfect fit for us- he's incredibly cuddly and sweet, but he's also very playful and energetic, and a great watchdog. David was out of town a few weeks ago for work, and I never once was scared in this house because of Samson's presence. And, if there was ever any doubt he was for us... check out his favorite toy...

I Wear My Sunglasses At Night

David had his PRK surgery on Saturday, which is yet another step towards actually being in the Navy. PRK is the same basic surgery as Lasik, but instead of cutting a flap of the cornea and letting it heal back together, PRK involves actually shaving off part of the Cornea and letting it all grow back- ugh! I am sure I had a harder time watching the surgery than David had experiencing it. The recovery time is longer for PRK, and it's been amazing to watch David handle it. On Sunday morning I vaguely remember David waking up and then next thing I knew he was stepping in the shower after going for a run (I slept through all of this, P.S.) Later that day we clocked his run, and the kid ran almost 4 miles the morning after his surgery! People told me he'd have to take a week off of work, but not David. He also played in his championship soccer game last night while I yelled from the sideline "Don't hurt his eyes!" He is very sensitive to light though, so he has been wearing his sunglasses everywhere (like while he sits in our dark living room watching TV). I also walked in yesterday to see David and Stephen sitting on the couch, which they moved within inches of the TV, so that David could see it better. But regardless, he CAN see, and that is a miracle. Amazing the gifts God has given some people... (Fun fact: David's doctor was the head of the Lasik program for the Air Force for awhile, and he was recently the eye doctor for a few episodes of TLC's "Ten Years Younger"!) So now we wait the six months the Navy requires after a surgery, and then he's off to boot camp. In the meantime, we have a house to sell!

Family

I think I should document these comments since they are pretty monumental. :) We told my parents that David did for sure sign, and my mom says "I decided that you and David are so great that I need to share you with the rest of the world!" and my dad says "We support you one million percent." Those comments are huge to us, and we're excited to start this adventure knowing that we have the full love and support of our parents.

Now I'm off to our meeting with Petty Officer Ross! He's supposed to tell us what life in the military will be like... hmmm...

The Very Beginning

It's likely that no one will see this for quite some time, but I think it's important to write about it now, as we're going through it. David joined the military yesterday, February 9, so today is day one of being in the Navy (David is currently playing XBox and drinking some chocolate milk... I'm guessing it probably gets harder than this!). We went out to visit San Diego last month and loved it. We thought it was a beautiful city with a great history and huge patriotism. We think I'll do well there professionally (and hopefully socially!), and we are thrilled with the idea of living at the beach (in California, no less!) We got the chance to talk to a few people there going through the program David hopes to go through, and we left feeling even more confirmed in the fact that David should be there, doing what these guys were doing. So he was sworn in yesterday, and is scheduled to ship out on October 2, 2008. Next comes his eye surgery, and then that date may change a little. He woke up this morning and said, "I feel really good about this", so we are excited and anxious and ready, and we hope to live a full and exciting year in Atlanta until October comes.

Here are some pictures from our San Diego trip, including David and Tyler in front of the seal-mobile and it's license tag (UDT= Underwater Demolition Team... coincidence?):