354 Bedtime

Bedtime is something I sincerely look forward to these days. It means that I can actually lie down and stop moving for a few hours!! Tonight I was able to curl up with Bean while she read me a Christmas book. I love these moments and can't wait until this house is unpacked so we can focus more on them!

341 Looking Good!

We finally made it to the doctor for the DQ's six month post-op x-ray. The doc said her back looks great! We were pretty sure that is what we would hear, but it is fabulous to get confirmation of that.

What a blessing!

339 Honored

Today the LT was given the Army Achievement Award for his efforts as an aide to Major General Commander H.R. McMaster and as Congressional Liaison of Fort Benning. General McMaster himself presented the award along with his coin. 

It was a really neat experience and the LT was honored to know that he had made good use of his time while awaiting his next assignment in the Army.

I am so proud of him and his hard work!!

327 Giving Thanks

Today we were able to sit down and enjoy a meal with both my side of the family, and the LT's. It was great being at my mom's and visiting with cousins. It was a small gathering, but I love my family and have much to be thankful for.

309 Bittersweet

Today I was released from my calling as the Relief Society president in my ward. I have loved serving the sisters and have learned so much about myself, service, and how much the Lord loves each and every one of his children. I had to pass my key on to the new president as well. I am certainly glad not to have that responsibility on my shoulders as we are preparing to move and return home for Thanksgiving, but I will treasure the memories of this past year.

296 Such is Life...In the Army...

Another friend is moving on...

We grabbed lunch today before she and her boyfriend head off to Texas. The great thing is, we have been good friends for a year and a half, but have only lived in the same area for two months. I love that no matter where the army takes us, we will always be connected and remain friends!

Love you girl!!

PS, we didn't plan the outfits. Great minds think alike!!

285 Six Months

The day she has been counting down to has finally arrived.

Today marks 6 months since the DQ's surgery.

She is now free to run and jump and return to normal activities.

I know that for that first month she thought she'd never feel well again.

Thankfully, as the great doctor promised, she is feeling nearly back to her old self. Her back does ache if she's up and walking a lot. He said that at the one year mark she will have made as much progress as she ever will. Meaning, if there is something that is kind of bothering her, it will forever if it hasn't cleared up by then.

What a miracle science is.

We are eternally grateful for the care she received, for our health insurance that covered the procedure, and most importantly, to our Father in Heaven for keeping her safe, comforting us all during the scary times, and helping her to heal so well!

235 Another Miracle

So, I may have mentioned, that things here at Ft B have been a little anxiety filled. (This is the part where I put links to all of the posts where I talk about how we've been waiting forever and we have no idea what we are doing here and I get depressed every time someone moves because it just reminds me that we have no idea what we are doing here or when we will get to leave or if we'll even be able to stay in the army...but there were too many and I don't want to take all morning trying to do that, so trust me. It's been a long year.)

But I digress...

Long story short, the LT joined the army to become a finance officer, in the hopes that that would lead him to the JAG Corps. He soon learned that becoming a finance officer was a near impossibility because the branch is small, and they really only take Captains (which he will be in about 3 years). But a miracle happened when a slot opened up at the time he was to choose his branch at OCS. That slot came with the caveat that he serve approx. 3 years in the infantry first (thus, making him a Captain by the time he gets to finance). Fine. Then he discovered his hip was broken a week after we moved here last August. That put his plans for infantry school on hold until it was healed. Once it was healed he would hopefully start that 16 week course that November. The bone healed, but there was other damage that would prevent him from rucking if he wanted to be able to walk past age 35. He had a difficult decision to make: Should he just suck it up and go to infantry school and pray his hip held up until he could make the switch to finance? Should he try to get transferred to finance now? Or just take medical retirement?

I told you this would be the short story (trust me, I could write a book about this) so keeping that in mind, he did what he could to get a branch transfer. That was MUCH more easier said than done. 

We remained faithful and positive that the Lord would send us where we needed to be as long as we remained faithful and positive. And believe me, it wasn't easy. We were grateful that the DQ could have her spine corrected at no cost to us, and if that was what we joined the army for, and it was time to get out, then we would be grateful and move on.

But we persisted and the LT dutifully served in the jobs he was given. He continued to work out and keep himself physically ready. He did all of the menial tasks assigned with a smile and never a complaint and continued to prove how proud he was to serve the United States in any way he could.

And then.

Yesterday. 

Prayers were answered with a simple email.

"You have been moved to finance branch."

I think we are still in shock. 

The news we have been waiting nearly a year for came, unexpectedly at lunch time.

I think we are still hesitant to tell anyone in case something happens and we wake up from this sweet dream.

But he checked his _____ (whatever acronym it is for his records and whatnot...I can't keep them straight anymore) and sure enough, it says "Control branch: Finance".

So today, (I waited a day, in case it really wasn't true) I picked up a new set of branch insignia for his ASUs.

His finance diamonds.

Tiny gold miracles.

(p.s. If you're really in the know, you may have noticed I put them on sideways. The LT pointed that out when he saw his surprise. They are suppose to go "short axis vertical". So I've since fixed that. Such problems to worry about!)

231 Life is Good

225 I'm Trying

As Relief Society president, one of my duties is to help with the general welfare needs of the members in the ward. There is a new single mother who moved in who was in need of clothes for her daughter and three small boys. Miraculously, another woman in the ward had recently cleaned out her son's closet and had a bunch of boys clothes in just the right sizes for the boys in need. The woman was supposed to bring them to church today so I could give them to the family in need. I had purchased some clothes for the older daughter and brought those with me. The mother was so relieved to have a few new outfits for her children. When I found the clothes donor at church, she said she had forgotten to bring them and they were in a bag by her door.

No problem. I had a feeling that would happen anyway. I just told her I would pick them up after church and deliver them to the family. The LT was going to visit another area south of us where they hold meetings in the afternoon to help out so the girls came along with me.

As planned, I picked them up and then sought out the other woman's home. They live in a trailer park that most people know the location of, however, I did not. I plugged the address into my GPS and set off. Unfortunately, the GPS was confused, but I didn't realize it until we got to the wrong location.

At this point, the minor frustration of getting the wrong directions was magnified by the fact that I was starving, and my gas light had come on. I have been trying to be a much better example in keeping the Sabbath holy for my girls (not stopping by Taco Bell on the way home from church...) and the numerous fast food restaurants seemed to be taunting us. I will say how amazing the girls were. Not one complaint.

I was fuming at my luck as I turned around and went back the way we came to find our destination. In doing so, we passed by this church a second time, and I saw this:

I realized that what I was doing was service. I had been able to go out and buy new clothes for my girls without a second thought. This woman had to rely on the kindness of others to clothe her children. I also realized that my attitude wasn't helping things and I it would be very soon that the clothes would be delivered and I could be home and eating.

The scripture Matthew 25:40 instantly came to mind:

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

And I thought, yes, I think I have made God smile today.

222 My Job is So Rough

Today I had another practice photo shoot. I was so honored to take some pictures of this precious little one. Her daddy is deployed in Kuwait until next year.

I was so excited to not only practice, but to give this family a gift; capturing those brand new moments and documenting her in her very first week.

I will have more on the blog later, once he has seen them all.

I am so thankful for those men and women who volunteer and sacrifice so much for the freedoms we enjoy.

186 Celebrate!

Happy Independence Day!!!

183 Do You Believe in Miracles?

I do.

We went to church today, happy for the escape and some normalcy. The LT then visited the Cusseta group, which is an area south of us that is too small to have a ward (or even a branch for that matter), but is far enough that they can have meetings there. The area is mostly trailers and dirt. There are a lot of people is rough conditions out there. The LT had decided that he needed to start going there to help teach and just be a new face in the area.

He was so glad he went. He was able to teach and bear his testimony of the love of our Heavenly Father for us. There was a woman there who had attended for a long time, but would never pray aloud or share her testimony. Today she did. He said it was a wonderfully spiritual experience.

After he got "home" I went to a friend's so I could use her scanner to email something. After we chatted a little bit, the girls and I went back to our house to get a few things. 

Just as we were pulling up, we noticed a maintenance man and several other workers over at the house next door (literally - we are connected). The maintenance man, Danny, caught my eye and started walking over to me. He said "Do you have power?" 

"No, not since Friday. Well, we have a little, but we have been out of the house since Friday."

Just about then, another man walked over and I explained the whole situation. He said that we were not getting full power from the power lines. He said that there was a truck from the power company on their way now, and that it should only take them about 15 minutes to fix it.

My jaw dropped.

As promised, about 8 minutes later a truck pulled up. We watched as a man got in the cherry picker and worked on the lines while another one got on the roof and worked on the area where the line connects to the house.

After about 15 minutes, Danny came over with a huge grin and said "It's fixed!"

I had him come to our house and check the a/c and all of the appliances. They dryer started right up, everything seemed to be working!

I let the LT know that we would be sleeping at home tonight. He didn't believe me!

What a miracle.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how miraculous the events of today were. The neighbors came home today from being out of town. Had they not called and got the right person who thought to look at the exterior power, someone might well have rewired their house as well. Had I not been stopping by the house at that time, we may not have known that the problem was fixed until at least Monday. And every maintenance man had a different idea, and no one seemed to be talking to each other about it, they very well may have rewired our whole house not realizing the problem had been fixed!

Regardless, I am just so grateful to be home.

Reflecting on this situation, I feel really stupid.

I have been closely following the news of the fires in Colorado, and my heart has broken for the families there. They have truly been stressed and worried. Three hundred and forty six families no longer have homes to go to. I could just swing by mine and pick up something if I needed to.

In church today, several people spoke of friends of theirs who recently lost two of their sons in a tragic boating accident. 

Ugh. I have nothing to complain about. I am so blessed. Our family is so blessed. Things have been stressful because of the uncertainty of our future, but that is nothing compared to what so many others are going through.

That being said, I am so grateful that even in my tiny trials, the Lord is still looking out for me. He was there to comfort me, and remind me that He is in control and that bad things happen, and sometimes, they just have to happen, but if we have enough faith in Him, and it is His will, He can perform miracles in our lives.

165 Goodbye Grandma!

Sadly, my mom had to return home today.

We were so blessed to have her come and stay with us and we had a wonderful time. We were especially grateful that she could be here for the DQ's birthday!!

I miss her so much already!!

146 Service

the weird black line is the reflection of the steering wheel - I promise I was stopped when I took this picture

Today I was able to deliver some food to a family in need.

I had to drive out to Cusseta, and then keeeeeep driving. The house was about 20 miles from ours, deep in the backwoods of Georgia.

The woman gave me her address and told me that if I plugged it into the GPS, I should find it easily.

Well, the map told me right where to go, just not that I would need a four wheel drive to get there. Their abode was about a half mile down one of the worst roads I've ever driven on.

It was a good reminder to me how blessed we are in so many ways.

And it made me realize that I take asphalt for granted.

145 Last Day

Today was the last day of school, and what a busy one it was.

After attending an Airborne graduation, I was able to go to the DQ's sixth grade awards assembly. She recieved awards for having the third highest average in her social studies class, and the highest in her math class! And instead of just a certificate, they got medals! A bronze and a gold!

She also was recognized for being on the A/B Honor Roll all four quarters! (And it would have been the all A Honor Roll except for a pesky B+ in science first quarter.)

Needless to say, we were very impressed.

Bean had a great last day too. She brought home her report card in which her teacher remarked, "Watching her succeed as a reader, writer, and problem solver this year has been a pure pleasure. She excels in all areas and is such an ardent student."

The LT and I are so proud of our sweet girls. They truly are amazing.

We are so blessed.

Tonight we celebrated at dinner, the DQ's choice.

I think Zoë's Kitchen was a delicious choice!

140 Aloha Oe

One fond embrace, a hoi ae au,
Until we meet again

136 The Army Life

I felt like I had a real "Army Wife" night tonight. Ha ha, well, I have a lot of those days, but the reality of this army life was clear tonight. I went out to dinner with two great friends that I've gotten to know well over the past few months. We have served together in our church callings, and are all married to soldiers, so we have formed a special bond. As is the way with the army, one friend is moving on. Her husband got orders for Hawaii (wah wah) and they will be leaving here Sunday. Things have been so busy and crazy that there hasn't been a lot of time to be sad and think about what it will be like here without that sweet family that has been so much a part of ours.

I have been kinda depressed the past few weeks because a lot of good friends are leaving in the next few weeks. I knew when we choose this lifestyle, we would have to say a lot of goodbyes and move on. It never once dawned on me that friends would be moving on and leaving us! I have been ok so far with us not having any sort of end date on being here. I am trying to be patient and enjoy our time here at Benning, but now that everyone is moving on, I'm kinda like "what about us? You can't leave us!" But as families move out, new ones move in and already, I have been busy helping out some of the new families. Today I took a couple, who just moved in and don't have a car, to the commissary. It was great to have someone else to think about other than my poor self. I am so thankful for my ability to serve and help others, just as I have been lifted and helped at difficult times in my life.

I am so thankful for the experiences and lessons I have learned from dear friends, however short our time has been together. They have been memories that I wouldn't trade for the world, and I am so much better for knowing these people.

And the bonus part is, it's a small world. Especially in the army. When we finally get orders to move to our next duty station, I now know at least one person at almost all of the places that are options. (And Hawaii is an option! How cool would that be?)

So I will cherish the times I have with friends, and try to be more patient when things are unknown and look for the positive things I can learn from whatever situation I may be in.

And I will say "see you later" instead of goodbye, because I know that's how it will be.

134 Motherly Love

I LOVE my girls and I LOVE being a mom.

I am so thankful for them every day, and I am so thankful that we are an eternal family.

Today was a lovey reminder of how blessed I am.

The meetings that the LT and I usually attend before church were cancelled so that those who attend could have a nice morning (read: the men who attend can stay home and help their wives get the kids ready).

The LT made pancakes (He is really aweseome, and I am really thankful that he is the one I get to be a parent with), I opened some touching cards from the family, and we rode in one car together to church (that's a pretty big deal right now).

Church was wonderful and inspired and uplifting. The children sang the usual "Mother I Love You" and there were lots of chocolates given to the women with the instruction to men and children alike: "These are for the mothers!"

Then we had a perfect Sunday of lounging, snuggling, Wii, golf watching (for the LT of course), and talking to family. The only thing that would have made it better would have been sunshine (it's rained for 2 days straight) and being with my mom and mothers-in-law!

I am so thankful to have them in my life as well. They are amazing examples of unconditional love and support and are simply magnificent women.

116 Holy. Cow.

This came in the mail today:

I. was. dumbfounded.

And grateful.

This is the bill that went to our insurance for the DQ's surgery.

We owe $0.00.

We have been frustrated lately because we have no idea what are next steps are in the army, or even if the LT will be able to stay in the army because of his injury.

I have complained a little.

But after getting this today, I was reminded that there is a plan, and the Lord is looking out for us, even if we may not understand it.

If our journey in the army is short-lived, we have learned valuable lessons about ourselves that we could not have learned any other way.

And the DQ got a free back surgery out of it.