On Christmas Day 2007, one special gift for the Dubrees outshone everything else under the tree. They discovered that they were once again expecting.
“I knew that God was giving me back the things I had missed with our first daughter,” said Chris. “I was able to see the entire pregnancy firsthand, the birth, and the first eight months of Nikayla’s life which is what I had missed with Keesley.”
When Nikayla was just two months old, Chris learned he would be deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. “It was very hard for me after having another child knowing that he would be leaving us again, but I knew that God was on our side, and he would get us through this just like the did the last deployment,” said Leah. “I was so upset and hurting for my Chris, because he was going to miss so much once again.”
Determined to do what she could to foster that daddy-daughter relationship, Leah began
working with Nikayla to say her first word. Finally one day, she said it to him: “Da da!”
“The look on his face was so priceless and I knew that was a moment he would carry with him always,” said Leah.
When Chris left for Afghanistan, he said, “Keesley was exactly twenty-seven months and twenty-three days, and Nikayla was exactly seven months and twenty-eight days. Currently, I am missing with Nikayla what I have seen with Keesley, but I get updates on a daily basis.”
In the meantime, Leah talks to Nikayla about her daddy and Chris talks to her on the phone. “I continue to pray for his safety and that Nikayla will remember him,” said Leah. “Things aren’t as hard as I thought they would be, and I know that’s because I have grown in Christ. God is so wonderful! My daughters and I miss Chris so much. Each day has its ups and downs, but we know that everything will work out in the end because God is our savior.”
Lord, if I must walk through fire, refine me with it so I’ll be stronger for the future.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)