When head meets the road

I find I always draw so much closer to my Maker when things happen that force me to turn to Him. Now it was nothing ER style just a terrifying fall to the sidewalk that had me in tears. I got out this evening to walk with 2 friends and while I was doing the typical routine of strap the dog to the stroller, place the Boo in the stroller and grab the bag to put on the back of the stroller it all fell apart. My anxious friendly dog saw his friends from behind the glass door of Lindseys house and took it upon himself to make all the rest happen before my eyes and too fast for reflexes to reaact. As he tore across the yard stoller in tow I watched as the unbuckled stroller flew out from under Makayla sending her head first on to the concrete below her. I now know am so greatful I hadn't buckled it or she would have been towed behind the dog as he raced to meet his companions to meet more serious injuries I'm sure. My seriously shocked child cried as i swept her up and rushed inside to assess the damage, only to find an oversized knot protruding from her head that made my whole world spin. In that moment thoughts of being a bad mother and all the things I should have done swept through my head momentarily only to be wiped away by tears of fear and relief that my baby was talking and asking me for her blankie and milk. That is the moment when I knew she would be okay and she was. We ensured her eyes were functioning, she wasn't dizzy or disoriented and she talked up a storm to reassure me she was back on her game. I asked if she wanted to go home or still go for our walk. She replied "we walk Germy and baby mema" She held her head up the whole time and even pointed out the 3 deer that we saw along the road. All in all she is sleeping soundly in her bed with a lightly bruised head bump and a happy demeanor. It reminded me so much how I love that little girl with all my heart and would gladly take any pain I could from her. What a beautiful picture Christ displayed for us and the little piece we can see when we would willingly take pain on ourselves in sacrifice for those we loved. I hate to see my baby in pain but I know with everything that happens a lesson is learned and God prevails!

Here's to You Love...

  So it is imperative that I start out this blog with love sent to my hubby serving his country overseas. It has been 3 years to date when I walked down the aisle, looked in to your eyes, and promised you all of my love and commitment in front of so many that we love and cherish. Although that moment definitely goes in my book of favorite days in the whole world I did not truly understand the magnitude of the vows that I spoke on that day. After having spent 3 years together with 1 deployment behind us and 1 in the works, having had a precious baby girl and living all the way on the other side of the world I'd say it has already been one heck of an adventure. What a beautiful picture of God's unfailing love that is! I love my husband with all my heart I will stick by his side faithfully through thick or through thin and trust him with God guiding our steps.  I have a million things I could say about you, about us but truly all that really matters is that I LOVE YOU for all days. I cross my heart...

  I know that this post is truly a day late but it was written yesterday and extended today. I didn't get to talk to my love on our Anni but I did receive a phone call today and again I was so blessed to hear his voice. The distance never gets easier but it is a great thing when we can talk whether it's through good or bad. Kay and I played with the puppies all morning and then around 12 I had to drop her off at daycare so she could nap while I went to the Dr. She went right in to the room washed her hands (as per rules) and ran straight to her floor cot and laid down. It was so precious and she just waived and said bye bye mommies. It is so comforting as a Mommy to know my child feels safe with others and that I can leave her for an extended amount of time without worry. My Dr's appt was inconclusive but another step in the right direction. So for that I am grateful. After i picked up Kay, who was slightly disappointed her time at care was spent sleeping and not playing, we came home to hang out until dinner. Then we drove to Clarksville to share in dinner with my dad's dad and some of my family. Kay loved her Grandpa and had a good time at dinner. We had a meltdown going home and mommy just turned up Veggie and tuned out the Baby. Something I know daddy could never have done! Love you baby. Anywho the night ended well with a bubble bath, jammies, 3 books, 1 crazy italian voice to represent the count on Seasame Street AhAhAh and kissies. Maverick is rather depressed but I hope that will wear off with time outside, walks and lots of mommy love! Poor puppy without his friends. Even dogs don't like to feel alone. He did make one big boo boo by eating the bottom half of the blinds in the guest room. I just figured he was acting out from friends being gone and that it was a one time thing that shant happen again. All around the past two days have been good and new adventures. May you all be blessed the rest of this week.

Daddy, Baby and Bruises

So in Respect to all of the Wonderful Daddies that read this post I must wish you all a Happy Father's Day! I know life has you all in different places and stages right now but one thing remains stationary and that is the Honor of being a Dad. May you all have been blessed specifically on this day but know that one day does not do justice what you all have done in your children's lives. So in honor of Philip being a daddy and being gone I thought I'd share this photo with you all, so you know Kay did have her daddy on Fathers Day.

teehee She loves him though!

Church was great today and the message perfect in the respect of our Abba Father. However when I arrived at 10:00 (just an hour before church began) I found out that all 300 of the powerpoint slides that we use for the music lyrics had been deleted sometime during the week. It was an easy fix but as you all know time consuming technology. Needless to say we did have slides and everything came together. We shared potluck after church and came home for naptime. The dogs kept me company, while cleaning out the car and later Kay woke up and we played tea party and spent time in the pool. We had a good Italian dinner, Kay had sketti and I had leftover shells, salad and garlic bread. We spent some more time sliding in the pool without water and took a short sweet trip to McDonalds for icecream. Kay had a cone in a cup with a spoon. She ensured that her baby ate almost as much as she did. It was messy but precious I must say. I'm trying not to be uptight about messes. It keeps the "no mommy" extinct and helps me to be far less stressed than when I care to much. OH and the "no mommy" is "not exceptable" as I always say and quickly being corrected. I really hoped we had passed the "no" stage and replaced it with "i'm okay" and "yuckies" but God is just making sure I am continuing to find my strength in Him and not of myself.  Kay splashed in the tub after icecream and after being knocked down by "puppies" a couple of times she gave in to mommy's persuasion to go to bed. Our typical routine of kiss daddy's picture, turn off light, close closet door, pray pray, kiss mommy and turn on stars and music. Once the little one was down it gave me time to notice the growing bruise on my knee from slipping on puppy pee earlier in the week. ugh. thought I'd share with you all.

believe it or not this is healing

Oh I did forget to mention that after Mav knocked down Kay a few times she still found time to give hugs and kisses to her favorite puppy.

A Day Well Spent

  So it has been a while since I've been on. Sorry for the delay. It's not like I don't have the time, as nights are very quiet these days, just that the motivation isn't always there. I did talk to Philip recently and we were able to exchange the usual hello, i love yous and misses. I do have to say it's harder to not hear from him with our Anniversary coming up. I know 3 years doesn't seem like much but when 2 of those are spent apart it 3 years is pretty darn good with many more too come! I plan to treat myself to Olive Garden and a good sappy ball my eyes out love movie.

  Today was a relatively good day. It started out way too early, nothing like a good dog wakeup at 5:45 for pees and poos. I tried to close my eyes for a while longer but was shortly disturbed by the sound of "mama" in the background. I knew my peaceful rest was done by then. We got up and began our morning routine. We did an early dip in the pool and a trip to Walmart after a 2 hour talk with NanNan and Boompa and found a Barbie for Annabelles birthday party. Kay took a nap after shopping and I spent an hour or so sifting through picture files and videos to send on thumbdrive to Phil. It brought back lots of memories and made me see just how fast my baby girl is growing up. After her nap we made a quick trip to the PX to get wrapping paper and tape for the present and headed off to the party. When we arrived cake was being served and Kay jumped right in. She enjoyed every minute of icing and found the balloons which offered as much better entertainment than cake. I met a couple that were friends of the host her husband is stationed in Baumholder and she is following after Command Sponsership goes through. It was great to talk to them and I was able to offer whatever knowledge I could about their new adventure. We are now official friends on Facebook and will continue to talk and initiate her to the Military Wife World. Kay played in the Flinstones car rather than in the pool and enjoyed every minute of discovering water balloons. We left once she said she was ready to go home and spent the rest of the night having tea parties, watching Blueberry on the computer, and playing splash in the bath. I am now spending the rest of the night watching an oldie chick flick and ready to head off to bed.

New Adventures

Kay kept me out in the sun for hours

Our Names in the Sand

My Precious Baby in her mommy made tunnel

Today was quite the at home adventure. We did our typical routine of breakfast, Dora and getting ready for the day. The dogs enjoyed the time spent outside only momentarily until they realized how hot TN is in the summer! Kay and I played together, listened to Broadway (as usual) and then headed off to the PX on a search for Father's Day cards. We found what we were looking for and got some new shoes in the process for Kay.

She looks like such a big girl with them on! She kept telling me, wearing them in the store, that "they're pretty mommy, pretty shoes". I am amazed every day at the expansion of her vocabulary. I really feel now like I have a little tiny adult in the house. We are facing mixtures of emotions and some really hard days when she can't express how she's feeling. She's come to terms with the fact that daddy will be gone a while longer. But our morning and night routine helps her to keep him on her mind without getting upset. We color pictures for him and I write him almost everyday so he is just becoming a part of our routine even in his absence. Her favorite thing these days though are tunnels. She discovered them during our first drive through car wash and has loved them ever since. Who would have thought that car washes and oil changes could be so much fun. We made our own today and I believe she decided that it was the best tunnel yet! Many more to come I'm sure.

  We spent about 2 hours outside playing in the pool and helping "Pepita" down the slide. she loved watching her baby doll go down. She knows how to slide on her own now and that has been our new very big accomplishment. It does help when she decides on her own to get out and go inside. Saves us from a big fight. God definitely blessed her with a Daddy temper and mommy sensitivity so she has quite the strong will because of it. Each day we grow to understand one another better and I am praying each night for God to give me patience in every challenge that I face.

From a Dream to a Whirlwind

Kay and Miki playing cards

Kay in the Bouncy Castle

On the bench at the park sipping mommy's water

 

So today started out like a dream and ended in a whirlwind! Philip called around 03:30 and we had a wonderful 20 minute chat. He's doing pretty great or as great as he can on COP Sucks a Lot. That is my new name for his lovely bit of a place. Other than less than peachy living conditions he is holding himself together and making the most of the 11 months he has left. But all together our conversation made my morning. Kay woke up around 06:30 and we enjoyed a healthy breakfast of cereal, waffles, and juice. We did our usual Dora thing and then talked to NanNan, Boom Boom, Papa, and Mimi. Then Kay and I let the dogs play outside and she played in her pool for an hour or so while we sweated out the excruciating heat. So with three extremely exhausted dogs and an overtired baby I had a house full of sleeping babies. It allowed great time for finishing studies and contemplating the weeks to come. I can't believe I made it to a month already. Praise God for filling up each day and making every moment that much closer to seeing my hubby again. Rox and I decided to take the girls to the free family fun fair. (quite the alliteration) That turned out to be such a mistake. It was so hot at 2 in the afternoon and the girls were thrilled to play in the jumpies but after 20 minutes of exhausting heat we had all had enough. Kay had a hard time giving up play but she easily compromised with icecream on the line. We all treated ourselves to a refreashing treat and made a quick trip to the Commisary. I had quite the encounter with the new neighbor who is what I've found to be a serious cat person with a deep fear of dogs and speaks her mind. With the task of maintaining 3 dogs, 1 managed to disturb the neighborly peace and was rather frustratedly asked to keep control of my pets. I responded in kind with an apology note realizing that every opportunity, especially those when we are down must be met in love. This was quite a challenge as my usual respone would have been tears and shutting myself off from any further contact. I promised to keep better watch on my dogs and ensured my new neighbor that the event would not repeat itself. I hope this settled some kind of doubt she may have had in the choice for a new neighborhood. After the event, we went over to Rox's house for dinner and some more pool time in Miki's new pool. By this time we were facing severe almost 2 year old defiance and hungry, tired little girls. Altogether the day truly began wonderfully and ended in a mess of challenges. But altogether I still found it is possible to love the sound of another persons voice,  I learned more about my own character and can still spend countless hours in the blazing heat without leaving my optomism behind me! Thank you God for letting me see the good even amidst the storm.

Trifle, Pit o Balls and Hospitals

WOW! Today has been quite the adventure. It started out with a muffin for Kay  which usually would have been a waffle put the power was out from the storm last night. Due to the dog's homebound insanity we took an early walk this morning to get all of his pent up energy out. We had a great time at the park Mav ran all over and we got a little wet and a little dirty. When we came home we played with bowls full of water and Kay rode mommy's back like a horsey. After a few episodes of Dora and lunch, Kay went down for a 2 hour nap. I got a text from Roxanne around 3 saying they she felt really ill and even after seeing the doctor it still wasn't better. Jumping in and out of the shower I dressed Kay quickly and we left to get Rox and take her to the ER. Leaving her there we went to Daycare and picked up Miki and brought them both to the ER where Rox still was awaiting a diagnosis. The girls and I marched around the ER room singing Ants Go Marching and Wheels on the Bus and through it all Rox ended up leaving with Perkiset and knowing about as much as she did when she went in. I brought everyone back for a girl's sleepover at our house. Miki has the spare room and Rox is on the couch and we are sharing in an evening of Grey's Anatomy. We are gonna see how the night goes and they said if the pain isn't gone in the morning we will have to come back in. So we wait in see.

  Tomorrow Jewel leaves and I will take in her 2 dogs Ruger and Pete a German shepherd and chihuahua. It should be a great time for Mav and an interesting one indeed for me. I had a great time taking some pictures of Makayla and finishing eating my tres leches strawberry trifile I made yesterday. I will post all of them in this blog. Still waiting to hear from the hubby again but praying for him every day and night.