Veteran's Day

Have you thanked a Veteran today? Well here in Germany the day has passed, but just in case you haven't...at least say a prayer for them as well as their families. I can say as a wife to a US Soldier, life's not always easy. It's hard having your husband deploy every other year, it's hard being a temporary single-parent, yet you're not. BUT it's worth it. It's worth the longing, to have him back in my arms after knowing he's done something so important. To know that when he's home we make the most of our time. It's not the life for everyone, although I think it's the life for more than serves (only 4% of all American's serve in the Military and I will just say it...that's absolutely SHAMEFUL).

So tonight I ask that you remember the sacrifices that our military is giving to you and your family and the other 96% of all American's. Remember their families. Say a prayer, thank them, and know that most do it because of their love of our Country.

God Bless

This Blog is going on hold

Wow I didn't realize it'd been so long since I wrote here. Things are going much better since last time. I'm thinking of putting this blog on hold now that Chad's home. My other blog is my main blog and for what ever reason I just have always felt it's more "home", so if you don't already read it, come on over...grab a cup of hot chocolate (not a coffee drinker here!), and get comfy!

Frustrated

I'm so ticked right now. We've been dealing with Army stress, which is fine, but when they start screwing around with our life and making us wonder what is going to happen to us, I don't do well. It looks like things are going to be ok, but we were put through a lot of needless stress, most of all CHAD was put through a lot of needless stress. BUT here's the thing, as much as I want to scream and throw a fit, I need to get over myself and praise GOD. I know he's allowed us to go through this stress for a reason. I know it'll be used to for his GLORY, and I MUST keep focused on that. Amazing what a few minutes can do for an attitude, because I was honestly so infuriated when I started writing this and now I feel so much peace.

I have to keep focused on GOD and remember he's allowing of this for a REASON!

Back to the grind

Life's going along. Block leave is over, we went to France (Normandy region) and had an amazing time, very humbling. Chad's back to work and the kids and I are getting back to our own schedule.

Pictures!!!

Almost, Almost, Almost

DONE! This is it, this is the last day of waiting, longing, missing....tomorrow can NOT get here fast enough. I'm about to crawl out of my skin. Would you pray that this day to pass quickly for the kids and I. It's 3 PM and it's just DRAGGGGGGGGGGING. If you're not an Army spouse, and have never been through a deployment...you just can NOT imagine how long and agonizing this is. I'm going crazy. My stomach is in knots (excitement). I want this day to be OVER! LOL

I'm so ready to get the phone call tomorrow. I'm a key caller so I'll get a call and then I'll call other spouses and let them know what time to go to the gym for the Welcome Home Ceremony. Oh my I'm so ready. My kids are ready, we're all just ready to have Chad home...safe and sound and back in our arms!

I'll add pictures soon!

The Final Countdown

We in the final days people! In only a few short days my soldier, my hero, my man after GOD's own heart will be back in my arms, surrounded by love, hugs, and so many kisses by all of us!
We got thrilling news last night that their return date has been moved up by 2 more days than what we were initially told! We're all so excited. Here in about 10 minutes I'll be getting off of here and will begin working on my bedroom!

I feel like I'm going to get sick from the excitement and anxiousness of it all. Not anxious in the bad way, just in that can't wait sort of way! The kids are very excited! We can hang banners at any point, we'll be going tomorrow most likely and hanging our banner up on the fence! I'll take a picture and share it!

Please be in prayer for continued safety for Chad as he finishes up the last of his work over the next few days, safe travels for him and all his fellow soldiers as they return in the next few days.

Almost There

In only a little over a month my husband will be home. We're past the 1 year mark since he left, so far I'm shockingly not as crabby as I thought I would be. The boys and I decided to finish up school. (We homeschool). They didn't get many breaks this year, so although we didn't start until September, we finished up. We're still reading a few times a week, but otherwise that's it. The boys are helping me with our flower garden and the two tomato and 1 watermellon plant, they get to help me weed (they're crazy and like it! LOL).



Right now the goal is to find one really fun thing to do each week. This week, I'm taking the kids and my neighbor is going (and maybe a couple other friends) and we're going to Playmobil Fun Park. We haven't been there for quite a while so it'll be fun. We're going Tuesday. It's supposed to be really nice and no rain!

Next week I think we'll go swimming, but I haven't decided where yet. If it's really warm, we'll go to the outdoor pool, but if not then we'll go to one of the indoor pools in the area.

Then the following week the kids and I are driving down to Camp Darby, Italy and we're going to the beach. We'll also drive over to Pisa (Leaning Tower of Pisa)...it's only about 15 minutes away. I have not decided if we're going to Florence or not, and probably won't until we're there. This is for the kids and to just relax and play in the water, so I'm thinking we will not go to Florence. After we're home from there, that following week is VBS, and well that's enough activity that week! LOL
The following week I think I'll take the kids to an animal park.
Then after that we should be I believe the week before he comes home. We will probably go to an indoor play place.
The week he comes home we will be sticking around home, don't want to miss the phone call saying when they are coming!

We have the banner we ordered here! We will make our own as well for the kids to hold. I need to go buy some welcome home balloons now, and then the day of homecoming go and have them aired up! We'll also make some decorations to decorate our building and apartment! I need to get a sheet or shower curtain for us to create too!

Of course lots of cleaning and organizing. They don't "have" to be done, but I want it done. I want him to come home and relax!

I'm ready let me tell you! This is our 5th deployment, 3rd to Iraq and let me tell you, I've never felt like any other deployment has drug on like this one has felt like it has. You'd think with 3 kids in the house, homeschooling, sports, church, bible study for me, Awana for the kids (and me too), that time would have just flown by. Nope it did not.

But we're almost done and soon Chad will be home!

I am truly blessed and so thankful.

God Bless

12 Months down

Well we've made it. We're at the 12 month mark. Because their deployment was shortened by aprox 6 weeks (from a 15 month deployment) we have now aprox 6 weeks left. I'm READY. I know Chad is. I would love to say "oh it'll fly by" but since this is our 5th deployment, I KNOW it won't. I know that it'll drag and will be the longest part of our deployment. We can see the light at the end though and I'm thankful.

We're almost done, almost done. I just keep repeating that to myself. I'm going to make a paper chain for the kids so we can count down until he's home. Keep praying if you will! Our battalion's had a rough couple of weeks. Sgt. Russell who killed the 5 soldiers, is in our company. Prayers please.

God Bless

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I'm so sick and tired of this deployment. Seriously I'm tired, I'm sick of it, and I just want my husband home. Call me selfish, just don't give me the pat answers, I'm not in the mood and won't approve it. See told you, bad mood.

The kids are obviously done as well, I know they miss Chad, but their behavior has just bypassed not ok, to absolutely destestable and infuriating. If I could, I'd seriously run away, from ALL of them. My youngest is teething and she only has these last 4 and they're just killing her. They're not her molars. She's been having meltdowns and of course so many of them have been in public. My boys are being so defiant.

I'm tired. I miss my husband, my children miss their dad. I miss having someone here in the evenings to talk to, share with, someone to hold me. I'm ready to be able to just go to the store for 15 minutes alone.

Please just pray. I know tomorrow will be a better day. Tonight though, I'm just so tired of all of it. I know our Lord will get me through this. Just ready for him to be home.

Trace Adkins...whew wipe the tears

I posted this on my main blog already, but I know there's a couple of you that may not read that blog...this touched me so much tonight as I watched the ACM's tonight.

Exciting News!

We got word today that Chad will be home aprox 45 days earlier than expected! It's official! We're so excited, so now instead of late summer it should be early! Oh I just wish I could explain in words how excited I am! I feel like I'm about to burst!!!! Life's good! I have so much to do before he comes home! One is to start excercising more. Now that it's nice out I can start walking everyday again, and getting on my Gazelle. I want to get our home all organized and just over all cleaned up!

My mom's going to make shirts for our children for when he comes home!!! I just have to decide exactly what I want them to say and if I want his picture on them as well.

I'll keep you updated as we progress closer! Oh I'm so very, very excited!

Update

I know I'm really bad about updating over here. Lets see we're inching in on month 10 this weekend. Oh I'm so thankful for that, only 5 months to go! Chad's doing well. He's working his butt off. He goes to the gym every morning for 1 1/2 hrs, works all day, then every evening goes to the gym for 2 hours. He's eating so healthy and just trying so hard to get in the best shape possible.

If you will add his working out and weight loss to your prayers that would be great.
The kids and I are doing pretty good. Today we went to the parents meeting for baseball. That starts next week aka insanity starts next week. At this point both boys have practice on the same day, and of course one practice is from 5-5:45 and the other's starts at 5:30-6:30. The man in charge is going to see if he can get one of the boys moved to another to a team who practices on a different day, but I'm not sure it's going to be possible. Some how it'll work out, we'll just have to see how!

God Bless

PS please know I don't write here often, so check my other blog which I write on far more often!

This blog

I see I have new readers here and should tell you that I don't write often over here, but write more often at my other blog "My Gifts...Among Other Things".

Quick update....Chad's doing well. He's back in Iraq and back to work. His first day back he went back to work. He oddly enough is having some sleeping issues, which if you knew him would understand how odd for CHAD this is. He's a man who has always (since he was a kid) been able to fall asleep anywhere, any time. Last night I advised him to get up in his bed (he and his roommate built loft beds so they'd have more space in their room. I know he has a great deal going through his head and gets into bed is although moments before in his chair he was drifting, he finds himself wide awake. Any ways my advice was to open his bible and start reading and let the Lord help him get some rest. I also suggested praying himself to sleep. If you'll be in prayer for Chad for his sleep issue's to resolve.

The kids and I are doing well. We've adjusted back to life with Chad deployed. As I was standing in the shower tonight it hit me how truly simple it was for us to adjust back to him being gone after R&R. There's just something that seems to click into gear and we go back there once he's gone. I will be very honest and tell you that the last couple of days of Chad's leave, were very tearful on my part. Satan kept whispering in my ear that I surely could not make it another 6 months, and I couldn't manage without him. Yet the truth is, God has given me/us the strength to make it through 9 months of this deployment so far, he'll give me and has given me the strength to make it through the last 6 months!

It doesn't mean we don't miss Chad. Oh we do so much. The fact is though, he's still has 6 months left of this deployment, and life can not just stop at a standstill until he can get back home. We have to keep living, keep going forward, inching one step closer to his return. We have to keep making memories here at home, keep laughing, hugging, playing, all of it.

There are hard days, but we get through them. By God's grace, but we do get through them!

God Bless

He was home and now he's gone

I had meant to get on here and have Chad write while he was home, but it just didn't happen. We had a wonderful R&R with our family. We were able to do a little traveling, get some things done around home, and just enjoy having our family together.

Thank you for the prayers and support.

He's Home

Chad got home yesterday! We're completely and utterly enjoying him! We're hanging around home until next weekend and then we'll be going to Garmisch and Salzburg, Austria for a few days! Thank you for all your prayers, you do not know how much they are appreciated!

God Bless

He's almost here!!

Well in a few more DAYS Chad's going to be home with us! I can't wait!!!! The kids can't wait! Chad can't wait!
Today was our oldest son's birthday, my how 8 years have flown by. One of his gifts via GOD and the Army was we were able to have a VTC with Chad, so Daddy was able to see him and wish him a happy birthday! Such a gift! Then in a few days he can give him his birthday hug!
We're all just so excited and there's a great deal to get done here at home before his arrival! Lots of cleaning on the kids and my part! It won't be perfect, never is...but it'll be welcoming and homey! :)

Thanks for always stopping by and supporting us! It means a great deal.

God Bless

Do People Think?

So I was browsing around tonight and came across this comment to one of my husband's soldiers and just gasped at the insensitivity of it. I'm sure it was meant in a "harmless" manner, but good grief, do people ever just think before they speak/write?

Here's the quote:

"I don't know how you do it, but I could never be away from my family that long without going crazy. I love them too much. "

My first reaction was "what , he doesn't love his family so it's not an issue for him to be apart"? The reality is....people do not think how things may sound. They get into their own little zone, and just say things that are idiotic, insensitive, heartless. I know it comes down to this girl probably has about as much life experience as the average non-military (kid) 8 yr old little one.

I can say I had to sit on my hands, but I responded in no way. Well I take that back, I prayed for her. I prayed she's able to continue live in her bubble because of men (and women) like her friend/Chad's soldier.

So thought for today...think long and hard before you speak and/or write.

We Have a Date!

Hello! Well I got to chat with Chad tonight and through our special code that we talk when talking dates (so if someone who shouldn't get it, gets our IM's, phone calls, etc) he told me aprox when he'll be home for R&R! Eighteen glorious days of Chad!!! Wahoo! It's coming up soon! Just a few short weeks! Well I hope short! LOL

I am so excited I'm about to jump out of my skin! We're planning a short trip to Salzburg, Austria! We may go to a water park up by Berlin, but that is VERY questionable, and we most likely will go to Edelweiss in Garmisch for a couple of days too. Mostly we'll be here at home though just enjoying our time together as a family! I'm ready and excited!!!

So, keep Chad in your prayers for his safety and patience as he prepares to come home for some well deserved rest and relaxation. Prayer for the kids and I as we prepare for him as well!!! We're not telling the kids the exact day of his arrival (won't know it until a day or two before he gets here anyways!!), we're going to surprise them!

Well, I'm off!

God Bless and thank you for the Prayers!!

Sorry No updating

I've just been terrible about writing here. Chad's doing really well. I didn't even check to see what my last entry was, but here's the update! Chad is in a new company and is loving it! He's been losing weight which is sooo good and is supposed to be taped and measured this week I believe! So please pray that he's lost enough weight and inches (the inches is the BIG thing) if so he'll be pinned and will be re-enlisting for us to stay here in Germany for 3 more years!! We all want this and are very excited that God's blessing us with 3 more years in Europe! We love to travel and finacially it's the best decision for our family as well. This also gives us stability. We are sure there's a decent chance he'll deploy again with his battalion, but at least we'd know when and there'd be a good amount of rest most likely in between deployments, where if we went to another post we could get there and find out 6 months later he was deploying, so at least this way there should be "at least" a year (never a guarentee, but should be that way!) possibly longer! Anyways, over all he's doing good. But...the best news is...he's coming home for R&R soon! Next month! He's hoping in a couple days to have an aprox. date! I will not be sharing it here, OPSEC (Operation Security aka common sense not to put those kinds of dates online where ANYONE could read it!!!). Anyways once he's home I'll update!! I'll even nag him a bit and see if he'll write on here and give his perspective! Don't hold your breath! LOL