School's Out for the Summer

It's summer!  Actually, I have been done with school for almost 2 4 weeks!  (I started this post a while ago, but never finished it.)  So far, I have read one book, slept alot, and watched a lot of TV.  Real productive, huh?  So, I decided I needed a summer bucket list (actually, I saw the idea on Pinterest).  And where better to post that list that my blog? 
So, here's what I'm hoping to do/accomplish this summer:

~Read 4 books entirely for fun and 1 educational book.
~Get back to work out and stick with it. 
~Go to a Texas Rangers game.
~Enjoy a snowcone.
~Clean out and pack all closets.
~Spend a week at my parents.
~Have friends over and enjoy our last couple months here.
~Move into my new classroom.
~Sinus surger #4 (fun, huh?)
~Try out new recipes.
~Keep the flowers alive that I planted this spring. 

Not a real exciting list...I know.  But, I'm looking forward to most of it!  What are you looking forward to this summer?

Safe Cleaning

As we get ready to move, I have started cleaning our apartment.  We still have a couple months to go, but I figure I should start now to avoid late nights of cleaning later on.  Two things that I've spent hours on and just couldn't get clean were the shower and the stove top.  I hate the smell of the cleaners you usually buy for these things, especially being trapped in the bathroom with those fumes.  So, I began searching Pinterest and other online sites.



I started with the shower.  I came across a recipe of 1 part Dawn dish soap and 1part vinegar.  Perfect!  While vinegar doesn't smell great, it's not a toxic smell.  I mixed up 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of blue Dawn.  I sprayed it on the shower and let soak for about 2 hours.  I came back and scrubbed just a little with a sponge and it looked great!

 Next up, I decided to tackle the stove.  We have a gas stove and the top is white.  All around the burned was dirty (not really sure what it was).  Every time after I cook,  I spray it down with different clearners and scrub, but nothing seems to work.  I did some research and didn't find anything that I just loved.  I really didn't want to use amonia and deal with that smell.  So, I used what I knew.  I knew both Dawn and baking soda could be used in cleaning dishes, so I decided to try the combo.  I used about 1 part Dawn to 2 parts baking soda and then added water to get it the consistancy I wanted.  I used my finger to rub it on the stove, let it sit for about 10 minutes and then scrubbed with a sponge.  Almost all of the caked on "stuff" was gone!  I then wiped it down with a dry paper towel to avoid too much sudsing and then a wet paper towel.  I am really impressed with how it turned out.  It's not perfect, but it's 100% better.  I think I will try it again and let it set a little longer and then used a toothbrush to scrub.

I'm very pleased with the ways of cleaning without using harmful chemicals.  I don't want to be exposed to those chemicals, nor do I want my furbabies exposed!

What chemical free ways of cleaning have you found that work?

Change

"For I know the plans for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This verse has been one of the most important verses in my life over the past few years.

Just over four years ago, Anthony told me he wanted to enlist in the Air Force. I remember that day quite well. It was my 24th birthday. I was devastated. We weren't even engaged and I was so scared I would lose him. But God had other plans.

Fast forward about a year. Anthony graduated tech school and I resigned from my teaching job early. As we moved to our new base, I began searching for a new teaching job. I prayed and prayed that I would find me the right job. School started and still no job.  It was a hard to keep faith during such a trying time, but I continued to trust that God had a plan.  Two weeks later I was hired to teach in a school with an amazing faculty. I couldn't have asked for more.

And that brings me to now. Anthony's time in the Air Force is up this fall. We are ready to be closer to our families. But again, that means more change.  Changes that we don't always have complete control of.  We both need new jobs.  And then we need a house.  It's hard not really knowing what will happen, where we will be and where we will live.  Will we both get jobs?  But, just when it gets overwhelming, I am taken back to the above verse.  God WILL take care of us.  It might not be what we want and when we want it.  We might have to struggle.  But those hard times, that struggling, is what makes us who we are.  So, I continue to trust Him that everything will pan out and we will be okay.

That being said, I have been offered a first grade position!  While I have taught first grade the past 2 years, this year will be different.  I will be working at a different time of school, as it is not in an economically disadvantaged area, like I am used to and love.  It will be a new experience, but I trust that He wants to me be there for a reason. 

Now, we need one more job and a house.  I can't wait to see what God has in store!

Baby Shower Brunch

My dear friend Priscilla is expecting a little boy next month.  Priscilla is one of those people that goes out of her way to do things for others.  My friend Donae and I wanted to return the favor by hosting a shower for her.  She didn't want anything big, so we decided on a brunch.  Neither of us had thrown a shower, so it was a new adventure for us both. 

We started scouring Pinterest months in advance to come up with some ideas.  I think it turned out great. 

Donae and I made this ribbon wreath to hang in Owen's room.

Our friend Aften wasn't able to come, but she sent this diaper cake.  It was so cute and such a relief to not have to attempt to make one.  Donae and I were quite concerned with how ours would turn out.

We kept the food pretty simple.  We had fruit and dip, donuts, muffins, sausage balls and sausage pinwheels. 

 Donae and I found this idea on pinterest.  It includes slippers, chocolate, face wipes, sanitizer, wisps, lotion, hair ties and other things that she will be able to use while in the hospital. 

 She got lots of goodies for Owen!  We had a great time hosting and everything turned out well.  So, I will mark this down as a success!  I can't think of a more deserving person to throw a shower for.  She is going to be such a great mommy to two! 

It's My Birthday,I'll Cry If I Want To

And cry I did.

It wasn't a bad birthday. I was showered with lots of love from friends, family and colleagues. My team at work celebrated with cupcakes. Anthony bought a cake and flowers and made dinner. I received tons of Facebook messages, texts and calls. My students sang happy birthday to me and showered me with drawings and hugs.

But it wasn't the same. There was no card from Gran. No singing phone call from Gran. No Gran.

I couldn't get past that. All day, my heart longed to hear from Gran again. And that's all I could focus on. I spent most of the day in a major funk and I took it out on poor Anthony.

And honestly, for the first time ever, I am glad my birthday is over. Today was a new day and my heart was a little lighter.

Adapting, Part 2

While life as a military wife hasn't been what I expected, I am so very grateful for what life has been like.

While it was a bit disappointing that military life hasn't even taken us out of the state of Texas, I am glad we have remained a short drive from family throughout these past years. We have lost 2 grandparents, a niece, and a dog. We were very lucky to be able to make the short drive to be with family during these times.

And while making friends was a bit challenging at first, we have made some amazing friends over the years. They are friends that have been there as we have lost loved ones and any time I am in need.

But most importantly, I have grown since we moved here. I have learned to be independent, as Anthony isn't always here. I have learned to deal with the yucky stuff like bugs and car problems, and the more serious harder stuff like cancer and death. I have learned to lean on my husband and to rely on him.

But most importantly, I have learned that I can and will get through it with God by my side.

Adapting

It has been three years since I left my job, my friends, and pretty much everything I knew and truly began living the life of a military wife.

It hasn't been anything like I expected. I expected that we would move across the country, or even to the other side of the world. I envisioned a very tight knit community of military. I thought making friends would be easy.

Instead, we moved a few hours away and didn't leave the state. While we are close with some of the families that Anthony works with, I wouldn't go as far as saying everyone is tight knit. And making friends took a long time and wasn't easy. We all live different lives with different schedules. We don't get together very often as a group. And it's hard to make plans when your husband works every other day.

While it wasn't exactly what I expected, and it has been a hard 3 years, these three years have been three of the most important years of our lives full of memories and new friends!

For those of you that are military wives, was it what you expected?