Answered Prayers!

Just a little over a week ago I had given a *6-months later* update on how life was back together as a family and in the 'civilian world'. In it I vented my frustrations of trying to find a full time steady job, since my husband had only a seasonal job that was weeks away from ending.

It must have been a wee bit of luck, because HE BECAME RECENTLY EMPLOYED AT A FULL TIME, FULL YEAR JOB!! EEK! =) SUCH a load off our minds, and chests. Monday is day 1! A few nerves are starting to show but I think he'll do fine! It's something he loves and is qualified for, it's what he's been working for a while now.

Over the weekend I tried to spoil him, we went out to dinner and then I treated him to a random breakfast. We went shopping and stocked up on hot-pockets ;)

The first few weeks are going to be hectic, as my job (slightly seasonal as well) is winding down for the year but his is just starting...we're on the same shift. So getting Sammy to preschool might be a hassle but we'll figure something out! I didn't want to turn in a 2 week notice yet, I'll give it this first week of my hubby's new job to see how it clashes. I love the company I work for and have a lot of respect for all of my coworkers so I don't want to put them on hold just because of me.

We are so excited to start this new chapter in our lives. Hopefully we can sleep a little easier now!

Fall Bike Ride...attempt

 

 

I love lists. Cleaning, grocery, honey-do's, buckets....any sort of list. With all my good intentions they only get half completed, maybe. I still love them all the same. I have a fall "bucket list" this year, and I'm determined to do every single thing on it. One of them was to take Sammy for a bike ride when the fall colors were out.

 

Sunday I geared up, put the bike in my mini van, packed some drinks, and we took off for a park close by. We laughed at the ducks, got his helmet on and strapped into the seat, took off......for about a foot. Were were thumping along at a very uneven pace. My front wheel had become deflated from the recent cold snap. Oh well, it's the thought that counts! We walked around and fed the "starving" ducks instead. The above pic was snapped just before "lift off" or lift down, whichever. =P

 

 

 



6 months later...



It has been 6 months since my husband has been home. 6 months done with the USMC. *click here to see our homecoming post* =) 6 months of being not just a military family, but a disabled veteran family now. Finding others similar to us isn't he easiest in our area. So it has been a big shock for me, someone who was very involved and comfortable in the "military family/community" aspect that life on base brings.

The job side of things has been one of the biggest struggles. In April he ended up getting a seasonal job as maintenance at a golf course. I remind him all the time there is no shame in a day of good work but he is still unhappy.

Multiple interviews, at least 1-3 every other week, has still shown up as dead ends. He has been as honest as possible, and when asked why he left the comfortable military life (it shows on his resume as honorably discharged), he will tell them the truth-he is a disabled veteran. Even though it is against the law to discriminate, it's funny how sometimes he will be on a second interview, sometimes even (an unheard of to me) third interview and once he mentions any disability they're thankful but never contact him again. He is considering keeping that little bit of info under wraps to try and see if that gets him any farther. *SW MICHIGAN WORKS* are very enthusiastic and helpful, they give us so much hope about "veteran-friendly" workplaces. I know they're out there, but finding the right one has just been hard. I've gotten to the point I have to try so hard to force some excitement and hopefulness to him when he has another interview, but I know my attitude has to be rubbing off and not helping him any.

By law, a workplace has to allow a disabled veteran attend his V.A appointments. And with my husband guaranteed at least 2-3 a month, I can understand from the employer-side why they would rather have someone else who would have a better chance attending work. Even though it hurts our pride when that someone else they choose is less qualified for the job than my husband.

As a huge change in our family, I started working at the end of July. My job is also partly seasonal, with it slowing down in November and picking back up in February. So this past week I have been looking for a SECOND job. Many friends/family have told me "but now you're going to be even more tired, and see your son even less"! I understand that fully, and it pains me a little but we have to do what's necessary. Just like so many Americans struggling out there. I know I'm not the first, nor the last. I have so much respect for others, and single parents especially, out there.

He has another appointment this Tuesday, and I'm praying the hardest I have in a year. Any good vibes readers have to send would be greatly appreciated!

POPsicles!



I hadn't realized it...but I had never before made popsicles with my son. At age 3, I felt guilty for him missing out on this! The dollar tree has simple little popsicle molds this summer. So I grabbed it & gathered some of our favorite juice!

(no dollar tree? want to save even more? *click here* to see the DIY on how to use dixie cups for this!)

other great fillers:
-pudding
-yogurt
-blended/pureed fruit

Make sure to either do this outside, or lay down newspaper (a few layers, not just 1 sheet) to absorb spills (see above photo, haha). I thought I would try to use the MIO water additive... it was a bust. The flavor ended up sinking to the bottom. Kind of turned out cool looking, but the one end was flavored and too sour for my liking. Have your camera handy to capture some sweet summer memories!! Enjoy your sunday! <3

Heat Wave! +water tips

We've had triple digits here at B&B, like the majority of the country. Combine that with near-drought conditions for some places (where I live) and it is even more dangerous. Today I want to hit a few points when it comes to water, especially water in this heat. ESPECIALLY WATER & KIDS. Thankfully, my son has liked water since he was an infant...but that is because I hold firm and it's what I give him in the summer. Sadly I've realized as we meet more new people & friends, not everyone does this. Mom's look at me and say "well, he just won't drink it so I give him the kool aid (or, *gulp* pop) instead." Some think that because it's sprite- it's okay. IT'S NOT. I know *I* as an adult abuse my pop intake, and it should only be a once-in-awhile-thing. Kids drinking any pop on a daily basis, and I know that I want my kid to be better than I am.

...the amount of water we need during a normal day is more than most think. So that means the amount needed during extreme temperatures, is greater. The easiest way to get a good, accurate idea, is to use about.com's short quiz. Just enter in a few things like weight (so you can find out of each family member), and answer if you're in extreme conditions or not (like most of us are right now).

*HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD YOU BE DRINKING HERE*

If you drink pop, you need to drink even MORE water to make up for it. Pop actually DEHYDRATES the body (though I know, a good coke sometimes just QUENCHES your thirst, mine too *wink*). During a heat wave, it's even more tricky. Heat+Humidity combined slows down our bodies natural "AC" which is through sweating. *Heat Illness - quick facts*

 Having trouble getting your kid to drink water? Try:

- try using fun shaped ice cubes. little stars, flowers, etc.

- freeze little blueberries or cut up fruit for ice cubes. (my son loved froze blueberries last summer as a tasty snack)

- MIO is a calorie, sugar, and sodium free drink additive. Add just a few drops to flavor water.

- ...honestly... my kid seeing *ME* drink water makes him want water.

DON'T FORGET! Pets need water too! Their water should be changed daily, with fresh, cool water. Check often, you  might have empty bowls faster than you would guess. Our doges go thru over 6 re-fills a day right now, and that's with 2-3 different bowls of water!







4+ years of love

Today is our 4th year wedding anniversary. But for over 7 years I have

shared my life with this man. He has been with me thru my ups and the dark
downs. And I, with his. Sometimes when the going's gotten rough a few friends
have shaken their heads, calling me stubbornly stupid even, for sticking with it.
But marriage isn't just something you wake up one day and say "oh, I'm going to
throw this away." If something's worth fighting for, you will find a way. We have

realized we are not perfect, but we will work to be perfect together. "In sickness

and in health..." When people come down with the flu, they seek to heal their

bodies. Same should be with marriage, if something is ailing, work together

to make it right again. Until you are whole-one. I am so hopeful, and so

thankful to have such an honest, hardworking, and loving husband.

If anyone is reading this and has gone thru hard times in their

marriage...don't loose faith. If they want to get thru it with

you, find a way. Because after the terrible storm that

thunders on and on at night, the sunrise after is

one of the most beautiful things to behold.

June Faves (list)

My favorite things from JUNE 2012:

---favorite book:

Yes, I gave in to this reading frenzy. Read 1 book a week during June. It was more than I expected, and if you're a somewhat open individual, I highly suggest you read it! Check it out *HERE* on amazon. It is about 12+ (each book) at stores like Walmart.

---favorite hair product:

Hast_Placenta: Henna 'n' Placenta deep conditioning treatment. For about a buck (give or take some change) you can get a packet with more than enough conditioner, even for those with long hair. It does NOT smell unpleasant, and I was literally blown away at how my hair felt after. We live where there is well water, and combine that with every few months of hair color and summer sun= very brittle curly hair. It was such a pleasant surprise, and I will be using this monthly!

---favorite "find":

This month we went to Metamora, OH's 120-mile-yard/barn sale. I only spent $25 all day, and sometime in there I picked these little cuties up for only $2 each!

---favorite funny:

---favorite drink:

Amaretto Sour

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Amaretto
3 oz Sour mix
1 maraschino cherry

Mixing instructions:

Shake and strain. Garnish with a cherry. I love to pour a splash of the cherry "juice" into it, since I'm not a fan of eating maraschino cherries.

---favorite moment:

Becoming closer to my husband. This month has opened up so many doors for us. We have bonded deeply in a way we haven't done in years. And I haven't ever been as hopeful as I am now.

another month

Admittedly, I'm currently sitting dumbfounded that June is just a few days shy of being done. Over. Where did the time go? We've had a jam-packed month. Took Sammy to his first zoo trip, visited my brother, ton's of V.A appointments & paperwork, starting the process of getting a home... the list is endless! July looks to be even busier. All our weekends are taken with at least 1 event, and during the week I'll be trying to catch up on school since the first week it is closed.

June was also extremely hard. We had to put down my oldest dog, Hershey. She was a 12year old Chocolate Lab. She ended up getting an infected uterus. It was a hard choice to make, and has definitely shed some light on a lot of things for me.

Next week is our 4th anniversary! I'm so excited for my secretive plans that I have. I can give one clue... I like to keep to the "traditional" lists of gift-giving for marriage. You can view this list from The Dating Diva's Blog Post: HERE (SPECIAL MILESTONES). 4th year that I'm doing is: Fruit, Flowers, along with the linen/silk. ^-^ I've had to get a little creative since my husband isn't a big fruit OR flowers guy. I'm happy with my little idea. Just hope next week will work with me for this! haha.

Memorial Day FB Status

Quick update of my thoughts, tried to sum it up with a facebook status : this morning i kissed my husband and said, "thank you." he asked "for what"? i replied simply "for just being you." my heart is both sad yet proud. when people talk about today and i see everywhere advertised: "thank a vet"(and of course the brave men & women currently serving)...i realize my husband is now one of them. i am thankful and realize yes, i can be worse; he could have lost limbs, or have made the ultimate sacrifice instead of always coming home to us. but he DID give up his freedom for ours and now there are parts of him that CAN NOT be fixed. ever. both inside & out. it is both a struggle and a blessing. i am so happy and proud to be right beside him every step of the way as we're still transitioning to this new experience. thank you to all who have & are currently serving, keep safe. (yeah, let's just say i really miss my military fam being close) ♥

new blogger & cinco de Mayo nails!

woah! it will take me some time to get use to this new blogger, like facebook, I opted to wait until they "forced" me to update to the new blogger. How is everyone? I had to take a step back, get some rest, and refocus myself. I became sick last month, and my anxiety keeps getting out of control-causing more issues than should ever be necessary. Then we had some family emergencies pop up, nothing extremely serious thank god but we've all been extremely busy. I have missed blogging, and continued to journal privately on my laptop late at night. This weekend we're traveling to Angola, IN to visit my closest friend Karry (read about her amazing, informative blog, Moment of Awe *HERE*for Cinco De Mayo! I am so excited to be baby-free and kicking back with some adults that aren't family. NOT that I don't love family, but y'know, gotta feel "normal" every now & then. ha. Here are my chubby toes with a little design I did yesterday during a break from the oustide HEAT! CAN you believe it? Record highs in MI for this time of year! *whew*

xoxo, Steph

Hot & Cold

Like I mentioned in a previous blog, we've had some struggles in the week & a half since M has been home. It's been almost 7 months being 800+ miles away from each other and 4+ years of a military life. We knew there would be adjustments, just not big blow-ups within days of being back in the family life. Little things have been setting him off, and I either cry or get angry myself. It's not something I'm use to happening often, much less as frequent as it has been. The great thing is we both don't like to let things sit & fester, so after a few minutes of either walking, or thinking by ourselves, we talk it out camly, apologize for our mistakes. Neither of us is perfect, and we realize we have a lot of work to do-but know it's something we can get thru.

I can't help the little whisper of guilt. This year I had a few simple resolutions, and one was to be a better wife. Not that I'm a bad wife, but I believe we all can be better versions of ourselves. Yet so far I'm sure I haven't held up to this idea like I expected. I will continue to try, and keep to my new resolution.

Even though he wasn't on a big deployment overseas, all this time spent apart is giving us some adjustment issues. If anyone has great blogs or articles that help in this aspect, they'd be greatly appreciated if left in a comment!

Thanks for all your support! I pray this next month is a little less stressful, and we're closer than ever.

HOMECOMING!

Sorry for the lack of postings, but it's for a good reason---promise!
MY HUSBAND IS HOME! It has been a whilrwind week filled with just a myriad of emotions; excitement of him being home, frusturations as we deal with adjusting, happiness at not having to be alone, and well, you get the drift!

Here are some pictures from the last week.





He's already had his first job interview, and while we have our fingers crossed we know there's always competition. But in this economy I thought getting an interview is pretty good.


*for our 6 month update, go here*

Week Wrapup & Future Projects

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY! AHHH, glorious Saturday! I cannot believe we are expected to reach temperatures of 70+ today in MI. This week has been successful, I'm almost done with the projects for Sammy's party, today I should finish up the few things for hubby's homecoming, along with crafts for my photographer friend & her easter sessions (pics later). I'm becoming more excited & nervous for the homecoming. Excited because, well, it will be so nice to be together as a family again. Nervous because my husband & I have a lot of work for us cut out in our marriage, and hopefully not having miles seperating us will make things easier. I'm also nervous because over 4 years of a guaranteed paycheck are coming to an end, and the "civilian life" scares the heck out of me, I know these next few months are NOT going to be easy in that aspect. But I must have faith.

FUTURE PROJECTS:
-Egg Carton Wreath for Easter & Various Easter crafts
-Washer Ribbon Necklace *link here*
-Bunny Masks (be on the lookout for a post soon)
-Wrapup of train party decor
-Making more blog friends!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I'm going to enjoy another cup of coffee!

A Teardrop Falls...

A Teardrop Falls... this is the little sign taped to one single door in the delivery section of a hospital. I go in, someone excitedly passing me by with cute colorful baloons and a stuffed animal, their faces excited with the newness of this joy that has been given to their family as they rush to their loved one's room. Most of the time the labor & delivery rooms are happy, loving filled area. My feet sounded loud, my heart, even louder. My cousin had lost her baby at 38 weeks, and had just been induced that morning after waiting 3 days. 3 days, listening to babies first few hours of whimpering, families happy celebrations, knowing she would not be able to experience that no matter how much all of us wanted to turn back time. I cannot imagine the torture she must be going thru. She is holding up so strong. She's told us she is just trying to retain composure until the baby is delievered. At 7 last night she was only dialated at 2-3cm. The doctor promised one way or another the baby would be out tonight. My heart just hurts for her. I wished there was more to do, she thanked me and said the company was appreciated more than she could give words to everyone...because she hated the hours late at night when she was finally alone to try and "sleep." Many, many prayers and good thoughts are needed for her please.

Niece Sleep Over

One blessing about being home in MI again that I try to take full advantage of is being there for my niece and nephews. The Marine Corps has kept us 'sheltered' from their lives for a good 4 years. Our family has had over 11 boys born in the past 5 years as well, and with my niece being the oldest at 9 years, she can sometimes feel left to the sidelines. Now that I am home I really am trying to make sure I give her some one-on-one time at least every other month. Friday was Dr. Seuss' 108th birthday and her school had a fun olympics day event. The elementary gym was decorated in cute pom trees and bright colored banners. Each class was a team and wore a specific color. It was so cute watching them relay, jump thru hoops, and just have a crazy day. I wasn't expecting, however, for a teacher to grab me to participate-RING THE YAK (I failed, miserably), but I tried my best thru my embarassment =)



Since it was a half day, I took my niece home for a sleepover. I've forgotten what it's like to be that age, we did the ChaChaSlide, Cupid Shuffle, and Macarena at least 20 times~each. Hopefully next week the scale will reflect that, since my muscles are killing me! She picked out 4 colors of nail polish and I painted a design on her fingernails. I would have done her toes, but my son had a stomach ache and distracted me a little. While he was napping we went to the mall, tried on some sparkly clothes. And into Bath&Body Works, where we took the red ribbons and literally tried all the sprays. Since her mom isn't a fan of any body spray or perfume, I let her pick out their nice smelling hand sanitizer with a bedazzled carrier for her backpack. The night ended with lots of pizza, breadstix, cinnastix, and her choice of movies: Dolphin Tale & Mr. Popper's Penguins (so cute).