Moving Moving Moving

Moving is a part of life for those of us in the military. Every 3 years or so it's time to pack up all over again and move to a new place. For military families it is most likely that these moves take place during school breaks (Christmas and Summer). It's clear that it's summer moving time around our base! We just got back from a 3 week vacation to the states and there are so many new faces. Our little street of houses is nearly full and before we left it was half empty! Anyway, moving can also be a part of life for those not affiliated with the military, although it probably happens less frequently for them. But just like us, the vast majority of American moves takes place during the summer time.

So maybe you are moving now or gearing up to move soon and you are thinking- what am I going to do with all this stuff? Is it possible to decorate a new house with this same stuff? And my electronics, where do they go? Sigh. I've asked these questions what feels like a million times. LUCKILY, this time I got to ask an expert! Lisa LaPorta, a design professional from HGTV (and a ton of other shows!), was nice enough to let me bombard her with questions about moving, decorating, and all that happens in between. (Do ignore my"special-ness." I was at the beach and had a little delay with my internet. I promise I'm not as special as I may appear.)

I know I learned a lot and I hope you do as well!

Small Blog World

Here's what a friend posted on her blog today...
I took W to the Community Center for jumpy castle playtime today and was able to meet several moms who just arrived on base.  It is so nice to see all of these new faces and be able to answer some of their questions about life in Turkey.  One sweet lady told me that her small group in Illinois had been praying for a lady here at Incirlik.  Apparently, one of the other women in the small group stumbled upon this girl's blog and saw that she and her husband were trying to start a family but were finding it difficult.  After a little discussion, we quickly determined that this girl is one of my dearest friends here (that would be me!).  The lady I met said that she couldn't believe it when her husband told her they were moving here-the same place as the girl she had been praying for lives.

What an amazing God! I am so thankful for all of you around the world, those who know me and those who don't, who take time to pray for us and our infertility journey. I know and believe that prayer is powerful, and I don't take for granted the power of having hundreds of people praying for us each day. Thank you for our continued support.

Making Deals

It's said that grief comes in stages, but sometimes it feels more like waves.  Huge powerful waves that suck you under with no hope of fighting. There you stand waiting...hoping...praying and then it hits you, wave 1, denial and isolation. You look at another negative test and think there is no way you could be going through this again. You crawl in bed and cry, sob, hyperventilate. Eventually you stand back up only to be overcome with wave 2, anger. The anger runs deep with IF. Anger with pregnant people, anger with the situation, anger at the needle that still has to go into your arm until the doctor gives the okay, anger that you have to do it all again. Anger that some people aren't "trying" and end up pregnant, anger at their little fruit pictures, anger that the Duggars can have 19 and I can't even have 1! Then you wake up feeling a little less bitter and it hits you, the bargaining wave. The begging, the pleading, the belief that you can make something happen. This is where I am today, completely overcome with the belief that I can beg my way out of infertility.

"If I was pregnant I wouldn't care if I gained weight. I would be 200 pounds and happy."
"If I was pregnant I wouldn't complain about wanting the baby out. I'd be pregnant for 10 months."
"I don't care if it's a boy or a girl, I'd be happy with anything."
"If I can have this I won't ask for anything else."

I have to assume this is where Hannah was as she was on the temple steps crying out to God, begging for a child. She did so with so much passion that she was thought to be drunk. I get it, I feel her heart in that moment. So unable to cope with the waves that keep crashing down on her that she has nothing left to do but plead for the child she wants but can't have.

Until the next wave...