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!

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.