2 weeks in

And we are in a routine. The girls and I really are enjoying our time together. Jake said something yesterday, he commented on how lucky I am to have our girls with me daily. He's so right! As mothers stay at home or not we can easily get frustrated when our kids are constantly asking questions and "mom mom" is always being yelled, etc... It made me check myself and once again appreciate my time with them. I've made it my goal to thoroughly enjoy this spring and part of summer with these 2 pretty chicks before baby arrives. Last night we had some serious thunderstorms which included a few tornado warnings. The plus side to that? Being in bed at 8 pm with my 21 months old arms wrapped tightly around my neck, my fave snuggled in her chest. And as my arms were around her my 4 year olds hand was in mine. We fell asleep to the booming of thunder and the flashing lightning. It was bliss.
Yesterday was marathon day in Nashville. I was supposed to be running my first half. Womp womp, that has been put on hold till next spring, thank you baby:). I had about a half dozen women I know running it yesterday and one doing the full. They all finished, it was so cool to see status updates pooping up on fb of them finishing! Their run was done in the pouring rain, some waiting a couple of hours just to start the race.
Lydia has got quite a scrape on her right foot. Until it fully heals she can't wear her afo's or shoes on that foot, no aquatics for her either. These things are bound to happen, SB or not. It just effects her a little differently when they do. Through fb I met another SB mom who's son is just 2 months younger than Lydia. She is a Christian and has introduced me to a couple of pages for Spina Bifida children that are Christian based. The posts and questions are so much more positive and uplifting than the other groups I have scene. I'm so encouraged to be open to this kind of reaction and parenting, story sharing, updates, etc...these groups are private and not as public so no wonder I hadn't found them before.
Spring is in full force here, more and more I am loving this area where are in. I find myself picturing a life for Jake and I even after the Army(whenever that will be!) I find myself day dreaming about buying a home somewhere near Fort Campbell and what kind of sports group to get the girls involved in. This are is such a prime location for traveling to the east coast or back home to the Midwest. The weather is never too extreme and let's not forget its the south. If its one thing Jake and I agree in its that we do love the South. From southern cooking, BBQ sauce, cowboy boots and country music...this next year 2014 will be a big year as far decision making for our family. We will be deciding if Jake will stay in and retire with the Army or if getting out and possibly moving back to Wisconsin is the right decision. I think him and I both understand too that if he stays in we most likely will never move back to Wisconsin. Because seriously, who moves to a cold state after 40? Normally. Your looking at a winter home in Florida! Ha kind if funny hey?
Well my Lydia wants a book or 5 read to her. Then it's off to get ready for church!


Enjoy your Sunday!

Where to start?

The last 48 hours have been emotional. Sunday night we said goodbye to Jake. My heart just ached as I watched him walk away from my rear view mirror. Every part of me straining to hold on and to get my last look of him. You never know if its the last time you will see your Soldier when they go off to war. My husband, my better half, my night in shining armor, the father of my children. It literally took my breath away. I could taste his big red on my lips for a moment and the tears fell. I gave into that moment of fear. And as quickly as those negative thoughts came in I had to let them go. For I know my God will protect him, and I have such peace in that. My heart is aching for my husband, but this is our life, his job, to go and fight the bad guys.
We are so fortunate to have him gone just 3 months. It could have been the whole 9! To think if he would have left when the other soldiers did there wouldn't be a number 3 on the way.
I was surrounded by my fellow Army wives this morning. I felt their love, understanding, and prayers, and I was once again comforted, so humbled that I have such women in my life. As much as I want to be home and sit by my dad like a little girl, and cry, I know here at Fort Campbell is where I am meant to be. Where my girls are busy with their normal day to day routine, their friends, and their home.
My husband can leave knowing we are safe and have a good support system. I can't imagine what he is going through. I mean sure he shares his feelings with me. But as a man, a father, a husband, their every being is made to protect to build up, to guard. And he has to let that go, he has no control over there. But we have the man upstairs! Jake and I have come a long way and thank goodness we are at a good place with our walk with God. Jake gave me a list of bible verses to read throughout this deployment and Isaiah 41:13 has stuck with me. "For I am The Lord your God,who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'do not fear; I will help you"
The girls are keeping me smiling, right now I need them as much as they need me. Funny how that works...we are already in a routine. I am soaking up this time with them. These last few months before our lives change again and we have another baby Gehl!
My dad and I were talking last night and he told me he went to his weekly bible study. He was running late and when he walked in and joined the others who were already praying he told me how humbled he was at what he heard. 4 different people went on to pray over Jake and I. To pray for our household, our marriage, our children, his job. My father was choked up hearing his brothers and sisters in Christ praying over his son n law and daughter. It was so good to hear that, so reassuring, these prayers, I'm sure along with others, have really carried Jake and I through these first few days and will continue to. So thank you!

It's time to sneak away and nap now while my little chicks are napping...have a good Tuesday!

And give your husband an extra long kiss tonight-cause I sure wish I could do that to mine. :)

Photo shoot.

It was last minute but she agreed to do it. Vanessa, over at VJoy Photography agreed to do some family photos for us Gehl's before Jake leaves. It is another example God's little blessings. Something so simple has turned into beautiful memories we now have captured and we will so enjoy these on our walls at home while Jake is away and before number 3 arrives and changes it all up! :)
She did such a beautiful job, a few photos I feel like I could stare at all day and never tire of looking at. Which I plan to do....Again we are just so thankful for these updated and fun pictures (moments.)

Enjoy!

http://www.vjoyphotography.com/blog/2013/3/-gehl-family-military-family-pictures

Waiting, and waiting, hurry up! No wait....

That's been our life the last 2 weeks. We're waiting patiently for my husbands flight date. Along with that trusting God that we'll get to go home so he can say goodbye to his family before he heads out on his 3 month deployment. I can't even begin to explain how much back and forth has taken place over the last 2 weeks. Hurry up and clear so you can leave, wait, it it takes 2 weeks to get your uniform, nope scratch that let's try everything humanly possible to get the uniform within a week, you can go home on leave, now you can't, your flying out Monday, wait no your not, wait now you might be...that is part of what's been going on for the hubs. Exhausted? He sure is. He's carrying a weight around not knowing if he can go home, it's all he wants. To relax at his parents, have a date night with his wife, tuck his girls into bed with the promise he'll be there in the morning (and not working),have coffee with his dad in the morning...the little things we so often don't see as important. As I type I wait for the decision of whether or not to we have to say goodbye to him come Monday. Or he may not leave till just after Easter. So I trust and wait. There's no point in getting upset, sad, irrational, depressed, and so on. For now my husband is home. Unfortunately I did eat almost a half a bag of Cheetos-yikes! Oh they were soo good!
His uniforms he was waiting on came in, he's wearing them, he sure does look handsome in them.
Everyday the girls watch their daddy lace up his boots, put his jacket on, hat, and kiss him hello/goodbye. It's part of our routine; moms in the kitchen and daddy's off to work. Especially Lydia, so of course my heart just ached earlier this week as I passed the kitchen and saw Lydia in her daddy's arms. Her little arms around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder and tears on my husbands face. Savoring that sweet innocent hug. Smelling her sweet baby hair, holding tight to that innocent moment. For a few months he'll not have those welcoming arms, his girls' squeals welcoming him home, his wife's growing belly now in the way for hugs. BUT, there's a big BUT! It's okay! This is the life we live, this is Jake's job, he chose it, and we support it. We will be here waiting with open arms, with squeals, and tears when he comes home. And it will be GOOD! So we continue to pray. We continue to thank God for what he has given us. You know what's so cool? God has given us what we need and what we can handle. And what we don't have it's cause we don't need it!
Through this short deployment the girls and I are going to learn to rely on our Father in heaven for comfort, the girls will have to learn to only depend on mommy, and to follow daddy's poster board of "daddy's rules." :) Just cause he isn't here doesn't mean his presence won't be. If they question momma or don't know what to do we'll look at daddy's poster. I will learn patience and I won't be so rushing. I will have to load those girls in and out of the car by myself, the groceries, the trash cans, possibly an oil change, growing belly and all. Through it all I will try my hardest to have a smile on my face. Heaven knows there are other Army, Marine, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force wives who have faced a worse situation than lil ole me :). My world, our girls lives aren't ending because dad's leaving, I won't allow those negative and depressing ideas/emotions into our lives. I'm sure I will have a few low days, I'm sure we might watch a little too much tv, and that's ok. Between physical therapy, dance class, play dates, bible study, dr appointments, walks to the park, and all the other stuff we are going to be busy.
I'm done sharing my thoughts on all this hurry up and wait only to say goodbye stuff...I feel better now. It's time to close my eyes and rest while my girls are. I think I'll go snuggle with the skinny little leotard wearing daughter if mine who is napping in my bed. :)
Happy Thursday.
I love him soo much!

So much change so little time

Well the time has come, in my head I hear the music from Jaws playing....but I have to kick that music and go to what is going to keep me going through the next 4 months and that is Gods word.
The husband is leaving, he's been added to the roster and we don't know the exact date but within the next few weeks (or less) we will say goodbye to our Soldier as he goes to Afghanistan to join the others who left last fall. We are so grateful that its not a whole tour, but about 4 months.
It will be a long spring and start of summer but the girls and I have a good support system here at Fort Campbell and we know our families are there for when we need them.
Right now our prayers are for Jake, that he have a hedge of protection all around him while in country. That his travels there go smoothly and quick. I am praying that The Lord guards his heart and mind while over there and the pressures, anger, frustration, evils, of war do not way heavy on his heart or mind while gone.
I can't say enough how happy and grateful we are that we have had him stateside for the last 3+ years. Not many families can say that. I am scared silly when I sit and dwell on the act that he could possibly miss the birth of our baby. But, I am holding strong and getting those ideas out of my mind, they just aren't worth it! I will figure out a plan B should daddy not make it...and we will face that as the time draws closer if need be.
I have been praying with the girls this last week and will continue to do so... The 2 scriptures I am clinging to and with my girls are these: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)
I want my girls to know that even though mommy might be having a bad day, or that Isabelle is missing/wanting her daddy, that God wants us to turn to him and he will be there and lift us up!
And the second verse is: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NIV) we are praying this for Jake and will write it on some pretty poster board and pray it daily.

We are also jamming out to this song to keep our spirits high...it's awesome to just sing Gods praises even in the midst of sadness and unwanted change! (Kristian Stanfill-one thing remains-Passion 2012)

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o_o6s5X5LSw

So if you have any encouraging and comforting versus email me!!
yourprincess1016@yahoo.com!

And I can't help but share these precious girls!

Just around the corner

Spring is almost here! I can feel it. The signs are everywhere from fat robins to green buds on trees. Although we are still experiencing bipolar weather spring is nearing. So I've taken out the majority of my spring deco and Easter things. Isabelle loves my little tree with eggs. We're starting spring/Easter crafts and enjoying the preparation.
This last month as my strength and energy has come back I've found myself really enjoying my 2 girls and my job as a SAHM. In my opinion there is nothing, absolutely nothing more rewarding than being able to be with our children from sun up to sun down. Of course I welcome the times I can run errands with out the kids in tow, get a pedi, work out with it them, etc....but you know what I mean. I see how having a part time or full job would be helpful and have advantages but none of them exceed the importance of having mommy (me) home to raise our chickies. So back to what I was saying, I'm just really loving life. A lot has to do with God and me taking the time to study his word and pray. Knowing I'm doing what he intended is wonderful and it makes our life flow so smoothly knowing we're following God's plan. I'll have time to work outside the home when our children are older, but for now I'll take the middle of the night wake ups, ill take the dramatic tantrums about what outfit my 4 year old wants to wear, I'll take cooking dinner every night, I'll take that kiss from my husband when he walks In the door and puts his arms around me and says mmmm what smells so good. And no it's not me, it's the smell of dinner. Not that I stink, but his belly is growling after a long days work.
Were are waiting and waiting ever so patiently for Lydia's walker. They said it would come by Monday and when I called Monday only parts were there, at least we know its getting closer.
The girls are really starting to play together more and more which is fun to watch, but not to hear. Half the time it I involves one or the other getting angry about a toy, pulled hair, etc...along with the good always comes a little bad. What are ya gonna do? A whole lot of nothing.
We've decided to not go home for spring break, tough pull for metro swallow but the hubs made a smart decision. Every bit of money saved is going to help in 2 years from now if we're really serious about getting out of the Army.
Have a good day hump day!

Can you turn my brain off?

My wondering mind.....

Why do parents or people smoke with children in the car?
Why do some working moms say they would go nuts if they were a stay at home mom, really?
Why would you ever dump the oh so good juices of a roast and add canned/powdered gravy to your meat instead? SICK!
Cereal is amazing.
Negative/pessimists people make we want to pull my hair out. Back of negative Macy and Debbie downer NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR IT!
Hearing a mother/father continuously put his/her child in a time out (especially for the SAME THING) makes me think "spare the rod and spoil the child."
Why is it adorable to see a video with a Young child jamming out to the latest hip hop video but so rare to see a child singing "Jesus Loves Me" or "Baa Baa Black Sheep."
Why does every child around me seem to have some type of leap pad, hand held video game, or cell phone? What happened to a book or a favorite action figure?
Why are women in such a need to be in control, let YOUR husband be a MAN!!!
Pray with your children about/for their future husband/wife.
Don't be a Christian just on Sunday!
Newborn photography warms my heart.
The sound of my daughters giggling with their dad makes me see rainbows and butterflies.
Feeling the movements of my baby makes me think of the endless power God has created.
I can't stop thinking about all the organizing of my closet(s) that will take place in the next few weeks.
I like nail polish, anything pastel these days.
Recently I've become aware of my floor OCD.
Running clears my head and makes me sleep better.
I get very angry when slow drivers are in the left lane.
I want to get rid of cable.
Overly nice people make me uncomfortable.
Can't stand when people try too hard, you know that annoying I just want to be apart of every second of your life? These people generally go with the above, overly nice ones.
My mom is my best friend, other than my husband.
People who say they believe in God but not hell makes me want to laugh. And then pray for their soul.
I like cloth diapers.
I can't wait to breast feed my baby.
I can't wait to smell my baby's hair and rub his/her feet.
I love my husbands blue eyes.
My daughters love for The Lord encourages me.
I wish I had thicker hair.
I could sleep all day everyday for the next 5 months. (But no one will let me...ha)
Grapefruit juice makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
I love the farmers market and dream about it.
I pray for my 2 closest girlfriends that they would love The Lord with all their heart and their families too.
I miss my grandpa and think of him almost daily.
I hope and pray when Jake and I grow older that we have a love that my parents have and show to each other still to this day.
I want a big 4 poster canopy bed.
I pray daily for the healing of Lydia's feet/nerves and for my husbands back.
I love texting my grandma and Jake's grandmother.
I love that my family isn't perfect and we don't try and hide it.
I hate when people ask you questions about your life that I (Jake) have already answered. PAY ATTENTION.

Like the flowers my family was surprised with on Valentines Day? From my sweet grandma Gloria...she says "for 5 beating heart happy valentines!"
What a women!

Like I said, can you turn my brain off. :)
Happy Thursday