Are you up for the challenge??

Having grown up in San Antonio being surround by military bases (Fort Sam- Army, Lackland- Air Force, Randolph- Air Force and Kelly- Air Force) was only what I knew. Having friends’ parents in the military was just average to me too. Attending college at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and being close to the largest military base- Fort Hood in Killeen- was just ordinary life. Hearing gunfire and explosions at night were routine. Seeing tanks, helicopters and other military equipment pass by campus on the train were just everyday happenings, especially after the war began during my freshman year of college. However, now that my dearest friend Emily Meredith is being deployed to the sandbox, it is just different.

Little history of Emily

Emily grew up in Africa- mostly Zambia and Kenya. Her parents are missionaries for an organization called The Navigators and have been serving in Africa for 30+ years. Emily attended college at the University of Nebraska majored in education. After graduation, she joined the United States Air Force and that's how our paths crossed nearly 3 years ago. Emily and I first met at a church retreat weekend at the Frio River. My first thoughts were this girl is way too serious about competition and doesn't act like much of girl, yet I want her to be my friend even though she scares me a little :)  

Favorite Emily memories

#1-- SPURS game-- two words- Super Box!!!! Amazing time. We both love the Spurs and both screamed like crazy seeing those two simple words printed on our tickets as we picked them up from will-call. 

Going home with her to Kenya and experiencing life there with her was wonderful. Safari to Masai Mara, early morning jogs in Nairobi, hiking Mt Longonot, and SO much more I could just go on and on. 

Trips to Dairy Queen for our favorite thing-- ice cream!

Talking with Emily during mile 23 of my marathon- she had finished her half marathon, arrived home, taken a shower, and was ready for a nap. And I still have another 40 minutes of running! At least she made me laugh and kept me distracted from the pain. 

The Mini Cooper Challenge

Emily has been training in New Jersey for the last 5 weeks to prepare for deployment and I have been praying for her like crazy. Emily's dream car is a red Mini Cooper.

Since leaving San Antonio every time I see a Mini Cooper I say a prayer for Emily. Originally I was thinking oh this should be easy-- how many Minis can there be?? Well, I think that California has the highest Mini Cooper population because they are EVERYWHERE! One day after seeing 21 cars I stopped counting! With seeing so many cars all the time I have extended my prayers not just for my rafiki (“friend” in Swahili) but to all the military serving- overseas and here at home, military commanders, our enemies, civilians working with the military, families of our military, our government, and our Commander in Chief President Obama. 

Now that Emily is deploying to the Sandbox very soon I am extending this challenge to you. Will you join me in praying for those defending our freedom?? Are you up for the challenge??

My friends who are currently serving or who have served our country-

Chris Jenkins, Matt Sievers, Jennifer Starnes, Jonathon Houston, Stephen Cisneros, Matt Dimaline, Chris Huff, John Pearson, Victor Garcia, Jennifer Johnson, Rory Upright, Ryan Garcia, Josh Shick, Elaina Wild, Jason Hasbrouk, Dan Bronson, Stacey Brundrett, Austin Pettit, Brenda Barnhart, Eddie Harmoush, Jenny Lewis, Andrew Corum, Megan Gallagher, Tony Lopez, Rob Vadney, Mary Ann Cooper, Gary Tate, David Neal, Theresa Siegel, Jim Duke, Lannie Allen, Patti Donatucci-Irwin, Ron Durbin, Cathy Beck, Alan Rhodes, David Simpson, Wes Meredith (Emily's brother)

THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY!