Why we moved off post...

I've had several people ask me why we moved off post and so I thought I would give an answer.

I don't, however, have an answer for those who would ask me what is best when it comes to deciding whether to live on or off post. It's totally a personal preference and both have their pros and cons. It's also a preference that might change - as it did for my family!

From the moment my husband found out he was in the Army, I really wanted to live on post. In fact, I was a little adamant about it. I'm not really one who always feels comfortable home alone at night so, with the knowledge of lurking deployments, I thought that living on post would eliminate more of the feelings that sometime accompany that. My husband, on the other hand, liked the idea of living off post, except for the thought that a very short commute to work would be nice. The twins, like me, also liked the idea of living on post and making neighborhood friends. That didn't really happen at our first house on post, but it did at our second place so I figured they wouldn't ever really go for living off post.

Then, just a few weeks ago, we all entertained the thought...

BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) recently went up and the thought of having an actual house to ourselves, not a duplex, appealed to each of us. Looking at the price to rent a home that was almost twice the size of the place we were currently living in, and less expensive when you look at the fact that they take all your BAH when you live on post, made it even more appealing. And then the other factor of our twins not liking the school district we were in...and, well, it all begins to unfold as we drive by this big, beautiful home in a very nice, quiet, safe neighborhood just outside the post (making our commute only a few minutes longer than before), and then we drive by this HUGE, brand new school that looks great and is rumored to be a really great school...and not a one of us was left with anything to think about. It was perfect...it IS perfect.

This evening my husband and I were chatting about how much we love living here. It's such a nice house. It's relaxing, and private, and the twins are happy as can be about their new school. All is well, and God is good! We thank Him for the blessing of this home. The guest room awaits friends and family!!!

Another Move

This weekend we're in the process of moving off post. It's not something I wanted to do when we first moved here, but just recently we decided it might be nice so we prayed about it, and last Saturday went looking very close to post (the one thing we both agreed had to be so for us to make another move)...and, within a few hours we found a house we all loved very close to post, with a huge, new school for the twins (another reason we thought a move might be good!).

I still can't believe it!! On Monday morning we went to the housing office and asked if they could waive the 30 day notice...and, praise the Lord, they said they could! On Wednesday we got the keys to a beautiful home...and tonight we're 98% moved out and just have a little more to clean. The only glitch...the twins both woke up vomiting in the middle of the night and my husband and I have done most of the moving on our own. Surprisingly, it hasn't been bad at all though.

Our prayer tonight is that we don't get sick and have trouble finishing the moving and cleaning after church tomorrow. Due to the twins sickness, we left our couches and our bed set up so as not to disturb them and are spending one last night at our house on post. They slept or watched T.V. all day while we moved, and this evening we worked a little while on setting up the new house so they could comfortably move over there tomorrow if they're still sick.

And, at the end of the day, we're praising God for a beautiful home to live in for the remainder of our stay (because we're not moving again until the Army moves us!!!) and for how well the move has gone.

Pray for our Soldiers!

This is a photo of one of my husband's soldiers. It brings tears to my eyes every time I run across it. As many of our service men and women are still in harm's way, please don't forget about them. And, as many still prepare to go to the battlefields, don't forget to pray for them and their families as well. The battle might not be as intense, but until they all come home we must not forget to lift them up in prayer and extend love and care for the families on the home front, or to reach out to those who have lost love ones.

Thank you to all those who serve and to their families. I know the sacrifice is great!

Thankful Thursday

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13








It's been so long since I've actually written anything, and I miss it so much! I was just about to get off the computer when I realized it was Thursday and I had much to be thankful for.

As I was searching for a verse about being thankful, I came across the one above and, even though it doesn't talk about being thankful, it just seemed to resonate with me and speak to my heart. I have so much to be thankful for, yet in the midst of a very busy week I've found myself to be a little grumpy. Days and days of rain, and tons and tons of things to do at work, seemed to get the best of me...

That is until a wonderful friend reminded me, "the sun IS still shining...we just can't see it right now."

We talked for a few minutes during my lunch break and those few little words went a long way. As I reflected on my attitude and went back to work, I saw the fruit of my labor and no longer felt aggravated. I had been dwelling on the negative (lots and lots of work to catch up on from my vacation) and never even noticed how much was actually being accomplished. The piles on my desk were almost gone!

God reminded me today (through the words of a wonderful friend) that He is my strength, and He is my sunshine! There is nothing that He and I can't accomplish TOGETHER!

Just to name a few...I'm thankful for:
-Friends who speak the truth in love. I needed out of that slump!
-The opportunity we had to spend time with family and friends in Texas.
-A beautiful, wonderful wedding for my daughter and her husband.
-A wonderful husband who has been such a huge help to me and is such an encouragement (he did all the unpacking and grocery shopping when we got back from Texas since I had to go back to work!).
-Loving, sweet kids. I just love them! It was so awesome to get to be all together this Christmas!!
-My job, which provided the money we needed for the wedding.
-Life!
-The love of Christ!!!
-My boys...who are urging me to get off the computer to watch the football game with them and eat pizza and relax!