Another Weekend Retreat

Quote of the Week: I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our joy or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. – Martha Washington

This weekend was a relaxing whirlwind – if that makes any sense. I started my Thursday/Friday off coming down with yet ANOTHER cold. I was looking forward to a nice, slow, relaxing weekend home with the hubs (home being the KEY word). Well, I received a phone call from David at 4:30 Friday afternoon saying that we had been selected to go on a weekend army retreat (bodies were needed in seats and our bodies were apparently the only ones available). While generally, under any other circumstance, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity, I felt less than thrilled on this particular occasion…

About 5 minutes later, I received an email from the brigade with all the information about the retreat. It appeared to be more of a spouse retreat, as opposed to a soldier-spouse retreat. I called and confirmed that it was A-OK for David to actually go (I mean, he WAS the one they told to go!) Long story short, the answer was YES, he could go and it was for spouses and soldiers. Great. The retreat began at 5:00PM, was an hour away, my husband was still at work, packing still had to be done, and it was 4:45PM.

So we went.

The retreat was actually pretty good. It had a lot of material we had already seen, but it was very nice to have a refresher course. It was especially nice to meet other ladies that had spouses in David’s brigade/battalion. And if you’re wondering – there were NO other soldiers there (other than the chaplains conducting the retreat) because they were all at pre-deployment training. The only thing that is MORE awkward than being a new military spouse, albeit an officer’s spouse, is bringing your husband to a Deployment Readiness Retreat (for spouses) when they actually should have never been there to begin with.  Ugh is all I had to say. Luckily, the ladies were kind and understanding (after a bit of light hearted explaining on my part).

Anyways, the retreat was held at the Pinehurst Resort and Spa … a nice southern fancy place. It was very pretty and a place we probably would have never decided to go if we were not in the Army.

I was a little disappointed that we did not get a king bed in our room (as shallow as it sounds, it played a BIG factor in me even deciding to go in the first place…we have a queen bed and it is definitely nice to stretch out on a king if given the chance!) It’s ok though…David squished the two full size beds together, so we had a double full size…or something like that!

It kinda freaked me out a little when we found some random man’s shoe under one of the beds David moved…

You know you are at a fancy 4 star hotel when you have $14 M&Ms in your room. And no, I did not open them…

But, the most amazing part of my WHOLE weekend was meeting my dream horse. On the way home Sunday afternoon, I wanted to swing by a horse farm to take a look around. Well, there happened to be a horse show that was going on that day. As we were walking by, I saw the most beautiful Friesian horse. So I was obviously compelled to walk up to the owners and dote on him…and they surprisingly were thrilled we walked over J Score! So, here’s a pic of me and the beautiful man!

I am not a person that fills my head with “One Days” and “I Wish’s”…but seriously, ONE DAY, Lord willing, I will have a Friesian!

This was THE perfect ending to a not so perfect weekend.

He Had A Dream

Quote of the Week: THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT, BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

So as I said in a previous post, I love to listen to Joyce Meyer.  There is one more article that I want to share out of her magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life.  The article below is actually by Dr. John C. Maxwell and it is titled Dreams Are Not Free. 

I want to share this article because David and I are on this journey all because of a DREAM.

Here it goes.

Have you ever been strolling through a shopping mall or car lot when – POW! THE perfect product captures your attention? Perhaps it’s the sporty convertible with a V-8 engine and unbelievable acceleration. Maybe it’s the adorable dress that’s exactly your style, has a flattering fit, and accentuates all of your finest features.

Whatever the case, there’s an initial moment when you’re enamored with THE product. For a split second, reality is suspended as you imagine the joys of owning it. Unfortunately, two words generally bring this pleasant daydream crashing to a halt: price tag.

The Dream Is Free, But The Journey Isn’t.

When you first think about a dream, you only see possibilities and potential. As my friend Collin Sewell observed, all dreams begin obstacle-free. However, at some point we have to confront the Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price of my dream?

If you want to achieve a dream, you have to be willing to do more than just imagine the outcome. You have to be willing to pay a price to start the journey. Dreams don’t fall into our laps by accident or good fortune. They must be attained at the cost of personal sacrifice.

The Price Must Be Paid Sooner Than You Think.

Dreams can’t be bought on impulse. Buy now, pay later financing isn’t an option. If you want to own a dream, then be prepared to make a hefty down payment.

I think most people realize that there will be some cost for achieving their dream. They have a vague notion that someday they will have to pay a price. But they don’t realize how quickly the cost comes. Stepping toward a dream is like launching a rocket; massive amounts of energy must be expended at the beginning. Otherwise, gravity takes hold and the journey never gets off the ground.

The Price Will Be Higher Than You Expect.

All dreams have price tags attached, and the cost is always higher than we expect to pay. Not once in my conversations with successful people have I heard someone say, “Getting to the top was much easier than I anticipated.” The reverse is true. Those at the pinnacle of their professions point to the hardships and sacrifices they had to endure to reach the top.

Having done a good deal of traveling, I’ve learned the taxi principle: ALWAYS find out the cost before you get in the cab. Unfortunately, dreams are far too complex for us to accurately assess the cost up front. A noble dream is worth the expense, but the full cost won’t be apparent until we’re already on the journey.

The Price Will Be Paid More Than Once.

As a young leader, I mistakenly thought acquiring a dream was like buying a ticket to Six Flags: Pay once and enjoy the rides. Experience has taught me otherwise. Following a dream forces you to make continual sacrifices.

Just as a rocket must shed weight to escape gravity, so too, a leader has to let go of some goals to accomplish others. You have to give up to go up.

Let’s face it: Dreams don’t work unless you do. Easing off the accelerator and coasting won’t get you to your desired destination. For dreams to be apprehended, leaders must have an appetite for hard labor.

It Is Possible To Pay Too Much For Your Dream.

Although sacrifices go hand in hand with success, it is possible to overpay for a dream. Don’t mortgage relationships or discard your moral compass in pursuit of career goals. I’ve seen it happen all too often. I’ve watched people sacrifice marriages, neglect their kids, ignore their health, and abandon their conscience – all in the name of a “dream”.

As Jesus of Nazareth once said, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?” (See Mark 8:36) Some prices aren’t worth paying. Do not allow your dream to dictate your values. Rather, make sure your values inform and govern your dream.

Weekend R&R

We decided to take a much needed weekend get-a-way to Myrtle Beach this weekend since David had a 4 day... With that said, I'm testing out this mobile blogging app, so we shall see if it is up to par ;)
We drove over Friday and arrived around lunch time. After checking in to our hotel, we drove around and ended up eating lunch at Senor Frogs. It was nasty. I think it must only be good if you are drunk as a skunk in the Bahamas. Anywho...
After shopping around for a while, we ate dinner and headed back to the room.
Saturday morning we went to a "time share" presentation (I SEE you rolling your eyes!!) Well, we are now the proud owners of two weeks vacation! One at Atlantis in the Bahamas and the other in Rome. We are stoked! Now if we could only get more time off!

Ok, just kidding. We didn't buy a darn thing. We are young, not stupid. In spite of what many may think, those words are not synonyms. ;)
We did however, sit through a two hour one-on-one low pressure presentation, ate a less than perfect "breakfast", and escaped with two "FREE" Ripleys Aquarium tickets, two $25 Margaritaville gift cards, and a 50% off hotel stay coupon. 
So, what did we do the rest of the day? The Aquarium, duh!
First, we went and had lunch...and used our coupon :)
Then we went to see the sharks...believe it or not ;)
We went shopping again, and I finally put a gift card to use I've been carrying around for ages.
Then we had dinner and used our second coupon. Our grand total of the day was $11 (& that was a tip!)

Trying to upload some photos from the day...we shall see if it works :)

We will be heading back to Bragg tomorrow at some point. Other than that, I'm not too sure what's on the agenda...and honestly, I like it that way :)

Until next time!

Power Thoughts

Quote of the Week:

YOUR PROBLEM IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM; IT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS YOUR PROBLEM THAT’S YOUR PROBLEM. – Joyce Meyer

Let me just say that I love Joyce Meyer. She has such practical sermons for today’s world. I heard this quote from her a couple months ago and it has stuck with me ever since.

If the biggest issue with a “problem” is attitude, then we have to figure out how to adjust our attitude.  I believe it is safe to say that our thoughts play a significant role in our attitude. Are we thinking positive thoughts, fearful thoughts, negative thoughts?

I came across one of Joyce’s articles in Enjoying Everyday Life entitled Are Your Thoughts Powerful or Pitiful?  I would like to share some of that article with you here:

Power Thought: God Loves Me Unconditionally

You may not feel like you are amazing or awesome, but God says you are. Psalm 139 says we are fearfully and wonderfully made – the human body is a truly amazing creation when you study it. And when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, something happens to you on the inside (the heart and mind). Paul writes of it this way:  Therefore if any person is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Once you’re “in Christ”, a gradual and patient work of transformation is underway. You may not notice any difference when you look in the mirror; your behavior may not change overnight; but God is working…He sees the end of things from the beginning, and He sees you as new and completely righteous – and He loves you unconditionally.

Power Thought: I Will Not Live In Fear

Is fear holding you back in life? Do you struggle with worry and anxiety? When fear rears its ugly head next time, say out loud, “I will not live in fear.”  In fact, meditate on it.

By doing this you will be even more prepared to stand against fear when it does come. Remember, it will take time. Be committed to stick with it until you see change.  I still say, “I will not live in fear” out loud when needed. This morning, I woke up and said, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will enjoy this day and I will not live in fear.”

It’s OK to feel fear, but you can move beyond it by realizing it’s just the devil’s attempt to prevent you from enjoying life or making any kind of progress. Do what you believe you’re supposed to do even if you have to “do it afraid”.

Power Thought: I Am Difficult To Offend

Some people say over and over, “I am just touchy and get my feelings hurt easily. That is just the way I am. I can’t help it.” They believe this about themselves, and this belief controls their words and actions, which is so unfortunate because it’s so ungodly!  It’s also an excuse to continue wrong behavior. I cannot stress enough how important it is to become a person who is difficult to offend.  Satan desperately tries to prevent us from making spiritual progress. If he can keep us focused on who we are angry with and what they did to us, we cannot focus on God’s Word and His plan for us. Plus, we won’t grow spiritually.

We should be spiritually mature, patient, kind and gentle with others, and wise enough not to allow them to offend us. We cannot control what others do to us, but through God we can control the way we respond to them.  So say it with me, “I am difficult to offend.”

If you would like to read more about this topic, you can read more about these thoughts plus nine others in Joyce’s book Power Thoughts. It is available wherever books are sold.

IT'S A...

BOY!

Yes, David and I will be having a precious little boy sometime next June J Up until the last couple weeks I have not had much time to think about being pregnant. Now that I am almost 16 weeks and we know we are having a boy, reality is somewhat starting to set in.

I had my very first Centering appointment this week.  I had never heard of Centering before the military, but it is a new trendy type of prenatal care being offered to women.  At first I was completely against it because I thought it was just one more way to cheapen a women’s prenatal care. The more I researched it, the more I considered that it might actually be a very good opportunity for me.

You may be wondering what Centering is – it is basically a group of about 8 to 12 women who are due around the same time and they all go through their prenatal care together in a small group environment.  Centering provides a setting for women to take control of their own prenatal care, learning to take their own blood pressure, temperature, weight and also to track their own progress by keeping their own medical charts throughout the pregnancy.  There is also short one on one time spent alone with the health care provider to take the fetal heartbeat and ask any personal questions a women may have that she does not feel comfortable bringing up in the group setting.  Appointments last approximately two hours and also include prenatal education information. Arguably, one of the benefits Centering can provide is the camaraderie among women that develops over the course of the meetings.  This is especially important in a military setting due to the nature of the reality of deployed spouses during pregnancy and birth.  To give you an idea of the frequency of deployments and pregnancies over lapping each other, 50% of the women in my Centering group will have deployed spouses during the pregnancy, birth of their child, or both. Many have no family within hours of where they are stationed. It is definitely a unique situation.

Lately I have really been trying to focus on establishing relationships here and creating a solid support system so that when the baby comes I will have a few people to lean on.  I am staying positive and drowning out any negative thoughts or contacts I may encounter.  My recent obsession is planning the nursery. Here are some pics so far of what I really love!

This is the crib bedding - I have decided to do a black and white theme and add a gender appropriate accent color. That color is still up in the air.

 This is the actual crib I want.  All the furniture is black. I've read that it scratches pretty easy, but I'm sure that scratches on the furniture will be the least of my worries once the little man gets here.

 This is the chest that goes with the crib. It is also black. 

 I was debating on even getting a changing table.  I wanted to just use the top of the dresser (not the one pictured above, but a different one) as a changing table, but the add on part that converts the dresser top to a changing table was only $30 cheaper than this whole changing table.  So, I figured I could use the extra storage space.
For now, I have opted against getting a glider for the nursery and I am looking at rocker/recliners for the living room. I may regret that decision after the baby gets here, but I am sure the rocker/recliner will get MUCH more use for many more years compared to a glider. If I find a cheap, nice, used one on Craigslist or something, I may cave and buy it...keeping my options open.

This is the first little outfit I bought him...before I knew it was a him.  I saw it and thought it was just SO cute, and being only $3.97 for a pack of three AND it being the last one, I couldn't pass it up!

This is the other one that came in the pack. The camo one is just plain camo with no writing on it. I love them!

Mobile Blogging

So, I think I have finally figured out this mobile blogging thing! If this post works, we are in business!!! Yippy :)

A New Year, A New Blog

You have probably noticed the new and improved layout of the blog. I decided it was time for a facelift! So here are a couple of changes I have made to the CMS blog:

1.       A NEW layout. There are tabs at the top of the website: Classic, Flipcard, Magazine, Mosaic, Sidebar, Snapshot, and Timeline. These are all different ways for YOU to change the layout to view the blog. My favorites are the Classic and the Sidebar. What are yours?

2.       Mobile Blogging. Although I am still in the process of figuring this entire thing out and I am still a bit skeptical about it, I decided to give it a try. Apparently there are ways to text and email blog entries and photos. IF I can figure out how in the world to get it to work, it will mean that I can blog on the go…which means MORE blogging J

3.       Google+. The blog is now linked to my Google+ account (it is Google’s version of Facebook…well kind of). I will admit that I am a Facebook junkie because it is HOW I stay connected to everyone back home. I am seriously thinking of transitioning off of Facebook to 100% Google+. We will see how long THAT lasts!

4.       Weekly Blog Updates with a Quote of the Week.  This is a GOAL. I started this blog for a reason, and it seems that each year my annual number of entries keeps dwindling. So, I decided to give myself a goal of a blog a week.

5.       What YOU can do – comment on my entries dadgummit! Keep me accountable! It lets me know that somewhere, someone is out there in the land of cyber space reading…otherwise it is like I am just talking to a brick wall – or pushing on some guys fireplace mantle, expecting a secret passageway to open.

The quote of the week this week is:

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND!

And that is exactly what I am doing. I should have AT LEAST 52 entries by the end of the year. Updates galore. And it is NOT like I don’t have anything to say J