Our Frausted Life

By Syd

Or as Nik says, “Happy Quarter Quell!” (Any Hunger Games fans, anyone?) Things have been moving pretty quickly since the new year arrived. Now, don’t come at me saying “January was the longest year ever!” Oh, I get that. It seemed we’d never get out of that month, but our life here has just been progressing and moving as we prepare for this year. We rang in the new year with somber hearts, but with hope of what the next 365 days would bring us.

With this year comes deployments, base events, more community, building ministry, strengthening friendships, and still the ever-big hope of growing our family. There will be times this year I will be without my partner and my rock, but I know in my heart that God has prepared us both for those moments throughout the years (ie. Him being away for months at officer/chaplain school).

We celebrated 5 years of marriage in January (but just went to dinner to celebrate this week after our lives calmed down a bit). We got to go home last month, and Nik was reunited with family and friends he hasn’t seen in nearly a year! It was such a joy to see everyone with Nik. I don’t care what anyone says: He is their FAVORITE! (Except our nephew Ezra. I’m “his” as he says. Fun story: he told me he loved me so much, and I said, “What about Uncle Nik?” and he said “Uhhh…. just a little bit.” LOL) We got to take most of our nieces and nephews to Kalahari in Round Rock along with their parents. I wish we could have had one more night. Nik and I are already looking at what we can do next year with the family.

Nik and I got to give a message jointly while back home, too, and that is definitely a highlight for me! It was different, that’s for sure. I’ve only given messages solo, so this time, it was wonderful to bounce ideas and theology off one another and work together to give this message. We’re incredibly thankful the Lord uses us in this way.

While home, we also when house hunting! Sounds crazy, I know, but the plan was always for me to go home when I was pregnant. When we found out I was expecting in December, we were planning for me to go home in May to finish my pregnancy and have the baby in Texas so we would need a home for me and baby to be in. (I love all our family, but let’s get real: I am not “renting” a room with a newborn for THAT long. I need my own space! Well, and so do THEY. Haha! ) House hunting was amazing, and we fell in love with two properties. One was in the country with some acreage – the PERFECT place to retire and grow. The other was in town. It was BRAND NEW and was the PERFECT size for us. The design and layout were exactly my style. However, we decided to take a little more time (since there is no rush anymore), save some, and perhaps try again in the fall (unless something comes up we absolutely cannot pass up). We are still very hopeful the Lord will answer our prayer once again, and this time, we bring home a healthy baby. So if you are from Caldwell and reading this, yes, we plan to make the area our home and retire there. (Shout out to Alexis Jolly for being incredibly gracious and patient with us! Five-star recommend her for any realty needs you have!)

Once we returned to Guam, there was no rest for Nik. He had to go to work the next day and he’s been running ever since. He’s working so hard these days. He’s up at 5am, hitting the gym or going to command PTs, all kinds of meetings, counselings, and just preparing for all the things this year. Things I am not allowed to write about here, but it’s pretty exciting and I’m so proud of him.

I personally have been more active and busier in the military community, especially with the spouses of the Frank Cable (the ship that Nik is attached to). I have been going to Family Readiness Group (FRG) meetings and getting more involved there. We have an event coming up that I’m so excited for! I am doing a ladies Bible study at the base chapel every week to help build community. It’s been fun and enlightening. I am also trying to dig deeper into worship ministry at our church. We’ve been attending more events there as well. I just know that the community and support will really help me this year as we navigate so many new things.

At this time, we are happy to announce that our FBI clearances came back, finally! That was really the last thing we were waiting on when it comes to adoption. Our home study was completed a week after Christmas. We were told that our profile is live and active at this moment. Nik and I are very hopeful that we will welcome a child into our home through adoption this year! And yes, we are still trying for a biological child as well. We don’t know what the Lord has in store for us, but we aren’t going to get in His way or try to stifle any plan (not that we have that power to stop Him, but we all saw what happened with Sarah and others in the Bible who tried to jump ahead instead of waiting on the Lord). If we get both, HALLELUJAH! If we get one, HALLELUJAH! We get neither this year, HALLELUJAH! We are going to praise Him regardless because it is not our circumstances that determines our praise to Him or His worth. He is worthy just by being HIM. That’s enough. We woke up today: HALLELUJAH! Praise. We can walk: HALLELUJAH! Praise. Our health is good: HALLELUJAH! Praise. We have our voice: HALLELUJAH! Praise. He pours blessings upon blessings over us every day that we take for granted. So, with all that said, we are leaving it all in His hands when it comes to growing our family and we will step out in faith every day knowing we are a day CLOSER to our miracle and breakthrough.

We really don’t know what this year will bring us. 365 days is a LOT of time. God rose Jesus from the grave in 3 days, so anything is possible in 365 days! We know whatever is coming will be incredible because we serve a Mighty God who LOVES us! As we go through this year, we appreciate your prayers. Lots of unknowns we will navigate along with trials, triumphs, and maybe some heartache, but through it all, God is still good!

Happy 2025, friends! Let’s watch what God will do for us all this year!