We couldn’t believe as we drove from New Hampshire to Florida War would break out. But it did. There we were arriving at a new command and not knowing what was coming next. Mike’s command left right away, but since he had just arrived he had to stay behind and settle us all in. I would love to tell you I was happy to get a few weeks to be with him, but the truth is we felt like Bathsheba’s husband Uriah. Mike knew where he wanted to be, where he needed to be was with his troops. Many tears were shed and prayers prayed during that time.

What we didn’t expect was for the war to end in 100 days. Mike waited to be called out his kit bag by the door a daily reminder that we were at war. And then it was over. As the information came together it was easy to see God’s hand in canceling his orders to Greece. They were non-command sponsored and we had planned to live I town. The only terrorist attacks outside the war arena against Americans happened to be in Greece where we had planned to live. God had a plan!

Florida was not the Paradise we had hoped for our family and Mike’s career. Living off base kept my children close to home (hard when teenagers can’t even ride there Bikes to the store). But gun shots sounded on one block or the other often. My daughter and thre friends went to spend the weekend with an aunt of one of the girls in Key Largo. When she came home I learned the “Uncle” was in Prison and the home was that of a local drug lord. 

However we did have a tremendous home school group that met once a week in the park. The kids would play , the mom’s would visit and relationships formed. The laws for Home Schooling in Florida are well penned and on Heatherlee’s sixteenth Birthday she graduated from High School and left for Israel with Teen Missions International. Matthew and I spent our summer swimming in the Pool we had gotten for the backyard while Mike worked. Matthew’s Best friend was also Homeschooled and lived next door. Having them there made living in Homestead a joy in the midst of the gunshots! All summer long we were in our pool or their pool, it was a great bonding time for us. I learned a lot about Matthew that summer.

One Sunday just before Heatherlee came home we heard a sermon on The Rich Young Ruler. Luke 18:18-30 Mike listened intently to this sermon especially verse 28. Over Lunch he said “I think I could do that!” “Do what” I asked?” Leave everything and follow the Lord. Just walk a way from it like the disciples did, you know lay down my nets and go. “ He meant it. It wasn’t just words to him. What I didn’t know is God would give Him a chance to PROVE IT!

Mike, Matthew and I drove up to Merritt Island Florida to pick up Heather on Saturday. We were so excited! She was due home on Monday, August 24th and for some reason (that is always code for God doing a miracle) they were arriving home Saturday, August 22nd. They wanted to stay ahead of a storm. Bits of her adventure tumbled out on the drive home, but mostly she slept!  It was hot, and if you know anything about TMI-ers the first thing they want is Ice Cream! So we stopped at the store on the corner on the way home to get Ice Cream. The Store was filled with people.  People buying water people buying can goods. What were we missing?

We turned on the TV to see Hurricane Andrew. He was heading our way. Why should we panic? Our home had hurricane shutters. We knew how to prepare Brian Norcross made sure we did!  So Heatherlee unpacked all over my living room because we better wash her clothes before the electric goes out. Really, everyone that was a native of Homestead said,” don’t worry, it never comes here it will go south to the Keys or north of us. We will loose electricity a few days, get free ice cream from the stores because the electric is out “ That was what they said…and then Sunday Morning came. Mike was called into Secure the Base. We would secure the house.

Mike arrived at work and his Commander asked him is we had evacuated okay. He said” no, they are at home , I have the only car and Bobbie doesn’t drive.” His Commander sent him home with orders to pick us up and drive North. On our way out we stopped and picked up some friends of ours after we sealed up their home and drove North, right up the Middle of the State. One car , two kids, three changes of clothes for cleaning up the mess when we returned (no I didn’t check the TMI kid’s choices WHAT A MISTAKE!) three towels, a blanket and a couple bottles of water, that was all we had, Plus Rita, Larry and their two kids in their car. Good thing Heatherlee arrived home early and not on August 24^th.

God hears our conversations, all our conversations. This time he heard Mike say, “Really, I could walk away from EVERYTHING! “ and we did….