Somebody Is NOT Feeling Good

Carter went for his 4 month check up today. Dr. Chris was amazed at all he is accomplishing as a 4 month old. We are blessed with a healthy, strong boy.


But right now, he just isn't feeling good at all.





Nasty shots!

Quote of the Day

"I'm all about the donuts."

-Carson, age 4

He is definitely my child!

Look Who Is Growing

Not Me!

Just a quick post to let you know what has NOT been happening lately. To read more, head on over to MckMama's.

While heading down to South Carolina, I did NOT get stressed out about the traffic backed up on the opposite side of the road. It didn't even affect my trip other than knowing it would be like that on the way home. I, therefore, did NOT insist that Jeffrey find me an alternate route home.

During our last full day in Columbia, I did NOT walk into a wall at the EdVenture Children's Museum. Later that night, I did NOT proceed to hit my arm on a chair and my knee on a table. I am NOT clumsy and am NOT covered in bruises.

Upon returning from our fabulous trip, our power in the front part of our house did NOT go out. After 2 hours of being home, I did NOT have to pack up my 3 kids again to spend the night at Sue and Birbie's.

On Friday, I did NOT spend the enitre afternoon and evening at the hospital with my mom and dad. Mom did NOT get too close to my dad and uncle while they were moving a couch and did NOT almost have her toe cut off. I did NOT watch several hours of Say Yes to the Dress with my dad, aunt, and cousin while waiting for mom to have surgery and during her recovery, and I most certainly did NOT drink 5 cups of hospital coffee. I did NOT finally arrive home at 1 am.

Since finding out that I will have the opportunity to attend the CHBOLC Graduation Banquet in September, I have NOT become obsessed with finding a dress. I am an adult and would NEVER get that excited about the chance to wear a fancy dress.

I was NOT excited about having 2 days of childcare so I could work in my classroom. Colin is at Camp Creative at church and Sue offered to watch the little boys. When I arrived at school, it was NOT locked up due to freshly waxed floors.

On my way to Wal-Mart this morning, I did NOT lay on the horn and slam on the breaks because some guy ran a red light and almost hit me. He did NOT proceed to display his middle finger at me. Folks in my hometown are much nicer than that.

Our Trip to Ft. Jackson in Pictures

We left last Friday to visit Jeffrey at Ft. Jackson. We had a wonderful trip and were able to do some fun things. We watched the fireworks on post Saturday night. Sunday we went to Charleston and Ft. Sumter. Monday was kid day; we went to EdVenture Children's Museum. The best part of the trip was seeing Jeffrey and just being able to spend time with him.

Enjoy the pictures:

I Recently Realized I'm an Army Wife

While lying in bed the other night in my husband's hotel room, it hit me....

I'm an Army Wife.

Yes, I know that Jeffrey took his oath way back in November, but it is so real now.

When he went to AT in Ft. Jackson back in April, he was only gone for a week. That was really no big deal, just like his business trips we are used to. But this time it is different. What started out as Phase 1 of CHBOLC has now turned in to "stay until finished."

I realized that I was only visiting my Army husband, and he was not coming home with us.

I wasn't hurt or upset, it was just a realization that I had failed to acknowledge and let sink in. I knew it was happening, but it just didn't hit me until then.

I am very proud of Jeffrey and what he is working toward. Not many men (or women) can do what he and the other Chaplain Candidates are doing. What better way to live your life than to serve God and Country.

I know it is difficult on him, missing out on a summer with his 3 boys. Carter is getting so big, rolling over, scooting, jabbering away. He will be almost 6 months old when he sees his daddy again. Carson and Colin are starting soccer and Colin's birthday is coming up. School is starting and Jeffrey won't be able to take Colin on the first day as he has always done.

But you know what?

I refuse to complain about it and feel sorry for us.

We, afterall, are not in the situation as many military families. Some families are separated for many month due to deployment. Right now that is not something we are even close to experiencing. Some families are relocated and no longer live close to their support system (mine is next door and a few blocks away).

So, I refuse to gripe.

I stand proud to be the wife of an Army Chaplain Candidate.

I stand proud to be married to a man who is not ashamed of his faith in our Lord.

I stand proud to share my life with a man who wants to serve his country and his Savior.

I stand proud to be an Army Wife.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
Matthew 5:9

How We Keep Cool

This week, Women of Faith wants to know how we beat the heat.

With a new little one at home, it is hard to get out to swim with the bigger kids. Fortunately, their grandparents live next door and they are able to go to their house swimming.



Before leaving for Ft. Jackson, my husband bought them a little blow up pool for our backyard. My mother and father-in-law helped me put up our canopy to cover the pool. Not only does this let me and Carter get some shade, it also keeps the pool pretty clean from our shade trees and birds.


The boys also love their little yellow duckie sprinkler. We bought this when Colin was about 4 years old. The boys have such a good time playing in the sprinkler.

Perhaps our favorite way to keep cool is by going to our favorite place in the world, Chaney's Dairy Barn. The boys order their favorite, Blue Moon Ice Cream, with sprinkles. I enjoy my favorite too: Strawberry Cheesecake in a waffle cone. YUM!

Honestly, some days we are total bums and just watch TV and play in the house all day.

So, how do you keep cool in this heat?

A little of this and that....

We have missed our friends the Evans. Hilarie's sister had her baby so they had been gone visiting her and Hilarie's family. We were so glad they came back this week. We spent time catching up. Hilarie and I took the kids to our favorite spot, Chaney's Dairy Barn. After a delicious treat of our favorite ice cream, we let the kids run wild on the playground for a while.

I think these two really missed each other. Love the matching shades!

Tuesday was Ben's birthday party. It was nice to spend time with our friends from church.

Colin bowls like his Mama!

Me and my Carter

The big boys got some pool time over the weekend.

Thank You, Calvary Youth!

Brad, Brandy, and the Calvary Youth Group put together this awesome basket of goodies for our trip and for Jeff. We are very appreciative of this and very blessed by Brad, Brandy, and the youth of our church.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

A couple of years ago, Jeffrey and I began a journey. He surrendered his life to the ministry and was led to join the US Army Reserves to serve God and Country as an Army Chaplain.


Back in November when he took his oath of office, it became all the more real. We waited and waited and are still waiting for him to be placed with a local unit to serve with. From my understanding, this is quite unusual. Another Army wife I've met said her husband was placed very quickly and she was shocked that Jeffrey had not. So, we still wait for that.


In the mean time, Jeffrey has been working toward his Master's through Liberty University (his seminary work). He has worked very hard for the last couple of years on this and is close to being done. If he had chosen a different major, he would have already graduated, but he chose one that was a bit more in depth, one that he could use in more areas.

In April, Jeffrey went for his first annual training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. He is currently there finishing up the first part of his chaplain training as part of CH-BOLC 10-002. Tomorrow will be the beret ceremony (did you know they had to be shaved and inspected beforehand?)


We were expecting Jeffrey to be home after his last day on July 16.


BUT


God had a plan we didn't know about.


It seems instead of finishing phase one and coming home this month, Jeffrey will be staying the course.....literally. He will stay and finish his training and graduate in September.


It was a shock to say the least, we decided to pray about the decision, to stay or not, and look for God for the answer. Needless to say, the decision was sort of made for us. It was highly requested that Jeffrey stay and finish up due to his status with other requirements. Guess that is what you get for being on top of things!


Although it is not the decision we would have made on our own, I feel like we gave up our right to do what we want a long time ago.


You see, we live for something bigger than ourselves. We live for our God. When He tells you to do something, you don't gripe and complain and try to find a way out. You do it. He would not have put us in this situation if it wasn't right.


Yes, it will be hard. Colin's birthday is at the end of the month. Soccer begins soon for both the big boys. School starts in August. I'll have to get my 3 boys to 3 different places each morning: Nanny Carol's, Happyland, and SES. We will have to get in a routine (which we are so not good at) and make it work.

I am an optismistic person. Yes, I know we will miss Jeffrey and he will miss us, especially his growing baby. However, we both have to depend on our support systems and each other. I have our family and our church family. He has his Army friends who are in the same situation. We have each other. We have God.

God got us through these first 3 weeks. He got me through the week my grandmother passed away. He will get us through the next 9 weeks as well.

So in the meantime, I will continue to pray for me and the boys, for my soldier, and what God has in store for us.

In the meantime, I will get our bags packed and van loaded up so we can spend a wonderful LONG weekend in South Carolina with our soldier, celebrating Independence Day.

In the meantime, I will lean on My Father in Heaven for the strength needed to get through these next 9 weeks.

In the meantime, I support my soldier and welcome him home with open arms very soon.