I wanted to sit down and blog about my WA experience. I felt like it is best to put what is in my heart to words. I need to show you all what the Lord has done. We pulled into WA Sept 20, 2008. It is really hard to believe that it has been almost 2 years. Being a “NEW” Army wife, not new to the military I have to say I was scared of what our future held. I knew that the Lord had OPENED all the doors necessary for us. We pulled into town that Saturday, listening the ECU football game on our XM Radio. I really longed to be home and well see my Pirates play. How could the NW possibly even love football the way the south does? WA welcomed us with well a DOWNPOUR! It was quite funny. I told John, man I know it rains a lot here but this is rough. As we were going over the passes (could not see a thing) we would come about the clouds and there was no rain and then down into the clouds we would drive in the down pour. It was a very neat experience. On into Auburn, then Kent and then Puyallup.

We had been told about an apartment complex that we thought would be great. We headed there to check them out. Had our 1^st meal at Applebee’s! The place was packed and we were able to see our Gators play! AHHHH! Sigh of relief. We then got settled into our hotel on Fort Lewis (Now Joint Base Lewis McChord) and were ready for church the next day. A sweet waitress in ID had told us about Puyallup 4 Square Church. We looked at a sermon on I tunes and feel in love!

So we headed into Puyallup. We left an hour early, because we did not know how long it was going to take us to get there. Let’s just say we were 20 minutes late for church! It was the last day of the FAIR! The church is oh only a block from the Fair Grounds. They welcomed us with open arms and still to Hannah-Grace into Child Care. I was so impressed. We did wear our Carolina Panther’s jerseys to church that morning. The people there were so funny! They had their Sea Hawks jerseys on too! They razzed us and well we razzed them back. This is starting to feel like home! Roger preached and great sermon and John and I looked at each other and we KNEW this is where the Lord wanted us. In all my LATE NIGHT FRANTIC internet searching for a home, church and school, I did not come across 4 square! It was so the Lord’s way of showing me He was in total control. We were getting Hannah-Grace into the truck when we hear, “HEY! How about those Jacksonville Jaguars?” I turned to give and EXCUSE ME look! When lo and behold it was Roger! He walked over to us and starts laughing! He asked us where we were from and we explained our situation and how we loved the sermon. He told us that afternoon was the New Comer’s Dessert. So we went grabbed lunch and headed back. Roger was so open to us and really answered a lot of our questions about the church. It amazes to this day how the Lord arranged us to be feed by an amazing Pastor and Church! Foursquare we will forever be grateful!

Within 2 weeks of moving here we found out that John would be deploying for a year in less than 5 months. Not to count all the training to get ready I knew our time would be very very short. I knew I had to put on my BIG GIRL PANTIES and well suck it up! I was sent out to WA for a reason. The Lord had people he wanted to put in my life and me in theirs. I was scared, because I did not know anything about the Army ways and traditions. I know you are thinking military is military, well it is NOT in any way the same! I learned really quickly with the Marine Corps if they wanted you a wife they would have issued you one in boot camp! It helped to have a Sgt Maj tell me that too! I knew I better be seen and not heard. In the Army, they generally cared about the family and well amazed me with the Army Family Covenant. I took AFTB classes and got in to the groove of being an Army wife really fast.

My first friend out here was Tami! I loved getting to know you and your wonderful family. Thank you for taking me by the hand and really showing the ropes to Fort Lewis. Thank you for opening your home and heart to me and my family. I know that we will be friends for a lifetime. I love our late night text and how we can go a week or so without talking and know that your there no matter what! I am so proud of you in all your accomplishments and you’re my Army sister from another mister to me! I love you Hun!

Mrs. Carol you have been an amazing well of knowledge. In meeting you in the AFTB classes was so amazing. You have opened your heart to me! Thank you for being that wonderful example of an Army wife! Thank you for all my silly questions and wanting to know what Army Reg is this or that! Thank you for always showing me love! I will miss you and Samara so very much! Love you both!

Kessie, what can I say. You’re the best battle buddy I could have ever had! Yes, you’re my little sister but you’re so much more than that. Thank you so much for always being there with a smile and a hug. Your love for me and Hannah-Grace is so contagious. I loved our nights of Dancing with the Stars, Big Brother, Bachelor, and Army Wives. I thank you for giving me a chance even though I am a Republican! You’re a wonderful hostess and cook! Thank you for your encouragement and helping me get to be a decent cook.  You having HG days and giving me a break meant so much! I will miss our breakfast! I felt like I knew Brandon when he got home, even though I had never meet him. I am so glad that our silly hubby’s get along so well! You will always be my little sister and I love you Hun!

Getting into the ESC was one of the best ways to network for me. I have met wonderful lifelong friends from this. Tami, Cindy, Brandie, Kelly, Katie, Carol and of course Carla! You ladies have been the best pals a girl could ask for. You all have opened your arms to me and shown me true love! Thank you for taking this old Marine Corps wife and showing me how to be an Army Wife! You ladies always know how to have a good time and great laughs!!! You all hold a special place in my heart!

PWOC was also the best way for me to network. Through PWOC I have meet amazing women of Faith. You all have seen me though the good and bad. You all are amazing prayer warriors and sister of Christ. Tina and Candice I thank you so very much for telling me about PWOC. Tina thanks so much for pushing me to meet you there! You know I am not a morning person. Through PWOC I have been aligned with so many sister of Christ. Thank you Tina, Candice, Deb, Dee Dee, Diana, Dawn, Jessie, Sara, Lea, Chinook, Mary, Robyn, Nikki, Johnena and Carol. You ladies have been just so open and wonderful to me. We have had our tear and our HALLELUJAH’s! Thank you for always being there with an ear and a prayer. PWOC really networked me with A LOT more people than this. All the sisters of PWOC are amazing women. PWOC bible studies allowed me to grow and mature as a Woman of God.

WA has amazed me with her natural beauty. I have been blown away by Mount Rainier. I can never get use to seeing her. The 1^st time I saw her she took my breathe and has not stopped. The state of WA is so beautiful! From the coast to the Cascade’s being able to discover some of the gems has been a blast. I have loved showing you off to friends and family that have come to visit. I will be back to and recommend ANYONE to come and visit WA! She is a nice keep secret! Fort Lewis now JBLM has been an amazing Army post. I was scared at how many gates this placed had and how big of a post it was. We have never been stationed at a place quiet so large. Fort Lewis has been a great 1^st post for any Army Family!

Our 22 months here have flown by! I have learned what it is like to live with dusk being at 3pm in the fall and winter and at 10pm in the summer. I have learned that fog, well it rolls in like it does in horror movies! I know now where that comes from. The reason people love coffee here (I am just a guilty) is because it is cold and wet all the time. It makes you want it. I have learned that summer is not just May-Sept. It can be just a couple of weeks in July and August. I have learned to live without AC and for this southern belle, it has been an EXPERIENCE! I have learned that you can keep in touch with your other friends from the past via Facebook. One of the 1^st arguments John and I had when we moved here was that I was always on the computer. Well that is where my friends were! That is where you all will be. You all are friends for life.

Being a military wife I have learned that you never say good-bye. You always say see you soon. I will see you all very soon! Like I have told most of you, see you here, see you there or see you in the air! Thank you all for being there for me, I love you!!!

Bad Girls...

Yesterday HG and I went to the mall in Tacoma. I can count on 2 hands how many times I have been there since we moved her almost 2 years ago. Well as we were walking in with our neighbor and her kids, all of a sudden 2 mall cops are wrestling with a lady. She is screaming "I didn't take anything!" Well everyone has stopped and we are all staring. She is FIGHTING. She knocked over a sign and well it took 3 mall cops to take her down.
My sweet and adorable HG yells "STOP!!!" When they did not listen she started to cry. I was trying to walk on, she is screaming at me. I felt so bad that my innocent child had to see something like that. I ended up having to pick her up and comfort her. I am NOT suppose to do that, well the Mommy in me took over....
We talked and I told her she did not have the money to pay for something and took it. It is against God's laws that we don't take things or steal.
My kiddo asked she is a "Bad Girl?". I had to tell her yes. Well then her little mind started to wonder. She starts telling me Mommy I want be a Bad Girl cause I don't want those Mean Guys to get me. I tell her they are not mean guys cause they are doing their job, and they don't get you unless you are really really bad.
On the to the car, the lady is sitting in the cop car in front of our car. She see's her "Behind the cage" as HG said. She tells me, "Mommy I want to live with you forever." I told her she can leave with me forever. We would love to have her live with us forever. She said I don't want to be put in the cage.
She tells John at bedtime, " I am going to be a good girl and not be put in a cage." I feel so bad that my child had to see something like this. It is so not fair to see her innocence taken from her in regards to people getting in trouble with the law.
I would love to have a conversation with that woman and tell her not only did you steal 2 pairs of pants but you took something from my child I can NEVER get back. It just makes me realize that our actions in public might not just effect us but others too.....

Disconnect from Technology = Connected to Reality

I am guilty as charged!!! I have been so attached to my BB that I think I could not live without. What if I miss an e mail, what if I miss a text message, heaven forbid if I miss a FB message or comment??? WHY??? Seriously?


Well I was challenged by God to leave my BB at home turned off on the charger. I thought, I am not sure I can do it God. Of course I get the whisper, "with Me all Things are possible!". Sure! I will take you up on this challenge. For the past year I have become so attached to this Device that it was taking 1st place. NO WAY! God is 1st in my life!

So we set off to Ocean Shores for 3 days. John asked me 3 or 4 times before we left, are you sure you want need it. NOPE! I am fine. All thought in the back of my mind I am thinking, I NEED IT, I want it!!

We had a blast! I was not checking that darn thing every 5 mins. Yes, I missed texting my friends. I know that I need to reconnect with my family!

We had to go back to the simple way of life, and find things to do! We had to have conversations in the car, and at dinner.

I have to say that it was a very freeing and inspiring experience. Yes, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I can go without being "connected" at all times. I can make conversation and we can have a good time without the computers or phones!

I am going to being going off line more often. 1st I am starting by not allowing FB updates on my BB. I can check FB, but it will not notify me of every little thing that happens. I will be spending more time with my family without my phone! We were not a family for a year!! In that whole year all I wanted was to be a family again. Then I throw this phone in there like it is a family member. NOT!

So if you call and I don't answer or txt and I don't answer it is not against you, it is against the phone! I am spending time with my family! My family is my reality!! I love you all and will get back to you kind of like 5 years ago when you just left a message and the person got back when they had a free moment. Hope this inspires others to do the same!!

Family Vacation

We went to Ocean Shores for a get away! We needed to disconnect from the world and reconncet with each other after a LONG one year deployment. We got there and headed for the beach. On the beaches here you can drive! We found sand dollars! Sand Dollars are so special to me. They remind me of my Nannie. When ever I would visit her at the beach she would have a sand dollar for me. HG found one that was broken and after searching for awhile, John found a whole one! It was super special! Walking on the beach in boots or UGGS is the thing here. The water is freezing cold! We also found clam shells! We had a fablous end to the 1st day with an amazing dinner on the beach and got to see sunset! AHHHHH!

On the second day we started out with a massage for John and I! Just what we needed. We then headed out to find some family fun! We went and rode go carts, bumper cars and rented a 3 seat bike to ride out to the beach and fly HG's new kite! We had a wonderful day!
We had some time before dinner so we rode out on the beach again in a different direction (toward the Jetty). The sand started to get soft and John went to turn us around and got us STUCK!!! I was so scared! I started crying and praying! If you ask HG what Mom did when Daddy got the car stuck she will tell you, "She was crying and praying!" So much better than yelling, cause that is what the old me would have done!!! John and an on looker try and push us out to no avail. He sink even futher! John said do not turn it off the exhaust is in the water.
I am really praying now!!! We have NO cell phone service! HG starts to panic cause their is water out on her side of the door. GREAT the tide is coming in now!!! Lord please get us out of here!!!! I am praying for a miracle!!! The nice on looker sees a jeep coming up the beach. We flag the nice guys down! Not only is it a Jeep they have a WENCH!!! I am THANKING THE LORD!!!!
They had to use the wench and pull us out by a MILE!! I gave the nice guy a twenty and told him, "I don't know if you believe in God, but you have been our saving grace!! Thank you so much and God Bless!" He told us " No problem glad I could help, just want you to know that in 10 mins you would not have had a rig!" I started to cry!!! Thank you Lord for getting us out of there!!!

Day 3 was rainy and well what better to do on a rainy day? Go to the Rainforrest! We took the beautiful 40-50 mile drive up the Pacifice Coast to Lake Quinault. I had no clue that we had a rain forrest here! It is georgous! We also found a waterfall!! We passed by it twice before we found it! It was so magical!

Then we headed back to Ocean Shores and did some shopping. We found the funnest shirts. They say Tsuami Evacation Instruction with the deal on the front. On the back it says RUN LIKE HELL!! We laughed so hard. Needless to say we bought 2 of them!!!
We then headed back to the Jetty this time on pavement! It was neat to see them and see how the harbor is right there. Lovely views!

We then walked back up the beach to where the car got stuck. We also wrote our names in the sand. We ended the day with a beautiful picture of us with a Rainbow in the back ground. That is right God Always Keeps his Promises!!! We had a wonderful vacation or escape and reconnect as a family again! We Thank the Lord for brining John home safe and sound! Thank you Lord!!!

4 years? REALLY???

WOW! It seems just like yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with our miracle. Today we celebrated her 4th BD! She also shares this BD with my wonderful Dad!! I am so BLESSED!

Today she got a Baby Doll. She named her Baby Jordyn. Well after all was cleaned up we took on the task of getting the Baby out of the box and showing her what all she does. Well it was not long before Hannah-Grace was ready to change the baby. I showed her once how to do the diaper. That is all it took, next thing I knew she was putting on and taking off the diaper like a Mom of triplets! She also was holding and feeding her like she has always known what to do. This blew me away!

It was just 4 years ago that I held her, fed her and changed her diaper. Lord, I think you for the wonderful 4 years and memories I have had with our precious Baby Girl! Thank you for trusting me with your Precious Jewel! I am honored you would pick me to raise her with her wonderful father!

Ok to move on....

Today we took Rella to the Dog Park. Rella is our 14 week old puppy. She is a mix of Blue Healer and Black Lab. She is the sweetest thing. She has been a great addition to our family. She was potty trained very early and I might add very easy to train. She adores Hannah-Grace and Hannah-Grace adores her too. They are great for each other.
I have not let myself get to attached or close to Rella. She was more for Hannah-Grace than for me or John. Although John has bonded with her just as much as Hannah-Grace has. I have to say it was not till today that I was able to really move on.

Scarlet was our dog for 10 wonderful years. We got Scarlet our 1st Christmas together. She taught me A LOT!!! I had never trained a dog or knew anything about dogs till we got Scarlet. She was a wonderful dog and I miss her still every day. During the deployment I missed having a dog at night. She would always stay up with me till I went to bed. Well today we went to the dog park. There was a lady that was walking her dog and her dog's name was Scarlet. How odd was that. When I heard her say No Scarlet, my stomach got a huge knot in it. It was like I was hearing myself. When she got to us, I was blown away how much this Scarlet looked like our Scarlet.
We talk with the lady and let the dogs play awhile. She was nice enough to let me take a picture of Scarlet. As I got to thinking about it, I thought how amazing God is. He knows my feelings with Rella and how I was not bonding like I should. I know he set that meeting up so I can move on. I know that Scarlet is not hurting and would want nothing more than for us to have a dog to bring us joy and love the way that she did. Lord, Thank you for using the little things in life to help us in BIG ways!!! I am amazed by you daily!!!
This is Scalet from the Dog Park!

Just thinking...

John filled out the census today. I got to thinking, where were we 10 years ago? Well we were in Yuma, AZ with no children. Where will we be 10 years from today? I can best assume we will be done with the military and back in NC. We will have a 14 year old and I pray a few more pattering feet.


In thinking about the 10 years, I wonder what statists we hear daily based on the 2000 census. Well with that, being said the world is NOT what it was in 2000. We had a false sense of security as American's. We thought we were invincible. No one could harm us, and never on our own land. I wonder should it be done more than 10 years. With the technology the way it is we can really do it faster and more often right? Just thinking....