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first post of 2013

Cannot believe it's been two months since I've done anything on this blog. Yikes! For the two readers I have left, I'll update a little. The end of 2012 kicked my hiney. Moving (for the 7th year in a row), a job change (wonderful thing!), packing up and unpacking, adjusting to many changes. Son #1 is engaged and going into the military this year, for starters! Whoever said your life slows down as your kids get bigger lied.

I was feeling bad that I haven't written much, and then realized I have been writing, just not in this space. So I'll share a few things here:

I've done several articles for Military Spouse Magazine, including
10 Things I've Learned From My Military Brats
Can We Do Better?
I look forward to working more with MSM.

One of the most exciting changes of the last couple months is my move to position as Managing Editor of Home Educating Family Magazine. I'm still writing for them, and now I have the privilege of helping shape content and coordinating all the GREAT writers and columnists. Challenging, but a good challenge! If you've never looked at them, be sure to take a peek at this cutting-edge company with its on-line convention, great media spots, blog, and review. I love my job and have been blessed to meet (well, as much as I can "meet" anyone from Hawaii--thank God for the interwebs) some of my favorite homeschool heroes, speakers, and writers.

I continue to review for HEF's Review Team and write for their blog. Some recent reviews:

How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex
Unending Devotion 
Don't Put Headphones on the Cat

Some recent blog posts:

Homeschooling an Athlete
Does This Make Me Look Fat?

I've had to let go of some other writing I was doing, and I'm also working on an outline and proposal for a book! Exciting times. Still, I like to read, and here is something I found from a friend's review. This is the great benefit of working with a bunch of reviewers--I find little gems like this! Highly recommend, especially for young homeschooling moms.

feed the fish

We're hitting the age when it seems that suddenly, all around us, couples that have been together for decades are quietly divorcing. They've grown apart...they've had long-standing issues...the kids are grown and they find themselves married to a stranger.

"Do you want to feed the fish?" my husband asks.

Covered with flour from baking, thinking of all the deadlines I need to get to if I do ever sit down, I nod and wipe off my hands. "Feeding the fish" means "will you come be with me a while?"

We lived in Hawaii for a year before we came back for this assignment, and one of our favorite things to do (then, and now) is to stand by the channel behind our house and throw out crumbs and watch the multi-colored tropical surface to snatch at the little bits. We've seen all kinds of fish there: angel fish, clown fish, parrot fish, barracuda, and, several times, baby hammerhead sharks.

It's a time to step away from the busyness of life, to do something not necessarily "productive," to enjoy nature. It's a time for conversation. As we toss bread into the water, we review the day, catch up, and reconnect.

When you've been married a long time, it's easy to forget how much those simple moments mean...but to me, they are more important than jewelry or a fancy date. It means my husband still loves me, longs for my company. It is hard for me to "do nothing," but then I remember--it is something. This is the most important relationship in my life, and it needs tending.

I've known several women my age who have lost their husbands unexpectedly in the past couple of years. I have a sneaking suspicion that if you asked them what they miss most, it would be the little moments.

Whatever it means in your own marriage, please...take time to feed the fish.

we're here!

After a strange week, we are finally here in Hawaii. We had some delays due to Hurricane Sandy, but I don't even want to complain because others have suffered so much, while our impact was simply inconvenience.

At any rate, we have arrived in the Land of Aloha! Even though it's only been a year, I'd forgotten the blueness of the sky and water, the sweetness of the air, and the beauty everywhere. I'm just breathing for a bit.

happenings and such

It's been a busy fall. We were happily surprised with orders BACK to Hawaii, and we hope to get there this week, in spite of Hurricane Sandy. Being in D.C. for the past year has been an experience. I'm glad we had it, but I'm even happier to go back to the Land of Aloha. We've never been stationed in the same place twice, so this will be new for us!

In other news...(excuse the variance of photos from cell phones and my daughter's camera)

The "boys" (now nearly 21 and 19) worked...a lot. They are both coming with us to Hawaii (yippee!!), so there was no sense enrolling in classes this fall, only to move mid-semester, so they put in a lot of hours working. They'll both be going to New Hope Bible College in Hawaii next semester. Not a great photo, as they were constantly coming and going!

We hit FIVE different feisanna (plural for feis--Irish Dance competition) the past several months with my little Irish dancer. She did great, moving up a level and nearly placing out of Prizewinner (only 2 dances to go!). I'm so proud of all her hard work. And I LOVE her new solo dress that we ordered from Irish Rose Couture.

Oma came to visit once more, before we leave the "mainland." At beautiful National Harbor, with three of the kids:

Playing cards with Matt:

The Briggs family paid us a visit from Germany. It was wonderful to reconnect! Gabriel and Hannah are quite a sweet couple.

Here they are with a few of their siblings:

And the goodbyes begin again. I've said "goodbye" to my friend, Angie, twice now. It doesn't seem fair. But on the flip side, I do realize what a blessing it is to have been stationed together with their family twice. Love her.

And my Tuesday Bible study ladies. *insert big sigh* I will miss them!!

I've been loving the fall colors. Soaking them in while I can. Happy fall, y'all!

unlikely friends

"I don't make friends," she said.

I was stunned. Was that even an option? As a young wife--very young--I wasn't sure how to respond to this older woman. At that point, I'd been married to my airman husband for a grand total of about 12 months and had no concept of the military life, much less even truly identified with being a "military spouse" yet. 

She went on. She'd done this thing for 20 years. She was tired of goodbyes. It was hard to know who to trust. So her solution?

Don't make friends. 

My 20-year-old self knew enough to feel sorry for her. She was pleasant, but kept all of us at arm's length. I don't know what happened to her. I hope she made peace and was able to get close to people again, somehow.

With the passing of (ahem) a lot of years, I do understand now. I can understand her feelings, but I've never been able to follow through and "just say no" to friends. An extroverted people person, I don't think I'm capable of it, actually. But yeah...I get it. The hurt of saying goodbye doesn't get easier the more you do it; it gets harder. Probably because I know, now, how final it can be. I hate it. 

But I've been blessed with so many different friends over the years. I would hate to have missed out on this. I've become fast friends with women I'd never have anticipated I'd hit it off with. Twenty years older than me, or as many years younger...professional women, moms with master's degrees or high school diplomas, all manner of political leanings, different religions, and different backgrounds.

really bad cell phone photo, but I larf them, so deal

They're just beautiful.

And I love them. I wish I could gather them all up in one spot (they DO need to all meet each other!). What a hoot that would be! This past year in D.C., a time which is quickly coming to an end as we get ready to move again, I've been blessed with a small group of lovely women. I don't know what I would have done without them. We meet weekly for study and prayer, talk about our challenges, laugh and act silly, and do what women do best...eat and gab! We range from moms of young ones just starting out, to those of us with grown and even married children. 

It's wonderful. I hope you have your own circle of friends. If not--please keep trying, and remember this: 

The only way to have a friend is to be one. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

me and my beautiful young friend, Anne, on the steps of the Nat'l Gallery of Art, D.C. 

winners!

Yay! Congratulations, winners! Blankenmom has won the Well Planned Day Print Planner,

and Domestic Diva has won the On the Go Planner! 

Please respond within 3 business days to guarantee your prize. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

contest closes this Thursday, and a favor

Just a reminder that Home Educating Family's blog giveaways end this week! Be sure and leave a comment on the preceding post for a chance to win. This week's prize is a Well Planned Day print planner which is an awesome prize. And if you have a moment, can I ask you to click on the "Vote for Us" Top Mommy Blogs icon on the right sidebar? I am currently #2 in the military wife/life category. To 'vote' for my blog, all you have to do is click the box--that's all! Thanks for your help! I'll leave you with a fall-ish photo. Mums!

Fabulous Field Trips and a final giveaway!

Dream come true for me! Julia Child's kitchen at the Smithsonian

Well, folks, this is the last blog hop post for the giveaway month offered by Home Educating Family. At the end of this post, be sure to check out all the info for this week's giveaway! Congratulations to last week's winner of the On the Go Planner, ~N at Journey Through Love! Thank you all for your entries and your sweet comments.

This week, our Review Team is blogging about "fabulous field trips." I hope you'll check out their posts--plus, more chances to win!

We love field trips. They are a nice break, fun, and often more educational than a regular school day. We've been blessed to do interesting "field trips" all over the world because of our travels, and we've had an absolute blast doing it. But no matter where we've lived, whether it's North Dakota or Europe, we've tried to make the most of every area we've been stationed. But even if you've lived in the same place your whole life, try to fit in field trips! The world is truly an amazing place.

at the top of the Zugspitze, Germany

Think like a tourist. You may feel like you already know everything there is to know about where you live. But have you really exhausted all there is around you? Look at the familiar with fresh eyes. Think about local parks and trails, museums, historical sites, an industry that is common in your area. Some of our most memorable trips were to places that locals thought of as commonplace. We've picked oranges in an orange grove in Florida, visited a beekeeper's farm, gone to a local dairy, and more. Even if it's the 'same old thing' for you, I bet it's not for your kids!

It's more fun with a friend... Some trips are more fun for all when taken with another family. Your local support group probably offers field trips or ideas as well, but often we've found that going with just one or two other families is more doable AND fun.

... but on your own is ok. Some of our best field trips have been impromptu ones with "just us" or even purposeful family vacations. There are days when we get up and the beautiful weather beckons, and we pack a lunch and head out! Be open to serendipity. It can often make for the most fun!

Join me for a little slideshow of some of our favorite "field trips" around the world!

petting a wombat in Australia

my guys at the Black Sand Beach, Hawaii

Switzerland

in the Louvre, Paris

Mt. Rushmore (they look thrilled)

Colosseum in Rome

Ft. Soledad in Guam (I can barely stand how little and cute they are here)

German Christmas market with Grandma

Dole Plantation, Hawaii

my 3 youngest and me, National Harbor, MD

Holland

dairy farm and petting zoo, California

Anna and Grandpa, Germany

crepe stand by Notre Dame in Paris

girls and friends at the Capitol

Mt. Kilauea, Big Island, Hawaii

the infamous Corn Palace in South Dakota

Why we do what we do....my sweet babies. 

This week's prize is the popular Well Planned Day paper planner. I love mine! Not only is it gorgeous, which makes it a pleasure to use, but it's practical. It's dated from July-June to fit the school year. There are lots of little 'extras,' like tear-out shopping lists, space for to-do lists and menus, and helpful articles--along with plenty of calendar and planning space. Good luck! Don't forget to leave a comment for YOUR chance to win the Well Planned Day planner! This giveaway will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 11, at midnight. 

(Due to international sweepstakes laws, this giveaway is for U.S. entrants only. This giveaway is not tied to any social media site. All prizes must be claimed within 8 weeks.)

gettysburg in photos

Thought I'd share a few photos from our Gettysburg trip.We had the best "tour guide" ever with Steve and by the end of the day, we all knew the names of the decisive battles and generals in the Battle of Gettysburg. (Matt had to work this day, so it was just the younger three with us.) Steve had just completed a week-long military leadership course which took him all over the battlefields of Gettysburg.

But of course, it's not our family if you can't have a little fun:

(all photos taken with my phone!)

Some people enjoyed the history portion more than others. 

Beautiful memorials everywhere. 

It was interesting to see, that 150 years later, people still leave little mementos and flags on the markers. 

There was a cute photographer beside me. 

 Daddy/daughter moment.

We went to the top of one of the old observation towers for quite a view of the Gettysburg area. Hard to believe so much bloodshed occurred here. 

  

 We stood by Little Round Top (one of the most decisive and famous engagements of the Civil War). Struck by the quietness and beauty of the place.