Day 6

This isn't going to be a long post...I made the promise to myself that I was going to write at least once a day while Ellis is gone.  Even if it is short...its still a post! :)  We didn't do too much today, just took the car to the mechanic.  I was able to (finally) find a bathing suit that looks half way decent and I also snagged up a cute pair of capris.  We went to choir rehearsal tonight...all I can say is that it is so good to be home!  Tomorrow we are thinking about heading to the Aquarium...its supposed to be hot out so I figured that was a good way to beat the heat!  I hope you all have a great night.
Take care and God bless you.
-Bronwyn

Day 5

So I'm really posting about today and yesterday...I was able to post right before we left the hotel but nothing after that.  We got to Hubert, NC yesterday evening around 5:30.  Maria made a WONDERFUL dinner (as usual) for us.  Chicken/Rice casserole w/a little bit of curry, salad, and apples...it was delish!  After the kiddos went to bed, we played a game called Bonanza.  If you have never played it, you should!  It was really fun, I'm gonna go get it from Amazon...as soon as we have money! LOL  We all headed to bed around 11ish, after the game was over.  This morning we got up, the kids played a little, and then we headed home.  We stopped on the way in a little town called Cacowinity or something like that...I thought it was one of the weirdest names I've ever seen.  We ended up getting home around 4:30pm.  We unloaded the car and kinda put things away...  We headed out to eat dinner around 7:00pm, got groceries, dad got a new watch, and we were home by 9:00pm.  It's now 10:00pm and Eli is still up! I guess that will happen when his schedule is all kinds of crazy because of driving and staying up late.  I'm so proud of my little boy.  For being in the car 8-10 hours a day he did great!  He hardly fussed, the only time he did was when he wanted milk or he wanted his shoes off.  I'm looking forward to a few days of just relaxing.  I will be posting pictures tomorrow from the last two days.  Good night friends!  I hope you all have a great day tomorrow!

Take care and God bless you
-bronwyn

Ellis update:
  I was able to talk to him for about an hour today!!!  He is finally in Afghanistan.  He said it is very similar to Texas...if you were to add 15-20 degrees.  He said its a NATO post so there are lots of people there from other countries.  He can sign up for phone time for a half an hour at a time.  There was quite a big delay, but hey...I'm not complaining!  I'm going to be sending him a care package soon, now that I know he is there, so if any of you would like to contribute a letter or something, please let me know!  I know he would LOVE to get any encouragement letters or just notes to say hi.  Good night! (again!)

Day 4

I decided to write today's blog this morning rather than this afternoon.  We are driving from Monroe, NC to Hubert, NC today.  Monroe would be considered eastern NC and Hubert is right down the road from the ocean...so pretty much across the state for us today.  I am looking forward to seeing Braden, Maria, Luka, and of course the niece I've never met...Petra! :)  I think I may be too busy playing with my nieces to have time to blog...so here is a short one.  I'll probably post about today's events tomorrow. :)  Dont worry, I will write everything down as we go so I wont forget! LOL

I also wanted to thank you for your prayers.  I cant believe its only been 4/5 days since we left Texas and said goodbye to Ellis.  It seems like a lifetime ago, and sometimes I dont know how we are going to get through the next year, let alone the next month.  I want you guys to know that I am no "special" woman neither am I a "strong" woman.  I cry, complain, cry some more about the fact that I've only gotten to see my husband for 28 days this year.  Here is the thing...I signed up for this when I married Ellis.  Yes, he was in the Navy at the time, and it was a little different from the Army, but I when I married Ellis...I married the military.  I dont like "complaining" about him being gone, or how hard it really is...because I knew it would be like this, and I chose this life.  Anyway...I want you all to know that I'm just an ordinary person, who's husband happens to be in a different country.  I think that God just gives me peace every day.  I know that my God is able, and will take care of Ellis.  I do get worried sometimes, but for the most part...I have peace.  Thank you SO SO much for your prayers.  We do feel them, and we know that God hears them.  Please continue to pray for us, without those prayers I dont know where I would be.

Okay..anyway, we are getting ready to head out, so I should probably get Eli ready to go.  I just head him crying "owie owie" so I look down...he's sitting in the crib with both legs through the different rungs...instead of getting him out right away I totally took a picture :)  Will post later!

Take care and God bless you!
-Bronwyn

Day 3 - Traveling (still!)

I told you all last night that I would post pictures from our AMAZING hotel.  So here ya go!

I'd like one to go please!  If you could set it up in my bedroom at home that would be great...thanks :)

I'll take a similar sink/bathrom as well!

Beautiful mirror!

Okay, so this morning was one of those mornings when I DID NOT WANNA GET OUTTA BED!  I did everything I could to stay in the warm sheets.  Eventually I got up, got Eli changed and dressed, and got ready for the day.  We headed out around 10:00.  Dad started off driving this morning, it was a nice change of pace.  We went just down the road to grab a few things at Rite-Aid.  Dad saw a McDonalds right across the road, so we had "breakfast" there.  The reason I put breakfast in quotes is b/c it really wasn't breakfast, they only had their lunch menu up.  After we were done eatting we headed on out!  We started out on Highway 40.  We chose that way because we knew it was a "scenic" route.  The first part was so beautiful.  We saw tons of trees, lush green grass, and huge lakes/rivers.  Highway 40 turned into Highway 64 as we entered North Carolina.  (remember the funny city names from yesterday's blog?  well todays funny name...Ducktown!)  The drive through Cherokee National Forest was gorgeous.

This lake seemed to go on for forever!

Its such a hard life ;)

These lilies were everywhere! (my fave. flower...I was in heaven!)

All smiles at the rest stop.

 When we started out today we thought that the majority of the roads were straight...at least that's what the map says.  Let me just tell you...the map was WRONG.  We spent hour upon hour driving and stopping, trying to figure out where to go and if we really were on the right road. :)  Highway 64 kinda turned into Highway 74 and that took us all the way through Asheville, North Carolina.  Dad had looked up a little guitar place he wanted to stop at.  It happened to be on the way we were headed, so we decided to stop.  We went ahead and took 74 alternate to a little town called Fairview.  I went ahead and put the address of the shop in the GPS.  After going a few miles off of the main road we were getting kind of concerned.  We decided to keep going, until we turned onto a tiny road and the GPS said "take the next right onto Witch Hazel Drive"  Yeah...Witch Hazel Drive turned out to be a gravel road.  WHAT THE HECK!?  Yeah...we turned around and got back on the main road.  A few miles down the road from Fairview was a sign that said "Eastern Continental Divide"  We stopped there and took a few pictures.  Eli was in the car, waiting patiently. :)

We also stopped in a little touristy town called Chimney Rock.  It was probably the most beautiful area we drove through so far.  Toward the end of the town we looked up and saw what was "Chimney Rock."  I think the best part of seeing the rock was the American flag posted on it! :)

We stayed on ALT 74 until it met up with Highway 74...well, almost.  We kinda got turned around because on sign it said "Business 74, ALT 74, Highway 74"  again...WHAT THE HECK!?  LOL  We had another WHAT THE HECK!? moment when I was getting on the freeway, we saw a sign that said "WRONG WAY"  excuse me?  I'm pretty sure this is the on ramp...

Once we got on the right road and actually going the right way, we headed through Charlotte and right on into Monroe.  We decided to stop here for the night.  We pulled in about 9:00pm...What a LONG day.  Did I mention that the majority of the road we were on was 35-55mph?  Or how about the long switch back roads?  We probably went about 20-25 on those, although the limit was 35.  I think my conclusion of today is that people from NC are a little crazy. :)

The one thing that dad and I did see, all the way here, has been this crazy long growing ivy.  It looks like God took a huge net of ivy and just draped it all over the place.

This was taken at a McDonalds...can you imagine what it looks like in the wild? :)

Alright friends...a few other updates not regarding our travels.  Ellis is somewhere in the middle east...we aren't quite sure yet.  The last I heard from him was last night.  He was still at the transition point.  He asked me not to specifically say where, but I can tell you he was in a country with the last part of the name "stan"  Yes, I realize that half of the countries there are like that...but thats all I can say for now. 

The other update is a prayer request for my friend Jana.  She delivered her twin boys last night at 35 weeks.  One of them is now resting in the arms of our Savior. Cohen is in the NICU.  Please pray for strength, comfort, and health for their family during this time.  Thank you so much!

I'm looking forward to seeing Braden and Maria tomorrow, and meeting my new little niece.  I hope you all have a great night! 

 God bless

-B 

p.s. sorry about the spelling mitsakes :) my spell check wasn't working :) :) :)  We all know I spell like a 1st grader! :)

Day 2 - Traveling

Let's start from the very beginning...a very good place to start!  :)  Gotta love the Sound of Music! (maybe you dont...but I do!!!)

  So, Ellis left on June 3rd.  We got up around 8:00am.  Ellis finished packing his stuff, he had packed 2 huge packs 2 days before and dropped them off at work.  Can you imagine packing your belongings in 2 bags and that's all you'll use for a year?  Crazy!

Ellis took 4 things total. 1 trunk, 2 bags, and 1 backpack.

  Ellis wanted to say good bye to some friends before we went to drop him off at work.  While he was gone Eli, Dad, and I got ready to go.  My friend Natalie helped me pick out a new dress just for the occasion.  I wanted to look my best on the last day I would see him in person...well, for a year or so!  My friend Heather (that I met at Ft. Hood) had asked if we needed anything, and last minute I asked her to come take pictures before we left to go to the gym.  My friend Kris (met at Ft. Hood as well) told me she could, and I told her not to worry about it b/c my dad was coming, but I totally changed my mind last minute...so sorry and thanks for the offer Kris!!! :)  Around 12:00 Heather came over and we all went outside to snap some pictures.  We couldn't have asked for a prettier day!

I only wish Eli would have looked at the camera! :)

I think this is such a great shot of us all!

We had to have Ellis over to pick up his weapon by 12:15 in the afternoon.  I made the mistake of calling it his "gun" a few times and he kept correcting me that it is called a weapon. :)  After dropping him off to pick up his weapon, we drove over to the gym to wait.  We got there around 12:30.  One of the FRG ladies told me that the soldiers weren't going to be there until 2ish.  Dad, Heather, and I decided that we could run a grab some food then head back and wait.  While we were getting our food, I got a call from Ellis.  He sounded kinda upset...He told me that he had forgot his Camelpack (or whatever it's called)  I knew that he had also forgotten his phone charger, so it was a no brainer for me to run back to the hotel room.  Thankfully Heather had heard that we were almost out of gas so she told me she would go with me and she would drive her car.  We raced back to the hotel, up 2 flights of stairs to the 3rd floor.  Got the key out, and sure enough...it didn't work!  I called Ellis and asked if he knew the hotel's front desk number...usually I would just walk down the stairs but we weren't in a different part of the building, but in a different building all together!  Ellis said that the maintenance number was on the first floor, and they could come open the door.  When I got down there I saw that the housekeeper was still there, so I just asked her to open it.  We were able to find the things Ellis left and then headed back to the gym.  When we got to the gym the first time we were the only ones there, when Heather and I got back...yeah, we had one of the farthest parking spots in the whole lot!  Thankfully Dad had found a seat and was entertaining Eli.  Around 2:00pm the soldiers started walking in around the balcony in the gym to check it, and then down the stairs to their families.

All the troops checking in

Ellis is right above the sign. 

Right before he walked down the stairs

Every time a new group of soldiers walked in the top door, I stood up to see if I could spot Ellis...go figure that he would be on the last bus...in the last group!  Once he got down the stairs we were able to spend about an hour together before he had to leave.  I had thought of all of the different things I was going to say that day...all we did was sit together and snap pictures. 

They could be twins! :)

At about 4:25, one of the officers stood up and prayed over the troops and their families.  All of the families had to say goodbye then, give the last few hugs and kisses and then head out the door.  The soldiers needed to get into uniform and head out to the buses.  I think I held Ellis for what seemed like only 10 seconds...it was probably 5 minutes or so. :)  Dad was able to snap one last picture with his camera before we had to leave.

After the last picture and xoxox's were given, we walked outside and stood behind the little rope barrier.  We waited out there for what seemed to be a lifetime.  Dad was holding Eli on his shoulders, I was hoping to see/kiss/hug Ellis one more time before he got on the bus to head over to the airstrip.

5 buses in this picture and 1 behind me.

 

There were six buses total, Ellis happened to be on the very last bus.  I saw him as soon as he walked around the corner, and I waited right by the bus to make sure I was able to hug/kiss him one last time.  By that time I had Eli in my arms, as Ellis pulled away and got on the bus Eli yelled out to him, "Daddy!  Daddy! Back!  Daddy!"  That was it...I started crying.  I was being so strong, not showing any sadness or hurt emotions but as soon as Eli did that, I was history. :)  Dad and I walked back to the car with Eli, waved at the bus for about 5 minutes, not knowing if Ellis ever saw us, got in the car and went back to the hotel. 

  By then I really didn't feel like packing up all of our belongings so...I didn't. :)  We kinda just bummed around the rooms until we got hungry.  We went out to Denny's for dinner, headed back to the hotel and fell asleep.  We got up the next morning (the 4th) around 6:30 and started packing.  I was finished by 9ish, and we were on the road by 9:30.  We went and turned in the keys, and headed out on Highway 190 east.  We hit Interstate 35 north from there, and headed up to Highway 85 east just on the other side of Waco, TX.  Our first stop was at a McDonalds in Mexia, TX.  We had lunch there, got back in the car and kept on truckin.  We drove through a little town called Palestine.  Yepp...that's right, i visited Palestine and didn't even leave the country.  We decided to stop in Timpson, TX to gas up.  At 4:10pm we crossed into Logansport, Louisiana.  We drove through Mansfield, LA to get onto highway 171 (the scenic route) up to Shreveport, LA.  171 met up with Interstate 20 in Shreveport, which we took all the way across the state and over the Mississippi River...right into a place called Vicksburg, Mississippi.  There was a little Motel 6 right off of the main freeway, so that's where we stayed.  The following morning (the 5th) we got up, had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, gassed up, and headed on on out!  We drove all the way through Mississippi only stopping to go to the bathroom and gas up once.  We got back on Interstate 20 and headed on into Alabama. 

Now...for those of you who know anything about me, one of my favorite shows is Army Wives.  So as we were driving through Alabama, I see a road sign for Tuscaloosa.  We all know that Roxy LeBlanc is from Tuscaloosa (at least I'm 95% sure...unless there is some other city in Alabama with the last part "oosa" that I don't know about)  Anyway...I asked dad to kindly take out his camera and snap a picture to prove I drove through there! :)  LOL

A few miles outside Tuscaloosa is a little town called Coaling.  We stopped there for a quick snack, then got back on the road headed toward Birmingham.  Interstate 20 east met up with Interstate 59 north in Birmingham, so we hopped on that and took it all the way up to Chattenooga, Tennessee.  (We drove through the corner tip of Georgia)  If any of you watched the show Teen Mom, you may recognize the name Chattenooga.  One of the girls moved there to be with her new boyfriend...again, I'm 95% sure, who knows...there may be another city that ends in "ooga" in Tennessee. :)  We drove on a little further up to Cleveland.  On the way there we noticed that some kind of storm came through the area a while back.  I found out (when I made our hotel reservation) that a tornado had come through the area in April.  It kinda took my breath away, seeing the houses with no roofs, trees ripped apart, tarps everywhere.  I thought I had it bad with my husband being gone, I am richly blessed to know I have a house to go home to.  There are people staying at our hotel that are displaced still...please lift them up in prayer.  We pulled into the hotel parking lot around 6:30ish.  We ordered a pizza around 7:15, ate around 8:00pm, watched Army Wives...and here I am now, typing up this blog...that's a few days later than I hoped!  I took a few pictures of our hotel room that I will post tomorrow. (I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet)  I did forget to post a few things...well, two to be exact.  We drove through 2 cities that made me laugh.  The first one was Bobo, LA.  Really people? BOBO?  The town is so small I cant find it on a map.  The second was Polkville, MS.  I totally poked my dad when I saw that sign. :)  Alrighty...so here is a VERY long blog, hopefully making up for the 3 months I missed out on.  Maybe next time I'll break it up some...I'm sure you guys don't wanna read 3 months worth of blog in one sitting. ;)  Take care y'all (that's from driving through the south...picking it up already) Have a good night! 

God bless you

-B

Take Care 1st Cav!

Only 3 months this time...

"Day 1"

I said I wanted to blog every day that Ellis is gone...so this is the first one.  I guess yesterday would have been the first day because he left yesterday.  Anyway, its almost midnight and I want to go to bed, so I'll blog about today...tomorrow! :)  I hope you all have a good nights rest.  Thank you for your prayers.  I appreciate them all.
-B

The last few weeks

I wanted to blog last week and couldn't come up with anything...so I went to bed. :)  A few days later God worked some miracles (at least to me) for us...and I though at life group that night why not blog about it?  I mean, this is supposed to be a blog about an army wife's day to day life right?  So why not...here it goes! :)

Many of you know that being apart of the military is a struggle.  Not with the part about being separated from your spouse, or moving all the time, (which are 2 big struggles...) but I'm talking about the financial struggle.  Some people think that because we get a housing allowance and food allowance that we should be rolling in dough.  Here's an update on that thought: NOT TRUE. :)  While we do get both of those allowances, the amount depends on where Ellis is at the time...not where Eli and I are.  Long story short, when Ellis and I decided he would be going to TX by himself while Eli and I stayed here, we took a pay cut because the housing allowance there is less than it is here.  The few months Ellis was in training we didn't get the food allowance b/c it went the base where he was at...anyway all I'm trying to get at is that our income is never the same paycheck to paycheck.  I'm not trying to complain about money b/c I really have nothing to complain about.  Ellis has a steady job that pays and I am also blessed with a full time job, and that helps to subsidize the housing allowance pay cut.  It also pays for Ellis' apartment while he is in TX... God has richly blessed us this year financially.  Not that we are loaded, but that he comes through at just the right time. (His time)  A few months after Ellis got down to TX, I freaked...we couldn't afford half of our bills and although I was trying to swing it with what we had...it wasn't working.  Many people at church were praying for us, and God heard those prayers!  The following week I was offered a part time job.  One pay period went by and I realized it wasn't enough.  Again, I was doubting how we were going to get through it...and once again He came through for me...and I was offered a full time job!  I did nothing to receive these blessings.  I didn't even have to apply for the job. (that's crazy to me!)  So here we are now, 2 parents, 2 full time jobs, 1 son in daycare, and we are still pinching pennies. Since then, the Holy Spirit has brought to my heart (many times) that we should be tithing consistently...and not just when we have the money.  Sometimes its just so hard for me to do that.  Well, this past week (and here is the miracle I first talked about) I was driving home from somewhere. (those of you who keep up with everything here know that I am go go go all the time!)  I was praying out loud (something I rarely do) and I said "I know you want to me to tithe God, I know its the right thing to do, but if I tithe 10% of this next paycheck, I will only have 50 dollars to get us through 2 weeks! I don't know what to do!"  That was the extent of our conversation at that point.  The next day I go to pick up Eli from the baby sitter's house and I get a call from Ellis.  He sounded almost frantic.  He told me to go check the bank account and call him back as soon as I could.  The first thing that popped to my head was "great, he over drew the account, and now we are in the red."  When I opened the account I saw that there was a counter deposit for $1000!  I called Ellis and asked him what that was from, and if it was really ours...he said that the Army had paid him for going to Colorado, and that was the money!  I was STOKED...and then I remembered my conversation with the Lord..."I don't know what to do!"  Well guess what friend...I don't have to know, b/c HE DOES!

First miracle= God providing and being faithful to me...even when I'm doubting, and not having as much faith as I should!

Onto the second miracle that happened...

Eli (who is now almost 1.5 years old...time flies!) started waking up in the middle of the night lately and screaming his head off. (not literally off, but you know what I mean)  Anyway...he would wake up random times and just cry.  Sometimes when I would go in there he wouldn't even be awake, he would just be crying.  This made for some VERY long nights, I mean mornings...I think one week I went to bed at 2AM almost every day b/c he would cry as soon as I put him down.  So last week, maybe Friday or Saturday, I was watching Netflix (we cancelled our TV...best thing I've done) and I heard him start crying, then it turned to straight screaming.  Not like "I want milk" scream, but "Mommy, I'm really hurt right now" or "I just fell down the stairs" scream...I ran in there to check on him.  He wasn't physically hurt or anything but he was not calming down anytime soon.  I didn't know what to do, I just rocked him in my arms until he was quiet.  Again, as soon as I tried putting him down he would wake up and scream.  I laid him in the crib and started singing Jesus Loves Me.  That usually calms him but this time it did nothing.  The only thing I could think of was to start praying for him...nothing.  Then I started praying out loud...still nothing.  Finally the only thing I could think of (besides letting him sleep on me) was to sing my prayer.  Which I did...I just started singing whatever words came to my head...he calmed down immediately.  He didn't fall asleep right away, but he calmed down, and I was able to walk out of the nursery!  He didn't even cry when I walked out!  He hasn't woken up in the middle of the night since! :)  Praise Jesus!!! 

Second miracle=  God has helped Eli stay asleep and calm during the night...and he has helped me be able to get sleep! :) 

So, that was what I wanted to blog about...God's goodness to me.  Now only if he could get me out of my speeding ticket. :)  That's right...I got my VERY FIRST ticket yesterday.  Supposedly the cop said I was going 60, even though I had just checked it and I was going 56...in a 45mph zone.  Either way I was speeding, and either way I think that its fair I pay the ticket.  I'm hoping to find out how much it is today, I guess I can look online somewhere, but I haven't found it yet.  Lesson learned from that experience...only go 5mph over! LOL  I'm kidding! :)

I hope you have a great rest of the week, I'm gonna get workin now.  Take care and God bless
-b