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Star Wars Celebration: Cosplay Prep Guide

Star Wars​ Celebration Chicago is quickly approaching. It’s just one month away! To help you prep for the best week of your cosplay career, here are some helpful tips to help you along the way!

This post may contain affiliate links. For more on that, check here.

1) Monitor your hydration

With only one month between now and the hustle and bustle that is #SWCC, you need to make sure you are getting your body prepared. Most of the time, cosplays require a lot more from your body. There is nothing quite so draining as hauling bins or bags full of heavy cosplay supplies and luggage, only to walk all day for many days, covered in paint or thick heavy clothes. You will SWEAT! Use an app like FitBit or Water Drink Reminder on Google Play to help keep you on track. And don’t forget to bring an empty water bottle. You can fill it up at the water fountains for free. And when bottled water is for sale upward of $4 a bottle, trust me, you’ll be able to save all that extra cash for great souvenirs! This water bottle below is less than the cost of four overpriced bottles of water, and you need to drink almost double that a day for healthy hydration when you’re sweating!

2) Continue a nightly routine – or start one

This is especially important if your costume requires makeup, body paint, glue, or a prosthetic. These take an extra toll on your skin, so make sure you are prepped. Be sure to use a quality moisturizer that is non-comedogenic so not to block your pores, and use a simple, gentle face wash every night. If your costume requires makeup or face paint, consider doing a facial scrub this week! To keep your skin in tip-top shape, watch what you eat for this next month and avoid any foods that are high in unhealthy fat, sugar, or cause inflammation.

3) Check your supplies and do pre-con maintenance

This is critical at this stage. Make sure that your makeup brushes are washed and dried before packing them. Do an inventory of your supplies. It’s almost never too late to get 2-day shipping on Amazon Prime or Wal-Mart if you find you’re missing an essential item. And if you really need something you’re missing, check with your lodging. Some hotels let you ship packages in your name during your stay! Check your costume and ensure that everything is in tip-top shape. Are the buttons secure? Is everything freshly laundered and prepped?

4) Stock up on supplies

Celebration is going to be a great time, and you can make it easier to enjoy yourself by keeping a few basics in your bag.

*Snacks/one-pack meals (I like The Complete Cookie and Lara Bars)
*Water bottle
*Painkiller of choice
*Makeup/cosplay emergency kit
*Camera
*Portable chargers or cords for devices
*Poster tube
*Collapsible bag for additional purchases

Keeping at least these few essentials will be sure to keep you prepared for fun on the con floor.

And speaking of the con floor,

5) Familiarize yourself with the venue

Get a map and print it out or save it to your mobile device. Take note of where you need to be and when, and give yourself plenty of time to get through lines. Take stock of where the bathrooms are (you’ll need them if you’re properly hydrated!) and know where stairs or elevators are located.

6) Manage money matters

If you’re travelling, be sure to contact your financial institution and let them know! As a former banker, I can’t tell you how many times someone’s card had been used out of state and the automatic systems and securities in place prevented further use only for it to end up that the client had simply traveled without calling ahead.

You’ll also want to have at least $100 worth of cash on hand. Why? Because if with all of the precautions, sometimes technology just sucks. And you will be at CELEBRATION. This is the con of a LIFETIME. You don’t want to see that signed edition of the poster for sale and not be able to purchase because it of some technical glitch.

It is also a smart idea to set up payment apps available for your mobile device, like your phone. Between Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, there is probably a way to set up a payment option right on your cell! To be honest, I haven’t been able to locate my wallet for about a week (oops), but I haven’t gone without buying necessities; I have my Paypal connected to my phone, and through the Samsung Pay app, it operates like a debit card, pin security included. The benefits to this payment apps is that you can store all of the relevant payments options in one place, such a credit card, a debit card, and Paypal, without having to worry about your wallet. Besides, most of us never leave the house without our phones!

Bring a credit card. In addition to your other money solutions, having a credit will help in many ways. If someone does manage to steal your credit card, they haven’t tapped into your liquid assets (like your bank account) and you can still be sure to pay the bills. Also, many credit card companies such a MasterCard, Visa, etc offer extra protections and insurance for you during travel, like roadside assistance if your rental breaks down, etc. Be sure to confirm with your credit card company if these perks apply to you.

And last, but not least . . .

7) Patience (and FUN!)

There are going to be thousands of people from all over the world and long, overnight queues. Take time now to rest and take it easy, and give yourself the option to be human. Your character may be a super hero, but your body has needs. Take time to pay attention to what those are and take stock of your body every hour that you are in costume. By taking care of yourself, you’ll set yourself up for a fun and safe Star Wars Celebration.

So what do you think? Are they any other tips you would add? Sound off in the comments below!

Have fun at Celebration!

"XOXO, Amber" in hand-styled script

P.S. I’ve got a downloadable checklist for you right here!

P.P.S. Watch below if you want details on how I do my Hera makeup. It’s a long, real time video with no edits. If you want to learn specific parts, there is a video directory in the pinned comment!

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6 Books for Successful Christian #BossBabes

A graphic of four women from the back shows them linking arms. The text reads "6 Books for Successful Christian #BossBabes."

More and more in this social age, women are looking for the perfect balance of raising their families, saving money, and earning income, all while hoping for the miraculous schedule of time managed by yourself. Wow! It’s no wonder that there are so many books on self-improvement, time management, and character building. And while those are helpful and great experience often lies between the pages, it is doubly refreshing to find a book that teaches you practical ways to better your business ventures while nourishing your soul and deepening your relationship with God.

This post may contain affiliate links. For more on that, check here.

  1. Girls with Swords by Lisa Bevere

In Girls with Swords, Lisa likens our prayers to swords, and goes through practical steps on how to sharpen your prayers. With shared personal experiences and analogies to sword fighting, this will empower to better your spiritual life.

2. Fervent by Priscilla Shirer

I’ve mentioned this book before, but that hasn’t stopped me. And I will definitely post about it again, because it is my favorite devotional book I’ve read in years. The full title, Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer says it far better than I can. I love how Shirer does not pull any punches. She lays it out just like the Bible says: this is war. But our war is spiritual, and no physical weapons of ours will have any effect. She gives practical applications and tools, all while citing Scripture, to enable you to create prayers to defend you, your family, and claim your territory for God through prayer.

Find me on Pinterest!

Perhaps if you’re like me, prayer is something you know you should do, and do often, but it never feels like you’re really doing much. Not anymore! Shirer pulls back the curtain on spiritual warfare, exposes the tactics of our Enemy, and illuminates the struggles of our day to day for the spiritual battle they really are. This book is part manual, part journal, and part exposé of Satan’s playbook. In similar fashion to C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters, she skillfully gets into the enemy’s mindset to fumble our greatness in Christ.

I mean, just zoom in on these clips. Top right: She starts each chapter with, “If I were your enemy.” Top left: The book includes cards for you to personalize with your personal struggles and the prayers she helps you build with the framework of Scripture. And look! Bottom left: she opens the book with a quote from The Lord of the Rings! Trust me, you will love this book.

It will challenge you. It will inspire you. You cannot read this book as a child of God and not leave changed and empowered.

I know I have said a lot more about this work than I will about the rest, but that is how much this book has changed my life. I am absolutely not inflating its potency. While all of these books have added to my life and knowledge and opened my eyes to truth, this one in particular is my favorite. If you buy just one, this is the one to get!

3. Grace Not Perfection by Emily Ley

Oh, dear sweet Emily. She is a fantastic author who endears readers to her immediately through her warmth and authenticity she conveys expertly through the pages. It’s almost like sitting down with her over a cuppa in your favorite coffee shop as she chats honestly about her life, its challenges, and the lessons God has taught her along the way.

Especially if you’re like me, always pushing yourself to get more done, seeking efficiency, grinding for results, hustling – Emily offers a quiet admonition to pause and appreciate rest and how to give yourself grace through the growing process. This is definitely the book for those who have a hard time saying no!

4. Make it Happen by Lara Casey

Don’t let life happen to you – make it happen! I could say a lot about this book, but Lara says it best:

You were created for a purpose, and it’s time to make it happen.Make It Happen is the story of how I surrendered my fear, took the leap, and got a life. In my case, a perfectly imperfect, fulfilling life as a mama, a working woman, and a grateful wife. This is the story of how I chose to make “it”―a greater purpose than mine―happen, and how you can too.
Make It Happen is for

  • women who find themselves worried, anxious, and completely overwhelmed by the constant chase for perfection
  • those seeking the courage to jump into a new venture
  • working women who are struggling to “do it all”
  • weary wives and moms looking for relief from burning the candle at both ends
  • anyone who dreams of a life lived not by accident, but on purpose

Your time has come to take a leap of faith. Join me as we surrender our fears, end the chase for perfection, and say yes to cultivating the meaningful lives God desires for us.

You know all those things you’ve always wanted to do? You should go do them.

5. 100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs

If you have not been moving due to fear or insecurity, 100 Days to Brave will take on a journey – over the course of 100 days – to tackling your fear and embracing faith so that you can accomplish the dreams God has planted in your heart. This is a great companion to any of the books listed. The devotions are short and sweet, and are encouraging word alongside your daily Scripture reading.

6. Cultivate by Lara Casey

If the garden of your life feels overrun and overgrown, or dry and neglected and withering, Lara is here to help you navigate through the seasons of life to a place of nurture through cultivation.

We can’t do it all, and do it well. But, we can choose to cultivate what matters.

Lara Casey, Cultivate

Lara grace-filled advice helps you get to the nitty gritty and not be afraid of getting a little messy for what matters.

I have so many more books to recommend to you! (I love reading self development and devotional books.) Be sure to stay tuned for more of my fave reads!

Adieu!

"XOXO, Amber" in hand-styled script
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An Indie Palette You’ll go WILD For!

You may not have heard of Menagerie Cosmetics yet, but believe me, you will be seeing more of them! Founded in October 2018, this independent beauty company makes all of their products in house, and proceeds from certain products goes to support the Animal Welfare Institute. This Washington based company is of course cruelty free and vegan, which is why it shows up on the blog!


This 12 color palette includes 9 matte shades and three duo-chromes. The pans are a good size, the top flap hold a large mirror, and the packaging is simply magical.

Just look at this packaging!!! A glorious wolf-lord, adorned with antlers, looks like the King of the Forest. Pretty little fairies flit around and make images of sparkle and magic dance in your mind.

I ordered two palettes from them, this and their Dragon Child palette, which I’ll reviewing later. Both came in great condition. Only the Wolfling shade, second from the top right, was loose and moving about in flakes. It appears to have been jostled too hard, but I did not lose any amount of product to speak of, and it still works fine. The company would have sent me a replacement pan if I asked, but I don’t think it warrants a replacement.

The colors are vibrant and true to pan. I do wish the teal color would be brighter, but I have yet to experiment with all my different priming solutions. Only the colors Ivy and Fenris were blotchy on application, but again, this is a finger swatch and not on face on top of product which drastically changes performance. Below, you can see where I used Ivy and Fenris in the crease, and the pigmentation is even and smooth.

They apply well and blend nicely with very little fallout on the matte. The duo-chromes have considerable fallout, but that is totally normal for that type of formula – and it is SO worth it!

This palette is sumptuous and unpredictable. With its several neutral tones and vibrant pops of color that refused to be missed, it comes across just as wild as nature. The packaging matches the brand’s aesthetic of the fantastic and ethereal, and the colors and performance are a joy. I honestly want to buy more of their stuff based on the packaging alone! Plus, helping animals. Win win!

And yes; I did this look to coordinate with my D&D shirt.

Be sure to go to my instagram to check out my stories with videos of the swatches and palette, plus more to come!

Do you own it? What do you think? Be sure to tag me on your looks. I would love to see them!

"XOXO, Amber" in hand-styled script
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Blend Bible Vol 1 Palette Review

I’ll be doing a YouTube series on the basics of makeup. (Make sure you follow me so you don’t miss it!) It will start with understanding light and shadow, how that applies to shaping your face, dealing with hooded eyes, how to apply foundation, and more! Whether you want to just up your daily game or learn how to get those CRAZY good looks like you see on instagram, these principles are going to be the building blocks you need to get you on the right track.

Now to the review!

Fugly Beauty was good enough to send me this palette to review for you all, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it! The palette aims to contain shades to aid in blending. This palette is the only one I know of with the goal of just being full of transition shades. So what does the palette look like?

Here are the nine shades inside of the palette. As you can see, everything was manufactured well and shipped securely so as not to break or become damaged.

You can see the texture of the makeup in the pans in this shot. The surface has a bit of a grain to it that helps it get loaded onto the brush.

The packaging is very bold and colorful. The palette is small enough to fit into my travel bag for an easy weekend look, and if you choose to keep the sleeve (I suggest you do) it will ensure it stays closed so no makeup accidents during travel!

The inside of the palette has a large mirror. The durable sleeve is pictured to the right.

As a standalone palette, this has a lot of potential. The colors are all warm based neutrals. As you can see from the finger swatches above, I have a light skin tone. There is not a shade in the palette that is either as light as my skin or lighter, which I would have liked. Being able to tap into a neutral light shade to tone done or blend other shades is a great way to blend. That being said, what it lacks in my preference of lighter shades it makes up for in many ways.

The formula does exactly what you expect: blend nicely! It’s buttery smooth. It performs as smoothly as professional brands I’ve used, and if you’ve seen my instagram, that’s a lot! It’s not quite as velvety as Jeffree Star’s line, but I prefer the Fugly Beauty palette to Anastasia of Beverly Hills palettes, whose formula tends to be too soft and leaves a lot of fallout.

As for transition shades, there are only a few I would not use as often. Shade #9, the deep mulberry wine color, is quite dark to be a transition. However, it makes a LOVELY crease shade. With its hint of color, it also ads interest and depth to a neutral smokey eye. Try using it to blend in with your deeper shadows on your next smokey look for extra oomph!

Overall impressions of the Blend Bible Vol I are positive! This is definitely something I would take with me while traveling. It has the potential to create an everyday look as well as an evening smokey eye all in one palette. With the absolutely MASSIVE mirror, it means that even when faced with crummy hotel mirrors, I can take this baby next to a window and have a great mirror to complete my look. This is a versatile palette that will help you up your blending game while also being a good standalone palette for many different looks.

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Here is the look I created using @fuglybeauty 's #blendbiblevol1 ! Look at the gorgeous transitions! I used @menageriecosmetics Dragon Child palette for the pops of color. Highly recommend! Details below: * * * * Lips: Pretty by @milanicosmetics Face: @toofaced foundation @tartecosmetics blush @nyxcosmetics highlight Brows: @anastasiabeverlyhills dip brow Lashes: @hudabeauty in Samantha * * * * #ad #hudalashes #hudalashessamantha #fuglybeauty #indiemakeupandmore #indiemakeup #indiecosmetics #menageriecosmetics #undiscoveredmuas #milanicosmetics #anastasiabeverlyhills #ohiomua #militaryspouse #beautyofthegeek #militarymua #makeupinfluencer #makeupreview #palettereview

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So what do you think of the palette? Have you tried it?

Be sure to follow me on instagram for regular palette and beauty reviews!

Until next time!

"XOXO, Amber" in hand-styled script
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The AMAZING Skin Solution that takes LESS than Five Minutes

You may have seen my recent video on my instagram, but just in case, I’ll make sure I share it below. In the video, I do a (sped up) version of my nightly routine. While I recorded it, including extra time spent showing off the products, it was actually UNDER five minutes, and that included removing my makeup! WOW! I was absolutely amazed.

This post may contain affiliate links. For more on that, check here.

Products Used:

  1. Facial Cleanser by Instanatural – use the cleanser as directed. If you need a little extra makeup removing power, add a little extra virgin olive oil in with your cleanser. (TRUST me!!!) Wash away!
  2. Toner – Vitamin C by Instanatural – depending on the toner, the directions may differ, but generally, you want to shake the product, dispense into either your palms or on a cotton round, and pat it gently onto the face. Toner is so important to your facial routine. But it won’t give you the benefits if you don’t have the right product (avoid alcohol at all costs!) and don’t use it at the right step. Toner is done after cleansing to adjust the PH balance of skin back to where it should be. This allows the products you’re about to put on your face to actually do the work they are supposed to. If your toner makes your skin feel “tight,” most likely, it is just a drying agent and not a balancing one, and that is a HUGE NO NO!
  3. Serum – Vitamin C by Instanatural – the serum is the powerhouse of your nightly routine. It is the agent that delivers the compact, concentrated nutrients that help your skin. I love the vitamin C serum because how it helped reduce my redness and in general, evens my skin tone! You might want a different serum depending on your skin goals and needs, but if you’re new to skincare, you can’t go wrong with this one! (And the smell is simply YUMMY!)
  4. Roller by Witty – I love using my roller! Not only does it just feel awesome, but it also helps me save money! Seriously. I can get away with just a few DROPS of my serum when I use my roller because none of it gets soaked into my fingertips! (To be fair, in the video, I use more because instagram.) It is also great for helping with cystic acne. Pop that baby in the fridge and apply it to any inflamed areas to reduce swelling. It also works great for reducing morning puffiness.
  5. Night cream by Instanatural – after you’ve applied your serums, the cream is going to be the protective layer that keeps your skin hydrated and helps you to absorb the nutrients from the serums while you sleep. I had the pleasure of being taught how to give yourself a spa facial by a premier aesthetician, and it makes such a difference. I’ll be able to do a video on that later, but for now, when you apply lotion, only dispense it on your fingertips. Your fingertips absorb product the least, which means it will last longer and most of it will go on your face where it belongs. Tap your fingers together until you have an even amount on each fingertip (sans thumbs). Then, gently tap the product all over your face until it is evenly absorbed. It helps to stimulate circulation as well as prevents aging by eliminating unnecessary tugging. Plus, it just feels nice!

I’ve been using Instanatural since 2017 when a friend introduced it to me (Thanks, Savannah!). It’s made in Orlando, and I admit, this FL girl loves that! (Plus, I feel like it’s genuine Florida citrus in these products!) The products are clean, not tested on animals, and actually work.

No filter, no editing, just my face, half brows and all!

If you’re wondering if these will work for your skin, I’ll share what skin hurdles I have and how these have helped. First, my skin is combination. I have patches that are usually oily and patches that are sometimes dry. I also have random breakout (usually coinciding with my cycle) and have hyper-pigmentation, where the skin is perpetually red after a breakout in the past. Even though I have rarely broken out since high school, my skin retains the redness of each one for months, sometimes years! I also have sensitive skin that gets easily irritated and inflamed. I have the best experience with my skin when I regularly do this nightly routine. During the day, I also use Instanatural day cream and sunscreen if it is in the summertime. I exfoliate as needed, which is usually every 1 – 2 weeks. Also, I have found that drinking lots of water makes a big difference, too!

So tell me – what works for your skin? What products do you love? Try this easy nightly routine; I’d love to hear your results!

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Shutdown Stories – A Day in the Life of a USCG Family

At least for me and my circle of friends, the hot topic of discussion is the government shutdown. The profound effects of this partial shutdown have reached its fingers throughout more than just families of the Coast Guard. And while I would never wish to minimize or ignore the effect it has had on other families and other jobs, I can only speak from my own experience and the experience of those around me.

The Stories

“I’m not sure we can get this right now,” I say aloud to my husband, holding a pack of a feminine pads in my hands, realizing how ridiculous it is once it is spoken.

We went to Wal-Mart with the intention of only getting the bare necessities: flour, yeast, (so we can make homemade bread) and my prescriptions (particularly needed after just having surgery less than a month ago).

We chuckle as we checkout, putting the purchase on a credit card, just in case.

The fact is, this shutdown is difficult. In addition to the seemingly endless timeline and financial burdens, there are people online who harass Coast Guard families by saying things like, “you should have had a savings!” or “well, you’re not real military.” Etc. Etc. Most people don’t realize that the majority of those in the military make very little and live paycheck to paycheck, as do most of Americans. In my family’s case, we make what is considered below the poverty line. This has never bothered us, as we have done so for a very long time in the civilian sector. I always mentally chuckle when people assume we “make so much” working for the military. I made more on my own working part time for a bank than my husband does now, risking his life to save people around the clock. (To be fair, most of the time it isn’t an endangering job. But the possibility exists.) We all are aware of the potential, and for many, that is a constant mental burden. We believe that God called us to this life for a reason (which is to glorify and point others to Him!) and we trust that He will take care of us. But many people do not have a faith to cling to or a heavenly Father to trust in as we do.


Currently, leadership at our station up here in the frigid north has changed the work schedules to be as open to “days off” as possible to allow its members the opportunity to work a second job.

The S family here has two young daughters. Their father is enlisted at the station. He now has all of his time away from his duties spent working two other jobs.

The B family has two young boys. Their father is looking for work while managing his passion for volunteering at his local church. Their mother has taken on two additional jobs while managing their home education and learning about her chronic health condition. She was at the hospital this past week.

The H family has two young boys. As we approach potentially record-breaking cold, the furnace in their house has stopped working. While I can offer them my kid-safe space heater, it will do little against the upcoming cold. Now they must choose to use their savings for making up for their lack of pay or repairing their heating.

The W family has three children. Their enlisted father is away at required specialized training and is unable to get additional income for his family. Mrs. W could choose to get a job, but in this area, it is the off season, and the income must greatly exceed the cost of daycare for her three preschool aged children.

I personally have started doing commission work again, as it is something I can do with little physical exertion and I can do it from home.

There are two main reasons why I share this with you: 1. I want you to see that there is a severe problem with this situation, and 2. I want you to be amazed at how God has provided for my family.

We are not strangers to going without or having to rely on the goodness of God displayed in the generosity of family and friends. Within our first year of marriage, we were unexpectedly homeless. After 5 years of being in a our own house, my husband’s secure and well-paying job informed him that there were ignoring his contract and eliminating his position, just days after Christmas. The unemployment continued for nine months. And all throughout this, we were met with kindness and understanding, covered in prayer, and never went without a need being met. We never went hungry. We never went without a roof over our heads. I’m not saying it wasn’t tight or difficult. There were times where we had to decide how badly we needed to make the trip to the store because gas was short. My husband walked places to get what we needed. There were tears. Frustrated tears, yes, but also grateful tears. When my neighbor and friends gave me a box of cereal or had me over for dinner, it touched my heart in ways that, in a time of plenty, it could not have.


God took those bad situations and turned them into an opportunity to show me His power.


After his months of unemployment, he went to boot camp, and for the first time in my life, I lived alone. I was blessed with a part time job.

In the first three weeks, my dog and I were attacked by a dog on my normal walk, had vet expenses, listed my house for sale, was verbally harassed by lewd and sexual advances while at work, and had a miscarriage, all while being alone and without any contact with my husband.

When it came time for his paycheck, it was unexpectedly small. An error in paperwork meant he was receiving less than half of what he should have received – and which meant I could not pay the bills. All the while, I am cleaning and doing everything I can to pack up our house and prepare it for selling. When there were just two weeks left of boot camp, I finally knew where we would be living, and I immediately began searching for housing several states away.

And then came hurricane Irma.

That blue dot is where we lived. The dotted line was Irma’s projected path.

My family and I packed up headed out of state. Gas stations were backed up or out of gas. The road was filled with brake lights for miles.

In our tiny hotel room, where the door didn’t lock and my dad had to fix it, we housed me, my dog, my grandma, her dog, my parents and their two dogs, and my baby niece. I purchased an air mattress so I would have someplace to sleep.

We returned home to my parent’s home being completely trashed by fallen trees and debris. Even part of the fence had been picked up thrown away as a tornado went through their yard. It was the grace of God that kept every single one of those trees away from the house itself.

My air conditioner had been overworked during the storm, probably from debris and electrical surges, and it died two days after I returned. Insurance adjusters decided it wasn’t due to the hurricane, and I would have to either purchase a new AC for the house I was about to sell, or try to sell it in the middle of summer in FL without AC.

Friends, I do not tell you this to make me look good. It was hard. I did not get through it because I’m tough or resilient (although God has used these things to make me into a better person). I got through it because miraculously, through each circumstance, God placed people and events in my life to help me.

When we got to our a new station, God literally had a house saved just for us. When we met our landlords, they said, “You know, we’ve been praying for the right people, and we feel like God was having us hold out just for you.” Even with all of the other applicants, God worked for us to have a home right away in a foreign place, far away from any family or networks.

God took those bad situations and turned them into an opportunity to show me how He keeps His word and to build my trust in Him.

So no paycheck for a month? Two? My God has got this. He’s seen us through much, much worse! Since the beginning of the shutdown, we have seen our little community come together, blessing our station with food donations, gift cards, toiletries, baby supplies, and so much more.

I recognize that there are a lot of people who don’t have the community or network of support that has come through for me and shown me the love of Christ in action. I understand that there are those who are truly suffering.

So there are two things I do, and I would ask you to do the same.

1. Look for someone in need and offer what you can.

All of us in our little Coast Guard family are in the same situation. But in my case, I cut my husband’s hair. I’ve done hair cuts for three other people. It’s not much, but it saves so much money for others! Maybe you’re not the hair cutting type, but you can watch someone’s kids for a day while they job hunt, or even just spend some time watching Netflix together so you both don’t feel so alone.

2. Pray for our leaders.

There are so many things you can do to change the political climate of our culture and country, but none of it will make any lasting effect. While we should still do our part, the most effective thing you can do is make a lasting difference by introducing people to Jesus and by praying for those who make the decisions that shape this nation.

If you’ve read this far, thank you so much for being a part of my journey in some small way. I hope that this encourages you.

Get The Facts

There are several misunderstood facts about the Coast Guard, the shutdown, and everything in between.

The USCG is a military branch, equal and in partnership with the other four branches.[1][2]Unlike the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines, which are all under the Department of Defense (DoD), the Coast Guard is under Homeland Security (HS). Unique to the USCG is its “maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set.”[2] Basically, in order to do what we do here as law enforcement, we must be a part of HS so that we can enforce and act as a law in the civilian sector without martial law being declared. It also gives us the freedom to patrol waters not accessible to our Naval vessels without it being considered an act of war. And, as necessary, our vessels can be taken under command of the Navy at a moment’s notice, so that we can have a “head start” into an engagement. An Alaskan rescue swimmer said, “In the Navy, it was all about the mission. Practicing for war, training for war. In the Coast Guard, it was, take care of our people and the mission will take care of itself.”[4] Unlike other branches which train and prepare for missions that may come, the Coast Guard trains and prepares for missions that happen on a daily basis, such a Search and Rescue (SAR), operating the National Response Center (NSC), interdict illegal immigrants, drug operations, or sex trafficking, among many other things.[5]

This is the first time in modern history that an armed service has gone without pay. [6][7]

Democratic leadership opposed paying the military.[8][9] No matter what side you fall on (or any place in between), paying those who risk their lives and must still be forced to work and who cannot claim unemployment, should be a non-partisan issue.

References

  1. “10 USC §101. Definitions” (PDF). Government Printing Office. 2011. (a)(4).
  2. U.S. Department of Defense website, accessed on January 25, 2019.
  3. Wikipedia, accessed on January 25, 2019.
  4. The Coast Guard Gets It Right Amanda Ripley. TIME. 23 October 2005.
  5. 2013 U.S. Coast Guard Facts Archived 2014-11-07 at the Wayback Machine
  6. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/coast-guard-becomes-first-armed-force-in-history-to-go-without-pay-during-shutdown/65-f5f113c1-9313-4914-a553-d94d4476a42c, accessed January 25, 2019
  7. http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/151249, accessed January 25, 2019
  8. https://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=AA7D2616-F266-4D46-9652-44010081CCB3, accessed Jan. 25, 2019
  9. https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1088511483422609413?s=07&fbclid=IwAR18KJ59WeyRCEJiGuPLXe0iaWTzi0HivEkd3DUx8xBX0rEpPt2juxDk0xg, accessed Jan. 25, 2019