What's Going On- April 2014

This week has been hot. Its a different kind of hot though. My body isn't handling it well, at all. I'm thinking the pregnancy has a lot to do with it but my goodness. I thought if you lived in San Diego, you didn't need an air conditioner? WRONG! Very wrong. Our unit doesn't have one because we live one block from the beach. I am getting more ready everyday to move into military housing…but until then, Thank you, Lord, for a roof over my head! Please send a cool breeze or 1,0000.

This is gonna be a "what pictures are on my Mac and my phone" type post. The fun kind you just can't wait to read, right? 

Anyways, let's see whats been going on besides bump dates!

I should have gotten a better picture of just the Mommy and Daddy, but we had a surprise diaper shower for our friends Donnie and Jenny! Chloe will be here in the middle of May and we can't wait to spoil her!

My sweet husband battling till the end of the Dirty Diaper game! I'll spare you the pictures of the guys eating the chocolate out of the diapers. Ladies, if you have a couple's baby shower, make the men play this. Its the absolute funniest thing ever! They get into it and aren't scared to shout out hilarious answers.

Rosie has been just as cute as ever. She's still my favorite girl! She is thrilled that Carter is a boy ;)

I know I shouldn't be buying too many clothes for C, but when I think of little boys.. I think blue and white Osh Kosh overalls. Had to have them!

We celebrated our last "just us' Easter! We spent the morning at a Sunrise Service on the beach and then our normal service at church. My friend and I got a menu together a couple weeks ago for a Easter "team lunch" so we headed over there for a late lunch. Of course we had extra guys there which is always ok with us! We ate some yummy food and headed home for most likely a nap. Hey, Im pregnant. Mostly lazy, but pregnant is my excuse for now.

I haven't figured out my pregnant picture stance. I mostly feel awkward unless Im in my Baby Bumpdate Stance. Hopefully Ill figure it out before any baby showers!

Look at that belly! It looks so big from the top! And Rosie was cuddling with Carter. I bet she heard him…he was movin' and groovin' here!

That's been my life the past month! Ill be doing my 6 month bump date next week! This belly has popped in the last week! And we might finally go register this weekend! 

Here is a look at Easter last year. I got way more into the decorations for sure! And Rosie was just a babe! I miss that round puppy face! Gotta stop looking so I don't go buy another Cocker Spaniel this week!

Victoria

2013 Recap- Part 1

2013

It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t procrastinate a blog post. Especially an in depth one as this one.  Jumping on the bandwagon over here. I think I owe it to my future self since this IS what my little blog is for. A journal. A place to come and remember this season of life.  So here it goes…2013 recap!

Did you know I haven’t even been blogging for a year? Ok, you probably did because I am very amateur at this. But it IS crazy to think about for me. As I write this post, I am able to look back on so many things I would have forgotten had it not been for Anchored By Faith. Some days I really am thankful for technology and the internet.

JANUARY

We were finally able to take a little honeymoon. Last year, when we were married, Nick had to be back to Florida for work 2 days after our wedding. We planned to finally have a honeymoon during our 2 weeks of vacation over Christmas break. We stayed in Helen, GA, in a CUTE little cabin in the mountains. It was peaceful and such a sweet time for us.

The Birthday boy turned 25!

FEBRUARY

The most important thing of the whole year happened (just kidding)…..We brought Rosie home! She has filled our home with so much joy and so many laughs. She has most importantly been there through  tears and pain with smothering puppy kisses at just the right time. 

MARCH

This is the month that I started my blog! You can read a couple of my first posts here and here. We enjoyed a visit from Nick's brother, Taylor, while he was spring breaking with some of his friends in Destin. We also went to dinner with my two closest friends from Florida for Lauren's birthday. Oh how I miss those friends. Thank goodness for the internet (again!) and FaceTime! 

Camylle's face. Dying over here.

And of course Easter was on the 31st! Mom and Trenton came for the weekend to celebrate Easter. I decorated and put on a little scavenger hunt for Nick, Mom, and Trenton. SO much fun. We went to Church for the Easter service and they headed back to MS. I miss them being so close by!

APRIL

April was a busy, busy month from the looks of my blog.

April brought friends. Friends that will have a special place in my heart through out this life. My friend Lauren and I began a bible study at my house with a group of girls that almost doubled in size by the end. Precious moments happened in the pages of this Esther Bible study. I am so thankful that God put it on our hearts to be uncomfortable and ask a group of ladies we had never met to study God's word each week. I'm praying for another opportunity to happen soon here in San Diego. 

Rosie got a new ride!

We found out we were going to San Diego here..

We celebrated six months of marriage here….

And I wrote this post about dirty socks. I might cry if I read that one right now.

MAY

We were able to go home for Mother's day which meant the world to us. Both sides of the family came to Nick's parents house for a cook out and to celebrate all the mothers in our life!

May brought on perfect weather and we were outside a lot! Lots of kayaking and water time. It was so fun to do these things with Nick.

I also got to travel a couple of hours to see my sweet friend, Kayla, and her family while they were in Gulf Shores! It was so much fun to have time with her. I miss her so much but our daily phone calls help until she can come visit in CA ;)

JUNE

I wrote about Eglin's EOD school FRG here and here. These were awesome events that made you feel right at home with your military family. I encourage everyone to join an FRG or some type of group to get you involved with ladies who go through the same thing as you!

Rosie made baby friends.

I also talked about my struggle when I moved to Destin away from all of my friends and family in this post. I have been through the same thing in the last month so this post is a little therapeutic knowing I have gone through it and WILL survive as I lean on God.

So there is my January- June! I am so excited to be able to look back on God's hand in EVERYTHING in our life. He has blessed us through the joy and through the pain. I will be writing the second part of this while we are on our way to Big Bear Lake for New Year's Eve. Our second New Year's in the mountains. Seems like this might be a pattern! Have a great Monday!

Victoria

first blogger meet up- pottery painting

This past weekend was a busy one. Nick and I normally hang out at home and watch tv or do the occasional DIY project. Which has been going on a lot since Christmas present season is here. This weekend was great though! We put together some frames for the house AND I met some very fun gals!  Oh and the most exciting news……. We found a church home!

If you have moved away from your home church (for good), you know what I am about to say. IT IS HARD. It is hard to find a church home. Though its not at all the right thing, you instinctively compare.   We were a little defeated. But the past two Sundays, we were fed. I love the family feel of this church. There always seems to be something to go to or get involved in. We found a bible preaching church and we are ready to serve! I am so excited to invest in this church family. If you are in the San Diego area near Coronado Island, please come visit First Baptist Coronado! You will feel right at home! Plus you will be in the quaintest town you've ever seen! Win-win.

Okay, let's rewind back to Friday! I'll just share a quick picture since I want to tell you all about Saturday!

iPhone quality obviously, but I did't want to be the new girl who brought the huge mom camera. Oh and sorry about the trash tray. I was definitely not being the most observant blogger that night.

Onward to Saturday! 

This little group was awesome! We are all military bloggers so that connection is instant! I feel like everyone felt right at home even though first time meetings can make you a little anxious. The girls who had been meeting a couple times before made us new gals feel so welcome! God just works things out when you need it most!

I met up with Katie, from Going Coastal, and we hopped in the car to make our way to meet the rest of the girls at Panera! We had a yummy lunch and two of the girls even brought us some Christmas happies! So so sweet! After lunch we walked over to Color Me Mine to paint some pottery. That place was hoppin. Thank goodness our thoughtful group leaders had organized it and already reserved us a couple of tables. We all finally picked out of pieces and paint colors, and spent the next couple of hours laughing and painting.  It was so good for the soul! Plus we all walked away with 7 new friends! It makes a difference when you move to a brand new BIG place. These girls have some fun personalities that will be so so good for me when the hard times come! I'm so thankful for the blog world on days like this. When the bloggers become people you SEE, it makes it even more fun!

Our Group!

Left to right:

Elizabeth of The Young Retiree
Nicole of Adventures of a Semper Fi Family

Jes of Bleu Dress Jes
Kara of Ramblings of a Marine Wife
Ines of the few, THE PROUD, the wife
ME!
Emily of Going Coastal
Katherine of The Newsom's Nest

Have a good Tuesday!

Victoria

heart issues that sting

Being out of your comfort zone makes you realize your weaknesses. I have seen selfishness in me. I thought I knew this before, but I like things just so. God is completely doing REAL work in my life right now. He is dealing with some heart issues that sting a little. 

God put a "routine, don't mess up my schedule" gal in this crazy, chaotic military life. It's a little comical now. Military means hurrying up to wait. It means plans change at the drop of a hat. I do not know where we will live or what week I will be moving to San Diego. When I run into my hometown friends, they ask me what I'm doing, where I'm living...you know the routine. I tell them I'm floating until Nick gives me the go ahead on hopping in the car and driving my little Nissan across America. 

Yes, I guess I could have just moved on out to California when I moved out of my house on Bay Drive, but I don't think I am ready for California JUST yet. I am so thankful that I get to go see San Diego before I move. It'll be like a mini vacation that I say, "It would be so neat to live here!"...and then 2 weeks later....I do live there.

So for now, I keep my focus on what God has for me each day. I want to wake up in the morning ready to serve Him. I'm working on putting ME aside and putting others first. I want to love God with all of my heart, soul, and mind. My actions should reflect that. That's my October goal. Picking a pumpkin and drinking fall lattes, though fun and I will be doing them..don't get me wrong, seem so small this morning. I need to serve more. I've gotten selfish. Who knows, my next post might be about my favorite fall fashion or my cozy cup of coffee, but today I want to remind myself what's important and get on track. 

"Teacher , which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" And he said to him," You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Matthew 22: 36-40

1st Year of Marriage- Video

Now that we have mentally started moving on to our next phase, I put together a video of our life in Florida this past year. Next month I will have been married a year! Exciting things to come for sure! 

The video is obviously just a GLIMPSE of our life, but it shows a lot of love and a lot of laughs. Each song has a special meaning to us. The last song (Home- Phillip Phillips) is what we exited our wedding ceremony to that sweet October day. 

Hope you enjoy! I'll definitely need to start doing 2 a year to fit all of our videos in!

Here is the YouTube link just in case!

First year of Marriage- Florida

Victoria

Moving Day Approaching

As we get closer and closer to the moving day, I can't help but feel a little sad. This was the best year of my life. Marriage wasn't as hard and scary as everyone said it would be (Note to self- Don't try to scare a bride to be! They will be getting married whether or not you tell them how much they will hate picking up dirty underwear). I got to wake up and not have to wait on a Good Morning message from Nick. We were able to do church together. Be lazy on Saturday afternoons. Plan for a date night then decide we didn't want to move off the couch. We bought our first puppy together. We fought about whether to put her in the kennel at night (They are a dream to deal with later on if they sleep in their own beds at night time! Nick finally agreed). We persevered through tough moments. Moments that made us so much stronger. We prayed together. We laughed and laughed and laughed together.

I know in the tough days ahead, I will look back and feel comfort knowing I was able to do real life with my husband. I had 11 months with him before training took him away for the first time. I love looking through pictures over the past year and already thinking, "We were so young!". Marriage makes you grow up fast. My thought process works completely different. I check in with Nick before decisions are made. Sometimes he even says, "You know my answer will be yes so why do you ask?" It's my way of being submissive. It's a habit being formed. It gets us using our little unseasoned brains together. That way when he is gone, I will feel confident in the decisions that I have to make.

Life is changing. Big things and small things. If I could break it down for you I would. It's just a big whirlwind right now though. It literally looks like a tornado has come through my house. I feel so sad seeing empty walls. When I hand over that key, I will see this page turn and end this chapter of our story. There is something exciting and exhausting seeing the new chapter coming our way.

This has definitely not been my most encouraging post. But it's the real chain of thoughts coming through my brain and straight onto this screen.

Any PCS tips are welcomed today. I just learned that if I don't take the lightbulbs out of my lamps, they won't pack them until I do. Geez Louise. Give me a break. I'm planning on having food for the packers and movers. We will see if that smooths the process!

Happy Wednesday!

Victoria

busy bee takes a trip to the beach house

This is what is going on that this very minute. Just wanted to drop in since I have been a busy bee the past week. Family visiting, Nick graduating from training, and now lots of together time before his next training phase. It's been crazy.

We are staying at a beach house that Nick's family rented for the week. What a great way to sit back and take in all the moments of this week. Emotional is too small of a word. Next week, we start being a real military family. No more of the amazing schedule we had of routine dinners every night at 6. His training has definitely spoiled me. But I will live. And I will keep on breathing. There are worse situations than a little time apart. Just for safety and the fact that my husband wants me to be careful of what goes on the world wide web, I'll be very vague about Nick's coming and going. But don't worry, I will still have pictures of Rosie on the blog the next few weeks. You can breathe again ;).

Here are just a few pictures that I captured with my phone from this past week.

 

 

Happy Friday, Loves!

New things ahead

Has it really been ANOTHER week? Shame on me for slacking. A million things have fallen into my lap and I have just been trying to keep up.

Etsy has been super busy, compared the past year, and you have to work pretty hard at it to make it work for you. I would love for you to visit and look around my shop, click this link right HERE! When Nick graduates and goes to training for 2-3 months, I'll be able to spend hours on Etsy without thinking of making dinner or making sure our millions of clothes are washed before he gets home. I guess that's a plus to being a military wife? Sure I'll eat and have clean clothes, but on a very different time schedule.

We have EXACTLY 2 weeks until Nick's graduation. Be sure to follow my Instagram to see all the fun we are sure to have. Lots of family in town, lots of food to be eaten, graduation party decorations, and a cute sailor uniform. I just can not wait! His white uniform brings me back to when he proposed (read about that here). Love my Popeye!

Oh, did I mention that the Navy will be sending movers to pack my life away in a truck in about a month? How did this go by so fast?? I love Destin. I love the people. I love Nick's classmates. I don't want this to end. Honestly, I'm having a hard time with the fact that after the 29th, my life as I know it will change completely. My husband will be gone more than he is here. I will move my pup and I across the country to California. I will again know not one soul. And we will start the search for a home church.

I have my deepest thoughts during my workouts. Am I the only one? The teacher is prancing around showing the next insane way she wants us to do a burpee (yes, we have done them backwards...down an incline....outside) and all I can think about is how God has put me in this place at this time. He reminded me that because I have Him, I can do whatever the task is at hand. I can move across the country and make friends. I can figure out where the best grocery store and where the heck I can find sweet tea. He will not put me in a place and not equip me with what I need. I need Him. I have Him. He will never let go. God gives me courage when I meet a new lady. He gives me discernment when I'm not sure where to join a church when my husband is in training. He has supplied all my needs. I would need 2 blogs to describe all that he has blessed us with since our engagement. I have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Though I hate hate hate not knowing the exact day I'll be moving to California or where I'll be living (closetothebeach..closetothebeach..), I love knowing God is going to show up and deliver. I would be a complete nutcase if I didn't have a real God to depend on. He wants me to lean on Him. He wants me to be ok with the amount of light He has given me at this time.

I love this life and the people God has allowed us to be around. I have no doubts these friendships will last a lifetime and that there will be many more added in the next 6 months. I can't wait to start this next chapter in our story. I am so glad you are here for the ride as well!

Have a great evening!

Victoria

It's tough being a woman #2

Good morning, ya'll!

I had a great weekend with my Mom, who was in town to see me and Nick for the weekend. We shopped and got my office set up to really start working on my Etsy shop. I haven't had the tools that I needed to really get in there and take care of business. The next few weeks I am going to work on pictures and descriptions since that is what really makes an Etsy shop! For now its so-so, but I really want to expand and do some neat things to bring in the big bucks....kidding on that! Here is the link, or you can use the link above that says "My Etsy Shop".

I got a little emotional during the time my mom was here. I wanted her to stay longer. That's it, plain and simple. We had such a good weekend and in the back of my mind, I knew some big changes are heading my way. I will be heading to California where it is a 2 day drive....not 8 hours. I will know only my husbands friends. We will start to search for a church home (HARDEST THING EVER). And I will have to wait and see where God wants me to invest and what big plans he has waiting on me 2,000 miles away.

But God has been preparing me. Though I have studied Esther before, He put it right back in front of me. He knew I was needing a little refresher on total dependence on Him. He showed me that I needed to trust Him even when He only gives me enough light to see one step in front of me. That is all the light I need. I'll be honest and say sometimes I have to tell myself that more than I believe it, unfortunately.

He's not showing me what's ahead. But from what He has shown me so far, I already know He is faithful. 

We started this bible study with faith that God wanted to show us something whether there were 20 girls or just my friend and I. We posted it all over the internet. We are both in a military spouse Facebook group and that was where we got the most feedback. I was a little nervous to put it up. In today's world, you never kow what someone is going to say when you "talk Christian". But then I thought about what it means to be bold. And if that's one of my words for the year...I was going to have to start somewhere. I want to be BOLD for Jesus. Right here where I know people. I was also waiting on the message telling me that sort of post is not allowed in the group. That message never came. Only positive feedback came our way. We had girls signing up within the hour!

Two weeks later, there we were in my living room. Praying, eating, drinking coffee. Seriously, there is nothing better. Through the weeks, we added more and more girls. I thank the Lord I am able to stay home.  But I do believe that God is allowing me to be a stay at home wife at this time for this very reason. To serve ladies I don't know. To serve Nick when he is working 12 hours a day. I love this season of my life. It won't last forever. Children will come and I will think back to how easy it was. But I am THANKFUL for this season.

The bonds in this study will not be easily broken. I saw one friendship bloom more and more each week. They will be sweet, lifelong friends. We prayed for one another, rejoiced for our husbands passing the next test, and stayed and talked for hours after the study ended. It was so sweet. Though most of these girls will never see each other again, I know when we pass our bookcase and see that green workbook, we will think back to the sweet faces that brought us encouragement each Thursday morning. I pray this group will continue to grow as we all go our different ways. I pray that each of us starts a new study with new faces that just want to fellowship with another sister in Christ. And hopefully with those who don't know Christ, and that they would come to know the Sweetest Face of all.

 Esther Bible Study Group (minus a few)!!

Here is the link to the post about one of my favorite weeks of the study. This was my second time to do Esther. I plan on doing it again in a couple of years!

Victoria