Goings and Going On’s; and other such things.

Beyond Traditions, there are set rules. And beyond set rules, there is simply the desire to follow a certain order of things, out of the longing in our hearts to be a part of something more meaningful, to belong to something greater than ourselves…

The traditional respect rendered the United States Flag and the National Anthem began at the close of the Civil War, as our great Nation once again came together under one banner. With World War 1 our brave serving men were instructed how to properly render arms and by the close of World War 2, these traditions were adopted as law, under US Code .

http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1609

A more recent law adopted in 2008 granted the following set of standards: At the playing of the National Anthem; Uniform Service Members in uniform render salute. Out of uniform, Active Duty stand at attention. Veterans (anyone who has ever served during any time) in or out of uniform are authorized to render a Salute. Civilians place their right hands over their heart, males remove their cover.

And now you know! Pretty neat eh? Bit random, I know, and not at all what you were expecting from me after having not read a blog in a while…but it’s ok! I am back to blogging, so allow me to continue.

For a more extensive (and certainly more visual) scope on my life over the last half a year or so, please refer yourself to my ForeignFindings blog, located to your right (updates in 2 days) >> Or to my Facebook Album of Thailand (of which the UNESCO World Heritage Sight now lies underwater…)@ https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2219358051059.128170.1460881340&type=3 or to the newest addition of my cyber family; http://www.flickr.com/people/whidbeymillers/ (also updates in 2 days)

Good Evening, Dear Reader, and Welcome to the Show.
So how have you been, Dear Reader? How have you held up this last year? It’s so funny, Thanksgiving is done and over!  Time flies so fast these days, and seemingly not fast enough. But how have you been? What have you learned about yourself these past months? How have you advanced physically? How have you grown emotionally? How have you matured Spiritually? It has been up and down for me. I have had some really depressing moments, but also some really great ones! And thankfully, my eyes have been trained to neglect the low times and focus only on the positive, the good. I am supposed to be getting orders to another Carrier here in the next couple of months, the USS Stennis out of Bremerton, WA. However if I end up not getting orders, and am stuck here, I have come to accept that as well. 1.5 more years, wherever the Lord has me, and then it will be living life from then on out!!

What’s that you ask? How am I? Where am I? All valid questions, Dearest Reader, but lest I bore you with an entire novel, allow me a summary here. Deployment through the Summer was alright for work. It went by fast actually. Skipped several ports (Guam and Australia) in lieu of more mission-critical assignments, which ended up getting us what the Navy calls a “Beer Day” for the entire crew at the 45-day mark. Sure, they were cheap Australian Beers, but they gave us 2 each, and the entire crew piled into the hangar bays for the day. Pretty much did figure eight’s all day. Then we hit Busan, South Korea. Again another beautiful place. Pattaya, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Those last 2 were during our winter Cruise, which just ended. A week before the ship was expected back to Yokosuka, Japan however, one of my young sailors slipped and cut his last 3 fingers down to the bone on the pier of Hong Kong. They did about as much as they could on the ship, and then I was chosen to escort him to the hand surgeon here in Okinawa, Japan. They launched us off the Carrier which was neat! We flew a couple hours to the Island, and have been here ever since. Looks like we may be here through Christmas too, if the Doc has his way. He is doing fine though, got his tendons and nerves back together ok, and he is doing therapy now.

What now? What has changed? Now that’s a story for another time. I have a million photos to upload so you all can bare witness to amazing beauty of Hong Kong, and other places around the world. In the meantime, here are some things you could pray for; Caden (the sailor) that his hand would continue to heal, I would have an impact on his young mind, and the Lord would work in his heart. My brother Ben, he just got all 4 of his wisdom teeth pulled, and he may be infected. Pulling teeth in the Army is bad enough. Pray for his pain and his patience. My brother Seth is still in Afghanistan with the Marines. Pray for his continued safety, health, and most importantly, his witness to his fellow Marines. My brother Nate graduates Coast Guard Boot here in a week or so, please pray for his heart, that he will have someone to keep him encouraged. Pray for his testimony and fellow brothers who he has been praying with. Please also pray for Stephen that he will continue to do well in High School and take his education seriously. Pray for his teen-attitude, and his growing heart. And lastly, pray for my orders, that the Lord’s Will may be done, and that I will be content with whatever comes.

I love you all, praying daily!
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