Wednesday Walkabout #34!

Welcome to the another week of Wednesday Walkabout! Thank you so much for hanging out with us, linking up, and reading new blogs.  =)

A little info about the Walkabout:

This is a weekly linky party with myself and 3 other co-hosts. The idea? Just put your URL in the linky (it can be a specific post or your "homepage"- whichever you prefer), visit a few other blogs, and possibly make some new friends. Easy peasy, right?!

Oh, and you only have to link up with ONE of the co-hosts. =) 

There are just a few quick rules we've set for the linky party...

1. Please follow at least ONE hostess, and let us know you're a new follower and how you follow!

Sarah - G.I. Joe's Wife (That's me!)

Chantal - Scattered Seashells 

Jane - Poppiness 

Jamie - Handling With Grace

This week's Mystery Host is.... Kara from Ramblings of a Marine Wife. Congrats, Kara!

2. Try to visit 3-4 blogs that interest you. Take some time and let them know where you came from.

3. Grab the button from my sidebar and spread the word! (Not required, but just cool if you do.) The more, the merrier.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy blog-hopping!

Adventures in Housing

Hopefully you read my post a couple weeks ago on our current living situation. It's interesting, to say the least.

If you haven't read it, basically, we got kicked out of lodging and had to move into a house on post. Those lovely 10 days are supposed to be used to go house-searching. In case you didn't know, it's pretty dang hard to look at houses when don't have a car! Grrrrr. Still a little upset about that. Anyway.

So we moved into a teeny tiny house in the "ghetto" on post. I hate it. The only thing I do like about it is the fact that it has more than one bathroom. The kitchen is small. The living/dining area is small. The master bedroom is pretty much a joke. The closets just make me laugh. I'm not a huge fan of our neighbors, or that we've got streets on both sides of us. So noisy. The walls are paper thin... This weekend we heard teenagers outside talking way past midnight. Cool, fine, whatever, but why am I hearing them?! And let's not even talk about the many cars that drive by blasting their bass. Ugh. Basically we've been using all these dislikes as fuel to find a house faster. So far, so good. 

I found out just a few days after we move in that these houses were built quite a while ago. The cab driver that brought me back from the rental car place informed me that these houses where here while we was stationed here. This man is about the same age as Papa. So, he's been retired from the Army for a while. I don't even wanna know when he was stationed here.They've obviously renovated the houses since then (especially since the military is all about the "live billing" for utilities these days), but I'm not sure how great of a job they're doing. Case in point:

Last Friday, Joe came home after PT to shower and eat breakfast. He mentioned that he'd rolled his ankle while running, so he decided to soak it in the bath. Whatevs. I came downstairs with Charlotte a few minutes later and hear drip drip drip. Obviously I thought this was strange, but I just thought we'd left the sink on or something. Checked the sink...nope. Checked the sink in the downstairs bath/laundry room, nope. Then I notice it's coming from above. I flip on the light in the kitchen and.......

There's water in the light fixture.

I ran up the stairs and yelled at Joe to get out of the tub. We put in a called to housing to get someone out. They come, make a boatload of noise, and leave after a couple hours, saying all is well. Cool! Then they tell me that someone else will have to come back and replace the sheetrock in the ceiling. Fantastic, but whatever. Not my house.

Dude shows up on Monday. He's polite and chatty with Joe. They get to talking and we find out that he's replaced sheetrock in countless other lower-enlisted houses all over this place. In one house, he's done it twice. So that's fun.

I'm just glad that we're not staying in this house. Because, geez, I don't know how much longer I can handle it. Hopefully we've only got a couple weeks in the on-post ghetto built in the '40s. 

More on that later. ;-)

Wednesday Walkabout #33!

Apologies...a little late today because I have a sick little girl on my hands.

Welcome to the another week of Wednesday Walkabout! Thank you so much for hanging out with us, linking up, and reading new blogs.  =)

A little info about the Walkabout:

This is a weekly linky party with myself and 3 other co-hosts. The idea? Just put your URL in the linky (it can be a specific post or your "homepage"- whichever you prefer), visit a few other blogs, and possibly make some new friends. Easy peasy, right?!

Oh, and you only have to link up with ONE of the co-hosts. =) 

There are just a few quick rules we've set for the linky party...

1. Please follow at least ONE hostess, and let us know you're a new follower and how you follow!

Sarah - G.I. Joe's Wife (That's me!)

Chantal - Scattered Seashells 

Jane - Poppiness 

Jamie - Handling With Grace

This week's Mystery Host is.... Whitney from Everything Happens for a Reason. Congrats, Whitney!

2. Try to visit 3-4 blogs that interest you. Take some time and let them know where you came from.

3. Grab the button from my sidebar and spread the word! (Not required, but just cool if you do.) The more, the merrier.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy blog-hopping!

Consider it Joy

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 

whenever you face trials of many kinds, 

because you know that the testing of your 

faith produces perseverance.

~ James 1:2-3

I've tried to write a post similar to this for at least 3 weeks. Each time I start writing and then lose steam on it. Gosh, it's hard for me to talk about. It's hard to put into words how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking, unless I'm talking to someone who's been there. It's so hard to explain, these feelings surrounding miscarriage.

It's sad; it's painful; it makes you jealous; it makes you ache; it makes you long for what you lost. It makes you angry - at yourself, your body, women who get - and stay - pregnant so easily, and God. That last one is the hardest to admit, at least for me. Even though it's normal, it still feels wrong to say you're angry at God. 

I wouldn't necessarily say I'm no longer angry about losing our baby, because something could set me off tomorrow and I'd feel it again. That's the thing about grief - it sneaks up on you sometimes. Even the smallest thing could make me feel the pain of loss so much stronger than usual. Then I end up crying out of nowhere... Retreating to the bed or the shower for a short while. Or I distract myself with Charlotte or busywork or reading.

Over the last few weeks, we've had the extreme pleasure of going back to the church we found when we were here a few years ago. The worship and the teaching have been amazing, and I'm beginning to feel a change. Even since the first week we visited, I've felt like a switch has been flipped. I don't even really know how to explain it, which is how I know that it's all God's doing.

I'm slowly starting to give it all over to God. Honestly, it sounds kind of silly to me considering it was all in His hands in the first place, but.... This is really a big step. I'm on my way to acceptance. Accepting that God has a bigger plan, a bigger purpose. Accepting that God is bigger than death - and that Jesus overcame it. Accepting that God gives and takes. Accepting that, while my baby is gone from this earth,  I will be okay. 

In the sermon this Sunday, I took these notes and then sent it to my bestie. Because, dang. If it isn't convicting I don't know what is.

Genuine faith is strengthened by pain. We're not just supposed to endure it. We're to "consider it joy" - to celebrate it, because God will bring purpose from it. It's to bring you closer to Him. You get tools from it {pain} you wouldn't otherwise. 

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

That verse right there? From Romans? That's the hope I'm choosing to hang on to today. Because without it, what do I have? I have a broken mess of a heart, aching over the loss of my sweet second little baby, who was here for just a moment. I will {and do} still feel pain, but one day this loss will have purpose and something good will come from it.

I believe.

I trust.

But it's still hard.

I'm a Mom

So the other day I was browsing the interwebz, as I've been known to do. You know how it is... Sometimes you're messing around, looking at this and than when, BAM. You see a post or something that slaps you right in the face and makes your blood boil. Here's a little paraphrasing of what I saw:

I cringe every time I see "Mom","SAHM", or "Proud Mommy" in the career portion of friends' profiles.

{Side note: I'm fairly certain this person doesn't have children, so I think that is a contributing factor here.}

I've also seen people say that they're disappointed when they see "mom" or something similar in people's description of themselves. To me, this is incredibly insulting. Why? I'll tell you why.

While I'm not getting paid money to stay home and take care of my daughter, I am getting "paid" in many other ways. It may not always be giggles and smiles around here, but I think it is a blessing to be able to stay home with her. I get to see her every day - to play with her, to know her, to bond with her. And yes, I have to deal with diapers, spit up, meltdowns, teething and whatever else is thrown my way. Working moms have to deal with all this stuff too (and glory, I can't even imagine), but other than house stuff, Charlotte is my main focus and I love it.

Source: amillionthingsilove.com via Sarah on Pinterest

I'm getting "paid" in smiles, full tummies, fun days, cuddles, and all kinds of other things. This morning as Joe was leaving, Charlotte said, "bye-bye, Dada." The pride and joy I feel from those simple, sweet words is more to me than any perk a job could offer. And if I did have a job? I might've missed out on that moment.

Maybe it's not a "career," but it is my life. I don't take well to people looking down on me for the choices I've made, especially when those choices are what is best for me and my family. 

I don't understand why people feel the need to judge others for their life choices. So what if in my FB/Twitter/IG profile it says "Proud SAHM?" What difference does that make to you? It doesn't mean I'm uneducated or without ambition. So what if my goals and dreams are of and for my baby girl and future kiddos? What in the world is so wrong with me - or any other mother - staying home, nurturing, and educating her children? To me, that is the most important thing I could possibly do. 

Source: thesunnysideupblog.com via Sarah on Pinterest

I know it isn't every mother's calling to stay home full time with her children. Some moms work, some moms don't. However, I do know that it is my calling to stay home with Charlotte and whatever other children we're blessed with. I believe that it's my calling to homeschool, whenever the time comes. I believe that is what's best for my children and my family. Not everyone is able to do this, and that's okay!

Please, for the love of all things good, don't judge SAHMs. We may not work for a living, but we do work that is just as important - maybe even more so. 

That Time My Baby Turned One

So, last week...my baby became a toddler. Well, except that she's not walking yet. Basically there's no difference in her between March 27 and March 28, but....she's still a year old. Not gonna lie, tears were shed. I mean, how do you not feel a little bit sad when your baby isn't much of a baby anymore? Especially when, the day before her birthday, you wake her up from a nap and realize she doesn't even really look like a baby anymore. Sads.

Anyway, we didn't do much the day of her birthday. We played and did the usual thing. I was going to make her pancakes for dinner, but forgot some ingredients... And since Joe had the car and didn't get home until 15 minutes before bedtime....pancakes didn't happen. I did give her an Oreo, though, so there's that. ;-) Come on. I had to give her something! And she totally enjoyed it. I felt better after a day of nothing. 

Friday afternoon, we packed up the car and headed to NC for the weekend. FINALLY! First road trip in our car in 3 years! {Whoops. Totally forgot to mention that Joe picked up our car on her birthday. WIN!} Other than a near diaper blowout and minor meltdown from the birthday girl, the short trip up to NC went fantastic. We got in a bit late because we weren't able to leave until about 4:30, but we made it! And just in time for little missy to get in some snuggles with her auntie.

I mean, seriously. Isn't that the sweetest?!

{Side note, Charlotte was chewing on her jacket's zipper. At second glance, it totally looked like Anna was nursing her. Not the case.}

We had her party planned for Saturday evening, so Anna and I spent the afternoon shopping and decorating for it. It was fun, but it made for a bit of a crazy day! In hindsight, we probably should've gotten an earlier start to our day. Oh, well!

I tried as best as I could to stick with a rainbow theme, but I'm not totally sure how it turned out. Sorta girly, sorta rainbowy. Haha! I really wish you could see the "happy birthday" sign hung from the mantle. It was super cute!!! I also really loved the balloons that Anna got for her. I mean, we picked them out together, but...I really love them. 

The biggest part of her party {for me, anyway} was the cupcakes. I made rainbow cupcakes inspired by this pin. Thank God for Pinterest, right?! Anyway, they turned out so much better than I imagined!!!

You can click the pin to find out how I did it. I really wish the pics of the cupcake up close were better... They were so pretty! I don't want to toot my own horn, but I was very pleasantly surprised with the end result. And I'm not the only one who enjoyed them either!

You guys, this was the highlight of the party. I about died laughing at our sweet girl. She demolished that cupcake! Never in my life have a seen a baby take to sweets like this! After she got a taste of the icing, she picked the whole thing up and put it straight in her face! It was priceless. She was totally NOMing on that thing for like 5 mins. She barely even left a crumb on that highchair. It was pretty much all over her face and in her hair.

She also got a piece of cheese pizza before the cupcake. She ate all but a few bites of that, too. I swear, you guys, this girl is a bottomless pit! I'm guessing that her sweet tooth is from mama and her bottomless pit of a tummy is from daddy. Maybe.

And of course, after stuffing our faces, it was time for gifts and a few photos.

Suffice it to say the little miss thoroughly enjoyed herself...and being the center of attention for a night. You should've seen her face when we were singing to her! Oh, so cute. {I do have a video of it, but it's on Joe's phone and he's currently asleep with it plugged in upstairs. So...not happening right now.} Also, she's a smart cookie. She played with the dollar bill from Joe's grandparents until I took it away from her because she was going to put it in her mouth.

The rest of the weekend went pretty well, with the exception of sick cousins. They ended up having a blast together. Eden is always so sweet with Charlotte and wants to play with her. 

Harry even showed a little affection and brought Charlotte a toy and her sippy cup. Talk about melting our hearts!!!

As usual, I don't think I got a shot of any of the adults together. I guess that's what happens when you have such cute kiddos around to photograph!

So. My baby turned 1. I cried a little. I celebrated a lot. And we had a great time with family. All in all? I guess it wasn't so bad, I guess.

Happy Birthday, my sweet Little Bean! My sunshine, my joy, my little love. I can't believe it's been a year since we first met and held you. I'm looking forward to lots more cuddles, giggles, fun and learning. We love you so, sweet Charlotte!

Wednesday Walkabout #32!

Welcome to the another week of Wednesday Walkabout! Thank you so much for hanging out with us, linking up, and reading new blogs.  =)

A little info about the Walkabout:

This is a weekly linky party with myself and 3 other co-hosts. The idea? Just put your URL in the linky (it can be a specific post or your "homepage"- whichever you prefer), visit a few other blogs, and possibly make some new friends. Easy peasy, right?!

Oh, and you only have to link up with ONE of the co-hosts. =) 

There are just a few quick rules we've set for the linky party...

1. Please follow at least ONE hostess, and let us know you're a new follower and how you follow!

Sarah - G.I. Joe's Wife (That's me!)

Chantal - Scattered Seashells 

Jane - Poppiness 

Jamie - Handling With Grace

This week's Mystery Host is.... Amanda from Somewhere Over the Camo!  Go check her out because she's pretty awesome...just sayin'. ;-)

2. Try to visit 3-4 blogs that interest you. Take some time and let them know where you came from.

3. Grab the button from my sidebar and spread the word! (Not required, but just cool if you do.) The more, the merrier.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy blog-hopping!