Update. & Another Deployment Holiday Season.

I've decided, since I am finding that I am not an avid blogger (at least with this blog), that this blog will be reserved for "Family Updates" 2-3 times a year. I'm considering using 1-2 of these Family Updates per year to mail out to our families and close friends, since we may possibly be in different parts of the world for the next 20 years. These would be mailed out with Sydney pictures included, of course. ;)

I would also like to add that I am hoping not to express the idea that I vainly believe everyone is interested in our life (I assure you that's not the case and if you make it through my ranting updates, then you're probably family or a really good friend, anyways:). Rather, I will be utilizing this as a tool to somewhat "keep-in-touch" with family and friends, but also as a cumulative journal for Nick and I and our children to look back on.

In coordination with my busy brain, I will again use the bullet format to update since my last post, since it requires little work in organizing my thoughts. ;)

* We are currently almost a month in on our 2nd deployment. Nick was home almost 6 months following his previous 7-month deployment, before leaving for this current 7-monther. Sydney and I are currently "home" (TN) for the holidays.

* We still only have 1 car, and are making it work until we just can't anymore. We are not accustomed to car notes, so hoping to save up cash during this deployment for our next vehicle to keep that a continuum.

* Nick and I were able to spend many great "Date Nights/Days" together during the short time between these 2 deployments, including occasions like our fun day running and snorkeling La Jolla Cove. It was wonderful having all that alone time together since his time home was limited. We even took a 2-day Palm Springs vacation just the two of us in a desert oasis- of a hotel, with a gorgeous view from our room of the canyons!

* Although most of our weekends have still just included going to the beach, we have also made a lot of fun family trips & memories together since my last post, including trying out new beaches/areas further north of us, SeaWorld, Legoland, the MCAS Air Show, new scenic parks we had yet to try, and a fun day at Bates Nut Farm. We also took a family camping trip in South Carlsbad State Beach. Our tent sat on a cliff overlooking the ocean and we fell asleep to the sound of the waves crashing! We will definitely be going back there!

* We had a summer packed full of wonderful visitors again this year, including: Steven (Nick's brother), my parents, my best friend Christin & her boyfriend Josh, Nick's grandparents, Nick's mom, and Dan, Paula, & Olivia (Nick's uncle, aunt, and cousin Sydney's age).

* I've still been busy with the same jobs and activities, including:
Personal training, teaching piano lessons, Membership Chair for Surface Officer Spouses of San Diego, Heart-2-Heart Military Spouse Group (through our church), which I am now co-leading, and of course our wonderful church lifegroup, whom we have also still enjoyed get-togethers with outside our regular group time.

* Sydney is thriving and doing great! She is our joy and blessing.
Since my last post, she has been involved in a Pre-school 3x a week, and gymnastics classes still. We are still doing her school work at home. Aside from all our family trips and outings mentioned above, she recently enjoyed Summer outdoor movies, the Birch Aquarium, Wild Animal Safari Park, her usual park days with her friends, swimming days, and church. She can count to 30 with no help, write any letter you ask, and sound out most of her letters.

* After 4 quarters in a row of hosting lifegroup in our home, we have passed the opportunity along to another couple in our group. We started reading "Not a Fan." by Kyle Idleman prior to leaving, so I am trying to finish it with a group of ladies here, while Nick also continues it with a group there. It has been a very challenging book.

* I am still making my way through the entire Bible, currently in 2 Kings. Why didn't I do this a long time ago?

* During Nick's POM ((Pre- or Post-) Pre- in this case) Operational Movement (basically, 2-weeks off before leaving), our days were packed full of our family and friends visiting him. We also had a couple date nights, including seeing the movie "Courageous"- a must-see for all families and a great re-enforcement/challenge/encouragement with the upcoming deployment.

I threw Nick "Surprise Occasions" of all he (thought he) would be missing during deployment: a big, surprise "Thanksgiving Feast" with the Allens, a surprise "Christmas in October" with the Hatfields, Hammetts, and Siscos, and a "Surprise Birthday Party" for his and Sydney's birthdays with all our friends and families.
We also were able to go to a fun "Fall Party" our friend Tyler threw where Nick got to see many college friends, and the big "Allen Halloween" party; It was here that Steven surprised Nick by flying in from MN showing up to the party dressed as Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction! Nick had no clue it was him at first! An awesome, and hilarious surprise!
During Nick's final 3 days before heading back to San Diego to deploy, the 3 of us enjoyed a beautiful, relaxing stay at a family friend's lakehouse on the TN River. We were so grateful to have use of a gorgeous, serene place for those precious last days together.

And That is our recent bullet updates!

Since Sydney and I have been here in TN, we have been trying to make our rounds visiting different family and friends all around town. Since Nick left, we're back to her school work every day: 3 subjects MWF and 2 subjects TR- which have been consisting of more games and crafts than before, to keep it fun and prevent burn-out. I have also been doing personal training, and baby-sitting. I'm doing as many deployment-directed activities with her as I can, and also setting some goals and tasks for myself to attain during this time.
Deployments are hard and complex, but I am determined we will use them for growth and accomplishment!

Thanks for reading!

All-en this Life Update.

I imagine my posts will be even less (as if that's possible;) during the time Nick is home. However, feeling under the weather today, a dear friend came and picked up Sydney to take her to her little church group for me. (Thursdays is typically Heart2Heart days for us; as mentioned previously, this is the ladies' military spouse group/Bible study we have through our military ministry at church) Thus, my mind is as clear and uninterrupted as it is going to be to sit down and finally write an update......

It's funny how being a stay-at-home mom you can feel so busy, but then, as I'm thinking of what all to fill you in on concerning my "busy-ness" it can be summed up in just that- I'm home, raising and loving a child, loving a husband, and keeping a home. This, however, has been a battle of guilt for me at times this past year; not because I don't feel like I am accomplishing things, I can already see that in Sydney's life and our home life; but I feel guilty that I get this opportunity that many don't, or that, maybe I am supposed to do it ALL- work full-time AND school Sydney, and keep our home, etc.

To compensate for my feelings of guilt, I noticed I was being a "Martha" (Luke 10:38-42)- I was creating insane "To-Do" Lists that were not only overwhelming, but also taking my time away from what was really most important. I just read a book called "WEIRD: Because normal isn't working." by Craig Groeschel (Awesome book, recommend it to everyone), and he discusses this "normal" trap we get in every day- "One of the foundational lies we've absorbed about the value of busy-ness is that it indicates our self-importance or spiritual worth." We think we have to take on everything presented to us, keep our kids involved in countless activities and sports, work until we're blue in the face to pay off the loans for all our toys and big houses and nice cars, be on the go at all times, etc., etc. Even those things we do with good intentions, or the things we do that seem so urgent, are not always the most important things, or God's best. What will we have to show for all our busy-ness and activities? God commands us to rest, and He wants us to create moments in life.

I have been so guilty of this. I remember feeling so "busy" only because I was taking on too many unimportant tasks and outings. And of course, having our house decorated nicely was so "urgent"... I mean, we would be entertaining friends here for at least 2 years, for crying out loud!? Needless to say, after a kind realization from God (and Nick), I have halted my "house decorating" project half-way through completion, and I could really care less at this time. Looking back, it was taking up WAY too much of my time and using money we could have put elsewhere. Craig Groeschel said in his book, "I believe the consequence of busyness destroys us more than the overwhelming stress of too much to do." You can just look at statistics and the world around us to see how "normal" is working.

So I have had to learn (and am continuing to learn) how to balance everything, make wise decisions (it's about time, right Mom & Dad?;), mark boundaries, have tasks but keep my priorities straight, stick to our family goals despite things that seem "urgent," get rid of the guilt, REST, and dig into this Word I have always claimed I know and grow closer to God. The following were some scriptures that helped me overcome the feelings of guilt:

"Then the older women can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:3-5

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands, the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27 (The entire chapter of Proverbs 31 really)

I realize that, at least for now, home is where I am supposed to be. It has set the scene for Nick and I to draw closer to Christ, and for me to not only put all my energy into Sydney, but to also be taught/disciplined on the very things I am teaching/disciplining her..... complaining, self-control, pride! How will she learn these things if I can't be the example? And how can I, as a fallible woman, be that example without God's help and direction? I can't. But one thing Nick and I realized lately is that we need to trust God's promise of the power of prayer!

So enough of my rambling. I assume after that, I'll just do some bullet updates on us:

*We are still surviving on 1 car (yes it is "weird"), and plan to do so until we can hopefully save up enough cash for another.

*Nick and I schedule 4 date nights a month now, which sometimes just entails a walk to go get coffee together.

*The 3 of us just recently did a fun 4-mile run/race over the Coronado Bridge, which was beautiful.

*We still go to the beach every chance we get.

*We are currently making our plans, goals, and arrangements for Nick's next deployment this fall:( (Sydney and I will be spending the holidays home again though=)

*We are gearing up for a summer of visits from our family and friends! We will have 5 sets of visitors this summer, starting with my parents coming in this month!

*We have a family photo shoot scheduled this month at Windansea Beach!

*Sydney is making us belly laugh every day. She is learning so much! Here's some updates:

-She has mastered all her letters by recognition and can even write a handful of them without even looking at them, and she can sound out about 10 of them
-She can dress herself and even do buttons and zippers (she changes 3-4 times a day)

-She knows our country, city and state, and her grandparents city and state
-She can read a digital clock
-She helps with chores around the house
-She loves counting, she can count to 20
-She is becoming more and more social (I encourage her to introduce herself to little friends on the playground and ask if they want to play, and now she'll go do it, saying, "Look Mom, I'm doing it!" lol)
-She is a natural at gymnastics and taught herself to do a full flip around the rings
-She has excellent manners, and a sweet spirit

-Did I mention she's absolutely beautiful as ever? (I can say that on here since mostly family that would agree with me is reading this;)
We go to the YMCA every day, the library once a week, and swimming once a week, although I'm sure she will swim more this summer.

*Nick is working really hard. He is working in a new job position where he is now leading over double the amount of sailors that he was previously, along with his collateral duties. He leaves at 6:00am sharp in the mornings, sometimes 5:30am when they have pt, and is home by about 6pm. He is gone for 2 days every 5th day, for duty. They leave to go underway sometimes for 3-4 days at a time. Despite his work volume and absence at times, we are making the best of it, and thankful. He especially has a great attitude, doesn't let it stress him out much, and has favor amongst his crew and CO which is great.

*We are still hosting lifegroup in our home once a week. Nick and I have really enjoyed this encouragement and have developed a stronger desire to study the Word together. We also have an occasional social event outside of the regular weekly sessions.

*As for me, I am trying to stay on top of things at home with Sydney. I will hopefully get some better curriculum soon so that I don't have to take the time to sharpie activities on notebook paper for her! My creativity only goes so far, but fortunately I have a great resource of homeschool ladies I can get help/advice from!

Things I have done since my last post:

-I am now Membership Director for SOS (Surface Officer Spouses Club)
-I just designed the coffee mugs for the wardroom on Nick's ship
-I am still training our friend in exchange for baby-sitting
-I started teaching piano lessons to a friend's daughter
-I'm doing the One Year Bible Online
-I started a financial report system that I manage daily and "submit" to Nick-- it's a notebook I use to contain our budget, track every cent that comes out of our account and categorize it, providing a (daily, and) mid-month analysis to see where we're at, and finally a final report each month on each area of spending and our tithe and what we were able to save. ... I've been labeled OCD and I don't know why;)

-Also, I've been cooking from a cookbook called Deceptively Delicious in efforts to sneak more veggies into Sydney. Nick even loves it, although I think moreso because it's written by the wife of Jerry Seinfeld;) That's about all on my end.

So to whom it may concern, that's our recent update! When we can get a printer, I will be sending out our Letters to Family/Friends very similar to this blog with pictures, in the mail 2-3 times a year. We miss family and friends like crazy, and plan to take advantage of every opportunity we feasibly can in this career to see y'all and to let Sydney see her family.

We love you all! :)

Bliss... for the next 6 months:)

(BIG SIGH)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am writing this update in the best spirits ever. Our family is finally complete again, united again in bodily form:)

Nick arrived back on U.S. soil from a 6-month deployment on Thursday, March 3rd.................. for a day and a half! Yes, what we thought would be almost 4 days abruptly turned into 1 and then he had to go to Rhode Island for 3 more weeks for more school. However, going 6 months being without a husband and a daddy, just this 1 day.... to just lay my eyes on him, to touch him, to hug him, to kiss him, to have a REAL conversation with him and actually hear all his words instead of constant static and hang-ups, to just SEE and BE in the real-life presence of my husband and best friend again........ was MORE THAN welcomed and appreciated! You can learn so many lessons having to wait on things in life. It grows such a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other.

The homecoming was better than I imagined. I heard about an organization called Operation Love Reunited at just the right time. It is a group of professional photographers that volunteer their services for deployments, homecomings, and military family photo shoots. We had the privilege of receiving the services of Bob Forrest for capturing Nick's homecoming for us. As I thought, Sydney ran into the arms of her daddy at the very first sight of him. It was so sentimental to see all the people stop at the sight of our banner to watch our homecoming experience, and the warm applause received all around us as Nick came off the plane. There are no words to touch on the emotions of seeing the love of your life for the first time after a long deployment. All the waiting, enduring, and praying is rewarded at that very first sight of them. It is unlike any other emotion or elation that could only be compared to the degree of happiness you have on your wedding day, or the day you give birth to your child, but yet on a totally different level.

I will back-track here just to update since my last post at the end of January: The rest of the deployment went as smoothly as could be expected. We kept even busier the second half of the deployment than we did the first. I became even more involved with the Surface Officer Spouses Club, started taking monthly self- Auto Maintenance classes, hosted a church Lifegroup again and organized social activities for our Lifegroup, took advantage of more great family-friendly San Diego events such as the Big Bay Whale Festival, an air show, and ASYMCA Valentine's Party, homeschool pre-school work and deployment activities with Sydney, beach days (yes, beautiful beach days in February here:), park days with friends and their kids, and of course our Thursday morning Heart2Heart military spouse group meetings. I also finally started decorating our house, which took up more time than I hoped for. It looks more like a home though finally and is almost complete, with the exception of some touches to the guest room, and our master bedroom/bathroom, which I will have to pick back up on at a later time. We are really trying to savor our family time while it lasts!

Okay, back to homecoming: After our day with Nick, he had to go to school in Rhode Island for 3 more weeks. We were worried about how Sydney would handle getting to see her daddy finally for only 1 day and then seeing him leave again, but she did EXCELLENT. Toward the end of the deployment, she had begun crying for her daddy about 3 times a week, and her sleep was beginning to be effected. Even though he was home for just a day, it really re-charged us all, including Sydney. We made sure to explain it as best as we could to her, and prepare her that daddy would be leaving again for just a very short while longer. She understood as best as a 3-year old can, and handled it above our expectations, as she normally exceeds those. :)

After his 3 weeks in Rhode Island, he was FINALLY home for good. Well, for good for 6 months at least! It took a few days for him to get adjusted to the time change and exhaustion from deployment and travel. He had a 2-week break before having to return to work, and we packed it full of fun vacations and memories, and lots of relaxation too! The first few days we just reconnected as a family again and spent time alone together at home. The following week we took a fun 3-day, 2-night trip to Anaheim and went to Disneyland, California Adventure, Medieval Times, and then stopped through Hollywood on our way home. We also enjoyed an awesome Cirque de Soleil show here in San Diego, and the following week Nick and I took a 3-day, 2-night trip to Santa Barbara just the two of us. It was heaven. We had a blast. During his first light work week, we just enjoyed time at home together, the beach, and a Padres game.

Nick is now back to a semi-regular work-week. I say semi-regular because nothing in the military is very regular or "normal." He is gone by 6:00am sharp in the morning, sometimes home at 5:30pm at the earliest, and every 5th day he has to stay on the ship 24 hours. Oh, and then there's when they go underway (out to sea) for training for a few days at a time. But for us, this is Nick being home and us having our family together in bodily form again, which makes me one happy momma these days!

I have cut way down on my busy-ness (that is what helped me pass the deployment days). Part of that can be attributed to our vigilant determination to live on 1 car for right now. We only have had 1 since living out here, but our friend David has lent us his car in the past since he and Nick have opposite deployment schedules. His sister needed his however, so now we just have mine. Since we just paid off all debt we had, we really don't want to add a car note (plus the gas prices!) if it's not an absolute necessity, and would rather save up cash for the next one. Nick leaves again in 6 more months anyways, so we feel we can make it work. It actually has not been bad, we are not suffering, lol.;) Most of what I do during the week occurs within a 3 mile distance from our house, so I've just been getting extra cardio in strolling anywhere I must go with Sydney! When Nick goes underway, I keep the car. For grocery trips, I wait until he's home to use the car. Another benefit is it creates more home time for me to invest in things I'm working on with Sydney, which I am sooooo grateful for every single day.

It's been nice finally getting to introduce a spouse to all these friends I've grown so close to while he was gone. I can show people I REALLY DO have a husband! He's not just a figment of my imagination! We are thoroughly enjoying our time together again, on a couple/relational level, and as a family unit, watching Sydney grow before our eyes and laughing at her every day. Nick and I re-evaluated our core family values and our individual and marital goals that we will be supporting each other in. We are excited to pursue some new goals and hobbies together during his time home! I'll have to share some of those at a later time.

I can't imagine our life now not in the military. It has challenges that are difficult for a civilian family to even relate to, but it also has great rewards. You learn what patience really is and what it looks like. You develop an even deeper appreciation for your spouse and the amazing qualities they possess. You learn what it's like to go without, and develop the discipline of setting your hopes on that reunion day. You also have the opportunity to focus somewhat more inwards during a deployment. You can further self-improvements, disciplines, and hobbies. And then there's the long-awaited reunion.... Who gets to feel the INDESCRIBABLE flood of joy, relief, appreciation, and pride at a LONG-awaited reunion with their spouse? Who gets to experience the "honey-moon" with their spouse multiple times over in life? The waiting period will really highlight the depth of your love for your spouse and their attributes, thus creating a closer, stronger relationship and family unit.

Speaking of family, we are REALLY missing family and friends back "home" like crazy, especially Nick, since Sydney and I were able to go back during the holidays. Nick will make a weekend trip soon so he can finally see everyone again, and then the 3 of us will make a trip in October during the leave right before his next deployment. Many times the realization of things you are missing, really hit you. My niece Emma entered the world recently, and I cannot wait to get my hands on her! My dad had knee surgery this week. And to hear the sadness, and longing for Sydney by her grandparents over the phone, brings me to tears at times.

HOWEVER....... I feel overwhelmed with blessings. I remember when we were both working non-stop and struggling to make ends meet, and other people were raising our daughter all day. It's what we had to do, and who knows, we may have to go that route again someday. Nonetheless, I feel overwhelmed just thinking about the people and places we have, and will continue to, embrace along this journey, and I wonder how God has this all panning out. I ask myself frequently, what does a life look like in every area, that God smiles down on? That is my prayer for us. I know He has a great purpose for our life, and everyone's life, maybe we are just on the brink of it.

Resolutions, and other random thoughts..

Seriously?! ANOTHER year has gone by???? Someone please tell me where it went! (Side note: That made me think of when Sydney was playing with her baby dolls this week and getting frustrated with her stroller, yelled "ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME?!" 

But really... are you kidding me?! The past year has completely flown right by us! What an amazing, monumental, and crazy year it has been! 

Here is a re-cap of our past year's events:

1. Nick flies to Newport, RI for 3 months of Officer Candidate School for the Navy in January.

2. We spend a week in Newport in April, surprising Nick with our arrival, as he is commissioned as an Officer. We also receive orders for San Diego.

3. Nick comes home for a few weeks then goes back to Newport for 3 weeks of SWOS in May.

4. I prep for our big move, house-hunt and find us a home in San Diego, and wrap things up with my personal training in Memphis, April and May.

5. We take an awesome 4-day vacation cross-country to our new home in San Diego, June.

6. We get settled in San Diego, find a church home, enjoy our time going and doing and seeing all we possibly can, June and July.

7. We have a month full of visits from 4 sets of family and friends in August.

8. Nick sets out on a 7-month deployment in August.

9. I dive in and get involved in church, Heart2Heart military spouse group, Surface Officer Spouses Club, Compass, hosting a church lifegroup, spending time with great new friends and their kids, and doing as much fun stuff with Sydney around the area as I can, September through November.

10. My dear Granddaddy passes away in October and we make a last-minute trip to Memphis for a week.

11.  We fly home for the holidays and Sydney's birthday, for a month and a half, November through January!

Of course, there is also much in between, but this was overall the main events of our 2010.  

In 2011, I most of all, look forward to re-uniting with my lifeline! How I have missed him!!! I cannot imagine the emotions I will feel on the day I get to see him again. I can't imagine the emotions he will be going through seeing Sydney and I again. 

This has been the best first deployment experience I could have possibly hoped for, but nothing is easy about being away from half of your own heart for 7 months.  No, it's not easy, but I know it will be rewarding. Some people go their whole lives and never "get" to experience what it is like to be away from their spouse, and I'm not talking about for a week because they go on a business trip. I'm talking about months and months. Months of waiting, missing, going through emotions of sadness, independence, loneliness,  jealousy of couples who are always together, excitement, butterflies just hearing their voice twice a week, helping your child cope and understand it all as they are missing their daddy, and most of all, longing for and anticipating the day you will see them again. It has ups and downs, but I consider it all a BLESSING! Thank you God that my husband has a stable, successful job. Thank you God that because of your provisions with this job, I can stay home and raise our daughter how we see best. Thank you God that we have this opportunity to see all over the world. Thank you God that we have this opportunity to live in such a beautiful place. Thank you God that we have this opportunity to make lifelong friends around the world. Thank you God that I have this amazing man you created as my lifetime partner, to even miss. Thank you God that this time away from him has made me love and cherish him that much more. 

I will try to share my thoughts and (most of) my emotions throughout this time leading up to Nick's homecoming, and more about military life so far for us, in my future posts. I never knew how very different the military life is, but it is certainly incomparable to anything else. However, to close this post, I thought I would share my "New Year's Resolutions."  I don't go crazy with these, but I feel it's always good to have, and note, a few main aspirations or goals for myself. Unlike a common New Year's Resolutions list, you will not see a ton of health or fitness-related goals, because those are embedded in my life everyday.  In fact, I could probably narrow it down to the just the top 2 and I'd be good,  but of course I felt I needed to set a few more than just 2. So, here they are: 

1. Be consistent with my quiet time every day.

2. Be consistent with our tithing.

3. "Phone call Sundays"- use Sundays as a day to make calls to family and friends to keep in touch.

4. Keep our family traditions going and start some new ones.

5. Send out a seasonal, or bi-yearly letter with pictures and updates to close friends and family.

6. Keep Sydney on her schedule, including wake times, "homeschool-preschool" learning activities, bedtime routines which include Bible stories, and naptimes.

7. Do a fitness competition.

There they are. Of course, I have small goals and to-do lists I make daily and weekly, but when I look back on 2011 after it is over next year, I want to see that I accomplished these main goals listed above. I'm excited for this new year and the memories we will be making together as a family, experiences we will be sharing, and the changing and growing we will continually be doing. Change is good. And the military life is sure full of it. God wants to constantly change and renew us, to where we can grow closer to Him, know Him a little more, and become just a little bit more like Him as our time goes on. I'm hopeful that us, the Allen family, are constantly in a season of this kind of growth and change not only in 2011, but in all the years ahead for us as well.  

Back in Cali!

Well, we are now back home from our month and a half long visit to Memphis.  It was so wonderful to be with our family and friends over the holidays.  Other than Sydney getting double ear infections for the first time ever in her 3 years of life, and later getting the flu, an allergic reaction to eating, her carseat, and her socks and shoes (sarcastic), and myself getting the flu and a sinus infection, it was a great time!! :) We had Sydney's 3rd birthday party, a day filled with too many gifts, a diet of nothing but sugar, along with hard play and no nap... just how a 3-year old Birthday Princess-Ballerina should have it! :) Of course we also had Thanksgiving, did every Christmas-themed activity that Memphis had to offer, and had as many visits with family and friends that we could squeeze in!  

 

It is GREAT to be back in beautiful San Diego, though!  I almost forgot how much I love it here and how gorgeous the scenery and weather is.  I try to be so very grateful for us being given the opportunity to live here.  All props go to God for His provision and Nick for all his hard work! It has been nice getting settled back into our home, getting into our daily routines, and getting Sydney (back) onto a schedule, although challenging at first from the traveling.  My friend Cally picked us up from the airport with her 4 daughters, and "Care Bear", as Sydney calls her, her 3-year old, SPRINTS across the baggage claim area yelling, "THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND!!" and runs up to Sydney with the biggest hug! It was the cutest thing!  I was so excited to get back into group with my ladies in Heart 2 Heart, the military wives group I meet with every Thursday. I missed their company and encouragement while we were gone. And today, being back at our AMAZING, real, relaxed, and Loving church was so nice.

As far as Nick, he is doing good. He has his good days and his bad. He is really missing us and sometimes gets very discouraged about this aspect of his career. He is extremely busy, working really long hours, getting things accomplished for his qualification process which can seem never-ending and frustrating for him at times, and getting 5 hours of sleep a night at best. On the other hand, he has grown close to his crew and his superiors, and has been able to enjoy some down time with them. 

As far as me, I am doing as best as can be expected. I miss Nick like CRAZY! I get jealous sometimes of other people who get to be with their spouse every day; but at the same time, I feel like I appreciate Nick now more than ever. I'm so thankful for our marriage, friendship, the amazing qualities that Nick exhibits as a husband, daddy, and man, and the sacrificial love he has for me and our daughter. Thank you God for Nick! I stay busy and keep us in a routine of doing things. I do get feelings of inadequacy from time to time though, since this is the first time I have ever not worked.  I feel at times that I am not doing enough, and I need to contribute more. This is just something I battle within myself. I pray that if God wants me to contribute financially though, that He will help me make that possible with open opportunities.  

As far as Sydney, it has taken her a few days to get adjusted. First morning back, she woke up ready to go at 5:30am, and second night woke up about 10 times throughout the night. After a few days however, I believe we are back on track.  She is currently obsessed with her books. She is a little book worm, always reading, and has to always have her books. I've been introducing some Bible stories lately, now that I feel she is old enough to follow the plots and lessons for the most part. I'm working on her with her whining, which I know is always a task at this age.  I'm using an idea from Ginger Plowman, who wrote Don't Make Me Count to Three (best parenting book ever). She had a "kit" if you will of a book called "Whiney Will" and a "whine watch". Basically, the book tells a story of a boy who has to learn to use self-control with his voice. As punishment, he puts on a watch while in time-out that beeps after 3 minutes. During that time, he thinks of how he can better communicate, and after the watch beeps he comes back and tries again the right way. I'm not only using the watch with Sydney for whining, but for other behaviors as well, and it really has been good for her. I am able to sit down and talk it out with her, and she comes back apologetic and with a seemingly new attitude. I will keep you updated, though!;)

So it is good to be back home in San Diego! Now, off to fill our calendar with activities and schedules! :)

Stay tuned for my upcoming "New Years Resolutions" post! :)