...We're nearing the end of deployment!
Soon my children will wake up in the morning and their daddy will be home, giving them the surprise of a life time. Happy sigh :) Boy, have we missed that man.
What I wanted to do (and still plan on doing in this blog) is give a picture roll of all the fun we've had while daddy's been away and give thanks to all of those who continue to support me without fail.
First, though, after hearing little comments here and there while Jordan has been away I think it is important for me to say that
I am not superwoman.
though I'd like to be
I have no super powers that allow me to maintain my home and raise my children and pay my bills on time. I have no secret force of assistants or army of ants (well, Riley you do come close buddy!) that do my chores. I don't always manage my emotions on the inside the way it looks on the outside.
I am a mistake-making human.
no matter how hard I try
I certainly know that I have been gifted with certain traits that make being a military wife and mother of four six much easier. I am organized, driven, pro-active, and independent. I can keep my emotions in check (most of the time) and I generally am not affected by what others think. I'll tell you my secret, though, on how I manage so well
I am a child of the one true King.
and I believe that
See, it looks like I run this show solo but truthfully I don't. My Father knows it all. He knows when I've had enough. He knows when I need rest. He knows when I'm in pain. He knows when I miss Jordan so bad it physically hurts. He knows when I'm at my wits-end and could use a pick-me-up. He is always there for me to lean on His everlasting arms and wrap me up tightly.
Yes, I am Jordan's wife. Yes, I am the mother of six beautiful children. Yes, I am an SLP. I am many things and wear many hats like we all do. But I have learned not to find my identity in those titles. All those things can be taken from me, either temporarily or permanently. I try to remain focused that I am the child of the one true King. The only One who will always be there for me without fail. The one who knows when I need help and sends my friends and family to my aid when I need it most through their kind actions, visits, calls, and cards. That's how I made it through deployment successfully...that's how I make it through every day.
Take a minute and listen, you won't regret it!
Now, for the picture roll of fun :)
(sorry, there are about a million)
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| My happy crew the Sunday after Daddy left (they knew we were going out for lunch!) |
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| My sweet (and first) niece, Elena, was born. I love that baby. |
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| I painted our entire house...minus the entryway. |
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| Fun with Mason |
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| Tina came down to visit me and the kids. Despite having a family and a career she always makes time for us. I'm grateful for her friendship, advice, and her sweet babies :) She keeps me grounded and makes me laugh. The good Lord knew what he was doing when he introduced us...two peas in a pod! |
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Movie night!
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Had my first solo drive to PA with four kids and two dogs for a quick Easter weekend (they slept like that the whole way thanks to doggie-sedatives!)
Annual Rutherford Easter Egg Hunt
First FaceTime with daddy on Easter morning!!!
Joseph's first taste of baseball...
While my girls played in the mud :)
Great Grandma made it down for a long weekend with Grammy and Grandpa.
Noah's Ark Photo Shoot
Two lovely ladies, Alyssa and Sheila, came down for a week and helped me with some house projects. I'm so thankful for their servants hearts.
Building shelves in our storage area
and mulching my entire yard - thanks, ladies!
I was blessed to spend some time with sweet Victoria who kept me company while my kids were at school. This baby is full of absolute JOY.
Uncle Buddy, Aunt Tina, Baby Elena, Miss Amanda, and Abby all came down for a long weekend
The girls played...
While Uncle Buddy took Joseph to Boy Scout Camp...
(isn't that a good brother!)
and Brookie hid in her doggie snuggie - too many kids for the old girl!
Joseph's first EVER baseball game
Proud Momma
His team went on to win the championship!
(we were able to send videos of him to all the grandparents, aunts, and uncles!)
My girls had their first EVER dance recital
And Dance Queen, Aunt "Nannie" could make it...
and do all the make-up!
Of course, Miss Priss had to have her Uncle Chris there or she wouldn't dance :)
Family photo shoot special at the Jacksonville Train Station
My little sissy...don't know what I'd do without her <3
I am blessed to call this woman friend. Annie is the most giving and generous person I've ever met. She anticipates my needs before I do and strives to meet them before I realize I need help. We don't let the 600+ miles stand between regular visits. We have great plans of retiring together some day.
Brea graduated from Pre-K
(Thank you, Noah's Ark, for taking exceptionally great care my of babies)
Last day of school!
(little did they know I was picking them up early to head to PA for two weeks!)
"School's Out" care package from Annie...wise woman, huh?!?! I'm so thankful for all of her thoughtfulness during this deployment. She's well-known for her awesome care packages and cards just when I need them most.
Grammy made sure even the dogs had fun in PA
My birthday boy
The girls and their Grammy
Sweet baby Elena
Crazy Grammy putting bubbles in the pool!!!
(thanks again for letting us destroy visit your house for two weeks!)
Hooray for the first day of Summer Camp!
But sneaky Mom still made us do "Mommy Summer School"
Fourth of July fun
I'm forever indebted to our neighbors' son, Riley. This sweet kid mowed my grass nearly all summer without me ever asking, he helped me out with the kids many times when I had late-night meetings, and always did so with a smile on his face. Thanks, Riley!!!
My childhood friend, Amanda, and her family invited us to spend the week with them in Duck, NC. We were so grateful for the chance to visit with them, break-up our summer, let the kids play, and for Amanda and I to spend time together. We were blessed by their generosity and thankful for the time with them.
I sure wish Abby and Amanda lived closer to each other. They were BFF's for the week.
Amanda also LOVED Abby's Grandma :)
Our mommies let us have ice cream!!
Sissy love
20 years ago we had our picture taken like this in OCMD
The little girl dinner table
My longest friend of 30 years
My two favorite Amandas
Special thanks to Jimmy and Jordan S. for giving Joseph some extra "man attention" that week.
My sister and I flew to Ethiopia to legally adopt my sons, Samuel and Benjamin
(I'll blog about that trip later...I'm still wrapping my head around it all)
Samuel (right) and Benjamin (left)
Samuel (left) and Benjamin (right)
Aunk KayKay, Samuel, Momma, and Benjamin
"Near the End of Deployment" care package from Annie
Family vacation with Grammy, Grandpa, Uncle Buddy, and Zia
Please don't go, Grandpa!
We have a few more visits of fun coming up: Aunt Tina and her family are coming to the beach for a week, Jordan's parents are coming for a visit, and a sweet family we had the privilege of meeting through adoption are also coming into town.
After all that fun...nothing seems better then welcoming home the man we love most!
(Shhhh, don't tell the kids!)
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