+ "autumn." Even though it's not technically autumn yet, Starbucks is selling pumpkin spice lattes (which makes it autumn in my book). Mornings have been cooler for the past week, so I've been able to turn off the central air and keep the windows open. I can spend my morning devotionals in a rocking chair outside or at the kitchen table with the back door open and a cup of tea. It's the little things that brighten my day.

+ bake. pray. love. The Baking Brigade distributed over 400 cookies, cupcakes, and brownies (and a loaf of banana bread and two lemon pound cakes!) in September. Some people volunteered for the first time--I love seeing new people!--and we made our rounds through two barracks buildings. I am continually blessed by this outreach.

+ five. For the first time in my life, I ran over five miles without stopping. It almost took me an hour and my knees (and calves ... and ankles) were sore by the end, but I ran five miles! Two miles is now my short/fun run and I hope that I'll be able to say that five miles is my short run within a couple of months.

+ breaking bread. Only five adults attended home life group last week so we were able to eat dinner together at the kitchen table instead of spread out in the living room! It was a nice change because the setting was friendlier. I also made a bacon cheeseburger soup for the first time. For not following the recipe, it turned out pretty well. I'm going to make a shoofly pie next week. Also, even though two of my friends are also from the slightly southern east coast (i.e. Virginia), no one has ever had Pennsylvania Dutch pot pie. I'm going to break out that recipe at some point in the future, too. And maybe make some whoopie pies.

fredericksburg tx

We celebrated the extended Labor Day weekend with a trip to Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg seems like it's in the middle of nowhere (especially when it's the closest town with an emergency vet and you're passing upward of 30 deer along the road in the middle of the night), but it's an adorable town (or maybe a city?). The main street (and some of the side streets) are mostly filled with boutiques and restaurants. Fredericksburg thrives on tourism, so there are lots of bed and breakfasts, too (we stayed at Terah's Garden). The city is also dog-friendly and it's apparently the only city in the state where it's perfectly legal to walk around with an open alcoholic beverage.

Fredericksburg is located along the wine trail in Hill Country, so we stopped by William Chris Vineyards on the way. Not only was it my first wine tasting, but it was our first as a couple.

Afterward, we grabbed lunch at Mahaley's Cafe. They serve a pretty good veggie croissant and have a nice selection of pastries. We relaxed at the b&b for a while before heading out to visit a second winery. We checked out Messina Hof, which has a nice selection.

We ate dinner at the b&b to save money and spent the evening chatting and watching the news.

We spent the following day shopping. There are a lot of home decor shops. There is also a lot of money needed to buy things in those shops. For the most part, we browsed, but we did pick up some treats at Dogologie (of all of the stores in Fredericksburg, Dogologie was the store I wanted to visit the most). We also checked out Der Kuchen Laden (it was really weird to see so much German in the middle of Texas ... it was like being back in Pennsylvania ... except people wore cowboy boots and Stetsons). Der Kuchen Laden is located in an old hospital along with Rathskeller, which is where we ate lunch.

I thought the photos and ads were misleading--I expected something semi-upscale, but it looked more like a family restaurant. The staff was friendly, however; when a toddler in our party decided to check out the fish in the nearby koi pond up close and personal, they gave us some towels to dry her off and didn't complain about the wet chair.

In all, our trip was exhausting but fun. I definitely think an extra day would have helped--we didn't even have a chance to check out the National Museum of the Pacific War, but I've decided to save that for if/when my parents visit.

the d-word: deployment thoughts [part 4]

 

This is part four in a series of posts that I began drafting at the beginning of this year. Each post--and the mini posts within each--contains my thoughts on the deployment process as or soon after various events occurred. For OPSEC purposes, I will not include specific dates, locations, etc. Alan has read each one and his thoughts are included in certain posts. I hope that these posts will shed some light on our experiences; thank you for reading and God bless!

Read previous pre-deployment thoughts: 1 // 2 // 3 

Summer I 2013

 
From Elizabeth

I resent the flak jacket--it's probably not called a flak jacket--and combat helmet setting by the front door. He took it to work with him today.

///

I'm planning lots of home improvement projects while he's gone. Part of me wants to keep the house exactly as it is, but part of me wants to keep making the house homier.

One of my friends has already volunteered to help me replace the carpeting in the living room and hallway with laminate. Both of us have watched the installation process before and we've decided that that's enough experience for us to tackle the project ourselves.

I want to make a list of things to accomplish while Alan is gone.

(That list is now the deployment bucket list.)

From Alan

I am curious about how long this list will actually grow, also how much of it will be accomplished and thirdly, how I will react to the wonderful changes my loving spouse makes. I love her ideas and am excited to see them laid out.

happy blogiversary to us!

I meant to post this on the actual anniversary of starting this blog (July 21), but something happened (probably life) and I didn't, which is why I'm posting two months late. But, if we were to pretend that it is July 21, it would be a year and one month since we left my parents' driveway. So much has happened since then!

+ I started graduate school. And have since finished my first year, meaning that I am now halfway through my studies!

+ We started hosting and leading a home life group. Since we first started in September (so this month marks a year!), we've covered Resilient Warriors, Community Bible Experience, The Case for Christ, Not a Fan, and Jonah. We're currently studying Galatians.

+ Alan taught children's church and I taught the ladies' Sunday morning life group. Alan was teaching the first Sunday of the month but stopped when the schedule changed. I stepped back from facilitating this autumn because I was ridiculously burned out--after a year, I didn't feel like teaching was where God wanted me to be anymore.

+ We spent Thanksgiving with friends. It was my first Thanksgiving without my parents and sister, but it was also our first Thanksgiving as our own family.

+ Alan went to the field and we spent our first week apart. He has gone to the field twice since we've been married. It seemed like a long time at the time, but I know it was nothing compared to what we're going to face.

+ We drove to PA to visit family for Christmas.

+ The Baking Brigade was born. Since its inception, we've served hundreds of cookies, brownies, muffins, and cupcakes to soldiers.

+ I got vertigo. Not once but twice.

+ We temporarily fostered two children for a friend and I received a huge dose of humility.

+ We went to Galveston. It was my first trip to the beach in a while; it's comforting to know that a beach is just a few hours' drive away.

+ We celebrated our honeymooniversary with a Disney cruise!

+ I witnessed a birth! And now have unrealistic expectations about childbirth, although my friend says it looked easy because of the epidural.

+ We took a semi-spur-of-the-moment trip to Walt Disney World! I just realized that I never even blogged about that. I don't even know how that happened. Therefore, there will be an upcoming post about Walt Disney World.

+ Alan hit his 20-year mark of service in the Army!

+ I also realized what it means for me to be content and how to cultivate peace in my life. I try to live my life so as to take time for the little things that make me happy. That usually means reading, praying, or quilting outside with a cup of coffee in the mornings.

the d-word: deployment thoughts [part 3]

 

This is the third of a series of posts that I began drafting at the beginning of this year. Each post--and the mini posts within each--contains my thoughts on the deployment process as or soon after various events occurred. For OPSEC purposes, I will not include specific dates, locations, etc. Alan has read each one and his thoughts are included in certain posts. I hope that these posts will shed some light on our experiences; thank you for reading and God bless!

Read previous pre-deployment thoughts:
pre-deployment thoughts [part i] 
the d-word: deployment thoughts [part 2]

Spring II 2013

We attended a town hall meeting a couple of weeks ago. There was a PowerPoint presentation, of course.

This is where your spouses will live. This is where they will eat. This is where their general location is on a map.

Don't forget to take care of your wills. And your powers of attorney. Spouses, make sure the FRG has your contact information in case of an emergency. And let us know if you leave the area.

///

We returned from our honeymooniversary on Saturday (you can read about our cruise here and here). It was lovely (minus me being sick for almost half of it) and sad all at once. Our last hurrah before he leaves.

At one of the airports, we stopped at a USO. And even though I barely interacted with anyone there, it was just comforting to know that the people around me were in some way connected to the military community. They understood--unlike the people on the cruise ship, who stared or smiled or shook hands or said nothing.

miscellany monday

+ 3.21 > 3.1. I recently jogged 3.21 miles, a distance slightly greater than a 5k. It was a relief to know that my body is capable of completing a 5k because I will be running the Mogadishu Mile 5k in October. However, my knees were ridiculously sore/stiff the following day, so I need to learn how to combat that.

+ the d-word. Have you been keeping up with our deployment experience? The series first started as a personal way to quickly record my thoughts (I have a habit of forgetting where I put my journal) prior to the deployment. After I let Alan read the drafts, however, he asked if I would continue writing after he leaves, so the series may become a regular occurrence in the future. I also asked him to add his own thoughts to the posts, if he wanted to. You can read our perspectives in part 1 and part 2. Part 3 will be posted tomorrow!

+ train whistle jamboree. As far as we could tell, the Nolanville Train Whistle Jamboree had nothing to do with a train whistle. In total, it was about half the size of my hometown's fireman's carnival. And that's saying something. There was also a hayride, which didn't seem right in 90+ degree heat with various shades of green all around.

+ apple cider. I want it.

+ miss america. I didn't watch the pageant, but I recently read BuzzFeed's article on the ignorant remarks about Miss America.

+ giving. According to Gawker, the company behind this ad doesn't exactly back the philosophy it's touting, but it's still a pretty inspiring video.

the d-word: deployment thoughts [part 2]

This is the second of a series of posts that I began drafting at the beginning of this year. Each post--and the mini posts within each--contains my thoughts on the deployment process as or soon after various events occurred. For OPSEC purposes, I will not include specific dates, locations, etc. Alan has read each one and his thoughts are included alongside mine in certain posts. I hope that these posts will shed some light on our experiences; thank you for reading and God bless!

Read previous pre-deployment thoughts:
pre-deployment thoughts [part i]

Spring I 2013 

From Elizabeth He has orders. He is officially going somewhere at some point. And I am oddly calm about the entire situation--for now. I am a little jealous; I told Alan that if it weren't for the dogs and the house and grad school and home life group and life group and the Baking Brigade, I would want to travel or find a job overseas. I am a little sad; I don't want to spend any part of our life apart. But I understand that it's his job and this could happen and God has already blessed us with more than other newlywed couples in the military. And I believe that He works everything for good--although I think of how we turned off a military marriage DVD less than 10 minutes into the session because it was about deployment, and we (I?) didn't have to worry about that. The little things prepare me and remind me of what we'll miss. Our friend sitting beside me in the pew alone because her husband was helping count the offering--and knowing that that will be me, and that it has been and will continue to be many other women, for a long time coming. Chipmunk barking angrily at the front door because I didn't let her in the house when she wanted and decided to find a way out of the backyard--and realizing that at some point, I'm going to have to find a way to fix holes by myself call one of our friends to fix the holes. A sink and counter full of dirty dishes from home life group--the dawning that Alan won't be around to do the dishes for me (it's probably my least favorite homekeeping contribution). A rare moment to cuddle together on the couch, and wondering when we'll again be able to spend an afternoon just sitting together without interruption.

From Alan After discussing these and many more, reality set in and I wanted to make Elizabeth's home alone time less drastic. I frantically started researching the post where I would be going and setting into action possible methods for phone and Internet service. I want it to be as if it could almost be believed that I am still secretly around (minus the dishes, of course, since they can't magically do themselves). So I automatic drafted all bills and updates that had to happen. I wanted to have all those things taken care of and she still would not have to change her daily routine as much. I completed all services due and that would be due while I was gone for her vehicle. Then I realized after completing all of this, it still was not going to make it seem as if I was here--because it's not about those things being done, but rather me being here to do them.

pre-deployment thoughts [part i]

This is the first of a series of posts that I began drafting at the beginning of this year. Each post--and the mini posts within each--contains my thoughts on the deployment process as or soon after various events occurred. For OPSEC purposes, I will not include specific dates, locations, etc. Alan has read each one and his thoughts are included at the bottom of certain posts. I hope that these posts will shed some light on our experiences; thank you for reading and God bless!

Winter 2013

You would never guess that Alan was injured in a parachuting accident, especially since he even deployed after he recovered.  He's considered non-deployable for combat deployments.

Support missions, not so much.

When he left PA for Ft. Hood, his unit had deployed; there was a possibility that he could be sent there, too; and I was worried that we would have to postpone our wedding until this past November (what an inconvenience).  However, he stayed behind, and I figured that he would probably never deploy again, since the war was officially winding down, he was preparing to retire, and everything always happens to everybody else.

Still, a little part of me kept the "what if" train of thought running.

Last night, after I returned home from my first night of class this semester, he said that there was a possibility that they might deploy.  To somewhere.  At some time.

It took a minute or two of talking about it for me to realize that he was actually including himself in the "we," "us," "our" statements--every other time he talked like that, I assumed that he was not included, because he would not be deploying.  Immediately, I started shivering a little, because I tend to do that when I'm stressed.  Though, whether the stress was from realizing that deployment is a possibility or whether it was from the fact that I was slightly jealous, I have no idea.

I do know that I feel guilty about the whole thing, because I approached the situation rather rationally and dismissively.  Like, "Oh, you might deploy?  Well, let me know when you have some more solid information, and I'll start considering it, because I'm sure I'll be more emotional then."

On the one hand, I think it would be rotten to have to leave a wife who is emotionally and mentally falling apart and absolutely miserable about the whole thing.  On the other hand, I think it would be equally rotten to have to leave a wife who's maybe sort of jealous that you're leaving and she isn't. 

Self-help Anxiety Management

SAM: Self-help Anxiety Management

SAM is currently available to Android users only, but the app was designed by the University of the West of England in order to help people with anxiety better manage their anxiety.

Note: Since I don't have an Android phone, I don't have personal experience using the app. I first discovered it via a blog post on Tumblr. According to the website, though, the app has over 10,000 downloads and an average rating of 4.6/5.