How You Live

So unless you've been living under a rock, you are aware of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary back on December 14, 2012. As we spent the few days following with the tv away from the news and limiting what the girls would watch so they wouldn't be subjected to the around the clock updates, it broke my heart to think of all the parents must be going through. I've got a 7 year old. I couldn't imagine life without her even as trying as she can be some days. I've also got a 9 year old. When explaining it to the 9 year old, her response was "why would he go for the youngest kids, why not like the 5th graders?" I wasn't quite sure how to respond to that other than to say, "Well we'd hope that never happens to anyone of any age", but I understood what she meant. Why the innocence of those who don't know any better? I'll never be able to understand why someone could want to intentionally hurt children of any age and certainly not a classroom full of innocent children. As the next few weeks passed and the children tested boundaries, I found myself thinking, "this too shall pass". There are parents out there who don't get to disagree with their child on what they should or shouldn't have for a snack. They don't get to break up arguments between siblings because now they may only have one child. They don't get to hear them complain about how they don't want to eat their vegetables at dinner, or any meal for that matter. They don't get to hear them ask for "just one more kiss and hug Mommy" or "Daddy can we have a squish hug tonight?" As the weeks passed by, I also found myself listening to the radio and continuously hearing the song below. I'd heard it before, but now it spoke to me even more. 

Cause it's not who you knew

And it's not what you did, it's how you live

They always say "it's not what you know, it's who you know". But this song changes that. It's how you live. Sure, who you meet will impact your life. What you do will also impact your life. But HOW you do all those things will mean the most. 

And have what you want

But want what you have

What those parents wouldn't give to have 5 more minutes with their babies. I have all I could ever dream of. And then some by simply having my babies with me each day. But as I try to teach my children to be gracious for what they have, what better way to do that than to show them. We've talked about how in Korea the squadron takes a trip to the local orphanage at Christmas time to give gifts to the children.  The girls have taken that and run with it wanting to start making gifts to pass on now because why should we have to wait until Christmas to do that? Makes my heart smile until the constant reminder of "mom, we need to buy fabric now to start making things for the children" is brought up. Actually, I lie, either way it makes my heart smile but I could live without the daily reminders of the lack of supplies in the house.

Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken

Wear your red dress, use your good dishes

Make a big mess and make lots of wishes

I was reminded of this today when at Target with the 9 year old who insisted upon new dishes. Why you ask? Because ours are simply a couple of different solid colors and she wanted to ensure everyone in the family had the exact same dish for dinner every night ("We can just wash this one set every night Mom"). So thank you Target clearance, for less than $7 total we each have one plate that matches perfectly and my child will be content knowing that at dinner time, we are that much more united as a family. Seems like a pretty silly thing to me but in her 9 year old mind, I know that the minute those plates come out, she'll feel a connection to her family that totally makes sense to her and it will be special to her. I know that as my husband walked into the playroom and grumbled about the mess left behind by 2 children who quite often forget how to pick up after themselves, it's a reminder that we have 2 little bodies to love on and adore as we watch them grow into young ladies. Man, that makes me feel a tad bit older just typing it. Or maybe it was the comment again from the 9 year old today about how excited she is to get her first ID at 10 (she's been told she has to get a military ID at that point, so it's what she wants for her birthday. Sweet.) But how she also mentioned, "Mom did you get a different picture for your ID because on yours now you don't look that young". Uh, thanks kid. Yea so I knew what she really meant and she really was wondering if they would use some school picture for her or if she'd get to take a new fancy picture just for the ID. Anyway, way off track somehow. 

Either way, this song helps bring me back around to viewing life differently as so many things have the past few years.

So give to the needy and pray for the grieving 

Even when you don't think that you can

'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you

So, think of your fellow man

Or in my case, WOman. Whenever I think my life is going rough and I'm in a rut, I can think of quite a few other people right off hand, wives mostly, who have it much worse. BUT, they choose to live out the "HOW you live" part of life.

Thanks for reading my ramblings. And just a heads up, if something doesn't make sense, sorry. I don't bother going back to read all my thoughts and ensure all the wording is correct or if it makes sense because it will just keep me sitting here longer analyzing it all. You get my first/final draft. Mostly.

We're baaaaaccccckkkk.....

After a year and a half long hiatus, we're back. We'll see how this goes as life has certainly gotten busier as the girls have gotten older and I'm pretty sure I don't see it slowing down anytime soon. However, I promised a few people over the holiday break that I'd do my best to start this back up to help keep those that aren't on Facebook or that we don't get to talk with often up to speed. I will be trying to spruce up the blog a bit, but I can't make promises there either. I lack creativity in writing, computer skills for sprucing it up and time, all key in what I'd really like this to be. Oh well.

I'm not even going to try and backlog other than to let you know the reason for the blog starting back up is that the Music family is about to begin the next chapter of our lives. This time from Korea!

There are lots of emotions that go along with us moving overseas from mostly just the females in the family, but we're happy and blessed to be on this journey together as a family and not sending the head of our household on his own. We leave our comfort zone of the states and embark on this journey mid to late April once E has gotten re-qualified in the jet.

For now, we prepare ourselves the best we can and know that God has His hand in all of it. At least that's what I just need to keep in mind to keep my stress at a bearable level :) Happy 2013 to everyone! Or in Korean : 새해 복 많이 받으세요. Ha, at least I hope that's what it says. Good ol' Google. 

9

It's no secret that I LOVE to take pictures. Silly pictures, serious pictures, self portraits with the girls or Eric, any pictures. Not really one for pictures of landscaping and such but I love pics with my family and friends. Over the years, I love to look back and remember just how tough it was to get my hubby to smile in pictures. I used to have to beg him. Well, after 13 years of knowing each other, I am proud to say that I no longer have to beg for that incredible smile. It's even to the point where he suggests the pictures sometimes. He's come a long way since July of 1998 with his boyish grin :) One day all of the pictures we've taken will be put into scrapbooks so we can sit and glance through (in a timely manner) the memories we've made as a couple and as a family. One day, just doesn't seem to be today. It's all these pictures that he takes and creates family videos from as well, so I love that he has learned to share my love of photographs.

10

Hello again Blogger World. Forget trying to catch up on all that's happened in the past 5-6 months. Instead I will post (moreso just so I have this somewhere else other than on Facebook) 10 things I am thankful for about my hubby in honor of our 10th wedding anniversary in 10 days. We won't be spending it together (surprise, surprise with this military life), but that doesn't mean I'm not grateful for what he means to me. So with that, here is #10 (all will be accompanied by a song b/c what can I say, I love music ;)). These will be in no particular order and will simply depend on my mood for the day. However, the single (double really) most blessing(s) in my life were given to me by the hubby. He is such a wonderful father with two little girls that never have to wonder just how much he loves them. The following video was the first one I saw of this song and it couldn't be more perfect for right now.

Christmas

We really started Christmas out with a bang. We started off one day by going over to the neighborhood center and letting the girls play basketball. Well Emily was passed a ball and it hit her pinky the wrong way. No big deal, I figured it was a good jam and we'd be good to go by the next day. She didn't really complain about it until she went to bed and was busy playing (when they were supposed to be sleeping) and hit it. So Christmas Eve morning, I headed over to work out after having sent Eric pictures of her finger. He quickly replied with "I've had broken fingers that look better than that, you need to take her to the ER". Mom's response was "She'll tough it out and be fine. I don't want to spend Christmas Eve in the ER for a jammed pinky". Needless to say, we went in for x-rays and after 3 1/2 hours at the ER, we came home with a splint on her left pinky. That was only the beginning of Christmas break!

Riding in the wheel chair to get her x-rays. Not sure why they need a wheelchair for a pinky.

Getting ready to head to Christmas Eve Mass

Daddy got to miss the one year where I think we only took 30 seconds to snap a picture or two. We had a gimp sheep and shepherd to get to church!

Moving on to Christmas Eve where we have everything ready for Santa and his reindeer.

Listening to Daddy read "The Night Before Christmas" before heading to bed.

We were tracking Santa and we saw that he had even stopped in Iraq to see Daddy!

Then came Christmas morning. About 430 Emily came in complaining about her stomach and life took another turn for the worst as we embarked on the stomach bug for Christmas Day! We spent the next few hours running back and forth between the bathroom, half the time me carrying her b/c she was too weak to get there herself. We finally got up around 930 or 10 and started opening presents. Thank the Lord for technology as we still got to be up and running on Skype with Daddy even though he couldn't be here with us. Needless to say, Christmas was low key for us.

A few days after Christmas, we got another opinion about Emily's pinky and ended up having a whole cast put on it. January 28th is when she gets it off! For now, it stinks, but she hasn't missed a beat.

Following Emily getting her cast on, we had plans to hang with friends for New Years Eve and ring in the new year. Someone had other plans for us, b/c Nichole caught Emily's stomach bug and we were all in bed before the ball dropped. We spent the next few days more low key, disinfecting the house and trying to get ready for school to start up again. It's amazing how different Mommy felt once Christmas break and all it's hoopla was over and school was back in session. We missed Daddy this year, he lucked out missing out on all the fun, but we will enjoy Christmas this coming year that much more!

Operation: Love Reunited

There is a program that local photographers participate called "Operation: Love Reunited" (oplove.org) and it revolves around military families. The photographers donate their time to photograph military families at some point before a deployment, during a deployment for those left behind or for the homecoming. In a day where the military isn't always supported, it's always great to see those who still want our troops to know they care. Once we knew Eric was for sure deploying, I wanted to take advantage of the chance to get some fall photos. So on a non windy day (those are far and few between here in KS), we headed out to our photographers house and got what I think are some incredible shots. Eric was a good sport for it, as were the girls. I love how all the pictures came out and am so thankful to our photographer for taking the time out of her busy schedule for us. Again, her time was donated out of the goodness of her heart. Another part of this program is the photographer sends an album to the deployed member, so I'm excited for Eric to get his as a little keepsake for the next few months. Anyway, here are some of the shots our photographer caught. Be sure to check out the program and if you're in the Kansas area, check out our photographer, Ali Mocabee. (Click on her name to go to her website).

When did my babies grow to be so big?

I'm so glad I wanted to get pics of us all in our Dolphin jerseys. It's part of our life.

Probably one of my favorite pictures from the session and makes me tear up with Daddy being gone. My kiddos have one incredible Daddy.

2010 Update

So I've given up on trying to update New Hampshire, start of school, friends visiting, fall soccer, girls birthdays/party, a visit from Uncle Stephen and Aunt Libby and anything else that has happened that I haven't written about. Most likely, you've either talked to me or seen pictures on Facebook or Picasa. If you haven't, well I won't say get with technology, but check it out or call me. Because unfortunately with life being busy, I've started lacking in the communication department. (I'll blame my hubby who has been home more the past 6 months than in the past 6 years:)). Listing all those things above just makes me tired. But they have been all super fun events that have kept us busy making memories and going through life.

Which brings us all to now, two weeks before Christmas 2010. Unfortunately I'm having a harder time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. Last year we were celebrating the blessing of my dad getting to be home for Christmas and spending the holidays with family. This year, it's my brother and I and the girls. Partially by choice, but certainly the minus Daddy bit was not by choice. We've lucked out until now to never hit the holidays on a deployment rotation, but it was our turn. So we'll stick around here in Kansas, spend some time with friends and hope the girls (read Mommy) survive Christmas break. As I've tried to sit and get to updating the blog in the midst of getting work done for my job, creating spin rides, taking care of my house and children, I keep hearing the songs playing on the playlist. I think the Dave Barnes songs is one of my all time favorite songs that I could hear over and over and never get tired of. It brings me back to reality and how blessed I am with a husband who loves me for me, appreciates my quirks (and cold feet) and even though he can't be with us this Christmas, I know he's busy doing a job he signed up to do and I couldn't be more proud of him. It makes me realize that even though he can't be here, I HAVE someone to miss and love and that in 5 1/2 months will be reunited with again. Not all of my friends have that for one reason or another. As I was in my rut over Eric leaving a few weeks ago and missing him, my dad quickly reminded me of my friend Leigh. I thought of her many times as I spent my last few moments with my husband and realized none of us ever know when a moment with someone we love may be our last. It's tough to grasp that concept living day to day and you end up falling into taking the time for granted. But when you don't have it, it turns into another story. Going through long TDY's and deployments always brings me to a very real appreciation and sympathy for single moms as well. I don't have the struggles that many single moms have outside of trying to be two parents in one. I simply have to constantly convey to my children who are missing their dad that he loves them and misses them too, but that we'll all be together again soon. Single moms don't have that luxury. So my goal for this season of life is to learn appreciation and strength. Sure, part of me is "missing" and I don't feel as complete as I normally do when I have my other half around, but we keep going. We keep the faith that one day this next summer, God will bring him home safely to us and we'll be complete again. Because after all, God gave me you for the ups and downs and God gave me you for the days of doubt.

See my next post for more of the latest family pictures.

*Note to author: Could you be a little more complete, more organized and less A.D.D. with your thoughts? I guess Emily gets it honest. ;)

Foreign Land

I have to brag on my brother. He made this video for an organization called "Honor Flight". He was asked to head up their reunion this year in Columbus, OH next weekend and this is one of the videos he made that they will be showing. He has a great passion for the military and their families and it is shown in this video. Please take a few minutes to watch. With Veteran's Day coming up thank you to all those who have served, are currently serving and have given the ultimate sacrifice through their service. Thank you Leigh Giglio for allowing my brother to honor "Rev" with this video as well.

Lead Me

A few weeks ago while preparing to share a devotional on prayer and using my dad's story over the past year, I kept hearing this song. I was led to the lead singer's website due to hearing on the Christian radio station how his newborn song was going through major surgery and I have been following them for the past few weeks. It's truly an amazing story you can find on Sanctus Real and listen to the song below song. I have heard interviews by the lead singer about the meaning of this song and how it came about. It is easily an all too true story in many marriages and lives. I'm so thankful to have had my dad as a great role model when it came to church and having a relationship with Christ and I see that now in my husband with us as a family. Anyway, I just wanted to share the song on here as well. Yea, I still have a few things to catch up on. As I always say, one day. Soon, I'll have the girls' birthdays to update on as well. Never a dull moment. Until then, happy listening. Oh and if you live under a rock and for some reason don't have Facebook or get any other updates from me on my dad, be sure to check out his latest blog entry. Some pretty amazing things going on.

Sanctus Real song "Lead Me" video link

Time flies...

Time sure does fly when you're having fun as they say. We've got almost another month under our belts and wouldn't you know it, I still haven't sat down to blog our NH trip. One day. I'll get there. Maybe. It's a long month coming up. This time last year things were looking pretty grim and this year, they couldn't look better. Just stinks that we won't get back to FL until January while Daddy is deployed. But oh well. Maybe we can convince them to come see us! At least that's what the girls think. They think we should be inviting all our family from home and they should just show up. Right girls. Anyway, Uncle Stephen made it back from the desert and the girls always bring out the silly in him. They quickly figured out how to sweet talk him into jumping them on the trampoline.

Emily hanging out with her friend Bri. Two cute princesses.

The two pics above were taken with a new camera we purchased recently (nothing like spending deployment money before you have it!) I do love how crisp the pictures look though. Anyway, we purchased the new camera and just had to go try it out. So we took the girls out to a place by K-State and bribed them to give us their best smiles. A few of the pics we got are below. However, I did take the originals and edit them on Picnik.com. I had fun playing around with that too. Too bad I don't have more spare time on my hands. Nichole has started soccer practices and loves it. Much better response than we had 2 years ago, so that's good. Poor Emily can't wait to start and puts on Nichole's shin guards while she isn't home and runs around the house. Ok well it's only been like 10 minutes and I'm already getting A.D.D. with not much else to report. So enjoy the pics!