Last October, word was going around the JAG office about a potential deployment. Not really knowing the circumstances, I quickly replied to the Hubs with a firm "NO!!" Most of our friends and family know that we've had some difficulties in starting a family. The last thing I wanted was a deployment to further put off a future little one. However, as we talked about it more I began to humble myself a little. The fact was someone had to go and it killed me to think about all the families here that would have to send off their parent for 6-9 months. We prayed about it for a week or so, wrote out the pros and cons, and decided that we were actually in a place to volunteer. Even though my selfishness wanted him to stay and be my partner in crime and keep working toward a family of 4 (including Molly our pup of course), I knew that this is where God was leading us.
Ok, enough of all the mushy stuff. I sent my love off in November. Yes, just in time to miss Thanksgiving, our Anniversary, Christmas, and most likely my 30th birthday. This 'sounds' really terrible right? I mean yes, it would have been better to have him here for these things, but again God really knew it would all be ok. Before he left, our awesome friends threw him a Thanksgiving going away party, where we stuffed our faces and luckily we did because I didn't really get a traditional Thanksgiving this year.
Since he was gone, it gave me the opportunity to spend the holidays with family for a much longer time. We had not been home for any holiday since being married, so it was kind of cool to go home and spend the holidays with everyone. For Thanksgiving I drove up to Fort Leavenworth to stay with Ryan's brother's family. His parents came as well and we spent one day with my father in laws family in Missouri. Again, super awesome because due to the Army life I haven't spent much time with that side of the family!
Pictured: me with Caitlin my only niece in Kansas, and my good friend Abby who is also an Army wife friend now living back home in Kansas City!
I also got to drive down to Austin for a long weekend. It worked perfectly, my Mom and Brother were going to be flying in to stay with my Aunt and Uncle. 2 years ago when we moved to Oklahoma we also relocated my grandparents to Austin. They were getting older and needed more assistance that my parents were struggling to provide since they still work full time. Sucks for them, but worked great for me, since I am only a 5 hour drive away. I've been able to get down there quite often to visit. Ross, my brother had also never been to Austin (not since infancy anyway-doesnt really count) so I got to show him around town, eat yummy food and support our cousin's new coffee business - Stouthaus Coffee PUB! They are awesome and if you live in Austin please support your local business!
Bragging Corner: I went to the OKC Austim Conference, which my school so gladly sent me to! And who did I meet! Temple Grandin! I was paparazzi! She totally thought I was wacko!
Side NOTE: Hubs left- here is our Send Off!
I forgot this one of the Hubs flying first class and thinking he is hot stuff!!
Ok, back to the recap. So, back I went to working at the school, which keeps me busy for sure! It was really fun around the holidays because they were all in good spirits and the OT and I could do lots of fun things with them in therapy. We also had the JAG christmas party and ornament exchange!! My favorite time of year! I am so blessed here at Fort Sill to have such great friends. Another reason why I knew a deployment would be just fine, because my support system rocks!
I won the JAG ornament! YAY! This thing is highly coveted. You never think you are going to stand a chance winning this beauty!
Due to Christmas break, I was able to drive me and Molly out to Indiana for a long 2 week break. YIPEE! I bet lots of people aren't too pumped to go back to Indiana, but not this girl. I love home. I love Indianapolis. I miss my friends and family all the time (and the shopping, lets be honest Oklahoma City pales in comparison shopping wise) so sign me up I'm down to go home for a long break! I was so busy, seeing people, helping my parents with lots of stuff, and just relaxing!
Met up with some awesome friends and spent NYE with some great peeps as well! Overall, successful trip!
Me and cousin Brady!
Ryan had a pretty good Christmas overseas! The JAG group sent him a tree and they sent us some funny photos back! Jason- the paralegal has been great as a friend to the Hubs. They have bonded as workout buddies and bible study buddies. Another reason how we can see God working while he's been away. His wife has been awesome for me on this end too. We have so much in common and had we not taken this deployment, we wouldn't know these wonderful people! This girl in the short time Ive know her is someone I can call and ask to pray for me and I know she will! That is a true sister in Christ and I am blessed to call her my new friend!
When I got back home from vacation I took to my usual craziness and dove into some DIY! I've had a list of things that had to get done before we move, so I just plowed through! I repainted my old childhood desk with chalk paint and sealed with Polycryllic. I recovered some old chairs that my Aunt had given me before we moved to Fort Lewis. I re-finished and re-upholstered an old footstool of my grandparents that my mom let me bring back from Indy.
I also had made some pillow covers before I left and love how they turned out! I used curtains from ROSS and made shams!!Never will I keep buying throw pillows! Just make your own!
We started school again and so I have been living on Pinterest finding more fun Speech Ideas. I've worked with adults for so long, some of the childhood stuff just seems more difficult to me. I know school speeches feel the same way about working the medical sector. But, the good news is, all that knowledge is tucked away in my brain somewhere and it slowly but surely has been resurfacing. I am not going to be Special Needs Speechie of the year, but I have been learning so much and loving these kiddos! I am really glad I took on this challenge because it will make me a better therapist and a great mom one day!
Then I decided with my girl, Jennie, to take a Spin Certification course by Schwinn (the Best, duh!) in Dallas. We went, we ate, we learned, we worked out HARD! It was awesome. It was at the Equinox Gym in Uptown and it totally rocked our world. One of the best spin workouts I've ever had since I started in 2006! We are thinking of teaching on post for free to get our feet wet, but I'm a nervous wreck over that idea! Regardless, it may be fun to teach in Germany. And going back to the food in Dallas- way better than Oklahoma. I mean one would imagine! Here is some food for you!
YUMMO! I also just attended my first Beth Moore study: James, Mercy Triumphs. My friend Mindy invited me and I LOVED IT!! Ive been craving church community, women, accountability, all of the above. I had such a good time and I'm glad to be growing closer to my friends through Christ. I am going to try out her family's church as well. We have been going to a church here. It is great, but we just have lacked motivation to get plugged in. Total fail on our part. So I am hoping that while Hubs is away I can get more connected. We've also started reading the One Year Bible since he left. Its been awesome and I feel like I am learning so much. While I was at bible study, the Hubs went fishing! He's been a great accountability partner for our devotions and thats just one reason why I love him!
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