Paper Hugs

This one might get ya.. a little tear.  It did me.

I got the kids a book called "The Paper Hug" about a little boy who thinks of a special gift to send along with his Daddy as he leaves for deployment.

Then we made our own  paper hugs to send Daddy!

Addie liked how i added a ring on mine.. so of course she did too!

Garrett gave special instructions.

Micah drew a space shuttle :)

Sweet Addie told him "it is your very own hug".

Half of my heart and theirs in Japan… hoping these hugs bring him some love!

hearts for VP-16!

We are sending some love to Matt and the rest of VP-16 for Valentine's Day (yes, I am aware it is not February yet.. but snail mail take time people!!)

Addison's teacher was all for me coming in to make some Valentine's Day hearts for Matt!  I'm so glad because his walls look pretty boring .. so stark white.  I've sent pictures of the kids.  And we leave an open box for all art work to be mailed to daddy ;)  (best thing about deployment is you don't have to throw kids' art away.. it all goes to Daddy!!)   But who wouldn't want a little love from 18 first graders!?  They worked hard..

I decided to put them on yarn so that he didn't have to hang up all 18 hearts.. just a string or two!

We made one BIG heart for all of the War Eagles of VP-16 and all the kids signed it!

WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU WAR EAGLES!!!

Face Time And Football

It still amazes me that we have the ability to hang out with dad and watch his team ... Even while he is a lot of miles away.

It seems to help Garrett.. He likes seeing His dad and showing him things he's working on or completed. He's actually a better "face timer" than "phone talker". 

Addie is less impressed with the whole video conferencing thing.. She likes to see her daddy, check in that he's doing ok.. And then show him something sparkly like her new shoes. Or she puts her headphones on and sings to him. Good times. 

Little Micah is a toss up.. He either hates that daddy is in the computer and will ask "Daddy, Why you still in there?" And then get mad and walk away, refusing to talk.  Or he loves it and hogs the iPad. Such as this occasion. 

And my favorite... He made coffee for daddy and drank it with him. Oh and he put a little phone up to the iPad! 

It's not the same .. But it's better than nothing. 

Ohio State lost another bowl game.. So some things do remain the same. 

Looking forward to Next football season when we are all back together!!

Grab a Snorkel

I haven't been around here much lately.  I even recently thought about deleting this little space all together.  Not really sure what I'm doing with it, if anything.  But today I just wanted to stop a minute and write some raw feelings.. because that's about all I've got right now.  It was a rough few weeks leading up to deployment.  The anxiety and anticipation was too much for me this time, it was hard.  The weight of the kids' sadness I felt squarely on my shoulders.  We had good times too.  Memories to get us through this time without a very important person in our little family.  I should share those.  

Relief came when he left.  That sounds awful.  But I could breath again.  I could focus on doing this.. getting through the day and the next and the next.  I dried tears from my precious girl.  I listened over and over as my baby said he wanted Daddy.  And I've tried to figure out what exactly my oldest needs as I don't fully recognize him right now.  I've answered with a smile that "We are doing fine and getting into a routine." I've stayed up way too late night after night trying to get done what I can't seem to ever catch up on.  I've had sick kids wake up right when I was going to bed, of course.  I've had fun (yes!) with amazing friends.. 

It has been 2 weeks.

I think the time of year is making it harder.. I honestly have a hard time enjoying this time of year anyway so this just doesn't help!  I recently said "I'm barely keeping my head above water."  then I laughed and said "Wait no.. I'm not even above.. I'm using a snorkel!"  That silly little comment has floated through my head many times.. I guess I like examples that I can picture!  And me with a snorkel is pretty funny.  But.. It means I'm doing it!!!  And that makes me want to keep going.

"I am holding on to you.  I am holding on to you. In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.  I am.

This is my resurrection song.  This is my hallelujah call.  This is why it's to You I run."

These are lyrics from a new song by David Crowder called "I Am".    … My storm.  I am holding on to the only "snorkel" that will get me through. (Did i just compare God to a snorkel??!)  I guess I did.  My anthem will ring out and I will try to keep my head above water.. or be happy to stay underneath and accept grace for all the things I can't do alone.

An equally awesome song is "Overcomer" by Mandisa.  The kids chose this song as their deployment song.  Talk about one to bust out loud!!!  And man, Addie does on her iPod with headphones on.. it's awesome! "You're an overcomer… stayin to fight to the final round.  You're not goin under.. cuz God is holding you right now. You might be down for a moment feeling like it's hopeless.. but that's when He reminds you.. You're an overcomer!"  It was so cute, we picked up a friend who's husband just left to take her out for ice cream.. and Garrett cued up this song for her!

So yeah, it's been 2 weeks of ups and downs.. but I Am saying now that we are Overcomers!!!

 Wanna hear these songs??

http://youtu.be/mw4ES27w3oU

http://youtu.be/z29olPjFbqg

Pride

Hope you had a great celebration of Independance Day!  It's one of my favorite holidays.  I love that its laid back and spent with friends, good food, and weather permitting.. Outside!  I also love taking the day to remember and give thanks for our freedoms, our founders & their principles they built the country on, and of course for our military families sacrificing to protect.

As a military spouse I know firsthand what kind of sacrifices we military families make. It's not glorious and it doesn't need to be trumpeted.  We aren't asking for recognition. But respect and a nod to the efforts is greatly appreciated. It makes me smile. 

After nearly 12 years in the military way of life, I still tear up during most versions of The National Anthem. That probably will never cease to make my heart swell with PRIDE.  

It's Pride for our country. Because though flawed and often arrogant.. We still know how to come together and take care of one another when it truly counts.

Pride for the wounded and fallen soldiers.  I am thankful for their service.  I grieve for their families. 

Pride for my husband and our many friends who serve.  I am always humbled by their continued dedication to something that is so much more than a job. 

Pride for the spouses I have met ..They keep me going. These are amazing women who became life long friends & taught me that its more than ok to cry and how to still move forward and even enjoy the sisterhood formed through deployments. 

Pride for the military kids.  The kids truly have my heart. They endure moves, schools, deployments, and more goodbyes than a kid should have to know... And it's not always easy or done gracefully. But for all these hardships.. They do have something Awesome that is only understood by a fellow "brat" .. Homecoming!  I pray the kids would learn what makes our country special, learn the history, and develop a respect for those that serve and did serve. I pray they learn to show reverence to the ones that made the ultimate sacrifice on days such as July 4 and other American holidays. I pray that they are a light in their friendships with civilian kids to demonstrate patriotism even at a young age. 

I am thankful my husband was home this year, I don't take that for granted. And I found myself thinking all day on the 4th, "Next year -at this time- he will be back home.  Deployment will be over again. We just have to make it through all the stuff in between."  

Drawing on that Pride.

my military kids.. vol 1

April is Military Child Appreciation Month

This poem is floating around many military social media sites.  I saw it on facebook and instagram.  It has some sweet sentiment. And like most military movies, it's a little overboard on the heartstring pulling.  It's still worth a read though, for i love many *3 in particular* military children.

Garrett 8. Born in Brunswick, ME

Addison 5. Born in San Diego, CA

Micah 2. Born in Reno, NV

Navy Life Pallat Sign

Navy Life

I made this sign (actually a few) for some friends the other day... but because our birthday dinner/ girls night out was starting literally as the sealer was drying.. i didn't get very good pictures.

still wanted to share :)

I think I may just have to make one for myself!

Pallets are plentiful around here with all the new constructiton.. I'm always on the hunt!
I started sawing away at it one night.  I broke the saw.


Enter husband with a power saw...

much better

I brushed it with a heavy duty bristle brush first to get the lose dirt off.  Next i used rough sand paper and after that, a softer sanding block.
 painted it white.
I used stencils and paint that i had already.. yay for last minute things that work out!
When it was dried, i destressed the edges with the soft sanding block.  I also roughed up the letters, making it look worn.
Finally, I hot glued the rope to the back.

i hope my friend liked them.

love my navy wife friends!

love my Navy Life too.. most of the time :) 

sharing at:



10 years!

Last week, November 30, was our 10 year anniversary :)  In some ways it is hard to believe it has been 10 years.  I wonder where the time went.  Then, I think of all the things that have happened over the span of 10 years... and it's hard to believe it all fit in! ..  3 beautiful kids, 7 homes, 6 duty stations, so many trips visiting the surrounding areas of our temporary homes,  too many friends to count blessing us richly, deployments and various times apart,  and memorable homecomings!
We have learned to take life as it comes and roll with it.  I used to be so not flexible when life threw curves.. it really messed me up!  But between having kids and living a military life, I have learned to be "a willow and not an oak" (a phase that used to annoy me in grad school when my supervisor would say it).   I wish she knew how I appreciate that phrase now!
Last night Matt and I got to enjoy a night away thanks to some of those dear friends I mentioned...  they kept all 3 kiddos! Basically saints ;).  Matt arranged for a stay at the Bayfront Westcott House, an adorable little bed and breakfast right on the water in St. Augustine.. America's oldest city.
We had a great time talking to each other (wow) and not using a stroller!  And the weather was perfect to walk around till 11.. yes.. all kinds of crazy!

down town st. augustine

sipping some wine on the porch

the bed and breakfast at night

view from the porch during breakfast

We made it to Florida

So happy to finally say we have arrived in Florida.. our final destination.   The place we will now call home, for a few years anyway.  Thought the "place" has been attained.. our home is still to come.. and i can't wait! We will see it for the first time tomorrow.  More to come...

The kids traveled so well.  I could not have asked for more.  We crossed 8 states. Stayed in hotels, saw friends, and visited family. Then we crossed 5 more states on our final south bound journey.  It has been exactly a month since our belongings were packed up.. it's gone fast and slow at the same time.

We are ready to make Jacksonville our home.

Travel.. take 5

Crossed over into Missouri after our restful night in Topeka .. said with some sarcasm.   Micah fell asleep and when we arrived at the hotel.. he woke Up!  He happily entertained us until 1am.  ... Actually, I just cant complain. They all have done so well on the trip.. and poor little dude stuck turned backwards in a carseat listening to Garrett read us facts about the St Lewis arch or the state ir Ohio. .... so a late start to the car was welcomed.

When we crossed the MO state line I texted my friend Stacia... mom of G's kdg bf .. Lucy.  Jokingly I asked if they were close to highway 70 at all as I knew they were visiting the state. Of the entire state of MO they were only 45 min away! And for military friends with a chance to meet up... that is so not far! So Stacia loaded 3 of her 4 kids into the van.. told us what Mcdonalds to meet them at and we had a plan!!

We surprised Garrett who was completely shocked to see his friends. They chatted non stop and they all enjoyed a humid time on the play ground. The sweating was well worth it.  No one wanted to go.. but promises of seeing them soon in Jax made it better.  Thank you so much Kemna family for meeting us... love you and see you soon!

Back in the car we went... but not too far. We had a destination of St Lewis... and a date with an arch and museum in the morning!!

Travel take 4

Amber waves of grain.... go on and on.

That's Kansas in a nutshell.  Not a whole loot to look at from the highway.  Honestly, I was hoping for more windmills.

Since I couldn't click my ruby studded heels to be sent home (oh come on.. I had to have one Wizard of Oz reference).. we just drove and drove and drove. Kids did great. It is questionable if I would have made it had I not driven most if the day.

Garrett entertained himself by taking pictures of himself.

Even though Kansas was seemingly unending... it redeemed itself at one of the last exits... it was the site of the First Dunkin Doughnuts that we have seen!! We didn't need a heart or a brain... just caffeine!! The Griffins are finally running on Dunkin again! !

Travel take 3

We had a great day on day 3... no real travel progress.. but a fun family vacation day.  We decided to go to the Rocky Mt National Park since we had to forgo going up to Yellowstone, the Badlands, or Mt. Rushmore as they were all too far off the highway for our young travelers... pocket that for when they are older.  And judging by the way they enjoyed the one day they spent being "Rangers".. they will love that someday plan.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH!!!

It was a beautiful day up in the Rockies.  Warm and sunny.. then a quick change to cloudy and rainy.. then back to sunny!

As we were driving up we stopped at one of those lookout points. Garrett was happy to see a grey jay through "benoculars" (he still calls them that). He also got to pet a chipmunk as it was scurrying away.  Getting back into the car,  Addie said "well. Hiking is over now." .. haha we had only walked from our car to the ridge a few feet away!

We traveled up to Ridge Path Road, the highest paved road in the US. We were over 12,000 ft high! Above the tree line.. where nothing but mossy stuff grows. The mountains were green and rolling up there.. which forced me to bust out with a fabulous rendition of "The hills are alive... with the sound of music...." (to which addie covered her ears). 

The huge rocks were fun for us all to climb. Addie was successful and proud. Garrett scaled them in sandals.  And Micah had no fear.  Sadly we didn't see any big horn sheep or elk as Matt had hoped ... but as Garrett recorded in his journal we saw a few butterflies, some flies, a bird, and a marmot chewing on the wood at the bathrooms.  Now really.. what's an elk when you see all that?!

Travel take 2

Long day of traveling.  Utah was beautiful.  I declared myself a tree hugger once again.  Must be the hippie OU in me ;)  Then we crossed into Wyoming. Uhhh.. sorry to the "Cowboy State" but I am not a fan.  Seeing a lot if antelope and buffalo was cool though. Garrett even wrote about it in his journal as something to remember. 

We crossed back over to the green again in Colorado.  Oh my... I just love Co!  I saw Denver earlier this spring and it was awesome.  This time we were in Fort Collins ... again,  maybe it's the hippie OU in me but I felt right at home in that little college town.  The downtown is so quaint and unique.  I'm thinking i should finally take Matt up on his GI bill and go back to school at CO State.  I could be a Ram fan!!

We had a great dinner. Stopped at a cupcakery. Listened to a band at an in town festival. ... great night!

Next up.. a "Vacation Day"  (no traveling!)