4 years

I sat transfixed to the TV like most the nation watching a city, my city the city I had called home, where I had been married, where I lived longer than any other place. I couldn't seem to get enough information about what was happening yet at the same time it was too much to process. How many of my friends were now homeless? Did my home survive? Would we be allowed to go back? Where were my babies going to be born? How was my city changed forever? Yes I am talking about New Orleans, Slidell, Biloxi and Gulfport. An entire region was changed by wind and water. Some of my friends never did move back. The Navy transfered us temporarily to another city where we stayed til the girls were born. God watched over us through all the ups and downs of the weeks and months that followed that fateful day. He carried us through the storm literally. He gave us an amazing church family that took care of us and loved us.

Little girls all do it at some point right?

Yesterday the girls were down for their "rest/nap" it got a little too quiet. I decided to go check on them. I arrive to find ~S, Nique's daughter, with a pair of school safety scissors in her hand. Now mind you we are in the middle of a move, the boys room is down the hall from theirs. I am assuming the scissors came from the boys room. At ~S feet is hair and no small amount of hair. ~A turns and there is a 6-8 inch butcher job of her locks.




Just about that time Nique comes and realizes that the hair is really too dark to be ~A hair. So not only did ~A get cut but ~S hair got cut. Nique was bawling and pretty much unable to speak for about 3 minutes. Nique starts running her fingers through ~S hair, it's on the right side behind the ear and pretty choppy, a layer cut will fix it. Fortunately the overall length was left intact but still pretty devastating since her hair is just at her shoulders. Now ~A hair on the other hand is a different story. Her hair was past her shoulder blades to the middle of her back. The cut job was really upsetting to me, I know it's only hair. Prior to this ~A had had 2 trims in salons. Last fall she had cut some of her hair but not bad enough that it had to be fixed and she cut her bangs. But the back of her hair really hadn't been CUT yet. So we had to make a very unexpected trip to get this fixed because I couldn't fix this hair cut. When get to the salon she was all sad and didn't want to get in the chair. Once in the chair she sat perfectly still with the saddest look on her face. As the hair is being cut I look at her, tears are welling up in her eyes and two huge tears fall on to the drape. ~A is now sporting a very cute chin length bob. I don't think she will be playing hair salon anytime soon.





After we left the salon we went to get a treat for the two girls that didn't cut their hair.

move update

Move is almost done. We only have a few misc things at the "old" house. All the furniture is here including Nique's things that have been in storage. We are working on getting things organized and put in just the right spot. I love having the extra space, extra bathrooms, and having extra storage. The boys are missing their friend at the "old" house but have made friends here already. The girls love having space to really play inside.

Soon we are going to have a "house warming" get together with our friends since we actually have room to have people over. I am looking forward to that part of a bigger house. The housing sits back off the main road nearly a half mile and is surrounded by trees so it's so nice to be able to just enjoy a country feel to life. I almost think I want a similar layout when we retire except I want the laundry on the 2nd floor:)

Almost there

So this week has had it's ups and downs but God has been there holding my hand every step of the way as always. I have been able to sit on the back patio and sit and listen to the birds and meditate and talk to God over my concerns and basically cry to him that I don't want for Brian to go there for his last tour of duty.

Yesterday we got a call giving us two other options. Both options allow us to stay in the New England area but it truly looks like we will be able to stay right here and not have to go anywhere til he retires. I am grateful for this and feel extremely relieved.

We have about 80% of the stuff moved and will be done soon. Then begins the fun of unpacking and setting the house up just the way I want.

Off to relax and chill out for a little bit.

When we stop and pause

The last few weeks have been about life stresses...We finally get offered the bigger house, but we are still waiting to find out if Brian's office is closing or not. Then last week in a matter of three days...Brian's grandmother Brown passes away, a friend of mine confides in me her husband has found a lump, we get official notice the reserve center is closing, and the tranny on Brian's car is going bad, actually we thought it had completely gone the other day. I have still had good kids, a husband who adores me, God who watches over me in ALL things.

We are moving this week into the new house. We found out Brian's transferring options aren't the best. It looks like we might be retiring a year earlier than planned but you know this morning God gave me some peace through scripture. In fact he did it yesterday through a friend's facebook status as well. She has posted a verse in Psalm that calmed my heart.

today i am reposting mine

Psalm 118
Praise to God for His Everlasting Mercy
1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

5 I called on the LORD in distress;
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The LORD is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.[a]

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation
Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD,
Through which the righteous shall enter.

21 I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the LORD’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I pray, O LORD;
O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.

29 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

I am off to physical therapy and more moving.