Thursday, August 24, 2006

Marine Kar


Karla Kay Spindler (now Mrs. Minick) was a Marine. She not only was fierce with an iron and a buffer, she was also trained how to use intentional weapons of various sorts. This site includes some of the dangerous side of Miss Karla that some of you may have guessed lies just beneath that cheerful exterior. Please feel free to comment, particularly since August 26, 2005 is her 40th birthday. But in light of what you now know about her; be wise....

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Marine Kar was a blast on the beach

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Marine Kar Begins

Marine Kar's legend includes a story of the night she chose to be a Marine. While at a high school party, she found her turn fast approaching: "What will you do after high school?" In a moment of decisiveness, sealed by scornful scepticism of her peers, Karla not only suggested she would join the Marine Corps, she committed to it. (MOS: Consultant)

Her recruiters even tried to talk her out of joining the Marine Corps. In spite of being 5 foot 2 (and a 1/4), a seventeen year old girl, and cute as a bu''on, her resolve never flagged. In boot camp she was named "Molly Marine" by her fellow recruits turned Marines (no, there is not a male equivelant to this award). She graduated as a Lance Corporal and shipped out for Pensacola, Florida in the Fall of '83.

Karla was fun to hang out with, too!

Monday, August 21, 2006

Marine meets Marine

I was in the Gunnery Sergeant’s office in Pensacola when Marine Kar first impacted me. With a glaringly bright smile and demeanor, Lance Corporal Spindler called the Gunny to attention with helpful advice on how to improve the quality of the women’s barracks. While she prattled on, the senior sergeant grinned at me and winked. Feigning agreement that the subject matter was in need of serious attention, the E-8 asked the E-3 if there was anything else he could do for her. “No, that’s it for now Gunny, but if I think of anything else I’ll let you know.” I was hooked.

Marine Kay claims that she did not join the Marine Corps to fall in love with another Marine. I certainly didn’t! The cruel twist of fate, and not the last, was that I was in love with a dangerously decisive enigmatic cute thang.
Though Karla initially turned me down when I asked her out for New Year’s eve 1983/4 (she had ironing to do), she agreed to go out with me and by the time she was ready to be deployed she was admitting to liking me as well. (Actually, she sobbed all the way from Florida to Michigan in such a way that by today’s standards they would have landed the plane and launched an investigation).

Karla got sent to Rota, Spain and I did everything I could to get sent there too. We had great fun in Europe for a couple of years, but afterwards headed in different directions. During the time that followed my time in the Marine Corps, I became a Christian. When Karla completed her enlistment we chose to get together one more time together to say goodbye. It did not go as planned.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

A turn in the road while parked on the highway

Karla invited me up from Texas to her sister's wedding in Michigan. We both agreed it would be a good time for us to say goodbye to one another and head along our separate paths. She was panning to go and work in Alaska, I was studying international relations. While I was there for the weekend, we attended a Lutheran wedding, a Catholic mass and a Charismatic revival service. Somewhat confused, Karla asked "How can anyone make sense of it all?" I responded that the most important question was not what other people thought, but whether one is at peace with God. She asked how to do that and I stopped the car. I shared with her from Scripture how to have peace with God by his grace through faith in Christ, and she received that. Immediately I knew that what looked like the end was really the beginning. With the windshield wipers slapping away I asked Karla if she would marry me. She said yes, we announced it to her family and I flew back to Texas until it was time for the marriage.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

24 to 40, Strength to Strength

Marine Kar then moved to her most challenging role: wife and mother. We married in '89, 14 months later had Hannah, 14 months later had Sophie, 14 months later Isaiah... We have lived and worked with the poor in Dallas, migrant workers in North Carolina, Communist officials in urban China, rice farmers in rural China, oppressed minorities in Burma, rural Americans in North Carolina and urban Thais in Thailand. Karla continues to use her strengths in ways that not only bring smiles to the tough and complex situations of this world , but to anyone who gives her the chance to get close.

Friday, August 18, 2006

HAPPY 40th MUMMA MARINE!!!


Hannah, Sophie and Isaiah wish their mumma,
a funner birthday than seeing a caaet chasing a raaet with a baaet!! :)

'Till Death Do Us Part

Karla, you are more than I ever hoped for.
I'll treasure you all the days of our life.
I wish you a happy birthday
as you press on toward completion in Christ,
where year by year the Karla God intended
is lived out to his glory and our joy.