I found this app via Tumblr recently and just shared this with my couples counseling class tonight, as we covered domestic violence. However, I'd like to correct and elaborate on some of what was written on Tumblr.

Aspire News appears to be a regular news app; however, the Help section of the app directs the user to domestic violence, crime, and sexual abuse resources (websites and phone numbers).  The help resources all seem to be national organizations, so users would most likely have to call the national organizations in order to find local assistance.

While on any of the pages, the user can triple-tap the top of the page to notify "trusted contacts" if the user is in danger (or perhaps suspects danger). The trusted contacts are notified via text message, so users would have to keep that in mind when choosing which phone numbers to input as trusted contacts (landlines would probably not be useful). To test the app, I used my own phone number as a trusted contact and received three text messages:

• the first (which can be personalized) said, "SOS: Your friend is requesting your assistance";
• the second included a 7 second audio clip; and,
• the third included a link to my approximate location (however, it was not my exact location, which could be problematic if the recipient does not know exactly where the sender is).

Furthermore, while on any of the Help pages, the user can click the "X" and be directed to an arbitrary news page, which could be helpful if the abuser is nearby while the user is using the app. The website functions similarly--if you press "esc" or the orange bar at the bottom of the page, an arbitrary website pops up (The Weather Channel, in my case) and the Aspire website changes (Google, in my case).

the d-word: deployment thoughts [month 2]

So it has been nearly two months since I jumped the pond to an undisclosed location. It has been crazy busy with everything you can dream of and some things you can't even make up. When we  finally got here I had to meet people and learn what they have been doing during their year away from home. This "right seat, left seat" ride was pretty painless on the outside but we couldn't really stand each other on the inside. But the two weeks went by like two days and we finally finished with them. Now they get to go home and I feel sad again cause I really miss my better half, the half that completes me and makes me whole and is the reason I love to wake up in the morning (even when I am usually falling asleep on her).

So I moped and finally got over myself (mainly because she can text me throughout the day) and went to work. Initially I had to take care of the protection for the FOB and daily dealings of what it takes to run a maintenance company. Afterward, there were so many issues with attitudes and a small disruption in the "good order and discipline" that I then had to move after four weeks on ground to take over maintenance. So as I usually do, I took two days and did a quick assessment and then started the corrections needed to make this maintenance program move forward.

The first problem was that the leaving unit left so much junk in the work area you literally had to maneuver around it to get anything done. Through networking and meeting all of the people I thought were necessary to be successful here, we found a place to dispose of all junk without having to do any paper work--just drop it off and they go through it for you. So two days of 14 hrs. each and finally it was all cleaned up and much room was granted to the maintenance areas.

Now things are running smoothly and we are almost caught up and can relax. I would literally spend any time my wonderful amazing wife was available texting. She got me through those times and the times now more than she knows.

Now that we are caught up I thought it would be fun to use time after a normal work day to hang out, watch a movie, or just relax with coffee. But to be honest all I want to do when not occupied with chaotic work is think of how I love her, miss her, and want to rub her feet after her long day. So I relax with coffee and scroll through all the photos I have of her and us till I fall asleep. I really miss my true friend and the love of my life.

the d-word: deployment thoughts [month 1]

It's already been a month? It seems like he just left.

It also seems like he's been gone for half of forever.

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He's finally received one of the two letters that I've sent so far, but I have yet to receive his first thanks to the postal service.

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I was working at my computer when I heard what sounded like two gunshots.

Now, when you grow up in a rural area near a shooting range in a state where most schools are closed on the first day of deer hunting season, you tend to know what gunshots sound like. However, when you then move into a heavily populated area near an elementary school, you tend to forget what gunshots sound like (large artillery is another matter).

So, when I first heard the noise, I decided to go into the backyard and see if anyone else had heard anything. No one else was outside, but then I heard the sound repeat again, twice--definitely gunshots. I grabbed my phone and went out the front door. The streets seemed deserted, but then I noticed some people standing in a driveway a few houses away, so I asked them if they heard what sounded like gunshots.

They had, in fact, they saw more than the empty streets that I saw, and they hoped that everyone was ok. We heard police sirens but realized that they were heading toward the opposite end of the city, so I thanked them and left. And then I called the police.

I ended up telling Alan--at first I wasn't going to mention anything, but I'm trying to remain as open as possible. Which is a challenge, because he's the first person I want to tell about whatever is happening but then I don't want him to worry or stress over something that he can't fix.

Note: From what I can tell, the media hasn't reported about the incident and I have not heard anything further.

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In the middle of the night, Ophelia wanted to go outside. When I turned on the light in the living room, I was surprised by a little gecko clinging to the ceiling. I wondered if I'd ask Alan to take him outside if he was there, but the thought went no further because the truth is, he wasn't there and I was and I was too tired and too short to find something and reach up and catch the little creature and release it outside.

So, there's a small Mediterranean House Gecko somewhere in my house right now.

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The gecko is in my bedroom. I tried to capture him but he ran behind my dresser.

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I ran 7.01 miles--another bucket list item to cross off of my list. As I was running past Alan's workplace, I saw white buses pull up in the parking lot. Crowds of people swarmed/stood in formation on the field. And someone announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, America's heroes are home!" I started crying as I ran because not all of America's heroes are home and we still have such a long time before we're together again.

to you, with love [28]

Who have you inspired today?

singleness in married life

Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me—a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others. -1 Corinthians 7:7 (The Message)

Single like you, Paul? What, so you were miserable being single because you were so blunt and didn't know how to make polite conversation with a woman and wanted to take everyone down with you?

This was basically my thought on Paul's "Hey, being single is great" theory--especially as my wedding day neared. And then definitely after we said our vows, because when you're married to a husband as amazing as mine, who would ever want to be single again?

And then, my husband left, leaving me the single human being within the four walls of our home.

While I remained in the Word after Alan deployed, it wasn't until the day I poured out my heart to God because I was so upset about health problems that I really sensed that my relationship with God grew substantially. Over the past several weeks, I have begun to hunger to know Him and His word better and more than ever before. It's wonderful because I have passion and ideas. It's frustrating because I now feel stunted and uncertain of where to go or what to do next. How do I live out the stirrings God starts in my heart? (Also, another issue I struggled with was knowing whether these were God-things or me-things.)

One of the biggest challenges that I wrestled with was feeling like there wasn't enough for me at my current place of worship. (I say "for me" because there are plenty of activities and ministries, but due to my class schedule, I am unable to attend Community Connections and usually don't attend PWOC.) And lately, community has strongly been on my heart.

But, I also realized that I can't just expect the church to do things for me. For example, I had this idea that there should already be a general forum for home life group leaders to exchange ideas, concerns, and inspiration because I know that I, at the very least, could always benefit from mentoring and fellowship.

There wasn't, so I asked about it, and now maybe there will be one (I was under the impression that we had "several" home life groups because that's what the communicator/bulletin says, but it's actually only three).

For another thing, I want to improve the fellowship within my home life group. So, I created a form and know the little things about everyone--from significant dates in their lives to favorite Bible verses to topics they'd like us to study. It was eye-opening and I'm looking forward to putting their ideas to work.

Also, some of the chaplains have expressed a desire to expand the Baking Brigade. This is awesome and would be even more awesome if we had the manpower to do so. So, I took the initiative to talk with another lady who was involved in a baking outreach at her husband's last duty station and now have plenty of ideas.

Lastly, what this entire post (and basically the entirety of the last several weeks) boils down to is mentoring. I want a mentor. I need a mentor. Someone to guide me into really helping home life group flourish. Someone to share a vision for the Baking Brigade and make it happen. Someone to generally help me in my walk with Christ.

Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. -Titus 2:3-5

So, if you're older than 23 you fit the bill.

Enter PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel). I've only attended a few times, again because of grad school, but after talking with a friend about all that is on my heart and how discouraged I feel, she said, "You really need to come to PWOC! I think it would really help you." And I said, "I know! I just need to do my work for Tuesday earlier so I have time to go." And then she told me that one of the ladies in life group teaches a class on mentoring at PWOC.

So. Tuesday at 9. If I'm not at the chapel, someone slap my wrist and tell me to never complain again if I'm not going to take responsibility for myself.

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This post was inspired by Alan, who, after hearing me vent/reading my text messages and emails about the topic, told me to blog about it and record the ideas and changes that occur within me. Here we go.