Valentine's Lunch

We had lunch today with our sweet PWOC sisters as we celebrated Valentine's Day and got some lovin' from these ladies as they honored those whose spouses were deployed.  We had a wonderful lunch, a special guest speaker, free massage session, and free childcare!  So very thankful for these uplifting ladies!

Saturday Out to Play

Starting the day shopping in Nashville where they have guitars all around the city painted with different murals - reminded me of my sweet hometown, Aiken, that does the same with horses!

Root beer floats courtesy of Daddy! ;)

A BLTA (Bacon, Lettuce, Turkey, and Avocado ) sandwich on croissant with a root beer float!

Back at the Clarksville Mall getting strapped in to jump!

Loved jumping high to the sky! :)

Lots of big jumps!

Margo had so much fun! :)

Finished off the night with Asian dinner - we missed you SOOOOO much Daddy!!!

2-17th CAV Award Ceremony

Standing at attention for awards. Jim is in the second row, the last one on the left.

Jim is the last one on the left in the row pictured.

After getting awards!

So proud of my soldier!

Jim's chaplain assistant, SPC Fifer, is the third one from the right. Very proud of her too! :)

Valetines from Daddy!!!

1/2 Way Home FRG Dining In

One of the fun things about being in the Army is all the fun events that we have!  I have to say that the CAV sure knows how to party!  We had dinner, lots of giveaways, tons of props for photo opps, and fun times with some great ladies!

Our 2-17th Cav Table!

The room set up with pink and black!

Some of the goodies, cups, glasses, bandana, beads, and mustaches!

Our 2-17th Cav logo!

The FRG leaders!

2-17th CAV ladies!!!

Pretty Dress

Posing in her new "twirly dress"

Posing for Daddy!

Talking on the phone to Daddy (notice her talking with her hands!)

Such a big girl! :)

Our Prayer Update

Murray's Mission Prayer Update  Dear Prayer Warriors, Family, and Friends, Thank you for your continued support and prayers over our family during this deployment.  We are especially overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness and support during the Christmas season.  Thank you for the special cards and care packages that you sent to Jim and also for all the thoughts and prayers for our family during the holidays.  We truly were lifted up by your support and overwhelmed by your generosity and thoughtfulness!  The picture above is of the mountain range near where Jim’s squadron is stationed.  He loves seeing and flying over the snow covered peaks! The picture to the left is of Jim and his chaplain assistant, Andrea Fifer, helping to make Christmas "merry and bright" for our soldiers! ☺ Praise Updates: • The first praise I have to share is that Jim’s squadron will be returning earlier than expected, sometime in the spring – rather than the summer like was planned! We still do not know the entire timeline and are unable to give specifics due to security concerns, but we are praising the Lord that the official paperwork has been signed off and they are moving forward in bringing our squadron home!  Jim said that talking of “home” is almost all the soldiers’ talk about anyway and this has just put them over the edge in their excitement!  The families too are excited but I think we are all cautiously optimistic as we know that plans can change and while we can hope we are preparing for flexibility!  I will keep you all updated as much as I can and again, we are rejoicing in this news!!! ☺  • Jim had a very fruitful time of ministry over the holidays and was kept busy with lots of activities, counseling sessions, and services.  He is very thankful for the way that he has seen the Lord use his strengths to encourage the troops and help them grapple with deep spiritual issues.  He has had many meaningful conversations regarding spirituality and his faith and he praises God that others see and feel comfortable asking about the difference they see in Jim’s life when they see Christ in him. • He is already seeing the payoff from the hours he has spent just spending time with soldiers where they work.  They have been responding to him and see him as an approachable chaplain that they can trust.  He and I are also humbled by the abilities that the Lord has given Jim and the encouragement that Jim has received through an excellent Physical Fitness Test and several honors and awards for his job performance. • On the home front, we are thanking the Lord for the busyness of activities and volunteer opportunities here at Ft. Campbell.  Margo is involved in Monkeynastics, and ballet and we have felt very well supported emotionally and spiritually through PWOC (a Christian ladies club and Bible study here on post), and are staying really involved in our Family Readiness Group.  I also have several groups of ladies who I have grown very close to during this deployment and am very thankful for the bond that I have with them as fellow Christians and military spouses! Prayer Requests: • Pray for Jim as he continues ministry to soldiers.  This new timeline has only condensed the amount of work that he has to accomplish and, although good news, it is an added stress in the normal battle rhythm of the soldiers.  As his job also includes ministry to many soldiers and contractors who are not part of his squadron, there are many that he will be leaving behind and so pray for the Lord to use the time that Jim has to encourage and minister to those who need it. •  Pray for Jim’s role as a sort of moral compass to our squadron.  Jim has seen unhealthy patterns begin overseas that he is concerned will be carried into the soldiers lives once they return or at least have negative consequences upon returning from the deployment.  He knows the need for godly morals and has been searching for ways to share his beliefs and help instill healthy patterns in soldiers’ lives, but Jim is burdened by the lack of moral care in many of the soldiers he is trying to assist.  Pray that God would give Jim the words to say and that ultimately God would be the One  working in soldiers’ hearts to create those needed changes in actions. • Pray for Jim’s continued safety for the remainder of the deployment.  There will be changes in staffing for Jim’s ministry team and so please pray for Jim’s safety and for all of those traveling and preparing to come home! • Pray for the transition for our family during this homecoming phase. We are so thankful for the Lord’s working in our relationship to keep us connected and strong, but there is some anxiety about the fact that we have been separated for six months and there are changes that our family will have to adjust to and be flexible with as we reconnect.  Pray that we would take the time our family needs to reconnect and be able to balance being available to minister to others and also taking time to refresh ourselves! • We are beginning to share the new timeline with Margo that Daddy will be home before Easter, and she is helping me buy all of Daddy’s favorite treats and toiletries and decorating items for him so she is understanding this transition as much as we can tell.  But pray for God to give special grace to Margo and peace in her heart as she reconnects with her Daddy and has to process these emotions! "The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." Psalm 121:8 We are praising God for His sustaining power to make each day count toward His Kingdom in the ministry that we do and couldn't do it without your prayer support! In Christ, Ashley (for Jim and Margo) Jim at Christmastime surrounded by cards, letters, and packages to give out to soldiers! Jim at an award ceremony for his Squadron. Jim (on the left) and fellow Grace Brethren Chaplain Billy Graham (on the right) in front of Jim's Squadron's outpost in Afghanistan!