Confession Time....

Confession # 1. I am not always successful (ok, never) at staying on a budget....especially when it comes to my grocery budget. (and my super hubby is a successful dave ramsey follower)

Confession # 2. I don't really like to ask for help. I think that is probably pretty typical of most military wives. We love the control and power we get from thinking we have it all together. So False!

Confession # 3. It's been really hard to get meals going and healthy while R is away.

Confession # 4. I really want to lose weight and focus on preparing healthy meals for myself and the kiddos.

I love to cook. I love to be creative, grocery shopping, and meal planning. BUT, it's been pretty hard since R has been gone. Not sure why, but I've heard it's not uncommon for military wives to struggle in these areas.

Sooo, today...I signed up for E-mealz. If you haven't heard of them, they are pretty great. They have lots of different meal plans to choose from (we chose gluten-free) and you can even choose what store you shop. (we chose wal-mart) AND, they stay on a budget. I'm pretty excited about it. It's pretty cost effective....$5 a month. I'll keep you updated!

Deployment Love Dare Day 5

I know, I know.....I'm so behind....but I guess thats the beauty of a long deployment....I've still got time. lol.

So Recap:

Day 1: Love is Patient. Do or not say or write anything negative or critical. Choose to be positive or quiet.

Day 2: Love is Kind. Add in at least one unexpected demonstration of kindness.

Day 3: Love is not Selfish: Buy something to mail that will show your spouse that you were thinking of them.

Day 4: Love is Thoughtful: By e-mail or telephone, if possible, ask your spouse the question, "How are you doing? Is there anything I can do for you?

Day 5: Love is not Rude: Better to live in the desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife. Proverbs 21:19 (Ouch)

Dare: By e-mail or phone, ask your husband to name three things you do which causes him to be uncomfortable or irritated. Avoid defensiveness, that is a sign of immaturity. Give no excuses--just ask. And the next question for yourself, what can i do with this information to change in this area?

Just for kicks, I'm guessing on my own what I think R will say. We'll see if I'm right. ;-)

God is good

My past couple days have been kinda rough. I have felt like a failure the last couple days.......I'm not sure why. I think i put expectations on myself and then criticize my words, my decisions, my reactions, my shortcomings....etc.....and am not satisfied with any of it. Soooo...today....I get a package from my secret sister (yippeee)...and it was this cute little tub with lotions, shower gel, spray, OH...and the box had chocolate. Perfect! Then my friend and her mom brought over a loaf of pumpkin orange bread....AND....i got to talk with my husband today. I would say God gave me a little pick me up. :-) Love it when He does that....especially unexpected stuff. His timing is perfect!

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness"

Jeremiah 31:3

Day 4 of the Deployment Love Dare

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones--Proverbs 16:24

I really love this verse! R worked on a bee farm for a smidge and learned amazing facts about honey and how wonderfully natural it is. So this verse comes to life for me.

This dare is, "Love is thoughtful."

I tell my kids all the time to "think before they speak," but do I? Especially with my husband. He is the one I am most open and honest with and the one I probably hurt with my words the most too.

Deployment will complicate this whole matter. Not only is separation and distance a factor, but the responsibilities overseas and at home can loom large during this demanding time. This is all the more reason to be intentional in thinking about each other and saying so!

The Dare: By e-mail or phone, if possible, ask your spouse the question, "How are you doing? Is there anything I can do for you?" If we think loving thoughts we are spurred on to loving actions.

This dare is not a difficult one for me. I tend to over ask R these questions. I'm the one never quite satisfied with the normal answer, "I'm ok." Usually if I get that response, I say, "no really, how are you." LOL.

Portions of this comes from excellent or praiseworthy.

Post-It Project

One of the things I do to encourage R at home is leaving little post-it's hidden throughout our house with scripture, inside sayings, quotes, and just little random "I love yous." I've really missed doing this for him and so I ask myself, how can I encourage my man when he is gone? Below is my solution. I carefully wrote on each post-it so that he can read a new one everyday and possibly post the ones that mean the most to him. :-)

Back...

Ok, lets get back on track!
It's been an interesting month or so. I am constantly learning, growing, and stretching. Praise God, I'm also experiencing victories!

I'm learning to balance....balance busyness. Too busy=bad, board=bad.....it's a balance.
I'm growing as a wife and mother. I'm learning that the best communication is always intentional no matter who it is that I'm communicating with.
And, I'm stretching.....learning Romans 5:3-4, "knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope."

As promised...

Here are our flat brats! We hope to post all the fun places they get to go!

We put popsicle sticks on the back to stablize them.