The Verdict

For those who have not seen this on Facebook, here is what the Army decided:

Finally, a decision has been made! It isn't exactly what we were hoping for, but I still think it's pretty good. Here are the results:

• Casey is being discharged from the Army, but it is a "good" discharge (as opposed to "dishonorable").
• He should be processed out quickly and could be home as soon as a week from today!
• We were going to have to buy plane tickets to get him home for Christmas, but the Army is going to pay for his trip home!
• He will have the opportunity to get back in the army in 6 months! He just has to get a medical waiver of some sort signed, and he can go right back in!

I think that pretty much sums it up. We were hoping he could stay, but at least he can go back if he wants to. We will be looking for a new job ASAP, so we will just see where God leads us next. He could find a great job and decide to stick with that, or he might decide to try this army thing again after 6 months--who knows? God knows where we need to be, and He will guide us through this time of transition.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has been with us through this mess! Casey will still be in Oklahoma for at least another week trying to get this paperwork done, so please keep him in mind. He is a bit lonely, bored, and trying to get over a nasty cold and cough (aren't we all??). We can't wait to have him home with us to celebrate Christmas together!!! I am so proud of him!

They that wait...

Casey called this morning--he found out yesterday that he has been cleared medically (yay!), but they still have not given him an answer about whether he will stay in the Army or be processed out. Since the seizures he used to have were psychosomatic (non-epileptic), they want him to talk with their mental health people before they decide. I can't imagine that this will be an issue for him, but we still have to wait and see what they decide. Once again, we are faced with the army's famous "hurry up and wait" approach. I am mainly getting more anxious because he still has not been able to buy his tickets to come home for Christmas, and prices are going up every day! I hope we will have an answer before we reach the weekend, and that he will be able to buy his tickets for Christmas soon.

I am currently going to a Ladies' Bible Class on Tuesday mornings, and we are doing a Beth Moore study on the book of Esther. Each lesson has been wonderful, but the message this week was especially relevant for me. I kept turning to my friend Joy and saying, "She knows me!" as we watched the video. :) Beth was pointing out that when we wait on the "thing," whether it is an event or person, we get SO worn out! But "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31) GOD is in control, and all things happen in HIS time. If we wait on Him, we will be strengthened! I don't know how people deal with situations like this without leaning on the strength of our Lord. I couldn't do it! Knowing that He holds my family so close in His hands gives me all the comfort I need to keep going. We often say, "in the meantime..." and in this past lesson, Beth pointed out that the "meantime" is "God time." His timing is amazing--He knows just what we need!

Casey/Army update

For those who can't see the note I posted on Facebook, here is the latest update on Casey's situation:

Casey left for Basic Combat Training (BCT) 2 weeks ago. While he was in the reception process (filling out paperwork, getting head shaved, getting uniform, etc.), he was asked, "What did your recruiter tell you not to report on your paperwork?" Casey is an honest man, so he told them that he was instructed not to report his past medical issues. They immediately requested his latest test results from the hospital and told him that he would NOT ship to BCT with the rest of his platoon. He had an appointment set up for today (Tuesday) to meet with a Captain to discuss the possibility of being processed out of the army.

He met with the Captain today, and we STILL don't have an answer, but it is much more hopeful. He asked Casey how much he wanted to be there, and Casey told them he has wanted to do this for a long time, he wants to provide for his family, and he wants to serve his country. The Captain looked over the hospital report and saw that Casey's seizures weren't epileptic (or even connected to abnormal brain activity), and Casey told him I could fax over statements from his doctors stating that he received the treatment he was supposed to, he is no longer on any medications, and he is fine to stay in the army. The Captain took him at his word and said I didn't need to fax that over, but this was a bit over his head so he will have to talk with his superiors before making a decision.

Casey has another appointment tomorrow (Wednesday) with the Captain to see what he and "his superiors" have decided. Best case scenario: Casey can stay in the army and start BCT immediately (they might be adding a couple of guys to his original platoon tomorrow since they've barely started). Next best case: Casey can stay and start BCT in January. Worst case (but it will be ok): Casey is discharged from the army and we have to find a new job ASAP.

I will post an update as soon as I hear from Casey again, but I have no idea when that will be. He might be able to call me again tomorrow night, but there is no guarantee.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone for the continued prayers and words of encouragement!! I know that God hears each of us, and I am so grateful to have so many voices lifted on behalf of my family. We are truly blessed by you!

Gotta love a man in uniform! :)

In case you have been in a state of disbelief that Casey joined the army, I now have proof:

Doesn't he look great?? They apparently had a good amount of personal time today, so he got to call for 32 minutes (yes, every minute counts!) and I asked him to send a picture from his phone. They have been doing a lot of paperwork, getting shots (immunizations, tetanus, etc.), being issued their uniform.... they've been busy. :) He is doing well and says he is enjoying it so far. He said he has already sent a letter, but won't have an address until they "cross the tracks" to Basic Combat Training (BCT) next week. As of right now, they are scheduled to cross on Wednesday. I'm not sure when I'll hear from him again, so I'll be checking the mail box every 5 minutes between now and his next call. :)

Moment to remember

I do not want to forget this, so suffer through with me while I jot this memory down...

We made a video of Casey reading books with Abby before he left so she could watch it while he is gone. Yesterday, Abby and I watched the video for the first time, and we looked through each book as Daddy read it. As we were reading her Bible, she started grabbing at my hand and saying, "Pay? Pay?" over and over again. I couldn't figure out what in the world she was doing, and then I saw her do it to Casey on the video, too. I finally figured out that she was trying to hold my hand and was saying, "Pray?" How sweet is that?! Sometimes when we read her Bible stories at night, we say a prayer when we are done. I guess that is an automatic association for her now, and I love that! So we did stop and pray to thank God for our family and ask that He keep Daddy safe. I didn't cry then, but I'm tearing up a little now as I type it out...

I am very, very proud of my husband and what he is doing for his family and country. I got to talk with him for about 3 minutes tonight--just long enough to hear that he is ok, things are going well, he will write me a letter soon with more details, and all of his hair is gone. :) I think it will be sometime next week before I get his address, but I'll be sure to email it to friends and family when I get it. Thanks to all for the continued prayers and words of encouragement!

And so it begins

Casey is now at the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) hotel and will leave for Oklahoma (hopefully!) tomorrow. He might be able to keep his cell phone with him for the next couple of days while he goes through reception, but then we'll just have to take it a day at a time. I did cry a little when we dropped him off, but I'm doing pretty well so far. Then again... it's only been 3 hours. :) I'm not too worried.

Is it Christmas yet??

In other news, this is what I found when I got off the phone yesterday:

Isn't she lovely?? Yes, she thought so, too. :)

Lord's Prayer for the Military Wife

We are one week from Casey's departure to Basic Training. Several of the guys from church took him camping this past Friday night, and they gave him the "Soldier's Bible" to take with him. It has a lot of neat stuff in addition to the Scriptures for soldiers to read when they are studying the Bible. I found this in the back, and I love it.

Lord’s Prayer for the Military Wife (Author Unknown)

Lord, grant me the greatness of heart to see

The difference in duty and his love for me.

Give me the understanding to know

That when duty calls he must go.

Give me a task to do each day

To fill the time when he is away,

And Lord, when duty is in the field,

Please protect him and be his shield.

Army Strong by the grace of God