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! :)