The Kesler's

Army Strong. Army Proud.

Zach Kesler is now Specialist Zachary D. Kesler and we are so proud! 

Jared & I left for Missouri Wednesday afternoon (after waking up at 4a and working all day!) to be at family day and Zach’s graduation. It was an eventful drive to say the least. We pulled up onto a car accident only moments after it happened. A guy who graduated from college that very morning got drunk and hit another car while going down I-44. Thankfully everyone seemed to be ok, but it was very scary and really made us sad. 

Back to Zach… 

Thursday was family day on base. We were all so excited to see Zach for the first time since June. We took a bunch of family photos… what else are you going to do to pass the time? 

Finally it was time to go in and be seated. As we walked in we saw the different battalions seated and I think all of our hearts were racing. My thoughtful father in law brought some binoculars so we could try to spot Zach. We searched for about 5 minutes and finally saw him… sleeping. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Zach was asleep. We went through the family day speech which was basically a bunch of rules and blah blah blah. I thought it would be a little more special and get to hear about their achievements, but apparently Drill Sergeants don’t like to say anything positive! This is also when we found out that no one was receiving a pass to get off of base. No swimming, no Mexican food, no napping, no changing into comfy clothes. All of us looked at each other with major disappointment but we still got our 8 hours with Zach and that’s all that really mattered! 

The Drill Sergeants released everyone to go find their families and it turned into madness very quickly. 

Party time! 

After meeting up with Zach we hung out at the USO and ordered pizza per Zach’s request. It was so awesome to sit around and listen to Zach’s stories and catch him up on life since he’s been away. 

Next Zach showed us around the base (& got to see part of it for the first time, too!). While giving us the grand tour we ran into Zach’s battle buddy. In Zach’s words, “You can’t go anywhere without your battle buddy. You have to eat, sleep, and poop with them by your side.” Zach & his battle buddy were named best battle buddies. They rarely got in trouble and were always with each other. He seemed like such a great guy. His orders were to stay in Ft. Leonardwood for tank training for 5 weeks then he hits the battle field. 

In the photo below Zach & his battle buddy heard the bugle and had to face where the sound was coming from until it was over. It was really awesome to see. 

(Just in case you’re wondering: the coat and pants do not match on purpose. From my understand it is this way because when calvary soldiers wore this uniform they would often take off their coat and put it in the saddlebag. The sun would fade the pants and change them to a different shade of blue. Interesting!)

Bakir (pictured above) is from Houston and is a UT grad, but we won’t hold that against him. He and Zach are both going to Arizona for more training. 

Finally graduation day is here! 
… the photos are pretty blurry. My digital camera is demon possessed. 


During the National Anthem. 


Zach’s battalion, the Black Knights marching on stage. 

The glasses Zach has on are military issued BCGs. Zach informed us that they call them Birth Control Glasses. Ha.

Zach had 20 minutes after graduation until he had to leave. Major bummer. We tried to squeeze in as many photos as possible.

All in all it was a great trip and we are so proud of Zach. He has overcome many, many, obstacles within the past year and to see him get to this point is truly God’s goodness.  

Faithfulness

God’s faithfulness has absolutely blown me away this past week. I mean really, it has been incredible. 

Wanna know why?

-Jared got a part time gig (on top of his full time job) as the assistant coach at a private school! I am so excited for him! He will undoubtedly be the best football coach! 

-I got a full time job! I was nannying for a long time, and really loved it, but knew it was time to move on. So I’m now the Barista at a local coffee shop! I cannot wait to start and be around people for the majority of the day. God gave me the gift of gab, so I need to use it. ;) 

-In church on Sunday morning, Jesus really began pressing on my heart about His forgiveness of my sins and how deep is love is for me. It brought me to tears. I just can’t imagine a love so deep and strong to love me though I sin, and sin, and deny Him daily. Truly amazing love. 

—God’s faithfulness is always present. I’m just pointing out these few examples.—

6.27.08

Exactly 3 years ago today, Jared asked me to be his with the sweetest proposal and surprise engagement party. It was e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g I hoped it would be. 

But let’s back up… 

December 22, 2007 
The night we met.

(Yes, the photo of us isn’t the best, but it’s THE night we met. Have to keep it!)

—This is going to be long so buckle up and chill out— 

We met at the Aardvark off of Berry. He was hanging out with some of this high school kids hearing their band play. I was there with friends waiting to hear the main band (Green River Ordinance) take the stage. I walked out of the bathroom with all of my girlfriends and saw Jared. I know this sounds corny, but it’s true: when I saw Jared it was like the room paused. I remember exactly how he was sitting, what he was wearing, and that great smile on his face. My girlfriends grew up with Jared so we all went over to talk to him (woo hoo!!!). Jared shook my hand and my heart was beating insanely fast! We talked the rest of the night and I was just on cloud 9. Ok, I was 19 years old. Jared was 24 about to be 25. I was 19… has that sunk in yet? 19! 

When I met Jared I was coming out of the darkest period of my life. I have a “medical condition” and in early-mid ‘07 I was going through treatment. Well treatment did NOT go as planned and I had to detox from the treatment in a facility, and because I needed help processing through the junk in my heart. It was a dark, dark, lonely place, BUT God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness pulled me out of that rut and helped me begin the long (spiritual and mental) healing process. 

So when I met Jared I felt like I had a new lease on life. My eyes were open to things they hadn’t been before and considering what I had just gone through I was very vulnerable. I strongly feel that the Lord used Jared to shepherd my heart and to be my protector. I get teary when I write this because God’s mercy is so rich and I can look back through my life and see how He intervened and just took over. God gave me so much by His son dying on a cross and then He gave me Jared. I am so undeserving. 

Back to our story…

Jared & I started dating in January 2008. And like most other new couples we were completely infatuated with one another. I knew Jared was “the one” after our first date. In detail he described what he felt that God was calling him to long-term and it was exactly what the Lord began to layout for me in high school. It fit together seamlessly. Of course I called my girlfriends and just exploded with happiness over my new relationship with this man! …They weren’t too pleased, but I really didn’t care. 

Fast forward to June…

Jared & I went ring shopping, talked about getting married, imagined what it would be like to not have to say goodbye at the end of the night, and I thought he would propose some time around Christmas. I even went wedding dress shopping with a friend just to try them on and play pretend. I found THE dress, but I wasn’t engaged so obviously, I didn’t think I would get it. 

June 27, 2008

I got off work early to hangout with Jared. We were supposed to be helping out with a party that night and I wanted to nap before. I didn’t have a dress to wear to the party that evening. Jared being so sweet wanted to take me to buy a new dress. Um, no girl will pass up an opportunity to go shopping! Then Jared came over to my apartment and we took a nap then I asked him to be honest with me about the ring I picked out. I wanted to know if he got it, or if it was already gone. He told me that he went back to get it, and it was gone. I seriously cried. He told me we could probably find something similar and that he was very sorry. Then out of nowhere he gave me a new pair of sunglasses. I love sunglasses so I thought it was so sweet of him and didn’t really think much about it. A dress and sunglasses in one day!?! Woo hoo! 

He went to his apartment to get ready for the party that night and I began to get ready at my apartment. I put on my new dress and walked over to Jared’s apartment. It was h-o-t outside. I walked into Jared’s apartment and saw him playing with Lincoln Logs. He was dressed so handsomely and asked me to help him finish building this house. I couldn’t refuse, it was just too cute. We finished building the house then he asked if he could fly his remote control airplane before we left for the party. I got pretty irritated because he wanted to fly it on the Trinity Trails which meant climbing under a fence, over a concrete pipe, and I was wearing heels and a dress. I tried to talk him out of it because we kind of running late, but he said he would fly it real quick- the wind was perfect that day. 

We got on the bottom of the levy and Jared started tinkering with his little airplane. I was (selfishly) mad at this point. It’s hot, I’m dressed up and now I’m sweating. He was acting so weird and nervous. I just thought he didn’t want to crash his plane. Ha. 

He walked over to me and started saying really sweet things and kissing me. I was really confused. Then he asked to pray with me. He prayed the sweetest prayer, then asked me what I thought about the dress, sunglasses, and Lincoln Logs. I couldn’t put the pieces together. He said the dress was to provide for me, the sunglasses to protect me, and the Lincoln Logs was symbolic of the home we’ll build together. It was all things Jared wanted to do: provide, protect and build a home together. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife with THE ring that I loved!!  

Through streams and streams of tears I think I finally got out something that sounded like “yes”. Then we walked over to this tree that we used to sit under and talk for hours. It was our little hiding spot. He had a CD player out there with “These Are The Days” by Van Morrison playing. We danced and did all of the lovely-dovey stuff then he handed me a bible. On the front it said, “Lacey F. Kesler”. I was shocked. It was so beautiful. 

(He had a friend hide and take pictures!) 

Realizing that we still had to help out with a party we picked up everything and left. Jared said that we’d call some of our friends after the party and have them celebrate with us. We pull up to the party that we’re supposed to be helping out with, walk in the door, and it’s a surprise engagement party for us. Jared is so sneaky!

It was the best party. I was so surprised and happy! Jared really went over the top and made me feel so special!

After the party my momma and soon to be ex step father person were going to California that night for vacation so we met them at my apartment so I could show them the ring.  

(Remember me saying that I found THE dress? Well the store that was selling that dress was closing the same day I got engaged so I didn’t think I would be getting it.)


My mom knew how much I wanted that dress so before coming to my apartment she went to the bridal store literally as they were closing their doors and bought it! Again, I started crying! 

It was a magical night. Jared is a pure gift from God, and I am so thankful for him. 

So there you have it. The whole enchilada of how we became us. 

Grace

There have been two separate things weighing heavily on my heart. 

One of them I haven’t even mentioned to anyone or in prayer because of how unlikely it was to happen. The other is something I pray about constantly. So let’s get down to business…

[I’m not going to say specifically what the first issue is because it’s just too much to explain] I  have been praying about this “issue” for about a month. I knew it was pretty silly and very unlikely to happen, but I just couldn’t help but let it linger in my heart. So I put in a compartment of things to daydream about it. I didn’t even pray about this because I was kinda embarrassed. God answered the lingering desire in my heart without me saying a word. I was so shocked. I never really thought it would happen, but it did and it was exactly as I hoped it would be. It just really spoke volumes of how God sees the depths of my heart that I am unwilling to share and still loves me. 

On to the next one…

I’m a crap wife. I really am. I can be so selfish, inpatient, argumentative, and the list goes on and on. Lately I was not loving my husband in the ways that he receives love. About a month ago or so  I began to ask the Lord for help. I needed help loving Jared, having a servant’s heart, taking care of my duties around the house, freaking cooking dinner!, and doing all of the things that make my husband feel and know how deeply I love him. All I could feel was my rebellious and insubordinate side rear its ugly head. I remember getting into the shower and just crying because I was seeing how awful my own heart is. Jared hadn’t done anything for me to act that way. It was me and my sin that was taking over my heart and clouding everything.

About two weeks ago I felt like I did a 180. Almost like it was overnight. As weird as this sounds, I really feel that God is showing me how to love Jared well. [I’m definitely still learning and there’s still a lot to learn!] God was showing me and still is showing that is mercies are new every day. My heart is much more tender toward Jared and I really want to love him and love him well. I’m still selfish and an awful person, but God is working on my heart and I can’t even tell you how great it feels. It’s painful, but so worth it. I love my husband more than anything God ever created and I am so thankful that God gave me grace, and grace, and more grace to get through that rough patch.  

 

Who, oh Lord, could save themselves, 
Their own soul could heal? 
Our shame was deeper than the sea 
Your grace is deeper still 

Who, oh Lord, could save themselves, 
Their own soul could heal? 
Our shame was deeper than the sea 
Your grace is deeper still 

You alone can rescue, You alone can save 
You alone can lift us from the grave 
You came down to find us, led us out of death 
To You alone belongs the highest praise 

You, oh Lord, have made a way 
The great divide You heal 
For when our hearts were far away 
Your love went further still 
Yes, your love goes further still 

You alone can rescue, You alone can save 
You alone can lift us from the grave 
You came down to find us, led us out of death 
To You alone belongs the highest praise 
To You alone belongs the highest praise
To You alone belongs the highest praise

You alone

We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes 
You’re the Giver of Life 
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes 
You’re the Giver of Life 
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes 
You’re the Giver of Life 
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes 
You’re the Giver of Life 
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes 
You’re the Giver of Life 
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes 
You’re the Giver of Life 
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes 
You’re the Giver of Life 
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes 
You’re the Giver of Life 

You alone can rescue, You alone can save 
You alone can lift us from the grave 
You came down to find us, led us out of death 
To You alone belongs the highest praise 
To You alone belongs the highest praise
To You alone belongs the highest praise

To You alone

 You Alone Can Rescue - Matt Redman 

Merry-Go-Round

I can’t keep away from blogging. It’s a sickness, and I fall prey to the peer pressure. …I wish there was peer pressure. It’s just me. Wanting to start a blog, again. That’s all.

I thought about starting this blog for as long as I normally think about doing anything. 5 seconds. Except for super serious things and I usually give those a minute sometimes two.

What you can except:

• irregular updating
• jesus talk
• how gluten is the bane of my existence 
• random and sometimes inappropriate posts
• honesty  
• posts about my love for my husband and our dogs  
• horrible grammar and punctuation (I’m sure my English teachers are so proud)

Doesn’t this sound like fun?! I’m overflowing with blog posts, but they should probably come one at a time. 

This is the first of hopefully many posts.

Thanks for reading. 

Cheers.
(I’m trying to come up with a consistent way to end every post. I really like this one.)