Changes

Life is always a big change. Nothing ever stays the same. In the life style we live that couldn't be more true. We don't only have the ever changing Navy work schedule to adopt to, or the changed return of an underway, or the lengthened deployment. These are can be especially difficult. Not just because it interrupts the flow of your daily routine or your plans, but because sometimes you need to drop everything to accommodate the changes. We recently dealt with it, but it was a nice surprise for the girls. They did not have a clue their dad was unexpectedly home again. We were not expecting him for another two weeks when I went and picked him up. It was difficult to manage only because everything had to pushed aside to make sure he wasn't left with no ride. Anyhow, we got him home and things have found a flow again. It seems no matter how hard you try to keep the same flow from when they were gone it just doesn't work. It always seems to change.

It didn't keep us from getting things done. We just had to move them around to different times to accommodate the abrupt change. I will say it is definitely nice that he came home early and we get a few extra days with him before he has to head back out. Not sure how many extra days it gives us, but it is more then we thought it was going to be in the first place. Living this life you get used to the unknown and the flexible schedules. Everything is subject to change even when you think it might be to late in the game for it to change. You learn to take it all at face value and remember it could change at any time. 

Every now and then we might get angry with how things are or how they effect our lives, but at the end of the day living this life has been such a blessing. The things it has allowed us to do, the countries we have been able to live in and visit have brought a better sense of culture for the girls. They have seen history in life and touched things from the past people only hear or see in a book. Mostly, because of the Navy making it possible....and maybe some bingo playing, too!! 

It brings on a lot of learning. Learning about yourself, your kids, family and friends. You learn to lean on yourself and you realize how strong and independent you really are. Although, there maybe times when you really don't feel that way. I know this is true for me a lot in the past. I think during his deployment when he first got here and deployed out with the ship. But it made me open my eyes are realize I am that strong person and I am independent. I can do life with him away. It isn't easy and man can it be lonely and stressful, but I can do it. We are quickly approaching another time where we will be living apart for several months. I am ready, to a point, if you can be ready for it. It will be different then the deployment.

You find a support system to put in place and surround yourself with friends who will help get through the tough days and weeks. You find enjoyment in the places where you may not have found it before. We like to celebrate all the things we don't really celebrate when we are all together. It gives us something fun to look forward to, but it also helps us to make it feel less hard. Being apart and far away from most of our family will always be hard, but we will forever be thankful for our life and the opportunities it has given us. 

We are stronger for it.......even apart!!

Underways

Navy life bring with it special challenges for families. We sometimes spend a lot a time living apart instead of together. Sometimes we split our living together and apart times with a ship, deployment, TAD's or TDY's. It all brings it's own set of challenges, changed routines, new out look on how to get things done, loneliness and yes even emptiness. This time can be especially trying for some. Our family is not exception to this. However, we try hard to embrace it. Wake up to a new a day, one less on the count down chain, and a new beginning. A new beginning because this new day has the chance to be something special, to not be like the day was yesterday, to not be as hard. Some days are really challenging mentally, emotionally and some days even physically.

We have entered into this part of our life again. Except right now we are lucky. He will only be gone for a short time. He is underway on the ship is currently working on. They are doing whatever it is the Navy has told them they need to do in order to have the ship ready for deployment. We call it playing in the ocean because it sounds much better then I don't really know what they are doing. Something in this life we are not authorized to know. That's fine by me. It means less to worry about.  However, you still stand by worrying about things you have zero control over. It is a strange thing at times.

We live one day at a time. On the hard days we live one second, one minute or one moment at a time. Just waiting for that day to end so a new one can start and it can be better then it was. Hard days are part of the process. It's almost like having a law. If it is always easy it would be something everyone would want to do. This life sure isn't for everyone. It is hard. It is lonely. It takes far away from family and sometimes it leaves you without any support. You have to learn to plug yourself into programs, groups and neighbors to make connections so you aren't left behind, in a sense. It can be dark at times, but the light is always within reach if you push ahead for it.

We go through a process while being separated. It's kind of like going through the grieving process. All the different steps of it. While some seem to mirror those you feel while grieving they can be very different and can happen at different times during the process. For us, we seem to be at the end. When counting down the days is exciting instead of being taxing or seem like it will never get here. This period will unfortunately be short lived. He will come home and be here for short amount of time and then he will return to the water. It is a job he loves and he loves being on the water. He loves his career, most of the time, and I honestly couldn't imagine him doing anything at this point. We take these moments in stride because they are always temporary. Even, when that temporary feels like eternity. 

I couldn't imagine my life or my families life being any different then it is now. We have grown and learned so much living this life style. I will sad when it does finally end and we have to be in one place "forever." We always refer to that as our "forever" home. I am left wondering at times if we will ever have a "forever" home because I can see us getting antsy staying in one place for long long periods of time. We haven't lived in a signal place for longer then 4 years. I see us getting antsy here as his time for moving to a new command is just around the corner. It will bring lots of changes. Especially for him, but for us we will still be here in our home that we are in now. Still doing some of the same things we are doing now. Only time can tell where we will end up when this chapter closes. For now, we just live in the moments and take each one in stride to see what happens next. It is an unknown journey and the path isn't always clear, but we definitely navigate it together one step at a time. 

Something New

 I originally started this blog while my family and I lived overseas in Japan. We added to our little family of four to become five. We have since moved back to the states, to Sicily and then back to the states. We currently are living in Virginia. While the transition has been hard on all of us, we have made it and are starting to find our way and make it our home. The girls and I will be staying there for several years. I would like to transition this blog into more about what life is like for us now, versus just the kids. They are growing and becoming young women and figuring out what they want to do in life and so that means life at home is also changing just as rapidly. 

With changes comes lots of thinking. At least for me. I know the thought of our oldest daughter Kayhlynn leaving home for college is becoming a real thing. She graduates next year from high school and she seems to be looking forward to the upcoming change of living off on her own on a college campus. She has big dreams and she isn't afraid to reach for them or work hard for them. She keeps her grades up and she makes sure to always be in attendance for class. She is very determined. Her drive makes me admire her. 

Hannah is going off to High School next year to start her new adventure. She struggles some times, but I think a lot of times it is because she doesn't have a lot of self confidence when it comes to doing certain things. I am always hopeful that she will learn and realize that she is a very smart, bright and courageous person. She has a lot to offer the world. With her quirky personality. She is a spite fire, but she isn't afraid to me herself most of the time. She has been venturing to figure out exactly who she is how she works, but its an important part of life to learn self discovery. Nothing more important then knowing who you are and what you like.

Natalie is a go with the flow girl. She always has been and it seems she always will be. She is spunky and funny. Out going and witty. She just enjoys life! She is not ever afraid to be herself. I truly hope this continues on for her as she begins her Middle School days. I can not believe I am about to watch my final baby "graduate" from elementary school and head off to Middle School. So many firsts and lasts happen with her. It sometimes makes my heart sad because she has really grown up quickly. Seems more quickly then the other two. I know it just seems that way, but you definitely won't convivence my heart of that.  

Things are always changing rapidly. Brad is nearing the end of his Naval career and looking at the many possibilities he will have available for himself when this chapter finally ends. It does make me a little uneasy because the Navy life has brought us so many blessings, stability and so many chances at seeing the world. I am praying daily that the blessings will be just a plentiful with the next chapter and that it will allow us the chance to continue to travel and experience the world that lays outside our home. Life is adventure and we so try to live it that way. At time this is challenging and difficult, but the rewards and experiences that come with it are totally worth it.

I have gone back to school. Studying currently for medical billing and then off to study for medical transcription. The last year has brought on some very challenging stages for families. Especially families with two working parents. We have been lucky in that I am currently still at home and able to be here with the girls. We do however, need a second income coming in and honestly the chance to do something besides be at home is always nice. It gives me the chance the feel more independent and helpful to the family unit as a whole. I decided on these two fields because if the girls need to be schooling at home I will be able to work from home and be here with them. They still like having me around for the most part so I like to take advantage of it. Soak up as many minutes as possible with them. They definitely aren't going to be here forever.

I am not sure where you are in your life, but currently this is where my family and I are. I will try to update this weekly, at the very least and keep everyone in the know of what is going on in our lives. Our families still live hundreds of miles away from us so this gives them the chance to stay updated. Me a chance to write about somethings that may be on my heart and just be somewhere outside of my head space. So for now......I'll write to you later....

Today is the beginning of a brand new year. That means everyone is deciding on their new year's resolutions. Which is good if you plan to stick to it all year long and make a plan to help you a long the way. We have decided NOT to do that anymore. Instead we make goals for each and try our hardest to make a plan that will help us stick to the goals and to help us hit those goals in the end. Sometimes, however, life tends to happen and sticks get thrown in the way. Having to over come them can be very challenging. Overall, our goals for the last year went completely achieved, but they did not go unachieved either. We got close to achieving them and that is a success in and of itself. We managed to work on issues we had going on within the family, grow closer together, work on getting healthier (always seems to be an ongoing goal), and of course traveling to see as much as Europe and such as we can while we are located here!!

So with all this, we have some newer goals and some goals that will be carrying over. Getting healthy and getting into better shape (because lets face it we all need to stay on top of this one for our personal healthy), growing stronger as family and closer together, to spend more quality time together, and of course travel more!!! To help stay on track with some of these....mommy is hoping...blogging will help make us a little more accountable. We shall see.... We are planning a new trip next month to start this year off. We will be headed to Budapest!! Definitely excited for this and can't wait to share some pictures with everyone.

Now to catch up from the last month. Mommy went on a trip with some of her girl friends. They went to Venice for a weekend. Mommy had a lot of fun and took a lot of pictures to share. It is hard to pick to just on or two. During her trip she also met a very nice gentleman. He was from the UK and he had amazing story about taking back his life and how he lives now with happiness and travels as often as he can!! He was an inspiration to keep on pushing forward in her journey with getting into shape and getting even healthier. She is getting there day by day and step by step. My mom works hard.

Christmas for us was amazing. We got to share our family traditions with our military family here in Sicily. They came over and made Gingerbread house and sugar cut out cookies with us!! We had a lot of fun and lots of smiles and laughter!! We are so happy to be able to share these things with those who have become our family so far from our family back in the States!! They are such a blessing to us. We will be forever grateful for the bonds of friendship with them!! Christmas morning came and we received many items we did not think we would get!! It was a great day for all. We got our jammies and Christmas movie on Christmas Eve like every year with hot cocoa and popcorn. We love this gift every year. This year we received Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Christmas. Our Christmas day was spent together at home enjoying our gifts and eating a wonderful dinner that mommy prepared for us!! We had a honey glazed ham with mashed potatoes and gravy, beets, and broccoli and rolls! Yummy....

Last night we celebrated the end of 2016 and brought in 2017. Kayhlynn and Natalie did not stay up until the new year was rung in, but I did. I enjoyed being up with mommy and daddy and trying to watch the football game. Unfortunately, I did not get to see much of the game because I could not hold out for it. I feel asleep before the end of the first quarter. To my disappointment, our team did not win. They played very poorly and deserved the loss they received as a result!! Hopefully, now that their season is over they can take the lessons they learned back home and build from them! Next year, they can be unstoppable!! Our New Year's celebration was at home as a family. Mom made Sauerkraut and pork for us to have at midnight!! Kayhlynn, made us a family dinner that consisted of a salad and great tasting spaghetti!! It was really delicious!! Mom and dad really enjoyed letting her cook dinner for us and allowing her to build on her cooking skills! She did a great job.

Today, things are back to "normal" for us. Mom is doing the laundry and some cleaning. Dad is watching tv and us kids are outside playing with our friends!! Big difference from the days past where we have been spending our time in doors and on our electronics. School resumes on Tuesday and our electronics time will be restricted. Which means, we won't get much time to be on them. Mom and dad like for us to do our chores, homework, play outside, and then have time for electronics if time allows!! Mommy, says she has some pretty big goals she is going to be working on over the course of the next few months and that they will be bringing some new changes to the way things are done. This is kind of scary because we don't like when mommy makes changes without informing us first! Oh well, we will be fine and things will work out well in the end!!

Time to go....the sun has set and it is time to take baths and get ready for a relaxing night in before bed time! We sure hope you enjoyed catching up on all things with us....as our adventures here unfold!! Enjoy the pictures.....

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

Life Always on The Move

 I have realized that I don't use this blog very often. Not because I don't want to, but because life is always moving a what seems to be a very rapid pace! We have gone from living in Japan and adding to our family while there, to moving back to the United States and watching our childrennblossom and become youngnladies and school aged, to living once again overseas and enjoying all the perks that come with the opportunity to do so! the one thing that never changes is how quickly time passes, how quickly the girls are growing up, and how much this in our lives have changed in the first year we have been here!

 As much as I would like to write today and catch everyone up, I honestly can't do that in one post! So for now thisnonenwill have to work, with then knowledge that more will be following and those will include some pictures for your viewing pleasure. We have a lot of things going on and have visited some very awesome places!

 So for now I will leave this short one for you!!!

Wow! It's amazing how fast time flies! I never realized how busy three little girls could keep one person! I haven't wrote since Natalie was born really! And there has been so much change since then...I'll give a brief description (hopefully) and try to catch you up! My goal so to get this going again even though not to many seem to read..it works out as a good outlet for me none the less! I think everyone needs that at some point!

Summer 2010 came to a close and things finally fell into a nice routine. Of course it got all messed up slightly when the school year started, but it didn't take to much work to get into the swing of things! Natalie's first year of life left her home and Hannah home with Mommy! Kayhlynn completed her first grade year with what seemed like ease! She really does love school (this might change as the years get harder!)...but she really applies herself and gives it her all! She does such a fantastic job....we are very proud of her! During her first grade year came some BIG changes to our life in Japan. We experienced our first Natural Disaster (for someone never being in one it was kinda scary). March 11, 2011 Japan's Honshu Island (the main island) was hit with a 9.0 earthquake which brought behind it a 30 foot high Tsunami (a really huge wave)!! The earthquake knocked the electricity out....everything was electric...we spent the weekend like this! We finally got restored power and Internet (word got out to our families well before this that we were a okay) and discovered that the whole Eastern coast was devastated beyond words. It was like being hit with a tidal wave of dispare finding this out! All we could do was sit and watch and look. My heart broke...I knew then what we had just experienced....were continuing to experience was going to be with us forever. It was changing our lives in a massive way! We evacuated Japan about a week later. We stayed with in Ohio for about three months. In this time The base got its bearings back....all the extra personnel were flew back home (wherever that was), and life resumed as normal...well as normal as it was going to be then. Kayhlynn finished her first grade year at an Elmentary School named Midvale Elementary School. She hated every minute of it. They ere far ahead of where she was in Japan so she played catch up. We were dealing with some PTSD (undiagnosed) and some unsettling emotions of having to live so far away from Daddy and it wasn't the Navy's doing!! Lol....we worked through it all, survived and flew back to our home in Japan. Life resumed like we never left. Minus the few who tried to make us feel like we didn't belong anymore because we left and came back! But we managed to keep out friends, our faith, and our bearings! We enjoyed our last year there!
     That following summer we still experienced many after shock quakes (on top of the hundreds and hundreds we felt before we left), but we went out and explored a lot! We enjoyed as much and as often as we could! The beginning of the school quickly came to the front. We readied for it! Two out of three girls were going to school this year! How exciting! Hannah started kindergarten and Kayhlynn went into second! It was nice...the doors they went into were really close together! We fell back into a nice routine. I started watching what we were eating and going to the gym. I lost 30 pounds. Natalie learned to walk while we were Ohio so she of course was into everything!  Trying to climb the stairs and just give me a heart attack! Hannah struggled through Kindergarten! But we stayed involved and pushed as hard as we could for the school to help her. What seemed like no avail. They did nothing...I really believe they failed her! No matter how hard we worked the teacher worked against during the school day. It was a bad situation! We dealt as best as we could. Kayhlynn had another great year. She had some areas she struggled in, but fixed with extra help in those and got them where they needed to be! She learned she had a live for science and social studies! Natalie hit many mile stones...talking, running, walking, no more bottles!! She loves her stroller rides every morning and every afternoon! She looked forward to them! We walked every where! But as this school year started coming to a close....daddy was busy trying to figure out where the Navy was going to move us next! We tried very hard to stay in Japan...no luck...Italy....on luck....every where but where we ended up! He got orders cut for Sugar Grove, West Virginia! That meant our house, our cat, and us had to gear up for a really big move! We started making sure everything was in place!
    February 2012 we held a joint birthday party for Kayhlynn and Hannah so all their gifts could get packed in our pack out! They had a fantastic time partying with their friends! The movers came and packed out our whole house in ONE day! We were left with nothing! It was the moment when everything became real! The girls were still going to school and Natalie got just a little bit mor clingy because she didn't understand what was going on! The following day another moving crowd came and packed up our unaccompanied baggage (express shipment). Then the reality of our short amount of time became apparent!  I had to leave my life in Japan and rebuild a life in the states. I had to leave my home...my kids had to leave their home...it has been

Quick Catch Up

Life in our house never slows down anymore. As you can see I managed to get busy in the last few months. The school year ended. Kayhlynn was promoted to 1st grade. We are very proud of her. Then 10 days after that we welcomed our newest baby girl into the family. Natalie Taylor came exteremly early Sunday June 27th @ 12:05am. She was 7 pounds 9.3 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long. She come out hungry and crying!! She has been a blessing to us already. She is holding her head pretty good on her own..still wobbly but getting it down. She is smiling at us and she coos already too!! She is reaching for our faces and toys hanging down from the toy bars. She rolls up on either side, but hates hates hates tummy time!!! She doesn't even like to sleep on her belly!!! Interesting. She also tries to pull herself forward while in the sitting position!! I truly think she is going to be a little quick with things at this point. She wants to get the older two girls. You know they can't have fun without her. She is growing up so fast!! I wish it would all slow down for just a bit so I could enjoy these moments for a minute longer. Just savor them. She is our last baby. We will not be having anymore. Mommy got her tubes tied and Daddy will be taking care of himself when we get back to the states. Hannah has adjusted well to life with a baby in the house. She does go through her jealously patches, but for the most part she is loving it all!! She is a great helper and she is looking forward to her schooling this year as well. We have a lot to accomplish with her to get her Kindergarten ready!! Almost to the half way point in the tour here in Japan!! We stay busy and time is flying. Nothing will make up for all that is lost to those we care for in the process of this, but just know that we are doing all we can to keep everyone in the loop. Kayhlynn and Hannah also played T-Ball this year!! Kayhlynn has the urge to play softball. So we are getting her ready and since they don't offer Softball till high school here, we are doing the next best thing!!!She loved it and did well. She is really catching on to hitting and playing the different positions. She really seems to have the desire to learn it all. She got a trophy for playing and she is absolutely proud of it!!! Hannah, played T-Ball as well, but she played what they call Smart Start. For 3 and 4 year olds. They run through everything they need to learn. She got bored with it towards the end, but it is a lot of repeating repeating repeating. She wanted to play like Kayhlynn was!! Her last "practice" they had a "game" and she loved every second of it!!! She really does well when she can get into it. She has made it known to Mommy that she wants to be a cheer leader. So we may be looking into getting her started!! That is pretty much everything that up to date for the moment. We will be getting back into the writing once or twice a week to keep everyone up to date!!! The new school year will be starting soon. Kayhlynn is so excited!!!!