The Truth Is...

The truth is...
I am in a blogging funk.

The truth is...
I am still so sad for our friends, the Leyman family.

The truth is...
I have really been missing my grandparents. Sometimes I wish I could just talk to my Mamaw just one more time.

The truth is...
I haven't been taking pictures the past week or two.

The truth is...
I think it's because I have been having so much fun being with my baby girl, just the two of us.

The truth is...
It's gonna be just the two of us come late October or November.

The truth is...
Terry got orders to Afghanistan yesterday. He leaves for Afghanistan in November and will probably leave some time before that for training stateside.

The truth is...
He will miss Thanksgiving. And Christmas. And Madeline's 2nd Birthday. I won't go on because it is too depressing.

The truth is...
I have been in such a bad mood all day thinking about it. Sad and depressed and a little mad too.

The truth is...
They told us when we got orders here the bright side was no more shift work and no deployments - Terry has now gotten both.

The truth is...
They told Terry they would try to get his orders cancelled.

The truth is...
They told him last week that they had made arrangements so that he wouldn't deploy for at least a year.

The truth is...
I don't believe what they say anymore.

The truth is...
I am thankful to have such close friends and church family.

The truth is...
I have not one clue how I am going to work, go to school, and take care of Madeline while he is gone.

The truth is...
God already has it all worked out.

The truth is...
God will keep him safe.

The truth is...
God loves him more than I do. That's a whole lotta love.

The truth is...

We are gonna live it up until he leaves and have a big party when he comes home!

 ^"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Bad News, Good News

The Bad News is the A/C went out in the truck. 

The Good News is all of San Angelo gets to hear my singing at red lights, stop signs, and drive-thrus. Lucky, Lucky San Angelo! 

The Bad News is I am overwhelmed with school right now. 

The Good News is I am SO close to being done. (for a month)

The Bad News is Madeline busted her lip SO bad last Friday. 

The Good News is she looked like Angelina Jolie for a few days. 

The Bad News is the temperature has been in the 100's here this week - well, just yesterday and today. 

The Good News is it gives me a great excuse to play in the pool with Madeline instead of doing yardwork.

The Bad News is my new job rescheduled my orientation from Monday to today. 

The Good News is I got an impromptu vacation with my sweet girl. 

The Bad News Is Madeline had to get shots last week at her 15 month appointment. 


The Good News is she is in the 90th percentile for height, 50th for weight, keeping Terry's basketball dreams for her alive. 

Jesus Calling

This is an excerpt from Jesus Calling that I SO needed today. 

Trust me and do not be afraid. Many things feel out of control. Your routines are not running smoothly. You tend to feel more secure when your life is predictable. Let me lead you to the Rock that is higher than you and your circumstances. Take refuge in the shelter of my wings, where you are absolutely secure.

When you are shaken out of your comfortable routines, grip my hands tightly and look for growth opportunities. Instead of moaning the loss of your comfort, accept the challenge of something new. I lead you on from glory to glory, making you fit for my kingdom. Say yes to the ways I work in your life. Trust me, and don’t be afraid.

I am a creature of routine and habit. I thrive on predictability.  I don't like change and uncertainties, which is exactly what I am facing in my life right now. I feel like it is what I have faced for the past year and a half. SO many good changes, yet with that change has come some serious growing pains. We are getting ready to do it again. This is my last week doing daycare. Next week I start a new job at Outback. For the first time in our marriage, I will not contribute significantly financially. Madeline will be in someone else's care. I will not have control of so many things I think I have had control over. Yet I feel so blessed and am so thankful for the opportunity to do what I feel God has called me to do with my life. I know this is His path for us. Now I just have to trust Him. 

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

My Dad would be SO Proud...

Tonight after bedtime prayers when I said "amen", Madeline gave me a very loud, very sincere, "amen" back. 

Secret Sunday...

If I could be anything in life, I would be....

A....

That's right. 

You guessed it. 

A Bayside Tiger!

I would work here...

I would have this cell phone...

I would look like this...

And my last name would be Morris...

Ok kidding. Sorta. But 15 years ago if you offered me a million dollars or a date with Zack...totally would still be broke! :) Saved By The Bell is my ALL TIME FAVORITE show and it's on Netflix now. Now if they would just put Friends on there...

Friday the 13th...again

I feel like we just had a Friday the 13th but here it is again! I have about 6 million and thirteen things on my mind but here are just 13...

13. I have SO much to do today...and I am blogging. :) SO typical!

12. Do you know any Type A people? I am pretty sure I am type Z. I think it is actually Type B but you get the point. I really try sometimes to be Type A but then I get distracted and it all goes out the window!

11. We used those needles that are used to prick fingers for blood in Physiology lab last night and my lab partner thought it would be fun to prick me during my professor's lecture. I am pretty certain I snorted from laughing so hard. Why, at 28, is it still fun to cut up in class? Also, at what age are you supposed to feel mature? Still waiting.

10. Madeline is for real talking. I asked her yesterday, "where's my baby?" And she responded, "My baby?" Seriously. Stop. Although I really do love hearing her talk.

9. I have been attempting to run at night and my right thigh has been twitching for 2 days. Not cool. Not painful, just annoying.

8. I love, love, love a baby in pajamas.

7. I also LOVE jean shorts and tennis shoes. 

6.  I wish I had Madeline's eyelashes. 

5. I have a problem with bejeweled. I blame it on school. Nothing makes you want to play mindless online games more than logging into your classes to do homework. Not my fault. I blame the system. 

You can see it on the laptop screen if you look close. PS How stinkin cute is my boy, Gizmo?

4. ALL of the people who got here just before Terry are deployed or have gotten orders. My stomach turns just thinking about it. It sucked the last time but it is going to break my heart for him this time. We are really praying that he goes to Turkey NOT Afghanistan. 

3. I worry about #4 a lot more than I let on. 

2. I have a job interview today. I hope it's not bad luck to interview for a job on Friday the 13th. 

1. I am SO glad it's Friday!!!! Have a wonderful weekend!

Easter

Easter is one of my favorite holidays if not my favorite. I think its tied with Thanksgiving. Anyway, we had a good Easter this year. Madeline got a little basket with a few things in it, ate some hot pink chocolate chip muffins, and off we went to church. I love church on Easter. There was such a sweet spirit in the service. Right after church they divided the kids by age group to hunt eggs. Madeline won a prize egg in her age group and got a cute bunny and some bubbles. Although, I am pretty sure the candy far surpassed anything else she got! She called the Easter eggs "ball" and chased after them. I think they are her favorite balls since they were filled with candy! After church we went to lunch with some other families in our church and came home and napped. It was such a great day! 

It's crazy to me what a difference a year makes! Madeline slept through the egg hunt last year! 

Thinking Out Loud...

I am thinking about doing a Bible study called Sacred Influence over the summer with anybody I can get to come...It's about how God uses wives to shape the souls of their husbands. 

I am always thinking about how I can be a better wife lately. I guess because last year was hard for us and now that I have Madeline, I feel the added importance of being a Godly example for her. 

I am thinking about running a half marathon in San Antonio in November. It's the Rock n Roll marathon and it looks so fun. I did one when Terry was deployed but I had a lot more free time back then...but it was so much fun and I felt so good.

I am thinking that I better get serious because I only made it half a mile tonight. haha I walked the rest of the three miles. Ouch.

I am thinking that I have four - count with me ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR weeks exactly of school (for this semester) left!!! Not that I am counting...

I am thinking about how much my our lives are going to change in just a matter of weeks. I am so nervous and so excited. 

I am thinking about how fun it would be to have another baby. In 2014. :) Or 2020. 

I am thinking about how much I love this sweet girl, and how I am pretty certain this sweet girl thought Easter was all about "balls" filled with candy. 

I am thinking about how blessed I am. Happy Tuesday, friends! 

Today's Post Brought to You By the Letter M...

Marriage... Terry and I are doing this Bible study with a few other couples called Sacred Marriage. Last night was the first meeting and it was SO good. I am not a big fan of what the book has to say because I know it is right on with God's intention for marriage. I was hoping to hear that Terry should be Prince Charming and we should just live happily ever after. :) One of the lines in the first chapter says, "what if God intended marriage to make us holy rather than happy? " Ouch.  I think it is going to be so good for me. Well, us really, but the book really focuses on what your responsibility is in your marriage which I really like. Anyway, so far, SO good.

Martha Stewart... Since we hosted the first meeting, I was responsible for the food. I was feeling very Martha Stewarty so I made a tie-dye pound cake, buffalo chicken dip, and nachos. I also made a taco ring for dinner. It was SO good.

The cake was SUPER easy. I used Paula Deen's sour cream pound cake recipe. Then I just separated the batter into three bowls, colored it with neon food coloring, and then layered it in  a bundt pan. I thought it turned out so cute but I served it cut because it didn't look that cute as a whole cake. 

I also made buffalo chicken dip. Super easy, super delicious. Two boiled chicken breasts (you can also use a rotisserie chicken but I am on a budget these days or you can use canned chicken), two packs of cream cheese, 1/2 cup of ranch (or bleu cheese but I am not a big fan so I use ranch), Frank's hot sauce to taste, and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake for 30 minutes and you have a delicious appetizer. I serve it with tortilla chips. 

Taco ring is also super easy and so good. Just fill the crescent rolls with taco meat, beans, and cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes and top with your favorite taco toppings!

Madeline...is growing so fast. She almost looks too big for her crib. I took this picture of her yesterday morning and I really just can't believe how big she has gotten. She is tall for her age but she seems to be growing too fast! 

Motorized Vehicle...We decided to get Madeline an Easter present as opposed to an Easter basket with a bunch of junk in it. After I priced the basket I wanted plus the stuff to fill it, we decided for this year this would be better since she doesn't really understand anyway. So we got her the Tangled quad. She likes it but I think Terry and I like watching her crash drive more than she like driving it. It has been so fun to watch. Her driving skills are getting better but she's still pretty reckless. 

Mental Head Case...that would be yours truly. I drove myself nuts yesterday doing math homework, cleaning, cooking, and studying for a government test that was due by 11pm. I checked at 4pm to be sure I had until 11 to take the test and it wasn't there because it is due NEXT Friday. I am losing my mind. Seriously. May 7th can't get here fast enough!

Love/Hate

I love Easter. I love this time of year, how everyone dresses up so nice on Easter Sunday, and the spirit of Easter. 


I hate that I get wrapped up in the hallmark-ness of Easter, and that so many don't know that it is SO much more than bunnies and egg hunts.




I love the age that Madeline is right now. She started saying please and thank you and it absolutely melts my heart. 

I hate that she climbs on everything all the time and busts her lip or gets a new bruise every day. Ok maybe not every day but close.

I love Terry. With all my heart. 


I hate that I don't show him enough.

I love the way I feel when I am eating healthy and exercising.

I hate the effort and time it requires.

I love summer, the sun, and being outside. I love being in the pool when it's hot outside. 

I hate having to get ready and run errands when its sweltering outside.

I love hats - big floppy ones, little newsboy ones, etc. 

I hate the way they look on me. I have a large head with tons of hair and hats just dont mesh with that.

I love school. I really do. I enjoy learning and I feel young (I know so dumb) when I am walking around campus.

I hate that it takes me away from Madeline and Terry, and the way I feel torn a  lot of the time.

I love to shop.

I hate what it does to my bank account.

I love being a mom. It's something I didn't know would happen for me and I feel so blessed every day to be a parent. 

I hate how fast time goes by. It seems like just yesterday Madeline was a newborn and I felt comatose.

I love being a Christian. I love having a Hope that this painful world we live in, is not where we belong. I love that I am forgiven and His mercies are new every single day, despite Him knowing that I will inevitably make the same mistakes I made yesterday. I love that He sent His Son so that we might have life. I love that I was raised in a home that taught me why we really celebrate Easter. 

I hate that people I know don't share in this Hope. I hate that I can't change their hearts, and that I am not always the example I should be. I hate that there is so much suffering and pain in this world, and that SO many do not know that this world is not the end. I hate that so many don't know how much Jesus loves them.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 1:3

Exercise?

I think her intentions are good...