all things new

I posted three years ago today. A WHOLE STINKIN' LOT occurred in those three years. Catching up would be tough since there's so much to share, so maybe I will entertain Flash Back posts in the future to remember the incredibly wild ride God's led us along as we wrap up our time in New Mexico.

Oh, that's right. It's moving time. Uncle Sam said it was time for us to move on, and we're excited about the future. Today, our HHG (house hold goods) were loaded into a giant moving truck, and in about a week, they'll arrive at a storage facility. About a week and a half after that, they'll be delivered to our new home on the sunny Emerald Coast. Boy, will we miss New Mexico!

More on that later.

If I had to pinpoint one of the greatest events that happened in the last three years, it would undoubtedly be the birth of our third child. Yes, we'd felt God's call to adopt, but that road proved wrought with disaster, and at times, confusion. I believe God used those painful moments to help us grow, even when we were unaware of why it did not work to grow our family. Our plans changed again in the fall of 2013, and as we proceeded down the next step toward adoption, we discovered the good news of our little EJ.

Not only were we finally blessed with another child, but we were blessed with a daughter! I adore being a Boy Mom, but being Mommy to a little girl has been such a beautiful experience. Her brothers love her deeply, despite a bit of sibling rivalry seen from Nugget. He was the baby for almost 7 years!

In the fall of 2015, we found out we were expecting another baby. We traveled to Arizona and California in November, and I suspected it the entire time. That was interesting. I remember riding Space Mountain in Disneyland and asking God to protect the maybe baby from the forces of the roller coaster. Fortunately, it was too early for morning sickness, so we all survived. (I'll have to blog about that trip because it was THE best.)

In March of 2016, we discovered that we were expecting another girl! Two big boys and two little girls. A full heart. So much blessing. So overwhelmed. EJ is going to be a sweet big sister!

So, it seems fitting to adjust my blog title from My Dandelion Boys to My Dandelion Babies. Or something like that. I plan to post more frequently, and I achieved some success a few years ago, so there's hope for me yet. I don't know who reads this, and I don't really need to know I have a following (because that sounds creepy,) but I still have friends all over the world, and there's no sense in not taking advantage of a platform that I enjoy. An outlet to improve my writing while sharing my daily life with friends? Win-win, in my book. Here's to All Things New!

apple-ker-key

Sandman had a four day weekend over the Labor Day holiday, so we headed over to Albuquerque!  Until recently, one of the boys used this pronunciation.  Super cute, but as with most cute-kiddo-speak, it's been replaced with the correct name now.

We really enjoy the mountains there.  And that it's not flat in every direction.  And that you can see mountains. 

 Buddy and Sandman know just how to freak me out....take pictures near the edge.  Or 15 feet from the edge....we were so not going to fall.  I'm going to be a mess when we finally take that trip to the Grand Canyon.

 

We've been to the Sandia Mountains a few times now, but this was the first time there wasn't any snow!  We took advantage of being able to hike some trails without needing skis.

 

 

He claims he wasn't nervous.....

 Love my boys!

 

We visited the zoo twice and toured the aquarium again.  The ABQ zoo is one of our favorites...lots of wonderful exhibits and a great train ride.  The boys also experienced their first baseball game!  We watched the Albuquerque Isotopes and enjoyed fireworks after the game.  If anything, our little trip was a great escape after a crazy summer.  We wouldn't mind pcs'ing to ABQ someday!

first day of school

Yesterday, we started our 2012-2013 school year! 

Buddy is in the first grade and was on his way to a horse lesson, and Nugget is in pre-K at our sweet little preschool down the street. 

strong and courageous life

Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD.

Psalm 31:24

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:37

God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.

Psalm 18:32

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:29-31

Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

The Lord will give strength to His people;  The Lord will bless His people with peace. 

Psalm 29:11

The LORD is my strength and my song. 

Exodus 15:2a

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith.  Be courageous.  Be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Isaiah 41:10

Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:14

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 

Phillipians 4:13

Surely God is my salvation;  I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord  is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  

Isaiah 12:2

The Lord is my strength and my song;  he has become my salvation.

Psalm 118:14

I have struggled with confidence.  I have struggled with fear and self-doubt.  These are just a few of God's promises that give me strength and courage during those weak moments.  

Being strong and courageous isn't about being agressive or physically powerful.  For me, being strong and courageous means facing and fighting the difficulties in this life with a head held high because He has given us this great strength.  He has given us power.  My past is full of pain and loss, and I still hurt sometimes.  But He is my comfort and strength, and it's a conscious decision to not let the fear and pain and lack of confidence consume me because HE is my strength.

I also have two sons. I pray that they would become strong and courageous men of God. To be bold, to live with integrity, to love fiercely, to serve others. 

And I pray that our family will make strong and courageous choices as we follow God.  I pray for a willingness to go whereever the Lord asks us to go.  And for someone like me, that takes great courage.

my dandelion boys

Our little military 'brats' never asked for the life we have chosen. I have struggled with this identity myself, although after years and years as a military wife, I can confidently say that it is part of who I am. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started falling for that cute ROTC boy back in college.  But I think most military spouses will admit feeling this way to some degree because it's necessary in order to plow through life alone at times, to face frequent moves, to establish a home in a new place, and to bear the unpredictable realities of each day.

This quote and the blog that follows sum up many of the prayers I have for my Dandelion Children as they face this life. (April has been designated the Month of the Military Child.)

"The official flower of the Military child is the Dandelion. Why? The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it's almost impossible to destroy. It's an unpretentious plant, yet good looking. It's a survivor in a broad range of climates. Military children bloom everywhere the winds carry them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, ...planted swiftly and surely. They're ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends." (copied from Shades of Green's FB page)

This blog calls our kids "unseen heroes."  We have been so fortunate to have Sandman home most of the time, but he's been TDY and downrange often, and we know there will be more goodbyes in the future.

I pray that Sandman and I equip and encourage them to bloom where they are planted.  To be strong and courageous, knowing that the Lord is with them in new towns, with new friends, when missing the lives we leave behind each time we move.  We pray that we would cultivate in them deep roots, not just in the military culture, but in our family culture, in their faith in God, and in their desire to serve others. 

And let's be honest, even though dandelions are considered weeds, they are much loved in our family.  Like most kids, my boys can't bear to leave one standing, and they take great joy in watching the little seed pods fly away.