Monday, January 30, 2012

Where to Next?

I'm glad the wait of knowing where the Army is sending us is over but things are just starting to get rolling.  We know the location but there is a difference in knowing WHERE we are going and knowing the area WHERE we are going to.  Does that make sense?  I hope so.



I must say...I am starting to feel overwhelmed.

The post where we have been assigned is actually located in two different states, with the state line running down the middle. If we live on post or off post (KY or TN), there are three different school districts represented.

I can google homes to rent or to purchase but finding out if the address of the house you found online is located in a decent area is another thing.  I have talked to people who live or have lived in this area but I am getting conflicting information.  I have heard that there are no "bad areas" and then I have heard that yes, there are some bad areas but I don't know where...I live in the other state.

I am praying that things work out and that the girls and I can return to the United States a few weeks early so I can do some recon on the area where we will be moving.  Since this is only our second duty station in the United States, I am wondering how do military families do it?

How do they move so often, to such different Army posts and find the right place to call home?  So if you've done this before and have any advice to offer me, I'm all ears.  Please, let me in on the secrets or tricks of the trade.  I'm ready with a pen in hand.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Make New Friends....

One summer when I was little, my mom helped at a local Girl Scout camp.  My sister and I went along as my mom volunteered.  I remember learning a song that week that went like this.

Make new friends
Keep the old
One is silver
And the other gold.


This song hits home to me as we count down to our upcoming PCS (military move).  While at each duty station, we make friends and build relationships with people.  Some of those individuals become like family to us.  And then it happens.  You get new orders and it's time to move again.

I know many people in the military who will never say "Goodbye."  Instead they say "See you later." 

There are those of you that I will miss as we move on.  There are those who I went to high school with that I will get to see again, once we are back in the states.  And there are the new friends that I continue to meet and will meet in the future. 

You are all precious to me and I thank God for you.  So whether you are a silver or a gold friend, know that you are appreciated. 

Philippians 1: 3-4
I thank my God every time I remember you. 
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

A Story I Read on Facebook

Lately I have seen a story being posted around on Facebook.  I did some investigating to see where it came from and if it was true, but I did not find a confirmation of whether it was truthful or made up.  But I thought it shared some interesting insights, so I decided to share it with you.


An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer. 

 The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan". All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all).
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

 The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed. It could not be any simpler than that.

 Remember, there IS a test coming up. The 2012 elections.

These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:

 1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

 2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

 3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

 4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

 5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

Random Acts of Kindness

The girls and I were heading to post for PWOC(Protestant Women of the Chapel) Bible Study.  The weather was quite colder than it has been.  The average temperature has been around 22F but this particular morning, it was only 14F. 

Since the Army is in the middle of hiring new gate guards, soldiers have been tasked with the responsibility of manning the gates and checking vehicles and IDs. As we pulled up to the gate, I mentioned to the soldiers that it was quite a morning to be working outside.  I told them what they needed what a cup of hot chocolate to warm them up.  One of the soldiers said, "Yeh, that would be nice" while his partner told me not to listen to that guy.

I asked them how long their shift would be and they informed me they would be there until 4:00PM.  I told them that I would be back....with some hot chocolate.



So the girls and I went to Bible Study, had lunch, and went in search of hot chocolate.  I wasn't sure how many soldiers would be manning this particular gate, so we made 6 cups and headed out.  I had to go off post, to come back on post. 

When it was my turn at the gate, I handed over our ID cards and proceeded to hand out the hot chocolate. The guys began laughing...asking if I was serious.  Of course, I told them yes and that I had six cups.  I hoped it was enough.  They told me I didn't have to do that....and really I didn't BUT I wanted them to know that they were appreciated and in the middle of a cold day, they could use a little cheering up. 

They were thankful and it was wonderful to see the smiles on their faces.

So my question to you today is, what have you done for someone else today?  What COULD you do for someone today that would bless them?  Your random act of kindness may touch someone's life and leave an imprint of God's love for them.  I encourage you, take a moment this week to do something special for someone else.


A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The news we've been waiting for...

You may have noticed that I am a bit late for posting Tuesday's post. Actually the day had an unexpected turn of events.

We had decided last week that when my husband received his next duty assignment, that he would tell us to "make dessert."  So yesterday, he called me and asked if I got his email.  I told him that I had not been on my computer for a few hours since our oldest daughter was using it for her online school.  He said to check my email.  I asked him if he could just tell me what he sent....then he said to make dessert.

Of course I had to ask him if he was serious and he said yes.  I asked if he could tell me and he said that as long as I don't tell the girls, so I agreed. 

Holding a secret from your kids is hard...especially when they see you making dessert.  See we don't make dessert during the week, so they knew that something was up.  Marissa and I made an apple pie as she pondered the news....where might we be going?

As soon as my husband got home from work, he was bombarded by excited children.  We calmed them down, sat them down and broke the news.

Well, we didn't get anything on our list (dream sheet of where we would like to go). We will be going back to the United States.  We will be within 14 hours driving of family. 

They all gave their guesses as to where we would be moving next, but none of the girls guessed correctly

So in case you are not on facebook and have seen my post, we are heading to Fort Campbell, KY.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Happy Lunar New Year!

While the eve of January 1st brings much celebration for those who live in the United States, the Lunar New Year is a big holiday here in Korea.  Our celebrations are done according to the calendar year but in Korea, China and other Asian countries, the lunar calendar decides when the celebrating begins.

Here in Korea, the Lunar New Year is a time when people return to their hometowns to pay their respect to their relatives.  Many people are travelling during this time and we were warned not to travel during this holiday, which lasts three days.  Someone told my husband that that a 4 hour trip might end up taking 20 hours to reach your destination.  Since I really don't need to shop or do some site seeing that bad, our family opted to just stay home during this holiday.

Since my husband was off for the day, we took a walk on the trails near our apartment and went into town to see if by chance any of the stores were open where we could get a snack.  Most of the restaurants and businesses were closed with the exception of a few convenience stores, fast food, Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins.

Since it was only 23 degrees today, Baskin Robbins would not do....so Dunkin Donuts it was!  We had an enjoyable family time in spite of the cold weather.  When we arrived home we warmed up with some hot chocolate. 

So whether you celebrate a calendar or lunar new year.....  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Free Tax Filing for Military

With the tax season almost upon us, it is time to start thinking about filing your taxes.  All Active Duty W-2s will be available online at myPay.gov on January 24th and many tax centers on Army posts will begin to open soon after.  One of the great advantages of being military is that you can have your taxes done for free at the tax center on your local post.



If you would rather not take the time to wait at the tax center you can go to MilitaryOneSource where, through H &R Block, you can prepare your own taxes at home using their software and file them for free.

If your solider is deployed, you can still take advantage of the free tax filing service offered by the military.  Just make sure you have a Power of Attorney with you when you go for your appointment at the tax center.  For more information on filing your taxes while your spouse is deployed, click here.

While I have not used H & R Block's free tax filing service before, I have filed our taxes using the on post tax center.  Check them out and find what will work best for your family and situation.  Happy Tax Filing!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Who are you relying on?

Some days I love my life!!  Other days, I am frustrated with how things in my life are going. One of those frustrations is that because we are a military family that lives overseas and we are dependent upon the military systems that are in place. Sometimes they work well, while others times, not so good.  I'm trying not to complain, but it's hard when we are limited by our circumstances. 

While we have access to US Postal system, once our mail gets delivered to the drop point in California, the military takes over from there.  Christmas gifts that should have been delivered three weeks ago are still lost in space somewhere.

While I am blessed to have access to the Commissary and PX, they don't always stock what we need and at times there are shortages or they stop carrying a product that our family has been used to having.

Waiting to get our assignment and orders all depends upon a group of people meeting to make decisions and us waiting for the information to flow down through the right chain of people to eventually get to us at the bottom.

I know these are just minor things in the larger, grand picture of life, but when it all hits at once, it can be quite overwhelming and frustrating.  And this momma does not do well when I feel bombarded.

As I have been praying during my quiet time lately, the Lord has impressed upon me, "Who am I putting my trust in?  Who am I relying on?"  

Unfortunately, I must say...I have been trusting in man and in earthly systems.  I have taken my eyes off of Christ in my situation and I have been ruled by my emotions instead of trusting God.  Whew, that's a hard pill to swallow.  Where is my faith?  I know where it should be.  Now I just have to get it there.

Knowing and doing are two entirely different things.

Just like David did in the book of Psalm, he commanded his soul to bless the Lord. I need to remind myself that my life is not ruled by people or circumstances and that I should not allow my emotions to be swayed like a boat being tossed about in a storm BUT that my hope and my trust is in the Lord God and that He is in control.

Maybe you are struggling with a similar things in your life.  You are letting stuff influence you and change you, not for the good.  Don't be ruled by the things of this world which are temporary, but allow God to be on the throne of your heart. Tell yourself that you will praise Him anyway.  That you will trust Him today!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight
Proverbs 3:5-6


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

DAISO

When we arrived in Korea over a year and a half ago, we came upon a store called DAISO.  It's a neat store that I would say is like a Dollar Tree or Dollar General but way better.  After asking some questions about the chain that is found all over Korea, we found out that it is actually not a Korean chain but a Japanese store. 

According to the DAISO website, "We have an independently developed and wide-ranging product lineup; high-quality products that are recognized not only in Japan, but all around the world; and low prices that are made possible by our large network of stores. All these elements have all been crucial for creating stores where our customers can find surprises and fun. The result is the Daiso Way that we have cultivated over the years."

After watching a video on their website, I came to find out that DAISO even has a handful of stores in the United States. 

While we have enjoyed shopping there, today I found a rare treat!  



You may not be as excited as I was but let me tell you why I was excited.  In case you don't know, Snyder's of Hanover is a snack food company known for it's pretzels.  It is located in Hanover, Pennsylvania.  Guess where my husband and I lived for over half of our married life ......in Hanover, PA!!!  Yes, there is a little bit of home in my local DAISO store here in Korea.  How cool is that!

I know that I can get Snyder's pretzels at my local Commisary but at a store in Korea, that's special!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Space A

Recently I have had a lot of people asking me about my Space A trip this past year, so I decided that I would repost this old post along with some new information.

Today's blog is for all of those military dependents out there who have ever wondered about taking a Space A flight but have yet to do so. You may have heard of Space A but never really knew what it was all about. When it comes to flying Space A, the more information you have the better.

Well let’s start with the basics. Space A stands for Space Available. There are military flights that go around the world each day. These flights might be relocating people, moving cargo or a variety of other things. Sometimes these airplanes are not completely full and that is when the available space is offered to the military sponsor and/or their dependents. Some flights may have 5 open seats, while others may have over 30.

Who is eligible for Space A? Well that is a good question. On a regular day, a uniformed member of the military along with his/her dependents is eligible to fly. BUT, there are a few reasons that dependents can fly without their sponsor. This includes but is not limited to emergency situations, those with deployed sponsors, Command Sponsored OCONUS dependents, Non-Command Sponsored CONUS located dependents, Command Sponsored OCONUS dependents on EML.

I know this sounds a bit confusing, but let me direct you to a site that explains in detail much of this information that I have shared. http://spacea.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
I have learned a lot in the last few weeks as I prepared to leave South Korea and fly home Space A to visit my family in the United States. One of these things is that those flying on Space A are broken down into different categories. Depending upon how and why you are flying, will determine which category you will be assigned to for your trip.

Since I was flying without my sponsor from an OCONUS duty station to CONUS, it put me in Category V (5) of the 6 Categories. I made the decision to get approval for EML which bumped me up to Category IV. 

Here is a summary of the categories:
Category I – Unfunded Emergency Leave
Category II – AD (Active Duty) on EML and their accompanying family members
Category III - AD and their accompanying family members, House Hunting Permissive TDY, unaccompanied dependents of deployed service members (365 plus day deployment)
Category IV - Unaccompanied dependents on EML or sponsor is deployed for 120 days
Category V – Unaccompanied dependents of AD (command/non-command sponsored), Permissive TDY
Category VI – Retirees and their accompanied dependents

To use Space A you must sign up ahead of time.  If you are active duty or traveling with your sponsor, the earliest that you can sign up is the day that their leave or pass begins.  If you are traveling unaccompanied, then you can sign up as soon as you have your travel authorization or EML form signed.  Signups are only good for 60 days, or the duration of a soliders leave.  There are a few ways to sign up but the simplest way to tell you is to use the AMC form which can be found here:  http://www.amc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100706-057.swf
I simply sent an email to the AMC termials that I wanted to fly out of or through with the required information.  Always keep a hard copy of the email that you sent because if you get to the terminal to check in for a flight and they do not have you listed in the system, then you have the email as proof and they will add you in with the date on the email.

Even though you fall into a certain Category, all those people in that Category will then be placed in order of earliest sign up to most recent with those who sign up first getting on the plane before the others would.

I must tell you upfront, I am not the adventurous type and doing a trip from South Korea to the United States without my husband but with my 4 daughters in tow, was a big deal for me. When we moved to Korea, I had to do this same trip but I was on a commercial flight with flight attendants, meals and movies. From the stories I had heard, Space A would not be the same. BUT the idea of saving the cost of 5 commercial airlines tickets at $1500.00 a piece is what enticed me to take this adventure.

It takes a lot of work to make phone calls, jot info down and put the pieces of the puzzle together but if you don’t have to pay for the flight and can get where you want for little or next to nothing, it’s all worth it in the end.

Here is my Space A experience from Korea to the USA.  My plan to get to the states was to start with the Patriot Express since it leaves Osan AFB every Tuesday and Thursday and flies to Seattle, WA.  I attempted to get on the Tuesday flight, but it was booked, (they never called anyone below Category III)  so I stayed at Turumi Lodge in Osan (about 41.50 a night) and decided that I would try the Thursday flight to Seattle.  We did not make that either.    After talking to some of the airmen working at the AMC(Air Mobility Command) desk, I was told that it would be easier getting out of Yokota, Japan to the USA then it would going out of Osan.  Since the Thursday Patriot Express was heading through Yokota AFB, I  gave them a  call and found out that they had three flights going to California in the next week.  There were seats on the Patriot Express from Korea to Japan, so I decided to just take a chance, head to Japan and pray we got on a flight bound for the USA from there.  Worst case scenario, I would have to pay for lodging for a week (again 41.50 a night) at Yokota and head back to Korea on the next inbound Patriot from Yokota to Osan.

We arrived in Japan too late for the flight that was heading to CA that same day, so we went to the lodge and stayed the night.  We had dinner at Chili’s and stopped at the commissary for some items for breakfast and lunch the next day.  Friday afternoon there was a flight heading to Travis AFB with a roll call of 1600.  It was a C17 with 20 Space A seats available.  I was afraid we would not get on because I needed 5 of those 20 seats for my 4 daughters and me.  After waiting through roll call, we did get on that flight and made it to the USA some 9 hours later.
You need to be flexible to take Space A.  Have a little room in your budget in case you get stuck somewhere.  But the good thing is that a room at AFB  lodging is between 39.00 and 42.00 a night.

You also need to be proactive and make lots of phone calls.  In addition to the Patriot Express, you  can call Osan (or wherever else you may be flying out of) and see if they have any other flights going out and where they are heading.  Most AMC (Air Mobility Command) places will only have confirmed flight info for 3 days out but they may have a schedule of where they fly regularly for the month.  Yokota was that way.  Last May, when I flew, Yokota had regular flights to Elmendorff (AK), Travis (CA) and Hickam (HI) at least 3-5 times a month.  They may not give you the monthly schedule over the phone though.  They had a sheet with information at the AMC desk though.   The link to all the AMC Travel site:   http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/index.asp      If you go here, it will give you the contact information of all the AMC locations:   http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/amctravelcontacts.asp   I printed this list and took it with me on my adventure. 
If you are not flying with your spouse, you can only fly until you hit the continental USA, unless you are manifested through.  This means that say you start in Hawaii and they have a flight that is going to Travis AFB, Scott AFB and then onto Dix/McGuire.  You can get on in Hawaii (which is OCONUS) and fly all the way to Dix/McGuire, as long as they put you on the flight manifest the entire way through.  In my case, since the flight I got on ended at Travis and did not go further east, I had to get off there and pay for a commercial flight from there. 

In the long run, it was definitely worth it.  The trip on the C17 was an experience like no other.  It was cold and loud, but it was FREE!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Epheisians Bible Study @ GMG

Good Morning Girls has announced their next Bible study.  Beginning on January 15th, they will be going through the book of Ephesians.




It’s a 12 week study that includes a a reading plan and study guide to help you along and it's all FREE!  All you need to do is download the Ephesians E-Book and get ready to be encouraged and blessed.

The e-study guide includes:
  • The Ephesians SOAP reading plan
  • An explanation of the Good Morning Girls SOAP Bible reading method
  • 12 weeks of worksheets
Good Morning Girls will be providing on-line resources, videos and discussions.  

If you have never participated in a study at GMG here is what you do.

For NEWBIES!:
1. Invite your friends to join your Good Morning Girls group - it runs from January 15th-April 15th. If you don’t like email – use Facebook, Twitter or texting!

2. Don’t have friends to invite? Go to the Message Board and find like-minded women there who have already started groups.  You can join us for this study even if you are not a part of a group.


So if you are interested in growing in your faith along with other women, check out Good Morning Girls and get connected with their upcoming study.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

The Kimchi Chronicles

This past summer while I was home visiting family in the states, my mom told me about a new series she found called The Kimchi Chronicles.  She thought it would be great show for me to watch since we live in South Korea.  While at my parents, I did not find an opportunity to catch the show.

The other night as I was browsing through our Korean Cable TV I came upon a show in English. It's always exciting to find a television show in English, so I stayed on the channel to see what it was about.  It appeared to be about South Korea, showing places to visit and cooking some traditional foods. I was really interested in the program but still had no idea what I was watching.  The next program that came on was The Kimchi Chronicles and I realized that it was the same show I had just watched.

The show follows Marja Vongerichten and her chef husband, Jean-Georges around Korea as they explore, cook and visit the different markets. Marja was born in Korea to an unmarried US Serviceman and a Korean woman.  She was given up for adoption at the age of 3 and was adopted by a couple, who the husband was stationed with the U.S. Army in Korea at the time.  She was raised in Virginia by her adoptive parents.  At the age of 19, she sought and found her birth mom. 

The Kimchi Chronicles is a look at the tastes and traditions of the culture in which Marja was born, but was not raised.  I really enjoyed the show because it gave me a glimpse of some sights in South Korea which I have yet to see. 

Hopefully I can cram in a few more places to visit before we move in the next few months.  Check out the video clip about The Kimchi Chronicles.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Spicy Garlic Chicken Pizza

The other day my daughter asked for pizza for dinner.  I made sure I had cheese on hand and flour to make the dough but never got around to making it.  So tonight, she asked if we were having pizza and I said sure.

I didn't want to do the same red sauce, mozzarella cheese pizza that we always make, so I went through my recipes to find something different.  I found one that a friend gave me about 7 years ago and I realized that I have never made it....so tonight was the night!

When we at this recipe at my friend Gen's house, it was really spicy, so for my non-spice loving family, I really cut back the amount of red pepper in the recipe.  Everyone loved it, so this is one recipe that needs to be brought out of hiding and used again.

(I want to upload a picture but the uploader is not working right now.  I'll try again later)


SPICY GARLIC CHICKEN PIZZA
12 oz. chicken (breast deboned is easiest)
3/4 cup sliced green onion
4 cloves of garlic, minced
4 Tbsp. white vinegar
4 Tbsp. soy sauce
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp crushed red pepper ( OR ground red pepper, which makes for a spicier pizza)
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1  12" -15" pizza shell
1/2 - 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup Monterrey jack cheese, grated

Cut the chicken in to small pieces.  Combine 1/2 of green onion, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, 2 Tbsp. oil and peppers.  Add chicken and mix well.  Let marinade in the frig for at least 30 minutes.  Drain the chicken, reserving the marinade. Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a skillet, add the chicken, and stir-fry for about 3 minutes.  Stir cornstarch into marinade.  Add to chicken and cook on med-high until thick and bubbly.  Spoon evenly onto the crust.  Top with cheeses and bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.  Top with remaining green onions.


Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family did.  What kind of pizza do you make?  Post a link to your favorite recipe.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Saving Money

I like LOVE to save money, but I don't have the time to just sit for hours and scour the internet for good deals.  Instead, I get emails from websites who do the work for me.  Then all I have to do is browse a few emails a day looking for the deal I want.  Periodically, I will post great deals that I have found on my blog, but in the meantime, you can check out the sites I like and see if they work for you.

I also "like" a bunch of money saving pages on facebook but since we are still living overseas, I have unsubscribed to them because many of the pages list stores that I don't have access to here in South Korea.  Hopefully when we get back stateside in the next 3 months, I'll be able to take advantage of more deals.  I must say, living overseas has helped me save money.  I'm kind of scared about going back to the states and having soo many options for eating out and shopping again.  I'm going to have to pace myself and make sure I'm sticking to my budget.

Below are some of the blogs and websites that I like to visit.  The deals they share are both on the internet and in brick and mortar stores.



Frugal Girls!



 



Extreme Couponing, Stretching a Buck Blog



The above links are only a few of the many that are out there.  Maybe you have a site that you follow for saving money.  Post a comment and let us know. 

Monday, January 9, 2012

Hurry up and....WAIT!!

Do you ever feel that your life is like that?  You have to hurry up to get something accomplished and you put all this time and effort in to something only to have to wait?  I defintely feel like that....especially now. 

I am waiting for the assignment board to meet.  I am waiting for them to decide where we will be moving next (less than 100 days).  I am waiting for them to notify my husband's supervisor.  I am waiting for the supervisor to call my husband.  I am waiting for my husband to call me AND last but not least, I am waiting for the official documentation that will kick everything into gear....Orders!

UGH....this waiting is wearing me out!  Do you ever feel that way? Worn out from waiting for something or on someone else? 

I have friends who have moved back to the USA from Korea before us that had to wait....a really long time just for their orders.  In some cases, they did not have orders in their hands until three weeks before they were suppose to leave the country.  I am really praying that we don't have to wait that long.  I think the waiting would kill me.

Well, not literally, but sometimes I have a hard time waiting.  I remember back to 2008.  We were told that they needed chaplains to deploy and that they would move those not deploying to a unit that would be deploying.  We waited to see if my husband would be moved and nothing....then BOOM.  He received orders to move to a new unit a week later and then a week after that he left for a month of training.  Then when it came time to deployment, we new that we be going after January 1st but up to January 15th.  We had to just wait, not knowing when he would leave and when we would begin our one year separation.

I think the Army's motto could sometimes be, Hurry up and wait!  I know that if you or your spouse is in the military that you have experienced this motto at one time or another.  Thank goodness my life is not completely dependent upon the military. 

I have a relationship with Jesus Christ and my hope is in Him.  He is the one who gets me through the hard times that life throws my way.  I am reminded in His Word not to worry and to wait on Him.


6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7


31 Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary
.
Isaiah 40:31


Sometimes life gets the best of us, but we need to put our hope and our trust in God, not men.  People and systems will always fail us and disappoint us, but God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Are you sitting around waiting for something to happen?  Did you have to hurry up and complete something only to realize that there is no where to go?  Trust in Him today that He will give you the strength to get through your situation.  May you know His peace as you wait!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Pinterest


A few months ago I was asking....what in the world is Pinterest? I had heard the term popping up all over facebook but I had no idea what it really is, until now.

According to their website,  "Pinterest is a Virtual PinboardPinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes." 

For me, instead of saving cool ideas in My Favorites in my browser, I can create a board with a topic and pin my favorite things onto the board.  It adds a picture to your pin, links back to the website where you found it and allows you to add a comment. 

What would do without Pinterest?  oh yeh, spend lots of time sorting through my favorites trying to remember what I saved.

So you may be asking, how do I join?  For now, it is by invitation only, so you'll need to ask a friend who is already a part of Pinteret to send you an invite. 

I wanted to write more on how to organize your boards and pins but I have been sick the last few days, so I'll have to save that for another day.

Happy pinning!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

2012 Book List

Last year I had a difficult time finishing the books on my book list.  A few of them I started but did not finish while others I never even cracked open at all.  I know one of the reasons I had a hard time finishing all the books....unless the book is a fiction book, I want to be able to take in and learn from what I am reading. With everything that goes on in being a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom to 4 girls, some days I just don't have the time to use my brain when I read.  So instead of reading what was on my list, I ended up turning to fiction books instead.  They are easy reads and don't require my brain.  :)

Hopefully I will be able to use my brain a bit more this year and read some of those books that got tossed by the wayside.  Since I received a Nook for my anniversary this past year, I really have no excuse because it is even backlit, I can read in bed after my husband is asleep.

This coming year, I am focusing on 12 books.  One a month.  Let's see if I can finish what I start in 2012.
















What's on your reading list for this upcoming year? 
Do you recommend any particular books that you have enjoyed reading?

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

This is the Stuff



In light of my statement in yesterday's post about not being able to find my keys or cell phone at times, I just had to share this video with you.  Hope you enjoy it!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Getting Organized

I love to organize!  As far back as I can remember, I love to put things in order, line things up and keep to-do lists.  I specifically remember a time when I was about 13, that I went to my Aunt Sue's house and organized her pantry for fun.  LOL  At this point, you might be saying, YUK!  Who would organize for fun?  But that is just who I am.  Still to this day I love to help others organize and find places for things in their homes.

Now I am not the type of person that you read about or see on TV where they are professional organizers but their homes are disaster areas. I am not THAT bad.  I keep things in order around my home, for the most part, though at times I can't seem to find my keys or cell phone.

As we are getting ready to move from South Korea back to the United States in the coming months, organization is important.  Our belongings will take anywhere from six to nine weeks to get back to the USA and we need to decide what we can live with and without on either end of the world.

I am in the process of purging and semi-packing (the Army will actually make sure everything is packed), at least moving things that we no longer need to our walk-in closet.  I have taken over six bags of donations to the thrift store and there is more to come.

Not only am I organizing things on this end in South Korea, but once we get stateside and our HHG (household goods) arrive, I will be doing it again.  When we came to Korea, we were only allowed to bring one half of our belongings with us, so for the last two years, the other half has been in storage in Texas.  I know some of the things that are sitting in storage, such as our treadmill, eliptical and Bowflex but besides those items, I'm not looking forward to sorting through everything else that has been packed away.

Sometimes the task seems overwhelming, but I know that if I break it down into bite-sized pieces, it will be easily managed.  So if you have a task ahead of you that looks seem unmanageable, break it down, a little at at time, day by day and you'll be surprised that you can actually get it done.  Plus, if you invite over a friend who is willing to help, it actually can be enjoyable with the right company.  Don't give up!!

Monday, January 2, 2012

New Beginnings

There is just something about the first day of the week, the first day of a new month or even the first of the new year.  For me, those days are good times to start something. Like a diet, a new routine or to kick a plan into action.


http://www.clipartheaven.com/


While I am not one for New Year's Resolutions, I am using the first day of this new year to start some new things in my life, or some old things that need to be new again.  A few of the things that I am beginning are  1)watching what I eat, 2)having daily devotions with Katelyn and 3)to blog on a regular basis.


 I don't want to say that I am dieting, because I really need it to be a lifestyle not just a diet. Plus it needs to be something that I can stick to and not forget about.  My goal is to give up all soda and fried foods.  Not that I buy soda on a regular basis or cook fried foods, but these two things become quick go to items when we are out.  A burger with fries and a soda are just so easy and usually cheaper than a salad.

I have devotions with the two little girls each night but I have noticed that the older ones are not always making the time.  For Christmas I bought Katelyn, The One Year Mother-Daughter Devo.  Each night before bed, she and I are spending time together doing the daily devotions.  I hope that it doesn't just become a routine but that through the time in the Word together, we both grow closer to the Lord and in our relationship with each other.

I want to be consistent with blogging.  For me, I do really well for awhile, then I seem to fall off the wagon.  I am planning to be more organized with my blogging and even what I blog about.  This next week, my goal is to put together a plan for blogging.  I am hoping that I can encourage women to be better mothers, daughters, wives, sisters and friends through the words that I right.

So do you have any goals for the new year?  Is there something that you have wanted to do but just haven't made the time to try?  Why not use the first day of the next month or even the first day of this next week to start something new.


6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6 NASB

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

It's officially 2012!  Happy New Year to all of you!  May you find this coming year full of God's grace, may you experience His presence and power in your lives and may you know him more intimately in this coming year.

For our family, 2012 means that we will be returning to the United States following my husband's two year tour in South Korea.  We are beyond exicited!  Please pray for our family as we make this transition over the next 4 months.

I know that God has great things in store for us and I am excited to see where he takes us!

Be blessed this coming year!