Pay Increase

Read more here about what will most likely be the military pay increase for the coming year.

Good news is the House bill proposes for increases in Housing and Subsistence allowances.

The Bump for the Little Troop

My Gracie is quite the little troop.  In her short 4 years of life, she's been through 3 deployments.  I knew that as she got older, that each deployment would get more difficult for her.  She's close with Joel - they're best buds, and I have learned, that I'm no-where near as fun.  (I've been told.)

Grace has had some separation anxiety since the beginning of this deployment.  I've worked hard to be intentional about letting her know what I'm doing, where I'm at in the house, what the agenda is for the day and week...  These things all help her feel a bit more secure.  She sleeps in bed with me, follows me around the house (including the bathroom) and is a worrier.  Now, if Joel was here, I promise you, that she wouldn't be in bed with me and I wouldn't tolerate her following me into the bathroom.  But I've learned that you have to be extremely flexible when parenting during a deployment.  My main priority is giving my girls a sense of security when their daddy is away, and if that means that she crawls in bed with me every night, then so be it.

The last few months have been pretty smooth sailing for Grace.  As long as she knows what to expect and how many more months until Daddy comes home, she's pretty well set.  She's obedient and respectful.  Until recently.

I feel that we've taken a million steps back the last few weeks.  Grace is talking back, hitting me, coming out of her room at bedtime (like a thousand times a night)... she's crying about having to go to school, going to bed, going to the bathroom, taken a bath, going to Sunday School.  You name it, it's a problem.  I know what she's going through and why she's doing this - she's had it with this deployment.  She's finished.  Done.

But so am I.  If you've been through a deployment, you know there's a wall you hit after a certain point.  I hit it last month.  You don't think you can go on another day.  You feel that you're completely zapped of energy and emotion.  You don't want anyone to have any expectations of you whatsoever.  You just want to crawl in bed and wake up the morning that your loved one comes home.

Grace is there.  She's hit her wall and waiting for Daddy to come home isn't an option.  She's done waiting. She's done being good.  She's over it.  I am, too.

So, I give her extra hugs and kisses.  I put my to-dos aside and play princess one more time.  I read an extra book with her at night.  I let her pick out treats now and then when we're shopping.  I spoil her.  She deserves it and she needs it right now. 

I just hope and pray that the behavior stuff works itself out when Joel comes home. Please, Lord!

A Baby Changes Everything

I love Christmas.  And even with Joel's absence, my Christmas spirit is in high-gear.  Our small tree is up, the stockings are hung, all the presents are bought and Christmas music has been playing pretty much non-stop in our house for the last month or so.  I have a lot of Christmas CDs and there are definitely those songs that I am always drawn to and have on repeat.  Faith Hill's A Baby Changes Everything is one of those songs that I just love to hear and sing with... and cry to.

The words are powerful and her singing is perfection.  I'm so thankful that some two-thousand years ago, my Savior came to earth, as a baby, and changed everything.  He changed the world, He changed the hearts of man, and He changed my life.

The last stanza of the song is so powerful:
My whole life has turned around
I was lost but now I'm found
A baby changes everything

AMEN!

I'm sure you've already heard it, but if not check it out!

Wednesday Weigh-In

Happy Wednesday!

I lost one pound this week!  I was a pretty good-girl this week and worked out and watched what I ate.  I also made sure to not binge while watching The Biggest Loser last night - instead I did squats during the commercials.  *pats self on back*

So, I have 2 more pounds to go to make my 25 pound weight loss goal.  I'm still kind of shocked that I've lost 23 pounds... it's a good feeling.

150 Days

We've made it through day 150.  I had to look over my calendar again and make sure I counted right because 150 seems like such a big number and I can hardly believe I'm still feeling sane at this point.  But I am.  People ask me all the time how I'm doing and I usually say "well" or "really well"... it all depends on the day.  But I'm still saying "really well", and I know that for me to say that at this point, with all that's gone on in the last 150 days, that it has to be a God thing.

I know so many people are praying for us daily.  I know because I'm told all the time and it means the world to me that so many people are standing next to us right now. 

Our pastor and his family came back to church today after a 4-month sabbatical.  When they left in August, I was anxious, because it was just another change from normal and security for me.  It was great to hear today all that God did in their lives and in their family during this time - they are renewed.

Sometimes a time away renews a person.  Sometimes time away from those we hold the most dear renews us far beyond what we could imagine.  Our church was renewed, refreshed and strengthened even during our pastor's absence.  It was great to see how our church came together to pick-up the slack and become a united front.

The same thing is true of this deployment.  People are always surprised when I say we're doing well and that my marriage to Joel is strong, despite his absence and what he's doing overseas.  But the same principle applies for us as it does to our pastor and our church family.  When you are away from those you love the most you: 1) realize how much you count on them 2) realize how different your life is with them away 3) realize that you can do more than you ever thought 5) realize that your life is absolutely better with them there, but they are not the head of your life.  And a very important #6 for us, is that your realize how often you put that other person in the place that God should have. 

So, 150 days done, with plenty of lessons learned, and I'm sure, more to come.

Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

We're back with MilSpouse fill-ins, courtesy of Wife of a Sailor.  So, glad she has power back and has finally warmed-up!

1.If you were given $1,000 right now, how would you spend it?
I'd use it to pay off debt.  I really, really want to get rid of my student loan and pay off our other debts!

2.If you had to choose a movie title (a real one that already exists) for your life story, what would it be?
"Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown"... It was a movie from 1988 and is really "Women" but I cheated and changed it.  I've never seen it, but some days (like today), the title seems appropriate.

3.If you were a teacher, what subject would you like to teach?
English.  I had a great English teacher my Junior year of high school who really opened my eyes to how fun grammar can be and it because of her that I did so well writing papers in college.  I'm kind of a geek and actually have a grammar book next to my bed to read at night.

4.Has being a MilSpouse changed how you view holidays or how your holidays are celebrated? If so, how? If not, what hasn’t changed?
Most definitely.  I treasure the times our family can be together and I think Joel and I really appreciate the holidays we are able to spend together. 

5.What is your favorite Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) memory?
One year, my family traveled home to Illinois from North Carolina right after an ice storm.  Thankfully the road were pretty clear, but I remember how gorgeous the mountains and trees were - all covered in the most beautiful, glistening ice.  It made a long ride home really enjoyable.

Wednesday Weigh-In

Finally!  I finally lost a pound - the same pound I gained a few weeks ago.  I'm back to where I was one month ago.  So, 3 more pounds to go to meet my 25 pound goal.  I plan to dust off the elliptical machine and get back on it this week - it's been horribly neglected the last few weeks.

I think I figured out why I've been staying steady the last few weeks, even with a stomach flu thrown in...  The Biggest Loser.  It's the show's fault.  See, The Biggest Loser airs on Tuesday nights, right before my weekly weigh-in.  And I love that show, but I don't know if I'm alone on this one, but watching that show makes me hungry.  Really, really hungry.  And not just, hey, maybe I'll sit down with the apple.  But, I'm talking about a row of Oreos and some milk to wash it down.  I need Oreos in order to watch people lose weight.  Twisted.  I don't get it.  So, I'm blaming the show on my plateau this past month.