I consider myself a spiritual person. I believe that God has a plan for my life and that all of the experiences over the past 14 years are to make me into the person I'm intended to be. This move, however, has been by the far the most rewarding and frustrating. I'm ready already to find out what the plan is! Not many people take the time to make sense of the decisions you make, the people you meet, or where you happen to lay your head. That's all I've done in seven moves over the 14 years I've been married to "the military."
I always knew Indiana was not the place I wanted to spend my life. So fortunately I met my husband and he quickly proceeded to move me 14 hours away to Fayetteville, NC home of Ft. Bragg. What a change for a small town girl from Indiana! I remember very clearly walking on post for the first time and just staring, without trying to be obvious, at all of the people in uniform. I'd never seen so much camo in my life! Of course over time I grew accustomed to living in a military town and actually grew to enjoy the benefits of living close to post: commissary (grocery), PX (Walmart), and all the free activities.
Ft. Bragg turned out to be the place where KC and I learned to be a married couple. That may sound odd to say but many newlyweds never have that chance. We were far away from family and friends and therefore we had nowhere to run if something went awry. We learned to depend on each other, communicate openly and honestly, and always place the other's need first. Ft. Bragg is also the place we learned to be parents. We had Avery and all of our family was hundreds of miles away. We learned to share the parenting responsibility. We didn't leave Avery with a sitter until she was nearly two. That's not exclusively because we were overprotective; we didn't know anyone well enough. I'm not saying any of this was easy; it most definitely wasn't. We were in debt to our eyeballs and barely making ends meet. We learned to be frugal, to prioritize, and to spend time together without spending money.
Knoxville, TN is the place we learned to just be still and let God do his thing. This is where we found our wonderful church and second family. Knoxville is the place where my kidney disease ultimately acquired a name and where I was given a second chance at life thanks to my unbelievable husband! Now don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to live there again but I truly miss my "family" and the connections we made. It's hard as a military spouse to constantly change. Friends, jobs, doctors, hairdressers the list is endless. This is the first place I was willing to open myself to friendship other than those I'd left in Indiana. I finally learned that making new friends didn't mean forgetting my oldest ones. Avery made one of her dearest "boyfriends" and plans are in the works for an arranged wedding:) Whenever we go to Knoxville it's like going home.
Living in Kentucky was quite an experience and I miss it everyday. Kentucky taught me what it meant to be a mommy, a wife, and a woman without feeling guilty that they weren't intertwined. I was able to take time for myself and hang out with my awesome group of girls and do things for myself. I'd forgotten over the past 10 years to take time for me and it was refreshing and beneficial for my entire family. We lived in a great neighborhood, the kind you see in sappy movies, with great neighbors. I learned to relax, enjoy the moment, and the people who were in my life. I got to experience one of my secret wishes which was hosting a house full of kids! It sounds corny but I always wanted to be "THAT" mom: open door policy, snacks on the counter, and doors slamming. I learned that being only three hours from your family was a perfect distance and was able to enjoy many events I'd missed out on previously. As a family we learned that saving has its benefits as we were able to take trips to Colorado and Disney.
Now here I sit in Vancouver, WA and I can't help but wonder what I'm supposed to learn. What is the plan for this place? I already know it's for me to become healthy and enjoy the benefits of fitness. I believe that this place is supposed to make us appreciate each other and the beauty around us. There is no way someone can come here and not awe at the natural beauty. I, however, can't help but feel a bit lost. I'm unemployed and having a difficult time even getting an interview. I don't know who I'm supposed to be or what I'm supposed to do if I'm not working. So I guess for now I'll just do what I've been doing: exercising, errands, cooking, cleaning, parenting, and spousing. I know there is a personal lesson to learn I just may not be ready to learn it.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Surf's Up!
This past weekend we splurged and took surfing lessons as a family. Whew! I had no idea how physically demanding this sport could be. Needless to say, I am not your "hang loose" surfer girl. My daughter, however, has some potential:)
First of all, if you've never worn a wet suit that is an experience in itself. I imagine it's how food feels when being shrink wrapped. It took my husband and me both pulling and tugging to get the sucker on. Once on I had to commence to put on gloves, booties, and a hood: the only part of the getup that didn't constrict my body to a size 4. This effort was merely at the surf shop to "fit" my suit. I then had to struggle to get out of the suit. Peeling it off, with the help of Avery, proved to be much easier. Once at the beach the process began again this time without the privacy of a dressing room. Avery and I opted to change next to the car; Avery wearing a black bikini and myself in leopard panties and a black sports bra! I'm sure I got lots of stares but who cares, let 'em look;)
Once I was sealed in my suit we had to lug our boards to the beach. We had an educational lesson from our instructor on the Recipe for the Perfect Wave. Quite interesting information. After that wrapped up we practiced skills on the board. I was killing it; paddling quick to get ahead of the wave, sitting in my "whoa Nelly" position, covering my head after falling, and popping up into my surfer girl stance. I was confident about my ability to transfer my skills to the water, so we picked up our boards and headed to the ocean!
Let me begin by saying that I have been in the ocean before. I've played in the surf and been hammered by waves. None of my previous experience prepared me for tackling the surf and waves while trying to control a surf board. Luckily the board was attached to my leg so I didn't have to chase it. Anyway, I paddled out the instructor, "up dogged" over some waves, and assumed the "whoa Nelly" position. I'll explain: sit toward the back of your board, hang on to the side (rails), and ride out the waves. It's a way to stay out in the water while waiting to catch the perfect wave.
Well, the first wave hit and I flipped sideways and ended up completely under the water. Little did I know this was a precursor of what was to come. A good wave came and my instructor had me assume the take off position. I paddled ahead of the wave, felt the wave take my board into a glide and knew it was time to pop up. Unfortunately my pop up ended up being a fall off the side. I continued to try and "catch" a wave but ended up prematurely in the water each time. I managed to stay on my board for approximately .7 seconds which I consider a success. In comparison to Avery's successfully riding two separate waves my effort was pitiful. I don't know what it is about my daughter, be it her youth, her athleticism, or her fearlessness, it seems that she's good at whatever endeavor she tries. She made her daddy and I look like hack tennis players. I spent more time off my board than on it. I pretty sure my sinuses are clear for the next month.
After two hours of playing in the water and attempting to surf our lesson was over. I was told taking off the wet suit once it served its purpose would be more difficult than getting into it but I had my doubts. I am a believer! That sucker was attached to my skin like a stuck jar lid. We peeled off our suits, showered, dressed, and bit adieu to the beach.
I can honestly say that I will probably never surf again. I'm glad I had to opportunity to try and will always cherish the memory of surfing with my husband and daughter. There's nothing quite like trying new things as a family. If you want to find a way to bring something exciting in your weekend and bring your family closer try something new together. Laughing, failing, cheering each other on, and succeeding are priceless and much more valuable than things.
First of all, if you've never worn a wet suit that is an experience in itself. I imagine it's how food feels when being shrink wrapped. It took my husband and me both pulling and tugging to get the sucker on. Once on I had to commence to put on gloves, booties, and a hood: the only part of the getup that didn't constrict my body to a size 4. This effort was merely at the surf shop to "fit" my suit. I then had to struggle to get out of the suit. Peeling it off, with the help of Avery, proved to be much easier. Once at the beach the process began again this time without the privacy of a dressing room. Avery and I opted to change next to the car; Avery wearing a black bikini and myself in leopard panties and a black sports bra! I'm sure I got lots of stares but who cares, let 'em look;)
Once I was sealed in my suit we had to lug our boards to the beach. We had an educational lesson from our instructor on the Recipe for the Perfect Wave. Quite interesting information. After that wrapped up we practiced skills on the board. I was killing it; paddling quick to get ahead of the wave, sitting in my "whoa Nelly" position, covering my head after falling, and popping up into my surfer girl stance. I was confident about my ability to transfer my skills to the water, so we picked up our boards and headed to the ocean!
Let me begin by saying that I have been in the ocean before. I've played in the surf and been hammered by waves. None of my previous experience prepared me for tackling the surf and waves while trying to control a surf board. Luckily the board was attached to my leg so I didn't have to chase it. Anyway, I paddled out the instructor, "up dogged" over some waves, and assumed the "whoa Nelly" position. I'll explain: sit toward the back of your board, hang on to the side (rails), and ride out the waves. It's a way to stay out in the water while waiting to catch the perfect wave.
Well, the first wave hit and I flipped sideways and ended up completely under the water. Little did I know this was a precursor of what was to come. A good wave came and my instructor had me assume the take off position. I paddled ahead of the wave, felt the wave take my board into a glide and knew it was time to pop up. Unfortunately my pop up ended up being a fall off the side. I continued to try and "catch" a wave but ended up prematurely in the water each time. I managed to stay on my board for approximately .7 seconds which I consider a success. In comparison to Avery's successfully riding two separate waves my effort was pitiful. I don't know what it is about my daughter, be it her youth, her athleticism, or her fearlessness, it seems that she's good at whatever endeavor she tries. She made her daddy and I look like hack tennis players. I spent more time off my board than on it. I pretty sure my sinuses are clear for the next month.
I can honestly say that I will probably never surf again. I'm glad I had to opportunity to try and will always cherish the memory of surfing with my husband and daughter. There's nothing quite like trying new things as a family. If you want to find a way to bring something exciting in your weekend and bring your family closer try something new together. Laughing, failing, cheering each other on, and succeeding are priceless and much more valuable than things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)