Thank You

Facebook is great on days like today for gathering gratitude from all of your friends and remembering the ultimate sacrifice. I like this picture because it's a reminder that it's okay to have a nice weekend, but that we should always remember those who have given up their weekends so we could have them.
I dedicate this quick tribute to all the other wives that know what it's like to ask your 27 year old spouse where they would want to be buried, or lived with fears hidden in the back of your mind, wondering if two Marines are one morning going to be on your doorstep. But especially to those who have had live through these realities and the loved ones they lost, thank you.

May: Organize

I had no idea how Organize was going to fit into my month of May.  I'd just packed most of my belongings into a truck (okay, most of my belongings were packed for me - which was AWESOME - it's too bad they won't be delivering and unpacking) and moved myself back across the country.  So in early April I thought...what on earth will I have to Organize!?  Not to long after I arrived at my grandparents I figured it out..

I need to organize ME!

I need to organize my thoughts, my papers, my children and especially MY TIME!

I still have important papers and a family to organize.  A house for sale. Preschool, doctor appointments, work changes.   How to keep up with my daily stuff and help my grandparents with the house!   It's been evolving over time, and I haven't figured out the best system yet in my finite space.  But yes, May has needed to be Organized.

As a side note:  I haven't written about my 'word of the month' nearly as much as I intended to.  I intended to ready and study and leave quotes and experiences.  All I can really say is this.  Each month I've come into the word.  I've had expectations, and existing thoughts about what the word would be all about.  And each month I have come to realize that the word can be about something completely different.  It's amazing.  And probably inspired!

Pictures in words

Today was one of those days that I wished I had a camera imbedded in my eyes. Not for the gigantic fits my daughter threw when she found out she couldn't have the window seat, or the couple that got up and changed seats so they wouldn't be behind us. Those need a delete button.
But running around with her in my grandparents backyard, with real grass, trying to teach her to do a cartwheel for the first time. Laying down on a blanket in the grass with my little boy, great grandpa lying in the grass next to us. Little man smiling his big smile at everyone.
They were perfect , beautiful moments of life thrown into a very messy day. Pictures in my mind I don't want to forget.

Artsy project

I'm busy trying to move, but here is how Monsters nursery letters turned out.  They were supposed to be on foam squares.  But then I needed to stretch the fabric.  So I went to Michaels (and Hobby Lobby and Hancock Fabric, but Michaels was the only one that had these) to get stretcher bars (and quilters tacks).  They only had 2 on clearance.  I needed 16.  Did I mention they are on clearance?  So in the end, I had to use cheap embroidery hoops.

I fully intended to hang them on the wall, just to enjoy them for a few days.  But it seemed silly to put 4 new holes in my wall for three days.  So I put them on the desk like this.

And now they are packed along with most of the rest of my stuff.  But I have proof of their existence.

Night all!

That kind of day

Today:

1. We had a great morning!
2. Liam barely napped
3. I realized I only have two weeks left here
4. Miriam had a meltdown in Target
5. We played in a fake tent
6. I love my gym!  I'm really going to miss it!
7. I had an, oh my goodness I'm going to be 30, what has happened to my youth!, moment
8. And here I am
9. Perfectly content to sit down and watch Stargate Atlantis. 
10. So I guess it's okay that my youth is gone.

April: Gratitude

I think this would have been a very good fit for November, right??  But looking at how things are going it is in the right place.

Back in July, before my husband came home from a deployment, he was told there was a job opening in a lab back "home."  He contacted the lab that day, but was told within a few days that they had closed the job listing and were looking at several applicants.  But the man at the lab promised to let him know if they opened the job back up.

I prayed about it at the time (before we knew the job was closed).  We had hoped to stay here a little longer, maybe have another deployment, maybe knock out some student loan debt.  But everyone has issues with a deployment.  Hubby has issues, I have issues, kids have issues...and we were pregnant with #2!  Not to mention we have some aging and sick family members that we don't see very often.   So, back in July, I told God that I was willing to give up the financial benefit we would have from staying here, not to deal with these problems any more.  But that He was going to have to make it happen.

And that was that.

Those of you that know us, know what has happened since.  The job opened again in September, to our surprise.  We interviewed in October, we were offered the job before Christmas.  A few other bumps and bruises, and we are in fact moving back across the country.

And I should be thankful.

After all, we were given what we asked for, right?

"Are you excited to move home?"  I'm getting asked this a lot.

The thing is this.  Dealing with a horrible housing market, and talking to realtors who think we'll sell for 5K less then we paid for this house at the most - say: short sale - this is only some of the stress I feel about finances because of this move.

This is my situation.  We got what we asked for.  But I don't think I had any clue what I was really asking for.

Which is why I think it is a good thing April's word focus is Gratitude.

Siblings

In the last couple weeks/ few days Liam is making little leaps and bounds. It's funny the things you notice all of a sudden. 

The other night Miriam and I were playing, running around the living room and up and down the hallway.  He used to just watch us (he's quite the watcher) happily.  But he started to get a bit fussy.  I picked him up and faced him toward the world and kept playing with Miriam.  And he was SO happy.  He laughed and waved his arms and had a wonderful time "playing" with his big sister.   I have a feeling that as soon as he can crawl, he is going to follow her EVERYWHERE.  I wonder how she's going to take that!

Tonight, I was feeding Liam in our rocking chair in his room and she came in to say goodnight.  She brought him a blanket, and put his sheep pillow in his bed for him  (I moved it before he went in there, but it was so cute).  She was so sweet taking care of her "baby"  She usually insists on giving him a kiss on the head too. 

They are so incredibly cute!