Night Out

I went out tonight with a friend for dinner and a movie. It's so nice to have a girl's night here and there.

The Positive Twist

   Well, it seems my car has decided to join in the disarray of things. The alternator is messed up. Hopefully, this is the last of the bad and the good comes now. However, trying to stay positive my car hasn't left me sit and at least I was here when my water tank started leaking. My friends and family have pulled together to help me out. My hubby is being as supportive as he can from across the ocean. And, it's probably better that I'm dealing with the house issues this deployment versus having the renters deal with it last deployment. Tomorrow, I'm taking the day off to deal with life and will hopefully be able to enjoy the weekend more because I can get some of my household chores done instead of waiting until Saturday to start on them.

Things are Turning Around

   Thankfully, the hot water tank is taken care of and works. Thanks to my friend who came over to my house to let the repair guy in while I was at work. My car is working fine as well. Today was a productive day and I'm hoping things continue to go uphill.

Glass Half Empty, I Think the Cat Just Spilled Mine

   So the other day the cat spilled the boys glass of water that was left on the table. Don't ask me why she gets fresh water and food that is inside the house but when there is water on the table during the night she'll knock it over to drink it. That was frustrating enough because I had Nathan's homework folder sitting out and his reading list and homework got completely drenched. However, I'm thinking she somehow dumped my water out again because things are just not going my way these days. The hot water tank company is being annoying! I'm praying that a peaceful night sleep will make things better when I deal with them again tomorrow. My pilot light officially won't even start now! Then on top of it all, my car would not start after football practice. Thankfully, there was another Mom that had a starter and she got it going in seconds! She made my night. Now to tackle whatever comes in the morning but first, sleep. My hubby called today too and it was nice to hear his voice. Although I'm ready for him to be here to help me out with this stuff, oh well, so is life. On the positive side I do have great friends and family that are supporting me but things might start randomly disappearing around my house if they don't get their act together (and no I'm not talking about my children!)

Throwing the Water Heater Out of the House

   I'm frustrated, about two weeks ago, my hot water tank hit the dust. It was leaking, (a small flood in my kitchen and garage), thankfully I had a friend come to my rescue. I bought another one and had it put in. Now the pilot light doesn't want to stay lit and it's driving me crazy. It's gone out three times in the last two weeks. I'm going to call the manufacturer and see what they have to say tomorrow. With the ac and now the hot water tank the last two months have been stressful with work, deployment, the boys needs, and the household responsibilities it's been a bit to much. I just need some peace please!

A Much Needed Break

   This weekend was a nice breather from life. The boys and I relaxed and enjoyed life after a busy week. Adam got to call too so that was nice. I enjoyed getting to go out with friends yesterday and to a Bible study this evening. Now we are ready for another week.

Weekend!

   It's been a busy week. Today, I'm just thankful it's the weekend. Have a good weekend everyone! Catch up with you later.

Military Support Group

   Tonight I went to a military support group at Victory. It's nice to see this church meeting a need in the military world. It was just me and an older couple that is leading it but it was so refreshing to talk to others that get it and to know that there are people that want to listen about what is going on. And thankfully they didn't mind Jacob doing his thing.

One Thing At A Time

   So one thing I took away from today is take one thing at time. To much multi-tasking and to many things to do makes this Mama a little crazy. Also, it's okay to take a break when needed, actually recommended for my mental health. And things happen so just deal with it. This morning as I was already running late to get both of my sons to school and myself to work my hubby texted that he wanted to skype with me. It had been two months since I got to skype with my hubby so I took my son to my room and let him skype with Daddy. It was worth the tardy slip :)  Then this afternoon I was late picking up my son, so thankful for an understanding teacher and friend that helped me out. It also let me know that I really am not forgotten about even if it feels like it at times. Sometimes the simple acts of kindness really does make a difference. It did for me today.

Competing Things

   These days I feel in a tug of war over my time. My boys need and want my time. My job is demanding a lot of time. My sanity requires me to take some time for myself. Finding balance is difficult but I'm still working on it, it's worth it. Bottom line is my boys and family come first.

A Friend To Lean On

   Today was a hectic day. Thankfully, I had friends to lean on. My-coworker helped me with my son for  a little bit and another army wife provided a therapeutic listening ear. Sometimes just the understanding of been there, done that helps a ton.

Sometimes I Just Have to Call It a Night

   I got a lot done today but it was one of those days the more I did the more I realized I need to do and of course I don't have the time to get it all done. Oh well, the rest will wait until tomorrow. It seems like I have more of these days than not lately.

Just Keeping At It

   Just keeping busy and keeping on with life on this side of the world. The thought of my day is that we are more or less half way through this deployment and that makes me happy! This one hasn't been an easy one so I'm clinging to whatever I can to help me get through, one more day down.

Family Time

   Sometimes just chilling with the boys is the perfect way to spend my time. I enjoy just hanging out with the boys on Friday nights. We don't get a lot of down time these days so I cherish the time we get to just relax and enjoy each other company. It's nice to sit back and relax after a busy work week. Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Words Really Do Matter

         Today was a good day. I got several compliments today and I just want to say words really do matter. Words are just words but they made my day sweeter.

Work Week

   Sometimes it's nice to stay busy at work. It keeps my mind off of deployment stuff and parenting decisions. Other days I wonder why I work and do the parenting thing all at the same time. It keeps me really busy. This week so far I'm glad to have my work to stay busy. It feels good to be out there doing something. It helps that I got to talk to my hubby this morning too and know that he is doing pretty good too.

September 11th, 10 Year Anniversarvy

   Yesterday was the ten year anniversary of September 11th. I watched the memorial on TV yesterday. It's still very sobering after ten years. Then I think about all our family has been through due to that one day in history. I really just don't have the words to capture all my feelings on that but I'm glad the anniversary is over.

Death of Our Soldiers

   So this post is personal and not an easy one to write but the fact is we've lost eleven of our guys on this deployment. This is the only deployment (this is my third) that we've been through that we've lost any. It doesn't get any easier with the news of the loss of another soldier. The emotions are all over the place of what you experience. I'm so thankful it's not my husband but to know that there is another wife, mother, child that is going to have to walk through this life without their love one is so disheartening. Every time I hear the news of another loss it reminds me of the nearness of this outcome for my family. I know God will help all of us get through come what may but it's still a very hard thing to face. What makes all of this even harder for me is the fact that I do not share any of these feelings or the fact that we've lost even one soldier with my sons. I just feel it would scare them and they aren't able to comprehend the fact that Daddy might not come home. I also feel awful for being thankful that my husband is safe for now, knowing that another family  isn't as lucky as mine. Lord knows, this deployment has taken a toil on me, my faith, and my mental health. I just want my husband to come home safely.
   However, on the other side of that I know my husband is doing his duty of serving our country and keeping it a safe place for others. I have tremendous pride in him. There are moments (sometimes more than less) of being bitter that I have to live with the constant fear of knowing the uncertainty of what our family faces. It doesn't seem fair that others walk around in oblivion (or at least it seems like it to me) of what we face on a daily basis.
   Then there is the other fact that my husband is faced with loosing comrades and friends. How does that affect a person? I know I'm changed because of this deployment and I wonder how this will affect our family when we are reunited. I place my hope and trust in God but the mere fact of my daily battle right now is simply holding on to the hope that there will be a day when this is all over.
   This post comes on the heels of learning that we just lost another three guys. We haven't lost anybody for the last month or so and I was just getting into a comfort zone of maybe it was safe to start breathing and going on with life.

Friends and My Support System

   Working in the mental health field and being the social person I am I know friendship and family are important. I was reminded once again today how blessed I am to have the people in my life that support me, even when it is inconvenient. My youngest son got sick almost as soon as we got to school this morning. My mother-in-law and her boyfriend watched him for me today so I could work. Then this evening I was tired from work and was looking forward to relaxing with my boys and watching a movie. First, I was cleaning my dishes and getting dinner going. All of a sudden I noticed water leaking through my pantry in my kitchen and didn't know what to think. I went into the garage and my hot water tank was leaking water. Now I'm a semi-independent person, but these things are not my speciality. This is my hubby's department. Obviously he's not around right now. Next, I would call my Dad, but given we live twenty hours apart there isn't much he is going to do for me. I would even call my Father-in-law but he lives in Canada. So I picked up my phone and called my hubby's best friend and he didn't even hesitate. He just got in his truck and drove over and helped me get the water turned off. I'm thankful (and I know Adam is too) for the people God has put in my life for extra support while my hubby is half way across the world. Thanks all, you know who you are :)
   So the perfect song to go with my day is.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk1mxUKiTN8

Life

   I got an email from my hubby today :) Makes me happy, I haven't really gotten to talk to him very much lately. Life goes on but it's nice to hear from him. Anyways today was back to the hectic life some. School, gym, football practice, and time for some homework with the boys and then off the bed for us all. I know it was a short week but I'm looking forward to tomorrow being Friday!

Sometimes the Good has to go too.

   Tonight I decided that church on Wednesdays have to go too for right now. I went last Wednesday night but I'm serious about cutting things down. Even good things can be to much when done out of proportion. I'll miss my Wednesdays but if it'll help me keep up with things and be able to spend some time with my sons it's worth it.

Taking a Step Back

   It's time for me to take a step back and see where I can cut back or what I can cut out of my life for this season. I'm to busy and I want to be able to spend more time with my boys. They are already missing their Daddy and I need to be able to spend some time with them. I'm thankful to my mother in laws boyfriend for helping me out with taking Nathan once a week to football practice. This way I can get some paperwork done then instead of spending some time on the weekend on it. Plus, I made a deal with Jacob that if he does good at school he can get to watch a movie or play the wii all by himself. He thinks it's pretty cool that he gets to eat dinner with just Mommy too. I have to remember, I can't do it all but what I am doing I'm going to give it my all, and my family comes first whatever it takes.

Even Three day Weekend Aren't Long Enough.

   All good things must come to an end. I enjoyed my three day weekend. We did some fun things as a family and also got some much needed house work and errands done.We got rested up to jump back into everything again. Now I just pray that God gives us the strength to make it to our next break.

Rest and Relaxation

   I was so thankful this morning to get to sleep in until nine. For the last month since my school has started I've been getting up at six almost every day, especially with Nathan's football scrimmages and football games.  The boys enjoyed getting a lazy Saturday morning too. They watched cartoons and played the wii. Then the boys and I weeded the flower garden which was long overdue, and got some more house work done. Looking forward to enjoying the rest of this weekend.

A Break Is Needed, and Thankfully Here

   Thankfully this weekend is almost here, just one more work day and then three days off. The beauty of this is amazing because the boys and I really don't have any plans and I'm glad to be able to lay back and relax some. We also have six days off from football. Wow, I'm feeling spoiled, and thankful! And it's also the first of September so we are one more month down in this deployment countdown :)