The Love of A Fam[ily]

This past week we spent with family back home in California.  I was so glad to be back in my home state with the people I love.  We had absolutely perfect weather.  If you’ve ever been to Monterey, California you’ll know the perfect weather I’m talkin about.  Anyways, it was definitely a fun filled week having family come over every day at my Mom’s house.  Got to see a lot of our Aunts and our baby cousin who is so flippin cute. He is such a chunker but I love it.

I also got to spend the week helping my Gma (my Grandma) with dropping her off for surgery and taking her to check-up appointments.  I missed her so much and getting to help with things was just my way of showing gratitude for her helping with everything in my life.

Then on the other hand I spent all my time with my Mom and hubby and Layla and my sister Andrea.  Seriously always the best of times with them.  Being goofy sitting there laughing till our stomachs hurt.  I never ever want to leave my family and its never easy having to say goodbye each time.  I know its not forever but it’ll seem like forever until we’re together again.

This time it was a much more difficult go around with goodbyes.  This time we had to tell our daughter goodbye, well pretty much I’ll see you soon and we love you like crazy don’t you ever forget it.  I have never in my life seen two grown adults look like the worst they’d ever been until then.  I’ll just say I’ve been crying since I left my daughter and haven’t been able to stop.  Leaving my daughter for awhile has been the most painful experience in my life and I hope to never have to do it again.  I know that joining the Army is something great I’m doing for her and our family but this is not a choice made easily.

I’ve been chatting here and there with my Momma since we left last night and I feel like the worst person ever because she tells me my daughter keeps asking for me.  My Mom doesn’t tell me so I feel bad.  She’s just letting me know what’s happening and how L is doing and what she’s been up to.  But it does make me cry every time I hear it and just makes me miss L more and more.

I’m going to try my best to think of L every time a challenge comes along during training.  She’ll be my goal to reach throughout everything.  My little girl will be my amazing prize for getting through it all.  I know that as I knock everything out during this journey it’ll lead me closer to her.  I’ll be counting down the days till I get my baby back.  Its sad that I haven’t even left for Basic yet and I’m already counting down.  I’ll just be glad when I can see her for my Basic Graduation, it’ll mean that I’m that much closer to being home with her and M.  This Christmas will definitely be a good time to celebrate.  I’ll finally be home with my loves.  I’m going to rock through all of this so I can be with them.

I leave this upcoming week for training, so this may be my last post till I either I’m done with training or they let me get on the computer during AIT which comes after Basic training (AIT is my job training I will receive to my specific job aka MOS).  Crossing fingers they let me so I can tell you all the things I’ve endured and learned and overall experience.

Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers as we make this transition to a dual Military family and to keep my family strong.  I’m off to finish packing and cleaning.

Thank you to my besties As It Seems and The Jack Chronicles for being total sweethearts. I’m going to miss you girls. Thank you to all you wonderful friends of mine for supporting me and my blog :) xoxo to you all.

I’ll post as soon as I can.

Natural Remedy & A Gift

Okay so this morning was a little heart wrenching because today was L's last day at her school group and such a bittersweet time.  Absolutely loved all the fun things they did this morning but also hated knowing that we won't be going for the fall session.  That and the program director is PCS'ing so we won't be seeing her unless we run into each other at another base.  She was really great with the kids and she will be missed.

Onto the natural remedy.  I’m not sure what’s taken me so long to research a natural remedy for a Sinus Infection or allergies but maybe its because I was able to sit down and zone in on it haha.  Anyways, so I looked up what would be a Natural Remedy for the issue and up came a ton of sites that all said Apple Cider Vinegar.  Now I’m not keen on drinking the stuff but it seems to work.  All you have to do is take 1/4 cup or if its too strong then 1/8th of a cup and then fill the rest of your glass with water.  If you’re like me you may have to plug your nose as you’re drinking it and then have another drink of juice or water ready to wash down the after taste.  I had both a cup of Pomegranate Blueberry juice and then another cup of just cold water.  You better believe I was sitting chugging some juice and water down after because its an awful taste the Apple Cider Vinegar is…sorry.  But it does seem to clear you out pretty well and naturally.  If I don’t have to take any medications I won’t unless I’m desperate and “dying” so I’m always looking for a natural way out.

On another note because I had received another sweet little package from one of my bff’s Sue at Hello. Also, I Love You I really had to get the ball rolling and finish making her something that I had waiting for awhile.  But with all the chaotic-ness of having to get ready for Basic Training I haven’t been able to do much crafting but then again I really didn’t want to so I could spend time with hubby and L.  Anyways, I had to make some time to make her this cute little clutch which she doesn’t know about unless she’s reading this or she received the package.  But the package I’m sure hasn’t arrived yet.

I love ruffles and gingham.

On the inside I made a little area to put cards.

Mind you, you can tell its not perfect, but I think my slight imperfections make it the way I like.  At first I was going to seam rip everything and start over but I love the different lines of thread and the way things are positioned.  So that’s why I left it as is.

I’m thinking when I’m back from training I should make a couple to giveaway.  What do you all think?  I love hooking my friends up, so if all goes well I’ll being giving a few of these away.  I’ll probably do another one in pink, one in a light turquoise color, and one in purple.

Hope you all are having a great day!  I’m off to finish packing and getting ready to go home to California before I leave for Basic training.  XOXO to all you lovelies :)

P.S. If you aren't following me you totally need to, I'm just sayin' ;).  I'll definitely follow you back, because I believe in supporting my bloggy friends.  Just let me know you did so I can return the favor before I leave for training.

New Chapter, New things to Triumph

Hi all!  I do hope all you wonderful Military Spouses had a great Mil Spouse day and all the amazing Moms had a wonderful Mother’s Day.  I am sorry I’m lagging on responding to everyone.  I’ve been sick and that’s just a headache in itself.  So with being sick and then trying to make sure we have all the legalities set right with L so she can be with my Mom and Grandma before I leave for Basic training.  That and then we’ve been researching like crazy trying to find a great place to board our Tanker…eek!  It really bothers me to leave him at a boarding kennel because 1. I never have and 2. He’s my baby boy I have never left him with anyone.  I will probably be known as the crazy fur Mama because I love our doggies and take care of them the best I can.  It’s just like having to leave L, I don’t want to.  Ugh the dilemmas but I have to find the strength to just stomp on the sad thoughts.
With all of that going on, I’ve been trying to make sure I have things ready for L while she’s away from Mommy and Daddy.  She already has her Build-A-Bear that has both hubby’s and my voices in it saying we love Layla.  I was attempting to make sure I had a scrapbook ready for her, but my Mom and L will just have to do one together so she can have pictures of us as a family and some with just Daddy and some with just Mommy.  I think it’ll make it more memorable if she helps her Grandma make one with her.  I’ve also made L a couple of videos of me, one of me reading her one of her fave books (Guess How Much I Love You) and just another of me telling her Mommy is working while she’s away from her and just telling her how much I love her.
A lot of people have been telling me lately, “I don’t know how you’re doing this”.  I’m not just becoming a Soldier for the sake of becoming one.  I’m doing this for my family.  I’m doing this to give my family their needs and wants.  I’ve always been an independent girl and I’ve always worked minus being home with L since she was born.  I’m ready for us to be able to do much more.  But to get to where we want we first have to be challenged.  I can’t say I’m ready to be away from my family for awhile because I’m not, that’s something I will never be ready for.  But I am ready for whatever comes our way.  If I have to be challenged I’ll do anything for my family.
Anyways, besides my randomness we are getting ready to be home this next week with family and being with L till I leave for training.  This next week I’ll definitely be tested and I can’t say I won’t ball like a big baby cause I will.  But I’ll look at Layla and my husband be reminded of what will motivate me through all my ups and downs while I’m gone.  This is a time to be stronger than we’ve ever been.  It’s funny cause I was telling my husband last week how this is harder than deployment.  Because at least during his deployment Layla and I had each other and the dogs.  My husband at least had some really good friends.  Yet, this time around we are all going to have to be independent and really make the best of what we have.  L will be the only one with all the support all of the time because of family.  Whereas M will have the dogs (which is what I wish I could at least say haha) and I will have to rely on strangers. 
All in all I’m just ready to rip this off like a BandAid and be home with L and M and the doggies again.  So I’m just going to pray real hard that time fly’s by so I can be home and a little bit more sane again.
Pictures from my wonderful Mother’s Day…thanks to my lovies.

The many faces of a dancing L in the truck as we head out to the lake.

L hanging out near Daddy as he messes with fishing line.

As her GodMama would say, “Diva Status”.  L has definitely always been my little Diva Doll.

Cheese.

Always love when there is bright beautiful blue skies.

It was snack time for L and snack time is all the time haha.  But this is one of my fave pics of her.

I always love love love an up close shot of Layla.

One word. Precious.  (Even with food on her face.)

L caught a fish and Daddy was trying to help her get a grip on it.

Getting ready to hold that fish of hers.

Daddy and L with her little white bass.  Perfect size for the little munchie don’t ya think?

Hope you are all off to a wonderful week.  Much love to you all who have befriended me through blogging.  I appreciate it with all of my heart.  I’m glad that I could make such great connections and I hope that it stays that way when I get back from training.  I’m hoping somewhere along the way maybe while I’m in AIT I can blog about my journey thus far.  Either way I’ll spill the beans when I’m back for sure.  XOXO.